11/30/2021
疫苗第三針後的體會：
邀請太太一起在等候的十五分鐘中，
練習把心中的「所想所求」放下。
個人體會，「放下」的有很多，
腦海裏浮現電腦畫面「delete」。
把個人，家人，事奉，等「事」與「情」放下。
感覺特別安寧。
在安靜中，心思突然被感動，
「看到」（靈性中體會）聖嬰降生時，
也為了我們，「放下一切」，臥身在馬槽中……
Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Thursday, November 4, 2021
靜覺誠住的扎記：地上
「行在地上，如在天上」（太6:10）
靜聽主言：地上
覺醒真我：用地上塵土塑造我們的神，竟教導我們以這禱告來活出天國。
誠實剖白：
父啊，願你的國和你的旨意，行在我這個在地上的人，如你常常在天上為我所禱告的。
聖靈啊，願你降臨，充滿我，光照我，賜我屬靈的果子，特別是節制。
主耶穌，我願分別為聖，將心給你，被你充滿，求你使用。
住在主裏：
【為耶穌而活】詩集：生命聖詩，469
基督耶穌我救主，我獻身心給你；
因你在十字架上，甘願為我捨己；
你是我唯一主宰，我心作你寶座，
從此我要為主而活，主阿，專一為你。
後記
Christian satisfaction is not found in sensation, but in sanctification through suffering with Christ.
基督徒的滿足，不是從感官享受中得到，而是從與基督一同受苦的成聖中領受。
Friday, October 22, 2021
My understanding of the Alliance teachings
The numbered statements below comprise according to the Statement of Faith of The Alliance followed with my biblical and theological understanding.
1.
There is one God, who is infinitely perfect, existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
God is infinitely perfect in self-revealing, self-authenticating, and self-justifying in the creation and salvation history (Deu. 6:4, Mat. 5:48, Mat. 28:19). Doxological, God is perfect and holy, infinite, eternal, and unchanging, our mind can’t comprehend the glories of our God and King, Eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and Glory forever and ever. (1 Tim. 1:17)
In the creation account, Gen. 1:1-2, 26, God exists and makes reference to himself in the plural, “Let us make man in our image." In Mat. 3:15-17 when Jesus baptised, all three persons of the Trinity were involved when the Son went up from the water, "the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” In Mat. 28:18-20 Jesus commanded us to go make disciples in the name (singular) of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (three persons). In the rest of the N.T. and church history, Acts 5:3-4, 1 Pet. 1:2, each person of the Godhead is referred to as being equal in authority and in divine relationship to those who are chosen.
2.
Jesus Christ is true God and true man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He died upon the cross, the Just for the unjust, as a substitutional sacrifice; and all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood. He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures. He is now at the right hand of the Majesty on high as our great High Priest. He will come again to establish His Kingdom of righteousness and peace.
Jesus is truly God and truly man as his incarnation and the whole N.T. revealed to us, espcially in Phil. 2:6-7 says, "though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped… but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men."
The salvific work of Christ was a substitutional sacrifice because he who knew no sins died in our place and for our sins (1 Pet. 3:18, 2Cor. 5:21) so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (Heb. 2:9, Rom 3:23-25). His atonement for our sins was done by his shed blood (Rom 5:8-9).
The resurrection proved that Jesus has died for our sins, buried, and raised on the third day according to the Scripture (Acts 2:23–24, 1Cor. 15:3-6). And now we have hope in the enthroned Christ, who sits at God’s right hand (Heb 8:1), reigning and praying for the Church and preparing them for his second coming (Mat 26:64).
3.
The Holy Spirit is a divine person, sent to indwell, guide, teach, empower the believer, and convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.
I affirm that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, sent by the Son from the Father (Joh 14:15–18). The scripture testifies that the Spirit grieves, gives spiritual gifts to the people of God as he wills (Joh 16:13; Acts 1:8). The Spirit has power and personality, bearing witness of Christ in the life of believers. (Eph 4:11, Joh 14:26)
The Holy Spirit convicts both the believer and unbeliever of sins, of righteousness, and of judgment (Joh 16:7–11). But he also fills, renews, and gives gifts to the believer, of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), of visions, direction, assurance of salvation, unity, and various spiritual gifts. (1 Cor 12-13, Eph 4)
4.
The Old and New Testaments, inerrant as originally given, were verbally inspired by God and are a complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men. They constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice.
