The Bible clearly states that when we are in faith, we will see, “…though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.”(2 Corinthians 4:16) This is because the Holy Spirit works in us every day and leads us forward.  Here are three examples of how the Holy Spirit has led us, with the dates of when they occurred so you know they happened recently.  Before looking at these three examples, we first note that according to past progress, we should continue to read John 16. However, when preparing, I found that apart from the first paragraph that came out a long time ago, there were really no other words. And these could not be consistent with the small topics that came out this week about the thoughts brought about by last week’s piecewise Bible study.  Knowing that the two cannot be put together, I began to think about how the Holy Spirit has led us recently, and found that these three examples should be shared.

First, we discussed the thoughts that arose from last week’s piecewise Bible study (2/16/25). To illustrate this, we explained the current process of the piecewise Bible study.  From the process of “1132 Yu Hongjie’s Discipleship of Newcomers- Unbiblical Places (2)”

discussed last week, we saw that the previous teaching that one must complete the corresponding article word for word to follow God’s will is wrong.  Basically, God has absolute sovereignty. How can we restrict God saying that You have to do this?  Of course, other problems we have seen are also described.  Second, I stayed in Taiwan for about three months and did not return until January 19 of this year (2025). In the things that happened in the last month or so, I saw how the Holy Spirit led us forward. This is also an example of how we should work with God. I will describe this matter clearly in detail.  The third is something that happened just this Wednesday (2/19/25), which tells us how to discern the work of an evil spirit.

1. Thoughts raised from last week’s piecewise Bible study

Let’s first look at the current process of piecewise Bible study. Every time we do this, we prepare slides first, as shown in previous sharing.  When sharing, the slides are the backbone, and then there may be temporary additions.  After sharing, we will have corresponding or expanded articles based on the shared videos. At this time, we will try our best to follow the sharing and complete the corresponding article part word for word. In particular, the West Coast Christian Conference (WCCC) in the United States does this, so we believe this is the right way to do it.

After sharing “1132 Yu Hongjie’s Discipleship of Newcomers- Unbiblical Places (2)” last week, when I was about to write an expanded article based on the video, I found that after adding the expanded part, it would be impossible to keep the final article short enough. This made me rethink whether my previous teachings were correct!  So I found two problems.  The first is that God has absolute sovereignty. We cannot tell God that we must do something. He can tell us His will in His own way, such as the subsequent expansion.  Of course, it is easiest for people to write it out word by word, but we must know who is the Lord!

Second, it assumes that the speaker is so spiritual that any words he can discern off the cuff are from the Holy Spirit, rather than simply permitted by God, as the book of Job states at the beginning.  In other words, assuming that the speaker’s words are the words of the Holy Spirit, I can only say that from my personal experience, this is not necessarily the case!  I saw a person who thought he was like this and only spoke what God wanted him to say. May God open his eyes!  I also discovered that the video or its corresponding article is only to convey some main concepts. As long as the concepts can be explained clearly, there is no need to write them out word for word, because doing so may contain errors that are only allowed by God. Especially when we have to add expanded parts of revelation, we don’t want to keep the final article very long.

Of course, there are some people who are so spiritual that they can immediately know what is the will of the Holy Spirit. There is such an example in the Bible.  “But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, “Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.) So he got up and went; …”(Acts 8:26-27) From Acts 8:27-28, we know that a eunuch had gone up to Jerusalem to worship, and now he was back, sitting in his chariot, reading the book of the prophet Isaiah.  Then, “Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?””(Acts 8:29-30) After Philip explained the words and preached to the eunuch, he was baptized, and ” When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; …”(Acts 8:39)

Our brief introduction to this incident is not only to say that it is possible to know the will of the Holy Spirit off the cuff, but also to emphasize a principle of Bible reading, which is, do not guess about what the Bible does not say or the concept in the Bible.  The Bible does not mention the word Trinity, but it definitely has the concept that God is a triune God.

Back to the example of Philip, someone told me that since Philip was taken away after being baptized, he was initially taken away not far from the eunuch’s chariot.  We see that the Bible does not say this. The messenger told him to go down the road to Gaza. To say this, it is to forget God’s power. He had already foreseen that if Philip immediately went on the road in the wilderness, he would just happen to see the eunuch’s chariot.  The scripture does not use the word “immediately”, why do we say this?  Philip was a man full of the Holy Spirit, as the scripture says, “The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, …”(Acts 6:5) Philip knew “Do not quench the Spirit.”(1 Thessalonians 5:19) There is this immediate concept in faith, as the text says, “Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks.”(Luke 12:36) 

If Philip was snatched on the way coming, we won’t see his faith to  immediately obey to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  And if he was snatched on the way coming, why didn’t the Holy Spirit take him directly to the chariot instead of making Philip run?  Some people speculated that such a direct rapture would scare the eunuchs. This is not mentioned in the Bible and there is no such concept. Do not interpret the Bible subjectively.

2. The guidance of the Holy Spirit and working with God

Regarding the guidance of the Holy Spirit, He wants me to take the first step this time, and then lead me step by step. If I don’t take the first step, there will be no guidance later.  Therefore, to work with God this time, I must believe in God, stand on God’s side and take the first step.  Now I will tell you what happened and you will know why I say so!  Please note that for privacy reasons, I have not named the brothers, but have used older brothers and younger brothers (by opening his house for gathering) in the narrative.

At the end of last year (2024), I suddenly went back to Taiwan for nearly three months due to my mother’s health. Because my brother told me that he couldn’t feel her pulse, I changed my flight ticket that was originally scheduled to return next year.  On one Sunday of this visit, I heard hymns singing next door and knew there was a meeting of Local particular Churches (地方教會的召會) there, because other churches held their meetings in the church on Sundays.  Around February of the same year, I went back for about ninety days, but I didn’t know about this meeting during that time. I thought, maybe God let me know about this meeting after showing me the objective facts recorded in the medical system that I could show others, and wanted me to give everyone I could meet a chance to see it with their own eyes and obtain this objective fact.  Because I knew that God often uses coincidences to guide people, but not all coincidences are God’s guidance, I did not dare to take it lightly, so I attended this meeting about a week later and took the first step.  After attending the meeting, I was sure that this was really what God wanted me to do!

First of all, I did not have a good impression of the church. In my opinion, I should not attend this meeting. In the end, I was convinced in my mind because this verse, “For God so loved the world, …”(John 3:16) The plan of salvation is for everyone, and the Great Commission is to preach to unbelievers and ask them to obey the Lord’s word. In other words, give everyone a chance.  Similarly, I believe that this objective fact is not just given to me, but to give everyone I can come into contact with an opportunity to know the existence of this objective fact.

After attending the meeting, several things happened, and I became more certain that this was God’s step-by-step guidance.  First, I knew in my mind that I should send this to the older and younger brothers: “1123 God reveals His existence through objective facts that are visible to others.”  After I did it and had a brief discussion with the older brother in the meeting, I knew in my mind that I should add this paragraph: “But if a Christian has not experienced objective facts, and now has an opportunity to see these objective facts for himself, so that he knows that God has indeed used objective facts to demonstrate His existence. In this case, he is also doing this for himself.” Because my medical system is in English, I used to think that it had to require the other person knowing English. In my mind I knew that I had to add another paragraph, “Even if you don’t understand English, it doesn’t matter. You can use translation software to instantly translate it into any language that can be translated by the software.” Of course, “1123” was updated many times before it reached the final version. I just chose these two events to show how the Holy Spirit led the completion of this article this time.  These are all subjective evidences I mentioned, because I cannot show what in my mind to anyone.  The objective facts are quite different, because the objective records of the medical system are available to everyone.

In addition, through attending the meetings, I learned that they often use the word “administration.” I also discovered that the word “administration” they use does not appear in the Bible, but is in the annotations of the Recovery Version of the Bible used by the church.  Because I thought the older brother interpreted this word by quoting 1 Peter 5:5, I went to look at this verse. The Chinese translation of the Recovery Version and its English version are as follows: The English version is “In like manner, younger men, be subject to elders; and all of you gird yourselves with humility to one another, because God resists but gives grace to the humble.” If you don’t know the Chinese, it is ok since only the word “elders” will be considered. The word “elders” is called “長老” in Chinese. I’ll put the Chinese translation completely for the sake of completeness. So the Chinese version is “照樣，年幼的，要服從『年長的(older people)』；你們眾人彼此相待，也都要以謙卑束腰，因為神敵擋狂傲的人，賜恩給謙卑的人。” I never expected the Recovery Version’s annotation in English to say this: “Although the original text uses the same word for elders as in verse 1, in principle this should refer to all older people.”

This verse is clearly talking about spiritual life rather than physical age, so the word elders is used.  This is a deliberate violation. The deliberate violation is that one knows that the author is talking about elders, and the deliberate violation is that one insists in the annotation that “in principle, it should refer to all older people.”  If a person truly relies on the words of the Bible, it would be impossible to have such annotations.  God has also made me see the errors in the annotations of the Recovery Edition in different circumstances. This is just one of them. There are also illogical parts, so we must be very careful to distinguish the right from the wrong of the annotations.

There was also a brother who was leading the hymn singing and said that God asked him to choose a hymn to replace the one he originally wanted to choose, but this did not come from God. God wanted to use this incident to tell this brother not to think that things that come from one’s mind must come from God. Why? Because that song is a prayer to God, asking God to free us from being bound by religious rituals, while He is performing the rituals of religious shouting in songs and public prayers.  Because apart from the church, there is no such shouting. The early church did not have that. The church originated from Watchman Nee, where this church comes from, did not have that either.  God will not give people a contradictory message.

In order to confirm that this brother was indeed unable to make such a discernment, I asked him to read what Eliphaz the Temanite said to Job in the Book of Job (see Job 4:12-21). I also asked him if he knew that the spirit was Satan. Can you see that the words of the Spirit are a mixture of right and wrong?  In order to communicate with him, I looked at the notes in the Recovery Version and found that it was only quoting the beads.  If you look at the scriptures cited one by one, you will know that those are Satan’s views. Satan rebelled against God, and of course God did not believe him. There is no mention of God believing in angels.  

There are quite a few examples of God believing in angels, and I will just mention three of them now.  For example, “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.”(Daniel 10:13) Also, “And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war.”(Revelation 12:7) Another example is, “The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.”(Luke 1:19) These are all examples of God’s trust in angels.

I also attended the annual meeting. When the older brother took me there, he mentioned that I should not use “I” and “you”. From a human perspective, it seemed as if I was separating them. It was true, but there was always a reason every time in such a usage.  For example, I have objective facts and they don’t. In this case, how can I honestly talk about this matter with them?  As a Christian, I must tell the truth!

At the same time, he also asked me about my motivation for attending the meeting, and I told him.  When I came back, I was stimulated to send an email to the young brother, telling him my motives, including the facts stated above, and the statement in Chinese, “Please forward this message to the brothers and sisters. I will bring my computer to the next meeting, and if anyone wants to see this objective fact in person, I can show it to them.  I hope they have the patience to read such a long message.  Thanks.” It was also told by the older brother that I had five minutes to share at the next meeting. After thinking about it, I decided to send out this message first and see everyone’s reaction!  How can five minutes be enough to share objective facts?  I didn’t expect that not only did they not forward my email, but they also made a temporary change and moved the Sunday meetings in the next two weeks to be held at a different location than the young brother’s home.  This reminded me that I had told them when I would be returning to the US, so they knew that I would no longer be in Taiwan in two weeks, and that because of my eyesight, I would not be able to attend the last meeting I had scheduled by bringing my computer.  Regarding the eyes, this is another work of God. The situation at that time is in my testimony, “1038 Walking on the sea with a testimony, and healing a born blind.” If you are interested, you can go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/” and click “Understanding of Spiritual Life” to find this article.

On the last Sunday I could attend the meeting, my heart was stimulated, and I went to the meeting earlier than usual, before the time even came. I happened to meet the young brother when he was going to attend the changed meeting.  Just as I said in my email in Chinese to the young brother afterwards, “I didn’t see your email but I got the chance to share with you briefly. I thought that as your wife said, you all met at your home except for the annual meeting.” How could I not think that this was a temporary change, which prevented the brothers and sisters from seeing the objective facts and from facing the fact that annotations could be wrong.  This last email also includes, “if possible, please tell the older brothers about Demas!” I told the older brother about this matter to correct his viewpoint because I wanted him to know that even Christians like Paul’s co-worker can fall. From the conversation I had with him when he gave me the ride to annual meeting, I knew that this was something he should know.  Finally, I also said that next time I come back, I will not attend their meeting.  Thank them again.

The last thing we talked about ‘1123’ after I returned to the United States is the episode below.  A sister sent me an email in Chinese said, “I had the same thought after I read the article for the first time, so I didn’t tell you my true feelings. I just expressed my disagreement in a very subtle way. I’m sorry.  But yesterday the Holy Spirit inspired me to tell you my true feelings.” This was not due to the Holy Spirit. Why? Since part was right and the other part wrong. To This is the Satan’s signature. From the above  description I stated earlier, one should be able to see that the mentioned parts are indeed due to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and of course there are also parts that I did not mention them.  Although she did not directly say that I did not write this article under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it can be seen from what she said, because she said, “I believe your original intention is to glorify God.”

Because her true feelings were a mixture of right and wrong, and were not the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, I did not express her true feelings.  But in order to let her see that this was not the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in the update on 2/3/25, I only wrote out the objective facts done by God at that time, because I thought this might be something she could accept.  But later in the email I sent to those who were participating in the piecewise Bible study, God did not agree with this, because I was moved to say in an uncertain tone that this update was only suspected to be related to my old self, so when preparing for this piecewise Bible study, I changed back to the old version online.

Regarding this objective fact from God, some people will subjectively think that this objective fact was done by another spirit. Because I believe in the God of the Trinity, if it was done by another spirit, then this spirit also wanted me to believe that it was done by the God of the Trinity.  Someone might say how magnanimous the spirit is, willing to do such and such.  Because it is due to either the Holy Spirit or the evil spirit. I don’t believe the existence of such evil spirits, but some people may believe so subjectively.  You must know that the existence of the Triune God is an objective fact, and the objective fact will not be changed due to subjective views.

3. An example of discerning the work of evil spirits

Someone told us that he wanted to tell us there things about the work of the Holy Spirit in him many years ago in different periods. I felt that there was something wrong with the way he talked to me on the phone, so we took a train to Silicon Valley on Wednesday (2/19/25) to meet him.

After meeting him, the first thing he told us was that a long time ago when he was laid hands on, he suddenly flew forward a long distance, and then the Holy Spirit put him down softly with face downwards.  Because he was put down so gentle, he believed that this was the work of the Holy Spirit.  He also talked about a related incident, in which someone’s wife saw this incident. When her husband had no hope, she still decided to have him intubated to prolong his life, despite the opposition to intubation. By this way, she could arrange for the laying on of hands on her dying husband and also for many people to pray,l. But a similar miracle did not happen and her husband died anyway.

The second thing was that during one of his prayers, he felt his soul leave his body and go to heaven, where he had an indescribable experience.

The third thing was a dream. His interpretation was that the Holy Spirit wanted him to tell others what he had experienced, so he told more than a hundred people in his church about these three things.  Among these more than one hundred people, no one told him that this might be the work of evil spirits, pretending to be angel of light.

To find out if he could discern, I asked him to look at the fourth chapter of the Book of Job to see if he could recognize that the spirit in Eliphaz the Temanite’s dream was Satan.  Unexpectedly, he said that he didn’t read the Bible, so I told him that if it was the work of the Holy Spirit, it would not make people stop reading the Bible. This is definitely not the work of the Holy Spirit.  We really need to use the words of the Bible as the absolute standard for discernment.

(Verses refer to those in NASB95 unless otherwise specified.)

(You can get all articles in “https://a-christian-voice.com/” under “On spiritual understanding about life.”)

更正: 只有三位一体的神是绝对客观的。这里是假设医疗系统没有错，所以这是客观的事实。在一般的情况下，这假设是没错的，但在特殊的情况下，也有会作假的医生。     

    一般的见证都是都有一些不能显给别人看的地方，譬如说，有某个经文出现在我的意念中，我在异梦或异像中看见，所以这些都是在说我们所谓的主观证据。而三位一体的神已用一个医疗系统的客观纪录，毋庸置疑的彰显出祂的存在，也就是我们所谓的客观事实。如果一个非基督亲眼看见这纪录，就解决了他一个最基本的关于神存不存在的问题。也许是我的学识浅薄，据我所知，其他宗教所谓的神，都有超自然事情的记录，但唯有我们这三位一体的『神用客观的、给别人看的客观事实显现祂的存在』。如果你知道有别的所谓的神有这样的事情，请告诉我。谢谢。其实即使人知道神用客观事实彰显出祂的存在以后，人有自由意志，可以做任何决定，包括虽知道有客观事实这点，仍可否认三位一体的神的存在。我这样说，是因为我曾遇过到过一个非基督徒告诉我，即使有客观事实，如果和这人想得不一样，这人是看都不愿意看的，我们可看到， 个人的决定是勉强不得的！

    如果一个基督徒要行大使命中的传福音，告诉非基督这是他亲眼看见的客观事实，且更有可能变成那个非基督徒有和他相同的客观事实，这样更能令人信服，在这种情况下基督徒是为别人而亲眼去看的。但如果一个基督徒没有经历过客观事实，而他现在有一个机会让他亲自看见这客观事实，让他知道神的确用客观事实彰现了祂的存在，在这种情况下，他也是为自己看的。即使不懂英文也没有关系，可以用翻译的软体作即时翻译成任何软体做得到的语言。如果你想亲自看而不会这样做，只要你有手机，我就会用谷歌作为一个即时翻译英文成中文的例子，另外告诉你可如何做。所以这客观事实是世界性的，基本上会任何语言都可得到。

     就我所知，三位一体的神在约二千来都没有做过这样的客观事实。我们就先举出我经历过的一个不常见的主观证据的例子，然后叙述这客观事实，最后说明如何能使你亲眼看见这客观事实。     

    就像以前的文章一样，这篇文章是基于在油管(YouTube)上分享的专题查经，所以我们在开始时有简短的诗歌敬拜，这次我们是唱了有关超过所求所想的事的诗歌。关于超过所求和所想的事情，这两者是不一样的，如果我们连想都不能想到，怎么能求呢？要能求，必须先要能想到，不能是超过所想的事情！譬如说，我们会在祷告中求神医治我们，神常常作出超过我们所求的医治，所以病得痊愈绝不是超过我们所想的事情。也就是说，如果你举一个现在发生的事情作例子，那例子就是你能想到的，怎么会是超过你所想的？在逻辑上一般是行不通的，除非发生的事情是犹如耶稣告诉门徒说，祂会死里复活，门徒当时不信，是因为超过他们那时所想的，一直到门徒真正的看到耶稣复活，才相信了这话，所以耶稣那时是告诉门徒一个超过他们所想的事情。且门徒在祂复活后亲自看到祂升到天上 (参使徒行传 1:1-9)，才会相信耶稣说的另一个预言，『…他们要看见人子有能力，有大荣耀，驾著天上的云降临。』(马太福音 24:30) 所以祂复活以后是永远活著的。

    我们刚才分享过，一般的见证都是主观证据，都会有一些不能显示给别人看的部份，但那些对那人都是很真实的，所以我们会称之为主观证据。三位一体的神有一次使我经历过一次超过我想的事情，我原先本是不知道这件事，直到经历和妻子做的试验后，才确实知道了这事。起初也试著和别人分享这事，最后同意一位弟兄所说的，这不造就人，因为别人不知道我在说什么！据我所知，在文献中是不可能有这样的事情的，因为以现在的科技，至少有一部份是人做不到的。我现在就举一个在文献中报导过，所以可以和别人分享，但却是大部份人都不知道我在说什么的例子，来说明另一类的主观证据。        

    这例子是和我现在的眼睛有的双重影像有关，如果你不知道什么是双重影像，我就先解释一下它的基本概念。就是我们有两只眼睛，因此左右眼都可以看到一个两度空间的影像，这两个两度空间的影像会在脑中合而为一，使正常的人最终看到的是一个三度空间的立体影像。对一个有双重影像的人来说，他的两个影像不能在脑中合成一个三度空间的立体影像，所以他看到一个东西是两个两度空间分开的个别影像，也就是双重影像。        

    我是个有双重影像的人，如果我的左手横伸出去的时候，我只看到一个手，但当我右手横伸出去的时候，我会看到两只手，一个是从左眼而来的影像，而另一个从右眼而来，因为在右边，所以只要我一眨左眼，就知道那个是从右眼而来对的影像。然后脑能做使人讶异的事情，因为错的影像会逐渐消失，只剩下由右眼而来的一只手。你看不到我说的两只手，因为正常人本就是会看到一只手，虽然你相信我不在说谎，但你会很难真正相信我真看到了右边有两只手，因为你看不到。

    关于在文献中报导过这事，我儿子是验光的医生，他确认了他在学校时学过这事，所以我知道在文献中报导过，能够分享。重点是在说，这是属于主观证据，我看到了但你看不到，会很难真正的相信。这和信仰有一点类似，所以信仰是很难的，基督徒是要:『你们虽然没有见过他(耶稣)，却是爱他；如今虽不得看见，却因信他就有说不出来、满有荣光的大喜乐，并且得著你们信心的果效，就是(灵)魂的救恩。』(彼得前书 1:8-9) 请注意，原文只有魂这个字，没有灵字。尤其是，『人心比万物都诡诈，坏到极处，谁能识透呢？』(耶利米书 17:9) 人真的会自己欺骗自己的！我知道这是真实的，因为我有过这样的经验。所以我们真该如彼得所说，『务要谨守、警醒，因为你们的仇敌魔鬼，如同吼叫的狮子，遍地游行，寻找可吞吃的人。』(彼得前书 5:8) 不要落入仇敌的手中。       

    我今天要分享的是超过我想的客观事实，详情如后。如果你生病时会去找医生治疗，需要动手术时也如此，那么这篇文章就是为你写的，告诉你神的存在是可由能给别人看的客观事实来证明。也就是从人和从神角度看，都是客观事实和存在，而非内心的感动或相信。           

    这样的客观事实可以从我遭遇的事情看见。在网路上的UCDavis医疗系统的MyChart，11/27/23纪录了我和那时的家庭医生对话，说我可以吃降血药Losarton半颗，但要保持另一种降血压药Metoprolol的剂量相同，所以那时我是吃两种降血压药的。

    MyChart的纪录显示，我现在没有吃任何降血压药，并在1/9/25纪录了我送给我现在医生的最近的血压纪录中，从 3/5/24 到1/9/25，一点高血压的问题也没有。           

    一件事情的发生，不是人做的，就是灵界做的！既然这样高血压的治疗不是人能做的，因此一定是灵界做的。在灵界中不是属神的，就是属撒但的，因为我们知道撒但不会这样做，所以一定是属神的！所以说，神用在一个医疗系统中纪录的客观的事实，彰显了祂的存在。           

    如果你认为医疗系统所纪录的是客观的事实，则会没有任何疑虑的相信我所经历的这事是客观的事实，因在逻辑上只有这可能性。如果你主观的相信，医疗系统纪录的不见得对，不相信医疗系统的纪录，这样你就不会达到同样的结论！所以有这样对医疗系统的信心是我们的前提，有了这样对医疗系统的信心，我们才会看到神借著医疗系统所纪录的客观事实，彰显出祂的存在。           

    你现在可以看到我碰到的事是这样的客观事实吗？如果你知道我所碰到的是客观的事实，你有没有兴趣亲自看MyChart中所纪录的，把我的客观的事实，也变为你的客观的事实？所以对你来说，这是不能给人看但属于你的客观事实。我必须强调，你得亲自看见才会成为你的客观的事实，要不，你只是主观的相信我说的是事实。           

    神的确在有网路前没有这样做过，有网路后才有可能透过网路的医疗系统、让人亲自看见能给人看的客观事实。至于三位一体的神在有网路后是否这样做过，我只能说我不知道，如果你知道这样的事情请告诉我。启示不只是会用超自然的方式在意念中告诉我们，神也常用别人的话启示我们，如保罗见过大光后神是要亚拿尼亚告诉他一些事情 (参使徒行传 9:1-18)。我本来不想把这客观事实放在油管和网路上，因为你在网路上看到的仍是主观证据，因你要主观的相信我没有说谎。因我曾因别人的话得到启示过，我真的不知道这次神会不会用我的分享去启示你看到已做在你身上的事情，就像我起先并不知道这客观事实一样，直到在意念中被启示唤醒。真的很希望神已在别人身上，做过这样类似的客观事实。           

    请注意，即使你亲自看见，我们有的客观事实仍有所不同。你所有的客观事实不能变为别人的客观事实，因为你不能登入我的 MyChart。我这样说是因为我知道有人动手术拿掉脑瘤后没有吃药，这样的不吃药的治疗不是人能做的。不过就算是这人可以有纸上的纪录显示出他所说的一切话，但别人仍必须相信他的纪录不是假造的，相信他说的话，也就是说，那人经历了的是不能客观的显给别人看的客观事实。           

    为了达到亲眼见的这个目的，我会登录进入我的MyChart，使你能够亲眼看到这客观事实的所有纪录。我们知道，一般有主观证据的见证，从神的角度看也是客观事实，因为祂已经做了这事。但从人的角度看，是主观证据，会有不能显示给别人看到的部份，如刚才提到的某人说: 在意念中我有某些话，或在异梦中看到了一些事情，等等。以上所说的 MyChart 的纪录，是从人的角度看，也是客观事实， 所以可显给非基督徒看，证明神的存在，解决他们的一个基本的问题。如果一个非基督徒不相信圣经的话只用纯粹的逻辑，就会得到不可知论的结论。在这里我只是说，他们亲自来看只是解决了他们的一个基本的问题，他们也不会立刻因只有这一个客观事实而信主，个人的决定是勉强不得的。已经有一个非基督徒也这样做了，只是希望有一天他能想到这对他的影响，知道神确实存在，这已经是善莫大焉了！           

    请注意，大使命是说，『…你们要去，使万民作我的门徒，奉父、子、圣灵的名给他们施洗。凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守，…』(马太福音 28:19-20，和合本)  许多教会也是照这经文在做。其实大使命依照圣经是在说，『…奉耶稣基督的名受洗，…』(使徒行传 2:38) 保罗也知道要奉主耶稣的名受洗，『因为圣灵还没有降在他们一个人身上，他们只奉主耶稣的名受了洗。于是使徒按手在他们头上，他们就受了圣灵。』(使徒行传 8:16-17) 然后是和合本的另译，『给他们施洗，归于父、子、圣灵的名』。所以大使命的要求是我们必须传讲，教训他们遵守，但一个人有自由意志，决定权在个人。那要怎么能让人遵守呢？就是要以身作则，如圣经所说，『有了我(耶稣)的命令又遵守的，这人就是爱我的；爱我的必蒙我父爱他，我也要爱他，并且要向他显现。』(约翰福音 14:21)    

    难怪有些教会基于这节经文，『人点灯，不放在斗底下，是放在灯台上，就照亮一家的人。』(马太福音 5:15) 要人做光做盐。这本是好的，但常忘了下一句，『你们的光也当这样照在人前，叫他们看见你们的好行为，便将荣耀归给你们在天上的父。』(马太福音 5:16) 要有好行为才行，不是口说而已！更忘了，即使灯放在斗底下，仍会发光，因为灯本就有发光的生命。基督徒读经的目的，本是要得著生命，这就是耶稣说的，『你们查考圣经，因你们以为内中有永生；给我作见证的就是这经。然而你们不肯到我这里来得生命。』(约翰福音 5:39-40) 生命只能从神来，就像经文所说，『我(保罗)栽种了，亚波罗浇灌了，惟有神叫他生长。可见栽种的算不得甚么，浇灌的也算不得甚么，只在那叫他生长的神。』(哥林多前书 3:6-7)  别人最多只能增加你的知识，带领你到神面前，要知道，『…不要受师尊的称呼，因为只有一位是你们的师尊，就是基督。』(马太福音 23:10)        

    请注意，现在你能够在网路上看见的仍是一般的见证，因为你必须相信我说的是真的，除非你亲自看见这客观事实，才会变为你的客观事实。也就是因为这个放在网上反正是一般见证的原因，我本来是不想放在网路上的，但想到我自己本也是不知道，直到在意念中告诉我，而我以前也常因别人的话得到启示，因我不能确定三位一体的神是不是要借著我的分享去启示他人，最终还是改变了主意，希望有人得著启示或能亲自看见。有人会认为这事是撒但装作光明的天使而来，这人是真的很难相信神有绝对主权，可以选择自己要如何显现都行。我知道这是从神来的，因为以前经历过一些有多于自己一人知道的预知的事情，这是撤但和牠的差役所不能做的。这次也相同，也有多于自己一人的相信这是客观事实。也是这一次，我真正了解了为什么在耶稣道成肉身的期间中，祂行了这么多的神迹，犹太人仍然不相信祂，最终反将祂钉在十字架上！我们的心常和他们一样，是多么的刚硬啊！        

