谁是耶稣基督的真信徒
亲爱的弟兄姊妹们，主耶稣这样描述祂的真信徒：
很多人来到主耶稣跟前求祝福，他们或要看神迹、或要蒙治愈、或要蒙释放。可是，主耶稣来到世界，不是吸引大批好奇的寻求者或供应暂时性的祝福这么简单。祂来，是为了“召罪人远离他们的罪恶”（路加福音5:32），只有这样做，他们才能得到永恒的祝福。看到神迹或疾病蒙治愈确实是一个祝福，但是若蒙上帝祝福只到此为止，当他们不是悔改到死的时候，那么他们的永生永世将是在地狱里。因为，真正得到祝福的人，是在每一天都不停悔改的人。
有一天，那些好奇者和求祝福者聚在一处，主耶稣利用这个机会向他们解释，什么样的人才能得到上帝的永恒祝福。概括地说就是：他们是悔改自己的罪恶且持续悔改至死而得以真正重生的人，他们是将耶稣基督作为他们的主且服从祂的教导至死而注定永世在上帝国度的人。通过他们在世的生命就能够认出他们，而主耶稣在登山宝训的首先部分描述出他们，他们是能够得到永恒祝福的人。让我们思考主耶稣是如何描述他们的。
第一，主耶稣说，蒙上帝的永恒祝福之人，是认识到自己的灵命贫乏，而且不能没有上帝（马太福音5:3“虚心的人有福了！因为天国是他们的”）。任何人在得救之前，都必须认识到自己需要救恩，自己根本无法拯救自己。
第二，主耶稣说，蒙上帝的永恒祝福之人是哀恸的人（马太福音5:4哀恸的人有福了！因为他们必得安慰）。这是什么意思呢？很可能主耶稣所论到哀恸的人，正处于悔改的第一阶段，他们认识到自己是如此地悖逆上帝。主耶稣教导，除非这个人为自己的罪而感到哀恸并且悔改，否则他/她决不能进入天国。此外，主耶稣也说，哀恸是所有真信徒该有的感受，因为当他们环顾周围世界时，看到的是全世界都在抵挡悖逆上帝，偏离祂的最初计划。不过，终有一天，我们这些哀恸的人必得安慰，因为当上帝建立一个新天新地的时候，在那里每个人都会遵行上帝的旨意。
第三，能得到上帝的永恒祝福之人，是柔和卑微的人。有一个圣经译本，用“谦卑”一词描述蒙福之人。一个人要得救，就必须自己谦卑，承认自己没有能力拯救自己，惟有倚靠上帝的救恩。主耶稣的真信徒，要使自己的生命完完全全地谦卑下来，承认自己的不足、事事都完完全全地倚靠着上帝。如主耶稣所说：“有一天，整个地球都将属于他们”（马太福音5:5温柔的人有福了！因为他们必承受地土）。终有一天，主耶稣谦卑的跟从者将是地球上惟一生存且蒙永恒祝福的人，因为一切骄傲的人都将被上帝定罪。
第四，路加福音11:28主耶稣说：“不如听 神之道而遵守的人有福。”真正蒙福的基督徒，会渴望每个人都服从主耶稣。主耶稣的真信徒，痛恨世间所有对上帝的悖逆，他们期盼那一时刻的到来，就是按照主耶稣的承诺，全世界将实行公义，那时主耶稣将掌管世界万有。
第五，真正蒙福的人是仁慈的人（马太福音5:7怜恤人的人有福了！因为他们必蒙怜恤）。重生的人会情不自禁怜悯别人，因为他们深切认识到，上帝对自己施下了如此多又如此大的怜悯。当他们进入上帝的天国时，将经历到上帝丰盛的仁慈，那时他们会懂得，自己得到如此多的祝福是多么的不配。
第六，真正蒙福的人是清心的人（马太福音5:8清心的人有福了！因为他们必得见 神）。主耶稣承诺，有一天他们将得见上帝！所有真基督徒都将经历到无法形容的祝福，所以主耶稣必须描述祂所有真信徒的另一个特性：他们悔改自己邪恶和罪恶的心，而拥有一颗渴望服从上帝的心。那些怀揣自私自利的不纯净的心和动机的人，是没有重生。
第七，真正蒙上帝祝福的人，是“使人和睦的人。”主耶稣必须描述所有真信徒的另一个特性，因为祂承诺，使人和睦的人才被称为上帝的儿女，这是所有真信徒都要具备的特性。真基督徒有上帝的爱在他们里面，所以他们爱众人，也因此他们痛恨不和与纷争，努力维系人与人的和睦。而那些满腹怨恨和常牵涉纷争的人，不是真的得救。保罗论到那些生活中是仇恨、争竞、忌恨、恼怒、分党派和嫉妒的人，必不能承受上帝的国（加拉太5:20-21拜偶像、邪术、仇恨、争竞、忌恨、恼怒、结党、纷争、异端、嫉妒、醉酒、荒宴等类，我从前告诉你们，现在又告诉你们，行这样事的人，必不能承受 神的国）。
第八，真正蒙福的人是受逼迫的人，因为他是为上帝而活（马太福音5:11人若因我辱骂你们、逼迫你们、捏造各样坏话毁谤你们，你们就有福了）。再一次，主耶稣必须清楚地描述祂所有真信徒的另一个特性，因为祂承诺他们，天国是他们的。任何一个耶稣基督里的真信徒，都会受到逼迫。但这并不意味着一定会被囚禁或被虐待，而至少意味着他会被人恨恶和被人论断。主耶稣又说：“人都说你们好的时候，你们就有祸了。”（路加福音6:26）当我们被逼迫时，主耶稣说我们应该欢喜快乐，因为这表明我们是在朝天国走的蒙福的人群中。彼得写道：“你们若为基督的名受辱骂，便是有福的，因为 神荣耀的灵常住在你们身上。”（彼得前书4:14加此强调）
最后，主耶稣描述，祂的真信徒要作“世上的盐”和“世上的光”。在主耶稣的时代，盐主要被用作防腐剂，就是保持食物不致腐坏。如果没有主耶稣的真信徒，这个世界无疑会变成完全腐败，万事都充满了罪恶。然而，我们的任务不仅是保持世界不至完全腐败，还要发出我们的光亮来努力改善世界。我们应该为那些活在黑暗中谎言里的人们，带来上帝真理的光照，使得他们能够加入我们，并且也能得到上帝的永恒祝福！
