《今日靈修默想》:「主所愛的弟兄們哪,我們本該常為你們感謝神;因為祂從起初揀選了你們,叫你們因信真道,又被聖靈感動,成為聖潔,能以得救。」(帖後2:13)

默想一:人必須先成為聖潔,然後才能得救嗎?人有罪,不可能達到神的聖潔。人得救是上帝和人雙方的責任。沒有人能救自己;沒有人能贏得救贖;沒有人配得救恩。得救完全是恩典,但恩典必須被接受和使用。而接受並使用恩典是我們人的責任。

默想二:聖經所講的「神愛世人」是指神只愛基督徒嗎?不是的。神願所有人得救,不願一人沉淪(提前2:4;彼後3:9)。神的恩典是白白得來的,但人必須以悔改和相信來回應。當我們接受耶穌基督的救恩時,聖靈就內住在我們的裏面繼續作工,使我們成為聖潔,並結出聖靈的果子來(加5:22-23)。

禱告:感謝上帝的奇異恩典。我們不但蒙神揀選,被主所愛,又因聖靈的工作,讓我們過基督徒的得勝生活。求袮的聖靈繼續光照我、潔淨我、塑造我、更新我,使我活出基督的榮美。奉耶穌基督的名禱告,阿們!

《Today’s spiritual meditation》:  “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.” (2Th 2:13)

Meditation one: Do people have to be holy before they can be saved? All people have sins and are not possible to reach the holiness of God. The salvation of a person is the responsibility of both God and the person. None of us can save ourselves; no one can win salvation; no one is worthy of being saved. Salvation is entirely a grace, but grace needs to be accepted and availed. It is our responsibility to accept and avail grace.

Meditation two: Does the Bible say “For God so loved the world” refers that God’s love limited to Christians only? No. God would have all people to be saved; not wishing that any should perish (1Ti 2:4; 2Pe 3:9). God’s grace can be received freely, but we must respond with repentance and faith. Once Jesus Chris’ salvation is accepted, the Holy Spirit will then reside in us and keep on working, making us holy and bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).

Prayer: Thank God’s amazing grace. We are not only chosen by God, loved by the Lord, but also through the work of the Holy Spirit to make us experience Christians’ victorious lives. May Your Holy Spirit continues to enlighten me, cleanse me, mold me, renew me, and make me live out the glorious beauty of Christ. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

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