於2022-08-18發佈

 

選擇 13
雷克-喬納

聖經中沒有所謂的 "講台決志呼召"。在聖經中,我們沒有看到有人邀請我們舉手,如果我們想跟隨耶穌。現在人們被呼召跟隨耶穌的這些膚淺的方式是否與許多基督徒現在跟隨耶穌的膚淺方式有關?

正如潘霍華(Bonhoeffer)所說:「當基督呼召一個人,祂是召他來死。」。他們要對以前的生活死,不再為自己而活,而是為祂而活。在新約中,當有人承諾跟隨耶穌時,他們立即接受水的洗禮,這代表了一種完全的承諾和生活的改變。這種用更容易的 "接受耶穌 "的方式取代聖經中的承諾,會不會是今天的信徒生活得更加隨意、膚淺的原因?聖經中信徒的激進性質與今天可接受的東西之間存在著巨大的反差。

這也可以解釋為什麼今天有多達95%的 "決定接受基督 "的人沒有 "加入教會"。在新約中,承諾跟隨耶穌的人100%都 "加入了教會"(見使徒行傳2:47)。在新約中,接受水洗是一個大膽的公開聲明,表明他們承諾與耶穌一起死,這樣他們也可以與耶穌一起復活。

這不是關於水;而是關於我們生命中最重要的承諾。正如婚禮不是關於婚姻,而是關於對婚姻的承諾一樣,洗禮也是如此。它是一個承諾,即向這個世界死去,並在祂那裡獲得新的生命--跟隨國王,為祂而活,遵從祂的意願,而不是我們的。我們應該在婚禮上大做文章,因為婚姻承諾是如此重要。與主結合是多麼重要?

這並不是要通過他們如何向主做出承諾來判斷任何人的救贖。正如使徒保羅所說:"主認識誰是他的人"(見提摩太後書2:19)。然而,我們也需要根據別人的果實來判斷他們。當某人的生活或生活方式在此後沒有任何改變時,我們真的能相信他 "把生命交給了耶穌 "嗎?會不會是那些淺薄的資訊導致人們做出淺薄的決定,使他們認為自己已經 "得救",而事實上他們的永生仍然處於危險之中?

耶穌問道:"你們為什麼稱呼我主啊,主啊,卻不遵我的話行呢?"(見路加福音6:46)?如果我們真的相信他是主,是萬物的創造者,那麼有什麼能使我們對認識祂、跟隨祂、在所有事情上服從祂的奉獻黯然失色?

聖經宣稱,那些相信主耶穌的人將得到拯救。這裡的希臘語eis翻譯為in,字面意思是 "進入"。Eis意味著從外面的位置轉移到裡面的位置。對耶穌是誰的瞭解是一個開始,但正如我們被告知的那樣,即使是魔鬼也相信這一點,而魔鬼顯然沒有得救。相信他,或者相信他作為萬王之王的存在和今天的存在,與相信他並不相同。相信他將導致生命的徹底改變,並將由我們生命中的果實來證明。

如果我們是一個通過淺薄的資訊來到他身邊的人,只需要對祂有淺薄的委身,那麼 "今天你們若聽見他的聲音,不要硬著心腸......"(見希伯來書3:7,15;4:7)。那些真正相信祂的人,不僅偶爾會拜訪祂,而且還活在祂裡面。祂是道路、真理和生命。認識祂是道路是我們的開始,認識祂是真理是我們的繼續,但如果祂不是我們的生命,這些對我們都不是真實的。 

 

Choices, Part 13
Rick Joyner

There is no such thing as an “altar call” in Scripture. Nowhere in Scripture do we see invitations being given to raise our hands if we want to follow Jesus. Could these superficial ways people are now being called to follow Jesus have something to do with the superficial ways many Christians are now following Him?

As Bonhoeffer said, “When Christ calls a man, He bids Him come and die.” They are to die to their former life and no longer live for themselves, but for Him. In the New Testament, when someone made a commitment to follow Jesus, they were immediately water baptized, which represented a total commitment and change of life. Could this supplanting of the biblical way to commit to Christ with easier ways to “accept Jesus” be why believers today live far more casual, superficial lives? There is a great contrast between the radical nature of believers in Scripture and what is acceptable today.

This may also explain why as many as 95% of those who “make a decision for Christ” are not “added to the church” today. In the New Testament, 100% of those who committed to following Jesus were “added to the church” (see Acts 2:47). In the New Testament, to be water baptized was a bold public statement of their commitment to die with Him, so they could also be raised with Him.

It’s not about the water; it’s about the most important commitment of our lives. Just as a wedding is not about a marriage but about a commitment to be married, so is baptism. It is a commitment to die to this world and be raised to a new life in Him—to follow the King, live for Him, and do His will, not ours. We should make big deals out of weddings because the marriage commitment is so important. How much more important is being joined to the Lord?

This is not to judge anyone’s salvation by how they made a commitment to the Lord. As the Apostle Paul said, “The Lord knows those who are His” (see II Timothy 2:19). However, we are also required to judge others by their fruit. Can we really believe someone “gave their life to Jesus” when there is no change in their life or lifestyle thereafter? Could it be that shallow messages that lead people to make shallow decisions lead them to think they are “saved” when in fact their eternal lives are still in jeopardy?

Jesus asked, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord’ and not do the things which I say” (see Luke 6:46 NKJV)? If we really believe He is the Lord and Creator of all, what can possibly eclipse our devotion to knowing, following, and obeying Him in all things?

The Scriptures declare that those who believe in the Lord Jesus will be saved. The Greek word eis translated as in here literally means “into.” Eis means to be transferred from a position outside to a position inside. The knowledge of who Jesus is, is a start, but as we are told, even demons believe this, and demons are obviously not saved. Believing in Him, or that He existed and exists today as King of kings is not the same as believing into Him. To believe into Him will result in a radical change of life and will be attested by the fruit in our lives.

If we are one who has come to Him by a shallow message that only required a shallow devotion to Him, then “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart…” (see Hebrews 3:7,15; 4:7). Those who truly believe in Him, not only occasionally visit with Him, but they also live in Him. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Knowing Him as the Way is how we start and knowing Him as the Truth is how we continue, but neither of these are real to us if He is not our Life.