約翰福音15:1-17

 

15:1 「我是真葡萄樹，我父是栽培的人。
15:2 凡屬我不結果子的枝子，他就剪去；凡結果子的，他就修理乾淨，使枝子結果子更多。
15:3 現在你們因我講給你們的道，已經乾淨了。
15:4 你們要常在我裡面，我也常在你們裡面。枝子若不常在葡萄樹上，自己就不能結果子；你們若不常在我裡面，也是這樣。
15:5 我是葡萄樹，你們是枝子。常在我裡面的，我也常在他裡面，這人就多結果子；因為離了我，你們就不能做甚麼。
15:6 人若不常在我裡面，就像枝子丟在外面枯乾，人拾起來，扔在火裡燒了。
15:7 你們若常在我裡面，我的話也常在你們裡面，凡你們所願意的，祈求，就給你們成就。
15:8 你們多結果子，我父就因此得榮耀，你們也就是我的門徒了。
15:9 我愛你們，正如父愛我一樣；你們要常在我的愛裡。
15:10 你們若遵守我的命令，就常在我的愛裡，正如我遵守了我父的命令，常在他的愛裡。
15:11 「這些事我已經對你們說了，是要叫我的喜樂存在你們心裡，並叫你們的喜樂可以滿足。
15:12 你們要彼此相愛，像我愛你們一樣；這就是我的命令。
15:13 人為朋友捨命，人的愛心沒有比這個大的。
15:14 你們若遵行我所吩咐的，就是我的朋友了。
15:15 以後我不再稱你們為僕人，因僕人不知道主人所做的事。我乃稱你們為朋友；因我從我父所聽見的，已經都告訴你們了。
15:16 不是你們揀選了我，是我揀選了你們，並且分派你們去結果子，叫你們的果子常存，使你們奉我的名，無論向父求甚麼，他就賜給你們。
15:17 我這樣吩咐你們，是要叫你們彼此相愛。」

 

 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

⁹ “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other.

 

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    主耶穌是葡萄樹，我們是枝子。這樣的比喻和保羅的比喻很類似，保羅說教會是基督的身體，而我們每一位信主的人是互為肢體。這兩個比喻的重點都和「合一」與「連結」也關係，這也是基督信仰的中心，也向我們宣告：要在教會裡，我們才能成為基督徒。

 

    而從這樣的理解，聖禮也是很重要。因為「洗禮」是讓我們加入基督的身體，或是連於葡萄樹，成為葡萄樹的枝子。「聖餐」是領受基督的身體和寶血，讓基督的身命充滿在我們裡面，好讓我們靠上帝的話，和其他弟兄姊彼此配搭成為基督的身體或是真葡萄樹。

 

    也因為連於元首基督，我們才能做基督的工。因為基督的工不是靠自己的熱心，而是要有基督的生命在我們心中，我們才可以做基督的工，也才能完成基督的使命，正如這裡所說：「不是你們揀選了我，是我揀選了你們，並且分派你們去結果子，叫你們的果子常存，使你們奉我的名，無論向父求甚麼，他就賜給你們。」

 

    也因為主耶穌有「揀選」，才會有「預定一群人得救」和「預定一群人滅亡」，這樣才是合理的事實！不是上帝殘忍要有些人滅亡，是人自己悖逆上帝在先！上帝在本應滅亡的全部人類中，揀選一些人賜給他們永生，這是上帝格外的恩典！

 

歷代志下23章

    歷代志下23:1-21  ,

歷代志下23:1-21

 

