4. Manna issue 89 - True Jesus Church is the Ark of Salvation 真耶穌教會是得救方舟
Aun Quek Chin—Singapore 新加坡 Aun Quek Chin
Editor’s note:
The True Jesus Church’s declaration that
she is the ark of salvation is commonly greeted by Christians from other denominations with,
at best, incredulity and, at worst, hostility.
This article addresses some common challenges made to this declaration.
編者註：
真耶穌教會的聲明，
她是得救的方舟，其他教派的基督徒通常會認為，
比較好的情況是有懷疑，比較差的情況是充滿敵意。
本期文章說明，對於該聲明所產生的一些常見挑戰問題。
CHALLENGE 1: A SINGLE ARK IS UNREASONABLE! 問題1：只有一艘方舟不合理！
A logical inference from the statement that
the True Jesus Church is the ark of salvation
is that other Christian churches are not arks of salvation.
Claiming that the many different churches in the world
cannot lead their many adherents to salvation sounds very unreasonable.
從那個聲明，所產生的邏輯推論，
真耶穌教會是得救的方舟，
就是說，其他基督教會，就不是得救的方舟。
有人就宣稱，世界上許多不同的教會
，無法帶領他們眾多的信徒得救，聽起來就很不合理。
However, consider Noah’s ark.
Out of the entire world, a single family comprising eight people was saved by entering a single ark
—the ark.
If reasonableness were measured by the number of people saved,
then the God of the Old Testament would be an unreasonable and unloving God.
He saved a mere eight people out of the entire world’s population!
然而，想想諾亞方舟的故事。
整個世界天下之中，只有一個八口組成之家，可以得救進入那唯一的避難船得救
—方舟。
如果用得救的人數，來衡量其合理性，
那麼舊約中的神，就是一個不講道理、沒有愛心的神。
因為他只從全世界人口中，僅僅拯救八個人！
However, we know that God is love and is always wise;
so what is the right perspective of this event?
然而，我們知道，神就是愛，而且永遠充滿智慧；
那麼，對於這個事件，什麼是正確觀點呢？
By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen,
moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household,
by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
(Heb 11:7)
7挪亞因著信，既蒙神指示他未見的事，
動了敬畏的心，預備了一隻方舟，使他全家得救。
因此就定了那世代的罪，自己也承受了那從信而來的義。
(來 11：7)
[God] did not spare the ancient world,
but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness,
bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly.
(2 Pet 2:5)
5[神]也沒有寬容上古的世代，曾叫洪水臨到那不敬虔的世代，卻保護了傳義道的挪亞一家八口。
(彼後 2：5)
The Noahic world had become so corrupt that
God had to judge them based on His righteousness
(Gen 6:6–7, 13).
However, the loving God was unwilling to destroy humankind
without first giving them the opportunity to repent and be saved,
so He instructed Noah to preach righteousness.
He also commanded Noah to build an ark;
whoever believed Noah’s message of imminent judgment could enter this ark
and be saved from certain death.
Unfortunately, the people neither believed nor repented.
Their refusal to enter the ark condemned them of their sins.
Noah bore testimony to this and the reasonableness of God’s command.
These people ultimately perished not because God did not want to save them.
They perished because they were unwilling to enter the sole ark that God had lovingly provided.
諾亞的世界已經變得非常的敗壞，
以至於神不得不根據祂的公義來審判他們
（創 6：6-7、13）。
然而慈愛的神，不願毀滅人類，
而沒有事先給他們悔改和得救的機會，
所以他指示挪亞，要傳揚公義的行為。
他還吩咐挪亞造方舟；
有誰相信了諾亞審判即將來臨的信息，就可以進入這個方舟，
免於死亡。
不幸的是，人們既不相信也不悔改。
他們拒絕進入方舟，就定了他們的罪。
挪亞見證了這一點，以及神下命令的合理性。
這些人最終滅亡，並不是因為神不想拯救他們。
他們因為不願進入，神因為慈愛，而提供的唯一方舟，導致死亡。
The end-time destruction of the world will be no different.
The True Jesus Church is the ark of the last days
because she was established based on the truth revealed by the Lord.
