First, we see the reason why no one respects a prophet locally.  Second, we have seen that Jesus can heal people who are dying from afar with words. Jesus knows the importance of signs and wonders, but the important thing is His Word, believing in Him, not looking at miracles, and thus don’t put the cart before the horse!  Third, through the miracle of Jesus healing the sick man who had been lying for thirty-eight years due to his sin, we also from what God tells us through the Bible is consistent to examine whether the records and translations in the ancient scrolls are correct.   Finally, we see that Jesus kept the true meaning of the Sabbath, not the legal Sabbath time.  Although He gave us an example that what we should abide by is the true meaning of the Law rather than the letter, the Jews at that time did not understand it and instead nailed Him to the cross, which actually achieved salvation.

1. No one respects a prophet locally

 “After the two days He went forth from there into Galilee. For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves also went to the feast.”(John 4:43-45)

Please note that after He left Samaria, He did not return to His hometown, but to Galilee, because a prophet was not respected there. Similar verses are in Matthew 13:57, Mark 6:4, and Luke 4:24, so this matter is mentioned in the four Gospels, which also represents its importance.  The reason is that from a human perspective, people in His hometown thought they were too familiar with Jesus. How could they believe that Jesus could perform miracles?  (See Matthew 13:53-57) The scripture says very clearly, “When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him.”(Mark 6:2-3) At that time, even his brothers did not believe (see John 7:5). “And He wondered at their unbelief. And He was going around the villages teaching.”(Mark 6:6) No wonder He didn’t go back to His hometown!

By the way, although the Bible does not clearly say that all His brothers and sisters believed in Him after His death and resurrection, at least the Bible clearly says, “But I (Paul) did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.”(Galatians 1:19) James not only believed but became an apostle.

After Jesus preached, this was the first time He went to Jerusalem. He went up for the Passover. “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs (G4592) which He was doing.”(John 2:23) The Galileans were among them, and they received Him for this reason.

2. Jesus healed a person people who were dying remotely with His words

“Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.” The royal official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off. As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living. So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household. This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.”(John 4:46-54)

This miracle (sign) is recorded very clearly, and it also shows that Jesus could use the words He spoke to heal his dying son from afar.  From a human perspective, you must find Jesus while one is still alive. In fact, Jesus can resurrect the dead.  In this passage, we see, “Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.””(John 11:21-22) When “Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.””‘(John 11:23), her response was, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”(John 11:24) She did not expect that on that day, Jesus would accomplish what He said with His words.  (See John 11:25-45)

Jesus knew the importance of signs and wonders, because “So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.””(John 4:48) We see, “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.”(John 2:23-25) Because He knew that miracles were used to work for salvation, “…After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.”(Hebrews 2:3-4) He also knew very well, “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.”(Matthew 24:24) People are often confused by supernatural things, so they must be discerned.  What is important is His Word, believing in Him, rather than looking at miracles. We see that during the time when He was incarnate, “But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him.”(John 12:37)

We also see,”…many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.”(Acts 2:43) Paul made it very clear, “For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed.”(Romans 15:18) He also said, “I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.”(2 Corinthians 12:11-12) So, Paul performed miracles too. We must pay attention to the fact that signs and wonders have their own importance. We just need to distinguish supernatural things and let the Word be the main thing. Miracles and wonders are only to confirm His Word. Don’t put the cart before the horse!

Finally, let’s take a look at faith of the royal official. First, his son was in Capernaum. He believed in advance that Jesus could heal his son, so he ran a long way to Cana to see Jesus.  When he saw Jesus, he believed His words again and expressed it with an act of faith: “Going down!”  What’s more, the message brought by the servant confirmed that Jesus used words to heal his son remotely.  After experiencing such a miracle, do you think a normal person would not believe it?  No wonder he and his whole family believed it.

 ​

3. Jesus healed a sick man who had been lying there for thirty-eight years

“After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [waiting for the moving of the waters; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons (G2540) into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.] A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time (G5550) in that condition, He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk. Now it was the Sabbath on that day.”(John 5:1-9)

This miracle is a very clear which recorded that the lying sick man was healed by the words of Jesus.  Obviously, water can move. He saw others being healed but he was too late, so he had to wait there. He waited for thirty-eight years, which was the punishment for his sin since “Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.””(John 5:14) We can see the horror of sin!  Although the Bible does not clearly state what kind of sin he had committed, there are thirty-eight punishments, and it will not be a small sin, because God is merciful and gracious.  Notice, he was healed immediately.

Jesus knew that he wanted to be healed, but he still asked him that. It showed that the Lord had mercy on him and that He had the authority to forgive sins. It is just like the case that these verses say, “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”⁠—then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your bed and go home.” And he got up and went home.”(Matthew 9:5-7) We know that neither is easy and neither of us can do it. He demonstrated His sovereignty by doing both!

In the age of the New Testament, as long as we repent, we will not be punished spiritually, because “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) In this world, we still have to pay a price, just like the thief who was crucified with Jesus. “And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.””(Luke 23:43) This obviously refers to spiritual things.  In the earthly world, he was still crucified and died, obeying Roman law, just as Jesus was crucified and died. ​

Finally, let’s judge whether there is anything wrong with the records in the ancient scrolls stated in the brackets?  We have said that water can move. This obviously does not mean that the wind moves the water. Satan and his servants will not stir the water. Therefore, it is the angels who stir the water. This is correct.  Two original words are used in this scripture, G5550 and G2540. These two words were compared in the Strong’s Concordance. The former refers to an indefinite period of time, so here it means a long time, and the latter refers to a fixed time or a special time. It can be translated as ‘at certain seasons’ or refers to ‘the occasion of Bethesda.’  If the time is fixed, those people only need to come at the fixed time. If it refers to the Bethesda’s occasion, the water movement will happen at any time!  Judging from what God tells us through the Bible is consistent, they should not know it in advance. There are many such examples. For example, this is like when Samuel anointed David.

Let’s look at the event of the anointing of David. The Lord said to Samuel, “You shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you.””(1 Samuel 16:3) You see here, Samuel believed in Him first and had acts of faith to show his faith, and then Jehovah showed him.

Finally, “Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.””(1 Samuel 16:10-12) You see, Samuel didn’t even know in advance who he was going to anoint. He went forward in faith, knowing that the LORD would instruct him in the last minute.

In real life, the work of the Holy Spirit is often done at the last minute. We must move forward in faith.  I have experienced many such things. Take this topic-wise Bible study as an example. I was not fully prepared until this morning. If you ask me why I didn’t prepare in advance, I tried, but nothing happened. At one time I prepared a week in advance, but put together a small part of the two week speeches. From then on, it depends on the situation, usually it takes until Friday for the words to come out, sometimes earlier, because in reality there are other things to do sometimes and thus I must be prepared in advance. So far, God has never missed anything.  This is what I have emphasized before. Only by letting the Holy Spirit lead can we not forcefully interpret the Bible. Otherwise, you will be just like me before, unable to understand the Bible. So I prepare it not only for everyone else but also for myself, because of the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I can understand some things what I didn’t understand before. For example, I didn’t notice the two original words G5550 and G2540 before, whose difference were discussed earlier.  Even today, I can’t read it out from the Bible  completely. There will be times when I read it in. Once I find my mistakes, I have to correct them, just like the corrections I made in some topic-wise Bible studies in the past.

Everyone can be led by the Holy Spirit. Think about the church in Laodicea in the Book of Revelation. Jesus was shut out of the door, but He still 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) The Holy Spirit in the Trinity likes to see that everyone is truly willing to open their doors in hearts.

4. The true meaning of Jesus’ Sabbath keeping

“So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.” But he answered them, “He who made me well was the one who said to me, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk.’” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk’?” But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.” The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.” For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.”(John 5:10-18)

We see that Jesus kept the true meaning of the Sabbath, not the time of the Sabbath in the Law.  We have discussed this point before in “4. The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath

” of “1050 The call of Matthew, fasting, and Sabbath -The image of Jesus (5),“ so I won’t say more. After going to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/“, please click “Understanding of Spiritual Life” to find this article. In the verse, it says, ” ​​For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”(Matthew 5:18) From what the Bible tells us is consistent, it refers the true meaning of the Law, not the letters.

Please note that Jesus obviously did not want to use this miracle to become famous for He had slipped away. There are some such examples in the Bible, which you can take a look for yourself.  Here, although Jesus gave us an example, what we should keep is the true meaning of the law rather than the letter, but the Jews at that time did not understand it. It is clearly mentioned here that the Jews were rebellious and murderous, and it is also mentioned here the reason why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him. And it was basically the reason why He was ultimately crucified.

When He was arrested after Judas’ betrayal and was tried by the high priest Caiaphas, we see that “Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; what do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death!””(Matthew 26:65-66) “Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death; and they bound Him, and led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate the governor.”(Matthew 27:1-2) It was sent to Pilate because the Jews at that time did not have the authority to kill.

Pilate could not find any reason for his death in Roman’s law. This can be seen from the scripture, “Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him. No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. Therefore I will punish Him and release Him.””(Luke 23:13-16) This passage will talk about Herod, because when Pilate “…learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time.”(Luke 23:7) If you look at the corresponding scriptures, you will know why Herod sent Him back.

Under the pressure of the crowd, “When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” Then he released Barabbas (a criminal ) for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.”(Matthew 27:24-26) Pilate washed his hands, but he could not wash away the sins he knowingly committed!  But salvation was accomplished through the crucifixion of Jesus, “…through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”(Hebrews 9:12) On the road to sanctification, one will fail to sin. We rely on the precious blood of Jesus to repent.  We should not be people who knowingly commit sins, but people who can repent at any time when we need to repent.

​(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.”)

     首先我们来看施洗约翰没下监时的见证和观点，他非常的清楚的知道耶稣是从天上来的，知道祂必兴旺，我必衰微。第二，我们讨论耶稣必须和撒马利亚妇人谈话，是圣灵带领的，在这件事上，我们看见神常用巧合来引导人，但不是所有的巧合都是神的引导。第三，我们看看耶稣要给她的活水是什么，经文清楚的说那活水就是圣灵。最后讨论真正拜父的要用心灵和真理拜祂，而不能如和合本的翻译说要用心灵和诚实拜祂，我们用出埃及记中，以色列人诚实的以为金牛犊就是耶和华做例子，详细的讨论这相应的原文字实在是不能像和合本一样的翻译为诚实，这样错误的翻译真会害死很多人，不要停留在错误的诚实中，要分辩，要悔改！不过这样的错误会有一个好处，就是意识到其和圣经不合，会仔细的读相关的经文，找出错误在那里。在这段的最后，我们利用这段经文来详细讨论一个基督徒常说的，我对圣经的看见和你的看见不一样，到底意谓著什么，错误在那里？

1. 施洗约翰没下监时的见证和观点         

    『这事以后，耶稣和门徒到了犹太地，在那里居住施洗。约翰在靠近撒冷的哀嫩也施洗，因为那里水多，众人都去受洗。那时约翰还没有下在监里。约翰的门徒和一个犹太人辩论洁净的礼，就来见约翰说：「拉比，从前同你在约旦河外、你所见证的那位，现在施洗，众人都往他那里去了。」约翰说：「若不是从天上赐的，人就不能得甚么。我曾说『我不是基督，是奉差遣在他前面的』，你们自己可以给我作见证。娶新妇的就是新郎，新郎的朋友站著听见新郎的声音就甚喜乐，故此我这喜乐满足了。他必兴旺，我必衰微。」「从天上来的，是在万有之上；从地上来的，是属乎地，他所说的也是属乎地。从天上来的是在万有之上。他将所见所闻的见证出来，只是没有人领受他的见证。那领受他见证的，就印上印，证明神是真的。神所差来的，就说神的话，因为神赐圣灵给他，是没有限量的。父爱子，已将万有交在他手里。信子的人有永生，不信子的人得不著永生，神的震怒常在他身上。」』(约翰福音 3:22-36)         

    首先我们看到了施洗约翰施洗的地方，他的门徒以为耶稣也亲自施洗，『（其实不是耶稣亲自施洗，乃是他的门徒施洗。）』(约翰福音 4:2) 施洗约翰知道他只是基督耶稣的先锋，他知道自己只是新郎的朋友，有著好得不能再好的态度，『他必兴旺，我必衰微。』(约翰福音 3:30) 其实我们现在治死老我也是一样，祂必兴旺，我必衰微，也只有这样，我们才可以模成耶稣的形像(参罗马书 8:29)。         

    施洗约翰非常确定耶稣是天上来的，因『约翰又作见证说：「我曾看见圣灵仿佛鸽子从天降下，住在他(耶稣)的身上。我先前不认识他，只是那差我来用水施洗的，对我说：『你看见圣灵降下来，住在谁的身上，谁就是用圣灵施洗的。』我看见了，就证明这是神的儿子。」』(约翰福音 1:32-34) 他知道从天而来的是在万有之上，且预知耶稣虽见证了在天上的所见所闻，但基本上没有人相信祂。你看，祂道成肉身时，在地上行了多少神迹，有多少人真正相信祂，且最终被钉上了十字架，所以这是预知。而『那领受他见证的，就印上印(sealed, G4972, 两次, 在希腊文中是这样的去加强语气)，证明神是真的。』(约翰福音 3:33) 我们也看到耶稣道成肉身那段时间，『…神赐圣灵给他，是没有限量的。』(约翰福音 3:34) 而耶稣也是，『…父怎样吩咐我，我就怎样行。…』(约翰福音 14:31) 真是『父爱子，已将万有交在他手里。』(约翰福音 3:35)      #####最后提到的约翰福音 3:36 是和约翰福音 3:18 讲的是一致的。我们也看到，耶稣道成肉身那段时间，神是透过圣灵来引导祂的，这点非常清楚，因那段日子祂是完全的人，而耶和华对摩西『…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) 所以祂那段时间也不能见神的面，要不，祂就不是完全的人了。耶稣说，『我与父原为一。』(约翰福音 10:30) 这只是在说一个事实，因祂本是三位一体的神中的一位，这是与生具来的，就像一个王子过乞丐的生活，就说他不是王子是不对的，所以耶稣在道成肉身的那段时间，仍是完全的神。

2. 必须和撒马利亚妇人谈话       

     『主知道法利赛人听见他收门徒施洗比约翰还多，（其实不是耶稣亲自施洗，乃是他的门徒施洗。）他就离了犹太，又往加利利去。必须经过撒马利亚，于是到了撒马利亚的一座城，名叫叙加，靠近雅各给他儿子约瑟的那块地。在那里有雅各井。耶稣因走路困乏，就坐在井旁。那时约有午正。有一个撒马利亚的妇人来打水，耶稣对她说：「请你给我水喝。」那时门徒进城买食物去了。』(约翰福音 4:1-8)         

    我们首先从人的角度看，从犹大到加利利去至少有两条路，一是经过撒玛利亚的直路较短，一是先渡过约但河再北上的绕道而行，当然是较久，因『…犹太人和撒马利亚人没有来往。』(约翰福音 4:9) 所以犹太人通常愿意绕道而行，多花一些时间，不是「必须」经过撒玛利亚，可是这里是说「必须」，为什么是必须的？我们知道耶稣的一生都顺服神的带领，就像祂自己说的，『…父怎样吩咐我，我就怎样行。…』(约翰福音 14:31) 而『神所差来的(道成肉身的耶稣)，就说神的话，因为神赐圣灵给他，是没有限量的。』(约翰福音 3:34) 我们在这里看到了神是借著圣灵、三位一体的神中的一位、带领道成肉身的耶稣，所以是圣灵很清楚的让祂看到，祂那时「必须」经过撒玛利亚，要和撒玛利亚妇人谈那一席话。        

    对一些人说，好像事情的发生在巧合里面，耶稣正好遇见午正来打水的那个撒马利亚的妇人，但我们如果看路得记就知道，神常用巧合来引导人，这点我们就不多讲，请你们自己回去看路得记。请注意，不是说所有的巧合都是神的引导，要分辩，不能划等号。        

    我们看到，『那时门徒进城买食物去了。』(约翰福音 4:8) 所以关于耶稣对她后面讲的那一段关于活水的话题，门徒当时是不在场的。当门徒买到食物回来的『这其间，门徒对耶稣说：「拉比，请吃。」耶稣说：「我有食物吃，是你们不知道的。」门徒就彼此对问说：「莫非有人拿甚么给他吃吗？」耶稣说：「我的食物就是遵行差我来者的旨意，做成他的工。』(约翰福音 4:31-34) 这里我们不是又看到祂必须经过撒玛利亚才能做成神的工吗？

    我们最后来看看她为什么会在午正热的时候来打水，那时是应该留在家中纳凉的时候，这是为什么只会有她一人，她选择了那个时段是可以有机会成功的避开众人的，我们来看看为什么。『耶稣说：「你去叫你丈夫也到这里来。」妇人说：「我没有丈夫。」 耶稣说：「你说没有丈夫，是不错的。你已经有五个丈夫，你现在有的，并不是你的丈夫，你这话是真的。」』(约翰福音 4:16-18) 这样的人当时是不会被大多数人所接受的，难怪她会尽可能选择能避开人的时段去打水！

3. 活水是指什么？        

    『撒马利亚的妇人对他说：「你既是犹太人，怎么向我一个撒马利亚妇人要水喝呢？」原来犹太人和撒马利亚人没有来往。耶稣回答说：「你若知道神的恩赐和对你说『给我水喝』的是谁，你必早求他，他也必早给了你活水。」妇人说：「先生，没有打水的器具，井又深，你从哪里得活水呢？我们的祖宗雅各将这井留给我们，他自己和儿子并牲畜也都喝这井里的水，难道你比他还大吗？」耶稣回答说：「凡喝这水的，还要再渴；人若喝我所赐的水，就永远不渴。我所赐的水要在他里头成为泉源，直涌到永生。」妇人说：「先生，请把这水赐给我，叫我不渴，也不用来这么远打水。」耶稣说：「你去叫你丈夫也到这里来。」妇人说：「我没有丈夫。」 耶稣说：「你说没有丈夫，是不错的。你已经有五个丈夫，你现在有的，并不是你的丈夫，你这话是真的。」妇人说：「先生，我看出你是先知。我们的祖宗在这山上礼拜，你们倒说，应当礼拜的地方是在耶路撒冷。」』(约翰福音 4:9-20)         

    我们一开始就看到，耶稣预备好要赐活水给她，必须经过撒马利亚做成神的工。我们也看到了她的回答，从人的角度看是绝对正确的，然后耶稣回答她说祂讲的是永远不渴的活水，且『…我所赐的水要在他里头成为泉源，直涌到永生。』(约翰福音 4:14) 这是讲属灵的事情。我们看她从人的角度一听有这么好的东西，当然想要，于是就说，『…也不用来这么远打水。』(约翰福音 4:15) 我们看到她是住得相当的远，当有太阳时，选择了午正打水，是会有相当长的时间瀑露在太阳底下的，相当的不容易。因他们是第一次见面，所以当耶稣将她『素来所行的一切事都给我说出来了…』(约翰福音 4:29)的时候，她知道祂是一位先知，就用一个现有的事实去问耶稣，我们就会在下面一段来看耶稣的回答。

    在看耶稣的回答前，我们就从经文看来看那活水究竟是什么呢？『(住棚节)节期的末日，就是最大之日，耶稣站著高声说：「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。』」耶稣这话是指著信他之人要受圣灵说的。那时还没有赐下圣灵来，因为耶稣尚未得著荣耀。』(约翰福音 7:37-39)     

    我们看到祂是站著高声说，很显然的祂是要别人听到祂的话。的确那时圣灵还没有赐下来， 到耶稣死而复活后的五旬节，圣灵才赐了！下来，就像这些经文所说，『五旬节到了，门徒都聚集在一处。忽然，从天上有响声下来，好像一阵大风吹过，充满了他们所坐的屋子；又有舌头如火焰显现出来，分开落在他们各人头上。他们就都被圣灵充满，按著圣灵所赐的口才说起别国的话来。』(使徒行传 2:1-4) 所以那活水是指赐下的圣灵。

4. 真正拜父的要用心灵和真理拜祂

    『耶稣说：「妇人，你当信我。时候将到，你们拜父也不在这山上，也不在耶路撒冷。你们所拜的，你们不知道；我们所拜的，我们知道，因为救恩是从犹太人出来的。时候将到，如今就是了。那真正拜父的，要用心灵和诚实(truth, G225)拜他，因为父要这样的人拜他。神是(个)灵，所以拜他的，必须用心灵和诚实拜他。」妇人说：「我知道弥赛亚（就是那称为基督的）要来，他来了，必将一切的事都告诉我们。」耶稣说：「这和你说话的就是他。」』(约翰福音 4:21-26)      

    在我们详细讨论原文的这个字 G225，为什么不能翻译做诚实前，我们看到了祂直接承认自己是弥赛亚，并不像祂传道的晚期时，都要别人先说祂是基督。譬如，耶稣在被大祭司审问的时候，『耶稣却不言语。 大祭司对他说：「我指著永生神叫你起誓告诉我们，你是神的儿子基督不是？」耶稣对他说：「你说的是。…』(马太福音 26:63-64)     

    从这些经文，我们看到她的确相信了祂，『…那妇人作见证说：「他将我素来所行的一切事都给我说出来了。」于是撒马利亚人来见耶稣，求他在他们那里住下，他便在那里住了两天。因耶稣的话，信的人就更多了，便对妇人说：「现在我们信，不是因为你的话，是我们亲自听见了知道这真是救世主。」』(约翰福音 4:39-42)      #####很显然的，至少有人信了她的话，于是他们求祂住下要听更多的。我们看见，人有自由意志，虽是信的人就更多了，还是有不信的人。我们也看到「亲自」是非常的重要，不要做二手的基督徒，只听别人或圣经说，要亲自去体会。我们看到那妇人自己一得救，就去告诉别人，成功的宣道，不是在等待著。        

    请注意，原文是说神是灵，并没有个字。我们就来看耶稣的回答，祂说，『…我们所拜的，我们知道，因为救恩是从犹太人出来的。』(约翰福音 4:22) 这和保罗说的是一致的，『我不以福音为耻，这福音本是神的大能，要救一切相信的，先是犹太人，后是希腊人。』(罗马书 1:16) 在旧约中，我们可以很清楚的看到只有以色列人是神的选民。譬如，摩西在这点上说明得很清楚，『哪一大国的人有神与他们相近，像耶和华我们的神在我们求告他的时候与我们相近呢？又哪一大国有这样公义的律例典章，像我今日在你们面前所陈明的这一切律法呢？』(申命记 4:7-8)       

    祂又说，『时候将到，如今就是了。那真正拜父的，要用心灵和诚实(真理, truth, G225)拜他，因为父要这样的人拜他。』(约翰福音 4:23) 我们来看 G225 这个字，汇编说，它总共出现了 110 次，在约翰福音就出现了 25次，我们看那 25 次，就可以看到它的意义是和这典型的经文相同，就是，『道成了肉身，住在我们中间，充充满满地有恩典，有真理(truth, G225)。我们也见过他的荣光，正是父独生子的荣光。』(约翰福音 1:14) 所以我实在不能了解和合本在这里 G225 这字翻译做诚实，而不是原文说的「真理」。

    有人可能会说这字 G225 可以有两个意思啊！我们来看一个旧约中诚实的例子，就会更清楚这实在是不可能。如果我们参照出埃及记 32:1-8，就知道那时做了一个金牛犊，且他们『…献燔祭和平安祭，就坐下吃喝，起来玩耍。』(出埃及记 32:6)  他们说，『…以色列啊，这是领你出埃及地的神！』(出埃及记 32:4) 他们是诚实的相信这金牛犊就是耶和华。但『耶和华吩咐摩西说：「(从山上)下去吧！因为你的百姓，就是你从埃及地领出来的，已经败坏了。他们快快偏离了我所吩咐的道，为自己铸了一只牛犊，向它下拜献祭说：『以色列啊，这就是领你出埃及地的神！』」』(出埃及记 32:7-8) 你想神是要这样不在真理中的诚实人拜祂吗？所以这字 G225 实在是不能翻译成诚实，这样错误的翻译真会害死很多人，不要停留在错误的诚实中，要分辩，要悔改！不过这样的错误会有一个好处，就是意识到其和圣经不合，会仔细的读相关的经文，找出错误在那里。       

    我们最后讨论一个我以前知道是对的，但不知如何回答的问题，就是基督徒常在现实中说，我们的看法不一样，而保罗明说，『你们就要意念相同，爱心相同，有一样的心思，有一样的意念，使我的喜乐可以满足。』(腓立比书 2:2) 这不是看起来保罗的话和现实有矛盾吗？到底该如何解释这现象呢？

    我们说过，神是无限，而人是有限，我们不可能完全了解圣经，因三位一体的神可以随时开我们的眼睛，看到我们以前不知道的事情，如以利沙的仆人眼睛被开一样，『以利沙祷告说：「耶和华啊，求你开这少年人的眼目，使他能看见。」耶和华开他的眼目，他就看见满山有火车火马围绕以利沙。』(列王纪下 6:17) 现在我们就借著约翰福音 4:21-26 来说明这现象。     

    首先，我们假设神在其中给我们所有的讯息可以用一个长方块来表示，我们可以用其中的一个黑圆块代表在成圣的路上，神给我们看见其中的一些讯息。问题是对同一件事情，我们又加上了一些自己的意见，这是用在长方块外和黑圆块联结的椭圆来表示，但是每个人有自己不同的意见，也就会有不同颜色的椭圆。虽然黑圆块是一样的，但最后联结的形状就不一样了，这是为什么基督徒常说我们的看法不同！我们可看见是要「读出来」圣经的真义，而不是读进去自己的想法，去强解圣经。

图一: 我们的看法不一样的示意图

    即使没有读进去自己的想法，因不同人走在成圣之路的进度会不一样，就用长方块中不同颜色的椭圆来表示，因他们在同一个长方块中，是相容的，不会不同的！当然，如果我们一定要定义说这也是不同的，那就没办法了！至少要分辩出两种的不同。如果两人之中至少有一个有能听的耳，就可能因别人的话得到启示。

图二: 成圣之路的进度不同的示意图

    我还要提一下，我们怎么能确定我们的椭圆一定在方块中呢？因为我们在每一个题目上，就像约翰福音4:21-26 一样，都是用在基于圣经话语的圣经概念、来读出来圣经对这题目有的概念，这怎么不会在圣经要给的讯息中呢！ 

(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』。)  

     首先我們來看施洗約翰沒下監時的見証和觀點，他非常的清楚的知道耶穌是從天上來的，知道祂必興旺，我必衰微。第二，我們討論耶穌必須和撒馬利亞婦人談話，是聖靈帶領的，在這件事上，我們看見神常用巧合來引導人，但不是所有的巧合都是神的引導。第三，我們看看耶穌要給她的活水是什麼，經文清楚的說那活水就是聖靈。最後討論真正拜父的要用心靈和真理拜祂，而不能如和合本的翻譯說要用心靈和誠實拜祂，我們用出埃及記中，以色列人誠實的以為金牛犢就是耶和華做例子，詳細的討論這相應的原文字實在是不能像和合本一樣的翻譯為誠實，這樣錯誤的翻譯真會害死很多人，不要停留在錯誤的誠實中，要分辨，要悔改！不過這樣的錯誤會有一個好處，就是意識到其和聖經不合，會仔細的讀相關的經文，找出錯誤在那裏。在這段的最後，我們利用這段經文來詳細討論一個基督徒常說的，我對聖經的看見和你的看見不一樣，到底意謂著什麼，錯誤在那裏？

1. 施洗約翰沒下監時的見証和觀點

         『這事以後，耶穌和門徒到了猶太地，在那裏居住施洗。約翰在靠近撒冷的哀嫩也施洗，因為那裏水多，眾人都去受洗。那時約翰還沒有下在監裏。約翰的門徒和一個猶太人辯論潔淨的禮，就來見約翰說：「拉比，從前同你在約旦河外、你所見證的那位，現在施洗，眾人都往他那裏去了。」約翰說：「若不是從天上賜的，人就不能得甚麼。我曾說『我不是基督，是奉差遣在他前面的』，你們自己可以給我作見證。娶新婦的就是新郎，新郎的朋友站着聽見新郎的聲音就甚喜樂，故此我這喜樂滿足了。他必興旺，我必衰微。」「從天上來的，是在萬有之上；從地上來的，是屬乎地，他所說的也是屬乎地。從天上來的是在萬有之上。他將所見所聞的見證出來，只是沒有人領受他的見證。那領受他見證的，就印上印，證明神是真的。神所差來的，就說神的話，因為神賜聖靈給他，是沒有限量的。父愛子，已將萬有交在他手裏。信子的人有永生，不信子的人得不着永生，神的震怒常在他身上。」』(約翰福音 3:22-36)

