2018-10-20


提摩太前書6:9-12你這屬神的人

聖經歸正教會 主日證道 10/07/2018

前言: 使徒保羅在提前6:3-8論到假教師傳講不純正的教義與不合敬虔的道理,是壞了心術(不敬虔)、喪失了真理(傳異教)。他們是以敬虔為得利的門路,後果是不堪設想。保羅在此也警告一切想要發財的,貪財是萬惡之根,叫人沉淪滅亡。然後醒提摩太與眾信徒「但你這屬神的人」,是與世人截然不同的。真信徒應當追求純正與敬虔,逃避邪惡與貪心。

1. 想要發財的人
(1)「想要」是指有意、願意(3:8;門1:13),「想要發財wanting to be rich」是事奉瑪門、積攢財寶在地上的人(6:19-24),就是想要與世俗為友的人(4:4),貪愛世界的人(約壹2:15)。貪愛錢財的人永不知足,必定受罰(5:10;箴言28:20)
(2)「就陷在迷惑fall into temptation」陷在是指陷入、落入(10:36),迷惑是指試探(6:13;林前12:13;雅1:12)。「迷惑、試探」必使你落入惡者的網羅(3:7;提後2:28)
(3)「和許多無知有害的私慾裡」,私慾lusts是犯罪的情慾(提後2:223:64:3;多2:123:3),私慾勾引誘惑人被試探迷惑,醞釀懷胎生出罪惡的行為,帶來死亡的結果(1:14-15),所以說是「無知foolish有害harmful」。
(4)「叫人沉在敗壞和滅亡中」沉在cause to sink into是指如船沉下淹沒(5:7),私慾叫人沉溺在徹底的毀滅淪亡中。對照「被刺透了」(6:10)

2. 貪財是萬惡之根
(1) 「貪財」是貪愛錢財(提後3:2;路16:14),是萬惡之根源,因為有貪心的就與拜偶像的一樣(5:5)。「有人貪戀錢財」,貪戀原意是longing for指極度渴望、羨慕,正面用法(3:1;來11:16)與負面用法(1:27)的強烈對照。
(2)「就被引誘離了真道」是指被迷惑了(13:22)偏離真道,見1:194:15:86:21。這樣的人在主基督與神的國裡都是無分的(5:5)
(3)「用許多的愁苦把自己刺透了」,愁苦是指傷痛(9:2),這樣的人如此的傷害自己,如同受刺刑。這是拜瑪門、貪戀錢財之人的悲慘結局(6:24)

3. 但你這屬神的人
(1) 「屬神的人」是舊約用以稱呼摩西(33:1;書14:6;詩90:1)、撒母耳(撒上9:1)、大衛(12:24)、眾先知(王上17:18;王下4:7)。提摩太被稱為屬神的人,因為他是神的兒女,受託持守真道,要剛強為真道打美好的仗(1:186:20;提後2:1)。我們每一信徒也稱為是屬神的人,聖經裝備我們行各樣的善事(提後3:16-17),都要為榮耀神而行(林前10:31)
(2)「要逃避這些事」要不斷的逃避continue to flee上述傳異教、不敬虔、自高自大、貪愛錢財等等這些事。參考提後2:22;路3:7;林前6:1810:14,效法約瑟(39:12)
(3) 相反的,要「追求continue to pursue公義、敬虔、信心、愛心、忍耐、溫柔」,追求原意是一心追趕、竭力追求(提後2:22;羅12:13;林前14:1;帖前5:15;腓3:1214;彼前3:11)。正如要脫去舊人、穿上新人(4:20-24),我們要竭力逃避惡事、追求聖潔。
(4) 基督徒是屬神的子民,公義敬虔(1:11;提前3:164:7-86:5-6)是我們的準則職責;信心愛心(1:52:154:11;提後2:22;多2:2)是我們的內在靈命;忍耐溫柔(提後2:25;加523;西3:12;弗4:2)是在處境中的行為見證。 

