【洗禮】八:遠方的人

BaptismP12 (201 x 106)雖然《聖經新約》寫於第一世紀,不能說《聖經》的內容限於第一世紀。舉個例吧!《新約》使徒行傳第二章包含着一句話,講員宣布說是為了“遠方的人。”“遠方的人”是誰呢?

首先,請讓我介紹“遠方的人,”此句話的上下文,好嗎?耶穌的使徒彼得正在講道。彼得告訴聽眾說,受難及釘十字架的耶穌已經從墳墓里出來了,從死里復活了。他的結論是;“故此,以色列全家當確實的知道,你們釘在十字架上的這位耶穌,神已經立他為主為基督了” (使徒行傳2:36)。意思就是耶穌是以色列人所仰望的彌賽亞。神叫他復活,立他為萬王之王,萬主之主。

之後,聽眾問彼得一個問題,表示他們相信及接受彼得的話。《聖經》記載:“眾人聽見這話,覺得扎心” (使徒行傳2:37)。意思是,聽眾心裡很悲痛,他們“聽到這裡,彷彿感到一把刀刺進他們的心臟”似的(普通話本)。他們“就對彼得和其餘的使徒說,弟兄們,我們當怎樣行?”意思是彼得說服他們一件非常可怕的事實,就是他們把上帝的兒子釘十字架!現在他們問彼得,“…我們當怎樣行?”(和合本),“…我們怎麼辦?!”(普通話本)。

彼得回答聽眾說,“你們各人要悔改,奉耶穌基督的名受洗,叫你們的罪得赦,就必領受所賜的聖靈。因為這應許是給你們,和你們的兒女,並一切在遠方的人,就是主我們神所召來的” (使徒行傳2:38-39)。

朋友,請注意,彼得說,“一切在遠方的人,”是誰呢?是您!是我!全世界上的人都包括在“一切在遠方的人”這句話里。因此可知,雖然《聖經新約》寫於第一世紀,不能說《聖經》的內容限於第一世紀。

使徒彼得告訴我們,如果相信耶穌是神所差來的救主,相信神叫他從死里復活了,就應該悔改罪孽,受洗。當受洗時,就獲得神給的兩個應許:1)罪得到赦免;2)聖靈賜下。換句話說:1)神讓耶穌的寶血洗去我們的罪;2)神讓他的聖靈居住我們的心裡。

從此可知,洗禮是一件重要的事情。如果您相信耶穌,但是還沒有受了洗,請快一點決定聽從神,順服耶穌,受洗成為基督徒。


【洗禮】八:遠方的人
“Baptism” 08: Those Who Are Far Off
作者:謝德華

Those Who Are Far Off
Acts 2:39

Even though the Bible was written during the first century, we can’t say that the Bible belongs only to the first century. For example, in the second chapter of Acts, we find a sentence in which the speaker announces that something is “for all who are far off.” Who are those “who are far off?”

First, let me introduce the context of the phrase “all who are far off.” Peter, one of the apostles of Jesus, was preaching. Peter told his audience that Jesus who suffered and was nailed to a cross had already come out of the tomb; he had been raised from death! Here is Peter’s conclusion: “Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36 NIV). The meaning is that Jesus was the Messiah whom the Jews had anticipated so long. God raised him from death, and crowned him king of kings and Lord of lords.

The crowd asked Peter a question which indicated that they believed and accepted what Peter had said. The Bible records it this way: “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart…” (Acts 2:37 NIV). This means that the people were pained in their hearts as if they had been stabbed with a knife. In response, they “said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’” This means that Peter convinced them of a very fearful fact, namely that they had crucified the Son of God! The audience then asked Peter, “…what shall we do?”

Peter faced the people and replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:38-39 NIV).

Peter said, “all who are far off.” Who are these people? “These people” are you and I! “…all who are far off” includes everyone in the world! With this in mind, then, we can see why I said that even though the New Testament was written during the first century, we can’t say that the Bible belongs only to the first century.

The apostle Peter tells us that if we believe that Jesus was sent by God to be the Savior, believe that God raised him from the grave, we should repent of our sins and be baptized. When we are baptized, we receive two promises from God: 1) sins are forgiven; 2) the Holy Spirit is given. In other words, 1) God allows the precious blood of Jesus to wash our sins away, and 2) God enables his Holy Spirit to live in our hearts.

From the Scriptures above, we learn that baptism is one very important action. If you believe in Jesus but have not yet been baptized, please determine to listen to God, to obey Jesus, and to be baptized and thus become a Christian.

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