首先，我們知道我們要進窄門，然後在經文中看到窄門是指什麼，也用例子說明，神不是一個命令一個動作的神，祂給我們相當多的自由做抉擇。第二，經文說到耶路撒冷和其聖殿的預言，我們也看到這預言在歷史中是如何成就的。第三，我們看到了耶穌在安息日醫治患水臌的人，就像我們以前分享的，耶穌是守安息日的真諦，而不是其律法上的時間，這裡只是加上了另一件如此做的事情。最後我們看到了一個天國做事的原則，「凡自高的，必降為卑；自卑的，必升為高。」要模成耶穌的形像，我們必須有真實的謙卑，祂應許我們的擔子是輕省的。

1. 進窄門

       『耶穌往耶路撒冷去，在所經過的各城各鄉教訓人。有一個人問他說：「主啊，得救的人少嗎？」耶穌對眾人說：「你們要努力進窄門。我告訴你們：將來有許多人想要進去，卻是不能。及至家主起來關了門，你們站在外面叩門，說：『主啊，給我們開門！』 「他就回答說：『我不認識你們，不曉得你們是哪裏來的！』「那時，你們要說：『我們在你面前吃過、喝過，你也在我們的街上教訓過人。』「他要說：『我告訴你們，我不曉得你們是哪裏來的。你們這一切作惡的人，離開我去吧！』「你們要看見亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各，和眾先知都在神的國裏，你們卻被趕到外面，在那裏必要哀哭切齒了。從東、從西、從南、從北將有人來，在神的國裏坐席。只是有在後的，將要在前；有在前的，將要在後。」』(路加福音 13:22-30)

    我們看到了我們是要努力進窄門，不只是要知道窄門是什麼，進窄門是要努力的，而且這門是會關的。基至於憑自己而奉基督耶穌之名做一些事情也是沒用的，要做主要我們做的事。這樣得救的人會從各方各地，各民各族而來，和亞伯拉罕等人一同坐席。不是所有的人都是在前的都要在後，但有些在後的將要在前，是鼓勵也是很真實的話，不要看到自己是在後的就不努力！聖經是很一致的，馬太福音也有一部份類似的經文，『凡稱呼我『主啊，主啊』的人，不能都進天國；惟獨遵行我天父旨意的人，才能進去。當那日，必有許多人對我說：『主啊，主啊，我們不是奉你的名傳道，奉你的名趕鬼，奉你的名行許多異能嗎？』我就明明地告訴他們說：『我從來不認識你們，你們這些作惡的人，離開我去吧！』』(馬太福音 7:21-23) 要遵行天父的旨意，所以雅各會說，『只是你們要行道，不要單單聽道，自己欺哄自己。因為聽道而不行道的，就像人對着鏡子看自己本來的面目，看見，走後，隨即忘了他的相貌如何。』(雅各書 1:22-24)

      在這裡很清楚的告訴基督徒，在信而受洗(開始)後要進窄門，那麼窄門是什麼呢？就是成聖之路，『親愛的弟兄啊，我們既有這等應許，就當潔淨自己，除去身體、靈魂一切的污穢，敬畏神，得以成聖。』(哥林多後書 7:1) 就是走上治死老我之路，如這些經文所說，『你們若順從肉體活着，必要死；若靠着聖靈治死身體的惡行，必要活着。』(羅馬書 8:13) 『所以要治死你們在地上的肢體，就如淫亂、污穢、邪情、惡慾和貪婪，貪婪就與拜偶像一樣。』(歌羅西書 3:5) 要走上模成耶穌的形像之路，像經文所說，『因為他預先所知道的人，就預先定下效法(模成, be conformed to) 他兒子的模樣(形像)，使他兒子在許多弟兄中作長子。』(羅馬書 8:29) 虛己如耶穌般，如經文所說，『反倒虛己，取了奴僕的形像，成為人的樣式。』(腓立比書 2:7) 這些都是從不同的方向講同一件事情，進窄門是要努力的，不是一般努力的行為，而是自然有的信心行為，所以保羅會說，『我靠着那加給我力量的(聖靈)，凡事都能做。』(腓立比書 4:13) 耶穌又『說：「我實在告訴你們：你們若不回轉，變成小孩子的樣式，斷不得進天國。』(馬太福音 18:3) 小孩子小時候是完全依賴父親的，不是說要和小孩子的心志，所以會說，『所以，凡自己謙卑像這小孩子的，他在天國裏就是最大的。』(馬太福音 18:3-4) 這不就是如基督徒要完全仰賴神，順服聖靈的帶領嗎？如耶穌在世時般，『…父怎樣吩咐我，我就怎樣行。…』(約翰福音 14:31) 

       請注意，神不是一個命令一個動作的神，祂給我們相當多的自由做抉擇。有錯誤的看見和抉擇時，祂會引導我們走向正路。如舊約許多的人物像亞伯拉罕伯般、信心的道路會起起伏伏。在新約中，耶穌在被捕要釘十字架時，『…門徒都離開他逃走了。』(馬太福音 26:56) 男的門徒在十字架前只有約翰，彼得甚至三次不認主。而在祂復活後，仍然『…用許多的憑據將自己活活地顯給使徒看，四十天之久向他們顯現，講說神國的事。』(使徒行傳 1:3) 其實真有神的命令，我們的老我也會如亞當般做不來的，『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) 所以我們非要治死老我，活在新人裡面不可，『…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 4:24) 『…這新人在知識上漸漸更新，正如造他主的形像。』(歌羅西書 3:10) 會讓主居首位，因『惟有基督是包括一切，又住在各人之內。(Christ is all, and in all.)』(歌羅西書 3:11)

2. 耶路撒冷的結局

       『正當那時，有幾個法利賽人來對耶穌說：「離開這裏去吧，因為希律想要殺你。」耶穌說：「你們去告訴那個狐狸說：『今天、明天我趕鬼治病，第三天我的事就成全了。』雖然這樣，今天、明天、後天，我必須前行，因為先知在耶路撒冷之外喪命是不能的。」「耶路撒冷啊，耶路撒冷啊！你常殺害先知，又用石頭打死那奉差遣到你這裏來的人。我多次願意聚集你的兒女，好像母雞把小雞聚集在翅膀底下，只是你們不願意。看哪，你們的家成為荒場留給你們。我告訴你們：從今以後你們不得再見我，直等到你們說：『奉主名來的是應當稱頌的！』」』(路加福音 13:31-35)

    請注意，今天、明天、後天就是指每一天，因明天、後天就是下一日的今天、明天。所以只要祂不上十字架，祂不會因希律想要殺祂就不前。如果稍為留心一下，就知道釘十字架前，祂只是白天在耶路撤冷，晚上是出耶路撒冷的。我們看馬太福音也一致這樣說，『耶路撒冷啊，耶路撒冷啊！你常殺害先知，又用石頭打死那奉差遣到你這裏來的人。我多次願意聚集你的兒女，好像母雞把小雞聚集在翅膀底下，只是你們不願意。看哪，你們的家成為荒場留給你們。我告訴你們：從今以後，你們不得再見我，直等到你們說：『奉主名來的，是應當稱頌的！』』(馬太福音 23:37-39) 那時的猶太人不願意，今日也並沒有太多的以色列人信奉主耶穌基督，一直要『…等到外邦人的數目添滿了，於是以色列全家都要得救。如經上所記：「必有一位救主從錫安出來，要消除雅各家的一切罪惡。」』(羅馬書 11:25-26)

       後來的路加福音更清楚的提到這時間，『你們看見耶路撒冷被兵圍困，就可知道它成荒場的日子近了。那時，在猶太的應當逃到山上，在城裏的應當出來，在鄉下的不要進城，因為這是報應的日子，使經上所寫的都得應驗。當那些日子，懷孕的和奶孩子的有禍了！因為將有大災難降在這地方，也有震怒臨到這百姓。他們要倒在刀下，又被擄到各國去。耶路撒冷要被外邦人踐踏，直到外邦人的日期滿了。』(路加福音 21:20-24)

       至於聖殿的毀滅，『耶穌出了聖殿，正走的時候，門徒進前來，把殿宇指給他看。耶穌對他們說：「你們不是看見這殿宇嗎？我實在告訴你們：將來在這裏，沒有一塊石頭留在石頭上不被拆毀了。」』(馬太福音 24:1-2) 在馬可福音 13:1-2 和路加福音 21:5-6 基本上也說到同樣的事情。再一次強調，我們要相信神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的，當我們朝這方向想時，會比較容易瞭解許多問題。

      以上的都是預言，歷史告訴我們耶路撒冷和其聖殿在主後約七十年被羅馬人摧毁了，至於關於聖殿最後是沒有一塊石頭留在石頭上不被拆毀了這點，有人在網上說其原因是為了取得被燒燬聖殿所熔流的金箔，但聖經並沒有這樣說，不管原因如何，只要我們知道、聖經這樣說的預言成就了就夠了。

3. 安息日醫治患水臌的人

       『安息日，耶穌到一個法利賽人的首領家裏去吃飯，他們就窺探他。在他面前有一個患水臌的人。耶穌對律法師和法利賽人說：「安息日治病可以不可以？」他們卻不言語。耶穌就治好那人，叫他走了，便對他們說：「你們中間誰有驢或有牛，在安息日掉在井裏，不立時拉牠上來呢？」他們不能對答這話。』(路加福音 14:1-6)

       在經文中只有這地方提到了耶穌在安息日醫治患水臌的人，就像我們以前分享的，耶穌是守安息日的真諦，而不是其律法上的時間，在安息行善是可以的(參馬太福音 12:9-13) 不要像看到醫治枯乾了一隻手的人的衆人，心是這樣的剛硬(參馬可福音 3:1-6) 其實我們也常常心裡剛硬自己都不知道，因為『人心比萬物都詭詐，壞到極處，誰能識透呢？』(耶利米書 17:9) 這裡只是又加上了另一件如此做的事情。

4. 凡自高的，必降為卑；自卑的，必升為高

       『耶穌見所請的客揀擇首位，就用比喻對他們說：「你被人請去赴婚姻的筵席，不要坐在首位上，恐怕有比你尊貴的客被他請來，那請你們的人前來對你說：『讓座給這一位吧！』你就羞羞慚慚地退到末位上去了。你被請的時候，就去坐在末位上，好叫那請你的人來對你說：『朋友，請上座。』那時，你在同席的人面前就有光彩了。因為，凡自高的，必降為卑；自卑的，必升為高。」』(路加福音 14:7-11)

     自高的人以為自己什麼都有了，但如果一個人能真正瞭解並接受神是無限，人是有限，怎麼可能驕傲得起來？所以保羅會謙卑的說，『若有人以為自己知道甚麼，按他所當知道的，他仍是不知道。』(哥林多前書 8:2) 況且『…「神阻擋驕傲的人，賜恩給謙卑的人。」所以你們要自卑，服在神大能的手下，到了時候，他必叫你們升高。』(彼得前書 5:5-6) 現在正式的場合通常已用名牌排好位置了，所以不用擔心這樣的情況會發生，但有的時候沒有這樣的安排，這時候我們就可用到這原則了。很清楚的，馬太福音也在說同一原則，『凡自高的，必降為卑；自卑的，必升為高。』經文說，『那時，耶穌對眾人和門徒講論，說：「文士和法利賽人坐在摩西的位上，凡他們所吩咐你們的，你們都要謹守遵行；但不要效法他們的行為，因為他們能說不能行。…喜愛筵席上的首座，會堂裏的高位；又喜愛人在街市上問他安，稱呼他拉比。「…也不要受師尊的稱呼，因為只有一位是你們的師尊，就是基督。你們中間誰為大，誰就要作你們的用人。凡自高的，必降為卑；自卑的，必升為高。」』(馬太福音 23:1-12)

      我們知道通常文士和法利賽人在皈依前是人不對，沒有生命的。即使如此，他們在對的位置說對的話仍然要謹守遵行，這裏說得很清楚，不是要聽人說什麼而是要看人怎麼做，是不是能以身作則？請記住，我們只有一位師尊，就是基督，不要因別人所有的，如學識或會講道或恩賜等等，而認為這人什麼都是對的，不小心的崇拜了人。同樣的原則，在不同的書中也提到，如『務要在主面前自卑，主就必叫你們升高。』(雅各書 4:10) 又如在先前所提到的經節中，『…就是你們眾人也都要以謙卑束腰，彼此順服，因為「神阻擋驕傲的人，賜恩給謙卑的人。」…』(彼得前書 5:5-6) 神絕對可以這樣做，只是祂有定時，我們不知道祂要如何做而已，因耶和華清楚的說：『…我的意念非同你們的意念，我的道路非同你們的道路。天怎樣高過地，照樣，我的道路高過你們的道路，我的意念高過你們的意念。』(以賽亞書 55:8-9)

     我們以前也談到過，『你們中間誰為大，誰就要作你們的用人。』(馬太福音 23:11) 就不多講了，只是在這提到的屬靈原則和一般的屬世原則是完全不一樣。我們要如先前羅馬書 8:29 所說的要模成耶穌的形像，我們就應該真實的謙卑，因為耶穌自己說，『我心裏柔和謙卑，…』(馬太福音 11:29) 而我們『…當負我(耶穌)的軛，學我的樣式，這樣，你們心裏就必得享安息。因為我的軛是容易的，我的擔子是輕省的。』(馬太福音 11:29-30) 因在謙卑中和祂同負一軛，我們如果能把自己的負擔在基督裡完全的交給祂，是祂承擔了我們的軛的部份，我們的擔子怎能不輕省呢？我們常常說，在我們做完一件事後聖靈才告訴我們去更正，小事如常聽人見証說，我忘了我的鑰匙，在最後一分才被提醒。即使是『人心比萬物都詭詐，壞到極處，誰能識透呢？』(耶利米書 17:9) 所以人會欺騙自己。不是祂不知道，而是我們常常不知道，藉著這樣的方法，我們非得面對我們真實的自己不可，所以我們會強調，不要只聽一個人怎麼講，而是要看一個人怎麼做，是不是能以身作則。

(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, we know that we have to enter the narrow gate, and then we see what the narrow gate refers to in the scriptures. We also use examples to illustrate that God is not a God who orders an action, He gives us quite a lot of freedom to make choices.  Second, the text speaks of the prophecy about Jerusalem and its temple, and we see how this prophecy has been fulfilled in history.  Thirdly, we see Jesus healing people who are sick with Dropsy on the Sabbath, as we shared before, Jesus kept the Sabbath in its true sense, not in its legal wording, and here is just another example. Finally, we saw a principle of doing things in the kingdom of heaven, “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” To be conformed to the image of Jesus, we must have true humility, and He promised that burden is easy for us when we are in Him.

1. Through the narrow gate

“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.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’; and He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers.’ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out. And they will come from east and west and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first and some are first who will be last.””(Luke 13:22-30)

We have seen that we have to work hard to enter the narrow gate. It is difficult not only to know what the narrow gate is, but to enter the narrow gate requires hard work, and the gate will be closed.  It is useless to do something by ourselves in the name of Christ Jesus, we must do what is asked of us to do.  Those who are saved in this way will come from all places, peoples and ethnic groups, and will sit at the table with Abraham and others.  Not everyone who is in the front must be in the back, but some who are in the back will be in the front. It is encouraging and true. Don’t stop working hard when you see that you are in the back! 

The Bible is very consistent, and there are some similar verses in the Gospel of Matthew, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”(Matthew 7:21-23) To do the will of the heavenly Father, James would say, “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.”(James 1:22-24)

Here it clearly tells Christians that it is only a beginning after believing and being baptized, they must enter the narrow gate. So what is the narrow gate?  It is the way to sanctification, “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”(2 Corinthians 7:1) It is to walk the way of putting the old self to death, as these scriptures say, “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) “Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.”(Colossians 3:5) To walk on the road of being conformed to the image of Jesus, as the scriptures say, “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)

Empty yourself as Jesus did, as the scriptures say, “but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”(Philippians 2:7) These are all talking about the same thing from different directions. Entering the narrow gate requires effort, not an act of ordinary effort, but a natural act of faith, so Paul would say, “I can do all things through Him (Holy Spirit) who strengthens me.”(Philippians 4:13) Jesus also “…said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.””(Matthew 18:3) A little one completely depends on his father, which doesn’t mean to have the mind of a child. Isn’t having the mind of a child just like Christians who should completely rely on God and obey the leading of the Holy Spirit? Just like when Jesus was alive, “…I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. …”(John 14:31) So it says in the scripture, “…Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”(Matthew 18:3-4)

Note that God is not a God who orders an action, He gives us quite a lot of freedom to make choices.  When there are wrong views and choices, He will guide us to the right path.  Like many people in the Old Testament such as Abraham, the path of faith has its ups and downs.  In the New Testament, when Jesus was arrested for crucifixion, “…all the disciples left Him and fled.”(Matthew 26:56) The male disciples had only John before the cross, and Peter even denied the Lord three times.  And after His resurrection, He still “…presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.”(Acts 1:3)

In fact, if there is God’s command, our old self will not be able to do it like Adam, since “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) Therefore, we must put to death the old self and live in the new man, “and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”(Ephesians 4:24) “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 3:10) The new self will give the Lord the first place, because “…Christ is all, and in all.”(Colossians 3:11)

2. The end of Jerusalem

“Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him, “Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’ Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! Behold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’””(Luke 13:31-35)

Please note that today, tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow refer to every day, because tomorrow and the day after tomorrow are today and tomorrow of the next day.  So as long as He doesn’t go to the cross, He won’t stop because Herod wants to kill Him.  If you pay attention a little, you will know that before the crucifixion, He was only in Jerusalem during the day and left Jerusalem at night.  When we look at the Gospel of Matthew, it says the same, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”(Matthew 23:37-39) The Jews at that time were unwilling, and today there are not so many Israelites who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and they have to be “…until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.””(Romans 11:25-26)

The later Gospel of Luke mentioned this time more clearly, “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city; because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land and wrath to this people; and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”(Luke 21:20-24)

As for the destruction of the temple, “Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. And He said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.””(Matthew 24:1-2) In Mark 13:1-2 and Luke 21:5-6, basically the same thing is said.  Once again, we must believe that what God told us through the Bible is consistent. When we think in this direction, it will be easier to understand many questions we might have.

The above are all prophecies. History tells us that Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed by the Romans about 70 years after the Lord. As for the fact that there was not a single stone left on the temple without being demolished, someone posted on the Internet and said that the reason is to obtain the melted gold leaf from the burnt temple, but the Bible does not say so. No matter what the reason is, as long as we know that the prophecy said in the Bible has been fulfilled, it is enough.

3. Healing the Dropsy on the Sabbath 

“It happened that when He went into the house of one of the leaders of the Pharisees on the Sabbath to eat bread, they were watching Him closely. And there in front of Him was a man suffering from dropsy. And Jesus answered and spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” But they kept silent. And He took hold of him and healed him, and sent him away. And He said to them, “Which one of you will have a son or an ox fall into a well, and will not immediately pull him out on a Sabbath day?” And they could make no reply to this.”(Luke 14:1-6)

This is the only place in the scriptures where it is mentioned that Jesus healed the dropsy on the Sabbath. As we shared before, Jesus kept the true meaning of the Sabbath, not the time in the law. It is okay to do good on the Sabbath (cf.  Gospel of Matthew 12:9-13) Don’t be so hardened like the people who saw the healing of the man with a withered hand (cf. Mark 3:1-6) In fact, we often harden our hearts to the extent that we don’t even know, because “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”(Jeremiah 17:9) Here is just one more thing that can happen with the heart hardened.

4. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled

“And He began speaking a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how they had been picking out the places of honor at the table, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in disgrace you proceed to occupy the last place. But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.””(Luke 14:7-11)

People who are self-exalted think that they have everything, but if a person can truly understand and accept that God is infinite and man is finite, how can he be proud?  That’s why Paul said humbly, “If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know.”(1 Corinthians 8:2) Besides, “…God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.”(1 Peter 5:5-6) Now formal occasions are usually arranged with name tags, so there is no need to worry about such a situation happening, but sometimes there is no such arrangement, and we can use this principle at time like this.  

Clearly, the Gospel of Matthew speaks of the same principle, “Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men. But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”(Matthew 23:1-12)

We know that usually scribes and Pharisees were wrong and they had no life before conversion.  Even so, we still had to abide by what they say right when they had seated themselves in the right position, that is in the chair of Moses. It is very clear here that one should not only listen to what people would say but watch if they do it. Can they lead by examples?  Please remember that we only have one Master, that is, Christ. Don’t worship others due to carelessness, just because of what others have, such as knowledge or ability to preach or gifts, etc., and thus think that that person is right in everything.  The same principle is mentioned in different books too, such as “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”(James 4:10) And as in the verse mentioned earlier, “…clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.”(1 Peter 5:5-6) God can definitely do this, but He has an appointed time for everything, we don’t know how He will do it, because the God clearly said: “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 talked about the verse before, “But the greatest among you shall be your servant.”(Matthew 23:11) which I won’t go into too much detail. But please notice that the spiritual principles mentioned here are completely different from the general world principles.  If we want to be conformed to the image of Jesus as mentioned in Romans 8:29, we should be truly humble, because Jesus himself said, “…I am gentle and humble in heart, …”(Matthew 11:29) and we can “Take My (Jesus’) yoke upon you and learn from Me, …and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”(Matthew 11:29-30) Because we are yoked with Him in humility, if we can fully entrust our burdens to Him in Christ, it is He who bears our yoke, how can our burden be not light? 

We often complain about that the Holy Spirit tells us to make corrections many times after we have done something wrong. On this point for small things, people often testify that I forgot my key and was reminded at the last minute.  That is because people can deceive themselves as the scripture says ““The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”(Jeremiah 17:9) It’s not that He doesn’t know that we cheat ourselves, but we often don’t know what happened until actually done. Through this last-minute approach or the afterward correction, we have to face our true selves. Thinking about this way, if we aren’t reminded, we will go through the wrong way. It is better to have the last-minute change.  Even with corrections, it is better than not knowing and never change. At last, we want to emphasize that we should not just listen to what a person says, but look at how he does it. We should ask, if the person can lead by examples.

(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.”)

