我们领受耶和华白白而来的恩典与福气，让我们将这福份分享于他人 We have received God’s free gift of grace and blessing, let’s share them around

罗马书 4:13-17 Romans 4:13-17

因为神应许亚伯拉罕和他后裔，必得承受世界，不是因律法，乃是因信而得的义。若是属乎律法的人才得为后嗣，信就归於虚空，应许也就废弃了。因为律法是惹动忿怒的（或作：叫人受刑的）；那里没有律法，那里就没有過犯。所以人得为后嗣是本乎信，因此就属乎恩，叫应许定然归给一切后裔；不但归给那属乎律法的，也归给那效法亚伯拉罕之信的。亚伯拉罕所信的，是那叫死人复活、使无变为有的　神，他在主面前作我们世人的父。如经上所记：我已经立你作多国的父。 Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless. For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!) So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.

如果耶和华应许将全世界赐给你，你会有何反应呢？你会凭信心接受他白白送给你的恩赐吗？或者你会满怀疑心呢？倘若神已将这世界赐给亚伯拉罕与他的后裔，那么身为他的属灵后裔，我们也享有一份神给予他的应许。 What is your response if God promised to give you the whole earth? Do you believe him or fill your heart with doubt?

Since God has given the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants and we are his spiritual descendants, we too also have a share in that promise.

倘若耶和华真正将全世界赐给你，你会打算怎样作？你会设法将这世界变成一个更完美，更舒适的居所，使大家也能一起享受神的福份吗？神所给的恩赐不是要让我们盖耕大的仓库，将那恩赐收藏起来。神赐我们的恩赐与福气是要我们将它们与亲戚朋友，左邻右舍，同事们，与所有神带到我们面前的人分享。这样，我们会受到加添与补充，使他的福份源源不绝的流进我们的生命，并且透过我们祝福他人。

What do you plan to do with it if God really gave you the whole earth? Do you make sure that the world is a better place for everyone to live in, and would you share God’s promised earth with others, so that they too would benefit from God’s gift to you?

God’s gift is given to us not to be put in a bigger barn or storehouse that we build for ourselves. The benefits are to be shared with others around, with our relatives, friends, neighbors, colleagues and those who come our way. This way, we will be replenished and his blessings would continue to flow in and through us. 

就如割礼是旧约信心的印证，洗礼是新约信心的印证 Just as circumcision was a sign of faith in the OT, so is baptism in the NT

罗马书 4:9-12 Romans 4:9-12

如此看来，这福是单加给那受割礼的人吗？  不也是加给那未受割礼的人吗？ 因我们所说，亚伯拉罕的信，就算为他的义，是怎么算的呢？ 是在他受割礼的時候呢？  是在他未受割礼的時候呢？ 不是在受割礼的時候，乃是在未受割礼的時候。并且他受了割礼的记号，作他未受割礼的時候因信称义的印证，叫他作一切未受割礼而信之人的父，使他们也算为义；又作受割礼之人的父，就是那些不但受割礼，并且按我们的祖宗亚伯拉罕未受割礼而信之踪迹去行的人。 Now, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it also for uncircumcised Gentiles? Well, we have been saying that Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of his faith. But how did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised! Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous - even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith. And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised.

耶和华称亚伯拉罕的信为义，是当他还未接受割礼的时候；割礼是他因信称义的印证。同样的，在新约里，神说任何相信他的必得救；无论我们是否接受洗礼；洗礼是我们相信基督被称义的印证。这福气，因信称义的福气是神赐给那受割礼与未割礼的人。就如亚伯拉罕是所有信靠耶和华的父，无论他们受割礼或未受割礼。 God declared Abraham righteous even before he was circumcised; circumcision was a sign of his faith. Similarly, in the New Testament, God says that whoever believes in the Lord shall be saved even before we are baptized; baptism serves its purpose as a sign of our faith in Christ. This blessing, the blessing of being considered righteous by God is given to both the circumcised and the uncircumcised and Abraham was the spiritual father of all who put their faith in God, both the circumcised and the uncircumcised.

