4. Manna issue 85 - Our Story 我們的故事
The story of God’s church
told through biblical
prophecy is now unfolding
神教會闡釋了聖經預言的故事，現在揭開了
Steven Shek—Edinburgh, UK 英國艾丁堡 石文彬
INTRODUCTION 引言
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ that we have been born within the century
of the True Jesus Church’s establishment in 1917.
This is, indeed, God’s grace and mercy.
Not only that, it is God’s grace that
we can read the Scriptures to see the next phase of God’s plan for His church.[1]
讚美主共耶穌，我們訌生在真耶穌教會於1917年建立的這一百年之內。
這真的是神恩典和慈愛。
不只這樣，這也是神的恩典，讓我們可以讀聖經，
看見神為教會的規劃，走向下一個階段[。1]
THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH: A RUINED CITY 使徒教會：破減的城市
When the Bible mentions Zion, Jerusalem or the city,
it often refers, in a spiritual sense, to the church.
God repeatedly prophesied that He would establish His church (His kingdom)
on earth through the downpour of the Holy Spirit,[2]
which occurred for the first time during Pentecost, as recorded in Acts.
當聖經提到，鍚安，耶路撒冷，聖城的時候，
就屬靈的層面而言，常常指的就是教會。
神不斷預言，祂會藉著聖靈的降臨，在地上建造自已的教會(國度)，[2]
教會於五旬節的時候，第一次聖靈建立教會，就如使徒行為記載的一樣。
However, before the apostolic church was established,
Jesus explained how He, the Savior, had come to fulfill the Law and the Prophets,
which foreshadowed His coming and sacrifice.
Thus, He revealed to us His divinity and the direction of the church.[3]
Previously, salvation was granted only to the Jews;
however, through the grace of Jesus’ death, it is now open to all.
After the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy, that God would “pour out [His] Spirit on all flesh.
…That whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved” (Joel 2:28–32),
the gospel converted Jews and Gentiles alike.
Despite the early confusion and challenges that this created
(e.g., debates over the need for circumcision and the extension of salvation grace to the Gentiles),[4]
the Holy Spirit guided the apostolic church to understand fully Amos’ prophecy:
然而，使徒教會成立之前，
耶穌解釋了祂身為拯救者，來到世上，為了成全律法和先知，
預示了祂的來到和犧牲。
為此，祂向我揭露了祂自已的神性，以及教會成長的方向。[3]
在此之前，救贖只對猶太人有效；
然而，因著耶穌代死的恩典，現在大家都可以得到拯救。
在先知約珥的預言實現之後，神會"澆灌聖靈給一切凡有血氣的。
...凡是求告耶和華名的人就必得救"(珥 2：28-32)，
無論是猶太人或是希臘人，都因為福音而信主。
雖然最早有些混亂和教會內部的挑戰，
例如，爭論外邦人是不是有必要行割禮，救恩是否也延伸給他們，
這就造就了，聖靈帶領使徒教會，認清了阿摩司先知的預言：
"On that day I will raise up
The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down,
And repair its damages;
I will raise up its ruins,
And rebuild it as in the days of old;
That they may possess the remnant of Edom,
And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,”
Says the LORD who does this thing. (Amos 9:11–12)[5]
11到那日，我必建立大衛倒塌的帳幕，堵住其中的破口，把那破壞的建立起來，重新修造，像古時一樣，
12使以色列人得以東所餘剩的和所有稱為我名下的國。此乃行這事的耶和華說的。
(摩 9：11-12)[5]
It is also God’s plan to save the Gentiles.
When the entire church believed and accepted God’s inclusion of the Gentiles,
the gospel prospered even further:
“the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed” (Acts 19:20).
神也計劃要拯救外邦人。
當整個教會信服了聖靈，接受了神接納了外邦人，
福音更是大大的興旺：
20主的道大大興旺，而且得勝，就是這樣。(徒 19：20)
Yet, God had already foreseen that the apostolic church would become unfaithful (Isa 1:21).
Paul’s numerous warnings to guard against false teachings indicate that
the church suffered serious spiritual attacks.[6]
Heresies infiltrated believers’ hearts through “persuasive words” based on “philosophy and empty deceit,”
causing believers to be hooked by worldly concepts rather than the teachings of Christ (Col 2:4, 8).
The church deteriorated further when some began to teach so-called doctrines
based on “fables and endless genealogies” (1 Tim 1:3–4).
