In 2014, we added this section to highlight the importance of contribution of our sisters in faith. We also included in the section information which may be of interest to our sisters.
In a traditional family setting, wives play an important role in child bearing and upbringing. Part of this role is built upon the infrastructural setting of biology including bonding between mother and baby in pregnancy ,nursing, and newborn baby caring. Contribution of women on the children upbringing can not be overstated. Most of times, a baby starts to say mom-a first, then daddy.
In today's great social experiment setting, traditional marriage, and family values are continuously being degraded. Divorce rates are skyrocketed. Our young generation is being educated by a Godless educational system whereby prayers, and biblical values are deliberately excluded from the class rooms.
Our children's future is indeed in great danger and desperately needs godly mothers to come to the rescue. The post- modernism world advocates not only truth is relative but truth cannot be known. Part of the consequences of this approach is no respect for any traditional values and authorities. Everything is relative and our young people are on their own to survive or perish under current revolutionary setting. In fact, you are on your own. Every family or whatever left over of a family is on its own. We definitely need godly mothers to stabilize and protect our families.
Most of church members are women. Most of sunday school children are nurtured by woman teachers. Praise our Lord, God is raising a generation of godly mothers to protect our future generation.
It is clear from our Lord's earthly ministry that He restored the position of women in ancient male-dominated society to equal to men as co-heir to the eternal God's kingdom. This tradition was passed onto the apostles as well. For example, Apostle Peter warned husbands to respect their wives.
1 Peter 3:7
7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your
prayers will not be hindered.
Similarly, Apostle Paul reminded Timothy about the faith of his mother and his grandmother on him.
2 Timothy 1:3-5
3 I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience [a]the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my [b]prayers night and day, 4 longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so
that I may be filled with joy. 5 [c]For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as
well.
在傳統的家庭環境中,妻子扮演生育和撫養的重要任務。這個角色的一部分,是建立在生物學的基礎結構:包括母親和嬰兒之間,有包括懷孕、哺乳、新生兒和嬰兒護理的緊密關聯。
女人對孩子的成長的貢獻,是不能低估的。寶寶開始會說話時,大多數是先會說媽媽,然後才是爸爸。
在當今社會的大實驗環境中,傳統的婚姻和家庭價值觀正在不斷退化。離婚率直線上升。我們的年輕一代,是在刻意排除禱告、聖經價值觀的無神教育系統中,接受教育。
孩子們的未來,確實是很大的危險,迫切需要、敬虔的母親前來救援。在後現代世界的主張,不僅真理是相對的,且真理不能被知道。這種做法的後果之一,是不尊重任何傳統的價值觀和權威。一切都是相對的,我們的年輕人用自己的方式生存,或隨著當前的革命性的環境配置滅亡。事實上,你是要面對你自己。每個家庭或任何留在家庭的成員,都是要靠自己。我們一定要有虔誠的母親,來穩定和保護我們的家庭。
大多數的教會成員是女性。大多數主日學兒童,都是由婦女老師培育出來的。讚美我們的主,上帝是培養了一代敬虔的母親,來保護我們的下一代。
這是從我們的主、在地上的事工明確顯示,他恢復了在古老的男性主導的社會中、女性的地位:能與男人平等地、在永恆的神的國度,作為共同繼承人。這個傳統也同樣地、傳遞給大使徒們。例如,大使徒彼得告誡丈夫要尊重他們的妻子。
彼得前書3:7
7 你們做丈夫的,也要按情理和妻子同住,因她比你軟弱,與你一同承受生命之恩的,所以要敬重她。這樣,便叫你們的禱告沒有阻礙。
同樣,大使徒保羅提醒提摩太,他母親和他祖母對他信心的緊密關聯。
提摩太後書1:3-5
3 我感謝神,就是我接續祖先用清潔的良心所侍奉的神,祈禱的時候不住地想念你, 4 記念你的眼淚,晝夜切切地想要見你,好叫我滿心快樂。 5 想到你心裡無偽之信,這信是先在你外祖母羅以和你母親友尼基心裡的,我深信也在你的心裡。
You may wonder why "Finance and Women" has to do with the quality of life. In this 21st century world, how to handle one's finance is very important to ensure the quality of life. As
a matter of life, we need to have money for food and housing expenses.
Why we choose this topic of "Finance and Women"? First, Women live longer than men on the average. It is important for wives to learn finance so that she can function well when she outlives her
husband. Some wives are so ignorant of finance that they do not know where are the family assets. Some wives can not even write checks and pay bills. So it is very important for a husband to
share family resources with his wife so she can survive beyond his death. This is best love that he can show her.
It is particularly important for a young couple to share their finance resources so that survival spouse can continue to take care of their children even after unthinkable tragedy happened to one of
them.
