基督徒的基本信仰

谢德华 Edward Short
May 22, 2024
宗教信仰, 谢德华 Edward Short
JiDuTuXinYang01 (154 x 67)本文介绍基督徒最基本的信仰：1〉神是谁？ 2〉圣经是什么？ 3〉耶稣是谁？ 4〉人干嘛？ 5〉罪的定义 6〉神救赎计划 7〉如何成为基督徒 8〉基督徒生活 9〉敬拜的意义 10〉耶稣邀请您

一。神：我们在天上的父

宇宙中真有神的存在吗？又到底有多少位神？他近在人的身边或离人很远？我们需要他时，他是否能随时帮助我们？《圣经》说：“只有一个上帝，天父，万物自他而生，我们为他而生，” 而且“他离我们个人都不遥远”。

神像什么？

  • 神是无所不能的。 《圣经》第一卷，创世记 17章1节说：“我是全能的神。” 神创造了伟大的宇宙， 也创造了微小的蚂蚁。
  • 神是无所不在的。诗篇139篇2节的作者记载：“我坐下，我起来，你都晓得；你从远处知道我的意念。” 神不仅眷顾欧洲人，同时也看顾中国人。 神关照世上每一个人。
  • 神是无所不知的。诗篇139篇2-4节说：“我行路，我躺卧，你都细察； 你也深知我一切所行的…我舌头上的话,你没有一句不知道的。” 神知道天空群星的数目，他也数算过你的头发。
  • 神是自有永有的。 出埃及记3章14节记载：神既是宇宙的创始者，他就不依赖人，或需要人手所造的物 （请参看使徒行传 17:24-25）。 万物 乃属于他，他从亘古到永远都是神。
  • 神是灵。约翰福音4章24节告诉世人说，神既然是灵,他就不受时间和空间所约束。因此神能同时垂听住在桂林的人和居住纽约的人的祷告。没有人知道神真正的相貌，所以人不能以雕刻或画片等。拿来代替神。
  • 神是永远不改变的。诗篇102 篇25-27节指出人是善变的，人的主意会变，人的律法也不能持久。 人类更常违约。 然而神是永不改变的。 神也不偏待人；神如何对待我，也必如何对待你。神在两千年前所说的应许，至今仍然有效。
  • 神是爱。 约翰壹书4章8节教导我们说：神最大的属性就是他爱我们。您相信神爱你吗？或许您会想，倘若神真的爱我们，为何他不想办法将自己的形象和他的旨意，向我们显明？

二。神的话：圣经

神藉著《圣经》将自己显示於人。

《圣经》由六十六卷书编纂而成，其中有一部分於公元前一千五百年写成，但所记载之信息，却溯及世界被造之初。《旧约圣经》在二千四百年前完稿；《新约圣经》於一千九百多年前完成。 整本《圣经》，或其中的部份已翻成两千两百一十多种文字。这包括已翻成的三十五种不同的中文版。而最早的中文《新约圣经》全译本是於1814年问世。

《圣经》是神圣的著作。它能使你因信耶稣基督有得救的智慧。提摩太后书 3:15-17说道：“你也知道，你从小就了解《圣经》。 通过对耶稣基督的信仰，它能够赐给你走上拯救的智慧。既然《经》的每一条都是上帝所赐，因此他对教授真理，说服罪人和纠正错误以及指导人过道义的生活都是有益的。 它使为上帝服务的人得到充分的准备，有行善所需的一切。”

“上帝的话是有生命力和积极的，它比任何双刃宝剑都要锋利,它能够穿透、剖分灵与魂，关节和骨髓，它能够判断人们心中的意图与资讯思想.”此句话就是《圣经》对自己的阐述（希伯来书4:12）。假如这些叙述是真实的，那么《圣经》当然值得我们的尊崇与歌颂。倘若它是一本虚构的书，那么《圣经》就没有它存在的价值。《圣经》既然是神向人启示的著作，您何以不花一些时间研读它，聆听它向您所述说的话语呢？

三。神的儿子：耶稣

耶稣基督大约诞生於两千年前，但他自亘古就已存在。他从未有过不存在的时候。基督降世为人，既是天上的神，道成了肉身住在人当中。（请参阅《圣经》约翰福音 1:1-18。）

