In these seven churches, we can see different things happened, which reflect some of the situations of our current churches.  First of all, we see that the Lord’s narratives in the first three chapters of Revelation are quite different. We must combine them, that is, the description that fits all the narratives. This is a way of writing in the Bible, a little here and a little there.  In the church in Thyatira, we saw how terrible false teaching from a human perspective can be and how it can tempt people to sin!  The church should not tolerate such teaching.  There is also mention of the rewards of the overcomers.  The second one mentions the serious judgment against the church in Sardis, but there are still a few overcomers who can enter the New Jerusalem city, and teaches them how to be overcomers and their rewards. We also see the consistency of the Bible from this.  The third is to talk about the church in Philadelphia that many people admire. This church has a door that cannot be closed. It talks about what they have done and the rewards they will receive.  Finally, we talk about the church in Laodicea, the only church among the seven that didn’t have an overcomer. We saw that God decided to spit out these lukewarm men. From a human perspective, everything was fine, but from a divine perspective the complete opposite is seen.  We explained why we could see biblical consistency again in the scriptures, and why it led me to experience a certain verse again.

1. The Lord’s description and what we saw from the church in Thyatira

“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this: ‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them⁠—I place no other burden on you. Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”(Revelation 2:18-29)

Of course, in the end of the verses, it says that every church must have an ear that can hear what is said. Of course, one must listen to what the Holy Spirit says. The Bible says very clearly, “Do not quench the Spirit.”(1 Thessalonians 5:19) In fact, it is not just what the Holy Spirit says, but you also need to have an ear that can listen to the words of others. However, people’s honest words are not necessarily correct. Words need to be distinguished or discerned. The Bible says, “but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ.”(Ephesians 4:15) If you look at the nearby verses or in the same book, the truth means the truth described in the Bible, which is the truth. In experiences, we have probably heard such testimonies: The Holy Spirit often reminds me to do things I have forgotten, such as forgetting keys, etc. How can this be the truth described in the Bible?  If you read the original text, you will know that love refers to God’s love. How could the Holy Spirit not have God’s love? Of course, we need to be sure that such thoughts come from God, because “…even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, …”(2 Corinthians 11:14-15) We will discuss how to distinguish in “1092 Hearing Ears, Methods to Discern Spiritual Matters and Old-Self Ones.” If you are interested in this article, you can go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/” and click “Understanding of Spiritual Life” to find it.

We first see that the narratives about the Lord in the first three chapters of Revelation are quite different, but they do not conflict. We must combine them, that is, a description that fits all the narratives.  For example, here it says, “…The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, …”(Revelation 2:18) In the first chapter it says, “His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.”(Revelation 1:14-15) This narrative encompasses what we are saying here, but also says, “…The One who has the sharp two-edged sword …”(Revelation 2:12) So for these three, the description must be consistent with all narratives in its union.  Of course, the Lord’s narratives are also narrated in other places, such as in other churches, but we will not go into details here.  In fact, there are narratives about the Lord from the Old Testament to the New Testament, because the Bible is always talking about the Lord Christ.  So our description must be a collection of all the narratives here and there. This is basically a way of writing in the Bible, as Isaiah said, “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) Only by having the faith, we can then read the whole Bible to get all the narratives about a matter and know that what God tells us through the Bible is consistent, that is, it is not literally about the consistency of the Bible. In words, we will see obvious contradictions. What we should ask in this case is, what does God want to tell us by inspiring this obvious contradiction?  One point we want to emphasize is that sometimes the Bible clearly says it, but we think those words have no meaning and ignore the writing here and there. We really need the Holy Spirit to open our eyes, so that we know that what Paul said is the truth, “If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know.”(1 Corinthians 8:2) Never argue with the Holy Spirit, we will never win, because the Bible is very clear, ““For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.”(Isaiah 55:8-9)   

We have previously mentioned in “1004 Seven churches in revelation and ears can hear” that in the book of Revelation it says that there must have hearing ears in the seven churches. In that short article, we briefly describe the strengths, weaknesses, or encouragements of these seven churches.  In short, strengths and encouragement are what we should do instead of making shortcomings. It points out that different churches are in different situations, and also reflects some aspects of our current church situations.  As we will talk about later, even if the church in Laodicea shuts out Jesus, it is still a golden lampstand in His eyes.  If they hear the message and repent, they still have the opportunity to be transformed into a church with overcomers under the powerful work of God.  We don’t know how God wants to work. God is absolutely sovereign. He decides whether to answer our prayers, but we must know that sometimes He will change based on our prayers. Just as the book of Amos says, “The LORD changed His mind about this. “This too shall not be,” said the Lord GOD.”(Amos 7:6) (See Amos 7:1-6) Therefore, even if your prayers are not answered, you should “pray without ceasing.”(1 Thessalonians 5:17) This scripture says, “…I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.”(Revelation 2:23) Didn’t He clearly say again that He looks at people’s hearts?  Therefore, ““Do not judge so that you will not be judged.”(Matthew 7:1) But the Bible also says very clearly that it is necessary to discern, “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”(Hebrews 5:14) Be able to grow into a mature man, not be a baby forever.  Here we will basically not repeat the discussion in 1004. Please go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/” and click “Understanding of Spiritual Life” to find this short article.

Here, we also see how terrible false teachings from a human perspective are. They can tempt people to commit sins. Although such teachings may prosper for a while sometimes, and the number of people increases, who teaches such teachings will eventually be punished by God, such as those who teach the philosophy of success, where the so called church is really not the Church of God!  Anyone who teaches this way should be expelled from the Church of God!  The importance of repentance is also seen in the scriptures. God looks at people’s hearts. Christians must have acts of faith and don’t forget, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”(2 Peter 3:9) This is the reason why the Lord has not returned after more than two thousand years.  Our actions must be accountable to the Lord. No wonder it says, “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.”(James 3:1)

It is also clearly stated here that there are overcomers, because they are just some who have listened to incorrect teachings. Those overcomers will obey the Lord’s commands to the end, and their rewards are authority and the morning star.  Of course, here is what is said in all seven churches, that you must have an ear that can hear.  The Bible says it again and again, so we emphasize it again and again.

2. What we saw from the church in Sardis

““To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”(Revelation 3:1-6) ​

The verses tell us that the judgment against the church in Sardis was severe and warned them to repent and remember where they fell because they must stand up from there.  This is just like Adam’s disobedience to God, so “…through one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, …”(Romans 5:12) God originally wanted Adam to choose to eat the fruit of the tree of life and be saved. The salvation plan is to have the obedience of Jesus in His whole life to get rid of sin. In Christ, we have already chosen the fruit of the tree of life and stood up from where Adam fell. We have shared this before, so I won’t go into more detail.  If the church in Sardis does not repent, there will be punishment.  But there are a few overcomers who have not defiled their clothes. They will walk with the Lord in white clothes and be able to enter the New Jerusalem.  The scripture does not say that Christians who do not wear white robes will be removed from the book of life. If they are Christians who are the one who only saved once and saved forever, they will be Christians outside the city. How consistent is the Bible on this point!  We have previously discussed in “5. Is it fair that once you are saved you are saved forever?” of the article  “1087 Conforming to the image of Jesus and its practice”  about this point in detail. If you are interested in this topic, you can go to the website “ https://a-christian-voice.com/ ” and click “Understanding of Spiritual Life” to find this essay.

3. What we saw from the church in Philadelphia

““And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie⁠—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”(Revelation 3:7-13) ​

Someone mentioned the verses related to the key of David: “Then I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulder, When he opens no one will shut, When he shuts no one will open.”(Isaiah 22:22) Doesn’t the church in Philadelphia have such an admirable door?  We can see that the church in Philadelphia is a very good church.  The scripture also says, “Behold, He tears down, and it cannot be rebuilt; He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.”(Job 12:14) God’s purpose of tearing down is to build, so the scripture says, “See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To pluck up and to break down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant.”(Jeremiah 1:10) The scripture also says, “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”(Matthew 16:18-19) David’s key is the key to the kingdom of heaven.  In Revelation 1:18, it says, “…the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” We have shared this verse before, and the one who holds the keys of death and Hades is obviously the Lord Jesus Christ. ​

This is a church that many people envy, because they have such a door. Once it is opened, no one can close it, and once it is closed, no one can open it!  They only had a little power in the eyes of God, but they kept the way of Jesus and did not abandon the name of Christ. We see that God is very merciful and gracious.  They were obviously persecuted by the false Jews of the Satanic synagogue; otherwise they don’t have to endure it. Eventually it was the Lord Himself who intervened and caused the false Jews to come at their feet.  The reward for their patience is great, and they are exempted from trial when the whole world is being tried.  Encourage them to hold on to their crowns and all be overcomers who can enter the city, except of course the false Jews.  Their reward was to be pillars in the temple, bearing the name of God and the name of the city of God, and bearing the new name of Christ.

4. What we saw from the church in Laodicea

““To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 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. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’””(Revelation 3:14-22)

We have talked about the church in Laodicea many times before, and now we are just sharing some things that have not been shared before, and summarizing what has been shared before.  We saw their behavior like drinking water that was neither cold nor hot, and it was not good to drink it, but they were reluctant to waste it and spit it out. In the end, the Lord decided to spit it out. It was really uncomfortable to eat it!  Unless they repent.  We see them doing many things, so from a human perspective, everything is fine, but obviously what they do is not what God wants them to do, because God wants them to buy eye drops so that they can see!  And to be truly wealthy, wear white clothes.

We see that Christ is very merciful. Although He is now shut out, He still loves them and wants them to repent. As long as they are willing to open the door, He will dine with them.  He also encouraged them to be overcomers. This was the only one among the seven churches that did not have an overcomer at that time. The church must be careful not to accidentally fall into the situation of the Laodicean church.  We have shared before, and these verses once again reminded me of the consistency of Scripture, for it says, “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”(Matthew 18:20) The church in Laodicea gathered in the name of the Lord. Although He was outside the door of their hearts and did not work, He was still among them. This promise has not failed, and the Bible is consistent. I didn’t think about this before. If it isn’t for revelation, there is no way for me to think about it. This once again made me realize how true it is when Paul says, “If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know.”(1 Corinthians 8:2) So even the Bible don’t say clearly, most likely Paul had experienced such a thing before so that he could say it.

 ​(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，我们知道人见了永远升天后的耶稣会仆倒在地，我们也解释为什么圣经说死和阴间是带著钥匙的，又从七星和七灵，看到圣经用字是非常的精确。第二，从以弗所教会中做到的事情，也是我们该做的，强调分辩假使徒的重要性，但也责备他们离弃了起初的神的爱，看到了得胜者就是能进新耶路撒冷城的，及神乐园是本是在天上的新耶路撒冷的城内，并对所有的人说要有能听的耳。第三，在士每拿的教会中，说到了当积财宝在天。至于他们的苦难是来自魔鬼撤但，让他们受试炼。他们没有受到任何的责备，但鼓励他们要做个有生命冠冕的得胜者，且不受第二次死的害。这不代表得胜者就是和头一次复活有分的人，不能划等号！最后我们谈到了别迦摩的教会，是在那时撒但住的地方，因此看到撒但不能像神一样无所不在。他们的优点是看到了耶稣忠心的见证人安提帕被杀，还坚守祂的名，没有弃绝祂的道。但有人服从了巴兰和尼哥拉一党人的教训，所以不应该是在整体上教会教导出了问题，但他们允许了不好的教训在教会中存在，是该悔改，也看到了对得胜者有著不同的描述。

1. 死亡和阴间，及七星和七灵   

『我看见，就仆倒在他脚前，像死了一样。他用右手按著我说：「不要惧怕！我是首先的，我是末后的，又是那存活的；我曾死过，现在又活了，直活到永永远远，并且拿著死亡(G2288)和阴间(G86)的钥匙(复数)。所以你要把所看见的和现在的事，并将来必成的事都写出来。论到你所看见、在我右手中的七星和七个金灯台的奥秘，那七星就是七个教会的使者，七灯台就是七个教会。」』(启示录 1:17-20)        

约翰一看见耶稣就仆倒在地，后来是要主加添他的力量，他才能站起来。耶稣的第一句话是说不要惧怕，所以他是因惧怕而仆倒在地的，不是因为其他的原因。当初祂复活后升天前，曾向门徒显现，他们并未了仆倒在地，现在很不同了！这使我想起在旧约中的一件事，就是耶和华的仆人摩西死了以后，耶和华晓谕摩西的帮手、嫩的儿子约书亚说：『我岂没有吩咐你吗？你当刚强壮胆！不要惧怕，也不要惊惶，因为你无论往哪里去，耶和华你的神必与你同在。』(约书亚记 1:9) 有多次的要他不要惧怕，这只是其中的一次。      

其实在其他地方也说，人见了永远升天后的耶稣会仆倒在地。这经文就很清楚的说，『扫罗行路，将到大马士革，忽然从天上发光，四面照著他。他就仆倒在地，听见有声音对他说：「扫罗，扫罗！你为甚么逼迫我？」他说：「主啊，你是谁？」 主说：「我就是你所逼迫的耶稣。起来！进城去，你所当做的事，必有人告诉你。」』(使徒行传 9:3-6) 这时是要耶稣叫他起来，于是『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 9:8) 因为他有看不见的影响，他绝定能记得这事曾发生过，所以保罗会说，『亚基帕王啊，我故此没有违背那从天上来的异象。』(使徒行传 26:19) 在这里我们也看见和他同行的人没有受到他一样的影响，虽然他们也『…都仆倒在地…』(使徒行传 26:14) 难道他们不是因突然见到大光，而有人之常情和保罗一样的惧怕而仆倒在地吗？但他们并没有看见基督而眼睛没有受到影响，但保罗见著了，因他自己说，『末了，也显给我看，…』(哥林多前书 15:8)        

我们一了注意到死亡和阴间是两个不同的字，而从这经文，『我就观看，见有一匹灰色马；骑在马上的，名字叫作死(G2288)，阴府(阴间, G86)也随著他。…』(启示录 6:8) 我们看到死(G2288)和阴间(G86)是指骑在马上的人，都是带著钥匙的，所以钥匙用的是复数。启示录常常在描写一个事实，这里就是一个另外的例子，描述耶稣基督骑在白马上，『我观看，见天开了。有一匹白马，骑在马上的称为诚信真实，他审判、争战都按著公义。…在天上的众军骑著白马，穿著细麻衣，又白又洁，跟随他。…在他衣服和大腿上有名写著说：「万王之王，万主之主。」』(启示录 19:11-16)     

新约中的阴间(G86)只出现 11 次，而和合本的翻译只有 10 次，且其中一次为『谁要下到阴间(G12)去呢？』（就是要领基督从死里上来。）」(罗马书 10:7) 这里用的是不同的字。没有提到的两次为刚才提到的启示录 6:8 和『死(G2288)啊，你得胜的权势在哪里？死(G86)啊，你的毒钩在哪里？』(哥林多前书 15:55) 第二个死应是指阴间，不能翻成死，因死和阴间是两个不同的字。        

我们注意到圣经用字是非常的精确，在这里是提到了三件不同的事情，约翰所看见的只有那七个教会，而现在的事包含了当时所有的教会及发生的事情，和第三件事情就是将来必成的事。关于约翰所看见的七个教会，有七星和七个金灯台。七星和七灵是不一样的，七星只是指那七个教会的使者，而七灵是指圣灵的无所不在，因『…羔羊…有七角七眼，就是神的七灵，奉差遣往普天下去的。(启示录 5:6) 也就是『…七盏火灯在宝座前点著，这七灯就是神的七灵。』(启示录 4:5) 用不用的方式在说同一件事情。我们看见有七个现在的教会，就有七星。

2. 从以弗所的教会所看见的       

『「你要写信给以弗所教会的使者说：『那右手拿著七星，在七个金灯台中间行走的说：我知道你的行为、劳碌、忍耐，也知道你不能容忍恶人。你也曾试验那自称为使徒却不是使徒的，看出他们是假的来。你也能忍耐，曾为我的名劳苦，并不乏倦。』」「『然而，有一件事我要责备你，就是你把起初的爱心(G26)离弃了。所以应当回想你是从哪里坠落的，并要悔改，行起初所行的事。你若不悔改，我就临到你那里，把你的灯台从原处挪去。然而，你还有一件可取的事，就是你恨恶尼哥拉一党人的行为，这也是我所恨恶的。「『圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听！得胜的，我必将神乐园(G3857)中生命树的果子赐给他吃。』」』(启示录 2:1-7)        

很清楚说到我知道有些做得好的事情，这也是我们该做的。强调要分辩假使徒的重要，恨恶尼哥拉一党的人就是一个很好的例子。但也责备他们离弃了起初的爱心(G26)，这是指包括人间之爱的神的爱，没有做到得胜者的要求。在这里，我们相信他们一定做了一些人间的爱的事情，像现在的某些教会一样，相信『你们若有彼此相爱(G26)的心，众人因此就认出你们是我的门徒了。』(约翰福音 13:35) 但没有注意到这爱是指神的爱。这里没有说到只是有人如此，应该是整个教会的教导出了问题，他们做了一些人间之爱的事情，但缺乏了神的爱。我们要做得胜者，这样才能得赏赐，能吃生命树上的果子。顺便一提，新约所说的爱大部份都是讲到神的爱，只有少数的时候是用不同的字，如这经文，『你们务要常存弟兄相爱(G5360)的心。』(希伯来书 13:1) 不看原文会分不清楚到底是指那一种爱！  

我们来看看还有那些地方提到了生命树？先是有『…圣城新耶路撒冷由神那里从天而降…』(启示录 21:2)  在城内的宝座上，约翰听见了大声音『…说：「看哪！神的帐幕在人间。他要与人同住，他们要作他的子民；神要亲自与他们同在，作他们的神。』(启示录 21:3) 所以是必须要在城内才行。然后说是『…只有名字写在羔羊生命册上的才得进去。』(启示录 21:27) 能在生命册上有份是起码的要求，不是每一个在生命册上的人都能进城的。我们谈过，圣经告诉我们一次得救就永远得救，但有些基督徒包括堕落的是在城外的，这就犹如底马一样，他曾是保罗的同工，绝对曾是从世界出来的基督徒，但『…底马贪爱现今的世界，就离弃我往帖撒罗尼迦去了。…』(提摩太后书 4:10) 显然底马是堕落了，落得祇能在城外。那么谁能进城呢？经文说得很清楚，『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) 那些靠著圣灵而洗净自己属灵的衣服的，不就是那些能进城的得胜者吗？        

所以新耶路撒冷本是在天上的，而生命树是在神乐园中，如经文所述，『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，…』(启示录 22:1-2) 这不就是在说神乐园在新耶路撒冷城内吗？        

新约只提到乐园三次，除了这次外，第一次是『耶稣对他(犯人, 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) 我们看到乐园是有耶稣同在的地方，那时还在天上，所以一般是人死后才能进去，犯人是有信心和信心行为的人，我们以前提到过，这里就不多说了，经文很清楚的说，他在十字架上死后就进去了。第二次是说，『他被提到乐园里，听见隐秘的言语，是人不可说的(G1832, 汇编原文两次加强语气)。』(哥林多后书 12:4) 顺便一提是希腊文中没有比较级及最高级的强调，出现两次相当比较级而三次是最高级。我们知道乐园是在第三层天，因为经文又说，『我(保罗)认得一个在基督里的人，他前十四年被提到第三层天上去。…』(哥林多后书 12:2) 这一个人应该就是保罗自己，因为他说，『我认得这人，或在身内、或在身外，我都不知道，只有神知道。』(哥林多后书 12:3) 这里也说到，那时的乐园的确是在天上，圣经是多么的一致啊！我们注意到，他不是像一般人一样，要到死后才能进去，但一定要被提才行，他知道那隐秘的言语是人不可说的，他也没有再提这件事。所以圣经是没有明说他那时候听不听得懂，虽然我们是猜那时他听得懂，要不基本上他就是白跑了一趟，只知道可以被提到三层天。我相信他是知道不能讲，自己选择了不讲，不是像七雷一样，『…从天上有声音说：「七雷所说的你要封上，不可写出来。」』(启示录 10:4) 明说了七雷说的不可讲。        

经文中也提到这句话，『圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听！』这是对七个教会都说的，也就是对每个人说，要有能听的耳！其中圣灵说的包括了这经文，『我听见从天上有声音说：「你要写下：从今以后，在主里面而死的人有福了！」 圣灵说：「是的，他们息了自己的劳苦，做工的果效也随著他们。」』(启示录 14:13) 是的，有可以存到永远的事情！所以圣经会说，『不要为自己积攒财宝在地上，地上有虫子咬，能锈坏，也有贼挖窟窿来偷；只要积攒财宝在天上，天上没有虫子咬，不能锈坏，也没有贼挖窟窿来偷。因为你的财宝在哪里，你的心也在那里。』(马太福音 6:19-21) 要顾念天上的事，不要只想地上的事。

3. 从士每拿的教会所看见的      

『「你要写信给士每拿教会的使者说：『那首先的、末后的、死过又活的说：我知道你的患难，你的贫穷，（你却是富足的！）也知道那自称是犹太人所说的毁谤话，其实他们不是犹太人，乃是撒但一会的人。』」「『你将要受的苦你不用怕。魔鬼要把你们中间几个人下在监里，叫你们被试炼，你们必受患难十日。你务要至死忠心，我就赐给你那生命的冠冕。「『圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听！得胜的，必不受第二次死的害。』」』(启示录 2:8-11)        

这不又是说当积财宝在天吗？他在世间贫穷，但在天上富足。至于他们的苦难，也指出是来自魔鬼撤但，让他们受试炼，这里说的十日就应该是十日，不要说，『…主看一日如千年，千年如一日。』(彼得后书 3:8) 因此十日是指一万日，这里显然不能用算数。不过他们应该会知道，『你们所遇见的试探，无非是人所能受的。神是信实的，必不叫你们受试探过于所能受的。在受试探的时候，总要给你们开一条出路，叫你们能忍受得住。』(哥林多前书 10:13) 如果有需要，神会亲自作工的。这就类似于神要祝福约伯(参约伯记 42:10-17) 但要祝福他前，允许撤但试探他(参约伯记 1:1-2:7)，最后神亲自为约伯开了一条出路，就是，『那时，耶和华从旋风中回答约伯说：』(约伯记 38:1) 经文中并说明，清楚的告诉他们，这些说毁谤话的是撒但一会的人。        

他们没有受责备，但鼓励他们不要怕，至死忠心，做个有生命冠冕的得胜者，且不受第二次死的害。这不代表得胜者就是和头一次复活有分的人，不能划等号！和头一次复活有分的人，圣经说得很清楚，『…那些因为给耶稣作见证，并为神之道被斩者的灵魂，和那没有拜过兽与兽像，也没有在额上和手上受过牠印记之人的灵魂，他们都复活了，与基督一同作王一千年。这是头一次的复活。其余的死人还没有复活，直等那一千年完了。』(启示录 20:4-5) 我们都想和千年国度有份，但这些很清楚的说，前者为殉道者，后者是在耶稣再来以后才发生，所以不要听一些人的谎言，以为是真基督徒就一定会在千年国度里！

4. 从别迦摩的教会所看见的   

『「你要写信给别迦摩教会的使者说︰『那有两刃利剑的说：我知道你的居所，就是有撒但座位之处。当我忠心的见证人安提帕在你们中间、撒但所住的地方被杀之时，你还坚守我的名，没有弃绝我的道。』」「『然而，有几件事我要责备你，因为在你那里，有人服从了巴兰的教训；这巴兰曾教导巴勒将绊脚石放在以色列人面前，叫他们吃祭偶像之物，行奸淫的事。你那里也有人照样服从了尼哥拉一党人的教训。所以你当悔改！若不悔改，我就快临到你那里，用我口中的剑攻击他们。「『圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听！得胜的，我必将那隐藏的吗哪赐给他，并赐他一块白石，石上写著新名，除了那领受的以外，没有人能认识。』」』(启示录 2:12-17)       

这是那时撒但住的地方，他们看到了耶稣忠心的见证人安提帕被杀，还坚守祂的名，没有弃绝祂的道，所以这个教会是很不容易的。这也看见了撒但不是无所不在的，有一个居所，所以会说，『…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) 约伯记和这是一致的说，『耶和华问撒但说：「你从哪里来？」 撒但回答说：「我从地上走来走去，往返而来。」』(约伯记 1:7)     

圣经第一次提到这堕落的先知巴兰是西拨的儿子巴勒作摩押王时，『他差遣使者往大河边的毗夺去，到比珥的儿子巴兰本乡那里，召巴兰来…』(民数记 22:4-5) 去诅咒以色列人，最后是没有成功，『于是巴兰起来回他本地去，巴勒也回去了。』(民数记 24:25) 之后，我们看到了，『以色列人住在什亭，百姓与摩押女子行起淫乱。』(民数记 25:1) 虽然那时旧约没有明这是出于巴兰，这里就明讲了是巴兰曾教导巴勒将绊脚石放在以色列人面前。这堕落的先知的下场是很不好的，我们看到，『…亚摩利王西宏的全国。这西宏曾在希实本作王，摩西把他和米甸的族长以未、利金、苏珥、户珥、利巴击杀了。这都是住那地属西宏为首领的。那时，以色列人在所杀的人中，也用刀杀了比珥的儿子术士巴兰。』(约书亚记 13:21-22) 圣经没有明说巴兰是为什么原因又回来了，但我们知道他回来了，因他最终在这里被杀。     

这里且说到有人服从了巴兰和尼哥拉一党人的教训，所以不应是教会教导整体上出了问题，但他们允许了巴兰的教训和尼哥拉一党的人的存在，是应该悔改，否则就会得到该得的惩罸。经文说，『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) 我们看到悔改是多么的重要！要先悔改，才会有以上说的赦免结果，但并没有说可以免掉惩罸！以大卫为例，他在拔示巴和乌利亚的事情上，『大卫对拿单说：「我得罪耶和华了！」拿单说：「耶和华已经除掉你的罪，你必不至于死。」』(撒母耳记下 12:13) 他一知道自己犯罪后，就立刻悔改，他写了诗篇 51 篇，在神面前悔改，并交于伶长，并不在众人之前悔改，不隐藏自己的罪过，他的悔改不能说不彻底，但他仍有惩罸，『耶和华如此说：『我必从你家中兴起祸患攻击你，我必在你眼前把你的妃嫔赐给别人，他在日光之下就与她们同寝。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 12:11-12) 这是大罪，神就这样行了。神有绝对的主权，可以不惩罸我们的，祂是看人内心的，可以决定如何对付罪的问题，祂有祂的原则，只是我们不会全知道。有时我们会陷入困境，实在是因为我们自己的罪。        

我们也看到对得胜的赏赐有不同的描述，这里是说到他们有那隐藏的吗哪并白石，白石上有著没有别人认识的新名。就是『得胜的，…我的新名，…写在他上面。』(启示录 3:12)  

(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』。)  

First of all, we know that people will fall to the ground when they see Jesus who has ascended to heaven forever after resurrection. We also explain why the Bible says that death and Hades have keys. From the seven stars and seven spirits, we can see that the Bible’s wording is very precise.  Second, what did in the church in Ephesus is what we should do. The verses also emphasize the importance of identifying false apostles, but were rebuking them for abandoning the original love of God. We see that the overcomers can enter the New Jerusalem, and the paradise of God is originally in the city of the New Jerusalem in heaven. The verses also say that all people must have ears that can hear.  Third, in the church in Smyrna, it was said that we should lay up treasures in heaven.  As for their suffering, it came from Satan the devil, who put them through trials.  They were not rebuked, but encouraged to be overcomers with the crown of life and to be immune to the second death.  This does not mean that the overcomers are those who participate in the first resurrection. These two cannot be equated!  Finally, we talked about the church in Pergamum, which was where Satan lived at that time, so we saw that Satan could not be omnipresent like God.  Their good point is that they saw Antipas, a faithful witness of Jesus, being slain, and yet they clung to His name and did not forsake His way.  But some people obeyed the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, so it shouldn’t be that there is something wrong with the church’s teachings as a whole, but they allowed bad teachings to exist in the church. They should repent. Also we see that there were different descriptions for overcomers.