23:1 第七年，耶何耶大奮勇自強，將百夫長耶羅罕的兒子亞撒利雅，約哈難的兒子以實瑪利，俄備得的兒子亞撒利雅，亞大雅的兒子瑪西雅，細基利的兒子以利沙法召來，與他們立約。
23:2 他們走遍猶大，從猶大各城裡招聚利未人和以色列的眾族長到耶路撒冷來。
23:3 會眾在上帝殿裡與王立約。耶何耶大對他們說：「看哪，王的兒子必當作王，正如耶和華指著大衛子孫所應許的話」；
23:4 又說：「你們當這樣行：祭司和利未人凡安息日進班的，三分之一要把守各門，
23:5 三分之一要在王宮，三分之一要在基址門；眾百姓要在耶和華殿的院內。
23:6 除了祭司和供職的利未人之外，不准別人進耶和華的殿；惟獨他們可以進去，因為他們聖潔。眾百姓要遵守耶和華所吩咐的。
23:7 利未人要手中各拿兵器，四圍護衛王；凡擅入殿宇的，必當治死。王出入的時候，你們當跟隨他。」
23:8 利未人和猶大眾人都照著祭司耶何耶大一切所吩咐的去行，各帶所管安息日進班出班的人來，因為祭司耶何耶大不許他們下班。
23:9 祭司耶何耶大便將上帝殿裡所藏大衛王的槍、盾牌、擋牌交給百夫長，
23:10 又分派眾民手中各拿兵器，在壇和殿那裡，從殿右直到殿左，站在王子的四圍；
23:11 於是領王子出來，給他戴上冠冕，將律法書交給他，立他作王。耶何耶大和眾子膏他，眾人說：「願王萬歲！」
23:12 亞她利雅聽見民奔走讚美王的聲音，就到民那裡，進耶和華的殿，
23:13 看見王站在殿門的柱旁，百夫長和吹號的人侍立在王左右，國民都歡樂吹號，又有歌唱的，用各樣的樂器領人歌唱讚美；亞她利雅就撕裂衣服，喊叫說：「反了！反了！」
23:14 祭司耶何耶大帶管轄軍兵的百夫長出來，吩咐他們說：「將她趕到班外，凡跟隨她的必用刀殺死！」因為祭司說：「不可在耶和華殿裡殺她。」
23:15 眾兵就閃開，讓她去；她走到王宮的馬門，便在那裡把她殺了。
23:16 耶何耶大與眾民和王立約，都要作耶和華的民。
23:17 於是眾民都到巴力廟，拆毀了廟，打碎壇和像，又在壇前將巴力的祭司瑪坦殺了。
23:18 耶何耶大派官看守耶和華的殿，是在祭司利未人手下。這祭司利未人是大衛分派在耶和華殿中、照摩西律法上所寫的，給耶和華獻燔祭，又按大衛所定的例，歡樂歌唱；
23:19 且設立守門的把守耶和華殿的各門，無論為何事，不潔淨的人都不准進去。
23:20 又率領百夫長和貴冑，與民間的官長，並國中的眾民，請王從耶和華殿下來，由上門進入王宮，立王坐在國位上。
23:21 國民都歡樂，合城都安靜。眾人已將亞她利雅用刀殺了。

 

In the seventh year Jehoiada showed his strength. He made a covenant with the commanders of units of a hundred: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zikri. ² They went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites and the heads of Israelite families from all the towns. When they came to Jerusalem, ³ the whole assembly made a covenant with the king at the temple of God.

Jehoiada said to them, “The king’s son shall reign, as the Lord promised concerning the descendants of David. ⁴ Now this is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who are going on duty on the Sabbath are to keep watch at the doors, ⁵ a third of you at the royal palace and a third at the Foundation Gate, and all the others are to be in the courtyards of the temple of the Lord. ⁶ No one is to enter the temple of the Lord except the priests and Levites on duty; they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the others are to observe the Lord’s command not to enter.^{[a] 7} The Levites are to station themselves around the king, each with weapon in hand. Anyone who enters the temple is to be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes.”

⁸ The Levites and all the men of Judah did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one took his men—those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty—for Jehoiada the priest had not released any of the divisions. ⁹ Then he gave the commanders of units of a hundred the spears and the large and small shields that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of God. ¹⁰ He stationed all the men, each with his weapon in his hand, around the king—near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.

¹¹ Jehoiada and his sons brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him; they presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him and shouted, “Long live the king!”