結論:
1.「你要為真道打那美好的仗continue to fight the good fight of the faith」,打仗原意是運動員努力、軍人爭戰struggle,見4:10努力;西2:1盡心竭力;腓1:30;帖前2:2爭戰;來12:1奔跑。為真道打那美好仗,見1:18-19;提後4:7;林前9:25-27
2.「持定永生lay hold on the eternal life」,見1:16「得永生」;6:19「持定那真正的生命」。持定原意是拉住、拉手(14:31;來8:9),在此是指持守住,對照同義詞「得著lay hold of」,運動員得著所必得的錦標獎賞(林前9:24),竭力追求得著主已經得著我的(3:12)。所以,打美好仗,持定永生 = 操練敬虔,有今生來生的應許(4:18)
3. 「你為此被召into which you were called」,為此永生已經蒙了恩召(8:30;提後1:9;弗4:14;林前1:97:17-24;帖前2:125:24;帖後2:13-14),「也在許多見證人面前,已經作了那美好的見證confessed the good confession」,那美好的見證是指信仰告白基督是主(10:9-10;林前12:3;腓2:11),是包括提摩太的受洗、被按立、傳福音時的公開信仰告白。
4. 你我身為今日的提摩太,都是屬神的人,在「過去」,你已被召且作了那美好的見證;「將來」,你有那美好應許得冠冕;「現在」,你要打那美好的仗。你要向著標竿直跑,要得神在基督裡從上頭召我來得的獎賞(3:13-14)

問題討論:
1. 想要發財是甚麼意思? 想要發財的人是怎樣的人? 是陷落在怎樣的私慾裡?你想不想發財?
2. 貪財是萬惡之根,原因何在? 為何說貪心就是拜偶像呢? 拜偶像會帶來甚麼後果?
3. 「屬神的人」什麼意思? 聖經中用此名稱呼那些人? 保羅為何用此名稱呼提摩太? 你是否也是屬神的人? 有何經文證據?
4. 我們當逃避甚麼? 追求甚麼? 所當追求的六項,彼此之間的關聯為何? 如何從金三角來解釋?
5. 「為真道打仗」是甚麼意思? 為說是美好的仗? 「持定永生」所指為何? 與同義詞「得著」之間的關係,如何解釋?
6. 「為此永生已經被召」有哪些經文說到此事實? 你能根據這些經文來說明麼? 「作了那美好的見證」是指甚麼? 你的過去、將來如何? 現在你當作甚麼?




成為見證人Becoming a Witness

[每日靈修10/20/2018, 駱鴻銘編譯

平信徒參與事工越多,他們就越想加深對神話語的理解。他們越是加深對上帝聖言的理解,就越想把這種理解運用在事工上。

關於當代基督徒的術語,令我感到不安的一件事是對「見證」這個詞的不精確使用。人們常常把「傳福音」(evangelism )和「作見證」(witnessing )這兩個術語互換地使用,就好像它們是同義詞一樣,但其實不是。

一切的「傳福音」都是見證,但不是所有的「見證」都是傳福音。傳福音是一種特定的見證方式。不是每個人都被稱為牧師或教師。不是每個人都蒙召作教會管理或專門的憐憫事奉。不是每個人都蒙召作傳道人(雖然我們都蒙召要將我們的信仰化成言語)。我們都蒙召成為基督的見證人,使祂無形的國度成為有形。我們乃是藉著事奉基督來作見證。我們是藉著成為教會,成為上帝的子民來作見證。

我們當中的一些人可以栽種。有些人可以澆灌。當我們栽種和澆灌時,上帝就會帶來增長。

活在神的面光中(在神面前禱告):
你如何積極地履行你的神聖使命,成為基督的見證人呢?

進一步研讀:
林前三6 我栽種了,亞波羅澆灌了,惟有神叫他生長。
徒一8 但聖靈降臨在你們身上,你們就必得著能力,並要在耶路撒冷、猶太全地,和撒瑪利亞,直到地極,作我的見證。」
路廿四48 你們就是這些事的見證。


Becoming a Witness

The more the laity is involved in ministry, the more they want to deepen their understanding of the Word of God. The more they deepen their understanding of the Word of God, the more they want to put that understanding to work in ministry.

