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以上帝为中心的信仰与教会（三）
A God-centered Faith and Church, part 3
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以上帝为中心的信心：来到基督面前
A God-Centered Faith: Coming to Christ
温习 Review:
I． 救恩出自耶和华：三一上帝是我们的救主
Salvation For Us: The Triune God is our Savior
1．父神拣选我们，在基督里，在创造世界以前（弗1：3-6）。
The Father chose us, in Christ, before the creation of the world (Eph. 1:3-6)
2．圣子救赎我们：洁净我们；更启示上帝的旨意（弗1：7-12）
The Son redeemed us: cleansed us; and revealed God’s will (Eph. 1:7-12)
3．圣灵作我们得救（得产业）的印证（弗1：13-14；参罗8：13-16）
The Holy Spirit is the “seal” of our inheritance (Eph. 1:13-14; Rom. 8:13-16).
4．上帝这样作，都是为了叫祂荣耀的恩典得著称赞。God does all this, so that his glorious grace be praised (弗Eph. 1: 6, 12, 14).
II． 重生的意义（约3:1-8）
Salvation In Us: Meaning of Regeneration (John 3:1-8)
1．重生=从上头而生：上帝的工作 (8)。“Born from above”: God’s work (8).
2．从水而生：不是指洗礼，乃是圣灵（彻底）洁净我们（约3：5）。
Born of water: The Holy Spirit cleanses us (not baptism) thoroughly (3:5)
3．从灵而生：圣灵赐我们新灵，住在新的灵（人性）里(约3:3,5,8)。
Born of the Spirit: Holy Spirit gives us new heart/nature, and lives in it (3:5)
4．这是新旧约圣经一致的教导（多3：4-7，结36：25-27）。
This is the consistent teaching of OT, NT (Titus 3:4-7, Ezek. 36:325-27)。
III．我们的回应：悔改的意义 Our Response: Repentance
1．悔改：福音的一部分（可1:14-15，太5:3-4，路24:44-47），勿忽略！
Repentance is part of the gospel, don’t neglect it (Mk. 1:14, Mt. 5:3-4, Lk. 24:44-47)
2．假悔改->死亡。 (林后7：10) False repentance-> death. (II Cor. 7:10)
3．真悔改：回转归向上帝（赛55：6-7）；真假之分，在于有否来就十字架。True repentance: turn to God (Is. 55: 6-7). The difference between true and false repentance is: have you run to the Cross?
4．真悔改三步骤：承认；忧伤/恨恶罪；回转归向十字架，求赦罪恩。
3 steps in true repentance: confess, sorrow/hate sin, turn to cross for forgiveness.
5．果子；向上帝透明，在人面前透明。 Fruit: transparency before God, before people.
今天的信息：Today’s message:
上帝既然拣选我们，圣灵主动重生我们，
那么，我们 - 人 - 要作什么？什么都不用作吗？绝对不是！
Since God chose us, and the Holy Spirit rebirths us,
What, then, must we (people) do? Do we do nothing? Absolutely no.
上帝要求我们，邀请我们，催逼我们：必须信靠耶稣基督。
God requires us, invites us, urges us, to believe in Christ.
IV． 我们的回应：信心的意义 Our Response: The Meaning of “Faith”
关于信心的一般观念与错误的观念：
Common Concepts & Misconceptions about Faith:
1．有人以为：信耶稣就是：相信耶稣是上帝的儿子。（这只是头脑上的知识与同意而已，我们并没有靠耶稣为我们成就什么事。）
Faith is knowledge and agreement that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (This is mere intellectual knowledge and mental assent. It doesn’t involve relying on Jesus to do anything for our lives.)
2．有人以为：信心就是：相信一件事会成就的！信心就是意志：强的信心等于强的意志。（其实：信心的确需要意志，可是真正的信心是上帝所赐的，不是人自己努力靠意志。）
Faith is willpower – greater faith means greater confidence and strength of will. (As a matter of fact, faith does involve/require the use of the will. However, true faith is a gift from God, not just our exertion of our own willpower.)
3．信耶稣就是：心里相信，口里承认，就得救。
（不错，这是圣经的要求。不过我们要搅清楚，“信”是什么意思。“信”不只是头脑的知识，不只是刚强的意志。）
Faith is simply “believe in one’s heart, confess with one’s mouth.” (Now, this is indeed what the Bible requires. However we must be clear what “believe” means. It means more than intellectual knowledge, or just exertion of willpower.)
