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「以上帝為中心的信仰與教會」系列之一
“A God-Centered Faith and Church,” part 1
講於2005年10月9日 October 9, 2005
以上帝為中心的福音﹕作基督徒的意義
A God-Centered Gospel: What Does It Mean to be a Christian?
羅馬書12﹕2 基督徒必須心意更新而變化﹕我們的思想，必須合乎上帝的話。
Rom. 12:2 Be transformed by the renewal of your mind. Christian’s thinking needs to be conformed to the Word of God.
「思想上的更新」包括對所有事物的看法，包括如何看待「什麼是福音」。
This transformation includes all areas of our thinking, including: “What is the gospel?”.
在「福音是什麼」方面，在基督徒圈子裏，有三種普遍的偏差﹕
Concerning “What is the gospel?,” there are three common misconceptions:
1．以經驗為定義的福音﹕信仰就是「經歷神」。不錯，經歷很重要，可是基督徒須以上帝的話來衡量，解釋經驗。不可信靠經驗；經驗絕對不能作主要的靈糧。
1. An experienced-based gospel: “Christianity is a matter of experiencing God.” Experience is important, but: Christians’ experiences must be evaluated and interpreted by God’s Word. We cannot trust our experiences. Experience must not be the primary food for our soul.
2．以行為作定義的福音﹕不錯，基督徒生活必須被聖靈塑造、改變。可是若沒有上帝的恩典，靠行為來過聖潔的生活是非常辛苦的，這也不是真正的福音。
2. A behavior-based gospel: “Christianity is a certain kind of conduct.” True, our conduct must be transformed and shaped by the Holy Spirit. However, without God’s grace, living a holy life, attempting “Christian behavior” is a difficult chore; and this is not the true gospel.
3．以福份為定義的福音﹕福音就是要給人今生的好處。不錯，福音帶來很多的好處，可是最重要的是﹕福音解決我們基本的問題﹕罪的問題。然後上帝賜我們各樣的福份，而最大的福分就是﹕上帝自己，認識祂，朝見祂，敬畏祂，為祂而活。
3. A blessing-based gospel: “Christianity’s essence consists in offering blessings: good things in this life.” True, the gospel does bring blessings to us. However: the gospel first solves our most basic problem: the problem of sin. Then God brings us blessings. And the greatest blessing is: God himself: to know him, to worship him, fear him, and live for him.
上面三種的偏差，都是以自己為中心的福音，不是以上帝為中心的福音。
All of the above 3 types of “deviant gospels” are centered on ourselves, rather than on God.
究竟我們的思想是否以上帝為中心？
Are our thoughts really God-centered?
我們的信仰直接影響我們的生活。 We are what we believe.
這並不是非常受歡迎的原則，可是卻是真理之所在。
This is not a popular principle, but it is the truth.
美國文化是一個實用主義的文化。我們喜歡知道﹕什麼是解決難題的最佳方案？怎樣帶來效果？（如何使教會人數增加？）
上帝要我們先知道真理，然後才付諸行動。
American culture is a pragmatic culture: We prefer to opt for “the optimal solution,” “whatever works,” “whatever gets the job done.”
God wants us to know the truth first, then put into practice.
那麼，什麼是福音？救恩，乃是聖父，聖子，和聖靈成就的。
What, then, is the gospel? Salvation is something God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit accomplished.
I． 救恩出自耶和華﹕三一上帝是我們的救主。
Salvation For Us: The Triune God is our Savior.
1．父神揀選我們，在基督裏﹕在創造世界以前（弗1﹕3-6）。
The Father chose us, in Christ: before the creation of the world (Eph. 1:3-6)
我們對預定有問題嗎？可能有兩方面的問題﹕
Do we have problems facing God’s “pre-destination”? Maybe 2 kinds of problems:
（一）理性方面的難題。聖經的確教導上帝預定我們，這不是理論，是真理。可是我們希望解決一些難題﹕預定與自由，預定與悔改，預定與禱告，預定與傳福音等等的關係。[ 這些我們日後都可以討論。]
First, intellectual difficulties. The Bible does teach God’s predestination, this is not a theory! However we face some dilemmas: relationship between predestination and freedom; faith; prayer; evangelism. (We can discuss all these issues later.)