God wants to use this church to save all who believe.
However, if people choose not to believe in His way of salvation
and refuse to enter this ark of salvation,
they condemn themselves.
世界末日的毀滅也不例外。
真耶穌教會是末世的方舟，
因為她是根據主所啟示的真理，而建立起來的。
神要經由這間教會，來拯救所有相信的人。
然而，如果人們選擇不相信神的得救之道，
拒絕進入這得救的方舟，
他們就決定了自已的命運。
CHALLENGE 2: HOW DARE YOU CALL US FALSE? 問題2：你瞻敢說我們是假的？
Another common reaction to hearing the name “True Jesus Church”
is one of anger:
“If you’re true, then are you saying that my church is false?”
The True Jesus Church is accused of arrogance
because these critics think we have no right to use the word “true.”
一聽到這個名字“真耶穌教會”，會有另一種常見的反應，
就是有人會生氣：
“如果你是真實的，那你就是在說，我的教會是假的嗎？”
真耶穌教會被指責非常傲慢，
因為這些批評的人認為，我們無權使用“真理”這個詞。
People often use this word in conversations
—“What I said is true”
—or declarations
—“My love is true.”
No one takes offense because all of us recognize the importance of being true.
We know only true love is valuable,
and true words are significant.
Being true is a positive attribute sought by all.
Thus, if we believe that the object in our possession has this attribute,
and we declare as much, should we be accused of arrogance?
人們經常在說話中，使用這個詞彙
—“我是說真的”
—或作出聲明
—“我的愛是真的。”
沒有人會受到冒犯而生氣，因為我們所有人都認知到，真實很重要。
我們知道只有真愛才寶貴，
和真心話才意義重大。
保持真實，才是所有人都會追求的正面特質。
因此，如果我們相信，自已持有的物品，具有這個性質，
並且我們常常這樣作出聲明，就應該受到指責，被認為是很傲慢嗎？
For example, if a fruit seller knows that his wares are fresh,
he may display a sign on his shopfront saying:
“Fresh fruits sold here.”
No one would accuse the fruit seller of arrogance.
Buyers are free to examine the fruits before purchase,
and if they discover the fruit seller’s claim of freshness to be untrue,
they can then demand a refund.
例如，如果一個水果販知道，他的商品很新鮮，
他可能會在自已的店面前面，設置一個標誌，上面寫著：
“新鮮水果。”
沒有人會指責，水果販非常傲慢自大。
採買的客人購買前，都可以自由檢查水果，
如果他們發現水果販所聲稱的新鮮度，是假的，
接著他們就會要求退款。
Also, consider the example of an expensive luxury watch such as a Rolex.
Cheaper imitations are available.
An owner of a genuine Rolex will declare with some pride that his or her watch is the real deal.
Any doubters could check the watch for hallmarks of authenticity.
The Rolex owner need not feel defensive.
If there are people who still insist on classifying the watch
as counterfeit despite evidence to the contrary,
then it is their prerogative.
此外，若以考量勞力士等昂貴奢侈品手錶為例子。
可以買到更便宜的仿製品。
擁有真正勞力士的人，會自豪地說，這隻手錶是買得真划算。
任何有懷疑的人，都可以檢查手錶的真偽標誌。
有勞力士的人，都不會感到受冒犯。
如果有相反的證據, 就還有人想堅持進行手錶贗品鑑定，
那麼這仍是他們的權利。
In the context of the True Jesus Church,
the church’s name was not formulated out of arrogance
or with the intention of criticizing others.
Instead, the name indicates that
we know that she is indeed the church that belongs to Jesus Christ.
在真耶穌教會的文字之下，
教會的名字不是出自於傲慢而產生的
或是想以批評他人為目的。
相反的，這個名稱表明了，
我們知道她確實是屬於耶穌基督的教會。
CHALLENGE 3: TRUE JESUS CHURCH IS A CULT! 問題3：真耶穌教會是邪教！
The True Jesus Church’s claim of being the one true church
has resulted in her being labeled a cult.
However, when some researchers came to observe us,
they found no cultish characteristics[1]
—there were no secretive communities, unorthodox practices, systematic brainwashing,
or exploitation of members by leaders.
