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All trinity studies Previous Download 看中文 Next That We Might Know Him That We Might Know Him (1) Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong to the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children for ever…” Jeremiah 9:23-24 “Thus says the LORD, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me”. Has anyone ever told you that God is a mystery? This idea has kept many genuine Christians from experiencing the fullness of peace, love, and transforming power that can only be found in close fellowship with their Creator. The truth is that only through the veil of human speculation and theory do we distort God into a being who cannot be understood. This study was created to simply explore what God has revealed about Himself in His Word – adding nothing to what is said, and taking nothing away. My prayer is that it will bring you into a closer and deeper relationship with your God - a God who wants to be known! Hosea 6:3 “Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD, His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth.” Proverbs 2:3-5 “Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.” (1) God the Father What is the Father’s character like? 1 John 4:8-10 “He who does not love does not know God; for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” 2 Corinthians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.” Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” 2 Corinthians 6:18 ‘“I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,” says the LORD (Yahweh) Almighty.” James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” 1 John 3:1 “Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.” Where is the Father? Matthew 6:9 “…Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.” Revelation 4:2 “…behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne...” Isaiah 37:16 “O LORD (Yahweh) of hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.” How has He been revealed to us? Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.” Exodus 33:20 “But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me and live.” Hebrews 1:1-2 “God … has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds,” John 1:18 “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” What has Christ revealed to us about His Father? Matthew 11:25 “At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.” Mark 14:36 “And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” John 3:35 “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.” John 4:24 “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 5:19-23 “Most assuredly I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will…” John 5:26-27 “For as the Father hath life in Himself, so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself; and hath given Him authority to execute judgement also, because He is the Son of Man.” John 5:30 “I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgement is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” John 10:29 “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” John 14:10 “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.” John 14:24 “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. John 14:28 “…If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father’, for My Father is greater than I.” John 17:7 “Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You.” John 17:1-3 “Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Jesus declared that His Father is the only true God. Did His disciples understand His teaching? 1 Corinthians 8:6 “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.” 1 Corinthians 11:3 “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” Ephesians 4:6 “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Philippians 2:11 “and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” 1 Thessalonians 1:1 “Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Titus 1:4 “To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.” (See also 1 Corinthians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, Colossians 1:2, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-2, 1 Timothy 1:2, 2 Timothy 1:2, Philemon 1:3, and 2 John 1:3) James 3:8-9 “But no man can tame the tongue… With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have be made in the similitude of God.” Acts 17:23-25 “Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.” Jude 1:1 “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called,sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ” (To be continued) That We Might Know Him (2) (2) Jesus Christ If the Father, by Christ’s own declaration, is the “only true God”, then who is Jesus? Matthew 16:15-17 “He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” Simon Peter’s answer was inspired by the Father Himself – that Jesus is His Son! His answer was so powerful that Christ shortened His name to Peter, which means “a rock”, and declared that “on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18) Was Christ identifying Himself as God’s literal Son? We find that in the Old Testament, through King Solomon, Christ gave amazing insight into His relationship with the Father. The Spirit of Prophecy confirms that Christ is speaking of Himself in Proverbs 8:22-30, which agrees with 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30 and Luke 11:49 in declaring Christ as the “wisdom of God”. “The LORD possessed me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.When there were no depths, I was brought forth; When there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When He prepared the heavens, I was there:When He set a compass upon the face of the depth: When He established the clouds above: When He strengthened the fountains of the deep: When He gave to the sea His decree, that the water should not pass His commandment: When He appointed the foundations of the earth: then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him” This beautiful description of the companionship between the Father and Son in the days of eternity tells us that Christ indeed had a beginning to His existence. Our finite minds cannot fathom the time period when this occurred, because in reality it was before the measurement of time was established, and we may not fully understand how Christ was brought forth from His Father, but we accept our Saviour’s words by faith. It’s important to understand that Christ was not created, as angels and humans were. We know this because John 1:3 tells us that, “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” He was truly begotten – brought forth from the very substance of His Father’s being. John 8:42 “Jesus said unto them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.” John 16:27-28 “For the Father Himself loveth you, because ye have loved Me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.” John 17:8 “For I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from Thee, and they have believed that Thou didst send me.” In every instance, the event of proceeding/coming forth from the Father is separated from the event of being sent into this world (conjunction noted with italics). This clarifies that Jesus was speaking of two separate events – i.e. being begotten in heaven, and being sent to earth. Through faith in Christ’s word, we understand that there was a point in the great expanse of eternity when the Father chose to bring forth a divine Son. Therefore, Christ had a beginning, while the Father did not. Does this lessen Christ’s divinity in any way? Absolutely not! John 5:26 “For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself” Colossians 1:19 “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell.” Colossians 2:9 “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead (deity/divinity) bodily.” ** Note that “Godhead” is the Greek word theotes (G2320), which simply means deity – the state of being God. Christ was brought forth from the very substance of the Father, the great Source of all. It pleased the Father to bring Christ into existence, giving Him the same full, divine, eternal life that He had in Himself. Just as a human father begets a human son, our divine Father begot a divine Son! John 1:1 presents this beautifully in the original Greek, with the first use of “God” actually being a definite article. If thus properly translated it would read: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with the God, and the Word was God.” In the beginning Christ was with His Father (the only true God), but Christ Himself was also God in nature. He was fully divine. Hebrews 1:4-5 “…as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said He at any time, “Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten thee?” And again, “I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to me a Son?” Christ is divine because He inherited His Father’s divinity! But the Father is the Source of all, without beginning, making Him the only true God. 1 Corinthians 8:6 “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.” The Father is the source, and Christ is the executing agent, or the channel, by whom the Father made all things, and by whom we are reconciled to the Father. 1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Not surprisingly, Christ’s identity as God’s Son was the exact truth that Satan attacked: Matthew 4:3 “…If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” Matthew 4:6 “…If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down…” Satan’s angels knew who He was as well: Mark 5:7 “And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.” Luke 4:41 “And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ the Son of God!” And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak: for they knew that He was the Christ.” Christ’s own declaration of His identity was the reason He was persecuted: John 10:36 “Do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming’, because I said, I am the Son of God?” John 19:7 “The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.” Matthew 26:63 “But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Luke 22:70 “Then they all said, “Are You then the Son of God?” So He said to them, “You rightly say that I am.” Matthew 27:40 “And saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Matthew 27:54 “So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!” And this is, in fact, the only belief by which we are saved! John 3:16,18 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life… He who believes on Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 20:31 “But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life through His name.” John 5:25 “Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God: and those who hear will live.” Looking back to Hebrews 1, verse 4 also explains why the Father’s name, Yahweh, can be applied to Christ in the prophecy of Jeremiah. Jeremiah 23:5-6 “Behold, the days are coming” says the LORD (Yahweh), “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgement and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD (Yahweh) OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Hebrews 1:4 “… as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Just as a human son inherits his father’s name, so Christ inherited His Father’s name! In verses 8 and 9 we again see that while Jesus is divine in nature, His Father is still the Head over all. Hebrews 1:8-9 “But unto the Son He saith: “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.” Though Christ is divine, and has been exalted by His Father to receive worship, He also has a God – His own Father. Matthew 27:46 “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, … My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” John 20:17 “Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren, and say to them, “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.” Romans 15:6 “That you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:3 “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (See also 2 Corinthians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 11:31, Colossians 1:3, and 1 Peter 1:3) Ephesians 1:17 “..that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” Revelation 1:5-6 “To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him by glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 3:12 (Christ speaking) “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.” In receiving the seal of God, Christ will write His Father’s name – Yahweh, upon our foreheads. Our forehead represents our knowledge of who God is. John 4:23 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” In contrast, the mark of the beast will be a counterfeit seal with the same layout as God’s seal (Rev. 3:12): name of their God, name of their city, name of their Christ (i.e. the Antichrist). Revelation 17:4-5 “The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication: And on her forehead a name was written, “Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth.” Christ came to this earth for the express purpose of revealing His Father to us, so that our God would not be a mystery! Amen! Christ never received glory unto Himself, but did all to the glory of His God and Father. His teachings consistently express that He came to this earth to reveal His Father’s love, character, and purpose to mankind, and to reconcile us to the Father through Himself. Revelation 14:1 “Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb stood on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written in their foreheads.” To undoubtedly confirm the identity of Christ, we need only to look to the Father’s affirmation of who He is. The Father, the highest authority in the universe, gave a specific message at Christ’s baptism, and again on the mount of transfiguration (Matt. 3:17, 17:5, Mark 1:11, 9:7, Luke 3:22, 9:35, 2 Peter 1:17). His message was this: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And on the mount He adds “Hear Him!” All authority that Jesus has to be the Father’s representative, and to be a sufficient sacrifice for fallen humanity, rests in this single, most important truth – that He is the beloved, divine,begotten Son of God. (To be continued) That We Might Know Him (3) (3) The Holy Spirit As we’ve discovered that the Father is the Source of all, we can also confirm with scripture that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father Himself. John 15:26 “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me” Genesis 1:2 “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Just as the “Son OF God” implies possession (i.e. The Son belongs to the Father, He is His Son), the “Spirit OF God” does also. The Holy Spirit is exactly as the Bible describes – the Spirit OF God. It is God’s own spirit, the spirit of the Father! Matthew 10:20, “For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” As a quick aside, let’s look at some other “spirits” in the Bible... Genesis 41:7-8 “…And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream. And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt…” Genesis 45:27 “And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.” Deuteronomy 2:30 “But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through: for the LORD your God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate…” Ezra 1:1 “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom…” There are many more examples, but I think the point is clear. In no other instance would we think of someone’s spirit as being anything other than that – their own spirit, i.e. their mind, thoughts, and character. So why would we picture a separate, third being when the Bible says “the Spirit of God”? The Father is an all-powerful, omnipresent spirit-being, and therefore can be sitting on the throne of heaven in body, and yet be present on earth by His own Spirit. John 4:23-24 “…for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” Christ was brought forth, however, to be the mediator between God and mankind. Thus, just as the Father wrought all of creation through His Son, He likewise sends His Spirit through His Son, to minister on our behalf, and even dwell within us! Ephesians 2:13,18 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (…) For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” In this way the Father and Son share the same Spirit, being one in character, purpose, and love for mankind. The book of John comes alive so beautifully when we understand this powerful truth. John 14:20-23 ‘“At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.”Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “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.”’ The Holy Spirit is none other than the Spirit of Christ and His Father, and we can have Their Spirit living in us! We see that the terms, “Spirit of God” and “Spirit of Christ” can be used interchangeably, because they operate as one Spirit. Romans 8:9-10 “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of Goddwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” However, while Christ dwelt on earth He had clothed His divinity in humanity. Having taken on human form, His Father’s Spirit was still within Him, but He could not act as the channel to bestow it upon mankind. Isaiah 42:1 “Behold, My servant whom I uphold. My elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles” Philippians 2:6-7 “who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond-servant, and coming in the likeness of men.” John 14:10 “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.” This is why the Holy Spirit, known after Christ’s ascension as “the Comforter”, could not be given to His disciples until Pentecost. John 7:39 “But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” John 16:7 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.” Only once Christ returned to heaven to be glorified, and commence His work in the sanctuary as our High Priest, could He then petition His Father to send His disciples the Spirit. Hebrews 2:17 “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. John 14:16-20 “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him, for He dwelleth with you and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth Me no more; but ye see Me: because I live, ye shall live also.” The Comforter could not be sent until Jesus was glorified, yet Jesus said “He dwelleth with you” in present tense, but “shall be in you” in future tense. By saying “ye know Him” and “He dwelleth with you”, Christ is identifying Himself, filled with His Father’s Spirit, as the very same Comforter. Though He was currently dwelling with them in person, in the future He would be in them by the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:32-33 “This Jesus has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.” The Greek word for “Comforter” is “parakletos”. John is the only author who used this term -four times in his gospel, and once in 1 John. Despite the widely held belief that the Comforter describes a third being, separate from the Father and Christ, John had actually purposed in his writings that there would be no question as to who he was referring. Unfortunately, his effort for clarity was hidden in the translation. In 1 John 2:1 he identifies exactly who he was speaking about, but this term, parakletos, was here translated as “Advocate” instead of “Comforter”. 1 John 2:1 “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” OR “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have a Comforter with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Our “parakletos”, our “Comforter”, is none other than Jesus Christ! But why, then, in John 14:16 does Christ say that the Father will send another Comforter? Doesn’t this mean that it must be a separate person?” There are two Greek words which are translated as “another” – allos and heteros. While hetero means “another of a different sort” (ex. “May I try another type of apple?”), allos means “another of an identical sort” (ex. “Those green apples are delicious! May I have another?”) The word Christ used in this passage was allos. Therefore, He was not telling them that the Father would send a different Comforter, but that He would send a Comforter identical to the One who was currently with them! The Father had sent Christ as their Comforter the first time in human form, and would send Him again, in spirit form. Hebrews 2:18 “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” Christ alone can help us overcome worldly temptation, because He is the only divine being who has taken on our fallen human nature and triumphed over sin! We also shouldn’t take issue with the fact that while describing “the Comforter” Christ speaks of Himself in the third person, as He did this all throughout His ministry. (Matthew 13:41, 24:27,30, Mark 10:33-34, 45, Luke 17:24, 18:8, John 10:2-4, 17:1-3, etc.) Remember that 1 Timothy 2:5 tells us, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” There is only one mediator – one intercessor. Romans 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” When we let scripture interpret scripture, who is said to make intercession for us? Romans 8:34 “Who is He who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” Hebrews 7:25 “Therefore [Christ] is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Christ Himself is that one mediator, that one intercessor between God and men. John 17:23 “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them, as You have loved Me.” Galatians 4:6 “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 1 Peter 1:10-11 “Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.” 