盼望的緣由 (阮雄長老)

29 May

盼望的緣由 (阮雄長老)

同樣是基督徒,為什麼有些屬靈的偉人的委身是如此地出色而且與眾不同呢?我想除了因為他們特別蒙神的恩典之外,也因為他們對榮耀的盼望有不同的看法。歷世歷代的基督徒受到考驗與磨練,彼得特別地安慰他們,也給他們一個活潑的盼望(彼前 1:3),「希望」常常用來表達不太可能發生的事,是單方面的。盼望(hope)則主要表達可能或要發生的事,是必然的、有把握的。而「活潑的盼望」則是基於主耶穌的復活,我們經歷主耶穌的真實,和聖經的應許。



主耶穌從死裡復活完成救贖使人重生得救,盼望基督再來的時候得到為我們存留在天的基業,盼望基督再來的時候得著主的稱讚、榮耀、尊貴。我如何回答人問我盼望的緣由是什麼?我若現在去見主我能帶著什麼去交帳?在主的眼中我是一個忠心良善的僕人嗎?我相信並看重天上為我存留的基業嗎?


彼得前書 1:3-23 (和合本)

  1. 願頌讚歸與我們主耶穌基督的父神!他曾照自己的大憐憫,藉耶穌基督從死裡復活,重生了我們,叫我們有活潑的盼望,
  2. 可以得著不能朽壞、不能玷污、不能衰殘、為你們存留在天上的基業。
  3. 你們這因信蒙神能力保守的人,必能得著所預備、到末世要顯現的救恩。
  4. 因此,你們是大有喜樂;但如今,在百般的試煉中暫時憂愁,
  5. 叫你們的信心既被試驗,就比那被火試驗仍然能壞的金子更顯寶貴,可以在耶穌基督顯現的時候得著稱讚、榮耀、尊貴。
  6. 你們雖然沒有見過他,卻是愛他;如今雖不得看見,卻因信他就有說不出來、滿有榮光的大喜樂;
  7. 並且得著你們信心的果效,就是靈魂的救恩。
  8. 論到這救恩,那預先說你們要得恩典的眾先知早已詳細的尋求考察,
  9. 就是考察在他們心裡基督的靈,預先證明基督受苦難,後來得榮耀,是指著甚麼時候,並怎樣的時候。
  10. 他們得了啟示,知道他們所傳講(原文是服事)的一切事,不是為自己,乃是為你們。那靠著從天上差來的聖靈傳福音給你們的人,現在將這些事報給你們;天使也願意詳細察看這些事。
  11. 所以要約束你們的心,(原文是束上你們心中的腰),謹慎自守,專心盼望耶穌基督顯現的時候所帶來給你們的恩。
  12. 你們既作順命的兒女,就不要效法從前蒙昧無知的時候那放縱私慾的樣子。
  13. 那召你們的既是聖潔,你們在一切所行的事上也要聖潔。
  14. 因為經上記著說:「你們要聖潔,因為我是聖潔的。」
  15. 你們既稱那不偏待人、按各人行為審判人的主為父,就當存敬畏的心度你們在世寄居的日子,
  16. 知道你們得贖,脫去你們祖宗所傳流虛妄的行為,不是憑著能壞的金銀等物,
  17. 乃是憑著基督的寶血,如同無瑕疵、無玷污的羔羊之血。
  18. 基督在創世以前是預先被神知道的,卻在這末世才為你們顯現。
  19. 你們也因著他,信那叫他從死裡復活、又給他榮耀的神,叫你們的信心和盼望都在於神。
  20. 你們既因順從真理,潔淨了自己的心,以致愛弟兄沒有虛假,就當從心裡(從心裡:有古卷是從清潔的心)彼此切實相愛。
  21. 你們蒙了重生,不是由於能壞的種子,乃是由於不能壞的種子,是藉著神活潑常存的道。
1 Peter 1:3-23 (NIV)

  1. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
  2. and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,
  3. who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
  4. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
  5. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
  6. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
  7. for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
  8. Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care,
  9. trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow.
  10. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
  11. Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.
  12. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
  13. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;
  14. for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
  15. Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.
  16. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,
  17. but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
  18. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
  19. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
  20. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
  21. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.