真耶穌教會宣稱是獨一真教會，
導致她被歸類為邪教。
然而，當有一些考察人員，前來觀察我們的時候，
他們沒有發現有任何邪教的特徵[1]
—沒有秘密社區，沒有非正統的儀式，沒有系統性的洗腦工作，
或是有領導人會剝削信徒。
In apostolic times, the apostles made no apology for emphasizing that
their gospel was the pure gospel.
They also reiterated that those who preached other gospels could not save
(2 Cor 11:4; Gal 1:6–9).
If the rationale for classifying the True Jesus Church as a cult
is our exclusivity as the one true church,
then the apostolic church was guilty of the same.
This logic could be extended to encompass the whole of Christianity.
There are myriad religions in this world and many gods.
Yet, Christianity preaches Jesus as the only Savior of humankind.
Should these other religions label Christianity as a cult?
Clearly, it is a flawed argument to deem a church a cult
just because she openly proclaims herself as the one true church.
使徒時代的時候，使徒們並沒有為強調這一點而道歉，
他們的福音是純正的真理。
他們還一再重申，那些宣傳其他類型福音的人，不能得到拯救
（林前 11：4；加 1：6-9）。
如果把真耶穌教會歸類為邪教的基本原因，
是我們作為獨一真教會所具有的排他性，
那麼使徒教會也具有同樣的罪行。
這個邏輯可以延伸到包括整個基督教。
這個世界上有無數的宗教，有許多神祇。
然而，基督教宣揚耶穌是人類唯一的救主。
那麼，那些其他宗教，是否應該將基督教貼上邪教的標籤呢？
很顯然地，將某個教會視作邪教的論點，是有缺陷的，
這只是因為，她公開聲稱，自己是獨一真教會。
RESPONSIBILITY, NOT AUDACITY 背起責任，不是瞻大妄為
Given that the True Jesus Church is frequently criticized
for her audacity in declaring that she is true
(and thus implying that others are false),
some of our members may wonder why the church does not just adopt a more politically correct stance.
For example, a much less offensive approach would be
to play down the name of the church or dilute our claims about being the sole ark of salvation.
鑑於真耶穌教會經常受到批評，
因為她很大膽宣稱自已是真實的，
（從而因此，暗示其他人都是假的），
有一些我們的信徒可能想知道，為什麼教會不採取政治更加正確的立場呢。
例如，若採用一種不那麼具有冒犯性的方式，將可能會是
低調處理教會的名稱，或輕描淡寫聲稱自己是唯一救恩方舟的主張。
It is not that the church is deliberately obtuse
and unaware that other denominations will take offense.
It would be far easier to be ecumenical.
However, we have no choice in this matter.
We have to courageously proclaim that man must come to the one true church that is saved,
because these are the words of Jesus Himself.
不是教會故意反應遲鈍，
並且不注意其他教派的人，會受到冒犯。
若只是成為一般基督徒，會比較容易得多。
然而，我們在這件事上別無選擇。
我們必須勇敢地大聲宣告，人必須來到唯一得救的真教會，
因為這是耶穌自己說的話。
And Jesus answered and said to them:
“Take heed that no one deceives you.
For many will come in My name, saying,
‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.”
(Mt 24:4–5)
4耶穌回答說：你們要謹慎，免得有人迷惑你們。
5因為將來有好些人冒我的名來，說：我是基督，並且要迷惑許多人。
(太 24：4-5)
Some hold the view that all Christian churches belong to Christ.
But Jesus Himself said that this is not the case.
He warned that there would be many
—not just one or several
—who will come in His name to deceive.
We must heed this warning.
Not all churches that claim to be Christian belong to Christ.
That is why we need to emphasize that there is a church that is true to Jesus,
and there exist churches that are not.
有些人認為, 所有基督教都會屬於基督。
但耶穌自己說，真實的情況，並不是這樣。
祂警告說，將會有很多人
—不僅是一個人，或是少少幾個人
—他們會奉耶穌的名義欺騙人。
我們必須留意這個警告。
並不是所有聲稱是基督徒的教會，都屬於基督。
這就是為什麼我們要強調，有一個教會忠實於耶穌，
也存在了不屬基督的教會。
DISCERNING THE TRUE CHURCH 分辨真教會
Having established that the true church differs from the others,
how do we discern whether a church is indeed true?