问：你是否注意到，在今天八福的列表里，主耶稣所承诺的祝福大部分是未来的祝福，那些能够享受他们未来祝福的人会在今生受苦难？以上帝的角度看我们的今生，从中告诉了我们什么？
答：这里告诉我们，今生没有来生重要。我们现在的生命是暂时的，终有结束的一天，但是，我们未来的生命却是永恒的。所以，在今生要非常明智地作出暂时的牺牲，从而享受永恒祝福的来生。一个著名传道人曾写道，他不会愚蠢到用能失去的东西来换取不能失去的东西。
问：当你通读主耶稣所描述真正蒙福的人时，是否思考了自己的生命？主耶稣是在描述你吗？
现实：尽管那些没有得救的人认为我们跟从基督是愚蠢的，尽管我们会为此而受暂时的苦难，但是我们知道，我们是真正蒙上帝祝福的人，因为我们将永远成为上帝国度的子民。
研经：马太福音5:1-16
5:1 耶稣看见这许多的人，就上了山，既已坐下，门徒到祂跟前来，
5:2 祂就开口教训他们说：“
5:3 虚心的人有福了，因为天国是他们的。
5:4 哀恸的人有福了，因为他们必得安慰。
5:5 温柔的人有福了，因为他们必承受地土。
5:6 饥渴慕义的人有福了，因为他们必得饱足。
5:7 怜恤人的人有福了，因为他们必蒙怜恤。
5:8 清心的人有福了，因为他们必得见 神。
5:9 使人和睦的人有福了，因为他们必称为 神的儿子。
5:10 为义受逼迫的人有福了，因为天国是他们的。
5:11 人若因我辱骂你们、逼迫你们、捏造各样坏话毁谤你们，你们就有福了。
5:12 应当欢喜快乐，因为你们在天上的赏赐是大的，在你们以前的先知，人也是这样逼迫他们。
5:13 你们是世上的盐，盐若失了味，怎能叫他再咸呢？以后无用，不过丢在外面，被人践踏了。
5:14 你们是世上的光，城造在山上是不能隐藏的。
5:15 人点灯，不放在斗底下，是放在灯台上，就照亮一家的人。
5:16 你们的光也当这样照在人前，叫他们看见你们的好行为，便将荣耀归给你们在天上的父。
在此，我们夫妻感谢上帝，我们主耶稣基督的父，赐给我们美好的一天，也赐给我们你们这些忠心于主的弟兄姊妹们。
（以上所写的，你们可以用来建造耶稣基督的国度）
Who are the True Followers of JESUS CHRIST
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
JESUS Describes who are HIS True Followers
Many people came to JESUS seeking to be blessed, wanting to see a miracle or receive healing or deliverance. But JESUS didn't come to earth simply to attract large crowds of curiosity seekers or provide temporary blessings. HE came to "call sinners to turn from their sins" (Luke 5:32), so people would be eternally blessed. Although it's certainly a blessing to see a miracle or be healed of a sickness, people who are blessed by GOD only to that degree will still spend eternity in hell when they die without repentant. Truly blessed people are those who are repenting every day.
One day as the curious and blessing seekers were gathering, JESUS took the opportunity to explain what kind of people are eternally blessed of GOD. In short, they are people who have repented of their sins and continue to repent today and have been born again. They are those who have made JESUS their LORD and obey HIS WORD to date and are destined to spend eternity in GOD's kingdom. They can be recognized by how they live their lives, and JESUS described them in the first portion of HIS sermon on the mountainside. These are the people who are eternally blessed. Let's consider how JESUS described them.
