Christadelphian Bible Mission--BASIC BIBLE TRUTHS

基督弟兄会圣经传教--基本圣经真理

Baptism,ITS MEANING AND IMPORTANCE

洗礼的含意及其重要性

 

When you have read this leaflet you will know the answers to these ques­tions:

1   Were the early followers of Jesus Christ baptized?

2   What does the Bible say about baptism?

3   What does baptism mean?

4   Why do I need to be baptized?

5   Why must I obey God's commands?

6   What must I do now, so that I can enjoy life for ever in God's kingdom?

 

当你读了本小册子，你就能明白下列问题的答案：

1. 耶稣基督的早期信徒受洗过吗？

2. 圣经是如何介绍洗礼的呢？

3. 洗礼是什么意思呢？

4. 我为什么需要洗礼呢？

5. 我为什么要听从神的命令呢？

6. 我必须了解什么才能在神的国里享受永生呢？

 

1. Were the early followers of 1. Were the early followers of Jesus Christ baptized?

1 耶稣基督的早期信徒受洗过吗?

 

Yes, the early followers of Jesus were baptized. Why? Because Jesus com­manded them to be. It was one of the most important commandments he gave. Baptism was the way in which people showed that they believed in Jesus and his teaching. Each new convert became a member of a special group of people, the disciples of Jesus. They preached God's Word and looked forward to the return of Jesus Christ to the earth.

是的，耶稣的早期信徒受洗。为什么呢? 因为耶稣吩咐他们受洗。这是耶稣颁布的最重要诫命之一。洗礼是百姓表示他们信仰耶稣及其教训的方法。每位新的皈依者都是一群特殊百姓当中的成员。 他们传播神的道，盼望耶稣基督早日重返地球。

Can you imagine a man being accept­ed into the army of any country, if he refused to obey the orders of the Commander-in-Chief? Jesus Christ, the Christian Leader, said, "If you love me you will obey my commands" (John 14:15). He also said, "Those who believe it (the gospel—the good news of his teaching) and receive baptism will be saved" (Mark 16:16). We must take Jesus at his word if we want to be accepted by him.

你可以想象如果有人绝不执行指挥官的命令，那么还有哪个国家的军队会接受他呢？基督徒的首领耶稣基督说：“你们若爱我，就必遵守我的命令”（约翰福音14：15）。他还说：“信而受洗的，必然得救；不信的，必被定罪”（马可福音16：16）。如果我们希望被耶稣接受就必须服从他的道 。

Baptism is a life-saving command from Jesus Christ. Philip believed that. He preached in Samaria, so successfully, that "when they came to believe Philip, with his good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, men and women alike were baptized (Acts 8:12). The message of belief, followed by baptism, is at the heart of the New Testament.

洗礼是耶稣拯救生命的命令。腓力相信耶稣的命令。 他在撒马利亚的传教很成功，“及至他们信了腓利所传神国的福音和耶稣基督的名，连男带女就受了洗”（使徒行传8：12）。洗礼之后信仰的教训是新约圣经里的核心。

 

2. What does the Bible say about baptism?

2. 圣经是如何介绍洗礼的呢？

 

Today, many churches sprinkle infants on the head and call it Baptism. This is not the baptism of the Bible. When the Bible speaks of baptism it tells us of adult men and women who make a deliberate choice. They wanted to obey the Lord Jesus and be baptized. They were com­pletely covered in water. This is the baptism of Bible times.

今天，许多教会把水洒在婴儿头上，称之为洗礼。这不是圣经中说的洗礼。圣经中讲的洗礼是我们成年男人或成年女人作出深思熟虑后的选择。他们要服从主耶稣的命令、受洗。他们完全浸在水中。这就是圣经时代洗礼的意思。

A good example to prove this, is found in Acts 8. Philip talked with an Ethiopian eunuch. He "told him the good news of Jesus" (verse 35). No doubt, while they talked, they were both carrying water for their journeys. It would have been easy for Philip to sprinkle water on the eunuch's head. But the eunuch, who believed the words Philip preached about Jesus, was not baptized until "they came to some water" (verse 36). The eunuch then said, "Look, here is water: what is to prevent my being baptized?" So "they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. When they came up from the water ... the eunuch ... went on his way rejoicing".