     我们首先看到人人都需要悔改，真正的悔改一定有相应的行动，也看到了悔改是大有功效的。第二，在人犹如果树的比喻下，在确定不是论断人而是犹如耶稣的判断般，不结果子的果树只值得被园丁砍掉。第三，我们看耶稣在安息日医治驼背的女人的事，祂是遵行安息日的真谛，而不是律法上的时间。安息日行善是可以的，而且该知道，人子是安息日的主。最后我们来看神的国犹如芥菜种和面酵的比喻，看到这两个比喻是指同一件事情。这是一个争议性的话题，我们不像平常的结论是往好的方向想，认为神的国必定发展如芥菜种和面酵般的加以状大。我们是从圣经的一致性看，我们看到了神的国的确发展相当快，但教会的成员参差不齐，而把这比喻看做一个事实和警告。

1. 不悔改的都要灭亡       

     『正当那时，有人将彼拉多使加利利人的血搀杂在他们祭物中的事告诉耶稣。耶稣说：「你们以为这些加利利人比众加利利人更有罪，所以受这害吗？我告诉你们：不是的！你们若不悔改，都要如此灭亡！从前西罗亚楼倒塌了，压死十八个人，你们以为那些人比一切住在耶路撒冷的人更有罪吗？我告诉你们：不是的！你们若不悔改，都要如此灭亡！」』(路加福音 13:1-5)       

     我们看到了人人都需要悔改，『因为世人都犯了罪，亏缺了神的荣耀。』(罗马书 3:23) 但神是有恩典有怜悯的神，就有了救恩的计划，给了每个人有一个得救的机会。在救恩的计划中，悔改是第一步，『那时，有施洗的约翰出来，在犹太的旷野传道，说：「天国近了，你们应当悔改！」』(马太福音 3:1-2) 又看到了，『从那时候，耶稣就传起道来，说：「天国近了，你们应当悔改！」』(马太福音 4:17) 悔改是大有功效的就如经文说， 『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) 我们一定要悔改。真正的悔改一定有行动，这点在使徒行传讲得很清楚: 『众人听见这话，觉得扎心，就对彼得和其余的使徒说：「弟兄们，我们当怎样行？」彼得说：「你们各人要悔改，奉耶稣基督的名受洗，叫你们的罪得赦，就必领受所赐的圣灵。」』(使徒行传 2:37-38)

2. 不结实的无花果的下场       

     『于是用比喻说：「一个人有一棵无花果树栽在葡萄园里。他来到树前找果子，却找不著。就对管园的说：『看哪，我这三年来到这无花果树前找果子，竟找不著。把它砍了吧，何必白占地土呢？』「管园的说：『主啊，今年且留著，等我周围掘开土，加上粪，以后若结果子便罢，不然再把它砍了。』」』(路加福音 13:6-9)      

     这无花果树本来该结果子的却没有结，从人的角度看，他已给这树相当长的时间了！但神是有恩典有怜悯的神，非常有耐心，我们常常会觉得自己真像不可能一样，但神仍不断的给我们机会，当然死后就没有机会了，所以我们在生前要把握好机会。在这比喻中，我们看到管园的要确定这无花果树是真正的不结果子，才会把它砍掉。用无花果的例子来比喻人，我们要确定自己不是论断中，『你们不要论断(G2919)人，免得你们被论断。』(马太福音 7:1) 而是要如耶稣般的判断，『你们是以外貌判断(G2919)人，我却不判断人。就是判断人，我的判断也是真的，因为不是我独自在这里，还有差我来的父与我同在。』(约翰福音 8:15-16) 真正的父在判断。请注意，同一个字 G2919 的中文翻译有时是论断，有时是判断，要看前后文才知道那个是正确的中文翻译。所以「在家庭中对错不是最重要的教导」不一定是全对的，这不是一张空白支票式的叙述，要看情况而定，有时要坚持真理，要不怎么能够分辩？但绝对有时是要顺从这教导，譬如说对一件事到底是如何发生的夫妻都不能同意，更可能和真正如何发生所不定都不一样，还怎么能谈到对错，这时不会有分辩的问题，不要坚持自己一定是对的，不要陷于论断，对错的确是不重要！当然，如果每次同一个人都指鹿为马，为反对而反对，这会是另外一个问题，一个正常人不会这么做的！在分享前正好想到这问题，看到这里讲到判断，就顺便提出来。     

     如果我们参照传道书 3:1-17，就知道凡事有定时，像等会要分享的医治驼背的女人是立即的，治疗我们分享过的有血漏的妇人也是立即的(参路加福音 8:43-44) 但一般的情况下是有一个过程的。因为即使祷告被允许，也不见得立时就成就！旧约中的一个明说的例子在但以理书 10:11-13，『…我现在奉差遣来到你这里…他就说：「但以理啊，不要惧怕！因为从你第一日专心求明白将来的事，又在你神面前刻苦己心，你的言语已蒙应允，我是因你的言语而来。但波斯国的魔君拦阻我二十一日，忽然有大君中的一位米迦勒来帮助我，我就停留在波斯诸王那里。』(但以理书 10:12-13) 而且要知道，『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)  在砍无花果树前要非常的确定，是真正的不结果，而不是神的时间还没有到！不要论断。在这点上，保罗知道得很清楚，『我被你们论断，或被别人论断，我都以为极小的事，连我自己也不论断自己。我虽不觉得自己有错，却也不能因此得以称义，但判断我的乃是主。所以，时候未到，甚么都不要论断，只等主来，他要照出暗中的隐情，显明人心的意念。那时，各人要从神那里得著称赞。』(哥林多前书 4:3-5)

3. 安息日医治驼背的女人       

     『安息日，耶稣在会堂里教训人。有一个女人被鬼附著，病了十八年，腰弯得一点直不起来。耶稣看见，便叫过她来，对她说：「女人，你脱离这病了！」于是用两只手按著她，她立刻直起腰来，就归荣耀与神。管会堂的因为耶稣在安息日治病，就气忿忿地对众人说：「有六日应当做工，那六日之内可以来求医，在安息日却不可！」主说：「假冒为善的人哪，难道你们各人在安息日不解开槽上的牛、驴，牵去饮吗？况且这女人本是亚伯拉罕的后裔，被撒但捆绑了这十八年，不当在安息日解开她的绑吗？」耶稣说这话，他的敌人都惭愧了；众人因他所行一切荣耀的事，就都欢喜了。』(路加福音 13:10-17)     

     驼背的女人被捆绑了这么久，我们也看到了她的反应！何况『…安息日是为人设立的，人不是为安息日设立的。所以，人子也是安息日的主。』(马可福音 2:27-28) 耶稣怎么不可以这样做呢？安息日行善是可以的，『耶稣说：「你们中间谁有一只羊，当安息日掉在坑里，不把牠抓住拉上来呢？人比羊何等贵重呢！所以，在安息日做善事是可以的。」』(马太福音 12:11-12) 耶稣是遵行安息日的真谛，而不是律法上的时间。关于安息日的真谛，以赛亚书说得很清楚，『你若在安息日掉转你的脚步，在我圣日不以操作为喜乐，称安息日为可喜乐的，称耶和华的圣日为可尊重的，而且尊敬这日，不办自己的私事，不随自己的私意，不说自己的私话。』(以赛亚书 58:13)

4. 神的国用芥菜种和面酵比喻       

     『耶稣说：「神的国好像甚么？我拿甚么来比较呢？好像一粒芥菜种，有人拿去种在园子里，长大成树(tree G1186)，天上的飞鸟宿在它的枝上。」又说：「我拿甚么来比神的国呢？好比面酵，有妇人拿来藏在三斗面里，直等全团都发起来。」』(路加福音 13:18-21)       

     这是一段具有争议性的话题，基本上有从好的方向和坏的方向看这段经文。从好的方向想，人人都希望大使命能够成就，因『他愿意万人得救，明白真道。』(提摩太前书 2:4) 希望神国犹如芥菜种变为大树，如一团面酵般的大大成长。这也是为什么有些教会数算有多少人参加的原因，希望每一个都信基督教，但这是不可能的！耶稣在地上的时候行了多少神迹，有多少人相信祂是人子呢？尤其是当这样的教会不够注重聚会的人的质量时，会给人有负面的印象，要质和量都并重才行。我们会从圣经的一致性看神要借著圣经告诉我们什么，而不是从人的角度去想，才能够真正了解这段经文。       

     我们看看马太福音怎样说，『他(耶稣)又设个比喻对他们说：「天国好像一粒芥菜种，有人拿去种在田里。这原是百种里最小的，等到长起来，却比各样的菜都大，且成了树，天上的飞鸟来宿在它的枝上。」他又对他们讲个比喻说：「天国好像面酵，有妇人拿来，藏在三斗面里，直等全团都发起来。」这都是耶稣用比喻对众人说的话；若不用比喻，就不对他们说甚么。这是要应验先知的话，说：「我要开口用比喻，把创世以来所隐藏的事发明出来。」』(马太福音 13:31-35)           

     这一段显然是和路加福音所说的相同，但说到了那时是要用比喻把隐藏的事说出来，那这些比喻是在说什么？我们先就从圣经的一致性来看面酵。讲到酵，圣经基本上都是说不好的事情，如同经文说，『你不可将我祭物的血和有酵的饼一同献上。逾越节的祭物也不可留到早晨。』(出埃及记 34:25) 所以一般献祭都不可带酵。有唯一的例外的是，『要用有酵的饼和为感谢献的平安祭，与供物一同献上。』(利未记 7:13) 这是感谢献的平安祭，经验告诉我们，人不可能是完全无酵的，没有错的，但神的恩典仍让我们能带酵求平安，所以有了这个例外。

     新约提到酵时，也是指不好的事情，如『我(耶稣)对你们说：『要防备法利赛人和撒都该人的酵』，这话不是指著饼说的，你们怎么不明白呢？」门徒这才晓得他说的，不是叫他们防备饼的酵，乃是防备法利赛人和撒都该人的教训。』(马太福音 16:11-12) 又如，『一点面酵能使全团都发起来。我在主里很信你们必不怀别样的心，但搅扰你们的，无论是谁，必担当他的罪名！』(加拉太书 5:9-10)       

     所以这里应该没有例外，这里经文讲到的酵不是指好事情，只是讲一个事实，天国的发展的确如面酵，发展很快，但里面含有酵，而这时要怎么处理呢？在这些经文前的马太福音就说得很清楚，『主人说：『不必，恐怕薅稗子，连麦子也拔出来。容这两样一齐长，等著收割。当收割的时候，我要对收割的人说：先将稗子薅出来，捆成捆，留著烧；惟有麦子要收在仓里。』』(马太福音 13:29-30) 我们知道，『撒稗子的仇敌就是魔鬼；收割的时候就是世界的末了，收割的人就是天使。』(马太福音 13:39) 因稗子和麦子没有成熟有果实前实在是太像了，是分不出来的！     

     在这种情况下，教会的确会发展的相当快，但我们也真的要分辩。譬如在启示录的七个教会中，前六个教会至少或多或少的都有得胜者，我们绝对不要像老底嘉的教会一样，没有一个得胜者，而自己却以为，『…我是富足，已经发了财，一样都不缺。』 相信从人的角度看他们一定以耶稣的名做了不少的事情，要不然他们不会这样想，他们至少知道不可停止聚会啊！但很显然的许多事情不是神要他们做的事情，是自己要做的事情，因为从神的角度看，『却不知道你(自己)是那困苦、可怜、贫穷、瞎眼、赤身的。』(启示录 3:17) 所以只是形式上的做事是没有用的，像读经的目的本是要得生命，如耶稣所说，『你们查考圣经，因你们以为内中有永生；给我作见证的就是这经。然而你们不肯到我这里来得生命。』(约翰福音 5:39-40) 我以前读经只是因别人要我读经就读了，这是草本禾稭的工作，一烧就没有了！我们有大使命，是要以身作则，使别人看到并羡慕我们的好行为，就自然而然的『…使万民作我(耶稣)的门徒』(马太福音 28:19) 了！但神是有怜悯有思典的神，虽被关在门外，仍在外面耐心等候，如经文所说，『看哪，我站在门外叩门，若有听见我声音就开门的，我要进到他那里去，我与他，他与我一同坐席。』(启示录 3:20)       

     我们再看一下芥菜种的比喻，它是和菜(G3001)比较，本应是菜，欲长成了树(G1186)，变质了！这不是和现在相当多的教会的情况类似吗？如成功哲学般，教导人只要信主就一切顺利，这不是依照圣经的教导说，『…在世上你们有苦难，但你们可以放心，我已经胜了世界。』(约翰福音 16:33) 且不自知的如老底嘉的教会般，不以主耶稣居首位，让神的国参差不齐，但最终只有麦子会被收在仓里。

(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』。 

    我們首先看到人人都需要悔改，真正的悔改一定有相應的行動，也看到了悔改是大有功效的。第二，在人猶如果樹的比喻下，在確定不是論斷人而是猶如耶穌的判斷般，不結果子的果樹只值得被園丁砍掉。第三，我們看耶穌在安息日醫治駝背的女人的事，祂是遵行安息日的真諦，而不是律法上的時間。安息日行善是可以的，而且該知道，人子是安息日的主。最後我們來看神的國猶如芥菜種和麪酵的比喻，看到這兩個比喻是指同一件事情。這是一個爭議性的話題，我們不像平常的結論是往好的方向想，認為神的國必定發展如芥菜種和麪酵般的加以狀大。我們是從聖經的一致性看，我們看到了神的國的確發展相當快，但教會的成員參差不齊，而把這比喻看做一個事實和警告。

1. 不悔改的都要滅亡

       『正當那時，有人將彼拉多使加利利人的血攙雜在他們祭物中的事告訴耶穌。耶穌說：「你們以為這些加利利人比眾加利利人更有罪，所以受這害嗎？我告訴你們：不是的！你們若不悔改，都要如此滅亡！從前西羅亞樓倒塌了，壓死十八個人，你們以為那些人比一切住在耶路撒冷的人更有罪嗎？我告訴你們：不是的！你們若不悔改，都要如此滅亡！」』(路加福音 13:1-5)

       我們看到了人人都需要悔改，『因為世人都犯了罪，虧缺了神的榮耀。』(羅馬書 3:23) 但神是有恩典有憐憫的神，就有了救恩的計劃，給了每個人有一個得救的機會。在救恩的計劃中，悔改是第一步，『那時，有施洗的約翰出來，在猶太的曠野傳道，說：「天國近了，你們應當悔改！」』(馬太福音 3:1-2) 又看到了，『從那時候，耶穌就傳起道來，說：「天國近了，你們應當悔改！」』(馬太福音 4:17) 悔改是大有功效的就如經文說， 『我們若認自己的罪，神是信實的，是公義的，必要赦免我們的罪，洗淨我們一切的不義；』(約翰一書 1:9) 我們一定要悔改。真正的悔改一定有行動，這點在使徒行傳講得很清楚: 『眾人聽見這話，覺得扎心，就對彼得和其餘的使徒說：「弟兄們，我們當怎樣行？」彼得說：「你們各人要悔改，奉耶穌基督的名受洗，叫你們的罪得赦，就必領受所賜的聖靈。」』(使徒行傳 2:37-38)

2. 不結實的無花果的下場

       『於是用比喻說：「一個人有一棵無花果樹栽在葡萄園裏。他來到樹前找果子，卻找不着。就對管園的說：『看哪，我這三年來到這無花果樹前找果子，竟找不着。把它砍了吧，何必白佔地土呢？』「管園的說：『主啊，今年且留着，等我周圍掘開土，加上糞，以後若結果子便罷，不然再把它砍了。』」』(路加福音 13:6-9)

      這無花果樹本來該結果子的卻沒有結，從人的角度看，他已給這樹相當長的時間了！但神是有恩典有憐憫的神，非常有耐心，我們常常會覺得自己真像不可能一樣，但神仍不斷的給我們機會，當然死後就沒有機會了，所以我們在生前要把握好機會。在這比喻中，我們看到管園的要確定這無花果樹是真正的不結果子，才會把它砍掉。用無花果的例子來比喻人，我們要確定自己不是論斷中，『你們不要論斷(G2919)人，免得你們被論斷。』(馬太福音 7:1) 而是要如耶穌般的判斷，『你們是以外貌判斷(G2919)人，我卻不判斷人。就是判斷人，我的判斷也是真的，因為不是我獨自在這裏，還有差我來的父與我同在。』(約翰福音 8:15-16) 真正的父在判斷。請注意，同一個字 G2919 的中文翻譯有時是論斷，有時是判斷，要看前後文才知道那個是正確的中文翻譯。所以「在家庭中對錯不是最重要的教導」不一定是全對的，這不是一張空白支票式的敘述，要看情況而定，有時要堅持真理，要不怎麼能夠分辨？但絕對有時是要順從這教導，譬如說對一件事到底是如何發生的夫妻都不能同意，更可能和真正如何發生所不定都不一樣，還怎麼能談到對錯，這時不會有分辨的問題，不要堅持自己一定是對的，不要陷於論斷，對錯的確是不重要！當然，如果每次同一個人都指鹿為馬，為反對而反對，這會是另外一個問題，一個正常人不會這麼做的！在分享前正好想到這問題，看到這裏講到判斷，就順便提出來。

     如果我們參照傳道書 3:1-17，就知道凡事有定時，像等會要分享的醫治駝背的女人是立即的，治療我們分享過的有血漏的婦人也是立即的(參路加福音 8:43-44) 但一般的情況下是有一個過程的。因為即使禱告被允許，也不見得立時就成就！舊約中的一個明說的例子在但以理書 10:11-13，『…我現在奉差遣來到你這裏…他就說：「但以理啊，不要懼怕！因為從你第一日專心求明白將來的事，又在你神面前刻苦己心，你的言語已蒙應允，我是因你的言語而來。但波斯國的魔君攔阻我二十一日，忽然有大君中的一位米迦勒來幫助我，我就停留在波斯諸王那裏。』(但以理書 10:12-13) 而且要知道，『耶和華說：「我的意念非同你們的意念，我的道路非同你們的道路。天怎樣高過地，照樣，我的道路高過你們的道路，我的意念高過你們的意念。』(以賽亞書 55:8-9)  在砍無花果樹前要非常的確定，是真正的不結果，而不是神的時間還沒有到！不要論斷。在這點上，保羅知道得很清楚，『我被你們論斷，或被別人論斷，我都以為極小的事，連我自己也不論斷自己。我雖不覺得自己有錯，卻也不能因此得以稱義，但判斷我的乃是主。所以，時候未到，甚麼都不要論斷，只等主來，他要照出暗中的隱情，顯明人心的意念。那時，各人要從神那裏得着稱讚。』(哥林多前書 4:3-5)

3. 安息日醫治駝背的女人

       『安息日，耶穌在會堂裏教訓人。有一個女人被鬼附着，病了十八年，腰彎得一點直不起來。耶穌看見，便叫過她來，對她說：「女人，你脫離這病了！」於是用兩隻手按着她，她立刻直起腰來，就歸榮耀與神。管會堂的因為耶穌在安息日治病，就氣忿忿地對眾人說：「有六日應當做工，那六日之內可以來求醫，在安息日卻不可！」主說：「假冒為善的人哪，難道你們各人在安息日不解開槽上的牛、驢，牽去飲嗎？況且這女人本是亞伯拉罕的後裔，被撒但捆綁了這十八年，不當在安息日解開她的綁嗎？」耶穌說這話，他的敵人都慚愧了；眾人因他所行一切榮耀的事，就都歡喜了。』(路加福音 13:10-17) 

     駝背的女人被捆綁了這麼久，我們也看到了她的反應！何況『…安息日是為人設立的，人不是為安息日設立的。所以，人子也是安息日的主。』(馬可福音 2:27-28) 耶穌怎麼不可以這樣做呢？安息日行善是可以的，『耶穌說：「你們中間誰有一隻羊，當安息日掉在坑裏，不把牠抓住拉上來呢？人比羊何等貴重呢！所以，在安息日做善事是可以的。」』(馬太福音 12:11-12) 耶穌是遵行安息日的真諦，而不是律法上的時間。關於安息日的真諦，以賽亞書說得很清楚，『你若在安息日掉轉你的腳步，在我聖日不以操作為喜樂，稱安息日為可喜樂的，稱耶和華的聖日為可尊重的，而且尊敬這日，不辦自己的私事，不隨自己的私意，不說自己的私話。』(以賽亞書 58:13)

4. 神的國用芥菜種和麪酵比喻

       『耶穌說：「神的國好像甚麼？我拿甚麼來比較呢？好像一粒芥菜種，有人拿去種在園子裏，長大成樹(tree G1186)，天上的飛鳥宿在它的枝上。」又說：「我拿甚麼來比神的國呢？好比麪酵，有婦人拿來藏在三斗麪裏，直等全團都發起來。」』(路加福音 13:18-21)

       這是一段具有爭議性的話題，基本上有從好的方向和壞的方向看這段經文。從好的方向想，人人都希望大使命能夠成就，因『他願意萬人得救，明白真道。』(提摩太前書 2:4) 希望神國猶如芥菜種變為大樹，如一團麪酵般的大大成長。這也是為什麼有些教會數算有多少人參加的原因，希望每一個都信基督教，但這是不可能的！耶穌在地上的時候行了多少神蹟，有多少人相信祂是人子呢？尤其是當這樣的教會不夠注重聚會的人的質量時，會給人有負面的印象，要質和量都並重才行。我們會從聖經的一致性看神要藉著聖經告訴我們什麼，而不是從人的角度去想，才能夠真正瞭解這段經文。

       我們看看馬太福音怎樣說，『他(耶穌)又設個比喻對他們說：「天國好像一粒芥菜種，有人拿去種在田裏。這原是百種裏最小的，等到長起來，卻比各樣的菜都大，且成了樹，天上的飛鳥來宿在它的枝上。」他又對他們講個比喻說：「天國好像麪酵，有婦人拿來，藏在三斗麪裏，直等全團都發起來。」這都是耶穌用比喻對眾人說的話；若不用比喻，就不對他們說甚麼。這是要應驗先知的話，說：「我要開口用比喻，把創世以來所隱藏的事發明出來。」』(馬太福音 13:31-35)

           這一段顯然是和路加福音所說的相同，但說到了那時是要用比喻把隱藏的事說出來，那這些比喻是在說什麼？我們先就從聖經的一致性來看麪酵。講到酵，聖經基本上都是說不好的事情，如同經文說，『你不可將我祭物的血和有酵的餅一同獻上。逾越節的祭物也不可留到早晨。』(出埃及記 34:25) 所以一般獻祭都不可帶酵。有唯一的例外的是，『要用有酵的餅和為感謝獻的平安祭，與供物一同獻上。』(利未記 7:13) 這是感謝獻的平安祭，經驗告訴我們，人不可能是完全無酵的，沒有錯的，但神的恩典仍讓我們能帶酵求平安，所以有了這個例外。

       新約提到酵時，也是指不好的事情，如『我(耶穌)對你們說：『要防備法利賽人和撒都該人的酵』，這話不是指着餅說的，你們怎麼不明白呢？」門徒這才曉得他說的，不是叫他們防備餅的酵，乃是防備法利賽人和撒都該人的教訓。』(馬太福音 16:11-12) 又如，『一點麪酵能使全團都發起來。我在主裏很信你們必不懷別樣的心，但攪擾你們的，無論是誰，必擔當他的罪名！』(加拉太書 5:9-10) 

       所以這裡應該沒有例外，這裡經文講到的酵不是指好事情，只是講一個事實，天國的發展的確如麪酵，發展很快，但裡面含有酵，而這時要怎麼處理呢？在這些經文前的馬太福音就說得很清楚，『主人說：『不必，恐怕薅稗子，連麥子也拔出來。容這兩樣一齊長，等着收割。當收割的時候，我要對收割的人說：先將稗子薅出來，捆成捆，留着燒；惟有麥子要收在倉裏。』』(馬太福音 13:29-30) 我們知道，『撒稗子的仇敵就是魔鬼；收割的時候就是世界的末了，收割的人就是天使。』(馬太福音 13:39) 因稗子和麥子沒有成熟有果實前實在是太像了，是分不出來的！

     在這種情況下，教會的確會發展的相當快，但我們也真的要分辨。譬如在啓示錄的七個教會中，前六個教會至少或多或少的都有得勝者，我們絕對不要像老底嘉的教會一樣，沒有一個得勝者，而自己卻以為，『…我是富足，已經發了財，一樣都不缺。』 相信從人的角度看他們一定以耶穌的名做了不少的事情，要不然他們不會這樣想，他們至少知道不可停止聚會啊！但很顯然的許多事情不是神要他們做的事情，是自己要做的事情，因為從神的角度看，『卻不知道你(自己)是那困苦、可憐、貧窮、瞎眼、赤身的。』(啓示錄 3:17) 所以只是形式上的做事是沒有用的，像讀經的目的本是要得生命，如耶穌所說，『你們查考聖經，因你們以為內中有永生；給我作見證的就是這經。然而你們不肯到我這裏來得生命。』(約翰福音 5:39-40) 我以前讀經只是因別人要我讀經就讀了，這是草本禾稭的工作，一燒就沒有了！我們有大使命，是要以身作則，使別人看到並羨慕我們的好行為，就自然而然的『…使萬民作我(耶穌)的門徒』(馬太福音 28:19) 了！但神是有憐憫有思典的神，雖被關在門外，仍在外面耐心等候，如經文所說，『看哪，我站在門外叩門，若有聽見我聲音就開門的，我要進到他那裏去，我與他，他與我一同坐席。』(啓示錄 3:20) 

       我們再看一下芥菜種的比喻，它是和菜(G3001)比較，本應是菜，欲長成了樹(G1186)，變質了！這不是和現在相當多的教會的情況類似嗎？如成功哲學般，教導人只要信主就一切順利，這不是依照聖經的教導說，『…在世上你們有苦難，但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。』(約翰福音 16:33) 且不自知的如老底嘉的教會般，不以主耶穌居首位，讓神的國參差不齊，但最終只有麥子會被收在倉裡。

(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 first saw that everyone needs to repent, and true repentance must have corresponding actions, and we also saw that repentance is very effective.  Second, using the analogy that people are like fruit trees, we determine not to judge people by ourselves but to judge like Jesus. Fruit trees that do not bear fruit are only worthy of being cut down by gardeners.  Third, we look at the matter of Jesus healing the hunchbacked woman on the Sabbath. He obeyed the true meaning of the Sabbath, not the letter of the law.  It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath, and you should know that the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.  Finally, we see that the kingdom of God is like the parable of the mustard seed and the leaven, and the two parables refer to the same thing. This is a controversial topic, unlike the usual conclusion that is looking in a good direction with the thinking that the kingdom of God must grow like mustard seed and leaven.  From the perspective of the consistency of the Bible, we see that the kingdom of God has indeed developed quite rapidly, but the desire of church members is uneven, and we regard this parable as a fact and a warning.

