基督徒的基本信仰

謝德華 Edward Short
May 22, 2024
宗教信仰, 謝德華 Edward Short
JiDuTuXinYang01 (154 x 67)本文介紹基督徒最基本的信仰：1〉神是誰？ 2〉聖經是什麼？ 3〉耶穌是誰？ 4〉人幹嘛？ 5〉罪的定義 6〉神救贖計劃 7〉如何成為基督徒 8〉基督徒生活 9〉敬拜的意義 10〉耶穌邀請您

一。神：我們在天上的父

宇宙中真有神的存在嗎？又到底有多少位神？他近在人的身邊或離人很遠？我們需要他時，他是否能隨時幫助我們？《聖經》說：“只有一個上帝，天父，萬物自他而生，我們為他而生，” 而且“他離我們個人都不遙遠”。

神像什麼？

  • 神是無所不能的。 《聖經》第一卷，創世記 17章1節說：“我是全能的神。” 神創造了偉大的宇宙， 也創造了微小的螞蟻。
  • 神是無所不在的。詩篇139篇2節的作者記載：“我坐下，我起來，你都曉得；你從遠處知道我的意念。” 神不僅眷顧歐洲人，同時也看顧中國人。 神關照世上每一個人。
  • 神是無所不知的。詩篇139篇2-4節說：“我行路，我躺卧，你都細察； 你也深知我一切所行的…我舌頭上的話,你沒有一句不知道的。” 神知道天空群星的數目，他也數算過你的頭髮。
  • 神是自有永有的。 出埃及記3章14節記載：神既是宇宙的創始者，他就不依賴人，或需要人手所造的物 （請參看使徒行傳 17:24-25）。 萬物 乃屬於他，他從亘古到永遠都是神。
  • 神是靈。約翰福音4章24節告訴世人說，神既然是靈,他就不受時間和空間所約束。因此神能同時垂聽住在桂林的人和居住紐約的人的禱告。沒有人知道神真正的相貌，所以人不能以雕刻或畫片等。拿來代替神。
  • 神是永遠不改變的。詩篇102 篇25-27節指出人是善變的，人的主意會變，人的律法也不能持久。 人類更常違約。 然而神是永不改變的。 神也不偏待人；神如何對待我，也必如何對待你。神在兩千年前所說的應許，至今仍然有效。
  • 神是愛。 約翰壹書4章8節教導我們說：神最大的屬性就是他愛我們。您相信神愛你嗎？或許您會想，倘若神真的愛我們，為何他不想辦法將自己的形象和他的旨意，向我們顯明？

二。神的話：聖經

神藉著《聖經》將自己顯示於人。

《聖經》由六十六卷書編纂而成，其中有一部分於公元前一千五百年寫成，但所記載之信息，卻溯及世界被造之初。《舊約聖經》在二千四百年前完稿；《新約聖經》於一千九百多年前完成。 整本《聖經》，或其中的部份已翻成兩千兩百一十多種文字。這包括已翻成的三十五種不同的中文版。而最早的中文《新約聖經》全譯本是於1814年問世。

《聖經》是神聖的著作。它能使你因信耶穌基督有得救的智慧。提摩太後書 3:15-17說道：“你也知道，你從小就了解《聖經》。 通過對耶穌基督的信仰，它能夠賜給你走上拯救的智慧。既然《經》的每一條都是上帝所賜，因此他對教授真理，說服罪人和糾正錯誤以及指導人過道義的生活都是有益的。 它使為上帝服務的人得到充分的準備，有行善所需的一切。”

“上帝的話是有生命力和積極的，它比任何雙刃寶劍都要鋒利,它能夠穿透、剖分靈與魂，關節和骨髓，它能夠判斷人們心中的意圖與資訊思想.”此句話就是《聖經》對自己的闡述（希伯來書4:12）。假如這些敘述是真實的，那麼《聖經》當然值得我們的尊崇與歌頌。倘若它是一本虛構的書，那麼《聖經》就沒有它存在的價值。《聖經》既然是神向人啟示的著作，您何以不花一些時間研讀它，聆聽它向您所述說的話語呢？