（二）除了理性方面，有個人的難題。預定為我們帶來的挑戰是﹕上帝若真是預定一切事，那麼我就不是掌握自己命運的。這對我們來說是當頭棒喝。這向我們的自主挑戰；我們喜歡離開上帝獨立，自主。
Second, beyond the intellectual difficulty, predestination may be a real personal difficulty. You see, the basic issue is: If it is true that God predestined everything, then I am no longer the one in control of my destiny. This is a frontal attack on my self-sufficiency, my independence (independence from God).
上帝說﹕祂才是掌握我們的命運的那位。來敬拜祂吧!
God says: He is the one in control of our destiny. Come and worship him!
2．聖子救贖我們﹕潔淨我們；更啟示上帝的旨意（弗1﹕7-12）
The Son redeemed us: cleansed us; and revealed God’s will (Eph. 1:7-12)
基督不只是把得救的可能性給了我們。聖經說﹕祂真正救了我們！
Jesus didn’t just give us the possibility of getting saved. God says, He SAVED us.
上帝的旨意是什麼？天上地下一切都在基督裏歸一﹕耶穌是宇宙的主
What is God’s will: that everything in heaven and on earth be one in Christ: simply put: Jesus in Lord; Jesus rules as king over universe
3．聖靈作我們得救（得產業）的印證（弗1﹕13-14；參羅8﹕13-16）
The Holy becomes the “seal” (guarantee) of our salvation/inheritance
(Eph. 1:13-14; cf. Rom. 8:13-16)
我們要「承受產業」﹕產業是指天上一切的屬靈福份。
We shall inherit an inheritance: all spiritual blessings in heaven.
或作我們「是產業」﹕是天父賜主耶穌的產業，禮物。我們多麼寶貝!
Or the text may be rendered: We are an inheritance. This means: we are the Father’s gift to the Son (Jesus Christ). That is how precious we are to him.
聖經小字﹕「質」。上帝要給我們一切屬靈的福份；而聖靈是上帝福份的「首期付款」，或說﹕天上榮耀的預嘗。
The Holy Spirit is God’s pledge, or “earnest.” This means: God has given us all spiritual blessings in heaven, the Holy Spirit is the “down payment” of those blessings. The Holy Spirit is heaven’s “sneak preview.”
4．聖父，聖子，聖靈所作的一切，都是要叫祂榮耀的恩典得著稱讚。
（弗1﹕6， 12， 14。）
The Father, the Son and the Spirit did all this, in order that his glorious grace be praised (Eph. 1: 6, 12, 14).
聖經講了三次，一定是因為上帝要強調這點。
The Bible said this three times; because God wants to emphasize this.
生命、宇宙、救恩的目標﹕榮耀恩典得著稱讚（羅11: 33-36）
Our life’s goal, the goal of the history of the universe, the goal of salvation, is that God’s glorious grace be praised. (Rom. 11:33-36)
下面我要指出一點，可能你題聽到不舒服，可是是真理﹕
上帝很愛我們。可是祂愛自己的榮耀多過於愛任何人。
上帝`自己，和祂的榮耀﹕這是祂最關心的。
請思想這一點，可能需要幾個月！
Now may I make a point – which may make you uncomfortable:
God loves us very much. But he loves his own glory more than he loves anyone or anything. His glory – he himself – is his highest concern.
Think about this for a few months!
以上帝為中心的福音，是聖經所教導的，所宣講的福音。
A God-centered gospel, is the gospel taught and proclaimed in the Bible.
讓我們調整我們的思想，好叫我們的思想真正的以上帝為中心。
Let us adjust our own thinking, so that our thinking may truly be God-centered.
II． 人得救﹕上帝親自改變我們 Salvation to Us: God Transforms Us
1．上帝怎樣改變我們？從死入生；徹底改變（弗1﹕2-6）
How does God transform us? Thoroughly: from death to lie (Eph. 2:1-6)
心理學家，和精神科醫生往往說，我們有病；心理病，如﹕憂鬱症。
Psychologists and psychiatrists say we have “mental illness” – e.g. depression.
不錯，有時候我們的行為出了問題，是因為身體上有問題。
It is true, sometimes our behavior problems are due to physical factors.
可是，輔導員所面對的大部份問題，都與我們與上帝的關係，或我們與別人的關係有關。換言之，根底是屬靈問題。
But the majority of counseling problems are rooted in our relationship with
God, and our relationship with others (i.e., they are spiritual problems).
聖經告訴我們，我們是死在罪惡過犯中的人（弗2﹕1）。
The Bible tells us that we are dead in our sins (Eph. 2:1).