1. All who do not repent will perish

“Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.””(Luke 13:1-5)

We saw the need for all to repent, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”(Romans 3:23) But God is a gracious and merciful God, so He has a plan of salvation and gives everyone a chance to be saved.  In the plan of salvation, repentance is the first step. It is as said, “Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.””(Matthew 3:1-2) Again, it is said, “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.””(Matthew 4:17) Repentance is very effective, just like the scriptures said, “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 must repent.  True repentance must take action, which is clearly stated in the book of Acts: “Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”(Acts 2:37-38)

2. What happened to the unfruitful fig

“And He began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’””(Luke 13:6-9)

The fig tree that was supposed to bear fruit didn’t bear fruit, and from a human point of view, the man had already given it a long time!  But God is a gracious and merciful God. He is very patient. We often feel that we are impossible, but God still gives us opportunities. Of course, there will be no opportunities after death, so we must grasp the opportunities while we are alive.  In this parable we see that the gardener has to be sure that the fig tree is truly barren before he cuts it down.  Using the example of figs to describe people, we must make sure that we are not judging ourselves as said in the verse, ““Do not judge (G2919) so that you will not be judged.”(Matthew 7:1) Instead, judge like Jesus, “You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me.”(John 8:15-16) It is the Father who was judging.  Please note that the Chinese translation of the same word G2919 is sometimes very different. It depends on the context to know which is the correct Chinese translation.  The teaching “right or wrong is not important in the family” may not always be correct. This is not a blank check statement, and it should depend on the situation. Sometimes you have to stick to the truth, or how can you discern the difference between right or wrong?  But sometimes you have to obey this teaching. For example, if a couple can’t agree on how a thing happened, on top of that both of their recollections may be different from how it really happened. How can you talk about right and wrong in this case? At this time, this will no longer be an issue of discernment. Don’t insist that you must be right in this case, don’t get bogged down in judgments, right or wrong really doesn’t matter!  Of course, if the same person calls a deer a horse every time and opposes for the sake of opposing, this will be another issue. A normal person would not do this!  I happened to think of this question before sharing, and when I saw the judgment mentioned here, I brought it up by the way.

If we refer to Ecclesiastes 3:1-17, we know that there is an appointed time for everything, such as the healing of the hunchbacked woman which will be shared later is immediate, and the healing of the woman with bleeding that we have shared is also immediate (cf. Luke 8:43-44) But generally there is a process.  Because even when prayers are answered, they don’t always come true right away!  An explicit example from the Old Testament is given in the following. “…I have now been sent to you. …Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.”(Daniel 10:11-13) And we know, ““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) The gardener has to be sure that the fig tree is truly barren and that it isn’t because God’s time has not yet come! Don’t judge by yourself. On this point, Paul knew very clearly, “But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.”(1 Corinthians 4:3-5)

3. Jesus Heals the Hunchbacked Woman in Sabbath 

“And He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent double, and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your sickness.” And He laid His hands on her; and immediately she was made erect again and began glorifying God. But the synagogue official, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, began saying to the crowd in response, “There are six days in which work should be done; so come during them and get healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites, does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead him away to water him? And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As He said this, all His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him.”(Luke 13:10-17)

The hunchbacked woman has been tied up for so long and we see her reaction too!  What’s more, “Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.””(Mark 2:27-28) How could Jesus not do this?  It is permissible to do good deeds on the Sabbath. “And He said to them, “What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.””(Matthew 12:11-12) Jesus obeyed the true meaning of the Sabbath, not the time in the law.  Regarding the true meaning of the Sabbath, Isaiah makes it very clear, ““If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot From doing your own pleasure on My holy day, And call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, And honor it, desisting from your own ways, From seeking your own pleasure And speaking your own word.”(Isaiah 58:13)

4. The parable of the kingdom of God with the mustard seed and the leaven

“So He was saying, “What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and threw into his own garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.” And again He said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.””(Luke 13:18-21)

This is a controversial topic, and there are basically good and bad ways to look at this passage.  Thinking in a positive direction, everyone hopes that the Great Commission will be accomplished, because “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”(1 Timothy 2:4) Hope that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed turned into a big tree, and it grows like a lump of leaven.  This is why some churches count the number of people attending, hoping that everyone will believe in Christianity, but this is impossible!  How many miracles did Jesus perform when he was on earth, and how many people believed that He was the Son of Man?  Especially when such churches don’t pay enough attention to the quality of the attendees, it will give people a negative impression, and it is necessary to pay more attention to quality than quantity.  We will look at what God wants to tell us through the Bible from the consistency in the Bible, instead of thinking from a human perspective, so that we can truly understand this passage of scriptures.

Let’s look at what Matthew said, “He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” He spoke another parable to them, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.” All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.””(Matthew 13:31-35)

This passage is obviously the same as what Luke said in his Gospel, but at this time it was said that the hidden things were to be revealed with parables, so what are these parables talking about?  Let’s look at leaven first in terms of the consistency in the Bible.  When it comes to leaven, the Bible basically refers to bad things, as the scriptures say, “You shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leavened bread, nor is the sacrifice of the Feast of the Passover to be left over until morning.”(Exodus 34:25) Therefore, in general, sacrifices should be without leaven.  With the only exception, “With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving, he shall present his offering with cakes of leavened bread.”(Leviticus 7:13) This is a peace offering for thanksgiving. Experience tells us that man cannot be completely unleavened, that is to say that man cannot be totally out of sin, but God’s grace still allows us to bring leaven for peace offering, so there is such an exception.

When the New Testament mentions leaven, it also refers to bad things, such as “How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:11-12) Another example is, “A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.”(Galatians 5:9-10)

 So there should be no exceptions here. The leaven mentioned in the scriptures here does not refer to good things, but just a fact. The development of the kingdom of heaven is indeed like leaven, and it develops very quickly, but it contains leaven. How should we deal with it in a situation like this?  The Gospel of Matthew before these verses makes it very clear, “But he said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them. Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’””(Matthew 13:29-30) We know, “…the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels.”(Matthew 13:39) Because the tares and the wheat are too similar in appearance before they are ripe and fruitful, and they cannot be distinguished!

In this case, the church will indeed develop quite quickly, but we also really need to be discerning.  For example, among the seven churches in the Book of Revelation, at least the first six churches have more or less overcomers. We must not be like the church in Laodicea, where there is no overcomer, but they think in Revelation 3:17a “…I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing.” I believe from a human point of view they must have done a lot in the name of Jesus, otherwise they would not think so, at least they know not to stop gatherings as the Bible says!  But it is obvious that many things are not what God wants them to do but what they have to do, because from the perspective of God, “…you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”(Revelation 3:17) So it’s useless to do things only formally in the surface, like the purpose of reading the Bible is to gain life, as Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.”(John 5:39-40) I used to read the Bible only because others asked me to read it. This is hay and straw like work. Once it is burned by fire, nothing will be left. Yes, we have a great commission that we have to lead by example so that others will see and envy our good deeds, and then we’ll automatically “…make disciples of all the nations, …”(Matthew 28:19)! We can see that God is a merciful and gracious God. Even though the door is shut, He still waits patiently outside. As the scriptures say, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”(Revelation 3:20)

Let’s now look at the analogy of the mustard seed. It is compared with a vegetable (G3001). It should be a vegetable, but it grows into a tree (G1186). That means that its native quality has been changed, not the same any more. Isn’t this similar to the situation of quite a few churches today?  Like the philosophy of success, it teaches people that as long as they believe in the Lord, everything will go well. This is not according to the teaching of the Bible, which says “…In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”(John 16:33) And probably unknowingly, like the church in Laodicea, the Lord Jesus is not put in the first place, making the kingdom of God uneven, but in the end only the wheat will be harvested in the barn.

(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，我们说的圣经的一致性是指神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的，对于这点，我们可以看到许多但有限的例子，在这里我只举一个例子，并借此说明为什么在创世记说的一日就是现在的一日。第二，我们知道创世的工作第七天就完成了，所以耶稣说我父做事直到如今，是指神在继续做创世记的预言中所说的救恩计划，一直到最后的启示录祂才歇了一切的工。我们用示意图一表示按次序发生的事情，并在图二中说明了一个错误的解释。最后，我们用一个例子说明，如果四度空间存在的话，我们就可以很容易的解释本是要信心才能接受的话，而基督徒是要活在信心中，相信圣经是这样说的。有很多的例子都是如此，因此我们可以在信心中看到，四度空间是不存在的。

1. 圣经的一致性的一个例子       

     我们来看在创世记中用的一个字就可以看到这样的一个例子，在神给亚当直接的命令中，『耶和华神吩咐他说：「园中各样树上的果子，你可以随意吃，只是分别善恶树上的果子，你不可吃，因为你吃的日子(for in the day H3117)必定死。」』(创世记 2:16-17)       

     我们就看日子(H3117)这个编号为 H3117 的原文字。我们知道夏娃因蛇的引诱，最后是夏娃，『…就摘下果子来吃了；又给她丈夫(亚当)，她丈夫也吃了。』(创世记 3:6) 因为亚当的不顺神，于是罗马书 5:12 就说，『这就如罪是从一人(亚当)入了世界，…』在「2063 基督徒信仰的简介」的文章中，我们谈到了罪就是不顺服神的原因。在他们不顺服神而犯了罪以后，结局是『耶和华神便打发他(亚当)出伊甸园去，耕种他所自出之土。于是把他赶出去了。…』(创世记 3:23-24) 当然夏娃也一起在当天(H3117)被赶出去了。因为从第四章一节开始就说到赶出伊甸园的生活，神原先的心意就在创世记的前三章介绍了。     

     我们知道人有灵、魂、和体三部份，如经文所说，『…又愿你们的灵与魂与身子得蒙保守，…』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:23) 如果一个人真正相信圣经是神所默示的话，就不会把圣经的话打折扣，会很清楚的知道这点。同样的，我们知道『亚当共活了九百三十岁就死了。』 (创世记 5:5) 所以他吃果子的时候魂和体还活著，因为魂离开身体人必死，就如经文所说，『…拉结临产甚是艰难。…她将近于死，(灵)魂(soul H5315)要走的时候，…』(创世记 35:16-18) 所以神的命令中是指灵死了，是指当天被赶出了伊甸园，不能主动的再和神交通。所以我们可以看到神的命令中这个字 H3117 是指当天，圣经说的是多么的一致啊！    

     如果我们相信创世记的前三章的原文 H3117 的这个字有相同的意义，就知道这是指有晚上有早上的现在所说的一日。请注意，我并没有看有这个字的所有经文，不能声称所有的这个字在经文中都是这样用的。这就犹如我们看到许多的例子，都是神借著圣经告诉我们的是一致的(圣经的一致性)，我们会沿著这个方向去想，到目前为止我并没找出一个圣经的一致性的反证，因不论如何，我们不太可能看到圣经中所有的例子，就假设圣经的一致性为逻辑的公理，用圣经的话推导出相应的结果(定理)来。

2. 我父做事直到如今      

      经文说得很清楚，『耶稣就对他们说：「我父做事直到如今，我也做事。」』(约翰福音 5:17) 可是创世记说，『天地万物都造齐了。到第七日，神造物的工已经完毕，就在第七日歇了他一切的工，安息了。神赐福给第七日，定为圣日，因为在这日神歇了他一切创造的工，就安息了。』(创世记 2:1-3) 的确，一切「创造(创世)的工作」第七日都已完成了，不只是讲得很清楚，而且我们看到，『耶和华神将那人(亚当)安置在伊甸园，使他修理看守。』(创世记 2:15) 神已经付于亚当使命，将一切已完成的工作交给亚当了！只是亚当没有看守好，让夏娃被蛇成功的引诱，自己也不顺服神了，当天被赶出了伊甸园，没有机会修理了！    

     现在祂仍然在工作的是创世记中预言的救恩计划，『我又要叫你和女人彼此为仇；你的后裔和女人的后裔也彼此为仇。女人的后裔要伤你的头；你要伤他的脚跟。』(创世记 3:15) 女人的后裔是指耶稣基督，因为经文说，『所应许的原是向亚伯拉罕和他子孙说的；神并不是说「众子孙」，指著许多人，乃是说「你那一个子孙」，指著一个人，就是基督。』(加拉太书 3:16) 我们看到了经文说，『因我们的大祭司(基督耶稣)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) 所以蛇(撒但)只能伤祂的脚跟，去试探祂。而头伤是致命的，耶稣成就的救恩计划对蛇是致命的一击。圣经没有明说救恩计划何时开始，但我们知道，『神既在古时借著众先知多次多方地晓谕列祖。』(希伯来书 1:1) 而最早的先知是以诺，因经文说得很清楚，『亚当的七世孙以诺曾预言这些人说：「看哪，主带著他的千万圣者降临，…」』(犹大书 1:14)     

     在创世以前的情景可由这经文得知，『神对摩西说：「我是自有永有的(I AM THAT I AM)。」又说：「你要对以色列人这样说：『那自有的打发我到你们这里来。』」』(出埃及记 3:14)   在神创造时间前，祂就已经存在了，而存在了多久我们不知道。 现在三位一体的神还在因救恩而继续的在工作，这样一直要到启示录的末了，神才真正歇了祂一切的工。圣经没有说从创造时间开始到创造我们现今的世界有久，只说在创造现今的世界之前，『地是空虚混沌，渊面黑暗；神的灵运行在水面上。』(创世记 1:2)   因此我们可以用示意图一来表示按著次序发生的事情。

图一: 从最初到最后发生事件的示意图

     我以前没有注意到创世记 2:3 是指创世的工作已完成了，以为耶稣在约翰福音 5:17 所说的「我父做事直到如今」是指仍在做创世的工作，因此认为我们仍在第六天中。这时救恩的计划只好用圆来表示，如所示的错误示意图二中所说，圆的大小是未知，因为在救恩的计划中不知耶稣何时会再来，大小就代表救恩计划的长短。

图二: 错误的示意图

     所以依照圣经，图一才是正确的的示意图，跟本就没有图二的圆。在图一的救恩的计划，因我们不知道何时耶稣再来，就用虚线表示。

3. 四维空间在信心中的不存在       

     因为对神来说，时间和空间没有区别，旧约中有两次明说神是可以控制时间的，一次是在约书亚的时代，『当耶和华将亚摩利人交付以色列人的日子，约书亚就祷告耶和华，在以色列人眼前说：「日头啊，你要停在基遍；月亮啊，你要止在亚雅仑谷。」于是日头停留，月亮止住，直等国民向敌人报仇。 这事岂不是写在雅煞珥书上吗？ 日头在天当中停住，不急速下落，约有一日之久。』(约书亚记 10:12-13) 一次是在希西家的时候，『希西家回答(以赛亚)说：「日影向前进十度容易，我要日影往后退十度。」先知以赛亚求告耶和华，耶和华就使亚哈斯的日晷向前进的日影，往后退了十度。』(列王纪下 20:10-11)  因此有人把时间看作一个维度，因此现有的三维空间加上时间这一维，对神来说是四维，但我们生活在三维空间中，时间只能往前。所以在这里我们不谈时间，只谈纯粹的空间，简短的解释为什么在信心中四维空间是不存在的。       

     首先我们看到，没有信心就没有基督徒，譬如基督徒相信『圣经都是神所默示的，…』(提摩太后书 3:16) 虽然保罗写这句话时新约如启示录还不存在，但基督徒相信新旧约都是神所默示的，不会把原版圣经的话打折扣。原版的圣经就是说圣经的唯一的第一版，譬如在帖撒罗尼迦后书 3:17 保罗写到，『我保罗亲笔问你们安。凡我的信都以此为记，我的笔迹就是这样。』(帖撒罗尼迦后书 3:17) 原版圣经就是指这一版，其余的至多是原文的手抄本或翻译的圣经，难免有误，因此我们会有不同的版本。相信神早已在默示圣经时考虑过，原版的圣经不可能一字不错的传下来，因此会用某种自动会更正的写法，我们会提出一种人都能想到的这种写法。我们不是说圣经就是这样写的，只是说连人都可以想出这样的一种写法，神一定有更周全的考虑。    

     虽然原版的圣经已失传而没有人看过，但有些经文是没有争议的，譬如圣经说，『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) 在新约中说，『神能照著运行在我们心里的大力，充充足足地成就一切，超过我们所求所想的。』(以弗所书 3:20) 我们想都想不到的事，怎么可能求呢？必须是神主动。基督徒在信心中相信这些经文都是对的，因为圣经是这样说，不是因为别的原因。    

     我们就用以赛亚书 55:8-9 简短的说明，在信心中为什么四维空间不存在。如果四维空间存在，我们可以很容易的解释这些经文，跟本不需要信心了！我们可以从图三中看到这一点，在图三(A)中，绿色的山代表我们现在所在的地方，蓝色山上下面的红点代表我们的目的地，我们现在的位置以黑点表示，因此我们现在要决定是要向右往红色的箭头方向走，或是向左往蓝色的箭头方向走。大部份人或大概每一个人都会很合理的选择往右走，因为可以看到目的地而看起来比较近。假如现在有人在直升机上可看到图三(B)中的鸟瞰图，红色是代表往右红色箭头的路，蓝色是代表往左蓝色箭头的路，如果是图三(B)所显示的情况，就很清楚要选往左的蓝色方向了。以类比来说，圣灵相当于在三维空间直升机的那人，我们相当于要选择方向的那人。三位一体的神的圣灵绝对比我们看得清楚，所以有四维空间的存在，我们就不需要以信心相信圣经如是说，就可以很容易的解释这些经文。

图三:   三维空间的实际情况和二维空间的鸟瞰图

     所以只要四维空间存在，基督徒跟本不需要信心就可以解释许多的事情，这和基督徒要在信心中相信是矛盾的。因此四维空间在信心中是不存在的。以实际来说，高维空间只有在数学的推导中存在，我们生活在三维空间中，没有人到过三维以上的空间，也没有方法用实验证明三维以上的空间的存在。

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

    首先，我們說的聖經的一致性是指神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的，對於這點，我們可以看到許多但有限的例子，在這裏我只舉一個例子，並藉此說明為什麼在創世記說的一日就是現在的一日。第二，我們知道創世的工作第七天就完成了，所以耶穌說我父做事直到如今，是指神在繼續做創世記的預言中所說的救恩計劃，一直到最後的啓示錄祂才歇了一切的工。我們用示意圖一表示按次序發生的事情，並在圖二中說明了一個錯誤的解釋。最後，我們用一個例子說明，如果四度空間存在的話，我們就可以很容易的解釋本是要信心才能接受的話，而基督徒是要活在信心中，相信聖經是這樣說的。有很多的例子都是如此，因此我們可以在信心中看到，四度空間是不存在的。

1. 聖經的一致性的一個例子

       我們來看在創世記中用的一個字就可以看到這樣的一個例子，在神給亞當直接的命令中，『耶和華神吩咐他說：「園中各樣樹上的果子，你可以隨意吃，只是分別善惡樹上的果子，你不可吃，因為你吃的日子(for in the day H3117)必定死。」』(創世記 2:16-17) 

       我們就看日子(H3117)這個編號為 H3117 的原文字。我們知道夏娃因蛇的引誘，最後是夏娃，『…就摘下果子來吃了；又給她丈夫(亞當)，她丈夫也吃了。』(創世記 3:6) 因為亞當的不順神，於是羅馬書 5:12 就說，『這就如罪是從一人(亞當)入了世界，…』在「2063 基督徒信仰的簡介」的文章中，我們談到了罪就是不順服神的原因。在他們不順服神而犯了罪以後，結局是『耶和華神便打發他(亞當)出伊甸園去，耕種他所自出之土。於是把他趕出去了。…』(創世記 3:23-24) 當然夏娃也一起在當天(H3117)被趕出去了。因為從第四章一節開始就說到趕出伊甸園的生活，神原先的心意就在創世記的前三章介紹了。

     我們知道人有靈、魂、和體三部份，如經文所說，『…又願你們的靈與魂與身子得蒙保守，…』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:23) 如果一個人真正相信聖經是神所默示的話，就不會把聖經的話打折扣，會很清楚的知道這點。同樣的，我們知道『亞當共活了九百三十歲就死了。』 (創世記 5:5) 所以他吃果子的時候魂和體還活著，因為魂離開身體人必死，就如經文所說，『…拉結臨產甚是艱難。…她將近於死，(靈)魂(soul H5315)要走的時候，…』(創世記 35:16-18) 所以神的命令中是指靈死了，是指當天被趕出了伊甸園，不能主動的再和神交通。所以我們可以看到神的命令中這個字 H3117 是指當天，聖經說的是多麼的一致啊！

    如果我們相信創世記的前三章的原文 H3117 的這個字有相同的意義，就知道這是指有晚上有早上的現在所說的一日。請注意，我並沒有看有這個字的所有經文，不能聲稱所有的這個字在經文中都是這樣用的。這就猶如我們看到許多的例子，都是神藉著聖經告訴我們的是一致的(聖經的一致性)，我們會沿著這個方向去想，到目前為止我並沒找出一個聖經的一致性的反証，因不論如何，我們不太可能看到聖經中所有的例子，就假設聖經的一致性為邏輯的公理，用聖經的話推導出相應的結果(定理)來。

2. 我父做事直到如今

       經文說得很清楚，『耶穌就對他們說：「我父做事直到如今，我也做事。」』(約翰福音 5:17) 可是創世記說，『天地萬物都造齊了。到第七日，神造物的工已經完畢，就在第七日歇了他一切的工，安息了。神賜福給第七日，定為聖日，因為在這日神歇了他一切創造的工，就安息了。』(創世記 2:1-3) 的確，一切「創造(創世)的工作」第七日都已完成了，不只是講得很清楚，而且我們看到，『耶和華神將那人(亞當)安置在伊甸園，使他修理看守。』(創世記 2:15) 神已經付於亞當使命，將一切已完成的工作交給亞當了！只是亞當沒有看守好，讓夏娃被蛇成功的引誘，自己也不順服神了，當天被趕出了伊甸園，沒有機會修理了！

     現在祂仍然在工作的是創世記中預言的救恩計劃，『我又要叫你和女人彼此為仇；你的後裔和女人的後裔也彼此為仇。女人的後裔要傷你的頭；你要傷他的腳跟。』(創世記 3:15) 女人的後裔是指耶穌基督，因為經文說，『所應許的原是向亞伯拉罕和他子孫說的；神並不是說「眾子孫」，指着許多人，乃是說「你那一個子孫」，指着一個人，就是基督。』(加拉太書 3:16) 我們看到了經文說，『因我們的大祭司(基督耶穌)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) 所以蛇(撒但)只能傷祂的腳跟，去試探祂。而頭傷是致命的，耶穌成就的救恩計劃對蛇是致命的一擊。聖經沒有明說救恩計劃何時開始，但我們知道，『神既在古時藉着眾先知多次多方地曉諭列祖。』(希伯來書 1:1) 而最早的先知是以諾，因經文說得很清楚，『亞當的七世孫以諾曾預言這些人說：「看哪，主帶着他的千萬聖者降臨，…」』(猶大書 1:14)

     在創世以前的情景可由這經文得知，『神對摩西說：「我是自有永有的(I AM THAT I AM)。」又說：「你要對以色列人這樣說：『那自有的打發我到你們這裏來。』」』(出埃及記 3:14)   在神創造時間前，祂就已經存在了，而存在了多久我們不知道。 現在三位一體的神還在因救恩而繼續的在工作，這樣一直要到啓示錄的末了，神才真正歇了祂一切的工。聖經沒有說從創造時間開始到創造我們現今的世界有久，只說在創造現今的世界之前，『地是空虛混沌，淵面黑暗；神的靈運行在水面上。』(創世記 1:2)   因此我們可以用示意圖一來表示按著次序發生的事情。

