May 3, 2017 - Default    No Comments

十字架上的爱

如果我们不知道神的圣洁和公义,我们不能真正明白神在十字架上的爱。

耶稣不是为义人死的,经上所记:“没有义人,连一个也没有。” 耶稣是为罪人死的。神不是罪人的天父,神与罪人是仇敌的关系。神的审判和愤怒将会临到罪人身上。耶稣来是为了拯救我们逃离那将来的愤怒。耶稣的工作:1) 为我们活出公义的生命。2) 为我们被钉死在十字架上赎罪。

在十字架上,神对我们的愤怒倒在了耶稣基督身上。“唯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。“ 唯有那些信耶稣的人,才是被赎罪的人。唯有在神的儿子里面,我们才是神的儿女。

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从前的人如果没有下雨就求 巴力 Baal,如果没有粮食就求 大衮 Dagon,如果没有生育就求 亚舍拉 Asherah。他们以为自己能用各种方法去获得自己想要的东西。今天有很多教会也是如此,如果没有人来,他们就把希望放在各种方法上面。

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一个基督徒或者一个教会所发出的光是什么呢?1) 与世界分别出来。2) 成为世人想要认识神、第一个会想到的对象。如果一个教会给人的第一印象是美食,这是一件很荒唐的事情。

一个牧者要清楚哪些人需要吃干粮、哪些人只能喝灵奶。一个教会不应该用干粮去喂养那些只能吃灵奶的人,就是用神学去替代读经,导致他们枯干而死,…

May 3, 2017 - Default    No Comments

Jesus is God

Jesus is 100% God and 100% man.

“Scripture is clear that Jesus is God (John 20:28; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8), and it is equally clear that He is truly human (Romans 1:2-4; 1 John 4:2-3). Jesus claimed the divine name (John 8:58) and did things that only God can do (Mark 2:1-12; Luke 7:48-50). But Jesus also displayed the weaknesses and vulnerabilities common to humanity (Luke 19:41; John 19:28).”

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God says, “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no God.” (Isaiah 44:6)

Jesus says, “I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” (Revelation 1:17-18)

 

耶和华说:“我是首先的,我是末后的,除我以外,再没有真神。”
耶稣基督:“我是首先的,我是末后的,又是那存活的;我曾死过,现在又活了,直活到永永远远,并且拿着死亡和阴间的钥匙。”

(以赛亚书 44:6; 启示录 1:17-18)

 

耶和华说:“我是首先的,我是末后的,除我以外,再没有真神。” (赛 44:6)

耶稣基督:“我是首先的,我是末后的,又是那存活的;我曾死过,现在又活了,直活到永永远远,并且拿着死亡和阴间的钥匙。” (启 1:17-18)

 

“耶和華” 是那獨一的三一真神的名字。換句話說,”耶和華” 不是單單指父神。

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耶稣说:”你们若不信我是祂,必要死在罪中。” (约翰福音 8:24b)

Jesus says: “For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24b)

If you do not know that this Jesus is God, you cannot find God elsewhere.

Jesus says, “If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.” (John 14:7)

Jesus says, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9)

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The Father is called God (Phil. 1:2).
The Son is called God (John 1:1, 14; Rom. 9:5).
The Spirit is called God (Acts 5:3-4).

Lie to the Holy Spirit = Lie to God (Acts 5:3-4)

Romans 9:5 = “the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever.” (ESV)
罗马书 9:5 = “基督…是在万有之上永远可称颂的神!”

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The Father is not the Son. The Son is not the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not the Father. Each of them have different wills.
Luke 22:42 = “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
1 Cor. 12:11 = “All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.”

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2 Corinthians 4:4 = The “god of this age” has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

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以赛亚书 48:16, “你们要就近我来听这话:我从起头并未曾在隐密处说话;自从有这事,我就在那里。现在,主耶和华差遣我和他的灵来。”

Isaiah 48:16, “Draw near to me, hear this: from the beginning I have not spoken in secret, from the time it came to be I have been there.” And now the Lord GOD has sent me, and his Spirit.”

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The doctrine of Trinity is of the whole Bible. All three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) do the things only God can do, such as giving life, receiving worship, being called “Lord,” etc.

Jesus receives worship from men (Matthew 28:17). Jesus talks in the way God talks (Isaiah 44:6; Revelation 1:17-18). The apostles writes the names interchangeably between God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9-11).

The whole Bible is about God’s Salvation in Jesus. The Bible tells us that Jesus is who God became man in order to die for us, and He is raised from dead. Because Jesus is not only a man, His death can save many people forever, who sinned against God.   

You are not saved unless you know that Jesus is God. In John 8:24. Jesus said, “For unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”

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John 1:1 says “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Eternal is to know God (John 17:3). Knowing Jesus is knowing God, because He is God in a human body. 

If Jesus is not God, then in John 17:3, Jesus is saying this: Eternal life is to know God and a creature sent by God. That is blasphemy.

If Jesus is not God, the Jews would not atone him. In John 10:33, the Jews answered Jesus, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” Jesus did not deny.