Inerrant means that the original text of the scripture is true, and it is without error in all that it affirms. The Scripture is God’s written Word, and it is self-justifying (2 Pet 1:20–21; 2 Tim 3:15–16). Jesus has said in a prayer to the Father that “Your Word is truth” (Joh 17:17).
Inspiration means that the words of the Bible were “God-breathed”, the chosen writers were “moved by the Holy Spirit”, to an extent of their words “the mouth of the Lord has spoken it”. The Lausanne Covenant asserts, “the Scripture is “the Word of God” because God “spoke” it (Heb. 1:1,2; I Thess. 2:13). It is his “written Word” for he then caused it to be recorded for the instruction of later generations (Rom. 15:4; I Cor. 10:6,11; I Tim. 3:14,15).
The Bible in its Old and New Testaments is the “only” written Word of God, for we cannot accept the so-called sacred scriptures other than the 66 books of the Bible or of other religions as having come out of the mind and mouth of God (Rev 22:18, Deut. 4:2).
The Bible is a complete and unified witness to God’s redemptive acts culminating in the incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Luke 24:44). The Bible is the supreme and final authority on all matters on which it speaks. When a given text is correctly interpreted, it can be fully trusted as a sure, dependable, and trustworthy authority for Christian living in faith and practice (2 Pet 1:20–21, 2 Tim 3:15–16).
5.
Man was originally created in the image and likeness of God. He fell through disobedience, incurring thereby both physical and spiritual death. All men are born with a sinful nature, are separated from the life of God, and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The prospect of the impenitent and unbelieving person is existence forever in conscious torment, and that of the believer in Christ is everlasting joy and bliss.
Men, including women, are created in God’s own image and likeness. Being image-bearers of God, they are blessed to multiple or be fruitful, have dominion over the rest of God’s creation, and engage in work. God created all humans with a conscience that reflects the requirement of the moral law written in their hearts. (Gen. 1:26-7, Gen. 2:15, Rom. 2:12-15)
Sin entered the world through Adam and brought death to the world. Sin did not originate from God. Sin not only corrupted humans but every aspect of creation. The term original sin is applied to the entire human race. (Rom. 3:23, 1 Jn. 1:8)
The most devastating effect of the Fall was the spiritual blindness and insensitivity to God’s truth, and those controlled by sinful nature cannot please God. (I Cor. 2:14, Eph 4:17-8, Rom. 8:7-8)
After death, the bodies of human beings decompose and return to dust, but their souls, which do not die or sleep, have an immortal existence and return to God who created them. The souls of the wicked are thrown into hell, where they remain in torment and complete darkness, set apart for the great day of judgment (Rev 21:8).
The souls of the righteous are then perfected in holiness and are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory and wait for the full redemption of their bodies (Rev 21:1–4).
No, "there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). And because mankind has no ability to seek after God, nor can he come to saving faith without the supernatural work of saving grace alone, through Christ alone, by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 1:20, 28, 32).
God is faithful and just to forgive, and those who have not heard the gospel will be judged according to their conscience revealed to them (Rom. 2:14–15). But the answer needs also to include the Christians’ response to evangelism, "How will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?" (Rom 10:14).
6.
Salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ for all men, and those who repent and believe in Him are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive the gift of eternal life, and become children of God.
Jesus is the author and finisher of our salvation (Heb 12), the righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe (Rom 3:22) and salvation is a gift of God (Eph 2:8–9).
Salvation is the work of the triune God to those who believe, as the following passage illustrates, “4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4–7).
The Holy Spirit works in an effective way enabling the elect to respond in repentance and faith (Acts 2:38). True repentance of an unbeliever is twofold: turning away from sin (2 Chron. 7:14), and turning toward Christ for salvation (John 1:12, 13).
It means to turn one’s eyes on Jesus by faith for what He has done to redeem us. “True saving faith involves the commitment of the whole person to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in response to the free offer of salvation in the gospel.” So, salvation requires more than just orthodoxy- right belief, but also orthopraxy- right conduct, both ethical and liturgical built upon faith and grace for Christian living.
It is the work of God which he effectually calls all those and only those whom he has predestined to life. He calls them by his word and Spirit out of their natural state of sin and death into grace and salvation through Jesus Christ.” (Eph 2:1-5) The Holy Spirit implants a new nature in the sinners’ hearts spiritually with a saving understanding of the things of God and takes away their heart of stone and gives them a heart of flesh (Ezek. 36:26, Joh 3:5-7).