One thing that disturbs me about contemporary Christian jargon is the inexact use of the word witness. Too often people use the terms evangelism and witnessing interchangeably, as if they were synonyms. They are not.

All evangelism is witness, but not all witness is evangelism. Evangelism is a specific type of witnessing. Not everyone is called to be a pastor or teacher. Not everyone is called to administration or specialized ministries of mercy. Not everyone is called to be an evangelist (though we are all called to verbalize our faith). We are all called to be witnesses to Christ, to make His invisible kingdom visible. We witness by doing the ministry of Christ. We witness by being the church, the people of God.

Some of us can plant. Some of us can water. When we plant and water, God will bring an increase.

Coram Deo
How are you actively fulfilling your divine mandate to be a witness for Christ?

Passages for Further Study
1 Corinthians 3:6
Acts 1:8
Luke 24:48


把信仰帶到職場Taking Your Faith to theMarketplace


[每日靈修10/19/2018, 駱鴻銘編譯

我見過一些非凡的平信徒的榜樣,他們把信仰當成事工,把他們的信仰帶到了職場。

查爾斯•寇森(Charles Colson;譯按:美國尼克森總統時期的白宮幕僚,因水門案被判刑兩年)從白宮進了監獄。當他從監獄獲釋時,並沒有被離開他的事工。確實,從他的經驗生出了一個奉基督的名去服事監獄囚犯事工的願景,這個事工如今已經接觸到全美數以萬計的人,向他們傳福音。

一個平信徒韋恩•阿爾德森(Wayne Alderson;譯按:曾擔任一家軋鋼廠的主計長,平息了一場巨大的勞資糾紛)將自己的信仰投入到勞資關係的暴力舞台上。他把這個事工帶到全美,服事企業的公司董事會、礦工、在工會大廳的人。

這份清單也包括了許多涉及到平信徒的事工。沒有平信徒,教會就不會征服古代世界。改教家明白,要實現真正的改革,必須教育、培訓、動員平信徒。馬丁•路德(Martin Luther)在大學請了休假,以便將聖經翻譯成德語——好叫每個信徒都可以親自讀聖經。

約翰•加爾文的《基督教要義》最初是寫給平信徒的指導手冊。喬納森•愛德華茲的許多作品最初是為了幫助他的會眾而創作的,我們知道其中許多人在他們耕田時也在研讀他們的希臘文新約聖經。

活在神的面光中(在神面前禱告):
構想一些方法,試著把基督帶到你工作或專業的職場中。

進一步研讀:
徒八14 從這日起,耶路撒冷的教會大遭逼迫,除了使徒以外,門徒都分散在猶太和撒瑪利亞各處。有虔誠的人把司提反埋葬了,為他捶胸大哭。 掃羅卻殘害教會,進各人的家,拉著男女下在監裡。 那些分散的人往各處去傳道。


Taking Your Faith to the Marketplace

I have seen extraordinary examples of laypeople who have taken their faith to the marketplace in the form of ministry.

Charles Colson went from the White House to prison. When he was released from prison, he was not released from ministry. Indeed, from his experience grew a vision to minister to prison inmates in the name of Christ, a ministry that now reaches tens of thousands of people in virtually every country.

Wayne Alderson, a layman, put his faith to work in the violent arena of labor-management relations. He has taken that ministry around this nation ministering to people in corporate boardrooms, coal mines, and labor union halls.

The list could easily include a multitude of ministries that involve the laity. Without the laity, the church would not have conquered the ancient world. The Reformers understood that for real reformation to happen, the laity had to be educated, trained, and mobilized. Martin Luther took a leave of absence from the university in order to translate the Bible into German—so that every believer could personally read the Scriptures.

John Calvin’s Institutes was originally penned as an instruction manual for the laity. Many of the works of Jonathan Edwards were originally composed for the benefit of his congregation, many of whom were known to be studying their Greek New Testaments while they were plowing their fields.

Coram Deo
Reflect on some ways you can take Christ into the marketplace of your occupation or profession.