A reasonable and objective criterion is
to see whether the teachings of the church are consistent with apostolic teachings.
Such a criterion is reasonable because every Christian denomination acknowledges that
the church of the apostolic era is the true church established by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, any church of the present era
whose teachings align fully with the apostles’ teachings must be true.
This also means that any other church
whose teachings and practices contradict apostolic teachings
cannot claim to be the true church.
確立了真教會是與其他教會有所不同之後，
我們要如何辨別，一個教會是否真的有真理？
合理和客觀的準則就是，
看看教會的教導有沒有與使徒的教導一致。
這樣的標準是很合理的，因為全部基督教教派都會承認，
使徒時代的教會，是主耶穌基督建立的真教會。
因此，當今時代任何的教會，
若他們的教義能與使徒時代的教會完全一致，就一定是真實有真理的。
這也代表了，任何其他教會，
若其教義和行為處世之法，與使徒的教義互相矛盾，
就不能自稱是真教會。
The term “true church” was not coined during the establishment of the True Jesus Church.
In fact, in early Christian creeds, the “true church” claims,
referring to the church during the time of the apostles, were already made.
The apostolic church was the one true church
because she had been established by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
The Lord calls it His church.
“真教會”這一名詞，並非是真耶穌教會建立的期間，所杜撰創造出來的。
事實上，早期基督徒的信條中，“真教會”這種聲明，
指的是，使徒時代的教會，早就已經被這麼使用了。
使徒教會是唯一真教會，
因為她是主耶穌基督親自設立的。
主會稱它是祂自已的教會。
“And I also say to you that you are Peter,
and on this rock I will build My church,
and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,
and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
(Mt 16:18–19)
18我還告訴你，你是彼得，
我要把我的教會建造在這磐石上；
陰間的權柄（權柄：原文是門），不能勝過他。
19我要把天國的鑰匙給你，
凡你在地上所捆綁的，在天上也要捆綁；
凡你在地上所釋放的，在天上也要釋放。
(太 16：18-19)
What did Jesus mean by “on this rock I will build My church”?
Some Christians claim that believing in Jesus Christ
is equivalent to being established on the Rock.
Jesus would disagree—people who call Him “Lord”
but do not do the things that He has commanded are definitely not building on the Rock
(Lk 6:46–49).
耶穌說“我要在這磐石上建造我的教會”是什麼意思？
一些基督徒會說，若相信耶穌基督，
就等於建立在磐石上。
耶穌是不同意的—那些稱祂為“主”的人，
但卻不遵守那些祂所吩咐的人，就絕對不是建造在磐石上
（路 6：46-49）。
Be it as an individual or a church,
if we believe in Jesus but do not walk in full accord with His words,
then we are not established on the Rock of Jesus Christ.
We are not the church that belongs to Christ,
and we will not be able to enter the kingdom of heaven.
無論是個人還是一冒教會，
如果我們信耶穌，但卻完全不按照祂的話而行，
那麼我們就沒有，把自已建立在耶穌基督的磐石上。
我們不是那屬於基督的教會，
因此我們就進不了天國。
“Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven,
but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Many will say to Me in that day,
'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name,
cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
And then I will declare to them,
'I never knew you; depart from Me,
you who practice lawlessness!' ”
(Mt 7:21–23)
21凡稱呼我主阿，主阿的人不能都進天國；惟獨遵行我天父旨意的人才能進去。
22當那日必有許多人對我說：主阿，主阿，我們不是奉你的名傳道，奉你的名趕鬼，奉你的名行許多異能麼？
23我就明明的告訴他們說：我從來不認識你們，你們這些作惡的人，離開我去罷！
(太 7：21-23)
These people who called Jesus “Lord” were very sure they could enter the kingdom of heaven.
They were not nominal believers, but people who had been zealous for the Lord.
They had performed miracles, prophesied, cast out demons, and done many other wonders in His name.
Surely, the ability to do all these in the name of Jesus must mean that He abided with them.