耶稣被人描述为“[耶稣] 走遍各地，到处行善…”（使徒行传 10:38）。《圣经》说，耶稣传播天国的福音，为人们治愈各种疾病。 他使瞎眼得见， 使瘸腿行走，使病者得医治。 耶稣使长麻疯的洁净，使聋子听见，叫死人复活。 约翰说耶稣所行的事，“如果要一件件都记录下来的话，我想整个地球也容纳不下那么多的书。” 这些神迹，除了显示耶稣对人的爱以及他的怜悯外，也证实了他是神的儿子。 同时也使那些亲眼看见的人深信神与耶稣同在，且赞许他所行的一切事情。

请思考耶稣所说的下列这些话：“我就是道路，真理，生命；若不藉著我， 没有人能到父那里去。”  “我是生命的粮，到我这里的人必定不饿，信我的永远不渴。”“我就是这扇门，从我这扇门进来的人将得救…”  “我就是复活，我就是生命，相信我的人，死了也将会再生。 任何活著并相信我的人都永远不会死。”

耶稣既是神所差来的，他当然说神的话。 然而他却惨遭不义者的杀害。 耶稣来，本是要人在神面前认罪，悔改；但是人却暴露自己的恶行，并在神面前将他钉死。 当耶稣在世时，他是完全的。 因此死亡不能辖制他，坟墓不能吞吃他；於是神叫他从死里复活。 使徒保罗作证说，“他出现在彼得面前，接著，出现在十二名使徒面前。 然后又在五百个兄弟面前同时出现。” 而且保罗写此书信之际，其中大部分的人都还存在，可以同作见证（哥林多前书 15:3-8）。

耶稣的被钉和复活，都是神为了人类的罪所做的救赎计划。“神爱世人， 甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生”（约翰福音 3:16）。

但是人算什么，神竟然这样拯救他们？

四。神所造的：人

《圣经》 的作者之一，大卫，是以色列的王，约出生於三千多年前。 这位大卫王竟也感叹说：“人算什么，你竟顾念他! 世人算什么，你竟眷顾他!” 这与现代人所谓的，人是从低等动物演变而成的说法，有所差别。《圣经》中明确的记载，人是神特别创造的。由《圣经》第一章所陈述的得知，人的被造是对整个宇宙的加冕。 创世记第一章说道：“神看一切都甚好，”且将一切所有的交托在人手中。 神吩咐人要管理地上一切被造之物，并要耕种得食，生养众多。

神造人与其他动物有明显的不同，因为神赐给人灵魂 （传道书 12:7）。《圣经》告诉我们说神照著自己的形象造人。 神是完全的、良善的，所以人在神创造他之初也是纯全的（创世记 1:26-31）。 这种纯洁、良善的天性在新生的婴孩以及尚未犯罪的小孩子身上仍然可以找到。《三字经》里的 “人之初，性本善”亦即此理。

人在世上的目的是什么？ 人生的目的至少有两种： 一，在所行的事上荣耀他的创造者——神 （以赛亚书 43:7;哥林多前书 10:31）； 二，预备永恒的事——因为人人都有不朽的灵魂。 当然这二种事包括人人要行善，帮助别人，遵守神的诫命等。

请问，您完成自己的人生目的了吗？ 您是否竭尽心力地做一切您所该做的，去过与神亲近的和谐生活了吗？如果还没有，为何还耽延呢？

五。神所憎恶的：罪

或许您常听基督徒提到【罪】这个字，而在心里常想“基督徒为什么时常讲这个？” 什么叫做“罪”呢？ 许多人认为【罪】这个字是由 【四】和【非】组成的，而且与《论语》中，孔子对颜渊所说的“非礼勿视，非礼勿听，非礼勿言，非礼勿动”此四非有关。 其实孔子在此仅对仁，礼作解说，而不是对罪下定义。 无可否认的，古今中外的人都应该接受孔子的教导，发扬仁，礼之精神。 然而，须知，这不足以使我们远离罪。

又有人以为[罪]的 【四非】是“不可杀人，不可偷盗，不可奸淫，不可醉酒”（或类似的事）。 他们说自己并没有犯过这几样所以就没有罪!