1. Death and Hades, and the Seven Stars and Seven Spirits

“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death (G2288) and of Hades  (G86). Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”(Revelation 1:17-20)

As soon as John saw Jesus, he fell to the ground. Later, the Lord strengthened him so that he could stand up.  Jesus’ first words were to say not to be afraid, so He fell to the ground out of fear, not for any other reason.  After He was resurrected and before He ascended to heaven, He appeared to His disciples, but they did not fall to the ground. But now it is very different!  This reminds me of an incident in the Old Testament. After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the Lord spoke to Joshua, son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”(Joshua 1:9) This was just one of the many times Joshua was told not to be afraid.

In fact, it is said in other places that people will fall to the ground when they see Jesus who has ascended to heaven forever.  This scripture says very clearly, “As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.””(Acts 9:3-6) At this time, Jesus asked him to get up, so “Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.”(Acts 9:8) Because he had a visible and an invisible influence, he could definitely remember that this happened, so Paul would say, ““So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision.”(Acts 26:19) Here we also see that the people who walked with him were not affected by him in the same way, although they also “…had all fallen to the ground, …”(Acts 26:14) Were they not because of Is it natural for someone to suddenly see a great light and fall to the ground with the same fear as Paul?  But they did not see Christ and their eyes were not affected, but Paul saw Him, for he himself said, “…He appeared to me also.”(1 Corinthians 15:8)

We immediately noticed that death and Hades are two different words, and from this verse, “I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death (G2288); and Hades (G86) was following with him. …”(Revelation 6:8) We see that death (G2288) and Hades (G86) refer to ones riding on horses, both with keys, so the keys are in the plural.  The book of Revelation often describes a fact, and here is another example, describing Jesus Christ riding on a white horse, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. …And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. …And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.””(Revelation 19:11-16)

We notice that the wording in the Bible is very precise. It mentions three different things here. John only saw those seven churches, and the current events include all the churches and things that happened at that time, and the third is something that will happen in the future.  Regarding the seven churches that John saw, there were seven stars and seven golden lampstands.  The seven stars and the seven spirits are different. The seven stars only refer to the seven messengers of the seven churchs, while the seven spirits refer to the omnipresence of the Holy Spirit, because “…a Lamb …having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.”(Revelation 5:6) That is, “…seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.”(Revelation 4:5) It is saying the same thing in different ways.  When we see that there are seven current churches, there are exactly seven stars.

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2. What we saw from the church in Ephesus

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love (G26). Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place⁠—unless you repent. Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’”(Revelation 2:1-7)

The verses emphasize the importance of discerning false apostles. The haters of the Nicolaitans are a good example.  But it also reproaches them for abandoning their first love (G26). This refers to God’s love which includes human love and more and they failed to meet the requirements of overcomers.  Here, we believe that they must have done some things of human love. Like some churches today, they believe that “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (G26).”(John 13:35) But they failed to notice that this love refers to the love of God.  There is no mention here that just some people are like this. It should be that there is something wrong with the teachings of the entire church. They have done some things of human love, but they lack the love of God.  We must be overcomers so that we can receive rewards and eat from the tree of life.  By the way, most of the love spoken of in the New Testament refers to the love of God. Only a few times different words are used, such as this verse, “Let love of the brethren (G5360)  continue.”(Hebrews 13:1) If you don’t read the original text, you won’t be able to tell which kind of love it is referring to!

Let’s see where else the tree of life is mentioned?  First there will be “…the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, …”(Revelation 21:2) From the throne in the city, John “heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them.”(Revelation 21:3) So it must be within the city. Then it says, “…only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”(Revelation 21:27) It is the minimum requirement to be in the book of life. Not everyone who is in the book of life can enter the city. We have talked about it, and the Bible tells ‘Once we are saved, we are saved forever,’ but some Christians, including fallen ones, are outside the city. This is like Demas. He was once a co-worker of Paul and was definitely a Christian who came out of the world, but “for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; ..” (2 Timothy 4:10) Obviously Demas has fallen and is now living outside the city. So who can those who can enter the city? The scripture is very clear, “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) Aren’t those who rely completely on the Holy Spirit and thus have washed their spiritual clothes the same as the overcomers who can enter the city?

Therefore, the New Jerusalem is in heaven originally, and the tree of life is in the paradise of God. As the scripture says, “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, …”(Revelation 22:1-2) Doesn’t this mean that the Paradise of God is in the New Jerusalem?

The New Testament only mentions paradise three times. Except this time, the first time is “And He said to him (criminal, robber), “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.””(Luke 23:43) We see that paradise is a place with Jesus, which was still in heaven at that time, so people in general can enter it after death. The criminal is the one who had faith and the associated faith behavior. We mentioned this point before, so we don’t repeat the discussion here. Needless to say, the scriptures clearly say that He entered after His death on the cross.  The second time it says, “was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak (G1832, the original text repeating the word twice).”(2 Corinthians 12:4) By the way, there is no comparatives and superlatives in Greek. Two occurrences are equivalent to comparatives and three times are superlatives.  We know that Paradise is in the third heaven because the scripture also says, “I (Paul) know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago⁠—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows⁠—such a man was caught up to the third heaven.”(2 Corinthians 12:2) This person should be Paul himself, because he said, “And I know how such a man⁠—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows.”(2 Corinthians 12:3) It is mentioned here that the paradise at that time was indeed in heaven. We can see the consistency of the Bible is everywhere!  We noticed that he was not like ordinary people who could not enter the paradise only until after death, but he had to be raptured. He knew that the hidden words were not allowed for people to speak, and he did not mention the event again and those words.  Thus the Bible does not clearly say whether he could understand it at that time, although we guess that he could understand it at that time, otherwise his trip was basically in vain, and he only knew that he could be caught up to the third heaven.  I believe he knew not to speak and chose not to speak. He was not like the seven peals of thunder, “…a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them.”(Revelation 10: 4) The voice said clearly what said by the seven peals of thunder cannot be revealed and John obeyed.

Among the sentences spoken by Holy Spirit includes this one, “And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.””(Revelation 14:13) Yes, there are things that can last forever!  So the Bible says, ““Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”(Matthew 6:19-21) Set your mind on things in heaven, not on earthly things.

3. What we saw from the church in Smyrna

​”“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’”(Revelation 2:8-11)

Doesn’t this mean we should store up treasures in heaven? Such a person may be poor on earth, but rich in heaven.  As for their suffering, it was also pointed out that it came from the devil Satan, who put them through trials. The ten days mentioned here should be ten days. Don’t say, the scripture says, “…with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.”(2 Peter 3:8) Therefore, ten days refers to ten thousand days, and calculations obviously cannot be used here.  But they should know, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”(1 Corinthians 10:13) If there is a need, God Himself will work.  This is similar to how God wanted to bless Job (see Job 42:10-17), but before blessing him, he allowed Satan to test him (see Job 1:1-2:7). In the end, God personally made the promise which opened a way out for Job, that is, “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said.”(Job 38:1). The scripture also stated and clearly told them that these slanderers were Satan people.

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They were not blamed, but they were encouraged not to be afraid, to be faithful until death, to be overcomers with the crown of life, and not to be harmed by the second death.  This does not mean that the overcomers are those who participate in the first resurrection. They cannot be equated!  The Bible says very clearly about those who participate in the first resurrection, “…the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.”(Revelation 20:4-5) We all want to be part of the thousand-year kingdom, but these clearly say about the former, and the latter will only happen after Jesus returns. So don’t listen to the lies of some people and think that If you are a true Christian, you will definitely be in the thousand-year kingdom!

4. What we saw from the church in Pergamum

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this: ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’”(Revelation 2:12-17)

This is where Satan lived at that time. They saw Antipas, a faithful witness of Jesus, being killed, but they still adhered to His name and did not abandon His way. Therefore, this church was not easy.  This also shows that Satan is not omnipresent and has a dwelling place, so it is said, “…Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) The book of Job is consistent with this when it says, “The LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.””(Job 1:7)

The first mention of this fallen prophet Balaam in the Bible was when Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab (see Numbers 22:4-5). Balaam came to curse the Israelites, but in the end he failed. “Then Balaam arose and departed and returned to his place, …”(Numbers 24:25) Later, we see, “While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab.”(Numbers 25:1) Although the Old Testament did not clarify that this came from Balaam at that time, it is clearly stated here that Balaam taught Balak to place a stumbling block in front of the Israelites.  The fate of this fallen prophet was very bad. We see, “even all the cities of the plain and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses struck with the chiefs of Midian, Evi and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba, the princes of Sihon, who lived in the land. The sons of Israel also killed Balaam the son of Beor, the diviner, with the sword among the rest of their slain.”(Joshua 13:21-22) The Bible does not clearly say why Balaam came back, but we know that he came back because he was finally killed there.

Let’s talk about only some people who obeyed the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, so it should not be that there is something wrong with the church’s teachings as a whole, but they allowed the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans to exist. As the result, they should repent or would get the punishment they deserved.  The scripture says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”(1 John 1:9) We see how important repentance is!  You must first repent before you can achieve the forgiveness mentioned above, but it does not mean that you can avoid punishment!  Take David as an example. In the matter of Bathsheba and Uriah, “David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD!” Nathan said to him, “The LORD has taken away your sin; you will not “As for death.””(2 Samuel 12:13) As soon as he knew that he had sinned, he repented immediately. He wrote Psalm 51, repented before God, and handed it over to the choir director. So he did repent in front of others and did not hide his sins. For his sins, his repentance cannot be said to be incomplete, but he still has punishments, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own household; I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and under the sun.’”(2 Samuel 12:11-12) This was great sins, and God did the punishment correspondingly.  God has absolute sovereignty and does not have to punish us. He looks at people’s hearts and can decide how to deal with sins. He has His principles, but we don’t know them all.  Sometimes we get into trouble because of our own sins.​

We also see different descriptions of the rewards for overcomers. Here it is said that they had the hidden manna and the white stone. On the white stone was a new name that no one else knew.  That is, “He who overcomes …I will write on him …My new name.”(Revelation 3:12)

 ​(Verses refer to those in NASB unless otherwise specified.)

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

首先圣经明说启示录中所说的是耶稣基督的启示，祂在异象中亲自向他显现。我们看到了约翰的顺服。我们讨论到为什么经文是说，一个真正有福的人不只是要念，更是要遵行。也看到圣经的数目有时是用比喻说的，有时是精确的！要能分辩。第二，我们从经文中看到在启示录中一些描述的主和约翰该做的事，并说明七灵是指什么。借著原文和不同的译本，看到和合本漏翻的一句话，决定了这里的主神是指主耶稣基督。我们也看到了约翰的谦卑和他为主付上了被囚的代价。最后我们看到了耶稣是在主日在异象中向他的显现，和一部份约翰即将做的事情，我们看到基督的眼中教会，都是金灯台，地位上已成圣的，虽然不是每一个成员都是得胜者。他也描述了人子的形像，说到了两刃的利剑，从相关的经文中知道主是全知的。也借此指出了我们以前在什么地方讨论过，圣经的经文告诉我们，人死是了是灵先走，然后是魂，魂离开人就死了！从两节经文和这个，我们看到了人是由灵、魂、体构成的三分法是对的。因此知道二分法说到灵魂是不可分的在一起是错的。

1. 耶稣基督的启示和有福的人        

『耶稣基督的启示，就是神赐给他，叫他将必要快成的事指示他的众仆人。他就差遣使者晓谕他的仆人约翰。约翰便将神的道和耶稣基督的见证，凡自己所看见的都证明出来。念这书上预言的和那些听见又遵守其中所记载的，都是有福的，因为日期近了。』(启示录 1:1-3)        

在开始就很清楚的说明、这是神赐给耶稣基督的启示，三位一体的神本是同尊同荣的，因此这就表示了是说在时间的次序里面。因在基督道成肉身的那段时间中，是有一个次序的，父差子如经文所说，『耶稣又对他们说：「愿你们平安！父怎样差遣了我，我也照样差遣你们。」』(约翰福音 20:21) 子不去圣灵不来，这点耶稣说得很清楚，『…我若不去，保惠师就不到你们这里来；我若去，就差他来。』(约翰福音 16:7)        

我们看到了约翰很忠实的记载了所看见的事情，在启示录中，他也彰显了他的顺服，不写所不要他写的事情。如经文所说，『七雷发声之后，我正要写出来，就听见从天上有声音说：「七雷所说的你要封上，不可写出来。」』(启示录 10:4) 他只说有七雷，但没有记载七雷所说的事情。    

也就是因为没写出来，只几句话就带过七雷，因此一些人常常忽略了七雷说的事。有人告诉我说，七雷已经发生了，属灵的人才可以看得到，但这样的说法不在圣经里面，是属于在启示录加添了一些话语，启示录说得很清楚，『我向一切听见这书上预言的作见证，若有人在这预言上加添甚么，神必将写在这书上的灾祸加在他身上。』( 启示录 22:18) 我不知道为什么这样的基督徒会不害怕？圣经是说七雷在第六号的末了 (参启示录 9:13-10:6) ，圣经虽然没有说何时七雷会发生，『但在第七位天使吹号发声的时候，神的奥秘就成全了，正如神所传给他仆人众先知的佳音。』(启示录 10:7) 到第七号的事情发生时，我们自然知道七雷已经过了！        

我们来看看这里的有福的人是什么人？有人鼓励人去看启示录会强调，『念这书上预言的…是有福的…』(启示录 1:3) 的确，当不强解圣经(参彼得后书 3:15-16)，而没有念错的时候，念这书的人比不念的人有福。不该念而念错时更麻烦，因为要真正的更正一个错误，至少会花相当多的时间。而且不要忘记这里有个「和」字，要遵守才真正的有福。经文说得很清楚，『只是你们要行道，不要单单听道，自己欺哄自己。』(雅各书 1:22) 从圣经的一致性来看，难怪会说，『凡称呼我『主啊，主啊』的人，不能都进天国；惟独遵行我天父旨意的人，才能进去。』(马太福音 7:21) 所以不只要听对，还要遵行才会真正有福。        

最后我们知道日期近了，但不是说依照我们的时间表，初期的教会相信主会再来，而且是『…你们自己明明晓得，主的日子来到，好像夜间的贼一样。』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:2) 现在两千多年已过，主仍没再来，但我们不能引用圣经曾说，『亲爱的弟兄啊，有一件事你们不可忘记，就是主看一日如千年，千年如一日。』(彼得后书 3:8) 或是引用，『在你看来，千年如已过的昨日，又如夜间的一更。』(诗篇 90:4) 就用算数说，主的一日就是等于我们的千年，所以有人说，现在只等了两天多一点，太短了，当然主不会再来。其实看上下文就知道这里不该用算数，而是有其他的原因。前者是在说，『主所应许的尚未成就，有人以为他是耽延，其实不是耽延，乃是宽容你们，不愿有一人沉沦，乃愿人人都悔改。』(彼得后书 3:9) 后者是在强调，『你叫他们如水冲去，他们如睡一觉。早晨，他们如生长的草，早晨发芽生长，晚上割下枯干。』(诗篇 90:5-6) 所以圣经的数目有时是用比喻说的，不像在创世记 5:1-32 中提到亚当的后代时，所用的数目是精确的！要能分辩。

2. 启示录中一些主的描述和约翰该做的事       

『约翰写信给亚西亚的七个教会： 但愿从那昔在、今在、以后永在的神和他宝座前的七灵，并那诚实作见证的，从死里首先复活，为世上君王元首的耶稣基督，有恩惠、平安归与你们！ 他爱我们，用自己的血使我们脱离罪恶，又使我们成为国民，作他父神的祭司。但愿荣耀、权能归给他，直到永永远远。阿们！看哪！他驾云降临，众目要看见他，连刺他的人也要看见他，地上的万族都要因他哀哭。这话是真实的。阿们！主神说：「我是阿拉法，我是俄梅戛，是昔在、今在、以后永在的全能者。」我约翰就是你们的弟兄，和你们在耶稣的患难、国度、忍耐里一同有分，为神的道，并为给耶稣作的见证，曾在那名叫拔摩的海岛上。』(启示录 1:4-9)        

首先我们看到约翰得写信给等下要提到的七个教会，并告诉他们神如何看他们和给他们的鼓励。这里提到了「愿」神、七灵和主耶稣有恩惠、平安归与他们，启示录 1:4在原文中没有「愿」这个字，恩惠和平安是在爱中和神合一而一定有的。那么七灵是指什么？我们来看这节经文，『我又看见宝座与四活物并长老之中，有羔羊站立，像是被杀过的，有七角七眼，就是神的七灵，奉差遣往普天下去的。』(启示录 5:6) 那羔羊显然是指主耶稣，祂因爱我们为我们舍命，钉十字架而流出宝血，这样的功效就如前所述，而将荣耀、权能归给他是理所当然的，就像原文所说，不是「愿」而已。我们看那羔羊有神的七灵，这里看到了三位一体的神都在那里，在道成肉身的时间中三位各有所司，有一个次序，耶稣为父所差遣，耶稣不去圣灵不来，有七个教会就有七灵，而这七灵是奉差遣往普天下去，所以这是指无所不在的圣灵。耶稣说，『因为无论在哪里，有两三个人奉我的名聚会，那里就有我在他们中间。』(马太福音 18:20) 耶稣现已在天上，坐在神的右边，就如经文所说，『…那里有基督坐在神的右边。』(歌罗西书 3:1) 但祂的应许并没有落空，祂现在是以三位一体的神中的一位圣灵在我们中间。神借著圣经告诉我们的是多么一致啊！这并不是说在字句上没有明显的矛盾，这时我们该问的是神要借著这样明显的矛盾告诉我们什么，也就是要从圣经的一致性来问答这样的问题，而不是以为抓到了圣经的小辫子，认为圣经是错的！        

在启示录 1:8 ，我们知道阿拉法和俄梅戛分别是希腊文中的最开始和最后的字母，所以这里是在讲神是昔在今在永恒的神。其中的主神是指三位一体的神的主耶稣，因原文有「以后要来」这句，而只有主耶稣会以后再来，所以新译本会翻成，『主神说：「我是阿拉法，我是俄梅格；我是今在、昔在、以后要来，全能的神。」』(启示录 1:8，新译本) 中文标准译本也这样的翻译出来。所以这是在讲耶稣基督的，从像一开始经文就说，『耶稣基督的启示，就是神赐给他，叫他将必要快成的事指示他的众仆人。他就差遣使者晓谕他的仆人约翰。』(启示录 1:1)       

最后我们看到了约翰并不强调他是使徒，但说他是我们的弟兄，他和我们所应作的工作就是他简短所提到的，为神的道，并为给耶稣作见证。也是因为如此，他被囚在拔摩岛上，就是在这个时候，耶稣亲自在异象中向他显现，这应该是异象而不是异梦，因为经文说是看见的。

3. 耶稣的显现和三分法       

『当主日，我被圣灵感动，听见在我后面有大声音如吹号，说：「你所看见的，当写在书上，达与以弗所、士每拿、别迦摩、推雅推喇、撒狄、非拉铁非、老底嘉那七个教会。」我转过身来，要看是谁发声与我说话。既转过来，就看见七个金灯台。灯台中间有一位好像人子，身穿长衣，直垂到脚，胸间束著金带。他的头与发皆白，如白羊毛、如雪，眼目如同火焰，脚好像在炉中锻炼光明的铜，声音如同众水的声音。他右手拿著七星，从他口中出来一把两刃的利剑，面貌如同烈日放光。』(启示录 1:10-16)       

这是一个主日发生的事情，在这里的经文中，用的是人子，所以说得很清楚，主在异象中亲自向他显现，并告诉了他对那七个教会该做的一件事情。然后他看见了七个金灯台，『…七灯台就是七个教会。』(启示录 1:20) 所以在基督的眼中教会都是金灯台，不管他们的行为如何，都是地位上已成圣的，虽然不是每一个成员都是得胜者。这就犹如我们信的时候，客观上已地位上成圣，但在走上成圣之路的主观经验中，会常常跌倒。然后我们看到了他看到的人子的形像，有很清楚的描述，当然圣经中还有更多的叙述。     

请注意他提到了两刃的利剑，在和合本只提到三次，除这次外，另一次在这经文，『你要写信给别迦摩教会的使者说︰『那有两刃利剑的说：』』(启示录 2:12) 那有两刃利剑的显然是耶稣基督。另外一次是说，『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。并且被造的没有一样在他面前不显然的，原来万物在那与我们有关系的主眼前，都是赤露敞开的。』(希伯来书 4:12-13) 在第十三节经文中，我们再次看到主是全知的，在第十二节中，我们也看到了神的道比两刃的利剑更快，可以分别是开魂和灵，这是因为人由灵、魂、体构成，如经文明说，『愿赐平安的神亲自使你们全然成圣。又愿你们的灵与魂与身子得蒙保守，在我主耶稣基督降临的时候，完全无可指摘。』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:23)        

我们也在『2056 医血漏和睚鲁女儿复活，及差遣十二个门徒  –耶稣的形像(11)』中的『2. 睚鲁的女儿死而复活』讨论过，为什么圣经的经文是说，人死是灵先走，然后是魂走，魂离开后人就死了！所以圣经是说人有灵、魂、体的三分法，而不是说灵魂在一起及有体的二分法。我要强调，我不是说看见二分法的人是全部都是不对的，只是说在这一点上是不对的。最后要提的是，在希伯来文的文化中，灵和魂是可以互用的，而在中国人的文化中，灵魂都是在一起的，但我们实在要看圣经如何说！

最后我们看到，圣经明说，人死时，『尘土仍归于地，灵仍归于赐灵的神。』(传道书 12:7) 而有些魂是在天上的祭坛下面，如经文所说，『揭开第五印的时候，我看见在祭坛底下，有为神的道并为作见证被杀之人的(灵)魂。』(启示录 6:9) 所以人死时的灵和魂非得分开不可，灵魂是可以分开的，也就是三分法是对的。神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的！

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

        首先聖經明說啓示錄中所說的是耶穌基督的啓示，祂在異象中親自向他顯現。我們看到了約翰的順服。我們討論到為什麼經文是說，一個真正有福的人不只是要念，更是要遵行。也看到聖經的數目有時是用比喻說的，有時是精確的！要能分辨。第二，我們從經文中看到在啓示錄中一些描述的主和約翰該做的事，並說明七靈是指什麼。藉著原文和不同的譯本，看到和合本漏翻的一句話，決定了這裏的主神是指主耶穌基督。我們也看到了約翰的謙卑和他為主付上了被囚的代價。最後我們看到了耶穌是在主日在異象中向他的顯現，和一部份約翰即將做的事情，我們看到基督的眼中教會，都是金燈台，地位上已成聖的，雖然不是每一個成員都是得勝者。他也描述了人子的形像，說到了兩刃的利劍，從相關的經文中知道主是全知的。也藉此指出了我們以前在什麼地方討論過，聖經的經文告訴我們，人死是了是靈先走，然後是魂，魂離開人就死了！從兩節經文和這個，我們看到了人是由靈、魂、體構成的三分法是對的。因此知道二分法說到靈魂是不可分的在一起是錯的。