Yet, very surprisingly, Jesus was adamant that they would not enter His kingdom.
Jesus even declared to them that He never knew them!
The basis of the Lord’s rejection is plainly stated
—because they did not practice the will of the Father in heaven.
這些人稱呼耶穌為“主”，很確信自己能進天國。
他們不是名義上的信徒，而是一直為主熱心的人。
他們曾行神蹟、說預言、趕鬼，並奉祂的名行許多其他的神蹟奇事。
當然，能奉耶穌的名做這一切的能力，必然代表了祂與他們同在。
然而，非常令人驚訝的是，耶穌卻很堅定，不讓他們進入祂的國度。
耶穌甚至向他們宣佈，祂從來不認識他們！
主拒絕的根據，很清楚地說明
—因為他們沒有遵行天父的旨意。
This is a stern warning indeed.
Jesus was not speaking about weak believers.
The people in His parable were better than those who only paid lip service to their faith.
At the very least, they had the love to help people
and the zeal to preach.
They also interceded for people, cast out demons, and healed the sick.
However, there is still much of God’s will that they had failed to follow,
resulting in them being denied entry into the kingdom of our heavenly Father.
Today, we must also be very sure to know what the heavenly Father’s will is
—and what parts of His will we have yet to fulfill
—lest we, too, be rejected and lose our hope of salvation.
這確實是一個很嚴厲的警告。
耶穌不是針對軟弱的信徒討論。
祂比喻中的人，比起那些只在口頭上對他們信仰敷衍的人，還要更優秀。
至少，他們有幫助別人的愛心，
和向別人傳道的熱情。
他們也為人代禱，趕鬼，醫病。
然而，卻仍有許多神的旨意，他們沒有遵從，
導致他們被拒絕進入我們天父的國度。
今天，我們也一定要非常確認，自已知道天父的旨意是什麼
—以及我們是否還有祂某些部份的旨意沒有完成
—免得我們也被拒絕，失去得救的盼望。
The will of the Father comprises the teachings Jesus was instructed to impart.
Jesus did not add or subtract anything because these words concern judgment and eternal life.
No one has the authority to change any of these words.
天父的旨意，包括耶穌被指示要傳授的教義。
耶穌沒有加減任何東西，因為這些道理，是關乎審判和永生。
沒有人有權柄，可以更改這些話語中的任何一個字。
“He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him
—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.
For I have not spoken on My own authority;
but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command,
what I should say and what I should speak.
And I know that His command is everlasting life.
Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me,
so I speak.”
(Jn 12:48–50)
48棄絕我、不領受我話的人，有審判他的
─就是我所講的道在末日要審判他。
49因為我沒有憑著自己講，
惟有差我來的父已經給我命令，
叫我說甚麼，講甚麼。
50我也知道他的命令就是永生。
故此，我所講的話正是照著父對我所說的。
(約 12：48-50)
“He who does not love Me does not keep My words;
and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.”
(Jn 14:24)
24不愛我的人就不遵守我的道。
你們所聽見的道不是我的，乃是差我來之父的道。
(約 14：24)
The words of the Lord Jesus are indeed the words of the Father.
Those who want to enter the heavenly kingdom must fulfill the heavenly Father’s will
—namely, the words He commanded Jesus to speak.
主耶穌的道理，確實就是天父的話語。
想進天國的人，必須遵行天父的旨意
—也就是說，遵守天父命令耶穌所說的道理。
CHALLENGE 4: DOESN’T LOVE SUFFICE? 問題4：愛不是勝過一切嗎？
Another scenario frequently posed to the True Jesus Church is this:
“There are many who wholeheartedly love the Lord,
who have offered and perhaps even suffered much for God.
Is the True Jesus Church saying that despite such love and sacrifice,
these devout Christians will be rejected just
because they have not strictly fulfilled some “minor” aspect,
such as being baptized through full immersion?”
另一個經常出現在真耶穌教會面前的場景是：
“有許多全心愛主的人，
他們為神犧牲奉獻，甚至可能為主受苦。
真耶穌教會不是說，儘管有這樣付出的愛心和犧牲，
這些虔誠的基督徒仍將會被拒絕，
因為他們沒有嚴格遵行一些“比較小細節”方面的要求，
例如，洗禮沒有完全沉浸在水中？”
We are tempted to sympathize with such an argument.
