復 原 耶 穌 基 督 教 會 台 灣 佈 道 所
The Church of Jesus Christ Taiwan Restoration Mission
September 25th, 2016 轉 變 Convert
(牧師 亞當 Pastor Adam Brendel)
好久不見了各位 (預計明年初, 就要迎娶美嬌娘喬絲琳的牧師亞當, 看起來心情很好); 我剛跟 Stephen 去了一趟菲律賓, 待了兩個禮拜, 才回來沒幾天. 今天就電視主日學這個機會, 想跟大家分享 "轉變 Convert" 的主題.
所謂改變, 指的是有聽聞道, 卻仍未受洗的聽眾, 或已經悔改進而接受洗禮的人, 都還需要繼續持守誡律, 並且接受聖靈的引導, 直到我們的罪被赦免了.
人生的旅程中, 主耶穌與聖靈一路陪伴在我們的身旁, 可是, 祂與我們所建立的關聯, 並不全然是人體這個軀殼, 而是著重在心靈, 也就是說承接聖靈引導的, 是人永恆的心靈(智慧), 而不是會毀壞的, 一時的肉體.
我們大家, 雖然都是伴隨著主耶穌同行, 卻依個人的公義性, 而有不同程度的差異; 但是不管差異性如何, 我們其實都是需要更進一步的, 接受主耶穌的誡律而改變, 或者說是, 持續不停的改變, 以期符合達到主耶穌, 赦免我們的罪的正義性. 首先, 我們來看尼腓三書的記載 :
尼腓三書 3 Nephi 4:41
４１ 所有你們這些因比較他們正義而得免一死的人啊，你們現在還不轉向我，悔改你們的罪，棄邪歸正，使我得以治愈你們嗎？
41 O all ye that are spared, because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?
當主耶穌為救贖世人的罪, 無辜的犧牲生命十字架上時, 地隔半個地球的南美地區, 同時颳起了大風暴, 造成一些城池的毀滅, 也有一些城池沉入海底;
這場風暴, 也使除了當世的義人, 得以倖存之外, 其餘的無一活口. 究其因, 竟是眾生不把耶和華的悔改, 受洗, 改變的勸解, 認真的看待, 一意孤行己意, 所受的毀滅性的懲罰.
其實, 耶和華的本意, 只要悔改, 受洗而改變, 就能因為與主耶穌同行而得救, 可惜愚昧的世人, 把耶和華的善意, 當成馬耳東風, 一心一意逞私慾, 貪圖眼前虛華; 最後得到罪的工價- 就是死亡!
說得有點危言聳聽了, 我們再來看一些悔改, 受洗後, 所獲得的善意果報吧! 以下是使徒行傳的見證 :
使徒行傳 Acts 8:26-33
26 有主的一個使者對腓利說、起來、向南走、往那從耶路撒冷下迦薩的路上去。那路是曠野。
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road--the desert road--that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza."
27 腓利就起身去了．不料、有一個埃提阿伯〔即古實見以賽亞十八章一節〕人、是個有大權的太監、在埃提阿伯女王干大基的手下總管銀庫、他上耶路撒冷禮拜去了．
So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,
28 現在回來、在車上坐著、念先知以賽亞的書。
and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet.
29 聖靈對腓利說、你去貼近那車走。
The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."
30 腓利就跑到太監那裡、聽見他念先知以賽亞的書、便問他說、你所念的、你明白麼。
Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked.
31 他說、沒有人指教我、怎能明白呢。於是請腓利上車、與他同坐。
"How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 他所念的那段經、說、『他像羊被牽到宰殺之地、又像羊羔在剪毛的人手下無聲、他也是這樣不開口。
The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
33 他卑微的時候、人不按公義審判他．〔原文作他的審判被奪去〕誰能述說他的世代、因為他的生命從地上奪去。』
In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth."
顯而易見的, 這是一個悔改而受洗得救的見證：當朝太監, 雖然大權在握, 唯對聖經經文, 有著強烈的興趣, 只是聖經言淺意深, 常使人能讀卻讀不懂其意涵;
使徒行傳 Acts 8:34-40
34 太監對腓利說、請問、先知說這話、是指著誰、是指著自己呢、是指著別人呢。
The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?"
35 腓利就開口從這經上起、對他傳講耶穌。
Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36 二人正往前走、到了有水的地方．太監說、看哪、這裡有水、我受洗有甚麼妨礙呢。〔有古卷在此有若是一心相信〕
As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?"