Genuine repentance is followed by justification which is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardons all our sins (Rom. 3:24-25; 4:6-8), and accepts us as righteous in his sight (2 Cor. 5:19, 21), only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us (Rom. 5:17-19), and received by faith alone (Gal. 2:16; Phil. 3:9)”. And justification is immediately followed by adoption whereby we become the children of God and receive the privileges of sonship (1 Joh 3:1, Joh 1:12, Rom. 8:17).
Paul taught extensively about justification, “for all have sinned, now justified by his grace through the redemption in Christ, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith” (Rom 3:21-25).
We were told that for God so love the world that whoever believes in Him shall not perish (Joh 3:16). Salvation is sufficient for all (Jon 1:29, 3:16-17, 2Pet. 3:9) and salvation is effective to those who repent and believe in Jesus are born again of the Holy Spirit (Joh 1:12-13, 3:3).
God calls and regenerates, people repent and believe in Jesus. The first act is part of the divine aspects, and the second act is on the human aspects. Salvation is a reconciled relationship between God and human, vertically God has given the believer a new life from above, and horizontally those who are dead in the flesh are now alive in the spirit in Christ. (2Cor 5:17, Gal 5:24, 25, Eph. 2:1-10)
7.
It is the will of God that each believer should be filled with the Holy Spirit and be sanctified wholly, being separated from sin and the world and fully dedicated to the will of God, thereby receiving power for holy living and effective service. This is both a crisis and a progressive experience wrought in the life of the believer subsequent to conversion.
Sanctification is the will of God for all believers to be sanctified wholly (1 The 5:23). It is both a crisis and a progressive experience of the believer subsequent to conversion, receiving power for holy living (Acts 1:8), and effective service (2 Tim 1:7)
It is the will of God to give freely the Holy Spirit to those who believe, he has sent the Spirit upon the early church and commanded them to be filled with Holy Spirit through repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38, Eph 5:18).
To be sanctified wholly is the work of God in Christ to all believers. The experience of Christ as the sanctifier is a relationship, a blessing, and an already-but-not-yet reality. 1Th. 5:23 "Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Sinless perfection is first a relational matter and then a functional matter. When a sinner saved by grace, experienced Christ's vicarious atonement, he no longer lives but Christ lives in him. Thus the person can obey Christ's commands and overcome sins progressively (Rom 12:1-2, Heb 12:1-2).
Fully dedicated to the will of God by loving him and others is the result and desire after being filled with the Spirit. This is what the term consecration properly means. It is the voluntary surrender or self-offering of the heart, by the constraint of love to be the Lord's (Rom. 6:2-6, 13).
To designate sanctification as a crisis is to emphasize that it is not just a gradual reality in the life of the believer, but is also an instantaneous work of God received by faith. (1 The 5:23, Eph 2:1-5)
“Crisis” is used as a theological term, referring to a `point in time' experience, not in the common sense of emergency or disaster.
To designate sanctification as progressive because the old sinful nature is gradually subdued in this life and will be completely abolished when Christ returns. It is the process of a Christian’s growth that will lead to a holy relationship with God (2 Pet 1:5-9, Heb. 5:12-14).
We are renewed in the whole man after the image of God and have died to sin in Christ, and live unto righteousness in faith and obedience in witness and ministry by the power of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:23-24, Rom. 6:2-6).
8.
Provision is made in the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the healing of the mortal body. Prayer for the sick and anointing with oil are taught in the Scriptures and are privileges for the Church in this present age.
In Isaiah 53, the promise of "He bore our sicknesses", as well as our sins, have been fulfilled in the vicarious atonement of Christ. Jesus also promised his disciples that they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover (Mar 16:18).
Yes, as promised and fulfilled in and through Christ’s present ministry. Prayer for the sick and anointing with oil are taught in the scriptures and are privileges for the church. The anointing oil symbolizes the direct and immediate work of the Holy Spirit. With regard to the sick person initiating the request matters of obedience, faith, preparation of the heart, humility, and dependence upon God, are key ingredients (Jam 5:13-18; Mar 6:13).
Yes, a 80 years old man was rescued from heart failure when his daughter and I were praying in the ICU waiting room. Another sister was healed from her suddenly sensual distress when a group of people were praying together at her home. Those are the recent experiences of the Lord’s healing power.
