泥巴: 海德堡教理問答

First, that He is co-eternal God with the Father and the Son. Secondly, that He is also given unto me; makes me by a true faith partaker of Christ and all His benefits; comforts me; and shall abide with me forever.

主日21

LORD’S DAY 21

五十四问：论到“圣而公之教会”，你相信什么呢？

54. What dost thou believe concerning the Holy Catholic Church?

回答：我相信这教会就是上帝的儿子（1），从全人类当中（2），自世界之始至世界之末（3），藉着他的圣灵和圣言（4），为自己聚集、护卫并保守的一群选民（5）。目的是叫他们得享永生（6），并且使他们在真道上同归于一（7）；并且我是（8），也永远是这团体里活泼的一员（9）。

（1）约10:11；徒20:28；弗4:11-13；西1:18

（2）创26:4；启5:9

（3）赛59:21；林前11:26

（4）罗1:16；10:14-17；弗5:26

（5）诗129:1-5；太16:18；约10:28-30

（6）罗8:29；弗1:3-14

（7）徒2:42-47；弗4:1-6

（8）约壹3:14，19-21

（9）诗23:6；约10:27，28；林前1:4-9；彼前1:3-5

That, out of the whole human race, from the beginning to the end of the world, the Son of God, by His Spirit and Word, gathers, defends and preserves for Himself unto everlasting life, a chosen communion, in the unity of the true faith; and that I am, and forever shall remain, a living member of the same.

五十五问：对于“我信圣徒相通”，你是怎样理解的？

55. What dost thou understand by the Communion of Saints?

回答：第一，所有信徒都是基督的肢体，因而与他及其一切的丰富和恩赐有份（1）；第二，每个信徒都有责任自觉地甘心乐意地使用自己的恩赐，使其他肢体得益处，得救恩（2）。

（1）罗8:32；林前6:17；12:4-7，12，13；约壹1:3

（2）罗12:4-8；林前12:20-27；13:1-7；腓2:4-8

First, that believers, all and every one, as members of Christ have part in Him and in all His treasures and gifts; secondly, that each one must feel himself bound to use his gifts, readily and cheerfully, for the advantage and welfare of other members.

五十六问：论到“我信罪得赦免”，你是怎样相信的？

56. What dost thou believe concerning the Forgiveness of Sins?

回答:我相信上帝因基督补罪的缘故，不再记念我的罪（1），也不记念我一生中必须与之争战的罪性（2）；反而仁慈地将基督的义归于我，使我永远不在上帝的审判台前被定罪（3）。

（1）诗103:3，4，10，12；弥7:18，19；林后5:18-21；约壹1:7；2:2

（2）罗7:21-25

（3）约3:17，18；5:24；罗8:1，2

That God, for the sake of Christ’s satisfaction, will no more remember my sins, neither the sinful nature with which I have to struggle all my life long; but graciously imputes to me the righteousness of Christ, that I may nevermore come into condemnation.

主日22

LORD’S DAY 22

五十七问：“我信身体复活”，这带给你什么安慰呢？

57. What comfort does the Resurrection of the Body afford thee?

回答：在我死后，不仅我的灵魂立刻被带到我的元首基督那里（1），我的身体也要因基督的大能活过来，与我的灵魂再次联合，并要与基督荣耀的身体相似（2）。

（1）路16:22；23:43；腓1:21-23

（2）伯19:25，26；林前15:20，42-46，54；腓3:21；约壹3:2

That not only my soul, after this life, shall be immediately taken up to Christ its Head; but also that this my body, raised by the power of Christ, shall again be united with my soul, and made like unto the glorious body of Christ.

五十八问：“我信永生”，你从中得着什么安慰呢？

58. What comfort hast thou from the article of the Life Everlasting?

回答：既然我现在从心里就已经开始经历到那永恒的快乐（1），此生之后我也要得着那眼睛未曾看见，耳朵未曾听见，人心也未曾想到的完全的福乐，并在其中永远地赞美上帝（2）。

（1）约17:3；罗14:17；林后5:2，3

（2）约17:24；林前2:9

That, inasmuch as I now feel in my heart the beginning of eternal joy, I shall after this life possess complete bliss, such as eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man; therein to praise God for ever.