三。神的兒子：耶穌

耶穌基督大約誕生於兩千年前，但他自亘古就已存在。他從未有過不存在的時候。基督降世為人，既是天上的神，道成了肉身住在人當中。（請參閱《聖經》約翰福音 1:1-18。）

耶穌被人描述為“[耶穌] 走遍各地，到處行善…”（使徒行傳 10:38）。《聖經》說，耶穌傳播天國的福音，為人們治癒各種疾病。 他使瞎眼得見， 使瘸腿行走，使病者得醫治。 耶穌使長麻瘋的潔凈，使聾子聽見，叫死人復活。 約翰說耶穌所行的事，“如果要一件件都記錄下來的話，我想整個地球也容納不下那麼多的書。” 這些神跡，除了顯示耶穌對人的愛以及他的憐憫外，也證實了他是神的兒子。 同時也使那些親眼看見的人深信神與耶穌同在，且讚許他所行的一切事情。

請思考耶穌所說的下列這些話：“我就是道路，真理，生命；若不藉著我， 沒有人能到父那裡去。”  “我是生命的糧，到我這裡的人必定不餓，信我的永遠不渴。”“我就是這扇門，從我這扇門進來的人將得救…”  “我就是復活，我就是生命，相信我的人，死了也將會再生。 任何活著並相信我的人都永遠不會死。”

耶穌既是神所差來的，他當然說神的話。 然而他卻慘遭不義者的殺害。 耶穌來，本是要人在神面前認罪，悔改；但是人卻暴露自己的惡行，並在神面前將他釘死。 當耶穌在世時，他是完全的。 因此死亡不能轄制他，墳墓不能吞吃他；於是神叫他從死里復活。 使徒保羅作證說，“他出現在彼得面前，接著，出現在十二名使徒面前。 然後又在五百個兄弟面前同時出現。” 而且保羅寫此書信之際，其中大部分的人都還存在，可以同作見證（哥林多前書 15:3-8）。

耶穌的被釘和復活，都是神為了人類的罪所做的救贖計劃。“神愛世人， 甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們，叫一切信他的，不至滅亡，反得永生”（約翰福音 3:16）。

但是人算什麼，神竟然這樣拯救他們？

四。神所造的：人

《聖經》 的作者之一，大衛，是以色列的王，約出生於三千多年前。 這位大衛王竟也感嘆說：“人算什麼，你竟顧念他! 世人算什麼，你竟眷顧他!” 這與現代人所謂的，人是從低等動物演變而成的說法，有所差別。《聖經》中明確的記載，人是神特別創造的。由《聖經》第一章所陳述的得知，人的被造是對整個宇宙的加冕。 創世記第一章說道：“神看一切都甚好，”且將一切所有的交託在人手中。 神吩咐人要管理地上一切被造之物，並要耕種得食，生養眾多。

神造人與其他動物有明顯的不同，因為神賜給人靈魂 （傳道書 12:7）。《聖經》告訴我們說神照著自己的形象造人。 神是完全的、良善的，所以人在神創造他之初也是純全的（創世記 1:26-31）。 這種純潔、良善的天性在新生的嬰孩以及尚未犯罪的小孩子身上仍然可以找到。《三字經》里的 “人之初，性本善”亦即此理。

人在世上的目的是什麼？ 人生的目的至少有兩種： 一，在所行的事上榮耀他的創造者——神 （以賽亞書 43:7;哥林多前書 10:31）； 二，預備永恆的事——因為人人都有不朽的靈魂。 當然這二種事包括人人要行善，幫助別人，遵守神的誡命等。

