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•4我们藉着基督才对　神有这样的信心。5并不是我们凭自己配做什么事，我们之所以配做是出于　神；6他使我们能配作新约的执事，不是文字上的约，而是圣灵的约；因为文字使人死，圣灵能使人活。

你没有能力让任何人回转相信耶稣基督。事实上对于人类来说，甚至让自己回转相信都是不可能的。正如马丁路德在解释（使徒信经）第三部分的时候所说：“我不能凭自己的思想或选择相信耶稣基督，我的主，或到他这里来。而是圣灵已经借着福音呼召了我……”我们改变自己或别人的能力来出于神，倚靠的是福音的大能。

保罗说：“文字使人死，圣灵能使人活。”文字指的是律法的文字。律法在传讲神的话语时有它的目的，我们不应该害怕让自己去看上帝律法的镜子。律法告诉我们，我们需要一位救主，因为我们不能救自己。律法使我们谦卑，使我们羞愧，使我们认识到我们没有什么可以献给神，来改变他对我们的看法。换句话说，法律是杀人的，是让人的死的。律法杀死我们的骄傲，杀死我们的错觉，我们常常错误的认为自己可以救自己。但如果我们听到的仅仅是律法，我们仍然是死在我们的罪恶过犯中。

只有福音，就是我们在耶稣里得救的好消息，才能给我们生命。当你领受圣餐的时候，你比以往任何时候都更加确信，你已经远离了罪。当你听到耶稣在十字架上说“成了”的时候，你的心在上帝那里找到了平安。当你去看到耶稣复活的空坟墓，你的心充满了喜悦。律法的文字叫人死，但圣灵藉着福音给人带来生命，让人活。

所以当律法摧毁杀死你的时候，要确保向自己宣讲福音。而且不是一点点的福音。作为福音的执事，不论你是给自己还是给别人传讲神的话语，记住永远以福音结尾。

祷告：主耶稣，当我和别人分享你的故事时，请让福音在我的生命中占据主导地位。阿们。

2 Corinthians 3: 4 Such confidence we have through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.  (NIV)

You don’t have the power to convert anyone to the Christian faith. In fact, it is humanly impossible even to convert yourself. As Luther said in the explanation of the Third Article:  “I cannot by own thinking or choosing believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him. But the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel …”  Our competence or ability to change either ourselves or others comes from God and rests in the power of the gospel.

        Paul says  the “letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”  The letter is the letter of the Law. It has its purpose in preaching and we should not be afraid to look into the mirror of God’s law ourselves. The law shows us that we need a Savior, because we cannot save ourselves. The law humbles us, shames us, makes us realize we have nothing to offer God to change his mind about us. In other words, the law kills. It kills our pride. It kills our self delusions. But if we only hear the law, we will remain dead in our sins.

        Only the gospel, the good news of our salvation in Jesus, can give us life. When you partake of the Lord’s Supper, you walk away more determined than ever to put your sin aside. When you hear Jesus shout from the cross, “It is finished,” your heart finds peace with God. When you visit the empty tomb, your heart soars with joy. The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life through the gospel.

        So when the law has destroyed you, make sure that you proclaim the gospel to yourself as well.  And not just a little gospel.  Always let the gospel have the last word whether you are preaching to yourself or to others.

Prayer:   Lord Jesus, let the gospel predominate in my life, and when I share your story with others.  Amen.