1. 耶穌基督的啓示和有福的人

        『耶穌基督的啓示，就是神賜給他，叫他將必要快成的事指示他的眾僕人。他就差遣使者曉諭他的僕人約翰。約翰便將神的道和耶穌基督的見證，凡自己所看見的都證明出來。念這書上預言的和那些聽見又遵守其中所記載的，都是有福的，因為日期近了。』(啓示錄 1:1-3)

        在開始就很清楚的說明、這是神賜給耶穌基督的啓示，三位一體的神本是同尊同榮的，因此這就表示了是說在時間的次序裏面。因在基督道成肉身的那段時間中，是有一個次序的，父差子如經文所說，『耶穌又對他們說：「願你們平安！父怎樣差遣了我，我也照樣差遣你們。」』(約翰福音 20:21) 子不去聖靈不來，這點耶穌說得很清楚，『…我若不去，保惠師就不到你們這裏來；我若去，就差他來。』(約翰福音 16:7) 

        我們看到了約翰很忠實的記載了所看見的事情，在啓示錄中，他也彰顯了他的順服，不寫所不要他寫的事情。如經文所說，『七雷發聲之後，我正要寫出來，就聽見從天上有聲音說：「七雷所說的你要封上，不可寫出來。」』(啓示錄 10:4) 他只說有七雷，但沒有記載七雷所說的事情。

    也就是因為沒寫出來，只幾句話就帶過七雷，因此一些人常常忽略了七雷說的事。有人告訴我說，七雷已經發生了，屬靈的人才可以看得到，但這樣的說法不在聖經裏面，是屬於在啓示錄加添了一些話語，啓示錄說得很清楚，『我向一切聽見這書上預言的作見證，若有人在這預言上加添甚麼，神必將寫在這書上的災禍加在他身上。』( 啓示錄 22:18) 我不知道為什麼這樣的基督徒會不害怕？聖經是說七雷在第六號的末了 (參啓示錄 9:13-10:6) ，聖經雖然沒有說何時七雷會發生，『但在第七位天使吹號發聲的時候，神的奧秘就成全了，正如神所傳給他僕人眾先知的佳音。』(啓示錄 10:7) 到第七號的事情發生時，我們自然知道七雷已經過了！

        我們來看看這裏的有福的人是什麼人？有人鼓勵人去看啓示錄會強調，『念這書上預言的…是有福的…』(啓示錄 1:3) 的確，當不强解聖經(參彼得後書 3:15-16)，而沒有念錯的時候，念這書的人比不念的人有福。不該念而念錯時更麻煩，因為要真正的更正一個錯誤，至少會花相當多的時間。而且不要忘記這裏有個「和」字，要遵守才真正的有福。經文說得很清楚，『只是你們要行道，不要單單聽道，自己欺哄自己。』(雅各書 1:22) 從聖經的一致性來看，難怪會說，『凡稱呼我『主啊，主啊』的人，不能都進天國；惟獨遵行我天父旨意的人，才能進去。』(馬太福音 7:21) 所以不只要聽對，還要遵行才會真正有福。

        最後我們知道日期近了，但不是說依照我們的時間表，初期的教會相信主會再來，而且是『…你們自己明明曉得，主的日子來到，好像夜間的賊一樣。』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:2) 現在兩千多年已過，主仍沒再來，但我們不能引用聖經曾說，『親愛的弟兄啊，有一件事你們不可忘記，就是主看一日如千年，千年如一日。』(彼得後書 3:8) 或是引用，『在你看來，千年如已過的昨日，又如夜間的一更。』(詩篇 90:4) 就用算數說，主的一日就是等於我們的千年，所以有人說，現在只等了兩天多一點，太短了，當然主不會再來。其實看上下文就知道這裏不該用算數，而是有其他的原因。前者是在說，『主所應許的尚未成就，有人以為他是耽延，其實不是耽延，乃是寬容你們，不願有一人沉淪，乃願人人都悔改。』(彼得後書 3:9) 後者是在強調，『你叫他們如水沖去，他們如睡一覺。早晨，他們如生長的草，早晨發芽生長，晚上割下枯乾。』(詩篇 90:5-6) 所以聖經的數目有時是用比喻說的，不像在創世記 5:1-32 中提到亞當的後代時，所用的數目是精確的！要能分辨。

2. 啓示錄中一些主的描述和約翰該做的事

       『約翰寫信給亞西亞的七個教會： 但願從那昔在、今在、以後永在的神和他寶座前的七靈，並那誠實作見證的，從死裏首先復活，為世上君王元首的耶穌基督，有恩惠、平安歸與你們！ 他愛我們，用自己的血使我們脫離罪惡，又使我們成為國民，作他父神的祭司。但願榮耀、權能歸給他，直到永永遠遠。阿們！看哪！他駕雲降臨，眾目要看見他，連刺他的人也要看見他，地上的萬族都要因他哀哭。這話是真實的。阿們！主神說：「我是阿拉法，我是俄梅戛，是昔在、今在、以後永在的全能者。」我約翰就是你們的弟兄，和你們在耶穌的患難、國度、忍耐裏一同有分，為神的道，並為給耶穌作的見證，曾在那名叫拔摩的海島上。』(啓示錄 1:4-9)

        首先我們看到約翰得寫信給等下要提到的七個教會，並告訴他們神如何看他們和給他們的鼓勵。這裏提到了「願」神、七靈和主耶穌有恩惠、平安歸與他們，啓示錄 1:4在原文中沒有「願」這個字，恩惠和平安是在愛中和神合一而一定有的。那麼七靈是指什麼？我們來看這節經文，『我又看見寶座與四活物並長老之中，有羔羊站立，像是被殺過的，有七角七眼，就是神的七靈，奉差遣往普天下去的。』(啓示錄 5:6) 那羔羊顯然是指主耶穌，祂因愛我們為我們捨命，釘十字架而流出寶血，這樣的功效就如前所述，而將榮耀、權能歸給他是理所當然的，就像原文所說，不是「願」而已。我們看那羔羊有神的七靈，這裏看到了三位一體的神都在那裏，在道成肉身的時間中三位各有所司，有一個次序，耶穌為父所差遣，耶穌不去聖靈不來，有七個教會就有七靈，而這七靈是奉差遣往普天下去，所以這是指無所不在的聖靈。耶穌說，『因為無論在哪裏，有兩三個人奉我的名聚會，那裏就有我在他們中間。』(馬太福音 18:20) 耶穌現已在天上，坐在神的右邊，就如經文所說，『…那裏有基督坐在神的右邊。』(歌羅西書 3:1) 但祂的應許並沒有落空，祂現在是以三位一體的神中的一位聖靈在我們中間。神藉著聖經告訴我們的是多麼一致啊！這並不是說在字句上沒有明顯的矛盾，這時我們該問的是神要藉著這樣明顯的矛盾告訴我們什麼，也就是要從聖經的一致性來問答這樣的問題，而不是以為抓到了聖經的小辮子，認為聖經是錯的！

        在啓示錄 1:8 ，我們知道阿拉法和俄梅戛分別是希臘文中的最開始和最後的字母，所以這裏是在講神是昔在今在永恆的神。其中的主神是指三位一體的神的主耶穌，因原文有「以後要來」這句，而只有主耶穌會以後再來，所以新譯本會翻成，『主神說：「我是阿拉法，我是俄梅格；我是今在、昔在、以後要來，全能的神。」』(啓示錄 1:8，新譯本) 中文標準譯本也這樣的翻譯出來。所以這是在講耶穌基督的，從像一開始經文就說，『耶穌基督的啓示，就是神賜給他，叫他將必要快成的事指示他的眾僕人。他就差遣使者曉諭他的僕人約翰。』(啓示錄 1:1)

       最後我們看到了約翰並不強調他是使徒，但說他是我們的弟兄，他和我們所應作的工作就是他簡短所提到的，為神的道，並為給耶穌作見證。也是因為如此，他被囚在拔摩島上，就是在這個時候，耶穌親自在異象中向他顯現，這應該是異象而不是異夢，因為經文說是看見的。

3. 耶穌的顯現和三分法

       『當主日，我被聖靈感動，聽見在我後面有大聲音如吹號，說：「你所看見的，當寫在書上，達與以弗所、士每拿、別迦摩、推雅推喇、撒狄、非拉鐵非、老底嘉那七個教會。」我轉過身來，要看是誰發聲與我說話。既轉過來，就看見七個金燈台。燈台中間有一位好像人子，身穿長衣，直垂到腳，胸間束着金帶。他的頭與髮皆白，如白羊毛、如雪，眼目如同火焰，腳好像在爐中鍛煉光明的銅，聲音如同眾水的聲音。他右手拿着七星，從他口中出來一把兩刃的利劍，面貌如同烈日放光。』(啓示錄 1:10-16)

       這是一個主日發生的事情，在這裏的經文中，用的是人子，所以說得很清楚，主在異象中親自向他顯現，並告訴了他對那七個教會該做的一件事情。然後他看見了七個金燈台，『…七燈台就是七個教會。』(啓示錄 1:20) 所以在基督的眼中教會都是金燈台，不管他們的行為如何，都是地位上已成聖的，雖然不是每一個成員都是得勝者。這就猶如我們信的時候，客觀上已地位上成聖，但在走上成聖之路的主觀經驗中，會常常跌倒。然後我們看到了他看到的人子的形像，有很清楚的描述，當然聖經中還有更多的敍述。

     請注意他提到了兩刃的利劍，在和合本只提到三次，除這次外，另一次在這經文，『你要寫信給別迦摩教會的使者說︰『那有兩刃利劍的說：』』(啓示錄 2:12) 那有兩刃利劍的顯然是耶穌基督。另外一次是說，『神的道是活潑的，是有功效的，比一切兩刃的劍更快，甚至魂與靈、骨節與骨髓，都能刺入、剖開，連心中的思念和主意都能辨明。並且被造的沒有一樣在他面前不顯然的，原來萬物在那與我們有關係的主眼前，都是赤露敞開的。』(希伯來書 4:12-13) 在第十三節經文中，我們再次看到主是全知的，在第十二節中，我們也看到了神的道比兩刃的利劍更快，可以分別是開魂和靈，這是因為人由靈、魂、體構成，如經文明說，『願賜平安的神親自使你們全然成聖。又願你們的靈與魂與身子得蒙保守，在我主耶穌基督降臨的時候，完全無可指摘。』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:23)

        我們也在『2056 醫血漏和睚魯女兒復活，及差遣十二個門徒  -耶穌的形像(11)』中的『2. 睚魯的女兒死而復活』討論過，為什麼聖經的經文是說，人死是靈先走，然後是魂走，魂離開後人就死了！所以聖經是說人有靈、魂、體的三分法，而不是說靈魂在一起及有體的二分法。我要強調，我不是說看見二分法的人是全部都是不對的，只是說在這一點上是不對的。最後要提的是，在希伯來文的文化中，靈和魂是可以互用的，而在中國人的文化中，靈魂都是在一起的，但我們實在要看聖經如何說！

    最後我們看到，聖經明說，人死時，『塵土仍歸於地，靈仍歸於賜靈的神。』(傳道書 12:7) 而有些魂是在天上的祭壇下面，如經文所說，『揭開第五印的時候，我看見在祭壇底下，有為神的道並為作見證被殺之人的(靈)魂。』(啓示錄 6:9) 所以人死時的靈和魂非得分開不可，靈魂是可以分開的，也就是三分法是對的。神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的！

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

First of all, the Bible clearly states that what is spoken of in the book of Revelation, which is the revelation of Jesus Christ, who appeared to him personally in a vision.  We also see John’s obedience.  We discussed why the scripture says that a truly blessed person should not only read the book, but also obey commands said.  We have also seen that sometimes numbers in the Bible are expressed figuratively, and sometimes they are precise!  We have to be able to discern.  Second, we see from the scriptures some descriptions about what the Lord looks like, and what John should do in the book of Revelation, and explain what the seven spirits refer to.  Through the original text and different translations, we saw a sentence missing from the Union Version, which determined that the Lord God mentioned here refers to the Lord Jesus Christ.  We also see John’s humility and his paying the price of imprisonment for the Lord.  Finally, we saw that Jesus appeared to him in a vision on the Lord’s Day, and part of what John was about to do. We saw that in the eyes of Christ, the church is a golden lampstand, sanctified in status, although not every member is an overcomer.  He also described the image of the Son of Man, spoke of a sharp two-edged sword, and knew from related scriptures that the Lord is omniscient.  This also points out where we have discussed before about death. Bible verses tell us that when a person dies, the spirit leaves first, then the soul. When the soul leaves the person, he dies!  From two verses and this, we see that the trichotomy of man being composed of spirit, soul, and body is correct.  So know that the dichotomy which speaks of spirit and soul being indivisibly together is wrong.

1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ and the Blessed People 

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and (G2532)  those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.”(Revelation 1:1-3)

It was clearly stated at the beginning that this is the revelation given by God to Jesus Christ. The Trinity of Gods has the same dignity and glory, so this means that the book refers events happened in the time domain. Because during the time when Christ became flesh, there was an order. The Father sent the Son, as the scripture says, “So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.””(John 20:21) Unless the Son goes away, the Holy Spirit will not come. Jesus made this very clear, “…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)

We have seen that John faithfully recorded what he saw. In the Book of Revelation, he also showed his obedience and did not write what he was not told to write.  As the scripture say, “When the seven peals of thunder had spoken, I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them.””(Revelation 10:4) He only said that there were seven thunders, but did not record what the seven thunders said.

That is to say, because it was not written down and the seven peals of thunder were mentioned in just a few sentences, some people often ignored their existences.  Someone told me that the some of them have already occurred and can only be seen by spiritual people. However, this statement is not in the Bible. It belongs to the addition of some words in the Book of Revelation. The Book of Revelation makes it very clear, “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book.”(Revelation 22:18) I don’t know why such Christians are not afraid?  The Bible says that the seven peals of thunder will occur at the end of the sixth trumpet (see Revelation 9:13-10:6). Although the Bible does not say when the seven thunders will occur, “but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets.”(Revelation 10:7) By the time the seventh trumpet happens, we naturally know that the seven peals of thunder have passed!

Let’s see who are the blessed people here?  Some people who encourage people to read the Book of Revelation will emphasize, “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy,  …”(Revelation 1:3). Indeed, the Bible should not be interpreted forcefully (see 2 Peter 3:15-16). Yes, , when the reading is correct, the person who reads this book is more blessed than the one who does not read it.  But it’s even more troublesome when you read something and interpret wrong, because it will take at least a lot of time to actually correct an error even if can.  In this case, don’t forget that there is the word “and” here. Only by doing it, one can be truly blessed.  The scriptures make it very clear, “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”(James 1:22) Judging from the consistency of the Bible, it is no wonder that it is said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.”(Matthew 7:21) So not only do you have to listen to the right words, but you also have to follow them to be truly blessed.

Finally, we know that the day is near, but it does not mean that is according to our timetable, the early church believed that the Lord would return, but “…you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.”(1 Thessalonians 5:2) Now more than two thousand years have passed, and the Lord has still not returned. However, we cannot quote the Bible that says, “But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.”(2 Peter 3:8) Or quoting, “For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it passes by, Or as a watch in the night.”(Psalm 90:4) Therefore in terms of arithmetic, one day of the Lord is equal to our thousand years. So some people say that we have only waited a little more than two days, which isn’t too long. And of course the Lord isn’t coming again.  In fact, looking at the context, we know that arithmetic should not be used here, and it’s clear there are other reasons.  The former is saying, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”(2 Peter 3:9) The latter is emphasizing, “You have swept them away like a flood, they fall asleep; In the morning they are like grass which sprouts anew.

In the morning it flourishes and sprouts anew; Toward evening it fades and withers away.” (Psalm 90:5-6) So numbers in the Bible are sometimes spoken figuratively, unlike when Adam’s descendants are mentioned in Genesis 5:1-32, the numbers used there are precise!  We have to be able to distinguish the situations.

2. Some descriptions of the Lord here and what John should do

“John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood⁠— and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father⁠—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.  “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”  I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos.”(Revelation 1:4-9)

First we see that John has to write to the seven churches that will be mentioned later, and tell them how God sees them and the encouragement He gives them. Glory and power must be present when one is united with Him in love. So what do the seven Spirits mean?  Let’s look at this verse, “And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.”(Revelation 5:6) The Lamb obviously refers to the Lord Jesus. Because of His love for us, He laid down His life for us, was crucified and shed His precious blood. The effect is as mentioned before, and it is natural to give Him glory and power.

We see that the Lamb has the seven Spirits of God. Thus, we see that the Trinity of Gods are all there. During the time of the incarnation, each of the three has its own role. There is an order. Jesus is sent by the Father. If Jesus does not go, the Holy Spirit will not come. The seven churches have therefore seven Spirits, and these seven Spirits are sent to the whole world, so this refers to the omnipresent Holy Spirit.  Jesus said, “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”(Matthew 18:20) Jesus is now in Heaven, seated at the right hand of God, as the scripture says, “…Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”(Colossians 3:1) But His promise has not failed. He is now among us as the Holy Spirit, one of the Trinity.  How consistent is what God tells us through the Bible!  This is not to say that there are no obvious contradictions in words. What we should ask at this time is what God wants to tell us through such obvious contradictions. That is, we should answer such questions based on the consistency of the Bible, rather than thinking that we have caught something wrong in the Bible. ​

In Revelation 1:8, we know that Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet respectively, so this is talking about God as the God who was, is, and is eternal.  The Lord God in it refers to the Lord Jesus of the Trinity, since only He will come again. It is consistent with the very beginning as the scripture says, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John.” (Revelation 1:1)

Finally, we see that John does not emphasize that he is an apostle, but says that he is our brother. And the work he and we should do is what he briefly mentioned, which is for the word of God and to bear witness to Jesus.  Because of this, he was imprisoned on the island of Patmos. It was at this time that Jesus Himself appeared to him in a vision. This should be a vision rather than a dream, because the scripture says it was seen.

3. The appearance of Jesus and the correct trichotomy

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, saying, “Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.”(Revelation 1:10-16)

This happened on a Lord’s Day. In the verses here, the word “son of man” is used, so it is very clear that the Lord appeared to him in a vision and told him what he should do to the seven churches.  Then he saw seven golden lampstands, where “…the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”(Revelation 1:20) Therefore, in the eyes of Christ, the church is a golden lampstand regardless of their behavior. Therefore, they are all sanctified in status, although not every member in them is an overcomer.  This is just like when we believe, we are objectively sanctified in status, but in the subjective experience of walking on the road to sanctification, we often stumble. Then we have his description of the image of the Son of Man about what he saw, which is very clearly described, and of course there are much more descriptions in the Bible.

Please note that John mentioned a sharp two-edged sword, which is only mentioned three times in the Union Version. Except this time, the other time is in this passage, “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:”(Revelation 2:12) The one with the sharp two-edged sword is obviously Jesus Christ.  Another time it is said, “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”(Hebrews 4:12-13) In verse 13, we see again that the Lord is omniscient. In verse 12, we also see that the word of God is more powerful than a sharp two-edged sword. The former can divide soul and spirit. This is because human beings are composed of spirit, soul, and body, which is just like what the scripture says, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”(1 Thessalonians 5:23)

We have also discussed in “2. The resurrection of the daughter of Jairus” of “1056 Healing a hemorrhage woman, resurrecting a daughter, and sending the twelve -The image of Jesus (11),” in detail about why the Bible verses can conclude that when a person dies, the spirit leaves first, then the soul. After the soul leaves, the person dies!  Therefore, the Bible says definitely that human consists of spirit, soul, and body, rather than a dichotomy of soul being together and having a body.  I want to emphasize that I am not saying that all people who see the dichotomy are always wrong, just that they are wrong on this point.  The last thing to mention is that in Hebrew culture, spirit and soul can be used interchangeably, while in Chinese culture, souls are always together mentioned, but we really want to see what the Bible says! If you are interested in this article, it can be found in the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/,” click “Understanding of Spiritual Life.”

Finally, we see that the Bible clearly says that when a person dies, “then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.”(Ecclesiastes 12:7) And some souls are under the altar in heaven as the scripture says, “When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained.”(Revelation 6:9) Therefore, the spirit and soul must be separated when a person dies. That means that Trichotomy is correct.  What God tells us through the Bible is consistent!

 ​(Verses refer to those in NASB unless otherwise specified.)

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

    保罗在提摩太后书 3:16 说到圣经都是神所默示的，因那时还没有新约，甚至于像启示录还没有开始写，所以这话的圣经应是指旧约，但基督徒相信，新旧约都是『…神所默示的，于教训、督责、使人归正、教导人学义，都是有益的，叫属神的人得以完全，预备行各样的善事。』(提摩太后书 3:16-17) 神的教会是一群蒙恩的人聚在一起，因为经文说得很清楚，『你们若有彼此相爱的心，众人因此就认出你们是我的门徒了。』(约翰福音 13:35) 所以教会大多是强调神的爱，而常常忘掉了分享神是有公义的神，在这里我们就简短的说明，神的公义在新约中是如何成就的。       

    首先，我们知道圣经从来没用过「三位一体」这个辞，我们以前在一本小册子中讨论过这话题，说明了这辞的意义，并问答了一个有人可能会问的问题，且说明为什么创造是与三位一体的神的三位都有份。因为时间的关系我们在这里就不多讨论这点了，但指出如何可以免费下载这本小册子。第二，我们说到公义是神宝座的根基，和以前提到的相关的讨论。第三，我们简短的讨论了罪的定义是什么，证明了罪和不顺服神是相等的。第四，我们阐述了为什么人人都需要救恩的理由。第五，我们来看耶稣是如何除掉了罪，因而完成了救恩。第六，我们解释了我们必须在基督里，并用例子说明在基督里的意义，看到了神是如何成就祂的公义的，和为什么神非要让耶稣钉上十字架不可。最后，我们从旧约、新约和逻辑三方面来看，都得到同样的结论，「亚当创造时是圣洁的」，也说明了人的圣洁为什么和神的圣洁净不同。如果人看到这点而仍然坚持说，「亚当和圣洁无关」，这会是个大罪，因为这等于告诉神说，祢的救恩计划是不完美的，所以这是亵渎神的。我们也讨论了为什么有人提到「亚当是中性的」是不对的，我们也看见了即使是基于圣经而且符合逻辑，人仍然可以选择不信，因为人有自由意志，这是勉强不得的。我们是试著去叙述基于圣经话语的逻辑，用客观的方法去说明圣经到底是怎么说。

1. 为什么经文说神是三位一体的神？     

    我们刚才说到基督徒相信新旧约都是神所默示的，如果我们真是这样相信，就不会把圣经的话打折扣，会看神借著圣经要告诉我们什么。首先，我们看到 圣经从来没用过「三位一体」这个辞，但从经文中我们可以得到这个结论。我们以前在这本小册子『从创世记一到三章看神的旨意』中，就谈到过三位一体的神。也就是经文说得很清楚的，「圣父耶和华、圣子耶稣、和圣灵」这三位都是神，但又是一体(位)神。其实在创世记 1:1 中，就已暗示了神是多位一体的神，因为主词的名词是用复数、而动词是用单数，我们指出新约的经文也有同样的说法。在其中的 [注4.6] 中，我们简短的讨论神是三位一体的神的概念。在 [注4.7] 中，我们讨论了一个有人可能会问的问题，就是为什么是三，而不是四或更多。 在[注2.4] 中, 圣经告诉我们，创造是与三位一体的神的三位都有份。对这话题有兴趣的人，可到网站『 https://a-christian-voice.com/』，免费下载这本小册子。福音是『…白白地得来，也要白白地舍去。』(马太福音 10:8) 要去做大使命的工作。(参马太福音 28:18-20)

2. 公义是神宝座的根基                

    诗篇的经文至少说了这两次，公义是神宝座的根基。就是『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) 和『密云和幽暗在他的四围，公义和公平是他宝座的根基。』(诗篇 97:2) 我们在旧约到处都可看到神的公义。我们谈过『2026 旧约的公义中有爱』，因为新旧约都是同一位神，所以也分享过『2027 新旧约中活出爱的例子』和『2025 新约的爱中有公义』。对这些短文有兴趣的人可以到网站『 https://a-christian-voice.com/』，然后按『对属灵生命的了解』。

3. 罪的定义                

    我们先看这节经文，『神就照著自己的形像造人，乃是照著他的形像造男造女。』(创世记 1:27) 所以亚当和夏娃原本有神的形像。虽然神给亚当的命令非常清楚(参创世记 2:15-17)，但他们还是选择了不顺服神，吃了分别善恶树上的果子(参创世记 3:6)，所以罗马书会说，『这就如罪是从一人(亚当)入了世界，死又是从罪来的，于是死就临到众人，因为众人都犯了罪。』(罗马书 5:12) 亚当是因为不顺服神而犯了罪，也就是说「不顺服神意谓著罪」。那么罪是不是意谓著不顺服神呢？我们可以看它逻辑上相同的叙述，就是「顺服神意谓著不是罪」是不是真的？当然是对的，顺服神怎么会是罪呢？所以罪和不顺服神是相等的。

4. 为什么人人都需要救恩?              