¹² When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and cheering the king, she went to them at the temple of the Lord. ¹³ She looked, and there was the king, standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and musicians with their instruments were leading the praises. Then Athaliah tore her robes and shouted, “Treason! Treason!”

¹⁴ Jehoiada the priest sent out the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the troops, and said to them: “Bring her out between the ranks^[b] and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “Do not put her to death at the temple of the Lord.” ¹⁵ So they seized her as she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate on the palace grounds, and there they put her to death.

¹⁶ Jehoiada then made a covenant that he, the people and the king^[c] would be the Lord’s people. ¹⁷ All the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.

¹⁸ Then Jehoiada placed the oversight of the temple of the Lord in the hands of the Levitical priests, to whom David had made assignments in the temple, to present the burnt offerings of the Lord as written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and singing, as David had ordered. ¹⁹ He also stationed gatekeepers at the gates of the Lord’s temple so that no one who was in any way unclean might enter.

²⁰ He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people and all the people of the land and brought the king down from the temple of the Lord. They went into the palace through the Upper Gate and seated the king on the royal throne. ²¹ All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword.

 

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    上帝藉由祭司耶何耶大來打敗亞她利雅，使得大衛的子孫可以繼續擔任猶大國的王，使得基督的預備沒有受影響！

 

    可見上帝決定的事，是人無法阻擋的，必定會成就的！也因此我們對上帝的應許要堅定的相信！不要獸醫些人為想像的神學影響，這不是上帝所喜悅的！

 

    也因此，神學的建立是要靠聖經，不是人的推理，這是非常重要的原則！

 

 

約翰福音14:15-31

 

14:15 「你們若愛我，就必遵守我的命令。 

14:16 我要求父，父就另外賜給你們一位保惠師（或譯：訓慰師；下同），叫他永遠與你們同在，

14:17 就是真理的聖靈，乃世人不能接受的；因為不見他，也不認識他。你們卻認識他，因他常與你們同在，也要在你們裡面。
14:18 我不撇下你們為孤兒，我必到你們這裡來。
14:19 還有不多的時候，世人不再看見我，你們卻看見我；因為我活著，你們也要活著。
14:20 到那日，你們就知道我在父裡面，你們在我裡面，我也在你們裡面。
14:21 有了我的命令又遵守的，這人就是愛我的；愛我的必蒙我父愛他，我也要愛他，並且要向他顯現。」
14:22 猶大（不是加略人猶大）問耶穌說：「主啊，為甚麼要向我們顯現，不向世人顯現呢？」
14:23 耶穌回答說：「人若愛我，就必遵守我的道；我父也必愛他，並且我們要到他那裡去，與他同住。
14:24 不愛我的人就不遵守我的道。你們所聽見的道不是我的，乃是差我來之父的道。
14:25 「我還與你們同住的時候，已將這些話對你們說了。
14:26 但保惠師，就是父因我的名所要差來的聖靈，他要將一切的事指教你們，並且要叫你們想起我對你們所說的一切話。
14:27 我留下平安給你們；我將我的平安賜給你們。我所賜的，不像世人所賜的。你們心裡不要憂愁，也不要膽怯。
14:28 你們聽見我對你們說了，我去還要到你們這裡來。你們若愛我，因我到父那裡去，就必喜樂，因為父是比我大的。
14:29 現在事情還沒有成就，我預先告訴你們，叫你們到事情成就的時候就可以信。
14:30 以後我不再和你們多說話，因為這世界的王將到。他在我裡面是毫無所有；
14:31 但要叫世人知道我愛父，並且父怎樣吩咐我，我就怎樣行。起來，我們走吧！」

 

¹⁵ “If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be^[c] in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ¹⁹ Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. ²⁰ On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. ²¹ Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

²² Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

²³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. ²⁴ Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

²⁵ “All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

²⁸ “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. ²⁹ I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. ³⁰ I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, ³¹ but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

“Come now; let us leave.

 

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    主耶穌在這裡應許另一位保惠師，就是聖靈保惠師。透過聖靈保惠師，我們可以活出上帝兒女的身分，享受上帝在基督裡的一切豐盛與平安！