1. Manna issue 85 - The True Jesus Church Shall Prosper 真耶穌教會必興旺
The future triumph of the
church, and God’s plan to
bring the gospel to Israel
教會未來的勝利，神計劃把福音傳到以色列
Shun Dao Hsieh—Taichung, Taiwan 台灣台中 謝順道長老
On March 25, 2017, Elder Hsieh,
a veteran worker who started his full-time ministry in 1955,
delivered an insightful and stirring message on the future
of the True Jesus Church during a Sabbath service
at the Centennial Commemoration and World Delegates’ Conference
held by the Taiwan General Assembly.
Below is an excerpt.
2017年三月25日，在台灣總會舉開的百週年紀念及世界代表大會的安息日聚會，
1955年開始全職傳道工作，如今退休的謝長老，
講了一篇很有智慧又鼓舞人的道理，關於真耶穌教會的未來。
以下為講道摘錄。
INTRODUCTION 簡介
Since my conversion in 1947, I have heard the declaration
“the True Jesus Church shall prosper” repeated by many workers of the preceding generations.
Do we continue to hold this same belief?
自從我1947年改信主之後，就一直重覆聽到許多以前年代的傳道工人宣告說，
"真耶穌教會必興旺"。
我們是否抱持了相同的信念呢？
Let us consider this topic from three perspectives:
the criteria of the true church; the gospel preached by the True Jesus Church;
and the gospel to be preached to Israel.
讓我們從三方面來想想這個主題：
真教會的準則；
真耶穌教會所傳的福音；
要傳到以色列的福音。
CRITERIA OF THE TRUE CHURCH 真教會的準則
First, let us review the three biblical requirements that define the true church.
第一，讓我們回顧三項聖經定義真教會的要求。
Filled with the Spirit of Christ 充滿基督的聖靈
And He put all things under [Christ’s] feet,
and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body,
the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Eph 1:22–23)
22又將萬有服在他的腳下，使他為教會作萬有之首。
23教會是他的身體，是那充滿萬有者所充滿的。
(弗 1：22-23)
The church is Christ’s body, and His Spirit fills the church.
Thus, the first requirement of the true church is that she must be filled with the Spirit of Christ.
The abidance of His Spirit testifies that the church belongs to Christ.
教會是基督的身體，聖靈充滿教會。
因此，真教會的第一個必要條件，就是教會要充滿基督的聖靈。
聖靈同住見証了教會屬於基督。
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit,
if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. (Rom 8:9)
9如果神的靈住在你們心裡，你們就不屬肉體，乃屬聖靈了。人若沒有基督的靈，就不是屬基督的。
(羅 8：9)
One who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him.
This is true for both individual members as well as the church as a whole.
若沒有基督的聖靈，就不屬於祂。
總體而言，不論是個人信徒，或是對教會而言，要有聖靈是確實的。
Proclaims the Words of Christ 宣揚基督的話語
The second requirement is that the church must proclaim the words of Christ.
Her beliefs and her teachings must be in full accordance with the teachings of the Bible.
She must correctly explain the word of God.
第二個必要條件是，教會要傳講基督之道。
教會的信條和教導，一定要完全符合聖經的教導。
一定要能正確的解釋聖經。
Knowing that the imparted truth might be lost over time,
the Lord Jesus commanded His disciples, before His ascension, to:
要知道，神所交託的真理，有可能隨著時間而逝，有所遺失，
主那穌在升天之前，命令祂的門徒，要：
“[teach] them to observe all things that I have commanded you;
and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Mt 28:20).
20凡我所吩咐你們的，都教訓他們遵守，我就常與你們同在，直到世界的末了。
(太 28：20)
The truth taught by the Lord Jesus had to be passed down from generation to generation;
only then would He abide with the church until the end of time.
主耶穌教的真理，已經一代一代傳承下來；
只有這樣，祂才會與教會同在直到末了。
True believers live according to the words of Jesus as recorded in the Bible.
Such fidelity to God’s word characterizes the teachings of the true church.
We must never equate our own opinions to biblical principles.
Nor should we accept teachings that are based solely on human rationale.
This is the attitude that the True Jesus Church has held from her establishment.