    另外一件令人鼓舞的事情和大家分享，就是有一位学纯数学的非基督徒博士看到以前的一个版本中告诉我们，在圣经的话语作前提下，从她以前所听到的见证中，都可以找到逻辑上的错误，就是都有主观证据，唯有这一次她找不到，所以决定亲自来看这客观事实，且已经看了。其实不只是非基督徒亲自看了，也有些基督徒亲自看了，只是到目前为止，两者加起来，显示出不是有很多人愿意这样做！        

    就像我在大使命中所理解的，神允许用近日的环境来告诉我，我的生命够不上我所得到的，因有别人介入，我就不多分享这环境是指什么了！但至少我可以传讲三位一体的神做了这样的一件事，所以请大家告诉大家，我到1/18/25前都会在新竹，之后我会回到美国靠近沙加缅度(Sacramento)住的地方，所以你可以估量有多远、和愿意付多少代价来亲自看这客观事实。如果你想亲自看见，可以和我用 email  联络，我联络的地址在我的网站  https://a-christian-voice.com/  的首页中。如果是多于一人同时要亲自看见，也没有问题，以前我是一个一个来，现在我知道可以将电视作为计算机的银幕，我在计算机做的事情可以让多人在电视上同时看到。

    如果你决定要到我这里来亲自看，请先答应我要保持我的匿名。保持匿名的原因很简单，碰到这样的事太容易骄傲了，至少匿名应可能可以减少一个骄傲的原因。你可以讲这客观的事实给别人听或甚至书写，但对他们而言仍是和一般的见证无异，也就最多是主观相信你的话的主观证据。除非这人有机会见到我而想变成他的客观事实，我就必须见他而将 MyChart  的纪录显给他看。在这种情况下，请不必告诉他我的名字，但请知会我一声他叫什么名字和联络方法，何时会来，当然能陪他来最好。这是我能想到能保持我匿名，而变为他的客观事实的最好方法，我也会这样告诉他这要求。           

    如果你不小心泄露了我的名字，不必担心，我会这样说是因为有一次，有一位弟兄承诺不要把我当时的情况说出去，但这位弟兄很好心的为我的情况祷告神，正好我的妻子在那祷告中。如果为这样不小心的事情打破了承诺，只要在神面前悔改就可以了，因经文说得很清楚，『我们若认自己的罪，神是信实的，是公义的，必要赦免我们的罪，洗净我们一切的不义。』(约翰一书 1:9) 告不告诉我都无所谓。       

    最后，我要以讨论三位一体作为结束，因为我们提到三位一体的神多次，而基督徒相信的是三位一体的神，这是非常重要的概念，所以我们借这机会，简单的说明一下这概念。三位一体的神是说神只有一位，但有三个不同的位格，就是父神耶和华、子神耶稣、和圣灵。耶和华是神，耶稣是神，圣灵也是神，所以只有一位神，而这三位在创世以前就是以爱为连接，但三位各有所司，譬如说，在耶稣道成肉身的那段时间里有一个次序，父差遣子，子不去，圣灵不来(参约翰福音 20:21, 16:7)。关于只有一位神这点，我们来看创世记的经文是怎么说的，『神(H430, 复数)说：「我们要照著我们的形像，按著我们的样式造人，…神就照著自己的形像造(created, H1254, 单数)人，乃是照著他的形像造男造女。』(创世记 1:26-27)  名词是复数，而动词是单数，所以这里是说了神是多位一体的唯一的神。        

    父神是神，这是无可置疑的。圣经说，『太初有道，道与神同在，道就是神。这道太初与神同在。』(约翰福音 1:1-2) 这道是指耶稣，因耶稣自己说，『父啊，现在求你使我同你享荣耀，就是未有世界以先，我同你所有的荣耀。』(约翰福音 17:5) 这就是讲的起初在未有世界以先，所以耶稣本质就是神。在祂道成肉身的那段时间，神自己说祂是神的儿子(参马太福音 3:16-17)，是基督(参马太福音 16:16-17)，连鬼也知道这点(参路加福音 4:41)，那时祂是完全的人，因祂『…虚己，取了奴仆的形像，成为人的样式。』(腓立比书 2:7) 因祂的本质是神，所以也是完全的神，就像一个王子沦落为乞丐，仍是王子，因王子的身份是与生俱来的，不会因沦落为乞丐就失去王子的本质。简言之，耶稣是神。最后我们看圣灵也是神这一点，经文写道：『彼得说：「亚拿尼亚，为甚么撒但充满了你的心，叫你欺哄圣灵，…你不是欺哄人，是欺哄神了！」』 (使徒行传 5:3-4)   所以圣灵也是神。三位一体的神对基督徒而言仍是奥秘，不能完全了解的，至少我们不知神怎么能成为如此，基督徒只能用信心接受！

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到这网站后要按『对属灵生命的了解』。) 

Correction: Regarding tithing. This is just one instance of the Holy Spirit’s guidance in my understanding of the true meaning of tithing. I recounted the entire five-fold process in “1142 True meaning of tithing and don’t acknowledge Satan as father.” I haven’t updated the individual parts of the corresponding articles or on YouTube. Instead, I’ve included the corrected version of “1142” and preserved the process, hoping others won’t make the same mistake I did. The rest of the content is fine. Thank you.

Because I really wanted to see that God grants a revival to Brother Yu’s church, I met with him in the church for about an hour. We basically talked about four things. I will use the second to fifth sections to talk about these four things, describing what the Bible says and some of his responses that I remember.  Someone told me that he had read the article, “1096 Yu Hongjie’s Discipleship of Newself – Unbiblical Places (1)” in Chinese, but he did not see the mistakes the book made mentioned in the article. I guess that person did not read the second half carefully at that time, because in “3. There is a big difference between looking at things from a human perspective and looking at things from a divine perspective,” we talked about the mistakes made at the beginning.  The arrangement of that article is to talk about the correct concept first, and in the process of deriving the correct concept, we will see quite clearly where the mistakes are.  In “Unbiblical Places (1)”, I mainly discussed the definition of sin. This definition is consistent from the perspective of the present world and the previous world. In fact, I have been trying to avoid pointing out a common mistake in that class. I think that the time has come and I can no longer avoid it, so I’ll discuss this point at the end.

First, let me talk about how I got to know Brother Yu in the Lord, and we also discuss some related matters in this article.  In the second one, he once again confirmed the importance of discerning whether it is right or wrong about when feeling the work of the Holy Spirit in one’s mind.  Third, we discussed whether Adam had a share in holiness when he was created. He believed that he had no share, but the Bible says that he did. If a person believes that he had no share, he will see that there is a logical problem.  Fourth, we discussed what it means things being beyond all that we ask or think, and found that many of the examples basically have logical problems, except for those who have actually experienced situations that truly exceeded one’s expectations.  Fifth, we discussed the true meaning of tithing. From the perspective that “what God tells us through the Bible is consistent,” we know that the message of the Bible is not ambiguous about tithing in the era of New Testament.  Finally, a common mistake is pointed out, which is also made by the book in its definition of sin.

1. How to know Yu Hongjie in the Lord

I remember that many years ago a sister sent us a device called Faith, Hope and Love F166, which has only audio. It contains a sermon from a special conference in China that Yu Hongjie started his sermons on August 13th, 2001.  Before this, I had never heard of Yu Hongjie’s name. While I was listening to his audios, a thought in my mind asked me if there was anything wrong in the talk. I answered very honestly in my mind that there was nothing wrong to me. Then, I don’t know when, I stopped listening to his audio before I finished it.  Listening to the same audio again now, I can tell that there are indeed something in his sermon at that time that are inconsistent with the Bible.

Later, after listening to some of his sermons online, I learned that the church he pastored was in Silicon Valley, and I also knew how much he hoped that God would grant their church a revival.  This church is indeed the one, among all the churches God has led me to, which pursues the Lord the most. I really hope to see God grant this church a revival. However, judging by the current direction of the church, it is not yet at the level of revival. This is not a judgment, but a discernment based on the words of the Bible.  Why do I say so?  Because at least the church needs to be able to teach according to the Bible by correcting some errors, such as the definition of sin mentioned in “1096 Yu Hongjie’s Discipleship of Newcomers- Unbiblical Places (1).”

The most important thing is to repeatedly emphasize that the purpose of reading the Bible is to have life, and life can only come from God. Do not extinguish the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Let the Holy Spirit guide your Bible study so as not to interprete wrongly the Bible. Even without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that is, when the Holy Spirit wants you to take the first step, you must still stand on God’s side. In this case, even if you make mistakes, the Holy Spirit will correct you. In other words, this is a learning process, learning how to understand the will of the Holy Spirit.  No one is a Christian from birth, and similarly, no one can fully know the will of the Holy Spirit after believing and being baptized.

Please note that this does not mean that you always have to take the first step, but it is not like some teachings say that you cannot take the first step without the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The question is ‘how do you know that it is not the Holy Spirit waiting for you to take the first step?’  Anyway, you still have to be quite sure in all aspects that it is the Holy Spirit who wants you to take the first step before you take the first step. At least afterwards you can know whether it is the Holy Spirit who wants you to take that first step.  Because the Book of Deuteronomy says very clearly, “When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.”(Deuteronomy 18:22) If the future events you are about to experience are from God, they will definitely come to be true, so this is a learning process.  If you make a mistake, you can look back and see where the mistake was.

These are what the scriptures say, and some relevant scriptures are quoted below.  Regarding the purpose of reading the Bible is to have life: “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.”(John 5:39-40)

About life that can only come from God: “I (Paul) planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.”(1 Corinthians 3:6-7)

Regarding the guidance of the Holy Spirit: “Do not quench the Spirit.”(1 Thessalonians 5:19)

About not wrongly interpreting the Bible: “…our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.”(2 Peter 3:15-16)

About the Holy Spirit asking you to take the first step: Isaiah said in the Old Testament, “Although the Lord has given you bread of privation and water of oppression, He, your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher. Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.”(Isaiah 30:20-21) When you take the first step and make a mistake, your teacher is behind you and tells you the right direction only afterward.

One such instance in the New Testament is recorded in the book of Acts, “They (Paul and Silas) passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”(Acts 16:6-10) You see, didn’t they take the first wrong step, and then the Holy Spirit led them?  Once again we see what God tells us through the Bible is consistent. In this case, what in both Old Testament and New Testament is consistent.

You know, “He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel.”(Psalm 103:7) We must emphasize the ways of the Bible and not be like the Israelites at that time. When God was working, everyone seemed to have great faith, but when God stopped working, they did not know what to do.  Because the Bible is inspired by God, we believe that “what God tells us through the Bible is consistent.” Without discounting the words of the Bible, we will find how consistent the Bible is with logical principles.  We have shared before that the principles of logic can be divided into two parts, namely axioms (facts that are acceptable to everyone in a certain field and are valid even for an unlimited period of time) plus objective logical deductions.  If this principle is applied to individuals, axioms do not refer to what is accepted by the public, but to personal views, which will change with time and experience.  It should be noted that logical deduction is objective and applies everywhere.  Regarding this point, we discussed why the Bible has obviously contradictory revelations in “1111 The True Meaning of Biblical Inerrancy.” Please go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/” and click on “Understanding of Spiritual Life” to find this article.  Thanks.

If everyone in the church can be united with God, the church can have true unity, that is, it can achieve what Paul said, “make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.”(Philippians 2:2) This is because those are only the same as what Jesus has due to the unity with Him. Of course, everyone has different role in the church, “For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.”(1 Corinthians 12:12) We also see that there is only one Church of God, the gathering of all those who have accepted the Triune God, and it does not refer to different buildings on earth.  We see, “But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.”(1 Corinthians 12:18) It is clear that God is an absolutely sovereign God.

How I hoped that this church could be revived. I felt a burden to communicate with Brother Yu about how it could possibly reach the level of revival. It was because of this burden that we met for the only time in his church.  Here, I would like to mention the process of agreeing a time with him.  In order to maintain my anonymity, I first sent an email to the church’s office secretary, asking only to talk to him on the phone. As I did not receive a reply, I had to go to the church in person to arrange a meeting time with him. After meeting him, I found out that he basically did not reply to such emails.  The appointed time was changed due to his illness and he had to go out, so it was about five months later when I actually met him again.  The reason I described the meeting process with him in such detail was not to complain about why I had to wait so long, but to thank him for taking the time out of his busy schedule to meet with me, whom he had never heard of before.  More importantly, I believe that the arrangement of time is in the hands of the Lord. I must learn to wait for the time He arranges. All I can do is work with God. 

2. Discerning what is the work of the Holy Spirit

My heart was moved during that meeting, and I remembered the first question, which was in the Chinese “Interview with Pastor Yu Hongjie and his wife: Our Story” at about 31:50, when Brother Yu said, “Look, I am proud again.” At that time, I felt in my mind that the Holy Spirit was working in him, otherwise he would not have said that.  Especially since I considered him to be a spiritual elder, I agreed at the time that this must be the case, but I was never 100% sure.  Since only he could tell me the answer, I agreed in my mind to ask him about whether he was moved by the Holy Spirit at that time. Then I was surprised to find out that he was just joking.  Obviously, the feeling I had at that time was wrong. Although I had some such experiences before and knew that I had to make discerning, I was wrong again this time!  Therefore, I know that I have not grown up spiritually, because “…solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”(Hebrews 5:14)

I still remember his response was that if I didn’t like him saying it, he would not say it again in the future, so I had to tell him that this was not the reason I asked him the question.  In this matter, I truly realized that, “No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”(1 John 3:9) He could have chosen not to answer or to lie for the sake of his reputation, but he chose to honestly answer this question that probably no one had ever asked before. He did not commit a sin in this matter, and it also allowed me to finally know for sure that it was not the Holy Spirit who was working at that time.

From this I thought of and pointed out that he had testified that sometimes things happen exactly as the result of prayer, but sometimes it is just the opposite, so sometimes you know it in advance.  Because I had similar experiences and knew about it beforehand, and I thought that he was a spiritual elder, so I felt that it must be so, and I said positively that this was the right thing to do.  It was not until I came back that I remembered what was said in the Book of Deuteronomy: “When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.”(Deuteronomy 18:22) Only then did I realize saying about this is sometimes right and sometimes wrong is not right. The Triune God is training us to discern whether it is the work of the Holy Spirit, the old self or even the work of evil spirits. I just don’t know if he understands it this way now.

3. Did Adam have a share in holiness when he was created?

He believed that Adam had no part in holiness when he was created, but the Bible says differently. The Bible says, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”(Genesis 1:27) Some people may raise questions, because “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; …”(Genesis 1:26) Why do we only talk about image and not likeness? Because image and likeness are two different words and must be discussed separately, otherwise there will definitely be logical problems.

For example, someone may say, ‘I still feel that holiness only exists in God’s life. Adam was created in the image of God, which means that Adam has a spirit.  Jesus became flesh and took on human form, which means He had a body like a human.  I think these are two parallel concepts. According to your inference, since Jesus took on the image of a human being, he should also be sinful.’  If you think like this, there will be a logical problem. The problem is that it assumes that taking on the appearance of a human means being exactly the same as a human.  No, because the Bible says that Jesus “but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant (G3444), and being made in the likeness (G3667) of men.”(Philippians 2:7) So it’s just the likeness!  The image is different.  The Lord was conceived by the Holy Spirit and did not sin throughout His life. This is the image of the Lord. During His incarnation, He indeed took on the image of a servant, a servant of God the Father, and He obeyed God all His life.  Our image is the image of Adam after he sinned.

Let’s briefly talk about the difference between image and likeness here.  Paul said, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.”(Romans 8:29) Please note that he only said to be conformed to the image of Jesus, not to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus, because Jesus took on the form of a man, so we already have the likeness of Jesus.  Because we just said “according to our likeness” in Genesis 1:26, we know that the likeness of man is the likeness of the Triune God.  Although the Bible does not explicitly state what the likeness of the Triune God is, we know that the form is fixed and cannot be tainted by sin.  If it were possible to be tainted by sin, then it would be impossible for Jesus to “…offered Himself without blemish to God, …”(Hebrews 9:14) Because in this case His likeness was tainted by sin.  So it is the image of Adam that is tainted by sin. Like Adam, our image is tainted by sin.

The image of God absolutely includes holiness, “Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.”(Leviticus 19:2) People will ask, since Adam was holy, how could he sin?  This is because Adam had free will and could choose to disobey God and eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The definition of sin is disobeying God. Although he was holy, he could sin.  His holiness is different from God’s holiness, “…for He (God) cannot deny Himself.”(2 Timothy 2:13) How can God not obey Himself?  Therefore, God’s holiness is a holiness that cannot sin.

This is closely related to us in the era of New Testament era.  In this era, we believe that “…He (God the Father) rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.”(Colossians 1:13) The kingdom of His beloved Son is a holy kingdom. We are also holy in Christ, but we also have free will and can sin like Adam!  This is different from what many people think, that if they are holy and thus they will not sin. This is not true. The key is to “Do not quench the Spirit.”(1 Thessalonians 5:19) That is, obey God.  God is not a God who commands an action always, so even when there is no inspiration from the Holy Spirit, we must stand on God’s side.

4. Beyond what we ask or think 

The Bible clearly states, “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.”(Ephesians 3:20) So I then asked Brother Yu regarding what is it that is beyond what we ask or think?  Because from his preaching, I know that he has not experienced anything beyond what we think.  This definitely does not refer to things like being healed of a disease. Being healed of a terminal illness is more than what one asks for, but not more than what one thinks.  What is beyond what you think is something you can’t even think. How can you ask for it if you can’t even think it?  Only the Triune God can take the initiative for that.

I told him that I didn’t remember what example he had given about things that were beyond what one could ask or think, but that the example must be wrong, and he quickly realized that it was logically wrong because that example fell into the category of what one could think.  Unless it was as Jesus prophesied to His disciples at that time, that He would die and be resurrected, and Jesus also said, “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, …”(Matthew 16:27) This was definitely beyond what the disciples and the people could think at that time.  So it’s not that we can’t use what’s happening now as an example, but we have to make sure that the example is beyond what everyone thinks.  In “1123 God reveals His existence through objective facts that are visible to others,” an example is given in which God reveals His existence by using the records of the online medical system.  Because the use of the Internet has only been around in recent decades, and God hasn’t done this for about two thousand years, how can such doing be not beyond what we can think?  If you are interested in this, you can go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/” and click “Understanding of Spiritual Life” to find this short article.

5. The true meaning of tithing

At the time we met, I thought that the Bible did not clearly state whether or not to tithe, but I still told him that the New Testament did not mention the need to tithe. His response was to quote this verse, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.”(Matthew 23:23) I mainly use the Chinese Union Version. With its translation, I thought that things like justice are necessary. So I didn’t see that it says tithing is necessary.

After I came back, I checked many English versions and the original texts of this scripture in Strong’s Concordance, and found that it indeed saw that it was telling the Pharisees to tithe, but in the end I also realized that Jesus had not yet died and resurrected and ascended to heaven, and that these words were spoken to the people in the era of Old Testament.  In the New Testament, Jesus only commended the widow who gave two small coins (see Luke 21:1-4).  Judging from the fact that “what God tells us through the Bible is consistent,” Jesus will not ask us in the era of New Testament to keep the Law of tithing!  Jesus Himself kept the true meaning of the Sabbath rather than the Law, so how could He ask us to keep the Law!  A person who loves the Lord will naturally consider the needs of God’s house and do his best to provide food for it.  If a person who loves the Lord has the power to give more than the tithe, he will definitely give more than the tenth.  If a person who loves the Lord does not have the ability to offer a tenth, his offering of less than a tithing will still be accepted by the Lord because he has willingly done what he can to the best of his ability.

The most difficult thing for the Brother Yu’s church is probably to no longer advocate tithing according to the Bible, because a realistic problem will be faced by that, that is, whether it can be the same as at the time when the church was first established, at that time everyone loved the Lord so much and God led them to accomplish a church building plan that seemed impossible to achieve.

6. A common mistake

On page 54 of the first volume of ‘Yu Hongjie’s Discipleship of Newcomers,’ when discussing the definition of sin, the first thing cited is the basic theology by Dr. Charles C. Ryrie. According to the description in the book, Dr. Ryrie is considered by many to be one of the most influential basic theologians of the 20th century. I have not read his book, so I have no comment.  But we must understand that his book is also a human work and cannot be compared with the Bible. We should see what the Bible says. When it comes to definitions, we should see whether the Bible says so or whether there is such a concept like Triune God. What we should quote is what the Bible says, not what people say.

On the definition of sin, his definition is inconsistent with the Bible, so there must be logical errors, just as the Bible clearly says, “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.”(Matthew 7:16-17) However, I will not read his book and point out the logical errors because it is not my responsibility.

(Verses refer to those in NASB95 unless otherwise specified.)

(You can get all articles in “https://a-christian-voice.com/” under “On spiritual understanding about life.”)

更正:  關於十一奉獻。這衹是聖靈引導我瞭解十一奉獻的真諦過程中的一次，我在「2142 十一奉獻的真諦和不要認撒但為父」，講述了整個五次的過程。 我在油管和相應的文章中，並沒有個別的更新，而是用更正的方式引用了正確的「2142」，保留了這過程，希望別人不會和我犯下同樣的錯誤。其他的部份沒有問題。謝謝。      

    因为我非常希望看到神赐给于弟兄的教会一个复兴，所以我和他在教会中见过一次约一小时的面，基本上谈了四件事情，我就借著第二到第五谈谈这四件事情，叙述一下我所知道的圣经说法，和一些记得的当时他的回应。因有人告诉我，他看过这篇文章，『2096 于宏洁的新人门训 – 不合乎圣经的地方 (1)』，却没有看到我说的于宏洁的新人门训的错误在那里，我猜是那人那时没有仔细的阅读后半段，因为在『3. 从人的角度看和从神的角度看事情的大不相同』中，我们一开始就讲到了引用经文的错误在那里。那篇文章的安排是先讲对的观念，而在推导对的观念过程中，我们会相当清楚的看到错的地方在那里。在「不合乎圣经的地方 (1)」中，主要是在讲罪的定义，从现在的世界和先前的世界来看，这定义都是一致的，其实我一直想避免指出那课中的一个常犯的错误，我想是时间到了，我不能再避免了，就在最后面讨论了这一点。    

    首先我说说我是如何在主里知道于弟兄的，也讨论了一些相关的事情。在第二中，他又再次的证实了，要分辩在意念中感觉圣灵工作是否是对的。第三，我们讨论到亚当创造时是否和圣洁有份这一点，他认为是无份，而圣经是说有份，如果一个人相信无份，会看到逻辑上会出问题的。第四，我们讨论了超过所求所想的事是指什么，看到许多的例子都基本上会有逻辑上的问题，除了能确实经历过真正超过所想的情况外。第五，我们讨论了十一奉献的真谛，从「神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的」来看，会知道圣经的讯息不会是模棱两可的。最后是指出了一个常犯的错误，也是新人门训在罪的定义中所犯的。

1. 如何在主里知道于宏洁的        

    记得多年前有一位姊妹送来了一个只有音频的信望爱F166，其中有8/13/01于宏洁在中国开始的一个特会的讲道。在这之前，我没有听过于宏洁的名字，在听他音频的当中，有意念问我听不听得到错误，我在意念中很诚实的问答说听不到，于是不知是什么时候，我没听完就停止了听他的音频。现在再听同样的音频，能够分辩出他那次的讲道中，的确是有和圣经讲的不合的地方。        

    后来，听了他一些网上的讲道，知道他牧养的教会是在矽谷，也知道了他是多么的希望神能赐给他们的教会一个复兴。这教会是神所带领我去的各教会中最追求的，我真的非常希望看到神赐给这教会一个复兴，但照目前教会的走向，真的还不够达到复兴的程度，这实在不是论断，而是依照圣经话语的分辩。为什么这样说呢？因为至少要能依照圣经去教导，更正一些错误，如在『2096 于宏洁的新人门训 – 不合乎圣经的地方 (1)』中，所提到的罪的定义。        

    最主要的是要一再强调读经的目的是要得生命，而生命只能从神来，不要消灭圣灵的感动，要让圣灵引导查经，才能不强解圣灵。即使没有圣灵的引导，也就是圣灵要你跨出第一步的时候，仍要站在神那边，在这种情况下，即使犯错，圣灵也会更正你，也就是这是一个学习的过程，学习如何体会圣灵的旨意。没有一个人从出生的时候就是基督徒，同样的，也没有一个人在一信之后，就能完全的知道圣灵的旨意。       

    请注意，这不是说你总是要先踏出第一步，但不是像有些教导所说的，没有圣灵的感动绝对不能够踏出第一步，问题是你怎么知道不是圣灵在等你踏第一步呢？所以你还是要在各方面相当的确定，是圣灵要你踏出第一步你才能踏出第一步，至少事后你可以知道是不是圣灵要你踏出那一步。因为申命记说得很清楚，『先知托耶和华的名说话，所说的若不成就，也无效验，这就是耶和华所未曾吩咐的，是那先知擅自说的，你不要怕他。』(申命记 18:22) 如果你要经历的未来的事是出自神，一定会成就的，所以这是一个学习的过程。如果犯错，回头看就有可能看到错误在那里。

    这些都是经文这样说的，下面就引用了一些相关的经文。关于读经的目的是要得生命: 『你们查考圣经，因你们以为内中有永生；给我(耶稣)作见证的就是这经。然而你们不肯到我这里来得生命。』(约翰福音 5:39-40)        

    关于生命只能从神来:『我(保罗)栽种了，亚波罗浇灌了，惟有神叫他生长。可见栽种的算不得甚么，浇灌的也算不得甚么，只在那叫他生长的神。』(哥林多前书 3:6-7)        

    关于圣灵的带领: 『不要消灭圣灵的感动。』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:19)

    关于不强解圣经: 『…我们所亲爱的兄弟保罗，照著所赐给他的智慧写了信给你们。他一切的信上也都是讲论这事。信中有些难明白的，那无学问、不坚固的人强解，如强解别的经书一样，就自取沉沦。』(彼得后书 3:15-16)        

    关于圣灵要你跨出第一步: 以赛亚在旧约说，『主虽然以艰难给你当饼，以困苦给你当水，你的教师却不再隐藏，你眼必看见你的教师。你或向左或向右，你必听见后边有声音说：「这是正路，要行在其间。」』(以赛亚书 30:20-21) 当你跨出了第一步而犯错时，你的教师是在后边，也是事后才告诉你正确的方向。     

    在新约的一个这样的实例记载在使徒行传，『圣灵既然禁止他们(保罗和西拉)在亚西亚讲道，他们就经过弗吕家、加拉太一带地方，到了每西亚的边界，他们想要往庇推尼去，耶稣的灵却不许。他们就越过每西亚下到特罗亚去。在夜间有异象现与保罗：有一个马其顿人站著求他说：「请你过到马其顿来帮助我们！」保罗既看见这异象，我们随即想要往马其顿去，以为神召我们传福音给那里的人听。』(使徒行传 16:6-10) 你看，他们不是先跨出错的第一步，而后圣灵才带领他们吗？又一次我们看到，神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的。

    要知道，『他(耶和华)使摩西知道他的法则，叫以色列人晓得他的作为。』(诗篇 103:7) 要强调圣经的法则，不要像那时的以色列人一样，神作工的时候，大家都很有信心的样子，神一不作工，就不知何去何从。因为圣经是神所默示的，所以我们相信「神借圣经告诉我是一致的」，在不把圣经的话打折扣下，我们会发觉圣经是多么符合逻辑的原则。我们以前分享过，逻辑的原则可分成两部份，就是公理(在某个领域中众人都可接受的事实的扩展到无限时都可成立)，加上客观的逻辑的推导。如果这原则用到个人身上，公理就不是指众人所接受的，而是指个人的看见，是会随时间和经验而改变的。要注意的是逻辑的推导是客观的，是放诸四海皆准不变的。对于这一点，我们在『2111 圣经无误论的真谛』中，讨论了圣经为什么会有明显矛盾的默示，请到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的网站后，按『对属灵生命的了解』，找到这篇文章。谢谢。        

    如果教会中每一个人都能和神合一，教会就能有真正的合一，也就是能达到保罗所说的，『你们就要意念相同，爱心相同，有一样的心思，有一样的意念，…』(腓立比书 2:2) 因为只有合一的耶稣的。当然，在教会里，『就如身子是一个，却有许多肢体；而且肢体虽多，仍是一个身子。基督也是这样。』(哥林多前书 12:12) 我们也看到了神的教会只有一个，是所有接受三位一体的神的人的集合，而不是指地上不同的建筑物。我们看到， 『但如今神随自己的意思把肢体俱各安排在身上了。』(哥林多前书 12:18) 很清楚的，神是有绝对主权的神。

