教會論與教會生活-林慈信(41集) - 16 - 《教會論與教會生活》林慈信博士 -第16講

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Living in Christ’s Church
session 16
我們上次讀了一些經文，說
上帝特別是以色列的君王
God’s rule over Israel
was to make Israel a showcase.
上帝統治以色列
祂的心意是要讓以色列作為一個
陳設、擺設
或者說作一個見證
The nations of the earth were to see
the glory of the Lord’s salvation.
地上的萬國要看到耶和華拯救的
救恩的榮耀
At the pinnacle of the reign of Solomon
在所羅門統治的顛峰期的時候
the kings of the earth did come
to hear the wisdom of God’s king
and to see the magnificence that
God had given him (1 Kings 4:34; 10:4-9).
地上的諸國的君王
都來聽上帝所立的君王的智慧
也來看上帝給這位君王的華美
The king of Israel, gifted by the Lord,
以色列的王有耶和華所給他的恩賜
became a symbol of
God’s rule over his people.
他就成為上帝統治祂子民的一個象徵
Solomon failed miserably
in his calling however.
可是，所羅門在他的呼召上
失敗得非常地慘
He married heathen princesses
他娶了異教的公主們
in order to seal his treaties
with the surrounding nations
用來保證他與旁邊的國家
所立的條約
and even erected shrines
in Jerusalem for the gods of the heathen.
甚至在耶路撒冷建立這些
異教的神明的廟宇
No longer did Israel witness to the
exclusive salvation of the one true God.
現在以色列不再見證
唯一真神排他性的救恩了
The threatened judgment came
上帝所警告、所威嚇的審判來到了
as God gave the kingdom of Israel over
to the power of the Gentiles
上帝將以色列的王國
轉遞給了外邦人的權柄
and Israel was carried into captivity.
以色列就被擄了
and Israel was carried into captivity.
that his kingdom power
had not been defeated.
可是上帝清楚地表示
祂的國度和權能並沒有失敗
His prophets declared that
耶和華的先知宣告：
God was using the Assyrians and Babylonians
上帝在使用亞述人和巴比倫人
to accomplish his royal will (Is. 10:5-19).
來成就祂君王的旨意
外邦人
亞述人、巴比倫人
都是上帝手中的器皿
Through Israel in exile God revealed
that he was yet king of the nations.
上帝透過被擄的、被放逐的以色列民
透過他們來啟示、來顯明
祂仍然是萬國的君王
Through the prophet Daniel
上帝透過先知但以理
God’s rule over the mightiest
monarchs was vividly shown
上帝顯明祂統治那些
最有權能的君王
很明顯的，來突出地顯明
-God could cause Nebuchadnezzar
to eat grass like an ox
上帝可以使尼布甲尼撒王
好像牛這樣子吃草
and could put down blaspheming
Belshazzar (Dan. 4:33; 5:30).
也可以將褻瀆祂的王伯沙撒
傾倒下來
上帝可以讓君王的統治馬上就結束的
Israel’s exile became the
occasion for God’s demonstrating
his universal rule over the gentile kingdoms,
是的，以色列的被擄
是一個機會
在這個處境裡
上帝顯明了祂統治全世界
祂統治外邦的國度
but God’s revelation promises much more:
但是上帝的啟示所應許的
還不只這些
he declares through the prophets that
祂透過先知們宣告：
his saving kingdom will
come in power and glory.
祂拯救的國度要以大能和榮耀來到
A rock not cut with human hands will crash
like a thunderbolt against the
image of heathen empire (Dan. 2:34).
就是說，有一個不是人手所鑿出來的石頭
要砸碎外邦人異教的帝國的像
Like the idol Dagon
就好像非利士的神一樣
the kingdoms of this world will fall.
這個世界的各個國度都要倒下來
The stone of God’s kingdom
will become a great mountain,
上帝國度這石頭會成為一個大山
filling all the earth (Dan. 2:35, 44).
充滿全地
The ruler of God’s kingdom
而上帝國度的統治者呢
這個是上帝的國度的統治者的形像
祂領受了一個永遠的國度
或者是王權
The ruler of God’s kingdom
is one “like unto a Son of Man”
who comes to the Ancient of
Days on the clouds of heaven
and receives an eternal dominion
(Dan. 7:13, 14).
這個講到上帝的王權
上帝的國度的統治權
As we have seen,
正如我們所看到的
God brings salvation by coming himself.
上帝透過祂親自的來臨
將救恩帶來
It is the coming of the Lord that is
announced by the angels (Luke 2:11).
天使所宣告的是主來了
Mary is told by Gabriel
加百列天使告訴馬利亞
that the kingdom of her son
shall have no end (Luke 1:33).
她的兒子的國度是無窮盡的
When Jesus begins his ministry
當主耶穌開始傳道的時候
he preaches, as John did,
that the kingdom of God is at hand,
祂正如施洗約翰一樣
宣告上帝的國已經近了
but he also demonstrates
by mighty works that
但是祂也透過祂的神蹟奇事
祂顯明天國的大能已經來到了
he also demonstrates
by mighty works that
the power of the kingdom
is already present.