         首先我們看到了施洗約翰施洗的地方，他的門徒以為耶穌也親自施洗，『（其實不是耶穌親自施洗，乃是他的門徒施洗。）』(約翰福音 4:2) 施洗約翰知道他只是基督耶穌的先鋒，他知道自己只是新郎的朋友，有著好得不能再好的態度，『他必興旺，我必衰微。』(約翰福音 3:30) 其實我們現在治死老我也是一樣，祂必興旺，我必衰微，也只有這樣，我們才可以模成耶穌的形像(參羅馬書 8:29)。

         施洗約翰非常確定耶穌是天上來的，因『約翰又作見證說：「我曾看見聖靈彷彿鴿子從天降下，住在他(耶穌)的身上。我先前不認識他，只是那差我來用水施洗的，對我說：『你看見聖靈降下來，住在誰的身上，誰就是用聖靈施洗的。』我看見了，就證明這是神的兒子。」』(約翰福音 1:32-34) 他知道從天而來的是在萬有之上，且預知耶穌雖見証了在天上的所見所聞，但基本上沒有人相信祂。你看，祂道成肉身時，在地上行了多少神蹟，有多少人真正相信祂，且最終被釘上了十字架，所以這是預知。而『那領受他見證的，就印上印(sealed, G4972, 兩次, 在希臘文中是這樣的去加強語氣)，證明神是真的。』(約翰福音 3:33) 我們也看到耶穌道成肉身那段時間，『…神賜聖靈給他，是沒有限量的。』(約翰福音 3:34) 而耶穌也是，『…父怎樣吩咐我，我就怎樣行。…』(約翰福音 14:31) 真是『父愛子，已將萬有交在他手裏。』(約翰福音 3:35)

     最後提到的約翰福音 3:36 是和約翰福音 3:18 講的是一致的。我們也看到，耶穌道成肉身那段時間，神是透過聖靈來引導祂的，這點非常清楚，因那段日子祂是完全的人，而耶和華對摩西『…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) 所以祂那段時間也不能見神的面，要不，祂就不是完全的人了。耶穌說，『我與父原為一。』(約翰福音 10:30) 這只是在說一個事實，因祂本是三位一體的神中的一位，這是與生具來的，就像一個王子過乞丐的生活，就說他不是王子是不對的，所以耶穌在道成肉身的那段時間，仍是完全的神。

2. 必須和撒馬利亞婦人談話

        『主知道法利賽人聽見他收門徒施洗比約翰還多，（其實不是耶穌親自施洗，乃是他的門徒施洗。）他就離了猶太，又往加利利去。必須經過撒馬利亞，於是到了撒馬利亞的一座城，名叫敍加，靠近雅各給他兒子約瑟的那塊地。在那裏有雅各井。耶穌因走路困乏，就坐在井旁。那時約有午正。有一個撒馬利亞的婦人來打水，耶穌對她說：「請你給我水喝。」那時門徒進城買食物去了。』(約翰福音 4:1-8)

         我們首先從人的角度看，從猶大到加利利去至少有兩條路，一是經過撒瑪利亞的直路較短，一是先渡過約但河再北上的繞道而行，當然是較久，因『…猶太人和撒馬利亞人沒有來往。』(約翰福音 4:9) 所以猶太人通常願意繞道而行，多花一些時間，不是「必須」經過撒瑪利亞，可是這裏是說「必須」，為什麼是必須的？我們知道耶穌的一生都順服神的帶領，就像祂自己說的，『…父怎樣吩咐我，我就怎樣行。…』(約翰福音 14:31) 而『神所差來的(道成肉身的耶穌)，就說神的話，因為神賜聖靈給他，是沒有限量的。』(約翰福音 3:34) 我們在這裏看到了神是藉著聖靈、三位一體的神中的一位、帶領道成肉身的耶穌，所以是聖靈很清楚的讓祂看到，祂那時「必須」經過撒瑪利亞，要和撒瑪利亞婦人談那一席話。

        對一些人說，好像事情的發生在巧合裏面，耶穌正好遇見午正來打水的那個撒馬利亞的婦人，但我們如果看路得記就知道，神常用巧合來引導人，這點我們就不多講，請你們自己回去看路得記。請注意，不是說所有的巧合都是神的引導，要分辨，不能劃等號。

        我們看到，『那時門徒進城買食物去了。』(約翰福音 4:8) 所以關於耶穌對她後面講的那一段關於活水的話題，門徒當時是不在場的。當門徒買到食物回來的『這其間，門徒對耶穌說：「拉比，請吃。」耶穌說：「我有食物吃，是你們不知道的。」門徒就彼此對問說：「莫非有人拿甚麼給他吃嗎？」耶穌說：「我的食物就是遵行差我來者的旨意，做成他的工。』(約翰福音 4:31-34) 這裏我們不是又看到祂必須經過撒瑪利亞才能做成神的工嗎？

        我們最後來看看她為什麼會在午正熱的時候來打水，那時是應該留在家中納涼的時候，這是為什麼只會有她一人，她選擇了那個時段是可以有機會成功的避開眾人的，我們來看看為什麼。『耶穌說：「你去叫你丈夫也到這裏來。」婦人說：「我沒有丈夫。」 耶穌說：「你說沒有丈夫，是不錯的。你已經有五個丈夫，你現在有的，並不是你的丈夫，你這話是真的。」』(約翰福音 4:16-18) 這樣的人當時是不會被大多數人所接受的，難怪她會儘可能選擇能避開人的時段去打水！

3. 活水是指什麼？

        『撒馬利亞的婦人對他說：「你既是猶太人，怎麼向我一個撒馬利亞婦人要水喝呢？」原來猶太人和撒馬利亞人沒有來往。耶穌回答說：「你若知道神的恩賜和對你說『給我水喝』的是誰，你必早求他，他也必早給了你活水。」婦人說：「先生，沒有打水的器具，井又深，你從哪裏得活水呢？我們的祖宗雅各將這井留給我們，他自己和兒子並牲畜也都喝這井裏的水，難道你比他還大嗎？」耶穌回答說：「凡喝這水的，還要再渴；人若喝我所賜的水，就永遠不渴。我所賜的水要在他裏頭成為泉源，直湧到永生。」婦人說：「先生，請把這水賜給我，叫我不渴，也不用來這麼遠打水。」耶穌說：「你去叫你丈夫也到這裏來。」婦人說：「我沒有丈夫。」 耶穌說：「你說沒有丈夫，是不錯的。你已經有五個丈夫，你現在有的，並不是你的丈夫，你這話是真的。」婦人說：「先生，我看出你是先知。我們的祖宗在這山上禮拜，你們倒說，應當禮拜的地方是在耶路撒冷。」』(約翰福音 4:9-20)

         我們一開始就看到，耶穌預備好要賜活水給她，必須經過撒馬利亞做成神的工。我們也看到了她的回答，從人的角度看是絕對正確的，然後耶穌回答她說祂講的是永遠不渴的活水，且『…我所賜的水要在他裏頭成為泉源，直湧到永生。』(約翰福音 4:14) 這是講屬靈的事情。我們看她從人的角度一聽有這麼好的東西，當然想要，於是就說，『…也不用來這麼遠打水。』(約翰福音 4:15) 我們看到她是住得相當的遠，當有太陽時，選擇了午正打水，是會有相當長的時間瀑露在太陽底下的，相當的不容易。因他們是第一次見面，所以當耶穌將她『素來所行的一切事都給我說出來了…』(約翰福音 4:29)的時候，她知道祂是一位先知，就用一個現有的事實去問耶穌，我們就會在下面一段來看耶穌的回答。

     在看耶穌的回答前，我們就從經文看來看那活水究竟是什麼呢？『(住棚節)節期的末日，就是最大之日，耶穌站着高聲說：「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。』」耶穌這話是指着信他之人要受聖靈說的。那時還沒有賜下聖靈來，因為耶穌尚未得着榮耀。』(約翰福音 7:37-39) 

     我們看到祂是站著高聲說，很顯然的祂是要別人聽到祂的話。的確那時聖靈還沒有賜下來， 到耶穌死而復活後的五旬節，聖靈才賜了！下來，就像這些經文所說，『五旬節到了，門徒都聚集在一處。忽然，從天上有響聲下來，好像一陣大風吹過，充滿了他們所坐的屋子；又有舌頭如火焰顯現出來，分開落在他們各人頭上。他們就都被聖靈充滿，按着聖靈所賜的口才說起別國的話來。』(使徒行傳 2:1-4) 所以那活水是指賜下的聖靈。

4. 真正拜父的要用心靈和真理拜祂

       『耶穌說：「婦人，你當信我。時候將到，你們拜父也不在這山上，也不在耶路撒冷。你們所拜的，你們不知道；我們所拜的，我們知道，因為救恩是從猶太人出來的。時候將到，如今就是了。那真正拜父的，要用心靈和誠實(truth, G225)拜他，因為父要這樣的人拜他。神是(個)靈，所以拜他的，必須用心靈和誠實拜他。」婦人說：「我知道彌賽亞（就是那稱為基督的）要來，他來了，必將一切的事都告訴我們。」耶穌說：「這和你說話的就是他。」』(約翰福音 4:21-26)

      在我們詳細討論原文的這個字 G225，為什麼不能翻譯做誠實前，我們看到了祂直接承認自己是彌賽亞，並不像祂傳道的晚期時，都要別人先說祂是基督。譬如，耶穌在被大祭司審問的時候，『耶穌卻不言語。 大祭司對他說：「我指着永生神叫你起誓告訴我們，你是神的兒子基督不是？」耶穌對他說：「你說的是。…』(馬太福音 26:63-64)

     從這些經文，我們看到她的確相信了祂，『…那婦人作見證說：「他將我素來所行的一切事都給我說出來了。」於是撒馬利亞人來見耶穌，求他在他們那裏住下，他便在那裏住了兩天。因耶穌的話，信的人就更多了，便對婦人說：「現在我們信，不是因為你的話，是我們親自聽見了知道這真是救世主。」』(約翰福音 4:39-42) 

     很顯然的，至少有人信了她的話，於是他們求祂住下要聽更多的。我們看見，人有自由意志，雖是信的人就更多了，還是有不信的人。我們也看到「親自」是非常的重要，不要做二手的基督徒，只聽別人或聖經說，要親自去體會。我們看到那婦人自己一得救，就去告訴別人，成功的宣道，不是在等待著。

        請注意，原文是說神是靈，並沒有個字。我們就來看耶穌的回答，祂說，『…我們所拜的，我們知道，因為救恩是從猶太人出來的。』(約翰福音 4:22) 這和保羅說的是一致的，『我不以福音為恥，這福音本是神的大能，要救一切相信的，先是猶太人，後是希臘人。』(羅馬書 1:16) 在舊約中，我們可以很清楚的看到只有以色列人是神的選民。譬如，摩西在這點上說明得很清楚，『哪一大國的人有神與他們相近，像耶和華我們的神在我們求告他的時候與我們相近呢？又哪一大國有這樣公義的律例典章，像我今日在你們面前所陳明的這一切律法呢？』(申命記 4:7-8)

       祂又說，『時候將到，如今就是了。那真正拜父的，要用心靈和誠實(真理, truth, G225)拜他，因為父要這樣的人拜他。』(約翰福音 4:23) 我們來看 G225 這個字，彙編說，它總共出現了 110 次，在約翰福音就出現了 25次，我們看那 25 次，就可以看到它的意義是和這典型的經文相同，就是，『道成了肉身，住在我們中間，充充滿滿地有恩典，有真理(truth, G225)。我們也見過他的榮光，正是父獨生子的榮光。』(約翰福音 1:14) 所以我實在不能瞭解和合本在這裏 G225 這字翻譯做誠實，而不是原文說的「真理」。

     有人可能會說這字 G225 可以有兩個意思啊！我們來看一個舊約中誠實的例子，就會更清楚這實在是不可能。如果我們參照出埃及記 32:1-8，就知道那時做了一個金牛犢，且他們『…獻燔祭和平安祭，就坐下吃喝，起來玩耍。』(出埃及記 32:6)  他們說，『…以色列啊，這是領你出埃及地的神！』(出埃及記 32:4) 他們是誠實的相信這金牛犢就是耶和華。但『耶和華吩咐摩西說：「(從山上)下去吧！因為你的百姓，就是你從埃及地領出來的，已經敗壞了。他們快快偏離了我所吩咐的道，為自己鑄了一隻牛犢，向它下拜獻祭說：『以色列啊，這就是領你出埃及地的神！』」』(出埃及記 32:7-8) 你想神是要這樣不在真理中的誠實人拜祂嗎？所以這字 G225 實在是不能翻譯成誠實，這樣錯誤的翻譯真會害死很多人，不要停留在錯誤的誠實中，要分辨，要悔改！不過這樣的錯誤會有一個好處，就是意識到其和聖經不合，會仔細的讀相關的經文，找出錯誤在那裏。

       我們最後討論一個我以前知道是對的，但不知如何回答的問題，就是基督徒常在現實中說，我們的看法不一樣，而保羅明說，『你們就要意念相同，愛心相同，有一樣的心思，有一樣的意念，使我的喜樂可以滿足。』(腓立比書 2:2) 這不是看起來保羅的話和現實有矛盾嗎？到底該如何解釋這現象呢？

       我們說過，神是無限，而人是有限，我們不可能完全瞭解聖經，因三位一體的神可以隨時開我們的眼睛，看到我們以前不知道的事情，如以利沙的僕人眼睛被開一樣，『以利沙禱告說：「耶和華啊，求你開這少年人的眼目，使他能看見。」耶和華開他的眼目，他就看見滿山有火車火馬圍繞以利沙。』(列王紀下 6:17) 現在我們就藉著約翰福音 4:21-26 來說明這現象。

     首先，我們假設神在其中給我們所有的訊息可以用一個長方塊來表示，我們可以用其中的一個黑圓塊代表在成聖的路上，神給我們看見其中的一些訊息。問題是對同一件事情，我們又加上了一些自己的意見，這是用在長方塊外和黑圓塊聯結的椭圓來表示，但是每個人有自己不同的意見，也就會有不同顏色的橢圓。雖然黑圓塊是一樣的，但最後聯結的形狀就不一樣了，這是為什麼基督徒常說我們的看法不同！我們可看見是要「讀出來」聖經的真義，而不是讀進去自己的想法，去強解聖經。

圖一: 我們的看法不一樣的示意圖

    即使沒有讀進去自己的想法，因不同人走在成聖之路的進度會不一樣，就用長方塊中不同顏色的橢圓來表示，因他們在同一個長方塊中，是相容的，不會不同的！當然，如果我們一定要定義說這也是不同的，那就沒辦法了！至少要分辨出兩種的不同。如果兩人之中至少有一個有能聽的耳，就可能因別人的話得到啓示。

圖二: 成聖之路的進度不同的示意圖

    我還要提一下，我們怎麼能確定我們的橢圓一定在方塊中呢？因為我們在每一個題目上，就像約翰福音4:21-26 一樣，都是用在基於聖經話語的聖經概念、來讀出來聖經對這題目有的概念，這怎麼不會在聖經要給的訊息中呢！

(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, let’s look at the testimony and opinions of John the Baptist when he was not in prison. He knew very clearly that Jesus came from heaven, and that “He must increase, but I must decrease.”  Second, we discussed that Jesus had to talk to the Samaritan woman and was led by the Holy Spirit. In this matter, we saw that God often uses coincidences to guide people, but not all coincidences are God’s guidance.  Third, let’s see what kind of living water Jesus was going to give her. The scripture clearly says that the living water is the Holy Spirit.  Finally, we discussed that those who truly worship the Father must worship Him in spirit and truth, rather than worshiping Him in spirit and truth as the Chinese Union Version translation says. We use the example in Exodus where the Israelites honestly believed that the golden calf was Jehovah. We also discuss details regarding the corresponding original text and conclude very clearly that its corresponding word in original text really cannot be translated as honesty like in the Union Version. Such a wrong translation will really kill many people. Don’t stay in the wrong honesty, be discerning, and repent!  However, one advantage of such an error is that you will realize that it is inconsistent with the Bible, and you will read the relevant scriptures carefully to find out where the error is.  At the end of this paragraph, we use the quoted verses in this section to discuss in detail what a Christian often says, “My view of the Bible is different from yours.” What does it mean, and where is the error?

1. John the Baptist’s testimony and opinions when he was not in prison

“After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing. John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized⁠— for John had not yet been thrown into prison. Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.” John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. He must increase, but I must decrease. “He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.””(John 3:22-36)

First of all, we saw the place where John the Baptist baptized. His disciples thought that Jesus also baptized Himself, “(although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were)”(John 4:2) John the Baptist knew that he was just the forerunner of Christ Jesus. He knew that he was just a friend of the bridegroom, with the very best attitude, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”(John 3:30) In fact, it is the same for us now in order to put the old self to death. He must increase and we must decrease. Only in this way can we be conformed to the image of Jesus (see Romans 8:29).

John the Baptist was very sure that Jesus came from heaven, because “John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.””(John 1: 32-34) He knew that what came from heaven was above all things, and he foresaw that basically no one believed in Him although He witnessed what He saw and heard in heaven.  You see, when He became flesh, He performed many miracles on earth, how many people truly believed in Him, and were eventually crucified, so this was foreknowledge.  And “He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this (sealed, G4972, twice, in Greek to emphasize the tone), that God is true.”(John 3:33) We also see that during the time when Jesus became flesh, “…God …gives the Spirit without measure.”(John 3:34) And Jesus also said, “…I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. …”(John 14:31) It is true that “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.”

The last mentioned John 3:36 is consistent with John 3:18.  We also see that during the time when Jesus became flesh, God guided Him through the Holy Spirit. This is very clear, because He was a perfect man during those days, and the Lord said to Moses: “…You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”(Exodus 33:20) Therefore, He could not see the face of God during that period, otherwise He would not be a perfect man.  Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” This is just a fact.

 Because He is one of the Trinity, He is born as God. Just like a prince living the life of a beggar, it is wrong to say that he is not a prince. So during the time when Jesus was incarnated, Jesus was still fully God.

2. Must talk to the Samaritan woman

“Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), He left Judea and went away again into Galilee. And He had to pass through Samaria. So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph; and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.”(John 4:1-8)

Let us first look at it from a human perspective. There are at least two ways to go from Judah to Galilee. One is the short straight road through Samaria, and the other is the detour that first crosses the Jordan River and then goes north. At that time, “…Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.”(John 4:9) Therefore, Jews were usually willing to take a detour and spend more time. It was not necessary to go through Samaria, but it is said that it was necessary. Why is it necessary?  We know that Jesus obeyed God’s leading throughout his life, as He Himself said, “…I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. …”(John 14:31) And “For He (Jesus in the flesh) whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.”(John 3:34) We see here that God led the incarnate Jesus through the Holy Spirit, one of the Trinity, so it was the Holy Spirit who clearly made Him see that He “must” at that time pass through Samaria, and He had to talk to the Samaritan woman.

Some people say that things seemed to happen by coincidence. Jesus happened to meet the Samaritan woman who came to draw water at noon. But if we read the Book of Ruth, we will know that God often uses coincidences to guide people. On this point we won’t go into details. Please go back and read the Book of Ruth yourself.  Please note that this does not mean that all coincidences are God’s guidance. They must be distinguished and cannot be equated.

During the time “…His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food,” (John 4:8) Jesus and the woman talked about the topic of living water. Thus the disciples were not present at the time when the topic was talked.  When the disciples came back from buying food, they “…were urging Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples were saying to one another, “No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.”(John 4:31-34) Here we see again that He ‘must’ go through Samaria in order to accomplish the work of God.

Finally, let’s take a look at why she came to fetch water in the heat about noon. That should be the time when she should stay at home to cool off. She chose that time period so she could have a chance to escape the others successfully. This is why she was the only one there. Let us see why from verses, “He said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.” The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.””

(John 4:16-18) Such a person would not be accepted by most people at that time. No wonder she would choose to avoid people as much as possible to fetch water!

3. What does living water mean?

“Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” She said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?” Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.” He said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.” The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.””(John 4:9-20)

We saw from the beginning that Jesus was ready to give her living water and had to go through Samaria to complete God’s work.  We also saw her answer, which was absolutely correct from a human perspective, and then Jesus answered her that He was talking about living water that you will never thirst for, and “the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”(John 4:14) This is about spiritual things.  We saw that from a human perspective, when she heard that there was such a good thing, of course she wanted it, so she ” said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.””(John 4:15) We see that she lives quite far away. When the sun is shining when she chooses to fetch water about noon, she will be exposed to the sun for a long time, which is quite difficult.  Because it was their first meeting, when Jesus told her about “all the things that I have done; …”(John 4:29), she knew that He was a prophet, so she asked Him about an existing controversy. We’ll look at Jesus’ answer in the next paragraph.

Before looking at Jesus’ answer, let’s look at what the living water is from the scriptures. “Now on the last day (of the Feast of Booths), the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried 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.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”(John 7:37-39)

We see Him standing and speaking loudly. It is obvious that He wants others to hear His words.  It is true that the Holy Spirit had not been given at that time. It was not until Pentecost after Jesus died and was resurrected that the Holy Spirit was given!  Come down, as these verses say, “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.”(Acts 2:1-4) So the living water refers to the given Holy Spirit.

4. True worshipers must worship the Father in spirit and truth

“Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.””(John 4:21-26)

First, we see that Jesus directly admitted that He was the Messiah, unlike in the later stages of His ministry, when He asked others to first say that He was the Christ.  For example, when Jesus was being questioned by the high priest, “But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.””(Matthew 26:63- 64)

From these verses, we see that she did believe Him, “From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.” So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. Many more believed because of His word; and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.””(John 4:39-42)

Apparently, at least some believed her, and they begged Him to stay and hear more.  We see that people have free will, and although there are more people who believe, there are still people who do not believe.  We also see that “personally know” is very important. Don’t be a second-hand Christian who only listens to others or what the Bible says. You must experience it yourself.  We see that as soon as the woman was saved, she didn’t wait and immediately went to tell others, which led to a successful preaching.

Let’s now look at Jesus’ answer. He said, “…we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.”(John 4:22) This is consistent with what Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”(Romans 1:16) In the Old Testament, we can clearly see that only the Israelites are God’s chosen people.  For example, Moses made it very clear on this point, “For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him? Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today?”(Deuteronomy 4:7-8)

He also said, “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth (G225); for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.”(John 4:23) Let’s look at the word G225. According to the Strong’s Concordance, it appears 110 times in total, and it appears 25 times in the Book of John. If we look at those 25 times, we can see that its meaning is the same as in the typical scripture, that is, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth (G225).”(John 1:14) So I really can’t understand that the word G225 here in the Chinese Union Version is translated as honesty, rather than “truth” as in the original text. ​

Some people may say that the word G225 can have two meanings!  If we look at an example of honesty from the Old Testament, it will become clearer that this is really impossible.  If we look at Exodus 32:1-8, we see that a golden calf was made at that time, and they “…offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.”(Exodus 32:6) They said, “…This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.”(Exodus 32:4) They honestly believed that the golden calf was Jehovah.  But “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, “Go down (from the mountain) at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them. They have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it and have sacrificed to it and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!’””(Exodus 32:7-8) Do you think God wants such honest people to worship Him who are not in the truth? Therefore, this word G225 really cannot be translated as honesty. Such wrong translation will really kill many people. Don’t stay in the wrong honesty, be discerning, and repent!  However, one advantage of such an error is that you will realize that it is inconsistent with the Bible, and you will read the relevant scriptures carefully to find out where the error is.

We’ll conclude this section by discussing a question that I knew to be true but didn’t know how to answer before. Christians often say in reality that we don’t think the same way, but Paul clearly 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) Doesn’t it seem like there is a contradiction between Paul’s words and reality?  How to explain this phenomenon?

We have said that God is infinite and man is limited. It is impossible for us to fully understand the Bible, because the Triune God can open our eyes at any time and see things we did not know before, just like the eyes of Elisha’s servant were opened, “Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”(2 Kings 6:17) Now we will use John 4:21-26 to illustrate this phenomenon.

First, we assume that all the messages God gives us in these verses can be represented by a rectangular block, and we can use the black solid circle in Fig. 1 to represent some of the messages God shows us on the road to sanctification.  The problem is that we have added some of our own opinions on the same thing, which is represented by an ellipse connected to the black circle outside the rectangular square, but everyone has their own different opinions, and thus they are represented by also different colors. Although the black circle are the same, the shape of the final connection is different for different people. This is why Christians often say that our views are different!  We can see that we need to “read out” the true meaning of the Bible represented by black corcle, rather than reading in our own thoughts to forcefully interpret the Bible, which are represented by different color ellipsis.

Fig. 1: Schematic diagram of our different views

Even if you have not read in your own thoughts, because different people will have different progress on the road to sanctification, they are represented by ovals of different colors in the rectangle. Because they are in the same rectangle, they are compatible although they are in different position. Of course, if we must define that these are also different views, so be it! At least you have to distinguish the difference between these two kinds.  If at least one of the two inside the rectangular has ears which can hear, it is possible for him to receive revelation from the words of the other.

Fig. 2: Schematic diagram showing the different stages of the path to sanctification​

I would also like to mention the last question here, how can we be sure that our ellipse must be inside the rectangular?  Because on every topic, just like John 4:21-26, we use biblical concepts based on biblical words to read out the concepts the Bible has on this topic. How come this is not what the Bible wants to give in its message!

​(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.”)

