(1) 救赎 / Salvation

耶稣说，只有生病的人才需要医生。我们病了吗？圣经告诉我们每个人都是罪人，因此需要救赎。罗马书3:10是这样说的：“10就如经上所记、没有义人、连一个也没有．

11没有明白的、没有寻求　神的．”

在一些文化里（如中国文化）SIN 没有对应的词。目前在中文圣经和中文基督教的文献里，“CRIME”和“SIN”共用一个“罪”字。但是，“CRIME”是指人犯了人类制定的法律，而“SIN” 指的是违反神的诫命和法律，神的标准比人的标准要高多了。

要理解这点，我们只要看看“山上宝训”（马太5-7）就明白，这些话语现在广为人知，甚至不信神者都知道。（论奸淫）（马太5:27-30）：你们听见有话说、“不可奸淫。”只是我告诉你们、凡看见妇女就动淫念的、这人心里已经与他犯奸淫了。若是你的右眼叫你跌倒、就剜出来丢掉．宁可失去百体中的一体、不叫全身丢在地狱里。若是右手叫你跌倒、就砍下来丢掉．宁可失去百体中的一体、不叫全身下入地狱。

（下文是旧约中的著名话语，在其他文化里也有，就是：以眼还眼以牙还牙）马太5:38-41你们听见有话说、“以眼还眼、以牙还牙。”只是我告诉你们、不要与恶人作对．有人打你的右脸、连左脸也转过来由他打。有人想要告你、要拿你的里衣、连外衣也由他拿去。有人强逼你走一里路、你就同他走二里。

（论爱仇敌）马太5:44-45,48只是我告诉你们、要爱你们的仇敌．为那逼迫你们的祷告。这样、就可以作你们天父的儿子．因为他叫日头照好人、也照歹人、降雨给义人、也给不义的人。所以你们要完全、像你们的天父完全一样。

纵观整个人类历史，所有的人都是罪人，除了一个：那就是拿撒勒的耶稣。所以，我们需要医生，这个医生就是耶稣，因为祂是神的儿子，罪人因认罪而得到祂的救赎。

在耶稣之前，受洗者约翰先来了，新约的作者说的很清楚：马太3：1-3那时、有施洗的约翰出来、在犹太的旷野传道、说、天国近了、你们应当悔改。这人就是先知以赛亚所说的、他说、“在旷野有人声喊着说、预备主的道、修直他的路。”（以赛亚40:3）这里的“主”指的就是耶稣。怎么理解“预备主的路”？这个世界充满了罪，以色列人必须认识到世界上充满了罪，为得到拯救必须忏悔。只有忏悔，才能使他们为耶稣和神的国来临做准备，就好像神对摩西说的，人无法和神面对面，否则他会死去，忏悔是为我们的救赎的一个必要步骤。

倪柝声曾经指出，认识到这个世界充满了败坏是很重要的，得救的人不再属于这个世界。尽管我们仍然活在这个世界上，但我们是重新得救的人，和这世上的其他人不一样。林后5:17若有人在基督里、他就是新造的人．旧事已过、都变成新的了。虽然我们还在这世上，但如果你读圣经，祈祷，跟随耶稣，你就属于神。

耶稣说了几个不长，但意义深远的故事，每个故事都包含了耶稣教诲的大智慧。财富和神的国（马太19:16-26，马可10:17-27）就是这样一个例子：

有一个人来见耶稣说、夫子、我该作甚么善事、才能得永生。耶稣对他说、你为甚么以善事问我呢、只有一位是善的、你若要进入永生、就当遵守诫命。他说、甚么诫命．耶稣说、就是不可杀人、不可奸淫、不可偷盗、不可作假见证、当孝敬父母．又当爱人如己。那少年人说、这一切我都遵守了．还缺少甚么呢。耶稣说、你若愿意作完全人、可去变卖你所有的、分给穷人、就必有财宝在天上、你还要来跟从我。那少年人听见这话、就忧忧愁愁的走了．因为他的产业很多。耶稣对门徒说、我实在告诉你们、财主进天国是难的。我又告诉你们、骆驼穿过针的眼、比财主进　神的国还容易呢。门徒听见这话、就希奇得很、说、这样谁能得救呢。耶稣看着他们说、在人这是不能的．在　神凡事都能。

让我们认真地研读这段话。一个想得到永生的人问耶稣他应该怎么做？从马丁-路德的教诲和先前的讨论，我们知道，不论我们怎么做，怎么努力做，都无法靠自己获得永生。他应该问耶稣，他怎样才能得到永生，而不是问他要怎么做才能得到永生。耶稣强调了良善：只有一个是良善的，那就是神。正如我们前面看到的，每个人都是罪人。当上面的那个人问耶稣如何得到永生，耶稣告诉他如何通过遵守十诫，来进入生命。当他问是哪一个？耶稣指出（应该属于）十诫中的第二部分（参考马太22:34-40），为什么耶稣不用第一部分：你要尽心，尽性，尽意爱主呢？因为耶稣知道他无法做到，上面21节就说明了这一点。当耶稣让他出售所有财产给穷人时，他就离开了，因为他是财主。接着，耶稣告诉门徒们“骆驼穿过针的眼、比财主进　神的国还容易”门徒们都很吃惊。很多犹太人都很注重赚钱，他们认为金钱可以做近乎一切事。他们一定会想，既然一个富人都无法进入神的国，那我们怎么办？耶稣的答案是“在人这是不能的．在　神凡事都能”。第一部分是我们刚才说的，第二部分就表明了在神一切都可能，所以我们要进入神的国，不能靠人间的奇迹，而是靠对耶稣基督的信心。

