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Called the Ministry_ session 3《天命与你》第三讲

主讲:林慈信牧师_校对:刘加立弟兄_英文:Cherry姐妹_中文:赵姐妹

过了我们上面两讲,介绍克罗尼跟他著作跟这本书之后,我们终于进入到这本书的内容了。After class 2, talks introducing the author Edment P. Clowney, his books as well as this book, we now finally are ready to enter into the context of the book istself, Called to the Ministry. The author’s intruduction《天命与你》作者的序,only one page in English, 中文只有一两页,but very important.不过还是很重要的.

What is Christ’s calling to you? 基督对你的呼召是什么呢?You may be seeking an answers你可能在寻求答案,or maybe you’re avoiding the question.可能你在回避这个问题。But when the Lord calls, he will be answered. 但是当主呼召的时候,祂必然会得到回应的。换言之,他不会有呼召和徒然的返回的。这里我加一个注释。It means the Lord’s call is efficacious a summons换言之,主的呼召是一个大能有效的呼召。This efficacious call is the theme in systematic theology, especially Reformed theology. 这个有效的恩召,是系统神学里的一个主题,特别是改革宗神学的。When the Lord calls, he will be answered. 主呼召的时候,人必然会回应的。God’s call came suddenly to Elisha. 上帝的呼召忽然临到以利沙。He was ploughing the fields when Elijah cast the prophet’s mantle on him.当以利亚把先知的衣钵放在以利沙的身上的时候,以利沙还在耕田。 Levi was in thetoll booth

and Peter held a fishing net when Jesus called them. 当耶稣呼召利未的时候,他还在税关那里收税;当耶稣呼召彼得的时候,他手上还在拿着打鱼的渔网。

这里我们的作者在讲上帝是亲自的、个人的、一个一个人的呼召人的。Here the author saying God personally calls each person. 好,上帝的呼召是大能有效的,也是个人的。So we see that God’s call is powerful, efficacious , and also personal. 这个是第一个问题,That’s the first question: What is Christ’s calling to you? It is efficacious and personal call. 这个第一个问题: 基督的呼召是什么呢?是大能有效的呼召,也是亲自对每一个人个人的呼召。

Question number two:第二条问题:But how does the Lord call today? 可是今天主耶稣是如何呼召人的呢?You may not have been blinded by a heavenly light on the road to Damascus, 可能你不会像扫罗一样,在大马色的路上被天上来的光弄到瞎眼了,but you are ready to say with Saul of Tarsus, 可是你和大数的扫罗一样,你愿意对主说:“Lord, what wouldst thou have me to do?” “主啊,你要我做什么?”How does the Lord answer that question? 主是如何回答这个问题的呢?

To begin with, 首先,it is clear that the answer must come from the Lord himself. 很明显的,这个问题的答案必须来自主耶稣他自己。Self-esteem and popular acclaim are treacherous indicators. 不是根据自我形象,不是根据别人给你的声望。这些的指数都是非常的危险的。

Christ’s spoken word no longer sounds by the Lake of Galilee, 基督口中所讲的话,今天不再在加利利海旁听得到,but he has not left his disciples without direction. 可是基督的门徒并不是没有他的指引的。We have his written Word in the Bible. 在圣经里,我们有他书写下来的话。这里,作者做了个平衡,spoken word,written Word,口中讲的话,跟书写下来的话。

Through prophets and apostles Christ’s Spirit has testified of him. 基督的灵–圣灵已经透过先知和使徒们为基督做见证。Where the road forks, the Word of God is the lamp for our feet. 当我们在岔路口的时候,就是我们需要指引的时候,上帝的话是我们脚前的灯。Now here the author mentions Christ, the Holy Spirit, the apostles and the prophets. 这里我们的作者提到耶稣基督、圣灵、先知和使徒。

There is a verse where the apostls and the prophets are mentioned together. 有一节经文,先知和使徒是同时被提到的,Eph. 2:20.就是《以弗所书》第二章第20节。这里讲到我们都是上帝家里的人,in verse 19, Paul says we are all members of God’s household. Verse 20, 第20节,Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets并且建造在使徒和先知的根基上,Christ Jesus Himself is the cornerstone, 基督耶稣自己就是奠基石,就是房角石。

Here we learn that Christ Jesus is the cornerstone of the church. 这里我们学到耶稣基督是教会的房脚石。But he used the prophets and apostles to lay the foundation . 可是基督用先知们和使徒们为教会建造根基。And of ccourse We know that the Holy Spirit witnesses for Christ.我们也知道圣灵是为基督做见证的。We can read about this in John chapter 14 and 16, 在《约翰福音》第十四章和十六章都读得到。So we learn that the Bible is really the Holy Spirit testimony of Jesus Christ, 所以我们学到圣经是为耶稣基督所做的见证,using the Old Testamen, prophets and the New Testament apostles. 圣灵所用的是旧约的先知们和新约的使徒们。

好,我们回来文本所讲的,let’s go back to the text.

