2019-04-28


提摩太後書2:21-22 清心禱告主

聖經歸正教會 主日證道 04/21/2019, 呂沛淵牧師

前言: 選民是稱呼主名的人,就是求告主名的人,總要離開不義(2:19),這樣的人是神家裡的貴重的器皿,有三方面的特徵。在實際生活的操練敬虔,外在要遠避世俗的虛談,內在要逃避少年人的私慾,追求結出屬靈生活的果子(5:22),與清心求告主名的人(離開不義的人)一起在教會中過成聖生活。天國子民應該是清心的人,清心的人有福了,因為他們必得見神(5:8)

1. 如何成為貴重的器皿

(1)「因此therefore (原文有此字),人若自潔,脫離這些(卑賤的事),就必作貴重的器皿」,教會中任何人,只要靠主恩典,潔淨自己,脫離假教師所傳的假教訓(世俗的虛談、偏離真道的言論),就成為貴重的器皿(即無愧的工人)。「潔淨自己」指把舊酵除淨(林前5:7;箴25:4),不要沾染不潔之物(52:11)

(2) 追根究柢,是神使我們成為潔淨(2:14;彼前1:2),使我們被分別為聖(17:17;徒20:32;羅15:16;林前1:2;提前4:5)。我們的責任在於倚靠神的恩典,將肢體獻給義作奴僕,潔淨自己以至於成聖(林後7:1;羅6:1922)

2. 貴重器皿的三要點: 性質、用處、目的

(1) 「成為聖潔having been set apart, sanctified」,完成時態表示,已經成為聖潔且繼續過聖潔生活(12:1;帖前4:34)。聖潔的意義是分別為聖,離俗歸主,舊約背景見創49:26(約瑟是迥別不同);民6:2(拿細耳人的字根)

(2) 「合乎主用useful to the Master」對於主是有用、有益處的。參考馬可對保羅原先是無益處的,後來成為有益處的(13:1315:38;提後4:11);阿尼西母原是對主人腓利門無益處的,如今成為有益處的(11)。對照大戶人家的主人,貴重的器皿是合乎他用的。對照那召我們當兵的元帥,精兵討元帥的喜悅(2:4),對元帥是有用的。我們當像那驢駒,主要用他(21:3)

(3) 「預備行各樣的善事having been prepared unto every good work完成時態表示: 已經且繼續預備好作各樣美善的事工。這是我們蒙拯救的目的(2:10),也是聖經裝備我們的目的(提後3:17),是神子民需要不斷被囑咐的(3:18)。教牧書信中多次提到我們當行善(提前2:105:10;提前6:18;多1:162:7143:14)。所以我們當心裡尊主為聖,隨時預備好回答各人(彼前3:15),行各樣的善事。

3. 逃避少年人的私慾

(1)「你要逃避少年人的私慾」這是預備行各樣的善事的必要條件,保羅在此吩咐提摩太與今日我們: 「你要逃避Keep fleeing」現在式命令句表示要繼續不斷的逃避,逃避指遠離不沾染 (林前6:1810:14;提前6:11)。此處說逃避少年人的私慾the youthful lusts (4:3;提前6:9),因為年輕人血氣方剛,容易被私慾牽引而犯罪(1:14)。逃避私慾就是脫離世上從情慾來的敗壞,與神的性情有分(彼後1:4)

(2) 約瑟逃避主人妻子的引誘(39:12),但以理與三友逃避宮廷的酒肉飲食(1:8-13),都是敬虔生活(逃避私慾)的美好見證。保羅要提摩太效法他的敬虔榜樣,也提醒他凡立志在主裡敬虔度日的,必受逼迫(3:10-12)。其實效法保羅,就是效法主自己(林前11:1),立定心志不從人的情慾(彼前4:1-3,對照4:4-5)

4. 追求公義、信德、仁愛、和平

(1) 屬神的人在消極方面要逃避私慾,積極方面要「追求Keep pursuing」現在命令式,表示要繼續不斷的追求。追求的內容是「義righteousness、信faith、愛love、平安peace」。對照平行經文提前6:11所提的六項,此處提到公義、信心、愛心(1:13),敬虔就是逃避私慾,忍耐、溫柔在提後2:24-25會立刻提及。