If the teachings of Jesus are altered, the Holy Spirit will leave the church.
真信徒會根據記載在聖經中，耶穌的話語而生活。
只有這樣完全遵守神的話，才會形塑真教會的教導。
我們一定不可以為自已意見和聖經的教導有同等的重要性。
我們也不該接受那只根據人類推理而出的教導。
這就是真耶穌教會，從一開妤建立的時候，所保持的態度。
若是更改了耶穌的教導，聖靈就會離開教會。
Over the last year or so, I have undertaken doctrinal comparisons
of the True Jesus Church and other Christian denominations.[1]
I find that the beliefs of the True Jesus Church are more aligned
to early Christian theology than to today’s wider Christianity.
Clearly, over time, biblical exegesis has evolved
and been twisted to the extent that the Christian world today generally does not abide by Jesus’ words.
They embellish and re-interpret the Bible’s teachings to suit their own agendas.
Many changes occurred after the fourth century,
when Emperor Constantine I decriminalized Catholicism and made it the official religion of the Roman Empire.
After the sixteenth-century Reformation,
the range of Christian beliefs multiplied and deviated even further
from the Bible as the number of denominations increased.
過去一年左右，我作了一真耶穌教會和其他基督教派的教義比較。
我發現，真耶穌教會的教義，比起今日各別眾多的基督教會的教義，
更加接近早期基督教神學。
很明顯的，隨著時間流逝，聖經的解釋不斷演變，而變得扭曲，
變化的程度已經達到了，今日的基督教世界逐漸不遵守神的道。
他們隨意加以潤飾，重新解釋聖經的教導，來迎合他們自已設定的主題。
第四世紀之後，發生許多改變，
羅馬皇帝康斯坦丁一世，讓天主教合法化，成為羅馬帝國的國教。
16世紀宗教改革之後，
基督教信仰的區域增添，更進一步的從原本的聖經偏離，
接著各種教派就增多。
There is only one Jesus Christ and one Bible.
If every church is observing the Scriptures faithfully—
without alteration or additions—why are there so many different denominations?
The interpretation of the Bible must have changed significantly for this to happen.
基督耶穌只有一個，聖經也是一種。
即使每一個教派都虔誠地遵守聖經 - 沒有修改或增添-
為何還是有這麼多不同的教派呢？
就是因為，對聖經的解釋已經有重大的改變，才導致這種情形發生。
Manifests the Power of Christ 展現基督的權能
The third requirement of the body of Christ is that she must manifest the power of Christ.
第三個必要條件是基督的身體，教會要能展現出基督的權能。
And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all. (Lk 6:19)
19眾人都想要摸他；因為有能力從他身上發出來，醫好了他們。
(路 6：19)
Jesus was full of power.
Those who were sick needed only to touch Him,
and they would be healed by His power.
But since Jesus has ascended to heaven, how can we touch His body today?
耶穌充滿能力。
那些生病的人，只要碰到祂，
就會因著耶穌的能力，而得到醫治。
但是因為耶穌已經升天了，今日的我們要怎麼碰到耶穌的身體呢？
The church is the body of Christ.
A century ago, the True Jesus Church was established through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Within the church, we have seen His power manifested in signs and miracles.
Many from different parts of the world have come to
believe through experiencing miracles in the True Jesus Church.
When these believers are filled with the Holy Spirit,
after hearing and believing the true gospel,
they willingly forsake their former beliefs and religions to join the true church.
God’s power is in the True Jesus Church.
教會是基督的身體。
一百年前，真耶穌教會因著聖靈的能力而成立。
教會裡，我們都看過耶穌的能力，因著神蹟奇事，看見異象而彰顯。
世界上，有許多不同地區的人，因為在真耶穌教會體驗到神蹟，而來信主。
當這些信徒被聖靈充滿，
又因為聽到真理的福音，而來信主，
就樂意放棄以前的信仰和宗教，改信真教會。
真耶穌教會有神的能力。
Some believers in developed countries lament that
there are fewer miracles in the True Jesus Church today compared to yesteryear.
But let us not overlook the different contexts.
Many of our early believers did not have the advantages we now enjoy.
For example, before Taiwan established its national health insurance system,
seeing the doctor was expensive for our impoverished members.