If Jesus is not God, he would not be crucified (Matthew 26:65-66).

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus uses the singular “name” by saying “the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

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The Spirit of God = The Spirit of Christ (Rom. 8:9)
The Spirit in you = Christ in you (Rom. 8:9-10)

Rom. 8:9 = “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”

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Jesus say, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30)
Paul calls Jesus “great God and Savior” (Titus 2:13)
Thomas calls Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)

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Jesus said he would raise himself from the dead (John 2:19).
The Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11).
The Father raised Jesus from the dead (1 Thessalonians 1:10).

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Jesus’ name = Immanuel = “God with us” in Hebrew (Matthew 1:23)

Jesus is God in a human body (Hebrews 2:14)
“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.”

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It’s true that we cannot fully understand the Trinity. We are limited creatures. We cannot fully understand God. But we have reason to believe because we can put our faith in the Bible.
Also, the spiritual world does not use the same logics. For example, there were 2,000 unclean spirits in a person’s body (Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39). They said, “My name is Legion, for we are many” (Mark 5:9). Look, “My name” is singular; “we are” is plural. You see, it’s a good example that the spiritual world is not the same logics. But of course, God is much higher than this.

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The Bible reveals that there’s only one God (Isa. 44:6). The Bible also reveals that the Son shares the same attributes of God (John 1:1-3), as well as the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4). The Bible reveals that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit can do the works that only God can do (John 1:3, Job 33:4), but each person has his own mind, will and feeling (Luke 22:42, 1Cor. 12:11). Jesus Himself said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30), yet He also prayed to the Father, “not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). Paul calls Jesus “great God and Savior” (Titus 2:13), and Thomas calls Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). … We are not believing two Gods or three Gods. We are very sure that there is only one God.
There were so many heresies in the history confused with the identity of Jesus Christ. Some said He is only man not God, and some said He is only God not man. The churches met together and concluded that Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man. This is so important because if you are not saved if you believe in a different “Jesus”; “The ‘god of this age’ has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
These three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory. Do not use any example to illustrate the doctrine of Trinity. There’s no good examples. The best way is to see it clearly in the Bible. There are many Bible verses. My favorite one is in Romans 8:9-11.

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Jesus and the Father are 2 people, yet they are one.

John 8:16-19, Jesus said, “… for it is NOT I ALONE who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your Law it is written that the testimony of 2 people is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father ALSO.”

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John 1:1 = “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 1:14 = “The Word became flesh.”
John 12:27 = Jesus said: “Father, … for this purpose I have come to this hour.”
John 17:5 = The Son was with the Father before the world existed.
John 17:24 = The Father loved the Son before the foundation of the world.
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Rom. 14:10 = “For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.”
2 Cor. 5:10 = “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.”
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God’s part in salvation is the Incarnation and Atonement (Gal 4:4-5; Phil 2:6-8)
Redemption is appointed by God the Father.
Redemption is accomplished by God the Son.
Redemption is applied by God the Holy Spirit.
圣父预备救恩,圣子成全救恩,圣灵施行救恩
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John 8:58 = “I AM” = Jesus said He is God. He was not saying that He is the Father.
Mark 14:36 = Jesus said, “Abba, Father, … not what I will, but what you will.”
Matthew 28:19 = “…baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
John 17:5 = The Son had glory with the Father before the world existed.
God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” (Genesis 1:26)
God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:22)
God said, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” (Isaiah 6:8)
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Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
Stephen said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 

(Luke 23:46; Acts 7:59)

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Acts 3:15 = and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

徒 3:15 = 你们杀了那生命的主,神却叫他从死里复活了。我们都是为这事作见证。

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Believing in Jesus = Trusting in Jesus = Receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior = Commiting your life to Jesus
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基督徒都要站在基督台前 = 神的台前
(罗马书 14:10; 哥林多后书 5:10)
The judgment seat of Christ = The judgment seat of God
(Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10)
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你要看整本聖經,不能只抓住一兩節經文,這是異端產生的原因;有的人認為耶穌和聖靈都是父神,而另一種極端則認為有三位神,異端都是在 “三位一體” 的教義上出錯。”三位一體” 的教義的產生就是聖經同時啟示了只有一位真神,又同時啟示了天父是神、耶穌基督是神、聖靈是神,再啟示這三個 “位格” 各有各的情感 (emotions)、意志 (will)、理智 (intellect);這些是構成一個位格的三個元素。

 

 

 

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https://www.gotquestions.org/is-Jesus-Yahweh.html

God in the Old Testament
I AM (Exodus 3:14-15; Isaiah 48:12)
The Shepherd (Psalm 23:1)
The Light (Psalm 27:1)
The Rock (Psalm 18:2)
Ruler of all (Isaiah 9:6)
Judge of all nations (Joel 3:12)
The Bridegroom (Isaiah 62:5; Hosea 2:16)
God’s Word never passes away (Isaiah 40:8)
The Sower (Jeremiah 31:27; Ezra 34:9)
First and the Last (Isaiah 44:6, 48:12)