He can cast out demons
耶穌能夠趕鬼
because he has conquered Satan;
因為祂已經勝過撒但
he has bound the devil (the “strong man”)
祂已經把壯士綑綁了
and therefore he can rob Satan
of his victims (Matt. 12:28-30).
所以耶穌可以將撒但的那些受害者
擄過來、奪過來
In the power of the Holy Spirit
Christ brings in the kingdom of God:
耶穌基督藉著聖靈的大能
將神的國帶來了
Jesus conquered Satan in his temptation.
耶穌在受撒但的試探的時候，勝過了撒但
Satan attacked him on the point
of his divine sonship,
撒但攻擊耶穌基督
祂身為神的兒子的身份
and Jesus showed that
耶穌顯明
he was indeed the perfect Son of God
as he resisted and dismissed
the devil (Matt. 4:1-11).
耶穌透過抵擋魔鬼、趕走魔鬼
來顯明祂實實在在是那位
完全的、無罪的上帝的兒子
馬太福音第四章1~11節
The picture seems to be complete.
這幅圖畫好像完整了
Through the centuries
God promised the day
when he would come to judge
the earth in kingdom power.
在舊約這麼多世紀以來
上帝應許有一天祂要來以王權的大能
來審判大地、審判列國
He would destroy all the wicked and
oppressive regimes of this world
that have arisen like beasts out of the sea
祂這些所有這些邪惡的、壓迫人的政權
這些就好像從海裡升起的野獸一樣
and replace them
上帝要把他們取代掉
with God’s own kingdom of
justice and peace.
以祂自己的公義和平的國度取代之
Only God himself can be the King
of this perfect and final kingdom.
只有上帝才能作這個
完全的、最後的國度的君王
In the Gospels we hear
John the Baptist preaching
在福音書裡面我們聽到
施洗約翰所宣告的就是
that the time of
God’s kingdom had come.
上帝國度的時候到了
The axe of God’s judgment was lying
at the root of every tree of wickedness,
上帝的審判好像斧頭一樣
已經在所有邪惡的樹根上了
ready to cut it down.
隨時砍下來
Israel groaned under the heel
of Roman rule,
以色列人在羅馬人的統治之下嘆息
but the kingdom of God was at hand.
但是上帝的國快到了
Then Jesus came:
然後耶穌來了
the one whom John had promised,
就是施洗約翰所應許的那一位
the one who would baptize in
the Holy Spirit and the fire of judgment.
就是以聖靈和審判之火來施洗的那一位
Jesus is none other than God the Son.
耶穌就是上帝的兒子
不是別的，就是上帝的兒子
He does not need armies of angels
to usher in the kingdom of God
耶穌不需要一隊軍隊或天使
來引進上帝的國
-alone and unaided he defeated Satan
祂是獨自地、沒有人幫助祂
就勝過了撒但
and he has the power to
destroy all his works.
祂也有大能來破壞所有撒但的作為的
What remains to be done?
還有什麼要做的呢？
Has not the kingdom of righteousness,
justice and peace come with Jesus Christ?
公義、正直和平安的國度
是否透過耶穌基督已經來到了呢？
As we read the Gospels we find
a strange story unfolding.
當我們讀福音書的時候，我們看到一個
很不尋常的故事正在展開
Jesus has the power of God.
耶穌有上帝的大能
He proclaims the kingdom of God.
耶穌宣講上帝的國
But where is it?
但是上帝的國在哪裡呢？
Where is the social justice,
社會的公義在哪裡呢
the deliverance of the poor,
窮人在哪裡得到搭救呢
the relief of the oppressed?
受壓迫的在哪裡得釋放呢？
In the synagogue at Nazareth
在拿撒勒的會堂中
Jesus had announced
God’s great year of jubilee,
耶穌已經宣告
上帝偉大的禧年已經來到了
the coming in of the
new order of the kingdom.
上帝的國新的整個體制
整個秩序已經來了
But when he finished his preaching
但是耶穌講完道之後
his power served only to enable him
to escape his fellow townsmen
when they tried to throw him over a cliff.
耶穌有什麼能力呢
只有能力當祂的同鄉要把祂
從山崖上丟下去的時候
祂只有能力逃走而已
This paradox of the kingdom
這個天國的表面上的矛盾
這個天國的弔詭
is expressed in the agonized
question of John the Baptist.
透過施洗約翰痛苦的、哀嘆中
的問題表達出來
In King Herod’s prison
他在希律王的監獄裡
he heard of the miracles of Jesus.
他聽到耶穌在行神蹟
No work of power was too great
-Jesus could even give life
to the dead (Luke 7:11-17).
