2018年10月23日 星期二

希伯來書11:29-35


11:29 他們因著信,過紅海如行乾地;埃及人試著要過去,就被吞滅了。
11:30
以色列人因著信,圍繞耶利哥城七日,城牆就倒塌了。
11:31
妓女喇合因著信,曾和和平平地接待探子,就不與那些不順從的人一同滅亡。
11:32
我又何必再說呢?若要一一細說,基甸、巴拉、參孫、耶弗他、大衛、撒母耳,和眾先知的事,時候就不夠了。
11:33
他們因著信,制伏了敵國,行了公義,得了應許,堵了獅子的口,
11:34
滅了烈火的猛勢,脫了刀劍的鋒刃;軟弱變為剛強,爭戰顯出勇敢,打退外邦的全軍。
11:35
有婦人得自己的死人復活。又有人忍受嚴刑,不肯苟且得釋放(原文是贖),為要得著更美的復活。

29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.
31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection.

****************

    「因著信」是舊約聖經的一條「紅線」,將所有舊約的人物都串在一起,不管是先知書或是歷史書,讓我們看見,這些人之所以可以成為上帝的見證人,或是代表者,都是「因著信」!

    「因著信」要告訴我們上帝揀選的奇妙,完全不是這些人的優異過人,而是上帝自己藉用這些人,來散發上帝對是人的慈愛和憐憫!若不是上帝出手拯救,人真的算不了什麼!

    「因著信」更是與基督的復活連結在一起,正如這裡所說:「婦人得自己的死人復活。又有人忍受嚴刑,不肯苟且得釋放(原文是贖),為要得著更美的復活。

    「因著信」更是作者要激勵的受信者,讓他們知道,屬基督的人必定要為信仰受到逼迫,也惟有「因著信」才能突破眼前的困境,沒有別的路,就是要與基督同受苦,才能同復活!

    因此「因著信」與為主受苦是分不開的!

希伯來書11:23-28


11:23 摩西生下來,他的父母見他是個俊美的孩子,就因著信,把他藏了三個月,並不怕王命。
11:24
摩西因著信,長大了就不肯稱為法老女兒之子。
11:25
他寧可和上帝的百姓同受苦害,也不願暫時享受罪中之樂。
11:26
他看為基督受的凌辱比埃及的財物更寶貴,因他想望所要得的賞賜。
11:27
他因著信,就離開埃及,不怕王怒;因為他恆心忍耐,如同看見那不能看見的主。
11:28
他因著信,就守(或譯:立)逾越節,行灑血的禮,免得那滅長子的臨近以色列人。

23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

**************

    摩西也是因著信而存在的他的出生成長工作與事奉都是「因著信」!但是,「因著信」不是代表他比別人的信心大,所以上帝特別賜福給他!不是的,反倒是他自己認識到自己是一無所有、一無所是、一無所能!完全只能倚靠上帝!

    因著信」,他感受到自己的出生與存活是上帝的恩典!「因著信」,他知道自己真正的身分,情願成為上帝的選民不願為埃及的王子!「因著信」,情願討上帝的喜悅,不願意討人和自己的歡喜,所以不要罪中之樂!「因著信」,看重永恆的賞賜勝於地上的金銀財寶!「因著信」,他不怕王的憤怒,情願討上帝的喜悅!更「因著信」,讓上帝的拯救之恩臨到自己的百姓!「因著信」,確知這一切都是上帝的作為,將榮耀歸給上帝,不歸給自己!

    親愛的弟兄姐妹,「因著信」你的生命也和別人不同,因為上帝用他的恩典與慈愛圍繞著你,使祂的榮光四圍保護你,引導你走上帝為你預備的天路!這一切全是「因著信」,都是上帝的作為!

希伯來書11:20-22


11:20 以撒因著信,就指著將來的事給雅各、以掃祝福。
11:21 雅各因著信,臨死的時候,給約瑟的兩個兒子各自祝福,扶著杖頭敬拜上帝。
11:22 約瑟因著信,臨終的時候,提到以色列族將來要出埃及,並為自己的骸骨留下遺命。

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.

**************

    以撒、雅各、約瑟這三位,也是亞伯拉罕信心的傳人,但是他們並不是道德高操、特別敬虔的人,他們也使普通的人!要不是上帝的引導和啟示,他們也不會在這一脈的恩典之中。

    也因為如此,我們要相信上帝的揀選是沒有條件的,祂不是先考核看看這個人配不配得著拯救,或是合乎他所用的器皿,只要人有一顆願意倚靠上帝的心,上帝就使用他們!

    因此,我們要求聖靈光照我們,賜給我們一顆願意倚靠的心,給我們自己也給我們所愛的家人、朋友和親戚及同事,使他們也願意接受耶穌基督為救主,並且藉著信來生活,走在上帝預備的天路!