主日23

LORD’S DAY 23

五十九问：你相信以上这些信条，对你有何帮助呢？

59. But what does it help thee now, that thou believest all this?

回答：这使我在上帝面前，在基督里称义，并且成为永生的承受者（1）。

（1）哈2:4；约3:36；罗1:17；5:1，2

That I am righteous in Christ before God, and an heir of eternal life.

六十问：你怎样在上帝面前称义呢？

60. How art thou righteous before God?

回答：惟独藉着对耶稣基督的真信心（1）。尽管我的良心控告我严重地干犯了上帝的一切诫命，从来没有遵守其中任何一条（2），并且仍然倾向于各样的罪恶（3），然而上帝出于白白的恩典（4），并非出于我的任何功德（5），将基督完全的补罪、公义和圣洁归于我（6），好像我本来就没有罪，也从来没有犯过罪，又好像我自己作成了基督为我所作成的一切顺服（7），只要我用信心接受这些恩惠就够了（8）。

（1）罗3:21-28；加2:16；弗2:8，9；腓3:8-11

（2）罗3:9，10

（3）罗7:23

（4）罗3:24；弗2:8

（5）申9:6；结36:22；多3:4，5

（6）罗4:3-5；林后5:17-19；约壹2:1，2

（7）罗4:24，25；林后5:21

（8）约3:18；徒16:30，31；罗3:22

Only by true faith in Jesus Christ. That is: although my conscience accuse me, that I have grievously sinned against all the commandments of God, and have never kept any of them, and that I am still prone always to all evil, yet God, without any merit of mine, of mere grace, grants and imputes to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness and holiness of Christ, as if I had never committed nor had any sin, and had myself accomplished all the obedience which Christ has fulfilled for me, if only I accept such benefit with a believing heart.

六十一问：你为何说唯独因信称义呢？

61. Why sayest thou, that thou art righteous only by faith?

回答：我在上帝面前得蒙悦纳，并不是因为我的信心有什么价值；而是因为基督的补罪、公义和圣洁，成为我在上帝面前的义（1）。并且，我惟独藉着信心接受此义，使它成为我自己的义，此外别无他法（2）。

（1）林前1:30，31；2:2

（2）罗10:10；约壹5:10-12

Not that I am acceptable to God on account of the worthiness of my faith; but because only the satisfaction, righteousness and holiness of Christ is my righteousness before God, and I can receive the same and make it my own in no other way than by faith only.

主日24

LORD’S DAY 24

六十二问：为什么我们的善行不能作为我们在上帝面前的义，或者至少是一部分呢？

62. But why cannot our good works be the whole or part of our righteousness before God?

回答：因为能在上帝审判台前成立的义，必须是绝对完全的义，完全合乎上帝的律法（1）。然而，即使我们今生那最佳的善行，也都是不完全的，都是被罪玷污了的（2）。

（1）申27:26；加3:10

（2）赛64:6

Because the righteousness which can stand before the judgment-seat of God must be perfect throughout and wholly conformable to the divine law; whereas even our best works in this life are all imperfect and defiled with sin.

六十三问：我们的善行既然算不了什么，上帝为何要在今生和来世加以奖赏呢？63. How is it that our good works merit nothing, while yet it is God’s will to reward them in this life and in that which is to come?

回答：奖赏并不是由善行赚取的（1），乃是出于上帝的恩典（2）。

（1）太5:12；来11:6 （2）路17:10；提后4:7，8

The reward comes not of merit, but of grace.

六十四问：这教义岂非使人怠慢不敬吗？64. But does not this doctrine make men careless and profane?