圖一: 從最初到最後發生事件的示意圖

    我以前沒有注意到創世記 2:3 是指創世的工作已完成了，以為耶穌在約翰福音 5:17 所說的「我父做事直到如今」是指仍在做創世的工作，因此認為我們仍在第六天中。這時救恩的計劃只好用圓來表示，如所示的錯誤示意圖二中所說，圓的大小是未知，因為在救恩的計劃中不知耶穌何時會再來，大小就代表救恩計劃的長短。

圖二: 錯誤的示意圖

    所以依照聖經，圖一才是正確的的示意圖，跟本就沒有圖二的圓。在圖一的救恩的計劃，因我們不知道何時耶穌再來，就用虛線表示。

3. 四維空間在信心中的不存在

       因為對神來說，時間和空間沒有區別，舊約中有兩次明說神是可以控制時間的，一次是在約書亞的時代，『當耶和華將亞摩利人交付以色列人的日子，約書亞就禱告耶和華，在以色列人眼前說：「日頭啊，你要停在基遍；月亮啊，你要止在亞雅崙谷。」於是日頭停留，月亮止住，直等國民向敵人報仇。 這事豈不是寫在雅煞珥書上嗎？ 日頭在天當中停住，不急速下落，約有一日之久。』(約書亞記 10:12-13) 一次是在希西家的時候，『希西家回答(以賽亞)說：「日影向前進十度容易，我要日影往後退十度。」先知以賽亞求告耶和華，耶和華就使亞哈斯的日晷向前進的日影，往後退了十度。』(列王紀下 20:10-11)  因此有人把時間看作一個維度，因此現有的三維空間加上時間這一維，對神來說是四維，但我們生活在三維空間中，時間只能往前。所以在這裏我們不談時間，只談純粹的空間，簡短的解釋為什麼在信心中四維空間是不存在的。

       首先我們看到，沒有信心就沒有基督徒，譬如基督徒相信『聖經都是神所默示的，…』(提摩太後書 3:16) 雖然保羅寫這句話時新約如啓示錄還不存在，但基督徒相信新舊約都是神所默示的，不會把原版聖經的話打折扣。原版的聖經就是說聖經的唯一的第一版，譬如在帖撒羅尼迦後書 3:17 保羅寫到，『我保羅親筆問你們安。凡我的信都以此為記，我的筆跡就是這樣。』(帖撒羅尼迦後書 3:17) 原版聖經就是指這一版，其餘的至多是原文的手抄本或翻譯的聖經，難免有誤，因此我們會有不同的版本。相信神早已在默示聖經時考慮過，原版的聖經不可能一字不錯的傳下來，因此會用某種自動會更正的寫法，我們會提出一種人都能想到的這種寫法。我們不是說聖經就是這樣寫的，只是說連人都可以想出這樣的一種寫法，神一定有更周全的考慮。

    雖然原版的聖經已失傳而沒有人看過，但有些經文是沒有爭議的，譬如聖經說，『耶和華說：「我的意念非同你們的意念，我的道路非同你們的道路。天怎樣高過地，照樣，我的道路高過你們的道路，我的意念高過你們的意念。』(以賽亞書 55:8-9) 在新約中說，『神能照着運行在我們心裏的大力，充充足足地成就一切，超過我們所求所想的。』(以弗所書 3:20) 我們想都想不到的事，怎麼可能求呢？必須是神主動。基督徒在信心中相信這些經文都是對的，因為聖經是這樣說，不是因為別的原因。

    我們就用以賽亞書 55:8-9 簡短的說明，在信心中為什麼四維空間不存在。如果四維空間存在，我們可以很容易的解釋這些經文，跟本不需要信心了！我們可以從圖三中看到這一點，在圖三(A)中，綠色的山代表我們現在所在的地方，藍色山上下面的紅點代表我們的目的地，我們現在的位置以黑點表示，因此我們現在要決定是要向右往紅色的箭頭方向走，或是向左往藍色的箭頭方向走。大部份人或大概每一個人都會很合理的選擇往右走，因為可以看到目的地而看起來比較近。假如現在有人在直升機上可看到圖三(B)中的鳥瞰圖，紅色是代表往右紅色箭頭的路，藍色是代表往左藍色箭頭的路，如果是圖三(B)所顯示的情況，就很清楚要選往左的藍色方向了。以類比來說，聖靈相當於在三維空間直升機的那人，我們相當於要選擇方向的那人。三位一體的神的聖靈絕對比我們看得清楚，所以有四維空間的存在，我們就不需要以信心相信聖經如是說，就可以很容易的解釋這些經文。

圖三:   三維空間的實際情況和二維空間的鳥瞰圖

    所以只要四維空間存在，基督徒跟本不需要信心就可以解釋許多的事情，這和基督徒要在信心中相信是矛盾的。因此四維空間在信心中是不存在的。以實際來說，高維空間只有在數學的推導中存在，我們生活在三維空間中，沒有人到過三維以上的空間，也沒有方法用實驗証明三維以上的空間的存在。

 (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 consistency in the Bible we are talking about means that God shows us through the Bible that it is consistent. We can see many but limited such examples.  We can also see that the day mentioned in God’s command to Adam is the same as one single day like we are talking about right now.  Second, we know that the creation of the present world was completed on the seventh day, so Jesus said “My Father is working until now,” which means that God is continuing the salvation plan mentioned in the prophecy of Genesis until near the end of the book of Revelation when He will rest from all work.  We represent what happens in sequence in Figure 1 and illustrate a wrong interpretation in Figure 2.  Finally, we use an example to illustrate that if the four-dimensional space exists, it is easy to explain the verses in the given example without any need of faith. But Christians must live in faith and believe that the Bible says so.  There are many examples of this kind, which leads to the contradiction to the requirements of needing the faith, so we can see with confidence that the fourth dimension does not exist.

1. An example of the consistency in the Bible

We can see an example of this by looking at a word used in Genesis. In God’s direct command to Adam, “…saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.””(Genesis 2:16-17)

Let’s look at the original text numbered H3117 of ‘in the day (H3117).’ We know that Eve was seduced by the serpent, and finally Eve “…took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.”(Genesis 3:6) Because of Adam’s disobedience to God, it is said, “Therefore, just as through one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, …”(Romans 5:12) In the article entitled ‘2063 Introduction to Christian Faith,’ we talked about the reason why sin equals disobedience to God.  After they sinned in disobedience, the outcome was “therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. So He drove the man out; …” (Genesis 3:23-24) Of course Eve was cast out on the same day (H3117).  Since the first verse of Chapter 4 talks about the life driven out of the Garden of Eden, God’s original will is introduced in the first three chapters of Genesis.

We know that man has three parts: spirit, soul, and body, just like what said in the scripture, “…may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, …” (1 Thessalonians 5:23) If a person who truly believes that the Bible is inspired by God will not discount the words of the Bible, and will know this clearly.  Likewise, we know that “So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died.”(Genesis 5:5) Therefore, when he ate the fruit, his soul and body were still alive, because the soul leaves the body and people must die, as said in the verse, “…Rachel began to give birth and she suffered severe labor. …It came about as her soul was departing (for she died), …”(Genesis 35:16-18) So God’s command refers to the death of the spirit, which means being expelled from the Garden of Eden that day, Adam can no longer actively communicate with God.  So we can see that the word H3117 in the command of God refers to the present day, how consistent the Bible is!

If we believe that the word H3117 in the original text of the first three chapters of Genesis has the same meaning, we know that this refers to one day and that there is evening and morning.  Note that I haven’t looked at all the scriptures that have this word, and can’t claim that all of the scriptures use this word in this way.  It is as if we have seen many examples, all of which are consistent with what God told us through the Bible (the consistency in the Bible). By assuming this is true for the whole Bible, we will think along this direction, and so far I have not found a single counterexample about the consistency in the Bible.  No matter what, we are unlikely to see all the examples in the Bible, and we can only assume that the consistency in the Bible is a logical axiom, and use the words of the Bible to deduce the corresponding results (theorems).

2. My Father is working until now

The scriptures make it very clear, “But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.””(John 5:17) But the book of Genesis says, “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”(Genesis 2:1-3) Indeed, all the “creation work” was completed on the seventh day, not only clearly stated, but we see in the verse, “Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.”(Genesis 2:15) God has given Adam a mission and handed over all the completed work to Adam!  It’s just that Adam didn’t keep a good watch, and Eve was successfully tempted by the snake, and he himself didn’t obey God either. He was kicked out of the Garden of Eden that day and had no chance to cultivate it!

What He is still working on now is the salvation plan prophesied in the book of Genesis, “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed;

He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”(Genesis 3:15) The seed of the woman refers to Jesus Christ, because the scriptures say, “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ.”(Galatians 3:16) We have seen the scriptures also say, “For we do not have a high priest (Jesus Christ) who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”(Hebrews 4:15) So the snake (Satan) can only hurt his heel, to tempt him.  Whereas a head wound is fatal, the plan of salvation that Jesus accomplished was the fatal blow to the serpent.  The Bible does not say when the plan of salvation began, but we know that “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways.”(Hebrews 1:1) And Enoch is the earliest prophet, because the scriptures make it clear, “It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones.””(Jude 14)

The situation before the creation of the world can be known from this scripture, “God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.” (Exodus 3:14) God existed before the creation of time, and we do not know how long.  Now the Trinity God is still working because of salvation, so it will not be until the end of the book of Revelation that God really stops all His work.  The Bible does not say how long it was from the creation of time to the creation of our present world, only that before the creation of the present world, “The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.”(Genesis 1:2) So we can use Figure 1 to show what happens in sequence.

Figure 1: Schematic diagram of what happened from the beginning to the end

I didn’t notice before that Genesis 2:3 refers to the completion of the creation of the world. I thought that Jesus said in John 5:17, “My Father is working until now” means that the creation of the world is still being done, so I think we are still on the sixth day.  At this time, the plan of salvation in this case can only be represented by a circle. As mentioned in the second Figure 2 shown the error, the size of the circle is unknown, because in the plan of salvation, it is not known when Jesus will return, so the size of the circle represents the length of the plan of salvation.  

Figure 2: Schematic diagram of the error

Therefore, according to the Bible, Figure 1 is the correct schematic diagram, and there is no circle as shown in Figure 2.  The plan of salvation in Figure 1 is represented by dotted lines because the length is unknown as we do not know when Jesus will return.

3. The non-existence of four-dimensional space in faith

Because for God, there is no difference between time and space. There are two times in the Old Testament that shows God can control time. One is at the era of Joshua as the verse says, “Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, “O sun, stand still at Gibeon, And O moon in the valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies. Is it not written in the book of Jashar? And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.”(Joshua 10:12-13) The other time is at the era of Hezekiah, “So Hezekiah answered, “It is easy for the shadow to decline ten steps; no, but let the shadow turn backward ten steps.” Isaiah the prophet cried to the Lord, and He brought the shadow on the stairway back ten steps by which it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.”(2 Kings 20:10-11) Therefore, some people regard time as a dimension, so the existing three-dimensional space plus the dimension of time is four-dimensional to God, but we live in three-dimensional space, and time can only move forward.  So here we don’t talk about time, just talk about pure space, and briefly explain why the four-dimensional space does not exist in faith.

First of all, we see that there is no Christian without faith. For example, Christians believe that both the Old and New Testaments are inspired by God despite the fact that when Paul said “All Scripture is inspired by God…”(2 Timothy 3:16) some of the New Testament such as the book of Revelation weren’t written yet. For true believers, they will not discount the words of the original Bible.  The original version of the Bible refers to the only first version of the Bible. For example, in 2 Thessalonians 3:17 Paul wrote, “I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write.”(2 Thessalonians 3:17) The original version of the Bible refers to this one, and the rest are at most manuscripts in the original language or translations of the Bible. Errors are inevitable, so we will have different versions.  I believe that God has already considered it when He inspired the Bible. It is impossible for the original version of the Bible to be handed down word for word. Since a certain way of writing that will automatically correct errors can be used, we will propose such a way of writing, which everyone can understand, in a book to come.  We are not saying that the Bible is written in the proposed way, but that even humans can come up with such a way of writing, God must have thought about this issue more thoroughly.

Although the original version of the Bible has been lost and no one has read it, some scriptures are not controversial. For example, the Bible says, “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) In the New Testament, “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.”(Ephesians 3:20) How can we ask for what we can’t even think? It must be God’s initiative. Christians believe in faith that these verses are true because the Bible says so and no other reason.

Let’s use Isaiah 55:8-9 to briefly explain why the four-dimensional space does not exist in faith.  If the four-dimensional space exists, we can easily explain these scriptures without any need for faith!  We can see this from Figure 3. In Figure 3(A), the green mountain represents where we are now, the red dot below the blue mountain represents our destination, and our current position is represented by a black dot, so we now have to decide whether to go right in the direction of the red arrow or left in the direction of the blue arrow.  Most people, or almost everyone, would reasonably choose to go to the right, because they can see the destination and look closer.  If someone is on a helicopter and can see the bird’s-eye view in Figure 3(B), the red color represents the road to the right with the red arrow, and the blue color represents the road to the left with the blue arrow. If it is shown in Figure 3(B), it is in this case very clear to choose the blue direction to the left.  In analogy, the Holy Spirit is equivalent to the person who is in the helicopter in the three-dimensional space, and we are equivalent to the person who has to choose the direction.  The Holy Spirit of the Trinity God can definitely see more clearly than us, so with the existence of four-dimensional space, we can easily explain these scriptures without necessarily believing in what the Bible says.

Figure 3: The actual situation in 3D space and the bird’s-eye view of 2D space

Therefore, as long as the four-dimensional space exists, Christians can explain many things without faith. This is contradictory to Christians who has to believe in faith.  Therefore, the four-dimensional space does not exist in faith.  Practically speaking, high-dimensional space only exists in mathematical derivation. We live in three-dimensional space. No one has ever been to a space with more than three dimensions, and there is no way to prove the existence of the space with more than three dimensions by experiment.

(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.”)

序:  这篇文章是同时为基督徒和非基督徒而写的，因为看到一些教会不是照圣经去教导，因此决定写这篇文章。对非基督徒而言，不是劝他们立刻成为基督徒，因为我们深知这不是一篇文章能做到的，就像『亚基帕对保罗说：「你想少微一劝，便叫我作基督徒啊？」』(使徒行传 26:28) 所以我们的动机是希望、按照圣经而有正确的认识后才做决定。这篇文章分为七个部分。第一，从「基督徒称号的开始」中，我们看到了基督徒是有基督耶稣的生命的一群人(门徒)。第二，在「基督教不是人为的宗教」中，我们阐述了为什么说基督教不是劝人为善的人为的宗教，看到了善行只是信心的自然结果，基督徒有从内到外的生命的改变，不要本末倒置。第三，在「人性本恶，每人都需要救恩」中，我们谈到了人性本恶及其来由，看见了每一个人都需要救恩，也看到了圣经说的罪是指不顺服神，不是像一些人以为只有不遵守法律像杀人放火等等的才是罪。第四，在「道成肉身是因神爱世人」中，看到耶稣(道)取代了我们钉上了十字架，受罪(死)的刑罚，(宝)血洗净了我们的罪，给了世人一个机会。我们每一个人都有自由意志，有机会决定信或不信，神也会因我们的决定而会作出相应的回应。第五，我们看到了「信而受洗进入耶稣的国度」，也就是天国。第六，在「信望爱并祷告及赞美的生活」中，我们谈到了在信以后至终要过一个和世界「分别为圣(洁)」的生活，一个信望爱并祷告及赞美的生活，并描述了一个实际上可以达到的生活。第七，在「临死前的真信绝对有效，但有机会时该受洗」中，我们由圣经的例子中看到，能真信不会有太晚的时候。         

     因为一些名词对基督徒而言是理所当然的，对非基督徒而言可能是新的，所以需要解释。如果基督徒会在此时觉得过份的啰嗦，就请把这解释当作为来确认这名词是否这样的意义吧！如非基徒能假设「圣经的话是对的」，应该可以看得懂这篇文章的涵意，因为逻辑上没有问题。至于最终能不能接受这假设成为事实，就端看个人了！有些人只想快快的知道基督徒信些什么，有些人想要知道信仰的背后是否有圣经的根据，因为基督徒相信新旧约『…都是神所默示的，…』(提摩太后书  3:16) [1]  为了兼顾个人的兴趣不同，我们采取了折衷的写法，就是在本文中尽可能的不引用经文，让前者能一气呵成，读得顺利，而将背后的经文放在参考中，使后者可以自由的选择有兴趣或有疑问的经文。除非像刚才引用的经文，提摩太后书 3:16 的经文正好可以溶入本文中，就不放在参考中了！对有些基督徒而言，有些参考已不属于简介了。因圣经有各种不同的译本，我们都是引用通用的和合本。

1. 基督徒称号的开始    

     经文说，『…门徒称为基督徒是从安提阿起首。』(使徒行传 11:26) 我们看到了那称为「大使命」的，是耶稣亲自命令我们的 [2]。 安提阿是一个外邦的城，不是犹太人的城，从大使命中可看出，『凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守，我就常(总是)与你们同在，直到世界的末了。』(马太福音28:20)    他们显然是遵行了教训，连外邦人都觉得他们有基督的生命，称他们为基督徒。所以基督徒是有基督耶稣的生命的一群人，信而受洗， 并有主总是与他们同在的应许。

2.  基督教不是人为的宗教               

     常常有人以为基督教是敬拜人创造的一位神，我们就讨论这问题。首先，我们知道基督徒会查考圣经，我们就看到耶稣自己说查考圣经的目的是要得生命，生命只能从神来 [3]。在这点上，神是有绝对主权的，『因他对摩西说：「我要怜悯谁，就怜悯谁；要恩待谁，就恩待谁。」』(罗马书 9:15)           

     简言之，基督徒有生命的改变。圣经明说，『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) 所以老我(就是指肉体)只配一死，但基督徒深深相信：『圣经都是神所默示的，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) 有真信心自然会有信心的行为，更有得著更丰盛的生命的应许  [4]。这些信心的行为都是善的，所以说基督教不是劝人为善的人为的宗教，善行只是信心的自然结果，基督徒有从内到外的生命的改变，不要本末倒置。基督教是以神为本聚集的门徒，不论人相信或不相信，神总是存在那里。

3.  人性本恶，每人都需要救恩              

     关于人性本恶这一点，我们看小孩不必学就会撒谎就可以知道了，所以人性本善的教导是绝对错误的。简言之，人出生时就天生有罪，是罪人，我们犯罪是因为我们本是罪人，不是我们有犯罪的行为才成为罪人。为什么会是这样呢？是因为人从亚当夏娃开始就有真正的自由意志，可以选择不顺服神。我们先看神给亚当的命令是很清楚的不淮吃分别善恶树上的果子 [5]。我们也看到了夏娃在伊甸园中被那(古)蛇引诱的结果是，『…摘下果子来吃了；又给她丈夫(亚当)，她丈夫也吃了。』（创世记 3:6)  是夏娃先被引诱没错，但亚当显然是明知故犯，不顺服神的话，从此亚当被罪玷污了，因此经文说，『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) [6]         

     经文说，『亚当活到一百三十岁，生了一个儿子，形像样式和自己相似…』(创世记 5:3)    这就和遗传类似，我们的子孙也是和我们相似，我们是从亚当被罪玷污后来到这世界的，是生来就带有罪的，我们的子孙也是出生时就有罪的。所以人性本恶，每一个人都需要救恩。圣经说的罪是指不顺神 [7]，神说不可杀人，杀人的就不顺服神，犯了罪。神说不可说谎，说谎就是不顺服神，犯了罪。诸如此类等等。

4. 道成肉身是因神爱世人           

     约翰福音关于「道成肉身」说得很清楚，『神爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生。因为神差他的儿子降世，不是要定世人的罪，乃是要叫世人因他得救。』(约翰福音 3:16-17)  人有自由意志，绝对可以选择信或不信，但我们要知道信与不信的区别: 『信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已经定了，因为他不信神独生子的名。』(约翰福音 3:18) 在最后的启示录更说到，『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)  这是指不信的非基督徒。 『惟有基督在我们还作罪人的时候为我们死，神的爱就在此向我们显明了。』(罗马书 5:8) 所以是耶稣取代了我们钉上了十字架受(罪的)刑罚，(宝)血洗净了我们的罪  [8]。

5. 信而受洗进入耶稣的国度             

     罪是从撒但来的，人被罪玷污后，原本出生时就已在撒但的国度里。圣经说只有两个国度，就是耶稣的国度和撒但的国度，所以一定要信而进入耶稣的国度。耶稣的国度就是天国 [9]，一开始信的时候，神就『…救了我们脱离黑暗的权势，把我们迁到他爱子(耶稣)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)  所以一定要在基督里。我们再一次强调，要去那里，是我们自由意志的选择的结果。

6. 信望爱并祷告及赞美的生活            

     「信」后至终要过一个和世界「分别为圣」的生活，一个「信望爱」并「祷告」及「赞美」的生活，走上成圣(洁)之路。譬如说，我们的价值观和看见在这时会变得和以前不一样了。「信」了以后会受圣灵和水的洗，会有内住的圣灵 [10]。大使命中的应许是真实的，三位一体的神的耶稣是以三位一体的神的圣灵的形式内住在我们里面。             

     我们一定要在基督里，因为是耶稣取代了我们，我们要模成耶稣的形像(image) [11]。这就犹如有人用一张纸夹在书中的例子所说的一样，书在那里，那张纸就在那里。神所看到的是无罪的基督，我们在基督里，在神眼中也是无罪的，就是所谓的「地位上已成圣」，成圣之路是要在经历中不要从基督里滑出来，一直能在基督里，『因为神本性一切的丰盛，都有形有体地居住在基督里面。』(歌罗西书 2:9)             

     信了以后可以「祷告」，其实信前也可以祷告，至少可以求能赐下一颗相信的心。保罗的祷告就是信后祷告的一个例子：『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)  信了以后有盼「望」，盼望耶稣再来的应许实现。 这应许就像经文所说的，『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 14:3)  一般的祷告也盼望事情可以成就，但要知道神有绝对的主权，有没有回应在祂，有没有应许也在祂。即使应许，成就的时间也在祂手上，因凡事有定时。信了以后也有了神的「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) 『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) 是三者都要有，只是爱最大 [12]。         

     我们现在可以过的生活是，『要常常喜乐，不住地祷告，凡事谢恩，因为这是神在基督耶稣里向你们所定的旨意。』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:16-18) 在基督里，这是一定可以做到的。看到圣灵在我们身上今日做的，怎么会不凡事谢恩呢？我们怎么不会甘心情愿的赞美神呢？关于赞美的经文，新旧约都有不少 [13]。赞美要甘心情愿的，要从心发出，神看的是内心，不是看外表，圣经说得很清楚，『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)  我们看看教会在五旬节诞生后的情景，知道早期的教会是在赞美中过的，我们也该如此行 [14]。 一个信望爱并祷告及赞美的生活，是每一个人都可以过的，即使是一个人中过风只能躺在床上，那一件事不可以做呢？

7. 临死前的真信绝对有效，但有机会时该受洗             

     在这最后一部份，我们讨论一下常常在宣教时会遇到的一个问题，就是我只要信，死前受洗或不受洗有什么关系？绝对是有关系的！第一，我们为什么不有机会就受洗，早些享受更丰盛的生命呢？第二，我们不知何时会死，说不定还来不及受洗就死了呢？关于第二点，如果是真信，最后一分钟也绝对有效，也跟本不必受水洗了，看犯人的例子就知道了。      

     经文说，和耶稣同钉十字架的有两个犯人，『那同钉的两个犯人，其中一个『说：「耶稣啊，你得国降临的时候，求你记念我！」耶稣对他说：「我实在告诉你：今日你要同我在乐园里了。」』(路加福音 23:39-43) 我们看到那犯人相信了耶稣是基督，并且有信心的行为去要求耶稣记念他，显然的，他没受水洗就去乐园了。所以到底该不该受洗，圣经说我们是该受洗，因为信而受洗，大使命也说的很清楚要受洗，且耶稣又作我们受洗的榜样 [15]。虽然在特殊的情况下不受水洗是可以的，但我们不能用犯人的例子作借口不受洗，该问的是，我们的情况是不是和真信的犯人的情况相似？这显然包括了没有机会受洗，且要知道他虽是基督徒，罪被赦免，仍然要付出人间的代价。