使徒行传第8章有一个很好的例子可以证明这一点。 腓利与衣索匹亚的太监谈话。他“对他传讲耶稣” （35节）。毫无疑问，在他们交谈时正为旅行提水。腓利很方便把水洒在监工的头上。但监工相信腓利传教关于耶稣的话，直到“到了有水的地方”（36节）才受洗。 然后监工说：“看哪，这里有水，我受洗有什么妨碍呢？”于是“腓利和太监二人同下水里去，腓利就给他施洗。从水里上来，主的灵把腓利提了去，太监．．．也不再见他了，就欢欢喜喜的走路。”

Notice, they both "went down into" and "came up from" the water. The eunuch was a mature person who believed the things preached by Philip concerning Jesus Christ. He was completely covered by water.

请注意他们俩都“下水里去” 和“从水里上来”。太监是个成年人，他相信腓力关于耶稣基督的传教。他完全浸在了水里。

 

3. What does baptism mean?

3. 洗礼是什么意思呢？

 

Why do we have to be completely cov­ered by water when we are baptized? God chose immersion in water because it is a very powerful way of showing us that our sins must be forgiven. Believers realise that they need saving from sin and require God's grace. They go under the water in baptism, and die to an old way of life. They come up out of the water to a new life. In baptism, believers identify with the death of Jesus Christ, who died for us.

当我们受洗时为什么要完全浸在水里呢? 神选择沉浸在水里的方法因为它是一种有效果的方法，表明我们的罪已被饶恕。信徒认识到他们需要从罪中得救，需要神的恩典。他们在洗礼时浸到水底，旧的生活方式已经死亡。他们从水中上来得新生。在洗礼时信徒认同耶稣基督的死亡，他为我们而死。

Just as Jesus rose from the dead, they also rise from the waters of baptism to "set out on a new life" (Romans 6:4). Now, believers are God's children, and they desire to please Him. If they do so, He will give them His great gift of ever­lasting life.　This will happen when Jesus comes to rule the world (Luke 1:32,33). No wonder Jesus regarded baptism as being so important.

就像耶稣从死亡中复活一样，他们也从洗礼的水中升起“新生的样式” （罗马书6：4）。现在，信徒成了神的子民，他们希望取悦他。如果他们这样做，他就赐他们永生的礼物。当耶稣来统治世界时会发生这事（路加福音1：32，33）。难怪耶稣把洗礼看得如此重要。

 

4. Why do I need to be baptized?

4.   为什么需要洗礼呢？

 

You need to be baptized because, like all mankind, you are dying. We have all earned the wage of sin. Paul tells us "the wage is death” (Romans 6:23). Without God, death is the end.

你需要洗礼是因为你和全人类所有的人一样都是要死的。我们大家都已挣得了罪的工价。保罗告诉我们 “罪的工价乃是死”（罗马书6：23）。离开神，死亡就是我们最终的结局。

People have a very bad habit of not wanting to think about important issues that they do not like. Death is one of those issues. We must be wise enough to face it. The good news is that God offers us everlasting life; but on His terms. That is fair, as He is the giver of life. Peter tells us, in Acts 2 and 3, that we must take five steps to salvation. They are:

人们有一个很怀的习惯，他们不愿思考那些虽然重要但自己不喜欢的问题。死亡就是其中的一个问题。我们必须明智地面对它。神带给我们的好消息就是永生：但有他自己的条件。他这样做是公平合理的，因为他赋予我们生命。彼得在使徒行传第二章和第三章告诉我们必须顺从拯救的五个步骤。它们是：

(a) Believe in Jesus Christ and his message.

(b) Repent (have a change of mind, realising that we need God and His forgiveness).

(c) Be converted (turn round and walk towards God).

(d) Obey Jesus by having our sins washed away in baptism.

(e) Continue faithfully in God's way (Acts 2:27-42; 3:18-21).

(a)　信仰耶稣及其教训。

(b)　悔改（有思想改变，认识到我们需要神，需要他的饶恕）。

(c)　归正（转过身来，朝向神）。

(d)　通过洗礼清洗我们的罪孽，顺从耶稣。

(e)　继续信实地走神的道路（使徒行传 2：27-42；3：18-21）。

 

God always keeps His promises. He will never let us down. As Jesus said, "No one can snatch them out of the Father's care" (John 10:29).

神始终遵循他的诺言。他从来都不会拒绝我们。正如耶稣说， “谁也不能从我父手里把他们夺去” （约翰福音10：29）。

 

5. Why must I obey God's commands?

5. 我为什么要听从神的命令呢？

 

The Bible tells us, from Genesis to Revelation, that God is serious. Obedience to God's commands brings life, and disobedience results in death. God always means what He says.