回答：绝不会。因为凡是藉着真信心被接在基督里的人，不能不结出感恩的果子（1）。

（1）太7:18；路6:43-45；约15:5No, for it is impossible that those who are implanted into Christ by true faith, should not bring forth fruits of thankfulness.

论圣礼

主日25

LORD’S DAY 25

六十五问：我们既然惟独因信与基督及其一切恩惠有份，这信是从何而来的呢？

65. Since then we are made partakers of Christ and all his benefits by faith only, whence comes this faith?

回答：这信从圣灵而来（1）。圣灵藉着福音的传讲在我们心里作工，生发信心（2），并藉着圣礼的施行来加以印证（3）。

（1）约3:5；林前2:10-14；弗2:8；腓1:29

（2）罗10:17；彼前1:23-25

（3）太28:19，20；林前10:16

The Holy Ghost works it in our hearts by the preaching of the Gospel, and confirms it by the use of the Holy Sacraments.

六十六问：圣礼是什么？

66. What are the Sacraments?

回答：圣礼是圣洁的、可见的标志和印记。上帝设立圣礼，藉着圣礼的施行，他可以更完全地向我们宣布并印证福音的应许（1），即他因基督一次在十字架上所完成的牺牲，白白地把赦罪和永生赐给我们（2）。

（1）创17:11；申30:6；罗4:11

（2）太26:27，28；徒2:38；来10:10

The Sacraments are visible, holy signs and seals, appointed by God for this end, that by the use thereof He may the more fully declare and seal to us the promise of the Gospel: namely, that He grants us out of free grace the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life, for the sake of the one sacrifice of Christ accomplished on the cross.

六十七问：那么，圣言与圣礼的设立，目的都是为指引我们相信耶稣基督在十字架上的牺牲乃是我们得救的唯一基础吗？

67. Are both these, then, the Word and the Sacraments, designed to direct our faith to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, as the only ground of our salvation?

回答：诚然如此；因为圣灵在福音里教训我们，又藉着圣礼向我们保证，我们的救恩全靠基督在十字架上一次献上的牺牲（1）。

（1）罗6:3；林前11:26；加3:27

Yes truly; for the Holy Ghost teaches in the Gospel, and by the Holy Sacraments assures us, that our whole salvation stands in the one sacrifice of Christ made for us on the cross.

六十八问：基督在新约中设立了多少圣礼？

68. How many Sacraments has Christ appointed in the New Testament?

回答：两个：洗礼和圣餐（1）。

（1）太28:19，20；林前11:23-26

Two: Holy Baptism and the Holy Supper.

论洗礼

主日26

LORD’S DAY 26

六十九问：洗礼怎样表明并印证基督在十字架上一次献上的牺牲，使你得益呢？

69. How is it signified and sealed unto thee in Holy Baptism, that thou has part in the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross?

回答：乃是这样：基督指定了这外在的水洗（1），并加上他的应许，使我因他的宝血和圣灵，得以洗净灵魂一切污秽，即所有罪恶，恰如通常用水洗去身体的污秽一般（2）。

（1）太28:19

（2）太3:11；可16:16；约1:33；徒2:38；罗6:3，4；彼前3:21

Thus: that Christ has appointed this outward washing with water, and has joined therewith this promise, that I am washed with His blood and Spirit from the pollution of my soul, that is, from all my sins, as certainly, as I am washed outwardly with water, whereby commonly the filthiness of the body is taken away.

七十问：被基督的宝血与圣灵洗净，这是什么意思呢？

70. What is it to be washed with the blood and Spirit of Christ?

回答：被基督的宝血洗净，就是藉着恩典，因基督在十字架上为我们牺牲所流出的宝血，我们白白地得蒙上帝的赦罪(1)；被圣灵洗净，就是被圣灵更新，分别为圣，作基督的肢体，叫我们越来越多地向罪而死，敬虔度日，无有瑕疵(2)。

（1）结36:25；亚13:1；弗1:7；来12:24；彼前1:2；启1:5；7:14

（2）约3:5-8；罗6:4；林前6:11；西2:11，12

It is to have the forgiveness of sins from God, through grace, for the sake of Christ’s blood, which He shed for us in His sacrifice on the cross; and also, to be renewed by the Holy Ghost, and sanctified to be members of Christ, that so we may more and more die unto sin, and lead holy and unblamable lives.