    我是多么的希望这教会能够复兴，觉得有负担和于弟兄交通，如何可能达到复兴的程度，就是因为这负担，也就促成了我们在他的教会中的唯一的一次见面。在这里，我要提一下和他约定时间的过程。为著保持我的匿名，我先是送给教会的办公室秘书一封电子邮件，只要求在电话中和他谈谈，因没有接到回信，只好亲自去教会和他约定见面的时间，和他见面后才知道他基本上不回这样的电子邮件。其间又因他的生病而改时间，加上他必须外出，见到他时已是约五个月后了。我这么详细的说明和他会面的过程，不是在抱怨怎么要等这么久，而是要谢谢他在百忙之中，而仍愿花时间和从没有听过的我见面。更主要的是，我相信时间的安排是在主手上，我要学习等待祂安排的时间，我能做的就只是与神同工而已。

2. 要分辩那些是圣灵的工作        

    那次见面中我心被激动，而想起了第一个问题，就是在「天窗亮话“之于宏洁牧师、师母访谈 ： 我们的故事」中，约31:50分快结束的时候，于弟兄说: 「你看，又骄傲了。」那时我在意念中感觉到，圣灵在他身上作工，要不他不会这样说。尤其我认为他是属灵的长辈，当时就同意必定如此，只是我一直都不能百分之百的确定。因只有他能告诉我答案，所以我就同意了去问他的激动，问他当时有没有被圣灵感动，然后我很意外的知道了他只是开玩笑。很显然的，我当时意念中的感觉是不对的，虽然以前我有一些这样的经验，知道要确实的分辩，但这次又错了！因此我知道，在属灵上我没有长大成人，因为『惟独长大成人的，才能吃干粮，他们的心窍习练得通达，就能分辩好歹了。』(希伯来书 5:14)     

    我还记得他的回应是，如果我不喜欢他这么讲，以后就不这么讲了，因此我得告诉他，我真不是为这原因而问他这问题的。在这件事上，我真的是体会到，『凡从神生的，就不犯罪，因神的道存在他心里；他也不能犯罪，因为他是由神生的。』(约翰一书 3:9) 他可以为他的面子不回答或说谎的，而他选择了诚实的回答这个大概是没有人提到过的问题，没有在此事上犯罪，也让我最终能肯定的知道，当时并不是因为圣灵在工作。

    从这里我想到，而提出了他做过这样的见证，就是有时候事情的发生和祷告的结果完全相同，但有的时候却正好相反，所以有时候会事先知道的。因我也有类似事先知道的经验，想他是属灵的长辈，所以当时觉得必然如此，就很正面的说这样的事情是对的。直到回来后才想到申命记所说的，『先知托耶和华的名说话，所说的若不成就，也无效验，这就是耶和华所未曾吩咐的，是那先知擅自说的，你不要怕他。』(申命记 18:22) 才意识到这样的有时对有时不对是不对的，是三位一体的神在训练我们去分辩是否为圣灵的工作，或是老我甚至于是邪灵的作为，只不知道他现在是不是这样领会的。

3. 亚当创造时是否和圣洁有份        

    他相信亚当创造时和圣洁无份，但圣经不是这样说的。圣经是说，『神就照著自己的形像造人，乃是照著他的形像造男造女。』(创世记 1:27) 有人可能会提出问题，因为『神说：「我们要照著我们的形像，按著我们的样式造人，…』(创世记 1:26) 为什么我们只谈形像而不说样式呢？因为形像和样式是两个字，一定要分开讲，否则一定会有逻辑上的问题。   

    譬如有人这样说，『我还是觉得，圣洁只有在神的生命中才有，亚当是照著神的形象造的，是指亚当有灵。耶稣道成肉身，取得人的样式，是指像人一样有肉身。我觉得这是两个平行的概念，照你的推论，耶稣既是取得人的形象，也应该是有罪才是。』如果是这样想，逻辑上就会出现问题，问题是假设取得人的样式，就是说与人完全相同。不是的，因圣经是说，耶稣『反倒虚己，取了奴仆的形像(G3444)，成为人的样式(G3667)。』(腓立比书 2:7) 所以只是样式相同而已！形像是不同的。主是圣灵感孕而生，又一生不犯罪，这是主的形像，祂的确在道成肉身的期间是取了奴仆的形像，父神的奴仆，一生顺服神。我们的形像则是亚当犯罪后的形像。

    我们就在这里简单的说一下，形像和样式的不同在那里？保罗说，『因为他预先所知道的人，就预先定下效法(模成, be conformed to)他儿子的模样(形像, image)，使他儿子在许多弟兄中作长子。 』(罗马书 8:29) 请注意，他只说  要模成耶稣的形像，没有说要模成耶稣的样式，因为耶稣是取了人的样式，所以我们已经有了耶稣的样式。因为我们刚才说到「按我们的样式」，我们就知道人的样式就是三位一体的神的样式。虽然圣经没有明说三位一体的神的样式是什么，但我们知道样式是固定的，其实样式也不能被罪玷污的。如果可以被罪玷污，那么耶稣就不可能『…将自己无瑕无疵献给神，…』(希伯来书 9:14) 因为祂的样式被罪玷污了。所以被罪玷污的是亚当的形像，我们和亚当相同，形像是被罪玷污的。    

    神的形像绝对包括了圣洁，『你晓谕以色列全会众说：『你们要圣洁，因为我耶和华你们的神是圣洁的。』』(利未记 19:2) 人就会问，既然亚当是圣洁的，怎么会犯罪？这是亚当有自由意志，可以选择不顺服神而吃分别善恶树上的果子，而罪的定义是不顺服神，他虽是圣洁但可以犯罪。他的圣洁和神的圣洁不同，『…因为他(神)不能背乎自己。』(提摩太后书 2:13) 神怎么能不顺服神呢？所以神的圣洁是不能犯罪的圣洁。

    这和新约中的我们是息息相关的。在新约中，我们一信，『他(父神)救了我们脱离黑暗的权势，把我们迁到他爱子的国里。』(歌罗西书 1:13) 祂爱子的国度是圣洁的国度，我们在祂里面也有了圣洁，但也有自由意志，是可以如亚当般犯罪的！这和许多人的想法不同，以为有了圣洁就不会犯罪，不是的，是要『不要消灭圣灵的感动。』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:19) 顺服神。神不是一个命令一个动作的神，所以即使是没有圣灵感动的时候，也要站在神那一边。

4. 超过所求所想的事        

    圣经明说，『神能照著运行在我们心里的大力，充充足足地成就一切，超过我们所求所想的。』(以弗所书 3:20) 所以我接著就问他什么是超过所求所想的事情呢？因为从他的讲道中，知道他没有经历过超过所想的事情。这绝对不是指类似病得医治的事情，绝症的得到医治是超过所求，但不是超过所想的。超过所想的是想都想不到的事，既然想不到怎么能求呢？只能三位一体的神主动。        

    我告诉他我不记得，他在超过所求所想的事上举了什么样的例子，但那现在的例子一定是错的，他也很快的意识到这在逻辑上是错的，因为那例子就是属于可想到的一类。除非是像耶稣当时对门徒说的预言那样，祂会死而复活，而且耶稣说，『人子要在他父的荣耀里，同著众使者降临；…』(马太福音 16:27) 这绝对是当时超过了门徒和众人所想的。所以不是不能用现在发生的事情做例子，但我们要确实的知道那例子的确是超过众人所想的。在『2123 神用给别人看的客观事实显现祂的存在』中，就是举了一个这样的例子，神使用网上的医疗系统的纪录，显现了祂的存在。因为网路的使用是近几十年的事，所以神有约两千年没有这样做过，这样做的事情怎么不会是超过所想的呢？如果你有兴趣的话，可以到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的网站后，按『对属灵生命的了解』，找到这篇短文。

5. 十一奉献的真谛       

    我当时是以为，圣经不是明确的说要不要十一奉献，但我还是跟他说新约没有提到要十一奉献，他的反应是引用这节经文，『你们这假冒为善的文士和法利赛人有祸了！因为你们将薄荷、茴香、芹菜献上十分之一，那律法上更重的事，就是公义、怜悯、信实，反倒不行了。这更重的是你们当行的，那也是不可不行的。』(马太福音 23:23) 我主要用的是和合本，因此没有看到这里是说十一奉献是不可不行的，以为公义等事是不可不行的。        

    回来后检查了不少英文版本和汇编原文的这经文，的确看到是对法利赛人说要有十一奉献，但最后也意识到耶稣那时还没有死而复活升天，这话是对在旧约中的人说的。在新约中，耶稣只称赞过奉献两个小钱的寡妇 (参路加福音 21:1-4) 。 从「神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的」来看，耶稣不会要在新约的我们守十一奉献的律法的！耶稣自己守的是安息日的真谛而不是律法，祂怎么会要求我们守律法呢！一个爱主的人自然会考虑到神家的需要，尽可能的使神家有粮。如果一个爱主的人有力量能够做超过十一的奉献，他一定会奉献超过十分之一。如果一个爱主的人没有能力奉献十分之一，他的不到十一的奉献照样为主所悦纳，因为他已甘心情愿的尽他的力量做到能做的。        

    对于弟兄的教会最难的事，恐怕就是按照圣经不再倡导十一的奉献，因为一个现实的问题马上就会面临，就是不知是否和教会建立的初时那样，那时每个人都是这么的爱主，神也带领他们成就了人看是不可能做成的建堂计划。

6. 一个常犯的错误        

    在新人门训上册的第 54页谈到罪的定义中，最先引用的是雷历博士的基础神学，据书中描述，雷博士是被很多人认为是二十世纪最有影响力的基础神学家之一，我没看过他的书，不与置评。但要了解，他的书也是人的著作，不能和圣经相比，是要看圣经怎么说，讲到定义时，要看的是圣经有没有如此说或有没有这概念，要引用的也该是圣经说的而不是人说的。        

    在罪的定义这一点上，他的定义和圣经不符，所以逻辑上一定会有错误，就像圣经很清楚的说，『凭著他们的果子，就可以认出他们来。荆棘上岂能摘葡萄呢？蒺藜里岂能摘无花果呢？这样，凡好树都结好果子，惟独坏树结坏果子。』(马太福音 7:16-17) 不过，我不会因此去看他的书，指出逻辑的错误在那里，因为这不是我的责任。

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到这网站后要按『对属灵生命的了解』。)  

更正:  關於十一奉獻。這衹是聖靈引導我瞭解十一奉獻的真諦過程中的一次，我在「2142 十一奉獻的真諦和不要認撒但為父」，講述了整個五次的過程。 我在油管和相應的文章中，並沒有個別的更新，而是用更正的方式引用了正確的「2142」，保留了這過程，希望別人不會和我犯下同樣的錯誤。其他的部份沒有問題。謝謝。

    因為我非常希望看到神賜給于弟兄的教會一個復興，所以我和他在教會中見過一次約一小時的面，基本上談了四件事情，我就藉著第二到第五談談這四件事情，敘述一下我所知道的聖經說法，和一些記得的當時他的回應。因有人告訴我，他看過這篇文章，『2096 于宏潔的新人門訓 – 不合乎聖經的地方 (1)』，卻沒有看到我說的于宏潔的新人門訓的錯誤在那裏，我猜是那人那時沒有仔細的閱讀後半段，因為在『3. 從人的角度看和從神的角度看事情的大不相同』中，我們一開始就講到了引用經文的錯誤在那裏。那篇文章的安排是先講對的觀念，而在推導對的觀念過程中，我們會相當清楚的看到錯的地方在那裏。在「不合乎聖經的地方 (1)」中，主要是在講罪的定義，從現在的世界和先前的世界來看，這定義都是一致的，其實我一直想避免指出那課中的一個常犯的錯誤，我想是時間到了，我不能再避免了，就在最後面討論了這一點。

       首先我說說我是如何在主裏知道于弟兄的，也討論了一些相關的事情。在第二中，他又再次的證實了，要分辨在意念中感覺聖靈工作是否是對的。第三，我們討論到亞當創造時是否和聖潔有份這一點，他認為是無份，而聖經是說有份，如果一個人相信無份，會看到邏輯上會出問題的。第四，我們討論了超過所求所想的事是指什麼，看到許多的例子都基本上會有邏輯上的問題，除了能確實經歷過真正超過所想的情況外。第五，我們討論了十一奉獻的真諦，從「神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的」來看，會知道聖經的訊息不會是模稜兩可的。最後是指出了一個常犯的錯誤，也是新人門訓在罪的定義中所犯的。

1. 如何在主裏知道于宏潔的

        記得多年前有一位姊妹送來了一個只有音頻的信望愛F166，其中有8/13/01于宏潔在中國開始的一個特會的講道。在這之前，我沒有聽過于宏潔的名字，在聽他音頻的當中，有意念問我聽不聽得到錯誤，我在意念中很誠實的問答說聽不到，於是不知是什麼時候，我沒聽完就停止了聽他的音頻。現在再聽同樣的音頻，能夠分辨出他那次的講道中，的確是有和聖經講的不合的地方。

        後來，聽了他一些網上的講道，知道他牧養的教會是在矽谷，也知道了他是多麼的希望神能賜給他們的教會一個復興。這教會是神所帶領我去的各教會中最追求的，我真的非常希望看到神賜給這教會一個復興，但照目前教會的走向，真的還不夠達到復興的程度，這實在不是論斷，而是依照聖經話語的分辨。為什麼這樣說呢？因為至少要能依照聖經去教導，更正一些錯誤，如在『2096 于宏潔的新人門訓 – 不合乎聖經的地方 (1)』中，所提到的罪的定義。

        最主要的是要一再強調讀經的目的是要得生命，而生命只能從神來，不要消滅聖靈的感動，要讓聖靈引導查經，才能不強解聖靈。即使沒有聖靈的引導，也就是聖靈要你跨出第一步的時候，仍要站在神那邊，在這種情況下，即使犯錯，聖靈也會更正你，也就是這是一個學習的過程，學習如何體會聖靈的旨意。沒有一個人從出生的時候就是基督徒，同樣的，也沒有一個人在一信之後，就能完全的知道聖靈的旨意。

       請注意，這不是說你總是要先踏出第一步，但不是像有些教導所說的，沒有聖靈的感動絕對不能夠踏出第一步，問題是你怎麼知道不是聖靈在等你踏第一步呢？所以你還是要在各方面相當的確定，是聖靈要你踏出第一步你才能踏出第一步，至少事後你可以知道是不是聖靈要你踏出那一步。因為申命記說得很清楚，『先知託耶和華的名說話，所說的若不成就，也無效驗，這就是耶和華所未曾吩咐的，是那先知擅自說的，你不要怕他。』(申命記 18:22) 如果你要經歷的未來的事是出自神，一定會成就的，所以這是一個學習的過程。如果犯錯，回頭看就有可能看到錯誤在那裏。

        這些都是經文這樣說的，下面就引用了一些相關的經文。關於讀經的目的是要得生命: 『你們查考聖經，因你們以為內中有永生；給我(耶穌)作見證的就是這經。然而你們不肯到我這裏來得生命。』(約翰福音 5:39-40)

        關於生命只能從神來:『我(保羅)栽種了，亞波羅澆灌了，惟有神叫他生長。可見栽種的算不得甚麼，澆灌的也算不得甚麼，只在那叫他生長的神。』(哥林多前書 3:6-7)

        關於聖靈的帶領: 『不要消滅聖靈的感動。』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:19)

        關於不強解聖經: 『…我們所親愛的兄弟保羅，照着所賜給他的智慧寫了信給你們。他一切的信上也都是講論這事。信中有些難明白的，那無學問、不堅固的人強解，如強解別的經書一樣，就自取沉淪。』(彼得後書 3:15-16)

        關於聖靈要你跨出第一步: 以賽亞在舊約說，『主雖然以艱難給你當餅，以困苦給你當水，你的教師卻不再隱藏，你眼必看見你的教師。你或向左或向右，你必聽見後邊有聲音說：「這是正路，要行在其間。」』(以賽亞書 30:20-21) 當你跨出了第一步而犯錯時，你的教師是在後邊，也是事後才告訴你正確的方向。

     在新約的一個這樣的實例記載在使徒行傳，『聖靈既然禁止他們(保羅和西拉)在亞西亞講道，他們就經過弗呂家、加拉太一帶地方，到了每西亞的邊界，他們想要往庇推尼去，耶穌的靈卻不許。他們就越過每西亞下到特羅亞去。在夜間有異象現與保羅：有一個馬其頓人站着求他說：「請你過到馬其頓來幫助我們！」保羅既看見這異象，我們隨即想要往馬其頓去，以為神召我們傳福音給那裏的人聽。』(使徒行傳 16:6-10) 你看，他們不是先跨出錯的第一步，而後聖靈才帶領他們嗎？又一次我們看到，神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的。

       要知道，『他(耶和華)使摩西知道他的法則，叫以色列人曉得他的作為。』(詩篇 103:7) 要强調聖經的法則，不要像那時的以色列人一樣，神作工的時候，大家都很有信心的樣子，神一不作工，就不知何去何從。因為聖經是神所默示的，所以我們相信「神藉聖經告訴我是一致的」，在不把聖經的話打折扣下，我們會發覺聖經是多麼符合邏輯的原則。我們以前分享過，邏輯的原則可分成兩部份，就是公理(在某個領域中眾人都可接受的事實的擴展到無限時都可成立)，加上客觀的邏輯的推導。如果這原則用到個人身上，公理就不是指眾人所接受的，而是指個人的看見，是會隨時間和經驗而改變的。要注意的是邏輯的推導是客觀的，是放諸四海皆準不變的。對於這一點，我們在『2111 聖經無誤論的真諦』中，討論了聖經為什麼會有明顯矛盾的默示，請到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的網站後，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』，找到這篇文章。謝謝。

        如果教會中每一個人都能和神合一，教會就能有真正的合一，也就是能達到保羅所說的，『你們就要意念相同，愛心相同，有一樣的心思，有一樣的意念，…』(腓立比書 2:2) 因為只有合一的耶穌的。當然，在教會裏，『就如身子是一個，卻有許多肢體；而且肢體雖多，仍是一個身子。基督也是這樣。』(哥林多前書 12:12) 我們也看到了神的教會只有一個，是所有接受三位一體的神的人的集合，而不是指地上不同的建築物。我們看到， 『但如今神隨自己的意思把肢體俱各安排在身上了。』(哥林多前書 12:18) 很清楚的，神是有絕對主權的神。

        我是多麼的希望這教會能夠復興，覺得有負擔和于弟兄交通，如何可能達到復興的程度，就是因為這負擔，也就促成了我們在他的教會中的唯一的一次見面。在這裏，我要提一下和他約定時間的過程。為著保持我的匿名，我先是送給教會的辦公室秘書一封電子郵件，只要求在電話中和他談談，因沒有接到回信，只好親自去教會和他約定見面的時間，和他見面後才知道他基本上不回這樣的電子郵件。其間又因他的生病而改時間，加上他必須外出，見到他時已是約五個月後了。我這麼詳細的說明和他會面的過程，不是在抱怨怎麼要等這麼久，而是要謝謝他在百忙之中，而仍願花時間和從沒有聽過的我見面。更主要的是，我相信時間的安排是在主手上，我要學習等待祂安排的時間，我能做的就只是與神同工而已。

2. 要分辨那些是聖靈的工作

        那次見面中我心被激動，而想起了第一個問題，就是在「天窗亮话“之于宏洁牧师、师母访谈 ： 我们的故事」中，約31:50分快結束的時候，于弟兄說: 「你看，又驕傲了。」那時我在意念中感覺到，聖靈在他身上作工，要不他不會這樣說。尤其我認為他是屬靈的長輩，當時就同意必定如此，只是我一直都不能百分之百的確定。因只有他能告訴我答案，所以我就同意了去問他的激動，問他當時有沒有被聖靈感動，然後我很意外的知道了他只是開玩笑。很顯然的，我當時意念中的感覺是不對的，雖然以前我有一些這樣的經驗，知道要確實的分辨，但這次又錯了！因此我知道，在屬靈上我沒有長大成人，因為『惟獨長大成人的，才能吃乾糧，他們的心竅習練得通達，就能分辨好歹了。』(希伯來書 5:14)

     我還記得他的回應是，如果我不喜歡他這麼講，以後就不這麼講了，因此我得告訴他，我真不是為這原因而問他這問題的。在這件事上，我真的是體會到，『凡從神生的，就不犯罪，因神的道存在他心裏；他也不能犯罪，因為他是由神生的。』(約翰一書 3:9) 他可以為他的面子不回答或說謊的，而他選擇了誠實的回答這個大概是沒有人提到過的問題，沒有在此事上犯罪，也讓我最終能肯定的知道，當時並不是因為聖靈在工作。

        從這裏我想到，而提出了他做過這樣的見証，就是有時候事情的發生和禱告的結果完全相同，但有的時候卻正好相反，所以有時候會事先知道的。因我也有類似事先知道的經驗，想他是屬靈的長輩，所以當時覺得必然如此，就很正面的說這樣的事情是對的。直到回來後才想到申命記所說的，『先知託耶和華的名說話，所說的若不成就，也無效驗，這就是耶和華所未曾吩咐的，是那先知擅自說的，你不要怕他。』(申命記 18:22) 才意識到這樣的有時對有時不對是不對的，是三位一體的神在訓練我們去分辨是否為聖靈的工作，或是老我甚至於是邪靈的作為，只不知道他現在是不是這樣領會的。

3. 亞當創造時是否和聖潔有份

        他相信亞當創造時和聖潔無份，但聖經不是這樣說的。聖經是說，『神就照着自己的形像造人，乃是照着他的形像造男造女。』(創世記 1:27) 有人可能會提出問題，因為『神說：「我們要照着我們的形像，按着我們的樣式造人，…』(創世記 1:26) 為什麼我們只談形像而不說樣式呢？因為形像和樣式是兩個字，一定要分開講，否則一定會有邏輯上的問題。

    譬如有人這樣說，『我還是覺得，聖潔只有在神的生命中才有，亞當是照著神的形象造的，是指亞當有靈。耶穌道成肉身，取得人的樣式，是指像人一樣有肉身。我覺得這是兩個平行的概念，照你的推論，耶穌既是取得人的形象，也應該是有罪才是。』如果是這樣想，邏輯上就會出現問題，問題是假設取得人的樣式，就是說與人完全相同。不是的，因聖經是說，耶穌『反倒虛己，取了奴僕的形像(G3444)，成為人的樣式(G3667)。』(腓立比書 2:7) 所以只是樣式相同而已！形像是不同的。主是聖靈感孕而生，又一生不犯罪，這是主的形像，祂的確在道成肉身的期間是取了奴僕的形像，父神的奴僕，一生順服神。我們的形像則是亞當犯罪後的形像。

    我們就在這裏簡單的說一下，形像和樣式的不同在那裏？保羅說，『因為他預先所知道的人，就預先定下效法(模成, be conformed to)他兒子的模樣(形像, image)，使他兒子在許多弟兄中作長子。 』(羅馬書 8:29) 請注意，他只說  要模成耶穌的形像，沒有說要模成耶穌的樣式，因為耶穌是取了人的樣式，所以我們已經有了耶穌的樣式。因為我們剛才說到「按我們的樣式」，我們就知道人的樣式就是三位一體的神的樣式。雖然聖經沒有明說三位一體的神的樣式是什麼，但我們知道樣式是固定的，其實樣式也不能被罪玷汚的。如果可以被罪玷汚，那麼耶穌就不可能『…將自己無瑕無疵獻給神，…』(希伯來書 9:14) 因為祂的樣式被罪玷汚了。所以被罪玷汚的是亞當的形像，我們和亞當相同，形像是被罪玷汚的。

     神的形像絕對包括了聖潔，『你曉諭以色列全會眾說：『你們要聖潔，因為我耶和華你們的神是聖潔的。』』(利未記 19:2) 人就會問，既然亞當是聖潔的，怎麼會犯罪？這是亞當有自由意志，可以選擇不順服神而吃分別善惡樹上的果子，而罪的定義是不順服神，他雖是聖潔但可以犯罪。他的聖潔和神的聖潔不同，『…因為他(神)不能背乎自己。』(提摩太後書 2:13) 神怎麼能不順服神呢？所以神的聖潔是不能犯罪的聖潔。

        這和新約中的我們是息息相關的。在新約中，我們一信，『他(父神)救了我們脫離黑暗的權勢，把我們遷到他愛子的國裏。』(歌羅西書 1:13) 祂愛子的國度是聖潔的國度，我們在祂裏面也有了聖潔，但也有自由意志，是可以如亞當般犯罪的！這和許多人的想法不同，以為有了聖潔就不會犯罪，不是的，是要『不要消滅聖靈的感動。』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:19) 順服神。神不是一個命令一個動作的神，所以即使是沒有聖靈感動的時候，也要站在神那一邊。

4. 超過所求所想的事

        聖經明說，『神能照着運行在我們心裏的大力，充充足足地成就一切，超過我們所求所想的。』(以弗所書 3:20) 所以我接著就問他什麼是超過所求所想的事情呢？因為從他的講道中，知道他沒有經歷過超過所想的事情。這絕對不是指類似病得醫治的事情，絕症的得到醫治是超過所求，但不是超過所想的。超過所想的是想都想不到的事，既然想不到怎麼能求呢？只能三位一體的神主動。

        我告訴他我不記得，他在超過所求所想的事上舉了什麼樣的例子，但那現在的例子一定是錯的，他也很快的意識到這在邏輯上是錯的，因為那例子就是屬於可想到的一類。除非是像耶穌當時對門徒說的預言那樣，祂會死而復活，而且耶穌說，『人子要在他父的榮耀裏，同着眾使者降臨；…』(馬太福音 16:27) 這絕對是當時超過了門徒和眾人所想的。所以不是不能用現在發生的事情做例子，但我們要確實的知道那例子的確是超過眾人所想的。在『2123 神用給別人看的客觀事實顯現祂的存在』中，就是舉了一個這樣的例子，神使用網上的醫療系統的紀錄，顯現了祂的存在。因為網路的使用是近幾十年的事，所以神有約兩千年沒有這樣做過，這樣做的事情怎麼不會是超過所想的呢？如果你有興趣的話，可以到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的網站後，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』，找到這篇短文。

5. 十一奉獻的真諦

       我當時是以為，聖經不是明確的說要不要十一奉獻，但我還是跟他說新約沒有提到要十一奉獻，他的反應是引用這節經文，『你們這假冒為善的文士和法利賽人有禍了！因為你們將薄荷、茴香、芹菜獻上十分之一，那律法上更重的事，就是公義、憐憫、信實，反倒不行了。這更重的是你們當行的，那也是不可不行的。』(馬太福音 23:23) 我主要用的是和合本，因此沒有看到這裏是說十一奉獻是不可不行的，以為公義等事是不可不行的。

        回來後檢查了不少英文版本和彙編原文的這經文，的確看到是對法利賽人說要有十一奉獻，但最後也意識到耶穌那時還沒有死而復活升天，這話是對在舊約中的人說的。在新約中，耶穌只稱讚過奉獻兩個小錢的寡婦 (參路加福音 21:1-4) 。 從「神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的」來看，耶穌不會要在新約的我們守十一奉獻的律法的！耶穌自己守的是安息日的真諦而不是律法，祂怎麼會要求我們守律法呢！一個愛主的人自然會考慮到神家的需要，儘可能的使神家有糧。如果一個愛主的人有力量能夠做超過十一的奉獻，他一定會奉獻超過十分之一。如果一個愛主的人沒有能力奉獻十分之一，他的不到十一的奉獻照樣為主所悅納，因為他已甘心情願的儘他的力量做到能做的。

        對于弟兄的教會最難的事，恐怕就是按照聖經不再倡導十一的奉獻，因為一個現實的問題馬上就會面臨，就是不知是否和教會建立的初時那樣，那時每個人都是這麼的愛主，神也帶領他們成就了人看是不可能做成的建堂計劃。

6. 一個常犯的錯誤

        在新人門訓上册的第 54頁談到罪的定義中，最先引用的是雷歷博士的基礎神學，據書中描述，雷博士是被很多人認為是二十世紀最有影響力的基礎神學家之一，我沒看過他的書，不與置評。但要瞭解，他的書也是人的著作，不能和聖經相比，是要看聖經怎麼說，講到定義時，要看的是聖經有沒有如此說或有沒有這概念，要引用的也該是聖經說的而不是人說的。

        在罪的定義這一點上，他的定義和聖經不符，所以邏輯上一定會有錯誤，就像聖經很清楚的說，『憑着他們的果子，就可以認出他們來。荊棘上豈能摘葡萄呢？蒺藜裏豈能摘無花果呢？這樣，凡好樹都結好果子，惟獨壞樹結壞果子。』(馬太福音 7:16-17) 不過，我不會因此去看他的書，指出邏輯的錯誤在那裏，因為這不是我的責任。

