亚伯拉罕信心之旅_01_应许遥不可及时WHEN PROMISES SEEM FAR AWAY: Abraham’s Journey of Faith (1)
主讲：林慈信牧师_校对：刘加立弟兄
Verse44，44节，Jesus said耶稣这样说：“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you，that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets、and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”『这就是我从前与你们同在之时所告诉你们的话说：摩西的律法、先知的书、和诗篇上所记的，凡指着我的话都必须应验的』。Now since Jesus began with the book of Moses turn to interpret the 《Old Testement》 that is to explain how the 《Old Testement》 took by him耶稣基督既然从摩西五经开始解释旧约圣经——旧约圣经怎么样指向他；He definitely have mentioned Abraham当然就会提到亚伯拉罕的；So 《The Genesis》 account about Abraham was speaking about Christ所以《创世记》所记载的关于亚伯拉罕的事是论到耶稣基督的，about his suffering and his resurrection是论到耶稣基督的受苦和他的复活的！You said Who said this谁这样说的? Who said 《The Genesis》 spoke about Jesus Christ谁说《创世记》 是讲耶稣基督的？Jesus Christ himself said that twice是耶稣基督亲自说的！而且两次说了。
Now the accomplishment of salvation——That was 《Old Testament》 forward to，it is history，it is finished救赎的成就是《旧约》所盼望的、是历史，已经做完了。But the application of salvation happens every day in the lives of true believers. The Holy Spirit continues to transform hearts但是救赎的施行每天都在真信徒生命中发生的——圣灵不断地在改变千千万万的人的心的。In the same way同样的，the giving of God’s revelation – that’s history上帝赐下启示——这个是历史，it’s finished in the Bible已经做完了——在圣经里。But the receiving of this revelation但是领受这个启示，it’s what we must practice every day， relying on the Holy Spirit who was ruling us and seal God’s words into our hearts我们要倚靠圣灵，每天要操练的——靠圣灵的光照，还要把上帝的话刻在我们的心版上。
Now what we see is this我们要看到这点，就是：The history of redemption 救赎历史、God’s plan of redemption上帝救赎的计划from 《Genesis》3:15 on words从《创世记》第三章15节开始，the history of redemption gives the Bible characters the true meaning救赎历史是给《圣经》人物他们真正的意义的。We are not reading the stories of these people that we read on movie magazine or entertainment magazine我们读圣经人物不像我们读娱乐杂志，these people have a special place in God’s over all plan of salvation这些人物在上帝的救赎计划里面有他们特定的地位的。
That’s the meaning——their place of redemptionin，that’s the meaning God wants you to see first when you study the Bible characters当你研究圣经人物的时候，上帝要你首先看到这一点：这个人在上帝的救赎计划里面的地位——你先要看到这一点的。which brings us to the 5th point引到我们要看到第五点：
5.Abraham，through his faith became our father亚伯拉罕因着他的信心，成为我们的『信心之父』——the father of all who believe他成为所有有信心的人之父。In other words换言之，through our common faith，we，all of us——children of Abraham enter into the Church of God whether the church in the Old Testament or the New Testament因为我们共同的信心，我们——亚伯拉罕所有的子孙都进到上帝的教会里面的——不论是旧约的教会或者新约的教会。
《Galatians》 3：7，9《加拉太书》第三章第7节和第9节：It was those of faith who are the sons of Abraham那以信为本的就是亚伯拉罕的子孙。Those of faith of blessed along with Abraham， the man of faith那以信为本的人和有信心的亚伯拉罕一同得福。
Yes，Justification by faith is your personal relationship with God没有错，因信称义是你与上帝个人的关系，没有错。But justification by faith is more than your personal relationship with God over Christ可是，因信称义不仅仅是你与上帝或者是与耶稣基督的关系，It‘s the matter of joining God’s people、God’s family、God’s church藉着信心，你和我进到上帝的子民里面、进到上帝的家里面、进到上帝的教会里面，it is because we are members of the same family that Abraham is the father of faith因为我们是同一家的人，所以亚伯拉罕才是我们信心之父。He and other ancients were witnesses of our faith亚伯拉罕和其他的古人是我们信心的见证——《Hebrews》12:1《希伯来书》十二章第1节：Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses， let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely，and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us我们既然有这许多的见证人如同云彩围着我们，就当放下各样的重担，脱去容易缠累我们的罪，存心忍耐，奔那摆在我们前头的路程。
