给儿子的话 #13 信心

¹⁴ 我儿，人若说他有信心，却没有行为，有甚么益处呢？

¹⁷如果只有信心，没有行为，这信心就是死的。

²² 你看，亚伯拉罕他的信心与行为是一致的，

信心就因着行为得到完全了。

²⁴ 可见人称义是因着行为，不仅是因着信心。

雅各书 2章

Abraham's Faith Tested : Islam vs Christian

Quran’s Story When Ibrahim ( Abraham ) was 99 years old, Allah decided to test his faith, in a dream Allah commanded Ibrahim to offer up 13-years-old Ismail ( Ishmael ) for sacrifice.  As Ibrahim prepared to submit to Allah’s will, Syaitan ( Satan ) tried to dissuade him from carrying out Allah’s commandment.  Yet, Ibrahim drove Saitan away by throwing pebbles at him.  Thus stones are thrown at jamrah pillars to commemorate the rejection of Saitan. Although Ibrahim was ready to sacrifice his dearest possession, he could not just bring Ismail to the place of sacrifice without Ismail’s consent.   And so Ibrahim consulted Ishmael whether he was willing to give up his life in fulfillment of Allah’s command.  This consultation would be a test of Ismail’s maturity in faith, love and commitment for Allah, willingness to obey his father, and readiness to sacrifice his own life for the sake of Allah. Ismail without hesitation submitted to Allah’s will.  When Ibrahim attempted to cut Ismail’s throat, Allah interfered by protecting Ismail from being harmed.  Allah too prepared a ram in replacement of the sacrifice. As a reward for Ibrahim’s faith in Allah, he was granted with a second son, Ishak ( Isaac )

Bible’s Accord Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born to him through Sarah, his wife.  ( Genesis 21:5 )   One day, God tested Abraham, by commanding him to bring his young son, Isaac to be sacrificed as an offering on a mountain in the region of Moriah.  Abraham obeyed God’s commandment without hesitation.    Early the next morning, Abraham took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac, together with wood loaded on a donkey.  They reached the sacrifice site on the third day.  Abraham had his servants waited with the donkey, while Isaac carried the wood, and himself carried the fire and the knife.  When asked by Isaac of the whereabouts of the sacrificial lamb, Abraham assured Isaac that God will provide one.    Yet when they reached the place, Abraham built an altar, bound Isaac and him on the wood.  As he was about to slay Isaac, an angel appeared and stopped him.   Abraham saw and caught a ram that was caught in a nearby bush, and sacrificed it instead. God then reassured Abraham that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars and the sand, and through his offspring all nations will be blessed.  ( Genesis 22:1-18)

Five Solae 五个“唯独”

五个“唯独” ( Five solas ) 清楚说明了宗教改革 ( Protestant Reformation  1517-1648 ) 的五个基本信仰原则，教改家们相信这是基督教生活与实践中要旨的基石。这五个唯独都毫无保留地拒绝与反驳了当时占主导地位的天主教教义，教改家们认为罗马天主教劫持神的神圣属性到自己教会及其圣统阶层之中。

Sola scriptura  唯独圣经

只有圣经才是神默示并有权威的话语，是基督教教义的唯一来源，并且所有人都应可得到的--那就是说它明白易懂 ( perspicuous ) 且自我诠释 ( self-interpreting ) 。

圣经不需要它之外的任何阐释，这是与一些教会 ( 如东正教Eastern Orthodox、东方正统教会Oriental Orthodox、亚历山大科普特正教会Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria、英国国教高派教会Anglo-Catholic 和罗马天主教Roman Catholic ) 传统完全相反的教义，那些教会的教义认为只有圣传 ( sacred tradition ) 才能正确地诠释圣经。

Sola fide   唯独信心

基督的义唯独透过信心归算给我们，这并不是要否定美德或说善工，而是说，信心也是上帝的恩典。

信心是其它一切美德的基础，“称义单单靠信心，但信心从不单独出现”。威斯敏斯德信条 ( Westminster Confession of Faith ) 第11章第2节说：“这样领受着基督和他的义，并在其中安息的信仰，是称义的惟一工具；然而它在被称为义的人里面并不是单独存在的，而是常有其他施拯救的恩典相伴的，并且不是死信，而是以爱运行的信。

 

Sola gratia  唯独恩典

唯独靠恩典得救是改教的核心口号，与此有机相连，密不可分的是全然败坏 ( total depravity )、无条件拣选 ( unconditional election ) 、有限救赎 ( limited Atonement )和圣徒永蒙保守 ( perseverance of the saints ) 的教义。罗马教会教导，弥撒是基督的真实献祭，借此上帝将义注入 ( infused ) 到人的里面，既是上帝的恩典，也是人自己的功德。这就成了半伯拉纠主义 ( semi-Pelagianism )。

改教家称，我们在神面前的义是因为主耶稣基督的工作白白归算 ( imputed ) 给我们的，人没有任何功德，完全是恩典。

Solus Christus  唯独基督

强调得救唯独借着基督的工作全然成就，而罗马教会则宣扬炼狱和圣人中保代祷的教义，在中世纪后期的教会中，崇拜圣人和收集圣遗物非常流行。

Soli Deo Gloria  唯独神的荣耀

既然神对人的救恩是神借着自己的意志和行为独自完成的，那么“一切荣耀归于上帝”就是教导将所有荣耀都单单归因于上帝；不仅仅是因为耶稣基督钉于十字架上的完全的救赎恩赐，而且是因为这种救恩带来的信心恩赐，这种信心是由圣灵缔造于信徒心中的。教改家们认为：人，即使是由罗马教廷、教皇或教会圣统阶层封圣的人，他们也不是配得荣耀的。那就是说，不能因为人的好做工而颂扬他们，而应该赞扬上帝并将荣耀归于他，因为是他才使那些人得胜并有着好做工的。

To Accept or Not To Accept, That is NOT the Question...