参考:

[1]  基督徒相信新旧约『…都是神所默示的，…』(提摩太后书 3:16) 有人可能会说，当保罗写这书信时，只有新约的一部份存在，因如启示录跟本就还没有写，他那句话是指旧约，的确是这样，但在信心中，基督徒相信新旧约都是神所默示的，所以基督徒是需要信心的。所以我们虽是人，不把圣经的话打折扣，仍可以从神(圣经)的角度看一些事情。反过来说是不对的，因为神是无限而圣经的字句有限，有限的不会等于无限的，所以读圣经的时候不可随便用等号，要不，人为的创造了一个非圣经所说的神，自己都会不知道！我们要特别强调的一点，就是我们引用经文，不是在断章取义，而是从整本圣经里看到的概念，引用的经文只是用来显示，圣经的确是有这样的说法，通常是的许多例子中的一个例子而已。举个例子来说，圣经所说的神是「三位一体」的神，「三位一体」就是说只有一体神但有三位。圣经说得很清楚，圣父被称为耶和华的是神，圣子耶稣基督是神，圣灵也是神，所以这三位是圣父、圣子、和圣灵。关于一体，经文说，『…耶和华(单数)我们神(复数)是独一的主。』(申命记  6:4)  神用的是复数，因为三位都是神。我们看到「三位一体」是绝对可能的，在常压下，「水」的温度不同会存在三个不同的状态，就是冰、水蒸气、和普通讲的水，但这些都只是一个「水」。当然这不能完全解释三位一体的概念，因为神是三个位格而不是三个状态，对人而言，「三位一体」是个奥秘，但基督徒相信神是「三位一体」的神。关于耶和华是神，『 摩西对神说：「我到以色列人那里，对他们说：『你们祖宗的神打发我到你们这里来。』他们若问我说：『他叫甚么名字？』我要对他们说甚么呢？」神对摩西说：「我是自有永有的。」又说：「你要对以色列人这样说：『那自有的打发我到你们这里来。』」』(出埃及记 3:13-14) 关于耶稣基督是神，经文说，『他们是以色列人，那儿子的名分、荣耀、诸约、律法、礼仪、应许，都是他们的。列祖就是他们的祖宗，按肉体说，基督也是从他们出来的，他是在万有之上，永远可称颂的神。阿们！』(罗马书 9:4-5) 关于圣灵是神，『彼得说：「亚拿尼亚，为甚么撒但充满了你的心，叫你欺哄圣灵，把田地的价银私自留下几分呢？田地还没有卖，不是你自己的吗？既卖了，价银不是你作主吗？你怎么心里起这意念呢？你不是欺哄人，是欺哄神了！」』(使徒行传 5:3-4)

[2]  「大使命」是耶稣亲自命令我们的，『耶稣进前来，对他们说：「天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我了。所以，你们要去，使万民作我的门徒，奉父、子、圣灵的名给他们施洗。凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守，我就常(总是, always)与你们同在，直到世界的末了。」』(马太福音 28:18-20)   我们看到了保罗在行大使命时，是非常的有效，因为经文说，『他(巴拿巴)又往大数去找扫罗(保罗)，找著了，就带他到安提阿去。他们足有一年的工夫和教会一同聚集，教训了许多人。门徒称为基督徒是从安提阿起首。』(使徒行传 11:25-26) 从神的角度看只有一个教会，不是指在地上的建筑物的教堂所聚会的人，而是不论这群人中的每个人所在的物理位置在那里 。关于只有一个教会这件事，这经文很清楚，『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)  这一点保罗非常清楚，经文说：『所以，你们因信基督耶稣，都是神的儿子。你们受洗归入基督的，都是披戴基督了。』(加拉太书  3:26-27)  所以也要「信而受洗」。我们知道耶稣是父的独生子，因经文说， 『道成了肉身，住在我们中间，充充满满地有恩典，有真理。我们也见过他的荣光，正是父独生子的荣光。』(约翰福音 1:14)  那么信耶稣的人都是神的儿子到底是什么意思呢？我们信耶稣后，都成为法律上有效的养子了，所以我们看到这些经文是没有任何冲突的。从神的角度看和从人的角度看有时是很不相同的，譬如说，我们看到了有些教会没有让主耶稣居首位，犹如在启示录第三章十七节中提到的老底嘉教会一样，从人的角度看，『你说：我是富足，已经发了财，一样都不缺。』但从神的角度看，『却不知道你是那困苦、可怜、贫穷、瞎眼、赤身的。』我们看到了两者的看法是这么的不同！犹有胜者，圣经明说，『看哪，我(耶稣)站在门外叩门，若有听见我声音就开门的，我要进到他那里去，我与他，他与我一同坐席。』(启示录 3:20)  老底嘉的教会把耶稣关在了门外而不自知，还以为自己什么都有！当不同的时候，我们应该『不要消灭圣灵的感动，』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:19)  要相信，『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)

[3] 耶稣自己说：『你们查考圣经，因你们以为内中有永生；给我(耶稣)作见证的就是这经。然而你们不肯到我这里来得生命。』(约翰福音 5:39-40)  我们也看到得生命的重要性，『…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。人若赚得全世界，赔上自己的生命，有甚么益处呢？人还能拿甚么换生命呢？』(马太福音 16:24-26)   在我们甘心情愿的查考圣经，知道了神借著圣经要告诉我们什么后，就知道我们是可以得著生命的。经文说，『我(保罗)栽种了，亚波罗浇灌了，惟有神叫他生长。可见栽种的算不得甚么，浇灌的也算不得甚么，只在那叫他生长的神。』(哥林多前书 3:6-7)  所以生命只能从神来。

[4] 『这样，信心若没有行为就是死的。』(雅各书 2:17)  就如经文所应许的，基督徒会得到更丰盛的生命，『我(耶稣)就是门，凡从我进来的，必然得救，并且出入得草吃。盗贼(就是撒但, 又叫魔鬼, 古蛇，参启示录 20:2)来，无非要偷窃、杀害、毁坏；我来了，是要叫羊(就是我们)得生命，并且得的更丰盛。』(约翰福音 10:9-10) 耶稣是唯一的门，经过耶稣这唯一的门得救的，虽然『…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) 在我们「谨守、警醒」下，「用坚固的信心抵挡牠」，就可以胜过牠。(参彼得前书 5:8-9)

[5] 『耶和华神吩咐他(亚当)说：「(伊甸)园中各样树上的果子，你可以随意吃，只是分别善恶树上的果子，你不可吃，因为你吃的日子(同一天)必定死。」』(创世记 2:16-17) 所以命令没有直接给夏娃。因为那时只有亚当和夏娃两人，所以从夏娃被蛇引诱的经文中看到，她是由亚当那儿不很清楚的知道这命令的。我们看经文就知道这点，『女人(夏娃)对蛇说：「园中树上的果子，我们可以吃；惟有园当中那棵树上的果子，神曾说：『你们不可吃，也不可摸，免得你们死。』」』(创世记 3:2-3)  神并没有说，『也不可摸』。

[6]  所以亚当本是可永远活著的，因为『耶和华神说：「…现在恐怕他伸手又摘生命树的果子吃，就永远活著。」』(创世记 3:22)  人被罪玷污一段时间后的情景是：『耶和华见人在地上罪恶很大，终日所思想的尽都是恶。』(创世记 6:5)  所以人被罪玷污而又不死是件很可怕的事情，这也就说明了虽然是神爱世人，仍是人人都有一死。

[7]  基于圣经的话和逻辑，我们说的罪的定义是不顺神，这可以从下述的立论看出。也就是我们要证明罪等于不顺服。首先从经文看， 『这就如罪是从一人(亚当)入了世界，…』，这是因为亚当的不顺服，所以不顺服意味著罪。要两者相等，我们还需要反过来证明罪意味著不顺服神，或著我们证明其逻辑上相等的叙述，就是顺服神意味著没有罪。神有绝对的主权，顺服神绝对不是犯罪，所以这叙述是真的。逻辑上的结论，就是罪等于不顺服神。我们再看其他的佐证，耶稣来地上的一个目的是在这经文中:『你们知道主曾显现，是要除掉人的罪，在他并没有罪。』(约翰一书 3:5) 祂怎么除罪？就是顺服，如经文所说，『…成为人的样式。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 2:7-8) 所以祂在客西马尼园这样的祷告，『…我父啊，倘若可行，求你叫这杯离开我；然而，不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。』(马太福音 26:39) 祂一生都顺服神，就像经文所说，『父怎样吩咐我，我就怎样行。…』(约翰福音 14:31) 祂的顺服就除掉了罪，难道罪不是不顺服吗？这是一个争议的话题，因此我们最后再看看罪是从那里来的？首先罪不是神所创造的，因『各样美善的恩赐和各样全备的赏赐都是从上头来的，从众光之父那里降下来的；在他并没有改变，也没有转动的影儿。』(雅各书 1:17) 我们再看看一些和撒但相关的经文，『明亮之星，早晨之子啊！(撒但)你何竟从天坠落？你这攻败列国的，何竟被砍倒在地上？你心里曾说：「我要升到天上！我要高举我的宝座在神众星以上；我要坐在聚会的山上，在北方的极处；我要升到高云之上，我要与至上者同等。」』(以赛亚书 14:12-14) 当初撒但被创造的时候的确是明亮之星，早晨之子。但你看后来牠是何等的骄傲啊！神创造了牠，牠本在神之下，牠却想要与至上者同等。且牠因骄傲而有了行动，不顺服神而变成了仇敌，这就是牠的罪，而罪也就借著亚当的不顺服进入了世界。简言之，罪的起源是在不顺服神。

[8]  真信不只是口中说相信，会从心里真知道而行道，就像经文所说，『只是你们要行道，不要单单听道，自己欺哄自己。』(雅各书 1:22)  耶稣道成肉身在地上的时候，是完全顺服父借著圣灵而带领的，这点经文说得很清楚，『…父怎样吩咐我，我就怎样行。…』(约翰福音 14:31)  至于是借著圣灵而带领的这事，我们可从祂选择十二使徒上看出来，『直到他借著圣灵吩咐所拣选的使徒，以后被接上升的日子为止。』(使徒行传 1:2) 如果我们真相信『圣经都是神所默示的，…』(提摩太后书  3:16)，就不会把圣经话打折扣，知道我们应该遵行。耶稣道成肉身在地上的时候，是完全顺服父借著圣灵而被带领的。顺服不是说一个命令一个动作，如果是这样，当初神造人时选择造一个机器人就可以了。我们看到了耶稣是『…成为人的样式。』(腓立比书 2:7)，所以祂也和我们一样有情感，有自由意志，等等。但就像祂在客西马尼园的祷告一样，当祂和父的意思不同时，祂会说，『…不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。』(马太福音 26:39)  祂预先就知道自己会上十字架， 因为在变化山上，耶稣的面貌改变了，衣服洁白放光。『他们(摩西、以利亚)在荣光里显现，谈论耶稣去世的事，就是他在耶路撒冷将要成的事。』(路加福音 9:30-31)  作为一个人，祂仍是这样的祷告是多么的不容易！但『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) 『…用自己的血，只一次进入圣所，成了永远赎罪的事。』(希伯来书 9:12)  祂是甘心情愿的顺服，所以会说，『惟有基督在我们还作罪人的时候为我们死，神的爱就在此向我们显明了。』(罗马书 5:8)  所以是耶稣取代了我们钉上了十字架受(罪的)刑罚，(宝)血洗净了我们的罪，因而给了世人一个机会。『神使那无罪的(耶稣)，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)  完成了神的公义。 我们也看到了神用的是回授的策略，对回授的策略不很清楚的人，我们可以用开车来解释，在开车中，我们因眼睛回授的看见，能够保持我们在该行的车道上。同样的，我们每一个人都有自由意志，有机会决定信或不信，神也会因我们的决定而会作出相应的回应。 圣经有很多地方都谈到回授的策略，一个回授策略的经文的例子可以在以西结书中找到：『「恶人若回头离开所作的一切罪恶，谨守我一切的律例，行正直与合理的事，他必定存活，不至死亡。他所犯的一切罪过都不被记念，因所行的义，他必存活。主耶和华说，恶人死亡，岂是我喜悦的吗？不是喜悦他回头离开所行的道存活吗？」「义人若转离义行而作罪孽，照著恶人所行一切可憎的事而行，他岂能存活吗？他所行的一切义都不被记念，他必因所犯的罪、所行的恶死亡。」』(以西结书 18:21-24)  将近启示录的末了时说，『我(约翰)又看见一个白色的大宝座与坐在上面的，从他面前天地都逃避，再无可见之处了。』(启示录 20:11)  这就是所谓的「白色大宝座的审判」，『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)  基督徒的名字都在生命册上，但他们虽然因信称义如经文所说，『所以我们看定了：人称义是因著信，不在乎遵行律法。』(罗马书 3:28)  但仍然要『…都照各人所行的(信心的行为)受审判。』(启示录 20:13)  不要忘记，神很公平，『…多给谁，就向谁多取；多托谁，就向谁多要。』(路加福音 12:48)

[9]  耶稣的国度就是天国，如经文所说，『从那时候，耶稣就传起道来，说：「天国近了，你们应当悔改！」』(马太福音 4:17)  我们也看到悔改的重要。事实上，『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) 我们需要悔改。

[10] 施洗后会有内住的圣灵如这经文所说，『岂不知你们的身子就是圣灵的殿吗？这圣灵是从神而来，住在你们里头的；并且你们不是自己的人，因为你们是重价买来的，所以要在你们的身子上荣耀神。』(哥林多前书 6:19-20) 受洗时会受圣灵的洗，施洗约翰讲得很清楚，『我(施洗约翰)是用水给你们施洗，叫你们悔改；但那在我以后来的，能力比我更大，我就是给他提鞋也不配。他要用圣灵与火给你们施洗。』(马太福音 3:11) 在耶稣和尼哥底母的对话中，祂说，『…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) 祂又说，『…我实实在在地告诉你：人若不是从水和圣灵生的，就不能进神的国。从肉身生的，就是肉身；从灵生的，就是灵。』(约翰福音 3:5-6) 没有内住的圣灵怎么会有生命？没有圣灵的洗怎么会有内住的圣灵？内住的圣灵从那里来的？从上面来的。也就是说我们是灵生的，我们出生时是从肉身生的，信了以后真是重新从圣灵生了，这就是重生。

[11] 『因为他(神)预先所知道的人，就预先定下效法(模成, be conformed to)他儿子的模样(image)，使他儿子在许多弟兄中作长子。』(罗马书 8:29)

[12] 因为『我们如今仿佛对著镜子观看，模糊不清，到那时，就要面对面了。…』(哥林多前书 13:12)  面对神的面的那时，我们看见了，怎么会再需要信和望呢？所以能存到永远的爱是最大的。

[13] 例如在旧约中说，『凡有气息的，都要赞美耶和华！你们要赞美耶和华！』(诗篇 150:6)  我们看到大卫有诗歌的敬拜，因『大卫吩咐利未人的族长，派他们歌唱的弟兄用琴瑟和钹作乐，欢欢喜喜地大声歌颂。』(历代志上 15:16)  诗歌敬拜很显然的是赞美的一个方式。新约中的例子如，『有声音从宝座出来说：「神的众仆人哪，凡敬畏他的，无论大小，都要赞美我们的神。」』(启示录 19:5)

[14] 『五旬节到了，门徒都聚集在一处。忽然，从天上有响声下来，好像一阵大风吹过，充满了他们所坐的屋子；又有舌头如火焰显现出来，分开落在他们各人头上。他们就都被圣灵充满，按著圣灵所赐的口才说起别国的话来。我们…都听见他们用我们的乡谈，讲说神的大作为。』(使徒行传 2:1-11)  『他们天天同心合意恒切地在殿里，且在家中擘饼，存著欢喜、诚实的心用饭，赞美神，得众民的喜爱。…』(使徒行传 2:46-47)  基督徒不是有谢饭的习惯吗？我们刚才不是分享过我们现在就可在基督里过一个常常喜乐的生活吗？有人不是做见证，即使在痛苦中也可胜过痛苦而喜乐吗？不是在人前装作的喜乐的模样，而是真正看到了保罗说的，『我正在两难之间，情愿离世与基督同在，因为这是好得无比的。』(腓立比书 1:23)

[15]  耶稣做了我们受洗的榜样很清楚的记载在这里，『当下，耶稣从加利利来到约旦河，见了约翰，要受他的洗。约翰想要拦住他，说：「我当受你的洗，你反倒上我这里来吗？」耶稣回答说：「你暂且许我，因为我们理当这样尽诸般的义。」于是约翰许了他。耶稣受了洗，随即从水里上来。天忽然为他开了，他就看见神的灵仿佛鸽子降下，落在他身上。从天上有声音说：「这是我的爱子，我所喜悦的。」』(马太福音 3:13-17)  也许这是一个好地方看看耶稣做的其他的一件事情，可以化解一件因一些教会的行为所引起的误解，也就是一些非基督徒认为基督教是要强迫人信基督教。正好相反，我们看看耶稣怎么做就知道不是这样了！『耶稣出来行路的时候，有一个人跑来，跪在他面前，问他说：「良善的夫子，我当做甚么事才可以承受永生？」…他对耶稣说：「夫子，这一切(诫命)我从小都遵守了。」耶稣看著他，就爱他，对他说：「你还缺少一件，去变卖你所有的，分给穷人，就必有财宝在天上；你还要来跟从我。」他听见这话，脸上就变了色，忧忧愁愁地走了，因为他的产业很多。…门徒希奇他(耶稣)的话。耶稣又对他们说：「小子，倚靠钱财的人进神的国是何等地难哪！」』(马可福音 10:17-24) 你看耶稣告诉了他，邀请了他，虽是爱他，祂更知道人有自由意志，没有任何勉强的让他自己去做最后的决定。我们试著使人对基督教有正确的了解，我们尊重个人的决定，即使有人坚持要在错误的了解中作决定，这也是自由意志。在过程中，我们学到了相当多，因为神是无限，而人是有限，我们只能看到祂让我们看到的。是的，我们有大使命的命令，『所以，你们要去，使万民作我的门徒，奉父、子、圣灵的名给他们施洗。』(马太福音 28:19) 怎么样「使」呢？有机会的时候一定要传道，甚至于『务要传道！无论得时不得时，总要专心，并用百般的忍耐，各样的教训，责备人，警戒人，劝勉人。』(提摩太后书 4:2) 但只是光说是没有用的，一定要以身作则，「使」非信徒羡慕你的好行为而想去同样行，你的好行为也自然的「使」他们想做门徒了！

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

序:  這篇文章是同時為基督徒和非基督徒而寫的，因為看到一些教會不是照聖經去教導，因此決定寫這篇文章。對非基督徒而言，不是勸他們立刻成為基督徒，因為我們深知這不是一篇文章能做到的，就像『亞基帕對保羅說：「你想少微一勸，便叫我作基督徒啊？」』(使徒行傳 26:28) 所以我們的動機是希望、按照聖經而有正確的認識後才做決定。這篇文章分為七個部分。第一，從「基督徒稱號的開始」中，我們看到了基督徒是有基督耶穌的生命的一群人(門徒)。第二，在「基督教不是人為的宗教」中，我們闡述了為什麼說基督教不是勸人為善的人為的宗教，看到了善行只是信心的自然結果，基督徒有從內到外的生命的改變，不要本末倒置。第三，在「人性本惡，每人都需要救恩」中，我們談到了人性本惡及其來由，看見了每一個人都需要救恩，也看到了聖經說的罪是指不順服神，不是像一些人以為只有不遵守法律像殺人放火等等的才是罪。第四，在「道成肉身是因神愛世人」中，看到耶穌(道)取代了我們釘上了十字架，受罪(死)的刑罰，(寶)血洗淨了我們的罪，給了世人一個機會。我們每一個人都有自由意志，有機會決定信或不信，神也會因我們的決定而會作出相應的回應。第五，我們看到了「信而受洗進入耶穌的國度」，也就是天國。第六，在「信望愛並禱告及讚美的生活」中，我們談到了在信以後至終要過一個和世界「分別為聖(潔)」的生活，一個信望愛並禱告及讚美的生活，並描述了一個實際上可以達到的生活。第七，在「臨死前的真信絕對有效，但有機會時該受洗」中，我們由聖經的例子中看到，能真信不會有太晚的時候。

          因為一些名詞對基督徒而言是理所當然的，對非基督徒而言可能是新的，所以需要解釋。如果基督徒會在此時覺得過份的囉嗦，就請把這解釋當作為來確認這名詞是否這樣的意義吧！如非基徒能假設「聖經的話是對的」，應該可以看得懂這篇文章的涵意，因為邏輯上沒有問題。至於最終能不能接受這假設成為事實，就端看個人了！有些人只想快快的知道基督徒信些什麼，有些人想要知道信仰的背後是否有聖經的根據，因為基督徒相信新舊約『…都是神所默示的，…』(提摩太後書  3:16) [1]  為了兼顧個人的興趣不同，我們採取了折衷的寫法，就是在本文中儘可能的不引用經文，讓前者能一氣呵成，讀得順利，而將背後的經文放在參考中，使後者可以自由的選擇有興趣或有疑問的經文。除非像剛才引用的經文，提摩太後書 3:16 的經文正好可以溶入本文中，就不放在參考中了！對有些基督徒而言，有些參考已不屬於簡介了！因聖經有各種不同的譯本，我們都是引用通用的和合本。 

1. 基督徒稱號的開始

    經文說，『…門徒稱為基督徒是從安提阿起首。』(使徒行傳 11:26) 我們看到了那稱為「大使命」的，是耶穌親自命令我們的 [2]。 安提阿是一個外邦的城，不是猶太人的城，從大使命中可看出，『凡我所吩咐你們的，都教訓他們遵守，我就常(總是)與你們同在，直到世界的末了。』(馬太福音28:20)    他們顯然是遵行了教訓，連外邦人都覺得他們有基督的生命，稱他們為基督徒。所以基督徒是有基督耶穌的生命的一群人，信而受洗， 並有主總是與他們同在的應許。

 2.  基督教不是人為的宗教

               常常有人以為基督教是敬拜人創造的一位神，我們就討論這問題。首先，我們知道基督徒會查考聖經，我們就看到耶穌自己說查考聖經的目的是要得生命，生命只能從神來 [3]。在這點上，神是有絕對主權的，『因他對摩西說：「我要憐憫誰，就憐憫誰；要恩待誰，就恩待誰。」』(羅馬書 9:15)

           簡言之，基督徒有生命的改變。聖經明說，『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) 所以老我(就是指肉體)只配一死，但基督徒深深相信：『聖經都是神所默示的，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) 有真信心自然會有信心的行為，更有得著更豐盛的生命的應許  [4]。這些信心的行為都是善的，所以說基督教不是勸人為善的人為的宗教，善行只是信心的自然結果，基督徒有從內到外的生命的改變，不要本末倒置。基督教是以神為本聚集的門徒，不論人相信或不相信，神總是存在那裏。

3.  人性本惡，每人都需要救恩

              關於人性本惡這一點，我們看小孩不必學就會撒謊就可以知道了，所以人性本善的教導是絕對錯誤的。簡言之，人出生時就天生有罪，是罪人，我們犯罪是因為我們本是罪人，不是我們有犯罪的行為才成為罪人。為什麼會是這樣呢？是因為人從亞當夏娃開始就有真正的自由意志，可以選擇不順服神。我們先看神給亞當的命令是很清楚的不淮吃分別善惡樹上的果子 [5]。我們也看到了夏娃在伊甸園中被那(古)蛇引誘的結果是，『…摘下果子來吃了；又給她丈夫(亞當)，她丈夫也吃了。』（創世記 3:6)  是夏娃先被引誘沒錯，但亞當顯然是明知故犯，不順服神的話，從此亞當被罪玷污了，因此經文說，『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) [6]

         經文說，『亞當活到一百三十歲，生了一個兒子，形像樣式和自己相似…』(創世記 5:3)    這就和遺傳類似，我們的子孫也是和我們相似，我們是從亞當被罪玷污後來到這世界的，是生來就帶有罪的，我們的子孫也是出生時就有罪的。所以人性本惡，每一個人都需要救恩。聖經說的罪是指不順神 [7]，神說不可殺人，殺人的就不順服神，犯了罪。神說不可說謊，說謊就是不順服神，犯了罪。諸如此類等等。