4．基督徒常常说：“我的信心软弱。”意思是：“我没有好好依靠上帝。”“信心”可以只信各样的事情。
Many Christians say: “My faith is weak”. What they mean is: “I don’t rely on God enough.”
So the word “faith” can refer to belief in many things.
5．一般来说，基督徒用“信心”这词，就是与“我与主的关系”同义。
Common use of the word “faith” by Christians – synonymous with “my relationship with God,” “my walk with God.”
V．分析：真信心的要素
Analysis: Elements of True Faith
1．信心不只是头脑的知识。不过：圣灵的确开启我们的思想，叫我们的理性恢复正常地，合乎上帝心意的运作。现在，我们开始对上帝，对自己有正确的观念。
Faith is not only intellectual knowledge. But: The Holy Spirit does open our mind (step 1). Now the mind resumes its normal operation: we now begin to think as God wants us to think. We think correctly about God, about ourselves.
所以你第一次在布道会听懂了福音，甚至决志，那天所发生的可能其实是：你从无神论者成为一个相信有神的人而已。很重要，很好，可是不是信心的全部。
Therefore, when you heard the gospel for the first time in an evangelistic meeting – you may even make a decision of faith – what happened, perhaps, was that you stopped being an atheist. You began to believe that God exists.
This is very important, very good. But it is not the totality of faith.
2．信心不只是同意：耶稣是上帝的儿子。不只是说：“信耶稣很好；祷告很好。”当然，我们对耶稣必须有正确的认识。不过，更重要的是，圣灵开我们的心灵，叫我们渴慕真理。我们不只是承认耶稣是谁；我们承认自己心灵里的需要。我们喊叫说：“这福音是为我的，我需要！”
Faith is not only agreeing that Jesus is the Son of God. It is more than saying: “Hmm, it is nice to believe in Jesus; it is nice to pray.”
It is right to believe correctly in who He is. But: The Holy Spirit does open our hearts, so that we hunger for the truth. Beyond knowing Jesus is the Son of God, we admit our need, and say: “The gospel is for me!”
同样，你第一次决志的时候，可能只不过说：祷告很好，我心灵有需要。很重要，很好，因为信心包括抓住上帝的应许。可是这并不是信心的全部。
Likewise, when you made a decision for Christ, you might have simply said that prayer is good. I have a need in my heart. This is very important, because faith does involve holding on to God’s promises. But this is not the totality of faith.
3．信心不只是意志的决定：信心的确须要意志的决定。
信心乃是：圣灵先感动我们，改变我们的意志，以致我们向主降服。
Faith is not just the will’s decision. Faith DOES involve the will. But fact is: The Spirit transforms our will -> we willingly surrender.
4．信心是在上帝面前降服自己。信心是：完全信靠祂，唯独投靠祂以致得救。我们奉献自己的生命，把生命的主权交给祂。
Faith is surrender of ourselves. Faith means we totally trust in Him, and only rely on Him for salvation. We commit ourselves/lordship over to Him.
5．虽然我们很多时候不懂得怎样解释我们的决志与经历，上帝是非常仁慈的。我们若靠准确解释我们的经历来进天国，那么谁能进去呢？我们都要依靠上帝。
Although we don’t know how to interpret our decisions and experiences, God is very kind.
If we are required to interpret our experiences correctly in order to enter the kingdom of God, who can enter? We must rely on God.
VI．信耶稣的真正意义范例：耶稣与少年的官 （可10：17-31）
An Example of the True Meaning of “Believing in Jesus”:
Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17-31)
1．“你为什么称我良善？除了上帝以外，没有一位是良善的。”意思是：
耶稣究竟是谁？祂是上帝。我们先搅清楚，我们面对的，乃是宇宙的主宰。我们愿意面对祂，接受祂对我们的挑战吗？
“Why do you call me good? There is no one except God, who is good.”
Who is Jesus? He is God. We need to be clear, that we are dealing with the Lord of the universe here. Are we willing to really face Him and accept His challenge to us?
