作為一名基督徒意味著什麼 What It Means to Be a Christian
作為一名基督徒不僅是認同一個特定的宗教或者接受一種價值體系。作為一名基督徒意味著你已經完全接受聖經對於神、人和救恩的教導。讓我們考慮以下聖經中的真理。Being a Christian is more than identifying yourself with a particular religion or affirming a certain value system. Being a Christian means you have embraced what the Bible says about God, mankind, and salvation. Consider the following truths found in the Bible.
神是全權的創造者 God Is Sovereign Creator
當代思想説人是進化的產物。但聖經説我們是由一位有位格的神所造，來愛祂，服侍祂並享受與祂永恆的團契。聖經新約啓示是耶穌自己創造萬物（約翰福音1:3；歌羅西書1:16）。因此，祂也擁有和統管萬有（詩篇103:19）。這意味著祂對我們的生命有至高的權柄, 並且我們應給祂完全的委身、順服和敬拜。Contemporary thinking says man is the product of evolution. But the Bible says we were created by a personal God to love, serve, and enjoy endless fellowship with Him. The New Testament reveals it was Jesus Himself who created everything (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16). Therefore, He also owns and rules everything (Psalm 103:19). That means He has authority over our lives and we owe Him absolute allegiance, obedience, and worship.
神是聖潔 God Is Holy
神是絕對及完美地聖潔（以賽亞書6:3）；因此，祂不能犯罪或認可罪（雅各書1:13）。神要求我們也要聖潔。彼得前書1:16説，“你們要聖潔，因為我是聖潔的。” God is absolutely and perfectly holy (Isaiah 6:3); therefore He cannot commit or approve of evil (James 1:13). God requires holiness of us as well. First Peter 1:16 says, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
人類是有罪的 Mankind Is Sinful
根據聖經，每個人都犯了罪：“世上没有不犯罪的人”（列王紀上8:46）。這不意味著我們無法行出任何人類的良善。然而，靠我們自己我們根本不能明白神、愛神或討神的喜悅（羅馬書3:10-12）。According to Scripture, everyone is guilty of sin: “There is no man who does not sin” (1 Kings 8:46). That doesn’t mean we’re incapable of performing acts of human kindness. But we’re utterly incapable of understanding, loving, or pleasing God on our own (Romans 3:10-12).
罪要被懲罰 Sin Demands a Penalty
神的聖潔和公義要求任何罪必須以死亡來懲罰（以西結書18:4）。這就是為什麼僅僅改變我們行為的模式不能解決我們罪的問題及消除罪的後果。God’s holiness and justice demand that all sin be punished by death (Ezekiel 18:4). That’s why simply changing our patterns of behavior can’t solve our sin problem or eliminate its consequences.
耶穌是主和救主 Jesus Is Lord and Savior
羅馬書10:9説，“你若口裡認耶穌為主，心裡信神使他從死裡復活，就必得救。“ 雖然神的公義要求用死來付罪的代價，但祂的愛提供了一位救主，他為罪人死了並付清了罪的代價（彼得前書3:18）。基督的死滿足了神公義的要求，基督的完美一生滿足了神聖潔的要求（哥林多後書5：21），從而能讓神饒恕拯救那些相信耶穌基督的人（羅馬書3:26）。Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.” Even though God’s justice demands death for sin, His love has provided a Savior who paid the penalty and died for sinners (1 Peter 3:18). Christ’s death satisfied the demands of God’s justice, and Christ’s perfect life satisfied the demands of God’s holiness (2 Corinthians 5:21), thereby enabling Him to forgive and save those who place their faith in Him (Romans 3:26).
得救信心的特徵 The Character of Saving Faith
真正的信心一定伴隨著悔改轉離罪。悔改是認同神説我們是罪人，向神認罪，並做出有意識的選擇轉離罪（路加福音13:3，5；帖撒羅尼迦前書1:9），追求基督（馬太福音11:28-30；約翰福音17:3），並順服祂（約翰一書2:3）。僅僅相信有關基督的某些事實是不夠的。即便撒旦和他的鬼魔也相信這位真神（雅各書2:19），但他們不愛祂也不順服祂。真正的得救信心總是以順服來回應的（以弗所書2:10）。True faith is always accompanied by repentance from sin. Repentance is agreeing with God that you are sinful, confessing your sins to Him, and making a conscious choice to turn from sin (Luke 13:3, 5; 1 Thessalonians 1:9), pursue Christ (Matthew 11:28–30; John 17:3), and obey Him (1 John 2:3). It isn’t enough to believe certain facts about Christ. Even Satan and his demons believe in the true God (James 2:19), but they don’t love and obey Him. True saving faith always responds in obedience (Ephesians 2:10).