(2) 提摩太與今日我們,仍需要被提醒追求聖潔、操練敬虔,並且是與「那清心禱告主的人」(原文作「那以清潔的心clean heart求告主的人」),對照前面說到「凡稱呼主名的人,總要離開不義」(3:19),顯示主的子民(2:10;多2:14;林前1:2)追求公義,過義人的生活(1:17),這些人沒有向巴力屈膝。

(3)「清潔的心」是教牧書信強調的重點(提前1:53:94:125:22;提後1:3;多1:15),也是本段強調的「自潔、成為聖潔」(2:21)。因為我們的心已經被主的寶血洗淨,必得見神(5:8),這是真實的虔誠、從上頭來的智慧、專心一意脫離罪惡、順從真理的結果(1:173:174:8;彼前1:22)

結論:

1. 貴重的器皿是被潔淨而成為聖潔,為主人所使用。如何操練敬虔、成為聖潔貴重的器皿呢? 消極面是要「逃避私慾」,積極面是「追求公義、信德、仁愛、和平」。我們靠主恩典,要成為信徒的榜樣,與他們一起追求敬虔。

2. 這些恩典恩賜是在主基督耶穌裡的(1:13;提前1:14),他是我們的義,信與愛是從他而來,他就是我們的和平(和睦、平安,弗214)。這些恩典都是他藉著十字架受死與復活是給我們的,所以我們要仰望他為我們的信心創始成終(2:12)

問題討論:

1. 何謂「貴重的器皿」,對照卑賤的? 如何才能成為「貴重的器皿」?
2. 貴重的器皿有哪些特點(性質、用處、目的)? 請從三者之一來解釋說明,並且舉出聖經中人物例證
3. 「你要(繼續)逃避…」我們當逃避甚麼? 原因何在? 如何逃避? 請根據經文舉出例證。請回顧自己生活,是否有逃避私慾的經歷? 你學到甚麼功課?
4. 「你要(繼續)追求…」我們當追求甚麼? 原因何在? 如何追求? 請根據經文舉出例證。請回顧過去生活,是否有追求聖潔的經歷? 你學到甚麼功課?
5. 「清心禱告主的人」是指誰? 為何要與他們一起來追求? 我們如何成為「清心」的人? 「禱告主」與2:19有何關連?
6. 「公義、信德、仁愛、和平」這各自所指為何? 有哪些經文根據? 這些恩典恩賜,與我們的主有何關連? 如何指向我們與主耶穌基督的緊密關聯?



2019-04-23


約翰福音三章16節与人選擇上帝的能力John3:16 and Man’s Ability to Choose God

作者: R.C. Sproul  譯者:  Maria Marta

具有諷刺意味的是在同一章且在相同的背景下我們的主教導重生甚至對「見神的國」是絕對必要的更不用說選擇上帝了非改革宗觀點認為他們找到最重要的經文依據證明墮落的人仍保留一個選擇基督之能力的小島。此經文依據就是約翰福音三章16節︰「神愛世人,甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們,叫一切信的,不至滅亡,反得永生。」

這節著名的經文對「關於墮落之人有能力選擇基督」有何教導呢?答案很簡單:沒有。非改革宗人士所用的論據是,經文教導世上所有的人都有能力接受或拒絕基督。然而,仔細查看經文就會發現,它並沒有作出此類教導。聖經的教導是,凡信基督的人都會得救。凡作了A (相信)的,就會得B (永生)。經文沒有,決沒有說誰會相信。它並沒有提及墮落之人與生俱來的道德能力。改革宗人士和非改革宗人士都衷心同意所有相信的人都會得救。但是在對誰有能力相信的問題上存在嚴重分歧。

