在美國，我認識不少華人來美留學。成績都很好。我想知道“華人為什麼那樣認真，那樣努力呢？”部分答案是“光宗耀祖”一句。
也許，“光宗耀祖”這個觀念會幫助我們明白《聖經》里的“悔改。”（請讓我先告訴您一個秘密：我會把“光宗耀祖”這句話稍微改一點點，好嗎？）
《新約聖經》時常記載耶穌，耶穌的使徒和門徒教導人們要悔改。比方說，使徒彼得講道，說，“你們各人要悔改，奉耶穌基督的名受洗，叫你們的罪得赦…”（使徒行傳2:38）。
當時，耶穌基督已經為萬人受難、埋葬、復活。彼得告訴聽眾神的恩典就在眼前，但是，他們要伸出雙手接受。使徒彼得強調伸出雙手的過程包括悔改和受洗。彼得告訴群眾，在他們受洗之前，要先悔改。
為什麼要悔改呢？悔改的動機是什麼？
《聖經》確認“…世人都犯了罪，”沒有達到神的標準（羅馬書3:23）。使徒保羅說明悔改的動機。他說，神的“恩慈是領你悔改”（羅馬書2:4）。
唐朝詩人孟郊（A.D. 751-814）勸兒女報母愛，他寫道：
慈母手中線
遊子身上衣
臨行密密縫
意恐遲遲歸
誰言寸草心
報得三春輝
孟郊鼓勵子女要付出具體的行動感謝母愛。
如同母愛使得兒女“光父耀母，”同樣，“神愛你”和“耶穌為你犧牲他的性命”這兩個事實，是很強烈的動機，使得您我認罪、悔改、改變生命。
我們是否為我們的過失和罪孽感到難過呢？我們是否要悔改歸正，改弦更張，悔改，信仰耶穌，“光上帝耀耶穌基督”呢？
請您快一點接受神的恩典，快一點“悔改，奉耶穌基督的名受洗，叫你們的罪得赦，” “光上帝耀耶穌基督。”
【洗禮】十五：神的愛令我們悔改
“Baptism” 15: God’s Love Produces Repentance
作者：謝德華 ©By Edward Short
Baptism: God’s Love Produces Repentance
Acts 2:38; Romans 2:4
Several of the university students I know in the United States are from China. Sometimes I wonder why the Chinese make such good grades, and why they study so hard. I believe that part of the answer is found in the phrase “guang zong yao zu,” which means to bring honor to one’s ancestors. (“Honor the ancestors, credit the forbearers” is the literal meaning the phrase.) Chinese see their diligent study and their good grades as honoring their parents and ancestors.
I believe the term “guang zong yao zu” will help us understand the Biblical concept of repentance. (But I will change the phrase “guang zong yao zu” slightly.)
The New Testament often records that Jesus, his apostles and disciples taught that people should repent. For example, the apostle Peter said, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven…” (Acts 2:38).
When Peter said this, Jesus Christ had already suffered, been buried and resurrected. Peter told his audience that God’s grace was right in front of their eyes, but that they should reach out and receive it. Peter emphasized that the way for them to reach out and receive that grace was through repentance and baptism. Peter told them that repentance preceded baptism.
Why repent? What motivates a person to repent?
The Bible affirms that “…all have sinned and fall short” of what God wants us to be (Romans 3:23). The apostle Paul also explains what motivates repentance; he said: “Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4, NRSV).
The poet Meng Jiao (A.D. 751-814), who lived during the Tang Dynasty, encouraged people to repay their mother’s love. Meng wrote:
Needle and thread in a mother’s hand
A wandering child wears the garment she made
Meticulously stitched before he departed
Fearing that he might not return in time
How can one express gratitude for a mother’s love?
Can the grass thank the sun for all its light?
In this poem, Meng Jiao urged children to express thanks to their mother through concrete actions.
Just as a mother’s love causes children to “guang fu yao mu,” to honor their parents (“honor father, credit mother”), so “God loves you” and “Jesus died for you” are strong motivations for us to confess our sins, repent and change our lives.
Are we sorry for our sins? Do we want to repent, to turn our lives around, to make a fresh start? Do we want to become followers of Jesus, and to “guang Shang Di yao Yesu Jidu?” Do we want to honor our true ancestor (God), to “honor God and credit Jesus?”
Please consider the gospel message and then “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven…” and thus “honor God and credit Jesus Christ.””
Meng Jiao’s poem translated by Edward Short