Divine healing is God’s special way of intervening the physical body and physical realm beyond medical explanation. It is God’s supernatural grace to supplement his natural grace revealed in modern science in order to fulfill his word, testify the Gospel, and further His kingdom through one to many.
9.
The Church consists of all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood, and are born again of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church, which has been commissioned by Him to go into all the world as a witness, preaching the gospel to all nations.
The local church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for the worship of God, for edification through the Word of God, prayer, fellowship, the proclamation of the gospel, and observance of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper.
The local church belongs to the larger body of Christ, the universal church, witnessing and serving the people of the local community as a visible church (Acts 2:38, 41- 47).
There were four essential marks that the early church devoted to-- the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers (Acts 2:42). The body of believers has faithfully taught and observed throughout the church history so that they remember the Lord's teaching and proclaim the gospel till His returns.
The church gathers to hear the word of God preached and to equip and send them to the world to live as witnesses of the gospel (Acts 6:2, 11:19).
The church also gathers to participate in the ordinances (sacraments) of baptism and the Lord's supper, and to fulfill the great commission by making disciples who make disciples (Mat 28:19-20).
I believe in believers' baptism and immersion as the preferred way. Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ and obedience to him (Mat 3:11, Acts 2:38, Rom 6:4)
The Lord's Supper is a sacrament according to Christ's appointment and is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord's supper, that they examine themselves of their knowledge to discern the Lord's body, of their faith to feed upon him, of their repentance, love, and new obedience; lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves (1 Cor. 11:23–29).
Notes: 1. Although water baptism is not essential to salvation (see Lk 23:43, the thief on the cross), when the situation allows true believers should be baptized and received the Holy Spirit as an act of obedience to Christ and the teaching of the apostles (Mat. 28:19, Acts 2:38-19, Rom. 6:3-5, Gal. 3:27-28, Eph. 4:4-6, Tit. 3:5). 2. Believer's baptism texts (Acts 2:38, 16:14-15, 16:31-33, 18:8 they all expressed personal faith prior to baptism).
10.
There shall be a bodily resurrection of the just and of the unjust; for the former, a resurrection unto life; for the latter, a resurrection unto judgement.
The physical body will be redeemed when Christ returns and entered into eternity. On that day not only will the apostate angels are judged, but all the people who have lived on earth will appear before the court of Christ to give an account of their thoughts, words, and actions, and be judged according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil (1Cor. 3:13, 15:51-57).
11.
The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent and will be personal, visible, and premillennial. This is the believer's hope and is a vital truth that is an incentive to holy living and faithful service.
Christ’s coming is imminent (Hebr 10:37, Mat 24-25), in a sense that it is soon and sudden (Revelation 22:7, 12, 20), his return is personal (Acts 1:11), visible (Rev. 1:7), and premillennial (Rev 20:1-10). It is the believer's hope and motivation to pray watchful with holy living and faithful service (Titus 2:11-14, Mat 25).
Wednesday, October 13, 2021
The Alliance Beliefs
Savior
Acts 4:12
Sanctifier
1 Corinthians 1:30
Healer
James 5:15
Coming King
Acts 1:11
Jesus Christ is our Savior.
The Name of Jesus has impacted lives around the world for more than 2,000 years. He is a universal Savior, promising that: “whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Jesus is an exclusive Savior. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name in heaven given to men by which we must be saved” Acts 4:12. Contrary to what contemporary culture tells us, there are not multiple paths to God. There is only one—Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is our Sanctifier.
Many Christians understand God’s promise of salvation but do not experience the ongoing sanctifying work of Jesus Christ in their lives. For those who neither understand nor allow the Holy Spirit's control in their lives, the results have a profound effect.
Unsuccessful struggle against sin and a lack of power in life and ministry frustrate those who have asked Jesus to be their Savior but not their Sanctifier, resulting in a lack of joy in their walk with Christ. At the point when we are born again, we become members of God’s family. We believe He paid the price for our sin and that his followers are—set apart from those who are not born again—and are seen as holy because of what Christ has done.
Jesus Christ is our Healer.
A great portion of Christ’s time was dedicated to healing the sick. He healed all kinds of people: the blind, the paralyzed, the lame, the deaf, lepers, those who had fevers, and many with chronic illnesses.
We find no record in the gospels of Jesus turning away anyone who came to him for healing, nor do we find that any disease was too difficult for him to heal. He even raised the dead. Miraculous healings still occur today—evidence that Christ is still our Healer.