How does Jesus Christ call today? 今天耶稣基督怎么呼召人的呢?He calls through his written word, the Bible. 耶稣基督是透过他写下来的话,基督写下来的话,圣经来呼召人的。Because the Bible is Christ’s word.因为圣经是基督的话。Yes , the Bible is the testimony of the Holy Spirit, but it is the testimony of the Spirit for Christ,是的,圣经是圣灵的见证,但是是圣灵为基督所做的见证, and the the Holy Spirit used the prophets and the apostles, and they are all inspired by the Holy Spirit. 而圣灵所用的先知们和使徒们,他们都是由圣灵所默示的。

Question No. 3第三条问题: WHAT DOES BIBLE SAY ABOUT CHRIST’S CALLING? 那么关于基督的呼召,圣经是怎么说的呢?We are told that: THE LORD CALLS US BY NAME: 圣经告诉我们,主是按照名字呼召我们CALLS US BY NAME按照名字呼召我们: EVERY CHRISTIAN HAS HIS/HER OWN CALLING: 每一位基督徒都有他自己的呼召的,两方面,2 aspects, A CALLING AS A CHILD of GOD,  作为或成为上帝儿女的呼召,and the SERVANT of GOD. 第二个层面就是作为,或者成为上帝的仆人的呼召。成为上帝的儿女,成为上帝的仆人。To be a child of God, to be a servant of God. These are 2 callings.这两个都是呼召。

Our calling by name gives us our identity and our task. 而我们按照名字被呼召,这个就把我们的身份–就是我们是谁,和任务–我们该做什么都给了我们。我再说一次let me repeat, our name tells about our identity and our task. 我们的名字告诉我们,我们的身份是什么,还有我们的任务是什么。So the Lord calls every Christian by name, and thereby brings to him pr her the identity and task for each one. 因此,主是按照名字来呼召每一位信徒,带来每一位信徒的身份和任务。好,克罗尼继续说,Crowney continues to say: we must first consider the Lord’s calling of every Christian. 这本书我们首先要研究,上帝对每一位基督徒的呼召是什么, then we should examine what the New Testament says about the calling of the minister of the Gospel. 然后我们再来研究新约圣经如何论到传道人,the minister of the Gospel福音的使者的呼召。

Note those are exactly the part 1 and the part 2 of this book.,

注意这两方面恰恰就是这本书的第一部分和第二部分。

Part 1 这本书的第一部分: What is God’s calling? 上帝的呼召是什么?

Chapter 1 第一章: Called by Name按照名字呼召, 或者按着名字被召Calling by God’s creative gift, 借着上帝创造性的恩赐呼召。我说一说这个所谓创造性的恩赐就是上帝给我们命名,给我们去名字。这里,在第一章的导言,里面有一些的经文克罗尼会提到的,here in this introduction to chapter 1, Clowney is going to use some verses. 我们先来读某些。Let us read a few of them bfore we begin the text. 在我们还没进入到内容之前。

***《以赛亚书》 Isaiah 43:6-7

I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold;我要对北方说:‘把他们交出来!’又对南方说:‘不要拘留他们!’ bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth,要把我的众子从远方带回来,把我的女儿从地极领回来,everyone who is called by my name, 就是所有按着我的名被召的人,whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”是我为自己的荣耀创造的,是我所塑造,所作成的。”

Here Isaiah is talking about God’s calling his people from all the defferent nations, 这里以赛亚预言,上帝必定要从各国列国外邦的地方呼召祂的子民回来, both Jews and gentiles,犹太人和外邦人都属这个子民的范围之内。And he says that all these people from all the corners of the earth will come, they are called by God’s name. 以赛亚说,这些人都要从地极来,都是上帝按照祂自己的名字被召的,they are created by God and named by God. 他们是上帝所创造的,也是上帝所命名的,called by my name按照上帝自己的名字被召的。