37 〔腓利說你可以他回答說我信耶穌基督是 神的兒子〕
38 於是吩咐車站住、腓利和太監二人同下水裡去、腓利就給他施洗。
And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.
39 從水裡上來、主的靈把腓利提了去、太監也不再見他了、就歡歡喜喜的走路。
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.
40 後來有人在亞鎖都遇見腓利、他走遍那地方、在各城宣傳福音、直到該撒利亞。
Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
先知腓利受聖靈引導, 等在路途上, 伺機給予解讀, 也終使當朝大臣悔改, 進而即刻洗禮, 成為信靠耶和華的新追隨者.
所以, 使徒彼得, 宣傳福音佈道時, 有人詢問該如何做, 才能得到主耶穌的救贖呢? 使徒彼得回答說：
使徒行傳 Acts 2:38
38 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．
Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
“悔改、受洗, 就可得到赦免, 還有聖靈的賜予.”
如果一聽聞福音, 就有信心的人, 馬上悔改、受洗, 就能立即得到罪的赦免, 以及接受賜予的聖靈.
就如同主耶穌長伴左右, 直到永遠, 而聖靈這禮物, 還能給予我們生活目的上的指引, 撫慰不平的心境, 並且無時無刻, 給我們應有的保護, 遠離撒旦的誘惑, 和它所帶來的危險.
使徒行傳 Acts 9:1-20
1 掃羅仍然向主的門徒、口吐威嚇兇殺的話、去見大祭司、
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest
2 求文書給大馬色的各會堂、若是找著信奉這道的人、無論男女、都准他捆綁帶到耶路撒冷。
and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
3 掃羅行路、將到大馬色、忽然從天上發光、四面照著他．
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
4 他就仆倒在地、聽見有聲音對他說、掃羅、掃羅、你為甚麼逼迫我。
He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
5 他說、主阿、你是誰。主說、我就是你所逼迫的耶穌．
"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied.
6 起來、進城去、你所當作的事、必有人告訴你。
"Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
7 同行的人、站在那裡、說不出話來、聽見聲音、卻看不見人。
The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.
8 掃羅從地上起來、睜開眼睛、竟不能看見甚麼．有人拉他的手、領他進了大馬色．
Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.
9 三日不能看見、也不喫、也不喝。
For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
10 當下在大馬色、有一個門徒、名叫亞拿尼亞．主在異象中對他說、亞拿尼亞．他說、主、我在這裡。
In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered.
11 主對他說、起來、往直街去、在猶大的家裡、訪問一個大數人名叫掃羅．他正禱告．
The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.
12 又看見了一個人、名叫亞拿尼亞、進來按手在他身上、叫他能看見。
In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
13 亞拿尼亞回答說、主阿、我聽見許多人說、這人怎樣在耶路撒冷多多苦害你的聖徒．
"Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem.
14 並且他在這裡有從祭司長得來的權柄捆綁一切求告你名的人。
And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."
15 主對亞拿尼亞說、你只管去．他是我所揀選的器皿、要在外邦人和君王並以色列人面前、宣揚我的名。
But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.
16 我也要指示他、為我的名必須受許多的苦難。
I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
17 亞拿尼亞就去了、進入那家、把手按在掃羅身上說、兄弟掃羅、在你來的路上、向你顯現的主、就是耶穌、打發我來、叫你能看見、又被聖靈充滿。
Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
18 掃羅的眼睛上、好像有鱗立刻掉下來、他就能看見、於是起來受了洗．
Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,
19 喫過飯就健壯了。掃羅和大馬色的門徒同住了些日子．
and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
20 就在各會堂裡宣傳耶穌、說他是 神的兒子。
At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.
使徒行傳的主角保羅, 原本是緝捕基督徒的主要官員掃羅, 受到主耶穌基督的徵召, 悔改、受洗後改名為保羅; 自此四處宣揚福音, 雖然歷經多次生死交關的歷練, 仍不改其志, 傳道解惑, 最後成為使徒行傳, 比腓利和太監更為重要的傳道人.
人一生的轉變, 不管前半段是何等人物, 都是可以改變的, 在主耶穌的眼中, 你若是被揀選的人, 那是無可避免的使命, 因為有主耶穌與你同行, 你就是要成為傳道人.