The essential articles of faith
—being baptized according to the instructions of the Lord,
having our feet washed, receiving the Holy Spirit
—seem to pale in comparison with the deep conviction in Jesus
and intense evangelical zeal demonstrated by these Christians.
How can the True Jesus Church claim that selfless missionaries
who have been beaten and jailed for the gospel cannot be saved
just because they observed Sunday worship instead of Saturday?
How can such genuine love for the Lord not suffice?
我們很想同情這樣的論點。
基本的信條
—按照主的指示受洗，
洗腳，領受聖靈
—對比起那些深信耶穌，以及表現出強烈傳福音熱情的基督徒
基本信條似乎看起來相形見拙。
真耶穌教會怎麼可以宣稱，那些無私的傳教士，
他們為福音而被毆打和坐牢的人，不能得救，
僅僅是因為他們遵守星期日崇拜，而不是星期六的安息日？
對主如此真誠的愛心，怎麼可能會還不夠呢？
However, reflecting more deeply,
do we realize that proponents of this argument are effectively saying that love
—defined in our limited human way
—for Christ overrides the truth of the Lord?
The Lord Jesus Christ has a different definition of what it means to love Him:
it encompasses obedience to His words, the truth.
然而，如果更深入地思考下去，
我們是否意識到，這個論點的支持者，實際上所在談論的那種愛
—是以我們人類有限的方式，所定義的愛
—難道可以因為基督，而凌駕於主的真理之上？
主耶穌基督對愛他的意義，有不同的定義：
它包括順服祂的話語，就是真理。
TRUE LOVE 真理的愛
“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.
…
If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word;
and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
He who does not love Me does not keep My words.”
(Jn 14:21–24a)
21有了我的命令又遵守的，這人就是愛我的；
...
23人若愛我，就必遵守我的道；
我父也必愛他，並且我們要到他那裡去，與他同住。
24不愛我的人就不遵守我的道。
(約 14：21-24a)
The divine perspective of love differs from our limited human perspective.
To man, making offerings and displaying zeal for church work are sufficient signs of love for God.
However, to Jesus, loving God’s truth and showing obedience to His word
are highly critical and integral components in loving the Lord.
If our salvation depended on our good deeds,
then the apostle Peter need not have brought the gospel to Cornelius the centurion
(Acts 10:1–6).
愛天上神聖的視角不同於我們人類有限的視角。
對人來說，獻祭和對教會聖工表現熱心，是對神的愛的充分表現。
然而，對耶穌來說，喜愛神的真理和順服耶穌的話語，
才是組成愛主真正重要，不可或缺的一部分。
如果我們的得救只取決於我們的善行，
那麼使徒彼得，就不必還要將福音傳給百夫長哥尼流(他本來就是大善人)
（徒 10：1-6）。
Jesus said that if anyone loved Him, they would keep His words.
According to the apostle Paul, love rejoices in the truth
(1 Cor 13).
One who truly loves the Lord will surely love His words.
One who listens to the word of God and practices it faithfully is one who truly loves the Lord.
耶穌說，如果有人愛他，就會遵守祂的話。
根據使徒保羅的說法，愛只喜歡真理
（林前 13）。
真正愛主的人，一定會愛聽主的話。
真正聽神的話語，並且虔誠實行的人，才是真正愛主的人。
RECEIVING AND KEEPING THE TRUTH 領受保守真理
“For I have given to them the words which You have given Me;
and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You;
and they have believed that You sent Me.”
(Jn 17:8)
“8因為你所賜給我的道，我已經賜給他們，
他們也領受了，又確實知道，我是從你出來的，
並且信你差了我來。“
(約 17：8)
After His ascension to heaven,
Jesus entrusted this truth to the apostles and instructed them to preach it.
So, the apostles were not preaching their own message.
They preached the words of Jesus that came from the Father.