First, JESUS said that the person who is eternally blessed of GOD is one who realizes his spiritual poverty apart from GOD (Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”). Before anyone can be saved, he must see his need for salvation and the impossibility of saving himself.
Second, JESUS said the person who is eternally blessed of GOD is one who mourns (Matt 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted). What did HE mean? Possibly JESUS was referring to the mourning a person experiences during the first stages of his repentance, when he realizes how he has offended GOD. JESUS taught that unless a person is sorrowful for his/her sins and repents, he/she would not get into heaven. And JESUS was also speaking of the sadness that all true Christians feel when they view the world around them, a world that is in rebellion against GOD and is so far from HIS original plan. One day those of us who mourn will be comforted, when GOD creates a new heaven and earth, a place where everyone will do GOD's will.
Third, people who are truly and eternally blessed by GOD are those who are gentle and lowly. One version of the Bible uses the word humble to describe these blessed people. In order to be saved, a person has to humble himself, admitting his helplessness to save himself and depending solely on GOD's mercy for salvation. True followers of JESUS continue on the path of humility throughout their lives, recognizing their own inadequacy and complete dependence upon GOD for everything. As JESUS said, "one day the whole earth will belong to them" (Matthew 5: 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.). Those humble followers of JESUS will one day be the only people who live on the earth, eternally blessed, because GOD will have condemned everyone who is proud.
Fourth, Luke 11:28 HE (JESUS) replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the WORD of GOD and obey it.” Truly blessed Christians are those who long for everyone to be obedient to JESUS. True followers of JESUS hate all the disobedience that exists in the world, but they can look forward to the time, according to JESUS' promise, when worldwide righteousness will be a reality. That will happen when JESUS rules the world.