1 Corinthians 2:16 “For “who has known the mind of the LORD that He may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:45 “And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” May we all pray to receive the only life-giving Spirit – the Spirit of our Saviour Himself. Revelation 3:19-20 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Christ wants to fill us with His Spirit, so that He can give us His power to overcome the temptations of this world, and live a victorious Christian life! Only through Him can we be transformed, day by day, to reflect God’s image as He does. 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 “Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” John 16:13 “…when He, the Spirit, has come, He will guide you into all truth.” Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” The Father and Son are longing to come abide with you through the Spirit, to give you strength, guide you into all truth, and give you peace which surpasses all understanding. Will you let Them? Colossians 1:26-29 “Even the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 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 labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.” Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” (To be continued) That We Might Know Him (4) (4) Father & Son Here are a few more verses revealing the two divine beings: God and His Son. Proverbs 30:4 “Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, if you know?” Zechariah 6:12-13 “Then speak to him, saying, Thus says the LORD (Yahweh) of hosts, saying, “Behold, the Man whose name is The BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, and He shall build the temple of the LORD; yes, He shall build the temple of the LORD. He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on His throne; so He shall be a priest on His throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” (Both = two!) Galatians 1:1 “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead)” Ephesians 5:5 “For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” 1 Timothy 5:21 “I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.” Hebrews 8:1 “Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an High Priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.” 1 John 1:3 “That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 2:22-23 “Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. Therefore, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.” Revelation 5:13 “And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying, “Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Revelation 6:16 “And said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!” Revelation 14:4 “… These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being first fruits to God and to the Lamb.” Revelation 14:12 “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 20:6 “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” Revelation 21:22 “And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” Revelation 22:1,3 “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. … And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it” Mystery Solved! 2 Peter 1:2-4 “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” I truly hope you’ve been blessed by this study. In conclusion, I’d like to quote a passage from one of my favourite books, Ministry of Healing – Chapter 35, p. 409. “A True Knowledge of God” “Like our Saviour, we are in this world to do service for God. We are here to become like God in character, and by a life of service to reveal Him to the world. In order to be co-workers with God, in order to become like Him and to reveal His character, we must know Him aright. We must know Him as He reveals Himself. A knowledge of God is the foundation of all true education and all true service. It is the only real safeguard against temptation. It is this alone that can make us like God in character. This is the knowledge needed by all who are working for the uplifting of their fellow men. Transformation of character, purity of life, efficiency in service, adherence to correct principles, all depend upon a right knowledge of God. This knowledge is the essential preparation both for this life and for the life to come. … “This is life eternal,” said Jesus, “that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” In the words of Paul to the church in Ephesus, “…Love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” {End} Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 Read in English 下一篇 圣父和圣子按着祂们的形象造男造女 圣父和圣子按着祂们的形象造男造女（先祖与先知，第2章，创造） 唯独基督是天父本体的真像 [引言] 人类在外貌和品格上都赋有上帝的形象，惟有基督是天父 “本体的真像”（来1:3）; 但人类也是照着上帝的形象造的。他的性情是合乎上帝旨意的。他的心智能领会天上的事。他的爱情是纯洁的；他的食欲和情绪都受理智的支配。他既赋有上帝的形象，并完全顺从他的旨意，所以他是圣洁而幸福的。{原文第45页} [分析] 这句引言要求只有两位神性生物有相同的形象。如果上帝是三位一体，而三位按着他们的形象一同创造人类的话，那基督如何是天父本体的唯一真像呢？天父本体的另外一位真像呢？ [分析] 唯有基督是天父本体的真像，因为祂是父的独生子，承受了祂父所有的本性，形象和特性。如果圣灵也是父本体真像的另一位神性生物的话，那天父就有两位亲生儿子了。上帝生了两个儿子吗？不是的! 基督是上帝的独生子（约1:14; 3:16）。又或者基督有两位父亲吗？不可能! 天父只有一位（太23:9; 约20:17; 林前8:6; 弗4:6）。 只有一位与上帝同等 [引言] 在上帝所造地上的一切动物中，没有一种是与人同等的。所以 “耶和华上帝说：那人独居不好，我要为他造一个配偶帮助他。”（创2:18）上帝造人不是要他独居；乃是要他群居的。人若没有伴侣，则伊甸园美丽的景色和愉快的工作，就不能使人得到完全的幸福。即或有天使与他交往，也不能满足他对同情和友谊方面的愿望。他还没有一个与他性情相同的对象，和他彼此相爱。{原文第46页} [分析] 夏娃还没有从亚当身上被取出之前，没有任何活物是与亚当同等的。然后上帝造了一个与亚当性情相同，与他同等的女人。男人女人都是按着上帝和基督（上帝本体的真像）的形象造的。正如基督是从父上帝生出来的，并与上帝同等一样，照样，夏娃是从亚当出来，并与亚当同等的，她是亚当本体的真像，因为他们倆是按着上帝和祂儿子的形象造的。 [分析] 如果上帝是三位一体，而亚当夏娃是按着父，子，圣灵的形象被造的话，那上帝应该多造两个人给亚当，因为三个同等的人才能反映三位一体的形象! 基督是上帝的第二个自己 [引言] 所以上帝亲自给亚当造了一个伴侣。“为他造一个配偶帮助他，”──与他相配的一个助手──是专为作他的伴侣而造，并能彼此相亲相爱，合而为一。夏娃是由亚当的一根肋骨造成的，表明她不应作他的首脑去管辖他，也不应作他的奴隶任他践踏，乃是要以平等的地位站在亚当的身边，为他所亲爱，所保护。女人既是男人的一部分，是他骨中的骨，肉中的肉，她便是他的第二个自己；这是要说明夫妻之间应有亲爱密切的联合。“从来没有人恨恶自己的身子，总是保养顾惜。” “因此，人要离开父母，与妻子连合，二人成为一体。”（弗5:29；创2:24）{原文第46页} [分析] 亚当夏娃之间的密切联合反映出圣父圣子的密切联合。两位神性生物在品德和旨意上是一致的。基督作为上帝的儿子，并不比上帝劣等低级，而是以平等的地位站在上帝的身边。祂既从上帝而生，便是上帝的一部分，是上帝的第二个自己，正如夏娃是亚当的一部分，亚当的第二个自己一样。就如亚当夏娃之间没有小三，父子之间也没有第三位神性生物的存在了。 [分析] 如果亚当夏娃是按着三位一体之上帝的形象造的，那么婚姻就应该是三个人之间的事。"二人成为一体" 就应该是 "三人成为一体" ，这样才能贴切地反映三位一体的创造主啊! 圣父和圣子创造了两个人来反映祂们的形象，又叫两人彼此相亲相爱，合而为一，这事实足以告诉我们，有两位神性生物参与创造之工，而非三位。 感谢赞美造物主圣父和圣子两位 [引言] 如果亚当和他的伴侣能继续效忠上帝，他们就必能管理全地。管理一切生物的无限大权已经赐给他们。狮子与羔羊和平相处地围着他们嬉戏，或一同卧在他们的脚前。快乐的雀鸟毫无畏惧地在他们头上跳跃；当它们宛转清脆赞美的歌声升到造物主面前的时候，亚当和夏娃也同声应和着感谢圣父和圣子。{原文第50页} 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂

All trinity studies Previous Download 看中文 Next Jesus has a God JESUS HAS A GOD Jesus HAS a God, hence He is NOT the Supreme God. HIS FATHER IS. God the Father HAS NO GOD, He answers to NO ONE. He does as it pleases Him. Jesus has a God & answers to the Father. It pleases Him to do what pleases His God, the Father. [Bible texts below]. 1 Corinthians 3:23 (KJV) 23 And ye are Christ's; and CHRIST IS GOD'S. 1 Peter 1:3 (KJV) 3 Blessed be THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, Ephesians 1:3 (KJV) 3 Blessed be THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ： Ephesians 1:17 (KJV) 17 That THE GOD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: Romans 15:6 (KJV) 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:3 (KJV) 3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 2 Corinthians 11:31 (KJV) 31 THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. Colossians 1:3 (KJV) 3 We give thanks to GOD AND THE FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, praying always for you, Matthew 27:46 (KJV) 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, MY GOD, MY GOD, why hast thou forsaken me? John 20:17 (KJV) 17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to MY GOD, and your God. Hebrews 1:8-9 (KJV) 8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore GOD, EVEN THY GOD, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Revelation 1:6 (KJV) 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto GOD AND HIS FATHER; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Revelation 3:12 (KJV) 12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of MY GOD and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of MY GOD, and the name of the city of MY GOD, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from MY GOD: and I will write upon him my new name. [Caps added for emphasis, however no content has been changed] Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 Read in English 下一篇 刻在石版上- 十条诫命 随着罪案和暴力事件在各国各城，甚至家庭中逐渐升级，为了确保人民生命财产的安全起见，每个人岂不应该遵守国家的法律吗？正所谓国有国法，家有家规。其实啊，上帝早在几千年前就已经把自己的律法写在石版上。而圣经说这律法是我们今时今日依然必须遵守的。 违背上帝律法的任何部分都必然招致负面的后果。更重要的是，遵守上帝律法的全部能给我们带来和平与安全。再说，我们作为基督徒，上帝把祂的律法赐给我们作为生活的指南，让我们能辨别是非对错。更何况顺从上帝的命令是爱祂的表现，也是对祂爱的回应。既然如此，我们今天就要来研究这个课题，详细地探讨一系列的问题，并认真思考上帝的十条诫命在我们生活中的定位。 1. 十条诫命真的是上帝亲自写的吗？ “耶和华在西奈山和摩西说完了话，就把两块见证的版交给他，是上帝用指头写的石版。这版是上帝的工作，字是上帝写的，刻在版上。” （出埃及记 31：18，32：16） 答：对！天上的上帝用自己的指头把十条诫命写在两块石板上。 2. 上帝对罪的定义是什么？ “凡犯罪的，就是违背律法；违背律法就是罪。” （约翰一书 3：4） 答：罪就是违背律法。耶和华的律法是全备的（诗篇 19：7），它的原则概括了人类所能犯的一切罪。诫命也涵盖了“人一切当尽的本分”（传道书 12：13）。没有任何一点是被遗漏的。 3. 上帝为什么要把十条诫命赐给我们？ “但遵守律法的，便为有福。” （箴言 29：18） 我儿，不要忘记我的法则；你心要谨守我的诫命；因为它们必将长久的日子，生命的年数与平安，加给你。（箴言 3：1，2） 答： （一）作为幸福，丰盛生活的指南。 上帝创造我们，让我们能体验喜乐、平安、长寿、满足、成就和我们内心所渴望的所有其他伟大的祝福。上帝的律法是我们生命地图的导航，引领我们走在正确的道路上，使我们找着真实又至高至上的幸福快乐。 “因为律法本是叫人知罪。” 罗马书 3：20。 “律法是罪吗？断乎不是！只是非因律法，我就不知何为罪。非律法说不可贪恋，我就不知何为情欲。” 罗马书 7：7 （二）向我们展示对与错之间的区别。上帝的律法就像一面镜子（雅各书1：23-25）。它指出了我们生活中不对的行为，就像镜子显出了我们脸上的污垢一样。唯一有可能让我们知道自己在犯罪的方法就是通过在上帝律法的镜子里仔细地检查自己的生活。活在混乱邪恶世界中的我们能在上帝的十诫中找到平安。它告诉我们该在哪里划清界线！ “耶和华又吩咐我们遵行这一切律例【诫命】。。。使我们常得好处，蒙他保全我们的生命” （申命记 6：24） “求你扶持我，我便得救，时常看重你的律例。凡偏离你律例的人，你都轻弃他们，因为他们的诡诈必归虚空。” （诗篇 119：117，118）。 （三）为了保护我们免受危险和悲剧的伤害。上帝的律法像动物园里牢固的笼子一般，保护我们免受凶猛和残暴的动物侵害。它保护我们免受谬论、杀人、崇拜偶像、偷盗以及许多其他毁灭生命、和平与幸福的罪恶之侵害。所有好的法律都是为了保护人的，而上帝的律法也不例外。 “我们若遵守他的诫命，就晓得是认识他。” （约翰一书 2：3） （四）它帮助我们认识上帝 上帝律法中永恒的原则是由创造我们的上帝在每个人本性的最深处写下的。字迹也许朦胧和不清晰，但确实存在于我们的骨子［gu3zi1] 里。上帝创造我们原是要我们的生活与这些原则一致相符。当我们无视它们时，结果必定是压力、动荡不安和悲剧。就好比无视安全驾驶的规则会导致重伤或死亡一样。 4. 上帝的律法为什么对您个人而言极为重要？ “你们既然要按这自由的律法受审判，就该照这律法说话行事。（雅各书 2：12）。 答： 因为律法的十条诫命是上帝在天上的审判标准。 5. 上帝的律法 (十条诫命）能被修改或废除吗？ “天地废去较比律法的一点一画落空还容易。” （路加福音 16：17） “我必不背弃我的约，也不改变我口中所出的。” （诗篇 89：34） “他的训词都是确实的，是永永远远坚定的 ” （诗篇 111：7，8） 答：不能。圣经无比清楚，上帝的律法是不能改变的。诫命是上帝神圣品格之原则的反映，也是祂国度的基础。只要上帝还活着，祂的律法就依然存在。 此表向我们展示了上帝和祂的律法具有完全相同的特质，揭示了十诫实际上是上帝品格的书面形式，藉着文字让我们可以更加理解上帝。若要改变上帝的律法，就得先把上帝从天国拉下来再改变祂，这当然是不可能的。耶稣以人类的形式来向我们显明律法（即圣洁生活的模式）。上帝的品格永不改变；因此，祂的律法也永远不会改变。 上帝是 律法是 良善 路加福音 18：19 提摩太前书 1：8 圣洁 以赛亚书 5：16 罗马书 7：12 完全 马太福音 5：48 诗篇 19：7 纯洁 约翰一书 3：2，3 诗篇 19：8 正直 申命记 32：4 罗马书 7：12 真实 约翰福音 3：33 诗篇 19：9 属灵 哥林多前书 10：4 罗马书 7：14 公义 耶利米书 23：6 诗篇 119：172 信实 哥林多前书 1：9 诗篇 119：86 爱 约翰一书 4：8 罗马书 13：10 永不改变 雅各书1：17 马太福音 5：18 永恒 创世纪 21：33 诗篇 111：7，8 6. 耶稣在世上时是否废除了上帝的律法？ “莫想我来要废掉律法。。。我来不是要废掉，乃是要成全。。。。就是到天地都废去了，律法的一点一画也不能废去，都要成全。” （马太福音 5：17，18） 答：确实没有！耶稣特别宣称自己不是来废掉律法，而是要成全（落实）。耶稣不但没有废除律法，反而将它放大（以赛亚书 42：21）为圣洁生活的完美指引。比如说，耶稣指出“不可杀人”也包括了不可无缘无故地向你的弟兄动怒（马太福音：21，22）或仇恨你的弟兄（约翰一书 3：15），并且对妇女动淫念也算是犯奸淫的一种（马太福音 5：27，28）。耶稣说：“你若爱我，就必遵守我的命令”（约翰福音 14：15）。 7. 有意持续违反上帝诫命的人是否能得救？ “因为罪的工价乃是死 ” （罗马书 6：23） “耶和华...除灭罪人” （以赛亚书 13：9） “因为凡遵守全律法的，只在一条上跌倒，他就是犯了众条。” (雅各书 2：10） 答：十诫引导我们过圣洁的生活。如果我们忽视其中一条诫命，就等于忽略上帝神圣蓝图中一个重要的部分。如果一条铁链中就算只有一个铁环断裂，则其整个功用将被破坏。圣经说，当我们有意违背上帝的命令时，我们就是在犯罪（雅各书4:17），因为我们拒绝了祂在我们身上的旨意。只有那些遵行祂旨意的人才能进入天国（马太福音 7：21）。当然，上帝会赦免任何真正悔改，接受基督并让祂的力量改变他们的人。 8. 遵守律法可以拯救任何人吗？ “你们得救是本乎恩，也因着信；这并不是出于自己，乃是上帝所赐的；也不是出于行为，免得有人自夸。”（以弗所书 2：8，9） 答： 不能！答案是易懂且不容错过的。 遵守律法是无法拯救任何人的。 我们得救是本乎恩典，是上帝藉着耶稣基督赐给我们的一份免费礼物，我们要凭着信心而不是行为来接收这份礼物。 律法是一面镜子，它指出了我们生活中的罪。 就好比镜子可以向你展示脸上的污垢但却无法洗净你的脸一样。我们唯有藉着耶稣基督才能从罪中得到洁净和宽恕。 9. 那为什么律法对于改善基督徒的品格至关重要呢？ “敬畏上帝，谨守他的诫命，这是人所当尽的本分” （传道书 12：13） “因为律法本是叫人知罪” （罗马书 3：20） 答：因为基督徒生活的整个模式或“所当尽的本分”都包含在上帝的律法中。例如，一个六岁的孩子自己做了一把尺，测量自己的身高，并告诉母亲他身高4米一样，我们自己的测量标准从来都是不安全可靠的。我们若不仔细监察那完美的标准，即上帝的律法的话，就无法晓得自己是不是罪人。许多人认为，即使他们不遵守律法，只要经常做好事，也能得到救恩的保障（马太福音7：21-23）。因此，他们认为自己是公义的，但事实上，他们是迷途的罪人。圣经说， “我们若遵守他的诫命，就晓得是认识他。”（约翰一书 2：3） 10. 是什么使真正悔改的基督徒能够遵循上帝的律法呢？ “我要将我的律法放在他们里面，写在他们心上” （希伯来书 8：10） “我靠着那加给我力量的” （腓立比书 4：13） 上帝就差遣自己的儿子。。。使律法的义成就在我们这不随从肉体” （罗马书 8：3，4） 答：基督不仅赦免了悔改的罪人，而且还叫他们恢复上帝的形像。祂藉着亲自同在的力量使他们与祂的律法和谐一致。 “不可”这句话成为基督徒不偷盗、不说谎、不杀人等等正面的承诺，因为耶稣住在我们里面并且做主，掌管着我们生命中的一切。上帝不能改变他的道德法则，但祂能藉着耶稣去改变罪人，使我们能达到祂律法的标准。 11. 但一个基督徒如果有信心，况且活在恩典之下，岂不是可以免于遵守律法吗？ “罪必不能作你们的主，因你们不在律法之下，乃在恩典之下。这却怎么样呢？我们在恩典之下，不在律法之下，就可以犯罪吗？断乎不可！”（罗马书 6：14，15） “这样，我们因信废了律法吗？断乎不是！更是坚固律法。” （罗马书 3：31） 答：不！圣经的教导恰恰相反。恩典就好比国王或国家元首对囚犯所施予的宽恕。这个犯法者获得宽恕，并不代表他获得继续犯法的自由。获得宽恕的人，就是活在恩典之下，他会自然而然地因为感激上帝的救恩而心甘情愿地遵守祂的律法。一个拒绝遵守上帝律法，却声称自己活在恩典之下的人，实际上已严重误解了上帝恩典的意义。 12. 上帝的十条诫命是否在新约里也受到了肯定呢？ 答：是的，且非常明显。请仔细观察以下的对照。 旧约中上帝的律法 新约中上帝的律法 1. “除了我以外，你不可有别的神。” （出埃及记 20：3） “当拜主你的上帝，单要侍奉他。” (马太福音 4：10） 2. “不可为自己雕刻偶像；也不可作什么形像仿佛上天、下地和地底下、水中的百物。不可跪拜那些像；也不可侍奉它，因为我耶和华你的上帝，是忌邪的上帝。恨我的，我必追讨他的罪，自父及子，直到三四代；爱我、守我诫命的，我必向他们发慈爱，直到千代。”（出埃及记 20：4-6） “小子们哪，你们要自守，远避偶像。” （约翰一书 5：21）。“我们既是上帝所生的，就不当以为上帝的神性像人用手艺、心思所雕刻的金、银、石。” （使徒行传 17：29） 3. “不可妄称耶和华你上帝的名；因为妄称耶和华名的，耶和华必不以他为无罪。” （出埃及记 20：7） “免得上帝的名和道理被人亵渎。” （提摩太前书 6：1） 4. “当记念安息日，守为圣日。六日要劳碌作你一切的工，但第七日是向耶和华你上帝当守的安息日。这一日你和你的儿女、仆婢、牲畜，并你城里寄居的客旅，无论何工都不可作，因为六日之内，耶和华造天、地、海和其中的万物，第七日便安息，所以耶和华赐福与安息日，定为圣日。” （出埃及记 20：8-11） “论到第七日，有一处说：“到第七日，上帝就歇了他一切的工。”这样看来，必另有一安息日的安息，为上帝的子民存留。因为那进入安息的，乃是歇了自己的工，正如上帝歇了他的工一样。” (希伯来书 4：4，9，10） 5. “当孝敬父母，使你的日子在耶和华你上帝所赐你的地上得以长久。” （出埃及记 20：12） “当孝敬父母” （马太福音 19：19） 6. “不可杀人。” （出埃及记 20：13） “不可杀人” （罗马书 13：9） 7. “不可奸淫。” （出埃及记 20：14） “不可奸淫” （马太福音 19：18） 8. “不可偷盗。“ （出埃及记 20：15） “不可偷盗” （罗马书 13：9） 9. “不可作假见证陷害人。” （出埃及记 20：16） “不可作假见证” （罗马书 13：9） 10. “不可贪恋人的房屋；也不可贪恋人的妻子、仆婢、牛驴，并他一切所有的。” （出埃及记 20：17） “不可起贪心” （罗马书 7：7） 13. 上帝的律法和摩西的律法是否相同？ 答： 不。它们各不相同。请研究以下对比。 摩西的律法包括旧约里暂时性的律例、典章、条例、节期与一些具体的献祭方式和制度。这一切都为我们指向了基督在十字架上的牺牲。这些律例都是添上的，“等候那蒙应许的子孙来到”，也就是基督（加拉太书 3：18，19）。摩西律法中的献祭等都是指向基督的牺牲。耶稣的死终结了这些律法，但十条诫命（上帝的律法）却是永永远远坚定的（诗篇 111：8）。但以理书 9：10，11也清楚显示有两种不同的律法。 注：上帝的律法在发生罪恶之前就早已存在了。圣经说：“哪里没有律法，那里就没有过犯【罪】”（罗马书 4：15）。因此，上帝的十诫从起初就存在着。人类违背了上帝的律法（犯罪-约翰一书 3：4）。由于人类犯了罪（或违背上帝的律法），便有摩西的律法赐给了人（或“添上”-加拉太书3：16、19），直到基督降世而牺牲。当中涉及两套分开独立的律法，即上帝的律法和摩西的律法。 摩西的律法 上帝的律法 被称为“摩西律法” （路 2:22) 被称为“耶和华的律法” (以赛亚书 5：24） 被称为“那记在律法上的规条” （弗 2：15） 被称为“至尊的律法” （雅 2：8） 是摩西书上所写的 （代下 35：12） 是上帝用指头写在石版上的（出 31：18） 放在约柜旁（申 31：26） 放在约柜里（出 40：20） 在十架上废掉了（弗 2：15） 永远长存（路 16：17） 为了罪而添上的（加 3：19） 指出罪来（罗 7：7；3：20） 攻击我们，反对我们（西 2：14） 是不难守的（约一 5：3） 不论断任何人（西 2：14-16） 审判所有人（雅 2：10-12） 属肉体的（来 7：16） 属灵的（罗 7：14） 一无所成（来 7：19） 全备的（诗 19：7） 14. 魔鬼如何看待那些在生活中遵行上帝十条诫命的人呢？ “龙向妇人发怒，去与她其余的儿女争战，这儿女就是那守上帝诫命，为耶稣作见证的。那时龙就站在海边的沙上。” （启示录 12：17） “圣徒的忍耐就在此，他们是守上帝诫命和耶稣真道的。” （启示录 14：12） 答：魔鬼恨恶那些维护上帝律法的人，因为律法是正当生活的一种模式。因此，他对所有高举上帝律法的人深感憎恨，这一点也不稀奇。在反对上帝圣洁标准的争战中，他甚至利用宗教领袖来否定十诫，同时又鼓吹人的传统。难怪耶稣说：“你们为什么因着你们的遗传，犯上帝的诫命呢？ ...他们将人的吩咐当作道理教导人，所以拜我也是枉然”（马太福音 15：3，9）。大卫说：“这是耶和华做工的时候，因人废了你的律法。”（诗119：126）。基督徒必须醒过来，在自己心中和生活中恢复上帝律法应有的地位。 15. 你认为基督徒必须遵守十条诫命吗？ 希望每一位都能好好思考这一题，及以上所探讨的所有问题，并向上帝做出一个重要的决定。愿我们都能决志遵行上帝的律法，活出祂的旨意来，做祂眼中看为正的事。 现在我们将继续从圣经的角度来讨论并思考一系列极具争议的思考题，看看到底真相是什么，好让我们能在这课题上获得更多知识。 思考题 1. 圣经岂不是说过律法是有瑕疵的吗？ 答： 不对，圣经上说有瑕疵的是人。英文翻译是“finding fault with them”，中文译为“所以主指责他的百姓说……”（希伯来书8：8）这说明上帝所指责的，不是祂旧约中的律法，而是旧约中的以色列民。罗马书8：3说：“律法既因肉体软弱，有所不能行的。” 它说的是同一个意思：律法是全备的，但人是有问题的，或者说是软弱有瑕疵的。所以，上帝差祂的圣子住在世人中间，藉着内住的基督“使律法的义成就在我们...身上。”（罗马书8：4） 2. 加拉太书3章13节说我们被救赎脱离律法的咒诅，这是什么意思呢？ 答：律法的咒诅是死。（罗马书6：23）基督“为人人尝了死味。”（希伯来书2：9）所以，祂救赎我们脱离了律法的咒诅（死亡），而赐给我们永生。 3. 歌罗西书2章14至17节和以弗所书2章15节岂不都说上帝的律法在十字架上终止了吗？ 答：不是，这两段经文是指律法所包含的“规条”，或者说是指摩西的仪文律法，包括规划献祭的仪式与祭司制度的条文。所有这些预指十字架的仪文与礼仪都是按着上帝的旨意所定的，在基督死在十字架上的时候就终止了。摩西的律法是“为过犯添上”的，一直到“那蒙应许的子孙来到”，而那子孙，“就是基督”（加拉太书3：16，19）。这两处经文都不可能指上帝的律法，因为保罗在十字架之后多年，依然说上帝的律法是圣洁、公义、良善的。（罗马书7：8，12） 4. 圣经说：“爱就完全了律法。”（罗马书13：10）在马太福音22章37至40节中，上帝吩咐我们要爱祂和爱人如己，并以“这两条诫命是律法和先知一切道理的总纲”这段话为总结。这些命令是不是取代了十条诫命呢？ 答：不是！十条诫命是系于这两条诫命之上的，如同十根指头系于两只手掌之上的那样，是不可分割的。爱上帝能使遵守前四条诫命成为喜悦之事，而爱人如己的精神则使遵守后六条诫命成为一种快乐。“爱”使遵守诫命变得不再是一种苦役，而成为一种喜乐，这样就完全了律法。（诗篇40：8）若真正的爱上一个人，那么，尊重对方的要求就成了一种快乐的事。耶稣说：“你们若爱我，就必遵守我的命令。”（约翰福音14：15）一面说爱主，一面又不遵守主的命令，这是不可能的，因为圣经说：“我们遵守上帝的诫命，这就是爱他了，并且他的诫命不是难守的。”（约翰一书5：3）“人若说‘我认识他’，却不遵守他的诫命，便是说谎话的，真理也不在他心里了。”（约翰一书2：4） 5. 哥林多后书3章7节岂不是说刻在石头上的律法被“废掉”了吗？ 答：不是的！这段经文所说的是摩西在律法上的职事之“荣光”被废掉了，而不是律法本身被废掉了。请把哥林多后书3章3至9节再仔细地读一遍，经文所讨论的不是废除律法或是设立律法的问题，而是律法位置的变迁：从刻在石版上，迁到刻在“心版”上。在摩西的职事之下，律法写在石版上。但藉着基督在圣灵的职事下，律法便刻在人的心版上。（希伯来书8：10）学校的校规只有在进入学生的心中时，才会真正奏zou4效。基督在律法上的职事之所以有效，是因为律法转移到了基督徒的心里。这样，遵守律法便成为人生中一种喜乐和欢欣，因为基督徒对上帝与世人都付出了真爱。 6. 罗马书10章4节说“基督是律法的总结”。既作总结了，就结束了，对吗？ 答：“总结”的意思在此处是指目的或目标，它和雅各书5章11节中的“结局”一词的圣经原文相同，指的是目标。很多译本将此处译为“律法的终极是基督”或“基督乃是律法的终极”。意思是说，律法的目的是把人引向基督，使他们能因基督称义，这就是律法的终极目标或目的了。 7. 为什么会有那么多人否定上帝律法的有效性呢？ 答：“原来体贴肉体的，就是与上帝为仇，因为不服上帝的律法，也是不能服。而且属肉体的人不能得上帝的喜欢。如果上帝的灵住在你们心里，你们就不属肉体，乃属圣灵了。人若没有基督的灵，就不是属基督的。” (罗马书 8：7-9） 8. 旧约时期的义人是因律法得救吗？ 答：没有任何人是靠律法得救的。历代以来凡得救的人，都是靠恩典得救。“这恩典是万古之先在基督耶稣里赐给我们的。”（提摩太后书1：9）律法只能指出罪，唯有基督才能救人。挪亚“蒙恩”；（创世记6：8）摩西“蒙恩”；（出埃及记33：17）以色列人在旷野“蒙恩”；（耶利米书33：17）亚伯、以诺、亚伯拉罕、雅各、约瑟以及旧约中许许多多其他的先贤，都是因信靠恩得救的。（希伯来书11章）他们得救是向前瞻望十字架上的基督；而我们得救是向后瞻望十字架上的基督，无论向前向后，都是靠基督得救。律法如同一面镜子，照出我们身上的“污垢”。若没有律法这面镜子，我们虽然“满身污垢”，也可能不知道自己是污秽的罪人。所以，律法是必要的。但是律法没有拯救之能力，只能指出罪来。唯有耶稣才能把人类从罪恶中拯救出来。这是永恒不变的真理，哪怕在旧约时代也是如此。（徒徒行传4：10，12；提摩太后书1：9） 9. 为什么要看重律法呢？良心不是最安全的指南吗？ 答：不是，绝对不是！圣经说，邪恶的良心、有亏的良心或污秽的良心，这些都是不安全的。“有一条路人以为正，至终成为死亡之路。”（箴言14：12）上帝说：“心中自是的，便是愚昧人。”（箴言书28：26） 在结束之前，让我们快速地过目一些测验题，测试自己是否真的明白这一课的内容和重点。 测验题 1. 十条诫命是谁写的？（1） _____ 上帝 _____ 摩西 _____ 无名氏 2. 根据圣经，罪是:（1） _____ 性格上的缺陷。 _____ 违背上帝的律法。 _____ 一切看上去不对的事。 3. 试指出下列有关上帝律法的正确说法：（4） _____ 幸福生活的完美指南。 _____ 像一面镜子指出罪来。 _____ 是个重担，压迫人。 _____ 能保护我远离邪恶。 _____ 与上帝的品格相同。 _____ 在新约中作废了。 _____ 乃是咒诅。 4. 上帝的十诫律法是:（1） _____ 仅仅为旧约时代而制定的。 _____ 被耶稣在十字架上废掉了。 _____ 绝对不变的。 5. 在审判日我要如何才能得救？（1） _____ 保持行善的记录。 _____ 我爱主，守不守十诫没有关系。 _____ 我与耶稣的爱的关系引导我顺服上帝全部的诫命。 6. 人得救是靠着:（1） _____ 遵守律法。 _____ 干犯律法。 _____ 单靠基督耶稣。 7. 真正悔改的基督徒:（1） _____ 藉着基督的能力遵守上帝的律法。 _____ 忽视上帝的律法，因为它已经被废除。 _____ 认为没有必要遵守诫命。 8. 生活在恩典之下的人:（1） _____ 就算违背十诫也不算犯罪。 _____ 无需遵守上帝的诫命。 _____ 愿意遵守上帝的诫命。 9. 爱就完全了律法，是因为:（1） _____ 爱把律法废掉了。 _____ 对上帝与世人的真爱使守律法成为一件乐事。 _____ 爱比听命更重要。 10. 摩西的律法:（1） _____ 与上帝律法相同。 _____ 是指向基督牺牲的仪文律法，在十字架上已被废掉了。 _____ 至今仍有效。 11. 遵守上帝诫命的人:（1） _____ 是律法主义者。 _____ 必为魔鬼所憎恨，因为魔鬼痛恨上帝和祂的圣诫。 _____ 可以靠守律法得救。 12. 指出下列有关基督与律法的正确说法:（4） _____ 耶稣违背了律法。 _____ 耶稣是遵守上帝律法的完美榜样。 _____ 耶稣废除了律法。 _____ 耶稣说：“你们若爱我，就必遵守我的命令。” _____ 耶稣使律法为大为尊，表明律法涵盖了一切罪。 _____ 耶稣说律法是不会改变的。 总结来说，上帝的律法是祂品格的书面形式，是永不改变的。上帝的律法和摩西的律法不同。摩西的律法是指向基督的牺牲，且在十字架上已经终结了，而上帝的律法则是永永远远坚定的。遵守律法不能叫我们得救，但是它像一面镜子，能让我们知道自己的污秽和罪，使我们晓得自己需要耶稣。因为唯有因着信，靠着上帝白白赐下在耶稣里的恩典，我们才能得救。活在恩典之下的我们，更应心甘情愿，靠着耶稣在我们里面的力量遵守上帝的律法。上帝把祂的律法赐给我们作为生活的指南，让我们能辨别是非对错，使我们避免罪恶的侵害。愿我们都能活在上帝的旨意中，做上帝喜悦的儿女。愿上帝赐福于每一位，阿门。 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂

返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 Read in English 下一篇 使我们认识祂 使我们认识祂 (1) 序言 申命记29章29节 “隐秘的事是属耶和华我们上帝的；惟有明显的事是永远属我们和我们子孙的。。。” 耶利米书9章23-24节 “23 耶和华如此说：“智慧人不要因他的智慧夸口，勇士不要因他的勇力夸口，财主部要因他的财物夸口。24 夸口的却因他有聪明，认识我是耶和华，又知道我喜悦在世上施行慈爱公平和公义，以此夸口。这是耶和华说的。” 是否有人曾经告诉过你上帝是个谜或是奥秘呢? 这一个概念阻挡了许多真诚的基督徒来领受与创造主相交所能得到的平安，丰盛的爱和改变人生的力量。事实上，通过人类的猜测和所制造的假道理，我们把上帝便成了一位不能被理解的生物。此研究的主要目的乃是在经文上不添加或减少任何话语的情况下探讨上帝所显现关于祂自己的真理。我真心祈求这研究能够使你与这位想让你认识祂的上帝有一个更密切和稳固的关系。 何西阿书 6章3节 “我们务要认识耶和华，竭力追求认识他；他出现确如晨光，他必临到我们像甘雨，像滋润田地的春雨。” 箴言 2章3-5节 “3 呼求明哲，扬声求聪明，4 寻找它，如寻找银子，搜求它，如搜求隐藏的珍宝，5 你就明白敬畏耶和华，得以认识上帝。 （1）父上帝 上帝有怎么样的品格呢? 约翰一书4章8节- “没有爱心的，就不认识上帝，因为上帝就是爱。9上帝差他独生子到世间来，使我们藉着他得生，上帝爱我们的心在此就显明了。10 不是我们爱上帝，乃是上帝爱我们，差他的儿子，为我们的罪作了挽回祭，这就是爱了。” 约翰福音3章16-17节- “ 上帝爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生。17 因为上帝差他的儿子降世，不是要定世人的罪（或作“审判世人”。下同），乃是要叫世人因他得救。” 哥林多后书1章3节 “愿颂赞归与我们的主耶稣基督的父上帝，就是发慈悲的父，赐各样安慰的上帝。” 马太福音6章14节 “你们饶恕人的过犯，你们的天父也必饶恕你们的过犯。” 哥林多后书6章18节 “我要作你们的父，你们要作我的儿女。”这是全能的主说的。” 雅各书1章17节 “各样美善的恩赐和各样全备的赏赐，都是从上头来的，从众光之父那里降下来的。在他并没有改变，也没有转动的影儿。” 约翰一书3章1节 “你看父赐给我们是何等的慈爱，使我们得称为上帝的儿女；我们也真是他的儿女。世人所以不认识我们，是因未曾认识他。” 父上帝在哪里? 马太福音6章9节 “。。我们在天上的父，愿人都尊你的名为圣。” 启示录4章2节 “。。见有一个宝座安置在天上，又有一位坐在宝座上。” 以赛亚书37章16节 “坐在二基路伯上万军之耶和华以色列的上帝啊，你，惟有你，是天下万国的 上帝；你曾创造天地。” 上帝如何向我们显示祂自己呢? 诗篇19章1节 “诸天述说上帝的荣耀，穹苍传扬他的手段。” 出埃及记 33章20节 “ 又说：“你不能看见我的面，因为人见我的面不能存活。” 希伯来书1章1-2节 1 上帝既在古时藉着众先知多次多方地晓谕列祖； 2 就在这末世藉着他儿子晓谕我们，又早已立他为承受万有的；也曾藉着他创造诸世界。 约翰福音1章18节 “从来没有人看见上帝，只有在父怀里的独生子将他表明出来。” 基督如何向我们显示祂的父? 马太福音11章25节 “那时，耶稣说：“父啊，天地的主，我感谢你！因为你将这些事向聪明通达人就藏起来，向婴孩就显出来。” 马可福音14章36节 “他说：“阿爸，父啊！在你凡事都能，求你将这杯撤去。然而不要从我的意思，只要从你的意思。” 约翰福音3章35节 “父爱子，已将万有交在他手里。” 约翰福音4章24节 “上帝是个灵（或无“个”字），所以拜他的，必须用心灵和诚实拜他。” 约翰福音5章19-23节 19 耶稣对他们说：“我实实在在地告诉你们：子凭着自己不能作什么，惟有看见父所作的，子才能作；父所作的事，子也照样作。 20 父爱子，将自己所作的一切事指给他看，还要将比这更大的事指给他看，叫你们希奇。 21 父怎样叫死人起来，使他们活着，子也照样随自己的意思使人活着。 22 父不审判什么人，乃将审判的事全交与子， 23 叫人都尊敬子如同尊敬父一样。不尊敬子的，就是不尊敬差子来的父。 约翰福音5章26-27节 26 因为父怎样在自己有生命，就赐给他儿子也照样在自己有生命； 27 并且因为他是人子，就赐给他行审判的权柄。 约翰福音5章30节 “我凭着自己不能作什么，我怎么听见，就怎么审判。我的审判也是公平的，因为我不求自己的意思，只求那差我来者的意思。” 约翰福音10章29节 “我父把羊赐给我，他比万有都大，谁也不能从我父手里把他夺去。” 约翰福音14章10节 “ 我在父里面，父在我里面，你不信吗？我对你们所说的话，不是凭着自己说的，乃是住在我里面的父作他自己的事。” 约翰福音14章24节 “不爱我的人就不遵守我的道；你们所听见的道不是我的，乃是差我来之父的道。” 约翰福音14章28节 “。。你们若爱我，因我到父那里去，就必喜乐，因为父是比我大的。” 约翰福音17章7节 “如今他们知道，凡你所赐给我的，都是从你那里来的。” 约翰福音17章1-3节 “1耶稣说了这话，就举目望天说：“父啊，时候到了，愿你荣耀你的儿子，使儿子也荣耀你；2 正如你曾赐给他权柄管理凡有血气的，叫他将永生赐给你所赐给他的人。3 认识你独一的真神，并且认识你所差来的耶稣基督，这就是永生。” 耶稣宣告祂的父为独一的真神。祂的门徒明白祂的教导吗? 哥林多前书8章6节 “然而我们只有一位上帝，就是父，万物都本于他，我们也归于他；并有一位主，就是耶稣基督，万物都是藉着他有的，我们也是藉着他有的。” 哥林多前书11章3节 “我愿意你们知道，基督是各人的头，男人是女人的头， 上帝是基督的头。” 以弗所书4章6节 “一上帝，就是众人的父，超乎众人之上，贯乎众人之中，也住在众人之内。” 腓立比书 2章11节 “无不口称耶稣基督为主，使荣耀归与父上帝。” 帖撒罗尼迦前书1章1节 “ 保罗、西拉、提摩太写信给帖撒罗尼迦在父上帝和主耶稣基督里的教会。愿恩惠、平安归与你们！” 提多书1章4节 “现在写信给提多，就是照着我们共信之道作我真儿子的。愿恩惠、平安，从父上帝和我们的救主基督耶稣归与你！” (请参阅哥林多前书1章3节,哥林多后书1章2节, 加拉太书1章3节, 以弗所书1章2节, 腓立比书1章2节, 歌罗西书1章2节, 帖撒罗尼迦后书1章1-2节, 提摩太前书1章2节,提摩太后书1章2节, 腓利门书1章3节, 约翰二书1章3节) 雅各书3章8-9节 “ 8 惟独舌头没有人能制伏，是不止息的恶物，满了害死人的毒气。9 我们用舌头颂赞那为主、为父的，又用舌头咒诅那照着上帝形像被造的人。” 使徒行传17章23-25节 “23我游行的时候，观看你们所敬拜的，遇见一座坛，上面写着‘未识之神’。你们所不认识而敬拜的，我现在告诉你们：24 创造宇宙和其中万物的上帝，既是天地的主，就不住人手所造的殿，25 也不用人手服侍，好像缺少什么；自己倒将生命、气息、万物，赐给万人。” 犹大书1章1节 “耶稣基督的仆人、雅各的弟兄犹大，写信给那被召、在父上帝里蒙爱、为耶稣基督保守的人。” {待续} 使我们认识祂 (2) （2）耶稣基督 如果基督本身表明了天父是那位 “独一的真神” , 那么耶稣是谁呢? 马太福音16章15-17节 15 耶稣说：“你们说我是谁？ 16 西门彼得回答说：“你是基督，是永生 上帝的儿子。” 17 耶稣对他说：“西门巴约拿，你是有福的！因为这不是属血肉的指示你的，乃是我在天上的父指示的。 西门彼得的回答是天父启示的- 就是耶稣是上帝的儿子这项事实! 耶稣因他这么有力的答案把他的名字缩短成彼得, 意思是 “磐石” , 宣告我要把我的教会建造在这磐石上，阴间的门不能胜过他。” (马太福音16章18节) 基督是否确认自己是上帝的亲生儿子呢？我们发现在旧约中, 基督藉着所罗门王在祂和父上帝之间的关系上给了我们许多美妙的见解。预言之灵证实了基督在箴言8章22-30节是藉着”上帝的智慧”之称号来说祂自己, 同样的在哥林多前书1章24, 30节以及路加福音11章49节也宣告基督是 “上帝的智慧”。 在耶和华造化的起头，在太初创造万物之先，就有了我。 从亘古，从太初，未有世界以前，我已被立。 没有深渊，没有大水的泉源，我已生出。 大山未曾奠定，小山未有之先，我已生出。 耶和华还没有创造大地和田野，并世上的土质，我已生出。 他立高天，我在那里；他在渊面的周围划出圆圈， 上使穹苍坚硬，下使渊源稳固， 为沧海定出界限，使水不越过他的命令，立定大地的根基。 那时，我在他那里为工师，日日为他所喜爱，常常在他面前踊跃， 这美妙的描述形容了父与子从亘古的关系并告诉了我们耶稣的存在是有开始的。我们有限的思想无法理解基督是何时被生，因为这是在时间还没有被设立之前发生的。我们也无法完全理解基督是如何为父所生，但是我们凭着信心相信救主的话语。 我们必须知道基督不是如天使和人类一样被创造。因为在约翰福音1章3节告诉我们, “万物是藉着他造的；凡被造的，没有一样不是藉着他造的。”事实上耶稣是父亲生的，是上帝本体的真像，并从父的本质和怀里出来。 约翰福音8章42节 “耶稣说，倘若上帝是你们的父，你们就必爱我。因为我本是出于上帝，也是从上帝而来，并不是由着自己来，乃是他差我来。“ 约翰福音16章27-28节 “父自己爱你们，因为你们已经爱我，又信我是从父出来的。我从父出来，到了世界。我又离开世界，往父那里去。 约翰福音17章8节 “因为你所赐给我的道，我已经赐给他们。他们也领受了，又确实知道，我是从你出来的，并且信你差了我来。” 在每一个例子中，耶稣为父所生的事件和被差来世上的事件是被分开来说的。这说明耶稣是在说两件不同的事情。在天上被生和被差来世上。 凭着对基督话语的信心，我们明白到从亘古的某个时间点，天父选择了生下一位神圣并有神性的儿子。因此，耶稣是有开始的，而非像父一样没有开始。这会在任何的方式下减少基督的神性吗？当然不会！ 约翰福音5章26节 “因为父怎样在自己有生命，就赐给他儿子也照样在自己有生命。” 歌罗西书1章19节 “因为父喜欢叫一切的丰盛，在他里面居住。” 歌罗西书2章9节 “因为上帝本性一切的丰盛，都有形有体的居住在基督里面。” 基督是被祂父亲，也就是宇宙万物的本源所生并从祂本质和怀里出来。父将独生子耶稣生出并喜悦将一切祂所拥有的神性，永恒的生命和在祂里头一切的丰盛赐给祂儿子。 约翰福音1章1节 的第一个‘神’字其实是名词，指明父上帝的身份；第二个‘神’ 是形容词，指的是耶稣的神性，形容祂有神的本质。因此，这章节可以读成：“太初有道，道与上帝同在，道就是神。” 简单来说基督从太初与父上帝（独一的真神）同在，基督本身在本性上也完全是神，祂满有神性。 希伯来书1章4-5节 4 他所承受的名既比天使的名更尊贵，就远超过天使。 5 所有的天使，上帝从来对哪一个说，“你是我的儿子，我今日生你”？又指着哪一个说，“我要作他的父，他要作我的子”？ 基督本性上是神因为祂承受了祂父的神性。但是天父是一切的本源，也没有起源，因此是独一的真神。 哥林多前书8章6节 “然而我们只有一位上帝，就是父，万物都本于他，我们也归于他；并有一位主，就是耶稣基督，万物都是藉着他有的，我们也是藉着他有的。” 圣父是本源，而基督是管道，万物都是藉着祂被造的，我们也藉着祂到父那里去。 提摩太前书2章5节 “因为只有一位上帝，在上帝和人中间，只有一位中保，乃是降世为人的基督耶稣。 ” 事实上，基督为上帝儿子的身份曾受过撒旦的攻击。 马太福音4章3节 “。。。你若是上帝儿子，可以吩咐这些石头变成食物。 马太福音4章6节 “ 。。。你若上的儿子，可以跳下去。” 撒旦的恶天使也清楚知道耶稣真实的身份： 马可福音5章7节 “大声呼叫说，至高上帝的儿子耶稣，我与你有什么相干。我指着上帝恳求你，不要叫我受苦。 ” 路加福音4章41节 “又有鬼从好些人身上出来，喊着说：“你是上帝的儿子！”耶稣斥责他们，不许他们说话，因为他们知道他是基督。” 基督宣告祂真实的身份导致祂被人逼迫和控告： 约翰福音10章36节 “父所分别为圣，又差到世间来的，他自称是上帝的儿子，你们还向他说‘你说僭妄的话’吗？ 约翰福音19章7节 “犹太人回答说：“我们有律法，按那律法，他是该死的，因他以自己为上帝的儿子。” 马太福音26章63节 “耶稣却不言语。大祭司对他说：“我指着永生上帝叫你起誓告诉我们，你是上帝的儿子基督不是？” 路加福音22章70节 “他们都说：“这样，你是上帝的儿子吗？”耶稣说：“你们所说的是。” 马太福音27章40节 “你这拆毁圣殿，三日又建造起来的，可以救自己吧！你如果是上帝的儿子，就从十字架上下来吧！” 马太福音27章54节 “百夫长和一同看守耶稣的人看见地震并所经历的事，就极其害怕，说：“这真是上帝的儿子了！” 最重要的是，这是唯一一个能让我们得到永生的信仰： 约翰福音3章16,18节 “上帝爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生。18 信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已经定了，因为他不信上帝独生子的名。” 约翰福音 20章31节 “但记这些事，要叫你们信耶稣是基督，是上帝的儿子，并且叫你们信了他，就可以因他的名得生命。” 约翰福音5章25节 “我实实在在地告诉你们：时候将到，现在就是了，死人要听见上帝儿子的声音，听见的人就要活了。” 看回希伯来书第一章，第四节解释了为什么耶利米书的预言中说到天父的名，耶和华，可以用在基督的身上。 耶利米书23章5-6节 “5 耶和华说：“日子将到，我要给大卫兴起一个公义的苗裔，他必掌王权，行事有智慧，在地上施行公平和公义。6 在他的日子，犹大必得救，以色列也安然居住。他的名必称为耶和华我们的义。” 希伯来书1章4节 “他所承受的名既比天使的名更尊贵，就远超过天使。” 就好像人类也承受他父的名, 同样的基督也承受祂父的名! 在第八和第九节中我们可以看到虽然耶稣是神，但是祂父还是在一切之上的至高者。 希伯来书 1章8-9节 8 论到子却说：“上帝啊，你的宝座是永永远远的，你的国权是正直的。 9 你喜爱公义，恨恶罪恶，所以上帝，就是你的上帝，用喜乐油膏你，胜过膏你的同伴。 虽然基督有神性，而且圣父将祂高举，使祂得到万物的敬拜，但是祂依然有一位上帝，就是祂的父亲。 马太福音27章46节 “约在申初，耶稣大声喊着说：“以利，以利！拉马撒巴各大尼？”就是说：“我的上帝，我的上帝！为什么离弃我？” 约翰福音20章17节 “耶稣说：“不要摸我，因为我还没有升上去见我的父。你往我弟兄那里去，告诉他们说：我要升上去见我的父，也是你们的父；见我的上帝，也是你们的上帝。” 罗马书15章6节 “一心一口荣耀上帝、我们主耶稣基督的父。” 哥林多前书11章3节 “我愿意你们知道，基督是各人的头，男人是女人的头，上帝是基督的头。” 以弗所书1章3节 “愿颂赞归与我们主耶稣基督的父上帝。。。” (查阅哥林多后书1章3节,哥林多后书11章31节, 歌罗西书1章3节和彼得前书1章3节) 以弗所书1章17节 “求我们主耶稣基督的上帝，荣耀的父，将那赐人智慧和启示的灵赏给你们，使你们真知道他。” 启示录1章5-6节 “5 并那诚实作见证的，从死里首先复活，为世上君王元首的耶稣基督，有恩惠、平安归与你们！他爱我们，用自己的血使我们脱离罪恶（“脱离”有古卷作“洗去”），6 又使我们成为国民，作他父上帝的祭司。但愿荣耀、权能归给他，直到永永远远。阿们！” 启示录3章12节(基督说) “得胜的，我要叫他在我上帝殿中作柱子，他也必不再从那里出去。我又要将我上帝的名和我上帝城的名（这城就是从天上、从我上帝那里降下来的新耶路撒冷），并我的新名，都写在他上面。” 基督将把祂父的名，耶和华，写在我们的额头上作为上帝的印记。额头代表我们对上帝的认识。 约翰福音4章23节 “时候将到，如今就是了，那真正拜父的，要用心灵和诚实拜他，因为父要这样的人拜他。” 相反的，兽的印记将会是上帝印记的伪造，并与上帝的印记 （启示录3：12）有着相同的特征：他们神的名，他们城的名，他们基督的名（即敌基督者）。 启示录17章4-5 “4 那女人穿着紫色和朱红色的衣服，用金子、宝石、珍珠为妆饰；手拿金杯，杯中盛满了可憎之物，就是他淫乱的污秽。5 在她额上有名写着说：“奥秘哉！大巴比伦，作世上的淫妇和一切可憎之物的母。” 基督来到世上的目的是为了向世人显明祂的父亲，好让上帝对我们不再是个奥秘！阿门！基督从不将荣耀归于自己，乃是将一切荣耀归给祂的父亲，祂的上帝。基督的教导一贯地揭晓祂到世上来的目的为显明祂父亲的大爱，品格和对人类设定的伟大计划，并藉着祂自己把我们归向天父上帝。 启示录14章1节 “我又观看，见羔羊站在锡安山，同他又有十四万四千人，都有他的名和他父的名写在额上。” 要无疑和肯定地证实基督的身份，我们就必须看看祂父亲对祂的宣告。天父上帝，那宇宙至高的权威，在耶稣的洗礼给了一个无比重要的信息，之后在耶稣登山变相时也做了同样一个宣告。(马太福音3章17节,17章5节, 马可福音1章11节, 9章7节, 路加福音3章22节, 9章35节, 彼得后书1章17节) “这是我的爱子，我所喜悦的。” 在山上祂还加了一句话-“你们要听他。” 作为圣父的代表，耶稣有着一切的权柄并有资格做罪人的牺牲，都凭着一个重要的真理和条件-就是祂是上帝至亲至爱，神圣，真实的亲生儿子。 {待续} 使我们认识祂 (3) （3）圣灵 我们即晓得天父是一切的本源，也可以从圣经证实圣灵是上帝自己的灵，是出于父的。 约翰福音15章26节 “但我要从父那里差保惠师来，就是从父出来真理的圣灵，他来了，就要为我作见证。” 创世记1章2节 “地是空虚混沌，渊面黑暗；上帝的灵运行在水面上。” 正如“上帝的儿子”意味着祂是上帝所拥有的，那么上帝的灵也一样意味着圣灵是上帝所拥有的灵。它是天父上帝自己的灵，不是另一位生物或个体。 马太福音10章20节 “因为不是你们自己说的，乃是你们父的灵在你们里头说的。” 让我们先看圣经里其它关于‘灵’的例子。以下章节的‘心’在原文都是用 ‘灵’， 中文圣经也把人的灵译成人的心。因为一个人的灵就是他的心。 创世记41章7-8节 “。。法老醒了，不料是个梦。到了早晨，法老心里不安，就差人召了埃及所有的术士和博士来。。。” 创世记45章27节 “他们便将约瑟对他们说的一切话都告诉了他。他们父亲雅各，又看见约瑟打发来接他的车辆，心就苏醒了。” 申命记2章30节 “但希实本王西宏不容我们从他那里经过，因为耶和华你的上帝使他心中刚硬，性情顽梗。。。” 以斯拉记1章1节 “波斯王居鲁士元年，耶和华为要应验藉耶利米口所说的话，就激动波斯王塞鲁士的心，使他下诏通告全国。。” 圣经里还有无数的例子，但是我认为重点已经够清楚了。我们在任何情况下都不可能认为一个人的灵是他以外的另一位。因为我们的灵就是我们的心思意念，想法和性格而并非另一个生物。那为什么我们会把“上帝的灵”想象成与上帝分开独立的另一位生物呢？上帝是一位全能，全在的灵体，可以以祂的实体坐在宝座上，同时藉着祂的灵在世上无所不在。 约翰福音4章23-24节 “。。因为父要这样的人拜他。”上帝是个灵，所以拜他的，必须用心灵和诚实拜他。” 基督为父所生，而且是上帝和人类之间的中保。正如上帝藉着祂儿子创造了万物，祂也一样赐下祂的圣灵藉着祂儿子赐给我们并住在我们里面。 以弗所书2章13,18节 “你们从前远离上帝的人，如今却在基督耶稣里，靠着他的血，已经得亲近了。18 因为我们两下藉着他被一个圣灵所感，得以进到父面前。 父和子就是这样享有同一个灵，也因这样有着相同的品格，目标和对人类的爱。当我们明白这个奇妙的真理时，约翰福音就变得更加地美好了！ 约翰福音14章20-23节 “20 到那日你们就知道我在父里面，你们在我里面，我也在你们里面。21 有了我的命令又遵守的，这人就是爱我的；爱我的必蒙我父爱他，我也要爱他，并且要向他显现。”22 犹大（不是加略人犹大）问耶稣说：“主啊，为什么要向我们显现，不向世人显现呢？” 23 耶稣回答说：“人若爱我，就必遵守我的道，我父也必爱他，并且我们要到他那里去，与他同住。 圣灵就是父和子的灵，而我们可以有祂们的灵住在我们里面！我们可以看到‘上帝的灵’ 和 ‘耶稣的灵’以互换的方式被用在圣经里，因为祂们共有一个灵。 罗马书8章9-10节 “9 如果上帝的灵住在你们心里，你们就不属肉体，乃属圣灵了。人若没有基督的灵，就不是属基督的。10 基督若在你们心里，身体就因罪而死，心灵却因义而活。” 然而，基督在世为人时以人性把祂的神性隐藏了起来。取了人的样式，祂父的灵依然在祂里头，但是祂不能随意地运用来赐给人类。 以赛亚书42章1节 “看哪，我的仆人，我所扶持、所拣选、心里所喜悦的，我已将我的灵赐给他，他必将公理传给外邦。” 腓立比书2章6-7 “6 他本有上帝的行像，不以自己与上帝同等为强夺的，7 反倒虚己，取了奴仆的形像，成为人的样式。” 约翰福音14章10节 “我在父里面，父在我里面，你不信吗？我对你们所说的话，不是凭着自己说的，乃是住在我里面的父作他自己的事。” 这就是为什么圣灵，也就是耶稣升天后所谓的保惠师在五旬节才能被赐给门徒。 约翰福音7章39节 “耶稣这话是指着信他之人要受圣灵说的，那时还没有赐下圣灵来，因为耶稣尚未得着荣耀。” 约翰福音16章7节 “然而我将真情告诉你们，我去是与你们有益的。我若不去，保惠师就不到你们这里来；我若去，就差他来。” 只有在基督回到天上得荣耀并开始在天上圣所做我们大祭司，方能求祂父把圣灵赐下给门徒。 希伯来书2章17节 “所以，他凡事该与他的弟兄相同，为要在上帝的事上成为慈悲忠信的大祭司，为百姓的罪献上挽回祭。 希伯来书4章15节 “因我们的大祭司并非不能体恤我们的软弱，他也曾凡事受过试探，与我们一样，只是他没有犯罪。” 约翰福音14章16-20 “16 我要求父，父就另外赐给你们一位保惠师（或作“训慰师”。下同），叫他永远与你们同在，17 就是真理的圣灵，乃世人不能接受的。因为不见他，也不认识他；你们却认识他，因他常与你们同在，也要在你们里面。 18 我不撇下你们为孤儿，我必到你们这里来。19 还有不多的时候，世人不再看见我，你们却看见我，因为我活着，你们也要活着。20 到那日你们就知道我在父里面，你们在我里面，我也在你们里面。 保惠师在耶稣得荣耀之前不能被赐下，然而耶稣说“他与你们同在”（现在式），也要在你们里面（未来式）。在告诉门徒“你们认识他”和“他常与你们同在”，耶稣其实是在向他们揭晓祂为保惠师的身份。虽然当时祂依然肉体上与门徒同在，但是在不久的未来祂将藉着祂的灵住在门徒里面。 使徒行传2章32-33 “32 这耶稣，上帝已经叫他复活了，我们都为这事作见证。33 他既被上帝的右手高举（或作“他既高举在 神的右边”），又从父受了所应许的圣灵，就把你们所看见、所听见的浇灌下来。” “保惠师”的希腊文是 “parakletos”。约翰是唯一一位使用了这个词的圣经作者，而他在他福音书里用了这个词四次， 还有一次则用在约翰一书里。 虽然很多人相信保惠师是第三位生物，一位父和子以外的个体。但事实上约翰已经在他的书信里清楚地为我们揭开了保惠师的身份。 可惜的是，他说明真相的一番苦心在这翻译中被隐藏起来了。他在约翰一书2：1指出了保惠师的身份，但是parakletos这个词在这经文里不是被翻译成“保惠师”而是译成了“中保”。 约翰一书2章1节 “我小子们哪，我将这些话写给你们，是要叫你们不犯罪。若有人犯罪，在父那里我们有一位中保，就是那义者耶稣基督。” 或 “我小子们哪，我将这些话写给你们，是要叫你们不犯罪。若有人犯罪，在父那里我们有一位保惠师，就是那义者耶稣基督。” 我们的“parakletos”，我们的“保惠师”，就是耶稣基督！ 那为什么基督在约翰福音14章16节说天父会差另外一位保惠师呢? 这是否代表保惠师是耶稣以外的另一位生物呢？ 在希腊文里有两个可以被译成“另一位”的词，那就是 “allos” and “heteros”。 Heteros——另一位（不同类的，或不同质的，或不同等级或群体的） Allos——另一位同种类的 意指“另外”的希腊词是allos，意思是另一个同类的。那么这一节的意思是，另一个与基督同类的。耶稣当时以肉体的形式与门徒同在，但在祂升天以后，祂要以另一种形式回来，就是藉着祂的灵。所以说，那“另外”一位就是祂的灵。由于基督的灵可以不倚靠基督的本体而独立行事，那么祂的灵就像是“另外”一位。也因为是祂的灵，所以是“另外”一位同类的。如果保惠师是另外一位不同类的，那么约翰就会用heteros这个希腊词来代表，其意思是“另外一位不同类的”。你一旦知道了这个区别，就很容易明白了。很多人也没有注意到，耶稣经常使用第三人称来称呼祂自己，这一节就是一个很好的例子了。简单来说，天父第一次赐下基督为保惠师是以人类的样式，而祂再次赐下的保惠师基督将会以灵的形式回来。 希伯来书2章18节 “他自己既然被试探而受苦，就能搭救被试探的人。” 基督是唯一一位能够帮助我们胜过世上的试探，因为祂是那唯一取了我们堕落的人性并胜过罪恶的神性生物。我们不应该怀疑这项事实，就是当耶稣说到保惠师时，祂是在用第三人称来说祂自己，就好比祂向人传福音时也经常如此行。 (马太福音13章41节,24章27,30节, 马可福音10章33-34节, 45节, 路加福音17章24节, 18章8节, 约翰福音10章2-4节, 17章1-3节, ) 记得提摩太前书2章5节告诉我们, “因为只有一位上帝，在上帝和人中间，只有一位中保，乃是降世为人的基督耶稣。 罗马书8章26节 “况且，我们的软弱有圣灵帮助，我们本不晓得当怎样祷告，只是圣灵亲自用说不出来的叹息替我们祷告。” 当我们以经解经时，圣经说替我们祷告或祈求的是谁呢？ 罗马书8章34节 “谁能定他们的罪呢？有基督耶稣已经死了，而且从死里复活，现今在上帝的右边，也替我们祈求。” 希伯来书7章25节 “凡靠着他进到上帝面前的人，他都能拯救到底，因为他是长远活着，替他们祈求。” 基督本身是那唯一一位中保，也就是上帝和人中间的中保。 约翰福音17章23节 “我在他们里面，你在我里面，使他们完完全全地合而为一，叫世人知道你差了我来，也知道你爱他们如同爱我一样。” 加拉太书4章6节 “你们既为儿子，上帝就差他儿子的灵进入你们（原文作“我们”）的心，呼叫：“阿爸，父！” 彼得前书1章10-11 “10 论到这救恩，那预先说你们要得恩典的众先知早已详细地寻求考察，11 就是考察在他们心里基督的灵，预先证明基督受苦难，后来得荣耀，是指着什么时候，并怎样的时候。” 哥林多前书2章16节 “谁曾知道主的心去教导他呢？但我们是有基督的心了。” 哥林多前书15章45节 “经上也是这样记着说，“首先的人亚当成了有灵的活人（“灵”或作“血气”）”，末后的亚当成了叫人活的灵。” 愿我们都祷告祈求并领受那唯一叫人活的灵，就是救主耶稣的灵。 启示录3章19-20 “19 凡我所疼爱的，我就责备管教他，所以你要发热心，也要悔改。20 看哪，我站在门外叩门，若有听见我声音就开门的，我要进到他那里去，我与他，他与我，一同坐席。” 基督要以祂的灵充满我们，使我们得到力量来战胜这世上的诱惑，并活出一个得胜的基督徒生活！唯有藉着祂，我们才能一天接着一天慢慢地改变，并如基督一样地反映出上帝的形象和品格。 哥林多后书3章16-18节 “16 但他们的心几时归向主，帕子就几时除去了。17 主就是那灵；主的灵在哪里，那里就得以自由。18 我们众人既然敞着脸得以看见主的荣光，好像从镜子里返照，就变成主的形状，荣上加荣，如同从主的灵变成的。 腓立比书4章7节 “上帝所赐出人意外的平安，必在基督耶稣里保守你们的心怀意念。” 约翰福音16章13节 “。。只等真理的圣灵来了，他要引导你们进入一切的真理。” 腓立比书4章13节 “我靠着那加给我力量的，凡事都能作。” 父和子渴望藉着祂们的灵与你同在，赐给你力量，引导你进入一切的真理，并赐你超乎人类理解的平安。 你愿意让祂们这样做吗？ 歌罗西书1章26-29节 “26 这道理就是历世历代所隐藏的奥秘，但如今向他的圣徒显明了。27上帝愿意叫他们知道，这奥秘在外邦人中有何等丰盛的荣耀，就是基督在你们心里成了有荣耀的盼望。28 我们传扬他，是用诸般的智慧劝戒各人、教导各人，要把各人在基督里完完全全地引到上帝面前。29 我也为此劳苦，照着他在我里面运用的大能尽心竭力。” 加拉太书2章20节 “我已经与基督同钉十字架，现在活着的不再是我，乃是基督在我里面活着；并且我如今在肉身活着，是因信上帝的儿子而活，他是爱我，为我舍己。” {待续} 使我们认识祂 (4) （4）父和子 这里有更多的经文揭示了只有两位神性生物：上帝和祂儿子。 箴言30章4节 “谁升天又降下来？谁聚风在掌中？谁包水在衣服里？谁立定地的四极？他名叫什么？他儿子叫名叫什么？你知道吗？” 撒迦利亚书6章12-13节 “12 对他说，万军之耶和华如此说：看哪，那名称为大卫苗裔的，他要在本处长起来，并要建造耶和华的殿。13 他要建造耶和华的殿，并担负尊荣，坐在位上掌王权。又必在位上作祭司，使两职之间筹定和平。” 加拉太书1章1节 “作使徒的保罗（不是由于人，也不是藉着人，乃是藉着耶稣基督，与叫他从死里复活的父上帝)” 以弗所书 5章5节 “因为你们确实地知道，无论是淫乱的，是污秽的，是有贪心的，在基督和上帝的国里，都是无份的。有贪心的，就与拜偶像的一样。” 提摩太前书5章21节 “我在上帝和基督耶稣并蒙拣选的天使面前嘱咐你：要遵守这些话，不可存成见，行事也不可有偏心。” 希伯来书8章1节 “我们所讲的事，其中第一要紧的，就是我们有这样的大祭司，已经坐在天上至大者宝座的右边。” 约翰一书1章3节 “我们将所看见、所听见的传给你们，使你们与我们相交。我们乃是与父并他儿子耶稣基督相交的。” 约翰一书2章22-23节 “22 谁是说谎话的呢？不是那不认耶稣为基督的吗？不认父与子的，这就是敌基督的。23 凡不认子的，就没有父；认子的，连父也有了。” 启示录5章13节 “我又听见在天上、地上、地底下、沧海里和天地间一切所有被造之物都说：“但愿颂赞、尊贵、荣耀、权势都归给坐宝座的和羔羊，直到永永远远。” 启示录6章16节 “天就挪移，好像书卷被卷起来；山岭海岛都被挪移，离开本位。” 启示录14章4节 “这些人未曾沾染妇女，他们原是童身。羔羊无论往哪里去，他们都跟随他。他们是从人间买来的，作初熟的果子归与上帝和羔羊。 启示录14章12节 “圣徒的忍耐就在此，他们是守上帝诫命和耶稣真道的。” 启示录20章6节 “在头一次复活有份的有福了、圣洁了，第二次的死在他们身上没有权柄。他们必作上帝和基督的祭司，并要与基督一同作王一千年。” 启示录21章22节 “我未见城内有殿，因主上帝全能者和羔羊为城的殿。” 启示录22章1,3节 “1 天使又指示我在城内街道当中一道生命水的河，明亮如水晶，从上帝和羔羊的宝座流出来。3 以后再没有咒诅。在城里有上帝和羔羊的宝座，他的仆人都要侍奉他。” 谜底终于解开了! 彼得后书1章2-4节 “2 愿恩惠、平安因你们认识上帝和我们主耶稣，多多地加给你们。3上帝的神能已经将一切关乎生命和虔敬的事赐给我们，皆因我们认识那用自己荣耀和美德召我们的主。4 因此，他已将又宝贵、又极大的应许赐给我们，叫我们既脱离世上从情欲来的败坏，就得与上帝的性情有份。” 我真心地希望这项研究可以为您带来很大的帮助和祝福。最后,我想要和大家分享我最喜爱的书里的一篇文章，《服务真诠》三十五章，409页。 “对于上帝的真认识” “上帝的神能已将一切关乎生命和敬虔的事赐给我们，皆因我们认识…主。” 象我们的救主，我们在世上是要为上帝服务的。我们活着，在品格上是要象上帝一样，又要用我们服务的人生，来向世界显示上帝。但若要做上帝的同工者，若要象他，若要显示他的品格，我们必须真正地明白他，必须照着他所彰显的本来面目认识他。 认识上帝是一切真教育真服务的根本，是抵抗世上诱惑唯一的真保障，是能使我们在品格上与上帝相象的唯一途径。 凡从事于超拔人群之工的人，非得认识上帝不可。人品格的展变，生活的纯洁，工作的效率，遵守正义的毅力，都从真正认识上帝而来的。这种认识，乃是人生今世和来世双方所不可少的准备。 “认识至圣者，便是聪明。” 箴言9:10 我们所得“一切关乎生命和虔敬的事，”（彼得后书1:3）都是从认识他而来的。 耶稣说：“认识祢独一的真神，并且认识祢所差来的耶稣基督，这就是永生。” 约翰福音17:3 “耶和华如此说：‘智慧人不要因他的智慧夸口，勇士不要因他的勇力夸口，财主不要因他的财物夸口；夸口的却因他有聪明，认识我是耶和华，又知道我喜悦在世上施行慈爱公平和公义，以此夸口；这是耶和华说的。’” 耶利米书9:23-24 我们应当去研究上帝所赐给我们关于他本身的启示。 “你要认识上帝，就是平安；福气也必临到你。你当领受他口中的教训，将他的言语存在心里，……全能者就必为你的珍宝。……“你就要以全能者为喜乐，向上帝仰起脸来。你要祷告他，他就听你；你也要还你的愿。你定意要作何事，必然给你成就；亮光也必照耀你的路。人使你降卑，你仍可说，必得高升；谦卑的人，上帝必然拯救。” 约伯记22:21-22, 25-29 {完} 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂

返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 Read in English 下一篇 耶稣有一位上帝 耶稣有一位上帝 耶稣有一位上帝，因此他不是那位至高无上的上帝，那是他父亲。父上帝没有上帝，祂不需听命于任何一位。祂做祂自己喜悦的事。耶稣有一位上帝，并且他完全顺从父上帝。他喜悦做让天父喜悦的事情，也就是照着他父旨意行。【请看以下经文】 哥林多前书 3:23 并且你们是属基督的；基督又是属上帝的。 彼得前书 1:3 愿颂赞归与我们主耶稣基督的父上帝，他曾照自己的大怜悯，藉耶稣基督从死里复活，重生了我们，叫我们有活泼的盼望， 以弗所书 1:3 愿颂赞归与我们主耶稣基督的父上帝，他在基督里曾赐给我们天上各样属灵的福气。 以弗所书 1:17 求我们主耶稣基督的上帝，荣耀的父，将那赐人智慧和启示的灵赏给你们，使你们真知道他。 罗马书 15:6 一心一口荣耀上帝、我们主耶稣基督的父。 哥林多后书 1:3 愿颂赞归与我们的主耶稣基督的父上帝，就是发慈悲的父，赐各样安慰的上帝。 哥林多后书11:31 那永远可称颂之主耶稣的父上帝知道我不说谎。 歌罗西书 1:3 我们感谢上帝、我们主耶稣基督的父，常常为你们祷告。 马太福音 27:46 约在申初，耶稣大声喊着说：“以利，以利！拉马撒巴各大尼？”就是说：“我的上帝，我的上帝！为什么离弃我？” 约翰福音 20:17 耶稣说：“不要摸我，因为我还没有升上去见我的父。你往我弟兄那里去，告诉他们说：我要升上去见我的父，也是你们的父；见我的上帝，也是你们的上帝。” 希伯来书 1:8-9 8 论到子却说：“上帝啊，你的宝座是永永远远的，你的国权是正直的。9 你喜爱公义，恨恶罪恶，所以上帝，就是你的上帝，用喜乐油膏你，胜过膏你的同伴。” 启示录 1:6 又使我们成为国民，作他父上帝的祭司。但愿荣耀、权能归给他，直到永永远远。阿们！ 启示录 3:12 得胜的，我要叫他在我上帝殿中作柱子，他也必不再从那里出去。我又要将我上帝的名和我上帝城的名（这城就是从天上、从我上帝那里降下来的新耶路撒冷），并我的新名，都写在他上面。 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂

All trinity studies Previous Download Next SDA giving up the testimonies and SOP SDA giving up the testimonies and SOP One thing is certain: Those Seventh-day Adventists who take their stand under Satan's banner will first give up their faith in the warnings and reproofs contained in the Testimonies of God's Spirit.--3SM 84 (1903). {LDE 177.4} The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God. "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18). Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways and through different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of God's remnant people in the true testimony.--1SM48 (1890). {LDE 177.5} The enemy has made his masterly efforts to unsettle the faith of our own people in the Testimonies. . . . This is just as Satan designed it should be, and those who have been preparing the way for the people to pay no heed to the warnings and reproofs of the Testimonies of the Spirit of God will see that a tide of errors of all kinds will spring into life.--3SM 83 (1890). {LDE 178.1} It is Satan's plan to weaken the faith of God's people in the Testimonies. Next follows skepticism in regard to the vital points of our faith, the pillars of our position, then doubt as to the Holy Scriptures, and then the downward march to perdition. When the Testimonies, which were once believed, are doubted and given up, Satan knows the deceived ones will not stop at this; and he redoubles his efforts till he launches them into open rebellion, which becomes incurable and ends in destruction.--4T 211. {LDE 178.2} Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

Back to Contents Previous Download 看中文 Next The Top Fifteen Excuses Used to Avoid the Sabbath(Part 2) Was the Sabbath abolished? Many Christians believe that Colossians 2:16, Galatians 4:10 and Romans 14:5 are referring to the Seventh day Sabbath and even some believe that Colossians 2:16 refers to the Ten Commandments rather than the referenced ceremonial law. Before continuing with these three very misunderstood verses, let’s give a quick explanation on how the Ten Commandments and the Ceremonial law relate to each other. If a man sinned, he broke LAW No. 1 - the moral law of the Ten Commandments. So then he brought his offering, according to LAW No. 2 - the law of sacrifices, and he received forgiveness. LAW No. 1 defines sin, for sin is the transgression of the moral law. (1 John 3:4) LAW No. 2 defined sacrifices, the Ceremonial law which was the remedy for sin. When the Israelite sinned, he broke the first law. To secure forgiveness he had to obey the second law. So here are two very distinct laws. This is the biggest area of confusion when it comes to concluding the Sabbath or Ten Commandments were abolished. Law No. 2 was ONLY for the Children of Israel and Jews until the cross while Law No. 1 is eternal and for EVERYONE. Colossians 2:16 reads, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat (offering), or in drink (offering), or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days:” and so the argument is the fourth Commandment was deleted from stone. What was done away with here was called the ordinances (Ceremonial Law). This is seen by noting what Paul said two verses earlier. Colossians 2:14 states, “blotting out the handwriting (Moses) of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.” Paul then goes on to say, so “Let no man therefore judge you…of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days:” Luke 1:6 KJV shows that the ordinances and the Commandments are two totally different things. It states, “And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the Commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” And Hebrews 9:1 explains that the ordinances of this ceremonial sanctuary system are now gone leaving only the Ten Commandments, “Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.” It was the ordinances that were nailed to the cross, “not one jot or one tittle” of the law. The main differences between the Commandments and the ordinances are that the Commandments were written by God’s finger, written in stone, placed inside the Ark of the Covenant, are love, eternal, for everyone and it is sin to break them. The ordinances were in Moses’ handwriting, written in a book, placed on the outside of the Ark of the Covenant, are not love, not eternal and were only for the Jews and practised because of sin. The One great and perfect Sacrifice was offered that Friday afternoon, when the true Passover Lamb bowed His head and died. When He cried out, “It is finished”, the old ceremonial law that pointed the people to His sacrificial death was nailed to the cross. Note how every part of these verses in Colossians 2:14-17 refers to the ceremonial law. Unfortunately, most modern Bible translations have translated the phrase meat or in drink in verse sixteen incorrectly. The King James Bible is one of the few translations that has translated these words correctly and is therefore recommended in these studies. So much gets lost at times when translators don’t have a good understanding of Jewish culture and terminology. To be referring to clean or unclean foods here would be totally out of context for the passage but when it is kept in context, every single point here refers to the various feast days that belonged to the sacrificial sanctuary system. Further clarification is found in the book of Hebrews which is believed by most to be written by Paul. You will note that the context of this passage is undoubtedly the sanctuary service in regards to sacrifices and offerings, of which Christ became the One and final perfect sacrifice for us. The meat and drink described in this passage has to be meat and drink offerings by the unmistakable context of this passage in Hebrews 9:7-14 below. Paul speaks of meat and drink offerings and carnal ordinances which were imposed until the time of reformation, being Jesus Christ who obtained eternal redemption for us and brought an end to the sacrifices prescribed by the ordinances of the ceremonial law once and for all. This continues to illustrate the perfect context of Colossians 2:16 and as per Colossians 2:14, we see that everything referenced belongs to the ordinances of the ceremonial law which Paul said was against us and contrary to us and it was taken out the way and nailed to the cross by Jesus’ perfect sacrifice. Extra verses are given to show context. Hebrews 9:7-14 “But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Nowhere in this passage are clean and unclean foods referred to and there never were unclean drinks, only unclean foods and these had no relationship to the ordinances that were nailed to the cross. What is spoken of here in both Colossians and Hebrews are references to meat and drink offerings that were part of the sanctuary service that are in the ordinances of the ceremonial law. This is all that can possibly be referred to and when done so it fits absolutely perfectly into the context of both passages as it remains totally in context with the sanctuary service. So let’s look at Colossians 2:14-17 again to see if everything does actually refer to the ceremonial law by the fact that the context of the passage remains the same throughout. “Blotting out the handwriting”, the ceremonial law was written in Moses handwriting. “Ordinances”, Strong’s dictionary also directly translates this word to ceremonial law, “that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way”, the ceremonial law is now against us and contrary to us, as Christ has become that One and perfect sacrifice for us. “Nailing it to his cross”, and of course now that Christ has become that perfect sacrifice for us, no longer are meat and drink offerings and animal sacrifices and all associated Holy days necessary, so the ceremonial law was nailed to the cross. Moving onto verse sixteen, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink”, and as we have now seen were part of the ceremonial law. “Or in respect of an holyday”, these Holy days included such days as Passover, Feast of Weeks and many others. “Or of the new moon”, new moon celebrations were also part of the ordinances. “Or of the sabbath days”, Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of Weeks, Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles and many others were all sabbath days. When spoken of in plural and the context of the passage is the ceremonial law, then the sabbaths referred to can be nothing else but ceremonial. Verse seventeen goes on to say, “Which are a shadow of things to come.” These sabbaths were called a shadow because Passover was a shadow of the crucifixion and Feast of Weeks was a shadow of Pentecost. These Old Testament feasts and holy days were shadows of what was to come and once those things had come and gone then the shadows disappeared. Here is one verse from Leviticus that refers to such feasts and Holy days, which involves meat and drink, that is meat and drink offerings. Leviticus 23:37, “These are the feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything upon his day.” You can also find the perfect parallel between Colossians 2:16 and Ezekiel 45:17. You will note in Ezekiel 45:17 that this was a sin offering, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel for breaking God’s Commandments as