七十一问：基督在哪里应许他要用他的宝血与圣灵洗净我们，恰如洗礼的水洗净呢？

71. Where has Christ promised that we are as certainly washed with His blood and Spirit as with the water of Baptism?

回答：他在设立洗礼的命令中，他如此说:“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。”(1) “信而受洗的必然得救；不信的必被定罪。”(2)圣经上称洗礼为重生的洗和除去罪恶的洗，也都重述了这一应许(3)。

（1）太28:19（2）可16:16（3）多3:5；徒22:16

In the institution of Baptism, which runs thus: Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. This promise is also repeated where the Scripture calls Baptism the washing of regeneration and the washing away of sins.

主日27

LORD’S DAY 27

七十二问：外在的水洗便能洗去罪恶吗？

72. Is then the outward washing with water itself the washing away of sins?

回答：绝对不能。因为只有耶稣基督的宝血与圣灵才能洗净我们一切的罪(1)。

（1）太3:11；彼前3:21；约壹1:7

No; for only the blood of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit cleanse us from all sin.

七十三问：圣灵为何称洗礼是重生和除去罪恶的洗呢？

73. Why, then, doth the Holy Ghost call Baptism the washing of regeneration, and the washing away of sins?

回答：上帝如此说并非没有重大原因：他不仅藉此教训我们，正如身体的污秽用水洗去一般，我们的罪也用基督的宝血与圣灵洗去(1)；而且，他更是藉此神圣的保证和标记，使我们确知灵魂的罪恶真的得以洗净，正如我们的身体用水洗净一样(2)。

（1）林前6:11；启1:5；7:14

（2）可16:16；徒2:38；罗6:3，4；加3:27

God speaks thus not without great cause: namely, not only to teach us thereby that like as the filthiness of the body is taken away by water, so our sins also are taken away by the blood and Spirit of Christ; but much more, that by this divine pledge and token He may assure us, that we are as really washed from our sins spiritually, as our bodies are washed with water.

七十四问：婴孩也要受洗吗？

74. Are infants also to be baptized?

回答：是的。因为他们既然与父母同属上帝的圣约和教会(1)，并且有因基督的宝血得救赎脱离罪，并领受赐人信心之圣灵的应许，这应许赐予他们正如赐给他们父母的一样(2)；因此，他们也藉那作为圣约标记的洗礼，被接入基督教会中，并且有别于不信者的儿女(3)，正如在旧约中藉着割礼所达成的（4），这割礼已由新约的洗礼代替(5)。

（1）创17:7；太19:14

（2）诗22:11；赛44:1-3；徒2:38，39；16:31

（3）徒10:47；林前7:14

（4）创17:9-14

（5）西2:11-13

Yes. For since they, as well as their parents, belong to the covenant and people of God, and both redemption from sin and the Holy Ghost, who works faith, are through the blood of Christ promised to them no less than to their parents: they are also by Baptism, as a sign of the covenant, to be ingrafted into the Christian Church, and distinguished from the children of unbelievers, as was done in the Old Testament by Circumcision, in place of which in the New Testament Baptism is appointed.

论圣餐

主日28

LORD’S DAY 28

七十五问：圣餐怎样向你表明并印证你与基督在十字架上一次完成的牺牲及其一切恩惠有份呢？

75. How is it signified and sealed unto thee in the Holy Supper that thou dost partake of the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross and all His benefits?