雖然有時候耶穌說，有病的人需要醫生；可是這「病」是寓意的。
Jesus talked about “the sick need a doctor;” this “sickness” is figurative!
我們不僅僅是病人，需要醫生；我們死了，需要活過來！
We are not only sick – and need therapy; we are dead, and need life.
福音的確有醫治生命的能力，可是心理治療不是福音！
The gospel has therapeutic power, but psycho-therapy is not the gospel!
福音先處理我們的罪，然後處理罪所引發的問題（憂慮，憂鬱等）。
The gospel first treats our SIN, then treats those problems which are a result of sin (worry, depression, etc.).
2．這一切都是出於上帝的恩典﹕甚至我們的信心都是恩賜（弗2﹕8-9）
All of this is out of God’s grace: even our faith is a gift (Eph. 2:8-9)
我們若問﹕我可以作什麼，才能得救呢？答案是﹕什麼都不能作，因為都是上帝的恩典！
If we ask: what can I do to be saved? Answer: Nothing; God did it all!
It is all by grace.
連我們的信心都是恩典，都是上帝所賜的。
Even our faith is a gift from God (Eph. 2:9).
恩典不只是福音的性質﹕恩典要影響我們對人生的看法。
Grace is no only an attribute of the gospel: grace must saturate and influence all our thinking about life.
而21世紀的人都在等待看一些活生生的，充滿著恩典的基督徒。
And the 21st century is dying to see a few Christians filled with grace.
我們得救是本乎恩（免費的禮物）。恩典是藉信心領受的。
We are saved by grace (free gift). The instrument to receive this gift is faith.
恩典的相反詞，就是行為﹕靠自己的行為。
The opposite of grace is works (relying on what we do).
靠行為的方法有多種；例如﹕受聖禮（天主教）；靠遵守律法（大部份的猶太人）；靠忙碌事奉來討上帝的喜悅（很多福音派基督徒）。
Some instruments for “works”: sacraments (Roman Catholics), depending on observing the Law (most Jews), and busy serving God (many evangelicals).
移民的一代，意志都很堅強。都為下一代著想（校區，升大學等）。
People in the immigrant generation are often strong-willed. They work hard for the sake of their children (a good school district, going to good colleges).
可是，孩子們真正需要，心中真正渴望的，並不是我們供給他們的物質方面，甚至教育方面的資源。
But what our children really need, what they really hunger and thirst for, are mostly unrelated to the material things and educational resources we provide.
他們真正想看到的，就是上帝的恩典活在我們的生命中！
They just want the grace of God lived out in our lives!
青少年渴求的乃是「真」﹕真正有血有肉的生命。我們「真」嗎？
They just want some reality, lives that are authentic and real! Are we real?
青少年不要一個完全完美的牧師，或父親，母親，老師﹕他們知道這種人是不存在的；那是神話，是謊言！
Young people (Generation Y) don’t want a perfect pastor, perfect parents and perfect teachers. They know these don’t exist: it’s a myth, it’s a lie!
青少年真正想看到的是，父母，老師們都在掙扎，努力活出基督徒的生活，可是有上帝足夠的恩典，他們也靠恩典長進。
What the young people want to see is: parents, teachers struggle to live out the Christian life; and God’s grace is sufficient; by grace, they are growing.
3．人什麼都不用作？不！我們蒙召，要以善行榮耀祂。（弗2﹕10）
Man does nothing? No! Called to good works to his glory. (Eph. 2:10)
下期預告﹕
III． 重生的意義（約3:1-8） Salvation In Us: Meaning of Regeneration (John 3:1-8)
1．從上頭重生﹕上帝的工作 Born from above: It is God’s work.
2．從水而重生﹕不是指洗禮，乃是聖靈潔淨我們（約3﹕3，5，8）
Born of water: The Holy Spirit cleanses us (not baptism) (John 3:3, 5, 8)
3．從靈而重生﹕聖靈賜我們新靈，更住在新靈裏（約3﹕3，5，8）
Born of the Spirit: Holy Spirit gives us new heart/spirit, lives in it (3:3,5,8)
4．這是新舊約聖經一致的教導（參﹕多3﹕4-7，結36﹕25-27）
This is the consistent teaching of OT, NT (Titus 3:4-7, Ezek. 36:325-27)
IV． 我們的回應﹕悔改的意義 Our Response: Repentance
V． 我們的回應﹕信心的意義 Our Response: Faith
VI． 一次得救，永遠得救？得救的確據 Once Saved Always Saved: Assurance
| 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 10:49:00 AM
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