Finance is a complicated issue. A young family should have life insurance of the bread winner so that there are emergency funds for the surviving spouse to take care of the family. A will is also a
prudent way of avoiding many conflicts in the family.
Finance and Women is indeed a key issue in ensuring quality of life. You may find the following verses useful:
Ps 90:12, So teach us to number our days,
That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.
Ps 91:14, “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
你可能想知道、為什麼 “財務與婦女” 與生活品質有關。在這21世紀的世界,要確保生活品質,如何處理自己的財務是非常重要的。因為日常的生活中,我們需要錢、來支付食衣住行的費用。
為什麼我們選擇的“財務與婦女”這個話題?
首先,女性壽命平均較男性長。妻子要學習處理財務是很重要的;以便她的生命超越她的丈夫時,仍可以運作良好。有些妻子是那麼的輕乎、不管財務,她們不知道家庭的資產在哪裡。有些妻子甚至不會寫支票和支付帳單。所以,這是很重要的;一個丈夫必須與他的妻子分享家庭的資源;讓她的命比他長時、可以好好地生活。這是他能給她、愛的最好證明。
一對年輕夫婦分享他們的資源、是特別重要的。讓存活的配偶可以繼續照顧子女,即使是在他們中的一個、發生不可想像的悲劇。
財務是一個複雜的問題。一位年輕的家庭應具備有、能維持生活需要的壽險:以便有應急的資金、讓存活的配偶能照顧家庭。遺囑也是避免家庭中許多衝突的一個穩健的做法。
“財務與婦女” 確實是維持生活品質的關鍵因素。您會發現下面的詩句有助益:
詩90:12
求你指教我們怎樣數算自己的日子,好叫我們得著智慧的心。
詩91:14
神說:「因為他專心愛我,我就要搭救他;因為他知道我的名,我要把他安置在高處。
It is interesting to observe that our Christian sisters have contributed greatly to the church ministry even since the early days of the church history.
1. During our precious Lord's first coming, Mary, the mother of our Lord, provided nurture and motherly cares to baby Jesus. During His ministry, there
were many women who provided the support and cares to His ministry. We know through the scripture that our Lord visited Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus many times and they served Him with
hospitality (See Luke 10:38-42 for example). Also, Apostle Peter's mother-in-law also served our Lord and His disciples after she was healed by our Lord ( Mark 1:29-31)
2. It was Mary, our sister in the faith, who took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair to prepare for the day of His burial (John
12:1-7).
3. It was one poor widow's faith in donating two mites with her whole livelihood which received our Lord's praise on her faith (Mark 12:41-44)
4. At our Lord's cross, many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar. It was our sisters in the faith who accompanied our Lord at His last
afflictions for our sake (See Matthew 27:55-56).
5. During the apostle age in early church history, Peter restored a woman disciple Dorcas to life as a miracle in Joppa and many believed on the Lord (See Acts 9:36-42). It was Lydia whom the
Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Apostle Paul as the first converts in Europe. She opened her house to assist Paul's ministry ( Acts 16:11-15)
Indeed, our sisters in faith have been instrumental in church ministry till this date. Women have been very active in serving the church throughout the church age. Praise our Lord for raising so many godly women in the church even to this date.
從早期教會發展的歷史起,就可以很有趣地觀察到,我們基督徒姐妹們、對教會事工有極大地貢獻。
1. 在我們寶貴的主、第一次道成肉身降臨到地上時,馬利亞、我們主的母親,給嬰兒耶穌、提供了培育和慈母般的照顧。在祂的事工中,也有許多許多婦女,提供了支援和關心。從聖經中、我們知道,我們的主曾很多次探訪,馬利亞、馬大和她們的兄弟拉撒路;他們熱心地伺候祂(見路加福音10:38-42為例)。此外,使徒彼得的岳母,在得到了我們主的醫治後,就服侍我們的主和祂的門徒們(馬可福音1:29-31)
2. 是馬利亞、我們主內的姐妹,拿著一斤極貴的真哪噠香膏,抹耶穌的腳,又用自己的頭髮去擦,為他的安葬之日做準備(約翰福音12:1-7)。
3. 是窮寡婦靠着信心、雖只捐了兩個小錢,她卻是、把她一切養生的都捐出了。她得到了我們主耶穌、對她的信心的稱讚(馬可福音12:41-44)
4. 當主被釘十字架時,有好些婦女在那裡遠遠地觀看,她們是從加利利、跟隨耶穌來服事祂的。在祂因我們而受難、最後的苦難中,陪伴我們的主耶穌是我們主內的姊妹們。(見馬太福音27:55-56)
5. 在早期教會歷史上的大使徒時代,彼得恢復一個婦女弟子多加的生命,這一個奇蹟傳遍了約帕,就有許多人信了主。(參閱 徒9:36-42)。名叫呂底亞的婦人,主開導她的心,叫她留心聽保羅所講的話,成為保羅在歐洲事工上的首批信徒。她和她一家領了洗之後,就開放她的房子,來協助保羅的事工(徒16:11-15)
事實上,時至今日,我們主內的姐妹們、一直是有助於教會事工。在整個教會時代,女性一直非常活躍地、服務教會。讚美我們的主,持續至今、在教會培養這麼多敬虔虔誠的婦女。
One may at time wonder why Almighty God establishes family as one of the key infrastructures of the universe. One may further wonder why the formation of family is so important in human history. Family structure appears in every tribe and in all human societies. And it exists across ethnic, racial, and geographical boundaries. God created family as a necessary unit for our procreation and survival. Indeed, we need family to survive in this world whether in ancient or modern time.