Fifth, truly blessed people are merciful (Matt 5: 7"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy”. Born-again people can't help but show mercy to others, because they realize how much mercy GOD has shown them. They will one day experience the fullness of GOD's mercy when they enter into GOD's heavenly kingdom, knowing how unworthy they are of such blessings.
Sixth, truly blessed people have pure hearts (Matt 5: 8"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see GOD ”.) JESUS promised that they would one day see GOD! All true Christians will experience that indescribable blessing, so JESUS must have been describing another characteristic of all HIS true followers. They have repented in their hearts of wickedness and evil, and now their hearts' desire is to obey their LORD. People who aren't born again have impure hearts and are motivated by selfishness.
Seventh, people who are truly blessed of GOD are "peacemakers." JESUS must have been describing another characteristic of all true believers, because HE promised that the peacemakers would be called children of GOD, something that all true believers are. True Christians love people with the love GOD has deposited within them, and thus they hate discord and strife. They work to maintain harmony in their relationships. People who are full of hatred and are always involved in strife are not really saved. Paul wrote that people whose lifestyles are characterized by hostilities, quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, divisions and envy will definitely not inherit the Kingdom of GOD (see Galatians 5: 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of GOD.).
Eighth, the truly blessed person is one who is persecuted because he lives for GOD (Matt 5:11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.). Once again, it's clear JESUS must have been describing another characteristic of all HIS true followers, because HE promised them that the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. Anyone who truly believes in JESUS will be persecuted. That doesn't mean he will be put in jail or tortured, but it at least means that he will be hated and talked about by others. JESUS once said, "Woe to you when all men speak well of you" (Luke 6:26, NASB). When we are persecuted, JESUS said we should be happy about it, because it indicates we're among the blessed group of people who are going to heaven. Peter wrote, "If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed , because the SPIRIT of glory and of GOD rests upon you" (1 Peter 4:14, NASB, emphasis added).
Finally, JESUS described HIS true followers as being the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world". In JESUS' time, salt was used primarily as a preservative---to keep foods from going rotten. If it weren't for the true followers of JESUS, the world would surely become completely rotten and everything about it would be evil. However, our job is not only to keep the world from going completely rotten, but to work to improve the world by letting our lights shine. We should bring the light of GOD's truth to people who are living in the lies of darkness so that they can join us and be eternally blessed as well!
Q. Did you notice that most, if not all, of the blessings JESUS promised in today's list are future blessings? And that those who will enjoy those future blessings might suffer some in this life? What does that tell you about GOD's perspective of our present lives?
A. It tells us that this life is not as important as our future lives. Our present lives are temporary and will end someday, but our future lives will be eternal. Therefore, it is very wise to make temporary sacrifices in this life to enjoy eternal blessings in the next life. A well-known missionary once wrote, "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
Q. As you read through JESUS' description of a truly blessed person, did you think about your own life? Was JESUS describing you?
Application: Although people who are not saved might think we're foolish for following CHRIST, and even though we might suffer temporarily because of it, we know we're truly blessed by GOD, because we will be citizens of GOD's kingdom forever.
Scripture Study:
Matthew 5:1-16
Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount
5 1 Now when JESUS saw the crowds, HE went up on a mountainside and sat down. HIS disciples came to HIM, 2 and HE began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
HE said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds (works) and glorify your Father in heaven.
We give thanks to GOD, the FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, for this day and for you, faithful brothers and sisters.
Check out our facebook page, and share the article:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Victor-and-Esther/329640280513478?ref=hl
(What is written above is granted to individuals for use in building the Kingdom of JESUS CHRIST only)
From Victor n Esther - "My life journey with Jesus"
IP卡
狗仔卡
提升卡
沉默卡
喧嚣卡
变色卡
显身卡