有些人可能回答: 「好吧。雖然經文沒有明確教導墮落之人未被重生之前就有能力選擇基督,但它確實暗示了這一點。」我甚至不願意承認這節經文有這樣的暗示。然而,即使它暗示了,也不會對辯論產生任何影響。為什麼不會呢?我們的釋經的原則是,從聖經推斷出來的暗示必須始終服從於聖經的明確教導。我們絕對、絕對、絕對不能逆轉,將聖經的明確教導置於聖經可能有的暗示之下。改革宗和非改革宗思想家共用這一原則。

如果約翰福音三章16節暗示墮落之人普遍具有選擇基督的與生俱來的能力,那麼這個暗示就會被耶穌明確、相反的教導抹去。聖經向我們表明耶穌明確無誤的教導是:沒有人有能力來到耶穌面前,除非上帝作工,即吸引他,賜給他這種能力。

墮落的人是屬肉體的。屬肉體的人不能做任何討上帝喜悅的事。保羅說︰「因為以肉體為念就是與神為仇,既不服從 神的律法,也的確不能夠服從; 屬肉體的人不能得神的喜悅。」(羅八7-8;《聖經新譯本》)

那麼,我們問:「誰是『屬肉體』的人呢?」 保羅接著說︰「如果神的靈住在你們心裡,你們就不屬肉體,乃屬聖靈了。人若沒有基督的靈,就不是屬基督的。」(羅八9  這裏的關鍵字是「如果」。屬肉體的人與非屬肉體的人的分別是有聖靈內住。非重生的人沒有一個有聖靈內住。屬肉體的人是未重生的人。除非他們重生在先,即,從聖靈而生,否則他們就不能遵守上帝的律法,也就不能討上帝的喜悅。

上帝命令我們信靠基督。祂喜悅那些選擇基督的人。如果未重生的人能夠選擇基督,那麽他們至少可以服從上帝的其中一項命令,至少能夠做些討上帝的喜悅的事。如果是這樣,那麽使徒在這裏堅持說「那些屬肉體的人既不能服從上帝,也不能討上帝的喜悅」便是個錯誤。

我們的結論是,墮落之人仍然可以自由選擇他所渴望的,但因為他欲望是邪惡的,所以他才缺乏來到基督面前的道德能力。只要他仍然屬肉體,未重生,他就絕對不會選擇基督。他不能選擇基督,正是因為他不能違背自己的意志行事。他不渴望基督。他不會選擇他不渴望的東西。他嚴重墮落,達到一個地步,唯獨上帝有效的恩典在他心中作工,才能使他相信。

本文摘錄自史鮑爾 (R.C. Sproul)博士所著的《蒙上帝揀選》Chosen by God一書。
This excerpt is taken from Chosen by God by R.C. Sproul.


——

比較原譯文:
摘自《認識預定論》第三章,黃吳期馨/郭瑞英譯(校園書房出版社),p37-55

It is ironic that in the same chapter, indeed in the same context, in which our Lord teaches the utter necessity of rebirth to even see the kingdom, let alone choose it, non-Reformed views find one of their main proof texts to argue that fallen man retains a small island of ability to choose Christ. It is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
滑稽的是,就在同一章,甚至就在這段耶穌對尼哥底母談論重生是見到神的國,選擇的必要條件的經文中,非改革宗的人也找出了一個能夠支持他們認為墮落的人仍然有選擇基督之能力的證據。那就是約翰福音三章16節︰「神愛世人,甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們,叫一切信的,不至滅亡,反得永生。」

What does this famous verse teach about fallen man’s ability to choose Christ? The answer, simply, is nothing. The argument used by non-Reformed people is that the text teaches that everybody in the world has it in their power to accept or reject Christ. A careful look at the text reveals, however, that it teaches nothing of the kind. What the text teaches is that everyone who believes in Christ will be saved. Whoever does A (believes) will receive B (everlasting life). The text says nothing, absolutely nothing, about who will ever believe. It says nothing about fallen man’s natural moral ability. Reformed people and non-Reformed people both heartily agree that all who believe will be saved. They heartily disagree about who has the ability to believe.
這句著名的經文,對於墮落的人對選擇基督之能力有什麼教訓呢?答案是沒有。非改革宗的人認為,這段經文是說,在世界上每個人憑他自己的力量,能夠選擇或拒絕基督。然而我們若仔細讀一下這段經文,就會發現並非如此。它乃是告訴我們,凡相信基督的人,必然得救,凡作了甲(相信)的人,就會得乙(永生);這經文完全沒有說誰會相信,也沒有論到墮落的人的天然道德能力。改革宗與非改革宗信徒都一致同意︰凡相信者必然得救;但是在對於誰有能力相信這點上,看法卻完全不一樣。