According to the Holy Scripture, and the human history, the basic unit of a family is formed by a marriage consisting of a man and a woman and their children. Many evils and social illnesses of the world can be clearly attributed to the brokenness of this basic human family unit.
Woman is as important in this unit as man. God created human beings in man and woman. So woman and man are different not only in biological aspect but also in their roles in this basic family unit. There is no such a thing as man is superior to woman in biblical teaching. But after the fall of Adam and Eve, the position of woman in a family and in a society was greatly perverted and degraded by evil men and by many societal customs controlled by evil men. It was clear in history that women were mistreated by and large by men. This was particularly evident in barbaric states, dictatorship, and in tribal elder systems.
On family infrastructure, we see that many important functions such as food preparation, and washing clothes, etc, are carried out by women historically. Anyone, who thinks that the tribal meetings dealing with societal issues are more essential to preparation of food and/or laundry, is definitely being misled and poisoned with male chauvinism; and is certainly part of the evil system as well. You may ask why it is so? This is because the world system emphasizes lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of this life. This means that power, money, sex, and control are the driver forces of this evil world. In God kingdom, the great one is the one who serves the most. If political revolution by warring men were superior to the cleaning of dishes by women, just look at the terrors currently happening in Africa and atrocities committed by the evil men in the Middle East. It is self evident that evil men caused so much human miseries indeed.
As a matter of fact, the following important infrastructural works contributed by women can not be ignored:
1. Woman is as essential in maintaining the family unit as man. God ordained that it would be easier for two working together as a unit to survive in the
world. It is interesting to mention that the bond by blood in a family relationship is indeed quite unique in all human relationships.
2. From the procreation viewpoint, woman plays even more important roles in the family unit than man because the role of motherhood plays in child bearing and child personality formation.
3. Because of harshness of the wild world, men tend to defend the family against external elements and women tend to nurture the family from inside. There is a very practical Chinese saying,"Family
harmony is the key foundation of thousand successes". More Importantly, the Scripture reminds us in Mark 3:25 "If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand". The
importance of woman role in nurturing and holding together the family harmony can not be kept ignored by the man-dominated evil societies in the world.
We can say many more about the importance of woman's contributions in a family setting ranging from taking care of children, parents, to taking care of her husband. As a matter of practical
experience that we all knew as a child, it usually takes mother to moderate father's ruthless and harshness to his children.
From historical records, men have deviated far away from the Bible teaching on loving their wives. Please listen to our Lord's teaching in this regard:
Matthew 19:5
5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?
Mark 10:6-9
6 But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. 7 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, 8 and the two shall become one flesh; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”
The reality of "two become one" is the key to the understanding of how husband and wife should treat each other.
Marriage Like Christ and the Church
22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being
the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body. 31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.(Ephesians 5:22-33}
The Bible teaches us that Christ died for His bride to secure her salvation. Through the history, we also witnessed that His church stayed faithful to Him even under severe prosecution and martyrdom.
In summary, woman and family can not be separated; women's role in family infrastructure can not be ignored; and women's contributions in nurturing children and maintaining the family harmony can not be over-estimated and should be deeply appreciated by all.