回答：乃是这样：基督已经吩咐我和众信徒吃这擘开的饼，喝这杯，为的是记念他；并且赐给以下的应许(1)：首先，他的身体在十字架上为我而舍，为我破碎，他的宝血为我而流，正如我亲眼看见主的饼为我擘开，主的杯递给我一样确实；其次，他那被钉的身体和流出的宝血，喂养我的灵魂，直到永生，正如我从牧师的手里接受，并亲尝主的饼和杯，作为基督的身体和宝血的标记一般确实。

（1）太26:26-28；可14:22-24；路22:19，20；林前11:23-25

Thus; that Christ has commanded me and all believers to eat of this broken bread, and to drink of this cup, and has joined therewith these promises: First, that His body was offered, and broken on the cross for me, and His blood shed for me, as certainly as I see with my eyes the bread of the Lord broken for me, and the cup communicated to me; and further, that, with His crucified body and shed blood, He Himself feeds and nourishes my soul to everlasting life as certainly as I receive from the hand of the minister, and taste with my mouth, the bread and cup of the Lord, which are given me as certain tokens of the body and blood of Christ.

七十六问：吃基督被钉的身体，喝他所流的宝血，这是什么意思呢？

76. What is it to eat the crucified body and drink the shed blood of Christ?

回答：这不仅是指我们用信心领受基督的一切苦难和受死，藉此获得赦罪和永生(1)，也是指藉着居于基督和我们里面的圣灵，渐渐地连于他圣洁的身体(2)。这样，虽然他在天上(3)，我们在地上，我们还是他肉中的肉，骨中的骨(4)，并且永远靠着同一位圣灵活着，由同一位圣灵掌管，正如身上的肢体靠着一个灵魂生存，由一个灵魂掌管一样（5）。

约6:35，40，50-54

约6:55，56；林前12:13

徒1:9-11；3:21；林前11:26；西3:1

林前6:15，17；弗5:29，30；约壹4:13

约6:56-58；15:1-6；弗4:15，16；约壹3:24

It is not only to embrace with a believing heart all the suffering and death of Christ, and thereby to obtain the forgiveness of sins and eternal life; but moreover also, to be so united more and more to His sacred body by the Holy Ghost, who dwells both in Christ and in us, that although He is in heaven, and we on the earth, we are nevertheless flesh of His flesh and bone of His bones, and live and are governed for ever by one Spirit, as members of the same body are by one soul.

七十七问：基督在何处应许信徒吃这擘开的饼，喝这杯的时候，他就这样用自己的身体和宝血喂养他们呢？

77. Where has Christ promised that He will thus feed and nourish believers with His body and blood, as certainly as they eat of this broken bread and drink of this cup?

回答：关于设立圣餐，经上这样记着说（1）:“主耶稣被卖的那一夜，拿起饼来，祝谢了，就擘开说:‘这是我的身体，为你们舍的；你们应当如此行，为的是记念我。’饭后，也照样拿起杯来，说:‘这杯是用我的血所立的新约；你们每逢喝的时候，要如此行，为的是记念我。’你们每逢吃这饼，喝这杯，是表明主的死，直等到他来。”（林前11:23-26）使徒保罗反复重申这一应许，说:“我们所祝福的杯，岂不是同领基督的血吗？我们所擘开的饼，岂不是同领基督的身体吗？我们虽多，仍是一个饼，一个身体；因为我们都是分受这一个饼。”（林前10:16，17）

（1）太26：26－28；可14：22－24；路22：19－20

In the institution of the Supper, which runs thus: The Lord Jesus Christ, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread; and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said: Take, eat, this is My body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of Me. After the same manner also He took the cup, when he had supped, saying: This cup is the New Testament in My blood: This do ye as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till He come.

And this promise is repeated also by St. Paul, where he says: The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, being many, are one bread, and one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread.