6.那么，福音是什么What then is the Gospel? What is the gospel message that binds all who enter into the church of God in all ages那联系历代的信徒，使他们都进到上帝的教会里的福音信息是什么呢？The Gospel is God’s plan of salvation福音是上帝救赎的计划，God’s name for the gospel is “covenant.”上帝给福音的名字是，他称它为『约』。
The Gospel is the Covenant of Grace福音是恩典之约。Now we are grateful that there are many people who firmly believes in Gospel and proclaim the Gospel totay of many dominations我们很感谢主：不同宗派都有很多传道人、信徒们他们相信福音，传讲福音。But what we are just said is not the understanding of everyone who believes in the Gospel，who unites with other believers in so-called Gospel coalitions and alliances但是这个并是所有相信福音的信徒的理解；不是所有那些与其他信徒联合组成的所谓福音联盟他们的理解。But但是，almost every born-again Christian believes this Gospel、this “covenant” in the depth of his heart over heart但是差不多每一位成圣的得救的基督徒，心底里都相信这个福音、相信这个『约』的。
What is the covenant『约』是什么？The covenant is God’s unilateral relationship with his people，that is true believers约是上帝单方面所设立的关系。上帝与祂的子民所设立的关系就是上帝与真信徒们所设立的关系。The covenant includes『约』里包含：God’s promises of grace上帝恩典（救恩）的应许，and what God’s promises of salvation上帝救恩的应许。But also God’s command也包含了上帝的命令——grace and command恩典、命令；salvation、law救恩、律法；both in the covenant两样都在约里面的。God’s call comes to his covenant people上帝的呼召临到祂的子民。And God speaks with his word to his people face to face上帝也面对面的与他的子民相遇，向他们讲话。And this call of grace这个恩典的呼召 comes to God’s providence、God’s provision、God’s protection and God’s perseverance这个恩典的呼召同时有上帝的供应、有上帝的护理、有上帝的保护、有上帝的坚忍，保守他的子民到底的。
We will be studing God’s promises to Abraham我们会研究上帝对亚伯拉罕所发的应许——《Genesis》12:1-3《创世记》十二章1-3节、《Genesis 》15:1《创世记》十五章第1节、《Genesis 》18《创世记》十八章等等。But the promises also come with command但是应许是与命令一同赐下的。And through God’s command，God’s call came to Abraham透过上帝的命令，上帝的呼召临到亚伯拉罕。
（《Genesis 》）12:1（《创世记》）十二章第1节：Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you你要离开本地、本族、父家，往我所要指示你的地去。
And God spoke to Abraham many times上帝也多次地与亚伯拉罕讲话。Now when God spoke to Abraham当上帝与亚伯拉罕讲话的时候，Abraham had no doubt that it was Jehovah God who spoke to him亚伯拉罕从来不会怀疑，向他讲话的就是耶和华真神的。He didn’t need proof about who it was that spoke他不需要证据来证明谁向他讲话的。God’s Word proves it’s self，gives testimony to it’s self 上帝的话是为自己做见证的。It’s almost like standing next to us好像是站在我们面前一样。God’s Word is still the same today今天上帝的话仍然是如此。It is self a testing上帝的话自己就是自己的证据。
What does the Covenant include约包含了什么——Calling、promise、command上帝的呼召、上帝的应许、上帝的命令——God’s word上帝的话；God’s providence上帝多方面的护理带领、God’s provisions上帝的供给、God’s protection上帝的保护、and God’s perseverance、his plan moves on还有他的坚忍、他的计划继续的前进。Now we see more six things we should see我们现在看到六方面要注意的。
7.What does all this mean for us today那么对我们有什么意义呢？
I will leave you some questions我有一些的问题给各位去思考。
[1]First question第一个问题：How do you study the Bible你是怎么样读《圣经》的？Do you approach the Bible with a self-centered perspective你是根据一个自我中心的观点角度来读圣经的吗？——in the name of seeking something practical自以为在追求『实际』，事实上是自我中心的观点角度？或者是你所关心的是『上帝在这里关心什么？』Or are you concerned about what God is concerned about in this passage of scripture ——How do you study the Bible?你怎么读圣经的？
[2]No.2第二，The Second question let us ask ourselves我们自己反省、用这个第二个问题来反省：Examine your heart我们自己查考自己的内心；What is the character of your faith你的信心有哪些的特质呢？You say you believe in Jesus Christ你说你相信耶稣基督。What do you believe in你信什么? You believe in Christ，What do you believe in你说你信，你信什么呢? Do you at the same time trust in God’s Word without reservation你是否同时毫不保留地信靠上帝的话呢？Tremble at his warnings在他的警告面前畏惧？Trust his promises信靠他的应许？Obey his commands遵行他的命令呢？What do you believe你信什么?