請問，您完成自己的人生目的了嗎？ 您是否竭盡心力地做一切您所該做的，去過與神親近的和諧生活了嗎？如果還沒有，為何還耽延呢？

五。神所憎惡的：罪

或許您常聽基督徒提到【罪】這個字，而在心裡常想“基督徒為什麼時常講這個？” 什麼叫做“罪”呢？ 許多人認為【罪】這個字是由 【四】和【非】組成的，而且與《論語》中，孔子對顏淵所說的“非禮勿視，非禮勿聽，非禮勿言，非禮勿動”此四非有關。 其實孔子在此僅對仁，禮作解說，而不是對罪下定義。 無可否認的，古今中外的人都應該接受孔子的教導，發揚仁，禮之精神。 然而，須知，這不足以使我們遠離罪。

又有人以為[罪]的 【四非】是“不可殺人，不可偷盜，不可姦淫，不可醉酒”（或類似的事）。 他們說自己並沒有犯過這幾樣所以就沒有罪!

事實上，【罪】字是由【網】與 【非】組成的，而不是由【四】和 【非】。 【網】 是網羅的意思; 【網】 但是今天的簡體字 （繁體字為 【網】），而且【網】 也是古代的字。 網在此處象徵律法。 所以，罪的真正涵意是“非”被 “律法”逮住。 任何不正當的行為將會遭到人的法律或神的法律定罪，甚至受到兩者的制裁。 這即俗語所云：“法網恢恢，疏而不漏。”

神如何為【罪】下定義呢 ？

《聖經》上說，沒有活出神的標準就是罪。 以下是《聖經》上對罪所下的定義（一部分的定義）：

  • 不法：“違背律法就是罪”（約翰壹書 3：4）。
  • 不善：“人若知道行善，卻不去行，這就是他的罪了”（雅各書 4:17）。
  • 不義：“凡不義的事都是罪”（約翰壹書 5:17）。
  • 不信：“凡不出於信心的都是罪”（羅馬書 14:23）。

什麼人敢拒絕承認他有罪而不落入《聖經》的責備中？ 有誰敢否認自己有“非”，應受神律法的審判？ 《聖經》上說：“人人都犯了罪，虧欠了神的榮耀”（羅馬書 3:23）。 此段經節是對你自身的描述嗎？ 假如是，您又當如何解決這個問題呢？

六。神的救贖計劃

“神就是愛，”所以神不會讓人在黑暗中摸索，尋找解脫罪的重擔。 人不能也不需自救，因為神已為人預備了一條道路，即他的救贖計劃，使罪人可以因此而得救。

《聖經》上說：“因為我們還軟弱的時候，基督就按所定的日期為罪人死。 為義人死，是少有的；為仁人死，或者有敢做的。 惟有基督在我們還作罪人的時候為我們死，神的愛就在此向我們顯明了”（羅馬書 5:6-8）。

當耶穌被釘十字架時，即是敬畏順服神的人為不順服神的人死；無罪的代替有罪的受懲治；義人擔負不義之人的刑罰。《新約聖經》 中彼得前書2章22-25節對耶穌的描述是：“他從沒犯過罪，他沒說過謊，他受辱時沒有還口，受難時也沒威脅他們，而是把自己完全託付給了公正審判的上帝。 基督在十字架上的身體負載著我們的罪孽，以便讓我們的罪孽死去，為義而生。 他的創傷，使我們得到治癒。 因為你們過去就象迷途的羔羊，但是現在，你們已經回到牧羊人和你們靈魂的保護者的身邊了。”

藉著耶穌的死和復活，神叫人得以與他和好。 我們不再因罪的關係而與神隔絕。 神也盼望因著他的恩典使人得救。 請看以弗所書 2 章 8 節： “你們得救是本乎恩也因著信。 這並不是出於自己，乃是神所賜的。” 這就是神救贖人類的計劃。

但人如何遵從神的計劃呢？

七。你當怎麼樣行才可以成為基督徒？

《新約聖經》里，非基督徒歸信耶穌成為基督徒的例子都按照以下的次序： 聆聽相信福音，悔改過錯和罪，承認耶穌為神的兒子，受浸歸入耶穌基督的名。 之後要過新造之人的生活。