    首先我们谈谈为什么洁净圣殿有两次及其内容，也看到了对能读经的人来说，读经是非少不可。从犹太人的反应，我们也看到了信心是要从心里发出。第二，我们谈到了耶稣与尼哥低母关于重生的对话，看到了重生的人就是因信称义的人，一次因信而得救的人是救恩计划中的第一步。讨论了为一次得救就永远得救，如果不强解圣经，就不会觉得这样做会不公平，也讨论了救恩计划中的得救意谓什么，和要仰望主耶稣才能得永生。最后我们讨论了神爱世人、得救和定罪、及(真)光。圣经明讲神爱世人，信祂儿子名的人不被定罪，而不信的人罪已经定了！但我们不能用这句话论断人，而认为现在不信的人就是罪已经定了的人，因为我们不知道神究竟如何工作，今日不信的人也许明天就信了，只有盖棺论定时还一直不信，那时罪就是已经定了！因为注意到判断和论断在原文中都用的是同一个字，中文的如此翻译会造成混乱！所以我们详细的讨论了这点。在这一段中，我们也简略在最后提到了(真)光。

1. 耶稣两次洁净圣殿       

    『犹太人的逾越节近了，耶稣就上耶路撒冷去。看见殿里有卖牛、羊、鸽子的，并有兑换银钱的人坐在那里。耶稣就拿绳子做成鞭子，把牛羊都赶出殿去，倒出兑换银钱之人的银钱，推翻他们的桌子。又对卖鸽子的说：「把这些东西拿去！不要将我父的殿当作买卖的地方。」他的门徒就想起经上记著说：「我为你的殿，心里焦急，如同火烧。」因此犹太人问他说：「你既做这些事，还显甚么神迹给我们看呢？」耶稣回答说：「你们拆毁这殿，我三日内要再建立起来。」犹太人便说：「这殿是四十六年才造成的，你三日内就再建立起来吗？」但耶稣这话，是以他的身体为殿。所以到他从死里复活以后，门徒就想起他说过这话，便信了圣经和耶稣所说的。当耶稣在耶路撒冷过逾越节的时候，有许多人看见他所行的神迹，就信了他的名。耶稣却不将自己交托他们，因为他知道万人；也用不著谁见证人怎样，因他知道人心里所存的。』(约翰福音 2:13-25)        

    这是耶稣的第一次洁净圣殿，第二次洁净圣殿是在预备最后的晚餐后，这经文将时间是在预备最后的晚餐后讲得很清楚，『耶稣和门徒将近耶路撒冷，到了伯法其和伯大尼，在橄榄山那里。耶稣就打发两个门徒，对他们说：「你们往对面村子里去，一进去的时候，必看见一匹驴驹拴在那里，是从来没有人骑过的，可以解 开，牵来。』(马可福音 11:1-2) 然后是『耶稣进了耶路撒冷，入了圣殿，周围看了各样物件。天色已晚，就和十二个门徒出城，往伯大尼去了。』(马可福音 11:11)  直到『第二天，他们从伯大尼出来，…』(马可福音 11:12)  于是『他们来到耶路撒冷。耶稣进入圣殿，赶出殿里做买卖的人，推倒兑换银钱之人的桌子和卖鸽子之人的凳子，也不许人拿著器具从殿里经过。便教训他们说：「经上不是记著说『我的殿必称为万国祷告的殿』吗？ 你们倒使它成为贼窝了。」』(马可福音 11:15-17) 这时祂才第二次洁净圣殿，等下我们会谈到第一次。

    同样的一件事，在马太福音的记载是相同的，『耶稣进了神的殿，赶出殿里一切做买卖的人，推倒兑换银钱之人的桌子和卖鸽子之人的凳子；对他们说：「经上记著说：『我的殿必称为祷告的殿』，你们倒使它成为贼窝了！」』(马太福音 21:12-13) 这是非常重要的一件事，在路加福音也同样的记载，『耶稣进了殿，赶出里头做买卖的人，对他们说：「经上说：『我的殿必作祷告的殿』，你们倒使它成为贼窝了。」』(路加福音 19:45-46) 耶稣很清楚的说神的殿为祷告的殿，祂非清理圣殿不可，因为现在成了贼窝了。        

    我们看到在约翰福音的这些经文是指耶稣的第一次洁净圣殿，在祂第二次洁净圣殿之前，在迦拿婚筵后的逾越节，时间上和第二次洁净圣殿差相当多。有人把这次混为一团，所以我们要说明清楚。至于祂为什么需要第二次，很显然的是犹太人第一次没有悔改，在祂第一次清理圣殿后又故态复发。请注意，在第一次时，门徒想起了经上的话，这里就看到当时祂提到的门徒是知道旧约圣经的，如果门徒不知道，怎么可以想起呢？所以基督徒是要知道圣经的话，才可以遵守的。        

    犹太人对清理圣殿的事不是因而大怒，而是要祂显神迹(记号, sign, G4592)给他们看，于是就引起了耶稣是以祂的身体作为殿的那些话，『所以到他从死里复活以后，门徒就想起他说过这话，便信了圣经和耶稣所说的。』(约翰福音 2:22) 我们又一次看见「想起」的重要，了解要知道圣经中发生的事是非常的重要，对于能读经的人来说，焉可不读经！对一个因文盲而不能读经的人，也可以从别人的话中去了解圣经。所以不要强解圣路，引人走到歪路，这是要向神负责的。        

    有些人可能一时见了神迹就会相信神的大能，没有神迹就反悔了，当日如此，今日亦然，所以『耶稣却不将自己交托他们，因为他知道万人；也用不著谁见证人怎样，因他知道人心里所存的。』(约翰福音 2:24-25) 我们不要做这种人，要从心里发出信心。

2 . 耶稣与尼哥低母关于重生的对话       

    『有一个法利赛人，名叫尼哥德慕，是犹太人的官。这人夜里来见耶稣，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。」耶稣回答说：「我实实在在地告诉你：人若不重生，就不能见神的国。」尼哥德慕说：「人已经老了，如何能重生呢？岂能再进母腹生出来吗？」耶稣说：「我实实在在地告诉你：人若不是从水和圣灵生的，就不能进神的国。从肉身生的，就是肉身；从灵生的，就是灵。我说『你们必须重生』，你不要以为希奇。风随著意思吹，你听见风的响声，却不晓得从哪里来，往哪里去；凡从圣灵生的，也是如此。」尼哥德慕问他说：「怎能有这事呢？」耶稣回答说：「你是以色列人的先生，还不明白这事吗？我实实在在地告诉你：我们所说的，是我们知道的；我们所见证的，是我们见过的；你们却不领受我们的见证。我对你们说地上的事，你们尚且不信；若说天上的事，如何能信呢？除了从天降下仍旧在天的人子，没有人升过天。摩西在旷野怎样举蛇，人子也必照样被举起来，叫一切信他的都得永生。」』(约翰福音 3:1-15)        

    尼哥低母在这里的翻译是尼哥德慕， 从这里我们可以看到当时犹大的情况，他是官，不敢白天见耶稣，只能夜晚来，我们可以从他相信耶稣、是由神那里来作师傅的看到这点。耶稣就告诉他，人要得救就必须走上信心之路的第一步，因信称义。于是尼可底母当时就问了一个、那时的正常人都会问的属世界的问题，就是人岂能再进母腹生出来。耶稣就解释给他听人如何能进神的国，要从水和圣灵生，所以受水洗对一般人是有必要的，而受圣灵的洗是非要不可，这和耶稣同钉十字架的强盗的特例不同，他没有机会受水洗，但受了相当是圣灵的洗(参本路加福音 23:39-43)  一般人是不会没有机会受水洗的，当然不能每一个人都可以如耶稣般的受浸水礼，有些人的身体状况只能受点水礼，难道这些人就不能得救吗？绝对不是。重要的是宣告自己是属基督耶稣的，就像经文所说，『这水所表明的洗礼，现在借著耶稣基督复活，也拯救你们；这洗礼本不在乎除掉肉体的污秽，只求在神面前有无亏的良心。』(彼得前书 3:21)        

    这里也带出了圣灵如风的概念，我们的确不知圣灵如何工作，祂是三位一体的神中的一位，有绝对的主权。人们常会问重生到底是指什么？是在救恩计划中得救的第一步。圣经很清楚的说明要迈出的第一步是什么，就是罗马书所说的，『因为人心里相信，就可以称义；口里承认，就可以得救(G4991)。』(罗马书 10:10) 这里的字 G4991 是指在救恩计划中因耶稣而得救，就像经文所说，『因为神不是预定我们受刑，乃是预定我们借著我们主耶稣基督得救(G4991)。』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:9) 这里是用的同一个字。当时的环境是会因口里承认而丧失生命的，比现在一般的环境更艰难，但原则是一样的。在现在的一般情况，至少会是被视为异类，而在特例中，也有冒著生命危险的，甚至会丧失生命。        

    圣经的说法很清楚，不管人怎么说，神不会骗人，一次得救就永远得救，因『人的工程若被烧了，他就要受亏损，自己却要得救；虽然得救(G4982)，乃像从火里经过的一样。』(哥林多前书 3:15) 请注意这里用的字是 G4982，这个字的意思可以从下列经文中看出来。『保罗对百夫长和兵丁说：「这些人若不等在船上，你们必不能得救(G4982)。」(使徒行传 27:31) 『因为，凡要救(G4982)自己生命的，必丧掉生命；凡为我和福音丧掉生命的，必救了(G4982)生命。』(马可福音 8:35) 『我现在心里忧愁，我说甚么才好呢？父啊，救(G4982)我脱离这时候，但我原是为这时候来的。』(约翰福音 12:27) 我们可以看到 G4982 是指一般说的救、或是指在救恩计划中的得救。       

    在哥林多前书中是不可能在讲一般的救，很清楚在说救恩计划中的得救，是指一次得救就永远得救，而有人试著从人的角度看而认为不公平，其实是没有看懂圣经！启示录明说，当新耶路撒冷城从天降下时，有人不能进城，『…只有名字写在羔羊生命册上的才得进去。』(启示录 21:27) 这不是说每一个在生命册上的人都可进城，只有『那些洗净自己衣服的有福了！可得权柄能到生命树那里，也能从门进城。城外有那些犬类、行邪术的、淫乱的、杀人的、拜偶像的，并一切喜好说谎言编造虚谎的。』(启示录 22:14-15) 城外的是那些堕落的、但一次得救就永远得救的基督徒，虽然在城外比下硫磺火湖的非基督徒好多了，但他们也只能在城外哀哭切齿了！        

    我们再看这个字 G4991 (salvation) 救恩的计划中的得救，共出现 43 次，这字 G4992 和 G4991 相同，只出现 5 次。如果我们看所有的经文，就很清楚的知道是指救恩计划中的得救。例如，『我不以福音为耻，这福音本是神的大能，要救(G4991)一切相信的，先是犹太人，后是希腊人。』(罗马书 1:16) 又，『耶稣说：「今天救恩(G4991)到了这家，因为他也是亚伯拉罕的子孙。』(路加福音 19:9) 而且『凡有血气的，都要见神的救恩(G4992)！』(路加福音 3:6)        

    最后，『耶稣回答说：「你是以色列人的先生，(还)而不明白这事吗？』(约翰福音 3:10) 原文不是用的还字。当然他那时不会明了耶稣讲的，因他是后来才做祂的门徒，我们可以从耶稣死后由他所做的事看到这点，『又有尼哥德慕，就是先前夜里去见耶稣的，带著没药和沉香约有一百斤前来。他们就照犹太人殡葬的规矩，把耶稣的身体用细麻布加上香料裹好了。』(约翰福音 19:39-40)        

    请注意，原文没有「仍旧在天」这些字，只说耶稣是在天堂，所以是说祂是从天降下的，而不是说祂道成肉身时分身仍在天堂，这样的分身就不是完全的人了，但耶稣在那段时间中，仍有著与生俱来的神子身份，所以也是完全的神。至于在旧约中摩西举蛇这件事，『…凡被蛇咬的，一望这铜蛇，就活了。』(民数记 21:9) 这是需要仰望就可以的信心的，耶稣被钉上了十字架，不就如那铜蛇相似吗，我们要借著信心仰望祂而得到永生。我们信的时候，神就『…救了我们脱离黑暗的权势，把我们迁到他爱子的国里；我们在爱子里得蒙救赎，罪过得以赦免。』(歌罗西书 1:13-14) 只是对一个走成圣之路的人最开始是绝对不可能做到一直在基督里的，常常会从在基督里滑出来。譬如说因犯罪而又不肯悔改的基督徒，1怎么会有有可能在基督里呢？所以我们是要永远停留在基督里才行。

• 神爱世人、得救和定罪、及光       

    『「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。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。」「光来到世间，世人因自己的行为是恶的，不爱光倒爱黑暗，定他们的罪就是在此。凡作恶的便恨光，并不来就光，恐怕他的行为受责备；但行真理的必来就光，要显明他所行的是靠神而行。」』(约翰福音 3:16-21)        

    我们知道神爱世人，信祂儿子名的人不被定罪，而不信的人罪已经定了！不知道为什么有人觉得每个人都有新灵，不信的人不是罪已经定了吗？我们的旧灵早就被罪玷污已死了，我们可以从创世纪的前几章看到这点。不信的人罪是已经定了，这话没有错，只是任何时候信了，主的宝血就能洁净他，使罪得赦免。     

    我们都是亚当的后裔，从出生时候就是被罪玷污的，这就像塞特一样，『亚当活到一百三十岁，生了一个儿子，形像样式和自己相似，就给他起名叫塞特。』(创世记 5:3) 那时的亚当已被罪玷污，所以塞特出生时就是被罪玷污的，没有一个人出生时就信主的，所以所有的人还没信主前，我们都是已经被定罪的。但我们不能用这句话论断人，而认为现在不信的人就是罪已经定了的人，非下地狱不可了，因为我们不知道神究竟如何工作，今日不信的人也许明天就信了，只有盖棺论定时还一直不信，那时才能确定那是罪已经定了的人！我见过一个人在临死前一阵子才想通受洗了，据他太太说，她受洗后就变得很平安的一直到过世，所以我们真不知道神会如何工作。       

    所以『你们不要论断(judge, G2919)人，就不被论断(judge, G2919)；你们不要定人的罪，就不被定罪；…』(路加福音 6:37)  我们来看看论断这字，因此来看另一经文，『你这人哪，你论断(G2919)行这样事的人，自己所行的却和别人一样！你以为能逃脱神的审判吗？』(罗马书 2:3) 我们再来看耶稣说的经文，『你们是以外貌判断(judge, G2919)人，我却不判断(G2919, 动词)人。就是判断(G2919)人，我的判断(judgement, G2920, 名词)也是真的，因为不是我独自在这里，还有差我来的父与我同在。』(约翰福音 8:15-16) 请注意，这里原文都是用同一个字 G2919，只是中文有时翻成判断，有时翻成论断，会使人混乱，造成误会。这里很清楚的说为什么说耶稣的判断是真的，因为父神在祂道成肉身期间是与祂同在的，祂的判断就是父神的判断。     

    我们再看这一节经文，『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(discern, G1253)好歹了。』(希伯来书 5:14) 这个字 G1253 只出现三次，另外两次为『信心软弱的，你们要接纳，但不要辩论(G1253)所疑惑的事。』(罗马书 14:1) 和『又叫一人能行异能，又叫一人能作先知，又叫一人能辩别(G1253)诸灵，又叫一人能说方言，又叫一人能翻方言。』(哥林多前书 12:10)  要能分辩(G1253)怎么可能不在判断里面呢？ 一个长大成人的人是圣灵充满的人，真正判断的是圣灵，怎么会不是真的呢？只是不要自己判断(论断)人，这是会 有可能错的判断，而常常会引起争端。

    最后是谈到了(真)光，经文说，『生命在他(耶稣)里头，这生命就是人的光。光照在黑暗里，黑暗却不接受光。』(约翰福音 1:4-5) 在这里的经文很清楚的说明不爱(真)光倒爱黑暗的原因，我们以前分享过，在这里就不多讨论了。

(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』。)  

    首先我們談談為什麼潔淨聖殿有兩次及其內容，也看到了對能讀經的人來說，讀經是非少不可。從猶太人的反應，我們也看到了信心是要從心裏發出。第二，我們談到了耶穌與尼哥低母關於重生的對話，看到了重生的人就是因信稱義的人，一次因信而得救的人是救恩計劃中的第一步。討論了為一次得救就永遠得救，如果不強解聖經，就不會覺得這樣做會不公平，也討論了救恩計劃中的得救意謂什麼，和要仰望主耶穌才能得永生。最後我們討論了神愛世人、得救和定罪、及(真)光。聖經明講神愛世人，信祂兒子名的人不被定罪，而不信的人罪已經定了！但我們不能用這句話論斷人，而認為現在不信的人就是罪已經定了的人，因為我們不知道神究竟如何工作，今日不信的人也許明天就信了，只有蓋棺論定時還一直不信，那時罪就是已經定了！因為注意到判斷和論斷在原文中都用的是同一個字，中文的如此翻譯會造成混亂！所以我們詳細的討論了這點。在這一段中，我們也簡略在最後提到了(真)光。

1. 耶穌兩次潔淨聖殿

       『猶太人的逾越節近了，耶穌就上耶路撒冷去。看見殿裏有賣牛、羊、鴿子的，並有兌換銀錢的人坐在那裏。耶穌就拿繩子做成鞭子，把牛羊都趕出殿去，倒出兌換銀錢之人的銀錢，推翻他們的桌子。又對賣鴿子的說：「把這些東西拿去！不要將我父的殿當作買賣的地方。」他的門徒就想起經上記着說：「我為你的殿，心裏焦急，如同火燒。」因此猶太人問他說：「你既做這些事，還顯甚麼神蹟給我們看呢？」耶穌回答說：「你們拆毀這殿，我三日內要再建立起來。」猶太人便說：「這殿是四十六年才造成的，你三日內就再建立起來嗎？」但耶穌這話，是以他的身體為殿。所以到他從死裏復活以後，門徒就想起他說過這話，便信了聖經和耶穌所說的。當耶穌在耶路撒冷過逾越節的時候，有許多人看見他所行的神蹟，就信了他的名。耶穌卻不將自己交託他們，因為他知道萬人；也用不着誰見證人怎樣，因他知道人心裏所存的。』(約翰福音 2:13-25)

        這是耶穌的第一次潔淨聖殿，第二次潔淨聖殿是在預備最後的晚餐後，這經文將時間是在預備最後的晚餐後講得很清楚，『耶穌和門徒將近耶路撒冷，到了伯法其和伯大尼，在橄欖山那裏。耶穌就打發兩個門徒，對他們說：「你們往對面村子裏去，一進去的時候，必看見一匹驢駒拴在那裏，是從來沒有人騎過的，可以解

開，牽來。』(馬可福音 11:1-2) 然後是『耶穌進了耶路撒冷，入了聖殿，周圍看了各樣物件。天色已晚，就和十二個門徒出城，往伯大尼去了。』(馬可福音 11:11)  直到『第二天，他們從伯大尼出來，…』(馬可福音 11:12)  於是『他們來到耶路撒冷。耶穌進入聖殿，趕出殿裏做買賣的人，推倒兌換銀錢之人的桌子和賣鴿子之人的凳子，也不許人拿着器具從殿裏經過。便教訓他們說：「經上不是記着說『我的殿必稱為萬國禱告的殿』嗎？ 你們倒使它成為賊窩了。」』(馬可福音 11:15-17) 這時祂才第二次潔淨聖殿，等下我們會談到第一次。

        同樣的一件事，在馬太福音的記載是相同的，『耶穌進了神的殿，趕出殿裏一切做買賣的人，推倒兌換銀錢之人的桌子和賣鴿子之人的凳子；對他們說：「經上記着說：『我的殿必稱為禱告的殿』，你們倒使它成為賊窩了！」』(馬太福音 21:12-13) 這是非常重要的一件事，在路加福音也同樣的記載，『耶穌進了殿，趕出裏頭做買賣的人，對他們說：「經上說：『我的殿必作禱告的殿』，你們倒使它成為賊窩了。」』(路加福音 19:45-46) 耶穌很清楚的說神的殿為禱告的殿，祂非清理聖殿不可，因為現在成了賊窩了。

        我們看到在約翰福音的這些經文是指耶穌的第一次潔淨聖殿，在祂第二次潔淨聖殿之前，在迦拿婚筵後的逾越節，時間上和第二次潔淨聖殿差相當多。有人把這次混為一團，所以我們要說明清楚。至於祂為什麼需要第二次，很顯然的是猶太人第一次沒有悔改，在祂第一次清理聖殿後又故態復發。請注意，在第一次時，門徒想起了經上的話，這裏就看到當時祂提到的門徒是知道舊約聖經的，如果門徒不知道，怎麼可以想起呢？所以基督徒是要知道聖經的話，才可以遵守的。

        猶太人對清理聖殿的事不是因而大怒，而是要祂顯神蹟(記號, sign, G4592)給他們看，於是就引起了耶穌是以祂的身體作為殿的那些話，『所以到他從死裏復活以後，門徒就想起他說過這話，便信了聖經和耶穌所說的。』(約翰福音 2:22) 我們又一次看見「想起」的重要，瞭解要知道聖經中發生的事是非常的重要，對於能讀經的人來說，焉可不讀經！對一個因文盲而不能讀經的人，也可以從別人的話中去瞭解聖經。所以不要強解聖路，引人走到歪路，這是要向神負責的。

        有些人可能一時見了神蹟就會相信神的大能，沒有神蹟就反悔了，當日如此，今日亦然，所以『耶穌卻不將自己交託他們，因為他知道萬人；也用不着誰見證人怎樣，因他知道人心裏所存的。』(約翰福音 2:24-25) 我們不要做這種人，要從心裏發出信心。

2. 耶穌與尼哥低母關於重生的對話

       『有一個法利賽人，名叫尼哥德慕，是猶太人的官。這人夜裏來見耶穌，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。」耶穌回答說：「我實實在在地告訴你：人若不重生，就不能見神的國。」尼哥德慕說：「人已經老了，如何能重生呢？豈能再進母腹生出來嗎？」耶穌說：「我實實在在地告訴你：人若不是從水和聖靈生的，就不能進神的國。從肉身生的，就是肉身；從靈生的，就是靈。我說『你們必須重生』，你不要以為希奇。風隨着意思吹，你聽見風的響聲，卻不曉得從哪裏來，往哪裏去；凡從聖靈生的，也是如此。」尼哥德慕問他說：「怎能有這事呢？」耶穌回答說：「你是以色列人的先生，還不明白這事嗎？我實實在在地告訴你：我們所說的，是我們知道的；我們所見證的，是我們見過的；你們卻不領受我們的見證。我對你們說地上的事，你們尚且不信；若說天上的事，如何能信呢？除了從天降下仍舊在天的人子，沒有人升過天。摩西在曠野怎樣舉蛇，人子也必照樣被舉起來，叫一切信他的都得永生。」』(約翰福音 3:1-15)

        尼哥低母在這裏的翻譯是尼哥德慕， 從這裏我們可以看到當時猶大的情況，他是官，不敢白天見耶穌，只能夜晚來，我們可以從他相信耶穌、是由神那裏來作師傅的看到這點。耶穌就告訴他，人要得救就必須走上信心之路的第一步，因信稱義。於是尼可底母當時就問了一個、那時的正常人都會問的屬世界的問題，就是人豈能再進母腹生出來。耶穌就解釋給他聽人如何能進神的國，要從水和聖靈生，所以受水洗對一般人是有必要的，而受聖靈的洗是非要不可，這和耶穌同釘十字架的強盜的特例不同，他沒有機會受水洗，但受了相當是聖靈的洗(參本路加福音 23:39-43)  一般人是不會沒有機會受水洗的，當然不能每一個人都可以如耶穌般的受浸水禮，有些人的身體狀況只能受點水禮，難道這些人就不能得救嗎？絕對不是。重要的是宣告自己是屬基督耶穌的，就像經文所說，『這水所表明的洗禮，現在藉着耶穌基督復活，也拯救你們；這洗禮本不在乎除掉肉體的污穢，只求在神面前有無虧的良心。』(彼得前書 3:21)

        這裏也帶出了聖靈如風的概念，我們的確不知聖靈如何工作，祂是三位一體的神中的一位，有絕對的主權。人們常會問重生到底是指什麼？是在救恩計劃中得救的第一步。聖經很清楚的說明要邁出的第一步是什麼，就是羅馬書所說的，『因為人心裏相信，就可以稱義；口裏承認，就可以得救(G4991)。』(羅馬書 10:10) 這裏的字 G4991 是指在救恩計劃中因耶穌而得救，就像經文所說，『因為神不是預定我們受刑，乃是預定我們藉着我們主耶穌基督得救(G4991)。』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:9) 這裏是用的同一個字。當時的環境是會因口裏承認而喪失生命的，比現在一般的環境更艱難，但原則是一樣的。在現在的一般情況，至少會是被視為異類，而在特例中，也有冒著生命危險的，甚至會喪失生命。

        聖經的說法很清楚，不管人怎麼說，神不會騙人，一次得救就永遠得救，因『人的工程若被燒了，他就要受虧損，自己卻要得救；雖然得救(G4982)，乃像從火裏經過的一樣。』(哥林多前書 3:15) 請注意這裏用的字是 G4982，這個字的意思可以從下列經文中看出來。『保羅對百夫長和兵丁說：「這些人若不等在船上，你們必不能得救(G4982)。」(使徒行傳 27:31) 『因為，凡要救(G4982)自己生命的，必喪掉生命；凡為我和福音喪掉生命的，必救了(G4982)生命。』(馬可福音 8:35) 『我現在心裏憂愁，我說甚麼才好呢？父啊，救(G4982)我脫離這時候，但我原是為這時候來的。』(約翰福音 12:27) 我們可以看到 G4982 是指一般說的救、或是指在救恩計劃中的得救。

       在哥林多前書中是不可能在講一般的救，很清楚在說救恩計劃中的得救，是指一次得救就永遠得救，而有人試著從人的角度看而認為不公平，其實是沒有看懂聖經！啓示錄明說，當新耶路撒冷城從天降下時，有人不能進城，『…只有名字寫在羔羊生命冊上的才得進去。』(啓示錄 21:27) 這不是說每一個在生命册上的人都可進城，只有『那些洗淨自己衣服的有福了！可得權柄能到生命樹那裏，也能從門進城。城外有那些犬類、行邪術的、淫亂的、殺人的、拜偶像的，並一切喜好說謊言編造虛謊的。』(啓示錄 22:14-15) 城外的是那些墮落的、但一次得救就永遠得救的基督徒，雖然在城外比下硫磺火湖的非基督徒好多了，但他們也只能在城外哀哭切齒了！

        我們再看這個字 G4991(salvation) 救恩的計劃中的得救，共出現 43 次，這字 G4992 和 G4991 相同，只出現 5 次。如果我們看所有的經文，就很清楚的知道是指救恩計劃中的得救。例如，『我不以福音為恥，這福音本是神的大能，要救(G4991)一切相信的，先是猶太人，後是希臘人。』(羅馬書 1:16) 又，『耶穌說：「今天救恩(G4991)到了這家，因為他也是亞伯拉罕的子孫。』(路加福音 19:9) 而且『凡有血氣的，都要見神的救恩(G4992)！』(路加福音 3:6)

        最後，『耶穌回答說：「你是以色列人的先生，(還)而不明白這事嗎？』(約翰福音 3:10) 原文不是用的還字。當然他那時不會明瞭耶穌講的，因他是後來才做祂的門徒，我們可以從耶穌死後由他所做的事看到這點，『又有尼哥德慕，就是先前夜裏去見耶穌的，帶着沒藥和沉香約有一百斤前來。他們就照猶太人殯葬的規矩，把耶穌的身體用細麻布加上香料裹好了。』(約翰福音 19:39-40)

        請注意，原文沒有「仍舊在天」這些字，只說耶穌是在天堂，所以是說祂是從天降下的，而不是說祂道成肉身時分身仍在天堂，這樣的分身就不是完全的人了，但耶穌在那段時間中，仍有著與生俱來的神子身份，所以也是完全的神。至於在舊約中摩西舉蛇這件事，『…凡被蛇咬的，一望這銅蛇，就活了。』(民數記 21:9) 這是需要仰望就可以的信心的，耶穌被釘上了十字架，不就如那銅蛇相似嗎，我們要藉著信心仰望祂而得到永生。我們信的時候，神就『…救了我們脫離黑暗的權勢，把我們遷到他愛子的國裏；我們在愛子裏得蒙救贖，罪過得以赦免。』(歌羅西書 1:13-14) 只是對一個走成聖之路的人最開始是絕對不可能做到一直在基督裏的，常常會從在基督裏滑出來。譬如說因犯罪而又不肯悔改的基督徒，1怎麼會有有可能在基督裏呢？所以我們是要永遠停留在基督裏才行。

3. 神愛世人、得救和定罪、及光

       『「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。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。」「光來到世間，世人因自己的行為是惡的，不愛光倒愛黑暗，定他們的罪就是在此。凡作惡的便恨光，並不來就光，恐怕他的行為受責備；但行真理的必來就光，要顯明他所行的是靠神而行。」』(約翰福音 3:16-21)

        我們知道神愛世人，信祂兒子名的人不被定罪，而不信的人罪已經定了！不知道為什麼有人覺得每個人都有新靈，不信的人不是罪已經定了嗎？我們的舊靈早就被罪玷汚已死了，我們可以從創世紀的前幾章看到這點。不信的人罪是已經定了，這話沒有錯，只是任何時候信了，主的寶血就能潔淨他，使罪得赦免。

     我們都是亞當的後裔，從出生時候就是被罪玷汚的，這就像塞特一樣，『亞當活到一百三十歲，生了一個兒子，形像樣式和自己相似，就給他起名叫塞特。』(創世記 5:3) 那時的亞當已被罪玷汚，所以塞特出生時就是被罪玷汚的，沒有一個人出生時就信主的，所以所有的人還沒信主前，我們都是已經被定罪的。但我們不能用這句話論斷人，而認為現在不信的人就是罪已經定了的人，非下地獄不可了，因為我們不知道神究竟如何工作，今日不信的人也許明天就信了，只有蓋棺論定時還一直不信，那時才能確定那是罪已經定了的人！我見過一個人在臨死前一陣子才想通受洗了，據他太太說，她受洗後就變得很平安的一直到過世，所以我們真不知道神會如何工作。

       所以『你們不要論斷(judge, G2919)人，就不被論斷(judge, G2919)；你們不要定人的罪，就不被定罪；…』(路加福音 6:37)  我們來看看論斷這字，因此來看另一經文，『你這人哪，你論斷(G2919)行這樣事的人，自己所行的卻和別人一樣！你以為能逃脫神的審判嗎？』(羅馬書 2:3) 我們再來看耶穌說的經文，『你們是以外貌判斷(judge, G2919)人，我卻不判斷(G2919, 動詞)人。就是判斷(G2919)人，我的判斷(judgement, G2920, 名詞)也是真的，因為不是我獨自在這裏，還有差我來的父與我同在。』(約翰福音 8:15-16) 請注意，這裏原文都是用同一個字 G2919，只是中文有時翻成判斷，有時翻成論斷，會使人混亂，造成誤會。這裏很清楚的說為什麼說耶穌的判斷是真的，因為父神在祂道成肉身期間是與祂同在的，祂的判斷就是父神的判斷。

     我們再看這一節經文，『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(discern, G1253)好歹了。』(希伯來書 5:14) 這個字 G1253 只出現三次，另外兩次為『信心軟弱的，你們要接納，但不要辯論(G1253)所疑惑的事。』(羅馬書 14:1) 和『又叫一人能行異能，又叫一人能作先知，又叫一人能辨別(G1253)諸靈，又叫一人能說方言，又叫一人能翻方言。』(哥林多前書 12:10)  要能分辨(G1253)怎麼可能不在判斷裏面呢？ 一個長大成人的人是聖靈充滿的人，真正判斷的是聖靈，怎麼會不是真的呢？只是不要自己判斷(論斷)人，這是會 有可能錯的判斷，而常常會引起爭端。

    最後是談到了(真)光，經文說，『生命在他(耶穌)裏頭，這生命就是人的光。光照在黑暗裏，黑暗卻不接受光。』(約翰福音 1:4-5) 在這裏的經文很清楚的說明不愛(真)光倒愛黑暗的原因，我們以前分享過，在這裏就不多討論了。

(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, let’s talk about why there were two cleansings of the temple and their contents. We also saw that for those who can read the Bible, reading the Bible is indispensable.  From the Jewish reaction, we also see that faith must come from the heart.  Second, we talked about the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus about rebirth, and saw that those who are regenerated are those who are justified by faith, and those who are saved once by faith are the first step in the plan of salvation.  We discussed that once saved we are saved forever. If we do not forcefully interpret the Bible, we would not think it would be unfair. We also discussed what salvation means in the plan of salvation, and how we must look up to the Lord Jesus to obtain eternal life.  Finally, we discussed God’s love for the world, salvation and damnation, and (true) light.  The Bible clearly says that God loves the world, and those who believe in the name of His Son will not be condemned, but those who do not believe are already condemned!  But we cannot use this sentence to judge people, and think that those who do not believe now are already condemned, because we do not know how God works. People who do not believe today may believe tomorrow. For those people who will still not believe until their coffins are sealed, the sin has already been condemned!  It is noted that the translation in Chinese Union Version translates the word judgement in different ways for various occasions, such a translation causes confusion!  So, we discussed this in detail.  In the end of this paragraph, we also briefly mention (true) light.