有人可能會想知道,為什麼全能的上帝要建立家庭制度、作為宇宙內部的主要結構之一。有人可能會進一步問,為什麼家庭的形成、在人類的歷史上是如此的重要。家庭結構,出現在每一個族群,及所有的人類社會中;而且可以跨越民族,種族和地域的界限。上帝創造了家庭,作為我們的繁殖和生存的必要裝置。事實上,無論是古代還是現代,我們都需要家庭,才能在這個世界上生存下去。
按照聖經和人類歷史,一個家庭的基本單位是,經過結婚、由一個男人和一個女人及他們的孩子組成的。許多罪惡和世界上的社會病態,可以清楚地、歸因於家庭基本單位的破碎。
女人在這個單位中,是和男人一樣的重要。上帝創造人類時,創造了男人和女人。所以,女人和男人是不同的;不僅在生物學方面,而且在他們這個家庭單元、基本的功能上也不同。在聖經的教導中,是沒有男人優於女人的事。但亞當和夏娃墮落之後,女人在家庭和社會中的地位,被邪惡的男人及其所控制的許多社會習俗,大大地改變而退化降級。很清楚地,在歷史上婦女的地位、是好或是壞,都是男人所操縱的。這一點,在野蠻狀態、獨裁、或由部落長老掌控的系統中,尤其明顯。
從家庭的結構中,我們看到了許多重要功能;如準備食物,洗衣服等等,傳統上都是由婦女執行。任何人,認為處理社會問題的部落會議,是比準備食物或洗衣、都更加重要的人,肯定是被誤導和為男性沙文主義所毒害;並且肯定是苟含邪惡系統的一分子。為什麼呢﹖因為、弱肉強食的世界是以眼目的情慾、肉体的情慾和今生的驕傲為中心。也就是以金錢、色情、權位與統治為鬥爭的目的。這與在神的國度裡,愈大的就是服侍愈多人的作法大不相同。如果好爭戰男性的政治革命是優於婦女的菜餚和清洗,其結果就如目前所見發生在非洲的恐怖行動和在中東地區邪惡的人所犯的暴行。這是不言自明,邪惡男人實在引起這麼多人苦難的緣由。
事實上,女性在以下幾個重要工作的貢獻,是不能忽視的。
1,女人在維持一個家庭為完整的單位上,是和男人一樣重要,是不可缺少的一員。神命定,男人與女人作為一個家庭單位、一起工作,使他們在這世界上更容易生存。家庭關係經由血緣聯繫,是所有的人類關係中,相當有趣且獨特的。
2. 從生育角度看,女人在家庭中、因為母性的任務,在生育和孩子的個性形成中,是扮演著更為重要的角色。
3. 由於世界的殘酷,男人要捍衛家庭抵抗外來因素,而女性在家裡、孕育家庭。有一個很實用的中國諺語,“家和萬事成”。馬可福音 3:25, " 若一家自相分爭 那家就站立不住" 。女人在培育和維繫家庭和睦的重要功能,是不能被男人所主導的邪惡社會所忽略。事實上,在子女、父母、丈夫的照顧上,我們更可以說,女人對家庭是有重大的貢獻。從實際的經驗中,我們都知道,小孩通常需要母親來居中調和,父親對小孩較為沒耐心、粗暴的處罰。
從歷史記載看,男人們已大大偏離了、聖經要愛自己的妻子的教導。請聽我們上帝在這方面的教誨:
馬太福音19:5
5 並且說:『因此,人要離開父母,與妻子聯合,二人成為一體。』這經你們沒有念過嗎?
馬可福音 10:6-9
6 但從起初創造的時候,神造人是『造男造女』, 7 『因此,人要離開父母,與妻子聯合,二人成為一體。』 8 既然如此,夫妻不再是兩個人,乃是一體的了。 9 所以,神配合的,人不可分開。」
“二人成為一體” 的真實意義,是了解丈夫和妻子、應該如何對待彼此的主要關鍵。
以 弗 所 書 5:22-33
22 你 們 作 妻 子 的 , 當 順 服 自 己 的 丈 夫 , 如 同 順 服 主 。
23 因 為 丈 夫 是 妻 子 的 頭 , 如 同 基 督 是 教 會 的 頭 ; 他 又 是 教 會 全 體 的 救 主 。
24 教 會 怎 樣 順 服 基 督 , 妻 子 也 要 怎 樣 凡 事 順 服 丈 夫 。
25 你 們 作 丈 夫 的 , 要 愛 你 們 的 妻 子 , 正 如 基 督 愛 教 會 , 為 教 會 捨 己 。
26 要 用 水 藉 著 道 把 教 會 洗 淨 , 成 為 聖 潔 ,
27 可 以 獻 給 自 己 , 作 個 榮 耀 的 教 會 , 毫 無 玷 污 、 皺 紋 等 類 的 病 , 乃 是 聖 潔 沒 有 瑕 疵 的 。
28 丈 夫 也 當 照 樣 愛 妻 子 , 如 同 愛 自 己 的 身 子 ; 愛 妻 子 便 是 愛 自 己 了 。
29 從 來 沒 有 人 恨 惡 自 己 的 身 子 , 總 是 保 養 顧 惜 , 正 像 基 督 待 教 會 一 樣 ,
30 因 我 們 是 他 身 上 的 肢 體 ( 有 古 卷 在 此 有 : 就 是 他 的 骨 他 的 肉 ) 。
31 為 這 個 緣 故 , 人 要 離 開 父 母 , 與 妻 子 連 合 , 二 人 成 為 一 體 。
32 這 是 極 大 的 奧 祕 , 但 我 是 指 著 基 督 和 教 會 說 的 。
33 然 而 , 你 們 各 人 都 當 愛 妻 子 , 如 同 愛 自 己 一 樣 。 妻 子 也 當 敬 重 他 的 丈 夫 。
聖經教導我們: 基督愛教會 , 為教會捨己 。從歷史記載看, 教會順服基督,甚至在受難折磨裡,忠實到底 。
總而言之,女人和家庭是不能分開的;婦女在家庭結構的功能是無可忽視;婦女在培育兒童和維持家庭和睦的貢獻更是不容輕忽。
Throughout the recorded history, it was clear that women were treated very unfairly in ancient civilizations. The issue of equal pay for equal work has been an issue throughout the world. It is important to know what is the teaching of this subject in the Bible.