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到這網站後要按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』。)

     首先经文说得很清楚，爱耶稣等于遵守祂的道，并讨论了祂的再来，从神的角度和从人的角度看这件事情的不同。第二，我们看到主耶稣是真葡萄树，我们是枝子，不和祂联结，我们不会有生命。第三，我们谈到了以爱为旌旗的与祂合一，又再一次看到祂有绝对的主权，也简短的讨论了祂也是公义的神。最后，从经文中我们看到了，仆人不能大于主人，世界迫害了祂，也会逼害被拣选离开世界的基督徒，因此基督徒会遭受苦难是避免不了的，但要相信祂已胜过了这世界，并赐给我们了出人意料的平安。

1. 爱耶稣等于遵守祂的道           

    『「有了我的命令又遵守的，这人就是爱我的；爱我的必蒙我父爱他，我也要爱他，并且要向他显现。」犹大（不是加略人犹大）问耶稣说：「主啊，为甚么要向我们显现，不向世人显现呢？」耶稣回答说：「人若爱我，就必遵守我的道，我父也必爱他，并且我们要到他那里去，与他同住。不爱我的人就不遵守我的道，你们所听见的道不是我的，乃是差我来之父的道。「我还与你们同住的时候，已将这些话对你们说了。但保惠师，就是父因我的名所要差来的圣灵，他要将一切的事指教你们，并且要叫你们想起我对你们所说的一切话。我留下平安给你们，我将我的平安赐给你们；我所赐的，不像世人所赐的。你们心里不要忧愁，也不要胆怯。「你们听见我对你们说了，我去还要到你们这里来。你们若爱我，因我到父那里去，就必喜乐，因为父是比我大的。现在事情还没有成就，我预先告诉你们，叫你们到事情成就的时候，就可以信。以后我不再和你们多说话，因为这世界的王将到，他在我里面是毫无所有，但要叫世人知道我爱父，并且父怎样吩咐我，我就怎样行。 「起来，我们走吧！」』(约翰福音 14:21-31)       

    我们很高兴的知道，这世界的王在耶稣里面是毫无所有 (参约翰福音 14:30)，这世界的王就是那恶者撒但，如同经文所说，『我们知道我们是属神的，全世界都卧在那恶者手下。』(约翰一书 5:19)   撒但对祂是毫无所有，我们看到祂虽有撒但的引诱，只是祂没有犯罪，如同希伯来书所说，『因我们的大祭司(耶稣)并非不能体恤我们的软弱，他也曾凡事受过试探，与我们一样，只是他没有犯罪。』(希伯来书 4:15)     

    祂一生都顺服神，因『…父怎样吩咐我，我就怎样行。…』(约翰福音 14:31) 祂明知会被卖而钉十字架，仍说『…起来，我们走吧！』(约翰福音 14:31) 在路上，祂又在约翰福音 15:1-17:26 说了许多话。『耶稣说了这话，就同门徒出去，过了汲沦溪，在那里有一个园子，他和门徒进去了。』(约翰福音 18:1) 在那里，加略人犹大卖主而使祂被捆绑，最终被钉十字架而死，三天后复活。     

    我们看到犹大(不是加略人犹大)关于不向世人显现的问话(参约翰福音 14:22)，从『耶稣回答说：「人若爱我，就必遵守我的道，…不爱我的人就不遵守我的道，…』(约翰福音 14:23-24)  我们可得到爱耶稣等于遵守祂的道。为什么呢？前者是说:  人若爱我意味著遵守我的道。后者是说:  不爱我的人意味著不遵守我的道。也就是等于说:  遵守我的道意味著爱我的人。简言之，爱祂的人是遵守祂的道的充分和必要条件，也就是这两个叙述是相等的。     

    我们现在知道了，爱耶稣等于遵行祂的道，所以爱耶稣不能只在口头上，一再强调，要行才行，所以大使命是说，『…使万民作我的门徒，…凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守，…』(马太福音 28:19-20) 不要像一些人以为只要使人信主就完成了大使命，要有后继的教导，使他们走上成圣之路。因为人有自由意思，虽有正确的教导，并不代表别人会遵行，所以大使命只是要我们有正确的教导，没有办法强迫人信主，并遵行做一个真正的门徒。     

    请注意，耶稣并没有回答犹大(不是加略人犹大)关于不向世人显现的问话 (参约翰福音 14:22)，而是说人若爱我，就必遵守我的道。从人的角度来看，祂的确是会向现在不爱祂的世人显现的，就像有些人做过这样的见证: 当我还没有信主时，主就感动我，使我信主。这其实就是在意念中向那人显现，因为祂说，『不是你们拣选了我，是我拣选了你们，…』(约翰福音 15:16) 祂有绝对的主权，可以采取主动。祂能预知，知道有些今天不爱主的人，明天可能就爱主了，所以我们必须从神的角度看这个问题。     

    我们知道主真正会向祂的门徒(就是今日的基徒)显现，我们也能知道祂现在是以圣灵的方式内住在信徒里面，和他们同在。只是有时人心会刚硬如卖主的加略人犹大般，虽是耶稣帮他洗脚，并事先告诉他卖主的门徒就是他，他仍不悔改，而且是用行动表示了。同样的，祂的显现也会有著不同的原因，是我们不能了解的，主权在祂，祂有绝对的主权。旧约说得很清楚，『隐秘的事是属耶和华我们神的，惟有明显的事是永远属我们和我们子孙的，…』(申命记 29:29)     

    我们知道圣灵来不只是指教和想起祂的道 (参约翰福音 14:26)，而是更要进入一切真理  (参约翰福音 16:13) 。 祂应许我们，祂赐的平安是不同于世人的真平安，我们还有什么要忧愁和胆怯的呢！ (参约翰福音 14:27) 祂应许我们祂会再来 (约翰福音 14:28) 。这点在启示录里也讲得很清楚，『证明这事的说：「是了，我必快来！」 阿们！主耶稣啊，我愿你来！』(启示录 22:20) 是的，我们只能说我愿祢来，而祂说的快来是从神的角度看，从人的角度看是，『…我来像贼一样。…』 (启示录 16:15)   我们再一次看到，祂有绝对的主权。

2. 主耶稣是真葡萄树，我们是枝子       

    『「我是真葡萄树，我父是栽培的人。凡属我不结果子的枝子，他就剪去；凡结果子的，他就修理干净，使枝子结果子更多。现在你们因我讲给你们的道，已经干净了。你们要常在我里面，我也常在你们里面。枝子若不常在葡萄树上，自己就不能结果子；你们若不常在我里面，也是这样。「我是葡萄树，你们是枝子。常在我里面的，我也常在他里面，这人就多结果子。因为离了我，你们就不能做甚么。人若不常在我里面，就像枝子丢在外面枯干，人拾起来扔在火里烧了。你们若常在我里面，我的话也常在你们里面；凡你们所愿意的，祈求就给你们成就。你们多结果子，我父就因此得荣耀，你们也就是我的门徒了。」』(约翰福音 15:1-8)        

    这里我们看到了真葡萄树的比喻，那是真葡萄树，因当祂道成肉身的期间，父是裁培的人。这是常被引用和讨论的经文，所以我们在这里就很简单的讨论一下。首先我们看到修理的原因是为了结果子更多，如果你种过葡萄树(藤)，就知道非修剪不可，要不葡萄就会愈来愈小。     

    不与葡萄树联接的枝子，不会有祂生命的供应，没有生命的枝子在栽培，自然会被剪去枯干，只适合扔在火里烧了！所以是会有堕落的基督徒的。『因为主所爱的，他必管教，又鞭打凡所收纳的儿子。』(希伯来书 12:6) 所以基督徒会遭受苦难是理所当然的，只有经历过这样的过程，才有可能净化我们，模成耶稣的形像 (参罗马书 8:29)，因此主会说，『不背著他的十字架跟从我的，也不配作我的门徒。』(马太福音 10:38) 我们想要多结果子，就该如此，和祂合一，得到祂生命的供应，这时，『…凡你们所愿意的，祈求就给你们成就。』(约翰福音 15:7) 我们也看到了，我们要成为祂的门徒，多结果子，可以荣耀父神。

3. 以爱为旌旗的合一       

    『我爱(G25, 动词)你们，正如父爱(G25, 动词)我一样，你们要常在我的爱(G26, 名词)里。你们若遵守我的命令，就常在我的爱里；正如我遵守了我父的命令，常在他的爱里。这些事我已经对你们说了，是要叫我的喜乐存在你们心里，并叫你们的喜乐可以满足。你们要彼此相爱，像我爱你们一样，这就是我的命令。人为朋友舍命，人的爱心没有比这个大的。你们若遵行我所吩咐的，就是我的朋友了。以后我不再称你们为仆人，因仆人不知道主人所做的事；我乃称你们为朋友，因我从我父所听见的，已经都告诉你们了。不是你们拣选了我，是我拣选了你们，并且分派你们去结果子，叫你们的果子常存，使你们奉我的名，无论向父求甚么，他就赐给你们。我这样吩咐你们，是要叫你们彼此相爱。』(约翰福音 15:9-17)     

    在汇编(Strong’s Concordance)中的原文，基本上每一个字都有编号，所以很容易找出用某一个字的全部经文，要注意的是，虽是不同的字，可能会有同样的意义。譬如在这里，G25 和 G26 是不同的字，但一个是动词而另一个为它的名词，意义是相同的。请注意，希腊原文中有不同的爱，这在合和本和英文的翻译中分不清楚是在讲那一种爱，看汇编的希腊原文就很清楚了！在新约中讲的爱，绝大部份是用 G25 和 G26。     

    我们看到了主一再强调我们要在神的爱里和祂合一，如果是每一个人和祂合一，我们自然会合一，这是真正的合一，而不是表面人为的合一。这里提到了两次要彼此相爱，这是要在神的爱里，像我们以前所分享，基督徒已有借著内住的圣灵浇灌的神的爱 (参罗马书 5:5)，我们治死老我去将神的爱彰显出来。这不是说要等完全治死老我才能做任何事，而是『…要按著神所赐的力量服事，叫神在凡事上因耶稣基督得荣耀。…』(彼得前书 4:11) 所以，那时我们有多少神的爱彰显出来，就可以做我们力量所能及的事情。     

    关于合一，我们看耶稣在最后的晚餐说的话就知道这一点，祂说，『我不但为这些人祈求，也为那些因他们的话信我的人祈求，使他们都合而为一。正如你父在我里面，我在你里面，使他们也在我们里面，叫世人可以信你差了我来。你所赐给我的荣耀，我已赐给他们，使他们合而为一，像我们合而为一。我在他们里面，你在我里面，使他们完完全全地合而为一，叫世人知道你差了我来，也知道你爱他们如同爱我一样。』(约翰福音 17:20-23) 所以祂不只是为使徒请求，也为那些信他们的话而信祂的基督徒请求。在这里，我们看见合一的恩赐已赐下来，但这不是说我们已有了这样的恩赐，可以躺著什么都不做！不是的，我们必须治死老我把它彰显出来，就像神的爱一样。     

    我们看到了神的爱会包含这个，『主为我们舍命，我们从此就知道何为爱(G26)，我们也当为弟兄舍命。』(约翰一书 3:16) 我们也知道，『人为朋友舍命，人的爱心(G26)没有比这个大的。』(约翰福音 15:13) 所以神的爱是远远超过人的爱，因为『惟有基督在我们还作罪人的时候为我们死，神的爱(G26)就在此向我们显明了。』(罗马书 5:8) 我们那时不信主那里会是祂的朋友呢！只因『神爱(G25)世人，…』(约翰福音 3:16) 祂就这么做了！当然这里讲的弟兄是指男弟兄和女弟兄，后者也就是姊妹，在新约的救恩计划中，从来就没有分别二者，神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的。        

    请注意，『不是你们拣选了我，是我拣选了你们，…』(约翰福音 15:16) 有人自觉是不被拣选的人，就会以此说这不是预定吗？我为什么要作任何努力呢？我们看看圣经怎么说，『…他预先所知道的人，就预先定下效法(模成, be conformed to)他儿子的模样(形像, image)，使他儿子在许多弟兄中作长子。』(罗马书 8:29) 所以预知和预定是一体的两面，况且我们知道神用的是回授策略 (参以西结书 18:25-29)，我们怎可不努力呢？祂在这里是强调祂有绝对的主权，就像我们所分享，祂能够预知一个不信主的人以后会不会信主，祂的拣选怎么会不公平呢？       

    你看，祂又说了一次，『…使你们奉我的名，无论向父求甚么，他就赐给你们。』(约翰福音 15:16) 就像以前所分享的一样，先决的条件是要和神合一，当合一时，我们的祷告本是神要做的，所以一定会成就。祂说，『我这样吩咐你们，是要叫你们彼此相爱。』(约翰福音 15:17) 就像前所分享的，我们会因此有真正的合一，就自然遵行了祂叫我们彼此相爱的命令。        

    在这里我们一直强调的是爱，不要忘记，『公义和公平，是你宝座的根基；慈爱和诚实，行在你前面。』(诗篇 89:14) 神也是公义的神。在启示中的白色大宝座的审判说，『我又看见死了的人，无论大小，都站在宝座前。案卷展开了，并且另有一卷展开，就是生命册。死了的人都凭著这些案卷所记载的，照他们所行的受审判。』(启示录 20:12) 『信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已经定了，因为他不信神独生子的名。』(约翰福音 3:18) 所以不信主的非基督徒不会名字在生命册上，而『若有人名字没记在生命册上，他就被扔在火湖里。』(启示录 20:15)  我们也看见除了生命册外，审判是要照著所行的，很清楚的，基督徒要有信心的行为。

    就我知道的教会，都是强调爱而很少讲到神的公义那一面，但也有例外的，有一位牧师退休后，才意识到他在职时也应该讲神的公义，我在他退休后的讲道中，一次看到他专注于讲神的公义。在这里，我们只是提到神的公义的重要性，是不可忽略的。

4. 仆人不能大于主人        

    『「世人若恨你们，你们知道恨你们以先，已经恨我了。你们若属世界，世界必爱属自己的；只因你们不属世界，乃是我从世界中拣选了你们，所以世界就恨你们。你们要记念我从前对你们所说的话：『仆人不能大于主人。』他们若逼迫了我，也要逼迫你们；若遵守了我的话，也要遵守你们的话。但他们因我的名要向你们行这一切的事，因为他们不认识那差我来的。我若没有来教训他们，他们就没有罪；但如今他们的罪无可推诿了。恨我的，也恨我的父。我若没有在他们中间行过别人未曾行的事，他们就没有罪；但如今连我与我的父，他们也看见也恨恶了。这要应验他们律法上所写的话，说：『他们无故地恨我。』「但我要从父那里差保惠师来，就是从父出来真理的圣灵，他来了，就要为我作见证。你们也要作见证，因为你们从起头就与我同在。」』(约翰福音 15:18-27)        

    首先看到基督徒是被拣选不属于世界的，所以得救是从世界出来的，我们看到，『他(父神)救了我们脱离黑暗的权势，把我们迁到他爱子的国里。』(歌罗西书 1:13) 基督徒是从世界出来进入耶稣的国度里。这是说在信而不是受洗的那一刻，因为是说，『信而归主的人越发增添，连男带女很多。』(使徒行传 5:14) 另一处也说了，『主与他们同在，信而归主的人就很多了。』(使徒行传 11:21) 约翰福音也讲得很清楚，『信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已经定了，因为他不信神独生子的名。』(约翰福音 3:18) 所以是信在先，然后是『…奉耶稣基督的名受洗，…』(使徒行传 2:38)     

    但基督徒得救后也是会堕落的，底马只在圣经中提过三次，他本是保罗的同工 (参歌罗西书 4:14, 腓利门书 1:24)，是基督徒，但最后是，『因为底马贪爱现今的世界，就离弃我(保罗)往帖撒罗尼迦去了。…』(提摩太后书 4:10) 从世界出来的基督徒，又回到世界是明显的堕落了！不要相信有些教派教导的，一但信主就永远不会堕落，这是骗人的。所以彼得会说，『务要谨守、警醒，因为你们的仇敌魔鬼，如同吼叫的狮子，遍地游行，寻找可吞吃的人。』(彼得前书 5:8) 尤其是在基督徒中，撒但更会大大的作工，而撒但也不是每次都白白的作工，当牠成功时就有了堕落的基督徒。当新耶路撒冷降临时，堕落的基督只能待在城外，咬牙切齿，悔不当初。如果你仔细的看圣经，就知道说城外的人不能进城，没有说城内的人不能选择暂时出城看看。这一点大概不是很多人注意到，我会注意到这一点是因为我妈妈是近九十九岁的基督徒，我也是基督徒，在白色大宝座的审判后，不论我们同在城内或城外，或是一在城内一在城内，我们都是可以见面的。

    不论如何，我们都要用圣经的话语作为绝对的标准去分辩，要在基督里长大成人，圣经说得很清楚，『惟独长大成人的，才能吃干粮，他们的心窍习练得通达，就能分辩好歹了。』(希伯来书 5:14) 就像我以前跟大家分享过，我知道自己还没有长大成人，因常常不能分辩。我相信司提反是长大成人的，因他『…是大有信心、圣灵充满的人；…』(使徒行传 6:5) 且『司提反满得恩惠能力，在民间行了大奇事和神迹。』(使徒行传 6:8) 他是第一个为主丧失自己生命的人 (参使徒行传 7:57-60)，耶稣就给他殊荣，站在神的右边欢迎他 (参使徒行传 7:55-56)    

    耶稣说得很清楚，『…仆人不能大于主人。…』(约翰福音 15:20) 耶稣当然是受到世界的逼迫，要不然祂怎么会被钉十字架而死，所以基督徒受到世界的逼迫不要不以为然。主很清楚的说，『凡不背著自己十字架跟从我的，也不能作我的门徒。』(路加福音 14:27) 不是要我们自找苦吃， 活该，而是要背起主量给我们的十字架。所以第一件事情是要分辩，要长大成人。      

    这句经文，『…但如今他们的罪无可推诿了。』(约翰福音 15:22) 是相当于用另一种方式来说，『耶稣对他们说：「你们若瞎了眼，就没有罪了；但如今你们说『我们能看见』，所以你们的罪还在。」』(约翰福音 9:41) 虽然看到基督徒会遭受苦难是避免不了的，但要知道，『我留下平安给你们，我将我的平安赐给你们；我所赐的，不像世人所赐的。你们心里不要忧愁，也不要胆怯。』(约翰福音 14:27) 是主量给我们的困难，祂最终一定会帮我们解决的，就像经文所应许的，『你们所遇见的试探，无非是人所能受的。神是信实的，必不叫你们受试探过于所能受的。在受试探的时候，总要给你们.一条出路，叫你们能忍受得住。』(哥林多前书 10:13) 也就是要相信，『…在世上你们有苦难，但你们可以放心，我已经胜了世界。』(约翰福音 16:33)        

    他们的确是无故地恨耶稣 (参约翰福音 15:25)，因『耶稣对他们说：「我从父显出许多善事给你们看，你们是为哪一件拿石头打我呢？」犹太人回答说：「我们不是为善事拿石头打你，是为你说僭妄的话；又为你是个人，反将自己当作神。」』(约翰福音 10:32-33) 祂只是说了事实，可是他们不信祂，也不相信祂做的事(如许多神迹奇事)，和祂讲的道是从神而来。祂说得很清楚，『你们当信我，我在父里面，父在我里面；即或不信，也当因我所做的事信我。』(约翰福音 14:11) 说到当信我做的事尼哥低母就是一个很好的例子，他『…说：「拉比，我们知道你是由神那里来作师傅的，因为你所行的神迹，若没有神同在，无人能行。」』(约翰福音 3:2) 我们不知道他是何时完全相信的，但知道在耶稣被钉十字架后就表明了他的信 (参约翰福音 19:38-40)

    也就是说，『我若没有在他们中间行过别人未曾行的事，他们就没有罪；…』(约翰福音 15:24) 简言之，祂做的事在这经文中列出了，『耶稣回答说：「你们去，把所看见所听见的事告诉约翰，就是瞎子看见，瘸子行走，长大痲疯的洁净，聋子听见，死人复活，穷人有福音传给他们。』(路加福音 7:22) 我们都是灵里贫穷的人，现在是借著圣经知道祂所传的道，就是福音传给了我们。因为『…人看见了我(耶稣)，就是看见了父，…』(约翰福音 14:9) 当然是『…如今连我与我的父，他们也看见也恨恶了。』(约翰福音 15:24)        

    我们知道圣灵来，是『…要为我(耶稣)作见证。』(约翰福音 15:26) 真是 『…他不是凭自己说的，乃是把他所听见的都说出来，并要把将来的事告诉你们。他要荣耀我，因为他要将受于我的告诉你们。』(约翰福音 16:13-14) 主受差遣道成肉身时说，『 我所说的，是在我父那里看见的；…』(约翰福音 8:38) 所以是基本上是一脉相承，源头是从父而来。

    主又说道，『你们也要作见证，因为你们从起头就与我同在。』(约翰福音 15:27) 这是在最后的晚餐中对除了卖主的犹大外对十一个使徒说的。耶稣的确很早就拣选了使徒他们，心想，就算是他们起头与耶稣同在又怎么样呢？我们看到耶稣被捕时，除彼得和约翰外，『门徒都离开他，逃走了。』(马可福音 14:50) 虽然彼得当时没逃走，最后却是『彼得想起耶稣所说的话：「鸡叫以先，你要三次不认我。」他就出去痛哭。』(马太福音 26:75) 因彼得悔改出去了，使徒中只有约翰一人在十字架前 (参约翰福音 19:25-27)。虽然耶稣复活后，『…向他们(门徒)吹一口气，说：「你们受圣灵。」』(约翰福音 20:22) 也『…对他们说：「愿你们平安！父怎样差遣了我，我也照样差遣你们。」』(约翰福音 20:21) 可能你们会注意到，我非常小心的确定圣经是在讲使徒或是门徒，这样才能知道圣经在讲什么，每一个人都可以这样做！不是我的专利，过去就有人这样说过和做过。     

    我们会怀疑，凭著这样的使徒及门徒，怎么会做祂有力的见证呢？是的，可以的。耶稣应许了圣灵的降临，在祂复活后的第一个五旬前这应许成就了 (参使徒行传 2:1-11)，真是『…圣灵降临在你们(十一个使徒)身上，你们就必得著能力；并要在耶路撒冷、犹太全地和撒马利亚，直到地极，作我的见证。』(使徒行传 1:8) 

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到这网站后要按『对属灵生命的了解』。)  

    首先經文說得很清楚，愛耶穌等於遵守祂的道，並討論了祂的再來，從神的角度和從人的角度看這件事情的不同。第二，我們看到主耶穌是真葡萄樹，我們是枝子，不和祂聯結，我們不會有生命。第三，我們談到了以愛為旌旗的與祂合一，又再一次看到祂有絕對的主權，也簡短的討論了祂也是公義的神。最後，從經文中我們看到了，僕人不能大於主人，世界迫害了祂，也會逼害被揀選離開世界的基督徒，因此基督徒會遭受苦難是避免不了的，但要相信祂已勝過了這世界，並賜給我們了出人意料的平安。

1. 愛耶穌等於遵守祂的道

        『「有了我的命令又遵守的，這人就是愛我的；愛我的必蒙我父愛他，我也要愛他，並且要向他顯現。」猶大（不是加略人猶大）問耶穌說：「主啊，為甚麼要向我們顯現，不向世人顯現呢？」耶穌回答說：「人若愛我，就必遵守我的道，我父也必愛他，並且我們要到他那裏去，與他同住。不愛我的人就不遵守我的道，你們所聽見的道不是我的，乃是差我來之父的道。「我還與你們同住的時候，已將這些話對你們說了。但保惠師，就是父因我的名所要差來的聖靈，他要將一切的事指教你們，並且要叫你們想起我對你們所說的一切話。我留下平安給你們，我將我的平安賜給你們；我所賜的，不像世人所賜的。你們心裏不要憂愁，也不要膽怯。「你們聽見我對你們說了，我去還要到你們這裏來。你們若愛我，因我到父那裏去，就必喜樂，因為父是比我大的。現在事情還沒有成就，我預先告訴你們，叫你們到事情成就的時候，就可以信。以後我不再和你們多說話，因為這世界的王將到，他在我裏面是毫無所有，但要叫世人知道我愛父，並且父怎樣吩咐我，我就怎樣行。 「起來，我們走吧！」』(約翰福音 14:21-31)

       我們很高興的知道，這世界的王在耶穌裏面是毫無所有 (參約翰福音 14:30)，這世界的王就是那惡者撒但，如同經文所說，『我們知道我們是屬神的，全世界都臥在那惡者手下。』(約翰一書 5:19)   撒但對祂是毫無所有，我們看到祂雖有撒但的引誘，只是祂沒有犯罪，如同希伯來書所說，『因我們的大祭司(耶穌)並非不能體恤我們的軟弱，他也曾凡事受過試探，與我們一樣，只是他沒有犯罪。』(希伯來書 4:15)

     祂一生都順服神，因『…父怎樣吩咐我，我就怎樣行。…』(約翰福音 14:31) 祂明知會被賣而釘十字架，仍說『…起來，我們走吧！』(約翰福音 14:31) 在路上，祂又在約翰福音 15:1-17:26 說了許多話。『耶穌說了這話，就同門徒出去，過了汲淪溪，在那裏有一個園子，他和門徒進去了。』(約翰福音 18:1) 在那裏，加略人猶大賣主而使祂被捆綁，最終被釘十字架而死，三天後復活。

     我們看到猶大(不是加略人猶大)關於不向世人顯現的問話(參約翰福音 14:22)，從『耶穌回答說：「人若愛我，就必遵守我的道，…不愛我的人就不遵守我的道，…』(約翰福音 14:23-24)  我們可得到愛耶穌等於遵守祂的道。為什麼呢？前者是說:  人若愛我意味著遵守我的道。後者是說:  不愛我的人意味著不遵守我的道。也就是等於說:  遵守我的道意味著愛我的人。簡言之，愛祂的人是遵守祂的道的充分和必要條件，也就是這兩個敘述是相等的。

     我們現在知道了，愛耶穌等於遵行祂的道，所以愛耶穌不能只在口頭上，一再强調，要行才行，所以大使命是說，『…使萬民作我的門徒，…凡我所吩咐你們的，都教訓他們遵守，…』(馬太福音 28:19-20) 不要像一些人以為只要使人信主就完成了大使命，要有後繼的教導，使他們走上成聖之路。因為人有自由意思，雖有正確的教導，並不代表別人會遵行，所以大使命只是要我們有正確的教導，沒有辦法強迫人信主，並遵行做一個真正的門徒。

     請注意，耶穌並沒有回答猶大(不是加略人猶大)關於不向世人顯現的問話 (參約翰福音 14:22)，而是說人若愛我，就必遵守我的道。從人的角度來看，祂的確是會向現在不愛祂的世人顯現的，就像有些人做過這樣的見証: 當我還沒有信主時，主就感動我，使我信主。這其實就是在意念中向那人顯現，因為祂說，『不是你們揀選了我，是我揀選了你們，…』(約翰福音 15:16) 祂有絕對的主權，可以採取主動。祂能預知，知道有些今天不愛主的人，明天可能就愛主了，所以我們必須從神的角度看這個問題。

     我們知道主真正會向祂的門徒(就是今日的基徒)顯現，我們也能知道祂現在是以聖靈的方式內住在信徒裏面，和他們同在。只是有時人心會剛硬如賣主的加略人猶大般，雖是耶穌幫他洗腳，並事先告訴他賣主的門徒就是他，他仍不悔改，而且是用行動表示了。同樣的，祂的顯現也會有著不同的原因，是我們不能瞭解的，主權在祂，祂有絕對的主權。舊約說得很清楚，『隱秘的事是屬耶和華我們神的，惟有明顯的事是永遠屬我們和我們子孫的，…』(申命記 29:29)

     我們知道聖靈來不只是指教和想起祂的道 (參約翰福音 14:26)，而是更要進入一切真理  (參約翰福音 16:13) 。 祂應許我們，祂賜的平安是不同於世人的真平安，我們還有什麼要憂愁和膽怯的呢！ (參約翰福音 14:27) 祂應許我們祂會再來 (約翰福音 14:28) 。這點在啓示錄裏也講得很清楚，『證明這事的說：「是了，我必快來！」 阿們！主耶穌啊，我願你來！』(啓示錄 22:20) 是的，我們只能說我願祢來，而祂說的快來是從神的角度看，從人的角度看是，『…我來像賊一樣。…』 (啓示錄 16:15)   我們再一次看到，祂有絕對的主權。