1. Jesus cleansed the temple twice

“The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house will consume me.” The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body. So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.”(John 2:13-25)

This is the first time Jesus cleansed the temple. The second time He cleansed the temple was after preparing the last supper. This scripture makes it clear that the time was after preparing the last supper, “As they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, and said to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here.”(Mark 11:1-2) Then “Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple; and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.”(Mark 11:11) “On the next day, …they had left Bethany, …”(Mark 11:12) “Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves; and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple. And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den.””(Mark 11:15-17) This is the second time He cleaned the temple, and we’ll talk about the first time later.

The same thing is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, “And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den.””(Matthew 21:12-13) This is a very important thing which is recorded in the Gospel of Luke, “Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling, saying to them, “It is written, ‘And My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a robbers’ den.””(Luke 19:45-46) Jesus clearly said that the house of God is a house of prayer, and He had to clean it up because it was now a robbers’ den.

We see these verses in John’s Gospel refer to Jesus’ first cleansing of the temple, before His second cleansing of the temple, at the Passover after the wedding at Cana. If we compare the time for these two cleansing, they are quite different and there is no way to refer to the same event. Since some people are confusing about these two, we want to make it clear.  As for why He needed a second time, it is obvious that the Jews did not repent the first time and fell back into their old ways after He cleansed the temple the first time.  Please note that the first time, the disciples remembered the words of the Bible. Here we see that the disciples He mentioned at that time knew the Old Testament. If the disciples did not know, how could they remember it?  Therefore, Christians must know the words of the Bible before they can obey them.

The Jews were not angry about the cleansing of the temple, but wanted Him to show them a sign (G4592). This led to the words of Jesus which talked about using His body as a temple. “So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.”(John 2:22) We once again see the importance of “remembering”. So, it is very important to understand what happens in the Bible. For those who can read the Bible, how can they not read the Bible!  A person who cannot read the Bible due to illiteracy can also understand the Bible from other people’s words.  Therefore, do not forcefully interpret the Bible and thus lead people astray. This is something you must be responsible to God for.

Some people may believe in the power of God when they see a miracle, but regret it when there is no miracle. This was true then, and it is true today. Therefore, “But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.”(John 2:24-25) We should not be this kind of person. We must have faith from our hearts.

2. The conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus about rebirth

“Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night and 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.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.”(John 3:1-15)

From here we can see the situation of Judas at that time. Nicodemus was an official and did not dare to see Jesus during the day. He could only come at night. We can learn from the fact that he believed that Jesus was from God as a teacher. Jesus told him that in order to be saved, a person must take the first step on the road of faith and be justified by faith.  So Nicodemus asked a worldly question that normal people at that time would ask, that is, how can a man enter his mother’s womb and be born again?  Jesus explained to him how to enter the kingdom of God. He must be born of water and the Spirit. Therefore, being baptized with water is necessary for ordinary people, and being baptized with the Holy Spirit is mandatory. 

We can see this in the special case of the criminal who was crucified with Jesus. He did not have the opportunity to be baptized by water, but he was baptized by the equivalence. Jesus Himself said to him, “…“Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.””(Luke 23:43) (see Luke 23:39-43). Most people will have the opportunity to be baptized by water. Of course, not everyone can be baptized like Jesus. Some people’s physical conditions cannot be immersed in water and they have to be baptized in different format. Can these baptized people in different format be saved?  Absolutely yes.  The important thing is to declare that you belong to Christ Jesus, as the scripture says, “Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you⁠—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience⁠—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”(1 Peter 3:21)​

This also brings out the concept of the Holy Spirit being like the wind. We really don’t know how the Holy Spirit works. He is one of the Trinity God and has absolute sovereignty.  People often ask what does it mean to be born again?  It is the first step to salvation in the plan of salvation.  The Bible clearly explains what the first step is, which is what the book of Romans says, “for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation (G4991).(Romans 10:10) The word G4991 here refers to salvation through Jesus in the plan of salvation, as in the scripture says, “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation (G4991)through our Lord Jesus Christ.”(1 Thessalonians 5:9) The same word is used here.  The environment at that time was more difficult than today’s general environment, but the principle was the same.  In today’s general situation, at least they will be regarded Christians as aliens, but in special cases, some will risk their lives or even lose their lives.

The Bible is very clear. No matter what people say, God will not deceive people. Once saved, you are saved forever, because “If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved (G4982), yet so as through fire.”(1 Corinthians 3:15) Please note that the word used here is G4982. The meaning of this word can be seen from the following scriptures. “Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “Unless these men remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved (G4982).””(Acts 27:31) “For whoever wishes to save (G4982) his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save (G4982) it.”(Mark 8:35) “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save (G4982) Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.”(John 12:27) We can see that G4982 refers to salvation in general, or to salvation in the plan of salvation.

It is impossible to talk about the general salvation in 1 Corinthians 3:15. It is very clear that it is talking about salvation in the salvation plan, which means once saved and eternally saved. However, some people try to look at it from a human perspective and think it is unfair. In fact, this is because such a people don’t understand the Bible correctly!  The Book of Revelation clearly says that when the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven, not everyone will be able to enter the city, “…only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”(Revelation 21:27) This does not mean that everyone who is in the book of life can enter the city, only “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.”(Revelation 22:14-15) Those outside the city are those Christians who have fallen, but once saved, they are saved forever. Although they are much better outside the city than the non-Christians who went to the lake of fire and brimstone, they can only live in the environment with weeping and gnashing of teeth outside the city!

Let’s look at the word G4991 (salvation), salvation in the plan of salvation, which appears 43 times in total. The meaning of the word G4992 is the same as G4991, appearing only 5 times.  If we look at all the scriptures, it is clear that it refers to salvation in the plan of salvation.  For example, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation (G4991) to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”(Romans 1:16) “And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation (G4991) has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham.”(Luke 19:9) And “And all flesh will see the salvation (G4992) of God.”(Luke 3:6) Finally, “Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?”(John 3:10) Of course, he would not understand what Jesus said at that time, because he became His disciple later, we can see this from what he did after Jesus’ death, “Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.”(John 19:39-40)

Please note that in ​John 3:13, it says “No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.” Unlike what is translated in the Union Version translation, it contains the words (Jesus) “still in heaven.” In the original text, it only says that Jesus is in heaven, so it means that He came down from heaven as in this translation says. It does not mean that His avatar was still in heaven when He became flesh. Such an avatar is not a complete human being. However, during that time, Jesus still had the inherent identity of the Son of God, so He was also fully God.  

As for the matter of Moses lifting up the snake in the Old Testament, “…if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.”(Numbers 21:9) This requires faith that need only be looked up to. Jesus was crucified on the cross, isn’t it similar to the bronze serpent? We must look up to Him through faith and gain eternal life.  When we believed, God “…rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”(Colossians 1:13-14) It’s just that for a person who is on the road to sanctification, it is absolutely impossible to stay in Christ all the time at the beginning, and he will often slip out of being in Christ.  For example, how can it be possible for a Christian who has sinned and refused to repent to be in Christ?  Therefore, we must remain in Christ forever.

3. God loves the world, salvation and condemnation, and light

““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. 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. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.””(John 3:16-21)

We know that God so loves the world that those who believe in the name of His Son will not be condemned, but those who do not believe are already condemned!  I don’t know why some people think that everyone has a new spirit. Aren’t those who don’t believe already condemned?  Our old spirit has long been tainted and dead by sin, as we can see from the first few chapters of Genesis.  Those who do not believe are already condemned. This is not a wrong saying. However, if they believe at any time, the precious blood of the Lord can cleanse them and forgive their sins.

We are all descendants of Adam, tainted by sin from birth, just like Seth, “When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth.”(Genesis 5:3) At that time, Adam was tainted by sin be already, so Seth was tainted by sin when he was born. No one believed in the Lord when he was born, so before all people believe in the Lord, we All have been convicted. 

We cannot use this sentence to judge people and think that those who do not believe now are already condemned and must go to hell, because we do not know how God works. People who do not believe today may believe tomorrow. Only when a person still doesn’t believe it when the coffin is sealed, then can I be sure that the person is the one who has already been convicted! I saw a man who finally figured out the he wanted to be baptized, a little while before he died. According to his wife, she became very peaceful after being baptized until he died. So we really don’t know how God will work.

So, ““Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; …”(Luke 6:37) Let’s take a look the word judgment, so let’s look at another verse, “But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment (G2919) on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment (G2917, noun) of God?”(Romans 2:3) Let’s look at the verses that Jesus said, “You judge (G2919, verb) according to the flesh; I am not judging (G2919) anyone. But even if I do judge (G2919), My judgment (G2920, noun) is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me.”(John 8:15-16) Please note that the original text here uses the same word G2919, but in Chinese it is sometimes translated differently, which confuses people and causes misunderstanding.  It is very clear here why Jesus’ judgment is true, because God the Father was with Him during His incarnation, and His judgment is the judgment of God the Father.

Let’s look at this verse, “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern (G1253) good and evil.”(Hebrews 5:14) This word G1253 only appears three times, and the other two times are “Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment (G1253) on his opinions.”(Romans 14:1) and “and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing (G1253) of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.” How can one be able to discern (G1253) without doing judgement?  How could it not be true that a person who has grown up is a person filled with the Holy Spirit, and it is the Holy Spirit who really judges?  Just don’t judge people by yourself. This is a judgment that may be wrong and often leads to disputes.

Finally, it talks about (true) light. The scripture says, “In Him (Jesus)  was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”(John 1:4-5) The verses here clearly explain the reason for not loving (true) light but loving darkness. We have shared it before, so we won’t discuss it here ​(Verses refer to those in NASB95 unless otherwise specified.)

​(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.”)

首先我们来看耶稣是神的儿子和羔羊，在亚伯拉罕时代是公羊耶代了以撒，在新约是神的儿子作为羔羊，在十字架上一次献祭而流血，为我们完成了救恩，取代我们而死，也只I 88有祂的血能除罪，『我们若在光明中行，如同神在光明中，就彼此相交，他儿子耶稣的血也洗净我们一切的罪。』(约翰一书 1:7)   我们必须靠著圣灵，追求如司提反般的满有圣灵。第二，我们谈到了安得烈和彼得的呼召，看到了引见的重要，进而知道每一个基督徒该行大使命。第三，我们详细讨论了腓力和拿但业的呼召，又一次看到了引见的重要，也看到了拿但业是看到耶稣所行的才信，而『耶稣对他(多马)说：「你因看见了我才信，那没有看见就信的有福了！」』(约翰福音 20:29) 我们看到了主的讯息「上去下来」，是告诉我们，人要先相信才行，然后才会有大大的天上的祝福。最后，我们讨论了耶稣在迦拿的婚筵中的第一个神迹，看到了祂顺服了圣灵的带领，而不是在将就祂母亲的话。在这个水变成酒的神迹中，有本质上的改变，是在说跟随祂的基督徒，是会有生命的改变的。我们也讨论了耶稣那时是采取低恣态的，因耶稣知道自己的时间还没有到。

1. 耶稣是神的儿子和羔羊       

『次日，约翰看见耶稣来到他那里，就说：「看哪，神的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的。这就是我曾说『有一位在我以后来，反成了在我以前的，因他本来在我以前。』是我先前不认识他，如今我来用水施洗，为要叫他显明给以色列人。」约翰又作见证说：「我曾看见圣灵仿佛鸽子从天降下，住在他的身上。我先前不认识他，只是那差我来用水施洗的，对我说：『你看见圣灵降下来，住在谁的身上，谁就是用圣灵施洗的。』我看见了，就证明这是神的儿子。」』(约翰福音 1:29-34)        

施洗约翰说耶稣是神的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的，羔羊是献祭用的，这里已隐喻到耶稣会流血受死。希伯来书很清楚的说，『按著律法，凡物差不多都是用血洁净的，若不流血，罪就不得赦免了。』(希伯来书 9:22) 在亚伯拉罕的时候是公羊取代了以撒，就像经文所说，『亚伯拉罕举目观看，不料，有一只公羊，两角扣在稠密的小树中，亚伯拉罕就取了那只公羊来，献为燔祭，代替他的儿子。』(创世记 22:13)  『亚伯拉罕给那地方起名叫「耶和华以勒」，直到今日人还说：「在耶和华的山上必有预备。」』(创世记 22:14)      

在新约时代，希伯来书是这样说的，『凡祭司天天站著事奉神，屡次献上一样的祭物，这祭物永不能除罪。但基督献了一次永远的赎罪祭，就在神的右边坐下了，从此等候(G1551)他仇敌成了他的脚凳。因为他一次献祭，便叫那得以成圣的人永远完全。圣灵也对我们作见证，因为他既已说过：「主说，那些日子以后，我与他们所立的约乃是这样：我要将我的律法写在他们心上，又要放在他们的里面。」以后就说：「我不再记念他们的罪愆和他们的过犯。」这些罪过既已赦免，就不用再为罪献祭了。』(希伯来书 10:11-18) 请注意，这里用的是「等候(G1551)」，就是现在还不是耶稣已有这样的脚凳，但这事未来一定会成就。

祂怎么献祭呢？就是被钉上了十字架而成就了救恩，所以祂在十字架会『…说：「成了！」便低下头，将灵(魂)交付神了。』(约翰福音 19:30) 『…我们既因耶稣的血，得以坦然进入至圣所，是借著他给我们开了一条又新又活的路，从幔子经过，这幔子就是他的身体。』(希伯来书 10:19-20) 『因为罪的工价乃是死，惟有神的恩赐，在我们的主基督耶稣里，乃是永生。』(罗马书 6:23) 所以在新约，是耶稣基督作为羔羊似的取代了我们，自己钉上了十字架而死，也明说了我们一定要使自己在基督耶稣里去得到永生，不要在成圣的路上因罪从基督里滑出来，虽然犯罪会难免，但仍要尽心、尽力、尽意的与神同工，『不要消灭圣灵的感动。』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:19) 1弥迦书说得很清楚，『世人哪，耶和华已指示你何为善，他向你所要的是甚么呢？只要你行公义，好怜悯，存谦卑的心，与你的神同行。』(弥迦书 6:8) 关于幔子裂开这事，不只是在讲属灵的事，也真实的发生过，在十字架上，『耶稣又大声喊叫，气就断了。忽然，殿里的幔子从上到下裂为两半，…』(马太福音 27:50-51)     

再注意一点，这里是引用旧约的预言，『耶和华说：「那些日子以后，我与以色列家所立的约乃是这样：我要将我的律法放在他们里面，写在他们心上。我要作他们的神，他们要作我的子民。他们各人不再教导自己的邻舍和自己的弟兄说：『你该认识耶和华。』因为他们从最小的到至大的，都必认识我。我要赦免他们的罪孽，不再记念他们的罪恶。」这是耶和华说的。』(耶利米书 31:33-34) 要知道，『惟独长大成人的，才能吃干粮，他们的心窍(G145, 只出现这一次)习练得通达，就能分辩好歹了。』(希伯来书 5:14) 所以我们先要分辩自己是否长大成人，不要上撒但的当，用这段经文做借口说，我不必再听别人的话了！如果这样，最可能的是走上了歪路而不自知，如同启示录所说的老底嘉教会一样。也请注意，『以后就说：「我不再记念他们的罪愆和他们的过犯。」』(希伯来书 10:17) 这是我们很高兴且该知道的，也明讲了在新约的时代是不必再献祭了。

施洗约翰很清楚的知道耶稣虽出生在后，但祂本来在我以前，其实我们也可从旧约中看到这点。譬如经文说，『耶和华与亚伯拉罕说完了话就走了；亚伯拉罕也回到自己的地方去了。』(创世记 18:33) 这和亚伯拉罕说话的耶和华是指三位一体的神中的耶稣。这不会是父神，因为耶和华对摩西『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) 谈话后的亚伯拉罕是活得好好的。这也不会是圣灵，亚伯拉罕不会看见灵的。所以说这耶华华只能是三位一体的神的耶稣，那时施洗约翰还没有出生呢！所以他会说耶稣本来在他之前。        

在这里，施洗约翰是很清楚的知道，耶稣是神的儿子，即使如此，他看到自己在监狱中的遭遇不是如自己所想的还是会软弱的。这点经文说得很清楚，『约翰在监里听见基督所做的事，就打发两个门徒去，问他说：「那将要来的是你吗？还是我们等候别人呢？」』(马太福音 11:2-3) 我们看到是人都是会软弱的，即使如施洗约翰这么刚强也会如此，所以我们跌倒时不必担心，认自己的罪再爬起来，有屡败屡战的态度，不要让撒但得逞。     

我们必须要靠著圣灵，追求如司提反般的满有圣灵，不是只要一次被圣灵充满。我们以前分享过，只要我们直求，圣灵一定会有一次的充满我们，只是没有说时间，在这里就不多说了。(参路加福音 11:5-13)  所以经文是说，『…司提反，乃是大有信心、圣灵充满的人；…』(使徒行传 6:5) 又说，『司提反是以智慧和圣灵说话，众人敌挡不住。』(使徒行传 6:10) 他甚至愿意为主摆上自己的生命，就像经文所说，『他们正用石头打的时候，司提反呼吁主说：「求主耶稣接收我的灵(魂)！」又跪下大声喊著说：「主啊，不要将这罪归于他们！」说了这话，就睡了。…』(使徒行传 7:59-60) 请注意，这里说的是灵，他是有一个新灵的基督徒，知道『…灵仍归于赐灵的神。』(传道书 12:7) 他是第一位为主殉道的门徒，难怪主会站在神的右边欢迎他，没有人有这份殊荣。(参使徒行传 7:55-56)  

2. 安得烈和彼得的呼召        

『再次日，约翰同两个门徒站在那里。他见耶稣行走，就说：「看哪，这是神的羔羊！」两个门徒听见他的话，就跟从了耶稣。耶稣转过身来，看见他们跟著，就问他们说：「你们要甚么？」 他们说：「拉比，在哪里住？」（「拉比」翻出来就是「夫子」。）耶稣说：「你们来看。」他们就去看他在哪里住，这一天便与他同住。那时约有申正了。听见约翰的话，跟从耶稣的那两个人，一个是西门彼得的兄弟安得烈。他先找著自己的哥哥西门，对他说：「我们遇见弥赛亚了！」（「弥赛亚」翻出来就是「基督」。）于是领他去见耶稣。 耶稣看著他说：「你是约翰的儿子西门，你要称为矶法。」（「矶法」翻出来就是「彼得」。）』(约翰福音 1:35-42)        

我们看到安得烈是相当清楚旧约的，他知道神的羔羊是弥赛亚，而且跟从了祂。圣经没有讲另一位听到施洗约翰的话是谁，只知道安得烈是其中的一位。他们本是跟随施洗约翰的，他们听了约翰的话，就跟从了耶稣，也想知道祂住那里，耶稣就邀请他们同住，自己去判断祂的确是弥赛亚。在这里我们也看到，彼得若没有安得烈的引见，他可能就会完全没有机会的，可见得引见是非常重要的。这不就是『…信道是从听道来的，听道是从基督的话来的。』(罗马书 10:17)

所以每个人都应该有大使命感，引见不信主的人知道耶稣的事迹和话语，也知道圣经的教导。大使命就像耶稣所说的，『天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我了。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) 我们看到了大使命不只是要人受洗，更是要教训人遵守，走上成圣之路。常与我们同在可以看成是附带的奖励，而不是为了这奖励去宣教，不要本末倒置。     

对于施洗这点，应该是这样说的，要奉耶稣的名施洗，归于父、子、圣灵的名下，因为在新约时，『彼得说：「你们各人要悔改，奉耶稣基督的名受洗，叫你们的罪得赦，就必领受所赐的圣灵。』(使徒行传 2:38) 圣经上没有说到有牧师这职位，这是人的制度，很多的时候要牧师去受洗！我们来看看新约中众多例子的一个，『于是吩咐车站住，腓利和太监二人同下水里去，腓利就给他施洗。』(使徒行传 8:36-38) 腓利那里是牧师呢？虽然新约明讲他是传福音的，如『第二天，我们(保罗他们)离开那里，来到凯撒利亚，就进了传福音的腓利家里，和他同住。他是那七个执事里的一个。』(使徒行传 21:8) 他显然是被圣灵充满的，因『从水里上来，主的灵把腓利提了去。…』(使徒行传 8:39) 被圣灵充满的传福音的弟兄怎么不能帮人施洗呢？读经是要看圣经怎么说，而不是看人的教导如何，我们一直在强调这点，也知道这样做不能为看人教导的人所接受，但这是正路，要行在其间，就如以赛亚所说，『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) 我们实在是要相信，神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的，就会因此在圣经中看到许多平常看不到的事情。

3. 腓力和拿但业的呼召       

『又次日，耶稣想要往加利利去，遇见腓力，就对他说：「来，跟从我吧！」这腓力是伯赛大人，和安得烈、彼得同城。腓力找著拿但业，对他说：「摩西在律法上所写的和众先知所记的那一位，我们遇见了，就是约瑟的儿子拿撒勒人耶稣。」拿但业对他说：「拿撒勒还能出甚么好的吗？」 腓力说：「你来看！」耶稣看见拿但业来，就指著他说：「看哪，这是个真以色列人，他心里是没有诡诈的。」拿但业对耶稣说：「你从哪里知道我呢？」 耶稣回答说：「腓力还没有招呼你，你在无花果树底下，我就看见你了。」拿但业说：「拉比，你是神的儿子，你是以色列的王！」耶稣对他说：「因为我说在无花果树底下看见你，你就信吗？你将要看见比这更大的事。」又说：「我实实在在地告诉你们：你们将要看见天开了，神的使者上去下来在人子身上。」』(约翰福音 1:43-51)        

首先我们看到腓力知道耶稣就是那一位，那一位是指『耶和华就对我(摩西)说：『他们所说的是。我必在他们弟兄中间，给他们兴起一位先知像你。我要将当说的话传给他；他要将我一切所吩咐的都传给他们。谁不听他奉我名所说的话，我必讨谁的罪。』』(申命记 18:17-19) 我们看到腓力被呼召后就立刻跟从了耶稣，因他随后引见了拿但业，在这里我们又一次看见引见的重要性。当然不是每个被引到耶稣面前的人都会接受耶稣的，记得有一次这样做时，被骂得狗血喷头，所以是要看情况才行，否则只是让别人徒增反感。        

我们也看到了拿但业的最开始的反应，是多么的瞧不起耶稣啊！有先入为主的想法，因就他所知，『…拿撒勒还能出甚么好的吗？…』(约翰福音 1:46) 腓力就很有智慧的要他自己去判断。拿但业见到耶稣后，看到了祂所行的，就相信了祂是神的儿子。在这里我们也看到那颗无花果树是和耶稣有相当远的距离的，要不然拿但业不会有那样的反应。     

的确，他跟随耶稣后见要了更大的事，因为祂又告诉他们两个，『…将要看见天开了，神的使者上去下来在人子身上。』(约翰福音 1:51) 这使我想到了另一段经文，就是雅各在出了别是巴往哈兰的路上，在伯特利睡著了，他『梦见一个梯子立在地上，梯子的头顶著天，有神的使者在梯子上，上去下来。耶和华站在梯子以上说：「我是耶和华你祖亚伯拉罕的神，也是以撒的神，我要将你现在所躺卧之地赐给你和你的后裔。你的后裔必像地上的尘沙那样多，必向东西南北开展，地上万族必因你和你的后裔得福。我也与你同在，你无论往哪里去，我必保佑你，领你归回这地，总不离弃你，直到我成全了向你所应许的。』(创世记 28:12-15) 我们在这里可看到神有绝对的主权，雅各那时并没有求，是神主动的给他祝福。我们如果看雅各的一生，就知道他是紧紧抓住神的，这包括了临终前为以色列的十二支派祝福的预言(参创世记 49:1-28)，所以这主动也不是枉然的，神只是预先就知道了他的一生会是这样。简言之，「上去下来」是给了我们一个非常重要的讯息，人要先相信才行，然后才会有大大的天上的祝福。

4. 迦拿的婚筵       

『第三日，在加利利的迦拿有娶亲的筵席，耶稣的母亲在那里。耶稣和他的门徒也被请去赴席。酒用尽了，耶稣的母亲对他说：「他们没有酒了。」耶稣说：「母亲，我与你有甚么相干？我的时候还没有到。」他母亲对用人说：「他告诉你们甚么，你们就做甚么。」照犹太人洁净的规矩，有六口石缸摆在那里，每口可以盛两三桶水。耶稣对用人说：「把缸倒满了水。」他们就倒满了，直到缸口。耶稣又说：「现在可以舀出来，送给管筵席的。」他们就送了去。管筵席的尝了那水变的酒，并不知道是哪里来的，只有舀水的用人知道。管筵席的便叫新郎来，对他说：「人都是先摆上好酒，等客喝足了，才摆上次的；你倒把好酒留到如今！」这是耶稣所行的头一件神迹，是在加利利的迦拿行的，显出他的荣耀来，他的门徒就信他了。这事以后，耶稣与他的母亲、弟兄和门徒都下迦百农去，在那里住了不多几日。』(约翰福音 2:1-12)        

我们看见了耶稣的母亲是在这婚筵中有一些执事的，如果她只是一般客人，她是不会管有没有酒的这件事。在祂的母亲的介入后，虽然祂明知祂的时间还没有到，但是仍然顺服了圣灵的带领，而不是将就了祂母亲的话，后者是我所知道的有些人和天主教的看法。如果圣灵带领祂的是不要行第一个神迹的话，母亲的话又能怎么样呢？不过在这里看到圣灵的带领和母亲的话是一致的，母亲的话就因此成就了，不要本末倒置。我们知道，『…父怎样吩咐我，我就怎样行。…』(约翰福音 14:31) 我们也知道，『我与父原为一。』(约翰福音 10:30) 而又知道，『…神赐圣灵给他，是没有限量的。』(约翰福音 3:34) 祂在道成肉身时，『…取了奴仆的形像，成为人的样式。』(腓立比书 2:7) 祂和我们不同的是由圣灵感孕，从无罪开始，但『…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) 我们看到了父是借著圣灵在引领祂，所以我们会说祂是在顺服圣灵的带领，知道要行那第一个神迹。        

这可以从另外一件事情看到的确是圣灵的带领，因这就像在当时犹太人的住棚节近了发生的事，『耶稣就对他们(祂弟兄)说：「我的时候还没有到，你们的时候常是方便的。世人不能恨你们，却是恨我，因为我指证他们所做的事是恶的。你们上去过节吧！我现在不上去过这节，因为我的时候还没有满。」耶稣说了这话，仍旧住在加利利。』(约翰福音 7:6-9) 所以那时祂没有圣灵的感动要祂去，并没说未来也一定是会没有圣灵的感动要祂去。