Passages for Further Study
Acts 8:1–4


成為你鄰居的基督Being Christ to Your Neighbor

[每日靈修10/18/2018, 駱鴻銘編譯

使徒行傳記載了一個奇怪的現象:「從這日起,耶路撒冷的教會大遭逼迫,除了使徒以外,門徒都分散在猶太和撒瑪利亞各處。....... 那些分散的人往各處去傳(這)道。」(徒八14)。

很明顯,除了使徒領袖之外,所有的信徒都分散到各處。四散的人(整個教會)都在傳講福音真道。

基督徒必須參與教會的事工,每個基督徒都必須努力「成為他鄰舍的基督」。成為你鄰舍的基督,不是要你作鄰舍的主和救主,而是成為你鄰舍的基督的代表。我們要對我們周圍所有的人描繪耶穌的憐憫和事奉。

我們不必成為這樣的志願者:被罪咎所操控或尋找得救的功德。基督已經承擔了我們的罪咎,並提供了我們所需的一切功德。我們需要志願者,因為在祂最小的兄弟中,耶穌是飢餓的,耶穌是口渴的,耶穌是無家可歸的,耶穌是生病的,耶穌是被囚禁的。我們需要的志願者是會在最小弟兄們的苦難中愛耶穌的那種志願者。

活在神的面光中(在神面前禱告):
耶穌會以什麼方式成為你的鄰舍?你為那些飢餓的、口渴的、無家可歸的或被囚禁的人做了什麼?

進一步研讀:
太廿五3540 因為我餓了,你們給我吃,渴了,你們給我喝;我作客旅,你們留我住; 我赤身露體,你們給我穿;我病了、你們看顧我;我在監裡,你們來看我。』義人就回答說:『主啊,我們什麼時候見你餓了,給你吃,渴了,給你喝? 什麼時候見你作客旅,留你住,或是赤身露體,給你穿?又什麼時候見你病了,或是在監裡,來看你呢?』 王要回答說:『我實在告訴你們,這些事你們既做在我這弟兄中一個最小的身上,就是做在我身上了。』

Being Christ to Your Neighbor

The book of Acts records a curious phenomenon: “On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria… . Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went” (8:1, 4, NIV).

It is clear that all of the believers, save the apostolic leaders, were scattered. Those who were scattered (the whole church) went about preaching the Word.

Christians must participate in the ministry of the church, and every Christian must endeavor “to be Christ to his neighbor.” To be Christ to your neighbor is not to be your neighbor’s lord and savior. Rather, it is to be Christ’s representative to your neighbor. We are to represent the mercy and ministry of Jesus to all who are around us.

We do not need volunteers driven by guilty manipulation or looking for merits to be redeemed. Christ has taken our guilt and supplied all the merit we need. We need volunteers because in the least of His brothers, Jesus is hungry, Jesus is thirsty, Jesus is homeless, Jesus is sick, and Jesus is imprisoned. We need volunteers who love Jesus in the afflictions of His least brethren.

Coram Deo
In what ways can you be Jesus to your neighbor? What are you doing for the hungry, thirsty, homeless, or imprisoned?

Passages for Further Study
Matthew 25:35–40


銷滅撒但的火箭Quenching Satan’s Darts

[每日靈修10/17/2018駱鴻銘編譯

撒但是強大的。牠比我們更強大。這就是為什麼我們迫切需要上帝盔甲的原因。但牠雖然強大,卻遠不如上帝強大。這就是為什麼聖經宣稱,在你裏面的(聖靈)比那在世界的(撒但)更大的原因(約翰壹書四4)。撒但的火箭是可以銷滅的;上帝的不行。你可以在撒但面前逃跑;你不能逃離上帝的同在。

我們必須警惕撒但的左拳和右拳。他也善於搏擊。正當我們保護自己避免牠雙手的攻擊時,牠會欺敵並使用牠的雙腳。在這裏,牠的詭計是非常有效的。

撒但的一個特徵是牠的變幻莫測。牠十分狡猾,且具有不可思議的能力,能夠以美善的外表出現。牠可以將自己裝成光明的天使。你在這個世上許多的「薩達姆•海珊」們(譯按:前伊拉克暴君總統)身上,無法找到牠太多的身影。牠不是那麼粗魯。牠看起來像一個聖人,一個美德的典範,等著要引誘你。