縱觀歷史記載,很明顯地、在古代文明裡,婦女遭受了非常不公平的待遇。同工同酬,一直是世界各地的問題。重要的是要知道,什麼是聖經對這個問題的教導。
1. It all started this way
In the beginning, God created Adam and found out that Adam was not happy even though he was given the authority to manage the world including all animals. So God created Eve to be a companion for
Adam. This was recorded in the Bible as followed:
Genesis 2:22
22 The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.
It is very important
to see how Adam’s first reaction to see the beautiful Eve brought to him by God
Genesis
2:23-25
23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of
my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.”
24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his
mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.
25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not
ashamed.
Wife is “the bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” of husband. This is the way husband supposes to love his wife in the most precious way just like his own body. We should fully appreciate in the beginning—all pure, innocent, and good without corruption— what is the status of the woman in the eyes of the man. Adam and Eve were one flesh. How can you abuse woman by man when they are in one flesh. One flesh means just one flesh. They act in unison and are harmonious in dealing with all things. They are equally precious and equally valued by both of them!
It is very important to know this is the will of God who created this universe which we live in. Now we should know that God governs the universe. The will of God is infinite because God is infinite— beyond time, space and beyond. We the human race are all finite and very limited. Just open your eyes to see how much we as the human species have messed up the world. This will keep us longing for the days Jesus Christ our Lord returns to this earth to fix everything we messed up.
1. 一切是這樣開始的
在創世開始的時候,上帝創造了亞當,但發現亞當並不快樂,即使他被賦予權力去管理、包括所有動物的世界。因此,上帝創造了夏娃,作為亞當的伴侶。聖經中記載如下:
創世紀2:22
22主神塑造成一個女人,他曾從人身上所取的肋骨,領她到那人跟前。
這是非常重要去觀看,當亞當看到上帝給他帶來美麗的夏娃時,亞當的第一個反應是如何。
創世記 2:23-25
23那人說:「這是我骨中的骨、肉中的肉!可以稱她為女人,因為她是從男人身上取出來」。24因此,人要離開父母,與妻子聯合,二人成為一體。25當時夫妻二人赤身露體,並不羞恥。
妻子是丈夫的骨中骨、肉中肉,丈夫應該要用非常珍惜的方式愛他的妻子,如同他珍貴地愛惜自己的身體一樣。我們要充分體會瞭解,在起初,一切是純潔、天真、美好、沒有腐敗的時候,女人在男人心目中的地位是什麼。亞當和夏娃是一體的。當他們是一體時,男人怎麼會惡待女人。一體就是一體,他們彼此同心合一地對待萬事。他們兩人彼此同樣珍貴,同樣平等!
重要的是要知道,這是創造我們生活宇宙的上帝旨意。我們更要知道上帝是全權地統治宇宙的。上帝的旨意是無限的,因為上帝是無限的,是超越時間和空間的。我們人類都是有限的,非常有限的。只要打開你的眼睛,看看我們人類如何搞亂了這個世界。這將讓我們持續地嚮往期盼著那日子來臨,當我們的主耶穌基督返回到這個世界,來復甦我們搞亂的一切。
2. What happened next
A. We need the following background first in order to understand gravity of the event followed. What happened next was the mother of all tragedies. In order to fully appreciate enormity of this tragedy, we need to know that the reality is not just physical but also spiritual. We can not limit our assessment to the physical side only. Our Creator God is spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. Actually, without Holy Spirit we can’t even communicate with God at all. In case you forget, this was how Adam was created: to be a human being with a spirit to understand spiritual realm.