在这里，我们看到祂本是没有打算要去的，『但他弟兄上去以后，他也上去过节，不是明去，似乎是暗去的。』(约翰福音 7:10) 这是在顺服圣灵的带领，因祂知道要『到了节期，耶稣上殿里去教训人。』(约翰福音 7:14) 也知道，『节期的末日，就是最大之日，耶稣站著高声说：「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) 祂是站著高声说这话的，所以是要人听到这话而相信。

我们再看看神迹的本身，是水变成酒，是本质上的改变，所以是在说跟随祂的基督徒，是会有生命的改变的。祂行的神迹，最初只有舀水的用人知道，因他是照母亲的话去行，也可由管筵席的口中知道，他也完全不知道有水变成好酒的本质上的改变，其实就算是舀水的用人告诉大家，也最可能是大家不会相信的。        

但显然后来是有一些人知道了，因为经文说，『这是耶稣所行的头一件神迹，是在加利利的迦拿行的，显出他的荣耀来，他的门徒就信他了。』(约翰福音 2:11) 所以至少他带的门徒后来是知道了，因耶稣知道自己的时间还没有到，祂是采取低恣态，祂不会是做广告似的让大家都知道，照神借圣经告诉我们是一致的来说，知道这件事的人应该不多。至于那舀水的用人是否会因这神迹相信了祂，圣经没有明说，神既然觉得我们不需要知道，尊重神，就不要猜，猜也不会得到唯一的结论，而且这也不是重点，圣经对于不是重点的事情不会明讲的。

(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』。)  

    首先我們來看耶穌是神的兒子和羔羊，在亞伯拉罕時代是公羊耶代了以撒，在新約是神的兒子作為羔羊，在十字架上一次獻祭而流血，為我們完成了救恩，取代我們而死，也只有祂的血能除罪，『我們若在光明中行，如同神在光明中，就彼此相交，他兒子耶穌的血也洗淨我們一切的罪。』(約翰一書 1:7)   我們必須靠著聖靈，追求如司提反般的滿有聖靈。第二，我們談到了安得烈和彼得的呼召，看到了引見的重要，進而知道每一個基督徒該行大使命。第三，我們詳細討論了腓力和拿但業的呼召，又一次看到了引見的重要，也看到了拿但業是看到耶穌所行的才信，而『耶穌對他(多馬)說：「你因看見了我才信，那沒有看見就信的有福了！」』(約翰福音 20:29) 我們看到了主的訊息「上去下來」，是告訴我們，人要先相信才行，然後才會有大大的天上的祝福。最後，我們討論了耶穌在迦拿的婚筵中的第一個神蹟，看到了祂順服了聖靈的帶領，而不是在將就祂母親的話。在這個水變成酒的神蹟中，有本質上的改變，是在說跟隨祂的基督徒，是會有生命的改變的。我們也討論了耶穌那時是採取低恣態的，因耶穌知道自己的時間還沒有到。

1. 耶穌是神的兒子和羔羊

       『次日，約翰看見耶穌來到他那裏，就說：「看哪，神的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的。這就是我曾說『有一位在我以後來，反成了在我以前的，因他本來在我以前。』是我先前不認識他，如今我來用水施洗，為要叫他顯明給以色列人。」約翰又作見證說：「我曾看見聖靈彷彿鴿子從天降下，住在他的身上。我先前不認識他，只是那差我來用水施洗的，對我說：『你看見聖靈降下來，住在誰的身上，誰就是用聖靈施洗的。』我看見了，就證明這是神的兒子。」』(約翰福音 1:29-34)

        施洗約翰說耶穌是神的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的，羔羊是獻祭用的，這裏已隱喻到耶穌會流血受死。希伯來書很清楚的說，『按着律法，凡物差不多都是用血潔淨的，若不流血，罪就不得赦免了。』(希伯來書 9:22) 在亞伯拉罕的時候是公羊取代了以撒，就像經文所說，『亞伯拉罕舉目觀看，不料，有一隻公羊，兩角扣在稠密的小樹中，亞伯拉罕就取了那隻公羊來，獻為燔祭，代替他的兒子。』(創世記 22:13)  『亞伯拉罕給那地方起名叫「耶和華以勒」，直到今日人還說：「在耶和華的山上必有預備。」』(創世記 22:14)

      在新約時代，希伯來書是這樣說的，『凡祭司天天站着事奉神，屢次獻上一樣的祭物，這祭物永不能除罪。但基督獻了一次永遠的贖罪祭，就在神的右邊坐下了，從此等候(G1551)他仇敵成了他的腳凳。因為他一次獻祭，便叫那得以成聖的人永遠完全。聖靈也對我們作見證，因為他既已說過：「主說，那些日子以後，我與他們所立的約乃是這樣：我要將我的律法寫在他們心上，又要放在他們的裏面。」以後就說：「我不再記念他們的罪愆和他們的過犯。」這些罪過既已赦免，就不用再為罪獻祭了。』(希伯來書 10:11-18) 請注意，這裏用的是「等候(G1551)」，就是現在還不是耶穌已有這樣的腳凳，但這事未來一定會成就。

        祂怎麼獻祭呢？就是被釘上了十字架而成就了救恩，所以祂在十字架會『…說：「成了！」便低下頭，將靈(魂)交付神了。』(約翰福音 19:30) 『…我們既因耶穌的血，得以坦然進入至聖所，是藉着他給我們開了一條又新又活的路，從幔子經過，這幔子就是他的身體。』(希伯來書 10:19-20) 『因為罪的工價乃是死，惟有神的恩賜，在我們的主基督耶穌裏，乃是永生。』(羅馬書 6:23) 所以在新約，是耶穌基督作為羔羊似的取代了我們，自己釘上了十字架而死，也明說了我們一定要使自己在基督耶穌裏去得到永生，不要在成聖的路上因罪從基督裏滑出來，雖然犯罪會難免，但仍要盡心、盡力、盡意的與神同工，『不要消滅聖靈的感動。』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:19) 1彌迦書說得很清楚，『世人哪，耶和華已指示你何為善，他向你所要的是甚麼呢？只要你行公義，好憐憫，存謙卑的心，與你的神同行。』(彌迦書 6:8) 關於幔子裂開這事，不只是在講屬靈的事，也真實的發生過，在十字架上，『耶穌又大聲喊叫，氣就斷了。忽然，殿裏的幔子從上到下裂為兩半，…』(馬太福音 27:50-51)

     再注意一點，這裏是引用舊約的預言，『耶和華說：「那些日子以後，我與以色列家所立的約乃是這樣：我要將我的律法放在他們裏面，寫在他們心上。我要作他們的神，他們要作我的子民。他們各人不再教導自己的鄰舍和自己的弟兄說：『你該認識耶和華。』因為他們從最小的到至大的，都必認識我。我要赦免他們的罪孽，不再記念他們的罪惡。」這是耶和華說的。』(耶利米書 31:33-34) 要知道，『惟獨長大成人的，才能吃乾糧，他們的心竅(G145, 只出現這一次)習練得通達，就能分辨好歹了。』(希伯來書 5:14) 所以我們先要分辨自己是否長大成人，不要上撒但的當，用這段經文做藉口說，我不必再聽別人的話了！如果這樣，最可能的是走上了歪路而不自知，如同啓示錄所說的老底嘉教會一樣。也請注意，『以後就說：「我不再記念他們的罪愆和他們的過犯。」』(希伯來書 10:17) 這是我們很高興且該知道的，也明講了在新約的時代是不必再獻祭了。

        施洗約翰很清楚的知道耶穌雖出生在後，但祂本來在我以前，其實我們也可從舊約中看到這點。譬如經文說，『耶和華與亞伯拉罕說完了話就走了；亞伯拉罕也回到自己的地方去了。』(創世記 18:33) 這和亞伯拉罕說話的耶和華是指三位一體的神中的耶穌。這不會是父神，因為耶和華對摩西『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) 談話後的亞伯拉罕是活得好好的。這也不會是聖靈，亞伯拉罕不會看見靈的。所以說這耶華華只能是三位一體的神的耶穌，那時施洗約翰還沒有出生呢！所以他會說耶穌本來在他之前。

        在這裏，施洗約翰是很清楚的知道，耶穌是神的兒子，即使如此，他看到自己在監獄中的遭遇不是如自己所想的還是會軟弱的。這點經文說得很清楚，『約翰在監裏聽見基督所做的事，就打發兩個門徒去，問他說：「那將要來的是你嗎？還是我們等候別人呢？」』(馬太福音 11:2-3) 我們看到是人都是會軟弱的，即使如施洗約翰這麼剛強也會如此，所以我們跌倒時不必擔心，認自己的罪再爬起來，有屢敗屢戰的態度，不要讓撒但得逞。

     我們必須要靠著聖靈，追求如司提反般的滿有聖靈，不是只要一次被聖靈充滿。我們以前分享過，只要我們直求，聖靈一定會有一次的充滿我們，只是沒有說時間，在這裏就不多說了。(參路加福音 11:5-13)  所以經文是說，『…司提反，乃是大有信心、聖靈充滿的人；…』(使徒行傳 6:5) 又說，『司提反是以智慧和聖靈說話，眾人敵擋不住。』(使徒行傳 6:10) 他甚至願意為主擺上自己的生命，就像經文所說，『他們正用石頭打的時候，司提反呼籲主說：「求主耶穌接收我的靈(魂)！」又跪下大聲喊着說：「主啊，不要將這罪歸於他們！」說了這話，就睡了。…』(使徒行傳 7:59-60) 請注意，這裏說的是靈，他是有一個新靈的基督徒，知道『…靈仍歸於賜靈的神。』(傳道書 12:7) 他是第一位為主殉道的門徒，難怪主會站在神的右邊歡迎他，沒有人有這份殊榮。(參使徒行傳 7:55-56)

2. 安得烈和彼得的呼召

        『再次日，約翰同兩個門徒站在那裏。他見耶穌行走，就說：「看哪，這是神的羔羊！」兩個門徒聽見他的話，就跟從了耶穌。耶穌轉過身來，看見他們跟着，就問他們說：「你們要甚麼？」 他們說：「拉比，在哪裏住？」（「拉比」翻出來就是「夫子」。）耶穌說：「你們來看。」他們就去看他在哪裏住，這一天便與他同住。那時約有申正了。聽見約翰的話，跟從耶穌的那兩個人，一個是西門彼得的兄弟安得烈。他先找着自己的哥哥西門，對他說：「我們遇見彌賽亞了！」（「彌賽亞」翻出來就是「基督」。）於是領他去見耶穌。 耶穌看着他說：「你是約翰的兒子西門，你要稱為磯法。」（「磯法」翻出來就是「彼得」。）』(約翰福音 1:35-42)

        我們看到安得烈是相當清楚舊約的，他知道神的羔羊是彌賽亞，而且跟從了祂。聖經沒有講另一位聽到施洗約翰的話是誰，只知道安得烈是其中的一位。他們本是跟隨施洗約翰的，他們聽了約翰的話，就跟從了耶穌，也想知道祂住那裏，耶穌就邀請他們同住，自己去判斷祂的確是彌賽亞。在這裏我們也看到，彼得若沒有安得烈的引見，他可能就會完全沒有機會的，可見得引見是非常重要的。這不就是『…信道是從聽道來的，聽道是從基督的話來的。』(羅馬書 10:17)

     所以每個人都應該有大使命感，引見不信主的人知道耶穌的事蹟和話語，也知道聖經的教導。大使命就像耶穌所說的，『天上地下所有的權柄都賜給我了。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) 我們看到了大使命不只是要人受洗，更是要教訓人遵守，走上成聖之路。常與我們同在可以看成是附帶的獎勵，而不是為了這獎勵去宣教，不要本末倒置。

     對於施洗這點，應該是這樣說的，要奉耶穌的名施洗，歸於父、子、聖靈的名下，因為在新約時，『彼得說：「你們各人要悔改，奉耶穌基督的名受洗，叫你們的罪得赦，就必領受所賜的聖靈。』(使徒行傳 2:38) 聖經上沒有說到有牧師這職位，這是人的制度，很多的時候要牧師去受洗！我們來看看新約中眾多例子的一個，『…於是吩咐車站住，腓利和太監二人同下水裏去，腓利就給他施洗。』(使徒行傳 8:36-38) 腓利那裏是牧師呢？雖然新約明講他是傳福音的，如『第二天，我們(保羅他們)離開那裏，來到凱撒利亞，就進了傳福音的腓利家裏，和他同住。他是那七個執事裏的一個。』(使徒行傳 21:8) 他顯然是被聖靈充滿的，因『從水裏上來，主的靈把腓利提了去。…』(使徒行傳 8:39) 被聖靈充滿的傳福音的弟兄怎麼不能幫人施洗呢？讀經是要看聖經怎麼說，而不是看人的教導如何，我們一直在強調這點，也知道這樣做不能為看人教導的人所接受，但這是正路，要行在其間，就如以賽亞所說，『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) 我們實在是要相信，神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的，就會因此在聖經中看到許多平常看不到的事情。

3. 腓力和拿但業的呼召

       『又次日，耶穌想要往加利利去，遇見腓力，就對他說：「來，跟從我吧！」這腓力是伯賽大人，和安得烈、彼得同城。腓力找着拿但業，對他說：「摩西在律法上所寫的和眾先知所記的那一位，我們遇見了，就是約瑟的兒子拿撒勒人耶穌。」拿但業對他說：「拿撒勒還能出甚麼好的嗎？」 腓力說：「你來看！」耶穌看見拿但業來，就指着他說：「看哪，這是個真以色列人，他心裏是沒有詭詐的。」拿但業對耶穌說：「你從哪裏知道我呢？」 耶穌回答說：「腓力還沒有招呼你，你在無花果樹底下，我就看見你了。」拿但業說：「拉比，你是神的兒子，你是以色列的王！」耶穌對他說：「因為我說在無花果樹底下看見你，你就信嗎？你將要看見比這更大的事。」又說：「我實實在在地告訴你們：你們將要看見天開了，神的使者上去下來在人子身上。」』(約翰福音 1:43-51)

        首先我們看到腓力知道耶穌就是那一位，那一位是指『耶和華就對我(摩西)說：『他們所說的是。我必在他們弟兄中間，給他們興起一位先知像你。我要將當說的話傳給他；他要將我一切所吩咐的都傳給他們。誰不聽他奉我名所說的話，我必討誰的罪。』』(申命記 18:17-19) 我們看到腓力被呼召後就立刻跟從了耶穌，因他隨後引見了拿但業，在這裏我們又一次看見引見的重要性。當然不是每個被引到耶穌面前的人都會接受耶穌的，記得有一次這樣做時，被罵得狗血噴頭，所以是要看情況才行，否則只是讓別人徒增反感。

        我們也看到了拿但業的最開始的反應，是多麼的瞧不起耶穌啊！有先入為主的想法，因就他所知，『…拿撒勒還能出甚麼好的嗎？…』(約翰福音 1:46) 腓力就很有智慧的要他自己去判斷。拿但業見到耶穌後，看到了祂所行的，就相信了祂是神的兒子。在這裏我們也看到那顆無花果樹是和耶穌有相當遠的距離的，要不然拿但業不會有那樣的反應。

     的確，他跟隨耶穌後見要了更大的事，因為祂又告訴他們兩個，『…將要看見天開了，神的使者上去下來在人子身上。』(約翰福音 1:51) 這使我想到了另一段經文，就是雅各在出了別是巴往哈蘭的路上，在伯特利睡著了，他『夢見一個梯子立在地上，梯子的頭頂着天，有神的使者在梯子上，上去下來。耶和華站在梯子以上說：「我是耶和華你祖亞伯拉罕的神，也是以撒的神，我要將你現在所躺臥之地賜給你和你的後裔。你的後裔必像地上的塵沙那樣多，必向東西南北開展，地上萬族必因你和你的後裔得福。我也與你同在，你無論往哪裏去，我必保佑你，領你歸回這地，總不離棄你，直到我成全了向你所應許的。』(創世記 28:12-15) 我們在這裏可看到神有絕對的主權，雅各那時並沒有求，是神主動的給他祝福。我們如果看雅各的一生，就知道他是緊緊抓住神的，這包括了臨終前為以色列的十二支派祝福的預言(參創世記 49:1-28)，所以這主動也不是枉然的，神只是預先就知道了他的一生會是這樣。簡言之，「上去下來」是給了我們一個非常重要的訊息，人要先相信才行，然後才會有大大的天上的祝福。

4. 迦拿的婚筵

       『第三日，在加利利的迦拿有娶親的筵席，耶穌的母親在那裏。耶穌和他的門徒也被請去赴席。酒用盡了，耶穌的母親對他說：「他們沒有酒了。」耶穌說：「母親，我與你有甚麼相干？我的時候還沒有到。」他母親對用人說：「他告訴你們甚麼，你們就做甚麼。」照猶太人潔淨的規矩，有六口石缸擺在那裏，每口可以盛兩三桶水。耶穌對用人說：「把缸倒滿了水。」他們就倒滿了，直到缸口。耶穌又說：「現在可以舀出來，送給管筵席的。」他們就送了去。管筵席的嘗了那水變的酒，並不知道是哪裏來的，只有舀水的用人知道。管筵席的便叫新郎來，對他說：「人都是先擺上好酒，等客喝足了，才擺上次的；你倒把好酒留到如今！」這是耶穌所行的頭一件神蹟，是在加利利的迦拿行的，顯出他的榮耀來，他的門徒就信他了。這事以後，耶穌與他的母親、弟兄和門徒都下迦百農去，在那裏住了不多幾日。』(約翰福音 2:1-12)

        我們看見了耶穌的母親是在這婚筵中有一些執事的，如果她只是一般客人，她是不會管有沒有酒的這件事。在祂的母親的介入後，雖然祂明知祂的時間還沒有到，但是仍然順服了聖靈的帶領，而不是將就了祂母親的話，後者是我所知道的有些人和天主教的看法。如果聖靈帶領祂的是不要行第一個神蹟的話，母親的話又能怎麼樣呢？不過在這裏看到聖靈的帶領和母親的話是一致的，母親的話就因此成就了，不要本末倒置。我們知道，『…父怎樣吩咐我，我就怎樣行。…』(約翰福音 14:31) 我們也知道，『我與父原為一。』(約翰福音 10:30) 而又知道，『…神賜聖靈給他，是沒有限量的。』(約翰福音 3:34) 祂在道成肉身時，『…取了奴僕的形像，成為人的樣式。』(腓立比書 2:7) 祂和我們不同的是由聖靈感孕，從無罪開始，但『…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) 我們看到了父是藉著聖靈在引領祂，所以我們會說祂是在順服聖靈的帶領，知道要行那第一個神蹟。

        這可以從另外一件事情看到的確是聖靈的帶領，因這就像在當時猶太人的住棚節近了發生的事，『耶穌就對他們(祂弟兄)說：「我的時候還沒有到，你們的時候常是方便的。世人不能恨你們，卻是恨我，因為我指證他們所做的事是惡的。你們上去過節吧！我現在不上去過這節，因為我的時候還沒有滿。」耶穌說了這話，仍舊住在加利利。』(約翰福音 7:6-9) 所以那時祂沒有聖靈的感動要祂去，並沒說未來也一定是會沒有聖靈的感動要祂去。

     在這裏，我們看到祂本是沒有打算要去的，『但他弟兄上去以後，他也上去過節，不是明去，似乎是暗去的。』(約翰福音 7:10) 這是在順服聖靈的帶領，因祂知道要『到了節期，耶穌上殿裏去教訓人。』(約翰福音 7:14) 也知道，『節期的末日，就是最大之日，耶穌站着高聲說：「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) 祂是站著高聲說這話的，所以是要人聽到這話而相信。

        我們再看看神蹟的本身，是水變成酒，是本質上的改變，所以是在說跟隨祂的基督徒，是會有生命的改變的。祂行的神蹟，最初只有舀水的用人知道，因他是照母親的話去行，也可由管筵席的口中知道，他也完全不知道有水變成好酒的本質上的改變，其實就算是舀水的用人告訴大家，也最可能是大家不會相信的。

        但顯然後來是有一些人知道了，因為經文說，『這是耶穌所行的頭一件神蹟，是在加利利的迦拿行的，顯出他的榮耀來，他的門徒就信他了。』(約翰福音 2:11) 所以至少他帶的門徒後來是知道了，因耶穌知道自己的時間還沒有到，祂是採取低恣態，祂不會是做廣告似的讓大家都知道，照神藉聖經告訴我們是一致的來說，知道這件事的人應該不多。至於那舀水的用人是否會因這神蹟相信了祂，聖經沒有明說，神既然覺得我們不需要知道，尊重神，就不要猜，猜也不會得到唯一的結論，而且這也不是重點，聖經對於不是重點的事情不會明講的。

(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, let’s look at Jesus as the Son of God and the Lamb. In the time of Abraham, it was the ram that replaced Isaac. In the New Testament, Jesus as the Son of God as the lamb replaced us. He shed His blood as a sacrifice on the cross and completed salvation for us. He died in our place, and only His blood can take away sins. “but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”(1 John 1:7) We must rely on the Holy Spirit and pursue to be full of the Holy Spirit like Stephen.  Second, we talked about the calling of Andrew and Peter, saw the importance of introduction, and then knew that every Christian should carry out the Great Commission.  Third, we discussed the calling of Philip and Nathanael in detail, and once again saw the importance of introduction, and also saw that Nathanael only believed after seeing what Jesus had done, and “Jesus said to him (Thomas), “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.””(John 20:29) We have seen the Lord’s message, ‘ascending and descending’ tells us that people must first believe, and then there will be great blessings from heaven.  Finally, we discussed Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding feast at Cana, which saw Him obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit rather than making do with the words of His mother.  In this miracle of water turning into wine, there is an essential change, which means that Christians who follow Him will have an essential change in their lives.  We also discussed that Jesus took a low-key attitude at that time because Jesus knew that His time had not yet come.

1. Jesus is the Son of God and the Lamb

​”The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.””(John 1:29-34)

John the Baptist said that Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. The lamb is used for sacrifice. This is a metaphor that Jesus will bleed and die.  The book of Hebrews says very clearly, “And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”(Hebrews 9:22) In the time of Abraham, it was the ram that replaced Isaac. As the scripture says, “Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son.”(Genesis 22:13) “Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.””(Genesis 22:14)

In the New Testament era, the book of Hebrews says this, “Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting (G1551) from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, And on their mind I will write them,” He then says,  “And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.” (Hebrews 10:11-18) Please note that the word “waiting (G1551)” is used here, which means that Jesus does not have such a footstool yet, but it will definitely happen in the future. ​

How did He offer the sacrifice?  Salvation was achieved by His being crucified on the cross, so at the cross “…He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”(John 19:30) “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh.”(Hebrews 10:19-20) “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”(Romans 6:23) Therefore, in the New Testament era, it is Jesus Christ who replaced us like a lamb. He was crucified and died for us. It is also clearly stated that we must reside ourselves in Jesus Christ in order to obtain eternal life. On the road to sanctification, one often slips out of Christ because of sin. Although sin is inevitable, you must still work with God with all your heart, all your strength, and all your mind. “Do not quench the Spirit.”(1 Thessalonians 5:19) The book of Micah makes it very clear, “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?”(Micah 6:8) Regarding the tearing of the veil, it is not only talking about spiritual things, but also really happened. On the cross, “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; …”(Matthew 27:50-51)

Note that this is a quote from the Old Testament prophecy, ““But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.””(Jeremiah 31:33-34) You must know, “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses (G145, only appears once) trained to discern good and evil.”(Hebrews 5:14) So we must first discern whether we have grown up and not fall into Satan’s trap of using this passage as an excuse to say, I don’t have to listen to others anymore!  If so, it is most likely that they have gone astray without realizing it, just like the church in Laodicea mentioned in the Book of Revelation.  Please also note, “And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 10:17) This is something we should be happy to know, and it also clearly states that in the new covenant in the New Testament era, there is no need to offer sacrifices anymore.

John the Baptist knew very well that although Jesus was born after me, He was originally before me. In fact, we can also see this from the Old Testament.  For example, the scripture says, “As soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham the LORD (H3068, Jehovah) departed, and Abraham returned to his place.”(Genesis 18:33) The Jehovah who spoke to Abraham refers to Jesus, the Trinity of God.  This could not be God the Father, because Jehovah said to Moses, “…You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”(Exodus 33:20) After the conversation, Abraham was alive and well. This could not be the Holy Spirit. Abraham could not see the spirit.  Therefore, this Jehovah can only be Jesus, the Trinity God. John the Baptist had not yet been born at that time!  So he would say that Jesus was before him.

Here, John the Baptist knew very clearly that Jesus was the Son of God. Even so, he still felt weak when he saw that his experience in prison was not what he thought.  This scripture makes it very clear, “Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?””(Matthew 11:2-3) We see that all people will be weak, even if they are as strong as John the Baptist, so we don’t have to worry when we fall. We should admit our sins and get up again. Even there will be repeated failures, we must still have a fighting attitude this way and don’t let Satan win.

We must rely on the Holy Spirit and pursue being full with the Holy Spirit like Stephen. It is not just about being filled with the Holy Spirit once.  We have shared before that as long as we ask directly, the Holy Spirit will definitely fill us once. We had such a promise but without mentioning when it will happen. We shared this before, so we won’t say more here.  (See Luke 11:5-13) So the scripture says, “…Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, …”(Acts 6:5) It also says “But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.”(Acts 6:10) He was even willing to lay down his life for the Lord, as the scripture says, 

“They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep.”(Acts 7:59-60) Please note that what is mentioned here is the spirit. He is a Christian who has a new spirit and knows that “…the spirit will return to God who gave it.”(Ecclesiastes 12:7) He was the first disciple to be martyred for the Lord. No wonder the Lord would stand at the right hand of God to welcome him. No one has this honor.  (See Acts 7:55-56)

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2. The calling of Andrew and Peter

“Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).”(John 1:35-42)

We see that Andrew knew the Old Testament quite well. He knew that the Lamb of God was the Messiah and followed Him.  The Bible does not say who the other person was who heard the words of John the Baptist, only that Andrew was one of them.  They were followers of John the Baptist. After hearing John’s words, they followed Jesus and wanted to know where He lived. Jesus invited them to stay with them and judge for themselves that He was indeed the Messiah.  Here we also see that if Peter had not been introduced by Andrew, he might have had no chance at all. This shows that introduction is very important.  Isn’t this just that “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”(Romans 10:17)

Therefore, everyone should have a sense of the Great Commission and introduce unbelievers to know the deeds and words of Jesus and the teachings of the Bible.  The Great Commission is like Jesus said, “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “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) We have seen that the Great Commission is not just for people to be baptized, but also to teach people to obey and embark on the road to sanctification.  Staying with us can be viewed as an incidental reward, rather than missionary work for the reward. Don’t put the cart before the horse.

Regarding baptism, what should be said is this: baptize in the name of Jesus, into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, because in the New Testament, “Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”(Acts 2:38) The Bible does not mention the position of a pastor at all. This is a human system, where many times a pastor is required for being baptized! Let’s look at one of the many examples in the New Testament, ” “…And he (eunuch) ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.”(Acts 8:36-38). Was Philip a pastor? Although the New Testament clearly states that he was a preacher of the gospel, for example, “On the next day we (Paul and others) left and came to Caesarea, and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him.”(Acts 21:8) He was obviously filled with the Holy Spirit, for “When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; …”(Acts 8:39) How come brothers who are filled with the Holy Spirit and preach the gospel cannot help people baptize? Reading the Bible depends on what the Bible says, not what people teach. We have been emphasizing this point, and we know doing this is very hard to those who look up to the teaching from other people, but this is the right way, and you must walk in it, as Isaiah said, “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. And you will defile your graven images overlaid with silver, and your molten images plated with gold. You will scatter them as an impure thing, and say to them, “Be gone!””(Isaiah 30:20-21) We really have to believe that what God tells us through the Bible is consistent, and we by this way will see many things in the Bible that we usually cannot see.

3. The call of Philip and Nathanael

“The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote⁠—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.””(John 1:43-51)

First, we see that Philip knew that Jesus was the one, and that the one refers to “The LORD said to me (Moses), ‘They have spoken well. I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him.”(Deuteronomy 18:17-19) We see that Philip immediately followed Jesus after being called, because he then introduced Nathanael. Here we see again the importance of introduction.  Of course, not everyone who is led to Jesus will accept Him. I remember one time when I did this, I was scolded to death. So it depends on the situation, otherwise it will just make others more resentful.

We also saw Nathanael’s initial reaction, how much he looked down on Jesus!  He had preconceived ideas, because as far as he knew, “…Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? .. “(John 1:46) Philip wisely asked him to judge for himself.  After Nathanael met Jesus and saw what He had done, he believed that He was the Son of God.  Here we also see that the fig tree was quite far away from Jesus, otherwise Nathanael would not have reacted like that.