Leaders and ordinary members resisted the truth.[7]
The situation became so bad that Jude fought for the truth to save members from godless deceivers,
who served only themselves (Jude 12–13).
Before Paul died, believers had left the church in droves[8] and,
instead of Jesus’ truth being preached and practiced, false humility and corruption reigned.
然而，神已經預見了，使徒教會會變心(賽 1：21)。
保羅好幾次警示，要注意虛假的教導，指出了，
教會遇到了很嚴重的屬靈攻擊。[6]
異端基於"哲學及虛妄的欺詐"用"煽動性的言語"，滲透進信徒的內心，
讓信徒受到世上想法的引誘，而不是忠心於基督的教導(西 2：4，8)。
教會進一步分裂，就是有些人開始教導基於"那寓言故事及無窮盡的家譜"所謂的教義(提前 1：3-4)。
教會領導人及一般信徒拒絕真理。
情況變得很糟，門徒猶大要為真理辯護，救出信徒免於不信神的欺騙者，
他們只忠於自已(猶 12-13)。
保羅離世之前，信徒陸陸續續就離開了教會[8]，
耶穌的真理沒有傳出去，讓人照著遵行，反而讓那些假人道，腐敗的事所掌控。
RESTORING THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH: A FAITHFUL CITY 復興使徒教會
Despite the decline of the apostolic church,
God’s foreknowledge and enduring mercy give us,
true Jesus Church members in the end time, hope and strength.
The Scriptures prophesied not only the establishment of the apostolic church,
but also the true church today:
雖然使徒教會衰弱了，
神早就知道，給我們永遠的慈愛，盼望和力量，末世真耶穌教會的信徒。
聖經不只預言，使徒教會的建立，也包括了今日的真耶穌教會：
I will restore your judges as at the first,
And your counselors as at the beginning.
Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city. (Isa 1:26)
26我也必復還你的審判官，像起初一樣，復還你的謀士，像起先一般。然後，你必稱為公義之城，忠信之邑。
(賽 1：26)
It shall come to pass in that day
That the Lord shall set His hand again the second time. (Isa 11:11a)
11當那日，主必二次伸手救回自己百姓中所餘剩的，(賽 11：11a)
These verses outline the restoration of the apostolic church as a faithful city,
and align with the scriptural pattern of prophecies regarding the former and latter rain—
the downpour of the Holy Spirit in two time-periods.[9]
How would this restoration come about?
According to Isaiah, God will reveal the unfaithful, the unrepentant,
and those who create divisions in the church (Isa 1:24–31).[10]
He will then send true disciples to strengthen vulnerable and weak members:
God’s work is not just in the cleansing but also the strengthening of His church.
Micah prophesies that many will hear God’s words,
but some will refuse to listen and will continue in their own ways or worship gods of their own making.[11]
這裡的經節勾勒出使徒教會的復興，成為忠心的城市，
符合了聖經預言裡屬靈的模式，象徵早雨及晚雨-
聖經會在二個時期中降臨。[9]
這樣的復興是怎麼發生的呢？
依照以賽亞的記載，神會揭露那些不忠心，不願悔改，
以及那些在教會裡引起分裂的人。(賽 1：24-31)[10]
然後，神就會派遣真正的門徒，來加添那些瀕危軟弱信徒的力量：
神動工不只可以淨化教會，而且也會加添力量給教會。
彌迦先知預言，有許多人會聽從神的話，
但也有很多人會拒絕接受神的話，會一直自願走他們自已的路，
崇拜那些他們自已雙手所刻劃出來的神祇。[11]
However, God’s foreknowledge brings comfort:
there will be those whose faith, while initially weak,
is genuine and will be strengthened by allowing God to rule in their lives,
“bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor 10:4–5).
Zechariah prophesies that, in the latter days, the weak will become strong:
然而神的先見之明帶給人安慰：
就會有些人，他們信心一開始軟弱，但卻是真信心，
會充滿力量，讓神來主導他們的生活，
又將人所有的心意奪回，使他都順服基督。(林後 10：4-5)
撒迦利亞先知預言，在末後的時候，軟弱的人會變剛強：
[O]ne who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David,
and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the LORD before them. (Zech 12:8)
他們中間軟弱的必如大衛；大衛的家必如神，如行在他們前面之耶和華的使者。(亞 12：8)
Today, we have the privilege of seeing this wonderful prophecy being fulfilled,
as we continue to build up the church.