耶穌升天之後，
他將這個真理託付給使徒，並指示他們出去宣傳。
因此，使徒並不是傳講他們自己意思的信息。
他們傳揚，耶穌得自天父那裡，所要說的話。
Jesus told Peter, “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven”
(Mt 16:19a).
These keys, which unlock the gate of heaven and permit us entry, are the words of the Father.
They were not given to Peter as a sole individual.
Instead, they were handed to Peter as the representative of the apostolic church.
When we obey these words, we open the gate and enter the kingdom of heaven unto eternal life.
耶穌對彼得說：“我要把天國的鑰匙給你”
（太 16:19a）。
這些鑰匙，可以打開天堂之門，讓我們進入天國，就是天父的話語。
這些鑰匙傳給彼得，不單只為傳給他一個人。
相反，他們是被交給作為使徒教會代表的彼得。
當我們遵守這些道理的時候，就是打開了天國大門，進入了永生。
The word of truth preached by the apostles must be the only basis of what is preached in,
and by, the church today.
In the apostolic church, any preaching which deviated from apostolic truth was rejected.
No one who preached differently would be acknowledged as part of the church.
使徒傳講的真理之道，必須是傳福音和今天的教會的唯一根據的基礎。
在使徒教會中，任何偏離使徒真理的講道，都會被拒絕。
任何一個以不同方式傳道的人，都不會被承認為教會的一份子。
I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him
who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another;
but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.
But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you
than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
As we have said before, so now I say again,
if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”
(Gal 1:6–9)
6我希奇你們這麼快離開那藉著基督之恩召你們的，去從別的福音。
7那並不是福音，不過有些人攪擾你們，要把基督的福音更改了。
8但無論是我們，是天上來的使者，若傳福音給你們，與我們所傳給你們的不同，他就應當被咒詛。
9我們已經說了，現在又說，若有人傳福音給你們，與你們所領受的不同，他就應當被咒詛。
(加 1：6-9)
Initially, wherever the church was established
—whether in Jerusalem or in Galatia
—the same teachings were preached.
But by the time of Paul's letter to the Galatians,
there were two groups of churches.
Both supposedly belonged to Christ but were preaching different gospels.
Paul did not magnanimously accept both as churches belonging to Christ.
This is clear from his stern rebuke,
“I marvel that you are turning away so soon
from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel.”
To Paul, any amendments to the gospel mean it is no longer the gospel of Christ;
anyone who preached the variation was accursed.
The apostles did not recognize any church
that preached contrary to what they had received from the Lord.
一開始，無論教會在哪裡建立
—無論是在耶路撒冷還是在加拉太，
—都是宣傳同樣的教義。
但時間到保羅寫信給加拉太教會的時候，
教會裡有二群人。
兩邊的人都自認屬於基督，但卻宣傳不同的福音。
保羅並沒有寬宏大量，就接受兩邊都是屬於基督的教會。
這可以從他嚴厲的斥責中，清楚地看出來，
“6我希奇你們這麼快離開那藉著基督之恩召你們的，去從別的福音。”
對保羅來說，對福音的任何修改，都代表它不再是基督的福音；
任何宣揚這種變異教導的人，都會被詛咒。
使徒們不會承認任何教會所傳相反的福音，
與他們從主那裡所領受的福音不一樣。
What is the scope of apostolic teaching? 使徒教訓的範疇為何？
To the apostles, it was not enough to preach Jesus
and proclaim the salvation of the cross.
What was as critical is how we ought to believe in Jesus,
and how we ought to receive this salvation of the cross.
On the Day of Pentecost, when the Jews, moved by the Holy Spirit,
were cut to the heart, they repented.
At that point, they already believed that Jesus was the Savior,
and they believed in the grace of the salvation of the cross.
However, this was insufficient.
This was why they continued to ask a critical question:
“What shall we do?”
Peter’s answer was direct and straightforward:
“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins;
and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”
(Acts 2:38).