prescribed by the ceremonial law until such time that Jesus nailed this law to the cross. Parentheses are added. This is what Israel had to do to make atonement for sin, which is the breaking of God’s Ten Commandments and of course includes the Seventh Day Sabbath. This clearly demonstrates the issue and leaves no doubt as to what Paul was explaining to the Colossians. Note first the Strong’s dictionary definition for holyday used in Colossians 2:16. You will note that the words “feast” and “holyday” are synonymous and so the following two verses are a perfect match. G1859 heorte, Of uncertain affinity; a festival: - feast, holyday. Colossians 2:16 “Let no man therefore judge you in meat [offerings], or in drink [offerings], or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:” Ezekiel 45:17 “And it shall be the prince’s part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, [holydays] and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel.” Here is a table comparison for those who prefer this format. Colossians 2:16 Ezekiel 45:17 meat, or in drink, meat offerings, and drink offerings, of an holyday, Strong's - feast, holyday in the feasts, or of the new moon and in the new moons, or of the sabbath days: and in the sabbaths, These various Holy days or festivals concerned days that took place at various times of the year as well as yearly Holy days such as the Day of Atonement and monthly like the New Moon celebrations already discussed. As these were a shadow of things to come and those things have past and the shadows are now gone, to still observe these days would be putting us back into unnecessary bondage. This is what Paul is talking about in Galatians 4:9-10 which says, “But now, after that you have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn you again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days, and months, and times, and years.” Paul is definitely not saying you can ignore anything that is a day, month or year in the Bible. He is referring to something that includes all of these things, which is and can only be the ceremonial law. Compare with Colossians 2:16. See what is the law in Galatians for more clarity on this very misunderstood book. The ordinances of the ceremonial law was a law of servitude and bondage. Galatians 4:3 “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:” Paul continues telling the Galatians that they are no longer servants in Galatians 4:7 “Wherefore you are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” God’s Commandments on the other hand are a law of liberty. James 1:25 “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” And for further clarity James 2:11-12 reads, “For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if you commit no adultery, yet if you kill, you are become a transgressor of the law. So speak you, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.” If we keep these points in mind and explore the context of the chapter when studying the Bible it will help us see what law is being spoken of. See Colossians 2:16 and Galatians 4:10 Commentaries. While still on this very misunderstood topic of the ceremonial law, let’s cover another scripture that is frequently misinterpreted. Such misunderstandings are common with God’s Ten Commandment law and this temporary law which pointed the way to Christ. I have chosen to use some Bible Commentaries for this scripture, as I believe they explain it very well. The scripture concerned, is mainly Romans 14:5, but I have given the surrounding verses so the context of the passage can be seen. Romans 14:1-5, “Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputations. 2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God has received him. 4 Who are you that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yes, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 5 One man esteemeth one [feast] day above another: another esteemeth every [feast] day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” Note that the word “alike” in verse 5 does not exist in the Greek text and is an added word, which tends to convey an idea which the apostle never designed or intended. Parentheses are added. To begin with, it must be admitted that the word “Sabbath” is very significantly not even found once in this entire chapter. People assume Paul is talking about the Sabbath. But is he really? The chapter begins, “Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputations.” Romans 14:1. The NKJV reads, “disputes over doubtful things.” This chapter concerns “doubtful things” and is not a discussion of the Ten Commandments. God’s “Big Ten” are not “doubtful,” but exceedingly dear and written personally with the finger of God on two tables of stone. It becomes clear from Romans 14 and 15, that many misunderstandings existed between Jewish and Gentile Christians in relation to certain customs, which were sacredly observed by one but disregarded by the other. The main subject of dispute was concerning meats and days and the day issue is not over the Seventh day Sabbath but over the various feast days of the ceremonial law. The converted Jew retaining respect for the Law of Moses abstained from certain meats and observed ceremonial days while the converted Gentile understood that Christianity put him under no such obligation or regard to ceremonial points. It also appears that mutual and heartless judgments existed among them and that brotherly love and reciprocal tolerance did not always prevail. Paul exhorts that in such things no longer essential to Christianity, that even though both parties had a different way of thinking they might still have an honest and serious regard for God. Paul further explains they should not therefore, let different sentiments hinder Christian fellowship and love, but they should mutually refrain and withhold and make allowance for each other and especially not carry their Gospel liberty so far as to prejudice a weak brother or a Jewish Christian. The “weak” brother “eats” some things and “esteems one day above another” while the strong brother believes that he may “eat all things” and “esteems every day alike.” Romans 14:2, 5. The early Church was made up of Jewish believers and Gentile converts. Although Paul did not specify what “days” he was referring to, he could only be talking about the “esteeming” or “not esteeming” of certain Jewish fast or feast days and certain pagan feast days when people were especially “eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols.” 1 Corinthians 8:4. A “strong” Jew who knew that “an idol is nothing” would have no scruples about eating “meat in an idols temple” on a pagan feast day. 1 Corinthians 8-4, 10. Paul warned these “strong” Jewish believers, “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak. [the Gentile convert from idolatry]. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple [on a pagan feast day], shall not the conscience of him that is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; and through your knowledge shall the weak brother perish [if he is drawn back to idolatry], for whom Christ died? But when you sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth.” 1 Corinthians 8:9-13. There is NO evidence that the discussion about “the weak and the strong” in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 has anything to do with the Sabbath. God has never said “one man may choose to esteem MY Sabbath, while another man may choose to esteem Sunday, or every day alike.” He has NOT left it up to us to “pick a day.” Rather, God has commanded, “Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy ... the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God.” Exodus 20:8-10. The book of Romans is very clear, “by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:20; 7:7, 12 When the context of the passage is about foods or various days and especially things associated with the sanctuary service, then we must realize that it is not possible that the Ten Commandments are being referred to. When God’s Moral law is being referenced, you will always know as the context of the passage will be centred around love, as that is what God’s law is. The Bible tells us in 1 John 4:8, “He that loves not, knows not God; for God Is Love.” As God is eternal, then Love also must be eternal. 1 John 4:16 says, “And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love; and he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him.” Love and obedience are inseparable from God and the true Christian, as God is Love and Love is God. This is why the Ten Commandments are eternal and unchanging, as God changes not, and Love changes not. The Sabbath is a love Commandment! The remainder of this topic will now be left to some of the world’s best theologians so no doubt can be left as to what the meaning of this passage is all about. John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, Romans 14:5 - One day above another - As new moons, and other Jewish festivals. Let every man be fully persuaded - That a thing is lawful, before he does it. Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, Romans 14:5 - One man esteemeth one day above another - Perhaps the word ημεραν, day, is here taken for time, festival, and such like, in which sense it is frequently used. Reference is made here to the Jewish institutions, and especially their festivals; such as the Passover, Pentecost, feast of tabernacles, new moons, jubilee, etc. The converted Jew still thought these of moral obligation; the Gentile Christian not having been bred up in this way had no such prejudices. And as those who were the instruments of bringing him to the knowledge of God gave him no such injunctions, consequently he paid to these no religious regard. Another - The converted Gentile esteemeth every day - considers that all time is the Lord’s, and that each day should be devoted to the glory of God; and that those festivals are not binding on him. We add here alike, and make the text say what I am sure was never intended, viz. that there is no distinction of days, not even of the Sabbath: and that every Christian is at liberty to consider even this day to be holy or not holy, as he happens to be persuaded in his own mind. That the Sabbath is of lasting obligation may be reasonably concluded from its institution (see the note on Genesis 2:3) and from its typical reference. All allow that the Sabbath is a type of that rest in glory which remains for the people of God. Now, all types are intended to continue in full force till the antitype, or thing signified, take place; consequently, the Sabbath will continue in force till the consummation of all things. The word alike should not be added; nor is it acknowledged by any MS. or ancient version. Let every man be fully persuaded - With respect to the propriety or non-propriety of keeping the above festivals, let every man act from the plenary conviction of his own mind; there is a sufficient latitude allowed. Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, Romans 14:5 - One man esteemeth - Greek “judgeth” krinei. The word is here properly translated “esteemeth;” compare Acts 13:46; Acts 16:15. The word originally has the idea of “separating,” and then “discerning,” in the act of judging. The expression means that one would set a higher value on one day than on another, or would regard it as more sacred than others. This was the case with the “Jews” uniformly, who regarded the days of their festivals, and fasts, and Sabbaths (i.e. ceremonial Sabbaths) as especially sacred, and who would retain, to no inconsiderable degree, their former views, even after they became converted to Christianity. Another “esteemeth - That is, the “Gentile” Christian. Not having been brought up amidst the Jewish customs, and not having imbibed their opinions and prejudices, they would not regard these days as having any special sacredness. The appointment of those days had a special reference “to the Jews.” They were designed to keep them as a separate people, and to prepare the nation for the “reality,” of which their rites were but the shadow. When the Messiah came, the Passover, the feast of tabernacles, and the other special festivals of the Jews, of course vanished, and it is perfectly clear that the apostles never intended to inculcate their observance on the Gentile converts. See this subject discussed in the second chapter of the Epistle to the Galatians. Every day alike - The word “alike” is not in the original, and it may convey an idea which the apostle did not design. The passage means that he regards “every day” as consecrated to the Lord; Romans 14:6. The question has been agitated whether the apostle intends in this to include the Christian Sabbath. Does he mean to say that it is a matter of “indifference” whether this day be observed, or whether it be devoted to ordinary business or amusements? This is a very important question in regard to the Lord’s day. That the apostle did not mean to say that it was a matter of indifference whether it should be kept as holy, or devoted to business or amusement, is plain from the following considerations. (1) the discussion had reference only to the special customs of the “Jews,” to the rites and practices which “they” would attempt to impose on the Gentiles, and not to any questions which might arise among Christians as “Christians.” The inquiry pertained to “meats,” and festival observances among the Jews, and to their scruples about partaking of the food offered to idols, etc.; and there is no more propriety in supposing that the subject of the Lord’s day is introduced here than that he advances principles respecting “baptism” and “the Lord’s supper.” (2) the “Lord’s day” was doubtless observed by “all” Christians, whether converted from Jews or Gentiles; see 1Corinthians 16:2; Acts 20:7; Revelation 1:10; compare the notes at John 20:26. The propriety of observing “that day” does not appear to have been a matter of controversy. The only inquiry was, whether it was proper to add to that the observance of the Jewish Sabbaths, and days of festivals and fasts. (3) it is expressly said that those who did not regard the day regarded it as not to God, or to honor God; Romans 14:6. They did it as a matter of respect to him and his institutions, to promote his glory, and to advance his kingdom. Was this ever done by those who disregard the Christian Sabbath? Is their design ever to promote his honor, and to advance in the knowledge of him, by “neglecting” his holy day? Who knows not that the Christian Sabbath has never been neglected or profaned by any design to glorify the Lord Jesus, or to promote his kingdom? It is for purposes of business, gain, war, amusement, dissipation, visiting, crime. Let the heart be filled with a sincere desire to “honor the Lord Jesus,” and the Christian Sabbath will be reverenced, and devoted to the purposes of piety. And if any man is disposed to plead “this passage” as an excuse for violating the Sabbath, and devoting it to pleasure or gain, let him quote it “just as it is,” that is, let “him neglect the Sabbath from a conscientious desire to honor Jesus Christ.” Unless this is his motive, the passage cannot avail him. But this motive never yet influenced a Sabbath-breaker. Let every man... - That is, subjects of this kind are not to be pressed as matters of conscience. Every man is to examine them for himself, and act accordingly. This direction pertains to the subject under discussion, and not to any other. It does not refer to subjects that were “morally” wrong, but to ceremonial observances. If the “Jew” esteemed it wrong to eat meat, he was to abstain from it; if the Gentile esteemed it right, he was to act accordingly. The word “be fully persuaded” denotes the highest conviction, not a matter of opinion or prejudice, but a matter on which the mind is made up by examination; see Romans 4:21; 2Timothy 4:5. This is the general principle on which Christians are called to act in relation to festival days and fasts in the church. If some Christians deem them to be for edification, and suppose that their piety will be promoted by observing the days which commemorate the birth, and death, and temptations of the Lord Jesus, they are not to be reproached or opposed in their celebration. Nor are they to attempt to impose them on others as a matter of conscience, or to reproach others because they do not observe them. Notice how the Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, which primarily references other verses that are referring to the same topic, has referenced the passages that Paul discussed with the Romans, Galatians and Colossians regarding the ceremonial law also. This as we have now seen is because these verses are all referring to the ceremonial law. Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge. Romans 14:5 - esteemeth: Gal 4:9, Gal 4:10; Col 2:16, Col 2:17 People’s New Testament By B. W. Johnson. One man esteemeth one day above another. A second difference of opinion is now cited. Some, Jewish converts or Gentiles who did not understand that the old covenant was ended, believed that the Jewish Sabbaths and new moons should be kept sacred. Compare Colossians 2:16, and Galatians 4:10. This ends the Commentaries on Romans 14:5. You will note that the People’s New Testament commentary above also references Colossians 2:16 and Galatians 4:10. There can be no doubt that the context and the meaning of all these passages is the ceremonial law with all its various holyday festivals, new moons and ceremonial sabbaths. The following table should clear up any remaining misunderstanding between the ceremonial sabbaths and the Sabbath of our Lord. Please look at this table carefully and give the statements that follow some serious thought. Sabbath of the Lord Ceremonial Sabbaths Spoken by God personally (Exodus 20:1, 8-11) Spoken by Moses (Exodus 24:3) Written in stone by God Himself (Exodus 31:18) Written by Moses hand on paper (Exodus 24:4) Placed inside the Ark of the covenant (Deuteronomy 10:5) Stored on the outside of the Ark (Deuteronomy 31:26) Breaking the Sabbath is sin (1 John 3:4) These were kept because of sin (See Leviticus) It is a law of love (Matthew 22:35-40, Isaiah 58:13-14) They were not love (Colossians 2:14, Galatians 4:9-10) It is a law of liberty (freedom) (James 1:25; 2:10-12) They were bondage (Galatians 4:9-10, Colossians 2:14) Was established before sin (Genesis 2:1-3) Were established after sin (Exodus 20:24) Was made at creation (Genesis 2:1-3) Were made after Sinai (Exodus 20:24) The Sabbath is for everyone (Mark 2:27) Only for the children of Israel & Jews (Read Old Testament) God calls it MY Sabbath (Exodus 31:13, Ezekiel 20:20) God calls it HER sabbaths (Hosea 2:11, Lamentations 1:7) The Sabbath is eternal (Exodus 31:16-17, Isaiah 66:22-23) Were nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14, Ephesians 2:15) The Facts: God is all knowing. (Omniscience) He is a God of infinite wisdom. God is love. (1 John 4:8, 16) God’s Ten Commandments are a law of love. (Moral law) The ceremonial sabbaths were observed as a result of sin. (Are not love) The Sabbath of the Lord is for personal quality time with our Creator. (A love Commandment) The Questions: Why would our omniscient God put His Sabbath in His eternal law of love if it is not eternal? Why would our God of infinite wisdom put His Sabbath in His law of love if it is not a law of love? Why didn’t God put His Sabbath with all the ceremonial Sabbaths if it was to end at the cross? Why didn’t God put His Sabbath with the Jewish ceremonial Sabbaths if His Sabbath was only for the Jews? The Sabbath truth: God did not include His Sabbath with the ceremonial sabbaths that ended at the cross because His Sabbath is not a ceremonial Sabbath. And God did not include His Sabbath with the ceremonial sabbaths that were only for the Jews because His Sabbath is for EVERYONE. Why would our God of infinite wisdom place a temporary law in an eternal law or a law that is not love in a law that is love? Our God “is not the author of confusion…” 1 Corinthians 14:33. God put His Sabbath in His moral law because it is a law of Love and a very special one that is a sign that it is God we Love and Worship and that we are His children. It is also a sign that it is God that sanctifies us. What person who truly loves God would not want to be under this sign? It is NOT a sign when we keep another day. To do so is to profane the Holy and to try and make Holy the profane. Only God can make a day Holy. We are not under Law but under Grace We often hear this argument in an effort to belittle God’s law, “Well, since we are not under the law but under grace, we do not need to keep the Ten Commandments any longer.” Is this a valid point? The Bible certainly does say that we are not under the law, but does that imply that we are free from the obligation to obey it? The text is found in Romans 6:14-15, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” How easily we could prevent confusion if we accepted exactly what the Bible says. Paul gives a clear explanation of his statement. After stating that we are not under law but grace, he asks, “What then?” This simply means, “How are we to understand this?” Then notice his answer. In