Some may reply, “All right. The text does not explicitly teach that fallen men have the ability to choose Christ without being reborn first, but it certainly implies that.” I am not willing to grant that the text even implies such a thing. However, even if it did it would make no difference in the debate. Why not? Our rule of interpreting Scripture is that implications drawn from the Scripture must always be subordinate to the explicit teaching of Scripture. We must never, never, never reverse this to subordinate the explicit teaching of Scripture to possible implications drawn from Scripture. This rule is shared by both Reformed and non-Reformed thinkers.
 有人可能會回答說︰「好吧,聖經雖然沒有明說墮落的人不先重生仍有能力選擇基督,至少暗示了這一點!」我實在不認為這段經文甚至有這樣的暗示,而且就算如此,對我們的辯論也無影響。為什麼呢?我們對解經的法則乃是,任何經文所暗示的教訓,必須服在聖經清楚的教訓之下,我們絕對不能弄反了,反將聖經清楚的教導服在可能有的暗示之下,這也是改革宗和非改革宗思想家一致同意的法則。

If John 3:16 implied a universal natural human ability of fallen men to choose Christ, then that implication would be wiped out by Jesus’ explicit teaching to the contrary. We have already shown that Jesus explicitly and unambiguously taught that no man has the ability to come to him without God doing something to give him that ability, namely drawing him. 暗示擦掉
如果約翰福音三章16節,暗示了墮落的人類仍有一般性的天然能力來揀選基督,那麼這個暗示就會讓耶穌明明相反的教訓給廢去了。耶穌已清楚明白地指出,若不是神先作些事來吸引人,使人有這能力的話,就沒有人會來就。

Fallen man is flesh. In the flesh he can do nothing to please God. Paul declares, “The fleshly mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom. 8:7, 8).
墮落的人是屬肉體的,在肉體中,人不能做任何討神喜悅的事。保羅宣告說︰「原來體貼肉體的,就是與神為仇;因為不服神的律法,也是不能服,而且屬肉體的人不能得神的喜歡。」(羅八7~8

We ask, then, “Who are those who are ‘in the flesh’?” Paul goes on to declare: “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you” (Rom. 8:9). The crucial word here is if. What distinguishes those who are in the flesh from those who are not is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. No one who is not reborn is indwelt by God the Holy Spirit. People who are in the flesh have not been reborn. Unless they are first reborn, born of the Holy Spirit, they cannot be subject to the law of God. They cannot please God.
那麼,「誰是『在肉體的』人呢?」保羅接著說︰「如果神的靈住在你們心裏,你們就不屬肉體,乃屬聖靈了。人若沒有基督的靈,就不是屬基督的。」(羅八9)這裏的關鍵字是「如果」;意即將在肉體中的人和不在肉體中的人區分開來,就是聖靈的內住。沒有重生的人就沒有聖靈的內住,在肉體中的人還沒有得到重生的,除非他們先得到重生,從聖靈而生,他們就不能服在神的律下,也不能討神的喜悅。

God commands us to believe in Christ. He is pleased by those who choose Christ. If unregenerate people could choose Christ, then they could be subject to at least one of God’s commands and they could at least do something that is pleasing to God. If that is so, then the apostle has erred here in insisting that those who are in the flesh can neither be subject to God nor please him.
神要求我們相信基督,喜悅凡揀選基督的人;如果未重生的人能夠揀選基督的話,那麼他們已經能夠服從神的命令,他們也至少已經能夠做某些討神喜悅的事了。那麼,使徒堅持在肉體中的人不能服從神也不能討神喜悅的說法,就是大錯特錯了。

