什么是因信称义？
What is justification by faith?
简答 Short Answer
因信称义是指上帝凭着恩典，因着人对基督的信心，宣告罪人为义——不是因为罪人自己做了什么好事，而是因为基督的义归算在他们身上。
Justification by faith means God, by grace and through faith in Christ, declares sinners righteous — not because of anything good they've done, but because Christ's righteousness is credited to them.
详细解答 Detailed Answer
因信称义是基督教信仰最核心的教义，马丁·路德称之为「教会站立或跌倒的教义」。
1.【什么是称义？】称义是一个法律用语，意思是法官宣告被告「无罪」。上帝不是把罪人变成义人然后宣告他们为义（那是成圣），而是在罪人仍然不完美的时候就宣告他们为义。凭什么？凭基督的义。
2.【双重归算】这里有一个奇妙的交换：我们的罪归算在基督身上，祂在十字架上承担了刑罚；基督的义归算在我们身上，使我们在上帝面前被称为义（林后5:21）。这不是虚假的法律游戏，而是因为信徒与基督联合，基督的一切成为信徒的。
3.【唯独信心】罗马书3:28说「人称义是因着信，不在乎遵行律法。」信心不是一种功德，而是空着的手接受上帝白白的恩典。好比一个乞丐伸手接受礼物——功劳在于给予者，不在于手。
4.【唯独恩典】以弗所书2:8-9说「你们得救是本乎恩，也因着信；这并不是出于自己，乃是神所赐的；也不是出于行为，免得有人自夸。」称义完全是上帝的工作，人无可夸口。
5.【与行为的关系】雅各书2:17说「信心若没有行为就是死的。」好行为不是称义的根据，而是真信心的必然果实。得救不是因为行为，但真正的得救必然产生行为。
Justification by faith is Christianity's most central doctrine — Martin Luther called it 'the article by which the church stands or falls.'
1. **What is justification?** It's a legal term meaning a judge declares the defendant 'not guilty.' God doesn't make sinners righteous and then declare them so (that's sanctification); He declares them righteous while still imperfect. On what basis? Christ's righteousness.
2. **The great exchange**: Our sin is credited to Christ, who bore its penalty on the cross; Christ's righteousness is credited to us, making us righteous before God (2 Cor 5:21). This isn't a legal fiction but reality, because believers are united with Christ — all that is His becomes ours.
3. **Faith alone**: Romans 3:28 says 'one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.' Faith isn't a meritorious work but an empty hand receiving God's free grace. Like a beggar extending a hand for a gift — the credit belongs to the giver, not the hand.
4. **Grace alone**: Ephesians 2:8-9 says 'by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.' Justification is entirely God's work; no one can boast.
5. **Relationship to works**: James 2:17 says 'faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.' Good works aren't the basis of justification but the inevitable fruit of true faith. Salvation isn't by works, but genuine salvation inevitably produces works.
📖 经文引用 Bible Verses
📚 推荐阅读 Related Readings
- •The Doctrine of Justification (James Buchanan)
- •Faith Alone (R.C. Sproul)
- •Justified in Christ (K. Scott Oliphint, ed.)