anticipation that some will construe his words to mean that you can break the law because you are under grace, he says, “Shall we sin (break the law) because we are not under the law but under grace? God forbid.” In the strongest possible language Paul states that being under grace does not give a license to break the law. Yet this is exactly what millions believe today, and they totally ignore Paul’s specific warning. Most do not seem to understand that God’s grace is His unmerited, undeserved favour that is preceded by the act of genuine repentance when we do sin. If there were no law, there would actually be no need for God’s grace. Suppose a murderer has been sentenced to death in the electric chair. Waiting for the execution the man would truly be under the law in every sense of the word, under the guilt, under the condemnation, under the sentence of death, etc. Just before the execution date the governor reviews the condemned man’s case and decides to pardon him. In the light of extenuating circumstances the governor exercises his prerogative and sends a full pardon to the prisoner. Now he is no longer under the law but under grace. The law no longer condemns him. He is considered totally justified as far as the charges of the law are concerned. He is free to walk out of the prison and not a policeman can lay hands upon him. But now that he is under grace and no longer under the law, can we say that he is free to break the law? Indeed not! In fact, that pardoned man will be doubly obligated to obey the law because he has found grace from the governor. In gratitude and love he will be very careful to keep the law of the state which granted him grace. Is that what the Bible says about pardoned sinners? “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” Romans 3:31. Here is the most explicit answer to the entire problem. Paul asks if the law is nullified for us just because we have had faith in Christ’s saving grace. His answer is that the law is established and reinforced in the life of a grace saved Christian. The truth of this is so simple and obvious that it should require no repetition, but the devious reasoning of those who try to avoid obedience makes it necessary to press this point a bit further. Have you ever been stopped by a policeman for exceeding the speed limit? It is an embarrassing experience, especially if you know you are guilty. But suppose you really were hurrying to meet a valid emergency, and you pour out your convincing explanation to the policeman as he writes your ticket. Slowly he folds the ticket and tears it up. Then he says, “All right, I’m going to pardon you this time, but...” Now what do you think he means by that word “but”? Surely he means, “but I don’t want to ever catch you speeding again.” Does this pardon (grace) open the way for you to disobey the law? On the contrary, it adds compelling urgency to your decision not to disobey the law again. Why then should any true Christian try to rationalize his way out of obeying the law of God? Consider carefully also what 1 John 3:4 says, “Whoever sins is guilty of breaking God’s law, because sin is a breaking of the law.” Are we sinners? If we are not sinners, then why was Jesus nailed to the cross? Did Jesus break the Sabbath? Some say Jesus broke the Sabbath so it was not one of the Ten Commandments but a ceremonial law (Mosaic Law) but the Sabbath was never practised because of sin and this was also before the cross where that law ended and so is irrelevant anyway. 1 John 3:4 says that sin is transgression of the law and if Jesus broke the Sabbath then he would have broken His own law and sinned and hence those making this statement obviously have no idea of the implications of their accusation. Be thankful that Jesus only broke the Pharisees rules as breaking the Sabbath is sin and was also made before sin existed. Jesus was there when the Ten Commandments were given, but that does not mean that He can murder or break any one of the Ten Commandments. As a sinner He could not have been our one and final perfect sacrifice and redeemer. Let's look at the verses in contention just to clear up this fallacy anyway. The main passage is found in the book of John where Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath, and so the Pharisees accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath. Note that John is quoting the words of the Pharisees in this passage and are not John's personal opinion. We will see evidence of this soon. This is what Jesus said about the Pharisees in Matthew 5:20, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” These are those who also had Jesus crucified. Whose words do you think we should listen to? The words of Jesus or the words of the Pharisees? John 5:5-18 “And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. … 8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up your bed, and walk. 9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the Sabbath. … 15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. 16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath day. 17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.” The Pharisees also accused Jesus of blasphemy because He made Himself equal with the Father. Were the Pharisees correct? They were no more correct on this allegation than they were on their accusation of Jesus breaking the Sabbath. In the book of Matthew, we have another account of Jesus healing someone and the Pharisees once again accused Him of breaking the Sabbath. However, this time we have the words of Jesus to establish if doing good deeds or things of absolute necessity are lawful on the Sabbath. Matthew 12:10-12 “And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days? that they might accuse him. 11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? 12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days.” Why do the proponents quote the Pharisees but ignore the words of their own Lord and Saviour? Why would they put their faith in the Pharisees rather than Jesus Christ? Why do they quote John 5:5-18 but never mention Matthew 12:10-12 where Jesus says it was NOT unlawful to heal and do good on the Sabbath? Jesus thankfully did not sin and so did not break any of the Ten Commandments as He clarifies in this passage when He says “that it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath,” such as healing people or pulling an animal out of a hole. Is the Sabbath in the New Covenant? Jesus said that He did not come to destroy the law OR the prophets, yet some say that you are putting us back under the Old Covenant and that the Sabbath changed to Sunday with the New Covenant. Not so. Basically, the only change to the New Covenant is the sacrificial Law of Moses ended (Hebrews 9:1) and where God writes His law. God’s law changes not, for He is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) God also said the fault was with the people in they did not obey it, so He now writes His law in our hearts. (Hebrews 8:8-10) See also “Who is Israel Today and the New Covenant.” I had just finished preaching on the subject of the Sabbath in one of my evangelistic crusades. As I stepped off the platform to greet people as they left, three young men blocked my way in the aisle. One of them addressed me in quite a loud voice… loud enough to cause about fifty people near the front of the auditorium to stop and listen. “Dear brother” he said, “we were disappointed tonight with the way you put us back under the Old Covenant. Don’t you realize that we are living under the New Covenant now, and should keep Sunday instead of the Sabbath?” Although most of the congregation were leaving the Church, the group near the front gathered closer to hear all that the young men were saying. It was obvious that I would have to take the time to answer this trio’s challenging question. As I suspected, they turned out to be young seminarians in training at a local Bible college. Eagerly they held their Bibles in their hands and waited triumphantly for me to answer. Usually, I do not like to debate controversial matters in a public forum for fear of stirring combative natures, but there seemed no way to avoid dealing with these ministerial students. Anyway, they had my path completely blocked and the circle of listeners looked at me expectantly for some explanation. “Well, it seems as though you have studied the subject of the covenants quite deeply,” I suggested. “Oh, yes,” they affirmed, “we know all about the covenants.” “Good,” I replied. “You undoubtedly know when the Old Covenant was instituted.” One of them spoke up quickly, “It was instituted at Mt. Sinai.” “And how was it ratified?” I asked. Without a moment’s hesitation one of them answered, “By the sprinkling of the blood of an ox.” “Very good,” I commented, “and how was the New Covenant ratified?” All three chorused the answer, “By the blood of Jesus on the cross.” I commended the young men for their knowledge of the Scriptures and asked them to read me two verses out of their own Bibles. Galatians 3:15 and Hebrews 9:16-17. They responded eagerly to the invitation, and read the verses, commenting on each one after reading. “We agree that the New Covenant did not go into effect until after Christ died, and nothing can be added or taken away after He ratified it on the cross,” the spokesman for the group asserted. All three nodded their heads emphatically over this point. I said, “Now you must answer two more questions for me. Here is the first one, and you must think carefully to give me the correct answer: When did Sunday-keeping begin?” There was a moment of shocked silence, and then another, and another. The boys looked at each other, and then down at their feet, and then back at me. I gently prodded them for the answer, “Surely you can tell me the answer to this question. You have known all the others, and have answered correctly. When and why do you think people began keeping Sunday?” Finally, one of them said, “We keep Sunday in honour of the resurrection of Jesus.” I said, “Then I must ask you my last question. How could Sunday keeping be a part of the New Covenant? You just stated that nothing could be added after the death of Christ. He died on Friday and was resurrected on Sunday. If Sunday was added after Jesus died, it could never be a part of the New Covenant could it?” The three young men shuffled their feet, looked helplessly around, and one of them said, “We will study into that and talk to you later.” They then fled from that auditorium as fast as they could go. I can assure you that they never returned to talk further about the covenants. How could the majority be wrong about the Sabbath? The simple answer is because Satan nearly wiped out the fourth Commandment during the dark ages through the death of millions. And by the time Protestant reformation began, all the Protestant Churches continued keeping Sunday in ignorance. It is always harder to restore a lost truth and even more so when people do not want to know because it would disrupt their Church or lifestyle. See a true story on how the Sabbath was nearly lost. And in Christianity especially, the majority is hardly ever right. How many were right in the time of Noah? Only eight! Revelation says that God is going to destroy a Church for its abominations and yet the majority of Christians belong to this Church. The majority are wrong because Satan works hard to keep this truth from Christians and this is his BEST accomplishment on the Christian Church and the majority have no idea. Why? Because Satan has the majority busy making excuses or perpetuating the last persons excuse instead of studying this out. Sadly, the majority are not searchers of truth and don’t study the Word or see only what they want to see. 2 Timothy 4:3 says, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” After the Sabbath and other truths were revealed to me in my search, I attempted to share these truths with large numbers of people and was astounded to find more than 98% would not even consider the possibility because they said how could so many be wrong or they just simply did not want to know. This is sad when you consider God created us, sent His Son to die for us and we can’t be obedient to Him in love as it would mean some sacrifice on our part. It is no longer a mystery to me why the majority are wrong. It is because our adversary still has Christians perpetuating those same excuses they were previously told because it means changes they don’t want to consider or they are ignorant of the fact that Satan accomplished the change by the death of millions of Christians over several centuries. Hence the majority continue to stay wrong and only five hundred plus Sabbath keeping Churches of different denominations remain obedient to God in love. Until the majority stop making excuses and start saying let’s investigate this, the majority will remain wrong. Many also do not know that the attack on this Commandment and Sun-day worship actually began with the worship of Satan as early as 2000 B.C. See the Sabbath to Sunday change or who changed the Sabbath to Sunday and how 666 relates to this change. Was the Sabbath changed to Sunday in the Bible? Read the Sabbath to Sunday change for a very detailed account on how and who changed the Sabbath to Sunday. Did God amend the original stone tablets Sabbath Changedthat John saw in heaven in Revelation 11:19 to, “Remember to keep the first day”? Never. You can’t change a memorial day of creation. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7:19, “Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but obeying God’s Commandments is everything.” Paul plainly identifies here how important God’s Commandments are in comparison to circumcision. Yet this law of circumcision that was changed, and does not have the importance of the Ten Commandments, Paul mentioned more than 33 times and up to 10 verses at a time, and they were not verses you were left to make assumptions on. Yet there is not one clear verse in the whole Bible that says the Sabbath was changed to Sunday. Paul’s letters always had plenty to say when people needed correcting or misunderstood the scriptures but the Sabbath was so ingrained in the culture that Paul never had to correct them. Observing the Pharisees reaction to breaking the Sabbath clearly shows this also but they went overboard and turned the day into a burden instead of a blessing, which Jesus found need to correct them on several times. In John 5:18 they accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath by healing a man on the Sabbath. Jesus said that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whose words should we trust and listen to? The Pharisees or Jesus? In Matthew 12:10-12 Jesus heals a man and He says to them, “…it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Jesus shows that they misunderstood the intent of the Sabbath day, not the day to keep it. Imagine if Jesus had proposed changing the Sabbath, what a dreadful uproar would have ensued by the Jews that would be heard in several books of the Bible. View a short video of a Sabbath miracle. When Christ was in the flesh, and lived on this earth, how did He regard the Sabbath? Luke 4:16, “So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as HIS CUSTOM was, He went into the synagogue on the SABBATH DAY, and stood up to read.” Jesus made the seventh day Sabbath and He also kept the seventh day Sabbath. He is our perfect example. We also find after the cross that Sabbath observance continued as we see by Paul’s example. In Acts 13:42-44 there is no conflict between Jews and Gentiles over the day to keep the Sabbath. The Jews of course still continue to keep the seventh day Sabbath today. What a perfect opportunity for the Jews to bring a valid accusation against Paul. But the allegations against Paul were always false and never involved an accusation for breaking the Sabbath such as those the Pharisees falsely brought against Jesus. Acts 13:42-44 “And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 44 And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.” Again in this example, we find no conflict between the Jews (who still keep Saturday today) or Greeks in regard to the day. Paul “came to Corinth ... he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks” Acts 18:1, 4. “He continued a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them” (verse 11). Paul did not preach the traditions of men, but only “the word of God.” “Many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized,” including “Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue” (verse 8). Crispus was a Sabbath keeper who probably became one of the leaders (see 1 Corinthians 1:14) of the early New Testament Sabbath keeping Church of Jesus Christ in Corinth. Paul’s letters, First and Second Corinthians, were written to this Church. After Paul was finally arrested in the Temple in Jerusalem, in his trial before the Sanhedrin, even the Pharisees said, “we find no evil in this man” Acts 23:9. Before Felix, Paul declared, “so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets” Acts 24:14. Before Festus, “Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all...to the Jews have I done no wrong” Acts 25:8, 10. Before Agrippa, “I continue unto this day ... saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come” Acts 26:22. The prophets and Moses did not say that “Sunday keeping should come.” Finally, Paul spoke to the Jews in Rome, “persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening” Acts 28:23. During all his trials, the Jews NEVER once accused Paul of breaking the Sabbath. Why? Because he NEVER did! Paul was a Pharisee since his childhood. We also see Paul going into a Jewish synagogue in Thessalonica and “as his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the scriptures…” Acts 17:1-4. As already stated, all practicing Jews still keep the seventh day Sabbath today, always have and undeniably did then and so there is no mistake as to what day Paul kept the Sabbath on as was “HIS CUSTOM” as this was a Jewish synagogue. As for his custom, Paul was a Jew and a Pharisee since childhood. Acts 26:5-6 “The Jews all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee.” Jesus also said in Matthew 5:18, “…Till the heaven and the earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall in any way pass from the Law...” Not even a comma of the law will be altered. We never have to make assumptions when it comes to important issues in God’s Word. When anything significant changed we were always told. The Ten Commandments are the only thing that God personally added to the Bible. There is no way in this universe that God would not unmistakably tell us in His Word if He were to alter the Ten Commandments by even the smallest amount. Now for that one verse assumption that some use to argue that the Sabbath was changed to Sunday. In Acts 20:7 we find a religious meeting on the first day of the week but it was not a Sunday meeting. It was after sunset, prior to midnight on the first day of the week. At that time in history the first day of the week did not start at midnight but at sunset. All Bible days begin and end at sunset. Therefore this meeting and Paul’s preaching took place on what we call Saturday night. It was not a Sunday meeting at all. Regardless of this fact anyway, breaking bread is commonly understood by the Jews as having a meal together and was not the Lord’s Supper. Note how the Good News Bible translates it “The fellowship meal.” Here are examples using the King James, Good News and the New English Bible. (Acts 20:7 King James) “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.” (Acts 20:7 Good News Bible) “On Saturday evening we gathered together for the fellowship meal. Paul spoke to the people and kept on speaking until midnight, since he was going to leave the next day.” (Acts 20:7 New English Bible) “On the Saturday night, in our assembly for the breaking of bread, Paul, who was to leave next day, addressed them, and went on speaking until midnight.” (Acts 2:42 King James) “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42 Good News Bible) “They spent their time in learning from the apostles, taking part in the fellowship, and sharing in the fellowship meals and the prayers.” The following verse shows not only that breaking of bread was having a fellowship meal but also demonstrates that this breaking of bread was done every day of the week! Therefore, even if it was the Lord’s Supper, which it is not, it was done every day of the week making the argument of the Saturday night meeting irrelevant anyway. (Acts 2:46 King James) “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,” (Acts 2:46 Good News Bible) “Day after day they met as a group in the Temple, and they had their meals together in their homes, eating with glad and humble hearts,” Sunday keeping in Corinth? In 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Paul wrote: “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come...whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.” Please carefully notice what the apostle said, and also, what he did not say. Many have assumed that a religious meeting was held and a collection plate passed. This is not the case. Paul was writing special appeals to the churches in Asia Minor, because many of the Christians in Jerusalem were suffering greatly for lack of food and daily necessities. Paul asked the church at Corinth to gather food, clothing, etc., and store it up at home until he could send men to transport it to Jerusalem. The expression “lay by him in store” in the original Greek gives the clear connotation of putting aside at home. Even Sunday advocates agree to this. There was no service held on the first day of the week. The gathering up and storing was to be done on that day. Why did Paul suggest that this work be done on Sunday, and what was involved in getting it done? First of all, the letter would have been shared with the church on the Sabbath when they were all gathered for worship. The first opportunity to do the work would be the next day - the first day of the week. Keep in mind that there was an apparent food shortage in Jerusalem, and the need was not primarily for money. Such famine conditions were not unusual in areas of the Middle East, as Luke reminds us in Acts 11:28-30. Paul urges them to return carnal, or material, gifts in appreciation of the spiritual truths received from them. This throws light on Paul’s counsel to the Corinthian Christians to do their work on the first day of the week, “so that there be no gatherings when I come.” Such work as gathering and storing up produce from the field would certainly not be appropriate on the Sabbath. Sunday is identified again as a day for secular activities and gives no indication of religious observance. Besides the two assumptions that are used to try and justify Sunday keeping, the Bible and history show them not to be correct. We have already seen that both Jesus and Paul kept the Sabbath and there can be no doubt that it was the seventh day Sabbath that Paul kept as he was a Jew and a Pharisee and kept it as was his custom since childhood. It has also been established by many historians and theologians holding PhD’s in their field that Matthew and Luke were written between 60 and 80 A.D. and there was never a better time for Luke to tell us of a day change but instead he states in Luke 23:56, “…And they rested on the Sabbath according to the Commandment.” Jesus also showed that the Sabbath would still be kept after the cross and speaks of no day change when He is talking to the Apostles about the destruction of the temple in about 70 A.D. Jesus says in Matthew 24:20, “And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.” Read Sabbath in the New Covenant for more information on this verse and topic. World leading historians also confirm this and that the Sabbath was kept by Jews and Gentiles till about 90-120 A.D. where persecution of the Jews became so great that some Christians changed to Sunday using the justification that it was in honour of the resurrection in order to avoid persecution and death. Later you will find out how the Sabbath got changed to Sunday and was made law about 364 A.D. As a result it was early in the fourth century when Sunday was officially named the Lord’s Day. Previous Back to Contents Next Top