4. 道成肉身是因神愛世人

           約翰福音關於「道成肉身」說得很清楚，『神愛世人，甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們，叫一切信他的，不至滅亡，反得永生。因為神差他的兒子降世，不是要定世人的罪，乃是要叫世人因他得救。』(約翰福音 3:16-17)  人有自由意志，絕對可以選擇信或不信，但我們要知道信與不信的區別: 『信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已經定了，因為他不信神獨生子的名。』(約翰福音 3:18) 在最後的啓示錄更說到，『若有人名字沒記在生命冊上，他就被扔在火湖裏。』(啓示錄 20:15)  這是指不信的非基督徒。 『惟有基督在我們還作罪人的時候為我們死，神的愛就在此向我們顯明了。』(羅馬書 5:8) 所以是耶穌取代了我們釘上了十字架受(罪的)刑罰，(寶)血洗淨了我們的罪  [8]。

5. 信而受洗進入耶穌的國度

             罪是從撒但來的，人被罪玷污後，原本出生時就已在撒但的國度裏。聖經說只有兩個國度，就是耶穌的國度和撒但的國度，所以一定要信而進入耶穌的國度。耶穌的國度就是天國 [9]，一開始信的時候，神就『…救了我們脫離黑暗的權勢，把我們遷到他愛子(耶穌)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)  所以一定要在基督裏。我們再一次强調，要去那裏，是我們自由意志的選擇的結果。

6. 信望愛並禱告及讚美的生活

            「信」後至終要過一個和世界「分別為聖」的生活，一個「信望愛」並「禱告」及「讚美」的生活，走上成聖(潔)之路。譬如說，我們的價值觀和看見在這時會變得和以前不一樣了。「信」了以後會受聖靈和水的洗，會有內住的聖靈 [10]。大使命中的應許是真實的，三位一體的神的耶穌是以三位一體的神的聖靈的形式內住在我們裏面。

       我們一定要在基督裏，因為是耶穌取代了我們，我們要模成耶穌的形像(image) [11]。這就猶如有人用一張紙夾在書中的例子所說的一樣，書在那裏，那張紙就在那裏。神所看到的是無罪的基督，我們在基督裏，在神眼中也是無罪的，就是所謂的「地位上已成聖」，成聖之路是要在經歷中不要從基督裏滑出來，一直能在基督裏，『因為神本性一切的豐盛，都有形有體地居住在基督裏面。』(歌羅西書 2:9)

             信了以後可以「禱告」，其實信前也可以禱告，至少可以求能賜下一顆相信的心。保羅的禱告就是信後禱告的一個例子：『求我們主耶穌基督的神，榮耀的父，將那賜人智慧和啓示的靈賞給你們，使你們真知道他。』(以弗所書 1:17)  信了以後有盼「望」，盼望耶穌再來的應許實現。 這應許就像經文所說的，『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 14:3)  一般的禱告也盼望事情可以成就，但要知道神有絕對的主權，有沒有回應在祂，有沒有應許也在祂。即使應許，成就的時間也在祂手上，因凡事有定時。信了以後也有了神的「愛」，『…因為所賜給我們的聖靈將神的愛澆灌在我們心裏。』(羅馬書 5:5) 『如今常存的有信，有望，有愛；這三樣，其中最大的是愛。』(哥林多前書 13:13) 是三者都要有，只是愛最大 [12]。

            我們現在可以過的生活是，『要常常喜樂，不住地禱告，凡事謝恩，因為這是神在基督耶穌裏向你們所定的旨意。』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:16-18) 在基督裏，這是一定可以做到的。看到聖靈在我們身上今日做的，怎麼會不凡事謝恩呢？我們怎麼不會甘心情願的讚美神呢？關於讚美的經文，新舊約都有不少 [13]。讚美要甘心情願的，要從心發出，神看的是內心，不是看外表，聖經說得很清楚，『你要保守你心，勝過保守一切，因為一生的果效，是由心發出。』(箴言 4:23)  我們看看教會在五旬節誕生後的情景，知道早期的教會是在讚美中過的，我們也該如此行 [14]。 一個信望愛並禱告及讚美的生活，是每一個人都可以過的，即使是一個人中過風只能躺在床上，那一件事不可以做呢？

7. 臨死前的真信絕對有效，但有機會時該受洗

             在這最後一部份，我們討論一下常常在宣教時會遇到的一個問題，就是我只要信，死前受洗或不受洗有什麼關係？絕對是有關係的！第一，我們為什麼不有機會就受洗，早些享受更豐盛的生命呢？第二，我們不知何時會死，說不定還來不及受洗就死了呢？關於第二點，如果是真信，最後一分鐘也絕對有效，也跟本不必受水洗了，看犯人的例子就知道了。

       經文說，和耶穌同釘十字架的有兩個犯人，『那同釘的兩個犯人，其中一個『說：「耶穌啊，你得國降臨的時候，求你記念我！」耶穌對他說：「我實在告訴你：今日你要同我在樂園裏了。」』(路加福音 23:39-43) 我們看到那犯人相信了耶穌是基督，並且有信心的行為去要求耶穌記念他，顯然的，他沒受水洗就去樂園了。所以到底該不該受洗，聖經說我們是該受洗，因為信而受洗，大使命也說的很清楚要受洗，且耶穌又作我們受洗的榜樣 [15]。雖然在特殊的情況下不受水洗是可以的，但我們不能用犯人的例子作藉口不受洗，該問的是，我們的情況是不是和真信的犯人的情況相似？這顯然包括了沒有機會受洗，且要知道他雖是基督徒，罪被赦免，仍然要付出人間的代價。

參考:

[1]  基督徒相信新舊約『…都是神所默示的，…』(提摩太後書 3:16) 有人可能會說，當保羅寫這書信時，只有新約的一部份存在，因如啓示錄跟本就還沒有寫，他那句話是指舊約，的確是這樣，但在信心中，基督徒相信新舊約都是神所默示的，所以基督徒是需要信心的。所以我們雖是人，不把聖經的話打折扣，仍可以從神(聖經)的角度看一些事情。反過來說是不對的，因為神是無限而聖經的字句有限，有限的不會等於無限的，所以讀聖經的時候不可隨便用等號，要不，人為的創造了一個非聖經所說的神，自己都會不知道！我們要特別強調的一點，就是我們引用經文，不是在斷章取義，而是從整本聖經裏看到的概念，引用的經文只是用來顯示，聖經的確是有這樣的說法，通常是的許多例子中的一個例子而已。舉個例子來說，聖經所說的神是「三位一體」的神，「三位一體」就是說只有一體神但有三位。聖經說得很清楚，聖父被稱為耶和華的是神，聖子耶穌基督是神，聖靈也是神，所以這三位是聖父、聖子、和聖靈。關於一體，經文說，『…耶和華(單數)我們神(複數)是獨一的主。』(申命記  6:4)  神用的是複數，因為三位都是神。我們看到「三位一體」是絕對可能的，在常壓下，「水」的溫度不同會存在三個不同的狀態，就是冰、水蒸氣、和普通講的水，但這些都只是一個「水」。當然這不能完全解釋三位一體的概念，因為神是三個位格而不是三個狀態，對人而言，「三位一體」是個奧秘，但基督徒相信神是「三位一體」的神。關於耶和華是神，『 摩西對神說：「我到以色列人那裏，對他們說：『你們祖宗的神打發我到你們這裏來。』他們若問我說：『他叫甚麼名字？』我要對他們說甚麼呢？」神對摩西說：「我是自有永有的。」又說：「你要對以色列人這樣說：『那自有的打發我到你們這裏來。』」』(出埃及記 3:13-14) 關於耶穌基督是神，經文說，『他們是以色列人，那兒子的名分、榮耀、諸約、律法、禮儀、應許，都是他們的。列祖就是他們的祖宗，按肉體說，基督也是從他們出來的，他是在萬有之上，永遠可稱頌的神。阿們！』(羅馬書 9:4-5) 關於聖靈是神，『彼得說：「亞拿尼亞，為甚麼撒但充滿了你的心，叫你欺哄聖靈，把田地的價銀私自留下幾分呢？田地還沒有賣，不是你自己的嗎？既賣了，價銀不是你作主嗎？你怎麼心裏起這意念呢？你不是欺哄人，是欺哄神了！」』(使徒行傳 5:3-4)

[2]  「大使命」是耶穌親自命令我們的，『耶穌進前來，對他們說：「天上地下所有的權柄都賜給我了。所以，你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒，奉父、子、聖靈的名給他們施洗。凡我所吩咐你們的，都教訓他們遵守，我就常(總是, always)與你們同在，直到世界的末了。」』(馬太福音 28:18-20)   我們看到了保羅在行大使命時，是非常的有效，因為經文說，『他(巴拿巴)又往大數去找掃羅(保羅)，找着了，就帶他到安提阿去。他們足有一年的工夫和教會一同聚集，教訓了許多人。門徒稱為基督徒是從安提阿起首。』(使徒行傳 11:25-26) 從神的角度看只有一個教會，不是指在地上的建築物的教堂所聚會的人，而是不論這群人中的每個人所在的物理位置在那裏 。關於只有一個教會這件事，這經文很清楚，『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)  這一點保羅非常清楚，經文說：『所以，你們因信基督耶穌，都是神的兒子。你們受洗歸入基督的，都是披戴基督了。』(加拉太書  3:26-27)  所以也要「信而受洗」。我們知道耶穌是父的獨生子，因經文說， 『道成了肉身，住在我們中間，充充滿滿地有恩典，有真理。我們也見過他的榮光，正是父獨生子的榮光。』(約翰福音 1:14)  那麼信耶穌的人都是神的兒子到底是什麼意思呢？我們信耶穌後，都成為法律上有效的養子了，所以我們看到這些經文是沒有任何衝突的。從神的角度看和從人的角度看有時是很不相同的，譬如說，我們看到了有些教會沒有讓主耶穌居首位，猶如在啓示録第三章十七節中提到的老底嘉教會一樣，從人的角度看，『你說：我是富足，已經發了財，一樣都不缺。』但從神的角度看，『卻不知道你是那困苦、可憐、貧窮、瞎眼、赤身的。』我們看到了兩者的看法是這麼的不同！猶有勝者，聖經明說，『看哪，我(耶穌)站在門外叩門，若有聽見我聲音就開門的，我要進到他那裏去，我與他，他與我一同坐席。』(啓示錄 3:20)  老底嘉的教會把耶穌關在了門外而不自知，還以為自己什麼都有！當不同的時候，我們應該『不要消滅聖靈的感動，』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:19)  要相信，『耶和華說：「我的意念非同你們的意念，我的道路非同你們的道路。天怎樣高過地，照樣，我的道路高過你們的道路，我的意念高過你們的意念。』(以賽亞書 55:8-9) 

 [3] 耶穌自己說：『你們查考聖經，因你們以為內中有永生；給我(耶穌)作見證的就是這經。然而你們不肯到我這裏來得生命。』(約翰福音 5:39-40)  我們也看到得生命的重要性，『…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。人若賺得全世界，賠上自己的生命，有甚麼益處呢？人還能拿甚麼換生命呢？』(馬太福音 16:24-26)   在我們甘心情願的查考聖經，知道了神藉著聖經要告訴我們什麼後，就知道我們是可以得著生命的。經文說，『我(保羅)栽種了，亞波羅澆灌了，惟有神叫他生長。可見栽種的算不得甚麼，澆灌的也算不得甚麼，只在那叫他生長的神。』(哥林多前書 3:6-7)  所以生命只能從神來。

[4] 『這樣，信心若沒有行為就是死的。』(雅各書 2:17)  就如經文所應許的，基督徒會得到更豐盛的生命，『我(耶穌)就是門，凡從我進來的，必然得救，並且出入得草吃。盜賊(就是撒但, 又叫魔鬼, 古蛇，參啓示錄 20:2)來，無非要偷竊、殺害、毀壞；我來了，是要叫羊(就是我們)得生命，並且得的更豐盛。』(約翰福音 10:9-10) 耶穌是唯一的門，經過耶穌這唯一的門得救的，雖然『…仇敵魔鬼，如同吼叫的獅子，遍地遊行，尋找可吞吃的人。』(彼得前書 5:8) 在我們「謹守、警醒」下，「用堅固的信心抵擋牠」，就可以勝過牠。(參彼得前書 5:8-9)

[5] 『耶和華神吩咐他(亞當)說：「(伊甸)園中各樣樹上的果子，你可以隨意吃，只是分別善惡樹上的果子，你不可吃，因為你吃的日子(同一天)必定死。」』(創世記 2:16-17) 所以命令沒有直接給夏娃。因為那時只有亞當和夏娃兩人，所以從夏娃被蛇引誘的經文中看到，她是由亞當那兒不很清楚的知道這命令的。我們看經文就知道這點，『女人(夏娃)對蛇說：「園中樹上的果子，我們可以吃；惟有園當中那棵樹上的果子，神曾說：『你們不可吃，也不可摸，免得你們死。』」』(創世記 3:2-3)  神並沒有說，『也不可摸』。

[6]  所以亞當本是可永遠活著的，因為『耶和華神說：「…現在恐怕他伸手又摘生命樹的果子吃，就永遠活着。」』(創世記 3:22)  人被罪玷污一段時間後的情景是：『耶和華見人在地上罪惡很大，終日所思想的盡都是惡。』(創世記 6:5)  所以人被罪玷污而又不死是件很可怕的事情，這也就說明了雖然是神愛世人，仍是人人都有一死。

[7]  基於聖經的話和邏輯，我們說的罪的定義是不順神，這可以從下述的立論看出。也就是我們要証明罪等於不順服。首先從經文看， 『這就如罪是從一人(亞當)入了世界，…』，這是因為亞當的不順服，所以不順服意味著罪。要兩者相等，我們還需要反過來証明罪意味著不順服神，或著我們証明其邏輯上相等的敘述，就是順服神意味著沒有罪。神有絕對的主權，順服神絕對不是犯罪，所以這敍述是真的。邏輯上的結論，就是罪等於不順服神。我們再看其他的佐証，耶穌來地上的一個目的是在這經文中:『你們知道主曾顯現，是要除掉人的罪，在他並沒有罪。』(約翰一書 3:5) 祂怎麼除罪？就是順服，如經文所說，『…成為人的樣式。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 2:7-8) 所以祂在客西馬尼園這樣的禱告，『…我父啊，倘若可行，求你叫這杯離開我；然而，不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。』(馬太福音 26:39) 祂一生都順服神，就像經文所說，『父怎樣吩咐我，我就怎樣行。…』(約翰福音 14:31) 祂的順服就除掉了罪，難道罪不是不順服嗎？這是一個爭議的話題，因此我們最後再看看罪是從那裏來的？首先罪不是神所創造的，因『各樣美善的恩賜和各樣全備的賞賜都是從上頭來的，從眾光之父那裏降下來的；在他並沒有改變，也沒有轉動的影兒。』(雅各書 1:17) 我們再看看一些和撒但相關的經文，『明亮之星，早晨之子啊！(撒但)你何竟從天墜落？你這攻敗列國的，何竟被砍倒在地上？你心裏曾說：「我要升到天上！我要高舉我的寶座在神眾星以上；我要坐在聚會的山上，在北方的極處；我要升到高雲之上，我要與至上者同等。」』(以賽亞書 14:12-14) 當初撒但被創造的時候的確是明亮之星，早晨之子。但你看後來牠是何等的驕傲啊！神創造了牠，牠本在神之下，牠卻想要與至上者同等。且牠因驕傲而有了行動，不順服神而變成了仇敵，這就是牠的罪，而罪也就藉著亞當的不順服進入了世界。簡言之，罪的起源是在不順服神。

[8]  真信不只是口中說相信，會從心裏真知道而行道，就像經文所說，『只是你們要行道，不要單單聽道，自己欺哄自己。』(雅各書 1:22)  耶穌道成肉身在地上的時候，是完全順服父藉著聖靈而帶領的，這點經文說得很清楚，『…父怎樣吩咐我，我就怎樣行。…』(約翰福音 14:31)  至於是藉著聖靈而帶領的這事，我們可從祂選擇十二使徒上看出來，『直到他藉着聖靈吩咐所揀選的使徒，以後被接上升的日子為止。』(使徒行傳 1:2) 如果我們真相信『聖經都是神所默示的，…』(提摩太後書  3:16)，就不會把聖經話打折扣，知道我們應該遵行。耶穌道成肉身在地上的時候，是完全順服父藉著聖靈而被帶領的。順服不是說一個命令一個動作，如果是這樣，當初神造人時選擇造一個機器人就可以了。我們看到了耶穌是『…成為人的樣式。』(腓立比書 2:7)，所以祂也和我們一樣有情感，有自由意志，等等。但就像祂在客西馬尼園的禱告一樣，當祂和父的意思不同時，祂會說，『…不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。』(馬太福音 26:39)  祂預先就知道自己會上十字架， 因為在變化山上，耶穌的面貌改變了，衣服潔白放光。『他們(摩西、以利亞)在榮光裏顯現，談論耶穌去世的事，就是他在耶路撒冷將要成的事。』(路加福音 9:30-31)  作為一個人，祂仍是這樣的禱告是多麼的不容易！但『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) 『…用自己的血，只一次進入聖所，成了永遠贖罪的事。』(希伯來書 9:12)  祂是甘心情願的順服，所以會說，『惟有基督在我們還作罪人的時候為我們死，神的愛就在此向我們顯明了。』(羅馬書 5:8)  所以是耶穌取代了我們釘上了十字架受(罪的)刑罰，(寶)血洗淨了我們的罪，因而給了世人一個機會。『神使那無罪的(耶穌)，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)  完成了神的公義。 我們也看到了神用的是回授的策略，對回授的策略不很清楚的人，我們可以用開車來解釋，在開車中，我們因眼睛回授的看見，能夠保持我們在該行的車道上。同樣的，我們每一個人都有自由意志，有機會決定信或不信，神也會因我們的決定而會作出相應的回應。 聖經有很多地方都談到回授的策略，一個回授策略的經文的例子可以在以西結書中找到：『「惡人若回頭離開所作的一切罪惡，謹守我一切的律例，行正直與合理的事，他必定存活，不至死亡。他所犯的一切罪過都不被記念，因所行的義，他必存活。主耶和華說，惡人死亡，豈是我喜悅的嗎？不是喜悅他回頭離開所行的道存活嗎？」「義人若轉離義行而作罪孽，照着惡人所行一切可憎的事而行，他豈能存活嗎？他所行的一切義都不被記念，他必因所犯的罪、所行的惡死亡。」』(以西結書 18:21-24)  將近啓示錄的末了時說，『我(約翰)又看見一個白色的大寶座與坐在上面的，從他面前天地都逃避，再無可見之處了。』(啓示錄 20:11)  這就是所謂的「白色大寶座的審判」，『若有人名字沒記在生命冊上，他就被扔在火湖裏。』(啓示錄 20:15)  基督徒的名字都在生命册上，但他們雖然因信稱義如經文所說，『所以我們看定了：人稱義是因着信，不在乎遵行律法。』(羅馬書 3:28)  但仍然要『…都照各人所行的(信心的行為)受審判。』(啓示錄 20:13)  不要忘記，神很公平，『…多給誰，就向誰多取；多託誰，就向誰多要。』(路加福音 12:48)

[9]  耶穌的國度就是天國，如經文所說，『從那時候，耶穌就傳起道來，說：「天國近了，你們應當悔改！」』(馬太福音 4:17)  我們也看到悔改的重要。事實上，『我們若認自己的罪，神是信實的，是公義的，必要赦免我們的罪，洗淨我們一切的不義。』(約翰一書 1:9) 我們需要悔改。

[10] 施洗後會有內住的聖靈如這經文所說，『豈不知你們的身子就是聖靈的殿嗎？這聖靈是從神而來，住在你們裏頭的；並且你們不是自己的人，因為你們是重價買來的，所以要在你們的身子上榮耀神。』(哥林多前書 6:19-20) 受洗時會受聖靈的洗，施洗約翰講得很清楚，『我(施洗約翰)是用水給你們施洗，叫你們悔改；但那在我以後來的，能力比我更大，我就是給他提鞋也不配。他要用聖靈與火給你們施洗。』(馬太福音 3:11) 在耶穌和尼哥底母的對話中，祂說，『…我實實在在地告訴你：人若不重生，就不能見神的國。』(約翰福音 3:3) 祂又說，『…我實實在在地告訴你：人若不是從水和聖靈生的，就不能進神的國。從肉身生的，就是肉身；從靈生的，就是靈。』(約翰福音 3:5-6) 沒有內住的聖靈怎麼會有生命？沒有聖靈的洗怎麼會有內住的聖靈？內住的聖靈從那裏來的？從上面來的。也就是說我們是靈生的，我們出生時是從肉身生的，信了以後真是重新從聖靈生了，這就是重生。

[11] 『因為他(神)預先所知道的人，就預先定下效法(模成, be conformed to)他兒子的模樣(image)，使他兒子在許多弟兄中作長子。』(羅馬書 8:29) 

[12] 因為『我們如今彷彿對着鏡子觀看，模糊不清，到那時，就要面對面了。…』(哥林多前書 13:12)  面對神的面的那時，我們看見了，怎麼會再需要信和望呢？所以能存到永遠的愛是最大的。

[13] 例如在舊約中說，『凡有氣息的，都要讚美耶和華！你們要讚美耶和華！』(詩篇 150:6)  我們看到大衞有詩歌的敬拜，因『大衞吩咐利未人的族長，派他們歌唱的弟兄用琴瑟和鈸作樂，歡歡喜喜地大聲歌頌。』(歷代志上 15:16)  詩歌敬拜很顯然的是讚美的一個方式。新約中的例子如，『有聲音從寶座出來說：「神的眾僕人哪，凡敬畏他的，無論大小，都要讚美我們的神。」』(啓示錄 19:5)

[14] 『五旬節到了，門徒都聚集在一處。忽然，從天上有響聲下來，好像一陣大風吹過，充滿了他們所坐的屋子；又有舌頭如火焰顯現出來，分開落在他們各人頭上。他們就都被聖靈充滿，按着聖靈所賜的口才說起別國的話來。我們…都聽見他們用我們的鄉談，講說神的大作為。』(使徒行傳 2:1-11)  『他們天天同心合意恆切地在殿裏，且在家中擘餅，存着歡喜、誠實的心用飯，讚美神，得眾民的喜愛。…』(使徒行傳 2:46-47)  基督徒不是有謝飯的習慣嗎？我們剛才不是分享過我們現在就可在基督裏過一個常常喜樂的生活嗎？有人不是做見証，即使在痛苦中也可勝過痛苦而喜樂嗎？不是在人前裝作的喜樂的模樣，而是真正看到了保羅說的，『我正在兩難之間，情願離世與基督同在，因為這是好得無比的。』(腓立比書 1:23) 

[15]  耶穌做了我們受洗的榜樣很清楚的記載在這裏，『當下，耶穌從加利利來到約旦河，見了約翰，要受他的洗。約翰想要攔住他，說：「我當受你的洗，你反倒上我這裏來嗎？」耶穌回答說：「你暫且許我，因為我們理當這樣盡諸般的義。」於是約翰許了他。耶穌受了洗，隨即從水裏上來。天忽然為他開了，他就看見神的靈彷彿鴿子降下，落在他身上。從天上有聲音說：「這是我的愛子，我所喜悅的。」』(馬太福音 3:13-17)  也許這是一個好地方看看耶穌做的其他的一件事情，可以化解一件因一些教會的行為所引起的誤解，也就是一些非基督徒認為基督教是要強迫人信基督教。正好相反，我們看看耶穌怎麼做就知道不是這樣了！『耶穌出來行路的時候，有一個人跑來，跪在他面前，問他說：「良善的夫子，我當做甚麼事才可以承受永生？」…他對耶穌說：「夫子，這一切(誡命)我從小都遵守了。」耶穌看着他，就愛他，對他說：「你還缺少一件，去變賣你所有的，分給窮人，就必有財寶在天上；你還要來跟從我。」他聽見這話，臉上就變了色，憂憂愁愁地走了，因為他的產業很多。…門徒希奇他(耶穌)的話。耶穌又對他們說：「小子，倚靠錢財的人進神的國是何等地難哪！」』(馬可福音 10:17-24) 你看耶穌告訴了他，邀請了他，雖是愛他，祂更知道人有自由意志，沒有任何勉強的讓他自己去做最後的決定。我們試著使人對基督教有正確的瞭解，我們尊重個人的決定，即使有人堅持要在錯誤的瞭解中作決定，這也是自由意志。在過程中，我們學到了相當多，因為神是無限，而人是有限，我們只能看到祂讓我們看到的。是的，我們有大使命的命令，『所以，你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒，奉父、子、聖靈的名給他們施洗。』(馬太福音 28:19) 怎麼樣「使」呢？有機會的時候一定要傳道，甚至於『務要傳道！無論得時不得時，總要專心，並用百般的忍耐，各樣的教訓，責備人，警戒人，勸勉人。』(提摩太後書 4:2) 但只是光說是沒有用的，一定要以身作則，「使」非信徒羨慕你的好行為而想去同樣行，你的好行為也自然的「使」他們想做門徒了！

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

Summary: This article is written for both Christians and non-Christians. I decided to write this article because I saw that some churches do not teach according to the Bible.  For non-Christians, it is not to persuade them to become Christians immediately, because we know that this cannot be done in one article, just like “Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.””(Acts 26:28) So our motivation is to hope, to have a correct understanding according to the Bible before making a decision.  This article is divided into seven parts. First, from “The beginning of the title of Christian”, we see that Christians are a group of people (disciples) who have the life of Christ Jesus.  Second, in “Christianity is not a man-made religion”, we explain why Christianity is not a man-made religion that persuades people to do good. We see that good deeds are only the natural result of faith. Christians have life changes from the inside out.   Do not put the cart before the horse.  Third, in “Human Nature is Evil, Everyone Needs Salvation”, we talk about the inherent evil of human nature and its origin, we see that everyone needs salvation, and see that the sin mentioned in the Bible refers to disobedience to God.  It’s not what some people think, that only non-compliance with the law, such as murder and arson, is a crime.  Fourth, in “The Word became flesh because God loved the world”, we saw that Jesus (the Word) was nailed to the cross instead of us, and suffered the penalty of sin (death). The (precious) blood washed away our sins and gave the world a chance.  Each of us has free will and the opportunity to decide whether to believe or not, and God will respond accordingly to our decision.  Fifth, we have seen “Believing and being baptized into the kingdom of Jesus”, which is the kingdom of heaven.  Sixth, in “A Life of Faith, Hope, Love, and Prayer, and Praise”, we talked about that after believing, we will eventually live a life that is “separated (holy) from the world”, a life of faith, hope, love, and prayer, and praise.  And describe a life that is actually attainable.  Seventh, in “True faith before death is absolutely effective, but you should be baptized when you have the opportunity”, we can see from the examples in the Bible that it is never too late to be able to truly believe.