Let’s go back to Isaiah 43:1 现在我们回到《以赛亚书》第四十三章第一节

But now thus says the LORD , 但是,雅各啊!那创造你的耶和华,以色列啊!那塑造你的主,现在这样说:he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, “不要惧怕,for I have redeemed you; 因为我救赎了你;I have called you by name, you are mine.我按着你的名呼召了你;你是属我的。

Again, I have called you by name, by your name, you are mine.我按着你的名呼召了你;你是属我的。So we see that in verses 6 and 7, God calls his people by his name and verse 1 God calls his people by their names.所以我们看到第6到第7节,上帝是按照他自己的名字呼召他的子民的,按照第1节呢,上帝是按照以色列他的子民自己的名字,以色列的名字,信徒的名字来呼召每一个信徒的。那你会问,每一个信徒的名字是指什么呢?You may ask what is the meaning of each Christian’s name ? 我们按照我们自己的名字蒙召。We are called by our name, our indevidual name. ***《罗马书》Romans 8:29克罗尼告诉我们,我们要看《罗马书》第八章29节,Clowney gives the answer. The answer is really based on Romans 8:28-29,第28和29 节:Romans 8:28-29:

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And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, 我们知道,为了爱上帝的人,就是按他旨意蒙召的人的益处,万事都一同效力。for those who are called according to his purpose. (V.29)For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, (29)因为上帝预先知道的人,他就预先命定他们和他儿子的形象一模一样,(或者效法祂儿子的形象、样式)Now this image or likeness of God’s Son,那这个上帝儿子的形象或者是模式,we are predestined to conform to the image. 我们被预定就是要效法、要学像这个的形象。That’s our name. 这个就是我们的名字。我们的名字就是指这个,our names meaning is this. The image of Christ formed in us.就是基督的形象在我们的生命中被塑造。

Now there are many other verses that Clowney will use, 克罗尼还有其他的经文,我们只是读了这三段就够了。It is enough for us just to read these 3 texts.

Now let’s begin chapter 1现在我们来开始第一章:你的名字叫什么?What are you called?

To understand your calling, consider what you are called.你若要明白你的呼召是什么的话,你先要考虑你的名字是什么,或者你的名称是什么,或者别人怎么称呼你的?

[请注意,Note. The author is playing on the dual meaning of the word “call”: 我们的作者用call这个词是重叠了两种意义的,“call” is calling, calling是呼召, and “calling” as naming someone’s name.] 另外calling是指我们称呼一个人,用什么名称来称呼他。

WHAT IS YOUR NAME? WHAT IS YOUR REAL NAME?

你的名字是什么? 你真正的名字是什么?

Question 1,第一个问题:你的名字是什么? 你真正的名字是什么?

That name may not appear on your driver’s license. 这个名字可能不一定在你的驾驶执照上面。

Centuries have passed since English names described men’s vocations. 好几百年前,英文的名字是描述一个人的职业的。George Baker became a plumber without becoming a Plumber, 而烤面包的Baker,后来他做了水喉的工人,但他的姓氏没有改,还是Baker。and we have no Charlie Astronauts or even Jack Druggists. 而我们今天没有用太空人或者药剂师作为姓氏,虽然以前有烤面包的师傅是一个姓氏。A son bears his father’s name whether it is Robertson, Johnson, or simply Smith. 而英文里,儿子是跟着他的父亲的名字作为姓氏的,譬如说:罗伯逊、约翰逊,就是罗伯的儿子、约翰的儿子,史密斯也是如此。好,这里在讲你的名字是什么?首先有你的姓氏、看你描述你的职业,或者你爸爸的名字。

So first our author answers what is your name? Will your name used to refer to your ocupation, your last name also your father’s name.He also has a “given” name 英文中文的人的名字也有一个叫做given name,就是名字,中文还有“号”等等,that his father (or mother) chose for him. 这个名字是一个人的父亲或者母亲给他命名,为他选的。

请注意 [ Note. The author lays down an idea here: 作者这里放了伏笔:which he will pick up later: 后面要继续讲的: in English, a person’s first name is called the “given name.”在英⽂称为given name,就是所赐予的,就是⽗⺟亲给儿⼥的名。下面他要继续讲这个的。he will pick up this idea later. ]

Question 2第二条问题: WHAT’S IN A NAME? ⼀个名字有什么意义呢?