Facebook的比喻

Facebook 在讲究自由和人权的社会里是享有至高的地位。

有facebook 的我你他都知道它 add friend 的规矩 : 不经我你他的同意，任何人都不能 add 我你他为friend。

一厢情愿是绝对起不了作用。我你他有绝对的权力和选择 accept 任何人的friend request : 或爽快接受、或KIV、或干脆一口拒绝。

E-mail的比喻

E-mail应该是现今社会最初普及的网上产品。几乎人人有个email户口。

写信人按了 [send] 楗后，收信人必收到信件。没得拒绝。

写信人决定 [send] 谁，就是谁。

收信人顶多不打开信箱。无论如何，信件还是受到了。

当然收信人的反应不在讨论的范围内。

《圣经》

细读《罗马书》及《以弗所书》不难看到「预定」、「召」、「称义」等词汇，明显且强烈带出关于救赎计划的唯一功臣 — 神。

²⁹因为他预先所知道的人，就预先定下效法他儿子的模样，使他儿子在许多弟兄中作长子。

³⁰预先所定下的人又召他们来；所召来的人又称他们为义；所称为义的人又叫他们得荣耀。

( 罗马书  VIII: 29-30 )

⁴就如神从创立世界以前，在基督里拣选了我们。

( 以弗所书  I:4 )

¹⁴这样，我们可说甚麽呢？难道神有甚麽不公平麽？断乎没有！

¹⁵因他对摩西说：我要怜悯谁就怜悯谁，要恩待谁就恩待谁。

¹⁶据此看来，这不在乎那定意的，也不在乎那奔跑的，只在乎发怜悯的神。

( 罗马书  IX:14-16 )

然而，现今社会人人都高喊自由和人权。「相信」应该是个人本身的决定。神已完成救赎的上半部工作，下半部就等人来接受这份礼物了。难道不是吗？天韵合唱团不是也唱《一份礼物》吗？礼物是等我来接受了！

⁸你们得救是本乎恩，也因着信；这并不是出於自己，乃是神所赐的；

⁹也不是出於行为，免得有人自夸。

( 以弗所 书 II:8-9 )

如此看来，人算什么？难道连选择相信的自由意识都没有？！

话说回来，人对神的认识，决定了人对神救赎计划的态度。

你认识的神是万有、万能、万知的神吗？

你愿意谦卑于神的大能吗？还是坚信「人定胜天」？

Parable of the Mustard Seed

Bible says :

Jesus used mustard seed as he taught about Kingdom of God, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it ? It is a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that birds of the air can perch in its shade.” ( Mark 4:30-32, Bible - New International Version )

.

The parable is also mentioned in Matthew 13:31-32, and Luke 13:18-29.

.

Jesus in another occasion used mustard seed to describe how even a small faith can do great wanders. ( Matthew 17:19-21 & Luke 17:6, Bible – New International Version )

.

Despite numerous times of reading the Parable of Mustard Seed, I have not idea of how small a mustard seed is, or how big mustard plants can grows.

.

Some may say it is not necessary to know much about mustard seed, as long as we understand the essence of the parable. But, how to understand Jesus word without knowing what he says ?

So, I did a little bit of searching.

Mustard is …

Mustard refers to several plant species in the genera Sinapis and Brassica, whose small seeds are used as a spice and made into a yellowish paste condiment, or pressed to make mustard oil, and the edible leaves can be eaten as greens. ( www.en.wikipedia.org )

.

There are several known Sinapis and Brassica growing wild in Holy Land : Brassica napus, Brassica nigra, Brassica tournefortii, Sinapis alba and Sinapis arvensis. ( www.wildflowers.co.il ) . It is theorized that Brassica nigra is the one mentioned by Jesus, considering its cultivation history, uses in culinary and uses in daily life.

Mustard is … 

Mustard is cultivated in ancient Greek, Egyptian and Roman for use as spice. The exact uses of mustard can only be speculated as it was no detailed documented. We can only assume that the seeds are used as spice or medicine, while the leaves maybe eaten as greens.

Today, mustard is a popular condiment, made from seeds of Sinapis hirta, Brassica juncea or Brassica nigra. The seeds are ground with water or vinegar or wine to create a thick paste ranging in colour fro bright yellow to dark brown. ( www.saskmustard.ca )

Mustard is a popular condiment to hotdogs, burgers, and sandwiches.

Mustard is … the smallest seed ? the biggest tree ?

Mustard seed is about 1 – 2 mm in diameter. (http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/seedid ) It is botanically not the smallest seed, but in Jesus’ culture, mustard seed is the smallest among the plants familiar to them. In fact, it is often used to describe something small during the time.

Mustard is an annual shrub, a small tree that is, capable grow up to 8 feet in height, ( http://www.eol.org ) which is the tallest among other herbs in a Jewish’s garden.

Interpretation …

The mustard seed represents the Gospel, starting very small but growing to reach millions throughout the world who will inherit the kingdom.

The birds’ of the air in this parable probably come from the Greek word “orneon,” signifying “to perceive, to hear.” The tree offers a refuge for His faithful to rest in Him.

.

.