今日，只要我們一直建設教會，就有這個榮幸，親眼見証這個奇妙的預言實現。
THE STORY CONTINUES WITH US 故事會隨著我們持續下去
From the Scriptures, we have seen the story of God’s church, our own story, unfold.
The following passages eloquently sum up what remains for us to do.
在聖經裡，我們已經看到神教會的故事，就是我們自已的故事，揭露出來。
下面的經節，滔滔不絕地總結了一切仍要我們來作的事。
First, we must draw closer to God: 第一，一定要親近神：
[L]et us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,
for He who promised is faithful. (Heb 10:22–23)
22並我們心中天良的虧欠已經灑去，身體用清水洗淨了，就當存著誠心和充足的信心來到神面前；
23也要堅守我們所承認的指望，不至搖動，因為那應許我們的是信實的。
(來 10：22-23)
Second, as we work together to build up the church, we must encourage each other:
第二，當我們一起努力建設教會的時候，就一定要互相鼓勵：
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some,
but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (Heb 10:24–25)
24又要彼此相顧，激發愛心，勉勵行善。
25你們不可停止聚會，好像那些停止慣了的人，倒要彼此勸勉，既知道（原文是看見）那日子臨近，就更當如此。
(來 10：24-25)
Third, as believers in the end time,
we must also prepare ourselves to continue the story of God’s church:
第三，作為末世的信徒，一定要自已準備好，延續神教會的故事：
Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mk 16:15)
15你們往普天下去，傳福音給萬民（萬民：原文是凡受造的）聽。(可 16：15)
Finally, we must revive the spirit of the apostolic church in our hearts,
according to the mercy of Jesus Christ:
最後，照著耶穌基督的慈愛，
一定要讓我們心裡，重新燃起使徒教會聖靈的感動：
To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles:
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom,
that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
To this end I also labour, striving according to His working which works in me mightily. (Col 1:27–29)
27神願意叫他們知道，這奧祕在外邦人中有何等豐盛的榮耀，就是基督在你們心裡成了有榮耀的盼望。
28我們傳揚他，是用諸般的智慧，勸戒各人，教導各人，要把各人在基督裡完完全全的引到神面前。
29我也為此勞苦，照著他在我?面運用的大能盡心竭力。
(西 1：27-29)
We ask the Lord to pour His Spirit on us in the time of the latter rain,
so that “according to the power that works in us…
[God may be glorified] in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations,
forever and ever. Amen” (Eph 3:20a–21).
於此晚雨的時節，求神澆灌聖靈在我們身上，
20神能照著運行在我們心裡的大力充充足足的成就一切，超過我們所求所想的。
21但願他在教會中，並在基督耶穌裡，得著榮耀，直到世世代代，永永遠遠。阿們！
(弗 3：20a-21)
[1] Ephesians 1:22–23; John 3:3, 5 弗 1：22-23；約 3：3，5
[2] Joel 2:23; Acts 1:8; Luke 24:49; Romans 14:17 珥 2：23；徒 1：8；路 24：49
[3] Luke 24:25–27, 32, 44–49; Acts 2:1–3 路 24：25-27，32，44-49；徒 2：1-3
[4] Acts 11:1–3; 15:1–2 徒 11：1-3；15：1-2
[5] Acts 15:15–17 徒 15：15-17
[6] Galatians 1:6–9; 3:1–4 加 1：6-9；3：1-4
[7] 2 Timothy 3:1–9 提後 3：1-9
[8] 2 Timothy 1:15 提後 1：15
[9] Deuteronomy 11:14; Jeremiah 5:24; Hosea 6:3; Joel 2:23; Zechariah 10:1; James 5:7
申 11：14；耶 5：24；何 6：3；珥 2：23；亞 10：1；雅 5：7
[10] See also 1 John 4:6; Ephesians 4:1–3, 11–13; 2 Corinthians 12:7–10
參考 約壹 4：6；弗 4：1-3，11-13；林後 12：7-10
[11] Jeremiah 13:23; 2 Corinthians 13:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 10:26;
Deuteronomy 12:32; Proverbs 30:6; Deuteronomy 18:22; Psalm 50:21–23; Isaiah 8:20; John 4:23–24
耶 13：23；林後 13：8；帖後 2：13；來 10：26；
申 12；32；箴 30：6；申 18：22；詩 50：21-23；賽 8：20；約 4：23-24
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