我们再重复,first question(第一个问题): What is your name? 你的名字是什么?Your parents name, then the name given by your parent. 就是你父母亲的名字或者姓氏,还有父母亲给你的名字,两个名字2 names。

现在第二条问题,now question 2: What is in the name?名字的意义有什么呢?Answer: 答案:The answer depends on whose name you bear, and who does the naming. 那么要看,你身上带的是谁的名字,还有谁为你命名。

A son may be proud of his father’s name; 一个儿子可能为了父亲的名字或者姓氏而骄傲;a new bride may find unusual meaning in “Mrs. Robert Jones.” 而一个新娘子可能觉得她新的姓和名字都很不寻常,“譬如说王彼得太太”,整个用丈夫的姓和名。

Yet our names have become conventional, 但是我们的名字都已经变成是习俗可以了,having no meaning in themselves. 已经失去什么真正的意义。Literary fancy may name a boy “Cassius,” 有人可能从文学历史里面来找一些人物,来为孩子们命名,or prudence may prefer “Mortimer,” in the hope that Uncle Mort may revise his will. 或者可能跟着一个富裕的亲戚,伯伯叔叔命名,希望这个亲戚在遗嘱里不要忘了这个小孩。But usually our names mean nothing at all. 但是一般来说,我们的名字是毫无意义的。Not so when God names a man. 但是当上帝为一个人命名的时候,事情是不一样的。

When God calls by name, that name is his calling.上帝当祂按照人的名字呼召人的时候,那个名字就是他的呼召。我们再重复一下,做个注解:[Note. The author uses the same two words, “call” and “name”, to state two truths. 到了这里,克罗尼用了两个英文字,一个是call,称,或者呼召,另外一个是name名字,来讲出两个真理。First: God calls men. God calls men by name. 上帝呼召人,上帝按照我们的名字来呼召人的。Second: 第二个真理:The name which God gives man IS his calling. 上帝给人什么样的名字,那个名字就是他的呼召。

Our being saved is a matter of becoming the children of God, the heirs of God; 我们得救就是成为上帝的儿女,上帝的后嗣;therefore, our salvation is inseparable from our being named.因此,我们得救和被命名这两件事情是不能分开的。]

好,我们继续看。Now let’s read on.Your real name is the name God has given you. 你真正的名字就是上帝赐给你的名字。那这里,克罗尼回答第一条问题了。Now Clowney has answered the queation 1: What is your real name. 你真正的名字是什么?Well, your real name is the name that God has given you.  你的名字是上帝给你的名字,那个才是你真正的名字。Understand that name, and your vocation is set before you.你要了解这个名字,这样你就会了解你的呼召或者是职业了。我再提醒,这个名字是指《罗马书》第八章29节那个效法基督的样式,那个样式。

You have two Christian names, 你有两个基督徒的名字,and both of those names are “given.” 而这两个都是上帝所赐予的。那我解释一下,let me explain: in English, usually, our “given” name refers to our first name, not our last name. 英文里面一般来说我们所赐予的名字,是指名,而不是指姓氏。

But when we consider the name God gives us, 但是当我们考虑到上帝命名,或者上帝呼召我们的时候呢,BOTH our last name and our first name are “given” names. 我们的姓氏和名字都是所赐予的名字。 They are both given by God.都是上帝所赐予的。It’s different from English usage.跟英文不一样.]

Of these God-given names, the last always comes first, 这两个上帝所赐予的名字,姓氏last name,一定是排在前面的,and every Christian bears it. 每一个基督徒身上都带有这个last name这个姓氏的。就是基督这个姓氏。

That name marks you as a son of God, 这个名字是你作为上帝儿子的标志,for it is God’s own name. 因为这个是上帝祂自己的名字。《以赛亚书》43:6-7,Isaiah 43:6-7 Just like we have read a few minutes ago. 就是刚才我们几分钟前所读的,Isaiah 43:6-7 “Bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the end of the earth; every one that is called by my name, and whom I have created for my glory, 要把我的众子从远方带回来,把我的女儿从地极领回来,就是所有按着我的名被召的人,是我为自己的荣耀创作的。

这里一个introduction, Chapter 1 introdution第一章的引言,tells us that the name that God gives you, your given name, is your call.这里告诉我们,上帝所赐给你的名字就是你的呼召。所以我们要从上帝的命名开始来看,我们身上既然带有上帝给我们的两个名字,我的呼召是什么?

So let us consider sin we bear 2 names given by God, then what is our call? In the next section A, 下面接下来就是第一章的A部分: Called by God’s name. 按照上帝的名字被召。By the way, section B is called by your name. 预先提一下,B部分就是按照你的名字被召的。First we will study what it meand to be called by God’s name. 首先我们来看,我们按照上帝的名字被呼召是什么意思。

下次继续。We’ll continue next time.

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