    我们看到『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)   所以塞特是有了被罪玷污后神的形像，我们是亚当的后裔，犹如塞特一样，出生时就有被罪玷污后神的形像，所以会说，『因为世人都犯了罪，亏缺了神的荣耀。』(罗马书 3:23)  就是人人都需要除掉罪，也就是人人毫不例外的需要救恩。换言之，救恩的计划是要完成神原先的旨意，除掉罪，使我们恢复亚当被造时神的形像，并选择了生命树的果子，因为基督徒是要在基督里，已选择了那生命的果子耶稣基督，在基督里就达到了这点。    

    有人可能会问，我们为什么这样说呢？我们知道耶稣是了人的样式，所以祂是完全的人，但和我们有一个很大的不同，就是祂是圣灵感孕降生，从无罪开始。如果祂犯了罪就会和一般人无异，就有了被罪玷污后的神的形像，否则祂就不是完全的人。但祂没有犯罪，就只有(人的)神的形像，所以是恢复到亚当被创时，是按著神的形像造的。 #####5. 耶稣是如何除掉了罪而完成了救恩              

    我们知道，『神爱世人，…』(约翰福音 3:16)   因为神的爱，祂要拯救被罪玷污的众人，可是又不能让我们真正有肉体上的死亡，因为人死亡后就不在人间了，祂要我们在人间的时候得到拯救，同时又要符合祂的公义。但我们的老我只配一死，不是能修补或改进就可以了，这就像罗马书所说的，『我也知道在我里头，就是我肉体之中，没有良善。因为立志为善由得我，只是行出来由不得我。』(罗马书 7:18) 这怎么可能呢？但『…在人是不能，在神却不然，因为神凡事都能。』(马可福音 10:27)              

    我们先看耶稣的一生，看祂如何除掉了罪的？祂因圣灵感孕而生(参马太福音 1:18-21)，从无罪开始，和我们带著罪开始是截然不同。祂『…取了奴仆的形像，成为人的样式。』(腓立比书 2:7)  祂既成为人的样式，是完全的人，也就是如人般可能犯罪的。但祂是『…父怎样吩咐我，我就怎样行。 …』(约翰福音 14:31)，一生都顺服神。所以希伯来书会说，『因我们的大祭司(耶稣)并非不能体恤我们的软弱，他也曾凡事受过试探，与我们一样，只是他没有犯罪。』(希伯来书 4:15)           

    在耶稣身上，我们看见了祂在人的样式中，顺服神而除去了罪，因此祂在地上恢复了亚当被造时的形像，完成了神原先的旨意，成就了救恩。       

    有人可能会觉得唯有耶稣的宝血能除罪，因为经文说，『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。』(希伯来书 10:11-12) 耶稣在十字架上献上了自己，流了宝血，这显然是对的。看这经文也知道这点，『弟兄们，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) 那么我们为什么会说耶稣顺服神而能除去罪呢？圣经是找不到这样的话的，就像我们找不到三位一体这个辞，但圣经绝对有这概念。我们看看耶稣在客西马尼园的祷告，『他说：「阿爸，父啊！在你凡事都能，求你将这杯撤去；然而，不要从我的意思，只要从你的意思。」』(马可福音 14:36) 如果从祂的意思，就不会尝十字架上的苦杯，但祂顺服神，『既有人的样子，就自己卑微，存心顺服，以至于死，且死在十字架上。』(腓立比书 2:8) 祂不是因顺服神而流了宝血而除掉了罪吗？

6. 我们必须在基督里            

    因为我们的老我只配一死，只有当我们在耶稣基督里面和祂完全的联合时，我们才有可能除去罪，这就是神的做法，『神使那无罪的，替我们成为罪，好叫我们在他里面成为神的义。』(哥林多后书 5:21)   也就是耶稣取代了我们，所以保罗会说，『我已经与基督同钉十字架，现在活著的不再是我，乃是基督在我里面活著；…』(加拉太书 2:20) 我们看到了保罗是如何生活的！也就是说我们要成为一个新人，如以弗所书所说的，『你们学了基督，却不是这样。如果你们听过他的道，领了他的教，学了他的真理，就要脱去你们从前行为上的旧人，这旧人是因私欲的迷惑渐渐变坏的。又要将你们的心志改换一新，并且穿上新人，这新人是照著神的形像造的，有真理的仁义和圣洁。』(以弗所书 4:20-24) 这不是像穿衣服一样可以脱掉是外在的穿上，我们都有内住的圣灵(参哥林多前书 3:16, 罗马书 8:11)，而是要从内到外的改变，就像保罗说的，我们是要模成耶稣的形像(参罗马书 8:29)。神所看的是基督，而不是我们，譬如说耶稣基督是圣洁的，我们在基督里就享有了祂的圣洁，而不是说我们先要圣洁了才能在基督里，但在基督里我们会逐渐改变而真正的变成圣洁。            

    有人用书中的一张纸来解释在基督里，如果书在那里，因书中的纸在书里面，所以非得在同样的那里不可。如果纸不夹在书中，就可能会在任何地方！当那书代表无罪的基督，而我们就是那一张纸时，要想在神眼中看为无罪，就必须在基督里，治死我们的老我。经文说，『他便救了我们，并不是因我们自己所行的义，乃是照他的怜悯，借著重生的洗和圣灵的更新。』(提多书 3:5) 就像我们上次在『2087 模成耶稣的形像及实行』中所分享的，圣灵的更新都是在基督里完成的。信基督是神的儿子，在无罪的基督耶稣里，就是选择了生命树的果子，完成了神原先的旨意。 我们再说一次，耶稣在地上时除去了罪，因此恢复了亚当被造时没有罪的形像。             

    我们最后来看一下为什么神非要让耶稣钉十字架不可？在新约和旧约都是一位神，旧约时，『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) 『所以，前约也不是不用血立的。』(希伯来书 9:18) 在新约，『神设立耶稣作挽回祭，是凭著耶稣的血，借著人的信，要显明神的义。…』(罗马书 3:25) 『并且不用山羊和牛犊的血，乃用自己(耶稣)的血，只一次进入圣所，成了永远赎罪的事。』(希伯来书 9:12) 要记得，『你们从前远离神的人，如今却在基督耶稣里，靠著他的血，已经得亲近了。』(以弗所书 2:13) 从神的角度看，祂要成就祂所订的律法，耶稣必须要钉十字架而流宝血去成就救恩。所以宝血首先是为著神的，当然也是为著我们。                 

    从人的角度看，『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) 这是因为『…他爱我们，用自己的血使我们脱离罪恶，又使我们成为国民，作他父神的祭司。…』(启示录 1:5-6) 所以神的教会就是一群蒙恩的人聚在一起，也就是使徒行传说的，『…神的教会，就是他用自己血所买来的。』(使徒行传 20:28) 我们刚才讨论过人人都需要救恩，如果一个人认为自己不需要救恩，是不可能得到救恩的！      #####要知道，『如今，那些在基督耶稣里的就不定罪了。』(罗马书 8:1) 我们在基督里，就好像那张纸非要夹在书里一样，所以非得先要在基督里和基督合一，我们也自然合一了！一定要这样才行，不要只是表面上的合一，要不就可能只要发生了一些事情，就合一不起来了！。经文说得很清楚，『我们这许多人，在基督里成为一身，互相联络作肢体，…』(罗马书 12:5) 不是说我们每个人都要一样，每个人仍有自己的特性，就像经文所说，『身子原不是一个肢体，乃是许多肢体。…若全身是眼，从哪里听声呢？若全身是耳，从哪里闻味呢？但如今神随自己的意思把肢体俱各安排在身上了。』(哥林多前书 12:14-18) 但我们要像保罗说的，『你们就要意念相同，爱心相同，有一样的心思，有一样的意念，使我的喜乐可以满足。』(腓立比书 2:2) 一同为神国努力。我们要背起自己的十字架来跟从耶稣，就像经文所说，『于是，耶稣对门徒说：「若有人要跟从我，就当舍己，背起他的十字架来跟从我。因为凡要救自己生命的，必丧掉生命；凡为我丧掉生命的，必得著生命。』(马太福音 16:24-25)  

    这里是在说我们要治死老我，凡为主丧掉魂生命的必能得著永恒的生命。这是一方面，在另一方面是不怕死的为主殉道，在基督里本就该知道我们去了那里，怎么会怕死呢？不是不怕死的本身有什么益处，俗语不是这么说么，好汉砍头不过是碗大的疤，你想这好汉会怕死吗？不过我们在这里需要强调一点，好像我们只是在把圣经的经文放在一起，但不是随便的把经文放在一起就可以了，而是先要看圣经有没有这样说，才能把相应的经文放在一起。

 7. 从旧约、新约和逻辑三方面看「亚当创造时是圣洁的」       

    我们再看一个相关的话题，就是亚当在创造时是否是圣洁的？从旧约、新约和逻辑三方面来看，我们都会得到同样的结论，「亚当创造时是圣洁的」。现在我们就先从旧约看起，我们看到神的形像中包括了圣洁，因为祂自己说，『…我是圣洁的…』(利未记 11:44) 亚当是照著神的形像造的，为什么有人会认为亚当被创造时和圣洁无份呢？不过人的圣洁和神的圣洁不同，因人有自由意志，仍可选择不顺服神而犯罪。『…因为他(神)不能背乎自己。』(提摩太后书 2:13) 所以神的圣洁是不会犯罪的。这里我们要强调大家已知道的一点，就是亚当只是照著神的形像造的，不是亚当和神完全相同，这是不可能的，他只是一个人，不会是神。有人说人圣洁就不会犯罪，看亚当的例子就可看到一个反例了！就像我们前面分享的，罪是不顺服神，而不是不圣洁，但不圣洁的确是罪。              

    如果有人对亚当被创造时和圣洁有份的这点仍有疑问，我们就看新约怎么说？希伯来书说，『…非圣洁没有人能见主。』(希伯来书 12:14) 在创世说，『天起了凉风，耶和华神在园中行走。那人和他妻子听见神的声音，就藏在园里的树木中，躲避耶和华神的面。』(创世记 3:8) 这里没有说躲避神的声音、而是躲避神的面，这句话是说，他们在没罪玷污之前见过神的面，所以现在要躲避神的面。要注意，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) 而亚当见了神的面仍能存活，他在犯罪前怎么会和圣洁无份呢？                

    有人可能会有疑问，这节经文明明说，『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) 的确，被罪玷污后的人从来没见过神的面，所以摩西只能见到祂的背(参出埃及记 33:18-23)。我们这里在谈的是创造时的亚当，是被罪玷污之前的亚当，不是被罪玷污后的亚当。             

    最后，我们从逻辑的客观的观点来看，会发觉说亚当和圣洁无份、就是说神的救恩计划是不完美的。为什么这样说呢？像前所述，耶稣在人的样式中，顺服神而除去了罪，恢复了如亚当般神的形像，完成了神原先的旨意。如果亚当和圣洁无份，耶稣恢复了如亚当般神的形像，怎么会是圣洁的呢？但我们知道耶稣是圣洁的，这不是说救恩的计划有明显的矛盾吗？而神的救恩的计划是完美的，我们不能犯这样的错误！说救恩的计划是不完美的。所以从逻辑的观点来看，圣经也是说亚当创造时和圣洁有份。     

    我们已从旧约、新约、和逻辑三方面来看这问题，都达到同样的结论，「亚当创造时是圣洁的」，神借著圣经告诉我们是多么的一致啊！有人仍看不到这点也就罢了！但如果一个人知道这点后，仍坚持说亚当在创造时和圣洁无份，是属于亵渎神的罪，不是一般的罪，是个大罪，要照犯大罪的方式悔改。这点也实在是和圣经没有用三位一体这个辞类似！     

    有人说当初亚当被创造时仍未吃过生命树的果子，这是对的，但从这就结论说亚当是中性的，因此没有圣洁，这是错的。因圣经的话语明说亚当和圣洁有份，这结论和圣经的话语冲突，因此是不对的结论。也就是说，这样是属于主观的看见。其实经文说得很清楚，『凡树木看果子，就可以认出它来。…』(路加福音 6:44) 错误的结论是坏果子，就知道是坏树。而这时的树是只有主观或客观的看见两个选择，即然如此，只能是主观的看见了！圣经从来没有说过那时的亚当是中性的，其实即使亚当那时是中性的，也可有圣洁，而没有神其他的生命，如能行神迹等。亚当不是那时就有了自由意志吗？我们看到自由意志是从神来的，因神有绝对的主权，当然有自由意志，亚当是照神的形像照的，当然可以有自由选择，因此可以选择了不顺服神。                

    所以即使是基于圣经而且符合逻辑，人仍然可以选择不信，因为人有自由意志，这是勉强不得的。也是因为当初亚当有自由意志，虽然神给他的命令是这么的清楚，他也可以选择不听。在这里，我们是效法耶稣对少年官的态度(参马可福音 10:17-22)，那时祂说了，呼召了，但不干涉他自由意志的选择，我们也只是说了而已！因为逻辑是客观的工具，所以专题查经不是要寻求同意我们的看见与否，而是试著去叙述基于圣经话语的逻辑，用客观的方法去说明圣经到底是怎么说。                

    我们看到了真是『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。』(约翰福音 3:16-18) 我们真的不要『…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) 要记得祂的公义，还包括了最后有的白色大宝座的审判，这可在经文中看到，『…死了的人，无论大小，都站在宝座前。案卷展开了，并且另有一卷展开，就是生命册。死了的人都凭著这些案卷所记载的，照他们所行的受审判。』(启示录 20:12) 那时，『若有人名字没记在生命册上，他就被扔在火湖里。』(启示录 20:15) 对基督徒而言，是要看他们信心的行为，所以雅各会说，『只是你们要行道，不要单单听道，自己欺哄自己。』(雅各书 1:22) 换句话说，『凡称呼我『主啊，主啊』的人，不能都进天国；惟独遵行我天父旨意的人，才能进去。』(马太福音 7:21) 

(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』。)  

       雖然保羅在提摩太後書 3:16 說到聖經都是神所默示的，因那時還沒有新約，甚至於像啓示錄還沒有開始寫，所以這話的聖經應是指舊約，但基督徒相信，新舊約都是『…神所默示的，於教訓、督責、使人歸正、教導人學義，都是有益的，叫屬神的人得以完全，預備行各樣的善事。』(提摩太後書 3:16-17)

          首先，我們知道聖經從來沒用過「三位一體」這個辭，我們以前在一本小册子中討論過這話題，說明了這辭的意義，並問答了一個有人可能會問的問題，且說明為什麼創造是與三位一體的神的三位都有份。因為時間的關係我們在這裏就不多討論這點了，但指出如何可以免費下載這本小册子。第二，我們說到公義是神寶座的根基，和以前提到的相關討論。第三，我們簡短的討論了罪的定義是什麼。第四，我們闡述了為什麼人人都需要救恩。第五，我們來看耶穌是如何除掉了罪，因而完成了救恩。第六，我們解釋了我們必須在基督裏，並用例子說明在基督裏的意義，看到了神是如何成就祂的公義的，和為什麼神非要讓耶穌釘十字架不可。最後，我們從舊約、新約和邏輯三方面來看，都得到同樣的結論，「亞當創造時是聖潔的」，也說明了人的聖潔為什麼和神的聖潔淨不同。如果人看到這點而仍然堅持說，「亞當和聖潔無關」，這會是個大罪，因為這等於告訴神說，祢的救恩計劃是不完美的，所以這是褻瀆神的。我們也討論了有人提到亞當是中性的為什麼是不對的，我們也看見了即使是基於聖經而且符合邏輯，人仍然可以選擇不信，因為人有自由意志，這是勉強不得的。我們是試著去敘述基於聖經話語的邏輯，用客觀的方法去說明聖經到底是怎麼說。

1. 為什麼經文說神是三位一體的神？

        聖經從來沒用過「三位一體」這個辭，但從經文中我們可以得到這個結論。我們以前在這本小册子『從創世記一到三章看神的旨意』中，就談到過三位一體的神。也就是經文說得很清楚的，「聖父耶和華、聖子耶穌、和聖靈」都是神，但又是一體(位)神。其實在創世記 1:1 中，就已暗示了神是多位一體的神，因為主詞的名詞是用複數、而動詞是用單數，我們指出新約的經文也有同樣的說法。在其中的 [註4.6] 中，我們簡短的討論神是三位一體的神的概念。在 [註4.7] 中，我們討論了一個有人可能會問的問題，就是為什麼是三，而不是四或更多。 在[註2.4] 中, 聖經告訴我們，創造是與三位一體的神的三位都有份。對這話題有興趣的人，可到網站『 https://a-christian-voice.com/』，免費下載這本小册子。

2. 公義是神寶座的根基

             詩篇的經文說了兩次，公義是神寶座的根基。就是『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) 和『密雲和幽暗在他的四圍，公義和公平是他寶座的根基。』(詩篇 97:2) 我們在舊約到處都可看到神的公義。我們談過『2026 舊約的公義中有愛』，因為新舊約都是同一位神，所以也分享過『2027 新舊約中活出愛的例子』和『2025 新約的愛中有公義』。對這些短文有興趣的人可以到網站『 https://a-christian-voice.com/』，然後按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』。我們現在就簡短的說明神的公義在新約中是如何成就的。

3. 罪的定義

             我們先看這節經文，『神就照着自己的形像造人，乃是照着他的形像造男造女。』(創世記 1:27) 所以亞當和夏娃原本有神的形像。雖然神給亞當的命令非常清楚(參創世記 2:15-17)，但他們還是選擇了不順服神，吃了分別善惡樹上的果子(參創世記 3:6)，所以羅馬書會說，『這就如罪是從一人(亞當)入了世界，死又是從罪來的，於是死就臨到眾人，因為眾人都犯了罪。』(羅馬書 5:12) 亞當是因為不順服神而犯了罪，也就是說「不順服神意謂著罪」。那麼罪是不是意謂著不順服神呢？我們可以看它邏輯上相同的敘述，就是「順服神意謂著不是罪」是不是真的？當然是對的，順服神怎麼會是罪呢？所以罪和不順服神是相等的。

4. 為什麼人人都需要救恩?

           我們看到『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)   所以塞特是有了被罪玷污後神的形像，我們是亞當的後裔，猶如塞特一樣，出生時就有被罪玷污後神的形像，所以會說，『因為世人都犯了罪，虧缺了神的榮耀。』(羅馬書 3:23)  就是人人都需要除掉罪，也就是人人毫不例外的需要救恩。換言之，救恩的計劃是要完成神原先的旨意，使我們恢復亞當被造時的形像，並選擇了生命樹的果子耶穌。

5. 耶穌是如何除掉了罪而完成了救恩

           我們知道，『神愛世人，…』(約翰福音 3:16)   因為神的愛，祂要拯救被罪玷污的眾人，可是又不能讓我們真正有肉體上的死亡，因為人死亡就不在人間了，祂要我們在人間的時候得到拯救，同時又要符合祂的公義。但我們的老我只配一死，就像羅馬書所說的，『我也知道在我裏頭，就是我肉體之中，沒有良善。因為立志為善由得我，只是行出來由不得我。』(羅馬書 7:18) 這怎麼可能呢？但『…在人是不能，在神卻不然，因為神凡事都能。』(馬可福音 10:27) 

           我們先看耶穌的一生，看祂如何除掉了罪。祂因聖靈感孕而生(參馬太福音 1:18-21)，從無罪開始，祂『…取了奴僕的形像，成為人的樣式。』(腓立比書 2:7)  祂既成為人的樣式，是如人般可能犯罪的。但祂是『…父怎樣吩咐我，我就怎樣行。 …』(約翰福音 14:31)，一生都順服神。所以希伯來書會說，『因我們的大祭司(耶穌)並非不能體恤我們的軟弱，他也曾凡事受過試探，與我們一樣，只是他沒有犯罪。』(希伯來書 4:15)

        在耶穌身上，我們看見了祂在人的樣式中，順服神而除去了罪，因此祂在地上恢復了亞當被造時的形像，完成了神原先的旨意，成就了救恩。

    有人可能會覺得唯有耶穌的寶血能除罪，因為經文說，『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。』(希伯來書 10:11-12) 這顯然是對的，看這經文就知道這點，『弟兄們，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) 那麼我們為什麼會說耶穌順服神而能除去罪呢？因為聖經有這概念。我們看看耶穌在客西馬尼園的禱告，『他說：「阿爸，父啊！在你凡事都能，求你將這杯撤去；然而，不要從我的意思，只要從你的意思。」』(馬可福音 14:36) 如果從祂的意思，就不會嚐十字架上的苦杯，但祂順服神，『既有人的樣子，就自己卑微，存心順服，以至於死，且死在十字架上。』(腓立比書 2:8) 祂不是因順服神而流了寶血除掉了罪嗎？

6. 我們必須在基督裏

         因為我們的老我只配一死，只有當我們在耶穌基督裏面和祂完全的聯合時，我們才有可能除去罪，這就是神的做法，『神使那無罪的，替我們成為罪，好叫我們在他裏面成為神的義。』(哥林多後書 5:21)   也就是耶穌取代了我們，所以保羅會說，『我已經與基督同釘十字架，現在活着的不再是我，乃是基督在我裏面活着；…』(加拉太書 2:20) 也就是說我們要成為一個新人，如以弗所書所說的，『你們學了基督，卻不是這樣。如果你們聽過他的道，領了他的教，學了他的真理，就要脫去你們從前行為上的舊人，這舊人是因私慾的迷惑漸漸變壞的。又要將你們的心志改換一新，並且穿上新人，這新人是照着神的形像造的，有真理的仁義和聖潔。』(以弗所書 4:20-24) 

          有人用書中的一張紙來解釋在基督裏，如果書在那裏，因書中的紙在書裏面，所以非得在同樣的那裏不可。如果紙不在書中，就可能會在任何地方！當那書代表無罪的基督，而我們就是那一張紙時，要想在神眼中看為無罪，就必須在基督裏，治死我們的老我。經文說，『他便救了我們，並不是因我們自己所行的義，乃是照他的憐憫，藉着重生的洗和聖靈的更新。』(提多書 3:5) 就像我們上次在『2087 模成耶穌的形像及實行』中所分享的，聖靈的更新都是在基督裏完成的。信基督是神的兒子，在無罪的基督耶穌裏，就是選擇了生命樹的果子，完成了神原先的旨意。  

          我們最後來看一下為什麼神非要讓耶穌釘十字架不可？在新約和舊約都是一位神，『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) 『所以，前約也不是不用血立的。』(希伯來書 9:18) 在新約，『神設立耶穌作挽回祭，是憑着耶穌的血，藉着人的信，要顯明神的義。…』(羅馬書 3:25) 『並且不用山羊和牛犢的血，乃用自己(耶穌)的血，只一次進入聖所，成了永遠贖罪的事。』(希伯來書 9:12) 所以從神的角度看，祂要成就祂所訂的律法，耶穌必須釘十字架而流寶血去成就救恩。

              從人的角度看，『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) 這是因為『…他愛我們，用自己的血使我們脫離罪惡，又使我們成為國民，作他父神的祭司。…』(啓示錄 1:5-6) 所以神的教會就是一羣蒙恩的人聚在一起，也就是使徒行傳說的，『…神的教會，就是他用自己血所買來的。』(使徒行傳 20:28) 要記得，『你們從前遠離神的人，如今卻在基督耶穌裏，靠着他的血，已經得親近了。』(以弗所書 2:13) 也知道，『如今，那些在基督耶穌裏的就不定罪了。』(羅馬書 8:1) 所以非得先要在基督裏和基督合一，我們也自然合一了！因為經文說，『我們這許多人，在基督裏成為一身，互相聯絡作肢體，…』(羅馬書 12:5) 我們要背起自己的十字架來跟從耶穌，就像經文所說，『於是，耶穌對門徒說：「若有人要跟從我，就當捨己，背起他的十字架來跟從我。因為凡要救自己生命的，必喪掉生命；凡為我喪掉生命的，必得着生命。』(馬太福音 16:24-25)

7. 從舊約、新約和邏輯三方面看「亞當創造時是聖潔的」

          從舊約看，我們看到神的形像中包括了聖潔，因為祂自己說，『…我是聖潔的…』(利未記 11:44) 亞當是照著神的形像造的，為什麼有人會認為亞當被創造時和聖潔無份呢？不過人的聖潔和神的聖潔不同，因人有自由意志，仍可選擇不順服神而犯罪。『…因為他(神)不能背乎自己。』(提摩太後書 2:13) 所以神的聖潔是不會犯罪的。

           如果有人對亞當被創造時和聖潔有份的這點仍有疑問，我們就看新約怎麼說？希伯來書說，『…非聖潔沒有人能見主。』(希伯來書 12:14) 在創世說，『天起了涼風，耶和華神在園中行走。那人和他妻子聽見神的聲音，就藏在園裏的樹木中，躲避耶和華神的面。』(創世記 3:8) 這裏沒有說躲避神的聲音、而是躲避神的面，這句話是說，他們在沒罪玷污之前見過神的面，所以現在要躲避神的面。要注意，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) 而亞當見了神的面仍能存活，他在犯罪前怎麼會和聖潔無份呢？

             有人可能會有疑問，這節經文明明說，『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) 的確，被罪玷污後的人從來沒見過神的面，所以摩西只能見祂的背(參出埃及記 33:18-23)。我們這裏在談的是創造時的亞當，是被罪玷污之前的亞當，不是被罪玷污後的亞當。

          最後，我們從邏輯的客觀的觀點來看，會發覺說亞當和聖潔無份、就是說神的救恩計劃是不完美的。如果知道這點後，仍堅持說亞當在創造時和聖潔無份，是屬於褻瀆神的罪，不是一般的罪，是個大罪。

          為什麼說亞當在創造時和聖潔無份就會致於此呢？像前述所說，因為耶穌在人的樣式中，順服神而除去了罪，恢復了如亞當般神的形像，完成了神原先的旨意。如果亞當和聖潔無份，耶穌怎麼會是聖潔的呢？但我們知道耶穌是聖潔的，這不是說救恩的計劃有明顯的矛盾嗎？而神的救恩的計劃是完美的，我們不能犯這樣的錯誤！說救恩的計劃不是完美的。所以從邏輯的觀點來看，聖經也是說亞當創造時和聖潔有份。

    我們已從舊約、新約、和邏輯三方面來看這問題，都達到同樣的結論，「亞當創造時是聖潔的」，神藉著聖經告訴我們是多麼的一致啊！這實在是和聖經沒有用三位一體這個辭類似！有人說當初亞當被創造時仍未吃過生命樹的果子，這是對的，但從這就結論說亞當是中性的，因此沒有聖潔，這是錯的。因聖經的話語明說亞當和聖潔有份，這結論和聖經的話語衝突，因此是不對的結論。也就是說，這樣是屬於主觀的看見。其實經文說得很清楚，『凡樹木看果子，就可以認出它來。…』(路加福音 6:44) 錯誤的結論是壞果子，就知道是壞樹。而這時的樹是只有主觀或客觀的看見，即然如此，只能是主觀的看見了！聖經從來沒有說過那時的亞當是中性的，其實即使亞當那時是中性的，也可有聖潔，而沒有神其他的生命，如能行神蹟等。亞當不是那時就有了自由意志嗎？我們看到自由意志是從神來的，因神有絕對的主權，當然有自由意志，亞當是照神的形像照的，當然可以有自由選擇，因此可以選擇了不順服神。

             所以即使是基於聖經而且符合邏輯，人仍然可以選擇不信，因為人有自由意志，這是勉強不得的。也是因為當初亞當有自由意志，雖然神給他的命令是這麼的清楚，他也可以選擇不聽。在這裏，我們是效法耶穌對少年官的態度(參馬可福音 10:17-22)，那時祂說了，呼召了，但不干涉他自由意志的選擇。因為邏輯是客觀的工具，所以專題查經不是要尋求同意我們的看見與否，而是試著去敘述基於聖經話語的邏輯，用客觀的方法去說明聖經到底是怎麼說。

             我們看到了真是『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。』(約翰福音 3:16-18) 我們真的不要『…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) 因為祂的公義，還包括了有最後白色大寶座的審判，這可在經文中看到，『…死了的人，無論大小，都站在寶座前。案卷展開了，並且另有一卷展開，就是生命冊。死了的人都憑着這些案卷所記載的，照他們所行的受審判。』(啓示錄 20:12)

 (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』。)

Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:16 that all Scripture were inspired by God. Because there was no New Testament at that time, and even the book of Revelation had not been written, so the Bible in this statement should refer to the Old Testament. But Christians believe that both the Old and New Testaments are “…given by inspiration of God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, equipped for every good work” of good deeds. ” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) The church of God is a group of blessed people gathered together. Most churches emphasize God’s love, because the scriptures make it very clear, “By this everyone will know that you are me, if you have love for one another.” disciples.  ” (John 13:35)  But often, they forget to share that God is a righteous God. Here we will briefly explain how God’s justice is achieved in the New Testament.