不遵行安息日的惩罚 Penalty for Breaking the Sabbath

民数记记15: 30－36 Numbers15:30-36

但那擅敢行事的，无论是本地人是寄居的，他亵渎了耶和华，必从民中剪除。因他藐视耶和华的言语，违背耶和华的命令，那人总要剪除；他的罪孽要归到他身上。」以色列人在旷野的時候，遇见一個人在安息日捡柴。遇见他捡柴的人，就把他带到摩西、亚伦并全会众那里，将他收在监内；因为当怎样办他，还没有指明。耶和华吩咐摩西说：「总要把那人治死；全会众要在營外用石头把他打死。」於是全会众将他带到營外，用石头打死他，是照耶和华所吩咐摩西的。“But those who brazenly violate the Lord’s will, whether native-born Israelites or foreigners, have blasphemed the Lord, and they must be cut off from the community. Since they have treated the Lord’s word with contempt and deliberately disobeyed his command, they must be completely cut off and suffer the punishment for their guilt.” One day while the people of Israel were in the wilderness, they discovered a man gathering wood on the Sabbath day. The people who found him doing this took him before Moses, Aaron, and the rest of the community. They held him in custody because they did not know what to do with him. Then the Lord said to Moses, “The man must be put to death! The whole community must stone him outside the camp.” So the whole community took the man outside the camp and stoned him to death, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

在旧约的时候，那些故意不遵行耶和华的言语，特别以遵守安息日而言，就会被严重惩罚；因他们藐视与违背耶和华的旨意。比如，以色列人在狂野的时候，看见有一个人在安息日捡柴，他们带他到摩西的面前。那人得到很严厉的惩罚。这比喻提醒我们要谦卑和看重耶和华的话语与旨意。

During the days of the Old Testament, those who intentionally disobey the word and will of the Lord, especially here it refers to the observance of the Sabbath, they would be severely punished. For example, while the people of Israel were in the wilderness, saw a man gathering woods on the Sabbath day and brought him to Moses, he received a very severe punishment. This incident reminds us to be humble and careful to follow the word and will of the Lord.

神的义不是因工而得，乃是因信而受 God’s gift of righteousness is to be received by faith, not works

罗马书 4:1-8 Romans 4:1-8

如此说来，我们的祖宗亚伯拉罕凭著肉体得了甚么呢？ 倘若亚伯拉罕是因行为称义，就有可夸的；只是在神面前并无可夸。 经上说甚么呢？ 说：亚伯拉罕信神，这就算为他的义。做工的得工价，不算恩典，乃是該得的；惟有不做工的，只信称罪人为义的神，他的信就算为义。正如大卫称那在行为以外蒙神算为义的人是有福的。他说：得赦免其過、遮盖其罪的，这人是有福的。主不算为有罪的，这人是有福的。

Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it: “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”

亚伯拉罕与大卫的称义道路是一样的；他们因信称义。被称义是神赐给任何相信他的人。 因我们的信，耶和华饶恕我们的罪过，赦免我们的罪。 Abraham’s and David’s paths to righteousness are the same; they were declared righteous through faith. Righteousness is a gift God freely gives to everyone who believes in him and his provision of forgiveness to clear us from all our sin.

面對恐懼 Facing Our Fears

June 22, 2011 — by Albert Lee

(From: Our daily Bread, http://odb.org/ and http://chinese-odb.org/)

士師記6章12節 Judges 6:12

耶和華的使者向基甸顯現，對他說：「大能的勇士啊，耶和華與你同在！」 The Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”

讀經: 士師記6章11-23節 Scripture Reading: Judges 6:11-23

媽媽叫5歲的強尼到儲藏室拿一罐番茄湯，但他不願意，還抗議道：「裡面很暗耶！」媽媽向他保證說：「沒有關係，你不用害怕，耶穌就在裡面。」於是，強尼小心翼翼地打開儲藏室的門，看見裡面很暗，就大聲喊道：「耶穌！你能不能遞給我一罐番茄湯！」

這個幽默的故事讓我聯想起基甸。上帝向基甸顯現，稱呼他為「大能的勇士」（士師記6章12節），並要他將以色列人從米甸人手裡拯救出來 （14節）。 但基甸卻懼怕地回答：「我家在瑪拿西支派中是至貧窮的，我在我父家是至微小的」（15節）。 即使上帝告訴基甸，有上帝的幫助他就必能擊敗米甸人（16節）， 基甸卻仍然懼怕。於是，基甸祈求上帝顯示跡象，好確認上帝的旨意和授權（17節，36-40節）。為什麼上帝稱膽怯的基甸是個大能的勇士呢？ 因為靠著上帝的幫助，膽怯的基甸有一天就會是大能的勇士。

我們和基甸一樣，常常懷疑自己的能力和潛能。讓我們信靠、服從上帝，決不懷疑祂能藉著我們做工。因為基甸的上帝，也是我們的上帝，祂會幫助我們完成祂所委託的任務。AL

順服聽從主旨意， 祂就供給所需要；

無須害怕無能力，不能達到主目標。Sper

知主與我同在，就能一無所懼。

A mother asked her 5-year-old son to go to the pantry to get her a can of tomato soup. But he refused and protested, “It’s dark in there.” Mom assured Johnny, “It’s okay. Don’t be afraid. Jesus is in there.” So Johnny opened the door slowly and seeing that it was dark, shouted, “Jesus, can you hand me a can of tomato soup?”