對使徒來說，只會傳講耶穌是，
或是傳揚十字架的救恩，是不夠的。
至關重要的是，我們應該要如何來相信耶穌，
以及我們應該如何，才能領受十字架的救恩。
在五旬節那天，當猶太人受到聖靈感動的時候，
內心刺痛，所以他們悔改了。
正在那時，他們已經相信，耶穌就是救主，
他們相信了十字架救贖的恩典。
然而，這還不夠。
這就是為什麼，他們繼續提出一個關鍵的問題：
“我們到底要作什麼？”
彼得的回答直接坦率：
“38你們各人要悔改，奉耶穌基督的名受洗，叫你們的罪得赦，就必領受所賜的聖靈；”
(徒 2：38)
Accepting water baptism and praying for the Holy Spirit are not conditions formulated by Peter.
These were instructions of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
Those who believe and are baptized will be saved
(Mk 16:16);
those who believe must pray for the promised Holy Spirit
(Acts 1:4–5);
and those who believe must receive footwashing
(Jn 13:8).
In short, the content of the gospel is not just about believing in Jesus
but also practicing the words Jesus spoke.
接受浸禮和祈求聖靈，不是彼得制定的條件。
這些是主耶穌基督自己的指示。
信而受洗的人必得救
（可 16:16）；
那些相信的人，必須祈求應許的聖靈
（徒 1：4-5）；
以及那些相信的人，必須接受洗腳禮
（約 13:8）。
總之，福音的內容，不僅僅是要相信耶穌，
還要實踐耶穌所說的話。
Keeping the Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth 持守完整的真理，一心一志追求真理
“[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)
We must take heed and practice all of the Lord’s commandments.
It is not for us to pick and choose which to follow and which to ignore.
We have no such authority.
If we believe that the words of the Lord Jesus Christ are absolute
and that they directly relate to the judgment in the last days,
then we have no other choice but to follow them absolutely.
We cannot add to or subtract from God’s word because this concerns salvation.
我們必須注意實行主所有的誡命。
這不應該是我們可以選擇，那些可以遵守，那些可以忽略。
我們並沒有這樣的權力。
如果我們相信主耶穌基督的話語，是絕對的，
這些話語與末日的審判直接相關，
那麼我們別無選擇，只能絕對地全部遵守。
我們不能增減少神的話語，因為這會關係到得救。
No one, apart from God, has the authority to save or judge humankind.
Hence, no one has the authority to change God's word.
The apostolic church was entrusted with the commission to teach others the word of God.
Today and right until the end of the age,
the one true church has the responsibility to teach these exact words.
除了神以外，沒有人有權柄拯人類救或審判人類。
因此，沒有人有權更改神的話語。
使徒教會受託負的使命，是教導大家明白神的話語。
從今日直到這整個時代終結，
獨一真教會有責任，要精確地全部教導這些話語。
There are churches today
—aside from the True Jesus Church
—who claim to be the revived apostolic church;
they too declare themselves the true church.
However, if what they preach
is not entirely according to what the apostles preached, their claim is hollow.
In contrast, the doctrines preached by the True Jesus Church
are in complete accordance with apostolic teachings.
Very importantly, the Holy Spirit received in the True Jesus Church
is the same Spirit received by the apostles.
今天有些教會，
—除了真耶穌教會之外，
—他們自稱是復興的使徒教會；
他們也宣稱自己是真教會。
然而，如果他們所傳揚的，
不完全是根據使徒以前所傳的，他們的聲明就是空洞的。
相比之下，真耶穌教會所宣揚的教義，
完全符合使徒的教導。
更重要的是，真耶穌教會中，可以領受聖靈，
亦是使徒所領受的同一個聖靈。
Let us never doubt that we are the church that belongs to God.
True Jesus Church is the ark of salvation.
We must enter into it and hold fast to our faith.
Let us not be deceived into leaving this ark.
May God preserve our faith.
Amen.
讓我們永遠不會懷疑，自已是屬於神的教會。
真耶穌教會是救贖的方舟。
我們必須進入其中，並堅守自已的信仰。
讓我們不要受到欺騙，而離開這個方舟。
願神保守我們的信心。
阿門。
[1] Rick Ross, “What Makes a Cult?,”
The Guardian, May 27, 2009,
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2009/may/27/cults-definition-religion.
[1] Rick Ross，“邪教怎麼產生的？”
衛報，2009 年 5 月 27 日報導，
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2009/may/27/cults-definition-religion.
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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