主日29

LORD’S DAY 29

七十八问：饼和酒成为基督的真身体和宝血吗？

78. Do then the bread and wine become the real body and blood of Christ?

回答：绝对没有。洗礼中的水并未变为基督的宝血，水本身也无法洗净罪恶，只不过是上帝所设立的标记和保证而已（1）；同样，圣餐中的饼本身也没有变为基督真正的身体（2），而只是照圣礼的本质和属性（3），称为基督的身体（4）。

弗5:26；多3:5 太26:26-29；创17:10，11；出12:11，13；林前10:3，4；彼前3:21；林前10:16，17；11:26-28

No: but as the water, in Baptism, is not changed into the blood of Christ, nor becomes the washing away of sins itself, being only the divine token and assurance thereof, so also, in the Lord’s Supper, the sacred bread does not become the body of Christ itself, though agreeably to the nature and usage of sacraments it is called the body of Christ.

七十九问：那么，基督为何称饼为他的身体，杯为他的血，或用血所立的新约；并且使徒保罗也说同领基督的身体和血呢？

79. Why then doth Christ call the bread His body, and the cup His blood, or the New Testament in His blood; and St. Paul, the communion of the body and blood of Christ?

回答：基督这样说，并非没有重大的原因：他不仅藉此教训我们，正如饼酒维持今世的生命，他被钉的身体和流出来的宝血，也是那维持我们灵魂存到永生的真正饮食（1）；更重要的是，当我们为记念他而领受这些圣洁的标记时，他用这可见的标记和保证向我们担保，藉着圣灵的运行，我们实在是分享他的真身体和宝血（2）；而且，他一切的苦难和顺服也确实是我们自己的，好像我们自己受了苦，为我们的罪向上帝作出了补偿一样（3）。

（1）约6:51，55（2）林前10:16，17；11:26（3）罗6:5-11

Christ speaks thus not without great cause: namely, not only to teach us thereby, that, like as the bread and wine sustain this temporal life, so also His crucified body and shed blood are the true meat and drink of our souls unto life eternal; but much more, by this visible sign and pledge to assure us, that we are as really partakers of His true body and blood, through the working of the Holy Ghost, as we receive by the mouth of the body these holy tokens in remembrance of Him; and that all His sufferings and obedience are as certainly our own, as if we had ourselves suffered and done all in our own person.

主日30

LORD’S DAY 30

八十问：圣餐与天主教的弥撒有何不同？

80. What difference is there between the Lord’s Supper and the Popish Mass?

回答：圣餐向我们证明，藉着耶稣基督一次在十字架上所献的祭，我们的罪完全得了赦免（1）；并且，我们藉着圣灵被接入基督里（2）。他那具有人性的身体，现今不在地上，乃在天上，在圣父的右边（3），在那里受我们的敬拜（4）。但弥撒教训人说，除非神甫天天为人献上基督，活人死人都不能因基督的受苦而得享赦罪；它又教训人说，基督的肉身在饼酒里，因此基督应在它们里面受敬拜。所以，弥撒在本质上否定了耶稣基督一次完成的献祭和苦难，不过是一种可咒诅的偶像崇拜而已。

(1) 太26:28；约19:30；来7:27；9:12，25，26；10:10-18

(2) 林前6:17；10:16，17

(3) 约20:17；徒7:55，56；来1:3；8:1

(4) 约4:21-24；腓3:20；西3:1；帖前1:10

The Lord’s Supper testifies to us, that we have full forgiveness of all our sins by the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which He Himself has once accomplished on the cross; and that by the Holy Ghost we are ingrafted into Christ, who with His true body is now in heaven at the right hand of the Father, and is to be there worshiped. But the Mass teaches, that the living and the dead have not forgiveness of sins through the sufferings of Christ, unless Christ is still daily offered for them by the priests; and that Christ is bodily under the form of bread and wine, and is therefore to be worshiped in them. And thus the Mass at bottom is nothing else than a denial of the one sacrifice and passion of Jesus Christ, and an accursed idolatry.