事实上，【罪】字是由【网】与 【非】组成的，而不是由【四】和 【非】。 【网】 是网罗的意思; 【网】 但是今天的简体字 （繁体字为 【網】），而且【网】 也是古代的字。 网在此处象徵律法。 所以，罪的真正涵意是“非”被 “律法”逮住。 任何不正当的行为将会遭到人的法律或神的法律定罪，甚至受到两者的制裁。 这即俗语所云：“法网恢恢，疏而不漏。”

神如何为【罪】下定义呢 ？

《圣经》上说，没有活出神的标准就是罪。 以下是《圣经》上对罪所下的定义（一部分的定义）：

  • 不法：“违背律法就是罪”（约翰壹书 3：4）。
  • 不善：“人若知道行善，却不去行，这就是他的罪了”（雅各书 4:17）。
  • 不义：“凡不义的事都是罪”（约翰壹书 5:17）。
  • 不信：“凡不出於信心的都是罪”（罗马书 14:23）。

什么人敢拒绝承认他有罪而不落入《圣经》的责备中？ 有谁敢否认自己有“非”，应受神律法的审判？ 《圣经》上说：“人人都犯了罪，亏欠了神的荣耀”（罗马书 3:23）。 此段经节是对你自身的描述吗？ 假如是，您又当如何解决这个问题呢？

六。神的救赎计划

“神就是爱，”所以神不会让人在黑暗中摸索，寻找解脱罪的重担。 人不能也不需自救，因为神已为人预备了一条道路，即他的救赎计划，使罪人可以因此而得救。

《圣经》上说：“因为我们还软弱的时候，基督就按所定的日期为罪人死。 为义人死，是少有的；为仁人死，或者有敢做的。 惟有基督在我们还作罪人的时候为我们死，神的爱就在此向我们显明了”（罗马书 5:6-8）。

当耶稣被钉十字架时，即是敬畏顺服神的人为不顺服神的人死；无罪的代替有罪的受惩治；义人担负不义之人的刑罚。《新约圣经》 中彼得前书2章22-25节对耶稣的描述是：“他从没犯过罪，他没说过谎，他受辱时没有还口，受难时也没威胁他们，而是把自己完全托付给了公正审判的上帝。 基督在十字架上的身体负载著我们的罪孽，以便让我们的罪孽死去，为义而生。 他的创伤，使我们得到治愈。 因为你们过去就象迷途的羔羊，但是现在，你们已经回到牧羊人和你们灵魂的保护者的身边了。”

藉著耶稣的死和复活，神叫人得以与他和好。 我们不再因罪的关系而与神隔绝。 神也盼望因著他的恩典使人得救。 请看以弗所书 2 章 8 节： “你们得救是本乎恩也因著信。 这并不是出于自己，乃是神所赐的。” 这就是神救赎人类的计划。

但人如何遵从神的计划呢？

七。你当怎么样行才可以成为基督徒？

《新约圣经》里，非基督徒归信耶稣成为基督徒的例子都按照以下的次序： 聆听相信福音，悔改过错和罪，承认耶稣为神的儿子，受浸归入耶稣基督的名。 之后要过新造之人的生活。