From this verse, “… ​you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man,” it reminds me of another passage, that is, on the way out of Beersheba to Haran, Jacob fell asleep in Bethel. “He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.””(Genesis 28:12-15) We can see here that God has absolute sovereignty. Jacob did not ask for it, but God took the initiative to bless him. If we look at Jacob’s life, we will know that he clung to God. This includes the prophecy of blessing the twelve tribes of Israel before his death (see Genesis 49:1-28), so this initiative is not in vain. Yes, God just knew in advance that his life would be like this. In short, ‘ascending and descending’ gives us a very important message. People must believe first, and then they will receive great blessings from heaven.

4. The wedding feast at Cana

“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it to him. When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom, and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him. After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and His brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days.”(John 2:1-12)

We have seen that the mother of Jesus had involved playing a role at the wedding feast. If she was just an ordinary guest, she would not have cared about whether there was wine or not.  After His Mother’s intervention, although He knew His time had not yet come, He still obeyed the leading of the Holy Spirit rather than giving in to His Mother’s words, which is the view of some people and the what I know about Catholic Church.  If the Holy Spirit was leading Him not to perform the first miracle, what could the mother’s words do?  However, here we see that the guidance of the Holy Spirit was consistent with the mother’s words, so the mother’s words were fulfilled. Don’t put the cart before the horse.  We know, “…I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. …”(John 14:31) We also know, “I and the Father are one.”(John 10:30) And He knew that “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God (Jesus); for He gives the Spirit without measure.”(John 3:34) When He became flesh, He “but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”(Philippians 2:7) Unlike us, He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and began without sin, “but One (Jesus) who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”(Hebrews 4:15) We see that the Father is leading Him through the Holy Spirit, so we would say that He was obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit and knew to perform the first miracle.

This can be seen from another thing that it is indeed the leading of the Holy Spirit, because this is like what happened when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was approaching, “So Jesus said to them (His brothers), “My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil. Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come.” Having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee.”(John 7:6-9) So He did not have the Holy Spirit to move Him to go at that time, and it did not say that He would definitely not have the Holy Spirit to move Him to go in the future.

Here, we see that He had no intention of going, “But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as if, in secret.”(John 7:10) This was obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit, because He knew that “But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach.”(John 7:14) Also know, “Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried 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) He stood and spoke this with a loud voice, so that people would hear it and believe it.

Regarding the miracle (sign) that water turns into wine, it is an essential change, so it means that Christians who follow Him will have an essential change in their lives.  The miracle He performed were initially known only to the man who ladled out the water, because he did it according to His mother’s words. They could also know it from the mouth of the person in charge of the banquet, who was also completely unaware of the essential change of water turning into good wine. In fact, even if It was the man who scooped the water who told everyone, and most likely no one would believe it.

But apparently some people knew about it later, because the scripture says, “This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.”(John 2:11) So at least the disciples He led knew it later, because Jesus knew that His time had not yet come, so He took a low-key attitude, and He would not let everyone know as if He was advertising. What God tells us through the Bible is consistent. There should not be many people who knew about this.  As for whether the servant who scooped the water believed in Him because of this miracle, the Bible does not say clearly. Since God feels that we do not need to know about that,  and we must respect Him, we should not guess. Guessing will not lead to the only conclusion anyway, and this is not the point that here wants to convey. The Bible does not speak explicitly about matters that are not important.

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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.”)

我们已分享过以路加福音为主的「信」，又刚提到启示录中的「望」，因基督徒是要在地上过一个信望爱的生活，是时候该分享一些和「爱」相关的经文了。其实，信望爱三者本不是独立的，而是互相影响的，在新约中提到的爱绝大多数是在讲神的爱，我们就先看看这爱的地位，其实基督徒有内住的圣灵，这爱已借著圣灵浇灌了基督徒，基督徒要治死老我才能将神的爱彰显出来。因约翰被称为爱的使徒，我们就来学习约翰福音，也顺便看看一些说到爱的经文。       

首先我们简短的说明为什么爱在基督徒中有著崇高的地位，讨论了爱的真谛，也看到了不要消灭圣灵的感动，当没有圣灵感动时，我们要以圣经的话作为我们绝对的标准去分辩一件事该做与否，就是我们仍然要站在神的那一边。第二，我们就来看看约翰福音一开始就说到的同尊同荣的三位一体的神，也看到了祂们都在创造时有份，耶稣是那真光，也说明了人为什么会不接受那光。第三，我们看到了施洗约翰的到来，是为那真光作见证，也看到了这里谈到了重生，不仅如此，更要走上成圣之路，成为一个能进新耶路撒冷城的得胜者。第四，我们说到了恩典和真理都是由耶稣基督而来，约翰亲自看到见了那充充满满的有恩典，有真理，道成了肉身的耶稣。在耶稣的恩典和真理中，祂以遵守安息日作为示范，告诉我们祂不是在守律法上规定的安息日时间，而是在守安息日的真谛，所以『天地废去较比律法的一点一画落空还容易。』(路加福音 16:17) 这是在指律法的真谛而言。最后我们看到了施洗约翰是耶稣的开路先锋，他带给人的是悔改的洗礼，彼得和保罗都一致的看见，在一般情况下，除了要受水的洗礼外，还要受圣灵的洗，即使在特殊的情况下，那不可缺少的仍是圣灵的洗。

1. 爱的地位和实行       

『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) 这不只是说说而已，因『神爱世人，甚至将他的独生子(耶稣)赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生。』(约翰福音 3:16) 那耶稣怎么说呢？『…律法师…就问他说：「夫子，律法上的诫命，哪一条是最大的呢？」耶稣对他说：「你要尽心、尽性、尽意，爱主你的神。这是诫命中的第一，且是最大的。其次也相仿，就是要爱人如己。这两条诫命是律法和先知一切道理的总纲。」』(马太福音 22:35-40) 我以前不懂什么叫爱人如己，那时我在患忧郁症的中间，我实在不想别人和我一样得到忧郁症，突然意识到这不是爱人如己吗？我自己不想有忧郁症，因此也不要别人因忧郁症而难受的如自己一样，这不是爱别人吗？即使我还不能做到爱人如己，在这件事情上，我总算想通了！保罗说得好，『如今常存的有信，有望，有爱；这三样，其中最大的是爱。』(哥林多前书 13:13) 所以讲爱的经文相当的多。        

在新约中提到的爱绝大多数是在讲神的爱(G26)，G26 是名词，G25 是动词。在我们学习约翰福音前，我们来先看看爱的真谛，就是，『爱(G26)是恒久忍耐，(又有)是恩慈；爱是不嫉妒，爱是不自夸，不张狂，不作害羞的事(G807,G807)，不求自己的益处，不轻易发怒，不计算人的恶，不喜欢不义，只喜欢真理；凡事包容，凡事相信，凡事盼望，凡事忍耐；爱是永不止息。 …』(哥林多前书 13:4-8)        

首先我们要注意到人的爱是不能恒久忍耐的，必须要有神的爱，基督徒有内住的圣灵，『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) 我们已有神的爱，『… 因为所赐给我们的圣灵将神的爱浇灌在我们心里。』(罗马书 5:5) 我们要做的是，『…靠著圣灵治死身体的恶行，必要活著。』(罗马书 8:13) 这就和钉十字架类似，自己不能把自己钉在十字架上的，一定非要别人钉不可，所以不靠著圣灵，我们不可能自己治死自己的老我的。以西结预言得好，『我也要赐给你们一个新心，将新灵放在你们里面。又从你们的肉体中除掉石心，赐给你们肉心。我必将我的灵放在你们里面，使你们顺从我的律例，谨守遵行我的典章。』(以西结书 36:26-27) 我们知道圣灵会住在一个没有罪的地方，虽然这里没有明讲，祂只能住在新灵里面，祂不是住在肉心中。虽然这个肉心也是新的，和罪无关，它和圣灵是不同的种类，圣灵不会在肉心里。

『我们有这宝贝放在瓦器里，要显明这莫大的能力，是出于神，不是出于我们。』(哥林多后书 4:7) 当老我被治死，就是那如瓦器的我被破碎，神的能力就因此会被显现出来。这是一个窄门，而『你们要进窄门。因为引到灭亡，那门是宽的，路是大的，进去的人也多；引到永生，那门是窄的，路是小的，找著的人也少。』(马太福音 7:13-14) 也就是要分辩感动真是出于圣灵，不要像提幔人以利法一样，做了撒但的工作还以为在为神作工。(参约伯记 4:12-21) 以前讲过这点，就不多说了。        

一旦知道感动是从圣灵来，我们就要『不要消灭圣灵的感动。』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:19) 圣灵的感动是可以被接受的人消灭的，要不保罗就不会这样说。因为生命只能从神来，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) 要想得生命，一定要圣灵的带领。     

如果有圣灵的带领，我们生活的一切都要被圣灵带领，所以很显然的，这也包括读经时非要被圣灵引导不可，想想多少人会说我们还没有准备好这样读经，从人的角度去查经，放在自己的手上，这样怎么会是治死老我呢？如果从人的角度度去查经，就会一旦和自己的想法不同，可能会去改变圣经的原意或甚至经文，好合乎自己的想法。我们实在是要从圣经的角度看事情，因为圣经是神所默示的，这也就是从神的角度看事情。不要像老底嘉的教会一样，以为自己做了很多事情，在神眼中却是一无是处，甚至将耶稣关在门外而不自知。(参启示录 3:14-22)        

我们的神不是一个命令一个动作的神，凡事都有圣灵感动才能前行，我们不是看到在以利法身上，圣灵不是没有先感动他，而让他自己分辩去做决定吗？有很多人都教导，如果圣灵没有感动，就要停在原地不动，这实在不是神的本意，和神要在以利法的身上所行的不符合。其实以利法即使是犯了错误，但神是有恩典有怜悯的神，给了他机会悔改而赦免了他，就像经文所说，『耶和华对约伯说话以后，就对提幔人以利法说：「我的怒气向你和你两个朋友发作，因为你们议论我不如我的仆人约伯说的是。现在你们要取七只公牛，七只公羊，到我仆人约伯那里去，为自己献上燔祭，我的仆人约伯就为你们祈祷。我因悦纳他，就不按你们的愚妄办你们。你们议论我，不如我的仆人约伯说的是。」于是，提幔人以利法、书亚人比勒达、拿玛人琐法，照著耶和华所吩咐的去行。…』(约伯记 42:7-9) 以利法的确是悔改了，因为他是照著耶和华所吩附的去行。      

圣灵的感动有时在最后一分钟才来，在这种情况下我们是需要等待的。当我们要做一件事而没有圣灵的感动时，我们仍然要站在神那一边，要按著不强解的圣经话语去分辩是否该做，将圣经的话语作为我们行事的绝对准则。在这里我们特别强调不强解圣经，不要扭曲圣经的原意，要知道神是无限，人是有限，要圣灵的带领才可能不强解圣经。     

即使我们不小心选错了，我们不是在以利法身上看到神是有怜悯有恩典的神吗？在新约更是明说，『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) 真正的悔，一定会带著有心要改的行动的，虽然有时会因自己的软弱而犯同样的错误，也会在下一次类似的情况中想要不犯同样的错误，不是基督徒都不会战败的，只是战败后会再爬起来，所以基督徒会有屡败屡战的态度。        

我们来继续看看爱的真谛，原文没有又有两字，直接说爱是恩慈，我们不是先前就看到神是有恩典有怜悯的神吗？接著的三个是很清楚的我们就不多说，那不作害羞的事(G807,G807)是指什么呢？尤其在原文中是用加强语气的同一个字两次。其实这字只出现在另一个经文中，就是『若有人以为自己待他的女儿不合宜(G807)，女儿也过了年岁，事又当行，他就可随意办理，不算有罪，叫二人成亲就是了。』(哥林多前书 7:36) 就是说我们不做不合宜的而使人害羞的事。接著的几项都很清楚，就不多讲，一直到最后说爱是永不止息，原文好像是说从不失败(never fail)，我们知道在现实的生活中，即使带著爱去做一件事，也是会失败的，所以不能这样解释，那究意是什么意思呢？神爱世人，赐下祂的独生子，在救恩中，耶稣的血永远有效，不是『…将我们神的恩变作放纵情欲的机会，并且不认独一的主宰──我们主耶稣基督。』(犹大书 1:4) 所以神的爱人是永远的，但不喜欢人所犯的罪。所以这里是说一旦在爱里面，那爱不会失败其存在，也就是神的爱是永远存在的，所以是爱是永不止息，和合本的翻译非常的好。以下我们就从约翰福音的起头开始分享。

2. 同尊同荣的三位一体的神        

『太初有道，道与神同在，道就是神。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。生命在他里头，这生命就是人的光。光照在黑暗里，黑暗却不接受光。』(约翰福音 1:1-5)        

这是在讲没有时间之前，三位一体的神是同尊同荣的，在道成肉身的这段时间中，是明显的有一个次序的，父差遣子，子不去，圣灵不来。这里很清楚的说耶和华和耶稣(道)是神。圣灵也是神，因『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) 至于是一体，我们可以从这经文看到，『以色列啊，你要听！耶和华我们神(H3068)是独一的主(H3068)。』(申命记 6:4) 请注意这里的神和主是指一件事，因原文是用同一个字，重点是独一的这字，这不就是说只有一体吗？对于创造世界，三位一体的神都有份，这里很清楚的说耶稣有份，圣灵也有份，因『地是空虚混沌，渊面黑暗；神的灵(圣灵)运行在水面上。』(创世记 1:2) 其实一开始就说，『起初神(H430, 复数)创造天地。』(创世记 1:1) 这里的神用的是复数。

生命在耶稣里头，这生命就是人的光，『光照在黑暗里，黑暗却不接受光。』(约翰福音 1:5) 对于会这样的原因，经文说得很清楚，『光来到世间，世人因自己的行为是恶的，不爱光倒爱黑暗，定他们的罪就是在此。凡作恶的便恨光，并不来就光，恐怕他的行为受责备；但行真理的必来就光，要显明他所行的是靠神而行。』(约翰福音 3:19-21)

3. 施洗约翰的到来是为真光作见证    

『有一个人，是从神那里差来的，名叫约翰。这人来，为要作见证，就是为光作见证，叫众人因他可以信。他不是那光，乃是要为光作见证。那光是真光，照亮一切生在世上的人。他在世界，世界也是借著他造的，世界却不认识他。他到自己的地方来，自己的人倒不接待他。凡接待他的，就是信他名的人，他就赐他们权柄，作神的儿女。这等人不是从血气生的，不是从情欲生的，也不是从人意生的，乃是从神生的。』(约翰福音 1:6-13)       

耶稣说得很清楚，『(施洗)约翰是点著的明灯，你们情愿暂时喜欢他的光。』(约翰福音 5:35) 约翰来，乃是要为那真光作见证。但很显然的，虽然祂来到借祂所造的世界，这世界却把祂钉在十字架上，救恩的计划却因此而完成了，所以耶稣在十字架上，『…尝了那醋，就说：「成了！」便低下头，将灵(魂)(spirit, G4151)交付神了。』(约翰福音 19:30) 在这里说的是灵，合和本中灵和魂常不分，看到灵魂一辞时，看原文就很清楚的知道，到底是在说灵或者魂。     

『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)  这里说，信祂名的人是从神生的，就是重生了，也就是耶稣回答尼哥底母时候说的，『…我实实在在地告诉你：人若不重生，就不能见神的国。』(约翰福音 3:3) 『耶稣说：「我实实在在地告诉你：人若不是从水和圣灵生的，就不能进神的国。从肉身生的，就是肉身；从灵生的，就是灵。我说『你们必须重生』，你不要以为希奇。风随著意思吹，你听见风的响声，却不晓得从哪里来，往哪里去；凡从圣灵生的，也是如此。」』(约翰福音 3:5-8) 这是圣灵的工作。        

只是重生后的人也不一定每个都走得很好，『…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) 所以我们『务要谨守、警醒，…』(彼得前书 5:8) 即使想要走上成圣之路，人也会软弱，并不是每个人会是得胜者，也就是说，『那些洗净自己衣服的有福了！可得权柄能到生命树那里，也能从门进城。』(启示录 22:14) 这不是就是圣灵清楚的说，『…得胜的，我必将神乐园中生命树的果子赐给他吃。』(启示录 2:7)    

生命树是在新耶路撒冷城中，这经文说得很清楚，『天使又指示我在城内街道当中一道生命水的河，明亮如水晶，从神和羔羊的宝座流出来。在河这边与那边有生命树，结十二样果子，每月都结果子，树上的叶子乃为医治万民。』(启示录 22:1-2) 所以这神乐园就是指新耶路撒冷城。不要不刚强而成为不能进城的堕落基督徒，成为圣经所说的，『城外有那些犬类、行邪术的、淫乱的、杀人的、拜偶像的，并一切喜好说谎言编造虚谎的。』(启示录 22:15) 那时会悔不当初，而只能咬牙切齿了！      

我们在油管(YouTube) 上可以看到这样的人，有一个人曾信过而且成为神学教授，但因为以为圣经的无误是指字句上的，就因此而堕落，甚至到反基督教的地步，写了许多书，为一些人所欢迎。我们曾在『2111 圣经无误论的真谛』中举相当多的例子，详细的讨论了其真谛，你可以到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的网站后，按『对属灵生命的了解』，找到这篇文章。

4. 恩典和真理都是由耶稣基督而来       

『道成了肉身，住在我们中间，充充满满地有恩典，有真理。我们也见过他的荣光，正是父独生子的荣光。(施洗)约翰为他作见证，喊著说：「这就是我曾说：『那在我以后来的，反成了在我以前的，因他本来在我以前。』」从他丰满的恩典里，我们都领受了，而且恩上加恩。律法本是借著摩西传的，恩典和真理都是由耶稣基督来的。从来没有人看见神，只有在父怀里的独生子将他表明出来。』(约翰福音 1:14-18)      

 (老)约翰亲自看见了那充充满满的有恩典，有真理，道成了肉身的耶稣，就像天使加百列所『说：「必有童女怀孕生子，人要称他的名为以马内利。」（「以马内利」翻出来就是「神与我们同在」。）』(马太福音 1:23) 在那道成肉身的期间，甚至于祂的肉身都和那时的人如(老)约翰同在。施洗约翰非常清楚的知道，自己来只是为那后出生的真光作见证，也知道那真光本是在他之前。我们的确是恩上加恩的领受了那丰盛的恩典，我们要做的就是信，让圣灵引导我们，当没有圣灵引导时，也相信圣经的话是我们行事的绝对准则，用它来分辩一件事是否可行，站在神的那一边。我们已讲过这点，这里再重复一次，因为这样的态度非常重要。

这里很清楚的说，耶稣带来了恩典和真理，而旧约的律法条文是借著摩西传的。『从来没有人看见神，只有在父怀里的独生子将他表明出来。』(约翰福音 1:18) 这经文就是耶稣说的，『我与父原为一。』(约翰福音 10:30) 所以(老)约翰知道，见了耶稣就如同见了父神，而我们现在是借著圣经知道这些事情。

在耶稣的恩典和真理中，祂以遵守安息日作为示范，告诉我们祂不是在守律法上安息的时间，而是在守安息日的真谛，就像『…有人问耶稣说：「安息日治病，可以不可以？」意思是要控告他。耶稣说：「你们中间谁有一只羊，当安息日掉在坑里，不把牠抓住拉上来呢？人比羊何等贵重呢！所以，在安息日做善事是可以的。」』(马太福音 12:10-12) 也在别的时候，很清楚的说，『…安息日是为人设立的，人不是为安息日设立的。所以，人子也是安息日的主。』(马可福音 2:27-28) 以赛亚引用耶和华亲口说的话说，『你若在安息日掉转你的脚步，在我圣日不以操作为喜乐，称安息日为可喜乐的，称耶和华的圣日为可尊重的，而且尊敬这日，不办自己的私事，不随自己的私意，不说自己的私话，你就以耶和华为乐。…』(以赛亚书 58:13-14) 那时就已说了安息日的真谛，耶稣不是就这样做了吗？神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的，所以『天地废去较比律法的一点一画落空还容易。』(路加福音 16:17) 这是在指律法的真谛，不是指字句。

5. 施洗约翰是耶稣的开路先锋       

『约翰所作的见证记在下面：犹太人从耶路撒冷差祭司和利未人到约翰那里，问他说：「你是谁？」他就明说，并不隐瞒；明说：「我不是基督。」他们又问他说：「这样，你是谁呢？是以利亚吗？」 他说：「我不是。」 「是那先知吗？」 他回答说：「不是。」于是他们说：「你到底是谁？叫我们好回复差我们来的人。你自己说，你是谁？」他说：「我就是那在旷野有人声喊著说：『修直主的道路』，正如先知以赛亚所说的。」那些人是法利赛人差来的。他们就问他说：「你既不是基督，不是以利亚，也不是那先知，为甚么施洗呢？」约翰回答说：「我是用水施洗，但有一位站在你们中间，是你们不认识的，就是那在我以后来的，我给他解鞋带也不配。」这是在约旦河外伯大尼，约翰施洗的地方作的见证。』(约翰福音 1:19-28)        

在人间，王的来临前都有一个开路的，使大家让他过去，至少中国有这样的传统。对那真光耶稣的道成肉身的显现，施洗约翰来就是作为开路的，为王铺平道路。所以这段一开始就说，施洗约翰是耶稣的开路先锋，是在说这段经文的预言，『有人声喊著说：「在旷野预备耶和华的路，在沙漠地修平我们神的道。一切山洼都要填满，大小山冈都要削平。高高低低的要改为平坦，崎崎岖岖的必成为平原。耶和华的荣耀必然显现，凡有血气的必一同看见。因为这是耶和华亲口说的。』(以赛亚书 40:3-5)        

施洗约翰清楚的说，他只能用水施洗，这就是保罗在以弗所对十二个门徒所说的，『…约翰所行的是悔改的洗，告诉百姓当信那在他以后要来的，就是耶稣。』(使徒行传 19:4) 我们读要整本圣经一起看，因圣经的一个写法本就是「这里一点、那里一点」，就像这经文所说，『所以耶和华向他们说的话是：命上加命、令上加令，律上加律、例上加例，这里一点、那里一点。…』(以赛亚书 28:13)     

 耶稣是非上十字架为我们流血去完成救恩不可，就像保罗说的，『我们借这爱子的血得蒙救赎，过犯得以赦免，乃是照他丰富的恩典。』(以弗所书 1:7) 只有耶稣的宝血才能除罪。祂清楚的知道，『…我去是与你们有益的。我若不去，保惠师(圣灵)就不到你们这里来；我若去，就差他来。』(约翰福音 16:7) 所以在耶稣道成肉身的那段时间里是有一个次序的，父差子，子不去圣灵不来。这也就是彼得为外邦人用水受洗时对众弟兄所说的，『我就想起主的话说：『约翰是用水施洗，但你们要受圣灵的洗。』神既然给他们恩赐，像在我们信主耶稣基督的时候给了我们一样，我是谁，能拦阻神呢？』(使徒行传 11:16-17, 并参使徒行传 11:1-18) 既然圣灵已帮外邦人受洗了，彼得就使他们也用水洗了。     

『他们(那十二个人)听见这话，就奉主耶稣的名受洗。保罗按手在他们头上，圣灵便降在他们身上，他们就说方言，又说预言。』(使徒行传 19:5-6) 所以他们不仅是要受悔改的水洗，更要受圣灵的洗，就像彼得所说的一样，神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的。在特殊的情况下，耶稣对和他同钉十字架的一位强盗说，『…我实在告诉你：今日你要同我在乐园里了。』(路加福音 23:43) 那位强盗跟本都没有机会受水洗，但受了相当于圣灵的洗，因为三位一体的神中的耶稣亲自告诉了他，死后可以去乐园了。这是一个特例，圣经并没有说每一个基督都会是这样。要相信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』。)  

    我們已分享過以路加福音為主的「信」，又剛提到啓示錄中的「望」，因基督徒是要在地上過一個信望愛的生活，是時候該分享一些和「愛」相關的經文了。其實，信望愛三者本不是獨立的，而是互相影響的，在新約中提到的愛絕大多數是在講神的愛，我們就先看看這愛的地位，其實基督徒有內住的聖靈，這愛已藉著聖靈澆灌了基督徒，基督徒要治死老我才能將神的愛彰顯出來。因約翰被稱為愛的使徒，我們就來學習約翰福音，也順便看看一些說到愛的經文。

       首先我們簡短的說明為什麼愛在基督徒中有著崇高的地位，討論了愛的真諦，也看到了不要消滅聖靈的感動，當沒有聖靈感動時，我們要以聖經的話作為我們絕對的標準去分辨一件事該做與否，就是我們仍然要站在神的那一邊。第二，我們就來看看約翰福音一開始就說到的同尊同榮的三位一體的神，也看到了祂們都在創造時有份，耶穌是那真光，也說明了人為什麼會不接受那光。第三，我們看到了施洗約翰的到來，是為那真光作見証，也看到了這裏談到了重生，不僅如此，更要走上成聖之路，成為一個能進新耶路撒冷城的得勝者。第四，我們說到了恩典和真理都是由耶穌基督而來，約翰親自看到見了那充充滿滿的有恩典，有真理，道成了肉身的耶穌。在耶穌的恩典和真理中，祂以遵守安息日作為示範，告訴我們祂不是在守律法上規定的安息日時間，而是在守安息日的真諦，所以『天地廢去較比律法的一點一畫落空還容易。』(路加福音 16:17) 這是在指律法的真諦而言。最後我們看到了施洗約翰是耶穌的開路先鋒，他帶給人的是悔改的洗禮，彼得和保羅都一致的看見，在一般情況下，除了要受水的洗禮外，還要受聖靈的洗，即使在特殊的情況下，那不可缺少的仍是聖靈的洗。

1. 愛的地位和實行

       『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) 這不只是說說而已，因『神愛世人，甚至將他的獨生子(耶穌)賜給他們，叫一切信他的，不至滅亡，反得永生。』(約翰福音 3:16) 那耶穌怎麼說呢？『…律法師…就問他說：「夫子，律法上的誡命，哪一條是最大的呢？」耶穌對他說：「你要盡心、盡性、盡意，愛主你的神。這是誡命中的第一，且是最大的。其次也相仿，就是要愛人如己。這兩條誡命是律法和先知一切道理的總綱。」』(馬太福音 22:35-40) 我以前不懂什麼叫愛人如己，那時我在患憂鬱症的中間，我實在不想別人和我一樣得到憂鬱症，突然意識到這不是愛人如己嗎？我自己不想有憂鬱症，因此也不要別人因憂鬱症而難受的如自己一樣，這不是愛別人嗎？即使我還不能做到愛人如己，在這件事情上，我總算想通了！保羅說得好，『如今常存的有信，有望，有愛；這三樣，其中最大的是愛。』(哥林多前書 13:13) 所以講愛的經文相當的多。

        在新約中提到的愛絕大多數是在講神的愛(G26)，G26 是名詞，G25 是動詞。在我們學習約翰福音前，我們來先看看愛的真諦，就是，『愛(G26)是恆久忍耐，(又有)是恩慈；愛是不嫉妒，愛是不自誇，不張狂，不作害羞的事(G807,G807)，不求自己的益處，不輕易發怒，不計算人的惡，不喜歡不義，只喜歡真理；凡事包容，凡事相信，凡事盼望，凡事忍耐；愛是永不止息。 …』(哥林多前書 13:4-8)

        首先我們要注意到人的愛是不能恆久忍耐的，必須要有神的愛，基督徒有內住的聖靈，『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) 我們已有神的愛，『… 因為所賜給我們的聖靈將神的愛澆灌在我們心裏。』(羅馬書 5:5) 我們要做的是，『…靠着聖靈治死身體的惡行，必要活着。』(羅馬書 8:13) 這就和釘十字架類似，自己不能把自己釘在十字架上的，一定非要別人釘不可，所以不靠著聖靈，我們不可能自己治死自己的老我的。以西結預言得好，『我也要賜給你們一個新心，將新靈放在你們裏面。又從你們的肉體中除掉石心，賜給你們肉心。我必將我的靈放在你們裏面，使你們順從我的律例，謹守遵行我的典章。』(以西結書 36:26-27) 我們知道聖靈會住在一個沒有罪的地方，雖然這裏沒有明講，祂只能住在新靈裏面，祂不是住在肉心中。雖然這個肉心也是新的，和罪無關，它和聖靈是不同的種類，聖靈不會在肉心裏。