Jesus’ Reference to Himself
I AM (John 8:58)
The Shepherd (John 10:11)
The Light (John 8:12)
The Rock (Matthew 7:24)
Ruler of all (Matthew 28:18)
Judge of all (John 5:22)
The Bridegroom (Matthew 25:1)
Jesus’ words never pass away (Mark 13:31)
The Sower (Matthew 13:3-9)
First and the Last (Revelation 1:17-18)

 

旧约中的上帝
I AM “我是” (出 3:14; 赛 48:12)
牧者 (诗 23:1)
光 (诗 27:1)
磐石 (诗 18:2)
万物之主 (赛 9:6)
万国的审判者 (珥 3:12)
新郎 (赛 62:5; 何 2:16)
上帝的话永存 (赛 40:8)
撒种的人 (耶 31:27; 拉 34:9)
首先的、末后的 (赛 44:6, 48:12)

耶稣对自己的称呼
I AM “我是” (约 8:58)
牧者 (约 10:11)
光 (约 8:12)
磐石 (太 7:24)
万物之主 (太 28:18)
万民的审判者 (约 5:22)
新郎 (太 25:1)
耶稣的话永存 (可 13:31)
撒种的人 (太 13:3-9)
首先的、末后的 (启 1:17-18)

 

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Westminster Confession of Faith (2.3)
西敏信条 (2.3)

  • “In the unity of the Godhead there be three Persons of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son.”
  • “神是独一的神,但祂里面有三个位格,同属一个本质,权能相同,同样永恒,这三个位格就是︰父、子、圣灵(三位一体的)神。父不属于、不受生于、也不出于任何其他来源;子在永恒里由父所生;圣灵在永恒里由父和子而出40。”

Belgic Confession, Article 8
比利时信条, 第八条

  • “According to this truth and this Word of God, we believe in one only God, who is one single essence, in which are three persons, really, truly, and eternally distinct, according to their incommunicable properties; namely, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost…”
  • “根据这项真理和神的道,我们相信只有一位神,祂只有一个本质 (essence),但有三个位格;根据各位格不变的本性,永远分清,就是圣父、圣子与圣灵。…”

Heidelberg Catechism, Q.25
海德堡要理问答, Q.25

  • “Since there is but one only divine essence, why speakest thou of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost? Because God hath so revealed Himself in His Word, that these three distinct persons are the one only true and eternal God. Of God the Father.”
  • “既只有一位神,为什么你说有三位──圣父、圣子和圣灵呢?答:因为神在祂的话语里这样启示了祂自己,这三个不同的位格正是独一、真实、永恒的神。”

Second Helvetic Confession, Chapter 3
第二瑞士信条, 第三章

  • “…we believe and teach that the same immense, one and indivisible God is in person inseparably and without confusion distinguished as Father, Son and Holy Spirit so, as the Father has begotten the Son from eternity, the Son is begotten by an ineffable generation, and the Holy Spirit truly proceeds from them both, and the same from eternity and is to be worshipped with both…”
  • “我们相信并教导,这位广大的、单一的、不可分割的神在位格上是不可分离且不混淆地区分为圣父、圣子和圣灵,因此圣父从永恒中生了圣子,圣子是以不可言喻的方式所生,圣灵是从他们两者发出的,这从永恒到永恒。”

Athanasian Creed
亚他那修信经

  • “…And the catholic faith is this: that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father; another of the Son; and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. …”
  • “…这信仰就是:我们敬拜一神,这位神一体而三位,三位而一体。其位不「紊」(confounding),其体不「分」(dividing)。父是一「位」(person),子也是一位,圣灵又是一位。然而父、子、圣灵的「神性」(Godhead) 都是同一个:荣耀「相等」(equal),威严「同恒」 (coeternal). …”

Scots Confession, Chapter 1
苏格兰信条, 第一章

  • “We confess and acknowledge one only God, to whom only we must cleave, whom only we must serve, whom only we must worship, and in whom only we must put our trust; who is eternal, infinite, unmeasurable, incomprehensible, omnipotent, invisible: one in substance, and yet distinct in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.”
  • “我们承认并认定只有一位神,我们必须紧靠祂,唯独侍奉祂,唯独敬拜祂,并且唯独信靠祂。祂是永恒的、无限的、无法测量的、不可理解的、全能的、看不见的;在本质上是一个,但在三个位格中区分:圣父、圣子和圣灵。”
Apr 24, 2017 - Default    No Comments

What is Reformed (Steven Lawson)

“When we say Reformed, we simply mean Biblical.”

  • Reformed = Go back to the Bible.
  • Biblical = Allow the Bible to frame our doctrines.
  • The Foundation = The authority of the Scripture alone.
  • The Goal = The glory of God above all things.
  • The Truth = The purity of the gospel: “how sinful man and be right with the Holy God.”

 

“Reformed” in essence is:

       God formed the truth. And then the truth became deformed by false teachers, traditions and ecclesiastical hierarchy (which became the authority instead of the Word of God). Reformed is to simply bring it back to where God formed it. So, man by his failure to properly teaching the Bible deformed it, and the reformers simply put it back to the form as God has originally given it.