We conclude that fallen man is still free to choose what he desires, but because his desires are only wicked he lacks the moral ability to come to Christ. As long as he remains in the flesh, unregenerate, he will never choose Christ. He cannot choose Christ precisely because he cannot act against his own will. He has no desire for Christ. He cannot choose what he does not desire. His fall is great. It is so great that only the effectual grace of God working in his heart can bring him to faith.
我們的結論是,墮落的人仍然有選擇他所喜好的自由。但是因為他的喜好是惡的,他就沒有自己來就基督的道德能力。一個屬肉體,尚未重生的人,是不會選擇基督的;因為他不能違反他自己的意願,他不可能揀選基督。他不渴慕基督,他不可能揀選他不渴慕的東西,他墮落的很深,深到一個地步,只有神的恩典在他心中作工,才有可能使他相信。


2019-04-21


拿走了復活你就拆毀了基督教TakeAway the Resurrection and You Take Away Christianity

作者: R.C. Sproul   譯者: 改革宗翻譯社

這是人類歷史的分水嶺,在這裏,人類的愁苦化為輝煌。在這裏,初代教會傳講的福音信息(kerygma) 隨著一聲呼喊誕生:「祂復活了」。我們可以將這一事件視為一個象徵,一個可愛的關於希望的故事。我們可以將之降低為一種道德主義,作出一個傳道人如此總結的宣稱:「復活的意義在於我們可以用辯證的勇氣面對每一天的黎明。」

然而,新約宣告的復活是一個清醒的歷史事實。早期基督徒對辯證符號沒什麼興趣,只對斬釘截鐵的事實有興趣。真正的基督教與時空中的耶穌復活共存亡。基督徒這個稱號飽受苦難,從成千種考驗的重擔到無數種不同定義。一本詞典將基督徒定義為一個文明人,一個可以不相信復活就做個文明人,但按照聖經這個人絕對做不了一名基督徒。宣稱自己是基督徒卻否認復活的人是拿虛謊的舌頭說話,我們應當躲避這樣的人。

耶穌的復活其原初的意義是顛覆性的,它涉及基督徒信仰的根本。沒有了它,基督教不過是另一個以人類智慧的陳腔濫調給我們的道德感撓癢癢的人造宗教。使徒保羅言明一個「沒有復活」的基督教有什麼清楚、無可辯駁的後果。他推理說,如果基督沒有復活,我們就必須得出以下結論(林前十五13-19)。

1. 我們所傳的是枉然。
2. 我們的信心也是枉然。
3. 我們是為神妄作見證的。
4. 我們仍在罪中。
5. 我們所愛的那些死去的人已經滅亡了。
6. 我們是眾人中最可憐的。

這六個後果尖銳地揭示了復活與基督教本質的內在關聯,耶穌的復活是基督信仰的必要條件(sine qua non), 拿走了復活你就拆毀了基督教。

This excerpt is from Who Is Jesus? by R.C. Sproul. Download all 28 Crucial Questions ebooks for free here. https://www.ligonier.org/blog/rc-sprouls-crucial-questions-ebooks-now-free/

譯文轉載自

Take Away the Resurrection and You Take Away Christianity
FROM R.C. Sproul

Here is the watershed of human history where the misery of the race is transformed into grandeur. Here the kerygma, the proclamation of the early church, was born with the cry “He is risen.” We can view this event as a symbol, a lovely tale of hope. We can reduce it to a moralism that declares, as one preacher put it, “The meaning of the Resurrection is that we can face the dawn of each new day with dialectical courage.”

The New Testament proclaims the Resurrection as sober historical fact. The early Christians were not interested in dialectical symbols but in concrete realities. Authentic Christianity stands or falls with the space/time event of Jesus’ resurrection. The term Christian suffers from the burden of a thousand qualifications and a myriad of diverse definitions. One dictionary defines a Christian as a person who is civilized. One can certainly be civilized without affirming the Resurrection, but one cannot then be a Christian in the biblical sense. The person who claims to be a Christian while denying the Resurrection speaks with a forked tongue. From such turn away.