So they sought healing from the all-powerful Physician, the Lord Jesus.
In His grace and mercy, He heeded their supplications, so signs and miracles abounded.
Now, we turn to medical doctors instead of our Lord Jesus Christ for healing.
有些開發中國家的信徒，
認為現在比起以前，真耶穌教會的神蹟越來越少感到傷心。
但是我們不要所處環境的不同。
許多早期信徒，並沒有我們今日享受的好處。
例如，台灣還沒有建立全民健保制度之前，
對貧困的信徒而言，看醫生是昂貴的。
所以他們從全能的醫生，主那穌那裡，尋求醫治。
在神的憐憫和恩典中，垂聽了他們的祈求，因而充滿了神蹟奇事。
而現今我們找醫生治病，而不主耶穌基督。
It is not contradictory to the truth to seek medical help from a doctor;
after all, Jesus Himself said,
“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” (Mk 2:17b).
17耶穌聽見，就對他們說：康健的人用不著醫生，有病的人才用得著。
(可 2：17b)
However, there are some believers who choose not to see a doctor when they are sick.
They believe that Jesus’ power to heal surpasses any earthly doctor.
In fact, in seemingly hopeless situations where medicine cannot heal
or may even harm, Jesus is the only answer.
Such willingness to rely on Jesus is a gift;
it cannot be forced upon a person.
Seeing a doctor does not automatically signal a lack of faith.
But we should also acknowledge that the Lord Jesus still performs miracles
—big and small—in the true church today.
然而，有些信徒生病了，卻沒有選擇看醫生。
他們相信，耶穌醫治的能力，超過任何地上的醫生。
事實上，那些醫藥無法醫治，或甚至給予傷害，
看起來絕望的情況，耶穌才是唯一的解答。
這種依靠耶穌的意向是一種恩賜；不能強制施予每個人。
看醫生不代表自動顯露出沒信心。
但我們也該認知到，主耶穌仍給予神蹟，
-不論大小-仍在今日的真教會看得到。
Manifesting Christ’s power through miracles is one factor that proves a church is Christ’s body.
But this cannot be taken in isolation—
it is only one of three interconnected and interdependent factors that together distinguish the true church.
The True Jesus Church not only has miracles,
but also the presence of the Holy Spirit,
as proven by her believers’ speaking in tongues in prayer (Acts 2),
and faithfulness towards the gospel of Christ.
And it is this gospel of the kingdom that must be preached.
經由神蹟展現基督的能力，就是証明教會是基督身體是其一因素。
但這個因素不是單一出現就成立-
這只是三個相互連結又相互需要因素的其中之一，
而這些因素又是表明真教會的關鍵。
真耶穌教會不只有神蹟，也有聖靈的同在，
而信徒禱告說靈言証明有聖靈，(徒 2)
忠實傳講基督的福音。
就是這天國的福音，要大家傳揚出去。
PREACHING THE GOSPEL TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH 傳福音到地極
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations,
and then the end will come. (Mt 24:14)
14這天國的福音要傳遍天下，對萬民作見證，然後末期才來到。
(太 24：14)
According to biblical prophecy, we can see that the end is drawing near.
Before the end comes, the gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the world.
依照聖經的預言，我們知道末了臨近了。
末日來臨之前，天國的福音要傳遍全世界。
The Gospel will Spread Rapidly 福音會廣傳
As the end of days approaches, the gospel will be spread more quickly.
Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven,
having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—
to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— saying with a loud voice,
“Fear God and give glory to Him,
for the hour of His judgment has come;
and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” (Rev 14:6–7)
6我又看見另有一位天使飛在空中，有永遠的福音要傳給住在地上的人，就是各國、各族、各方、各民。
7他大聲說：應當敬畏神，將榮耀歸給他！因他施行審判的時候已經到了。應當敬拜那創造天地海和眾水泉源的。
(啟 14：6-7)
In a vision, John saw an angel preaching the everlasting gospel.
An angel is a messenger of God, so this angel refers to the servants of God who preach the gospel—
preachers, elders, deacons, brothers and sisters.
The Holy Spirit is upon the church, and we are the messengers sent by the Holy Spirit.