圣经从创世记到启示录都告诉我们神是认真的。顺从神的命令就会带给我们生命，违抗神的命令就会招致死亡。神说话始终都是算数的。

Noah preached to the wicked people of his day (Genesis 6). They had a choice. They could believe Noah's mes­sage, repent and be saved, or ignore it and perish. They ignored it and perished. God did not change His mind. Noah also had a choice. He could build an ark and be saved, or he could reject God's word. He built an ark. "Noah carried out exact­ly all God had commanded him" (verse 22). Because he was obedient, Noah was saved. For us to ignore God's clear com­mand to be baptized is to choose death rather than life.

挪亚向当代恶人传教（创世记6）。他们可选择。他们可以相信挪亚的教训，悔改并得救，也可以忽视它而毁灭。神没有改变他的思想。挪亚也有选择。他可以建造方舟并得救，也可以拒绝神的道。他建造了方舟。“挪亚就这样行。凡神所吩咐的，他都照样行了”（22节）。因为顺从，挪亚得救了。如果我们忽视神让我们受洗的明确指令，就等于选择死，放弃生。

The jailor at Philippi asked Paul and Silas: "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30). The answer came: "Put your trust in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved." He obeyed and was bap­tized.

腓力比的监工问保罗和希拉斯说：“二位先生，我当怎样行才可以得救”（使徒行传16：30）？他得到了这样的回答：“当信主耶稣，你和你一家都必得救。” 他顺从并受洗。

Jesus himself, though sinless, was　baptized. He said: “ It is right　for us to do　all that God requires” (Matthew 3:15).　Can we, who are sinners, ignore baptism　when Jesus didn’t? We must follow his　steps in this, as in all things.

耶稣自己虽然无罪，但仍受洗。他说：“因为我们理当这样尽诸般的义”（马太福音3：15）。连耶稣都没有忽视受洗，我们罪人能忽视洗礼吗？在所有这些事情上我们必须紧跟他的脚步。

 

6. What must I do now, so that I can ENJOY  LIFE   FOR   EVER   IN   GOD'S KINGDOM?

6. 我必须了解什么才能在神的国里享受永生呢？

 

To enjoy life for ever, you must take the five steps to salvation; every one of them. The record in Acts 10 concerning Cornelius shows us that just to live a good life, without being baptized, is not good enough. Peter ordered Cornelius "to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ" (verse 48).

为了永远享受生命，你必须做拯救的五个步骤；每步都不能缺。使徒行传第10章关于哥尼流的故事告诉我们仅仅过好生活，不受洗，并非尽善尽美。彼得吩咐哥尼流“奉耶稣基督的名给他们施洗。”（48节）。

Baptism is the start of a new life which will bring you great joy. It will give your life a renewed purpose. In an uncertain world, the God of Peace will give you peace.

洗礼是新生的开始，能带给你极大的欢乐。它会赋予你生命以新的目的。在未知的世界里，和平之神会赐你和平。

Are you wise enough to follow the command of Jesus Christ to believe and be baptized? What a blessing awaits you if you are! God will bless you with life for evermore, when Jesus returns to estab­lish his kingdom.

你是否明智，能够顺从耶稣基督的命令相信和接受洗礼吗？如果你明智，那么等待你的将是极大的赐福！当耶稣返回到他的国时神始终都会将生命赐予每个人。

“The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord."       (Romans 6:23)

“因为罪的工价乃是死；惟有神的恩赐，在我们的主基督耶稣里，乃是永生”（罗马书 6：23）。

 

 

Please tell us if you would like to know more about Bible teaching and the beliefs of Christadelphians. Would you like:

Other leaflets in this series?

•    A booklet Who are the Christadelphians?

•    A monthly magazine Glad Tidings?

•    A Postal Correspondence Course?

Ask your nearest Christadelphians or write to:

CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION c/o 404 SHAFTMOOR LANE BIRMINGHAM B28 8SZ, UK

请告诉我们你是否希望了解更多有关圣经的教义和基督弟兄会的信仰。你是否需要：

•    本系列的其它小册子？

•    一本《谁是基督弟兄会》的小册子？

•    一份《好消息》月刊杂志？

•    一本邮寄的函授教材？

请向距你最近的基督弟兄会索取或写信给：

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