  • 相信：“没有信仰的人是不可能令上帝满意的，因为来到上帝面前的人必须相信上帝的存在，而且相信上帝能够报偿追求他的人”（希伯来书 11:6）。 曾经有一个人问使徒保罗说：“我必须做什么才能得救？” 这人以前未曾听过福音，所以保罗回答他说：“信仰主耶稣，那样你们就会得救…”（使徒行传 16:30-31）。 之后保罗把耶稣的福音传给他。
  • 悔改：“主…宽容你们，上帝不想要任何人灭亡。 相反，他希望所有的人都能够悔改”（彼得后书 3:9）。 “或者你…轻视了上帝博大的仁慈，宽容和耐心，或许你不明白他的仁慈是为了要引导你去悔改呢？”（罗马书2:4）。
  • 什么叫做悔改呢？ 悔改是一种思想的改变，是基于心中意念的驱使，而导致生活行动的改变。 您愿意悔改您的罪吗？
  • 承认：耶稣说：“谁在众人面前承认我，我也会在天父面前承认他；谁在众人面前不承认我，我在天父面前也不承认他” （马太福音 10:32-33）。保罗说：“如果你用嘴承认：耶稣是主，心里相信上帝使他从死里复活，那么，你就会得救”（罗马书 10:9）。 朋友，您相信耶稣是神的儿子吗？ 你愿意向别人承认这个事实吗？
  • 受浸：彼得对那些相信耶稣是神的儿子，并且承认自己的过错的人说： “你们各人要悔改，奉耶稣基督的名受洗【受浸】，叫你们的罪得赦，就必领受所赐的圣灵。 因为这个应许是给你们和你们的儿女，并一切在远方的人，就是主我们神所召来的”（使徒行传2:38-39）。 此经文告诉我们说：一位相信耶稣为神的儿子，并且悔改自己过错的人，当他受浸时，就在那片刻，神用耶稣的血赦免他的罪。罗马书6章3至6节对受浸有更进一步的解说：“…你们难道不知道受过洗礼进入基督的我们已受洗进入了他的死亡了吗？ 所以，通过洗礼进入了他的死亡，我们与他一同被埋葬，以便就如借著天父荣耀的力量，基督从死里复活那样，我们也能过上新生活。 既然我们在象他的那种死里也与他结合在一起，我们也将会在象他的那种复活里和他结合在一起。 我们知道这点： 我们的旧我已与基督一同被钉死在十字架上了，为的是使我们的罪恶的身体毁掉，使我们不再成为罪的奴隶”（普通话译本）。此经文让我们明白拯救我们的是神的恩典和耶稣的圣血，但让我们接触到耶稣的十字架的是洗礼——当我们受浸时，神就用耶稣的圣血洗去我们的罪。 我们从水里上来时，我们就是新造的人，所以要过新的生活。
  • 生活：人除非有基督耶稣的生活样式，否则就不能称作基督徒。 这世界上有许多的人自称是基督徒，但是因为他们没有基督徒应该有的行为，所以耶稣就不能认他们为他自己的门徒。

基督徒当过什么样的生活呢？

八。基督徒的生活

假如有人照《新约圣经》教导受浸归入主，神必洗去他的罪;同时他必领受神所赐的圣灵。 神的灵要住在他里头，帮助他成为神所喜悦的儿女。 （请阅读使徒行传2:38; 5:32; 22:16; 哥林多前书6:19-20）。 因此基督徒的生活是这样的：

  1. 必须是一个新造的人：“若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人”（哥林多后书 5:17）。 保罗在加拉太书2章20节刻意地说：“我已经与基督同钉十字架。 现在活著的，不再是我，乃是基督在我里面活著。 并且我如今在肉身活著是因信神的儿子而活; 他是爱我，为我舍己。”
  2. 必须有新的意念：“不要再让这个世界的标准引导你们，而是通过更新思想来改变自己…”（罗马书 12:2）。
  3. 不同於非基督徒的生活： 基督徒不可能远离一切性淫乱、贪财、偷窃、拜偶像的人。 但是不可以与之同流而合污。
  4. 当结出圣灵的果子：“圣灵的产物即是爱、幸福、和平、耐心、仁慈、美好、信念、温柔和自制…”（加拉太书 5:22-23）。
  5. 是一个对神感恩的生活（歌罗西书 3:15-17）。
  6. 是一个圣洁的生活（彼得前书 1:15）。
  7. 是一个爱的生活。 基督徒爱神，也爱他们的基督徒弟兄姐妹。 基督徒爱所有的人，甚至於他们用神的爱来爱他们的仇敌 （请读马太福音5至7章）。
  8. 是一个合一的生活： 基督徒要合而为一，不应该为宗派 （约翰福音 17:20-21; 罗马书 15:5-6）。
  9. 有时是一个受逼迫的生活 （提摩太前书 3:12; 彼得前书全书）。
  10. 是一个教导别人成为基督徒的生活 （马太福音 28:18-20）。

因为基督徒的生活是如此的美好，它每一方面都非常重要，因此保罗劝诫基督徒说：“要站稳脚根，不要动摇，要一贯把自己完全彻底地奉献给主的事业，因为你们知道在主内工作绝不会是徒劳的”（哥林多前书15:58）。