      Some terms that are taken for granted by Christians may be new to non-Christians and they require explanation.  If Christians feel that it is too long-winded at this time, please take this explanation as a way to confirm whether this term has such a meaning!  If non-Christians can assume that “the words of the Bible are correct”, they should be able to understand the meaning of this article, because there is no logical problem.  As for whether you can finally accept this assumption as a fact, it depends on the individual! Some people just want to quickly know what Christians believe, and some people want to know whether there is a biblical basis behind their beliefs, because Christians believe that the Old and New Testaments are “…inspired by God …”(2 Timothy 3:16) [1] In order to take into account different personal interests, we have adopted a compromise in our writing method, that is, we try not to quote scriptures in the main text, so that the former can be completed in one go and be read smoothly, while the scriptures behind are placed in the references, so that the latter can freely select the texts of interest or doubt.  Unless, like the passage just quoted, the passage from 2 Timothy 3:16 fits right into the text, it should not be included in the references!  For some Christians, some references don’t belong in the introduction anymore. Because there are various translations of the Bible, we all refer to the New American Standard Bible (NASB).

1. The beginning of the Christian title

The scriptures say, “…the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”(Acts 11:26) We see what is called the Great Commission, commanded by Jesus himself [2].  Antioch is a Gentile city, not a Jewish city. It can be seen from the Great Commission, “teaching them to observe all that I (Jesus) commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”(Matthew 28:20) They obviously obeyed the teaching, and even the Gentiles felt that they had the life of Christ and called them Christians.  So Christians are a group of people who have the life of Christ Jesus, believe and are baptized, and have the promise that the Lord will always be with them.

2. Christianity is not a man-made religion

Some people think that Christianity worships a God created by man, so let’s discuss this issue.  First of all, we know that Christians will study the Bible, and we see that Jesus Himself said that the purpose of studying the Bible is to have life, and life can only come from God [3].  In this regard, God is absolutely sovereign, “For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.””(Romans 9:15)

In short, Christians are transformed in their lives.  The Bible clearly 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) So the old self (referring to the flesh) is only worthy of death, but Christians deeply believe: “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”(2 Timothy 3:16-17) If you have true faith, you will naturally have acts of faith, and you will have the promise of a more abundant life [4].  These acts of faith are all good, so Christianity is not a man-made religion that persuades people to do good. Good deeds are only the natural result of faith. Christians have life changes from the inside out, so don’t put the cart before the horse.  Christianity gathers disciples based on God. Whether people believe it or not, God always exists there.

3. Human nature is inherently evil, everyone needs salvation

Regarding the fact that human nature is inherently evil, we can see that children can tell lies without having to learn to do so, so teaching that human nature is inherently good is absolutely wrong.  In short, people are inherently sinful when they are born, and we are sinners. We sin because we are sinners. We do not become sinners because of our sinful behavior.  Why is this so?  It is because people have had free will since Adam and Eve, and they can choose not to obey God.  Let’s first look at God’s command to Adam, which is very clear not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil [5].  We also see the result of Eve being seduced by the (ancient) serpent in the Garden of Eden, “…she (Eve) took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband (Adam) with her, and he ate.”(Genesis 3:6) It is true that Eve was first tempted, but Adam obviously committed the crime knowingly and disobeyed the word of God. “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) [6]

The scriptures say, “When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, …”(Genesis 5:3) This is similar to heredity, our descendants are also like us, we are those who came into this world after Adam was polluted by sin were born with sin, and our descendants are also born with sin.  Therefore, human nature is inherently evil, and everyone needs salvation.  The sin mentioned in the Bible refers to disobedience to God [7]. God says not to kill, and the murderer disobeys God and commits a sin.  God says not to lie, to lie is to disobey God and commit a sin and so on and so forth.

4. God became flesh because God loves the world

The Gospel of John says very clearly about the “incarnation”, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”(John 3:16-17) People have free will and can absolutely choose to believe or not to believe, but we must know the difference between believing and not believing: “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”(John 3:18) In the last book of Revelation, it is said, “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”(Revelation 20:15) This refers to unbelieving non-Christians. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”(Romans 5:8) So it was Jesus who took our place on the cross and took the (sin) punishment, and the (precious) blood washed away our sins [8].

5. Believing and being baptized into the kingdom of Jesus

Sin comes from Satan. After being defiled by sin, man was originally born in the kingdom of Satan.  The Bible says that there are only two kingdoms, the kingdom of Jesus and the kingdom of Satan, so we must believe and enter the kingdom of Jesus.  The kingdom of Jesus is the kingdom of heaven [9]. When we first believed, God “…rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”(Colossians 1:13-14) So be sure to be in Christ.  We emphasize once again that going there is the result of our own free choice.

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

After “belief”, one must eventually live a life of “separation from the world”, a life of “faith, hope, love”, and “prayer” and “praise”, and embark on the road to holiness (sanctification).  For example, our values ​​and perceptions at this time will become different from before.  After you “believe”, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit and water, and you will have the indwelling Holy Spirit [10].  The promise in the Great Commission is true, that Jesus of the Trinity always lives with us in the form of the Holy Spirit.

We must be in Christ, because Jesus has replaced us, and we must be conformed to the image of Jesus [11].  This is just like someone said with the example of a piece of paper clipped into a book, where the book is, the paper is there.  What God sees is the sinless Christ, and we are sinless in the eyes of God in Christ, which is the so-called “positional sanctification”.  The way to sanctification is to stay in Christ, “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.”(Colossians 2:9) You can “pray” after you believe. In fact, you can also pray before you believe. At least you can ask for a believing heart.  Paul’s prayer is an example of a post-letter prayer: “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) After believing, there is hope, hope that the promise of Jesus’ return will come true.  This promise is like what the scriptures say, “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 14:3) Ordinary prayers also hope that things can be accomplished, but you must know that God has absolute sovereignty. Whether there is a response depends on Him, and whether there is a promise depends on Him.  Even if it is promised, the time for its fulfillment is in His hands, because there is a time for everything.  After believing, we also 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) “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”(1 Corinthians 13:13) It is necessary to have all three, but love is the greatest [12].

The life we ​​can live now is, “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) In Christ, this is certainly possible.  Seeing what the Holy Spirit is doing to us today, how can we not give thanks in everything?  How can we not praise God willingly?  There are many scriptures about praise in both the Old and New Testaments [13].  Praise must be willing, and it must come from the heart. God looks at the heart, not the outward appearance. The Bible clearly says, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.”(Proverbs 4:23) We look at the scene of the church after Pentecost, and know that the early church lived in praise, and we should do the same [14].  A life of faith, hope, love, prayer, and praise is something everyone can live. Even if a person has a stroke and can only lie in bed, what can’t be done?

7. True faith before death is absolutely valid, but you should be baptized when you have the opportunity

In this last part, we discuss a problem that we often encounter in missionary work, that is, as long as I believe, why does it matter if I am baptized or not before I die?  It is definitely related!  First, why don’t we get baptized and enjoy a more abundant life earlier when we have the opportunity?  Second, we don’t know when we will die, maybe before we are baptized?  Regarding the second point, if it is a true belief, it will definitely be effective at the last minute, and there is no need to be baptized at all. Just look at the example of a criminal.

The scriptures say that there were two criminals who were crucified with Jesus. “One of the criminals …was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.””(Luke 23:39-43) We see that the criminal believed that Jesus is the Christ, and had an act of faith to ask Jesus to remember him. Apparently he went to Paradise without being baptized.  So whether we should be baptized or not, the Bible says that we should be baptized because of faith, and the Great Commission also clearly states that we should be baptized, and Jesus is our model for baptism [15].  Although it is okay not to be baptized under special circumstances, we cannot use the criminal’s example as an excuse not to be baptized. What should be asked is whether our situation is similar to that of the criminal in true faith who did not have the opportunity to be baptized?  And you must know that although he is a Christian and his sins are forgiven, he still has to pay a human price.

References:

[1] Christians believe that the Old and New Testaments are “…inspired by God…”(2 Timothy 3:16) One could say that when Paul wrote this, only a part of the New Testament existed, since for example the book of Revelation hadn’t been written yet, and his words were referring to the Old Testament, which is true, but in faith, Christians believe that both the Old and New Testaments are inspired by God, so Christians need faith. Therefore, even though we are human beings, we can still see things in the aspect of God (the Bible) by without discounting the words of the Bible. The opposite is not true, because God is infinite and the words of the Bible are finite, and the finite is impossible to be equal to the infinite, so when reading the Bible, you should not use the equal sign casually, or you will artificially create a God that is not mentioned in the Bible, without knowing by yourself.  What we want to emphasize is that when we quote the scriptures, we are not taking them out of context, but from the concepts seen in the whole Bible. The scriptures quoted are only used to show that the Bible does have such sayings, usually an example out of many.  For example, the God mentioned in the Bible is a “Trinity” God, even such a word is never mentioned in the Bible. “Trinity” means that there is only one God but three persons.  The Bible clearly states that the Father, who is called Jehovah, is God, the Son, Jesus Christ, is God, and the Holy Spirit is also God, so these three are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Concerning oneness, the text says, “…The Lord (singular) is our God (plural), the Lord is one!”(Deuteronomy 6:4) God uses the plural because all three are God.  We have seen that the “Trinity” is absolutely possible. Under normal pressure, “water” will exist in three different states at different temperatures, namely ice, water vapor, and ordinary water, but these are just one “water”.  Of course, this cannot fully explain the concept of the Trinity, because God is three persons rather than three states. For humans, the “Trinity” is a mystery, but Christians believe that God is a “Trinity” God.  Concerning the fact that Yahweh is God, “Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’””(Exodus 3:13-14) Concerning Jesus Christ as God, the text says, “who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.”(Romans 9:4-5) Concerning the fact that the Holy Spirit is God, “But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.””(Acts 5:3-4)

[2] The “Great Commission” was commanded by Jesus Himself. “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.””(Matthew 28:18-20) We have seen that Paul was very effective in carrying out the Great Commission, because the scriptures say, “And he (Barnabas) left for Tarsus to look for Saul (Paul); and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”(Acts 11:25-26) From God’s point of view there is only one Church, not referring to the people who gather in the church of buildings on the earth, but regardless where the physical location of each person in this group is. Concerning the fact that there is only one Church, the text is clear, “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.””(Matthew 18:20) Paul is very clear in this point, as the scriptures say: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”(Galatians 3:26-27) So we must also “believe and be baptized”.  We know that Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Father because the scriptures say, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”(John 1:14) So what does it mean that those who believe in Jesus are the sons of God?  After we believed in Jesus, we became legally valid adopted sons, so we see that there is no conflict in these scriptures.  From the perspective of God and from the perspective of man, sometimes it is very different. For example, we have seen that some churches did not put the Lord Jesus first, just like the church in Laodicea mentioned in Revelation 3.17.   From a human point of view, “Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing.” In the viewpoint of God, “and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked ” We saw how different the two views are!  On top p of that, the church in Laodicea really shut Jesus out without realizing it, and thought they had everything! The Bible clearly says, “Behold, I (Jesus) stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”(Revelation 3:20) When these two views are different, we should “Do not quench the Spirit “(1 Thessalonians 5:19) and believe, ““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)

[3] Jesus himself said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me (Jesus); and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.”(John 5:39-40) We also see the importance of life, “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. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”(Matthew 16:24-26) After we willingly search the Bible and know what God is telling us through the Bible, we know that we can have life. The scripture says, “I (Paul) planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.”(1 Corinthians 3:6-7) Therefore Life can only come from God.

[4] “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.”(James 2:17) As the scriptures promise, Christians will have a more abundant life, “I (Jesus) am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief (that is, Satan, also called the devil, the ancient serpent, see Revelation 20:2) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:9-10) Jesus is the only door, through which Jesus is the only door to be saved, although “…Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”(1 Peter 5:8) We can overcome it if we “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert” and “resist him, firm in your faith”. (See 1 Peter 5:8-9)

[5] “The Lord God commanded the man (Adam), saying, “From any tree of the garden (of Eden) you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day (on the same day) that you eat from it you will surely die.”” (Genesis 2:16-17) So the command was not given directly to Eve.  Because there were only Adam and Eve at that time, we can see from the scriptures that Eve was tempted by a snake, she did not know this order clearly from Adam.  We know this by reading the scriptures, “The woman (Eve) said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’””(Genesis 3:2-3) God did not say, “You shall not touch either”.

[6] So Adam could have lived forever, because “Then the Lord God said, …and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.”(Genesis 3:22) After a period of time when man was defiled by sin, the scene was: “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”(Genesis 6:5) Therefore, it is a terrible thing for people to be polluted by sin without dying. This also shows that although God loves the world, everyone is mortal.

[7] Based on the words and logic of the Bible, the definition of sin we are talking about is disobedience to God, which can be seen from the following arguments.  That is, we are to prove that sin equals disobedience.  First of all, from the scriptures, “Therefore, just as through one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, …”(Romans 5:12), this is because of Adam’s disobedience, so disobedience means sin.  For the two to be equal, we also need to prove the other way around that sin means disobedience to God, or we need to prove the logically equivalent statement that obedience to God means no sin.  God is absolutely sovereign, and obedience to God is absolutely not a sin, so this statement is true.  The logical conclusion is that sin equals disobedience to God.  Let’s look at other evidences. One of the purposes of Jesus’ coming to earth is in this scripture: “You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.”(1 John 3:5) How does He take away sin?  It is obedience, as the scriptures say, “…but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”(Philippians 2:7-8) So He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, “…My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”(Matthew 26:39) He obeyed God all his life, as the scriptures say, “…I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. …”(John 14:31) His obedience took away sin. Isn’t sin not disobedience?  This is a controversial topic, so let’s finally look at where does sin come from?  First, sin was not created by God, for “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”(James 1:17) Let’s look at some scriptures related to Satan again, ““How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’” (Isaiah 14:12-14) When Satan was created, he was indeed the star of the morning, the son of the dawn.  But look how proud it is afterwards!  God created it, it was under God, and it wanted to be equal with the Most High.  And it acted out of the pride, disobeyed God and became an enemy, this is its sin, and sin entered the world through Adam’s disobedience.  In short, the origin of sin is disobedience to God.

[8] True faith is not just saying you believe with your mouth, but you will truly know it from your heart and act on it, just like the scriptures say, “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”(James 1:22) When Jesus was incarnated on the earth, He completely obeyed the Father as the scripture says, “…I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. …”(John 14:31) through the leading of the Holy Spirit. As for this leading by the Holy Spirit, we can see it from His choice of the Twelve, “until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen.”(Acts 1:2) If we truly believe that “All Scripture is inspired by God …”(2 Timothy 3:16), we will not discount the words of the Bible, and know that we should obey them.  When Jesus was incarnated on earth, he indeed completely obeyed the Father and was led by the Holy Spirit.  Obedience does not mean an order and an action. If this is the case, God would choose to create a robot when He created man.  We see that Jesus was “…being made in the likeness of men,” (Philippians 2:7) so He also has emotions like us, free will, etc.  But like his prayer in Gethsemane, when He and the Father didn’t agree in a viewpoint, He would say, “…My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39) He knew in advance that He would go to the cross, because on the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus’ face was changed and His clothes became white and shining. “…they (Moses and Elijah) were …appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.”(Luke 9:30-31) As a human being, how difficult it is for Him to still pray like this!  But “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) “…through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”(Hebrews 9:12) He obeyed willingly, so it would say, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”(Romans 5:8) So it was Jesus who took our place on the cross and took the (sin) punishment. The (precious) blood washed away our sins, thus giving the world a chance. “He (God) made Him (Jesus) 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) By this way, it completed the justice of God.  We have also seen that God uses the strategy of feedback. For those who are not very clear about the strategy of feedback, we can explain it by driving a car. While driving, we can maintain our position in the road because of the feedback we see with our eyes. Similarly, each of us has free will and the opportunity to decide whether to believe or not, and God will respond accordingly to our decision.  There are many places in the Bible that talk about the strategy of feedback. An example of scriptures that use the strategy of feedback can be found in the book of Ezekiel: ““But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live. Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live? “But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die.”(Ezekiel 18:21-24) Near the end of the book of Revelation it says, “Then I (John) saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.”(Revelation 20:11) This is the so-called “Judgment of the Great White Throne”, “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”(Revelation 20:15) The names of Christians are all written in the book of life, but although they are justified by faith as the scriptures say, “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.”(Romans 3:28) But still, “…and the dead were judged …according to their deeds (works out of faith).”(Revelation 20:12) Don’t forget that God is 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)

[9] The kingdom of Jesus is the kingdom of heaven, as the scriptures say, “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”” (Matthew 4:17) We also see the importance of repentance.  In fact, “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 need to repent.

[10] After baptism, there will be the indwelling Holy Spirit. As this scripture says, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”(1 Corinthians 6:19-20) When you are baptized, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist made it very clear, “As for me, I (John the Baptist) baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”(Matthew 3:11) In the dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus, “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) He also said, “…“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”(John 3:5-6) How can there be life without the indwelling Holy Spirit?  How can there be the indwelling Holy Spirit without the baptism of the Holy Spirit?  Where does the indwelling Holy Spirit come from?  From above.  That is to say, we are born of the Spirit. We were born of the flesh when we were born. After we believe, we are really born again of the Holy Spirit. This is rebirth.

[11] “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)

[12] Because “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face;  …” (1 Corinthians 13:12) When we face the face of God, we see it, so why do we need faith and hope?  So the love that can last forever is the greatest.

[13] For example, in the Old Testament it is said, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!”(Psalm 150:6) We see that David worshiped in song, for “Then David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives the singers, with instruments of music, harps, lyres, loud-sounding cymbals, to raise sounds of joy.”(1 Chronicles 15:16) Song worship is obviously a form of praise.  Examples in the New Testament are, “And a voice came from the throne, saying,  “Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.””(Revelation 19:5)

[14] “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. …we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.””(Acts 2:1-11) “Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. …”(Acts 2:46-47) Don’t Christians have the habit of giving thanks for meals?  Didn’t we just share that we can live a life of constant joy in Christ right now?  Has anyone not testified that even in pain there is joy over pain?  It’s not a feigned joy in front of people, but one really saw what Paul said, “But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better.”(Philippians 1:23)

[15] It is clearly recorded here that Jesus set an example for our baptism, “Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him. After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.””(Matthew 3:13-17) Perhaps this is a good place to look at one other thing Jesus did that would unravel an misunderstanding caused by the behavior of some churches, that is, some non-Christians think that Christianity is to force people to believe in Christian religion.  On the contrary, if we look at what Jesus did, we will know that this is not the case.  “As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” … And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things (commandments) from my youth up.” Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property. …The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!”(Mark 10:17-24) You see, Jesus told him and invited him, although he loved him, He knows that man has free will, and is not to persuade him to make the final decision which was made by himself.  We are trying to make people have a correct understanding of Christianity, and we respect individual decisions, even if someone insists on making a decision in a wrong understanding, this is free will.  In the process, we learn quite a lot, because God is infinite and man is finite, and we can only see what He lets us see.  Yes, we have the command of the Great Commission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”(Matthew 28:19) How do you “make” someone be a disciple?  When you have the opportunity, you must preach, and even “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.”(2 Timothy 4:2) But it’s useless to just talk about it. You must set an example and “make” unbelievers envy your good deeds and want to do the same. Your good deeds will naturally “make” them ‘I want to be a disciple!’