The resurrection of Jesus is radical in the original sense of the word. It touches the radix, the “root” of the Christian faith. Without it Christianity becomes just another religion designed to titillate our moral senses with platitudes of human wisdom. The apostle Paul spelled out the clear and irrefutable consequences of a “resurrectionless” Christianity. If Christ is not raised, he reasoned, we are left with the following list of conclusions:

1.Our preaching is futile.
2.Our faith is in vain.
3.We have misrepresented God.
4.We are still in our sins.
5.Our loved ones who have died have perished.
6.If all we have is hope, we are of all men most to be pitied.

These six consequences sharply reveal the inner connection of the Resurrection to the substance of Christianity. The resurrection of Jesus is the sine qua non of the Christian faith. Take away the Resurrection and you take away Christianity.

This excerpt is from Who Is Jesus? by R.C. Sproul. Download all 28 Crucial Questions ebooks for free here.


並且上帝詛咒祂And God Cursed Him

講員: R.C. Sproul    譯者: Maria Marta

在下面簡短的剪輯片段中,史鮑爾 (R.C. Sproul) 牧師解釋在被釘十架的過程中,基督為我們受了咒詛。你可以按此鏈接觀看完整信息。https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lgwpd0SKpmc&feature=youtu.be

多瑪斯·阿奎那Thomas Aquinas曾被問到: 「多瑪斯, 你認為耶穌在世的全部時間都在享受見主榮面beatific vision?」多瑪斯回答: 「我不知道但我肯定我們的主能看見我們的罪使我們不能看見的事。」緊記八福中「必得見神」的應許是對誰承諾的。是對清心的人。親愛的弟兄姐妹,你看不見上帝,非因你的視神經出了問題。妨礙我們看見上帝的是我們的心,我們的不潔。但耶穌並沒有不潔,多瑪斯說祂的心是潔凈的,很明顯,祂體驗過天父的榮美,就在我的罪加在祂身上的那一刻,潔凈的那一位就不再潔凈。所以上帝咒詛祂。

天上好像傳來一聲呼喊——請原諒我的語言,但我無法準確表達——就好像耶穌所聽到的「上帝詛咒你」。因為這就是被一個父親詛咒,被罰入地獄,被肢解的意思。如我說過的,我不明白,但我知道這是真的。我知道,這房間裏的每一個人,這旅館外的每一個人,這條街上的每一個人,世上所有的人,假若此刻還沒有被基督的義遮蓋,就會在上帝的咒詛下喘氣過活。親愛的弟兄姐妹,你們若相信這道,就不要添加福音的內容,只管放膽、清晰地傳講,因為這是我們唯一的盼望,充足的盼望。

And God Cursed Him

In this brief clip, R.C. Sproul explains that in the crucifixion, Christ became a curse for us. You can watch the whole message here.

Transcript

Thomas Aquinas once was asked, “Thomas, do you think that Jesus enjoyed the beatific vision through his whole life?” Thomas said, “I don’t know, but I’m sure that our Lord was able to see things that our sin keeps us from seeing.” Remember that the promise of the vision of God in the Beatitudes is a promise made to whom? To the pure of heart. Beloved, the reason why you can’t see God with your eyes is not because you have a problem with your optic nerve. What prevents us from seeing God is our heart, our impurity. But Jesus had no impurity, and Thomas said He was pure in heart, so obviously he had some experience of the beauty of the Father until that moment that my sin was placed upon him and the one who was pure was pure no more. And God cursed Him.

It was as if there was a cry from heaven—excuse my language, but I can be no more accurate than to say—it was as if Jesus heard the words “God Damn You.” Because that’s what it meant to be cursed, to be damned, to be under the anatomy of a Father. As I said, I don’t understand that, but I know that it’s true. And I know that every person in this room and every person outside in this hotel and on the street and across the world who has not been covered by the righteousness of Christ right this minute draws every breath under the curse of God. If you believe that, you will stop adding to the gospel and start preaching it with clarity and with boldness because, dear friends, it is the only hope we have and it is hope enough.