信仰的基本課程

COUNTING THE COST

計算代價 – 獻身於耶穌

Before a person becomes a Christian, he needs to consider very carefully if he is willing to pay the price that it takes to live the Christian life. We have found this to be especially true in our work among the Chinese people. In the states we might be able to teach a new Christian some things after they become a Christian. The Chinese do not have the religious background that westerners have and therefore they need to fully understand what they are doing.

一個人在成爲基督徒之前、他應該先好好的考慮願不願意付出過基督徒生活的代價 . 這點在傳福音給中國人時是很重要的 . 在美國我們能夠等到人在成爲基督徒之後才教導他們一些事情、但是中國人並沒有像西方人一樣的宗教背景 . 所以、在成爲基督徒之前需要更清楚的明白他們所要作的事情 .

Every person needs to know that becoming a Christian means entering the Lord's church, not a denomination; and that becoming a Christian carries with it much responsibility. We know that a person who becomes a Christian and then falls away is worse off than one who never knew the truth. “For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: A dog returns to his own vomit, and, a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire” (2 Peter 2:20-22). “And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more” (Luke 12:47,48).

每一個人需要知道成爲基督徒的意思是歸入主的教會、而不是宗派教會 ; 其實基督徒也必須要付出很多責任 . 我們知道人成爲基督徒後又墜落了、是比從來不知道真理的人更不好了 . 『倘若他們因認識主救主耶穌基督，得以脫離世上的污穢，後來又在其中被纏住、制伏，他們末後的景況就比先前更不好了 . 他們曉得義路，竟背棄了傳給他們的聖命，倒不如不曉得爲妙 . 俗語說得真不錯，狗所吐的他轉過來又吃；豬洗淨了又回到泥裏去輥，這話在他們身上正合式』 ( 彼後 2:20-22). 『僕人知道主人的意思，卻不豫備，又不順從他的意思行，那僕人必多受責打；惟有那不知道的，作了當受責打的事，必少受責打；因爲多給誰，就向誰多取；多托誰，就向誰多要』 ( 路 12:47,48).

Passages That Emphasize “Counting The Cost”

It would be very helpful for every person who is thinking about becoming a child of God to study passages that urge us to count the cost before making a commitment to God (Matthew 10:32-39; Luke 14:26-33). For people who have counted the cost, we need to encourage them to obey the gospel. “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you” (2 Corinthians 6:1,2). “Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Therefore to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:13-17).

強調『計算代價 – 獻身於耶穌』的經節

 作決定成爲 神的兒女計算代價之前，各人應該研究關於獻身於 神的經節 ( 太 10:32-39; 路 14:26-33). 人已經計算代價的話、我們需要鼓厲他們遵守福音 . 『我們與 神同工的，也 勸你們不可徒受他的恩典；因爲他說、在悅納的時候，我應允了你；在拯救的日子，我搭救了你 . 看哪 . 現在正是悅納的時候；現在正是拯救的日子』 ( 林後 6:1,2). 『嗐，你們有話說、今天明天我要往某城裏去，在那裏住一年，作買賣得利 . 其實明天如何，你們還不知道 . 你們的生命是甚麽呢 . 你們原來是一片雲霧，出現少時就不見了 . 你們只當說、主若願意，我們就可以活著，也可以作這事，或作那事 . 現今你們竟以張狂誇口；凡這樣誇口都是惡的 . 人若知道行善，卻不去行，這就是他的罪了』 ( 雅 4:13-17).

CONCLUSION

This lesson has been designed to help those who have not yet obeyed the gospel to have a better understanding of what is involved in becoming a child of God and having the hope of heaven (Matthew 7:21-23). It was also presented to help remind those of us who have already obeyed the gospel what we must always remember. “For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth” (2 Peter 1:12). Further, it was presented to help Christians to teach others these basic truths (2 Timothy 2:2).

結論

我們準備這個課程是要幫助還沒有成爲基督徒的人更清楚的明白作 神的兒女有天堂的指望 ( 太 7:21-23). 我們也準備這個課程來提醒已經成爲基督徒的人應該永遠要記住的事情 . 『你們雖然曉得這些事，並且在你們已有的真道上堅固，我卻要將這些事常常題醒你們』 ( 彼後 1:12). 並且、我們也準備這個課程來幫助基督徒去教導別人這些基本的真理 ( 提後 2:2).

It is our hope and prayer that every person might be saved and go to heaven. “But also for this reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverence, to perseverence godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-11). “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10).

我們希望也代禱每一位都得救且上天堂 . 『正因這緣故，你們要分外的殷勤；有了信心，又要加上德性；有了德性，又要加上知識；有了知識，又要加上節制；有了節制，又要加上忍耐；有了忍耐，又要加上虔敬；有了虔敬，又要加上愛弟兄的心；有了愛弟兄的心，又要加上愛衆人的心 . 你們若充充足足的有這幾樣，就必使你們在認識我們的主耶穌基督上不 至於閑懶不結果子了 . 人若沒有這幾樣，就是眼瞎，只看見近處的，忘了他舊日的罪已經得了潔淨 . 所以弟兄們，應當更加殷勤，使你們所蒙的恩召和揀選堅定不移 . 你們若行這幾樣，就永不失腳 . 這樣，必叫你們豐豐富富的得以進入我們主救主耶穌基督永遠的國』 ( 彼後 1:5-11). 『他願意萬人得救，明白真道』 ( 提前 2:4). 『但主的日子要像賊來到 一樣；那日天必大有響聲廢去，有形質的都要被烈火銷化，地和其上的物都要燒盡了』 ( 彼後 3:10).

May God help us to live a faithful Christian life so we might go to heaven (Revelation 2:10; Hebrews 3:14).

我們求 神幫助我們過忠實的基督徒的生活使我們能夠上天堂去 ( 啓 2:10; 來 3:14).

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