九。敬拜真神的重要

基督徒应该经常地与其他的基督徒聚在一起敬拜神，但是这种敬拜需要根据《新约圣经》的教导。 对於基督徒来说，敬拜天父是理所当然的；其理由如下：

  1. 基督徒渴望敬奉、颂赞和感谢神——我们的主、宇宙的创造者、世人的救世主; 崇拜他是很自然的事。 诗人大卫王也表明他的心意说:“神啊! 我的心切慕你，如鹿切慕溪水。 我的心渴想神，就是永生神”(诗篇42:1-2）。
  2. 神要我们藉著每个礼拜的崇拜纪念他。 请阅读哥林多前书 11:23-29。
  3. 假如我们不经常敬拜神，我们很容易随流失去远离他的恩典。 但假如我们经常敬拜他就必然得到许多属灵的福份。

基督徒的敬拜聚会是怎么回事呢？ 倘若你参加一个基督徒的敬拜聚会， 心中作何期望呢？

敬拜中，每一位参加的人都应该具有一种安祥、敬虔的态度，和喜乐、热切的心情。 崇拜过程有会众同心齐唱灵歌，不同的弟兄带领大家祷告、读经、赞美神，且由一位传道人讲述一段属灵信息，讲解《圣经》。 每当 “主日”（星期日）基督徒也会领用“主餐，”并趁机会奉献金钱给教会。 这种奉献是为了支付教会的开支——包括救济贫穷人士、协助传福音、维修礼拜堂等。

慕道友参加敬拜聚会受欢迎吗？ 是的! 您会在任何一个属於主基督的教会崇拜中受到诚恳的欢迎。 请向赠送此本册子给您的那个人询问什么地方有基督教会的礼拜堂，聚会所或家庭聚会。

十。耶稣呼唤你

您知道自己在对基督教义的了解已足够帮助您成为基督徒了吗？您今天愿意成为基督徒吗？您喜欢做神的儿女,认神为你属灵的父亲，认耶稣为您的救主，受浸归入基督，使您的罪得赦免，且领受主的恩典，成为天家和教会的一员吗？今天赠送此册子给您的人，将很乐意为您安排一切受浸归入主之事宜。 您愿意在此决志吗？ 耶稣说：“看啊,我站在门外叩门。 若有听见我声音就开门的，我要进到他那里去…”（启示录3:20）。耶稣又说：“口渴的人也当来；愿意的，都可以白白取生命的水喝”（启示录22:17）。

 