First, we know that the Bible never uses the word ‘Trinity.’ We have discussed this topic before in a booklet, explaining the meaning of the word, answering a question that someone might ask, and explaining why creation are participated by all three persons of the Trinity.  Due to time constraints we will not discuss this point here, but will point out how you can download this booklet for free, at this moment available only in Chinese but will be translated later.  Second, we talked about righteousness as the foundation of God’s throne, and related discussions mentioned before.  Third, we briefly discussed the definition of sin, demonstrating that sin is equal to disobedience to God.  Fourth, we set out the reasons why everyone needs salvation.  Fifth, let’s look at how Jesus got rid of sin and thus completed salvation.  Sixth, we explained that we must be in Christ and used examples to illustrate what it means to be in Christ. We saw how God accomplished His justice and why God had to let Jesus be crucified.  Finally, from the perspective of the Old Testament, the New Testament, and logic, we all come to the same conclusion: ‘Adam was holy when he was created.’ This also explains why man’s holiness is completely different from God’s holiness.  If people see this and still insist that ‘Adam has nothing to do with holiness,’ this would be a great sin, because it is tantamount to telling God that your salvation plan is imperfect, and therefore it is blasphemous.  We also discussed why it was wrong for someone to say ‘Adam was neutral.’ We also saw that even if it is based on the Bible and is logical, people can still choose not to believe it because people have free will and any concept cannot be forced.  In the topic-wise Bible Study, we are trying to describe the logic based on biblical words and use objective methods to explain what the Bible actually says.

1. Why does the scripture say that God is a Trinity?

We just mentioned that Christians believe that both the Old and New Testaments are inspired by God. If we really believe this, we will not discount the words of the Bible and will look at what God wants to tell us through the Bible.  First, we see the Bible never uses the word ‘Trinity,’ but we can draw this conclusion from the scriptures.  We have talked about the Triune God before in this booklet “Looking at God’s Will from Genesis Chapters One to Three.”  That is to say, the scriptures make it very clear that “the Father, Jehovah, the Son, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit” are all Gods, but they are one God.  In fact, in Genesis 1:1, it is already hinted that God is a plural but one God, because the subject noun is plural and the verb is singular. We point out that the same statement is also made in the New Testament scriptures.  In [Note 4.6] of the booklet, we briefly discuss the concept of God as a Trinity.  In [Note 4.7], we discussed a question one might ask, which is, why three and not four or more.  In [Note 2.4], the Bible tells us that creation involves all three persons of the Trinity.  Those who are interested in this topic can go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/” to download this booklet for free.  The Gospel is “…Freely you received, freely give.”(Matthew 10:8) We must do the work of the Great Commission.  (See Matthew 28:18-20)

2. Righteousness is the foundation of God’s throne

The Psalms say at least twice that righteousness is the foundation of God’s throne.  That is, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before You.”(Psalm 89:14) and “Clouds and thick darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.”(Psalm 97:2) We can see God’s righteousness everywhere in the Old Testament.  We talked about “1026 There is love in righteousness in the Old Testament,” because the New and Old Testaments are the same God, so we also shared “1027 Examples of living out love in the Bible” and “1025 There is righteousness in love in the New Testament.” Those who are interested in these short articles can go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/” and click “On spiritual understanding about life”.

3. Definition of sin

Let’s look at this verse first, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”(Genesis 1:27) So Adam and Eve originally had the image of God.  Although God’s command to Adam was very clear (see Genesis 2:15-17), they still chose to disobey God and ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (see Genesis 3:6) . “Therefore, just as through one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.”(Romans 5:12) Adam sinned because he disobeyed God, which means “disobedience to God means sin.”  So does sin mean disobeying God?  We can look at its logically identical statement, that is, is it true that “obeying God means it is not a sin”?  Of course it is right. How can obeying God be a sin?  So sin and disobedience to God are equal.

4. Why does everyone need salvation?

We see that “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) So Seth had the image of God that was stained by sin. We are descendants of Adam, just like Seth, we were born with the image of God that was stained by sin, so it is said, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”(Romans 3:23) That is, everyone needs to get rid of sin, which means that everyone, without exception, needs salvation.  In other words, the plan of salvation is to fulfill God’s original will, to get rid of sin, to restore us to the image of God when Adam was created, and to choose the fruit of the tree of life, because Christians are to be in Christ and have chosen that fruit of life, Jesus Christ, reaches this point in Christ.

Some people may ask, why do we say this?  We know that Jesus took on human form, so He was fully human, but there is one big difference from us, that is, He was conceived and born by the Holy Spirit, starting from sinlessness.  If He had sinned, He would have been no different from ordinary people and would have had the image of God tainted by sin. Otherwise, He would not have been full human being.  But He did not sin, He thus only had the image of God. In other words, He was restored to the time when Adam was created, who was created in the image of God without sin.

5. How Jesus got rid of sin and completed salvation

We know that “…God so loved the world, …”(John 3:16) Because of God’s love, He wants to save everyone who is stained by sin, but He cannot allow us to truly die physically, because after death, people will no longer be in the world. Yes, He wants us to be saved while we are on earth, and at the same time, He must fulfill His righteousness.  But our old self is only worthy of death and cannot be repaired or improved. This is just like what the book of Romans says, “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.”(Romans 7:18) How is this possible?  But “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27)

Let’s first look at the life of Jesus and see how He got rid of sin?  He was conceived by the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 1:18-21). He started without sin, which is completely different from us starting with sin.  He took “the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”(Philippians 2:7) Since He was made in human form, He was fully human, that is, as capable of sin as a human being.  But He obeyed God throughout His life as the verse says, “…I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. …”(John 14:31)  That’s why the book of Hebrews says, “For we do not have a high priest (Jesus) who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”(Hebrews 4:15)

In Jesus, we see that He in human form obeyed God and got rid of sin. Therefore, He restored the image of Adam on earth when he was created, completed God’s original will, and accomplished salvation.

Some people may think that only the precious blood of Jesus can take away sins, because the scripture says, “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.”(Hebrews 10:11-12) Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross and shed His precious blood. This is obviously right.  We also know this when we look at this scripture, “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) So why do we say that Jesus obeyed God and could take away sin?  We cannot find such words in the Bible, just like we cannot find the word Trinity, but the Bible definitely has this concept.  Let’s look at Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, “And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.””(Mark 14:36) If it were according to His will, He would not have tasted the bitter cup of the cross, but He obeyed God, “Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”(Philippians 2:8) Didn’t He shed His precious blood to take away sin by obeying God?

6. We must be in Christ

Because our old self is only worthy of death, it is only when we are fully united with Jesus Christ in Him that it is possible for us to put away sin. This is what God did, ‘He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”(2 Corinthians 5:21) That is, Jesus substitutes for us, so Paul would say, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”(Galatians 2:20) We see how Paul lived!  That is to say, we need to become a new man, as the book of Ephesians says, “But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”(Ephesians 4:20-24) This is not like wearing clothes that can be taken off but put on externally. We all have the indwelling Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 3:16, Romans 8: 11), but to be transformed from the inside out, just as Paul said, we are to be conformed to the image of Jesus (see Romans 8:29).  What God looks at is Christ, not us. For example, Jesus Christ is holy, and we enjoy His holiness in Christ. It does not mean that we must first be holy before we can be in Christ, but in Christ we will gradually be transformed and truly become holy.

Some people use a piece of paper in a book to explain being in Christ. If the book is there, because the paper in the book is inside the book, it must be in the same place.  If the paper isn’t in the book, it could be anywhere!  When the book represents the sinless Christ, and we are the piece of paper, to be sinless in the eyes of God, we must put to death our old self in Christ.  The scripture says, “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.”(Titus 3:5) As we shared last time in “1087 Conforming to the image of Jesus and its practice,” the renewal of the Holy Spirit is completed in Christ.  To believe that Christ is the Son of God in the sinless Christ Jesus is to choose the fruit of the tree of life and to fulfill God’s original will.  We say again that Jesus took away sin while on earth, thus restoring Adam to the sinless image in which he was created.

Let’s now take a look at why God had to let Jesus be crucified?  There is one God in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, “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) “Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood.”(Hebrews 9:18) In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is “whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, …”(Romans 3:25) “and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 9:12) “But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”(Ephesians 2:13)

From a human perspective, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”(Ephesians 1:7) This is because “… To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood⁠— and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father…”(Revelation 1:5-6) Therefore, the church of God is a group of graced people gathered together, which is what the Acts of the Apostles says, “…the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”(Acts 20:28) We have just discussed that everyone needs salvation. If a person thinks that he does not need salvation, it is impossible to obtain salvation!

Know this, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”(Romans 8:1) We are in Christ, just like that piece of paper that has to be stuck in a book. Therefore, we must first be one with Christ, and we will naturally become one!  It must be this way, not just the superficial unity, otherwise the unity may not be possible when something happens!  The scripture makes it very clear, “so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, …”(Romans 12:5). This does not mean that each of us must be the same. Each one still has his or her own characteristics. As the scripture says, “For the body is not one member, but many. …If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.”(1 Corinthians 12:14-18) But we must be like Paul said, “make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.”(Philippians 2:2) This has to happen if everyone is conformed to the image of Jesus, and works together for the Kingdom of God.  We must take up our cross and follow Jesus, as the scripture says, “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”(Matthew 16:24-25)

This is saying that we must put our old self to death. Anyone who loses his soul life for the Lord will gain eternal life.  This is on the one hand, but on the other hand it is to be martyrdom for the Lord without fear of death. In Christ we should already know where we’ll go, so how can we be afraid of death?  It’s not that there is any benefit in not being afraid of death alone.  In a saying, a hero’s beheading is just a scar as big as a bowl. Do you think such a hero is afraid of death? It seems a good place for us to emphasize one point here. That is, it seems that we are just putting the Bible verses together, but we do not just put the verses together casually. We must first see if the Bible has the concept before we can put the corresponding verses together to illustrate this point.

7. ‘Adam was holy when he was created’ from the perspective of the Old Testament, the New Testament and logic.

Let’s look at another related topic, which is whether Adam was holy when he was created?  Looking at the Old Testament, the New Testament, and logic, we will all come to the same conclusion, ‘Adam was holy when he was created.’  Now let’s start with the Old Testament. We see that God’s image includes holiness, because He Himself said, “…I am holy…”(Leviticus 11:44). Adam was created in the image of God. Why would anyone think that Adam had no part in holiness when he was created?  However, human holiness is different from God’s holiness because humans have free will and can still choose to disobey God and sin.  However for God, “…He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13) Therefore, God’s holiness cannot sin.  Here we want to emphasize something that everyone already knows. That is, Adam was only created in the image of God. It is not that Adam is exactly the same as God. This is impossible. He is just a man and cannot be God.  Some people say that holy people will not sin. Look at the example of Adam to see a counterexample!  As we shared earlier, sin is disobedience to God, not unholiness, but unholiness is indeed a sin.

If anyone still has doubts about Adam’s participation in holiness when he was created, let’s see what the New Testament says?  The book of Hebrews says, “Pursue …the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14) In the book of Genesis, it is said, “They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.”(Genesis 3:8) This does not say to hide from God’s voice, but to hide from God’s face. This sentence means that they have seen God’s face before they were defiled by sin, so they must hide from God’s face now.  Notice that the Lord said to Moses, “…You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”(Exodus 33:20) However, Adam was able to survive after seeing the face of God. How could he have no part in holiness before he sinned?

Some may still have doubts, but this verse clearly says, “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) Indeed, people who have been tainted by sin have never seen the face of God, so Moses could only see His back (see Exodus 33:18-23).  What we are talking about here is Adam at creation, Adam before he was tainted by sin, not Adam after he was tainted by sin.

Finally, from a logical and objective point of view, we will find that saying that Adam has no part in holiness means that God’s salvation plan is imperfect.  Why do you say this way?  As mentioned before, in human form, Jesus obeyed God and eliminated sin, restored the image of God like Adam, and completed God’s original will.  If Adam had no part in holiness, how could Jesus be holy if he restored the image of God like Adam?  But we know that Jesus is holy. Doesn’t this mean there is an obvious contradiction in the plan of salvation?  Since God’s plan of salvation is perfect, we cannot make such mistakes!  Says the plan of salvation is imperfect.  So from a logical point of view, the Bible also says that Adam participated in holiness when he was created. This is really similar to the word ‘Trinity’ which is not used in the Bible, but indeed the Bible has such a concept.

We have looked at this issue from three aspects: the Old Testament, the New Testament, and logic, and we have all reached the same conclusion: ‘Adam was holy when he was created.’ God tells us through the Bible is really consistent! Since people has the free will, one cannot force people to think an issue one way or the other. But if a person knows this and still insists that Adam had no part in holiness when he was created, this is a sin of blasphemy against God, not an ordinary sin, but a major sin, and he must repent in the same way as a major sin. Let us emphasize again. This is really similar to the fact that the Bible does not use the word Trinity!

Some people say that Adam had not eaten from the tree of life when he was created. This is correct, but it is wrong to conclude that Adam was neutral and therefore not holy.  Because the words of the Bible clearly say that Adam participated in holiness, this conclusion conflicts with the words of the Bible and is therefore an incorrect conclusion.  In other words, this is a subjective view.  In fact, the scriptures say very clearly, “For each tree is known by its own fruit. …”(Luke 6:44) If a wrong conclusion is bad fruit, then you know it is a bad tree.  At this time, there are only two choices for seeing the tree, which correspond the viewpoints of subjectivity or being objective. In this case, the only way to conclude that saying Adam had no part of holiness when created is subjective!  The Bible never says that Adam was neutral at that time. In fact, even if Adam was neutral at that time, he could still have holiness but not other characteristics of God, such as being able to perform miracles.  Didn’t Adam have free will then?  We see that free will comes from God. Because God has absolute sovereignty, of course He has free will. Adam was in the image of God, so he certainly had free choice, so he could choose to disobey God.

So even if it is based on the Bible words and is logical, people can still choose not to believe it, because people have free will, which is inevitable.  It is also because Adam had free will at the beginning. Although God’s command to him was so clear, he could choose not to listen.  Here, we are imitating Jesus’ attitude towards the young ruler (see Mark 10:17-22). At that time, He said and called, but did not interfere with his free will choice even He loved him. Therefore, we just shared it!  Because logic is an objective tool, the topic-wise Bible study is not to seek agreement with what we see, but to try to describe the logic based on biblical words and use objective methods to explain what the Bible actually says.

 ​(Verses refer to those in NASB unless otherwise specified.)

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

首先我们看见了我们的标竿是要模成耶稣的形像，要想可能模成耶稣的形像，我们必须过一个信望爱并祷告及赞美的生活，献上自己当作活祭，治死老我，进入那窄门，不要只停留在受圣灵的洗而重生的情况中，我们在前四个分题中，用圣经的话语阐述了这些事情。第五，我们讨论了一次得救就永远得救是否公平的这一问题，在讨论中，我们看见了当新天新地的新耶路撒冷降临时，为什么圣经是说有些基督徒会沦为不能进城的人。第六，我们看到了神作最后的决定谁是得胜者，我们最多只能如保罗一样的向标杆直奔。最后，我们简谈过去谈耶稣及接著会看启示录的原因，及下一次我们为什么会先讨论神的公义和其相关的。

1. 模成耶稣的形像       

罗马书说的很清楚，『因为他预先所知道的人，就预先定下效法(模成, to be conformed)他儿子的模样(形像, image)，使他儿子在许多弟兄中作长子。』(罗马书 8:29) 我们知道，『预先所定下的人又召他们来；所召来的人又称他们为义；所称为义的人又叫他们得荣耀。』(罗马书 8:30) 所以圣经告诉我们同时有预知和预定，预知和预定是一体的两面。我们以前在『2005 只有一圣经』中曾提出一个同时有预知和预定的架构，这里就不多讲了。『耶和华说：「我的意念非同你们的意念，我的道路非同你们的道路。天怎样高过地，照样，我的道路高过你们的道路，我的意念高过你们的意念。』(以赛亚书 55:8-9) 这是真实的，我们要相信。我们只是强调说，在 2005，人都能想到一个这样的架构，祂一定会做得更周全。如果你有兴趣的话，可以到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的网站后，按『对属灵生命的了解』，找到这篇短文。

2.  信望爱并祷告及赞美的生活       

要想可能模成耶稣的形像，我们必须过一个信望爱并祷告及赞美的生活，献上自己当作活祭，治死老我，进入那窄门，不要只停留在受圣灵的洗而只重生的光景中。我们祷告可以照著保罗所祷告的，『求我们主耶稣基督的神，荣耀的父，将那赐人智慧和启示的灵赏给你们，使你们真知道他。』(以弗所书 1:17) 要想真知道他，我们得要祂给我们的智慧和祂给我们的启示，所以我们一定得要圣灵带领我们读经。       

没有启示，我们会如彼得所说的强解圣经的，如经文所说，『…我们所亲爱的兄弟保罗，照著所赐给他的智慧写了信给你们。他一切的信上也都是讲论这事。信中有些难明白的，那无学问、不坚固的人强解，如强解别的经书一样，就自取沉沦。』(彼得后书 3:15-16) 你看到了保罗有著赐给他的智慧，且他自己说，『弟兄们，我告诉你们，我素来所传的福音，不是出于人的意思，因为我不是从人领受的，也不是人教导我的，乃是从耶稣基督启示来的。』(加拉太书 1:11-12) 我们看到启示是多么的重要啊！读经的态度是要「读出来」，要知道神借著圣经要告诉我们的是什么，而不是读进去，把自己的想法读进去，照自己的经历过的，自己以为圣经在告诉我什么，而每人的经历不同，自然每人的解释就不同，太容易强解了！从彼得的警告要我们不要强解圣经，就知道在早期的教会就已经如此，也难怪彼得要发出这样的警告！     

但我们知道，『…我们的软弱有圣灵帮助，我们本不晓得当怎样祷告，只是圣灵亲自用说不出来的叹息替我们祷告。鉴察人心的，晓得圣灵的意思，因为圣灵照著神的旨意替圣徒祈求。我们晓得万事都互相效力，叫爱神的人得益处，就是按他旨意被召的人。』(罗马书 8:26-28) 这里是说要爱神在先，自然能有万事互相效力。我们看见了圣灵的祷告是按著神的旨意的，如果我们的祷告是按著神的旨意求，而不按著自己的想法，怎么祷告会不被允许呢？神本来就是想要这么做的。       

我们需要谦卑，因主耶稣自己说，『我心里柔和谦卑，…』(马太福音 11:29) 如果我们不谦卑怎么可能模成耶稣的形像呢？一个真正谦卑的人，会知道保罗说的是实话，『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) 这句经文是可经历的。但经历过这经文而知道保罗说实话的人，不见得是真正谦卑的人，不可以把两者划等号！我没开玩笑，因自己就是一个很好的例子，我知道自己的生命到那里，是够不上谦卑的，当神在环境中要我面对自己的时候，常常都是失败的！听别人的话也要和读经一样，不可随便划等号，要不然别人没有讲的话都以为是别人讲的。读经如此，会以为是圣经讲的而圣经并没有这样讲，会自己创造一个不是圣经讲的神，却自己不知道！     

我们也一定要过一个在爱中的生活，因为耶稣说得很清楚，『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 22:37-40) 又说，『我赐给你们一条新命令，乃是叫你们彼此相爱；我怎样爱你们，你们也要怎样相爱。你们若有彼此相爱的心，众人因此就认出你们是我的门徒了。』(约翰福音 13:34-35) 有人可能会问，旧约不是已经有爱人如己的这命令吗？『不可报仇，也不可埋怨你本国的子民，却要爱人如己。我是耶和华。』(利未记 19:18) 怎么会是新命令呢？是新的。因旧约时没有内住的圣灵，而在新约时代，『…圣灵是从神而来，住在你们里头的…』(哥林多前书 6:19) 我们都有神的爱，『…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) 我们需要的是活出来这样的爱，所以这是一条新命令，用神的爱彼此相爱。     

至于信望及赞美的生活，我们以前在『2063   基督徒的信仰简介 』的『6. 信望爱并祷告及赞美的生活』中提到过，这里就不多讲了。有兴趣的人，可以用和找 『2005』一样的方法，找到这篇文章。

3. 献上自己当作活祭，治死老我      

保罗说，『所以弟兄们，我以神的慈悲劝你们，将身体献上，当作活祭，是圣洁的，是神所喜悦的；你们如此事奉，乃是理所当然的。不要效法这个世界，只要心意更新而变化，叫你们察验何为神的善良、纯全、可喜悦的旨意。』(罗马书 12:1-2) 是活祭哦！是活的，环境来临时是会跑的，要悔改。所以要常常献上自己，而不要以为只要一次献上就可以了！就像旧约的燔祭一样是一切献祭的基础，因『…祭司要每日早晨在上面烧柴，并要把燔祭摆在坛上，在其上烧平安祭牲的脂油。』(利未记 6:12)     

要献上自己当作活祭，治死老我，因为『你们若顺从肉体活著，必要死；若靠著圣灵治死身体的恶行，必要活著。』(罗马书 8:13) 这就犹如这样的一个杯子的例子，如果我们像一个杯子，先前是被老我充满，当我们初信时，留下了一点空间给有内住的圣灵的新人居住，但新人尚很微小，因杯子有固定的空间，当老我被多治死一点时，新人就有多一点的空间成长。也像我们要做一个全新的园子一样，要把旧的园子先清除。      

经文说得很清楚，『所以要治死你们在地上的肢体，就如淫乱、污秽、邪情、恶欲和贪婪，贪婪就与拜偶像一样。因这些事，神的忿怒必临到那悖逆之子。当你们在这些事中活著的时候，也曾这样行过。但现在你们要弃绝这一切的事，以及恼恨、忿怒、恶毒、毁谤，并口中污秽的言语。不要彼此说谎，因你们已经脱去旧人和旧人的行为，穿上了新人。这新人在知识上渐渐更新，正如造他主的形像。』(歌罗西书 3:5-10)