     『我們有這寶貝放在瓦器裏，要顯明這莫大的能力，是出於神，不是出於我們。』(哥林多後書 4:7) 當老我被治死，就是那如瓦器的我被破碎，神的能力就因此會被顯現出來。這是一個窄門，而『你們要進窄門。因為引到滅亡，那門是寬的，路是大的，進去的人也多；引到永生，那門是窄的，路是小的，找着的人也少。』(馬太福音 7:13-14) 也就是要分辨感動真是出於聖靈，不要像提幔人以利法一樣，做了撒但的工作還以為在為神作工(參約伯記 4:12-21) 以前講過這點，就不多說了。

        一旦知道感動是從聖靈來，我們就要『不要消滅聖靈的感動。』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:19) 聖靈的感動是可以被接受的人消滅的，要不保羅就不會這樣說。因為生命只能從神來，就像經文所說，『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) 要想得生命，一定要聖靈的帶領。

     如果有聖靈的帶領，我們生活的一切都要被聖靈帶領，所以很顯然的，這也包括讀經時非要被聖靈引導不可，想想多少人會說我們還沒有準備好這樣讀經，從人的角度去查經，放在自己的手上，這樣怎麼會是治死老我呢？如果從人的角度度去查經，就會一旦和自己的想法不同，可能會去改變聖經的原意或甚至經文，好合乎自己的想法。我們實在是要從聖經的角度看事情，因為聖經是神所默示的，這也就是從神的角度看事情。不要像老底嘉的教會一樣，以為自己做了很多事情，在神眼中卻是一無是處，甚至將耶穌關在門外而不自知。(參啓示錄 3:14-22)

        我們的神不是一個命令一個動作的神，凡事都有聖靈感動才能前行，我們不是看到在以利法身上，聖靈不是沒有先感動他，而讓他自己分辨去做決定嗎？有很多人都教導，如果聖靈沒有感動，就要停在原地不動，這實在不是神的本意，和神要在以利法的身上所行的不符合。其實以利法即使是犯了錯誤，但神是有恩典有憐憫的神，給了他機會悔改而赦免了他，就像經文所說，『耶和華對約伯說話以後，就對提幔人以利法說：「我的怒氣向你和你兩個朋友發作，因為你們議論我不如我的僕人約伯說的是。現在你們要取七隻公牛，七隻公羊，到我僕人約伯那裏去，為自己獻上燔祭，我的僕人約伯就為你們祈禱。我因悅納他，就不按你們的愚妄辦你們。你們議論我，不如我的僕人約伯說的是。」於是，提幔人以利法、書亞人比勒達、拿瑪人瑣法，照着耶和華所吩咐的去行。…』(約伯記 42:7-9) 以利法的確是悔改了，因為他是照著耶和華所吩附的去行。

      聖靈的感動有時在最後一分鐘才來，在這種情況下我們是需要等待的。當我們要做一件事而沒有聖靈的感動時，我們仍然要站在神那一邊，要按著不強解的聖經話語去分辨是否該做，將聖經的話語作為我們行事的絕對準則。在這裏我們特別強調不強解聖經，不要扭曲聖經的原意，要知道神是無限，人是有限，要聖靈的帶領才可能不強解聖經。

     即使我們不小心選錯了，我們不是在以利法身上看到神是有憐憫有恩典的神嗎？在新約更是明說，『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) 真正的悔，一定會帶著有心要改的行動的，雖然有時會因自己的軟弱而犯同樣的錯誤，也會在下一次類似的情況中想要不犯同樣的錯誤，不是基督徒都不會戰敗的，只是戰敗後會再爬起來，所以基督徒會有屢敗屢戰的態度。

        我們來繼續看看愛的真諦，原文沒有又有兩字，直接說愛是恩慈，我們不是先前就看到神是有恩典有憐憫的神嗎？接著的三個是很清楚的我們就不多說，那不作害羞的事(G807,G807)是指什麼呢？尤其在原文中是用加強語氣的同一個字兩次。其實這字只出現在另一個經文中，就是『若有人以為自己待他的女兒不合宜(G807)，女兒也過了年歲，事又當行，他就可隨意辦理，不算有罪，叫二人成親就是了。』(哥林多前書 7:36) 就是說我們不做不合宜的而使人害羞的事。接著的幾項都很清楚，就不多講，一直到最後說愛是永不止息，原文好像是說從不失敗(never fail)，我們知道在現實的生活中，即使帶著愛去做一件事，也是會失敗的，所以不能這樣解釋，那究意是什麼意思呢？神愛世人，賜下祂的獨生子，在救恩中，耶穌的血永遠有效，不是『…將我們神的恩變作放縱情慾的機會，並且不認獨一的主宰──我們主耶穌基督。』(猶大書 1:4) 所以神的愛人是永遠的，但不喜歡人所犯的罪。所以這裏是說一旦在愛裏面，那愛不會失敗其存在，也就是神的愛是永遠存在的，所以是愛是永不止息，和合本的翻譯非常的好。以下我們就從約翰福音的起頭開始分享。

2. 同尊同榮的三位一體的神

        『太初有道，道與神同在，道就是神。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。生命在他裏頭，這生命就是人的光。光照在黑暗裏，黑暗卻不接受光。』(約翰福音 1:1-5)

        這是在講沒有時間之前，三位一體的神是同尊同榮的，在道成肉身的這段時間中，是明顯的有一個次序的，父差遣子，子不去，聖靈不來。這裏很清楚的說耶和華和耶穌(道)是神。聖靈也是神，因『彼得說：「亞拿尼亞，為甚麼撒但充滿了你的心，叫你欺哄聖靈，…你不是欺哄人，是欺哄神了！」』(使徒行傳 5:3-4) 至於是一體，我們可以從這經文看到，『以色列啊，你要聽！耶和華我們神(H3068)是獨一的主(H3068)。』(申命記 6:4) 請注意這裏的神和主是指一件事，因原文是用同一個字，重點是獨一的這字，這不就是說只有一體嗎？對於創造世界，三位一體的神都有份，這裏很清楚的說耶穌有份，聖靈也有份，因『地是空虛混沌，淵面黑暗；神的靈(聖靈)運行在水面上。』(創世記 1:2) 其實一開始就說，『起初神(H430, 複數)創造天地。』(創世記 1:1) 這裏的神用的是複數。

        生命在耶穌裏頭，這生命就是人的光，『光照在黑暗裏，黑暗卻不接受光。』(約翰福音 1:5) 對於會這樣的原因，經文說得很清楚，『光來到世間，世人因自己的行為是惡的，不愛光倒愛黑暗，定他們的罪就是在此。凡作惡的便恨光，並不來就光，恐怕他的行為受責備；但行真理的必來就光，要顯明他所行的是靠神而行。』(約翰福音 3:19-21) 

3. 施洗約翰的到來是為真光作見証

    『有一個人，是從神那裏差來的，名叫約翰。這人來，為要作見證，就是為光作見證，叫眾人因他可以信。他不是那光，乃是要為光作見證。那光是真光，照亮一切生在世上的人。他在世界，世界也是藉着他造的，世界卻不認識他。他到自己的地方來，自己的人倒不接待他。凡接待他的，就是信他名的人，他就賜他們權柄，作神的兒女。這等人不是從血氣生的，不是從情慾生的，也不是從人意生的，乃是從神生的。』(約翰福音 1:6-13)

       耶穌說得很清楚，『(施洗)約翰是點着的明燈，你們情願暫時喜歡他的光。』(約翰福音 5:35) 約翰來，乃是要為那真光作見證。但很顯然的，雖然祂來到藉祂所造的世界，這世界卻把祂釘在十字架上，救恩的計劃卻因此而完成了，所以耶穌在十字架上，『…嘗了那醋，就說：「成了！」便低下頭，將靈(魂)(spirit, G4151)交付神了。』(約翰福音 19:30) 在這裏說的是靈，合和本中靈和魂常不分，看到靈魂一辭時，看原文就很清楚的知道，到底是在說靈或者魂。

     『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)  這裏說，信祂名的人是從神生的，就是重生了，也就是耶穌回答尼哥底母時候說的，『…我實實在在地告訴你：人若不重生，就不能見神的國。』(約翰福音 3:3) 『耶穌說：「我實實在在地告訴你：人若不是從水和聖靈生的，就不能進神的國。從肉身生的，就是肉身；從靈生的，就是靈。我說『你們必須重生』，你不要以為希奇。風隨着意思吹，你聽見風的響聲，卻不曉得從哪裏來，往哪裏去；凡從聖靈生的，也是如此。」』(約翰福音 3:5-8) 這是聖靈的工作。 

        只是重生後的人也不一定每個都走得很好，『…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) 所以我們『務要謹守、警醒，…』(彼得前書 5:8) 即使想要走上成聖之路，人也會軟弱，並不是每個人會是得勝者，也就是說，『那些洗淨自己衣服的有福了！可得權柄能到生命樹那裏，也能從門進城。』(啓示錄 22:14) 這不是就是聖靈清楚的說，『…得勝的，我必將神樂園中生命樹的果子賜給他吃。』(啓示錄 2:7)

    生命樹是在新耶路撒冷城中，這經文說得很清楚，『天使又指示我在城內街道當中一道生命水的河，明亮如水晶，從神和羔羊的寶座流出來。在河這邊與那邊有生命樹，結十二樣果子，每月都結果子，樹上的葉子乃為醫治萬民。』(啓示錄 22:1-2) 所以這神樂園就是指新耶路撒冷城。不要不剛強而成為不能進城的墮落基督徒，成為聖經所說的，『城外有那些犬類、行邪術的、淫亂的、殺人的、拜偶像的，並一切喜好說謊言編造虛謊的。』(啓示錄 22:15) 那時會悔不當初，而只能咬牙切齒了！

      我們在油管(YouTube) 上可以看到這樣的人，有一個人曾信過而且成為神學教授，但因為以為聖經的無誤是指字句上的，就因此而墮落，甚至到反基督教的地步，寫了許多書，為一些人所歡迎。我們曾在『2111 聖經無誤論的真諦』中舉相當多的例子，詳細的討論了其真諦，你可以到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的網站後，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』，找到這篇文章。

4. 恩典和真理都是由耶穌基督而來

       『道成了肉身，住在我們中間，充充滿滿地有恩典，有真理。我們也見過他的榮光，正是父獨生子的榮光。(施洗)約翰為他作見證，喊着說：「這就是我曾說：『那在我以後來的，反成了在我以前的，因他本來在我以前。』」從他豐滿的恩典裏，我們都領受了，而且恩上加恩。律法本是藉着摩西傳的，恩典和真理都是由耶穌基督來的。從來沒有人看見神，只有在父懷裏的獨生子將他表明出來。』(約翰福音 1:14-18)

      (老)約翰親自看見了那充充滿滿的有恩典，有真理，道成了肉身的耶穌，就像天使加百列所『說：「必有童女懷孕生子，人要稱他的名為以馬內利。」（「以馬內利」翻出來就是「神與我們同在」。）』(馬太福音 1:23) 在那道成肉身的期間，甚至於祂的肉身都和那時的人如(老)約翰同在。施洗約翰非常清楚的知道，自己來只是為那後出生的真光作見証，也知道那真光本是在他之前。我們的確是恩上加恩的領受了那豐盛的恩典，我們要做的就是信，讓聖靈引導我們，當沒有聖靈引導時，也相信聖經的話是我們行事的絕對準則，用它來分辨一件事是否可行，站在神的那一邊。我們已講過這點，這裏再重復一次，因為這樣的態度非常重要。

        這裏很清楚的說，耶穌帶來了恩典和真理，而舊約的律法條文是藉著摩西傳的。『從來沒有人看見神，只有在父懷裏的獨生子將他表明出來。』(約翰福音 1:18) 這經文就是耶穌說的，『我與父原為一。』(約翰福音 10:30) 所以(老)約翰知道，見了耶穌就如同見了父神，而我們現在是藉著聖經知道這些事情。

     在耶穌的恩典和真理中，祂以遵守安息日作為示範，告訴我們祂不是在守律法上安息的時間，而是在守安息日的真諦，就像『…有人問耶穌說：「安息日治病，可以不可以？」意思是要控告他。耶穌說：「你們中間誰有一隻羊，當安息日掉在坑裏，不把牠抓住拉上來呢？人比羊何等貴重呢！所以，在安息日做善事是可以的。」』(馬太福音 12:10-12) 也在別的時候，很清楚的說，『…安息日是為人設立的，人不是為安息日設立的。所以，人子也是安息日的主。』(馬可福音 2:27-28) 以賽亞引用耶和華親口說的話說，『你若在安息日掉轉你的腳步，在我聖日不以操作為喜樂，稱安息日為可喜樂的，稱耶和華的聖日為可尊重的，而且尊敬這日，不辦自己的私事，不隨自己的私意，不說自己的私話，你就以耶和華為樂。…』(以賽亞書 58:13-14) 那時就已說了安息日的真諦，耶穌不是就這樣做了嗎？神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的，所以『天地廢去較比律法的一點一畫落空還容易。』(路加福音 16:17) 這是在指律法的真諦，不是指字句。

5. 施洗約翰是耶穌的開路先鋒

       『約翰所作的見證記在下面：猶太人從耶路撒冷差祭司和利未人到約翰那裏，問他說：「你是誰？」他就明說，並不隱瞞；明說：「我不是基督。」他們又問他說：「這樣，你是誰呢？是以利亞嗎？」 他說：「我不是。」 「是那先知嗎？」 他回答說：「不是。」於是他們說：「你到底是誰？叫我們好回覆差我們來的人。你自己說，你是誰？」他說：「我就是那在曠野有人聲喊着說：『修直主的道路』，正如先知以賽亞所說的。」那些人是法利賽人差來的。他們就問他說：「你既不是基督，不是以利亞，也不是那先知，為甚麼施洗呢？」約翰回答說：「我是用水施洗，但有一位站在你們中間，是你們不認識的，就是那在我以後來的，我給他解鞋帶也不配。」這是在約旦河外伯大尼，約翰施洗的地方作的見證。』(約翰福音 1:19-28)

        在人間，王的來臨前都有一個開路的，使大家讓他過去，至少中國有這樣的傳統。對那真光耶穌的道成肉身的顯現，施洗約翰來就是作為開路的，為王鋪平道路。所以這段一開始就說，施洗約翰是耶穌的開路先鋒，是在說這段經文的預言，『有人聲喊着說：「在曠野預備耶和華的路，在沙漠地修平我們神的道。一切山窪都要填滿，大小山岡都要削平。高高低低的要改為平坦，崎崎嶇嶇的必成為平原。耶和華的榮耀必然顯現，凡有血氣的必一同看見。因為這是耶和華親口說的。』(以賽亞書 40:3-5)

        施洗約翰清楚的說，他只能用水施洗，這就是保羅在以弗所對十二個門徒所說的，『…約翰所行的是悔改的洗，告訴百姓當信那在他以後要來的，就是耶穌。』(使徒行傳 19:4) 我們讀要整本聖經一起看，因聖經的一個寫法本就是「這裏一點、那裏一點」，就像這經文所說，『所以耶和華向他們說的話是：命上加命、令上加令，律上加律、例上加例，這裏一點、那裏一點。…』(以賽亞書 28:13)

      耶穌是非上十字架為我們流血去完成救恩不可，就像保羅說的，『我們藉這愛子的血得蒙救贖，過犯得以赦免，乃是照他豐富的恩典。』(以弗所書 1:7) 只有耶穌的寶血才能除罪。祂清楚的知道，『…我去是與你們有益的。我若不去，保惠師(聖靈)就不到你們這裏來；我若去，就差他來。』(約翰福音 16:7) 所以在耶穌道成肉身的那段時間裏是有一個次序的，父差子，子不去聖靈不來。這也就是彼得為哥尼流等外邦人奉耶穌基督的名給他們時對眾弟兄所說的，『我就想起主的話說：『約翰是用水施洗，但你們要受聖靈的洗。』神既然給他們恩賜，像在我們信主耶穌基督的時候給了我們一樣，我是誰，能攔阻神呢？』(使徒行傳 11:16-17, 並參使徒行傳 11:1-18) 既然聖靈已幫外邦人受洗了，彼得就使他們也用水洗了。

     『他們(那十二個人)聽見這話，就奉主耶穌的名受洗。保羅按手在他們頭上，聖靈便降在他們身上，他們就說方言，又說預言。』(使徒行傳 19:5-6) 所以他們不僅是要受悔改的水洗，更要受聖靈的洗，就像彼得所說的一樣，神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的。在特殊的情況下，耶穌對和他同釘十字架的一位強盗說，『…我實在告訴你：今日你要同我在樂園裏了。』(路加福音 23:43) 那位強盜跟本都沒有機會受水洗，但受了相當於聖靈的洗，因為三位一體的神中的耶穌親自告訴了他，死後可以去樂園了。這是一個特例，聖經並沒有說每一個基督都會是這樣。要相信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』。)

We have already and shared “faith” based on the Gospel of Luke, and we have just mentioned “hope” in the Book of Revelation. Because Christians want to live a life of faith, hope and love on earth, it is time to share some “love” related scriptures.  In fact, faith, hope and love are not independent, but influence each other. Most of the word ‘love’ mentioned in the New Testament is about the love of God. Let’s first look at the true meaning of this love. In fact, Christians have the indwelling Holy Spirit, and this love has been poured out on Christians through the Holy Spirit. Only by putting to death the old self can Christians demonstrate the love of God.  Since John is called the apostle of love, we will study the Gospel of John and also look at some scriptures that talk about love.​

First of all, we briefly explained why love has a lofty status among Christians, discussed the true meaning of love, and also saw that we should not eliminate the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. When there is no inspiration from the Holy Spirit, we must use the words of the Bible as our absolute standard to distinguish something and decide what the right thing to do or not. Important thing is that we still have to be on God’s side even in this case.  Second, let’s take a look at the Trinity, where three of them have with the same dignity and glory as mentioned at the beginning of the Gospel of John. We also see that they all had a share in creation. Jesus is the true light, and we also explain why people don’t accept that light.  Third, we have seen that John the Baptist came to bear witness to the true light, and we have also seen that it talks about rebirth. Not only that, but also to embark on the road to sanctification and become an overcomer who can enter the New Jerusalem.  Fourth, we said that both grace and truth come from Jesus Christ. John personally saw the incarnation of Jesus who was full of grace and truth.  In the grace and truth of Jesus, He used keeping the Sabbath as an example, and told us that He was not keeping the Sabbath time specified in the law, but the true meaning of the Sabbath. As Luke says, “But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail.”(Luke 16:17) This refers to the true meaning of the law.  Finally, we saw that John the Baptist was the pioneer of Jesus. What he brought to people was the baptism of repentance. Both Peter and Paul unanimously saw that in general, in addition to being baptized by water, a person must also be baptized by the Holy Spirit. Even in special circumstances, what is indispensable is the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

1. The status and practice of love

​”Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;

Lovingkindness and truth go before You.”(Psalm 89:14) This is not just talk, ““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.”(John 3:16) So what did Jesus say? “…a lawyer, asked Him a question, …, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.””(Matthew 22: 35-40) I didn’t know what it meant to love your neighbor as yourself. At that time, I was in the middle of depression. I really didn’t want others to suffer from depression like me. I suddenly realized that this is really about loving your neighbor as yourself.  I don’t want others to have depression similar to what I had, which implies that I don’t want them to suffer from depression as much as I do. Isn’t this loving others?  Even though I still can’t love my neighbor as myself completely, I finally figured it out at least in this event!  Paul said it well, “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”(1 Corinthians 13:13) So there are quite a lot of scriptures about love. ​

Most of the word ‘love’ mentioned in the New Testament is about God’s love (G26). G26 is a noun and G25 is a verb.  Before we study the Book of John, let us first take a look at the true meaning of love, which is, “Love (G26) is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly G807, G807); it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails; …”(1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

First of all, we must notice that human love cannot be endured for a long time. We must have the love of God. Christians have the Holy Spirit as the scripture says, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, …”(1 Corinthians 6:19) We have the love of God, “…because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”(Romans 5:5) What we have to do is, “…if you are living…by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”(Romans 8:13) This is similar to crucifixion. If you cannot crucify yourself, others must crucify you. Therefore, without relying on the Holy Spirit, we cannot put to death our old self.  Ezekiel prophesied well, “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”(Ezekiel 36:26-27) We know that the Holy Spirit will live in a place without sin. Although it is not explicitly stated here, He can only live in the new spirit, and He does not live in the heart of flesh.  Although this fleshly heart is also new and has nothing to do with sin, it is of a different type from the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit will not be in the fleshly heart.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.”(2 Corinthians 4:7) When the old self is put to death, the earthen vessel of me is broken, and God’s power will be revealed.  This is a narrow gate, and “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”(Matthew 7:13-14) That is to say, we must discern that the inspiration is really from the Holy Spirit, and do not be like Eliphaz the Temanite, who did the work of Satan and thought he was working for God. (see Job 4 :12-21) We’ve talked about this before, so we won’t say more.

Once we know that the inspiration comes from the Holy Spirit, we have to “Do not quench the Spirit.”(1 Thessalonians 5:19) The inspiration of the Holy Spirit can be annihilated by those who don’t accept it, otherwise Paul would not have said this.  Because life can only come from God, as the scripture says, “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) If you want to have life, you must be led by the Holy Spirit.

If there is the guidance of the Holy Spirit, everything in our lives must be led by the Holy Spirit. So obviously, this also includes the fact that we must be led by the Holy Spirit when reading the Bible. Think about how many people will say that we are not ready to read the Bible in this way. This is from the perspective of human, since studying the Bible this way is to put studying in your own hands. How could this be killing the old self?  If you study the Bible from the human perspective, once you have a different idea than what is described in the Bible, you may change the original meaning of the Bible or even the scriptures to suit your own ideas.  We really need to look at things from the perspective of the Bible, because the Bible is inspired by God. This means looking at things from God’s perspective.  Don’t be like the church in Laodicea, thinking that they have done many things but are worthless in the eyes of God, and even shut Jesus out without knowing it.  (See Revelation 3:14-22)

Our God is not a God who commands every action. Everything must be moved by the Holy Spirit before we can move forward. Didn’t we see that in Eliphaz, the Holy Spirit did not move him first, but let him make his own judgment and decision?  Many people teach that if one isn’t moved by the Holy Spirit, he should stay put. This is really not God’s original intention, and it is inconsistent with what God wanted to do in Eliphaz’s case.  In fact, even though Eliphaz made a mistake, God was gracious and merciful, and gave him the opportunity to repent and forgive him. Just as the scripture says, “It came about after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has. Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him so that I may not do with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.” So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD told them; …”(Job 42:7-9) Eliphaz indeed repented because he did what the Lord commanded him to do.

The inspiration of the Holy Spirit sometimes comes at the last minute, in which case we need to wait.  When we want to do something without the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we still have to stand on God’s side, judge whether we should do it according to the biblical words that cannot be construed by oneself, and use the biblical words as the absolute criterion for our actions.  Here we especially emphasize not to forcefully interpret the Bible or distort the original meaning of the Bible. We must know that God is infinite and humans are limited. Only with the guidance of the Holy Spirit can we not forcefully interpret the Bible.

Even if we accidentally make the wrong choice, don’t we see in Eliphaz’s case that God is a merciful and gracious God?  It is even more clearly stated in the New Testament, “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) True repentance will definitely be accompanied by a desire to change. Although sometimes you will make the same mistakes due to your own weakness, you will also want to avoid making the same mistakes next time in a similar situation. Wrong, it is not that Christians will never be defeated, but they will get up again after being defeated, so Christians will have the attitude of fighting after repeated defeats.​

Let’s continue to look at the true meaning of love. The next three virtues are very clear and we won’t go into details. So what does ‘unbecomingly’ (G807, G807) mean?  Especially in the original text, the same word is used twice to strengthen the tone.  In fact, this word only appears in one other scripture, that is, “But if any man thinks that he is acting unbecomingly (G807) toward his virgin daughter, if she is past her youth, and if it must be so, let him do what he wishes, he does not sin; let her marry.”(1 Corinthians 7:36) This means that we do not do anything inappropriate or embarrassing. 

The next few items are very clear, so we won’t go into details until the end when it says that love never fails. We know that in real life, even if you do something with love, things will fail, so it cannot be explained this way. So what does it mean?  God loves the world and gave His only begotten Son. In salvation, the blood of Jesus is always effective, despite “…ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”(Jude 1:4) But the blood of Jesus is for everyone no matter what. Therefore, God loves people forever, but he does not like the sins committed by people.  So here it is said that once in love, that love will never fail to exist. That is to say, God’s love will always exist, so love will never end. The translation of the Union Version is very good.  Let’s now start from the beginning of the Gospel of John.

2. The Trinity of God with the same dignity and glory

“​In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word 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. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”(John 1:1-5)

This is to say that before there was time, the Trinity God had the same dignity and glory. During the time of the incarnation, there was an obvious order. Father sent the Son, and the Holy Spirit would come only after the Son went. It is clearly stated here that Jehovah and Jesus (the Word) are God.  The Holy Spirit is also God, because “…Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.””(Acts 5: 3-4) As for being one, we can see from this verse, “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God (H3068), the LORD (H3058) is one!”(Deuteronomy 6:4) Please note that God and Lord here refer to the same, because the original text uses the same word, and the emphasis is on the word ‘one.’ Doesn’t this mean that there is only one?  The Trinity of Gods all had a share in the creation of the world. It is clearly stated here that Jesus had a share, and the Holy Spirit also had a share, because “The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.”(Genesis 1:2) In fact, it says “In the beginning God (H430, plural) created the heavens and the earth.”(Genesis 1:1) God here used plural.

Life is in Jesus, and this life is the light of men. “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:5) As for the reason for this, the scripture is very clear, “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.”(John 3:19-21)

3. John the Baptist came to bear witness to the true light

“​There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”(John 1:6-13)

Jesus made it very clear, “He (John the Baptist) was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.”(John 5:35) John came to bear witness to the true light.  But it is clear that even though He came into the world He had created, and the world nailed Him to the cross, however the plan of salvation was accomplished. So in the cross, “…when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”(John 19:30)

“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) It is said here that whoever believes in His name is born of God, that is, he is reborn. This is what Jesus said when he answered Nicodemus, “…Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”(John 3:3) “Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”(John 3:5-8) This is the work of the Holy Spirit. ​

It’s just that not everyone who has been regenerated may walk well, because “Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”(1 Peter 5:8) Therefore, we must “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. …”(1 Peter 5:8) Even if we want to embark on the road to sanctification, people will be weak. Not everyone will be the overcomers, that is to say, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.”(Revelation 22:14) Doesn’t this mean that the Holy Spirit clearly says, “To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.”(Revelation 2:7)

The tree of life is in the city of New Jerusalem. This scripture makes it very clear, “Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”(Revelation 22:1-2) Therefore, this paradise of God refers to the city of New Jerusalem.  Don’t be weak and become a fallen Christian who cannot enter the city. When you are like what the Bible says, “Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.”(Revelation 22:15) Then you will regret it and can only gnash your teeth!

We can see such people on YouTube. There is a person who once believed in and became a professor of theology, but because he thought that the inerrancy of the Bible refers to the words, he fell because of this, even to the point of being anti-Christian. He wrote many books which are popular with some people.  We have given quite a few examples in “1111 The True Meaning of Biblical Inerrancy” and discussed its true meaning in detail. You can go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/” and click “Understanding of Spiritual Life” to find this article.

4. Grace and truth come from Jesus Christ

​”And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John (the Baptist) testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’” For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”(John 1:14-18) ​

 (Old) John personally saw the incarnate Jesus, full of grace and truth, just as the angel Gabriel said, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.””(Matthew 1:23) During the incarnation, even His flesh was with the people at that time just like (old) John.  John the Baptist knew very clearly that he came only to bear witness to the true light that was born afterward, and he also knew that the true light was before him.  We have indeed received the abundant grace from grace to grace. All we have to do is believe and let the Holy Spirit guide us. When there is no guidance from the Holy Spirit, we also believe that the words of the Bible are the absolute rules for our actions and use them to distinguish something to decide whether something is possible or not, always stand on God’s side.  We have said this before and we say it again because this attitude is so important.

It is very clear here that Jesus brought grace and truth, and the legal provisions of the Old Testament were passed down through Moses. “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”(John 1:18) This scripture is what Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.”(John 10:30) So (old) John knew that seeing Jesus was like seeing God the Father, and we now know these things through the Bible.