The angel’s flight through the air indicates the rapid speed at which the gospel is preached.
異象中，約翰看見天使宣揚永恒的福音。
天使是是神的傳訊的使者，所以這位天使指的就是神傳福音的僕人-
傳道，長老，執事，弟兄姐妹。
聖靈臨到教會，我就聖靈差派的使者。
天使在天空飛行，指的是福音傳播速度很快。
Today, the reach of the internet is worldwide.
Hence the True Jesus Church has put in much effort to develop the internet ministry.
This allows us to share the gospel online
so that those who visit our websites can come to understand our doctrines.
In fact, quite a few truth-seekers have contacted our church through the internet.
If the church can become even more active in this ministry,
she will indeed be like an angel flying through the air,
quickly spreading the gospel throughout the world “to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people” (Rev 14:6).
今日，網路普及到全世界。
因此，真耶穌教會投入許多資源，發展網路宣道。
這讓我們可以在網路上傳福音，
讓那些來逛教會網站的人，可以了解教會的教義。
事實上，有不少的慕道者透過網路來連繫教會。
若是教會可以在網路宣道上變得更加活躍，
教會就真的會一位天使在空中飛行，
很快把福音傳到全世界，
6就是各國、各族、各方、各民。
(啟 14：6)
Why does the gospel have to be preached with such urgency?
Because “the hour of His judgment has come.”
At the age of eighty-nine,
I may not live to see the day that the gospel reaches every corner of the world,
but I have every conviction that the True Jesus Church will prosper and fulfill this commission.
為何天使要很著急地傳福音呢？
因為"施行審判的時候已經到了"。
年紀已經節了89歲，我可能活不到看見，
福音傳到世界每個角落的時候，
但我深深確信，真耶穌教會將興旺，完成這個使命。
The Gospel of the Kingdom Preached by the True Jesus Church 真耶穌教會所傳天國的福音
Many Christians suggest that the gospel has already reached the whole world,
as the Bible has been translated into more than a hundred languages
and Christianity can be found in the remotest places.
But that is not what the Bible means.
許多基督徒建議，福音已經傳遍整個世界，
聖經已經翻譯了超過一百種語言，
即使在最偏遠的地方都能發現基督教。
但這並不是聖經所要表示的意思。
Jesus said that the gospel of the kingdom is the gospel that leads man to heaven (Mt 24:14).
Only the pure and unadulterated gospel that the True Jesus Church preaches can lead man to heaven.
The evidence of this is the abidance of the Holy Spirit with the church.
耶穌說，天國的福音，是那能讓人到天國的福音。(太 24：14)
只有真耶穌教會純正沒有混雜的福音才能領人到天國。
能到天國的證據，就是教會有聖靈的同在。
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation;
in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. (Eph 1:13)
13你們既聽見真理的道，就是那叫你們得救的福音，也信了基督，既然信他，就受了所應許的聖靈為印記。
(弗 1：13)
Members of the True Jesus Church have received the promised Holy Spirit,
evidenced by speaking in tongues.
This seal of the Holy Spirit testifies that the church believes
and preaches the gospel of truth and salvation—the gospel of the kingdom of heaven.
Importantly, the Lord Jesus has entrusted the work of global evangelism to us in the True Jesus Church.
We must recognize and take up this noble and sacred commission.
真耶穌教會的信徒，得到應許的聖靈，
證據就是禱告說靈言。
得到聖靈的印記證實了，教會所信所傳救贖真理的福音-天國的福音。
重要的是，主耶穌交付了全球宣道的工作，給我們真耶穌教會。
我們要認清這個尊貴又神聖的任務，背負起來。
THE GOSPEL WILL BE PREACHED TO ISRAEL 要傳到以色列的福音
For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery,
lest you should be wise in your own opinion,
that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
“The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” (Rom 11:25–26)
25弟兄們，我不願意你們不知道這奧祕（恐怕你們自以為聰明），
就是以色列人有幾分是硬心的，等到外邦人的數目添滿了，
26於是以色列全家都要得救。如經上所記：
必有一位救主從錫安出來，要消除雅各家的一切罪惡；
(羅 11：25-26)
This is a profound prophecy:
not only will the gospel be preached to the ends of the earth,
it will also reach the whole of Israel.