4. 进入窄门，不要只停留在重生的光景中       

『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)     

我们也分享过这经文，『耶稣往耶路撒冷去，在所经过的各城各乡教训人。有一个人问他说：「主啊，得救的人少吗？」耶稣对众人说：「你们要努力进窄门。我告诉你们：将来有许多人想要进去，却是不能。及至家主起来关了门，你们站在外面叩门，说：『主啊，给我们开门！』 「他就回答说：『我不认识你们，不晓得你们是哪里来的！』』(路加福音 13:22-25)      

所以真要进窄门，这窄门就是说要走上成圣的道路上，要献上自己当作活祭，治死老我，所以圣经常常用不同的角度来说明同一件事情。虽然如经文说，『人的工程若被烧了，他就要受亏损，自己却要得救；虽然得救，乃像从火里经过的一样。』(哥林多前书 3:15) 所以圣经是应许我们，「一次得救就永远得救」。我们在下一段会看面对这是否公平的问题，看到如果能正确了解圣经时就会知道，虽然基督徒会因诱惑而永远跌倒，这样的应许仍是公平的。我是要「读出来」神要借著圣经告诉我们什么，而不是读进去自己的经历和想法，强解圣经！     

『耶稣…说：「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) 不要只停留在受圣灵的洗而重生的光景中，要知道那只是一个开始，不要仅仅得救，要走上成圣的道路。虽是一受洗已是被迁入神爱子的国度(参歌罗西书 1:13-14)，在神眼中只有基督，我们在基督内是圣洁的，这就是所谓在地位上的成圣。但在经验中，我们仍会因犯罪从基督里滑出来，要悔改，渐渐的成为圣洁。我们知道，只要是基督徒祷告求被圣灵充满，圣经应许我们一定会得著，没有其他的条件，只是没有说时间，因为凡事都有定时(参路加福音 11:5-13) 这也和个人的经验相同，虽在一个特会中感动为这祈祷，但要到几年后才领受到。每个人的经历是不一样的，有人在很年轻时就经历到，也有较晚的时间的。有人说圣灵的充满和满有圣灵通常是指不一样的事，这是对的。圣灵的充满通常是指一次性的，或是告诉你圣灵是很实在的，或是给你能力去做某一件特定的事情，而满有圣灵是指像司提凡一类的人，经文说，『…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) 司提凡是满有圣灵的人，满有圣灵才是我们所要追求的。     

『我(耶稣)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 3:7-8) 这意思是很清楚的，虽然圣灵的洗是看不著摸不著的，但如果我们真相信，就知道信而受浸时已有内住的圣灵，受过圣灵的洗，已经是重生了。所以经文会说，『神的命令就是叫我们信他儿子耶稣基督的名，且照他所赐给我们的命令彼此相爱。遵守神命令的，就住在神里面，神也住在他里面。我们所以知道神住在我们里面，是因他所赐给我们的圣灵。』(约翰一书 3:23-24)      

『他…救了我们，并不是因我们自己所行的义，乃是照他的怜悯，借著重生的洗和圣灵的更新。圣灵就是神借著耶稣基督我们救主厚厚浇灌在我们身上的，好叫我们因他的恩得称为义，可以凭著永生的盼望成为后嗣。』(提多书 3:5-7) 我们是有盼望的，而『盼望不至于羞耻。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) 是从信开始，就有了望和爱，经文说，『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) 我们不只是要受重生的洗，还要圣灵持续的更新我们，这就犹如在旧约中所说的，『耶和华你神必将这些国的民，从你面前渐渐赶出，你不可把他们速速灭尽，恐怕野地的兽多起来害你。』(申命记 7:22) 神是全能的神，祂绝对有能力一次就从我们身上赶出所有我们所犯的罪行，但一下子要我们面对这么多的罪行，我们会厌恶自己到受不了的地步，所以为了我们的好处，圣灵会持续的更新我们，渐渐的除灭我们的罪行。在主观的经验上也是如此，当一个基督徒有著生命的改变而回想过去时，会想到如果一下子就知道所有过去的罪行怎么受得了，所幸的是生命能渐渐的改变！

5. 一次得救就永远得救是否公平？         

有人、尤其是非基督徒、可能会觉得「一次得救就永远得救」是不公平的，这是一个很好的问题，我们看看圣经是怎么说？我们可以先看看在启示录中所说的，在新天新地的新耶路撒冷降临后有这样的经文，我们以前分享过这些经文，我们再次分享，因为实在是非常重要。第一是经文说，『他又对我说：「都成了！我是阿拉法，我是俄梅戛；我是初，我是终。我要将生命泉的水白白赐给那口渴的人喝。得胜的，必承受这些为业。我要作他的神，他要作我的儿子。惟有胆怯的、不信的、可憎的、杀人的、淫乱的、行邪术的、拜偶像的和一切说谎话的，他们的分就在烧著硫磺的火湖里，这是第二次的死。」』(启示录 21:6-8) 在上述的经文的「业」和「我」两字之间，两个版本的原文中都有「和(and G2532)」这个字，所以惟有得胜者才可以确保的说，祂会做我们的神，我们会做祂的儿子，因此我们要做一个得胜者。        

在说到第二次的死后，又有了这经文，『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) 请注意，讲第二次的死时，包括了不信的，那时不信的已到硫磺的火湖里，所以这里在城外的人，是包括了曾经信过的人，那些一次得救永远得救的人，但他们可以因魔鬼撒但的诱惑而堕落到不能进城的地步。不只是撒但会装成光明的天使，牠的差役也会如此(参哥林多后书 11:14-15) 要分辩。所以彼得会说，每时刻都『务要谨守、警醒，因为你们的仇敌魔鬼，如同吼叫的狮子，遍地游行，寻找可吞吃的人。』(彼得前书 5:8)     

真的不要以为曾是基督徒的人不会堕落，我正需要一个这样的例子，这个例子就在最近一个团契分享腓利门书中出来的。那时我以为我都了解了腓利门书，是保罗实行爱的一个例子，对最后一节的问安，『与我同工的马可、亚里达古、底马、路加也都问你安。』(腓利门书 1:24) 我以前以为这是普通的问安，没什么的，就像在歌罗西书 4:14 说的一样，『所亲爱的医生路加和底马问你们安。』其实底马只在新约中提过三次，居然就想到经文又说，『因为底马贪爱现今的世界，就离弃我往帖撒罗尼迦去了。…』(提摩太后书 4:10) 所以我们看到底马本是保罗的同工，那时的他绝对应该是一个基督徒，基督徒的得救本是从世界出来，可是他堕落了！结果就是我再一次经历了这经文，『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)     

虽然是「一次得救就永远得救」，就可以不受第二次的死，但神是公平的，有些这样的基督徒是不能进城的！我们也看见，作在城外的基督徒是比去硫磺的火湖好多了，可是我们实在不要做那哀哭切齿如耶稣所说的，『于是王对使唤的人说：『捆起他的手脚来，把他丢在外边的黑暗里，在那里必要哀哭切齿了。』「因为被召的人多，选上的人少。」』(马太福音 22:13-14) 所以真要做一个能进城的得胜者。我们也看到了说是窄门的原因，是因为选上的人少！不是故意要使选上的人少，而是有一些永远得救的基督徒不太愿意治死老我，神为了祂的公义，怎么能选这样的人呢？如果我们知道还有不能进城而哀哭切齿的事，会甘心情愿的去做一些圣灵感动我们要做的事，不会『…将我们神的恩变作放纵情欲的机会，…』(犹大书 1:4) 不要如启示录的老底嘉的教会一样，他们做了不少从人角度看为美好的事情，却把主耶稣基督关在门外(参启示录 3:14-22) 圣灵要我们做的事情是可以存到永远的，所以『我听见从天上有声音说：「你要写下：从今以后，在主里面而死的人有福了！」 圣灵说：「是的，他们息了自己的劳苦，做工的果效也随著他们。」』(启示录 14:13)        

有人说，基督徒是不可能在城外的，这违背了我的良知。这基督徒忘了良知也是被罪玷污的，不像圣经是我们绝对的标准，忘了圣经是说有基督徒会在城外的,当自己的良知和圣经冲突时，我们要听圣经的话。我们只要看大卫，就知道良知是被罪玷污的这一点。我们只举一个大卫数民的例子，在这件事中，『他们走遍全地，过了九个月零二十天，就回到耶路撒冷。约押将百姓的总数奏告于王：以色列拿刀的勇士有八十万；犹大有五十万。』(撒母耳记下 24:8-9) 数民应该需要准备的时间，所以至少在这段时间中，难道大卫没有良知吗？他的良知被罪玷污了，看不到自己所做的事！基督徒都听过福音，知道要仰望神的话，而不是倚靠被罪玷污的良知。我们知道『因为神不偏待人。』(罗马书 2:11)      #####只有当人没有机会听到福音时，尤其是在耶稣没有降生前之人，对他们来说，会如『没有律法的外邦人，若顺著本性行律法上的事，他们虽然没有律法，自己就是自己的律法。这是显出律法的功用刻在他们心里，他们是非之心同作见证，并且他们的思念互相较量，或以为是，或以为非。』(罗马书 2:14-15) 我以前认为这是不可能的，但圣经有这样的例子，『以诺生玛土撒拉之后，与神同行三百年，并且生儿养女。以诺共活了三百六十五岁。以诺与神同行，神将他取去，他就不在世了。』(创世记 5:22-24) 以诺不是顺著本性去做事吗？     

我们顺便一提大卫的其他事情，他是合神心意的人，就如经文所说，『…大卫，他是合我心意的人，凡事要遵行我的旨意。』(使徒行传 13:22) 但他犯了罪，『你为甚么藐视耶和华的命令，行他眼中看为恶的事呢？你借亚扪人的刀杀害赫人乌利亚，又娶了他的妻为妻。』(撒母耳记下 12:9) 耶和华差遣拿单去见大卫 (参撒母耳记下 12:1-15)，大卫一知道他的罪后就立刻悔改，他的悔改非常的彻底，他不仅写了诗篇五十一篇在神面前悔改，并交于伶长去唱，在众人面前悔改，并不隐藏自己的罪过。大卫数民也是如此，如经文所说，『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) 于是『大卫早晨起来，耶和华的话临到先知迦得，就是大卫的先见，说：「你去告诉大卫说：『耶和华如此说：我有三样灾，随你选择一样，我好降与你。』」』(撒母耳记下 24:11-12) 详细的情况可看撒母耳记下 24:13-25。

6. 谁决定得胜者        

有人可能会问，那谁能肯定自己是得胜者呢？神是很公平的，『…因为多给谁，就向谁多取；多托谁，就向谁多要。』(路加福音 12:48) 祂知道，但我们不知道祂究竟是给了一个人多少，会向那人要多少，这只有在白色的大宝座前的审判时我们才会知道。因为经文说，『我又看见死了的人，无论大小，都站在宝座前。案卷展开了，并且另有一卷展开，就是生命册。死了的人都凭著这些案卷所记载的，照他们所行的受审判。』(启示录 20:12) 所以保罗虽然相信，『那美好的仗我已经打过了，当跑的路我已经跑尽了，所信的道我已经守住了。从此以后，有公义的冠冕为我存留，就是按著公义审判的主到了那日要赐给我的；…』(提摩太后书 4:7-8) 但他仍然在年老的时候说，『…我不是以为自己已经得著了，我只有一件事，就是忘记背后，努力面前的，向著标竿直跑，…』(腓立比书 3:13-14) 在他死后的启示录中说，在新天新地的耶路撒冷降临时，『城墙有十二根基，根基上有羔羊十二使徒的名字。』(启示录 21:14) 而羔羊亲自选的十二使徒是包括保罗的。的确，他有公义的冠冕！       

所以我们能做的就是向著标竿直跑。知道『…耶和华不像人看人：人是看外貌，耶和华是看内心。』(撒母耳记上 16:7) 在希伯来书的信心名人榜中说，『妓女喇合因著信，曾和和平平地接待探子，就不与那些不顺从的人一同灭亡。我又何必再说呢？若要一一细说，基甸、巴拉、参孙、耶弗他、大卫、撒母耳和众先知的事，时候就不够了。』(希伯来书 11:31-32) 看所列出的人名，就很清楚的知道神是看内心的，要不然有些人的名字怎么会在上面呢？箴言说得很清楚，『你要保守你心，胜过保守一切，因为一生的果效，是由心发出。』(箴言 4:23)

7. 简谈过去谈耶稣及接著会看启示录的原因       

我们要过一个「分别为圣」的生活，我们今天简谈了要怎么过一个「信望爱并祷告及赞美」的生活，这只有在基督里，依靠圣灵方能成事。过去的这一段时间里，我们以照事情发生次序写的路加福音为主干，然后将其他三本福音书及圣经提到的部份相关的资料一并讨论。      

就像约翰选择材料的标准一样，他是说：『但记这些事，要叫你们信耶稣是基督，是神的儿子，并且叫你们信了他，就可以因他的名得生命。』(约翰福音 20:31) 是的，这也就是我们所「信」的。我们过去这一段时间，主要就是借著四本福音书来讨论我们的「信」，信主耶稣基督是神的的儿子。这信就带来了内住的圣灵，在日常的生活中，我们会发觉生命的改变，甘心情愿的和神同工，得到了生命。这就像当时的以色列人奉献做会幕一样，直到『摩西传命，他们就在全营中宣告说：「无论男女，不必再为圣所拿甚么礼物来。」这样才拦住百姓不再拿礼物来。因为他们所有的材料够做一切当做的物，而且有余。』(出埃及记 36:6-7) 他们是甘心情愿的如『耶和华晓谕摩西说：「你告诉以色列人当为我送礼物来，凡甘心乐意的，你们就可以收下归我。」』(出埃及记 25:1-2)       

当然四本福音书还包括了许多其他的事，譬如说讲到爱的地方到处都有，我们谈到「爱」时，再谈其余的相关部份。其中也谈到了『我(耶稣)若去为你们预备了地方，就必再来接你们到我那里去；我在哪里，叫你们也在那里。』(约翰福音 14:3) 也就是说基督徒都盼望耶稣的再来，而耶稣再来时候发生的事情主要是在启示录里，我们谈到「望」，就不能不提到启示录，这是我们选择接著看启示录的原因。启示录我目前也不是很懂，希望圣灵会像路加福音一样的带领我们，让我们了解一些我们以前不了解的经文。       

一般的教会都会强调爱，因『你们若有彼此相爱的心，众人因此就认出你们是我的门徒了。』(约翰福音 13:35) 而且『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 22:37-40) 但新约和旧约都是一位神，旧约中到处都提到「神的公义」，我们谈过旧约中的公义中有爱，而新约中的爱有公义，旧约更明讲公义是神宝座的根基，就如经文所说，『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) 一个建筑物的根基若坏了会倒的，神怎么会让宝座的根基毁坏呢？神对世人的公义是因为神爱世人，所以在新约中的救恩是基于神爱世人，且要同时达到神的公义的要求，所以我们下次会讨论公义这一点及其相关的话题。

(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』。)   

First of all, we see that our goal is to be conformed to the image of Jesus. In order to be conformed to the image of Jesus, we must live a life of faith, hope, love, prayer and praise, offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, and put old self to death, enter the narrow gate, do not stop at being reborn by the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We have explained these things in the words of the Bible in the first four sub-topics.  Fifth, we discussed the issue of whether it is fair to be saved once and for all. During the discussion, we saw why the Bible says that when the New Jerusalem of the new heaven and new earth comes, some Christians will be reduced to those who cannot enter the city.  Sixth, we have seen that God makes the final decision on who is the overcomer. The best we can do is to run straight towards the goal like Paul.  Finally, let’s briefly talk about the reasons why we talked about Jesus in the past and then look at the book of Revelation in the future, and why next time we will discuss God’s justice and its related issues first.

1. Conformed into the image of Jesus

The book of Romans makes it very clear, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.”(Romans 8:29) We know, “and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”(Romans 8:30) So the Bible tells us that we have foreknowledge and predestination at the same time. Foreknowledge and predestination are two aspects of the same thing.  We have previously proposed a structure that includes both foreknowledge and predestination in “2005 Only One Bible,” so we won’t go into details here. ““For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways

And My thoughts than your thoughts.”(Isaiah 55:8-9) This is true, we have to believe it. We just emphasize that in 2005, if anyone can think of such a structure, He will definitely do it more comprehensively. If you are interested, you can go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/” and click “On spiritual understanding about life” to find this short article.

2. A life of faith, hope, love, prayer and praise

If we want to be conformed to the image of Jesus, we must live a life of faith, hope, love, prayer and praise, offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, put the old self to death, and enter the narrow door. We must not just stay at the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In the state of rebirth.  We can pray as Paul prayed, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.”(Ephesians 1:17) If we want to truly know Him, we must ask for the wisdom He gives us and the revelation He gives us, so we must ask the Holy Spirit to lead us in reading the Bible.

Without revelation, we would be interpreting the Bible as Peter said, as the scripture says, “…our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.”(2 Peter 3:15-16) You see that Paul had the wisdom given to him, and he himself said, “For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.”(Galatians 1:11-12) We see how important revelation is!  The attitude of reading the Bible is to “read it out” and to know what God wants to tell us through the Bible, rather than to read it in and put your own thoughts into it. It isn’t what you think what the Bible wants to tell you based upon your own experiences. Since everyone’s experience is different, everyone’s explanation will naturally be different if by this way. It’s too easy to force the explanation!  From Peter’s warning that we should not forcefully interpret the Bible, we know that this was already the case in the early church. No wonder Peter issued such a warning!

But we know that “…the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”(Romans 8:26-28) This means that if you love God first, then everything will work together for good.  We have seen that the Holy Spirit’s prayers are in accordance with God’s will. If our prayers are in accordance with God’s will and not in accordance with our own thoughts, our prayers will be answered for sure since that’s what God intended to start with.

We need humility, because the Lord Jesus Himself said, “…I am gentle and humble in heart…”(Matthew 11:29) If we are not humble, how can we be conformed to the image of Jesus?  A truly humble person will know that Paul is telling the truth, “If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know.” (1 Corinthians 8:2) This verse can be experienced.  But those who have experienced this passage and know that Paul is telling the truth may not necessarily be truly humble people, and we cannot equate the two!  I’m not kidding, because I am a good example. When God asks me to face myself in circumstances, I often fail! I know that my life doesn’t reach where it should be, and I am really not humble enough.

Listening to what others say should obey the same principle as reading the Bible. You cannot draw two statements with equality sign since they may only means one implies the other; otherwise you may think what others have said isn’t what they:really said.  If you read the Bible like this, you will think it is what the Bible says but the Bible does not. You will create a God who is not what the Bible says, but you don’t know it!

We must also live a life in love, because Jesus said it very clearly, “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 22:37-40) And he said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.””(John 13:34-35) Some may ask, isn’t there already a command in the Old Testament to love your neighbor as yourself? “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.”(Leviticus 19:18) How could it be a new command?  Yes, it is new. Because there was no indwelling Holy Spirit in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament, “…your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you…”(1 Corinthians 6:19) We all 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 need is to live out this kind of love, so this is a new command to love one another with the love of God.

As for the life of faith, hope and praise, we have mentioned it before in

“6. A life of faith, hope, love and prayer and praise”  in “1063 Introduction to christian faith,” so we won’t go into details here.  Those who are interested can find this article using the same method as “2005”.

​3. Offer yourself as a living sacrifice and put your old self to death

Paul said, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”(Romans 12:1-2) It is a living sacrifice!  They are alive and will run away when circumstances come, so they must repent in this occasion.  Therefore, you must offer yourself often, and don’t think that you only need to offer yourself once!  Just like the burnt offering in the Old Testament, it is the basis of all sacrifices, because “

The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it. It shall not go out, but the priest shall burn wood on it every morning; and he shall lay out the burnt offering on it, and offer up in smoke the fat portions of the peace offerings on it.”(Leviticus 6:12) “for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”(Romans 8:13) This is like an example of a cup. If we are like a cup, we were filled with the old self before. When we first believed, there was a little space left for the new man with the indwelling Holy Spirit. But the new man is still very small, because the cup has a fixed space. When the old self is killed more, the new man will have more space to grow.  Just like when we want to make a new garden, we must clear out the old garden first.

The scriptures make it very clear, “Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him⁠.”(Colossians 3:5-10)

4. Enter the narrow gate and don’t just stay in the state of rebirth.

​”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)

We have also shared this scripture, “And He was passing through from one city and village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem. And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up to us!’ then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’”(Luke 13:22 -25)

So you really have to enter the narrow gate. This narrow gate means that you have to embark on the road to sanctification, offer yourself as a living sacrifice, and put your old self to death. Therefore, the Bible often uses different angles to explain the same thing.  As the scripture says, “If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”(1 Corinthians 3:15) the Bible promises us, “Once saved, you are saved forever.”  We will look at the question of whether this is fair in the next paragraph. If we understand the Bible correctly, we will know that although Christians will always fall because of temptation, such a promise is still fair.  We want to “read out” what God wants to tell us through the Bible, rather than reading in my own experiences and thoughts to forcefully interpret the Bible!

“​Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.””(John 3:3) Don’t just stay in the state of being reborn by the baptism of the Holy Spirit; Know that’s just the beginning, don’t just be saved, be on the path to sanctification.  Although once we are baptized, we have been transferred into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (see Colossians 1:13-14). In the eyes of God there is only Christ, and we are holy in Christ. This is the so-called positional sanctification.  But in experience, we will still slip away from Christ because of sin, and we must repent and gradually become holy.  We know that as long as Christians pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit, the Bible promises that we will receive it. There are no other conditions, but it does not say when, because there is a time for everything (see Luke 11:5-13). This is also the same as my personal experience. Although I was moved to pray for this at a conference, I did not receive it until several years later.  Everyone’s experience is different. Some people experience it when they are very young, and some experience it later.  Some people often say the words ‘being filled with the Holy Spirit,’ which usually refers to different things, but this is correct.  The filling of the Holy Spirit usually refers to a one-time event, or tells you that the Holy Spirit is very real, or gives you the power to do a specific thing.  Being full of the Holy Spirit refers to people like Stephen. The Bible says, “…Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit…”(Acts 6:5). It also said, “But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he (Stephen) was speaking. (Acts 6:10) Stephen was a man full of the Holy Spirit. Being full of the Holy Spirit is what we should pursue.

“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 3:7-8) The meaning of this is very clear. Although the baptism of the Holy Spirit is invisible and intangible, if we truly believe it, we will know that when we believe and are baptized, we have received the indwelling Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit already means rebirth.  So the scripture would say, “This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.”(1 John 3:23-24)

“He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”(Titus 3:5-7) We have hope, “and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”(Romans 5:5) Beginning with faith, there is hope and love. The scripture says, “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”(1 Corinthians 13:13) We not only need to be baptized by rebirth, but also the Holy Spirit continues to renew us. This is just like what is said in the Old Testament, “The LORD your God will clear away these nations before you little by little; you will not be able to put an end to them quickly, for the wild beasts would grow too numerous for you.”(Deuteronomy 7:22) God is Almighty, and He is absolutely capable of driving out all the sins we have committed from us at once, but if we are asked to face so many sins at once, we will hate ourselves to the point of It is unbearable, so for our benefit, the Holy Spirit will continue to renew us and gradually eliminate our sins.  The same is true in subjective experience. When a Christian has a change in his life and looks back on the past, he will think about how he could bear it if he knew all his past sins at once. Fortunately, life can change gradually!

5. Is it fair that once you are saved you are saved forever?

Some people, especially non-Christians, may feel that “once saved, saved forever” is unfair. This is a good question. Let’s see what the Bible says?  We can first look at what is said in the Book of Revelation. There are such verses after the coming of the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and new earth. We have shared these verses before, and we share them again because they are really very important.  The first is that the scripture says, “Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and (G2532) I will be his God and (G2532) he will be My son. But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.””(Revelation 21:6-8) In the above verses, the original text of both versions contains also the word “and (G2532)”, so only the overcomers can say with certainty that He will be our God and we will be His sons. Therefore we must be overcomers.