This humorous story of Johnny’s fear reminds me of Gideon. The Lord appeared to Gideon, calling him a “mighty man of valor” (Judges 6:12) and then telling him to deliver Israel out of Midian’s hand (v.14). But Gideon’s fearful reply was, “My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house” (v.15). Even after the Lord told Gideon that with His help he would defeat the Midianites (v.16), he was still afraid. Then Gideon asked the Lord for signs to confirm God’s will and empowerment (vv.17, 36-40). So, why did the Lord address fearful Gideon as a “mighty man of valor”? Because of who Gideon would one day become with the Lord’s help.

We too may doubt our own abilities and potential. But let us never doubt what God can do with us when we trust and obey Him. Gideon’s God is the same God who will help us accomplish all that He asks us to do.

The Lord provides the strength we need
To follow and obey His will;
So we don’t need to be afraid
That what He asks we can’t fulfill. —Sper

We can face any fear when we know the Lord is with us.

与神和好的好方法 A better way of getting right with God

罗马书 3:21-28 Romans 3:21-28

但如今，神的义在律法以外已经显明出来，有律法和先知为证：就是神的义，因信耶稣基督加给一切相信的人，并没有分别。因为世人都犯了罪，亏缺了神的荣耀；如今却蒙神的恩典，因基督耶稣的救赎，就白白的称义。神设立耶稣作挽回祭，是凭著耶稣的血，藉著人的信，要显明神的义；因为他用忍耐的心宽容人先時所犯的罪，好在今時显明他的义，使人知道他自己为义，也称信耶稣的人为义。既是这样，那里能夸口呢？ 没有可夸的了。用何法没有的呢？ 是用立功之法吗？ 不是，乃用信主之法。所以我们看定了：人称义是因著信，不在乎遵行律法。

But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.

如果我们想以旧的方法，就是守律法来被称义，那是行不通。因为耶和华赐律法的目的不是让我们去遵行而是要显明我们的无能。神给我们一个新的方法使我们能称义，就是“信靠主耶稣基督。”无论是以前或现在，无论是外邦人或犹太，信靠耶稣必得称义，因为耶稣来的目的是要作我们的赎罪祭，使我们与神和好。所以，我们不需要用立功之法来称义，只要相信耶稣基督；他是我们的义。 The old way of trying to be right with God by keep the law did not work. This is because the giving of the law is to reveal our inability and helplessness. The new way of getting right with God is by “placing our faith in Jesus Christ.” This works all the time, because the reason why Jesus came was to atone for our sins, and to make us right with God. Thus, we do not earn our righteousness but receive it through believing in Jesus Christ, who is our righteousness.

我们为何要有律法呢？ Why then do we have the law?

罗马书 3: 9-20 Romans 3:9-20

这却怎么样呢？ 我们犹太人比他们强么？ 决不是的！ 因我们已经证明，全世界的人，无论是犹太人或希腊人都在罪恶之下。 就如经上所记：

没有义人，连一個也没有。

没有明白的；没有寻求神的；

都是偏離正路，一同变为无用。

没有行善的，连一個也没有。

他们的喉咙是敞開的坟墓；

他们用舌头弄诡诈，

嘴唇里有虺蛇的毒气，

满口是咒骂苦毒。

杀人流血，他们的脚飞跑，

所经過的路便行残害暴虐的事。

平安的路，他们未曾知道；

他们眼中不怕神。

我们晓得律法上的话都是对律法以下之人说的，好塞住各人的口，叫普世的人都伏在神审判之下。所以凡有血气的，没有一個因行律法能在神面前称义，因为律法本是叫人知罪。

Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. As the Scriptures say,

“No one is righteous - not even one.

No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God.

All have turned away; all have become useless.

No one does good; not a single one.

“Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.

Their tongues are filled with lies.”
   

“Snake venom drips from their lips.”

“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

“They rush to commit murder.

Destruction and misery always follow them.

They don’t know where to find peace.”

“They have no fear of God at all.”

Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

耶和华赐律法给我们的目的，不是要让我们勤守它，来在他人与神的面前证明我们是义人，能够凭自己的力量守律法。不是！因为没有义人，没有人真正能够完完全全的守神的律法。耶和华将律法给我们，让我们知道我们的无能，使我们最终来到神的面前，寻求他的恩典与怜悯。 God’s purpose in giving us the law is not so that we could keep it, and so prove to ourselves, others and God how good we are. No, because no one is righteous or capable to live a righteous life. God gave us the law so that when we are hopeless in trying to keep it, we might run to him for his grace and mercy.