Jesus Christ is our Coming King.
The physical return of Jesus has been the subject of speculation and controversy since His ascension into the clouds, which is recorded in the New Testament Book of Acts. Knowing that countless millions still have not heard the gospel, The Alliance is committed to doing its part to complete Christ’s Great Commission before His imminent return.
- Lost people matter to God. He wants them found. Luke 19:1
- Prayer is the primary work of the people of God. Philippians 4:6-7
- Everything we have belongs to God. We are His stewards. 1 Chronicles 29:14
- Knowing and obeying God’s Word is fundamental to true success. Joshua 1:8
- Completing the Great Commission will require the mobilization of every fully devoted disciple. Matthew 28:19
- Without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we can accomplish nothing. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
- Achieving God’s purposes means taking faith-filled risks. This always involves change. Hebrews 11:6
There is one God,(1) who is infinitely perfect,(2) existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.(3)
Jesus Christ is the true God and the true man.(4) He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.(5) He died upon the cross, the Just for the unjust,(6) as a substitutionary sacrifice,(7) and all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood.(8) He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures.(9) He is now at the right hand of Majesty on high as our great High Priest.(10) He will come again to establish His kingdom, righteousness and peace.(11)
The Holy Spirit is a divine person,(12) sent to indwell, guide, teach, empower the believer,(13) and convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.(14)
The Old and New Testaments, inerrant as originally given, were verbally inspired by God and are a complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men. They constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice.(15)
Man was originally created in the image and likeness of God:(16) he fell through disobedience, incurring thereby both physical and spiritual death. All men are born with a sinful nature,(17) are separated from the life of God, and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ.(18) The portion of the unrepentant and unbelieving is existence forever in conscious torment;(19) and that of the believer, in everlasting joy and bliss.(20)
Salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ for all men; and those who repent and believe in Him are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive the gift of eternal life, and become the children of God.(21)
It is the will of God that each believer should be filled with the Holy Spirit and be sanctified wholly,(22) being separated from sin and the world and fully dedicated to the will of God, thereby receiving power for holy living and effective service.(23) This is both a crisis and a progressive experience wrought in the life of the believer subsequent to conversion.(24)