Genesis 2:7
7 Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
The breath of God is the breath of life. Listen to what our Lord said in John 6:63:
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
So without the Holy Spirit, no one can know God’s will. This explains why so many people did not receive God as the Almighty Creator and worthy of our obedience and worship. You may ask why? Listen to what the Bible says. People cannot receive God because they are dead in transgressions. A dead man cannot respond to the spiritual reality. In other words, a spiritually dead man can not feel the need to seek God.
2.接下來發生了什麼事
A. 首先,我們需要有以下的背景,才能了解接下來所發生事件的嚴重性。接下來發生的事情是所有悲劇的源頭。為了充分理解這一悲劇的艱鉅性,我們需要知道,現實不只是物質界,而且也包含靈界。因此,我們的評估,不能只限於肉體的一面。我們的造物主是靈,崇拜祂者,必須用心靈和真理崇拜。其實,沒有聖靈,我們也完全不能與神交通。如果你忘了,亞當也是如此被創造的:是一個具有靈性,能理解靈性境界的人。
創世紀2:7
7耶和華神用地上的塵土造人,將生氣吹在他鼻孔裡,他就成了有靈的活人,名叫亞當。
神的氣息是生命的氣息。聽聽我們的主在約翰福音6:63所說:
63叫人活著的乃是靈,肉體是無益的。我對你們所說的話就是靈,就是生命。
因此,沒有聖靈,沒有人能知道神的旨意。這就解釋了、為什麼世上有這麼多的人沒能接受: 上帝為全能創造者和值得我們服從和崇拜。你可能會問,為什麼?讓我們聽聖經說什麼? 人們無法接受神,是因為他們死在過犯之中。死人不能感受到靈性的現實。換句話說,沒有靈性的人,是不覺得有必要尋求神。
B. So what happened next was that Eve was tempted by the Devil and so both Eve and Adam ate the forbidden fruit and sinned against God. What happened is not of a small consequence at all. The Devil corrupted the God’s crown jewel creation—Adam and Eve, the ancestors of our human race. Just to mention a small aspect of this greatest tragedy. This started the blame game: Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the Devil. This is the beginning the gender war between man and woman. The cost alone includes ocean of tears throughout the human history. Let us ask what is the price of losing the joyful harmony of functioning as one flesh! Priceless indeed!
B. 那麼接下來發生的事情是,夏娃被魔鬼引誘,導至夏娃和亞當吃了禁果,違反上帝而犯了罪。發生了這些事的後果,真是非同小可。魔鬼敗壞了上帝所創造的皇冠,那就是亞當和夏娃、我們人類的祖先。僅舉這個最大的悲劇中的一小部分。這開始了指責的鬥爭:亞當指責夏娃,夏娃指責魔鬼。這就是男人和女人之間,性別戰爭的開始。代價之ㄧ就包括了,在整個人類歷史中的汪洋淚海。讓我們問,什麼是、失去歡樂和諧的一體運作的代價?確實是無價的!
3. God’s infinite Grace since the beginning
We, the finite beings, need to recognize that God is almighty, omnipresent, and omniscient! We would never fully understand God’s will. One thing is for sure: God controls history. To remedy the fall of Adam is not a Monday morning quarterback! Before the foundation of the universe was established in creation, God provided a human Messiah Jesus Christ! Do you know that God loves women dearly, probably more than man. You may ask how do you know that. You can judge this for yourself. God entrusts the motherhood of raising children to women! This is a greatest assignment if not the greatest blessing in creation. God entrusts woman to be a better half of the one flesh!
But most of all, the Messiah is to be from the seed of the woman Eve. In other words, the Messiah was to be from the Woman’s seed and not from the Man’s seed. Jesus Christ was to be born of Virgin Mary from God, not from the seed of her husband Joseph. So Jesus is to be called Son of God. Actually, it is impossible to comprehend the infinite Son of God willingly to give up His heavenly glory to be born as a helpless human baby to be nourished by Mary. This was by itself an infinite love and grace of God to all human beings. It is indeed incredible to comprehend that the infinite Son of God willingly lived as a finite being to be limited by space and time in a human body in His incarnation two thousand years ago.