(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，经文告诉我们要敬畏神，不要怕撒但，并举麻雀和头发为例，说到神的怜悯和恩典。第二，我们看到了圣灵会教导我们如何说话，强调不可亵渎圣灵。第三是要积财宝在天，不要把属灵和属世的事混在一起。第四，信心不是自信，是基于神的话和应许，神会成就我们需用的一切东西。我们用例子来说明要先求衪的国和衪的义，我们是要甘心情愿和神同工的。譬如，新约的奉献只要求要甘心情愿，爱主的人会量力而为，主动想要神家不要缺粮，不是再要遵行旧约的十分之一的律法。

1. 不要怕撒但，要敬畏神       

     「这时，有几万人聚集，甚至彼此践踏。耶稣开讲，先对门徒说：「你们要防备法利赛人的酵，就是假冒为善。掩盖的事，没有不露出来的；隐藏的事，没有不被人知道的。因此，你们在暗中所说的，将要在明处被人听见；在内室附耳所说的，将要在房上被人宣扬。「我的朋友，我对你们说：那杀身体以后不能再做甚么的，不要怕他们。我要指示你们当怕的是谁，当怕那杀了以后又有权柄丢在地狱里的。我实在告诉你们：正要怕他。五个麻雀不是卖二分银子吗？但在神面前，一个也不忘记；就是你们的头发，也都被数过了。不要惧怕，你们比许多麻雀还贵重！」」(路加福音 12:1-7)       

     我们已经讨论过灯和隐藏的事，就不多讨论了。简而言之，就是要防备法利赛人的教训，他们能说不能做，即使做也是做给人看的，不是从心中发出。不论是坏事或生命中发出的好事，都是不能隐藏的。我们就看第二段对我的朋友说的，我以前以为那杀身体的是说撒但，因此要怕撒但，但撒但只能杀身体，不能再做甚么如杀灵魂，只有神能做，所以应该是说要敬畏神，且接著就以头发和麻雀为例，说到神的怜悯和恩典。

2. 圣灵会教导我们如何说话       

     「「我又告诉你们：凡在人面前认我的，人子在神的使者面前也必认他；在人面前不认我的，人子在神的使者面前也必不认他。凡说话干犯人子的，还可得赦免；惟独亵渎圣灵的，总不得赦免。「人带你们到会堂，并官府和有权柄的人面前，不要思虑怎么分诉，说甚么话，因为正在那时候，圣灵要指教你们当说的话。」」(路加福音 12:8-12)        #####最前面基本是说，「信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已经定了，因为他不信神独生子的名。」(约翰福音 3:18) 中间是一致的强调说，「所以我告诉你们：人一切的罪和亵渎的话，都可得赦免；惟独亵渎圣灵，总不得赦免。凡说话干犯人子的，还可得赦免；惟独说话干犯圣灵的，今世、来世总不得赦免。」(马太福音 12:31-32) 绝对不要明知故犯的亵渎圣经。最后一段很清楚的说到，圣灵会教导我们如何说话。

3. 当积财宝在天       

     「众人中有一个人对耶稣说：「夫子，请你吩咐我的兄长和我分开家业。」耶稣说：「你这个人！谁立我作你们断事的官，给你们分家业呢？」于是对众人说：「你们要谨慎自守，免去一切的贪心，因为人的生命不在乎家道丰富。」就用比喻对他们说：「有一个财主田产丰盛，自己心里思想说：『我的出产没有地方收藏，怎么办呢？』「又说：『我要这么办：要把我的仓房拆了，另盖更大的，在那里好收藏我一切的粮食和财物，然后要对我的(灵)魂说：(灵)魂哪，你有许多财物积存，可作多年的费用，只管安安逸逸地吃喝快乐吧！』「神却对他说：『无知的人哪，今夜必要你的(灵)魂，你所预备的要归谁呢？』「凡为自己积财，在神面前却不富足的，也是这样。」」(路加福音 12:13-21)       

     世人有断事的官，为什么要找耶稣呢！不要把属灵的事和属世的事混为一谈。「因为审判教外的人与我何干？教内的人岂不是你们审判的吗？」(哥林多前书 5:12) 「岂不知圣徒要审判世界吗？若世界为你们所审，难道你们不配审判这最小的事吗？岂不知我们要审判天使吗？何况今生的事呢！」(哥林多前书 6:2-3) 后者讲到要谨慎自守，很清楚的用比喻说要积财在天，「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) 请注意，这里说到为什么不要积财宝在地上的原因，是因为要我们的心顾念天上的事，我们会因此而生命改变的，价值观会改变的，生不带来，死不带去。有人说亚伯拉罕不是很富有吗？的确是的，但他不是积财宝在地上，他是有神的祝福。我们不能像成功哲学告诉别人一样，说只要信耶稣一定成功，这是不真实的，只有神有绝对的主权，我们不能这样骗人！       

     「你们这小群，不要惧怕，因为你们的父乐意把国赐给你们。你们要变卖所有的赒济人，为自己预备永不坏的钱囊，用不尽的财宝在天上，就是贼不能近、虫不能蛀的地方。因为，你们的财宝在哪里，你们的心也在那里。」(路加福音 12:32-34) 所以不要「…在这末世只知积攒钱财。」(雅各书 5:3) 基督徒的确是世上的小群。变卖所有的赒济人不是按照字面去做，像俄国文豪托尔斯泰般的想要把自己的财产分给穷人，其实杯水车薪也无济于事，但要由心发出，量力而为。有人做见证说，一位姊妹成为寡妇时，想处理掉手上一大笔的财产，在祷告中，她知道神没有叫她这么做，就把这笔财产留下，去支持了许多和福音有关的活动，她留下的财产所能做的，比当时如果处理掉财产能做的事更多！再举个实际的例子，如果我们在路上遇到衣衫褴褛的人要钱，到底我们是该给或是不该给呢？怎么确定这人是需要食物或是要买酒喝呢？有人就想出一个可行的方法，请那人去吃一顿饭再决定，至少也尽了力。真的要看我们如何使用地上的财宝，看我们的心如何。亚伯拉罕不是有许多地上的财富吗？我们要依智慧行事，不是遵行律法。

4. 要先求神的国和神的义       

     「耶稣又对门徒说：「所以我告诉你们：不要为生命忧虑吃甚么，为身体忧虑穿甚么；因为生命胜于饮食，身体胜于衣裳。你想，乌鸦也不种也不收，又没有仓又没有库，神尚且养活牠。你们比飞鸟是何等地贵重呢！你们哪一个能用思虑使寿数多加一刻呢？这最小的事，你们尚且不能做，为甚么还忧虑其余的事呢？「你想，百合花怎么长起来？它也不劳苦，也不纺线。然而我告诉你们：就是所罗门极荣华的时候，他所穿戴的，还不如这花一朵呢！你们这小信的人哪，野地里的草今天还在，明天就丢在炉里，神还给它这样的妆饰，何况你们呢！你们不要求吃甚么，喝甚么，也不要挂心，这都是外邦人所求的。你们必须用这些东西，你们的父是知道的。你们只要求他的国，这些东西就必加给你们了。」」(路加福音 12:22-31)    

     不是说吃食物不重要，而要知道我们活著不是单靠食物，更重要的是生命，身体和衣裳的对比也是说到这点。所有的例子都告诉我们不要忧虑，实在是忧虑没有任何的好处！以百合花为例，假花总是不如真花，大自然是最美好的，即使人看为不起眼的小草，仍有这样的妆饰，何况人是这么贵重呢！真的，不要做小信的人，要先求神的国和神的义。天父不是不知道我们需要食物，主祷文不是教导我们求赐给我们今日日用的食粮吗？但不要如外邦人祈求般的还要挂心，要将一切交给神，知道祂必会供应。让神坐在宝座上安排一切事情，而不是让神在祷告中听我们的，自己想做神，本末倒置，而是要和神同工。       

     马太福音 6:24-34 基本上也说到同样的事情。「一个人不能事奉两个主。不是恶这个爱那个，就是重这个轻那个。你们不能又事奉神，又事奉玛门。…你们哪一个能用思虑使寿数多加一刻呢？…你们需用的这一切东西，你们的天父是知道的。你们要先求他的国和他的义，这些东西都要加给你们了。所以，不要为明天忧虑，因为明天自有明天的忧虑；一天的难处一天当就够了。」     #####真是每天都可能会有不同且不可控制的难处，即然是不能控制的到来，这样忧虑又能改变什么呢？只是说来容易做起来难，我们从下面的例子看到的确是可以做到的。信心不是自信，是基于神的话和应许，神会成就我们需用的一切东西。以乔治慕勒(George Miller)为例，在邦妮哈里(Bonnie Harrey)所写他的传记中，提到他所创立的孤儿院时，说到有一次吃晚餐前没有粮食，他没告诉同工只为这件事祷告，适时就有人捐来食物。我们强调，从这例子也可看到为神的国和神的义求是可以的，只是不要挂心。而且要知道，在耶稣受试探时，「耶稣却回答说：「经上记著说：『人活著，不是单靠食物，乃是靠神口里所出的一切话。』」」(马太福音 4:4) 所以还是要吃东西，只是不是单靠食物。    

     旧约说得很清楚， 「你因敌人的缘故，从婴孩和吃奶的口中建立了能力，使仇敌和报仇的闭口无言。」(诗篇 8:2) ，从摩西建会幕时，就只收甘心情愿的奉献(参出埃及记 25:2)，所以在新约时代更是要甘心情愿和神同工的。举个例子来说，旧约订了至少要有十一奉献的律法(参玛拉基书 3:8)，如果在旧约时代每个人如此心甘情愿的遵行，神家不会缺粮。旧约是影子，新约是实体，论到奉献，在新约时代，受到耶稣称赞的只有寡妇甘心情愿的奉献两个小钱(参马可福音 12:41-44)，没有祂最恨法利赛人只行律法条文的律法。简言之，新约的奉献只是要求要甘心情愿，爱主的人会量力而为，主动想要神家不要缺粮，有不少这样的人会有超过十分之一的奉献，不是再要遵行旧约的十分之一的律法，因此我不太了解为什么有些教会今日还倡导十分之一的规定。

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

       首先，經文告訴我們要敬畏神，不要怕撒但，並舉麻雀和頭髮為例，說到神的憐憫和恩典。第二，我們看到了聖靈會教導我們如何說話，强調不可褻瀆聖靈。第三是要積財寶在天，不要把屬靈和屬世的事混在一起。第四，信心不是自信，是基於神的話和應許，神會成就我們需用的一切東西。我們用例子來說明要先求衪的國和衪的義，我們是要甘心情願和神同工的。譬如，新約的奉獻只要求要甘心情願，愛主的人會量力而為，主動想要神家不要缺糧，不是再要遵行舊約的十分之一的律法。

1. 不要怕撒但，要敬畏神

       「這時，有幾萬人聚集，甚至彼此踐踏。耶穌開講，先對門徒說：「你們要防備法利賽人的酵，就是假冒為善。掩蓋的事，沒有不露出來的；隱藏的事，沒有不被人知道的。因此，你們在暗中所說的，將要在明處被人聽見；在內室附耳所說的，將要在房上被人宣揚。「我的朋友，我對你們說：那殺身體以後不能再做甚麼的，不要怕他們。我要指示你們當怕的是誰，當怕那殺了以後又有權柄丟在地獄裏的。我實在告訴你們：正要怕他。五個麻雀不是賣二分銀子嗎？但在神面前，一個也不忘記；就是你們的頭髮，也都被數過了。不要懼怕，你們比許多麻雀還貴重！」」(路加福音 12:1-7)

       我們已經討論過燈和隱藏的事，就不多討論了。簡而言之，就是要防備法利賽人的教訓，他們能說不能做，即使做也是做給人看的，不是從心中發出。不論是壞事或生命中發出的好事，都是不能隱藏的。我們就看第二段對我的朋友說的，我以前以為那殺身體的是說撒但，因此要怕撒但，但撒但衹能殺身體，不能再做甚麼如殺靈魂，只有神能做，所以應該是說要敬畏神，且接著就以頭髮和麻雀為例，說到神的憐憫和恩典。

2. 聖靈會教導我們如何說話

       「「我又告訴你們：凡在人面前認我的，人子在神的使者面前也必認他；在人面前不認我的，人子在神的使者面前也必不認他。凡說話干犯人子的，還可得赦免；惟獨褻瀆聖靈的，總不得赦免。「人帶你們到會堂，並官府和有權柄的人面前，不要思慮怎麼分訴，說甚麼話，因為正在那時候，聖靈要指教你們當說的話。」」(路加福音 12:8-12)

       最前面基本是說，「信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已經定了，因為他不信神獨生子的名。」(約翰福音 3:18) 中間是一致的強調說，「所以我告訴你們：人一切的罪和褻瀆的話，都可得赦免；惟獨褻瀆聖靈，總不得赦免。凡說話干犯人子的，還可得赦免；惟獨說話干犯聖靈的，今世、來世總不得赦免。」(馬太福音 12:31-32) 絕對不要明知故犯的褻瀆聖經。最後一段很清楚的說到，聖靈會教導我們如何說話。

3. 當積財寶在天

       「眾人中有一個人對耶穌說：「夫子，請你吩咐我的兄長和我分開家業。」耶穌說：「你這個人！誰立我作你們斷事的官，給你們分家業呢？」於是對眾人說：「你們要謹慎自守，免去一切的貪心，因為人的生命不在乎家道豐富。」就用比喻對他們說：「有一個財主田產豐盛，自己心裏思想說：『我的出產沒有地方收藏，怎麼辦呢？』「又說：『我要這麼辦：要把我的倉房拆了，另蓋更大的，在那裏好收藏我一切的糧食和財物，然後要對我的(靈)魂說：(靈)魂哪，你有許多財物積存，可作多年的費用，只管安安逸逸地吃喝快樂吧！』「神卻對他說：『無知的人哪，今夜必要你的(靈)魂，你所預備的要歸誰呢？』「凡為自己積財，在神面前卻不富足的，也是這樣。」」(路加福音 12:13-21)

       世人有斷事的官，為什麼要找耶穌呢！不要把屬靈的事和屬世的事混為一談。「因為審判教外的人與我何干？教內的人豈不是你們審判的嗎？」(哥林多前書 5:12) 「豈不知聖徒要審判世界嗎？若世界為你們所審，難道你們不配審判這最小的事嗎？豈不知我們要審判天使嗎？何況今生的事呢！」(哥林多前書 6:2-3) 後者講到要謹慎自守，很清楚的用比喻說要積財在天，「不要為自己積攢財寶在地上，地上有蟲子咬，能銹壞，也有賊挖窟窿來偷；只要積攢財寶在天上，天上沒有蟲子咬，不能銹壞，也沒有賊挖窟窿來偷。因為你的財寶在哪裏，你的心也在那裏。」(馬太福音 6:19-21) 請注意，這裏說到為什麼不要積財寶在地上的原因，是因為要我們的心顧念天上的事，我們會因此而生命改變的，價值觀會改變的，生不帶來，死不帶去。有人說亞伯拉罕不是很富有嗎？的確是的，但他不是積財寶在地上，他是有神的祝福。我們不能像成功哲學告訴別人一樣，說只要信耶穌一定成功，這是不真實的，只有神有絕對的主權，我們不能這樣騙人！

       「你們這小羣，不要懼怕，因為你們的父樂意把國賜給你們。你們要變賣所有的賙濟人，為自己預備永不壞的錢囊，用不盡的財寶在天上，就是賊不能近、蟲不能蛀的地方。因為，你們的財寶在哪裏，你們的心也在那裏。」(路加福音 12:32-34) 所以不要「…在這末世只知積攢錢財。」(雅各書 5:3) 基督徒的確是世上的小羣。變賣所有的賙濟人不是按照字面去做，像俄國文豪托爾斯泰般的想要把自己的財產分給窮人，其實杯水車薪也無濟於事，但要由心發出，量力而為。有人做見証說，一位姊妹成為寡婦時，想處理掉手上一大筆的財產，在禱告中，她知道神沒有叫她這麼做，就把這筆財產留下，去支持了許多和福音有關的活動，她留下的財產所能做的，比當時如果處理掉財產能做的事更多！再舉個實際的例子，如果我們在路上遇到衣衫襤褸的人要錢，到底我們是該給或是不該給呢？怎麼確定這人是需要食物或是要買酒喝呢？有人就想出一個可行的方法，請那人去吃一頓飯再決定，至少也儘了力。真的要看我們如何使用地上的財寶，看我們的心如何。亞伯拉罕不是有許多地上的財富嗎？我們要依智慧行事，不是遵行律法。

4. 要先求神的國和神的義

       「耶穌又對門徒說：「所以我告訴你們：不要為生命憂慮吃甚麼，為身體憂慮穿甚麼；因為生命勝於飲食，身體勝於衣裳。你想，烏鴉也不種也不收，又沒有倉又沒有庫，神尚且養活牠。你們比飛鳥是何等地貴重呢！你們哪一個能用思慮使壽數多加一刻呢？這最小的事，你們尚且不能做，為甚麼還憂慮其餘的事呢？「你想，百合花怎麼長起來？它也不勞苦，也不紡線。然而我告訴你們：就是所羅門極榮華的時候，他所穿戴的，還不如這花一朵呢！你們這小信的人哪，野地裏的草今天還在，明天就丟在爐裏，神還給它這樣的妝飾，何況你們呢！你們不要求吃甚麼，喝甚麼，也不要掛心，這都是外邦人所求的。你們必須用這些東西，你們的父是知道的。你們只要求他的國，這些東西就必加給你們了。」」(路加福音 12:22-31)

    不是說吃食物不重要，而要知道我們活著不是單靠食物，更重要的是生命，身體和衣裳的對比也是說到這點。所有的例子都告訴我們不要憂慮，實在是憂慮沒有任何的好處！以百合花為例，假花總是不如真花，大自然是最美好的，即使人看為不起眼的小草，仍有這樣的妝飾，何況人是這麼貴重呢！真的，不要做小信的人，要先求神的國和神的義。天父不是不知道我們需要食物，主禱文不是教導我們求賜給我們今日日用的食糧嗎？但不要如外邦人祈求般的還要掛心，要將一切交給神，知道祂必會供應。讓神坐在寶座上安排一切事情，而不是讓神在禱告中聽我們的，自己想做神，本末倒置，而是要和神同工。

       馬太福音 6:24-34 基本上也說到同樣的事情。「一個人不能事奉兩個主。不是惡這個愛那個，就是重這個輕那個。你們不能又事奉神，又事奉瑪門。…你們哪一個能用思慮使壽數多加一刻呢？…你們需用的這一切東西，你們的天父是知道的。你們要先求他的國和他的義，這些東西都要加給你們了。所以，不要為明天憂慮，因為明天自有明天的憂慮；一天的難處一天當就夠了。」

    真是每天都可能會有不同且不可控制的難處，即然是不能控制的到來，這樣憂慮又能改變什麼呢？只是說來容易做起來難，我們從下面的例子看到的確是可以做到的。信心不是自信，是基於神的話和應許，神會成就我們需用的一切東西。以喬治慕勒(George Miller)為例，在邦妮哈里(Bonnie Harrey)所寫他的傳記中，提到他所創立的孤兒院時，說到有一次吃晚餐前沒有糧食，他沒告訴同工只為這件事禱告，適時就有人捐來食物。我們強調，從這例子也可看到為神的國和神的義求是可以的，衹是不要掛心。而且要知道，在耶穌受試探時，「耶穌卻回答說：「經上記着說：『人活着，不是單靠食物，乃是靠神口裏所出的一切話。』」」(馬太福音 4:4) 所以還是要吃東西，衹是不是單靠食物。 

    舊約說得很清楚， 「你因敵人的緣故，從嬰孩和吃奶的口中建立了能力，使仇敵和報仇的閉口無言。」(詩篇 8:2) ，從摩西建會幕時，就只收甘心情願的奉獻(參出埃及記 25:2)，所以在新約時代更是要甘心情願和神同工的。舉個例子來說，舊約訂了至少要有十一奉獻的律法(參瑪拉基書 3:8)，如果在舊約時代每個人如此心甘情願的遵行，神家不會缺糧。舊約是影子，新約是實體，論到奉獻，在新約時代，受到耶穌稱讚的只有寡婦甘心情願的奉獻兩個小錢(參馬可福音 12:41-44)，沒有祂最恨法利賽人只行律法條文的律法。簡言之，新約的奉獻只是要求要甘心情願，愛主的人會量力而為，主動想要神家不要缺糧，有不少這樣的人會有超過十分之一的奉獻，不是再要遵行舊約的十分之一的律法，因此我不太瞭解為什麼有些教會今日還倡導十分之一的規定。

(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 scriptures tell us to fear God and not be afraid of Satan, and use sparrows and hair as examples to talk about God’s mercy and grace.  Second, we saw that the Holy Spirit will teach us how to speak, emphasizing that the Holy Spirit should not be blasphemed.  The third is to store up treasures in heaven, and not to mix up spiritual and worldly matters.  Fourth, faith is not self-confidence. It is based on God’s words and promises. God will accomplish everything we need.  We use examples to illustrate that we need to seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness. And we must be willing to work together with God.  For example, the offerings in the New Testament era only require willingness, and those who love the Lord will give whatever they could afford, actively wanting that God’s house will not be short of food, and not limiting themselves to giving one-tenth as in the laws of the Old Testament.

1. Do not be afraid of Satan, but fear God

“Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops. “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.”(Luke 12:1-7)

We have already discussed lights and hidden things, so we will not discuss more.  In short, it is to beware of the teachings of the Pharisees. They can say but can’t do it, and even if they do it, they do it for others to see, not truly from their hearts.  Neither the bad thing nor the good behavior that comes out of life can be hidden.  Let’s now look at the second paragraph regarding ‘I say to you.’ I used to think that the one who kills the body is talking about Satan, so be afraid of Satan. But Satan can only kill the body, and can’t do anything else like killing the soul. Only God can.  Thus, it should be said to fear God. Immediately, it uses the hairs and the sparrow as examples, talking about God’s mercy and grace.

2. The Holy Spirit will teach us how to speak

“And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God; but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him. When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”(Luke 12:8-12)

The beginning basically says, “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”(John 3:18) In the middle, it is unanimously emphasized, “Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.”(Matthew 12:31-32) Never knowingly blaspheme the Holy Spirit since such a sin cannot be forgiven.  The last paragraph makes it clear that the Holy Spirit will teach us how to speak.

3. Store up treasures in heaven

“Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.””(Luke 12:13-21)

There are judges in the world, why should they look for Jesus!  Do not mix up spiritual things with worldly things.  “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?”(1 Corinthians 5:12) “Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?”(1 Corinthians 6:2-3) Regarding what said to store up treasures in heaven, “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) Please note that the reason for not storing up treasures on earth is because we need to keep our minds on the things in heaven. By this way, our lives will be changed and our values too.  No one would say that Abraham was not very rich on earth.  But he was not laying up treasures on earth. He had the blessing of God.  We can’t tell others things like the philosophy of success, saying that as long as you believe in Jesus, you will succeed. This is untrue. Only God has absolute authority. We can’t lie to people like this!

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. “Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”(Luke 12:32-34) Christians are indeed a small flock in the world.  “Sell your possessions and give to charity” is not a literal act, like the Russian literary giant Tolstoy who was considering to distribute his property to the poor.  Someone testified that when a sister became a widow, she wanted to dispose of a large amount of wealth in her hands. In prayer, she knew that God did not ask her to do so, so she kept them and use them to support many gospel related activities.  In relation to the activities, the wealth she kept did more than it could have done if it had been disposed of at the time!  To give another practical example, if we meet a ragged person asking for money on the road, should we give it or not?  How do you know if the person needs food or buys alcohol?  Someone came up with a feasible method, invited that person to have a meal before making a decision, at least he tried his best.  It really depends on how we use our earthly treasures and what our hearts are like.  Didn’t Abraham have much earthly riches?  We are to walk in wisdom, not in keeping the law.

4. Seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness

“And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”(Luke 12:22-31)

It’s not that having food is not important, but we must know that we live not only by food, but more importantly, life. The comparison between the body and clothes also refers to this point.  All the examples tell us not to worry, there is no good in worrying!  Take lilies as an example. Fake flowers are always inferior to real flowers. Nature is the most beautiful. Even grass that is considered inconspicuous by people still has such decorations, let alone people who are so precious!  Really, don’t be a person of little faith, but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.  Our Heavenly Father is not ignorant of our need for food. Doesn’t the Lord’s Prayer teach us to ask for our daily bread?  But don’t worry about it like the Gentiles pray, and give everything to God, knowing that He will provide.  Let God sit on the throne and arrange everything, instead of hoping for God to listen to us in prayer, wanting to be God in a way. That is like putting the cart before the horse. We should work together with God instead.

Matthew 6:24-34 basically says the same thing. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

It is true that there may be different and uncontrollable difficulties every day. Since they are uncontrollable, what can be changed by worrying?  Although it’s easier said than done, we can see from the following example that it can actually be done. Faith is not self-confidence, it is based on God’s words and promises, and God will accomplish everything we need.  Take George Miller as an example. In his biography, written by Bonnie Harrey, when referring to the orphanage he founded, he said that once there was no food left before dinner time, he did not tell his co-workers of the problem, but just prayed for this, and someone donated food in due course.  We emphasize that from this example we can also see that it is okay to ask something for the kingdom of God and His righteousness, but don’t worry about it after praying.  And know that when Jesus was tempted, “But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”(Matthew 4:4) So still have to eat, just not by food alone. 

The Old Testament says very clearly, “From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength Because of Your adversaries, To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.”(Psalm 8:2) Thus, only the willingly offerings were received. Actually, it was so from the time Moses built the Tabernacle (see Exodus 25:2), so in the New Testament era, you must be to work together with God willingly.  For example, the Old Testament stipulated that at least tithes should be given (see Malachi 3:8). If everyone obeyed so willingly in the Old Testament era, God’s house would not be short of food.  The Old Testament is a shadow, and the New Testament is the reality. When it comes to offerings, in the New Testament era, only the widow who willingly donated two small coins was praised by Jesus (see Mark 12:41-44). Jesus hated the Pharisees the most, who obeyed only the letter of the law.  In short, the offering in the New Testament era is only required to be willing. People who love the Lord will do whatever they could afford, and actively want God’s house not to be short of food. There are many such people who give more than one-tenth in their offering.  The law of tithes in the Old Testament era is not needed to be followed nowadays. So, I don’t quite understand why some churches still advocate tithes today.

(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.”)