As Paul writes, this was a mystery to the believers at the time.
But just as an open box hides no secret, the revealed mystery cannot be denied.
這是影響深遠的預言：
不只福音會傳到地極，也會傳達給整個以色列。
就如保羅的記載，對所有的信徒而言，無論何時都是神秘的。
但就像開口的盒子無法保存秘密，已經揭露出來的秘密已讓以無法否認。
There are two parts to Paul’s statement.
First, the number of Gentiles must be fulfilled—
i.e., God’s chosen Gentiles will first come into the true church.
Second, the house of Israel will then be saved.
保羅的記載分二個部份。
外邦人的數目一定會添滿-
也就是神所揀選的外邦人會首先加入真教會。
第二，神的家會得到拯救。
The Number of Gentiles will be Full 外邦人數額滿
Now when the Gentiles heard [that salvation had been sent to them],
they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord.
And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. (Acts 13:48)
48外邦人聽見這話[救贖已經傳給他們]，就歡喜了，讚美神的道；凡預定得永生的人都信了。
(徒 13：48)
When Paul and Barnabas preached at Antioch,
the Jews rejected the gospel because they were hard-hearted.
This opened the way for the Gentiles to receive salvation.
From this point onwards, Paul continued to preach the gospel to the Gentiles,
establishing churches in Europe and Asia Minor.
Every Gentile who was “appointed to eternal life” believed, meaning that none was left behind.
This will continue “until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” (Rom 11:25).
We who are believers today have also been appointed on account of our faith in the Lord Jesus.
當保羅和巴拿八在安提阿傳道的時候，
猶太人硬心而拒絕信主。
這個機會打開了外邦人得到拯救的途徑。
這這個起始點開始，保羅持續把福音傳給外邦以，
在歐洲和小亞細亞建立許多教會。
每個"受膏得到永生"的外邦人都信主了，
代表了沒有任何人被遺棄而沒信主。
這個情況會持續下去，"直到外邦人全數都已經轉回神的家"。(羅 11：25)
今日我們這些信徒，也因著對主耶穌的信心，而得到了恩膏。
The House of Israel will be Saved 以色列家必得拯救
Romans 11 records that when the full number of Gentiles has been reached,
the house of Israel will be saved.
This house of Israel is not the same Israel that existed at the time of the apostles.
Nor does it refer to the modern nation of Israel.
It refers to the remnant of Israel remaining after the great war (Rev 16:12–14; 20:1–10).
When the time comes, only a remnant will be saved (Rom 9:27, 29).
羅馬書11章記載了，當外邦人全數信主得到了滿足，
以色列家就必得救。
以色列家，並不是使徒時代當時的以色列。
而以色列家，指的也不是現代的以色列國。
而以色列國，指的是，大戰之後以色列剩餘的殘存人數。
(啟16：12-14；20：1-10)
當時機來臨的時候，只有殘存的人才會得救。
A careful reading of biblical prophecy suggests that, in the future,
Israel will be involved in a great war, where two-thirds of Israel will perish (Zech 13:7–9).
The prophecy speaks of a great conflict among the nations of the Middle East.
The small state of Israel is surrounded by much larger Arab nations,
all of whom have strong military forces and are developing advanced weapons programs.
若是謹慎深入的閱讀聖經的預言，這些預言暗示了，
未來的時候，以色列會涉及大戰，三分之二的以色列會被消滅。
(亞 13：7-9)
這段預言，談到了中東諸國間激烈的衝突。
以色列小小的國家，讓很大國土廣大的阿拉伯國家所包圍，
阿拉伯全部國家都有強大的軍隊，一直有研發先進武器的計劃。
Future warfare will likely involve biological, nuclear and technologically advanced weapons.
This is how two-thirds will be killed.
The remaining third, the surviving remnant,
will undergo great suffering and, through this difficult process,
be refined as silver and tested as gold (Zech 13:9).
未來的戰爭，很有可能會有先進的生物武合，核子武器，科技進步的武器。
這就是為何有三分之二的人會被殺。
所留下來的三分之一，殘存人數，
會經歷大苦難，經歷這種困難的過程，
才會如熬煉銀子，火煉精金一樣。(亞 13：9)
By that time, the True Jesus Church would have preached to every nation, including Israel.