2．“律法你是晓得的”：十诫 ## 5，6，7，8，9。
上帝的律法显明祂的圣洁。虽然我们是罪人，上帝并不降低祂圣洁的标准。
“You know the law”: Ten Commandments, ##5,6,7,8,9.
The law of God shows us what a holy God He is.
God does not lower his holy standards, even though we are sinners.
（我们传福音的时候，敢提到十诫吗？上帝是圣洁的上帝。）
(Do we have the courage to bring up the Ten Commandments when we share the gospel? God is a holy God.)
3．“这些我从小就遵守了。”耶稣看他，就爱他，对他说：“你还缺少一件。”
“I have kept these since my mouth.” Jesus looked at him, and loved him, and said: “One thing you lack…”
这个人并没有看见自己的需要，自己的罪；他心中是瞎眼的。
This person does not see his real need, his sin. He is blind inside.
耶稣开他的眼睛，叫他看见，其实祂犯了上帝的律法：
第一诫：除我以外，你不可有别的神。
第十诫：不可贪心。
Jesus opens his eyes to see that: he has really broken the Ten Commandments:
#1 – Thou shalt have no other God before me.
#10 – Thou shalt not covet.
4．“去，变卖一切，分给穷人；积财宝在天上；来，跟从我。”
“Go, sell everything you have; give to the poor; have treasure in heaven; come, follow me.”
耶稣这里指出：真的信心与悔改不能分开。
Jesus points out here: true faith cannot be separated from repentance.
真正相信祂的意思就是：把生命的主权交出来。那些事拦阻我们把上帝放在生命的第一位？就要交出那事来。
To really believe in Jesus means: turn over the lordship (control) of our lives to Him. What is that one thing (or what are the things) which block us from truly putting God #1 in our lives? Turn over that thing (those things) to Christ.
5．“他忧忧愁愁的走了。”耶稣那天传福音失败了吗？耶稣不失败的。
He went away, sadly. Did Jesus fail that day in his evangelism? Jesus doesn’t fail.
耶稣向这位少年的官提出挑战：（一）上帝的良善，（二）上帝圣洁的律法，（三）人必须面对自己的罪，（四）上帝呼召人悔改。
He has challenged this rich young ruler with (a) God’s goodness, (b) God’s holy law, (c) the need to see our own sin, (d) God’s call to repentance.
6．信靠耶稣的困难：不可能！
It is difficult to trust and follow Jesus: in fact, it is impossible!
耶稣今天也要求我们作我们不可能作的事吗？是的。
Does Jesus require us, today, to do what it is impossible for us to do? Yes.
7．不过，在上帝凡事都能。信心是上帝的恩赐。
But, for God all things are possible. Faith is God’s gift.
VII．信心的现实：奥秘与困难
The Reality of Faith: Mystery and Difficulties
1．信心是上帝的工作，是圣灵所赐的。信心是奥秘；从人的经历来看，信耶稣往往是一个过程。可是，我们必须信，必须努力地信。（腓立比书2：12，13）
Faith is God’s work, it is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Faith is a mystery. As a human experience, “faith in Christ” is often a journey, a process. But we must believe. We must try hard and make every effort to believe. (Philippians 2:12, 13)
2．一个人第一次真正听懂了耶稣所讲的福音的时候，会觉得不舒服的（好像少年的官一样）。你若听懂了福音而觉得不舒服：坐在座位上不安，想离开，想上洗手间等…，请不要放弃。恭喜你！你听懂了福音！你的良心醒过来了。这时上帝的工作，不要忽略。
When a person, for the first time, listens and really hears the gospel, he/she may feel uncomfortable, just like the rich young ruler. So if you have heard the gospel and feel uncomfortable: you feel uneasy in your seat, you want to leave, you want to go to the bathroom … don’t give up. Congratulations! You have really understood the gospel!
Your conscience is awakened. This is a wonderful work of God. Don’t ignore it.
3．你可能会对我说：我愿意信耶稣，可是我不能啊！我没有能力信耶稣。我还可以作什么？答案：…一个人肚子饿的时候，会去找东西吃的。同样地，你的良心醒过来了，心灵有饥饿：可以求问上帝，求祂把信心赐给你。要专心求，切切的求。你必须持续，不要放弃，直到上帝把信心（把生命主权交出）的能力赐给你。
You may say to me: I want to believe, but I cannot! I don’t have the strength! What can I do? Well … If one is hungry, he/she will go and search for food. In the same way, your conscience is awakened, there is hunger in your soul. You can ask God for the gift of faith. Ask him, really ask him like you are desperate. Hang in there, do not give up until God gives you the gift of faith: that is, the gift/ability of turning over the control of your life to him.