After talking about the second death, there are such verses, “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) Please note that when talking about the second death, unbelievers are included. At that time, unbelievers have entered the lake of fire and brimstone, so those outside the city here include those who were once believed and had the promise “once saved, saved forever,” but they can fall to the point of being unable to enter the city due to the temptation of Satan the devil.  Not only does Satan disguise himself as an angel of light, but so do his servants (see 2 Corinthians 11:14-15). Be discerning.  So Peter would say, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”(1 Peter 5:8)

Really don’t think that people who have been Christians will not fall. There is an example in the Bible, which came out when  a fellowship shared the book of Philemon recently.  At that time, I thought I understood the book of Philemon very well, which is just an example of Paul’s practice of love. Regarding the greeting in the almost last verse, “as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.”(Philemon 1:24) I used to think this was an ordinary greeting, nothing more, just like it says in Colossians 4:14, “Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and also Demas.” In fact, the person Demas is only mentioned three times in the New Testament. One other place says, “for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; …”(2 Timothy 4:10) So we see that Demas was a co-worker of Paul. He was definitely a Christian at that time. The salvation of Christians is to come out of the world, but he fell!  The result is also that I experienced this scripture again, “If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know.””(1 Corinthians 8:2)

Although “once saved, saved forever” means one will not die the second death, God is fair, and some such Christians cannot enter the city!  We have also seen that it is much better to be a Christian outside the city than to go to the lake of fire and brimstone, but we really do not want to do what Jesus said: “Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.””(Matthew 22:13-14) So you really need to be an overcomer who can enter the city.  We have also seen that the reason why it is said to be a narrow gate is because there are only few people chosen!  It’s not that God deliberately wants to reduce the number of people chosen, but there are some eternally saved Christians who are reluctant to put their old self to death. For the sake of His justice, how can God choose such people?  If we know that we still have weeping and gnashing of teeth because we cannot enter the city, we will be willing to do things that the Holy Spirit inspires us to do, and will not “…turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”(Jude 1:4) Don’t be like the church in Laodicea in the book of Revelation. They did a lot of good things from a human perspective, but shut out the Lord Jesus Christ (see Revelation 3:14-22). The Holy Spirit wants the things we do can last forever, as said in the verses, “And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.””(Revelation 14:13)

Some people say that it is impossible for Christians to be outside the city, which goes against my conscience.  This Christian forgets that conscience is also tainted by sin, unlike the Bible, which is our absolute standard. He forgets that the Bible says there are Christians outside the city. When our conscience conflicts with the Bible, we must listen to the Bible.  We only have to look at David to see that conscience is stained by sin.  Let us just take an example of David’s numbering of the people. In this case, “So when they had gone about through the whole land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. And Joab gave the number of the registration of the people to the king; and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.”(2 Samuel 24:8-9) Numbering the people should take time to prepare, so at least during this time, doesn’t David have a conscience?  His conscience was stained by sin and he couldn’t see what he had done!  Christians have all heard the gospel and know to rely on God’s word rather than relying on a conscience tainted by sin.  We know “…there is no partiality with God.”(Romans 2:11)

Only when people do not have the opportunity to hear the gospel, especially those before Jesus was born, to them, they will be like this, “For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them.”(Romans 2:14-15) I used to think this was impossible, but the Bible has this example, “Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.”(Genesis 5:22-24) Didn’t Enoch do things according to his nature?

By the way, let’s mention other things about David. He is a man after God’s own heart, as the scripture says, He “…have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.”(Acts 13:22) But he sinned, and the Lord sent Nathan to David (see 2 Samuel 12:1-15).  “Why have you despised the word of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon.”(2 Samuel 12:9) As soon as David knew about his sin, he immediately repented. His repentance was very thorough. He not only He wrote Psalm 51 to repent before God but also gave it to the choir director to sing. So he repented in front of everyone and did not hide his sins.  The same was true when David numbered the people. As the scripture says, “Now David’s heart troubled him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O LORD, please take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.””(2 Samuel 24:10) He immediately repented after he realized what he did. “When David arose in the morning, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying, “Go and speak to David, ‘Thus the LORD says, “I am offering you three things; choose for yourself one of them, which I will do to you.”’””(2 Samuel 24:11-12) For details, please see 2 Samuel 24:13-25.

6. Who decides who is an overcomer ?

Someone may ask, who can be sure that he is an overcomer?  God is very fair, “…From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”(Luke 12:48) He knows, but we don’t know how much He has given to a person and how much He will ask of that person. This will only be known to us at the judgment before the great white throne.  Because the scripture says, “And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.”(Revelation 20:12) So although Paul believed, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day;…”(2 Timothy 4:7-8) But he was still in his old age. Said, “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”(Philippians 3:13-14) After his death, the Book of Revelation says that when Jerusalem comes to the new heaven and new earth, “And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”(Revelation 21:14) The twelve apostles chosen by the Lamb Himself include Paul since he was chosen after Jesus resurrection in the big light and Matthias was chosen by lots (see Acts 1:26).  Indeed, Paul has the crown of righteousness from above!

So all we can do is run towards the goal.  Know that “…God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”(1 Samuel 16:7) In the list of famous people of faith in the book of Hebrews, it is said, “By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace. And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets.”(Hebrews 11:31-32) Looking at the names of the people listed, it is clear that God looks at the heart. Otherwise, how could some people’s names be on it?  The book of Proverbs says very clearly, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.”

7. Briefly talk about the reason why we talked about Jesus in the past and will read the book of Revelation next.

We need to live a “sanctified” life. Today we briefly talked about how to live a life of “faith, hope, love, prayer and praise”. This can only be accomplished in Christ and relying on the Holy Spirit.  In the past period of time, we have used the Gospel of Luke, which is written in the order of events, as the main body, and then discussed some relevant information mentioned in the other three gospels and the Bible.

Just like John’s criteria for selecting materials, he said: “but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”(John 20:31) Yes, this is what we “believe”. In the past period of time, we have mainly discussed our “faith” through the four gospels, believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  This faith brings the indwelling Holy Spirit. In our daily life, we will notice changes in our lives, and we will willingly work with God and gain life.  This was just like the Israelites dedicating themselves to the tabernacle at that time, until “…Moses issued a command, and a proclamation was circulated throughout the camp, saying, “Let no man or woman any longer perform work for the contributions of the sanctuary.” Thus the people were restrained from bringing any more. For the material they had was sufficient and more than enough for all the work, to perform it.”(Exodus 36:6-7) They were willing, as “…the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution.”(Exodus 25:1-2)

Of course, the four gospels also include many other things. For example, love is mentioned everywhere. When we talk about “love”, we will talk about other related parts.  It also talks about “If I (Jesus ) go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”(John 14:3) In other words, Christians all look forward to the return of Jesus, and what will happen when Jesus returns is mainly in the Book of Revelation. When we talk about “hope”, we have to mention the book of Revelation. This is why we chose to look at the book of Revelation next.  I don’t understand the Book of Revelation very well at the moment. I hope the Holy Spirit will lead us like what He did in our discussion of the Gospel of Luke and let us understand some scriptures that we didn’t understand before.

 Generally, churches will emphasize love, because “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.””(John 13:35) And “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 22:37-40) But both the New Testament and the Old Testament are the same God, and they are mentioned everywhere in the Old Testament. When it comes to “God’s justice”, we have talked about the righteousness in the Old Testament that includes love, and the love in the New Testament that includes righteousness. The Old Testament even more clearly states that righteousness is the foundation of God’s throne, as the scripture says, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;

Lovingkindness and truth go before You.”(Psalm 89:14) If the foundation of a building is damaged, it will fall. How could God allow the foundation of the throne to be destroyed?  God’s justice to the world is because God loves the world, so salvation in the New Testament is based on God’s love for the world, and at the same time it must meet the requirements of God’s justice, so we will discuss this point of justice and its related aspects next time.

 ​(Verses refer to those in NASB unless otherwise specified.)

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

     我们基本上在耶稣这个系列中分享完了路加福音和有些其相关的经文，我们虽简略的分享过耶稣的家谱，但真正的分享是从受试探开始，在耶稣的出生及小时候的事情以前分享过，就不再重复了！今天就到路加福音的最后一节，三本福音其他的事情我们到相关的主题以后再分享。     

     在这里，我们首先看路加福音说的去以马忤斯的两门徒，他们不知道圣经说耶稣会复活，因耶稣已死，就离开了耶路撒冷往以马忤斯去，在路上遇见耶稣，谈论了发生的一切事。我们看到耶稣复活后的灵体非常不一样，虽然耶稣解释了关于祂的经文，他们仍然不认识祂。接著就说明耶稣是如何向他们显现的，他们强留耶稣，看到强留有时是很重要的，这时耶稣也愿意开他们的眼睛向他们显现。也看到耶稣复活后的身体不受肉体的限制，会突然不见了！并说明耶稣是如何证实了祂的复活。第三，我们看见了祂在耶路撒冷的显现中，必须开门徒们的心窍，使他们明白圣经。今日是要圣灵以启示带领我们读经才能不强解圣经。耶稣是要他们等候在耶路撒冷，领受圣灵的洗。最后我们谈到了祂的驾云升天，并应许祂的再来，且是大有荣耀的驾云再来。

1.  去以马忤斯的两门徒        

    『正当那日，门徒中有两个人往一个村子去；这村子名叫以马忤斯，离耶路撒冷约有二十五里。他们彼此谈论所遇见的这一切事。正谈论相问的时候，耶稣亲自就近他们，和他们同行；只是他们的眼睛迷糊了，不认识他。耶稣对他们说：「你们走路彼此谈论的是甚么事呢？」 他们就站住，脸上带著愁容。二人中有一个名叫革流巴的回答说：「你在耶路撒冷作客，还不知道这几天在那里所出的事吗？」耶稣说：「甚么事呢？」 他们说：「就是拿撒勒人耶稣的事。他是个先知，在神和众百姓面前说话行事都有大能。祭司长和我们的官府竟把他解去，定了死罪，钉在十字架上。但我们素来所盼望、要赎以色列民的就是他！不但如此，而且这事成就，现在已经三天了。再者，我们中间有几个妇女使我们惊奇，她们清早到了坟墓那里，不见他的身体，就回来告诉我们，说看见了天使显现，说他活了。又有我们的几个人往坟墓那里去，所遇见的正如妇女们所说的，只是没有看见他。」耶稣对他们说：「无知的人哪，先知所说的一切话，你们的心信得太迟钝了。基督这样受害，又进入他的荣耀，岂不是应当的吗？」于是从摩西和众先知起，凡经上所指著自己的话都给他们讲解明白了。』(路加福音 24:13-27)       

    他们显然没有读懂耶稣会复活，而他们以为耶稣是个先知，且知道素来所盼望、要赎以色列民的就是祂，因此面带愁容的向耶稣叙述了所发生的事情，且说祂已死三天了，他们惊讶的听说耶稣复活了！从他们的对话，我们知道这两门徒以前的确是读过旧约圣经，只是没有看懂，现在耶稣亲自向他们讲解明白了！     

    我们看到复活后耶稣的灵体是和以前不一样了，就像上次所讲，抹大拉的马利亚一样，刚开始她没有认出耶稣，直到祂愿意以希伯来话开她的眼睛，向她显现。在这里，那去以马忤斯的两门徒的遭过和抹大拉的马利亚一样，刚开始他们没有认出耶稣，直到耶稣打开了他们的服眼睛。在下段中，我们会从经文中看见，他们的眼睛是如何的被打开的。以后我们可以看到耶稣的原意，是要门徒们留在耶路撒冷，所以祂最终以祂的显现阻止了去以马忤斯的两门徒离开，回到耶路撒冷。

2.  耶稣复活后显现于以马忤斯    

    『将近他们所去的村子，耶稣好像还要往前行，他们却强留他，说：「时候晚了，日头已经平西了，请你同我们住下吧！」耶稣就进去，要同他们住下。到了坐席的时候，耶稣拿起饼来，祝谢了，擘开，递给他们。他们的眼睛明亮了，这才认出他来。忽然耶稣不见了。他们彼此说：「在路上，他和我们说话，给我们讲解圣经的时候，我们的心岂不是火热的吗？」他们就立时起身，回耶路撒冷去，正遇见十一个使徒和他们的同人聚集在一处，说：「主果然复活，已经现给西门看了。」两个人就把路上所遇见，和擘饼的时候怎么被他们认出来的事，都述说了一遍。』(路加福音 24:28-35)      

    我们看到了这次是借著擘饼使他们眼睛得开，和在抹大拉的马利亚身上的情况不一样，今日圣灵的工作也是这样，不是一成不变的。他们不是回到耶路撒冷了吗？而且是立刻！今日也要如此，一旦知道是圣灵要我们去做一些事时，要立刻行动，如果他们不是「立刻」，就不会「正遇见」了他们该遇的人！所以当和合本的翻译会有「正」这个字时，虽然有时原文并没有用这个字，但要特别注意相应的事件。     

    在这里我们也看到，如果他们没有强留耶稣，耶稣就走了，不会向他们显现了！所以有时候强留非常重要。其实强留(G3849)这个字在新约只出现两次，另外一次是在这经文中，在腓立比的城门外一个祷告的地方，『有一个卖紫色布疋的妇人，名叫吕底亚，是推雅推喇城的人，素来敬拜神。她听见了，主就开导她的心，叫她留心听保罗所讲的话。她和她一家既领了洗，便求我们说：「你们若以为我是真信主的，请到我家里来住。」于是强留我们。』(使徒行传 16:14-15)    

    我们在敬拜神的吕底亚的身上，看到主会在有需要时亲自动工的。也看到了如果吕底亚没有强留保罗，就不会有后事，因后来保罗和西拉因有一个使女被巫鬼所附的事件、而下在内监里，却是约在半夜祷告唱诗赞美神，使禁卒和属乎他的人立时都受了洗(参使徒行传 16:16-39) 经文说，等到『二人出了监，往吕底亚家里去，见了弟兄们，劝慰他们一番，就走了。』(使徒行传 16:40) 我们也看到了保罗相信她是真信主的，所以保罗会住在那里。在保罗入狱时，虽然圣经没有明讲二人被囚时吕底亚他们会做什么，但从圣经的一致性看来，他们应会祷告，因在另一个地方明说，『于是彼得被囚在监里，教会却为他切切地祷告神。』(使徒行传 12:5) 今日不也是如此吗？当基督徒遇见事情时，会一起祷告的。      

    我们在这里也看到只有当耶稣愿意向他们显现时他们才认出祂来，而复活后的耶稣也不再受肉体的限制，可以忽然不见。除非是如腓利和太监的事件(参使徒行传8:26-38) 太监受洗后，『从水里上来，主的灵把腓利提了去。太监也不再见他了，就欢欢喜喜地走路。』(使徒行传 8:39) 主真是大能的神！     

    经文说，『他们就立时起身，回耶路撒冷去，正遇见十一个使徒和他们的同人聚集在一处，说：「主果然复活，已经现给西门看了。」』(路加福音 24:33-34) 我们不是看见耶稣以祂的显现阻止了他们离开了耶路撒冷，也难怪除特别的几位妇女外，保罗看到主复活后的显现的顺序会如经文所说，『并且显给矶法看，然后显给十二使徒看，后来一时显给五百多弟兄看，…以后显给雅各看，再显给众使徒看，末了，也显给我看，…』(哥林多前书 15:5-8) 虽然起初犹大卖主后只有十一个使徒，但那时已有摇签选出马提亚加入他们，所以那时已有十二个使徒。这是最后一次抽签决定事情，而以后圣灵在五旬节降临，就没有抽签了。虽然『众人就祷告说：「主啊，你知道万人的心。求你从这两个人中，指明你所拣选的是谁，叫他得这使徒的位分。这位分犹大已经丢弃，往自己的地方去了。」』(使徒行传 1:24-25) 但圣经从来没有说这祷告蒙允许，我们也知道祷告常常是人的希望，保罗是主在大光中显现亲自选的，保罗自己说，『末了，也显给我看，我如同未到产期而生的人一般。』(哥林多前书 15:8) 应该就是指大光的事件。当我们说到耶稣亲自选的十二使徒时，应该是原先的十一使徒加上保罗，因马提亚是摇籖决定的。     

    我们看到了在选马提亚的时候，条件为『就是从约翰施洗起，直到主离开我们被接上升的日子为止，必须从那常与我们作伴的人中，立一位与我们同作耶稣复活的见证。』(使徒行传 1:22) 你看圣经说去以马忤斯的两门徒，『他们就立时起身，回耶路撒冷去，正遇见十一个使徒和他们的同人聚集在一处，…正说这话的时候，耶稣亲自站在他们当中，说：「愿你们平安！」』(路加福音 24:33-36) 马提亚应该是在同人中，因保罗说的是十二个使徒，圣经是多么的一致啊！      

    接著路加又说耶稣证实了祂的复活，是可吃食物的灵体，但不受物质的限制，在下列经文中，我们可看见耶稣本是不在那里的，但『正说这话的时候，耶稣亲自站在他们当中，说：「愿你们平安！」他们却惊慌害怕，以为所看见的是魂。耶稣说：「你们为甚么愁烦？为甚么心里起疑念呢？你们看我的手，我的脚，就知道实在是我了。摸我看看！魂无骨无肉，你们看，我是有的。」说了这话，就把手和脚给他们看。他们正喜得不敢信，并且希奇，耶稣就说：「你们这里有甚么吃的没有？」他们便给他一片烧鱼，他接过来，在他们面前吃了。』(路加福音 24:36-43)

3.  耶稣复活后显现于耶路撒冷       

    『耶稣对他们说：「这就是我从前与你们同在之时所告诉你们的话说：摩西的律法、先知的书和诗篇上所记的，凡指著我的话都必须应验。」于是耶稣开他们的心窍(understanding, mind,  G3563, nous)，使他们能明白圣经，又对他们说：「照经上所写的，基督必受害，第三日从死里复活，并且人要奉他的名传悔改、赦罪的道，从耶路撒冷起直传到万邦。你们就是这些事的见证。我要将我父所应许的降在你们身上，你们要在城里等候，直到你们领受从上头来的能力。」』(路加福音 24:44-49)       

    这个字心窍(G5363) 在汇编中共出现 24 次，所以有足够多次看到其意义，所以我们不需要用它的字典，它的字典是基于字根的，而其他的方式字典经常会有不同的解释，如经文中出现足够多次数，我们通常能从经文中相当清楚的了解这字的意思。在这里，其中两处经文为：『不要效法这个世界，只要心意(G3563)更新而变化，叫你们察验何为神的善良、纯全、可喜悦的旨意。』(罗马书 12:2) 和『在洁净的人，凡物都洁净；在污秽不信的人，甚么都不洁净，连心地(G3563)和天良也都污秽了。』(提多书 1:15) 请注意，在和合本中心窍只出现两次，另一次是在这经文，『惟独长大成人的，才能吃干粮，他们的心窍(G145)习练得通达，就能分辩好歹了。』(希伯来书 5:14) 这里的心窍原文是用只出现一次的 G415，是不同的字。        

    我们也看见了他们以前也看过圣经，但没看懂，必须要耶稣亲自开他们的心窍，使他们能明白圣经。彼得也是被耶稣开过心窍的，能明白圣经，所以他有资格说，我们不要强解圣经(参彼得后书 3:15-16) 我们常常会强解圣经，因为我们常常会读进去我们的想法，当然会有不同的看法，而不是读出来神要借著圣经告诉我们的是什么。有人就举了这样的一个例子，以前我们去博物馆看到一幅画会问，画者究竟要借这幅画要告诉我们什么，而今日常说，我认为这幅画在说什么，而不看画者要说什么，前者是读出来，是读经的正确作法，而后者就是读进去，是读经时不对的态度。读进去太容易了，不学就会了，能读出来是基本上一生要学的功课！想读出来不一定能读出来的，有时圣经黑字白字的写在那里，我们就是会看不见、读不懂，一定要圣灵以启示带领我们读经。    

    去以马忤斯的两门徒，圣经并没有说耶稣那时开了他们的心窍，只是说对他们讲解明白了，这时耶稣才开他们的心窍，使他们能完全明白圣经。而今日唯一能做这工作的是圣灵，需要圣灵以启示带领我们读经，才能不强解圣经。我们也看到了耶稣是要他们等候在耶路撒冷并说明其原因，这和使徒行传说得是一致的，『耶稣和他们聚集的时候，嘱咐他们说：「不要离开耶路撒冷，要等候父所应许的，就是你们听见我说过的。约翰是用水施洗，但不多几日，你们要受圣灵的洗。」』(使徒行传 1:4-5) 的确在五旬节的时候，圣灵下降，在耶稣被捕时，原是『…门徒都离开他逃走了。』(马太福音 26:56) 现在是得著能力，为主作见证。

    譬如说，雅各是最早为主殉道的使徒，『那时，希律王下手苦害教会中几个人，用刀杀了约翰的哥哥雅各。』(使徒行传 12:1-2) 耶稣复活后对彼得说，『我实实在在地告诉你：你年少的时候，自己束上带子，随意往来；但年老的时候，你要伸出手来，别人要把你束上，带你到不愿意去的地方。』(约翰福音 21:18) 彼得明知道会如此，仍然甘心情愿的为主献上了自己的生命。圣经也明说了，『耶稣说这话，是指著彼得要怎样死，荣耀神。…』(约翰福音 21:19) 我们再来看约翰，『耶稣对他(彼得)说：「我若要他(约翰)等到我来的时候，与你何干？你跟从我吧！」于是这话传在弟兄中间，说那门徒(约翰)不死；其实耶稣不是说他不死，乃是说：「我若要他等到我来的时候，与你何干？」』(约翰福音 21:22-23) 约翰的确是活得最久的使徒，以人看来是最不容易的，因祂必须与神同行的时间最久，他应该在神的眼中、最后是如罗马书所说的、模成了耶稣的形像(参罗马书 8:29) 也难怪耶稣基督的启示会晓谕他的仆人约翰。(参启示录 1:1)

    圣灵启示我们的工作是慢慢的，就如当初的以色列人类似，『耶和华你神必将这些国的民，从你面前渐渐赶出，你不可把他们速速灭尽，恐怕野地的兽多起来害你。』(申命记 7:22) 不是神不能一下子就启示我们所有的事情，但我们会受不了一下子就知道自己所有的过犯。『他便救了我们，…借著重生的洗和圣灵的更新。』(提多书 3:5)) 为著我们的好处，圣灵会不断的、渐渐地更新我们。

4.  耶稣的升天与再临      

    我们再看路加福音的最后几节，『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。他们就拜他，大大地欢喜，回耶路撒冷去，常在殿里称颂神。』(路加福音 24:50-53)     这早期的教会所做的，常在殿里称颂神。的确发自内心的赞美神是非常重要的，因为我们从出生就是罪人，我们出生时就有著被罪玷污的神的形像，『他便救了我们，并不是因我们自己所行的义，乃是照他的怜悯，…』(提多书 3:5) 经文说得很清楚，我们一信时，『他(神)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) 所以我们一定要在无罪的耶稣基督里。        

    关于耶稣的升天，使徒行传记得更详细，『他们聚集的时候，问耶稣说：「主啊，你复兴以色列国就在这时候吗？」耶稣对他们说：「父凭著自己的权柄所定的时候、日期，不是你们可以知道的。但圣灵降临在你们身上，你们就必得著能力；并要在耶路撒冷、犹太全地和撒马利亚，直到地极，作我的见证。」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。」』(使徒行传 1:6-11)    

    那时候他们可能还在想属世的国度，耶稣所讲的是属灵的国度。是的，祂应许过祂的再来，就如经文所说，『在我父的家里有许多住处，若是没有，我就早已告诉你们了。我去原是为你们预备地方去。我若去为你们预备了地方，就必再来接你们到我那里去；我在哪里，叫你们也在那里。』(约翰福音 14:2-3) 我们以前分享过，我们会在那里，是指我们最终也会在死后复活升天，和耶稣一样。这里也再说，祂不但会再来，还会驾云再来，也就是这经文所说的，『那时，他们要看见人子有大能力，大荣耀，驾云降临。』(马可福音 13:26, 路加福音 21:27) 也就是启示录所说的，『看哪！他驾云降临，众目要看见他，连刺他的人也要看见他，地上的万族都要因他哀哭。这话是真实的。阿们！』(启示录 1:7)

(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』。)   

      我們基本上在耶穌這個系列中分享完了路加福音和有些其相關的經文，我們雖簡略的分享過耶穌的家譜，但真正的分享是從受試探開始，在耶穌的出生及小時候的事情以前分享過，就不再重複了！今天就到路加福音的最後一節，三本福音其他的事情我們到相關的主題以後再分享。

     在這裏，我們首先看路加福音說的去以馬忤斯的兩門徒，他們不知道聖經說耶穌會復活，因耶穌已死，就離開了耶路撒冷往以馬忤斯去，在路上遇見耶穌，談論了發生的一切事。我們看到耶穌復活後的靈體非常不一樣，雖然耶穌解釋了關於祂的經文，他們仍然不認識祂。接著就說明耶穌是如何向他們顯現的，他們強留耶穌，看到強留有時是很重要的，這時耶穌也願意開他們的眼睛向他們顯現。也看到耶穌復活後的身體不受肉體的限制，會突然不見了！並說明耶穌是如何証實了祂的復活。第三，我們看見了祂在耶路撒冷的顯現中，必須開門徒們的心竅，使他們明白聖經。今日是要聖靈以啓示帶領我們讀經才能不強解聖經。耶穌是要他們等候在耶路撒冷，領受聖靈的洗。最後我們談到了祂的駕雲升天，並應許祂的再來，且是大有榮耀的駕雲再來。

1.  去以馬忤斯的兩門徒

        『正當那日，門徒中有兩個人往一個村子去；這村子名叫以馬忤斯，離耶路撒冷約有二十五里。他們彼此談論所遇見的這一切事。正談論相問的時候，耶穌親自就近他們，和他們同行；只是他們的眼睛迷糊了，不認識他。耶穌對他們說：「你們走路彼此談論的是甚麼事呢？」 他們就站住，臉上帶着愁容。二人中有一個名叫革流巴的回答說：「你在耶路撒冷作客，還不知道這幾天在那裏所出的事嗎？」耶穌說：「甚麼事呢？」 他們說：「就是拿撒勒人耶穌的事。他是個先知，在神和眾百姓面前說話行事都有大能。祭司長和我們的官府竟把他解去，定了死罪，釘在十字架上。但我們素來所盼望、要贖以色列民的就是他！不但如此，而且這事成就，現在已經三天了。再者，我們中間有幾個婦女使我們驚奇，她們清早到了墳墓那裏，不見他的身體，就回來告訴我們，說看見了天使顯現，說他活了。又有我們的幾個人往墳墓那裏去，所遇見的正如婦女們所說的，只是沒有看見他。」耶穌對他們說：「無知的人哪，先知所說的一切話，你們的心信得太遲鈍了。基督這樣受害，又進入他的榮耀，豈不是應當的嗎？」於是從摩西和眾先知起，凡經上所指着自己的話都給他們講解明白了。』(路加福音 24:13-27)