During this tribulation, the gospel of Christ will be shared with them,
and they will believe with conviction that
the Messiah for whom their forefathers had waited is indeed Jesus Christ.
They will understand that the “word of truth,
the gospel of…salvation” preached by the True Jesus Church
enables humankind to receive God’s promised Holy Spirit as the seal (Eph 1:13).
Just like at Pentecost, when a simple message led three thousand to be saved,
the Holy Spirit will descend mightily.
Hearers will be filled with the Holy Spirit and their sufferings will be healed.
They will repent and be baptized for the remission of sins.
As God promised, “They will call on My name, and I will answer them.
I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The LORD is my God’ ” (Zech 13:9).
到了那個時候，真耶穌教會，會傳到每個國家，包括以色列。
苦難之時，基督的福音會分享到他們那裡，
他們會信主而且深信，他們先祖們一直在等待的彌賽亞，真的就是基督耶穌。
他們會明白過來，真耶穌教會所"真理的道路，得救的福音，
可以讓整個人類得到神應許的聖靈，如同印記一樣。
(弗 1：13)
就像五旬節的時候一樣，一些簡單的訊息就讓三千人得救，
聖靈會大大的降臨。
凡是聽到的人聖靈會大大充滿，他們所承受的苦難會平息。
他們會為了罪得赦而悔改受洗。
就如神的應許，
9他們必求告我的名，我必應允他們。我要說：這是我的子民。他們也要說：耶和華是我們的神。
(亞 13：9)
This salvation of the house of Israel will be the outcome of our evangelism.
以色列家的拯救，會我們宣道的結果
BUILDING THE WALLS OF THE TRUE JESUS CHURCH 建立真耶穌教會的城牆
This conviction of our status as the true church must motivate us
to preach the gospel of the kingdom of heaven to all nations.
However, besides evangelism, we must also guard against complacency over the state of walls of the church.
As Micah prophesies:
對於我們身份就是真教會的確信，就一定會激勵我們去傳天國福音給萬國。
然而除了宣道之外，也要警醒不要對教會城牆的狀態有所自滿。
就如彌迦先知預言：
In the day when your walls are to be built,
In that day the decree shall go far and wide. (Mic 7:11)
11以色列啊，日子必到，你的牆垣必重修；到那日，你的境界必開展（或譯：命令必傳到遠方）。
(彌 7：11)
An alternative translation to the second line of this verse,
offered in the footnotes of the NKJV Holy Bible,[2]
is “the boundary shall be extended.”
This speaks of the nation of Israel expanding her territory.
Her preparation for this expansion is to build her walls.
Both Israel and the true church are the nation of God.
This is why the Bible often uses Israel to represent the true church.
God’s command to Israel to rebuild the walls is also a reminder for us in the true church.
這個經節的英文第二行，在新欽訂本聖經中，有另外一種注解，
就是"你的境界必開展"。
就是說明以色列國擴張國土。
她對擴張的準備，就是建立自已的城牆。
以色列和真教會都是神的國。
這就是為何聖經常常用以色列代表真教會。
神給以色列的命令，要重建城牆，也就對真教會的我們，有另一種提醒。
The walls have two functions: to separate the holy from the unholy;
and to exercise control over our own spirits.
城牆有二種功能：分別為聖；掌控好我們自已的靈性。
Separate Holy from Unholy 分別為聖
He measured it on the four sides; it had a wall all around,
five hundred cubits long and five hundred wide,
to separate the holy areas from the common. (Ezek 42:20)
20他量四面，四圍有牆，長五百肘，寬五百肘，為要分別聖地與俗地。
(結 42：20)
Ezekiel, in his vision, saw a man measuring the temple’s walls with a measuring rod.
Each wall was five hundred rods in length. One rod is a cubit, equivalent to 1.5 feet.
The walls were long, thick and impenetrable.
Their purpose was to separate the holy areas from the common.
That which is within the walls is holy, that which is outside is common.