2. 主耶穌是真葡萄樹，我們是枝子

       『「我是真葡萄樹，我父是栽培的人。凡屬我不結果子的枝子，他就剪去；凡結果子的，他就修理乾淨，使枝子結果子更多。現在你們因我講給你們的道，已經乾淨了。你們要常在我裏面，我也常在你們裏面。枝子若不常在葡萄樹上，自己就不能結果子；你們若不常在我裏面，也是這樣。「我是葡萄樹，你們是枝子。常在我裏面的，我也常在他裏面，這人就多結果子。因為離了我，你們就不能做甚麼。人若不常在我裏面，就像枝子丟在外面枯乾，人拾起來扔在火裏燒了。你們若常在我裏面，我的話也常在你們裏面；凡你們所願意的，祈求就給你們成就。你們多結果子，我父就因此得榮耀，你們也就是我的門徒了。」』(約翰福音 15:1-8)

        這裏我們看到了真葡萄樹的比喻，那是真葡萄樹，因當祂道成肉身的期間，父是裁培的人。這是常被引用和討論的經文，所以我們在這裏就很簡單的討論一下。首先我們看到修理的原因是為了結果子更多，如果你種過葡萄樹(藤)，就知道非修剪不可，要不葡萄就會愈來愈小。

     不與葡萄樹聯接的枝子，不會有祂生命的供應，沒有生命的枝子在栽培，自然會被剪去枯乾，只適合扔在火裏燒了！所以是會有墮落的基督徒的。『因為主所愛的，他必管教，又鞭打凡所收納的兒子。』(希伯來書 12:6) 所以基督徒會遭受苦難是理所當然的，只有經歷過這樣的過程，才有可能淨化我們，模成耶穌的形像 (參羅馬書 8:29)，因此主會說，『不背着他的十字架跟從我的，也不配作我的門徒。』(馬太福音 10:38) 我們想要多結果子，就該如此，和祂合一，得到祂生命的供應，這時，『…凡你們所願意的，祈求就給你們成就。』(約翰福音 15:7) 我們也看到了，我們要成為祂的門徒，多結果子，可以榮耀父神。

3. 以愛為旌旗的合一

       『我愛(G25, 動詞)你們，正如父愛(G25, 動詞)我一樣，你們要常在我的愛(G26, 名詞)裏。你們若遵守我的命令，就常在我的愛裏；正如我遵守了我父的命令，常在他的愛裏。這些事我已經對你們說了，是要叫我的喜樂存在你們心裏，並叫你們的喜樂可以滿足。你們要彼此相愛，像我愛你們一樣，這就是我的命令。人為朋友捨命，人的愛心沒有比這個大的。你們若遵行我所吩咐的，就是我的朋友了。以後我不再稱你們為僕人，因僕人不知道主人所做的事；我乃稱你們為朋友，因我從我父所聽見的，已經都告訴你們了。不是你們揀選了我，是我揀選了你們，並且分派你們去結果子，叫你們的果子常存，使你們奉我的名，無論向父求甚麼，他就賜給你們。我這樣吩咐你們，是要叫你們彼此相愛。』(約翰福音 15:9-17)

     在彙編(Strong’s Concordance)中的原文，基本上每一個字都有編號，所以很容易找出用某一個字的全部經文，要注意的是，雖是不同的字，可能會有同樣的意義。譬如在這裏，G25 和 G26 是不同的字，但一個是動詞而另一個為它的名詞，意義是相同的。請注意，希臘原文中有不同的愛，這在合和本和英文的翻譯中分不清楚是在講那一種愛，看彙編的希臘原文就很清楚了！在新約中講的愛，絕大部份是用 G25 和 G26。

     我們看到了主一再強調我們要在神的愛裏和祂合一，如果是每一個人和祂合一，我們自然會合一，這是真正的合一，而不是表面人為的合一。這裏提到了兩次要彼此相愛，這是要在神的愛裏，像我們以前所分享，基督徒已有藉著內住的聖靈澆灌的神的愛 (參羅馬書 5:5)，我們治死老我去將神的愛彰顯出來。這不是說要等完全治死老我才能做任何事，而是『…要按着神所賜的力量服事，叫神在凡事上因耶穌基督得榮耀。…』(彼得前書 4:11) 所以，那時我們有多少神的愛彰顯出來，就可以做我們力量所能及的事情。

     關於合一，我們看耶穌在最後的晚餐說的話就知道這一點，祂說，『我不但為這些人祈求，也為那些因他們的話信我的人祈求，使他們都合而為一。正如你父在我裏面，我在你裏面，使他們也在我們裏面，叫世人可以信你差了我來。你所賜給我的榮耀，我已賜給他們，使他們合而為一，像我們合而為一。我在他們裏面，你在我裏面，使他們完完全全地合而為一，叫世人知道你差了我來，也知道你愛他們如同愛我一樣。』(約翰福音 17:20-23) 所以祂不只是為使徒請求，也為那些信他們的話而信祂的基督徒請求。在這裏，我們看見合一的恩賜已賜下來，但這不是說我們已有了這樣的恩賜，可以躺著什麼都不做！不是的，我們必須治死老我把它彰顯出來，就像神的愛一樣。

     我們看到了神的愛會包含這個，『主為我們捨命，我們從此就知道何為愛(G26)，我們也當為弟兄捨命。』(約翰一書 3:16) 我們也知道，『人為朋友捨命，人的愛心(G26)沒有比這個大的。』(約翰福音 15:13) 所以神的愛是遠遠超過人的愛，因為『惟有基督在我們還作罪人的時候為我們死，神的愛(G26)就在此向我們顯明了。』(羅馬書 5:8) 我們那時不信主那裏會是祂的朋友呢！只因『神愛(G25)世人，…』(約翰福音 3:16) 祂就這麼做了！當然這裏講的弟兄是指男弟兄和女弟兄，後者也就是姊妹，在新約的救恩計劃中，從來就沒有分別二者，神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的。

        請注意，『不是你們揀選了我，是我揀選了你們，…』(約翰福音 15:16) 有人自覺是不被揀選的人，就會以此說這不是預定嗎？我為什麼要作任何努力呢？我們看看聖經怎麼說，『…他預先所知道的人，就預先定下效法(模成, be conformed to)他兒子的模樣(形像, image)，使他兒子在許多弟兄中作長子。』(羅馬書 8:29) 所以預知和預定是一體的兩面，況且我們知道神用的是回授策略 (參以西結書 18:25-29)，我們怎可不努力呢？祂在這裏是強調祂有絕對的主權，就像我們所分享，祂能夠預知一個不信主的人以後會不會信主，祂的揀選怎麼會不公平呢？

       你看，祂又說了一次，『…使你們奉我的名，無論向父求甚麼，他就賜給你們。』(約翰福音 15:16) 就像以前所分享的一樣，先決的條件是要和神合一，當合一時，我們的禱告本是神要做的，所以一定會成就。祂說，『我這樣吩咐你們，是要叫你們彼此相愛。』(約翰福音 15:17) 就像前所分享的，我們會因此有真正的合一，就自然遵行了祂叫我們彼此相愛的命令。

        在這裏我們一直強調的是愛，不要忘記，『公義和公平，是你寶座的根基；慈愛和誠實，行在你前面。』(詩篇 89:14) 神也是公義的神。在啓示中的白色大寶座的審判說，『我又看見死了的人，無論大小，都站在寶座前。案卷展開了，並且另有一卷展開，就是生命冊。死了的人都憑着這些案卷所記載的，照他們所行的受審判。』(啓示錄 20:12) 『信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已經定了，因為他不信神獨生子的名。』(約翰福音 3:18) 所以不信主的非基督徒不會名字在生命册上，而『若有人名字沒記在生命冊上，他就被扔在火湖裏。』(啓示錄 20:15)  我們也看見除了生命册外，審判是要照著所行的，很清楚的，基督徒要有信心的行為。

     就我知道的教會，都是強調愛而很少講到神的公義那一面，但也有例外的，有一位牧師退休後，才意識到他在職時也應該講神的公義，我在他退休後的講道中，一次看到他專注於講神的公義。在這裏，我們只是提到神的公義的重要性，是不可忽略的。

4. 僕人不能大於主人

        『「世人若恨你們，你們知道恨你們以先，已經恨我了。你們若屬世界，世界必愛屬自己的；只因你們不屬世界，乃是我從世界中揀選了你們，所以世界就恨你們。你們要記念我從前對你們所說的話：『僕人不能大於主人。』他們若逼迫了我，也要逼迫你們；若遵守了我的話，也要遵守你們的話。但他們因我的名要向你們行這一切的事，因為他們不認識那差我來的。我若沒有來教訓他們，他們就沒有罪；但如今他們的罪無可推諉了。恨我的，也恨我的父。我若沒有在他們中間行過別人未曾行的事，他們就沒有罪；但如今連我與我的父，他們也看見也恨惡了。這要應驗他們律法上所寫的話，說：『他們無故地恨我。』「但我要從父那裏差保惠師來，就是從父出來真理的聖靈，他來了，就要為我作見證。你們也要作見證，因為你們從起頭就與我同在。」』(約翰福音 15:18-27)

        首先看到基督徒是被揀選不屬於世界的，所以得救是從世界出來的，我們看到，『他(父神)救了我們脫離黑暗的權勢，把我們遷到他愛子的國裏。』(歌羅西書 1:13) 基督徒是從世界出來進入耶穌的國度裏。這是說在信而不是受洗的那一刻，因為是說，『信而歸主的人越發增添，連男帶女很多。』(使徒行傳 5:14) 另一處也說了，『主與他們同在，信而歸主的人就很多了。』(使徒行傳 11:21) 約翰福音也講得很清楚，『信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已經定了，因為他不信神獨生子的名。』(約翰福音 3:18) 所以是信在先，然後是『…奉耶穌基督的名受洗，…』(使徒行傳 2:38)

     但基督徒得救後也是會墮落的，底馬只在聖經中提過三次，他本是保羅的同工 (參歌羅西書 4:14, 腓利門書 1:24)，是基督徒，但最後是，『因為底馬貪愛現今的世界，就離棄我(保羅)往帖撒羅尼迦去了。…』(提摩太後書 4:10) 從世界出來的基督徒，又回到世界是明顯的墮落了！不要相信有些教派教導的，一但信主就永遠不會墮落，這是騙人的。所以彼得會說，『務要謹守、警醒，因為你們的仇敵魔鬼，如同吼叫的獅子，遍地遊行，尋找可吞吃的人。』(彼得前書 5:8) 尤其是在基督徒中，撒但更會大大的作工，而撒但也不是每次都白白的作工，當牠成功時就有了墮落的基督徒。當新耶路撒冷降臨時，墮落的基督只能待在城外，咬牙切齒，悔不當初。如果你仔細的看聖經，就知道說城外的人不能進城，沒有說城內的人不能選擇暫時出城看看。這一點大概不是很多人注意到，我會注意到這一點是因為我媽媽是近九十九歲的基督徒，我也是基督徒，在白色大寶座的審判後，不論我們同在城內或城外，或是一在城內一在城內，我們都是可以見面的。

     不論如何，我們都要用聖經的話語作為絕對的標準去分辨，要在基督裏長大成人，聖經說得很清楚，『惟獨長大成人的，才能吃乾糧，他們的心竅習練得通達，就能分辨好歹了。』(希伯來書 5:14) 就像我以前跟大家分享過，我知道自己還沒有長大成人，因常常不能分辨。我相信司提反是長大成人的，因他『…是大有信心、聖靈充滿的人；…』(使徒行傳 6:5) 且『司提反滿得恩惠能力，在民間行了大奇事和神蹟。』(使徒行傳 6:8) 他是第一個為主喪失自己生命的人 (參使徒行傳 7:57-60)，耶穌就給他殊榮，站在神的右邊歡迎他 (參使徒行傳 7:55-56)

    耶穌說得很清楚，『…僕人不能大於主人。…』(約翰福音 15:20) 耶穌當然是受到世界的逼迫，要不然祂怎麼會被釘十字架而死，所以基督徒受到世界的逼迫不要不以為然。主很清楚的說，『凡不背着自己十字架跟從我的，也不能作我的門徒。』(路加福音 14:27) 不是要我們自找苦吃， 活該，而是要背起主量給我們的十字架。所以第一件事情是要分辨，要長大成人。

      這句經文，『…但如今他們的罪無可推諉了。』(約翰福音 15:22) 是相當於用另一種方式來說，『耶穌對他們說：「你們若瞎了眼，就沒有罪了；但如今你們說『我們能看見』，所以你們的罪還在。」』(約翰福音 9:41) 雖然看到基督徒會遭受苦難是避免不了的，但要知道，『我留下平安給你們，我將我的平安賜給你們；我所賜的，不像世人所賜的。你們心裏不要憂愁，也不要膽怯。』(約翰福音 14:27) 是主量給我們的困難，祂最終一定會幫我們解決的，就像經文所應許的，『你們所遇見的試探，無非是人所能受的。神是信實的，必不叫你們受試探過於所能受的。在受試探的時候，總要給你們.一條出路，叫你們能忍受得住。』(哥林多前書 10:13) 也就是要相信，『…在世上你們有苦難，但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。』(約翰福音 16:33)

        他們的確是無故地恨耶穌 (參約翰福音 15:25)，因『耶穌對他們說：「我從父顯出許多善事給你們看，你們是為哪一件拿石頭打我呢？」猶太人回答說：「我們不是為善事拿石頭打你，是為你說僭妄的話；又為你是個人，反將自己當作神。」』(約翰福音 10:32-33) 祂只是說了事實，可是他們不信祂，也不相信祂做的事(如許多神蹟奇事)，和祂講的道是從神而來。祂說得很清楚，『你們當信我，我在父裏面，父在我裏面；即或不信，也當因我所做的事信我。』(約翰福音 14:11) 說到當信我做的事尼哥低母就是一個很好的例子，他『…說：「拉比，我們知道你是由神那裏來作師傅的，因為你所行的神蹟，若沒有神同在，無人能行。」』(約翰福音 3:2) 我們不知道他是何時完全相信的，但知道在耶穌被釘十字架後就表明了他的信 (參約翰福音 19:38-40)

     也就是說，『我若沒有在他們中間行過別人未曾行的事，他們就沒有罪；…』(約翰福音 15:24) 簡言之，祂做的事在這經文中列出了，『耶穌回答說：「你們去，把所看見所聽見的事告訴約翰，就是瞎子看見，瘸子行走，長大痲瘋的潔淨，聾子聽見，死人復活，窮人有福音傳給他們。』(路加福音 7:22) 我們都是靈裏貧窮的人，現在是藉著聖經知道祂所傳的道，就是福音傳給了我們。因為『…人看見了我(耶穌)，就是看見了父，…』(約翰福音 14:9) 當然是『…如今連我與我的父，他們也看見也恨惡了。』(約翰福音 15:24)

        我們知道聖靈來，是『…要為我(耶穌)作見證。』(約翰福音 15:26) 真是

『…他不是憑自己說的，乃是把他所聽見的都說出來，並要把將來的事告訴你們。他要榮耀我，因為他要將受於我的告訴你們。』(約翰福音 16:13-14) 主受差遣道成肉身時說，『 我所說的，是在我父那裏看見的；…』(約翰福音 8:38) 所以是基本上是一脈相承，源頭是從父而來。

     主又說道，『你們也要作見證，因為你們從起頭就與我同在。』(約翰福音 15:27) 這是在最後的晚餐中對除了賣主的猶大外對十一個使徒說的。耶穌的確很早就揀選了使徒他們，心想，就算是他們起頭與耶穌同在又怎麼樣呢？我們看到耶穌被捕時，除彼得和約翰外，『門徒都離開他，逃走了。』(馬可福音 14:50) 雖然彼得當時沒逃走，最後卻是『彼得想起耶穌所說的話：「雞叫以先，你要三次不認我。」他就出去痛哭。』(馬太福音 26:75) 因彼得悔改出去了，使徒中只有約翰一人在十字架前 (參約翰福音 19:25-27)。雖然耶穌復活後，『…向他們(門徒)吹一口氣，說：「你們受聖靈。」』(約翰福音 20:22) 也『…對他們說：「願你們平安！父怎樣差遣了我，我也照樣差遣你們。」』(約翰福音 20:21) 可能你們會注意到，我非常小心的確定聖經是在講使徒或是門徒，這樣才能知道聖經在講什麼，每一個人都可以這樣做！不是我的專利，過去就有人這樣說過和做過。

     我們會懷疑，憑著這樣的使徒及門徒，怎麼會做祂有力的見証呢？是的，可以的。耶穌應許了聖靈的降臨，在祂復活後的第一個五旬前這應許成就了 (參使徒行傳 2:1-11)，真是『…聖靈降臨在你們(十一個使徒)身上，你們就必得着能力；並要在耶路撒冷、猶太全地和撒馬利亞，直到地極，作我的見證。』(使徒行傳 1:8) 

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到這網站後要按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』。)

 First, the scripture makes it clear that loving Jesus equals obeying His Word, and discusses His second coming and we discuss the difference between viewing this matter from God’s perspective and from human’s perspective.  Second, we see that the Lord Jesus is the true vine and we are the branches. Without being connected to Him, we would not have life.  Third, we talked about our union with Him under the banner of love, and once again saw that He is absolutely sovereign, and briefly discussed that He is also a God of justice.  Finally, from the scriptures we see that a slave cannot be greater than his master. The world persecuted Him, and it will also persecute Christians who are chosen to leave the world. Therefore, it is inevitable that Christians will suffer, but we must believe that He has overcome. He has given us unexpected peace that passes all understanding.

1. Loving Jesus equals obeying His Word the same 

“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me. “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe. I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here.”(John 14:21-31)

 We are glad to know that the prince of this world has nothing in Jesus (see John 14:30). The prince of this world is the evil one, Satan. As the Scripture says, “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”(1 John 5:19) Satan had nothing in Him. We see that although He was tempted by Satan, He did not sin. As Hebrews says, “For we do not have a high priest (Jesus) who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”(Hebrews 4:15)

 He obeyed God all His life because “…I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. …”(John 14:31) He knew that He would be betrayed and crucified in advance, but he still said, “…Get up, let us go from here.”(John 14:31) On the way, He spoke many more words in John 15:1-17:26. “When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, in which He entered with His disciples.”(John 18:1) There, Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, causing Him to be bound and eventually crucified. He died and was resurrected three days later.

 When Judas (not Iscariot) questioned about not appearing to the world (see John 14:22), “Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; …He who does not love Me does not keep My words; …”(John 14:23-24) We can get that loving Jesus equals keeping His word. Why? The former says: If a person loves Me, it implies keeping My Word. The latter means: If a person doesn’t love Me, it implies that person doesn’t obey My Word. The logical equivalent is to take negative description and reverse the implying direction: obeying My Word implies loving Me. In short, it’s a necessary and sufficient condition for these two statements. That means that obeying my Word equals loving Me.

 Now we know that loving Jesus is equal to obeying His teachings, so loving Jesus cannot be just lip service. We must emphasize again and again that we must act on it. That is why the Great Commission says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, …teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; …”(Matthew 28:19-20) Don’t be like some people who think that the Great Commission has been fulfilled by simply making people believe in the Lord. There must be follow-up teaching so that they can be on the path to sanctification.  Because people have free will, even if there are correct teachings, it does not mean that others will follow them. Therefore, the Great Commission only requires us to have correct teachings. There is no way to force people to believe in the Lord and obey to become true disciples.

 Please note that Jesus did not answer Judas’ question about not appearing to the world, but said, “…If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; …”(John 14:23) From a human perspective, He will indeed appear to those in the world who do not love Him now, just as some people have testified: When I had not yet believed in the Lord, the Lord moved me to believe in Him. This is actually appearing to that person in his mind, because He said, “You did not choose Me but I chose you, …”(John 15:16) He has absolute sovereignty and can take the initiative.  He can foresee that some people who do not love the Lord today may love the Lord tomorrow, so we must look at this issue from God’s perspective.

 We know that the Lord will truly appear to His disciples (Christians today), and we also know that He now dwells in believers and is with them in the form of the Holy Spirit.  But sometimes people’s hearts can be hardened, like Judas Iscariot, who betrayed the Lord. Even though Jesus washed his feet and told him in advance that he was the disciple who betrayed Him, he still did not repent, and he showed it through his actions.  Likewise, His appearance will have different reasons that we cannot understand. Sovereignty lies with Him, and He has absolute sovereignty.  The Old Testament makes it clear, ““The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, …”(Deuteronomy 29:29)

 We know that the Holy Spirit came not only to teach and remind us of His ways (John 14:26), but also to enter into all truth (John 16:13).  He promises us that the peace He gives us is true peace that is different from the world’s peace. So why do we have to be troubled or fearful?  (See John 14:27) He promised us that He will come again (John 14:28).  This point is also made very clear in the Book of Revelation: “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”(Revelation 22:20) Yes, we can only say I want you to come, and what He said about coming quickly is from God’s perspective. From man’s perspective, it’ll be, “Behold, I am coming like a thief. …”(Revelation 16:15) Once again, we see that He has absolute sovereignty.

2. The Lord Jesus is the true vine and we are the branches

““I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”(John 15:1-8)

 Here we see the parable of the true vine. It was the true vine because the Father was the vinedresser during His incarnation.  This is an often quoted and discussed passage, so we will briefly discuss it here.  First of all, we see that the reason for pruning is to produce more fruit. If you have ever grown grape vines, you will know that pruning is necessary, otherwise the grapes will become smaller and smaller.

 Branches that are not connected to the vine will not have His life supply. Without the cultivation of life, branches will naturally be cut off and withered, and will only be fit to be thrown into the fire and burned!  So there will be fallen Christians. “For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.”(Hebrews 12:6) So it is natural for Christians to suffer. Only by going through such a process can we be purified and conformed to the image of Jesus (see Romans 8:29). This is what He said, “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”(Matthew 10:38) If we want to bear more fruit, we should do this, be one with Him, and receive His life supply. At this time, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”(John 15:7) We also see that we must become His disciples, bear much fruit, and glorify God the Father.

3. Unity under the banner of love

“Just as the Father has loved (G25, verb) Me, I have also loved (G25, verb)

 you; abide in My love (G26, noun). If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. This I command you, that you love one another.”(John 15:9-17)

 In the original text of the Strong’s Concordance, almost every word is numbered, so it is easy to find all the passages that use a certain word. It should be noted that different words may have the same meaning.  For example, here, G25 and G26 are different words, but one is a verb and the other is its noun, and the meaning is the same.  Please note that there are different kinds of love in the original Greek text. It is unclear in the Union Version and the English translation which kind of love it is talking about. It becomes very clear when you look at the original Greek text in the concordance!  Most of the love mentioned in the New Testament is based on G25 and G26.

 We have seen that the Lord repeatedly emphasized that we must be one with God in His love. If each of us is one with Him, we will naturally be one. This is true unity, not a superficial artificial unity.  Here it is mentioned twice that we should love one another. This is to be in the love of God. As we have shared before, Christians already have the love of God poured out through the indwelling Holy Spirit (see Romans 5:5). The old me who dies goes to manifest the love of God.  This does not mean that we have to wait until the old self is completely put to death before we can do anything, but rather, “…whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, …”(1 Peter 4:11) Therefore, at that time, how much of God’s love we have revealed, we can do what we are able to do.

 Regarding unity, we know this from what Jesus said at the Last Supper, where He said, “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.”(John 17:20-23) So He not only prayed for the apostles, but also for the Christians who believed in Him because of their word.  Here we see that the gift of unity has been bestowed, but this does not mean that we have such a gift and can just lie down and do nothing!  No, we must put to death the old self and manifest it, just like the case of the love of God.

 We see that God’s love includes this, “We know love (G26) by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”(1 John 3:16) We also know that “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”(John 15:13) Therefore, God’s love far exceeds man’s love, because “…God demonstrates His own love (G26) toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”(Romans 5:8) We have no way to be His friends before we believe in the Lord!  We weren’t there when the Lord was crucified. Just because “…God so loved (G25) the world, …”(John 3:16) He did it!  Of course, the brothers mentioned here refer to male brothers and female brothers, the latter being sisters. In the New Testament’s salvation plan, there has never been any distinction between the two. What God tells us through the Bible is consistent.

4. A slave cannot be greater than his master 

““If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well. But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their Law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’ “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.”(John 15:18-27)

 First of all, we see that Christians are chosen and do not belong to the world. Therefore, those who are saved must come out of the world. We see that “…He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.”(Colossians 1:13) Christians have come out of the world and entered the kingdom of Jesus.  This refers to the moment of belief, not baptism, because it says, “And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number.”(Acts 5:14) Another place also says, “And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.”(Acts 11:21) The Gospel of John also makes it clear, “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”(John 3:18) So faith comes first, and then “…be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ…”(Acts 2:38)

 But Christians can also fall after being saved. Demas is only mentioned three times in the Bible. He was a co-worker of Paul (see Colossians 4:14, Philemon 1:24) and thus a Christian, but in the end, “…Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me (Paul) and gone to Thessalonica; …”(2 Timothy 4:10) A Christian who came out of the world and then returns to the world is clearly fallen!  Don’t believe what some sects teach that once you believe in the Lord you will never fall. This is a lie.  So Peter would say, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”(1 Peter 5:8) Satan will especially work more vigorously among Christians. Satan’s work is not always in vain. When he succeeds, there will be fallen Christians.  When the New Jerusalem comes, the fallen Christ can only stay outside the city, gritting his teeth and regretting his actions.  If you read the Bible carefully, you will know that it says that people outside the city cannot enter the city, but it does not say that people inside the city cannot choose to temporarily leave the city to take a look.  This is probably not something that many people have noticed. I noticed this because my mother is a Christian who is nearly 99 years old. I am also a Christian. After the great white throne judgment, whether we are in the city or outside the city, or one in the city and the other in the city, we can always meet when choosing so.

 No matter what, we must use the words of the Bible as the absolute standard to discern and grow up in Christ. The Bible clearly says, “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”(Hebrews 5:14) As I have shared with you before, I know that I have not grown up yet because I often cannot discern.  I believe Stephen was a mature man because he was “…a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, …”(Acts 6:5) “And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.”(Acts 6:8) He was the first person to lose his life for the Lord (see Acts 7:57-60), and Jesus gave him the special honor of standing at the right hand of God to welcome him (see Acts 7:55-56)

 Jesus said it clearly, “…A slave is not greater than his master….”(John 15:20) Jesus was certainly persecuted by the world, otherwise how could He be crucified and die? Therefore, Christians shouldn’t think that the persecution of the world is rare. The Lord clearly said, “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”(Luke 14:27) We are not asking for trouble or feeling that we deserve it, but we are to take up the cross that the Lord has measured for us.  So the first thing is to discern and grow up.

 This verse, “…but now they have no excuse for their sin.”(John 15:22) is another way of saying, “Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”(John 9:41) Although it is inevitable that Christians will suffer, we must know that “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”(John 14:27) These are the difficulties the Lord has given us, and He will definitely help us resolve them in the end, just as the scripture promises, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”(1 Corinthians 10:13) That is to say, “…In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”(John 16:33)

 They hated Jesus for no reason (see John 15:25), because Jesus said to them, “…“I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.””(John 10:32-33) He was just stating the facts. But they did not believe in Him, nor did they believe that the things He did (such as the many miracles) and the words He spoke came from God.  He said it very clearly, “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.”(John 14:11) Nicodimus is a good example about believing because of the works themselves. He “…said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”(John 3:2) We do not know when he fully believed, but we know that he did reveal his belief after Jesus was dead. (See John 19:38-40)

 That is, “If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; …”(John 15:24) In short, the things He did are listed in this passage, “And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them.”(Luke 7:22) We are all poor in spirit, and now we know the gospel that He preached through the Bible. Because “…He who has seen Me has seen the Father; …”(John 14:9) Of course, “…now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well.”(John 15:24)

 We know that when the Holy Spirit comes, “He will testify about Me.”(John 15:26) “…He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.”(John 16:13-14) When the Lord was sent to become flesh, He said, “I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; …”(John 8:38) So it is basically the same lineage. The source is from the Father.

 The Lord said again, “and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.”(John 15:27) This was said to the eleven apostles at the Last Supper, except Judas, who betrayed the Lord.  Jesus had indeed chosen the apostles very early on, and I thought before, what is good about their being with Jesus at the beginning?  We see that when Jesus was arrested, all his disciples, except Peter and John, deserted him and fled as said in the verse, “And they all left Him and fled.”(Mark 14:50) Although Peter did not flee at that time, in the end it says, “And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.”(Matthew 26:75) Because Peter repented and went out, John was the only apostle left before the cross (see John 19:25-27).  Although after Jesus’ resurrection, “…He breathed on them (the disciples) and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”(John 20:22) and “…said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.””(John 20:21) You may have noticed that I was very careful to make sure the Bible was talking about apostles or disciples so that you would know what the Bible is talking about. You can do this as well!  It’s not my patent, people have said and done this in the past.

