4月16日 属灵的罪
属灵的罪
撒但为何如此执着于歪曲神的真理？原因之一是，神极其尊荣祂的真理（诗138:2）；祂珍视自己的话语，因这话语正是祂一切作为的准则与显明。
有些罪之所以被称为“属灵的罪”，是因为它们触及的是属灵的主题。如同那些潜藏在心里的罪，这些“属灵气的恶魔”败坏的是里面的人，而非外在的身体。撒但在这些事上往往大行其道。为了你的造就，当特别留意牠最常使用的两件利器：其一，是关乎属灵原则的谬误；其二，是引向属灵骄傲的歧途。
我们先看关乎属灵原则的谬误。早在福音初次播种之时，撒但就已在基督的麦子里撒下稗子。你若留意使徒书信，便会发现使徒必须何等频繁地拔除那些在早期教会中滋生的毒害。撒但为何如此执着于歪曲神的真理？原因之一是，神极其尊荣祂的真理（诗138:2）；祂珍视自己的话语，因这话语正是祂一切作为的准则与显明。耶稣曾说：“天地要废去，我的话却不能废去”（太24:35）。神若愿意，随时可以再造新的世界；但祂断不能再造另一个真理。因此，祂连真理的一点一画也不肯失落。撒但深知这一点，故此倾其全力去玷污那在神眼中视为至宝的话语。
真理对我们也当是至宝。神的话语是一面镜子，我们在其中仰望基督，并因着看见祂，就借着圣灵渐渐变成祂的形状。若镜子有了裂痕，我们对祂的认知就会扭曲；唯有神话语本初的清晰，才能将基督的荣美全备地彰显出来。由此可见，撒但攻击真理，不仅是攻击神，也是在攻击圣徒。因为牠若能诱导圣徒陷入谬误，就会削弱、甚至摧毁他们里面敬虔的能力。
使徒将能力的灵与谨守的心连在一处（提后1:7）。圣经也劝勉我们：“爱慕那纯净的灵奶，像才生的婴孩爱慕奶一样，叫你们因此渐长”（彼前2:2）。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：利20章，诗25章，
个人灵修：传3章，提前5章
APRIL 16, THURSDAY
SPIRITUAL SINS
Why is Satan so obsessed with perverting God’s principles? For one thing, God highly honors His truth (Psalm 138:2). He is more scrupulous about it than all His other works.
Sins may be labeled spiritual sins because of the topics they address. Like sins which are committed in your heart, these “spiritual wickednesses” corrupt the inner man rather than the body. Satan enjoys great success with them. For your edification, study the following two, which are favorites of his: errors involving spiritual principles, and errors resulting in spiritual pride.
First let us consider errors involving spiritual principles. Satan was at work in the first sowing of the Gospel, scattering his weeds among Christ’s wheat. Notice how often the apostle had to root out pernicious errors that cropped up among the early Christians. Why is Satan so obsessed with perverting God’s principles? For one thing, God highly honors His truth (Psalm 138:2). He is more scrupulous about it than all His other works. Jesus declared, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). God can make new worlds whenever He pleases, but He cannot make another truth. Therefore, He will not lose one iota of it. Satan knows this, and sets his whole heart on disfiguring that which is so precious to God.
It should also be precious to us. The Word is the mirror in which we see Christ and, seeing Him, are changed into His likeness by the Holy Spirit. If the glass is cracked, our conception of Him will be distorted, whereas the Word in its native clearness sets Christ out in all His glory. You can see, then, that not only does Satan strike at God when He attacks the truth, but he also strikes at the saints. If he can lead them into error, it will weaken—if not destroy—the power of godliness in them.
The apostle joins the spirit of power and of a sound mind together (2 Timothy 1:7). We are exhorted to “desire the sincere milk of the word, that [we] may grow …” (1 Peter 2:2).