       他們顯然沒有讀懂耶穌會復活，而他們以為耶穌是個先知，且知道素來所盼望、要贖以色列民的就是祂，因此面帶愁容的向耶穌敘述了所發生的事情，且說祂已死三天了，他們驚訝的聽說耶穌復活了！從他們的對話，我們知道這兩門徒以前的確是讀過舊約聖經，只是沒有看懂，現在耶穌親自向他們講解明白了！

     我們看到復活後耶穌的靈體是和以前不一樣了，就像上次所講，抹大拉的馬利亞一樣，剛開始她沒有認出耶穌，直到祂願意以希伯來話開她的眼睛，向她顯現。在這裏，那去以馬忤斯的兩門徒的遭過和抹大拉的馬利亞一樣，剛開始他們沒有認出耶穌，直到耶穌打開了他們的服眼睛。在下段中，我們會從經文中看見，他們的眼睛是如何的被打開的。以後我們可以看到耶穌的原意，是要門徒們留在耶路撒冷，所以祂最終以祂的顯現阻止了去以馬忤斯的兩門徒離開，回到耶路撒冷。

2.  耶穌復活後顯現於以馬忤斯

        『將近他們所去的村子，耶穌好像還要往前行，他們卻強留他，說：「時候晚了，日頭已經平西了，請你同我們住下吧！」耶穌就進去，要同他們住下。到了坐席的時候，耶穌拿起餅來，祝謝了，擘開，遞給他們。他們的眼睛明亮了，這才認出他來。忽然耶穌不見了。他們彼此說：「在路上，他和我們說話，給我們講解聖經的時候，我們的心豈不是火熱的嗎？」他們就立時起身，回耶路撒冷去，正遇見十一個使徒和他們的同人聚集在一處，說：「主果然復活，已經現給西門看了。」兩個人就把路上所遇見，和擘餅的時候怎麼被他們認出來的事，都述說了一遍。』(路加福音 24:28-35)

      我們看到了這次是藉著擘餅使他們眼睛得開，和在抹大拉的馬利亞身上的情況不一樣，今日聖靈的工作也是這樣，不是一成不變的。他們不是回到耶路撒冷了嗎？而且是立刻！今日也要如此，一旦知道是聖靈要我們去做一些事時，要立刻行動，如果他們不是「立刻」，就不會「正遇見」了他們該遇的人！所以當和合本的翻譯會有「正」這個字時，雖然有時原文並沒有用這個字，但要特別注意相應的事件。

     在這裏我們也看到，如果他們沒有強留耶穌，耶穌就走了，不會向他們顯現了！所以有時候強留非常重要。其實強留(G3849)這個字在新約只出現兩次，另外一次是在這經文中，在腓立比的城門外一個禱告的地方，『有一個賣紫色布疋的婦人，名叫呂底亞，是推雅推喇城的人，素來敬拜神。她聽見了，主就開導她的心，叫她留心聽保羅所講的話。她和她一家既領了洗，便求我們說：「你們若以為我是真信主的，請到我家裏來住。」於是強留我們。』(使徒行傳 16:14-15)

     我們在敬拜神的呂底亞的身上，看到主會在有需要時親自動工的。也看到了如果呂底亞沒有強留保羅，就不會有後事，因後來保羅和西拉因有一個使女被巫鬼所附的事件、而下在內監裏，卻是約在半夜禱告唱詩讚美神，使禁卒和屬乎他的人立時都受了洗(參使徒行傳 16:16-39) 經文說，等到『二人出了監，往呂底亞家裏去，見了弟兄們，勸慰他們一番，就走了。』(使徒行傳 16:40) 我們也看到了保羅相信她是真信主的，所以保羅會住在那裏。在保羅入獄時，雖然聖經沒有明講二人被囚時呂底亞他們會做什麼，但從聖經的一致性看來，他們應會禱告，因在另一個地方明說，『於是彼得被囚在監裏，教會卻為他切切地禱告神。』(使徒行傳 12:5) 今日不也是如此嗎？當基督徒遇見事情時，會一起禱告的。

        我們在這裏也看到只有當耶穌願意向他們顯現時他們才認出祂來，而復活後的耶穌也不再受肉體的限制，可以忽然不見。除非是如腓利和太監的事件(參使徒行傳8:26-38) 太監受洗後，『從水裏上來，主的靈把腓利提了去。太監也不再見他了，就歡歡喜喜地走路。』(使徒行傳 8:39) 主真是大能的神！

     經文說，『他們就立時起身，回耶路撒冷去，正遇見十一個使徒和他們的同人聚集在一處，說：「主果然復活，已經現給西門看了。」』(路加福音 24:33-34) 我們不是看見耶穌以祂的顯現阻止了他們離開了耶路撒冷，也難怪除特別的幾位婦女外，保羅看到主復活後的顯現的順序會如經文所說，『並且顯給磯法看，然後顯給十二使徒看，後來一時顯給五百多弟兄看，…以後顯給雅各看，再顯給眾使徒看，末了，也顯給我看，…』(哥林多前書 15:5-8) 雖然起初猶大賣主後只有十一個使徒，但那時已有搖籤選出馬提亞加入他們，所以那時已有十二個使徒。這是最後一次抽籤決定事情，而以後聖靈在五旬節降臨，就沒有抽籤了。雖然『眾人就禱告說：「主啊，你知道萬人的心。求你從這兩個人中，指明你所揀選的是誰，叫他得這使徒的位分。這位分猶大已經丟棄，往自己的地方去了。」』(使徒行傳 1:24-25) 但聖經從來沒有說這禱告蒙允許，我們也知道禱告常常是人的希望，保羅是主在大光中顯現親自選的，保羅自己說，『末了，也顯給我看，我如同未到產期而生的人一般。』(哥林多前書 15:8) 應該就是指大光的事件。當我們說到耶穌親自選的十二使徒時，應該是原先的十一使徒加上保羅，因馬提亞是搖籖決定的。

     我們看到了在選馬提亞的時候，條件為『就是從約翰施洗起，直到主離開我們被接上升的日子為止，必須從那常與我們作伴的人中，立一位與我們同作耶穌復活的見證。』(使徒行傳 1:22) 你看聖經說去以馬忤斯的兩門徒，『他們就立時起身，回耶路撒冷去，正遇見十一個使徒和他們的同人聚集在一處，…正說這話的時候，耶穌親自站在他們當中，說：「願你們平安！」』(路加福音 24:33-36) 馬提亞應該是在同人中，因保羅說的是十二個使徒，聖經是多麼的一致啊！

        接著路加又說耶穌証實了祂的復活，是可吃食物的靈體，但不受物質的限制，在下列經文中，我們可看見耶穌本是不在那裏的，但『正說這話的時候，耶穌親自站在他們當中，說：「願你們平安！」他們卻驚慌害怕，以為所看見的是魂。耶穌說：「你們為甚麼愁煩？為甚麼心裏起疑念呢？你們看我的手，我的腳，就知道實在是我了。摸我看看！魂無骨無肉，你們看，我是有的。」說了這話，就把手和腳給他們看。他們正喜得不敢信，並且希奇，耶穌就說：「你們這裏有甚麼吃的沒有？」他們便給他一片燒魚，他接過來，在他們面前吃了。』(路加福音 24:36-43)

3.  耶穌復活後顯現於耶路撒冷

        『耶穌對他們說：「這就是我從前與你們同在之時所告訴你們的話說：摩西的律法、先知的書和詩篇上所記的，凡指着我的話都必須應驗。」於是耶穌開他們的心竅(understanding, mind,  G3563, nous)，使他們能明白聖經，又對他們說：「照經上所寫的，基督必受害，第三日從死裏復活，並且人要奉他的名傳悔改、赦罪的道，從耶路撒冷起直傳到萬邦。你們就是這些事的見證。我要將我父所應許的降在你們身上，你們要在城裏等候，直到你們領受從上頭來的能力。」』(路加福音 24:44-49)

     這個字心竅(G5363) 在彙編中共出現 24 次，所以有足夠多次看到其意義，所以我們不需要用它的字典，它的字典是基於字根的，而其他的方式字典經常會有不同的解釋，如經文中出現足夠多次數，我們通常能從經文中相當清楚的瞭解這字的意思。在這裏，其中兩處經文為：『不要效法這個世界，只要心意(G3563)更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為神的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意。』(羅馬書 12:2) 和『在潔淨的人，凡物都潔淨；在污穢不信的人，甚麼都不潔淨，連心地(G3563)和天良也都污穢了。』(提多書 1:15) 請注意，在和合本中心竅只出現兩次，另一次是在這經文，『惟獨長大成人的，才能吃乾糧，他們的心竅(G145)習練得通達，就能分辨好歹了。』(希伯來書 5:14) 這裏的心竅原文是用只出現一次的 G415，是不同的字。

        我們也看見了他們以前也看過聖經，但沒看懂，必須要耶穌親自開他們的心竅，使他們能明白聖經。彼得也是被耶穌開過心竅的，能明白聖經，所以他有資格說，我們不要強解聖經(參彼得後書 3:15-16) 我們常常會強解聖經，因為我們常常會讀進去我們的想法，當然會有不同的看法，而不是讀出來神要藉著聖經告訴我們的是什麼。有人就舉了這樣的一個例子，以前我們去博物館看到一幅畫會問，畫者究竟要藉這幅畫要告訴我們什麼，而今日常說，我認為這幅畫在說什麼，而不看畫者要說什麼，前者是讀出來，是讀經的正確作法，而後者就是讀進去，是讀經時不對的態度。讀進去太容易了，不學就會了，能讀出來是基本上一生要學的功課！想讀出來不一定能讀出來的，有時聖經黑字白字的寫在那裏，我們就是會看不見、讀不懂，一定要聖靈以啓示帶領我們讀經。

     去以馬忤斯的兩門徒，聖經並沒有說耶穌那時開了他們的心竅，只是說對他們講解明白了，這時耶穌才開他們的心竅，使他們能完全明白聖經。而今日唯一能做這工作的是聖靈，需要聖靈以啓示帶領我們讀經，才能不強解聖經。我們也看到了耶穌是要他們等候在耶路撒冷並說明其原因，這和使徒行傳說得是一致的，『耶穌和他們聚集的時候，囑咐他們說：「不要離開耶路撒冷，要等候父所應許的，就是你們聽見我說過的。約翰是用水施洗，但不多幾日，你們要受聖靈的洗。」』(使徒行傳 1:4-5)  的確在五旬節的時候，聖靈下降，在耶穌被捕時，原是『…門徒都離開他逃走了。』(馬太福音 26:56) 現在是得著能力，為主作見証。

    譬如說，雅各是最早為主殉道的使徒，『那時，希律王下手苦害教會中幾個人，用刀殺了約翰的哥哥雅各。』(使徒行傳 12:1-2) 耶穌復活後對彼得說，『我實實在在地告訴你：你年少的時候，自己束上帶子，隨意往來；但年老的時候，你要伸出手來，別人要把你束上，帶你到不願意去的地方。』(約翰福音 21:18) 彼得明知道會如此，仍然甘心情願的為主獻上了自己的生命。聖經也明說了，『耶穌說這話，是指着彼得要怎樣死，榮耀神。…』(約翰福音 21:19) 我們再來看約翰，『耶穌對他(彼得)說：「我若要他(約翰)等到我來的時候，與你何干？你跟從我吧！」於是這話傳在弟兄中間，說那門徒(約翰)不死；其實耶穌不是說他不死，乃是說：「我若要他等到我來的時候，與你何干？」』(約翰福音 21:22-23) 約翰的確是活得最久的使徒，以人看來是最不容易的，因祂必須與神同行的時間最久，他應該在神的眼中、最後是如羅馬書所說的、模成了耶穌的形像(參羅馬書 8:29) 也難怪耶穌基督的啓示會曉諭他的僕人約翰。(參啓示錄 1:1)

     聖靈啓示我們的工作是慢慢的，就如當初的以色列人類似，『耶和華你神必將這些國的民，從你面前漸漸趕出，你不可把他們速速滅盡，恐怕野地的獸多起來害你。』(申命記 7:22) 不是神不能一下子就啓示我們所有的事情，但我們會受不了一下子就知道自己所有的過犯。『他便救了我們，…藉着重生的洗和聖靈的更新。』(提多書 3:5)) 為著我們的好處，聖靈會不斷的、漸漸地更新我們。

4.  耶穌的升天與再臨

      我們再看路加福音的最後幾節，『耶穌領他們到伯大尼的對面，就舉手給他們祝福。正祝福的時候，他就離開他們，被帶到天上去了。他們就拜他，大大地歡喜，回耶路撒冷去，常在殿裏稱頌神。』(路加福音 24:50-53)

    這早期的教會所做的，常在殿裏稱頌神。的確發自內心的讚美神是非常重要的，因為我們從出生就是罪人，我們出生時就有著被罪玷污的神的形像，『他便救了我們，並不是因我們自己所行的義，乃是照他的憐憫，…』(提多書 3:5) 經文說得很清楚，我們一信時，『他(神)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) 所以我們一定要在無罪的耶穌基督裏。

        關於耶穌的升天，使徒行傳記得更詳細，『他們聚集的時候，問耶穌說：「主啊，你復興以色列國就在這時候嗎？」耶穌對他們說：「父憑着自己的權柄所定的時候、日期，不是你們可以知道的。但聖靈降臨在你們身上，你們就必得着能力；並要在耶路撒冷、猶太全地和撒馬利亞，直到地極，作我的見證。」說了這話，他們正看的時候，他就被取上升，有一朵雲彩把他接去，便看不見他了。當他往上去，他們定睛望天的時候，忽然有兩個人身穿白衣，站在旁邊，說：「加利利人哪，你們為甚麼站着望天呢？這離開你們被接升天的耶穌，你們見他怎樣往天上去，他還要怎樣來。」』(使徒行傳 1:6-11)

    那時候他們可能還在想屬世的國度，耶穌所講的是屬靈的國度。是的，祂應許過祂的再來，就如經文所說，『在我父的家裏有許多住處，若是沒有，我就早已告訴你們了。我去原是為你們預備地方去。我若去為你們預備了地方，就必再來接你們到我那裏去；我在哪裏，叫你們也在那裏。』(約翰福音 14:2-3) 我們以前分享過，我們會在那裏，是指我們最終也會在死後復活升天，和耶穌一樣。這裏也再說，祂不但會再來，還會駕雲再來，也就是這經文所說的，『那時，他們要看見人子有大能力，大榮耀，駕雲降臨。』(馬可福音 13:26, 路加福音 21:27) 也就是啓示錄所說的，『看哪！他駕雲降臨，眾目要看見他，連刺他的人也要看見他，地上的萬族都要因他哀哭。這話是真實的。阿們！』(啓示錄 1:7)

(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 basically finished sharing the Gospel of Luke and some related scriptures in the Jesus series. Although we have briefly shared the genealogy of Jesus and what happened before Jesus’ birth and childhood events. In the series, we started to share the events of the temptation. Today we come to the last verse of the Gospel of Luke. We will share other things in the three Gospels later when related topics arise.

Here, we first look at the two disciples who went to Emmaus in the Gospel of Luke. They did not know that the Bible said that Jesus would be resurrected. Because Jesus had died, they left Jerusalem and went to Emmaus. They met Jesus on the road, and talked about everything that happened.  We see that Jesus’ spiritual body after His resurrection was very different. Although Jesus explained to them the scriptures about Him, they still did not recognize Him.  After that, it explains how Jesus appeared to them. They urged Jesus to stay. We see that this kind of urgent request is sometimes very important. Jesus in this case was willing to open their eyes and appear to them.  I also see that after the resurrection, Jesus’ spiritual body was not restricted by the flesh and would suddenly disappear!  And it also explains how Jesus confirmed His resurrection.  Third, we saw that in His appearance in Jerusalem, He had to open the minds of His disciples so that they could understand the Scriptures.  Today we need the Holy Spirit to lead us with revelation in reading the Bible so that we can not forcefully interpret the Bible.  Jesus wanted them to wait in Jerusalem to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Finally we talked about His ascension in the clouds and the promise of His return, which will come in the clouds with great glory.

1. The two disciples going to Emmaus

“And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.”(Luke 24:13-27)

They obviously did not understand that Jesus would be resurrected. Instead, they thought that Jesus was a prophet and knew that it was Him who had been hoping to redeem the Israelites. Therefore, they told Jesus what had happened with a sad face and said that He had been dead for three days. When they were told that Jesus was resurrected, they were surprised to hear it. From their conversation, we know that these two disciples had indeed read the Old Testament before, but they just didn’t understand it. Now Jesus himself explained it to them clearly!

We see that after the resurrection, Jesus’ spiritual body was different from before. Just like Mary Magdalene which we mentioned last time, she did not recognize Jesus at first until He was willing to open her eyes by Hebrew and appear to her.  Here, the two disciples going to Emmaus experienced the same thing as Mary Magdalene. They did not recognize Jesus at first until Jesus opened their eyes.  In the next paragraph, we will see from the scriptures how their eyes were opened.  Later we can see that Jesus’ original intention was for the disciples to stay in Jerusalem, so He finally used His appearance to prevent the two disciples who were going to Emmaus from leaving Jerusalem, and returned to it.

2. Jesus appeared in Emmaus after his resurrection

“And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. But they urged (G3849) Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.”(Luke 24:28-35)

We have seen that this time their eyes were opened through the breaking of bread, which was different from the situation with Mary Magdalene. The same is true for the work of the Holy Spirit today, and the work is always dynamic depending upon the situation.  Didn’t they return to Jerusalem?  And immediately!  The same should be true today. Once we know that the Holy Spirit wants us to do something, we must act immediately. If they are not “immediately”, they will not “meet” the person they should meet! When you see the word ‘immediately’ or similar, you should pay special attention to the corresponding event.

Here we also see that if they had not urged Jesus to stay, Jesus would have left and would not have appeared to them!  So sometimes it is very important to stay.  In fact, the word urged (G3849) only appears twice in the New Testament. The other time is in this passage, in a place of prayer outside the city gate of Philippi, “A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed (G3849) upon us.”

In the case of Lydia, who worshiped God, we see that the Lord will personally work when necessary.  We also saw that if Lydia had not urged Paul to stay, there would have been no aftermath, because later Paul and Silas were imprisoned because of an incident where a slave girl was possessed by a demon. The event refers to they prayed and sang about midnight, and the jailer and those who belonged to him were baptized immediately (see Acts 16:16-39). The scripture says, “They went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia, and when they saw the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.”(Acts 16:40) We also see that Paul believed that she was a true believer in the Lord, so Paul would live there.  When Paul was imprisoned, although the Bible does not clearly say what Lydia and the others would do when they were imprisoned, judging from the consistency of the Bible, they should pray for them, because it is clearly stated in another place, “So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.”(Acts 12:5) Isn’t it the same today?  When Christians encounter problems, they will pray together.

We also see here that they only recognized Jesus when he was willing to appear to them, and that after the resurrection, Jesus was no longer limited by the physical body and could disappear suddenly.  Unless it is like the incident between Philip and the eunuch (see 8:26-38), after the eunuch was baptized, “When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.”(Acts 8:39) The Lord is truly a powerful God!

The scripture says, “And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.””(Luke 24:33-34) We did see that Jesus prevented them from leaving Jerusalem with His appearance. It is no wonder that, except for a few special women, Paul saw that the order of the Lord’s appearances after his resurrection was as the scripture says, “and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.”(1 Corinthians 15:5-8)    

Although there were only eleven apostles at first after Judas betrayed Him, by that time Matthias had been chosen by lot to join them, so there were twelve apostles at that time.  This was the last time things were decided by casting lots, and after the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, there were no more casting of lots.  Although “…they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.””(Acts 1:24-25) But the Bible never says that this prayer was answered. We also know that prayer is often people’s self-hope. Paul was personally chosen by the Lord when He appeared in the great light. Paul himself said, “and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.”(1 Corinthians 15:8) It should refer to the event of great light.  When we talk about the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus Himself, it should be the original eleven plus Paul, because Matthias was decided by lots.

We have seen that when choosing Matthias, the condition was that “beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us⁠—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”(Acts 1:22) You see, the Bible says about the two disciples who went to Emmaus, “And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, …While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be to you.”” (Luke 24:33-36) Matthias must have been among those people, because Paul was talking about the twelve apostles. How consistent the Bible is!

Then Luke went on to say that Jesus confirmed His resurrection and had a spiritual body that could eat food but was not restricted by matter. In the following verses, we can see that Jesus was originally not there, but “While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be to you.” But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; and He took it and ate it before them.”(Luke 24:36-43)

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 ​3. Jesus appeared in Jerusalem after His resurrection

“Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds (G3563, nous) to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.””(Luke 24:44-49)

This word mind (G5363) appears a total of 24 times in the Strong’s Concordance, so we have seen its meaning many times and do not need to use its dictionary. Its dictionary is based on the root, and other dictionaries often have different meanings. If the same word appears enough times in the scriptures, we can usually understand the meaning of the word quite clearly from the scriptures.  Here, two of the verses read: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (G3563), so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”(Romans 12:2) and “To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind (G3563) and their conscience are defiled.”(Titus 1:15) 

We have also seen that they had read the Bible before, but did not understand it. They had to have Jesus Himself open their minds so that they could understand the Bible.  Peter was also enlightened by Jesus and could understand the Bible, so he was qualified to say that we should not forcefully interpret the Bible (see 2 Peter 3:15-16). We often forcefully interpret the Bible because we often read into our thoughts, of course there will be different views, rather than reading out what God wants to tell us through the Bible.  Someone gave such an example. In the past, when we saw a painting in a museum, we would ask what the painter wanted to tell us by the painting. But today we often say, I think what the painting is saying, without looking at what the painter wants to say. The former is to ‘read out,’ which is the correct way to read the Bible, while the latter is to read into it, which is the wrong attitude when reading the Bible. 

It’s so easy to read into the Bible naturally, and you’ll know it but it is hard for you to learn it. Being able to ‘read out’ it is basically a lifelong lesson!  You may not be able to read out even if you want to. Sometimes the Bible is written in black and white, but we just can’t see it or understand it. The Holy Spirit must lead us with revelation in reading the Bible.

For the two disciples who went to Emmaus, the Bible does not say that Jesus opened their minds at that time. It only says that He explained it clearly to them. Only then did Jesus open their minds so that they could fully understand the Bible.  The only one who can do this one today is the Holy Spirit. We need the Holy Spirit to lead us in reading the Bible with revelation so that we cannot forcefully interpret the Bible.  We also see that Jesus asked them to wait in Jerusalem and explained why, which is consistent with what is said in the book of Acts, “Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.””(Acts 1:4-5) Indeed, at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended. In the past when Jesus was arrested, it turned out that “…all the disciples left Him and fled.”(Matthew 26:56) Now it is time to receive the power to bear witness for the Lord. 

For example, James was the first apostle to be martyred for the Lord. “Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to mistreat them. And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword.”(Acts 12:1-2) After Jesus was resurrected, He said to Peter, “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.”(John 21:18) Peter knew this would happen, but he still willingly gave his life for the Lord.  The Bible also clearly says, “Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. …”(John 21:19) Let’s look at the book of John again, “So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?””(John 21:22 – 23) John is indeed the longest-living apostle, and from a human perspective, it is the most difficult because he had to walk with God for the longest time. He should be, in the eyes of God, an example of being conformed into the image of Jesus, like what is said in the book of Romans (see Romans 8:29). It is no wonder that the revelation of Jesus Christ was revealed to His servant John.  (See Revelation 1:1)

The Holy Spirit leads us slowly, just like when the Israelites entered the land of Canaan, “The LORD your God will clear away these nations before you little by little; you will not be able to put an end to them quickly, for the wild beasts would grow too numerous for you.”(Deuteronomy 7:22) It’s not that God can’t reveal everything to us at once, but we can’t bear to know all our transgressions at once. “He saved us, …by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.”(Titus 3:5) For our benefit, the Holy Spirit will continue to renew us gradually.

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4. The Ascension and Second Coming of Jesus

Let’s look at the last verses of Luke’s Gospel, “And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising God.”(Luke 24:50-53)

What the early church did was to always praise God in the temple.  Indeed, it is very important to praise God from the heart, because we are sinners from birth, and we are born with the image of God stained by sin. “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, …” (Titus 3:5) The scripture makes it clear that when we believe, “For He (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) Therefore, we must be in the sinless Jesus Christ.

Regarding the ascension of Jesus, the book of Acts is more detailed, “So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.””(Acts 1:6-11)

At that time, they might still be thinking about the earthly kingdom, but Jesus was talking about the spiritual kingdom.  Yes, He has promised His return, as the scripture says, “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”(John 14:2-3) We have shared before that we will be there, which means that we will eventually be resurrected and ascended to heaven after death, just like Jesus.  It is also said here that He will not only come back, but He will also come back in the clouds, which is what this scripture also says, “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.”(Mark 13:26, Luke 21:27) That’s what the book of Revelation says, “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.” (Revelation 1:7)

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 ​(Verses refer to those in NASB unless otherwise specified.)

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