八十一问：谁可来到主的桌前？

81. Who are to come unto the table of the Lord?

回答：就是那些因自己的罪而真心痛悔，并且相信因基督的缘故罪得赦免，后来的软弱也藉着基督的受苦和受死而得蒙遮盖的人；他们也渴望信心更得坚固，生活更加圣洁。但那些拒不真心归向上帝、假冒为善的人，乃是在吃喝自己的罪（1）。

(1) 林前10:19-22；11:26-32

Those who are displeased with themselves for their sins, yet trust that these are forgiven them, and that their remaining infirmity is covered by the passion and death of Christ; who also desire more and more to strengthen their faith and amend their life. But the impenitent and hypocrites eat and drink judgment to themselves.

八十二问：那些在言语和行为上，显出自己不信不敬的，也可以领受圣餐吗？

82. Are they then also to be admitted to this Supper, who show themselves to be, by their confession and life, unbelieving and ungodly?

回答：不可。因为如此行，乃是亵渎上帝的圣约，招惹他的忿怒降在全会众身上（1）；所以，按照基督和使徒的吩咐，基督教会有责任使用掌管天国钥匙的权柄，摒除这种人，直到他们在生活上显明已经归正时为止。

(1) 诗50:16；赛1:11-17；林前11:17-34

No: for by this the covenant of God is profaned, and His wrath provoked against the whole congregation; wherefore the Christian Church is bound, according to the order of Christ and His Apostles, by the office of the keys to exclude such persons, until they amend their life.

主日31

LORD’S DAY 31

八十三问：天国的钥匙是什么？

83. What is the Office of the Keys?

回答：就是圣洁福音的宣讲和教会的惩戒（即逐出基督教会）；藉此二者，天国向信者开放，向不信者关闭（1）。

(1) 太16:19；约20:21-23

The Preaching of the Holy Gospel and Church Discipline; by which two things the kingdom of heaven is opened to believers and shut against unbelievers.

八十四问：天国是怎样藉着圣洁福音的宣讲开放或关闭呢？

84. How is the kingdom of heaven opened and shut by the Preaching of the Holy Gospel?

回答：乃是这样：照着基督的吩咐，要向一切信徒宣讲并公开作见证说，只要他们用真信心接受福音的应许，他们一切的罪就由上帝因基督的功德真得赦免了；反之，要向一切不信的和假冒为善的人说，如果他们仍不归正，上帝的忿怒和永远的定罪就会无可逃避地常在他们身上；上帝照此福音的见证，在今生和来世施行审判（1）。

(1) 太16:19；约3:31-36；20:21-23

In this way: that according to the command of Christ, it is proclaimed and openly witnessed to believers, one and all, that as often as they accept with true faith the promise of the Gospel, all their sins are really forgiven them of God for the sake of Christ’s merits; and on the contrary, to all unbelievers and hypocrites, that the wrath of God and eternal condemnation abide on them, so long as they are not converted; according to which witness of the Gospel, will be the judgment of God both in this life and in that which is to come.

八十五问：天国怎样由教会的惩戒开放或关闭呢？

85. How is the kingdom of heaven shut and opened by Church Discipline?

回答：乃是这样：照基督的吩咐，若有称为基督徒的，教义不正或生活不检，经过多次劝告，仍然置若罔闻，便要向教会长老们告发他；若他仍然藐视不听，便由教会长老们禁止他领圣餐，把他摒除于教会之外，同时上帝也把他摒除于基督的国度以外（1）；但若他答应悔改，并有实际的表现，便可重新接纳他作为基督及其教会的肢体（2）。

(1) 太18:15-20；林前5:3-5；11-13；帖后3:14，15

(2) 路15:20-24；林后2:6-11

In this way: that according to the command of Christ, if any under the Christian name show themselves unsound either in doctrine or life, and after repeated brotherly admonition refuse to turn from their errors of evil ways, they are complained of to the church or to its proper officers, and, if they neglect to hear them also, are by them excluded from the Holy Sacraments and the Christian communion, and by God Himself from the kingdom of Christ; and if they promise and show real amendment, they are again received as members of Christ and His Church.

訂閱：文章 (Atom)