 We may doubt how such apostles and disciples can bear powerful witness for Him.  Yes, they can.  Jesus promised the coming of the Holy Spirit, and this promise was fulfilled on the first Pentecost after His resurrection (see Acts 2:1-11). It is truly that “…the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”(Acts 1:8)

(Verses refer to those in NASB95 unless otherwise specified.)

(You can get all articles in “https://a-christian-voice.com/” under “On spiritual understanding about life.”)

    就像以前每一次一样，这篇文章是基于在油管(YouTube)上分享的专题查经，所以我们在开始时有简短的诗歌敬拜，这次我们是唱了爱的真谛这一首诗 (参哥林多前书 13:4-8)，我们特别要提到，『…又有恩慈；…』(哥林多前书 13:4) 原文是说爱是恩慈，而『爱是永不止息。…』(哥林多前书 13:8) 中文的翻译比英文的翻译更易使中国人了解。     

    我们首先来看「彼此相爱」的新命令，解释说这为什么是新命令。第二，耶稣预言了彼得三次不认主，因其之成就而看到彼得是真后悔了，回头以后就坚固弟兄，带领他们往前，三位一体的神也用神迹坚定了他的地位。第三，主真是道路、真理、生命，若不借著主没有人能到父那里去。第四，经文告诉我们，见到主耶稣就是见到了父神，那时是他们可以直接看见耶稣，但现今是我们虽然没有见过祂，却是爱祂，也讨论了我们能做更大的事是指什么。最后，我们讨论了耶稣应许保惠师、就是真理的圣灵的降临，这应许在耶稣死而复活后的第一个五旬节成就了，祂来了要引导我们进入一切的真理。

1. 彼此相爱的新命令        

    『他(卖主的犹大)1既出去，耶稣就说：「如今人子得了荣耀，神在人子身上也得了荣耀。神要因自己荣耀人子，并且要快快地荣耀他。「小子们，我还有不多的时候与你们同在，后来你们要找我，但我所去的地方你们不能到。这话我曾对犹太人说过，如今也照样对你们说。「我赐给你们一条新命令，乃是叫你们彼此相爱(G25, Agapao love, 动词)；我怎样爱(G25)你们，你们也要怎样相爱(G25)。你们若有彼此相爱的心(G26, Agape love, 名词)，众人因此就认出你们是我的门徒了。」』(约翰福音 13:31-35)        

    一开始就说到耶稣钉十字架的荣耀，对于这点，耶稣复活后说得很清楚，『耶稣对他们(离开耶路撒冷去以马忤斯的两门徒)说：「无知的人哪，先知所说的一切话，你们的心信得太迟钝了。基督这样受害 (钉上十字架而死)，又进入他的荣耀，岂不是应当的吗？」』(路加福音 24:25-26) 祂也因此荣耀了父神的名，因『…我(耶稣)原是为这(钉十字架)时候来的。』(约翰福音 12:27) 父神自己说耶稣也因此荣耀了父神的名，你看，当耶稣说，『父啊，愿你荣耀你的名。」 当时就有声音从天上来说：「我已经荣耀了我的名，还要再荣耀。」』(约翰福音 12:28)        

    耶稣的确对犹太人像在约翰福音 13:33 所说的，『…我所去的地方你们不能到。…』祂是在约翰福音 7:33-34 说的，『…耶稣说：「我还有不多的时候和你们同在，以后就回到差我来的那里去。你们要找我，却找不著；我所在的地方，你们不能到。」』(约翰福音 7:33-34)  当然他们不能到，耶稣是要钉十字架而死，『…而且从死里复活，现今在神的右边，…』 (罗马书 8:34)  是的，『耶稣知道父已将万有交在他手里，且知道自己是从神出来的，又要归到神那里去。』(约翰福音 13:3) 人怎么可能没有死就回到天上？耶稣是完全的人，祂被钉十字架后而死后，才能回到天上，所以那时会和现在一样的说，『小子们，我还有不多的时候与你们同在，后来你们要找我，但我所去的地方你们不能到。…』(约翰福音 13:33)        

    基督徒都有内住的圣灵，『岂不知你们的身子就是圣灵的殿吗？这圣灵是从神而来，住在你们里头的；…』(哥林多前书 6:19) 而这『圣灵就是神借著耶稣基督我们救主厚厚浇灌在我们身上的。』(提多书 3:6) 三位一体的『…神就是爱(Agape love, G26, 名词)。』(约翰一书 4:8) 而圣灵是三位一体的神中的一位，因此基督徒都已经在里面有了神的爱，必须治死老我，这爱才能彰显出来，就如圣经所说，『你们若顺从肉体活著，必要死；若靠著圣灵治死身体的恶行，必要活著。』(罗马书 8:13)  所以这经文是要我们顾惜属灵的生命，至于我们不知何时会死的肉体生命，我们不必忧虑，因为神会做最好的安排。这并不是说我们完全不要照顾我们肉体的生命，譬如，在我们肉体的生命中不要『…随从外邦人的心意行邪淫、恶欲、醉酒、荒宴、群饮，…』(彼得前书 4:3) 我们也要抽出时间有合宜的运动，而不是一昧的说，反正神会作工，每一件事情上都要和神同工。     

    所以是『我赐给你们一条新命令，…』(约翰福音 13:34) 因神的爱已在我们心里，才有可能完成这新命令。在旧约中的旧命令是，『…却要爱人如己。…』(利未记 19:18) 这导致的结果当然会是彼此相爱。但旧约时没有内住的圣灵，人只能用人的爱彼此相爱。在新约时候不同了，神的爱已在基督徒里面，难怪耶稣赐给了我们「彼此相爱」的新命令！

2. 耶稣预言彼得三次不认主       

    『西门彼得问耶稣说：「主往哪里去？」 耶稣回答说：「我所去的地方，你现在不能跟我去，后来却要跟我去。」彼得说：「主啊，我为甚么现在不能跟你去？我愿意为你舍命。」耶稣说：「你愿意为我舍命吗？我实实在在地告诉你：鸡叫以先，你要三次不认我。」』(约翰福音 13:36-38)       

    彼得是要留在地上完成他的使命的，所以耶稣会在分离的祷告中这样祈求，『我不求你叫他们离开世界，只求你保守他们脱离那恶者。』(约翰福音 17:15) 是的，彼得在血气里，就是他从老我的角度看，也就是所谓的从人的角度看，真是愿意为耶稣舍命。但在老我里面是完全没有选择，就像保罗说的，『我也知道在我里头，就是我肉体之中，没有良善。因为立志为善由得我，只是行出来由不得我。故此，我所愿意的善，我反不做；我所不愿意的恶，我倒去做。』(罗马书 7:18-19)     

    因信心可以自由选择而相信圣经是神所默示的，而老我没有选择，  因此信心不在老我里面。当我们在信心里面相信圣经是神所默示时，就会在逻辑中看到，从圣经的角度看就是从神的角度看。反之不然，从神的角度看是大于从圣经的角度看，因神是无限，而圣经是由有限的字句组成，无限绝对是大于有限，绝对不可能画等号的。回到彼得身上，我们看见他靠人的力量是不行的，当他真正面临生死的关头时就退缩了(参路加福音 22:54-60) 最后是『主转过身来看彼得，彼得便想起主对他所说的话：「今日鸡叫以先，你要三次不认我。」他就出去痛哭。』(路加福音 22:61-62)        

    我们看到彼得是真后悔了，他虽然知道这预言，耶稣告诉他说，『我实实在在地告诉你：你年少的时候，自己束上带子，随意往来；但年老的时候，你要伸出手来，别人要把你束上，带你到不愿意去的地方。』(约翰福音 21:18) 『耶稣说这话，是指著彼得要怎样死，荣耀神。…』(约翰福音 21:19) 他最终仍然为主而亡。     

    圣经说，『我们若认自己的罪，神是信实的，是公义的，必要赦免我们的罪，洗净我们一切的不义。』(约翰一书 1:9) 所以他最后还是带领了门徒往前，三位一体的神也用神迹坚定了他的地位。他第一次的个人宣道，就有『…领受他话的人就受了洗。那一天，门徒约添了三千人。』(使徒行传 2:41) 这没有加上妇女和小孩的人数，因那时的传统只算男人的。我特别的要强调这是他的第一次个人的的宣道，因为在这之前他是和别人一起宣道的。     

    再看他第二次的个人宣道，『…听道之人有许多信的，男丁数目约到五千。』(使徒行传 4:4) 很清楚，这也应验了耶稣在最后的晚餐中的一个预言，『主又说：「西门！西门！撒但想要得著你们，好筛你们像筛麦子一样；但我已经为你祈求，叫你不至于失了信心。你回头以后，要坚固你的弟兄。」』(路加福音 22:31-32) 他的确也这样做了。

3. 主耶稣是道路、真理、生命       

    『「你们心里不要忧愁，你们信神，也当信我。在我父的家里有许多住处，若是没有，我就早已告诉你们了。我去原是为你们预备地方去。我若去为你们预备了地方，就必再来接你们到我那里去；我在哪里，叫你们也在那里。我往哪里去，你们知道；那条路，你们也知道。」多马对他说：「主啊，我们不知道你往哪里去，怎么知道那条路呢？」耶稣说：「我就是道路、真理、生命，若不借著我，没有人能到父那里去。你们若认识我，也就认识我的父。从今以后，你们认识他，并且已经看见他。」』(约翰福音 14:1-7)        

    一开始耶稣就隐藏的说，『我与父原为一。』(约翰福音 10:30) 因信祂就是信神。而且祂应许了有第二次的再来，那时会接我们到天上，圣经明说了，『…我在哪里，叫你们也在那里。』(约翰福音 14:3) 主也明说了，『…我就是道路、真理、生命，若不借著我，没有人能到父那里去。』(约翰福音 14:6) 『…不信的人，罪已经定了，因为他不信神独生子的名。』(约翰福音 3:18) 怎么能够不信主呢？

4. 见到主耶稣就是见到了父神

    『腓力对他说：「求主将父显给我们看，我们就知足了。」耶稣对他说：「腓力，我与你们同在这样长久，你还不认识我吗？人看见了我，就是看见了父，你怎么说『将父显给我们看』呢？我在父里面，父在我里面，你不信吗？我对你们所说的话，不是凭著自己说的，乃是住在我里面的父做他自己的事。你们当信我，我在父里面，父在我里面；即或不信，也当因我所做的事信我。我实实在在地告诉你们：我所做的事，信我的人也要做，并且要做比这更大的事，因为我往父那里去。你们奉我的名无论求甚么，我必成就，叫父因儿子得荣耀。你们若奉我的名求甚么，我必成就。」』(约翰福音 14:8-14)     

    我们看到腓力是真不懂，所以他问了人会觉得该问的问题，这一段就明说了看见主耶稣就是见到了父神。在新约时如同在旧约时一样，我们不能直接看到父神，这就像耶和华对摩西说，『…你不能看见我的面，因为人见我的面不能存活。』(出埃及记 33:20 但新约时代的确是有所不同，那时是他们可以直接看见耶稣，但现今是，『你们虽然没有见过他，却是爱他；如今虽不得看见，却因信他就有说不出来、满有荣光的大喜乐，并且得著你们信心的果效，就是(灵)魂的救恩。』(彼得前书 1:8-9) 这里说的大喜乐是可以经历的。因中国人通常都是灵魂一起说，所以和合本的翻译也会通常如此，在这里原文只有魂字。彼得前书在原文中都是在说魂，而不是如和合本的翻译用灵魂两字在一起。     

    当耶稣说，『…即或不信，也当因我所做的事信我。』(约翰福音 14:11) 我们看到基督徒是要有信心的行为的，就像经文所说，『…信心若没有行为就是死的。』(雅各书 2:17) 耶稣说，『我实实在在地告诉你们：我所做的事，信我的人也要做，并且要做比这更大的事，因为我往父那里去。』(约翰福音 14:12) 我以前是想我们怎么可能比耶稣做更大的事，现在了解了，这话是在祂道成肉身时说的，信祂的人是在和祂道成肉身的时候比较。     #####当祂道成肉身时受到肉身的限制，祂奉遣活动的范围是在加利利海到死海的附近，而这里是说因祂往父那里去，现在没有了肉身的限制，可在任何地方和任何时间，借著主观的证据和客观的事实彰显祂的存在。我的见证除了一件是客观的事实外，都是主观的证据，关于这客观的事实，我们以前在『2123 神用客观的、给别人看的客观事实显现祂的存在』分享过，请到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的网站后，按『对属灵生命的了解』，找到这篇文章。     

    因为至少我们不会局限于耶稣到过的地方，所以圣经会说，『但圣灵降临在你们身上，你们就必得著能力；并要在耶路撒冷、犹太全地和撒马利亚，直到地极，作我的见证。』(使徒行传 1:8) 而信祂的人如果在不顾自己的生命下，现在是加起来基本是可以在任何时间里到任何地方，也就是直到地极，这也就是比祂道成肉身时能做更大的事。       

    虽然重复了两次，『你们若奉我的名求甚么，我必成就。』(约翰福音 14:14) 重点是『…叫父因儿子得荣耀。』(约翰福音 14:13) 所以这不是张空白支票，看前后文就知道要合一在先。譬如这经文说，『我不但为这些人祈求，也为那些因他们的话信我的人祈求，使他们都合而为一。正如你父在我里面，我在你里面，使他们也在我们里面，叫世人可以信你差了我来。你所赐给我的荣耀，我已赐给他们，使他们合而为一，像我们合而为一。』(约翰福音 17:20-22)

5. 应许保惠师、就是真理的圣灵的降临       

    『你们若爱我，就必遵守我的命令。我要求父，父就另外赐给你们一位保惠师，叫他永远与你们同在，就是真理的圣灵，乃世人不能接受的，因为不见他，也不认识他；你们却认识他，因他常与你们同在，也要在你们里面。我不撇下你们为孤儿，我必到你们这里来。还有不多的时候，世人不再看见我，你们却看见我，因为我活著，你们也要活著。到那日你们就知道我在父里面，你们在我里面，我也在你们里面。』(约翰福音 14:15-20)

    我们在第一句就看到，有爱是会行出来的。保惠师就是真理的圣灵，『只等真理的圣灵来了，他要引导你们明白(原文: 进入)一切的真理，他不是凭自己说的，乃是把他所听见的都说出来，并要把将来的事告诉你们。』(约翰福音 16:13) 圣灵在耶稣死而复活后的第一个五旬节降临了 (参使徒行传 2:1-13) 。我们也看到了『…他(圣灵)来了，就要为我(耶稣)，作见证。』 (约翰福音 15:26) 不是凭自己说的。       

    虽然基督徒像世人一样也看不见摸不著圣灵，但有内住的圣灵，就能借著圣灵的不同彰显就能认识祂。耶稣现在是以圣灵的方式在我们里面，就是刚才提的主观的证据和客观的事实。当然没有撇下我们为孤儿，我们知道祂永远活著，也活在我们的心中，使我们能得到永生。我们现在知道，『…我在父里面，你们在我里面，我也在你们里面。』(约翰福音 14:20) 是的，要合一。

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到这网站后要按『对属灵生命的了解』。)  

    就像以前每一次一樣，這篇文章是基於在油管(YouTube)上分享的專題查經，所以我們在開始時有簡短的詩歌敬拜，這次我們是唱了愛的真諦這一首詩 (參哥林多前書 13:4-8)，我們特別要提到，『…又有恩慈；…』(哥林多前書 13:4) 原文是說愛是恩慈，而『愛是永不止息。…』(哥林多前書 13:8) 中文的翻譯比英文的翻譯更易使中國人瞭解。

     我們首先來看「彼此相愛」的新命令，解釋說這為什麼是新命令。第二，耶穌預言了彼得三次不認主，因其之成就而看到彼得是真後悔了，回頭以後就堅固弟兄，帶領他們往前，三位一體的神也用神蹟堅定了他的地位。第三，主真是道路、真理、生命，若不藉着主沒有人能到父那裏去。第四，經文告訴我們，見到主耶穌就是見到了父神，那時是他們可以直接看見耶穌，但現今是我們雖然沒有見過祂，卻是愛祂，也討論了我們能做更大的事是指什麼。最後，我們討論了耶穌應許保惠師、就是真理的聖靈的降臨，這應許在耶穌死而復活後的第一個五旬節成就了，祂來了要引導我們進入一切的真理。

1. 彼此相愛的新命令

        『他(賣主的猶大)1既出去，耶穌就說：「如今人子得了榮耀，神在人子身上也得了榮耀。神要因自己榮耀人子，並且要快快地榮耀他。「小子們，我還有不多的時候與你們同在，後來你們要找我，但我所去的地方你們不能到。這話我曾對猶太人說過，如今也照樣對你們說。「我賜給你們一條新命令，乃是叫你們彼此相愛(G25, Agapao love, 動詞)；我怎樣愛(G25)你們，你們也要怎樣相愛(G25)。你們若有彼此相愛的心(G26, Agape love, 名詞)，眾人因此就認出你們是我的門徒了。」』(約翰福音 13:31-35)

        一開始就說到耶穌釘十字架的榮耀，對於這點，耶穌復活後說得很清楚，『耶穌對他們(離開耶路撒冷去以馬忤斯的兩門徒)說：「無知的人哪，先知所說的一切話，你們的心信得太遲鈍了。基督這樣受害 (釘上十字架而死)，又進入他的榮耀，豈不是應當的嗎？」』(路加福音 24:25-26) 祂也因此榮耀了父神的名，因『…我(耶穌)原是為這(釘十字架)時候來的。』(約翰福音 12:27) 父神自己說耶穌也因此榮耀了父神的名，你看，當耶穌說，『父啊，願你榮耀你的名。」 當時就有聲音從天上來說：「我已經榮耀了我的名，還要再榮耀。」』(約翰福音 12:28)

        耶穌的確對猶太人像在約翰福音 13:33 所說的，『…我所去的地方你們不能到。…』祂是在約翰福音 7:33-34 說的，『…耶穌說：「我還有不多的時候和你們同在，以後就回到差我來的那裏去。你們要找我，卻找不着；我所在的地方，你們不能到。」』(約翰福音 7:33-34)  當然他們不能到，耶穌是要釘十字架而死，『…而且從死裏復活，現今在神的右邊，…』 (羅馬書 8:34)  是的，『耶穌知道父已將萬有交在他手裏，且知道自己是從神出來的，又要歸到神那裏去。』(約翰福音 13:3) 人怎麼可能沒有死就回到天上？耶穌是完全的人，祂被釘十字架後而死後，才能回到天上，所以那時會和現在一樣的說，『小子們，我還有不多的時候與你們同在，後來你們要找我，但我所去的地方你們不能到。…』(約翰福音 13:33)

        基督徒都有內住的聖靈，『豈不知你們的身子就是聖靈的殿嗎？這聖靈是從神而來，住在你們裏頭的；…』(哥林多前書 6:19) 而這『聖靈就是神藉着耶穌基督我們救主厚厚澆灌在我們身上的。』(提多書 3:6) 三位一體的『…神就是愛(Agape love, G26, 名詞)。』(約翰一書 4:8) 而聖靈是三位一體的神中的一位，因此基督徒都已經在裏面有了神的愛，必須治死老我，這愛才能彰顯出來，就如聖經所說，『你們若順從肉體活着，必要死；若靠着聖靈治死身體的惡行，必要活着。』(羅馬書 8:13)  所以這經文是要我們顧惜屬靈的生命，至於我們不知何時會死的肉體生命，我們不必憂慮，因為神會做最好的安排。這並不是說我們完全不要照顧我們肉體的生命，譬如，在我們肉體的生命中不要『…隨從外邦人的心意行邪淫、惡慾、醉酒、荒宴、羣飲，…』(彼得前書 4:3) 我們也要抽出時間有合宜的運動，而不是一昧的說，反正神會作工，每一件事情上都要和神同工。

     所以是『我賜給你們一條新命令，…』(約翰福音 13:34) 因神的愛已在我們心裏，才有可能完成這新命令。在舊約中的舊命令是，『…卻要愛人如己。…』(利未記 19:18) 這導致的結果當然會是彼此相愛。但舊約時沒有內住的聖靈，人只能用人的愛彼此相愛。在新約時候不同了，神的愛已在基督徒裏面，難怪耶穌賜給了我們「彼此相愛」的新命令！

2. 耶穌預言彼得三次不認主

       『西門彼得問耶穌說：「主往哪裏去？」 耶穌回答說：「我所去的地方，你現在不能跟我去，後來卻要跟我去。」彼得說：「主啊，我為甚麼現在不能跟你去？我願意為你捨命。」耶穌說：「你願意為我捨命嗎？我實實在在地告訴你：雞叫以先，你要三次不認我。」』(約翰福音 13:36-38)

       彼得是要留在地上完成他的使命的，所以耶穌會在分離的禱告中這樣祈求，『我不求你叫他們離開世界，只求你保守他們脫離那惡者。』(約翰福音 17:15) 是的，彼得在血氣裏，就是他從老我的角度看，也就是所謂的從人的角度看，真是願意為耶穌捨命。但在老我裏面是完全沒有選擇，就像保羅說的，『我也知道在我裏頭，就是我肉體之中，沒有良善。因為立志為善由得我，只是行出來由不得我。故此，我所願意的善，我反不做；我所不願意的惡，我倒去做。』(羅馬書 7:18-19)

     因信心可以自由選擇而相信聖經是神所默示的，而老我沒有選擇，  因此信心不在老我裏面。當我們在信心裏面相信聖經是神所默示時，就會在邏輯中看到，從聖經的角度看就是從神的角度看。反之不然，從神的角度看是大於從聖經的角度看，因神是無限，而聖經是由有限的字句組成，無限絕對是大於有限，絕對不可能畫等號的。回到彼得身上，我們看見他靠人的力量是不行的，當他真正面臨生死的關頭時就退縮了(參路加福音 22:54-60) 最後是『主轉過身來看彼得，彼得便想起主對他所說的話：「今日雞叫以先，你要三次不認我。」他就出去痛哭。』(路加福音 22:61-62)

        我們看到彼得是真後悔了，他雖然知道這預言，耶穌告訴他說，『我實實在在地告訴你：你年少的時候，自己束上帶子，隨意往來；但年老的時候，你要伸出手來，別人要把你束上，帶你到不願意去的地方。』(約翰福音 21:18) 『耶穌說這話，是指着彼得要怎樣死，榮耀神。…』(約翰福音 21:19) 他最終仍然為主而亡。

     聖經說，『我們若認自己的罪，神是信實的，是公義的，必要赦免我們的罪，洗淨我們一切的不義。』(約翰一書 1:9) 所以他最後還是帶領了門徒往前，三位一體的神也用神蹟堅定了他的地位。他第一次的個人宣道，就有『…領受他話的人就受了洗。那一天，門徒約添了三千人。』(使徒行傳 2:41) 這沒有加上婦女和小孩的人數，因那時的傳統只算男人的。我特別的要強調這是他的第一次個人的的宣道，因為在這之前他是和別人一起宣道的。

     再看他第二次的個人宣道，『…聽道之人有許多信的，男丁數目約到五千。』(使徒行傳 4:4) 很清楚，這也應驗了耶穌在最後的晚餐中的一個預言，『主又說：「西門！西門！撒但想要得着你們，好篩你們像篩麥子一樣；但我已經為你祈求，叫你不至於失了信心。你回頭以後，要堅固你的弟兄。」』(路加福音 22:31-32) 他的確也這樣做了。

3. 主耶穌是道路、真理、生命

       『「你們心裏不要憂愁，你們信神，也當信我。在我父的家裏有許多住處，若是沒有，我就早已告訴你們了。我去原是為你們預備地方去。我若去為你們預備了地方，就必再來接你們到我那裏去；我在哪裏，叫你們也在那裏。我往哪裏去，你們知道；那條路，你們也知道。」多馬對他說：「主啊，我們不知道你往哪裏去，怎麼知道那條路呢？」耶穌說：「我就是道路、真理、生命，若不藉着我，沒有人能到父那裏去。你們若認識我，也就認識我的父。從今以後，你們認識他，並且已經看見他。」』(約翰福音 14:1-7)

        一開始耶穌就隱藏的說，『我與父原為一。』(約翰福音 10:30) 因信祂就是信神。而且祂應許了有第二次的再來，那時會接我們到天上，聖經明說了，『…我在哪裏，叫你們也在那裏。』(約翰福音 14:3) 主也明說了，『…我就是道路、真理、生命，若不藉着我，沒有人能到父那裏去。』(約翰福音 14:6) 『…不信的人，罪已經定了，因為他不信神獨生子的名。』(約翰福音 3:18) 怎麼能夠不信主呢？

4. 見到主耶穌就是見到了父神

       『腓力對他說：「求主將父顯給我們看，我們就知足了。」耶穌對他說：「腓力，我與你們同在這樣長久，你還不認識我嗎？人看見了我，就是看見了父，你怎麼說『將父顯給我們看』呢？我在父裏面，父在我裏面，你不信嗎？我對你們所說的話，不是憑着自己說的，乃是住在我裏面的父做他自己的事。你們當信我，我在父裏面，父在我裏面；即或不信，也當因我所做的事信我。我實實在在地告訴你們：我所做的事，信我的人也要做，並且要做比這更大的事，因為我往父那裏去。你們奉我的名無論求甚麼，我必成就，叫父因兒子得榮耀。你們若奉我的名求甚麼，我必成就。」』(約翰福音 14:8-14)

     我們看到腓力是真不懂，所以他問了人會覺得該問的問題，這一段就明說了看見主耶穌就是見到了父神。在新約時如同在舊約時一樣，我們不能直接看到父神，這就像耶和華對摩西說，『…你不能看見我的面，因為人見我的面不能存活。』(出埃及記 33:20 但新約時代的確是有所不同，那時是他們可以直接看見耶穌，但現今是，『你們雖然沒有見過他，卻是愛他；如今雖不得看見，卻因信他就有說不出來、滿有榮光的大喜樂，並且得着你們信心的果效，就是(靈)魂的救恩。』(彼得前書 1:8-9) 這裏說的大喜樂是可以經歷的。因中國人通常都是靈魂一起說，所以和合本的翻譯也會通常如此，在這裏原文只有魂字。彼得前書在原文中都是在說魂，而不是如和合本的翻譯用靈魂兩字在一起。

     當耶穌說，『…即或不信，也當因我所做的事信我。』(約翰福音 14:11) 我們看到基督徒是要有信心的行為的，就像經文所說，『…信心若沒有行為就是死的。』(雅各書 2:17) 耶穌說，『我實實在在地告訴你們：我所做的事，信我的人也要做，並且要做比這更大的事，因為我往父那裏去。』(約翰福音 14:12) 我以前是想我們怎麼可能比耶穌做更大的事，現在瞭解了，這話是在祂道成肉身時說的，信祂的人是在和祂道成肉身的時候比較。

    當祂道成肉身時受到肉身的限制，祂奉遣活動的範圍是在加利利海到死海的附近，而這裏是說因祂往父那裏去，現在沒有了肉身的限制，可在任何地方和任何時間，藉著主觀的証據和客觀的事實彰顯祂的存在。我的見証除了一件是客觀的事實外，都是主觀的証據，關於這客觀的事實，我們以前在『2123 神用客觀的、給別人看的客觀事實顯現祂的存在』分享過，請到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的網站後，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』，找到這篇文章。

     因為至少我們不會侷限於耶穌到過的地方，所以聖經會說，『但聖靈降臨在你們身上，你們就必得着能力；並要在耶路撒冷、猶太全地和撒馬利亞，直到地極，作我的見證。』(使徒行傳 1:8) 而信祂的人如果在不顧自己的生命下，現在是加起來基本是可以在任何時間裏到任何地方，也就是直到地極，這也就是比祂道成肉身時能做更大的事。

       雖然重複了兩次，『你們若奉我的名求甚麼，我必成就。』(約翰福音 14:14) 重點是『…叫父因兒子得榮耀。』(約翰福音 14:13) 所以這不是張空白支票，看前後文就知道要合一在先。譬如這經文說，『我不但為這些人祈求，也為那些因他們的話信我的人祈求，使他們都合而為一。正如你父在我裏面，我在你裏面，使他們也在我們裏面，叫世人可以信你差了我來。你所賜給我的榮耀，我已賜給他們，使他們合而為一，像我們合而為一。』(約翰福音 17:20-22)

5. 應許保惠師、就是真理的聖靈的降臨

       『你們若愛我，就必遵守我的命令。我要求父，父就另外賜給你們一位保惠師，叫他永遠與你們同在，就是真理的聖靈，乃世人不能接受的，因為不見他，也不認識他；你們卻認識他，因他常與你們同在，也要在你們裏面。我不撇下你們為孤兒，我必到你們這裏來。還有不多的時候，世人不再看見我，你們卻看見我，因為我活着，你們也要活着。到那日你們就知道我在父裏面，你們在我裏面，我也在你們裏面。』(約翰福音 14:15-20)

     我們在第一句就看到，有愛是會行出來的。保惠師就是真理的聖靈，『只等真理的聖靈來了，他要引導你們明白(原文: 進入)一切的真理，他不是憑自己說的，乃是把他所聽見的都說出來，並要把將來的事告訴你們。』(約翰福音 16:13) 聖靈在耶穌死而復活後的第一個五旬節降臨了 (參使徒行傳 2:1-13) 。我們也看到了『…他(聖靈)來了，就要為我(耶穌)，作見證。』 (約翰福音 15:26) 不是憑自己說的。

       雖然基督徒像世人一樣也看不見摸不著聖靈，但有內住的聖靈，就能藉著聖靈的不同彰顯就能認識祂。耶穌現在是以聖靈的方式在我們裏面，就是剛才提的主觀的証據和客觀的事實。當然沒有撇下我們為孤兒，我們知道祂永遠活著，也活在我們的心中，使我們能得到永生。我們現在知道，『…我在父裏面，你們在我裏面，我也在你們裏面。』(約翰福音 14:20) 是的，要合一。

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到這網站後要按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』。)

Let us first look at the new commandment to “love one another” and explain why this is a new commandment.  Second, Jesus predicted that Peter would deny the Lord three times, and its fulfillment of His prophecy. And we see that Peter was truly repentant. After turning back, Peter strengthened his brothers and led them forward. The Triune God also used miracles to confirm his position.  Third, the Lord is truly the way, and the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through the Lord.  Fourth, the Scripture tells us that seeing the Lord Jesus is the same as seeing God the Father. At that time, they could see Jesus directly, but now, although we have not seen Him, we love Him. It also discusses how we can do greater things. What does the matter refer to?  Finally, we discussed Jesus’ promise of the coming of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit of truth, which was fulfilled on the first Pentecost after Jesus’ death and resurrection. He came to guide us into all truth.