Provision is made in the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the healing of the mortal body.(25) Prayer for the sick and anointing with oil are taught in the Scriptures and are privileges for the Church in this present age.(26)
The Church consists of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood, and are born again of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church, (27) which has been commissioned by Him to go into all the world as a witness, preaching the gospel to all nations.(28) The local church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for the worship of God, for edification through the Word of God, for prayer, fellowship, the proclamation of the gospel, and observance of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.(29)
There shall be a bodily resurrection of the just and of the unjust; for the former, a resurrection unto life;(30) for the latter, a resurrection unto judgment.(31)
The second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent(32) and will be personal, visible, and premillennial.(33) This is the believer’s blessed hope and is a vital truth which is an incentive to holy living and faithful service.(34)
[1] Deuteronomy 6:4, [2] Matthew 5:48, [3] Matthew 28:19, [4] Philippians 2:6–11, [5] Luke 1:34–38, [6] 1 Peter 3:18, [7] Hebrews 2:9, [8] Romans 5:9, [9] Acts 2:23–24, [10] Hebrews 8:1, [11] Matthew 26:64, [12] John 14:15–18, [13] John 16:13; Acts 1:8, [14] John 16:7–11, [15] 2 Peter 1:20–21; 2 Timothy 3:15–16, [16] Genesis 1:27, [17] Romans 3:23, [18] 1 Corinthians15:20–23, [19] Revelation 21:8, [20] Revelation 21:1–4, [21] Titus 3:4–7, [22] 1 Thessalonians 5:23, [23] Acts 1:8, [24] Romans 6:1–14, [25] Matthew 8:16–17, [26] James 5:13–16, [27] Ephesians 1:22–23, [28]Matthew 28:19–20, [29] Acts 2:41–47, [30] 1 Corinthians 15:20–23, [31] John 5:28–29, [32] Hebrews 10:37, [33] Luke 21:27, [34] Titus 2:11–14
Monday, October 4, 2021
3. 保羅所認識的耶穌（福音的行動Gospel Act）
3. 保羅所認識的耶穌（福音的行動Gospel Act）
被釘的主，復活的主，救贖的主
暖身題：你認為「保羅所認識的耶穌」是怎麼樣的？
今日的目標：反思在疫情中，我如何像保羅那樣「效法基督」
課堂時提及的一篇靈修小品：
預苦期默想：「肝功能」與「贖罪祭」
實踐: 試讀保羅的一卷書信，從中向保羅學習「效法基督」
2. 保羅所認識的上帝（福音的心意Gospel Will）
（這課沒有製作錄音）
2. 保羅所認識的上帝（福音的心意Gospel Will）
創造主，天父，滿有公義/慈愛/恩典的神
暖身題：我們為什麼可以歸信基督？
今日的目標：反思在疫情我所經歷的上帝，和我在祂裡面的生命
歸信主前的掃羅：宗教的奮銳黨和法利賽人 A religious Zealot and a Pharisee
· 當時猶太教文化背景：希勒爾學派 vs 煞買學派 (Hillel & Shammai[1])
o Phil. 3:5-6就律法說、我是法利賽人（煞買學派法利賽人）就熱心說、我是逼迫教會的．就律法上的義說、我是無可指摘的。
o Gal. 1:14-18 我又在猶太教中、比我本國許多同歲的人更有長進、為我祖宗的遺傳更加熱心… 惟獨往亞拉伯去
§ 以往為以色列復國大發熱心的，視非尼哈，以利亞，馬加比英雄為他們學效對象，如今彌賽亞來了，改變了保羅的熱心對象和方式。[2]
歸信主後的保羅：外邦的使徒 & 主的僕人
o 使徒: “8…我如同未到產期而生的人一般（a miscarriage, a freak, a dwarf）。 9 我原是使徒中最小的、不配稱為使徒、因為我從前逼迫神的教會。 10 然而我今日成了何等人、是蒙神的恩纔成的．並且他所賜我的恩、不是徒然的．我比眾使徒格外勞苦．這原不是我、乃是 神的恩與我同在。” (1 Cor. 15:8-)
o 僕人: Gal. 1:10 我現在是要得人的心呢、還是要得 神的心呢．我豈是討人的喜歡麼．若仍舊討人的喜歡、我就不是基督的僕人了。
§ 做主的僕人（奴隸，在第一世紀時是主人的財產，生活，命運，全屬於主人），“你若口裡認耶穌為主…” (Rom. 10:9) 凡稱基督為主的，就是屬於主，做他的奴隸。
§ 保羅的所認識的自己（self-understanding）與屬靈生命（spiritual life）
· Gal. 2:20 我已經與基督同釘十字架．現在活著的、不再是我、乃是基督在我裡面活著．並且我如今在肉身活著、是因信 神的兒子而活 (now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God)、他是愛我、為我捨己。