Back to Contents Previous Download 看中文 Next Denominational Statements on the Sabbath AMERICAN CONGREGATIONALIST QUOTES ABOUT THE SABBATH The current notion that Christ and His apostles authoritatively substituted the first day for the seventh, is absolutely without any authority in the New Testament. —Dr. Layman Abbot, in the Christian Union, June 26, 1890. ANGLICAN QUOTES ABOUTTHE SABBATH And where are we told in the Scriptures that we are to keep the first day at all? We are commanded to keep the seventh; but we are nowhere commanded to keep the first day... The reason why we keep the first day of the week holy instead of the seventh is for the same reason that we observe many other things, not because the Bible, but because the Church, has enjoined it. —Isaac Williams, Plain Sermons on the Catechism, pages 334, 336. BAPTIST QUOTES ABOUT THE SABBATH There was and is a command to keep holy the Sabbath day, but that Sabbath day was not Sunday. It will however be readily said, and with some show of triumph, that the Sabbath was transferred from the seventh to the first day of the week, with all its duties, privileges and sanctions. Earnestly desiring information on this subject, which I have studied for many years, I ask, where can the record of such a transaction be found: Not in the New Testament – absolutely not. There is no scriptural evidence of the change of the Sabbath institution from the seventh to the first day of the week. —Dr. E. T. Hiscox, author of the ‘Baptist Manual’. To me it seems unaccountable that Jesus, during three years' discussion with His disciples, often conversing with them upon the Sabbath question, discussing it in some of its various aspects, freeing it from its false [Jewish traditional] glosses, never alluded to any transference of the day; also, that during the forty days of His resurrection life, no such thing was intimated. Nor, so far as we know, did the Spirit, which was given to bring to their remembrance all things whatsoever that He had said unto them, deal with this question. Nor yet did the inspired apostles, in preaching the gospel, founding churches, counseling and instructing those founded, discuss or approach the subject. Of course I quite well know that Sunday did come into use in early Christian history as a religious day as we learn from the Christian Fathers and other sources. But what a pity that it comes branded with the mark of Paganism, and christened with the name of the sun-god, then adopted and sanctified by the Papal apostasy, and bequeathed as a sacred legacy to Protestantism. —Dr. E. T. Hiscox, report of his sermon at the Baptist Minister's Convention, in 'New York Examiner,' November 16, 1893 The Scriptures nowhere call the first day of the week the Sabbath. . .There is no Scriptural authority for so doing, nor of course, any Scriptural obligation. —The Watchman. We believe that the law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of His moral government. —Baptist Church Manual, Art. 12. There was never any formal or authoritative change from the Jewish seventh-day Sabbath to the Christian first-day observance. —WILLIAM OWEN CARVER, The Lord's Day in Our Day, page 49. There is nothing in Scripture that requires us to keep Sunday rather than Saturday as a holy day. —Harold Lindsell (editor), Christianity Today, Nov. 5, 1976 BRETHREN QUOTES ABOUT THE SABBATH With the views of the law and the Sabbath we once held ... and which are still held by perhaps the great majority of the most earnest Christians, we confess that we could not answer Adventists. What is more, neither before or since have I heard or read what would conclusively answer an Adventist in his Scriptural contention that the Seventh day is the Sabbath (Ex. 20:10). It is not 'one day in seven' as some put it, but 'the seventh day according to the commandment.' —Words of Truth and Grace, p. 281. CATHOLIC QUOTES ABOUT THE SABBATH It is well to remind the Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, and all other Christians, that the Bible does not support them anywhere in their observance of Sunday. Sunday is an institution of the Roman Catholic Church, and those who observe the day observe a commandment of the Catholic Church. —Priest Brady, in an address, reported in the Elizabeth, NJ ‘News’ on March 18, 1903. Protestants ... accept Sunday rather than Saturday as the day for public worship after the Catholic Church made the change... But the Protestant mind does not seem to realize that ... in observing Sunday, they are accepting the authority of the spokesman for the Church, the pope. —Our Sunday Visitor, February 5th, 1950. Of course these two old quotations are exactly correct. The Catholic Church designated Sunday as the day for corporate worship and gets full credit – or blame – for the change. —This Rock, The Magazine of Catholic Apologetics and Evangelization, p.8, June 1997 Q. Have you any other proofs that they(Protestants) are not guided by the Scripture? A. Yes; so many, that we cannot admit more than a mere specimen into this small work. They reject much that is clearly contained in Scripture, and profess more that is nowhere discoverable in that Divine Book. Q. Give some examples of both? A. They should, if the Scripture were their only rule, wash the feet of one another, according to the command of Christ, in the 13th chap. of St. John; —they should keep, not the Sunday, but the Saturday, according to the commandment, "Remember thou keep holy the SABBATH-day;" for this commandment has not, in Scripture, been changed or abrogated;... —Rev. Stephen Keenan, A Doctrinal Catechism; New York in 1857, page 101 Imprimatuer Q. Have you any other way of proving that the Church has power to institute festivals of precept? A. Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her; —she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday the seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority. —Rev. Stephen Keenan, A Doctrinal Catechism; New York in 1857, page 174 Q. In what manner can we show a Protestant, that he speaks unreasonably against fasts and abstinences? A. Ask him why he keeps Sunday, and not Saturday, as his day of rest, since he is unwilling either to fast or to abstain. If he reply, that the Scripture orders him to keep the Sunday, but says nothing as to fasting and abstinence, tell him the Scripture speaks of Saturday or the Sabbath, but gives no command anywhere regarding Sunday or the first day of the week. If, then he neglects Saturday as a day of rest and holiness, and substitutes Sunday in its place, and this merely because such was the usage of the ancient Church, should he not, if he wishes to act consistently, observe fasting and abstinence, because the ancient Church so ordained? —Rev. Stephen Keenan, A Doctrinal Catechism; New York in 1857, page 181 Question: Which is the Sabbath day? Answer: Saturday is the Sabbath day. Question: Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday? Answer: We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday. —Rev. Peter Geiermann C.SS .R., The Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, p. 50 Q. Must not a sensible Protestant doubt seriously, when he finds that even the Bible is not followed as a rule by his co-religionists? A. Surely, when he sees them baptize infants, abrogate the Jewish Sabbath, and observe Sunday for which [pg. 7] there is no Scriptural authority; when he finds them neglect to wash one another's feet, which is expressly commanded, and eat blood and things strangled, which are expressly prohibited in Scripture. He must doubt, if he think at all. … Q. Should not the Protestant doubt when he finds that he himself holds tradition as a guide? A. Yes, if he would but reflect that he has nothing but Catholic Tradition for keeping the Sunday holy; ... —Controversial Catechism by Stephen Keenan, New Edition, revised by Rev. George Cormack, published in London by Burns & Oates, Limited - New York, Cincinnati, Chicago: Benzinger Brothers, 1896, pages 6, 7. The Church, on the other hand, after changing the day of rest from the Jewish Sabbath, or seventh day of the week, to the first, made the Third Commandment refer to Sunday as the day to be kept holy as the Lord's Day. The Council of Trent (Sess. VI, can. xix) condemns those who deny that the Ten Commandments are binding on Christians. —The Catholic Encyclopedia, Commandments of God, Volume IV, © 1908 by Robert Appleton Company, Online Edition © 1999 by Kevin Knight, Nihil Obstat - Remy Lafort, Censor Imprimatur - +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York, page 153. The [Roman Catholic] Church changed the observance of the Sabbath to Sunday by right of the divine, infallible authority given to her by her founder, Jesus Christ. The Protestant claiming the Bible to be the only guide of faith, has no warrant for observing Sunday. In this matter the Seventh-day Adventist is the only consistent Protestant. —The Catholic Universe Bulletin, August 14, 1942, p. 4. All of us believe many things in regard to religion that we do not find in the Bible. For example, nowhere in the Bible do we find that Christ or the Apostles ordered that the Sabbath be changed from Saturday to Sunday. We have the commandment of God given to Moses to keep holy the Sabbath Day, that is the 7th day of the week, Saturday. Today most Christians keep Sunday because it has been revealed to us by the Church outside the Bible. —The Catholic Virginian, To Tell You The Truth,” Vol. 22, No. 49 (Oct. 3, 1947). ... you may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify. —The Faith of Our Fathers, by James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, 88th edition, page 89. Originally published in 1876, republished and Copyright 1980 by TAN Books and Publishers, Inc., pages 72-73. Deny the authority of the Church and you have no adequate or reasonable explanation or justification for the substitution of Sunday for Saturday in the Third - Protestant Fourth - Commandment of God... The Church is above the Bible, and this transference of Sabbath observance is proof of that fact.' —Catholic Record, September 1, 1923. But since Saturday, not Sunday, is specified in the Bible, isn't it curious that non-Catholics who profess to take their religion directly from the Bible and not the Church, observe Sunday instead of Saturday? Yes, of course, it is inconsistent; but this change was made about fifteen centuries before Protestantism was born, and by that time the custom was universally observed. They have continued the custom, even though it rests upon the authority of the Catholic Church and not upon an explicit text in the Bible. That observance remains as a reminder of the Mother Church from which the non-Catholic sects broke away - like a boy running away from home but still carrying in his pocket a picture of his mother or a lock of her hair. —The Faith of Millions Perhaps the boldest thing, the most revolutionary change the Church ever did, happened in the first century. The holy day, the Sabbath, was changed from Saturday to Sunday. "The Day of the Lord" (dies Dominica) was chosen, not from any directions noted in the Scriptures, but from the Church's sense of its own power. The day of resurrection, the day of Pentecost, fifty days later, came on the first day of the week. So this would be the new Sabbath. People who think that the Scriptures should be the sole authority, should logically become 7th Day Adventists, and keep Saturday holy. —Sentinel, Pastor's page, Saint Catherine Catholic Church, Algonac, Michigan, May 21, 1995 If Protestants would follow the Bible, they would worship God on the Sabbath Day. In keeping the Sunday they are following a law of the Catholic Church. —Albert Smith, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, replying for the Cardinal, in a letter dated February 10, 1920. The observance of Sunday by the Protestants is homage they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority of the [Catholic] Church. —Monsignor Louis Segur, ‘Plain Talk about the Protestantism of Today’, p. 213. What Important Question Does the Papacy Ask Protestants? Protestants have repeatedly asked the papacy, "How could you dare to change God's law?" But the question posed to Protestants by the Catholic church is even more penetrating. Here it is officially: You will tell me that Saturday was the Jewish Sabbath, but that the Christian Sabbath has been changed to Sunday. Changed! but by whom? Who has authority to change an express commandment of Almighty God? When God has spoken and said, Thou shalt keep holy the seventh day, who shall dare to say, Nay, thou mayest work and do all manner of worldly business on the seventh day; but thou shalt keep holy the first day in its stead? This is a most important question, which I know not how you can answer. You are a Protestant, and you profess to go by the Bible and the Bible only; and yet in so important a matter as the observance of one day in seven as a holy day, you go against the plain letter of the Bible, and put another day in the place of that day which the Bible has commanded. The command to keep holy the seventh day is one of the ten commandments; you believe that the other nine are still binding; who gave you authority to tamper with the fourth? If you are consistent with your own principles, if you really follow the Bible and the Bible only, you ought to be able to produce some portion of the New Testament in which this fourth commandment is expressly altered. —Library of Christian Doctrine: Why Don't You Keep Holy the Sabbath-Day? (London: Burns and Oates, Ltd.), pp. 3, 4. There is but one church on the face of the earth which has the power, or claims power, to make laws binding on the conscience, binding before God, binding under penalty of hell-fire. For instance, the institution of Sunday. What right has any other church to keep this day? You answer by virtue of the third commandment (the papacy did away with the 2nd regarding the worship of graven images, and called the 4th the 3rd), which says 'Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day.' But Sunday is not the Sabbath. Any schoolboy knows that Sunday is the first day of the week. I have repeatedly offered one thousand dollars to anyone who will prove by the Bible alone that Sunday is the day we are bound to keep, and no one has called for the money. It was the holy Catholic Church that changed the day of rest from Saturday, the seventh day, to Sunday, the first day of the week. —T. Enright, C.S.S.R., in a lecture delivered in 1893. Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act. And the act is a mark of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters. —C. F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons, in answer to a letter regarding the change of the Sabbath, November 11, 1895. Tradition, not Scripture, is the rock on which the church of Jesus Christ is built. —Adrien Nampon, Catholic Doctrine as Defined by the Council of Trent, p. 157 The Pope is of so great authority and power that he can modify, explain, or interpret even divine law". The pope can modify divine law, since his power is not of man, but of God, and he acts a vicegerent of God upon earth —Lucius Ferraris, Prompta Bibliotheca, art. Papa, II, Vol. VI, p. 29. The leader of the Catholic church is defined by the faith as the Vicar of Jesus Christ (and is accepted as such by believers). The Pope is considered the man on earth who "takes the place" of the Second Person of the omnipotent God of the Trinity. —John Paul II, Crossing the Threshold of Hope, p. 3, 1994 ...pastoral intuition suggested to the Church the christianization of the notion of Sunday as "the day of the sun", which was the Roman name for the day and which is retained in some modern languages.