为简单起见，我们将天国和神的国划上等号，这个术语，在下面教会篇里会继续解释。这里我们只需要知道，耶稣再临时，将会带来天堂；我们现在可以预尝天堂，就是真正属于基督的教会。

讨论问题：

1）你知道两种罪（crime，sins）差别吗？ 举几个例子。

2）你能不能举出一些例子你的文化背景可以接受但是神认为是sins？

3）解释在旧约时代和新约时代分别是如何对付罪（sins）的（参考希伯来书七章到十章）。

4）在不同文化中是对付罪（crime，sins）可能不同。解释你熟悉的文化中如何。

5）你从耶稣与年轻富人的故事中学到了什么？

6）你从耶稣这句话：“在人这是不能的．在　神凡事都能”学习了什么？

This page contains short courses on various aspects of a normal Christian life and links to studies useful to a new believer. The four motto are central to our writing. The first two are Bible verses. The third is from Martin Luther on centrality of the Bible, Jesus, Grace. The last one is a saying. Instead of baby feeding each new believer we focus on training methods to be mature Christians.

• 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

• Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

• Bible only, Jesus only, Grace only

• Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

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Salvation

Jesus said only sick needs doctor. Are we sick? The Bible tells us that every one of us is a sinner, thus needs salvation. In Romans (we will use NIV for Bible verses unless noted otherwise) 3:10 As it is written:

“There is no one righteous, not even one;

11 there is no one who seeks God.

Some cultures (for example Chinese) have no concept of sin. The word used for crime in Chinese 罪 is now used for both sin and crime in Chinese Bible and Christian literature. Crime is measured against laws set by human beings. On the other hand, sin is measured against God’s commandments or God’s laws. Criteria of God are much higher than that of human.

To see that, we only need to look Sermon of the Mount (Matthew 5 – 7). Its some verses are well known, even for non-believers. (On adultery) Matthew 5:27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

(Below is famous in the Old Testament and it also exists in many other cultures: An eye for an eye) 5:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.

(Love your enemy) 5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. …….48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Throughout history all men are sinners, all men except one: Jesus of Nazareth. Thus, we all need doctor. That doctor is Jesus because he is Son of God and provides salvation to every sinner when he or she confesses his/her sins.

Baptist John came before Jesus. The New Testament authors saw it clearly: Matthew 3 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,

make straight paths for him.’” 3:3 (from Isaiah 40:3).

The Lord here refers to Jesus. What does it mean “prepare the way”? The world was and is full of sins. Israelis must recognize the sinful nature of the world and repent in order to be saved. Repentance prepared them for the coming of Jesus and the Kingdom of God. Just like God told Moses that a man could not face God or he would die. Repentance is necessary for our salvation.

Watchman Nee wrote that it is important to recognise that the whole world is corrupt and a saved person does not belong to this world anymore. Even though we still live in this world we are different from others because we are new men. II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! Even though you still live in this world, if you read the Word of God, pray, and follow Jesus, you belong to God.

Jesus taught several stories which are not long but each has profound meanings. Each involves teaching that shows great wisdom of Jesus. The rich young man and the Kingdom of God (Matthew 19:16-26, Mark 10:17-27) is such an example. Matthew19:16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery,you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” 20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Let us examine this passage carefully. The man wanted to get eternal life and asked Jesus what he should do in order to get it. From Martin Luther’s teaching, and the earlier discussion, we know that no matter what we do or how hard we try we cannot get eternal life. He should have asked Jesus how to get eternal life not what to do to get eternal life. Jesus emphasized the word good: Only one is good, that is God. As we saw earlier, every one is a sinner. Notice that the man asked getting eternal life while Jesus told to him how to enter life, which is to keep Ten Commandments. When he asked which one, Jesus mentioned the second part of Ten Commandments (cf. Matthew 22:34-40). Why Jesus did not mention the first part, i.e. love your Lord with all your heart? Because Jesus knew he would not be able to keep it. Verse 21 revealed this. When Jesus asked him to sell his possessions and gave it to the poor, he left because he was very rich. After this, Jesus told his disciple that “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” The disciples were astonished. Many Jews are good at money, thinking that wealth can do many things. They probably thought if a rich man cannot enter Kingdom of God what about our chances? Jesus’ answer was right to the point: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” The first part is just what we said earlier. The second part shows that God would make this possible. So we enter the Kingdom of God not by some earthly miracles but by faith in Jesus Christ.

For simplicity, we regard Kingdom of Heaven and Kingdom of God synonyms. This term will be explained further in the Chapter about the Church. Here we only need to know that it can be the paradise after Jesus comes back or foretaste of that paradise, i.e., the Church on the earth.

Questions：

1) Can you tell the differences between crime and sins? Give some examples.

2) Do you have examples acceptable in your culture yet are sins from God’s viewpoint?

3) Explain how to deal with sins in the Old Testament and in the New Testament (cf. Hebrews 7-10).

4) How to deal with crimes or sins is different in different cultures. Describe this in your culture.

5) What have you learnt from the story of the rich young men and Jesus?

6) Explain your understanding of “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”