98神的國 The Kingdom Of God
作者: 史鮑爾 (R.C. Sproul)
譯者: 姚錦榮
摘自《神學入門》《Essential Truths of the
Christian Faith》259頁, 更新傳道會出版
世界史上出現過許多不同形式的政府，其中最常見的有軍治的獨裁政府、法治的共和政府、民選的民主政府；此外還有兩種君主政體—即君主立憲制(君主的權力受限制）和君主專政制（君主的話就是法律）。
神的國度屬君主專政制，因沒有外在的憲法管制祂，祂不需要先徵得子民的同意才治理他們，祂也不受投票或多數選票的限制。祂的話就是律法，祂的管治是絕對全權的。
對任何君主政體來說，人民君王的尊崇和忠心都極其重要，神的國度更是如此。但人類最根本的罪就是拒絕把神當作神來尊崇（羅 1 : 2 1 )，也不肯向萬王之王效忠。 神的國這個主題貫穿全本新舊約聖經，其重點在於神對祂子民的統治。降世的彌賽亞就是神所膏立的王，祂要成為坐在天上寶座的萬王之王、萬主之主。
舊約聖經指出神國將要降臨，而新約開始時，也有施洗約翰宣告說： 「天國近了。」 （太 3 : 2 ) 聖經用兩種喻象來形容當年的以色列：「斧子已經放在樹根上」（太 3 : 1 0 ) ，及「他手裏拿著簸箕」 （ 太3 : 1 2 )。 這兩個比喻皆顯明神國已非常接近，新約福音所宣告的就是，神的國已介入歷史中，而施洗約翰的宣告：「天國近了」 ，也表明出時間的迫近。
耶穌的訓誨也著重在宣告天國的福音上: 祂說天國已經帶著權柄降臨，並且就在祂的子民當中。耶穌在升天之前，吩咐門徒要往世界各地去為祂作見證，見證耶穌乃是萬王之王。目前耶穌這個身為宇宙萬有之君王的身分，是人眼所看不見的；世人不是忽視就是否認祂的全權，而教會的責任就是要把耶穌看不見的國度顯明出來。
耶穌開展了神的國度，如今祂已坐在天上的寶座。不過，祂又像一個流 亡在外的君王，只有很少的忠心子民相隨。但有一天當祂回來時，祂的掌權便要實現。
新約聖經指出，神的國度既是現在的，也是將來的；這個國度已經降臨，同時又還未完成。基督徒必須同時明白和相信神國的這兩個層面。只認定神的國已完全降臨，或相信這國度只有等到將來才會降臨，都違背了新約聖經的信息。我們所事奉的君王，現已坐在寶座上；但我們仍 要等候祂在榮耀中凱旋歸來， 那時萬膝都要在祂面前下拜。
總結
1 .神的國是由神全權統治。
2 .神國的主題貫穿在整本新舊約聖經中。
3 . 新約聖經宣告，耶穌的顯現和隨後的作王開展了神的國度。
4 . 神的國已經存在，但要等到基督的榮耀再來時才完全實現。
思考經文 :
詩 10 ：16-18；但2 ：44；詩22 ：27- 31；約 18 ：36；來 1 ：8- 14
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
World
history has witnessed a multitude of divergent forms of government. The most
common types have been dictatorships ruled by military strength, republics
ruled by law, democracies ruled by majority vote, and two types of
monarchies—constitutional monarchies (in which the monarch’s powers are
limited) and absolute monarchies (in which the monarch’s word is law).
The
kingdom of God is an absolute monarchy. God has no external constitution to
bind Him. He needs no consent from the governed to rule over them. He is not
limited by referenda or by majority vote. His word is law; His rule is
absolutely sovereign.
In
any monarchy, the virtues of honor and loyalty to the throne are exceedingly
important. There is no monarchy where these elements are more vital than in
God’s kingdom. Yet the fundamental sin of the human race is grounded in our
refusal to honor God as God (Romans 1:21) and in our disloyalty to the King of
Kings.
The
theme of the kingdom of God is a central motif that runs as a thread through
both Old and New Testaments. The theme accents God’s reign over His people. The
coming Messiah is announced as God’s anointed King who will be enthroned in
heaven as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
The
Old Testament points to the kingdom as coming in the future. The New Testament
opens with the announcement of John the Baptist that “the kingdom of heaven is
at hand” (Matthew 3:2). The historical situation is described in images such as
“the ax is laid to the root of the trees” (Matthew 3:10) and “His winnowing fan
is in His hand” (Matthew 3:12), both indicating radical nearness. It was the
breakthrough into history of God’s kingdom that heralded the New Testament
gospel. John’s message that “the King is coming” signaled the urgency of the
times.
The
accent of Jesus’ own preaching also falls on the announcement of the gospel of
the kingdom. He declares that the kingdom has come with power and is in the
midst of His people. At His ascension, Jesus commanded His disciples to be His
witnesses in the world. They are to witness to the reign of Jesus as King of
Kings. Jesus’ current status as cosmic King is invisible. The world is either
ignorant of His sovereignty or denies it. It is the task of the church to give
visible witness to the invisible kingdom.
Jesus
inaugurated the kingdom of God. He has already been enthroned in heaven. But it
is as though He is a King in exile with few loyal subjects. At His return He
will fully consummate His reign.
The
New Testament indicates that the kingdom of God is both present and future.
There is an “already” and a “not yet” to the kingdom. Both aspects must be
understood and embraced by Christians. To view the kingdom either as already
totally realized or as totally futuristic is to do violence to the message of
the New Testament. We serve a King who has already been enthroned. Yet we await
His triumphal return in glory when every knee will bow before Him.
Summary
1.
God’s kingdom is by absolute rule.
2.
The theme of God’s kingdom links the Old and New Testaments.
3.
The New Testament announces the inauguration of the kingdom of God with Jesus’
appearance and subsequent enthronement.
4.
The kingdom of God exists already but will be fully consummated at His glorious
return.
Biblical
passages for reflection:
Psalm
10:16-18 Psalm 22:27-31 Daniel 2:44 John 18:36 Hebrews 1:8-14
