十月二十七日
可信的话。（提后2：11）
保罗有四次提到“可信的话”。头一处是在提前一章十五节：“这话是可信的，是十分可佩服的。在罪人中我是个罪魁。”第二次是在提前四章八、九节：“惟独敬虔，凡事都有益处，因有今生和来生的应许。这话是可信的，是十分可接受的。”（改译）第三处是在提后二章十一、十二节：“有可信的话说……我们若能和他受苦，也必和他一同作王。”（改译）第四处是在多三章八节：“这话是可信的。我也愿你把这些事切切实实地讲明，使那些已信神的人留心作正经事业。”我们可以找出它们的关系。第一处爲我们立定了永远救恩和神的洪恩的根基，使我们看到救主的使命。第二处叫我们看到得救的双重福分——上泉与下泉的福——现今与永远。第三处叫我们看到蒙选召之人的责任；神已经安排我们与基督同受苦难，幷以应许随之说：“我们若能和他受苦，也必和他一同作王。”最后一处爲基督徒定下了服务的方针，叫我们殷勤行善。
因此我们得救的根源乃在于神的洪恩；其次救恩在现在与未来所给人的好处；我们也要与基督一同受苦，一同服务，多结圣灵的果子。我们应当把这些可信的话珍藏在心里，让它们作我们生活的指导、安慰和教训。外邦人的使徒证明它们是可信的，它们现在仍然可信，绝不会有一句落空；它们是十分可佩服的（或可接受的），让我们现在就接受，幷且证明它们是可信的。愿这几处可信的话常写在我们房屋的四角。
October
27
“It
is a faithful saying.”–2 Timothy 2:11
Paul has four of these “faithful
sayings.” The first occurs in 1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful
saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to
save sinners.” The next is in 1 Timothy 4:6, “Godliness is profitable
unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which
is to come. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation.” The
third is in 2 Timothy 2:12, “It is a faithful saying–If we suffer with
him we shall also reign with him”; and the fourth is in Titus 3:3,
“This is a faithful saying, that they which have believed in God might be
careful to maintain good works.” We may trace a connection between these
faithful sayings. The first one lays the foundation of our eternal salvation in
the free grace of God, as shown to us in the mission of the great Redeemer. The
next affirms the double blessedness which we obtain through this salvation–the
blessings of the upper and nether springs–of time and of eternity. The third
shows one of the duties to which the chosen people are called; we are ordained
to suffer for Christ with the promise that “if we suffer, we shall also
reign with him.” The last sets forth the active form of Christian service,
bidding us diligently to maintain good works. Thus we have the root of
salvation in free grace; next, the privileges of that salvation in the life
which now is, and in that which is to come; and we have also the two great
branches of suffering with Christ and serving with Christ, loaded with the fruits
of the Spirit. Treasure up these faithful sayings. Let them be the guides of
our life, our comfort, and our instruction. The apostle of the Gentiles proved
them to be faithful, they are faithful still, not one word shall fall to the
ground; they are worthy of all acceptation, let us accept them now, and prove
their faithfulness. Let these four faithful sayings be written on the four
corners of my house.