1. The new command to love one another

“Therefore when he (Judas the betrayer) had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately. Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love (G25, Agapao, verb) one another, even as I have loved (G25) you, that you also love (G25) one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love (G26, Agape love, noun) for one another.””(John 13:31-35)

 At the beginning, it talks about the glory of Jesus’ crucifixion. After His resurrection, Jesus said to them (the two disciples who left Jerusalem for Emmaus), “…O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?”(Luke 24:25-26) Thus He also gloried the name of God the Father by this way, since it is clearly stated that “…I (Jesus) came for this (crucifixion) time.”(John 12:27) God the Father Himself said that Jesus also glorified the name of God the Father because of this. You see, when Jesus said, “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.””(John 12:28)

 Jesus did say to the Jews before, “…Where I am going, you cannot come” as said in John 13:33. This was in John 7:33-34, where “…Jesus said, “For a little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me. You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.””(John 7:33-34) Of course they could not, Jesus was to be crucified and die, “…yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, …”(Romans 8:34) Yes, “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God.”(John 13:3) How is it possible for people to return to heaven without dying?  Jesus is a complete man. He returned to heaven only after He was crucified and died. So He would say then as He does now, “Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’”(John 13:33)

 Christians all have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?”(1 Corinthians 6:19) This is the Holy Spirit “whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior”(Titus 3:6) The Trinity “…God is love (Agape love, G26, noun).” (1 John 4:8) The Holy Spirit is one of the three persons in the Trinity, so Christians already have the love of God within them. They must put to death the old self so that this love can be manifested, as the Bible says, “for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”(Romans 8:13) So this verse is asking us to cherish our spiritual life. As for our physical life which will die at time unspecified, we don’t need to worry because God will make the best arrangement.  This does not mean that we should not take care of our physical life at all. For example, in our physical life we ​​shouldn’t “…have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, …”(1 Peter 4:3) We should also take time out to do appropriate exercise instead of just blindly saying that God will work anyway since we should work with God in everything.

 So it indeed is “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, …”(John 13:34) Because God’s love is already in our hearts, it is possible to fulfill this new commandment.  The old command in the Old Testament is, “…but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; …”(Leviticus 19:18) The result of this will of course be love for one another.  But in the Old Testament, there was no indwelling Holy Spirit, and people could only love one another with human love.  Things are different in the New Testament. God’s love is already in Christians. No wonder Jesus gave us a new commandment to “love one another!”

2. Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Him three times

“Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.”(John 13: 36-38)

 Peter was to stay on earth to complete his mission, so Jesus prayed like this in the high priestly prayer, “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.”(John 17:15) Yes, Peter in the flesh, that is, from the perspective of his old self, or from the so-called human perspective, was truly willing to lay down his life for Jesus.  But in the old self there is absolutely no choice, as Paul said, “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.”(Romans 7:18-19)

 Because faith allows free choice to believe that the Bible is inspired by God, but the old self has no choice, so faith is not in the old self.  When we believe in faith that the Bible is inspired by God, we will see logically that looking at it from the Bible’s perspective is looking at it from God’s perspective.  On the contrary, from God’s perspective it is greater than from the Bible’s perspective, because God is infinite, and the Bible is composed of finite words. The infinite is absolutely greater than the finite, and it is absolutely impossible to draw an equal sign between the two.  Back to Peter, we see that he could not rely on human strength, and when he was really faced with the moment of life and death, he retreated (see Luke 22:54-60). Finally for this event, “The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.”(Luke 22:61-62)

 We see that Peter truly regretted his actions. Although he knew this prophecy, as Jesus told him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.””(John 21:18) “Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me!””(John 21:19) He knew ahead, but still chose to follow Jesus to death. This was what happened in the end that he died for Him.

 The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”(1 John 1:9) So Peter finally led the disciples forward, and the Triune God also used miracles to confirm his position.  During his first personal sermon, “So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.”(Acts 2:41) This does not include the number of women and children, because the tradition at that time only counted the men.  I want to emphasize that this was his first personal sermon because before this he had preached with others.

 Let’s look at his second personal sermon, “But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.”(Acts 4:4) Clearly, these also fulfilled a prophecy of Jesus at the Last Supper: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”(Luke 22:31-32) And he did just that.

3. Lord Jesus is the way, and the truth, and the life

““Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.””(John 14:1-7)

 At the very beginning of these verses, Jesus said in a hidden way, “I and the Father are one.”(John 10:30) Because believing in Him is believing in God.  Moreover, He promised that He would come again the second time and take us to heaven. The Bible clearly states, “…where I am, there you may be also.”(John 14:3) The Lord also clearly said, “…I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”(John 14:6) Same as “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”(John 3:18) How could one not believe in the Lord?

4. Seeing the Lord Jesus is same as seeing God the Father

“Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”(John 14:8-14)

 We can see that Philip really did not understand, so he asked questions that people would think that they were necessary to ask. This passage clearly states that seeing the Lord Jesus is the same as seeing God the Father.  

 In the New Testament as in the Old Testament, we cannot see God the Father directly, just as the Lord said to Moses, “…You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”(Exodus 33:20) But the New Testament era is indeed different. At that time, they could see Jesus directly, but now it is, “and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”(1 Peter 1:8-9) The greatly rejoice mentioned here can be experienced. 

 When Jesus said, “…otherwise believe because of the works themselves.”(John 14:11) We see that Christians must have actions of faith, just as the scripture says, “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.”(James 2:17) Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.”(John 14:12) I used to wonder how we could possibly do greater things than Jesus did. Now I understand that these words were spoken when He became flesh. Those who believe in Him are compared with Him when He became flesh.

 When He became flesh, He was limited by His flesh. The scope of His activities was from the Sea of ​​Galilee to the Dead Sea. But here, because He is going to the Father, He is no longer limited by His flesh and can be anywhere. His existence is demonstrated through subjective evidences and objective facts.  Except for one objective fact, all my testimonies are subjective evidences. Regarding this objective fact, we have shared it before in “1123 God reveals His existence through objective facts that are visible to others.” Please go to the website “ https://a-christian-voice.com/ ” and click “Understanding of Spiritual Life” to find this article.

 Because at least we are not limited to the places Jesus visited, so the Bible will say, “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”(Acts 1:8) If those who believe in Him do not care about their own lives, putting them together, they can basically go anywhere at any time, that is, to the ends of the earth. This is “…he will do …greater works than these he will do…”(John 14:12)

 Although the verse, “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”(John 14:14), was repeated twice, the key point is “…the Father may be glorified in the Son.”(John 14:13) This is not a blank check. If you read the context, you will know that unity comes first.  For example, this verse says, ““I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one.”(John 17:20-22)    

5. The coming of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit of truth

““If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.”(John 14:15-20)

We see in the first sentence that love can be put into practice.  The Comforter is the Spirit of truth. “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”(John 16:13) The Holy Spirit came on the first Pentecost after Jesus’ death and resurrection (see Acts 2:1-13).  We also saw that “When the Helper comes, …He will testify about Me.”(John 15:26) Not on your own initiative.

 Although Christians, like the rest of the world, cannot see or touch the Holy Spirit, they have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them and can know Him through His different manifestations, which are the subjective evidences and objective facts just mentioned. Jesus is now in us in the form of the Holy Spirit. Thus, He has never left us orphans. We know that He lives forever and lives in our hearts so that we can obtain eternal life.  We now know, “…I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.”(John 14:20) Yes, be united.

(Verses refer to those in NASB95 unless otherwise specified.)

(You can get all articles in “https://a-christian-voice.com/” under “On spiritual understanding about life.”)

    首先，我们看到耶稣是神差遣来的世上的光，父给祂的命令就是信祂的人得永生，也显示出祂一生都顺服神。第二， 我们看那三位一体的神中的一位耶稣是爱，祂以为门徒洗脚我们的榜样，告诉基督徒要彼此顺服，我们也看到基督徒要有信心的行为，不要像犹大般的心里刚硬。第三，我们来看看接待主耶稣这点，并说明犹大是自愿卖主的，且举了一个「同我吃饭的人用脚踢我」的经验。我们提到了这里有预知的事，所以『…可以信我是基督。』(约翰福音 13:19) 也讨论了受差遣是谁所引起的相关疑问。

1. 耶稣是神差遣来的世上的光

    『耶稣大声(G2896)说：「信我的，不是信我，乃是信那差我来的。人看见我，就是看见那差我来的。我到世上来，乃是光，叫凡信我的，不住在黑暗里。「若有人听见我的话不遵守，我不审判他。我来本不是要审判世界，乃是要拯救世界。弃绝我、不领受我话的人，有审判他的，就是我所讲的道(G3056)，在末日要审判他。因为我没有凭著自己讲，惟有差我来的父，已经给我命令，叫我说甚么，讲甚么。我也知道他的命令就是永生。故此，我所讲的话正是照著父对我所说的。」』(约翰福音 12:44-50)     

    首先我们注意祂是大声说，当祂大声说时，我们要特别注意。譬如说另一次为这经文，『节期的末日，就是最大之日，耶稣站著高声(G2896)说：「人若渴了，可以到我这里来喝！信我的人，就如经上所说：『从他腹中要流出活水的江河来。』」』(约翰福音 7:37-38) 那差遣耶稣来的是谁呢？保罗说得很清楚，『…神就差遣自己的儿子成为罪身的形状，作了赎罪祭，在肉体中定了罪案。』(罗马书 8:3) 而神的儿子很显然是耶稣，『那时，耶稣从加利利的拿撒勒来，在约旦河里受了约翰的洗。他从水里一上来，就看见天裂开了，圣灵仿佛鸽子，降在他身上。又有声音从天上来，说：「你是我的爱子，我喜悦你。」』(马可福音 1:9-11) 信祂的就是信神的，当然是这样，因『我与父原为一。』(约翰福音 10:30)     

    这道(G3056)是指什么呢？就是指耶稣自己，这点在约翰福音一开始就明说了，『太初有道(G3056)，道(G3056)与神同在，道(G3056)就是神。这道太初与神同在。万物是借著他造的，凡被造的，没有一样不是借著他造的。』(约翰福音 1:1-3) 所以祂等于换了一种方式在说，『神爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生。因为神差他的儿子降世，不是要定世人的罪，乃是要叫世人因他得救。』(约翰福音 3:16-17) 祂第一次来本就不是审判世界，而是为要完成救恩，启示录所提到的白色大宝座的审判要到末日才会来临(参启示录 20:11-15)     

    祂又明说了一次，『我在世上的时候，是世上的光。』(约翰福音 9:5) 要趁著白日行走才不会跌倒，且『你们应当趁著有光，信从这光，使你们成为光明之子。」…』(约翰福音 12:36) 父给祂的命令就是信祂的人得永生，这经文显示出祂一生都顺服神，『…父怎样吩咐我，我就怎样行。 …』(约翰福音 14:31) 这不是说神是一个命令一个动作的神，如果神没有给祂命令，祂也会站在神那边，这点可从耶稣出耶利哥发生的事看到，那时有两个瞎子，『耶稣就动了慈心，把他们的眼睛一摸，他们立刻看见，就跟从了耶稣。』(马太福音 20: 34) 很显然的是耶稣自己动了慈心，神没有给祂命令，祂也的确是站在神那边。当初如此，今日对我们亦然，当没有圣灵感动时，我们也一定要站在神那边。     

    请注意，『信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已经定了，因为他不信神独生子的名。』(约翰福音 3:18) 我们怎么可以不信呢！我们最后要强调的一点，圣经都是神所默示的，所以我们到处都可以看到「神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的」，当我们不把圣经的话打折扣时，就可以看见神有时(但不多)默示了在字句上有的明显的矛盾，不是圣经错了，是我们没到读懂，是要了解神为什么要默示这样的明显的矛盾给我们，到底是要传递给我们什么样的讯息，我们在『2111 圣经无误论的真谛』详细的讨论过这点，请到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的网站后，按『对属灵生命的了解』，找到这篇文章。谢谢。

2. 三位一体的神中的一位耶稣是爱       

    『逾越节以前，耶稣知道自己离世归父的时候到了，他既然爱世间属自己的人，就爱他们到底。吃晚饭的时候（魔鬼已将卖耶稣的意思放在西门的儿子加略人犹大心里），耶稣知道父已将万有交在他手里，且知道自己是从神出来的，又要归到神那里去，就离席站起来脱了衣服，拿一条手巾束腰，随后把水倒在盆里，就洗门徒的脚，并用自己所束的手巾擦干。挨到西门彼得，彼得对他说：「主啊，你洗我的脚吗？」耶稣回答说：「我所做的，你如今不知道，后来必明白。」彼得说：「你永不可洗我的脚！」 耶稣说：「我若不洗你，你就与我无分了。」西门彼得说：「主啊，不但我的脚，连手和头也要洗！」耶稣说：「凡洗过澡的人，只要把脚一洗，全身就干净了；你们是干净的，然而不都是干净的。」耶稣原知道要卖他的是谁，所以说：「你们不都是干净的。」耶稣洗完了他们的脚，就穿上衣服，又坐下，对他们说：「我向你们所做的，你们明白吗？你们称呼我夫子，称呼我主，你们说的不错，我本来是。我是你们的主，你们的夫子，尚且洗你们的脚，你们也当彼此洗脚。我给你们作了榜样，叫你们照著我向你们所做的去做。我实实在在地告诉你们：仆人不能大于主人，差人也不能大于差他的人。你们既知道这事，若是去行就有福了。」』(约翰福音 13:1-17)        

    祂知道很清楚祂的时间到了，在变化山上，不是『忽然有摩西、以利亚两个人同耶稣说话；他们在荣光里显现，谈论耶稣去世的事，就是他在耶路撒冷将要成的事。』(路加福音 9:30-31)        

    『…因为神就是爱。』(约翰一书 4:8) 就爱属祂的人到底，为他们洗脚，并说『我是你们的主，你们的夫子，尚且洗你们的脚，你们也当彼此洗脚。』(约翰福音 13:14) 这不是说，『又当存敬畏基督的心，彼此顺服。』(以弗所书 5:21) 祂不是给了我们一个榜样吗？要知道，『…只有一位是你们的夫子，你们都是弟兄。』(马太福音 23:8) 先是顺服神，然后要彼此顺服，互相洗脚。就像，『若旁边坐著的得了启示，那先说话的就当闭口不言。』(哥林多前书 14:30)  这不是说神给了后来的人启示，先话话的人不就该顺服吗！我们再看，『耶稣回答说：「我所做的，你如今不知道，后来必明白。」』(约翰福音 13:7) 我们现在不是就明白了吗！

    最后说，『我实实在在地告诉你们：仆人不能大于主人，差人也不能大于差他的人。你们既知道这事，若是去行就有福了。」』(约翰福音 13:16-17) 要能行才行，『虚浮的人哪，你愿意知道没有行为的信心是死的吗？』(雅各书 2:20) 在启示录中，『我又看见一个白色的大宝座与坐在上面的，从他面前天地都逃避，再无可见之处了。我又看见死了的人，无论大小，都站在宝座前。案卷展开了，并且另有一卷展开，就是生命册。死了的人都凭著这些案卷所记载的，照他们所行的受审判。』(启示录 20:11-12) 没有在生命册上的人只是暂时活著，因『若有人名字没记在生命册上，他就被扔在火湖里。』(启示录 20:15)     

    最后的审判是照所行的，基督徒要有信心的行为，这样的行为是主要他们做的。经文说，『凡称呼我『主啊，主啊』的人，不能都进天国；惟独遵行我天父旨意的人，才能进去。当那日，必有许多人对我说：『主啊，主啊，我们不是奉你的名传道，奉你的名赶鬼，奉你的名行许多异能吗？』我就明明地告诉他们说：『我从来不认识你们，你们这些作恶的人，离开我去吧！』』(马太福音 7:21-23) 主不是明讲了他们并不在做主要他们做的事，如果他们顺服主而去做主的事，主怎么会说不认识他们呢？再举一个启示录中老底嘉教会的例子(参启示录 3:14-22)，经文说，『你说：我是富足，已经发了财，一样都不缺。却不知道你是那困苦、可怜、贫穷、瞎眼、赤身的。』启示录 3:17) 你想他们是在做神要他们做的事吗？你看耶稣说，『看哪，我站在门外叩门，若有听见我声音就开门的，我要进到他那里去，我与他，他与我一同坐席。』(启示录 3:20) 祂不会要他们把祂关在心门外的。        

    有些人如卖主的犹大般心里是何等的刚硬啊！耶稣因为爱也帮犹大洗脚，但仍不能挽回他，虽然我们知道，『吃晚饭的时候（魔鬼已将卖耶稣的意思放在西门的儿子加略人犹大心里），』(约翰福音 13:2) 但这不能成为他的借口，『…因他是个贼，又带著钱囊，常取其中所存的。』(约翰福音 12:6) 如果不是他有这样的破口，怎么会允许撒但进入他的心呢？我们也会接著在下一段经文，看到他应已知道耶稣预先知道他会卖祂，仍然硬著心，用实际的出去的行动做出来！

3. 接待主耶稣和用脚踢我       

    『我这话不是指著你们众人说的，我知道我所拣选的是谁。现在要应验经上的话，说：『同我吃饭的人，用脚踢我。』「如今事情还没有成就，我要先告诉你们，叫你们到事情成就的时候，可以信我是基督。我实实在在地告诉你们：有人接待我所差遣的，就是接待我；接待我，就是接待那差遣我的。」耶稣说了这话，心里忧愁，就明说：「我实实在在地告诉你们：你们中间有一个人要卖我了。」门徒彼此对看，猜不透所说的是谁。有一个门徒，是耶稣所爱的，侧身挨近耶稣的怀里。西门彼得点头对他说：「你告诉我们，主是指著谁说的。」那门徒便就势靠著耶稣的胸膛，问他说：「主啊，是谁呢？」耶稣回答说：「我蘸一点饼给谁，就是谁。」耶稣就蘸了一点饼，递给加略人西门的儿子犹大。他吃了以后，撒但就入了他的心。 耶稣便对他说：「你所做的，快做吧！」同席的人，没有一个知道是为甚么对他说这话。有人因犹大带著钱囊，以为耶稣是对他说「你去买我们过节所应用的东西」，或是叫他拿甚么赒济穷人。犹大受了那点饼，立刻就出去。那时候是夜间了。』(约翰福音 13:18-30)    

    我们首先来看耶稣会心里忧愁这一点，这就说明了祂是完全的人，如果祂用祂的神性的话，跟本就不会忧愁。我们也可在客西马尼园的祷告看到这一点，『于是带著彼得和西庇太的两个儿子同去，就忧愁起来，极其难过，便对他们说：「我心里甚是忧伤，几乎要死；你们在这里等候，和我一同警醒。」他就稍往前走，俯伏在地祷告说：「我父啊，倘若可行，求你叫这杯离开我；然而，不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。」』(马太福音 26:37-39) 祂是完全的人，会忧愁且祷告求父叫这杯离开，但祂在道成肉身时选择一生顺服神，所以最后还是照著神的意思去成就。

    耶稣所爱的那门徒是指约翰，祂很清楚的预言，『我这话不是指著你们众人说的，我知道我所拣选的是谁。现在要应验经上的话，说：『同我吃饭的人，用脚踢我。』』(约翰福音 13:18) 我们看见了祂真正预先知道要卖祂的是犹大，除卖主的犹大外，其他的都不知道是谁，我们不是看见，『…耶稣就蘸了一点饼，递给加略人西门的儿子犹大。』(约翰福音 13:26) 关于这经文，是引用诗篇的类似经文，『连我知己的朋友，我所倚靠吃过我饭的，也用脚踢我。』(诗篇 41:9) 耶稣的确是和卖主的犹大吃饭了，但显然他不是祂的知己的朋友。如果你们记得当耶稣要选十二个门徒时，祂是『…出去，上山祷告，整夜祷告神。』(路加福音 6:12) 就是要确是神是要祂选包括卖主的犹大这个人，他卖主，怎么不是用脚踢主的写照呢？

    其实不止是现在可以经历，『…同我吃饭的人，用脚踢我。』(约翰福音 13:18) 更是可以经历诗篇 41:9 的知己朋友那部份，在这里，我可以和大家分享一个这样的经验。有一次，有一个人莫名其妙的请我们夫妇和他全家人去吃饭，就我事后所了解的，他大约是觉得神要他经历约翰福音 13:18，所以就请了我们。同一件事情，我后来才发觉神要我经历的是诗篇 41:9，因为我以前以为他是知己的朋友，最后是真的被踢了一脚。     

    记得那一次是送给他、我们夫妇都觉得没有问题的电子邮件，回应是以神的名义告诉我，把我比喻成猪狗，说『不要把圣物给狗，也不要把你们的珍珠丢在猪前，恐怕牠践踏了珍珠，转过来咬你们。』(马太福音 7:6) 又说还有更严厉的话，只是没有说出来，所以我不知道那些话，很久以前的事，也不知道他现在记不记得那些话。从此以后，我们基本上已十多年没有交通过了！他在世人眼中是很属灵的人，要不就不会以神的名义对我如此说话，当然我后来发觉话也不对，人也不是如此，要不然神不会让我经历客观的事实这件事，这是我们以前在『2123 神用客观的、给别人看的客观事实显现祂的存在』讨论过的，请到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的网站后，按『对属灵生命的了解』，找到这篇文章。

    可能有人会问，为什么『…可以信我是基督。』(约翰福音 13:19) 因为这里有预知的事，是撒但不能做的，对于这点，讲到这事的有一些地方，我们现在看其中的一点就知道了。如果撒但能预知，牠就不会介入耶稣的钉上十字架，帮助完成救恩的计划。经文不是明说，『除酵节又名逾越节近了。…这时，撒但入了那称为加略人犹大的心，他本是十二门徒里的一个。…找机会，要趁众人不在跟前的时候把耶稣交给他们。』(路加福音 22:1-6) 当然最后是没有趁著犹大的心意，因为事情的发生是在众人面前，如经文所说，『说话之间，来了许多人。那十二个门徒里名叫犹大的，走在前头，就近耶稣，要与他亲嘴。耶稣对他说：「犹大！你用亲嘴的暗号卖人子吗？」』(路加福音 22:47-48) 他是在众人面前亲嘴的，亲嘴本是亲蜜的动作，却被犹大用来作为暗号！     

    有人说，『他吃了(那饼)以后，撒但就入了他的心。 …』(翰福音 13:27) 所以他有什么办法呢？有的，圣经不是明说，『…你们要顺服神。务要抵挡魔鬼，魔鬼就必离开你们逃跑了。』(雅各书 4:7) 对犹大来说，他是个贼，不能抵挡金钱的诱惑，只为了三十块钱就卖了耶稣，『这就应了先知耶利米的话，说：「他们用那三十块钱，就是被估定之人的价钱，是以色列人中所估定的。』(马太福音 27:9) 所以他是自愿接受撒但的诱惑的。      

    我们看到，『犹大受了那点饼，立刻就出去。那时候是夜间了。』(约翰福音 13:30) 有人就说，都是那饼惹的祸，只要耶稣不蘸那饼给他吃不是就好了吗？不是的，就像我们先前讨论过的，耶稣只是告诉他我已预先知道了，只是他的心刚硬，不听。这都是发生在晚餐中，然而还特别指出那时候是夜间，所以是已经非常晚了，可是他还是一心一意的要出去卖主。      

    耶稣是奉父差遣来的，在祂生前，祂差遣了十二使徒，『耶稣叫了十二个门徒来，差遣他们两个两个地出去，也赐给他们权柄，制伏污鬼。』(马可福音 6:7) 那时卖主的犹大是那十二位之一，所以他不仅仅看过神迹，但也曾自己能有权柄，能行制伏污鬼的神迹，但仍然卖主，他的心到底有多刚硬啊！ 『这事以后，主又设立七十个人，差遣他们两个两个地在他前面，往自己所要到的各城、各地方去。』(路加福音 10:1) 『又对门徒说：「听从你们的就是听从我；弃绝你们的就是弃绝我；弃绝我的就是弃绝那差我来的。」』(路加福音 10:16) 这不就是耶稣说的，『我实实在在地告诉你们：有人接待我所差遣的，就是接待我；接待我，就是接待那差遣我的。」』(约翰福音 13:20)  请注意，都是两个两个出去的，这点是非常重要。譬如旧约说，『两个人总比一个人好，因为二人劳碌同得美好的果效。若是跌倒，这人可以扶起他的同伴；若是孤身跌倒，没有别人扶起他来，这人就有祸了！再者，二人同睡，就都暖和；一人独睡，怎能暖和呢？有人攻胜孤身一人，若有二人便能敌挡他；三股合成的绳子不容易折断。』(传道书 4:9-12) 新约也说，『控告长老的呈子，非有两三个见证就不要收。』(提摩太前书 5:19)        

    复活后的耶稣说，『但圣灵降临在你们身上，你们就必得著能力；并要在耶路撒冷、犹太全地和撒马利亚，直到地极，作我的见证。」』(使徒行传 1:8) 在分离的祷告中，祂说，『我不但为这些人祈求，也为那些因他们的话信我的人祈求，使他们都合而为一。正如你父在我里面，我在你里面，使他们也在我们里面，叫世人可以信你差了我来。』(约翰福音 17:20-21) 大使命很清楚的说，『…天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我(耶稣)了。所以，你们要去，使万民作我的门徒，奉父、子、圣灵的名给他们施洗。凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守，我就常与你们同在，直到世界的末了。』(马太福音 28:18-20) 这是和合本的翻译，也是相当多的牧师这样做的，但如果依照圣经应该是，『…奉耶稣基督的名受洗，…』 (使徒行传 2:38)  归于父、子、圣灵的名(和合本另译)。』 我们看到不少人只以为大使命是使人受洗，却忘了要教训人去遵守行出来，要人甘心情愿的遵守行出来是要以身作则的，要不别人会说你自己都不遵守，为什么要我们遵守呢？我们以前谈过这点就不多说了。所以基督徒都是有大使命奉差遣的，我们又一次看到，神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的。

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到这网站后要按『对属灵生命的了解』。)  

    首先，我們看到耶穌是神差遣來的世上的光，父給祂的命令就是信祂的人得永生，也顯示出祂一生都順服神。第二，我們看那三位一體的神中的一位耶穌是愛，祂以為門徒洗腳我們的榜樣，告訴基督徒要彼此順服，我們也看到基督徒要有信心的行為，不要像猶大般的心裏剛硬。第三，我們來看看接待主耶穌這點，並說明猶大是自願賣主的，且舉了一個「同我吃飯的人用腳踢我」的經驗。我們提到了這裏有預知的事，所以『…可以信我是基督。』(約翰福音 13:19) 也討論了受差遣是誰所引起的相關疑問。