(29) This was in order to draw the faithful away from the seduction of cults which worshipped the sun, and to direct the celebration of the day to Christ, humanity's true 'sun'. —John Paul II, Dies Domini, 27. The day of Christ-Light, 1998 (Prominent protestant leaders agree with this statement - See here for a statement by Dr. E. T. Hiscox, author of the ‘Baptist Manual’) The Sun was a foremost god with heathen-dom…The sun has worshippers at this hour in Persia and other lands…. There is, in truth, something royal, kingly about the sun, making it a fit emblem of Jesus, the Sun of Justice. Hence the church in these countries would seem to have said, to 'Keep that old pagan name [Sunday]. It shall remain consecrated, sanctified.' And thus the pagan Sunday, dedicated to Balder, became the Christian Sunday, sacred to Jesus. —William Gildea, Doctor of Divinity, The Catholic World, March, 1894, p. 809 The retention of the old pagan name of Dies Solis, for Sunday is, in a great measure, owing to the union of pagan and Christian sentiment with which the first day of the week was recommended by Constantine to his subjects - pagan and Christian alike - as the 'venerable' day of the sun. —Arthur P. Stanley, History of the Eastern Church, p. 184 When St. Paul repudiated the works of the law, he was not thinking of the Ten Commandments, which are as unchangeable as God Himself is, which God could not change and still remain the infinitely holy God. —Our Sunday Visitor, Oct. 7, I951. Question: How prove you that the Church hath power to command feasts and holydays? Answer: By the very act of changing the Sabbath into Sunday, which Protestants allow of; and therefore they fondly contradict themselves, by keeping Sunday strictly, and breaking most other feasts commanded by the same Church. —Henry Tuberville, An Abridgment of the Christian Doctrine (1833 approbation), p.58 (Same statement in Manual of Christian Doctrine, ed. by Daniel Ferris [1916 ed.], p.67) Some theologians have held that God likewise directly determined the Sunday as the day of worship in the NEW LAW, that he himself has explicitly substituted Sunday for the Sabbath. But this theory is entirely abandoned. It is now commonly held that God simply gave His church the power to set aside whatever day or days she would deem suitable as holy days. The church chose Sunday, the first day of the week, and in the course of time added other days as holy days. —Vincent J. Kelly, Forbidden Sunday and Feast-Day Occupations, Washington, DC, Catholic University of America Press, Studies in Sacred Theology, No. 70.,1943, p. 2. If we consulted the Bible only, we should still have to keep holy the Sabbath Day, that is, Saturday, with the Jews, instead of Sunday; ... —A Course in Religion for Catholic High Schools and Academies, by Rev. John Laux M.A., Benzinger Brothers, 1936 edition, Part 1. Sunday is a Catholic institution, and... can be defended only on Catholic principles.... From beginning to end of Scripture there is not a single passage that warrants the transfer of weekly public worship from the last day of the week to the first. —Catholic Press, Aug. 25, 1900 The Sabbath was Saturday, not Sunday. The Church altered the observance of the Sabbath to the observance of Sunday. Protestants must be rather puzzled by the keeping of Sunday when God distinctly said, 'Keep holy the Sabbath Day.' The word Sunday does not come anywhere in the Bible, so, without knowing it they are obeying the authority of the Catholic Church. —Canon Cafferata, The Catechism Explained, p. 89. Reason and sense demand the acceptance of one or the other of these alternatives: either Protestantism and the keeping holy of Saturday, or Catholicity and the keeping holy of Sunday. Compromise is impossible. —John Cardinal Gibbons, The Catholic Mirror, December 23, 1893. CHRISTIAN CHURCH QUOTES ABOUT THE SABBATH I do not believe that the Lord's day came in the room of the Jewish Sabbath, or that the Sabbath was changed from the seventh to the first day, for this plain reason, where there is no testimony, there can be no faith. Now there is no testimony in all the oracles of heaven that the Sabbath is changed, or that the Lord’s Day came in the room of it. —Alexander Campbell, in The Reporter, October 8, 1921 It has reversed the fourth commandment by doing away with the Sabbath of God's Word, and instituting Sunday as a holiday. —Dr. N. Summerbell, History of the Christian Church, Third Edition, p. 415 There is no direct scriptural authority for designating the first day the Lord's day. —Dr. D. H. Lucas, Christian Oracle, Jan. 23, 1890. The first day of the week is commonly called the Sabbath. This is a mistake. The Sabbath of the Bible was the day just preceding the first day of the week. The first day of the week is never called the Sabbath anywhere in the entire Scriptures. It is also an error to talk about the change of the Sabbath. There never was any change of the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. There is not in any place in the Bible any intimation of such a change. —First-Day Observance, pp. 17, 19. CHURCH OF CHRIST QUOTES ABOUT THE SABBATH But we do not find any direct command from God, or instruction from the risen Christ, or admonition from the early apostles, that the first day is to be substituted for the seventh day Sabbath." "Let us be clear on this point. Though to the Christian 'that day, the first day of the week' is the most memorable of all days ... there is no command or warrant in the New Testament for observing it as a holy day. The Roman Church selected the first day of the week in honour of the resurrection of Christ. ... —Bible Standard, May, 1916, Auckland, New Zealand. ... If the fourth command is binding upon us Gentiles by all means keep it. But let those who demand a strict observance of the Sabbath remember that the seventh day is the ONLY sabbath day commanded, and God never repealed that command. If you would keep the Sabbath, keep it; but Sunday is not the Sabbath. The argument of the 'Seventh-day Adventists' is on one point unassailable. It is the Seventh day not the first day that the command refers to. —G. Alridge, Editor, The Bible Standard, April, 1916. There is no direct Scriptural authority for designating the first day the Lord's day. —DR. D. H. LUCAS, Christian Oracle, Jan. 23, 1890. The first day of the week is commonly called the Sabbath. This is a mistake. The Sabbath of the Bible was the day just preceding the first day of the week. The first day of the week is never called the Sabbath anywhere in the entire Scriptures. It is also an error to talk about the change of the Sabbath. There never was any change of the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. There is not in any place in the Bible any intimation of such a change. —First-Day Observance, pages 17, 19. It has reversed the fourth commandment by doing away with the Sabbath of God's Word, and instituting Sunday as a holiday. —DR. N. SUMMERBELL, History of the Christian Church, Third Edition, page 4I5. It is clearly proved that the pastors of the churches have struck out one of God's ten words, which, not only in the Old Testament, but in all revelation, are the most emphatically regarded as the synopsis of all religion and morality. —ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, Debate With Purcell, page 214. I do not believe that the Lord's day came in the room of the Jewish Sabbath, or that the Sabbath was changed from the seventh to the first day, for this plain reason, where there is no testimony, there can be no faith. Now there is no testimony in all the oracles of heaven that the Sabbath was changed, or that the Lord's day came in the room of it. —ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, Washington Reporter, Oct. 8, 1821. CHURCH OF ENGLAND QUOTES ABOUT THE SABBATH Many people think that Sunday is the Sabbath. But neither in the New Testament nor in the early church is there anything to suggest that we have any right to transfer the observance of the seventh day of the week to the first. The Sabbath was and is Saturday and not Sunday, and if it were binding on us then we should observe it on that day, and on no other. —Rev. Lionel Beere, All-Saints Church, Ponsonby, N.Z. in Church and People, Sept. 1, 1947. Nowhere in the Bible is it laid down that worship should be done on Sunday. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. ...! That is Saturday. —P. Carrington, Archbishop of Quebec, Oct. 27, 1949; cited in Prophetic Signs, p 12. The observance of the first instead of the seventh day rests on the testimony of the church, and the church alone. —Hobart Church News, July 2, 1894; cited in Prophetic Signs, p 14. Where are we told in Scripture that we are to keep the first day at all? We are commanded to keep the Seventh; but we are nowhere commanded to keep the first day. The reason why we keep the first day holy instead of the seventh is for the same reason that we observe many things, not because the Bible, but because the Church, has enjoined them. —Rev. Isaac Williams, Ser. on Catechism, p. 334. The seventh day, the commandment says, is the Sabbath of The Lord thy God. No kind of arithmetic, no kind of almanac, can make seven equal one, nor the seventh mean the first, nor Saturday mean Sunday. ... The fact is that we are all Sabbath breakers, every one of us. —Rev. Geo. Hodges. Not any ecclesiastical writer of the first three centuries attributed the origin of Sunday observance either to Christ or to His apostles. —SIR WILLIAM DOMVILLE, Examination of the Six Texts, pages 6, 7. (Supplement). There is no word, no hint, in the New Testament about abstaining from work on Sunday. . . . Into the rest of Sunday no divine law enters…, The observance of Ash Wednesday or Lent stands exactly on the same footing as the observance of Sunday. —CANON EYTON, 'The Ten Commandments, pages 52, 63, 65. Is there any command in the New Testament to change the day of weekly rest from Saturday to Sunday? None. —Manual of Christian Doctrine, page 127. The Lord's day did not succeed in the place of the Sabbath....The Lord's day was merely an ecclesiastical institution. It was not introduced by virtue of the fourth commandment, because for almost three hundred years together they kept that day which was in that commandment...The primitive Christians did all manner of works upon the Lord's day, even in times of persecution, when they are the strictest observers of all the divine commandments; but in this they knew there was none. —BISHOP JEREMY TAYLOR, Ductor Dubitantium, Part I, Book II, Chap. 2, Rule 6. Sec. 51, 59. Sunday being the day on which the Gentiles solemnly adore that planet and called it Sunday, partly from its influence on that day especially, and partly in respect to its divine body (as they conceived it), the Christians thought fit to keep the same day and the same name of it, that they might not appear causelessly peevish, and by that means hinder the conversion of the Gentiles, and bring a greater prejudice than might be otherwise taken against the gospel. —T. M. MORER, Dialogues on the Lord's Day, pages 22, 23. The Puritan idea was historically unhappy. It made Sunday into the Sabbath day. Even educated people call Sunday the Sabbath. Even clergymen do. But, unless my reckoning is all wrong, the Sabbath day lasts twenty-four hours from six o'clock on Friday evening. It gives over, therefore, before we come to Sunday. If you suggest to a Sabbatarian that he ought to observe the Sabbath on the proper day, you arouse no enthusiasm. He at once replies that the day, not the principle, has been changed. But changed by whom? There is no injunction in the whole of the New Testament to Christians to change the Sabbath into Sunday. —D. MORSE-BOYCOTT, Daily Herald, London, Feb. 26, 1931. The Christian church made no formal, but a gradual and almost unconscious transference of the one day to the other. —F.W. FARRAR, D.D., The Voice From Sinai, page 167. Take which you will, either of the Fathers or the moderns, and we shall find no Lord's day instituted by any apostolical mandate; no Sabbath set on foot by them upon the first day of the week. —PETER HEYLYN, History of the Sabbath, page 410. Merely to denounce the tendency to secularise Sunday is as futile as it is easy. What we want is to find some principle, to which as Christians we can appeal, and on which we can base both our conduct and our advice. We turn to the New Testament, and we look in vain for any authoritative rule. There is no recorded word of Christ, there is no word of any of the apostles, which tells how we should keep Sunday, or indeed that we should keep it at all. It is disappointing, for it would make our task much easier if we could point to a definite rule, which left us no option but simple obedience or disobedience. . . . There is no rule for Sunday observance, either in Scripture or history. —DR. STEPHEN, Bishop of Newcastle, N.S.W., in an address reported in the Newcastle Morning Herald, May 14, 1924. CONGREGATIONAL QUOTES ABOUT THE SABBATH The Christian Sabbath [Sunday] is not in the Scripture, and was not by the primitive [early Christian] church called the Sabbath. —Timothy Dwight, Theology, sermon 107, 1818 ed., Vol. IV, p. 49 Note: Timothy Dwight (1752-1817) was president of Yale University from 1795-1817. It is quite clear that, however rigidly or devoutly we may spend Sunday, we are not keeping the Sabbath ... The Sabbath was founded on a specific divine command. We can plead no such command for the obligation to observe Sunday ... There is not a single sentence in the New Testament to suggest that we incur any penalty by violating the supposed sanctity of Sunday. —Dr. Dale, The Ten Commandments, pp. 106, 107. It must be confessed that there is no law in the New Testament concerning the first day. —Buck's Theological Dictionary page 403. There is no command in the Bible requiring us to observe the first day of the week as the Christian Sabbath. —ORIN FOWLER, A.M., Mode and Subjects of Baptism. The current notion that Christ and His apostles authoritatively substituted the first day for the seventh, is absolutely without any authority in the New Testament. —DR. LYMAN ABBOTT, Christian Union, Jan. 18, 1882. DISCIPLES OF CHRIST QUOTES ABOUT THE SABBATH There is no direct Scriptural authority for designating the first day ‘the Lord’s Day.’ —Dr D.H. Lucas, Christian Oracle, January, 1890 EPISCOPALIAN QUOTES ABOUT THE SABBATH We have made the change from the seventh day to the first day, from Saturday to Sunday, on the authority of the one holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church of Christ. —Bishop Symour, Why We keep Sunday. The Bible commandment says on the seventh-day thou shalt rest. That is Saturday. Nowhere in the Bible is it laid down that worship should be done on Sunday. —Phillip Carrington, quoted in Toronto Daily Star, Oct 26, 1949 [Carrington (1892-), Anglican archbishop of Quebec, spoke the above in a message on this subject delivered to a packed assembly of clergymen. It was widely reported at the time in the news media]. INFIDEL QUOTES ABOUT THE SABBATH Probably very few Christians are aware of the fact that what they call the 'Christian Sabbath' (Sunday) is of pagan origin. The first observance of Sunday- that history records is in the fourth century', when Constantine issued an edict (not requiring its religious observance, but simply abstinence from work) reading, 'let all the judges and people of the town rest and all the various trades be suspended on the venerable day of the sun.' At the time of the issue of this edict, Constantine was a sun-worshipper; therefore it could have had no relation whatever to Christianity. —HENRY M. TABER. Faith or Fact (preface by Robert G. Ingersoll), page 112. I challenge any priest or minister of the Christian religion to show me the slightest authority for the religious observance of Sunday. And, if such cannot be shown by them, why is it that they are constantly preaching about Sunday as a holy day? … The claim that Sunday takes the place of Saturday, and that because the Jews were supposed to be commanded to keep the seventh day of the week holy, therefore the first day of the week should be so kept by Christians, is so utterly absurd as to be hardly worth considering....That Paul habitually observed and preached on the seventh day of the week, is shown in Acts 18:4-'And be reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath' (Saturday). —Id., pages ,114, 116. LUTHERAN QUOTES ABOUT THE SABBATH The observance of the Lord's Day (Sunday) is founded not on any command of God, but on the authority of the Church." Augsburg Confession of Faith. They [the Catholics] allege the Sabbath changed into Sunday, the Lord's day, contrary to the Decalogue, as it appears, neither is there any example more boasted of than the changing of the Sabbath day. Great, say they, is the power and authority of the church, since it dispensed with one of the Ten Commandments. —Augsburg Confession of Faith, Art. 28, par. 9. They [Roman Catholics] allege the change of the Sabbath into the Lord's day, as it seemeth, to the Decalogue [the ten commandments]; and they have no example more in their mouths than they change of the Sabbath. They will needs have the Church's power to be very great, because it hath dispensed with the precept of the Decalogue. —The Augsburg Confession, 1530 A.D. (Lutheran), part 2, art 7, in Philip Schaff, the Creeds of Christiandom, 4th Edition, vol 3, p64 [this important statement was made by the Lutherans and written by Melanchthon, only thirteen years after Luther nailed his theses to the door and began the Reformation]. For up to this day mankind has absolutely trifled with the original and most special revelation of the Holy God, the ten words written upon the tables of the Law from Sinai. —Crown Theological Library, page I78. The Christians in the ancient church very soon distinguished the first day of the week, Sunday; however, not as a Sabbath, but as an assembly day of the church, to study the Word of God together, and to celebrate the ordinances one with another: without a shadow of doubt, this took place as early as the first part of the second century. —Bishop GRIMELUND, History of the Sabbath, page 60. The festival of Sunday, like all other festivals, was always only a human ordinance. —AUGUSTUS NEANDER, History of the Christian Religion and Church, Vol. 1, page 186. I wonder exceedingly how it came to be imputed to me that I should reject the law of Ten Commandments...Whosoever abrogates the law must of necessity abrogate sin also. —MARTIN LUTHER, Spiritual Antichrist, pages 71, 72. We have seen how gradually the impression of the Jewish Sabbath faded from the mind of the Christian church, and how completely the newer thought underlying the observance of the first day took possession of the church. We have seen that the Christian of the first three centuries never confused one with the other, but for a time celebrated both. —The Sunday Problem, a study book by the Lutheran Church (1923) p.36 But they err in teaching that Sunday has taken the place of the Old Testament Sabbath and therefore must be kept as the seventh day had to be kept by the children of Israel .... These churches err in their teaching, for scripture has in no way ordained the first day of the week in place of the Sabbath. There is simply no law in the New Testament to that effect —John Theodore Mueller, Sabbath or Sunday, pp.15, 16 LUTHERAN FREE CHURCH QUOTES ABOUT THE SABBATH For when there could not be produced one solitary place in the Holy Scriptures which testified that either the Lord Himself or the apostles had ordered such a transfer of the Sabbath to Sunday, then it was not easy to answer the question: Who has transferred the Sabbath, and who has the right to do it? —George Sverdrup, ‘A New Day.’ METHODIST QUOTES ABOUT THE SABBATH This 'handwriting of ordinances' our Lord did blot out, take away, and nail to His cross. (Colossians 2: 14.) But the moral law contained in the Ten Commandments, and enforced by the prophets, He did not take away.... The moral law stands on an entirely different foundation from the ceremonial or ritual law. ...Every part of this law must remain in force upon all mankind and in all ages. —JOHN WESLEY, Sermons on Several Occasions, 2-Vol. Edition, Vol. I, pages 221, 222. No Christian whatsoever is free from the obedience of the commandments which are called moral. —Methodist Church Discipline, (I904), page 23. The Sabbath was made for MAN; not for the Hebrews, but for all men. —E.O. HAVEN, Pillars of Truth, page 88. The reason we observe the first day instead of the seventh is based on no positive command. One will search the Scriptures in vain for authority for changing from the seventh day to the first. The early Christians began to worship on the first day of the week because Jesus rose from the dead on that day. By and by, this day of worship was made also a day of rest, a legal holiday. This took place in the year 321. The reason we observe the first day instead of the seventh is based on no positive command. One will search the Scriptures in vain for authority for changing from the seventh day to the first... Our Christian Sabbath, therefore, is not a matter of positive command. It is a gift of the church... —CLOVIS G. CHAPPELL, Ten Rules for Living, page 61. Sabbath in the Hebrew language signifies rest, and is the seventh day of the week... and it must be confessed that there is no law in the New Testament concerning the first day. —Charles Buck, A Theological Dictionary, Sabbath In the days of very long ago the people of the world began to give names to everything, and they turned the sounds of the lips into words, so that the lips could speak a thought. In those days the people worshiped the sun because many words were made to tell of many thoughts about many things. The people became Christians and were ruled by an emperor whose name was Constantine. This emperor made Sunday the Christian Sabbath, because of the blessing of light and heat which came from the sun. So our Sunday is a sun-day, isn't it? —Sunday School Advocate, Dec. 31, 1921. The moral law contained in the Ten Commandments, and enforced by the prophets, He [Christ] did not take away. It was not the design of His coming to revoke any part of this. This is a law which never can be broken... Every part of this law must remain in force upon all mankind and in all ages; as not depending either on time or place, or any other circumstances liable to change, but on the nature of God and the nature of man, and their unchangeable relation to each other. —JOHN WESLEY, Sermons on Several Occasions, Vol. I, Sermon XXV. The Sabbath instituted in the beginning, and confirmed again and again by Moses and the prophets, has never been abrogated. A part of the moral law, not a jot or a tittle of its sanctity has been taken away. —New York Herald 1874, on the Methodist Episcopal Bishops Pastoral 1874 MISCELLANEOUS QUOTES ABOUT THE SABBATH You will tell me that Saturday was the Jewish Sabbath, but that the Christian Sabbath has been changed to Sunday. Changed! But by whom? Who has authority to change an express commandment of Almighty God? When God has spoken and said, 'Thou shalt keep holy the seventh day,' who shall dare to say, 'Nay, thou mayest work and do all manner of business on the seventh day; but thou shalt keep holy the first day in its stead'? This is a most important question, which I know not how you can answer. You are a Protestant, and you profess to go by the Bible and the Bible only; and yet in so important a matter