  • 相信：“沒有信仰的人是不可能令上帝滿意的，因為來到上帝面前的人必須相信上帝的存在，而且相信上帝能夠報償追求他的人”（希伯來書 11:6）。 曾經有一個人問使徒保羅說：“我必須做什麼才能得救？” 這人以前未曾聽過福音，所以保羅回答他說：“信仰主耶穌，那樣你們就會得救…”（使徒行傳 16:30-31）。 之後保羅把耶穌的福音傳給他。
  • 悔改：“主…寬容你們，上帝不想要任何人滅亡。 相反，他希望所有的人都能夠悔改”（彼得後書 3:9）。 “或者你…輕視了上帝博大的仁慈，寬容和耐心，或許你不明白他的仁慈是為了要引導你去悔改呢？”（羅馬書2:4）。
  • 什麼叫做悔改呢？ 悔改是一種思想的改變，是基於心中意念的驅使，而導致生活行動的改變。 您願意悔改您的罪嗎？
  • 承認：耶穌說：“誰在眾人面前承認我，我也會在天父面前承認他；誰在眾人面前不承認我，我在天父面前也不承認他” （馬太福音 10:32-33）。保羅說：“如果你用嘴承認：耶穌是主，心裡相信上帝使他從死里復活，那麼，你就會得救”（羅馬書 10:9）。 朋友，您相信耶穌是神的兒子嗎？ 你願意向別人承認這個事實嗎？
  • 受浸：彼得對那些相信耶穌是神的兒子，並且承認自己的過錯的人說： “你們各人要悔改，奉耶穌基督的名受洗【受浸】，叫你們的罪得赦，就必領受所賜的聖靈。 因為這個應許是給你們和你們的兒女，並一切在遠方的人，就是主我們神所召來的”（使徒行傳2:38-39）。 此經文告訴我們說：一位相信耶穌為神的兒子，並且悔改自己過錯的人，當他受浸時，就在那片刻，神用耶穌的血赦免他的罪。羅馬書6章3至6節對受浸有更進一步的解說：“…你們難道不知道受過洗禮進入基督的我們已受洗進入了他的死亡了嗎？ 所以，通過洗禮進入了他的死亡，我們與他一同被埋葬，以便就如借著天父榮耀的力量，基督從死里復活那樣，我們也能過上新生活。 既然我們在象他的那種死里也與他結合在一起，我們也將會在象他的那種復活里和他結合在一起。 我們知道這點： 我們的舊我已與基督一同被釘死在十字架上了，為的是使我們的罪惡的身體毀掉，使我們不再成為罪的奴隸”（普通話譯本）。此經文讓我們明白拯救我們的是神的恩典和耶穌的聖血，但讓我們接觸到耶穌的十字架的是洗禮——當我們受浸時，神就用耶穌的聖血洗去我們的罪。 我們從水裡上來時，我們就是新造的人，所以要過新的生活。
  • 生活：人除非有基督耶穌的生活樣式，否則就不能稱作基督徒。 這世界上有許多的人自稱是基督徒，但是因為他們沒有基督徒應該有的行為，所以耶穌就不能認他們為他自己的門徒。

基督徒當過什麼樣的生活呢？

八。基督徒的生活

假如有人照《新約聖經》教導受浸歸入主，神必洗去他的罪;同時他必領受神所賜的聖靈。 神的靈要住在他裡頭，幫助他成為神所喜悅的兒女。 （請閱讀使徒行傳2:38; 5:32; 22:16; 哥林多前書6:19-20）。 因此基督徒的生活是這樣的：

