Nov 30, 2017 - Default    No Comments

Did God harden Pharaoh’s heart?

“Harden” means refusing to repent. God allowed Pharaoh’s heart to be hardened. It is sin that hardened a sinner’s heart against God. God did not make Pharaoh against God Himself.

Likewise, today if a sinner goes to hell, it is because of his sins; but if a sinner repents, it is because of God’s grace.

1 Samuel 6:6, “Why should you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts?”

Nov 30, 2017 - Default    No Comments

God sends sinners to hell

Sinners go to hell because of their sins, not because of God (2Tim 2:4; Ezekiel 18:23).

If God does not have mercy, we should all be in hell. God has mercy, but God also has justice. God is a holy God. For example, if someone kills your family, do you want the judge to set him free or not?

Because God has justice, sinners must die.
Because God has mercy, Jesus died for sinners.

God is holy. God’s wrath is holy wrath. God sends sinners to hell because God is holy and just.

God hates sinners not because God is bad, but God is good, and we are bad. God loves sinners not because we are good, but God is good.

Does God hates sinners? Yes, look on the cross.
Does God loves sinners? Yes, look on the cross.

Nov 16, 2017 - Default    No Comments

The Preached Word and Reformation 傳講的道與宗教改革

提摩太后書 4:1-4,保羅將父上帝與主耶穌帶入他對屬靈兒子的囑咐中,如同聖父、聖子親自對提摩太的命令,講明將來提摩太也要在上帝的審判之前一同交賬。雅 3:1我的弟兄們,不要多人作師傅,因為曉得我們要受更重的判斷。

傳道人,代表上帝傳道,傳上帝的道,是警醒的戰士隨時預備可以講道,不只教導,更是懇切。路德認為道是喊出來的。教會講台不是一個空中樓閣,而是能夠聽見上帝熱誠的道的地方。

研究加爾文的學者發現,加爾文每天至少要講兩次道,逐卷、逐章、逐節。加爾文拿著原文聖經就上台講道,聖經就是講章,所傳講的不是支配破碎的聖經,乃是整全、統一的聖經。馬丁路德與其他改教家也是如此。改教運動是人類歷史最大歸回聖經、傳講聖經的運動。今天不是需要人在講台胡說八道,我們更多需要如同改教家傳講聖經的傳道人。

鍾馬田博士敬佩馬丁路德就是真正的傳道人。當黑死病來到威登堡,馬丁路德沒有逃走,繼續傳講6千多篇道,甚至也寫講章讓別人也講道。

律師不按著法律行事是羞恥的,傳道人不按著聖經傳道更是如此。上帝子民聚集必須要傳講上帝的話,否則不要聚集。(馬丁路德)改教家們有靈火,在教會傳講上帝的話,如同使徒行傳見證,是充滿上帝話語證道的教會。

希伯來書 1:7, “論到使者,又說:上帝以風為使者,以火焰為僕役…”

馬丁路德:傳道人必須是兵丁也是牧者,手拿著刀面對仇敵,手拿仗牧養群羊。

司布真:真正的傳道人,上帝在適時賜給教會,這些人是被上帝的火炭所觸摸的。

教會看輕講台,上帝就看輕教會,因為上帝在歷史中以講台–上帝話語的傳講 來復興祂的教會。

求奮興改教家的火與能力,加倍在各位身上焚燒。

 

Steven J. Lawson
宗教改革500週年研討會
Wittenberg 1517 – Jakarta 2017
11月15日 20:00

www.refo500.stemi.id