沒有什麼能力是太大的
沒有什麼神蹟是太大的
耶穌甚至可以使死人復活
路加福音第七章11~17節
But if Jesus had such power
但是耶穌如果有這麼大的能力的話
why did he not use it?
祂為什麼不使用它呢？
If Jesus had the power of the kingdom
假如耶穌有天國的大能
why did he not free his own forerunner,
為什麼祂不將祂的先鋒—施洗約翰自己
釋放出來呢？
who had proclaimed the
coming of the kingdom
祂的先鋒，就是我施洗約翰
已經宣告了天國要來
If Jesus was to set the captive free
耶穌若是使被囚的釋放的話
why did he not deliver John from prison?
為什麼祂不搭救施洗約翰
從監獄出來呢？
If Jesus was to chop down
every tree of wickedness
耶穌若是要砍下所有邪惡的樹
why did he not begin with
the wicked King Herod,
為什麼祂不以這位
邪惡的希律王開始呢？
who had imprisoned John for
speaking the truth against the king’s sin?
因為約翰是說出希律王的罪而被囚的
It was too much for John.
施洗約翰受不了了
He sent messengers to Jesus asking,
他差派使者們去耶穌那裡去問
“Art thou he that cometh,
or look we for another?” (Luke 7:19).
In questioning whether Jesus
was the Messiah
當施洗約翰質問耶穌
是否是彌賽亞的時候
John was questioning his own ministry,
事實上施洗約翰
在質疑他自己的傳道事工
the whole point of his life and preaching.
他整個生命和他傳道的意義
It seemed clear to John that
Jesus was not bringing in the kingdom,
對約翰而言可能很明顯的是
耶穌並沒有帶來國度
not doing the work of the Messiah.
並不是在做彌賽亞的工作
How could he be the coming one
whom John had proclaimed?
耶穌怎麼可能是約翰所宣告的
將要來的那一位呢？
Jesus was gentle with John.
耶穌柔和地對待施洗約翰
He kept John’s disciples with him
while he performed more of the
miracles that authenticated his ministry.
祂讓施洗約翰的門徒陪著他
再做一些神蹟，那些神蹟都是
證實祂的事工的
His miracles were just those that had
been prophesied (Is. 35:5, 6, Luke 7:22).
祂的神蹟恰恰就是那些
先知所預言的
Christ’s works bore witness of him.
耶穌的工作為祂作見證
hen Jesus challenged John
to continuing faith.
然後耶穌向施洗約翰挑戰
要持續地相信
His message to John was,
“Blessed is he,
whosoever shall find no occasion
of stumbling in me” (Lk. 7:23).
耶穌對施洗約翰的信息就是：
Jesus required John to trust
that he was the Messiah
耶穌要求施洗約翰要相信
祂就是彌賽亞
and that he was doing
the work of the Messiah,
相信耶穌就是在做彌賽亞的工作
even though he was not bringing in
the promised messianic judgment.
雖然耶穌並沒有帶來所應許的
彌賽亞的審判事工
Can we help those who come to us
with a question like John the Baptist’s?
我們可以幫助那些人們嗎？
當他們問施洗約翰
所問的問題的時候？
It is often asked,
很多時候人會問：
“If Jesus is indeed the God-man
耶穌若誠然是神人
and is now ruler of the kings of the earth,
耶穌若現在就是地上君王的統治者
how can there be such injustice,
那怎麼可能世界上
有這麼多不公義的事
such tragedy
這樣的悲劇
and catastrophe in the world?
這樣的災難呢？
Surely this world does not
much resemble the kingdom of God
announced in the prophets.
誠然地，這個世界
跟先知們所宣告的上帝的國
不太像呢
If Jesus the King has come,
耶穌君王若已經來
where the peace and
justice of his kingdom?”
祂的國度的平安和公義在哪裡呢？
我們下一講就會開始下一段
The Kingdom, Present and Future
天國已臨，天國未臨

林慈信

林慈信博士在台灣錄製《教會論與教會生活》系列，這專題是林牧師特別為教會中的平信徒、長老、與執事預備的，是對教會的建造有益的。這專題是出於威敏斯特神學院，克羅尼院長的著作。克羅尼院長也曾是林牧師的老師。《教會論與教會生活》Living in Christ’s Church (Great Commission Publications)這本書是眾多成人主日學教科書之一，由PCA(美國改革宗長老會)與OPC(信正長老會)兩宗派合辦的主日學教材出版社所出版的書，也是專為平信徒而寫的書。

林慈信博士，西敏神學院神學碩士，天普大學歷史系哲學博士，加州洛杉磯「中華展望 China Horizon」創辦人。致力於護教與神學信仰的工作，在神學、宣道學、及歷史學等都有相當的造詣。林牧師不僅著力於出版歸正信仰的書籍，並且發表至少500篇的論文。著重系統神學、護教學、清教徒的成聖神學與聖經輔導學等；同時任教於美國國際神學院、西敏神學院、聖約神學院等校。推動聖經輔導不遺餘力。