3. 自始以來,神的恩典無限
我們有限生命的人類,必須承認上帝是全能的,無所不在,和無所不知的!我們是永遠不會完全理解上帝的旨意。有一件事是肯定的:上帝控制了歷史。為了彌補亞當墮落不是馬後砲!在創造宇宙的基礎之前,神已提供了一位人類救世主,耶穌基督!你知道神多麼心疼女人,可能比男人多。你可能會問你怎麼知道。你可以自己判斷這一點。上帝賦予婦女,養育孩子的母職!如果不是給了最大的祝福,怎有這個最偉大的母職。上帝賦予女人是一體裡更好的一半。
但最重要的,彌賽亞是來自女人夏娃的種子。換句話說,彌賽亞是來自女人的種,而不是來自男人的種。耶穌是聖母瑪利亞從上帝出生的,而不是來自她丈夫約瑟的種。所以耶穌被稱為神的兒子。其實,上帝的兒子是無限的,却心甘情願地放棄自己在天上的榮耀,出生為一個無助的人類嬰兒受瑪麗撫養,這就是上帝給全人類的一個無限的愛和恩典。這實在是令人難以理解的; 在兩千年前,上帝的兒子、心甘情願地道成肉身,從無限成為一個受時空限制的人。
4. Our Lord’s Earthly Ministry
There were many “Mary”s in our Lord’s earthly ministry. First was His mother Mary who initiated the first miracle of changing water to wine in a wedding celebration party. There was Mary, a sister of Martha, who sit at the feet of Jesus for receiving Lord’s teaching. This reminds us that in God’s view there are equal education opportunity for men and women as compared to some middle eastern cultures today which look down on women and prohibit female education. This is so much a rebuke on the hypocrisy of many countries in history that discriminates female in their education systems.
You may recall in Mark 3:31-35 that our Lord always uplifted the status of women in the days of his ministry.
Mark 3:31-35
31 Then His mother and His brothers *arrived, and standing
outside they sent word to Him and called Him. 32 A crowd was sitting around Him, and they *said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You.” 33 Answering them, He
*said, “Who are My mother and My brothers?” 34 Looking about at those who were sitting around Him, He said, “Behold My mother and My
brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.”
Then, there was Mary Magdalene who was possessed by seven demons. Our Lord cleansed her from demonic possession and sufferings. We all know that resurrection is of the pivotal importance in our Christian belief. Mary Magdalene was the first human being who saw our Lord after His resurrection from the dead. She was sent by our Lord to tell the apostles about our Lord’s resurrection. We may ask why? Partly because all male disciples run away at the crucifixion scene and most of the faithful were women who loved our Lord and were there at His empty tomb in that early Sunday’s morning.
4. 我們的主在地上的事工
在我們的主在地上的事工中,有許多“馬利亞們”。首先是祂的母親馬利亞,她是在一場婚禮慶典中,首先求耶穌將水變酒,第一個奇蹟的引發者。還有,馬大的妹妹馬利亞,她坐在耶穌的腳旁,聆聽主的教導。這提醒我們,在上帝的旨意裡,男女的教育機會是均等的,這是不同於當今一些中東文化,瞧不起婦女和禁止女性教育。這也是嚴厲地指責,在歷史中許多國家教育系統歧視婦女的偽善。
你可能回想到: 在馬可福音3:31-35,我們的主在祂的傳教中,始終抬高婦女的地位。
馬可3:31-3
31當下,耶穌的母親和弟兄來,站在外邊,打發人去叫他。32有許多人在耶穌周圍坐著,他們就告訴他說:「看哪,你母親和你弟兄在外邊找你。」33耶穌回答說:「誰是我的母親?誰是我的弟兄?」34就四面觀看那周圍坐著的人,說:「看哪,我的母親,我的弟兄!35凡遵行神旨意的人,就是我的弟兄、姐妹和母親了。」
隨後,有另一馬利亞,她被七個惡魔附身。我們的主為她驅除惡魔的附身和痛苦。我們都知道,復活在我們基督教信仰中,是非常重要的教義。在我們的主從死裡復活之後,這馬利亞是看到祂的第一個人。她被我們的主差遣去告訴大使徒們,我們主的復活。我們可能會問,為什麼選她?一方面是因為所有的男信徒都跑離了受難現場,而最忠實的人是、愛我們主的婦女,她們在星期日的清晨天尚未亮的時候,就去守著祂的墳墓。
Thus, we may say that women as well as men are equal in God’s sight. As a matter of fact, God does not respect people whether they are master or slave, male or female, jews or gentiles, rich or poor, powerful or pitiful, etc. But our Lord did distinguish men and women by those who do the will of God as a standard: “For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.” As a matter of fact, in the redemptive history, wife and husband have always been regarded as co-heir of eternal kingdom!
1 Peter 3:7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
因此,我們可以說,女性和男性在上帝面前是平等的。事實上,神不分別尊重人,無論是主人還是奴僕,男性或女性,猶太人或外邦人,富人還是窮人,有權力還是弱勢的等等。但我們的主是以遵從上帝的旨意為準則,來區分男性和女性的人:“凡遵行神的旨意,他就是我的兄弟姐妹和母親”。事實上,在救贖的歷史上,妻子和丈夫也一直被視為永恆國度的共同繼承人!
