天使的監視 / watched by angels

有一次聽到牧師說，要常常提醒自己，天使就在旁邊看著我門，所以想做壞事前要三思。我想不少人有聽過類似的忠言。

I once heard a pastor say,"Think of an angel always watching you and what you do, then you will think twice before committing sin." I am sure many have heard of a similar advice.


嗯。。。很好! 這會讓我們少犯罪。但是，這樣子的遵守是神所喜悅的嗎?

Very well, this will make us sin less. But, is this kind of obedience pleasing to God?


如果我們需要以被人監視的心理 (就是律法的原則) 才不犯罪，那我們是真的無罪嗎? 就算不做出來，心理的邪念不算罪嗎?

If we need being watched over and monitored (the principle of law) to not sin, are we really sinless? Even if we don't commit sin, doesn't the sinful thought within count as sin?


人的心, 律法管的著嗎? 保羅說，"...誡命來到、罪又活了..." (羅馬書 7:9) 罪行是從罪念，罪念是從罪性，罪性是從律法引出。停止了罪行還有罪念和罪性，如律法不廢去。

Can law guard the heart of man? Paul said, "...commandment came, sin sprang to life..." (Romans 7:9) Sin act is from sin thought, sin thought from sin nature, sin nature is aroused by the presence of law. Even if there is no sinful behaviors there still rages sinful thoughts and the nature of sin in us -- if law is not removed from the conscience.


亞當與夏娃本無罪念，直到誡命說出。我們都有經驗過，小孩本無事，但一被說不要做什麼事，他就有好奇心與衝動要做。他不是特意要違背，但就是會有這念由誡命而生。

Adam and Eve had no thought to sin until the commandment was spoken. We all have witnessed a child minding his business, but when told not to do something the curiosity and impulse gets the best of him. He isn't intending on disobeying, but the rebellion wells up inside from the command.


有這原性並不表示我們不願意遵守神的話語，而是我們在律法的約束裏做不到 (羅馬書 7:19)。 這是我們的自由意識不成熟。

Yet it is not that we want to disobey God in this nature, but have no ability to while under the restrictions of law (Romans 7:19). This is so because our sense of free will is immature. 


唯有將我們屬肉體的本性改換改造掉，而得有耶穌聖潔的靈魂，才會活出在試探中罪念不生的境界。

And only by receiving the spirit of Christ to completely transform and remake the flesh nature can we live in the realm where sin is not stirred by the temptations about us.


這絕不可能由努力的遵守律法得來，而更是會有反效果。只有完全信任和活在主耶穌的恩典啟示，我們就會從聖靈的灌溉成為真正討神喜悅的聖潔。

This is impossible by our effort to obey law, and may even have a reverse effect. Only trusting Jesus and living in constant grace revelation is it possible to be holy from the living waters of the holy spirit that truly pleases God.


有如此的信，天使就不再監視著我們，而是欣賞我們由主純潔的榮耀!

With such faith the angels no more monitors, but look with approval the glory of our purity in Christ!

Amen