以西結在異象中，看見有人用量尺來測量聖殿的城牆。
每一面牆五百肘長，每一杖長約一手肘長，大約等同於1.5英吋。
城牆又長，又厚，難以穿透。
他們的功能是區隔出世俗，分別為聖域。
牆內區域是聖潔的，其外之地就為世俗。
The height and length of the walls illustrate the importance God places on holiness.
The message for us is clear: we must maintain our holiness and sanctify ourselves from the world.
There is even a distinction between ourselves and any unbelieving family members—
while they are still family, we are different.
Some values and activities which are acceptable in the world must be rejected
because they are anathema to our faith.
We must vigilantly stay away from these and remain sanctified.
城牆的高度和長度，描寫出神聖潔重要性的看重。
給我們的訊息是很清楚了：要保守自已聖潔，分別自已為聖脫出世界。
甚至這就是我們自已和其他未信家人的區別 -
雖然他們仍是家人，而我們卻是不一樣的。
有些世上可接受的價值觀和活動，
因為他們將成為我們信仰的詛咒，而一定要加以拒絕。
我們一定要很警醒地，遠離這些事，保守聖潔。
Rule over our own Spirit 掌控自已的靈性
The second function of the wall is to teach us to rule over our own spirits.
城牆第二個功能，就是教導我們掌控自已的靈性。
Whoever has no rule over his own spirit
Is like a city broken down, without walls. (Prov 25:28)
28人不制伏自己的心，好像毀壞的城邑沒有牆垣。
(箴 25：28)
“[Having] no rule over his own spirit” implies the lack of spiritual discipline.
“A city broken down” needs to be rebuilt.
A city without walls needs to construct its walls;
otherwise, this city is open to attack.
Spiritually speaking, our enemy is the devil,
and the city we must protect is our heart.
“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Prov 4:23).
"沒有掌控自已的靈性"，暗示靈性缺乏紀律。
"毀壞的城邑"需要重建。
一城若沒有城牆，就要建築其城牆；
不然的話，城市就敞開易受攻擊。
就靈性而言，我們的敵人是魔鬼，
我們所要保護的城市，就是內心。
23你要保守你心，勝過保守一切（或譯：你要切切保守你心），因為一生的果效是由心發出。
(箴 4：23)
The Lord Jesus also said,
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things,
and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things” (Mt 12:35).
主耶穌也說，
35善人從他心裡所存的善就發出善來；惡人從他心裡所存的惡就發出惡來。
(太 12：35)
We must rule over our own hearts if we want to step up our spiritual cultivation.
If we do not bring our spirit under control and spiritually cultivate ourselves,
then we leave room for the devil to tempt and deceive.
若我們想要在靈性造就上更進一步，就要掌控自已的內心。
若我們不掌控自已的靈性，好好培養自已的靈性，
那麼就給魔鬼留地步，會受到引誘和欺騙。
In conclusion, the True Jesus Church shall surely prosper,
with the gospel reaching Israel in God’s time.
Meanwhile, we must embark on our own journey of building the walls of the church,
through living a life of holiness and persistent spiritual cultivation.
結論，真耶穌教會一定會興旺，
隨著神的時刻來到，福音會臨到以色列。
與此同時，一定要啟動教會城牆建築自已所要行走的旅程，
過著聖潔的生活，持續造就靈性。
{Appendix} 附錄
Appointed to Eternal Life 受膏得到永生
God appoints His believers to the faith in two ways.
The first is when a person is born into a believing family;
he or she has the opportunity to be baptized from young and brought up in the faith.
We cannot choose which family we are born into; it is God who chooses.
神用兩種方式，恩膏信徒。
第一種方式就是，出生在信主的家庭；
他或她有機會自幼受洗，在信仰中成長。
我們無法選擇出生在那個家庭；選擇的人是神。
Ephesians 1:4–5 tells us that we have been chosen to be children of God
before the foundation of the world.
Humans experience time as past, present and future,
but for God there is only the eternal present.
In the eternal past, before the heavens, earth, and humankind existed,
God had foreordained us as His chosen in Christ.
Great indeed is this grace of election which has been conferred on us from so long ago.