4．或者你说：我准备好了，我愿意信耶稣。我应当作什么？十七世纪的清教徒牧师，从来不开布道会。当有人听懂了福音，心灵醒过来，问牧师：我当作什么的时候，牧师往往说：“你回家，与上帝立约罢！”你会问：他怎么会懂立什么约？他很懂的，因为每一星期，牧师都有系统地，清楚地，从旧约到新约讲解上帝的律法与福音。所以，他当然知道，要回家与上帝立约，把生命的主权交出来，认罪悔改，求基督赦免，信靠祂的宝血。
Or you may ask: I am ready, I want to believe in Jesus. What should I do? 17th century Puritan pastors never conduct “evangelistic meetings.” When someone really understood the gospel, his/her heart is opened and asks the pastor: “What should I do?”, the pastor answers: “Go home, make a covenant with God.” You may say: How does that person know what kind of covenant to make with God, and how to do it? Well, he/she does know, because the pastor, week after week, year after year, systematically, and clearly teaches the Bible from the pulpit – he teaches the law and the gospel, from the Old to the New Testament. Of course the person knows: he/she must go home and turn the lordship (control) of his/her life over to Christ, confess his/her sins and repent, and trust in His blood!
5．请记得，上帝从来没有要求你要举一次手，在一张决志表上签名，或走到教会前面来。信心的形式因人而异。可是：上帝认真地要求你：认罪悔改，信靠耶稣。信心的真正意义：信靠，投靠耶稣，这是上帝的确要求的。
Please remember: God never requires you to raise your hand, sign a decision card, or walk to the front of the church. The outward expression of faith varies from individual to individual. However, God does very seriously require you to: repent of your sin, and trust in Christ.
The essence of faith is something God does require: to really trust, rely on Christ.
6．信心的对象是：耶稣基督，和上帝的话。我们信耶稣：将生命的主权交给祂。我们同时也必须信上帝的话：我们必须抓住祂的应许。
The object of faith is: Jesus Christ, and God’s Word. We trust Jesus: we turn the control of our life over to him. At the same time we trust God’s Word: we must cling on to God’s promises.
7．因此：你不可能真正地信耶稣，而不相信《圣经》。你也不可能说自己相信圣经，而不把自己生命的主权交给祂（真正地信靠祂）。
一个真正相信耶稣的人，必须是相信，顺服《圣经》的人。
一个自称相信《圣经》的人，必须同时是一个已经委身给基督的人。
Therefore: You cannot believe in Jesus and not trust the Bible, God’s Word. You cannot say you believe in the Bible, and not trust in (turn the control of your life over to) Jesus Christ.
A person who truly believes in Christ, must be a person who totally trusts in, and obeys the Bible.
A person who claims he/she believes in the Bible, must be a person who has committed his/her life to Christ.
简介/预告 Brief Introduction/Preview:
VIII．一次得救，永远得救？基督徒得救的确据 Once Saved Always Saved?
1．有些人欢欢喜喜领受了福音，可是后来流失了。这是事实。（太13章）
Some people joyfully receive the gospel, then become lost. This is a fact. (Matthew 13)
2．好消息：真正信靠主，尽心爱祂，为祂而活的，能至终得到得救的确据。
But: Those who really trust Christ, and love him whole-heartedly can have assurance of salvation, sooner or later. Take courage!! (约翰壹书I John 5:13)
3．得到确据前有试验：苦难。There will be testing before assurance: suffering, trials.
4．确据的凭据：上帝话语的应许，圣灵心中的见证（罗Romans 8：13-17）。
Basis of assurance: The promise in God’s Word; the Holy Spirit’s testimony in our hearts.
www.chinahorizon.org
http://samling.ccim.org
www.chinesebible.org
www.geocities.com/szmc2002
| 编辑录入:
Bo
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| 文章来源:
林慈信
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| 录入时间:
2/16/2006 12:15:00 PM
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