The Teachings of Christ

©By Edward Short（作者：谢德华）
1. GOD:  OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN
Is there a God? How many gods are there? Is God close to man or is he far away? If we need God, is he always available to help us? The Bible says, “…there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live…”; moreover, “he is not far from each of us.”
What is God like?
  • God is omnipotent. Genesis 17:1: “I am God Almighty.” God created the magnificent universe and he created the tiny ant.
  • God is omnipresent. Psalms 139:2: “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.” God not only looks after Europeans, he also watches over Chinese. God cares for all people throughout the world.
  • God is omniscient. Psalms 139:2-4: “…You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.” God knows the number of stars in the heavens; he has also counted the hair on your head.
  • God is self-sustaining and eternal. Exodus 3:14: Since God is the creator of the universe he does not rely on anyone, neither does he need to be served by human hands (see Acts 17:24-25). All things were made by him; from everlasting to everlasting he is God.
  • God is spirit. John 4:24: Since God is spirit he is not bound by space and time, consequently he can hear simultaneously the prayers of someone in Guilin and someone else in New York. No one knows what God’s true form looks like, so it is impossible to represent God through sculpture or paint.
  • God never changes. Psalms 102:25-27: Man changes, his ideas change, his laws change; man goes against his own laws. But God is changeless. God does not show favoritism; he treats you the same way he treats me. The promises God made two thousand years ago are still good today.
  • God is love. 1 John 4:8: God’s greatest quality is that he loves us. Do you believe that God loves you? Perhaps you are thinking: “If God really loves us, why doesn’t he think of a way to reveal his image and his will to us?”
2. GOD’S WORD:  THE BIBLE
God reveals himself to mankind through the Bible.
The Bible is a compilation of sixty-six books. Some of these were written about 1500 B.C., but the information recorded therein goes back to the time of creation. The Old Testament was finished about twenty-four hundred years ago and the New Testament was finished about eighteen hundred years ago. The entire Bible or some portion of it has been translated into more than one thousand nine hundred and seventy languages. This figure includes more than thirty-five Chinese language editions and some seven aboriginal languages in Taiwan province. The first Chinese New Testament was published in 1814.
The Bible is a holy composition. The Bible is able to make you “wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.” 2 Timothy 3:15-17 says: “You have known the Holy Scriptures since you were a child. Those Scriptures are able to make you wise. And that wisdom leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by God. And all Scripture is useful for teaching and for showing people the things that are wrong in their lives. It is useful for correcting faults and teaching how to live right. Using the Scriptures, the person who serves God will be ready and will have everything he needs to do every good work” (Easy-to Read Version. The Chinese is quoted from Putonghua Bible © World Bible Translation Center, Fort Worth, TX).
“God’s word is alive and working. His word is sharper than the sharpest sword. God’s word cuts all the way into us like a sword. It cuts deep to the place where the soul and the spirit are joined. God’s word cuts to the center of our joints and our bones. It judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts.” This is found in Hebrews 4:12 and is the Bible’s explanation of itself. (Easy-to-Read Version. The Chinese is quoted from Putonghua Bible © World Bible Translation Center, Fort Worth, TX.) If this claim is correct then the Bible is worthy of our veneration and praise. If the Bible is false, however, it has no value. Since the Bible is God’s revelation to mankind, why don’t you spend some time studying it and listening to the message it seeks to convey?
3. GOD’S SON:  JESUS
Jesus Christ was born approximately two thousand years ago, but he has existed throughout eternity. There has never been a time when Jesus was not. Christ came into the world; that is, God, the Word, became flesh and dwelt among mankind. (Please read John 1:1-18 in the New Testament portion of the Bible.)
Jesus was described as one who “went around doing good…” (Acts 10:38). The Bible tells us that Jesus spread the gospel of the kingdom of heaven and healed all sorts of illnesses. Jesus gave sight to the blind, cleansed lepers, enabled the deaf to hear and raised the dead. Regarding Jesus’ actions, John stated that “if every one of them were written down, even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” These miracles not only expressed the love and concern that Jesus had for people, they also proved that Jesus was the son of God. They also instilled deep faith in those who saw the miracles, faith that God was with Jesus and caused these people to praise all he did.
Consider some of the words of Jesus, as follows: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” “I am the gate. The person that enters through me will be saved…” “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”
Since Jesus was sent by God, of course he spoke the words of God. But he faced a horrific murder at the hands of the unrighteous. Jesus came to cause people to admit sin before God and to repent, but man exposed his sinfulness before God by nailing Jesus to a cross. Jesus lived a perfect life while on earth so death was unable to bind him and the grave was unable to swallow him; God called Jesus back from death and resurrected him. The apostle Paul certifies this fact: “He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time.” Most of those five hundred people were still alive when Paul wrote this letter, and could corroborate what Paul said (1 Corinthians 15:3-8).
The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus were all part of God’s plan to redeem mankind. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
But what about man is worth so much that God would go to such lengths to redeem him?
4. GOD’S CREATION:  MAN
David, one of the authors of the Bible, was a king of Israel who lived about three thousand years ago. King David exclaimed, “What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” Such a statement is far removed from the belief of some today that man is the result of evolution from lower forms of life. The Bible states clearly that man was especially created by God. We learn in the very first chapter of the Bible that God created mankind as the crown of the universe. Genesis chapter one says, “God saw that …it was very good,” and God put everything under the authority of man. God instructed man to care for everything he had made; man should also plant and eat, have children and fill the earth.
