二月二日

若不流血，罪就不得赦免了。（來9:22）

這是永不改變的真理。在猶太人一切預表的禮儀中沒有不流血而能除去罪的。若沒有血、沒有替贖就沒有法子使罪得赦。很清楚，若我沒有基督，就沒有赦罪的盼望；因為除了基督之外再沒有什麼流血的事能被我們當作是贖罪的方法了。那末，我現在信他嗎？一切人都一樣地需要他。即便我們有得未曾有的美德和善行，這個辦法也不能為我們的緣故有所更改，使我們成為例外。除了他的血無論什麼都不能使罪消除，因為神已經把他當作贖罪的，也是人與他和好的惟一方法。有這末一個赦罪的方法是多麼令人慶倖呀！為什麼我們還舍此而他求呢？

在外貌上敬虔（形式相信）的人，不明白我們為什麼會因基督赦免我們的罪而快樂。他們的工作、禱告和敬拜，所給他們的安慰很少；或許他們的內心總是不能安穩，因為他們忽略了這麼大的救恩，想不流血而使罪得赦。我的心哪！安靜吧，要知道神的公義一定要刑罰罪，而這刑罰已經臨到了主耶穌。俯伏快樂吧，吻那為救贖你而流血的主的腳吧！當良心被激起之後，求助於感覺和明證是得不到安慰的：這是我們在埃及受捆綁時所學得的惡習。使我們有罪的良心恢復平安的惟一方法就是仰望那在十字架上受苦的耶穌。律法書上說“血……就是他的生命”，有了這血的生命，才有信實喜樂和一切聖恩的生命，我們要一心相信他。

February 2

"Without the shedding of blood is no remission." --Hebrews 9:22

This is the voice of unalterable truth. In none of the Jewish ceremonies were sins, even typically, removed without blood- shedding. In no case, by no means can sin be pardoned without atonement. It is clear, then, that there is no hope for me out of Christ; for there is no other blood-shedding which is worth a thought as an atonement for sin. Am I, then, believing in Him? Is the blood of His atonement truly applied to my soul? All men are on a level as to their need of Him. If we be never so moral, generous, amiable, or patriotic, the rule will not be altered to make an exception for us. Sin will yield to nothing less potent than the blood of Him whom God hath set forth as a propitiation. What a blessing that there is the one way of pardon! Why should we seek another?

Persons of merely formal religion cannot understand how we can rejoice that all our sins are forgiven us for Christ's sake. Their works, and prayers, and ceremonies, give them very poor comfort; and well may they be uneasy, for they are neglecting the one great salvation, and endeavouring to get remission without blood. My soul, sit down, and behold the justice of God as bound to punish sin; see that punishment all executed upon thy Lord Jesus, and fall down in humble joy, and kiss the dear feet of Him whose blood has made atonement for thee. It is in vain when conscience is aroused to fly to feelings and evidences for comfort: this is a habit which we learned in the Egypt of our legal bondage. The only restorative for a guilty conscience is a sight of Jesus suffering on the cross. "The blood is the life thereof," says the Levitical law, and let us rest assured that it is the life of faith and joy and every other holy grace.

"Oh! how sweet to view the flowing

Of my Saviour's precious blood;

With divine assurance knowing

He has made my peace with God."