彼得前書 3:7
7你們做丈夫的,也要按情理和妻子同住,因她比你軟弱,與你一同承受生命之恩的,所以要敬重她。這樣,便叫你們的禱告沒有阻礙。
Furthermore, we can see how women are treated by any religions to tell whether such religions are from men or from God. Any religion or cult which advocates multiple wives is from men. It is indeed ignorant for any group to indicate that 70 virgins will wait for you if you become a religion martyr just as ignorant to say to a woman terrorist that 70 virgin men will wait to serve her in heaven! This reminds us the abuses of women as temple prostitutes in ancient Greece and India. Indeed, the history and human conscious will testify the abomination of such a crime against women by those men-made religions controlled by evil men.
此外,我們可以由任一宗教如何看待女人,就可得知該宗教是來自人類或上帝。任何倡導多妻制的宗教,是來自人類的宗教或邪教。這實在是無知的組織,倡導說70處女在天上會等你,如果你變成了一種宗教烈士。正如相同無知地,對一個女性恐怖分子說,70處男將在天堂等候她!這提醒我們:
在古希臘和印度,濫用婦女為寺廟妓女的宗教。事實上,歷史和人類良心將控告證明,受邪惡男人控制的人為宗教,對婦女犯罪的可憎。
To get rid of all abuses against women, we all need to return to the Bible to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal 3:28). We all need to recognize the tremendous value of one flesh in the holy matrimony instituted by our Almighty God.
為了擺脫去除對婦女的一切歧視弊端,我們都需要回歸聖經,來接受耶穌基督為主與救主。『並不分猶太人、外邦人,自主的、為奴的,或男或女,因為你們在基督耶穌裡都成為一了。』(加拉太書3:28)。我們都需要體會到,我們的全能神所設立神聖的婚姻裡、夫妻一體的巨大價值。
我們神是獨一的主
以色列阿,你要聽!耶和華 ─ 我們神是獨一的主。
你要盡心, 盡性、盡力愛耶和華─你的神。(申6:4-5)
There is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.(See 1 Coringthians 8:6)
然而我們只有一位神,就是父,
萬物都本於他,我們也歸於他.
並有一位主,就是耶穌基督,
萬物都是藉著他有的, 我們也是藉著他有的。(歌林多前書 8:6)
Supremacy of Jesus Christ our Lord - Phil 2:9-11; Col 1:15-20
The name which is above every name that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
主耶穌的絕對優越性—無不口稱耶穌為主 (西 1:15-20)
所以,神將他升為至高,
又賜給他那超乎萬名之上的名, 叫一切在天上的、地上的,和地底下的,因耶穌的名無不屈膝,無不口稱耶穌基督為主,使榮耀歸與父神。(腓2:9-11)
Inerrancy of Holy Scripture - Psalm 19:7-9, Matt 5:18
Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
聖經的精確性(詩 19:7-9)
馬太福音 5:18
我實在告訴你們,
就是到天地都廢去了,
律法的一點一畫也不能廢去,
都要成全。
Glorious Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ which demonstrates the love of God - John 3:16-18
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of Go
主耶穌榮耀無比的十字架
神愛世人,甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們,叫一切信他的,不至滅亡,反得永生。 因為神差他的兒子降世,不是要定世人的罪,乃是要叫世人因他得救。 信他的人,不被定罪;不信的人,罪已經定了,因為他不信神獨生子的名。
(約翰福音 3:16-18)
Obedience to God is much better than offering sacrifices - Hos 6:6
我喜愛良善(或譯:憐恤),
不喜愛祭祀;
喜愛認識神,勝於燔祭。
(何西阿書 6:6)
For I delight in loyalty
rather than sacrifice.
And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
(Hos 6:6)
The righteous shall live by faith alone - Habbakuk 2:4
義人因信得生 迦勒底人自高自大,心不正直;惟義人因信得生。(哈巴谷書2:4)
Self-denial and be patient in enduring afflictions are the God's ways for us in following Jesus Christ our Lord - Matthew 16:24
於是耶穌對門徒說:若有人要跟從我,就當捨己,背起他的十字架來跟從我。
(馬太福音 16:24)
Goal of Redemption is in Sanctification of the Spirit, through Obedience to Jesus Christ, and be Holy to the LORD. Be Ye Holy, For I am Holy.
(1 Peter 1:15-16; Lev 11:45)
救贖的目的是藉著聖靈,順服耶穌基督,歸耶和華為聖。 你們要聖潔,因為我是聖潔的。(彼得前書1:15-16; 利11:45)
pastor@reminderfromapastor.org
(925) 482-6458