(一) 《The Cross: The Heart of Christianity 十架:基督信仰之核心》 【圣经《1 Corinthians》 2:1-5 《哥林多前书》第二章1~5节】 When I came to you, brothers and sisters,I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God. 至于我(保罗),弟兄们,我从前到你们那里去,并没有用高妙的言语和智慧对你们传讲神的奥秘。因为我已下定决心,在你们当中,只知道被钉十字架的耶稣基督,其他一概不知。而且,我在你们那里的时候,又软弱,又害怕,又战战兢兢; 我说的话和我讲的信息,都不是用智慧的说服力,而是以圣灵的大能为凭证, 好让你们的信心不是凭借人的智慧,而是凭借神的大能。】 * * * * * * * * The cross has become the symbol of Christianity, but it’s so much more than a mere piece of jewelry worn around the neck. The crucifixion of Christ is a central doctrine of our faith, and understanding it correctly is essential for eternal life. In fact, Paul was convinced the cross was the most vital subject he could address. 十字架已经成为基督信仰的象征,但它不仅仅是脖子上戴的一件首饰。基督耶稣被钉十字架是我们信仰的核心教义,正确理解它对“永生”至关重要。实际上,保罗深信十字架是他应该极力强调的要害主题。 It’s important for us as believers to understand what happened on the cross—then we too can be thoroughly convinced of its supreme significance. It was not simply the execution of a Jewish man. 作为信徒的我们,重要的是要了解十字架上发生的事情,以致我们可以完全相信它的至高无上的意义;那绝不仅仅只是一个犹太人的生命被处决那样简单。 Although the Jews and the Romans viewed the crucifixion as the execution of a criminal, God saw the death of His Son as the perfect atoning sacrifice, which allowed for the justification of sinful mankind. 钉十字架被犹太人和罗马人视为对罪犯的处决,但是,上主却把(耶稣基督)圣子之死作为那”完美的赎罪祭“,作对为人类“背离上帝之原罪的正义辩护”。 What transpired in that event was the solution to mankind’s biggest problem: sin and our resulting alienation from God. The crucifixion is the divine transaction that saves us. Only the blood of Christ can cleanse us from sin and reconcile us to the Father. (耶稣基督)被钉十字架是解决人类最大的问题“背离上帝之原罪”的方法。被钉十字架是拯救我们的神圣“赎价-救赎”。只有基督的宝血才能洁净使我们背离上帝的“原罪”,并使我们与上主父天重新和好。 Nothing else is required to pay for our salvation. To be saved, all we must do is believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for our sins. 不需要对上主基督耶稣的“神圣救赎”支付任何“赎价”;得救赎唯一须作的就是,接受主耶稣为我们的“背离上帝之原罪”所作的牺牲,皈依相信主耶稣基督。
(二) 《God’s Plan of Crucifixion 上主耶稣基督被钉十字架的“计划”》 【圣经《Acts》2:22-36 《使徒行传》第二章22~36节】 You that are Israelites,listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know --- this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. For David says concerning him,“I saw the Lord always before me,for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;moreover my flesh will live in hope.” 各位以色列人啊,请听这些话:这拿撒勒人耶稣,神已借着这人在你们中间所施行的大能、奇事、神迹,向你们证明祂是谁,这是你们自己知道的。祂按照神所定的旨意和预知被交了出来,你们就借着不法之人的手把他钉在十字架上,把祂杀了。神解除了死亡的剧痛,使祂复活,因为祂原不能被死亡所困。 大卫论到祂说:“我看见主常常在我面前,因为祂在我的右边,我就必不被动摇;因此,我的心快乐,我的舌头欢喜,我的肉身也安居在盼望中。” * * * * * * * * Who was responsible for Jesus’ crucifixion? Though both the Jews and the Romans played a role in putting Him on the cross, God was the one who had already planned His Son’s death as atonement for mankind’s sin. “耶稣被钉十字架”,向谁追责?尽管犹太人和罗马人都扮演了将他钉在十字架上的角色,但上帝才是那位将“圣子之死”作为人类罪孽赎价的永恒计划者。 Peter made this very clear in his first sermon, and he also affirmed it many years later in his first epistle, saying of Christ, “He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God” (1 Peter 1:20-21). Even before creation and the entrance of sin into the world, God already had a plan in place for the redemption of those who would believe in Him. 彼得在他的第一次讲道中就很清楚地指出了这一点;很多年后,他也在他的第一书信中重申了这一点。他论道基督:“基督是神在创世之前所预知的,却在这末后的时候才为你们显现。你们借着他,相信那位使他从死人中复活又赐给他荣耀的神,好让你们的信心和盼望都在于神。”(彼得前书第一章20~21节)。甚至在创造之初和原罪进入人类历史之前,上帝就已经制定了计划来救赎那些相信他的人。 The Father’s plan for the crucifixion of His Son was motivated by the sinful, hopeless condition of mankind, His love for us, and His justice. 为了(救赎)人类之原罪,无盼望(救人类脱离死亡),为了上主之爱人类,为了上主之正义,圣父制定了“圣子被钉十字架(献上赎罪祭)”的永恒计划。 God could neither ignore our sin nor simply decide to forgive us, because those options would be unjust, and He cannot act contrary to His nature. 上帝既不能无视我们的罪过,也不能轻易地宽恕我们,因为这不合上主之公义属性。 The cross was God’s way of fulfilling His predestined plan of salvation. Now all who trust in Christ can be forgiven and receive eternal life. Have you done this? 十字架是上主实现他预定的救赎计划的方式。现在,所有相信基督的人都可以被宽恕,并获得永生。你信了吗?
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