There is a very big difference between God’s creation of mankind and the animals; God gave man a soul [or spirit] (Ecclesiastes 12:7). We are told that God made man in his own image. God is perfect and morally good, and so when God created man, man too began as pure and perfect (Genesis 1:26-31). We still see this pure and good nature in infants and in small children who do not yet know what sin is. The ancient Chinese book “San Zi Jing” [Three-Character Classic] expresses this same truth: “Ren zhi chu, xing ben shan” [the basic nature of man is innately good].
What is the purpose of life? There are at least two purposes to life: 1) To glorify our Creator, God (Isaiah 43:7; 1 Corinthians 10:31), and 2) To prepare for eternity, in that each of us possesses an imperishable soul. Of course these two purposes include but are not limited to our doing good and helping other people.
Question: How are you doing with these two purposes in life? Are you doing your best to do everything you should do? Are you living in harmony with God? If not, what are you waiting for?
5. WHAT GOD HATES:  SIN
Perhaps you often hear Christians mention the word “sin” and wonder why in the world they talk about it so much. What is sin? Many people believe that the Chinese character “zui” [sin] is composed of two words, namely “si” [four] and “fei” [wrong, evil doing]. They think of Confucius’ work Lun Yu [Analects], where Confucius was talking to Yan Yuan and said, “Look not at what is contrary to li [propriety, etiquette, ceremony, protocol]; listen not at what is contrary to li; speak not what is contrary to li; make no movement which is contrary to li.” To them, the “si-fei” [four wrongs] of “zui” [sin] means not doing these things. However, in this passage Confucius is talking about ren [perfect virtue, benevolence, humanity] and li; he is not defining sin. In fact all people, whether Chinese or not, should accept Confucius’ admonition and develop the spirit of li and ren, but these in no way can keep us from sinning.
Other people believe that the “si-fei” of “zui” are: “Do not commit murder, do not steal, do not commit adultery and do not get drunk” (or some similar list). They say that they have never done these four things and so they have no sin.
In fact however, “zui” [sin] is composed of “wang” [net] and “fei” [wrong, evil doing], not of “si” [four] and “fei.” “Wang” means “net” and it is a very old Chinese character. In the character for sin, “net” is symbolic of the law and thus it means that one’s “wrong” has been caught in the “net” of the law. Anyone who does wrong will face either man’s law or God’s law and will be determined to be “sinner,” and he may face punishment from both entities. Just as the old saying goes, “no one escapes the dragnet of the law.”
How does God define “sin”?
The Bible teaches that it is sin to fall short of God’s standard. The Bible defines sin in the following ways:
  • Lawlessness: “…sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4).
  • Lack of good: “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins” (James 4:17).
  • Wrongdoing: “All wrongdoing is sin…” (1 John 5:17).
  • Faithlessness: “Everything that does not come from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23).
Will anyone dare to refuse to admit that he has sin and that he stands reproved by the Bible? Who refuses to confess that he has “zui” [sin] and that he should be judged by God’s law? The Bible affirms that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Does this Scripture describe you? If so, how can you remedy the problem?
6. GOD’S PLAN OF REDEMPTION
“God is love,” therefore he will not allow us to grope in the darkness seeking relief from the burden of sin. Man cannot and need not save himself. God has provided a way, his plan of salvation that will enable sinful man to be saved.
The Bible says that, “at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God shows his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).
When Jesus was nailed to the cross, he who revered and obeyed God died for those who disobey God; the sinless was punished for the sinful and the righteous for the unrighteous. The New Testament book of 1 Peter describes Jesus: “‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (2:22-25).
God calls man to be reconciled to himself through the death and resurrection of Jesus. We are no longer separated from God because of sin; rather, God wants all people to be saved through his grace. In Ephesians 2:8 we read: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” This is God’s plan for the redemption of mankind.
But how does man comply with God’s plan?
7. WHAT MUST YOU DO TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN?
In the Bible, whenever a non-Christian committed to Jesus and became a Christian, the process always included the following sequence: Hearing and believing the gospel, repentance of sins, confession of Jesus as the Son of God, baptism into the name of Jesus Christ.
  1. Belief: “Without faith, a person cannot please God. Any person who comes to God must believe that God is real. Any person who comes to God must believe that God rewards those people who truly want to find him” (Hebrews 11:6; Easy-to-Read Version; The Chinese is quoted from Putonghua Bible © World Bible Translation Center, Fort Worth, TX). Someone asked the apostle Paul, “What must I do to be saved?” This person had not yet heard the gospel so Paul answered him, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved…” (Acts 16:30-31). Then Paul told him the gospel message.
  2. Repentance: “The Lord… is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?” (Romans 2:4).
  3. What does it mean to repent? Repentance is change of thought, prompted by change of heart, resulting in change of life. Do you want to repent of your sins?
  4. Confession: Jesus said, “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33). Paul said, “…if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Dear reader, do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Do you want to declare this to others?
  5. Baptism: To those who believed that Jesus was God’s Son and who confessed their sinfulness, Peter said, “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. The promise is to you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:38-39). When a person who believes that Jesus is God’s Son and repents of his sins is baptized, at that moment God uses the blood of Jesus to forgive his sins.  Verses three through six of Romans chapter six explains baptism further: “…don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.” This passage makes us aware that it is the grace of God and the holy blood of Jesus that saves us, but it is baptism that puts us in contact with the cross of Jesus; when we are baptized God uses the holy blood of Jesus to wash our sins away. We come up out of the water a newly created person and so we must live a new life.
  6. Lifestyle: Unless a person exhibits the lifestyle of Jesus Christ he cannot be called a Christian. Many people in our world call themselves Christians, but because they lack the lifestyle that a Christian ought to demonstrate, Jesus cannot call them his disciples.
How should Christians live?

8. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

If a person does just like the Bible teaches and is baptized into the Lord, God will wash his sins away and give him his Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit will live within him and help him be pleasing to God. (Please read Acts 2:38; 5:32; 22:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.) Consequently the Christian life is as follows:
  1. A new person: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (1 Corinthians 5:17). In Galatians 2:20 Paul painstakingly says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
  2. A new way of thinking: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:2).
  3. Different from non-Christians: It is impossible for a Christian not to have some contact with the sexually immoral, greedy, thieves, idol worshipers, etc, but he must not join them in their filth. (See 1 Corinthians 5:9-11.)
  4. Produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit: “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
  5. A life of giving thanks to God (Colossians 3:15-17).
  6. A life of purity (1 Peter 1:15).
  7. A life of love: Christians love God and they also love their fellow Christian brothers and sisters. Christians love all people; they even love their enemies with the love of God. (See Matthew chapters five through seven.)
  8. A life of unity: Christians should be unified (John 17:20-21; Romans 15:5-6).
  9. Sometimes a life of persecution (1 Timothy 3:12; the entire book of 1 Peter).
  10. A life of teaching others how to become Christians (Matthew 28:18-20).
  11. Since the Christian life includes all these wonderful things, each item is important. No wonder Paul admonished Christians, “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
9. THE IMPORTANCE OF WORSHIPING THE TRUE GOD
Christians should worship God together with fellow Christians often, but such worship should be according to Biblical teachings. It is only right and proper that Christians will want to worship God! But there are other reasons too:
(1) Christians yearn to worship God, to praise and thank him as our Lord, creator of the universe and Savior of the world. It is natural to worship God. The heart of the poet King David overflowed when he said, “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Psalms 42:1-2).
(2) God wants us to honor him each week through worship. See 1 Corinthians 11:23-29.
(3) If we do not worship God regularly, it becomes very easy to fall from God’s grace, but if we worship him regularly we will receive many spiritual blessings.
What happens during Christian worship? What should you expect if you go to a place of Christian worship?
During worship, those assembled should express an attitude of serenity and respect, of joy and fervency. The worship will include singing of hymns by the congregation. Some men will lead those assembled in prayer and Bible reading and praise. A minister will preach on a spiritual subject for some thirty to fifty minutes. Each “Lord’s Day” (Sunday), Christians will partake of the “Lord’s Supper” and will have opportunity to contribute financially to the church. This contribution supports the expenditures of the church, including helping the poor, spreading the gospel and up keep on the place of worship.
Are “seekers” (those who are not yet Christians but are interested in Christianity) welcome at worship services? Of course! You will be welcomed warmly by any church that is truly close to the Lord Jesus. Please ask the person who gave you this booklet to tell you where you can find a church of Christ, whether a large church building, a small building or a home worship.
10. JESUS CALLS YOU
Are you aware that you now know enough about the teachings of Christ to become a Christian? Don’t you want to become a Christian, even today? Don’t you want to become a child of God and enable him to become your spiritual father and Jesus to become your Savior? Don’t you want to be baptized into Christ so that your sins will be forgiven and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and become a member of God’s family and church? Don’t you want to make your commitment now? Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in…” (Revelation 3:20). Jesus also says, “…Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life” (Revelation 22:17).
基督的教义
The Teachings of Christ
作者：谢德华 ©By Edward Short

 

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