馬太福音 Matthew 18:2-3
2 耶穌便叫一個小孩子來、使他站在他們當中、
He called a little child and had him stand among them.
3 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。
And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
此處提示我們, 要保守幼童的純真, 與不分彼此的無私分享, 那是我們進入 神的王國的主要門檻之一.
摩賽亞書 Mosiah 1:119-120
１１９ 因為自然人是 神的敵人，從亞墮落起就如此，將來如此，永遠也如此；
119 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been, from the fall of Adam, and will be, for ever and ever;
１２０ 除非他服從聖靈的誘導，脫離自然人，藉著上主基督的救讀而成為聖徒，並成為像一個小孩，服從、溫順、謙恭、有耐性、充滿著愛、樂於服從上主認為適於加在他身上的一切，像一個孩子服從他的父親。
120 But if he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man, and becometh a saint, through the atonement of Christ, the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
現今我們常說的 “自然人”, 他們的本性與耶和華的理念相去太遠, 其實是需要被教化的人, 也就是我剛剛所說的改變, 而改變的三部曲就是 “悔改、洗禮、聖靈”.
所以, 我們被告知不可以用“自我和軀體”來生活, 應該以心靈(智慧)跟隨聖靈的腳步; 換句話說, 這樣一來, 我們才能從自然人轉化, 改變成為耶和華所期望的我們.
而這些轉化, 不外乎是如幼童的純真、無私, 進而謙卑、忍辱, 種種的好行為, 看在耶和華的眼裡, 終致得到耶和華全然的愛.
以弗所書 Ephesians 4:22-24
22 就要脫去你們從前行為上的舊人．這舊人是因私慾的迷惑、漸漸變壞的．
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
23 又要將你們的心志改換一新．
to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
24 並且穿上新人．這新人是照著 神的形像造的、有真理的仁義、和聖潔。
and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
剛才提到改變的三部曲就是 “悔改、洗禮、聖靈”, 也是唯一能使我們去除舊習(人的陋習), 遵守新約( 神的誡律)的行為, 也只有這樣, 我們才得以有機會, 在主耶穌的跟前, 轉化改變成一個嶄新的人, 在人生的道路上, 祈求耶穌基督長伴我們左右.
哥林多後書 2 Corinthians 5:17
17 若有人在基督裡、他就是新造的人．舊事已過、都變成新的了。
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
詩篇 Psalms 51:10
10 神阿、求你為我造清潔的心、使我裡面重新有正直的靈。〔正直或作堅定〕
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
人的罪, 沒有得到赦免以前, 聖靈是不會想留在我們的軀殼裡, 一旦悔改了, 罪被赦免了, 同時也醫治好受傷的心靈; 罪的誘惑, 困住人的心, 惟有悔改, 才能打開困惑的心, 也才能以嶄新的面貌, 無愧的面對耶和華.
一顆謙卑柔順的心, 秉持公正的情意, 一個睿智的抉擇, 使我們得以獲得新生的喜悅.
約翰福音 John 3:3
3 耶穌回答說、我實實在在的告訴你、人若不重生、就不能見 神的國。
In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
最後, 我想加強一句, 沒有比耶和華的愛更偉大的, 也沒有比主耶穌更豐厚的祝福, 得以滿足我們匱乏的心靈.
從聽證會得到 神的見證, 自我悔改、受洗後的重生, 經由聖靈, 引導我們順服 神的誡律, 在我們閱讀聖經經文, 持續的謹守誡律, 也等同進入享用正直、公義、平安、喜悅的饗宴.
(Those Who Came : Eric Ho, Eileen Chen; Judy Chen; Jimmy Hsu; 林麗雯, 蔡昊均; Paul Lin; Sharon Wu) (Ruby Chen; Joanna Lin)
(Stenographer : Susan Shelton) (Interpreter : Paul Lin)
(Skype to : <Lade> Nancy, Sarah, Amanda, David, Anna, Joseph; Adam Brendel; Elizabeth Woodward; Hannah Edward)
P.S 夏令營後, 有意受洗的林麗雯, 今天帶著昊均一起出席, 希望她們能漸漸的吸收到相關的能量, 等到時機成熟, 就可以為她們安排洗禮、認證等等事項.
P.S 接二連三的颱風, 把中秋佳節的連假, 吹得亂七八糟, 沒想到倒是解決教師節, 老師沒放假, 勞工卻休假的窘況, 也不能說颱風老是來搗亂的.
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