1. 耶穌是神差遣來的世上的光

       『耶穌大聲(G2896)說：「信我的，不是信我，乃是信那差我來的。人看見我，就是看見那差我來的。我到世上來，乃是光，叫凡信我的，不住在黑暗裏。「若有人聽見我的話不遵守，我不審判他。我來本不是要審判世界，乃是要拯救世界。棄絕我、不領受我話的人，有審判他的，就是我所講的道(G3056)，在末日要審判他。因為我沒有憑着自己講，惟有差我來的父，已經給我命令，叫我說甚麼，講甚麼。我也知道他的命令就是永生。故此，我所講的話正是照着父對我所說的。」』(約翰福音 12:44-50)

     首先我們注意祂是大聲說，當祂大聲說時，我們要特別注意。譬如說另一次為這經文，『節期的末日，就是最大之日，耶穌站着高聲(G2896)說：「人若渴了，可以到我這裏來喝！信我的人，就如經上所說：『從他腹中要流出活水的江河來。』」』(約翰福音 7:37-38) 那差遣耶穌來的是誰呢？保羅說得很清楚，『…神就差遣自己的兒子成為罪身的形狀，作了贖罪祭，在肉體中定了罪案。』(羅馬書 8:3) 而神的兒子很顯然是耶穌，『那時，耶穌從加利利的拿撒勒來，在約旦河裏受了約翰的洗。他從水裏一上來，就看見天裂開了，聖靈彷彿鴿子，降在他身上。又有聲音從天上來，說：「你是我的愛子，我喜悅你。」』(馬可福音 1:9-11) 信祂的就是信神的，當然是這樣，因『我與父原為一。』(約翰福音 10:30)

     這道(G3056)是指什麼呢？就是指耶穌自己，這點在約翰福音一開始就明說了，『太初有道(G3056)，道(G3056)與神同在，道(G3056)就是神。這道太初與神同在。萬物是藉着他造的，凡被造的，沒有一樣不是藉着他造的。』(約翰福音 1:1-3) 所以祂等於換了一種方式在說，『神愛世人，甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們，叫一切信他的，不至滅亡，反得永生。因為神差他的兒子降世，不是要定世人的罪，乃是要叫世人因他得救。』(約翰福音 3:16-17) 祂第一次來本就不是審判世界，而是為要完成救恩，啓示錄所提到的白色大寶座的審判要到末日才會來臨(參啓示錄 20:11-15)

     祂又明說了一次，『我在世上的時候，是世上的光。』(約翰福音 9:5) 要趁著白日行走才不會跌倒，且『你們應當趁着有光，信從這光，使你們成為光明之子。」…』(約翰福音 12:36) 父給祂的命令就是信祂的人得永生，這經文顯示出祂一生都順服神，『…父怎樣吩咐我，我就怎樣行。 …』(約翰福音 14:31) 這不是說神是一個命令一個動作的神，如果神沒有給祂命令，祂也會站在神那邊，這點可從耶穌出耶利哥發生的事看到，那時有兩個瞎子，『耶穌就動了慈心，把他們的眼睛一摸，他們立刻看見，就跟從了耶穌。』(馬太福音 20: 34) 很顯然的是耶穌自己動了慈心，神沒有給祂命令，祂也的確是站在神那邊。當初如此，今日對我們亦然，當沒有聖靈感動時，我們也一定要站在神那邊。

     請注意，『信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已經定了，因為他不信神獨生子的名。』(約翰福音 3:18) 我們怎麼可以不信呢！我們最後要強調的一點，聖經都是神所默示的，所以我們到處都可以看到「神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的」，當我們不把聖經的話打折扣時，就可以看見神有時(但不多)默示了在字句上有的明顯的矛盾，不是聖經錯了，是我們沒到讀懂，是要瞭解神為什麼要默示這樣的明顯的矛盾給我們，到底是要傳遞給我們什麼樣的訊息，我們在『2111 聖經無誤論的真諦』詳細的討論過這點，請到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的網站後，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』，找到這篇文章。謝謝。

2. 三位一體的神中的一位耶穌是愛

       『逾越節以前，耶穌知道自己離世歸父的時候到了，他既然愛世間屬自己的人，就愛他們到底。吃晚飯的時候（魔鬼已將賣耶穌的意思放在西門的兒子加略人猶大心裏），耶穌知道父已將萬有交在他手裏，且知道自己是從神出來的，又要歸到神那裏去，就離席站起來脫了衣服，拿一條手巾束腰，隨後把水倒在盆裏，就洗門徒的腳，並用自己所束的手巾擦乾。挨到西門彼得，彼得對他說：「主啊，你洗我的腳嗎？」耶穌回答說：「我所做的，你如今不知道，後來必明白。」彼得說：「你永不可洗我的腳！」 耶穌說：「我若不洗你，你就與我無分了。」西門彼得說：「主啊，不但我的腳，連手和頭也要洗！」耶穌說：「凡洗過澡的人，只要把腳一洗，全身就乾淨了；你們是乾淨的，然而不都是乾淨的。」耶穌原知道要賣他的是誰，所以說：「你們不都是乾淨的。」耶穌洗完了他們的腳，就穿上衣服，又坐下，對他們說：「我向你們所做的，你們明白嗎？你們稱呼我夫子，稱呼我主，你們說的不錯，我本來是。我是你們的主，你們的夫子，尚且洗你們的腳，你們也當彼此洗腳。我給你們作了榜樣，叫你們照着我向你們所做的去做。我實實在在地告訴你們：僕人不能大於主人，差人也不能大於差他的人。你們既知道這事，若是去行就有福了。」』(約翰福音 13:1-17)

        祂知道很清楚祂的時間到了，在變化山上，不是『忽然有摩西、以利亞兩個人同耶穌說話；他們在榮光裏顯現，談論耶穌去世的事，就是他在耶路撒冷將要成的事。』(路加福音 9:30-31) 

        『…因為神就是愛。』(約翰一書 4:8) 就愛屬祂的人到底，為他們洗腳，並說『我是你們的主，你們的夫子，尚且洗你們的腳，你們也當彼此洗腳。』(約翰福音 13:14) 這不是說，『又當存敬畏基督的心，彼此順服。』(以弗所書 5:21) 祂不是給了我們一個榜樣嗎？要知道，『…只有一位是你們的夫子，你們都是弟兄。』(馬太福音 23:8) 先是順服神，然後要彼此順服，互相洗腳。就像，『若旁邊坐着的得了啓示，那先說話的就當閉口不言。』(哥林多前書 14:30)  這不是說神給了後來的人啓示，先話話的人不就該順服嗎！我們再看，『耶穌回答說：「我所做的，你如今不知道，後來必明白。」』(約翰福音 13:7) 我們現在不是就明白了嗎！

        最後說，『我實實在在地告訴你們：僕人不能大於主人，差人也不能大於差他的人。你們既知道這事，若是去行就有福了。」』(約翰福音 13:16-17) 要能行才行，『虛浮的人哪，你願意知道沒有行為的信心是死的嗎？』(雅各書 2:20) 在啓示錄中，『我又看見一個白色的大寶座與坐在上面的，從他面前天地都逃避，再無可見之處了。我又看見死了的人，無論大小，都站在寶座前。案卷展開了，並且另有一卷展開，就是生命冊。死了的人都憑着這些案卷所記載的，照他們所行的受審判。』(啓示錄 20:11-12) 沒有在生命册上的人只是暫時活著，因『若有人名字沒記在生命冊上，他就被扔在火湖裏。』(啓示錄 20:15) 

     最後的審判是照所行的，基督徒要有信心的行為，這樣的行為是主要他們做的。經文說，『凡稱呼我『主啊，主啊』的人，不能都進天國；惟獨遵行我天父旨意的人，才能進去。當那日，必有許多人對我說：『主啊，主啊，我們不是奉你的名傳道，奉你的名趕鬼，奉你的名行許多異能嗎？』我就明明地告訴他們說：『我從來不認識你們，你們這些作惡的人，離開我去吧！』』(馬太福音 7:21-23) 主不是明講了他們並不在做主要他們做的事，如果他們順服主而去做主的事，主怎麼會說不認識他們呢？再舉一個啓示錄中老底嘉教會的例子(參啓示錄 3:14-22)，經文說，『你說：我是富足，已經發了財，一樣都不缺。卻不知道你是那困苦、可憐、貧窮、瞎眼、赤身的。』啓示錄 3:17) 你想他們是在做神要他們做的事嗎？你看耶穌說，『看哪，我站在門外叩門，若有聽見我聲音就開門的，我要進到他那裏去，我與他，他與我一同坐席。』(啓示錄 3:20) 祂不會要他們把祂關在心門外的。

        有些人如賣主的猶大般心裏是何等的剛硬啊！耶穌因為愛也幫猶大洗腳，但仍不能挽回他，雖然我們知道，『吃晚飯的時候（魔鬼已將賣耶穌的意思放在西門的兒子加略人猶大心裏），』(約翰福音 13:2) 但這不能成為他的藉口，『…因他是個賊，又帶着錢囊，常取其中所存的。』(約翰福音 12:6) 如果不是他有這樣的破口，怎麼會允許撒但進入他的心呢？我們也會接著在下一段經文，看到他應已知道耶穌預先知道他會賣祂，仍然硬著心，用實際的出去的行動做出來！

3. 接待主耶穌和用腳踢我

       『我這話不是指着你們眾人說的，我知道我所揀選的是誰。現在要應驗經上的話，說：『同我吃飯的人，用腳踢我。』「如今事情還沒有成就，我要先告訴你們，叫你們到事情成就的時候，可以信我是基督。我實實在在地告訴你們：有人接待我所差遣的，就是接待我；接待我，就是接待那差遣我的。」耶穌說了這話，心裏憂愁，就明說：「我實實在在地告訴你們：你們中間有一個人要賣我了。」門徒彼此對看，猜不透所說的是誰。有一個門徒，是耶穌所愛的，側身挨近耶穌的懷裏。西門彼得點頭對他說：「你告訴我們，主是指着誰說的。」那門徒便就勢靠着耶穌的胸膛，問他說：「主啊，是誰呢？」耶穌回答說：「我蘸一點餅給誰，就是誰。」耶穌就蘸了一點餅，遞給加略人西門的兒子猶大。他吃了以後，撒但就入了他的心。 耶穌便對他說：「你所做的，快做吧！」同席的人，沒有一個知道是為甚麼對他說這話。有人因猶大帶着錢囊，以為耶穌是對他說「你去買我們過節所應用的東西」，或是叫他拿甚麼賙濟窮人。猶大受了那點餅，立刻就出去。那時候是夜間了。』(約翰福音 13:18-30)

    我們首先來看耶穌會心裏憂愁這一點，這就說明了祂是完全的人，如果祂用祂的神性的話，跟本就不會憂愁。我們也可在客西馬尼園的禱告看到這一點，『於是帶着彼得和西庇太的兩個兒子同去，就憂愁起來，極其難過，便對他們說：「我心裏甚是憂傷，幾乎要死；你們在這裏等候，和我一同警醒。」他就稍往前走，俯伏在地禱告說：「我父啊，倘若可行，求你叫這杯離開我；然而，不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。」』(馬太福音 26:37-39) 祂是完全的人，會憂愁且禱告求父叫這杯離開，但祂在道成肉身時選擇一生順服神，所以最後還是照著神的意思去成就。

     耶穌所愛的那門徒是指約翰，祂很清楚的預言，『我這話不是指着你們眾人說的，我知道我所揀選的是誰。現在要應驗經上的話，說：『同我吃飯的人，用腳踢我。』』(約翰福音 13:18) 我們看見了祂真正預先知道要賣祂的是猶大，除賣主的猶大外，其他的都不知道是誰，我們不是看見，『…耶穌就蘸了一點餅，遞給加略人西門的兒子猶大。』(約翰福音 13:26) 關於這經文，是引用詩篇的類似經文，『連我知己的朋友，我所倚靠吃過我飯的，也用腳踢我。』(詩篇 41:9) 耶穌的確是和賣主的猶大吃飯了，但顯然他不是祂的知己的朋友。如果你們記得當耶穌要選十二個門徒時，祂是『…出去，上山禱告，整夜禱告神。』(路加福音 6:12) 就是要確是神是要祂選包括賣主的猶大這個人，他賣主，怎麼不是用腳踢主的寫照呢？

     其實不止是現在可以經歷，『…同我吃飯的人，用腳踢我。』(約翰福音 13:18) 更是可以經歷詩篇 41:9 的知己朋友那部份，在這裏，我可以和大家分享一個這樣的經驗。有一次，有一個人莫名其妙的請我們夫婦和他全家人去吃飯，就我事後所瞭解的，他大約是覺得神要他經歷約翰福音 13:18，所以就請了我們。同一件事情，我後來才發覺神要我經歷的是詩篇 41:9，因為我以前以為他是知己的朋友，最後是真的被踢了一腳。

     記得那一次是送給他、我們夫婦都覺得沒有問題的電子郵件，回應是以神的名義告訴我，把我比喻成豬狗，說『不要把聖物給狗，也不要把你們的珍珠丟在豬前，恐怕牠踐踏了珍珠，轉過來咬你們。』(馬太福音 7:6) 又說還有更嚴厲的話，只是沒有說出來，所以我不知道那些話，很久以前的事，也不知道他現在記不記得那些話。從此以後，我們基本上已十多年沒有交通過了！他在世人眼中是很屬靈的人，要不就不會以神的名義對我如此說話，當然我後來發覺話也不對，人也不是如此，要不然神不會讓我經歷客觀的事實這件事，這是我們以前在『2123 神用客觀的、給別人看的客觀事實顯現祂的存在』討論過的，請到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的網站後，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』，找到這篇文章。

        可能有人會問，為什麼『…可以信我是基督。』(約翰福音 13:19) 因為這裏有預知的事，是撒但不能做的，對於這點，講到這事的有一些地方，我們現在看其中的一點就知道了。如果撒但能預知，牠就不會介入耶穌的釘上十字架，幫助完成救恩的計劃。經文不是明說，『除酵節又名逾越節近了。…這時，撒但入了那稱為加略人猶大的心，他本是十二門徒裏的一個。…找機會，要趁眾人不在跟前的時候把耶穌交給他們。』(路加福音 22:1-6) 當然最後是沒有趁著猶大的心意，因為事情的發生是在眾人面前，如經文所說，『說話之間，來了許多人。那十二個門徒裏名叫猶大的，走在前頭，就近耶穌，要與他親嘴。耶穌對他說：「猶大！你用親嘴的暗號賣人子嗎？」』(路加福音 22:47-48) 他是在眾人面前親嘴的，親嘴本是親蜜的動作，卻被猶大用來作為暗號！

     有人說，『他吃了(那餅)以後，撒但就入了他的心。 …』(翰福音 13:27) 所以他有什麼辦法呢？有的，聖經不是明說，『…你們要順服神。務要抵擋魔鬼，魔鬼就必離開你們逃跑了。』(雅各書 4:7) 對猶大來說，他是個賊，不能抵擋金錢的誘惑，只為了三十塊錢就賣了耶穌，『這就應了先知耶利米的話，說：「他們用那三十塊錢，就是被估定之人的價錢，是以色列人中所估定的。』(馬太福音 27:9) 所以他是自願接受撒但的誘惑的。

      我們看到，『猶大受了那點餅，立刻就出去。那時候是夜間了。』(約翰福音 13:30) 有人就說，都是那餅惹的禍，只要耶穌不蘸那餅給他吃不是就好了嗎？不是的，就像我們先前討論過的，耶穌只是告訴他我已預先知道了，只是他的心剛硬，不聽。這都是發生在晚餐中，然而還特別指出那時候是夜間，所以是已經非常晚了，可是他還是一心一意的要出去賣主。

      耶穌是奉父差遣來的，在祂生前，祂差遣了十二使徒，『耶穌叫了十二個門徒來，差遣他們兩個兩個地出去，也賜給他們權柄，制伏污鬼。』(馬可福音 6:7) 那時賣主的猶大是那十二位之一，所以他不僅僅看過神蹟，但也曾自己能有權柄，能行制伏汚鬼的神蹟，但仍然賣主，他的心到底有多剛硬啊！ 『這事以後，主又設立七十個人，差遣他們兩個兩個地在他前面，往自己所要到的各城、各地方去。』(路加福音 10:1) 『又對門徒說：「聽從你們的就是聽從我；棄絕你們的就是棄絕我；棄絕我的就是棄絕那差我來的。」』(路加福音 10:16) 這不就是耶穌說的，『我實實在在地告訴你們：有人接待我所差遣的，就是接待我；接待我，就是接待那差遣我的。」』(約翰福音 13:20)  請注意，都是兩個兩個出去的，這點是非常重要。譬如舊約說，『兩個人總比一個人好，因為二人勞碌同得美好的果效。若是跌倒，這人可以扶起他的同伴；若是孤身跌倒，沒有別人扶起他來，這人就有禍了！再者，二人同睡，就都暖和；一人獨睡，怎能暖和呢？有人攻勝孤身一人，若有二人便能敵擋他；三股合成的繩子不容易折斷。』(傳道書 4:9-12) 新約也說，『控告長老的呈子，非有兩三個見證就不要收。』(提摩太前書 5:19)

        復活後的耶穌說，『但聖靈降臨在你們身上，你們就必得着能力；並要在耶路撒冷、猶太全地和撒馬利亞，直到地極，作我的見證。」』(使徒行傳 1:8) 在分離的禱告中，祂說，『我不但為這些人祈求，也為那些因他們的話信我的人祈求，使他們都合而為一。正如你父在我裏面，我在你裏面，使他們也在我們裏面，叫世人可以信你差了我來。』(約翰福音 17:20-21) 大使命很清楚的說，『…天上地下所有的權柄都賜給我(耶穌)了。所以，你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒，奉父、子、聖靈的名給他們施洗。凡我所吩咐你們的，都教訓他們遵守，我就常與你們同在，直到世界的末了。』(馬太福音 28:18-20) 這是和合本的翻譯，也是相當多的牧師這樣做的，但如果依照聖經應該是，『…奉耶穌基督的名受洗，…』 (使徒行傳 2:38)  歸於父、子、聖靈的名(和合本另譯)。』 我們看到不少人只以為大使命是使人受洗，卻忘了要教訓人去遵守行出來，要人甘心情願的遵守行出來是要以身作則的，要不別人會說你自己都不遵守，為什麼要我們遵守呢？我們以前談過這點就不多說了。所以基督徒都是有大使命奉差遣的，我們又一次看到，神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的。

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到這網站後要按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』。)

First, we see that Jesus is the light of the world sent by God. The command given by the Father is that those who believe in Jesus will have eternal life, which also shows that He obeyed God throughout His life.  Second, we see that Jesus, one of the Trinity, is love. He sets an example for his disciples by washing their feet. He tells Christians to submit to one another. We also see that Christians must have acts of faith and not be as hard-hearted as Judas. Third, let’s talk about receiving Jesus, and also explain that Judas voluntarily betrayed the Lord. We also cited an experience in which “…He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.”(John 13:18) We mentioned that there is foreknowledge here, so “…you may believe that I am He.”(John 13:19) We also discuss the related questions raised by who was sent.

1. Jesus is the light of the world sent by God

“And Jesus cried out (G2896) and said, “He who lieves in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word (G3056) I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.””(John 12:44-50)

 First of all, we should pay attention to whether He speaks loudly. When He speaks loudly, we must pay special attention.  For example, another time for this verse, “Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried (G2896) out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’””(John 7:37-38) Who sent Jesus?  Paul made it very clear, “…God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh.”(Romans 8:3) And the Son of God is obviously Jesus, “In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.””(Mark 1:9-11) He who believes in Him believes in God. Of course, this is true, for “I and the Father are one.”(John 10:30)​

 What does this word (G3056) refer to?  It refers to Jesus Himself. This is clearly stated at the beginning of the Book of John, “In the beginning was the Word (G3056), and the Word (G3056) was with God, and the Word (G3056) was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”(John 1:1-3) So He is saying in another way, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”(John 3:16-17) His first coming was not to judge the world, but to complete salvation. The judgment of the great white throne mentioned in the Book of Revelation will not come until the end of time (see Revelation 20:11-15)

 He said clearly again, “While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”(John 9:5) You must walk while it is daylight so that you will not stumble, and “While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light….”(John 12:36) The Father’s command to Him is that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. This verse shows that He obeyed God throughout his life, “…I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. …”(John 14:31) This does not mean that God is a God who commands and acts one everything. If God did not give Him a command, He would still stand on God’s side. This happened when Jesus left Jericho. When he saw that there were two blind men, “Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.”(Matthew 20:34) It is obvious that Jesus Himself was moved by compassion. God did not give Him a command, and He was indeed on God’s side.  This was true at that time, and it is true for us today. Even when there is no inspiration from the Holy Spirit, we must stand on God’s side.

​​ Please note, “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”(John 3:18) How can we not believe it!  The last point we want to emphasize is that the Bible is inspired by God, so we can see everywhere that “what God tells us through the Bible is consistent.” When we do not discount the words of the Bible, we can see that God sometimes (but not many times) inspired obvious contradictions in words. It is not that the Bible is wrong, but that we have not understood it. It is to understand why God inspired such obvious contradictions to us and what kind of messages He wants to pass on to us. We have discussed this in detail in “1111 The True Meaning of Biblical Inerrancy.” Please go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/” and click “Understanding of Spiritual Life” to this article.  Thanks.

2. Jesus, one of the Trinity, is love

“Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.” So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”(John 13:1-17)

 He knew very clearly when His time would come. On the Mount of Transfiguration, “And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.”(Luke 9:30-31)

 We know that “…God is love.”(1 John 4:8) He loves His own to the end, washing their feet, saying, “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”(John 13:14) Doesn’t this mean? “…be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.”(Ephesians 5:21) Didn’t He give us an example? We must know, “…One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.”(Matthew 23:8) First obey God, then obey one another and wash each other’s feet.  It is like, “But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent.”(1 Corinthians 14:30) Doesn’t this mean that God has given revelations to this later one, and those who spoke first should obey the revelation and stop talking!  Let’s look at it again, “Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.””(John 13:7) Don’t we understand it now?

 Finally, he said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”(John 13:16-17) You must be able to do it. “But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?”(James 2:20) In the Book of Revelation, “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.”(Revelation 20:11-12) People who are not written in the book of life only live temporarily, “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”(Revelation 20:15)

The final judgment is based on deeds. Christians must have acts of faith. Such acts have to be what the Lord wants them to do.  The scripture says, ““Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”(Matthew 7:21-23) Didn’t the Lord clearly say that they were not doing what He asked them to do? If they obeyed the Lord and did His things, how could the Lord say that He did not know them?  Let’s take another example from the church in Laodicea in the Book of Revelation (see Revelation 3:14-22). The scripture says, “Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”(Revelation 3:17) Do you think they were doing what God wanted them to do?  You see Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”(Revelation 3:20) He will for sure not ask them to shut Him out of their hearts.

 How hard-hearted some people are like Judas, the traitor!  Jesus also washed the feet of Judas out of love, but still could not restore him. Although “During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him.”(John 13: 2) But he couldn’t use it as an excuse, “…because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.”(John 12:6) If he hadn’t had such a breach, how could he have allowed Satan to enter his heart?  We will also see in the next passage that he should have known that Jesus knew in advance that he would betray Him, but he still hardened his heart and did it with practical actions!

3. Receive the Lord Jesus and kick me

“I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’ From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.” The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. So Simon Peter gestured to him, and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.” He, leaning back thus on Jesus’ bosom, said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus then answered, “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.” So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him. For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we have need of for the feast”; or else, that he should give something to the poor. So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night.”(John 13:18-30)

 Let’s first look at the fact that Jesus became troubled in spirit. This shows that He is a complete human being. If He used His divinity, He would not have such way at all.  We also see this in the prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, “And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.””

(Matthew 26:37-39) He was a complete man and would grieve and pray to the Father to let this cup pass away. However, when He became flesh, He chose to obey God throughout His life, so in the end He chose to obey God and do anything according to God’s will.

 The disciple whom Jesus loved refers to John, and He prophesied very clearly, “I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’”(John 13:18) We have seen that He really knew in advance that Judas would betray Him. No one else knew who it was ex.cept Judas who would betray Him. Didn’t we see? “…He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.”(John 13:26) Regarding this verse, a similar verse is quoted from the Psalms, “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.”(Psalm 41:9) Jesus did eat with Judas, the traitor, but it was obvious that he was not His close friend.  If you remember when Jesus was choosing his twelve disciples, “…He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God.”(Luke 6:12) He wanted to make sure that God wanted Him to choose the man Judas who betrayed Him. How could he not be a portrayal of kicking the Lord when he betrayed the Lord? Nowadays, you can also experience that “…He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.”(John 13:18) Not only that, you can also experience that “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, …Has lifted up his heel against me.”(Psalm 41:9) Here, I can share such an experience with you.  Once, a man invited us, my wife and me, with his whole family to dinner out of nowhere. From what I learned afterwards, he probably felt that God wanted him to experience John 13:18, so he invited us.  For the same thing, I later realized that what God wanted me to experience was Psalm 41:9, because I thought he was a close friend, but in the end he really kicked me. ​

 I remember that it started from an email sent to him, which both of us felt that it was okay. The response was to tell me in the name of God, comparing me to a pig or a dog, by saying, “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”(Matthew 7:6) He also said that there were more severe words, but he didn’t say them out, so I don’t know those words. This happened a long time ago, and I don’t know if he remembers those words now.  Since then, we have basically not communicated with each other for more than ten years!  In the eyes of the world, he is a very spiritual person. Otherwise, he would not have spoken to me like this in the name of God. Of course, I later found out that his words were wrong, and so is his person. Otherwise, God would not have allowed me to experience objective facts, which are something we have discussed before in “1123 God reveals His existence through objective facts that are visible to others.” Please go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/“. Click “Understanding of Spiritual Life” to find this article.

​ Some people may ask, why “…you may believe that I am He.”(John 13:19) Because there are things that are foreseen here that Satan cannot do. Regarding this, there are some places that talk about this matter. We can understand it now by looking at one of them.  If Satan could have foreseen it, he would not have intervened in Jesus’ crucifixion to help complete the plan of salvation.  The scripture do clearly say, “Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching. …And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. …began seeking a good opportunity to betray Him to them apart from the crowd.”(Luke 22:1-6) Of course, in the end, Judas couldn’t do it apart from the crowd, because the incident happened in front of everyone. As the scripture says, “While He was still speaking, behold, a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was preceding them; and he approached Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?””(Luke 22:47-48) He kissed Him in front of everyone. The kiss was originally an act of intimacy, but Judas used it as a sign. Come as a secret code!

 Some people say, “After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. …”(John 13:27) So what can he do?  Yes, he can do something for sure. The Bible does clearly say, “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”(James 4:7) To Judas, he was a thief who could not resist the temptation of money, so he sold Jesus for only thirty pieces of silver. “Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one whose price had been set by the sons of Israel.””(Matthew 27:9) So he willingly accepted Satan’s temptation. ​

 We see, “So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night.”(John 13:30) Some people said that it was all the fault of the morsel. Wouldn’t it be fine as long as Jesus didn’t dip the morsel for him to eat?  No, as we discussed earlier, Jesus was simply telling him that I knew it beforehand, but his heart was hardened and he would not listen.  This all happened during dinner, but the verse also pointed out that it was night time, so it was very late, but he still wanted to go out and sell Jesus wholeheartedly.

 Jesus was sent by the Father. He sent the Twelve Apostles as the verse says, “And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.”(Mark 6:7) At that time, Judas, the betrayer, was one of the twelve, so he not only saw miracles, but he also had the authority to perform miracles to subdue unclean spirits. But he still sold Jesus, how hard was his heart? “Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come.”(Luke 10:1) And he said to his disciples,

“The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”(Luke 10:16) Isn’t this what Jesus said? “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”(John 13:20) Please note that they all went out two by two. This is very important.  For example, the Old Testament says, “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) The New Testament also says, “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.”(1 Timothy 5:19)

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 After the resurrection, Jesus said,

“but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”(Acts 1:8) In the prayer of separation, He said, ““I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”(John 17:20-21) The Great Commission says very clearly, “…All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”(Matthew 28:18-20) This is the translation problem, and quite a few pastors do this, but according to the Bible it should be, “…be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ…”(Acts 2:38) To the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (another translation in Union Version).” We have seen that many people only think that the Great Commission is to get people baptized, but they forget to teach people to obey and practice it. If you want people to obey it willingly and practice it, you must set an example. Otherwise, others will say that you don’t obey it yourself. Why should we obey it?  We have talked about this before so I won’t say more.  Therefore, Christians are all sent with the Great Commission. Once again, we see that what God tells us through the Bible is consistent

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(Verses refer to those in NASB95 unless otherwise specified.)

(You can get all articles in “https://a-christian-voice.com/” under “On spiritual understanding about life.”)