牠最重要的手段是欺詐。牠的工作是敵基督,不僅僅是在與基督作對的意義上,而是在尋求代替基督的意義上。

關於撒但的好消息是這樣的:牠註定會滅亡,一小句話就會使牠垮臺。

活在神的面光中(在神面前禱告):
想一想撒但在過去用哪些方法打扮成「光明的天使」而欺騙了你。求神在未來讓你更敏銳地覺察到牠的謊言。

進一步研讀:
弗六1017 我還有末了的話:你們要靠著主,倚賴祂的大能大力作剛強的人。要穿戴神所賜的全副軍裝,就能抵擋魔鬼的詭計。因我們並不是與屬血氣的爭戰(原文作摔跤;下同),乃是與那些執政的、掌權的、管轄這幽暗世界的,以及天空屬靈氣的惡魔爭戰。所以,要拿起神所賜的全副軍裝,好在磨難的日子抵擋仇敵,並且成就了一切,還能站立得住。所以要站穩了,用真理當作帶子束腰,用公義當作護心鏡遮胸, 又用平安的福音當作預備走路的鞋穿在腳上。此外,又拿著信德當作藤牌,可以滅盡那惡者一切的火箭;並戴上救恩的頭盔,拿著聖靈的寶劍,就是神的道;


Quenching Satan’s Darts

Satan is powerful. He is more powerful than we are. That is why we desperately need the armor of God. But as powerful as he is, he is far less powerful than God. That is why the Bible declares that greater is He who is in you (the Holy Spirit) than he who is in the world (Satan) (1 John 4:4). Satan’s darts are quenchable; God’s are not. You can flee the presence of Satan; you cannot flee the presence of God.

We must be wary of Satan’s right and left fists. He is a kick-boxer as well. Just when we shield ourselves from his hands, he cheats and uses his feet. Here his guile is most effective.

One characteristic of Satan is his metamorphic power. He has the cunning and uncanny ability to appear under the auspices of good. He can transform himself into the appearance of an angel of light. You don’t find him so much in the Saddam Husseins of this world. He is not so crass. He appears as a saint, a paragon of virtue, waiting to seduce you.

He is, above all, a fraud. His work is anti-Christ not merely in the sense of working against Christ but in the sense of seeking to act as a substitute for Christ.

The good news about Satan is this: his doom is sure, and one little word will fell him.

 Coram Deo
Think about ways Satan has deceived you in times past as an “angel of light.” Ask God to make you more perceptive to his deception in the future.

Passages for Further Study
Ephesians 6:10-17




Denying Dualism

[每日靈修] 10/16/2018, 未譯

The Devil-as-myth view is Satan’s right-hand punch. If that one doesn’t get you, then watch out for his left hook. The left-hand attack moves the disinformation to the opposite extreme. If Satan can’t get you to ignore him by denying his very existence, he will cunningly lead you to attribute power to him far beyond what he actually possesses. He will seek to persuade you that he is virtually equal to God.

Dualism, as a philosophy and a religion, has vied with Christianity from the beginning. Dualism affirms that the universe is the staging area, the combat zone, for two equal and opposite beings who struggle with each other eternally.

Satan is falsely described in terms of omniscience, omnipresence, and the power to do actual, not merely counterfeit, miracles. He is given attributes orthodox Christianity labels as the incommunicable attributes of God and he is assigned power over nature that rivals the Creator’s.

The Bible teaches that Satan is a finite spiritual being. He is temporal and created. In a word, he is a creature. He is more powerful that we, but he is not omnipotent. He is not immutable, as God is. Indeed, Satan’s mutability is profound. His most obvious mutation is his fall. He was created a good angel. He fell from his original righteousness and is now totally malevolent.

Coram Deo
Have you been attributing power to Satan beyond what the Bible indicates he possesses?

Passages for Further Study
Luke 10:19
Acts 26:17-18
1 John 4:4