In the grace and truth of Jesus, He used Sabbath keeping as an example, telling us that He was not keeping the time for resting in the law, but keeping the true meaning of the Sabbath, just like “And a man was there whose hand was withered. And they questioned Jesus, asking, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”⁠—so that they might accuse Him. And He said to them, “What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”(Matthew 12:10-12)

At other times, it was clearly stated, “…The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”(Mark 2:27-28) Isaiah quoted the words of the Lord himself: “If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot

From doing your own pleasure on My holy day, And call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable, And honor it, desisting from your own ways, From seeking your own pleasure And speaking your own word, Then you will take delight in the LORD, And I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; And I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”(Isaiah 58:13-14) The true meaning of the Sabbath was already stated at that time. Didn’t Jesus do this?  What God tells us through the Bible is consistent, so the verse below refers to the true meaning of the law, not the letter. “But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail.”(Luke 16:17)

5. John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus

“​This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them saying, “I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.”(John 1:19-28)

In the human world, before the king comes, there is always someone who opens the way for everyone to let him pass. At least China has this tradition.  For the incarnate appearance of the true light, Jesus, John the Baptist came to open the way and pave the way for the king.  So the beginning of this passage says that John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus, speaking of the prophecy of this passage, “A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. “Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley; Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.””(Isaiah 40:3-5)​

John the Baptist made it clear that he could only baptize with water. This is what Paul said to the twelve disciples in Ephesus, “Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.””(Acts 19:4) We need to read the entire Bible together, because one way of writing in the Bible is “a little here and a little there”, as this scripture says, “So the word of the LORD to them will be, “Order on order, order on order,

Line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there,” …”(Isaiah 28:13)

Jesus had to go to the cross and shed His blood for us to complete our salvation. Just as Paul said, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”(Ephesians 1:7) Only the blood of Jesus can take away sin.  He clearly knew, “…it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”(John 16:7) So there was a sequence during the time when Jesus became flesh. The Father sent the Son, and the Holy Spirit would not come until the Son went. This is what Peter said to the brothers when he baptized Cornelius and other gentiles in the name of Jesus Christ, “And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”(Acts 11:16-17, and see Acts 11:1-18) Since the Holy Spirit had baptized the Gentiles, Peter caused them to also be baptized with water.

“When they (the twelves) heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.”(Acts 19:5-6) So they not only need to be baptized with the water of repentance, but also need to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Just as Peter said, what God tells us through the Bible is consistent.  In a special situation, Jesus said to one of the criminals who were crucified with Him, “…Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”(Luke 23:43) The criminal had no opportunity to be baptized in water, but he was baptized by the Holy Spirit because Jesus, the Trinity God, personally told him that he could go to paradise after death.  This is a special case, and the Bible does not say that every Christ will be like this.  We must believe that what God tells us through the Bible is consistent.

 ​(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.”)

一般人常以为圣经无误论是指字句上的，如果是字句上的，就会发现有明显的矛盾，这时就只能自己骗自己说，原版的圣经是没有错误的，反正原版的圣经已失传，没有人可以证实这点。我们知道圣经的确是神所默示的，当我们看到明显的矛盾时，我们要思想的是为什么神要默示这明显的矛盾给我们，祂究竟想借著这明显的矛盾告诉我们什么？当我们不强解圣经时，就会发觉圣经的确是无误的，神借圣经告诉我们是一致的，在这里我们就从这个方向来看圣经，因为神是无限，人是有限，我们不可能看到所有这样的例子，只能举出一些例子来解释这原则。        

以下就从三方面来看这些例子，首先我们借著一个例子去说明神默示明显的矛盾是要告诉我们什么？第二，我们从相信「神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的」著手，来看一些貌似有明显矛盾经文的例子和其解说。最后，我们解说了油管(YouTube)上一个视频中提到的九个明显矛盾的例子。

1. 神默示明显的矛盾是要告诉我们什么？           

如果你还没有看过，「Watch “CXCY〈诚心呈义〉40分钟了解所有圣经中明显矛盾的经文” on YouTube」，请你先看看，不过我会尽量使这视频能够独立观看，他的链结为: https://youtu.be/z5ZY9Lg9-GQ?si=7TnGQ0tWpn_XXmbn。        

首先我真的希望庄弟兄能够谦卑点，不要把题目定为「了解圣经中所有明显矛盾的经文」，问题很明显的出在『所有』这辞上。神是无限，人是有限，神可以随时随地的如祂开以利沙的仆人的眼睛般(参圣经．和合本, 列王纪下 6:8-23)，让我们看见我们不知道的事情。有时这看见是借著对网路或别人话语的分辩，保罗说得好，『若有人以为自己知道甚么，按他所当知道的，他仍是不知道。』(哥林多前书 8:2) 保罗是很谦卑的人，所以他会讲这句话。可是知道这句话的人不一定谦卑，就像我以前分享过，我知道这句话，但在神给我的环境中，我看到自己绝对不够谦卑。在这里我们还可以强调以前分享的一点，就是读经时不能随便划等号！

谦卑是很难学到的，我们在这经文中，『…耶和华已经寻著一个合他心意的人，立他作百姓的君，…』(撒母耳记上 13:14) 可以很明显的看到那时大卫就是合神心意的人，但他在老年数民时仍说，『…我好知道他们的数目。』(撒母耳记下 24:2) 『大卫数点百姓以后，就心中自责，祷告耶和华说：「我行这事大有罪了。耶和华啊，求你除掉仆人的罪孽，因我所行的甚是愚昧。」』(撒母耳记下 24:10) 他在至少九个多月的那时才意识到心中的骄傲，因而祷告耶和华除掉他的罪孽。     

耶和华借著迦得给了他三个选择，他非常了解神，于是他选择了，『…愿落在耶和华的手里，因为他有丰盛的怜悯，我不愿落在人的手里。』(撒母耳记下 24:14) 当『大卫看见灭民的天使，就祷告耶和华说：「我犯了罪，行了恶；但这群羊做了甚么呢？愿你的手攻击我和我的父家。』(撒母耳记下 24:17)  所以那时已死了不少的民众，从他的祷告中我们看到了他的忧心和痛苦，看出这的确对他是一个惩罸，而不像其他的人可能会觉得，只要我没事，众民的死与我何干！请注意，经文说，『天使向耶路撒冷伸手要灭城的时候，耶和华后悔，就不降这灾了，…』(撒母耳记下 24:16) 这是在大卫祷告前就已发生了。大卫的骄傲被除去了，『因为大卫除了赫人乌利亚那件事，都是行耶和华眼中看为正的事，一生没有违背耶和华一切所吩咐的。』(列王纪上 15:5) 大卫生前被惩罚过的事，圣经就不会再题，就如拔示巴的事情，他们的儿子死了，且耶和华说，『你既藐视我，…所以刀剑必永不离开你的家。』(撒母耳记下 12:10) 且说，『你在暗中行这事，我却要在以色列众人面前、日光之下报应你。』(撒母耳记下 12:12)        

当有人见证自己已学会了谦卑，我实在是为他的骄傲担心，因为从他的表现，我不会觉得他会比大卫更好，至少神没对那人说过他是合神心意的人。我相信他是骄傲到自己看不到自己的骄傲，就像我以前分享过，我以前有过这样的经验，所会对这件事相当敏感。这作见证的人还不是很老就以为自己学到了谦卑，而大卫年老时仍没有学到，我只能够下结论说，这人是骄傲到看不到自己的骄傲，大卫不是那时事情已发生了，他也至少有九个多月仍不能意识到自己的骄傲吗？     

保罗说，『…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)，使他儿子在许多弟兄中作长子。』(罗马书 8:29) 所以基督徒是要模成耶稣的形像，而耶稣说，『我心里柔和谦卑，…』(马太福音 11:29) 所以要能谦卑是不可或缺的。知道自己不够谦卑不是完全没有用，因为知道自己的状况是能行的第一步，是和这经文在同样的原则下，『可见信道是从听道来的，听道是从基督的话来的。』(罗马书 10:17) 基督徒相信整本圣经都是神所默示的，因此从圣经的角度看事情就是从神角度看事情。基督的话都在圣经里面，岂可不「读出来」神借圣经告诉我们的，不要将自己的想法读进去。        

在那视频中，我要先指出来『所有』这辞是不对的，不过能把一些有明显矛盾的经文放在一起，绝对是有帮助的，只是要解释正确。要从相信「神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的」著手，而不是错误的相信圣经的无误是指字句上的，在这里我们不是看到了一些字句上有明显矛盾的例子吗？当我们看到了明显的矛盾时，要问的是，神默示这些明显的矛盾，到底是要告诉我们什么？所以我要借著在网路上看到的，一个没有在这里讨论的明显矛盾，所以绝不是所有的明显矛盾都在那视频中。我们就看看刚才分享的原则是怎么说的，最后就依照这原则来看那视频所提到的，有九个明显矛盾的地方。        

首先我们来看还有其他明显矛盾的例子。当耶稣被引到旷野受魔鬼的试探时，主要的是记录了三件事(参马太福音 4:1-11, 路加福音 4:1-13)，如果你比较两本福音书的记载，就会发觉这三件事的顺序是不同的，于是就有人看见了这明显的矛盾。马太是使徒，而路加明讲，『这些事我既从起头都详细考察了，就定意要按著次序写给你。』(路加福音 1:3) 到底是谁对？两个都对。为什么呢？前三本福音书包括马可福音都一致记载这事情发生在耶稣受洗后，所以路加福音所讲的次序是指事情发生的次序，而不是个别事件的次序。那么神要借著这些事件上明显的矛盾告诉我们什么呢？        

至少告诉我们有下列几个点，第一是注意到这次的试探这事情不是只有这三个事件。第二是要我们注意到，『魔鬼用完了各样的试探，就「暂时」离开耶稣。』(路加福音 4:13) 希伯来书不是就说祂以后继续受试探吗？『因我们的大祭司(耶稣基督)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) 神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的。第三是试探的本身要告诉我们的一些事，譬如说，『…人活著不是单靠食物，乃是靠神口里所出的一切话。』(路加福音 4:4) 这里很清楚的说，基督徒需要地上的食物和灵粮，缺一不可。

2. 貌似有明显矛盾经文的例子        

有些貌似有明显矛盾的经文，实在是由于我们自己没有读懂，我就举一个例子。在庄弟兄的另一个视频，https://youtu.be/UWsXES2gRr4?si=a9RqDzD_ID8iWU3N，是有关「摩西五经真是摩西所写的？」约在12:15分时提到了这两处经文，『凡有血肉的活物，每样两个，一公一母，你要带进方舟，好在你那里保全生命。』(创世记 6:19) 和『凡洁净的畜类，你要带七公七母；不洁净的畜类，你要带一公一母。』(创世记 7:2) 因而问到底洁净的畜类要带几个上方舟？从神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的来看，这就很清楚。        

首先是没有注意到一公一母是指种类，因为接著说，『飞鸟各从其类，牲畜各从其类，地上的昆虫各从其类，每样两个，要到你那里，好保全生命。』(创世记 6:20) 七公七母是实际上方舟的数目。要不，当『挪亚为耶和华筑了一座坛，拿各类洁净的牲畜、飞鸟献在坛上为燔祭。』(创世记 8:20) 如果上方舟的洁净畜类只有一公一母，那洁净的畜类岂不是要绝种了吗？        

我们再看看这节经文，『谁知道人的灵(H7307)是往上升，兽的魂(H7307)是下入地呢？』(传道书 3:21)  原文两个地方都用的是灵，我们知道兽是没有灵的，当我们注意到在希伯来的文化中灵和魂是可以互换的，虽是不同的字，但有著同样的意义，就像二点半和二时三十分，虽是不同的字，意义是相同的。在中文里，灵魂通常都是一起讲的，所以圣经中讲灵的地方和合本常翻成灵魂，同样的，圣经是讲魂的地方和合本也常翻成灵魂，这会常常造成灵和魂不分，只有少数地方是明讲了！所以要看汇编的原文才会清楚。    

我不知道为什么有人会用二分法以为人由体和灵魂构成，其实这可从旧约神给亚当的命令看到这样是不对的，『只是分别善恶树上的果子，你不可吃，因为你吃的日子必定死。』(创世记 2:17) 神不会骗人的，这是指灵死了，因圣经明讲魂走的时候人就死了，『她(拉结)将近于死，(灵)魂(H5315)要走的时候，…』(创世记 35:18) 而『亚当共活了九百三十岁就死了。』(创世记 5:5) 所以亚当的体和魂还活著，但灵死了。如果是用二分法，灵魂就会一部份死而另一部份活，不会有这样的东西存在的。        

新约明讲了人由灵、魂、和体三者构成，『…愿你们的灵与魂与身子得蒙保守，…』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:23) 也就是三分法是对的。而说到灵和魂是可分的经文是在，『神的道是活泼的，是有功效的，比一切两刃的剑更快，甚至魂与灵、骨节与骨髓，都能刺入、剖开，连心中的思念和主意都能辩明。』(希伯来书 4:12) 其实，如果我们把新旧约放在一起看，就会发觉人死时是灵先走，然后魂去了，体就死了，关于后者这点，我们刚才已经在拉结身上看到，所以我们只要看到死时是灵先走就可以了。我们在睚鲁的女儿身上可看到这点，『…耶稣说：「不要哭！她不是死了，是睡著了。」』(路加福音 8:52) 然后，『耶稣拉著她的手，呼叫说：「女儿，起来吧！」她的灵(魂)(G4151)便回来，她就立刻起来了。…』(路加福音 8:54-55) 她的魂还在身上因而只是睡了，当灵回来她就起来了，所以三分法是对的。        

最后在寇绍涵牧师的视频，https://youtu.be/MZCBK7nArbU?si=54YOmwPmnDI_gr1T， 有关「圣经难题 圣经真的无误吗」，约在1分时提到了一个数目上有明显矛盾的例子，他也提到了这明显矛盾是如何解决的。对这明显的矛盾，我们先看三节经文：『属革顺的，…其中被数、从一个月以外所有的男子，共有七千五百名。』(民数记 3:21-22) 『属哥辖的，…按所有男子的数目，从一个月以外看守圣所的，共有八千六百名。』(民数记 3:27-28) 『属米拉利的，…他们被数的，按所有男子的数目，从一个月以外的，共有六千二百名。』(民数记 3:33-34) 这三个加起来就是利未支派的总人数，共两万两千三百人。但后来的一节说，『凡被数的利未人，就是摩西、亚伦照耶和华吩咐所数的，按著家室，从一个月以外的男子，共有二万二千名。』(民数记 3:39) 这不是看到了有三百人的差距吗？难道圣经连加法也会错吗？顺便一提，这是耶和华要他们数民的，和大卫因自己的骄傲而数民大不相同。

我们再看下列的经文，『耶和华对摩西说：「你要从以色列人中数点一个月以外凡头生的男子，把他们的名字记下。我是耶和华，你要拣选利未人归我，代替以色列人所有头生的；也取利未人的牲畜代替以色列所有头生的牲畜。」摩西就照耶和华所吩咐的，把以色列人头生的都数点了。按人名的数目，从一个月以外，凡头生的男子，共有二万二千二百七十三名。』(民数记 3:40-43) 最后是『以色列人中头生的男子，比利未人多二百七十三个，必当将他们赎出来。你要按人丁，照圣所的平，每人取赎银五舍客勒（一舍客勒是二十季拉）。』(民数记 3:46-47) 这是发生过的事，所以数目的正确在这里是非常重要的。

他花了相当多的时间讨论究竟是怎么回事，结论是这必须要从希伯来文才能看出来。希伯来文的三是这样写「שׁלושׁ」，而六则是这样写「שׁשׁ」，当手抄本发生龟裂时，三的中间部份看不到了，就变成了六。因此应该是，『属哥辖的，…按所有男子的数目，从一个月以外看守圣所的，共有八千三百名。』(民数记 3:27-28) 所以加起来利未支派是两万两千人，这样就会一致了。有时必须要专家们详细探讨一个问题，才能还原圣经所要说的。

3. 那视频中提到的九个明显矛盾例子的解说         

我们就从「神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的」，来看那视频中提到的一些明显的矛盾。那视频很多都是在讲数目上的矛盾，看第一个引用的经文约在1:00分，是『约雅斤登基的时候，年十八岁，在耶路撒冷作王三个月。…』( 列王纪下 24:8) 和这节经文数目上有明显矛盾的经文是，『约雅敬登基的时候年二十五岁，在耶路撒冷作王十一年，行耶和华他神眼中看为恶的事。』(历代志下 36:5)  对，重要的不是数目上的一致，所以这里要告诉我们的是，不要把目光放在数目上，因为我们一看到极少数有明显矛盾的地方，就会因此注意到，「神借著圣经告诉我们的讯息是一致的」。那这里神要告诉我们什么？就是那视频在约32:30分的地方所讲的，是约雅斤不应该做耶和华眼中视为恶的事，这才是重点，是神要告诉我们的事情。相信神借圣经告诉我们的讯息是一致的，不任意修改圣经才会清楚的看到，神默示明显的矛盾要告诉我们什么。           

我们来看一个没有明显矛盾的经文，就知道圣经上说的数目经常是大概的，数目上一定要一致不是这么的重要。『耶和华对亚伯兰说：「你要的确知道，你的后裔必寄居别人的地，又服事那地的人，那地的人要苦待他们四百年。』(创世记 15:13) 确实的时间是『以色列人住在埃及共有四百三十年。正满了四百三十年的那一天，耶和华的军队都从埃及地出来了。』(出埃及记 12:40-41) 所以圣经许多数目是在一般情况下是讲大概的数目，但也有例外的特例。           

如刚才所讲在寇绍涵牧师的视频中数目是正确的，另一个不同的例子是当记录亚当的后代时，我们从不同的原因，也数目是准确的。当数目正确时，我们才可以算出马土撒拉和洪水来时是同一天，因『玛土撒拉活到一百八十七岁，生了拉麦。』(创世记 5:25) 『拉麦活到一百八十二岁，生了一个儿子，给他起名叫挪亚，…』(创世记 5:28-29) 所以挪亚是玛土撒拉 187 + 182 = 369 岁时生的。而『当挪亚六百岁，…』(创世记 7:11) 洪水来了，就是在玛土撒拉 369 + 600 = 969 岁时发生的，而『玛土撒拉共活了九百六十九岁就死了。』(创世记 5:27) 只是圣经没有明讲，玛土撒拉是被洪水淹死的，或是他一死，洪水就来，即然神说我们不需要知道，尊重神，就不要猜，其实猜也不会有结论的，只是猜而已。我们该做的是要分辩特例和一般的情况。         

我们再用同样的原则来看其他的例子。约4:24分时提到了第二组的明显的矛盾。首先，『他(亚哈谢)登基的时候年二十二岁，在耶路撒冷作王一年。他母亲名叫亚她利雅，是以色列王暗利的孙女。亚哈谢效法亚哈家，行耶和华眼中看为恶的事，与亚哈家一样。因为他是亚哈家的女婿。』(列王纪下 8:26-27) 和这经文时间上有冲突的是，『亚哈谢登基的时候年四十二岁，在耶路撒冷作王一年。他母亲名叫亚她利雅，是暗利的孙女。亚哈谢也行亚哈家的道，因为他母亲给他主谋，使他行恶。』(历代志下 22:2-3)  亚哈谢几岁登基不重要，神要我们看见的是他的母亲的资讯，使得他行耶和华眼中看为恶的事。    

而最终我们看到，『亚哈谢的母亲亚她利雅见她儿子死了，就起来剿灭王室。』(列王纪下 11:1)  在这里我们就看到了神的介入，『但约兰王的女儿、亚哈谢的妹子约示巴，将亚哈谢的儿子约阿施从那被杀的王子中偷出来，把他和他的乳母都藏在卧房里，躲避亚她利雅，免得被杀。约阿施和他的乳母藏在耶和华的殿里六年，亚她利雅篡了国位。』(列王纪下 11:2-3) 如果没有神的介入，就会像那视频所说的，消灭了大卫的后裔，破坏了神的救恩的计划，这是神要借著这明显的矛盾要我们看见，祂会在适当的时间介入，不会去破坏祂的计划的。这就犹如在约伯记中祂本是要祝福约伯，在适当的时间到时，祂会亲自介入，也就是，『那时，耶和华从旋风中回答约伯说：』(约伯记 38:1)  祂开始亲自介了去完成祂原先的计划。         

约6:35分时提到了第三组明显的矛盾，『他又铸一个铜海，样式是圆的，高五肘，径十肘，围三十肘。…海厚一掌，边如杯边，又如百合花，可容二千罢特。』(列王纪上 7:23-26) 而另一处经文说，『又铸一个铜海，样式是圆的，高五肘，径十肘，围三十肘。…海厚一掌，边如杯边，又如百合花，可容三千罢特。』(历代志下 4:2-5)  到底铜海的容量是二千或三千罢特重要吗？铜海的功用才是我们要注意到的，这是摩西造会幕时没有必要的。『…又将海放在殿门的右旁，就是南边。』(列王纪上 7:39) 这是因以色列人以右边的为大。当摩西建造会幕时，『…都要照著在山上指示你的样式。』(出埃及记 25:40, 及参出埃及记 26:30, 27:8) 我们以前讨论过，这是因为在地上的要反映出在天上的。造圣殿的原则也是一样的，『大卫说：「这一切工作的样式，都是耶和华用手划出来使我明白的。」』(历代志上 28:19) 从历代志上 28:11-18，就可以看到这一切是指属灵的事，所以属地的事会有不同的需要，但在属灵的事上两者是一致的。

约10分时，提到了第四组明显的矛盾，一是在『所罗门有套车的马四万，还有马兵一万二千。』(列王纪上 4:26) 和这矛盾的经文是在『所罗门有套车的马四千棚，有马兵一万二千，安置在屯车的城邑和耶路撒冷，就是王那里。』(历代志下 9:25) 那视频详细的解释了为什么这里有数目上明显的矛盾，就像那视频所说的，耶路撒冷是位在犹大的山地，并不适合战车马兵的行动，因此安排在耶路撒冷的战车和马兵完全是用来炫耀排场的，这才是神要我们借著这明显的矛盾注意到的。到目前为止，所有的明显的矛盾都是发生在列王纪和历代志，如果有了这四次，我们还不能意识到神要借这明显的矛盾传达给我们的讯息，夫复何言！         

约11:58分提到了第五组明显的矛盾，这时到了新约，一在两处经文，『当希律王的时候，耶稣生在犹太的伯利恒。有几个博士从东方来到耶路撒冷，说：』(马太福音 2:1) 和『当犹太王希律的时候，亚比雅班里有一个祭司，名叫撒迦利亚。他妻子是亚伦的后人，名叫伊利沙伯。』(路加福音 1:5) 这两处经文一致的说，耶稣都是出生在大希律王的时候。有明显矛盾的经文是在『当那些日子，凯撒亚古士督有旨意下来，叫天下人民都报名上册。这是居里扭作叙利亚巡抚的时候，头一次行报名上册的事。众人各归各城，报名上册。约瑟也从加利利的拿撒勒城上犹太去，到了大卫的城，名叫伯利恒。因他本是大卫一族一家的人，要和他所聘之妻马利亚一同报名上册。…』(路加福音 2:1-5)    

在那视频提到，根据犹太历史学家约瑟夫斯的记载，有居里扭做巡抚的时间，那视频详细的说明，这就会和耶稣出生的时间不合。这是假设历史的记载是对的才会产生的明显矛盾，但记载往往不见得对，看看中国近代史就很清楚的知道这点，神要我们看见，当历史的记载和圣经的记载矛盾时，我们要以神默示的圣经为准，不要本末倒置，因为历史的记载是会有错误的，而神的话则是永远对的。关于后者，我们可以举一个例子，约伯记说，『神…将大地悬在虚空。』(约伯记 26:7) 当时的人会想，这怎么会有可能呢？而如今，在太空船中可以真实的看到这点，知道神的话是对的。

约16:45分时提到了第六组明显的矛盾，一是在『安息日将尽，七日的头一日，天快亮的时候，抹大拉的马利亚和那个马利亚来看坟墓。忽然，地大震动，因为有主的使者从天上下来，把石头滚开，坐在上面。』(马太福音 28:1-2) 所以是她们看到了石头被移开。那视频看到相对应的矛盾经文有三处，是在『七日的第一日清早，天还黑的时候，抹大拉的马利亚来到坟墓那里，看见石头从坟墓挪开了。』(约翰福音 20:1) 和『过了安息日，抹大拉的马利亚和雅各的母亲马利亚并撒罗米，买了香膏要去膏耶稣的身体。七日的第一日清早，出太阳的时候，她们来到坟墓那里，彼此说：「谁给我们把石头从墓门滚开呢？」那石头原来很大，她们抬头一看，却见石头已经滚开了。』(马可福音 16:1-4) 及『看见石头已经从坟墓滚开了。』(路加福音 24:2)  这三处经文都说石头已滚开了，因此有了到底石头有没有滚开的争论。其实我们如果我们相信神借圣经告诉我们是一致的，并且不把圣经的话打折扣，我们就会有正确的看见，发觉这里跟本没有明显的矛盾。以前我们在『2085 耶稣的死、安葬、和有争议性的复活的细节 -耶稣(37) 』中的『3. 耶稣的复活的细节』详细的讨论过这点，请到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』，按『对属灵生命的了解』，找到这篇文章。

约19:38分说到第七组明显的矛盾是有关耶稣升天的地方。首先看这些经文，『耶稣领他们到伯大尼的对面，就举手给他们祝福。正祝福的时候，他就离开他们，被带到天上去了。』(路加福音 24:50-51) 很清楚这里是说耶稣是在伯大尼升天的。使徒行传却说祂升天的地方是靠近耶路撒冷的橄榄山，因『说了这话，他们正看的时候，他就被取上升，有一朵云彩把他接去，便看不见他了。当他往上去，他们定睛望天的时候，忽然有两个人身穿白衣，站在旁边，说：「加利利人哪，你们为甚么站著望天呢？这离开你们被接升天的耶稣，你们见他怎样往天上去，他还要怎样来。」有一座山，名叫橄榄山，离耶路撒冷不远，约有安息日可走的路程。当下，门徒从那里回耶路撒冷去。』(使徒行传 1:9-12) 而『伯大尼离耶路撒冷不远，约有六里路。』(约翰福音 11:18) 就像那视频所说，正常人是不能看见同一个人在这两个不同地方的。所以神是要我们注意到，『闪电从东边发出，直照到西边；人子降临，也要这样。』(马太福音 24:27) 且要确定我们注意到，『…你们见他怎样往天上去，他还要怎样来。』(使徒行传 1:11) 不要人的角度看这事情，耶稣再来的时候，这些都不是问题。        

约29分是第八组有关保罗见大光的事，先是『同行的人站在那里，说不出话来，听见声音，却看不见人。扫罗从地上起来，睁开眼睛，竟不能看见甚么。有人拉他的手，领他进了大马士革。』(使徒行传 9:7-8) 在使徒行传最后则说，『与我同行的人看见了那光，却没有听明(汇编直写没有听见)那位对我说话的声音。』(使徒行传 22:9) 到底同行的人有没有听见？神要我们在这里看见什么？首先我们注意到保罗看见那光是和同行的人看见的光是不同的，只有保罗看见的光能使他暂时不能看见。神要我们注意到，声音也同样是不同的，和他同行的人是如使徒行传22:9所说，没有听见声音，在使徒行传9:7的声音，只是保罗以为他们听到了和他听到同样的声音，读经不能段章取义，要相信神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的，这是非常的重要，没有这一点，就会看到许多明显的矛盾，不能体会神为什么要这样的默示。所以，非要这样，才可能不强解圣经。

约30:45分，第九组是说到关于和平的争议，先是看三节经文，『在至高之处荣耀归与神！在地上平安归与他所喜悦的人！』(路加福音 2:14) 『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) 『神借著耶稣基督（他是万有的主）传和平的福音，将这道赐给以色列人。』(使徒行传 10:36)           这些经文看起来和下列的经文冲突，『你们不要想，我来是叫地上太平；我来并不是叫地上太平，乃是叫地上动刀兵。因为我来是叫『人与父亲生疏，女儿与母亲生疏，媳妇与婆婆生疏。人的仇敌就是自己家里的人。』(马太福音 10:34-36) 到底耶稣有没有带来和平，如果我们不强解圣经，会发觉神借著圣经告诉我们的讯意是一致的，在这里就可以看见，刚才所说的是和这些经文所说的类似，『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。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 3:17-18) 所以耶稣的本意的确是带著和平而来，当家中的人不相信，而阻止我们信仰的时候，难道不是『人的仇敌就是自己家里的人』吗？即使是家人相信，每个人信的程度也会不一样，因此神也会允许他们成为我们的环境。         

的确只有耶稣是唯一的真理，但我们有关耶稣的知识由圣经而来，这是一体的两面，『因为神的义正在这福音上显明出来，这义是本于信，以至于信。…』(罗马书 1:17) 我们不只是因最初的信仅仅得救，而要走上成圣之路，这样才能本于信，以致于信，能够在成圣的路上行，我们也才有可能在基督里，被模成耶稣的形像，与主完全的合一。

(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』。)