· 1Cor. 6:19-20 豈不知你們的身子就是聖靈的殿麼．這聖靈是從 神而來、住在你們裡頭的．並且你們不是自己的人．因為你們是重價買來的 (not your own, for you were bought with a price) 所以要在你們的身子上榮耀 神。
· Rom. 14:7-8 我們沒有一個人為自己活、也沒有一個人為自己死。我們若活著、是為主而活．若死了、是為主而死 (NLT: While we live, we live to please the Lord. And when we die, we go to be with the Lord)．所以我們或活或死、總是主的人。
保羅所認識的上帝：（福音的心意 The Gospel Will）
創造主，天父，滿有公義/慈愛/恩典的神
保羅的神學：中心轉移，而不是改變宗教
· 從猶太教的救贖觀念，轉移到以基督的受死和復活為中心
· 有神與子民立約的延續性，也有律法在基督身上成全的中斷性
· 延續「獨一上帝」的神觀（monotheism），是舊約所啟示的創造主，立約的主。
o 1Cor. 8:6 然而我們只有一位 神、就是父萬物都本於他、我們也歸於他．並有一位主、就是耶穌基督、萬物都是藉著他有的、我們也是藉著他有的。
保羅的上帝觀：
· 除了接受道成了肉身（incarnation），我們無法理解父與子同為一 (oneness of God)
o Paul’s Jewish monotheism was replaced by the Christological monotheism
· 上帝是創造主
o 猶太的傳統對於保羅認識上帝至關重要。說「除他以外，別無他神」，意味「外邦的神」是虛有其名。
§ Rom. 3:30 神既是一位、他就要因信稱那受割禮的為義、也要因信稱那未受割禮的為義。
§ 1Tim. 1:17 但願尊貴榮耀歸與那不能朽壞不能看見永世的君王、獨一的 神、直到永永遠遠。阿們。
§ 1Tim. 2:5 因為只有一位 神、在 神和人中間、只有一位中保、乃是降世為人的基督耶穌。
o 「獨一上帝」的應用例子
§ “4 論到喫祭偶像之物、我們知道偶像在世上算不得甚麼．也知道 神只有一位、再沒有別的 神。 5 雖有稱為 神的、或在天、或在地．就如那許多的 神、許多的主… 所以食物若叫我弟兄跌倒、我就永遠不喫肉、免得叫我弟兄跌倒了” (1 Cor. 8:4-13)
§ “25 凡市上所賣的、你們只管喫、不要為良心的緣故問甚麼話． 26 因為地和其中所充滿的、都屬乎主。” (1 Cor. 10:25-26)
o 「獨一上帝」& 多元文化觀念（泛神論/偶像）
§ “23 凡事都可行．但不都有益處。凡事都可行．但不都造就人。 24 無論何人、不要求自己的益處、乃要求別人的益處。” (1 Cor. 10:23-24)
o 接受「有神」為理所當然 (Axiom)
§ 保羅沒有，也沒有必要，證明神的存在，或費力地解釋神的屬性，因為上帝已經是他思想和行為的全部。
§ “自從造天地以來、 神的永能和神性是明明可知的、雖是眼不能見、但藉著所造之物、就可以曉得、叫人無可推諉．” (Rom. 1:20)
§ “因為萬有都是本於他、倚靠他、歸於他．願榮耀歸給他、直到永遠。阿們。” (Rom. 11:36)
· 上帝是天父
o 是基督的父，也是我們的父
§ “4 及至時候滿足、 神就差遣他的兒子、為女子所生、且生在律法以下、 5 要把律法以下的人贖出來、叫我們得著兒子的名分。” (Gal. 4:4-5)
§ “你們既為兒子、 神就差他兒子的靈、進入你們〔原文作我們〕的心、呼叫阿爸、父。”(Gal. 4:6)
§ “3 律法既因肉體軟弱、有所不能行的、 神就差遣自己的兒子、成為罪身的形狀、作了贖罪祭、在肉體中定了罪案． 4 使律法的義、成就在我們這不隨從肉體、只隨從聖靈的人身上。” (Rom. 8:3-4)
o 神的兒子，是我們的主，我們的神
§ “因為 神本性一切的豐盛、都有形有體的居住在基督裡面．” (Col. 2:9)
§ “我願意你們知道、基督是各人的頭．男人是女人的頭、 神是基督的頭。” (1 Cor. 11:3)
§ “並且你們是屬基督的．基督又是屬 神的。” (1 Cor. 3:23)
§ “萬物既服了他、那時、子也要自己服那叫萬物服他的、叫 神在萬物之上、為萬物之主。” (1 Cor. 15:28)
o 神的兒子，與神同等，同尊，同榮
§ “6 他本有 神的形像、不以自己與 神同等為強奪的． 7 反倒虛己、取了奴僕的形像、成為人的樣式．” (Phil. 2:6-)
§ “所以 神將他升為至高、又賜給他那超乎萬名之上的名、” (Phil. 2:9)
實踐: 試讀保羅的一卷書信，從中更認識天父
[1] “The Hillelites (liberal one), broadly speaking, pursued a policy of ‘live and let live’… let them even rule Israel, politically just as long as we Jews are allowed to study and practice Torah (the Jewish law) in peace. The Shammaites (strict one) believed that this wasn’t good enough. Torah itself, they thought, demanded that Israel be free from the Gentile Yoke, free to serve God in peace, calling no-one master except YHWH, the one true God, himself.” N. T. Wright, What Saint Paul Really Said: Was Paul of Tarsus the Real Founder of Christianity? (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 27.
[2] ”保羅在14節暗示，他在信主之前屬於“為律法熱心”的一派教徒。這份熱心使他不僅熱心地學習和禱告，而且不惜使用暴力行動… 非尼哈和以利亞在大衆意識中，尤其是第一世紀的猶太教傳統中，是非常熱心忌邪的，甚至在好幾個典故中互換角色。" “Everybody Has A Theology: 保羅到阿拉伯去領受的啓示,” Everybody Has A Theology, September 17, 2012, accessed September 26, 2021, https://seminary-students.blogspot.com/2012/09/blog-post_17.html.
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