  1. 必須是一個新造的人：“若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人”（哥林多後書 5:17）。 保羅在加拉太書2章20節刻意地說：“我已經與基督同釘十字架。 現在活著的，不再是我，乃是基督在我裡面活著。 並且我如今在肉身活著是因信神的兒子而活; 他是愛我，為我舍己。”
  2. 必須有新的意念：“不要再讓這個世界的標準引導你們，而是通過更新思想來改變自己…”（羅馬書 12:2）。
  3. 不同於非基督徒的生活： 基督徒不可能遠離一切性淫亂、貪財、偷竊、拜偶像的人。 但是不可以與之同流而合污。
  4. 當結出聖靈的果子：“聖靈的產物即是愛、幸福、和平、耐心、仁慈、美好、信念、溫柔和自製…”（加拉太書 5:22-23）。
  5. 是一個對神感恩的生活（歌羅西書 3:15-17）。
  6. 是一個聖潔的生活（彼得前書 1:15）。
  7. 是一個愛的生活。 基督徒愛神，也愛他們的基督徒弟兄姐妹。 基督徒愛所有的人，甚至於他們用神的愛來愛他們的仇敵 （請讀馬太福音5至7章）。
  8. 是一個合一的生活： 基督徒要合而為一，不應該為宗派 （約翰福音 17:20-21; 羅馬書 15:5-6）。
  9. 有時是一個受逼迫的生活 （提摩太前書 3:12; 彼得前書全書）。
  10. 是一個教導別人成為基督徒的生活 （馬太福音 28:18-20）。

因為基督徒的生活是如此的美好，它每一方面都非常重要，因此保羅勸誡基督徒說：“要站穩腳根，不要動搖，要一貫把自己完全徹底地奉獻給主的事業，因為你們知道在主內工作絕不會是徒勞的”（哥林多前書15:58）。

九。敬拜真神的重要

基督徒應該經常地與其他的基督徒聚在一起敬拜神，但是這種敬拜需要根據《新約聖經》的教導。 對於基督徒來說，敬拜天父是理所當然的；其理由如下：

  1. 基督徒渴望敬奉、頌讚和感謝神——我們的主、宇宙的創造者、世人的救世主; 崇拜他是很自然的事。 詩人大衛王也表明他的心意說:“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”(詩篇42:1-2）。
  2. 神要我們藉著每個禮拜的崇拜紀念他。 請閱讀哥林多前書 11:23-29。
  3. 假如我們不經常敬拜神，我們很容易隨流失去遠離他的恩典。 但假如我們經常敬拜他就必然得到許多屬靈的福份。

基督徒的敬拜聚會是怎麼回事呢？ 倘若你參加一個基督徒的敬拜聚會， 心中作何期望呢？

敬拜中，每一位參加的人都應該具有一種安祥、敬虔的態度，和喜樂、熱切的心情。 崇拜過程有會眾同心齊唱靈歌，不同的弟兄帶領大家禱告、讀經、讚美神，且由一位傳道人講述一段屬靈信息，講解《聖經》。 每當 “主日”（星期日）基督徒也會領用“主餐，”並趁機會奉獻金錢給教會。 這種奉獻是為了支付教會的開支——包括救濟貧窮人士、協助傳福音、維修禮拜堂等。

慕道友參加敬拜聚會受歡迎嗎？ 是的! 您會在任何一個屬於主基督的教會崇拜中受到誠懇的歡迎。 請向贈送此本冊子給您的那個人詢問什麼地方有基督教會的禮拜堂，聚會所或家庭聚會。

十。耶穌呼喚你

您知道自己在對基督教義的了解已足夠幫助您成為基督徒了嗎？您今天願意成為基督徒嗎？您喜歡做神的兒女,認神為你屬靈的父親，認耶穌為您的救主，受浸歸入基督，使您的罪得赦免，且領受主的恩典，成為天家和教會的一員嗎？今天贈送此冊子給您的人，將很樂意為您安排一切受浸歸入主之事宜。 您願意在此決志嗎？ 耶穌說：“看啊,我站在門外叩門。 若有聽見我聲音就開門的，我要進到他那裡去…”（啟示錄3:20）。耶穌又說：“口渴的人也當來；願意的，都可以白白取生命的水喝”（啟示錄22:17）。

 

The Teachings of Christ

©By Edward Short（作者：謝德華）
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).
基督的教義
The Teachings of Christ
作者：謝德華 ©By Edward Short

 

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