[3] No.3The Third question we must ask ourselves第三个问题、我们要自己反省的问题：What kind of faith do you exercise、do you practise to carry you through life承载着你走过人生的是怎么样的一个的信心呢？What kind of strength do you draw on in the process of sanctification as you go through life你走过人生的道路、你走过成圣的路程，你是领取、依靠怎么样的力量的呢？Now this question as some of subtle， but is very important这个问题听起来很微妙，但是很重要。I put in another way我用另外一个角度来讲：How do you know your faith works你怎么知道你的信心灵光的呢？How do you know your faith effective你怎么知道你的信心是有效的呢？At this point，a lot of Christians in their heart raise a question of how great or strong is our faith我们常常会提出一个问题，就是：我们的信心有多大、我们的信心有多强？So that is what I ask所以我问：What kind of strength do you draw on你究竟有领取、吸收怎么样的一种的力量的？What kind of faith do you practise to carry yourself through life你是操练怎么样的信心走过人生的呢？Your faith what is big or small，is it a matter of what your will is strong or weak你的信心强或者不强，是不是在于你的意志强或是不强呢？Or rather as your strength——the strength of your faith is focused on the object of faith Jesus Christ或者说你的信心的强弱都是在于你仰望信心的对象耶稣基督的？That you do not put the trust in the strength of your will power、the strength of your faith你不是靠自己信心的强大、不是靠自己的意志的强弱来走过今生的。God’s Grace is enough for our life上帝的恩典是够我们用的——走过人生；God’s Grace is enough for our faith上帝的恩典是够我们有足够的信心的。So do we rely on ourselves in our faith or in our strength of will所以我们是靠自己的信心、靠自己的意志、靠自己的力量吗？ The Forth questions we will ask ourselves我们要问自己第四个问题是：
[4] How much do you know about God’s plan of redemption， starting from 《Genesis》 3:15你对上帝救赎的计划知道多少呢——要从《创世记》第三章15节开始。Have you made study of God’s plan of Salvation，particularly in 《Old Testament》你研究过特别是《旧约》里上帝的救赎计划吗？
[5] No.5.The Fifth question to ask第五个问题要问自己的：What is it——what power is it that binds you to the church?是怎样的力量维系你和你的教会的？What kind of power binds you to the other Christians是怎样的力量维系你跟其他基督徒呢？Is it God’s covenant、the Gospel是福音吗、是圣约吗？Or is merely human friendship、sentimental feelings还是只不过是人与人之间的友情、感情而已呢？Matter of customs、or persnal prsents或说习惯了、喜欢与这些基督徒搞在一起呢？How much do you identify with the church你与耶稣基督的教会认同得多深呢？Or do you rather only treasure an individual relationship with Jesus Christ还是你只认为与耶稣基督个人的关系才是最宝贵的呢？And when the church let you down当教会让你失望的时候，you just hold on your personal relationship with your Savior你就只是抓住你自己与耶稣基督的关系呢？Abraham was the father of The Church from 《Genesis》 all the way to now亚伯拉罕是教会之父，从《创世记》到现在的。We don’t have choice我们不能选择的。You are part of your family我们都是教会——上帝的家的一份子。Trust Christ、trust His word我们相信耶稣基督、相信神的话。He gives us enough strength to obey him and to participating The Church and his great mission我们相信他，他给我们足够的恩典在教会里面服事，把福音传到全世界。
Let us pray我们一起祷告：Father，we are grateful that we have opportunity to study many of your people in Old and New Testaments感谢上帝给我们机会在圣经里面，我们可以去读到、研究这些圣经的人物你的儿女们：You give us the examples to follow他们给我们榜样要我们模仿；They give us warnings to make us fear for他们也给我们警告，要我们懂得怎么畏惧；Most of all，they point us to you、your grace and your covenant最重要的是他们都指向你、你的恩典、你的圣约。Enable us to read your word correctly the way you want us to read your word求主你帮助我们按照你要我们读圣经的方法来读你的话语，that our faith might be built up让我们的信心长大，that we know what we believe好叫我们知道我们所信的是谁、是什么；and standing firm we will be able to cut a commit to serve you 我们站立得稳，知道我们所信的是什么，就更加热心地服侍你。Give us grace求主向我们施恩。We pray in Jesus mighty name我们奉耶稣基督大能的名求，阿们！未经同意，请勿擅自在其它网站或平台转载和刊登课程的逐字稿；课程的逐字稿的版权归「中华展望」，禁止复印出版等商业用途。ccnci.org中华展望圣约学院[email protected]
提示：逐字稿文字只限于个人和教会私下学习交流，目的是造就教会和教会负责带领、讲道的同工们；未经同意，请勿擅自在其它网站或平台转载和刊登课程的逐字稿；课程的逐字稿和图片的版权归「中华展望」，禁止复印出版等商业用途。当文字和录音不符时，以录音为准。愿上帝赐福文字编辑和校对的肢体来雅正！若是有修改的地方、奉献支持或是其他任何问题请使用以下邮件方式联系我们。网络圣约ccnci.org中华展望圣约学院[email protected]（PayPal）