以弗所書一章4-5節告訴我們，世界立定根基之前，我們就被揀選成為神的子女。
人類對時間的體驗，有過去，現在，未來，
但是對神而言，只有永遠的現在。
在永遠的過去，天國，地上，人類出現之前，
神已經命運註定我們，成為在基督裡所揀選的人。
這種揀選的恩典，真的很偉大，
很久很久之前，這種恩典就已經賜給我們。
The second way that God elects a believer is by giving him an opportunity to hear the gospel,
opening his heart to understand the mystery of the gospel and accept baptism.
第二種方式，就是神給人有機會聽到福音，成為信徒，
打開他的心來明白福音的奧秘，接受洗禮。
In Acts 16, we read that Paul and his companions went to the riverside in Philippi to pray on the Sabbath.
A group of Gentile women who worshipped the God of heaven was there.
Of all the women, the Bible only mentions one who believed in Paul’s words: Lydia.
This was because God opened her heart and allowed her to understand the gospel.
Lydia and her household were baptized,
which was the beginning of the church in Philippi,
the first church in Europe.
使徒行傳十六章，
我們讀到，保羅和同伴安息日的時候，到腓利比的河邊禱告。
一群外邦婦女，敬拜天上的真神也在那裡。
整群婦女中，聖經只提到一個相信保羅講道的女子：呂底亞。
這是因為神打開她的內心，讓她明白福音。
呂底亞和她全家都受洗，
這就是腓利比教會的起源，
歐洲的第一間教會。
In other words, Lydia was foreordained because she not only had the faith to accept the gospel,
but she also had the opportunity to hear and understand it.
Some people will hear, but not understand.
Some may never even have the opportunity to hear the true gospel.
Does that mean God is unfair?
Not at all.
換言之，呂底亞預先就得到揀選，
因為祂不只有信心接受福音，
而且她也有機會聽到而了解。
有些人會聽到，但卻不明白。
有些人或許甚至永遠不會有機會聽到福音。
難道這就代表了，神很不公平。
一點也不是這樣的。
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. (1 Cor 15:22)
22在亞當裡眾人都死了；照樣，在基督裡眾人也都要復活。
(林前 15：22)
According to this verse, the entire human race, descended from Adam, is already dead from birth.
We are born spiritually dead from our mother’s womb—we do not have the life of God in us. We are
conceived in sin, i.e., original sin (Ps 51), and the result of sin is death (Rom 5:12).
But all shall be made alive in Christ.
These refer to the souls who have been pulled out of Adam and placed in Christ,
being born again through baptism.
This is grace.
Those who are not chosen simply remain in their prior state.
依造這一節所說，整個人類的種族，由亞當流傳而下，一出生就生了。
從母胎一出生之後，我們靈性是死的 - 沒有神的生命在我們裡面。
我們是於罪中受胎，也就是原罪，(詩 51 篇)
罪的結局就是死。(羅5：12)
但是大家都要在基督裡活過來。
這代表的意思是，指靈魂脫離亞當，存留於基督之中，
經由洗禮而再次重生。
這就是恩典。
而那些沒有被揀選的人，仍活在之前的狀態之中。
One analogy of this is if a wealthy philanthropist visits an orphanage to adopt some children.
He has enough money to adopt all the orphans, but only chooses one or two.
To be adopted is to receive a generous act of charity.
But the orphans left behind cannot argue that this is unjust—
the philanthropist does not owe them anything.
He has the right to adopt whom he chooses.
這種情形的類比，就好像有一位富有的慈善家參訪孤兒院收養子女。
他很有錢收養全部的孤兒，但卻只選了一二個。
被領養就是得到慷慨善心的行為。
而那些被留下來的孤兒，無法計較，這是不公平的 -
慈善家並不欠他們什麼東西。
祂有權選擇所要領養的人。
In Adam, we were once spiritually dead in sin.
Now, by God’s grace, we have been chosen and placed in Christ.
Whether we were born into a Christian family or were converted,
God’s grace put us in these circumstances and gave us the faith and opportunity to believe.
承習了亞當，過去我們曾經在罪中靈性死已。
如今因著神的恩典，我們得到揀選，存留於基督之中。
無論我們出生在基督徒的家庭中，或是後來再信主的，
神有祂的恩典，讓我們有這樣的環境，給我們信心，給我們機會來信主。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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