as the observance of one day in seven as a holy day, you go against the plain letter of the Bible, and put another day in the place of that day which the Bible has commanded. The command to keep holy the seventh day is one of the Ten Commandments; you believe that the other nine are still binding; who gave you authority to tamper with the fourth? If you are consistent with your own principles, if you really follow the Bible and the Bible only, you ought to be able to produce some portion of the New Testament in which this fourth commandment is expressly altered. —The Library of Christian Doctrine, pages 3, 4. The first precept in the Bible is that of sanctifying the seventh day: 'God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it.' Genesis 2:3. This precept was confirmed by God in the Ten Commandments: 'Remember the Sabbath day to keep It holy. ...The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.' Exodus 20: 8, 10. On the other hand, Christ declares that He is not come to destroy the law, but to fulfil it. (Matthew 5: 17.) He Himself observed the Sabbath: 'And, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day.' Luke 4: r6. His disciples likewise observed it after His death: 'They . . . rested the Sabbath day, according to the commandment.' Luke 23: 56. Yet with all this weight of Scripture authority for keeping the Sabbath or seventh day holy, Protestants of all denominations make this a profane day and transfer the obligation of it to the first day of the week, or the Sunday. Now what authority have they for doing this? None at all but the unwritten word, or tradition of the Catholic Church, which declares that the apostle made the change in honour of Christ's resurrection, and the descent of the Holy Ghost on that day of the week. —JOHN MILNER, The End of Religious Controversy, page 71. Sabbath means, of course, Saturday, the seventh day of the week, but the early Christians changed the observance to Sunday, to honour the day on which Christ arose from the dead. —FULTON OURSLER. Cosmopolitan, Sept. 1951, pages 34, 35. I do not pretend to be even an amateur scholar of the Scriptures. I read the Decalogue merely as an average man searching for guidance, and in the immortal 'Ten Words' I find a blueprint for the good life. —Id., page 33. Most certainly the Commandments are needed today, perhaps more than ever before. Their divine message confronts us with a profound moral challenge in an epidemic of evil; a unifying message acceptable alike to Jew, Moslem, and Christian. Who, reading the Ten in the light of history and of current events, can doubt their identity with the eternal law of nature? —Id., page 124. The Sabbath is commanded to be kept on the seventh day. It could not be kept on any other day. To observe the first day of the week or the fourth is not to observe the Sabbath. . . . It was the last day of the week, after six days of work, that was to be kept holy. The observance of no other day would fulfil the law. —H. J. FLOWERS, B.A., B.D., The Permanent Value of the Ten Commandments, page 13. The evaluation of Sunday, the traditionally accepted day of the resurrection of Christ, has varied greatly throughout the centuries of the Christian Era. From time to time it has been confused with the seventh day of the week, the Sabbath. English speaking peoples have been the most consistent in perpetuating the erroneous assumption that the obligation of the fourth commandment has passed over to Sunday. In popular speech, Sunday is frequently, but erroneously, spoken of as the Sabbath. —F. M. SETZLER, Head Curator, Department of Anthropology, Smithsonian Institute, from a letter dated Sept. 1, 1949. He that observes the Sabbath aright holds the history of that which it celebrates to be authentic, and therefore believes in the creation of the first man; in the creation of a fair abode for man in the space of six days; in the primeval and absolute creation of the heavens and the earth, and, as a necessary antecedent to all this, in the Creator, who at the close of His latest creative effort, rested on the seventh day. The Sabbath thus becomes a sign by which the believers in a historical revelation are distinguished from those who have allowed these great facts to fade from their remembrance. —JAMES G. MURPHY, Commentary on the Book of Exodus, comments on Exodus 20: 8-11. MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE QUOTES ABOUT THE SABBATH The Sabbath was binding in Eden, and it has been in force ever since. This fourth commandment begins with the word 'remember,' showing that the Sabbath already existed when God wrote the law on the tables of stone at Sinai. How can men claim that this one commandment has been done away with when they will admit that the other nine are still binding? —D.L. MOODY, Weighed and Wanting, page 47. I honestly believe that this commandment [the fourth, or Sabbath commandment] is just as binding today as it ever was. I have talked with men who have said that it has been abrogated, but they have never been able to point to any place in the Bible where God repealed it. When Christ was on earth, He did nothing to set it aside; He freed it from the traces under which the scribes and Pharisees had put it, and gave it its true place. 'The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath.' It is just as practicable and as necessary for men today as it ever was-in fact, more than ever, because we live in such an intense age. —Id., page 46. This Fourth is not a commandment for one place, or one time, but for all places and times. —D.L. Moody, at San Francisco, Jan. 1st, 1881. PRESBYTERIAN QUOTES ABOUT THE SABBATH The Christian Sabbath (Sunday) is not in the Scriptures, and was not by the primitive church called the Sabbath. —Dwight's Theology, Vol. 14, p. 401. A further argument for the perpetuity of the Sabbath we have in Matthew 24:20, Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter neither on the Sabbath day. But the final destruction of Jerusalem was after the Christian dispensation was fully set up (AD 70). Yet it is plainly implied in these words of the Lord that even then Christians were bound to strict observation of the Sabbath. —Works of Jonathon Edwards, (Presby.) Vol. 4, p. 621. We must not imagine that the coming of Christ has freed us from the authority of the law; for it is the eternal rule of a devout and holy life, and must therefore be as unchangeable as the justice of God, which it embraced, is constant and uniform. —JOHN CALVIN, Commentary on a Harmony of the Gospels, Vol. 1, page 277. God instituted the Sabbath at the creation of man, setting apart the seventh day for the purpose, and imposed its observance as a universal and perpetual moral obligation upon the race. —American Presbyterian Board of Publication, Tract No. 175. The observance of the seventh-day Sabbath did not cease till it was abolished after the [Roman] empire became Christian, ... —American Presbyterian Board of Publication, Tract No. 118. The moral law doth for ever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof; and that not only in regard to the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God the Creator who gave it. Neither doth Christ in the gospel in any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation. —Westminster Confession of Faith, Chap. 19, Art. 5. The Sabbath is a part of the Decalogue-the Ten Commandments. This alone for ever settles the question as to the perpetuity of the institution ... Until, therefore, it can be shown that the whole moral law has been repealed, the Sabbath will stand...The teaching of Christ confirms the perpetuity of the Sabbath. —T.C. BLAKE, D.D., Theology Condensed, pages 474, 475. Sunday being the first day of which the Gentiles solemnly adored that planet and called it Sunday, partly from its influence on that day especially, and partly in respect to its divine body (as they conceived it) the Christians thought fit to keep the same day and the same name of it, that they might not appear carelessly peevish, and by that means hinder the conversion of the Gentiles, and bring a greater prejudice that might be otherwise taken against the gospel —T.M. Morer, Dialogues on the Lord's Day There is no word, no hint in the New Testament about abstaining from work on Sunday. The observance of Ash Wednesday, or Lent, stands exactly on the same footing as the observance of Sunday. Into the rest of Sunday no Divine Law enters. —Canon Eyton, in The Ten Commandments. Some have tried to build the observance of Sunday upon Apostolic command, whereas the Apostles gave no command on the matter at all.... The truth is, so soon as we appeal to the litera scripta [literal writing] of the Bible, the Sabbatarians have the best of the argument. —The Christian at Work, April 19, 1883, and Jan. 1884 PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL QUOTES ABOUT THE SABBATH The day is now changed from the seventh to the first day ... but as we meet with no Scriptural direction for the change, we may conclude it was done by the authority of the church. —‘Explanation of Catechism’ SOUTHERN BAPTIST QUOTES ABOUT THE SABBATH The sacred name of the Seventh day is Sabbath. This fact is too clear to require argument [Exodus 20:10 quoted]… on this point the plain teaching of the Word has been admitted in all ages… Not once did the disciples apply the Sabbath law to the first day of the week, -- that folly was left for a later age, nor did they pretend that the first day supplanted the seventh. —Joseph Hudson Taylor, ‘The Sabbatic Question’, p. 14-17, 41. The first four commandments set forth man's obligations directly toward God.... But when we keep the first four commandments, we are likely to keep the other six. . . . The fourth commandment sets forth God's claim on man's time and thought.... The six days of labour and the rest on the Sabbath are to be maintained as a witness to God's toil and rest in the creation. . . . No one of the ten words is of merely racial significance.... The Sabbath was established originally (long before Moses) in no special connection with the Hebrews, but as an institution for all mankind, in commemoration of God's rest after the six days of creation. It was designed for all the descendants of Adam. —Adult Quarterly, Southern Baptist Convention series, Aug. 15, 1937. Previous Back to Contents Next Top

All trinity studies Previous Download 看中文 Next Two Beings and Not Three According to the Bible TWO BEINGS not three according to the BIBLE Proverbs 30:4 "Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?" ONLY TWO BEINGS 1 Corinthians 8:6 "But to us there is but ONE God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and ONE Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." ONLY TWO BEINGS Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? ONLY TWO BEINGS Mark 13:32 / Matthew 24:36 "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." ONLY TWO BEINGS 1 Corinthians 1:9 "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."ONLY TWO BEINGS 1 Corinthians 11:3 "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." ONLY TWO BEINGS 2 Corinthians 5:19 "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." ONLY TWO BEINGS John 1:14, 18 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. ... v18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." ONLY TWO BEINGS John 3:16, 18 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. v18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." ONLY TWO BEINGS John 5:26 "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;" ONLY TWO BEINGS John 8:16, 28, 42 "And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. v28 When you have lifted up the Son of man, then shall you know that I am he, and that I DO NOTHING OF MYSELF; but as my FATHER has taught me, I speak these things. v42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me." ONLY TWO BEINGS John 12:44-45, 49 "Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. v45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. v49 FOR I HAVE NOT SPOKEN OF MYSELF; but the FATHER which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.” ONLY TWO BEINGS John 14:10, 20, 23, 24 "The words that I speak unto you I SPEAK NOT OF MYSELF: but the FATHER that dwelleth in me v20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. v23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. v24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me." ONLY TWO BEINGS John 17:3 “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” ONLY TWO BEINGS John 17:8 "For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me." ONLY TWO BEINGS John 20:17 "Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." ONLY TWO BEINGS Romans 8:3 "……God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh…." ONLY TWO BEINGS 1 John 1:3 "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." ONLY TWO BEINGS 1 John 2:22, 23 "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. v23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also." ONLY TWO BEINGS 1 John 5:10, 11 "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. v11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." ONLY TWO BEINGS Ephesians 3:9 “God….created all things by Jesus Christ.” ONLY TWO BEINGS Hebrews 1:1-2 "God....spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;" ONLY TWO BEINGS This is why John 1:3 says: “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Other translations say, “Through him (Jesus) all things were made” (NIV) because “God created everything through him” (NLT). ONLY TWO BEINGS 1 Peter 3:18 "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:" ONLY TWO BEINGS Revelation 1:1 “The Revelation of JESUS CHRIST, WHICH GOD GAVE UNTO HIM, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.” ONLY TWO BEINGS Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

All trinity studies Previous Download Next We Should Be Baptized Only in the Name of Jesus We should be baptized ONLY in the name of Jesus ! Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 8:12 “ But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Acts 8:16 “For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 10:48 “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.” Acts 19:5 “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 22:16 “And now why tarriest you ? arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Romans 6:3 “Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death ?” 1 Corinthians 1:13 “Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” [Implied] Galatians 3:27 “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” “The historical riddle is not solved by Matthew 28:19, since, according to a wide scholarly consensus, it is not an authentic saying of Jesus, not even an elaboration of a Jesus-saying on baptism.” — (Anchor Bible Dictionary, Vol. 1, 1992, p. 585) Catholic Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now pope Benedict XVI) makes this confession as to the origin of the chief Trinity text of Matthew 28:19 saying: "The basic form of our (Matthew 28:19 Trinitarian) profession of faith took shape during the course of the second and third centuries in connection with the ceremony of baptism. So far as its place of origin is concerned, the text (Matthew 28:19) came from the city of Rome. The Trinity baptism and text of Matthew 28:19 therefore did not originate from the original Church that started in Jerusalem around 33 A.D. It was rather, as the evidence proves, a later invention of Roman Catholicism completely fabricated. Very few know about these historical facts.” ( http://www.askacatholic.com/_WebPostings/Answers/2012_01JAN/2012JanWhyWereAdjustmentsMade.cfm ) The Catholic Encyclopedia, II, page 263: “The baptismal formula was changed from the name of Jesus Christ to the words Father, Son, and Holy Spirit by the Catholic Church in the second century.” Does Matthew 28:19 prove a Trinity ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRklea85ZsQ&t=1s  Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

All trinity studies Previous Download Next Father and Son Relationship and Divine Pattern Father and Son Relationship and Divine Pattern Father is the source of all things. Ephesian 4:6 – One God, and father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. John 17:3 – And this is life eternal, that thee might know the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 2 Corinthian 1:3 – Blessed be God, even the father our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of mercies , and the God of all comfort. 2 John 1:3 – Grace be with you, mercy and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the father, in truth and love. 1Timothy 6:16 – Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen, nor can see, to whom be honoured and power everlasting. Amen. Son is the channel of all the father gives him. John 5.26 – For as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the son to hath life in himself. The eternal, everlasting, immortal life. 1 John 5:11 – God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his son. God is the source of all life, because he has given this life to his son Jesus Christ, he can give life to others whenever he wants. John 5:21 – For as the father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them, even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. John 5: 25 –When the dead shall hear the voice of the son of God and they that hear shall live. Not only immortal life, but all things had given to Jesus Christ. Matthew 11:27 – All things are delivered unto me of my father. John 3:35 – The Father loveth his son, and hath given all things into his hands. Philippians 2:9 – Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name. 10 – That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth and things under the earth. 11—That every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Matthew 28:18 – All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 1 Corinthians 15:27 – For he hath put all things under his feet. Hebrews 1:2 – Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. He is a channel by whom and through whom all things from the father flow to his creations. This is the patterns, from the beginning. Genesis 1:26 – God said, let us make man in our image and after our likeness. Ephesian 3:9 – God who created all things by Jesus Christ. Then God made man in his own image. 1 Timothy 2:13 -- Adam was first formed. Genesis 2:18 -- But God see that it is not good that the man should be alone. So the woman came forth out of man as part of his very own body. Eve was not created from nothing but was taken out from Adam’s side, his bosom, she was essentially existed in Adam, a part of him, before she was taken out. She became the express image of Adam. So also the word, Jesus is the unique son of God, begotten of the father, taken from his bosom. Genesis 3:20 – Adam named his wife, Eve because she was the mother of all living. Adam was the source, Eve was the channel, by whom, through whom Adam became the father of our race. Eve was the same substance as Adam, both equal in nature, she was just as human as he was, but Eve was begotten in a different manner than all other human births. So too the Son of God, begotten of this Father, they both have the same divine substance, both equal in nature, Christ is just as divine as his father. But the son was begotten in a different manner, back in eternity. Christ gave us his spirit, just as Adam gave Eve his rib, we are part of Christ, we partake of his divine nature, we are born again, Christ in us, we have his character. As Adam and Eve was one flesh, so also the Father and Son are one spirit. John 1:1 – In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word as God. Word = God? Word+ God? Pros ton theon, kai theos hen ho logos. With the God, and God was the Word John speaks the same way in his first epistle. 1 John 1:1—That which was from the beginning, the word of life, that eternal life which was with the father. (Pros ton Patera) The word was with the God, the only true God of whom are all things, John did not say, the word was the God. Now we use the same grammatical structure but with different subjects. In the beginning was the women, and the women was with the human, and the woman was human. Adam= Name Human= Adam and Eve # The woman Eve was human in nature, not the man in indentity, Eve was not Adam, they were 2 separate persons. 2 individual identities. The same divine, Godly nature are possessed by both the father and son. The son was not the God, but he has God’s divine nature by inheritance. Illustrations: 1. Father is the root, Jesus is the branch, we cannot see the root, but we can see the branch and the fruits beared the branch has the same nature, substance, quality as the root, the root is the source, the branch is the expression and channel from which comes more branches. 2. The mountain and the stone ( Zechariah 4:7) Zerubbabel and Joshua the Father is the mountain, Jesus is a stone from the mountain. The stone is just as old as the mountain, they have the same substance, nature, character. It is as hard and enduring as the mountain because it came out of the mountain. Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top