Christadelphian Bible Mission--BASIC BIBLE TRUTHS

基督弟兄会圣经传教--基本圣经真理

God's Plan　for the World—and You

神对世界和你的计划

 

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

1. What is wrong with our world?

2.        Why is the world in such a mess?

3.        Does God really have a plan for the world?

4.        Does God have a plan for you?

 

当你读了本小册子，你就能明白下列问题的答案：

1. 我们的世界有什么不对吗?

2. 为什么世界如此混乱?

3. 为什么神对我们这个世界确实有一个计划呢？

4. 神对你有计划吗？

 

1. What is wrong with our world?

1. 我们的世界有什么不对吗?

 

If you don't agree that we have problems, you have been living on another planet! A police chief in the USA said: "There is no self-discipline. It's total indulgence. There is lack of respect for law and values."

That's a fair summary.　

如果你认为我们现在的世界没有面临的话，那么你就生活在另一个星球上！美国一位警察局长曾经说过：“人类没有自律，完全放任自流。不尊重法律和价值。”

这话说得非常在理。

• From lack of discipline has come cor­ruption, immorality, violence, drug and alcohol abuse, hijacking, kidnapping, theft, child abuse, homosexuality, rape and murder.

• 由于缺乏自律，人类产生了腐败、缺德、暴力、吸毒和滥用酒精、抢劫、绑架、偷盗、虐待儿童、同性恋、强奸和谋杀。

• Moral decline has also led to discon­tent, escapism, selfishness and an increase in suicides.

• 道德沦丧还导致了不满、逃避现实、自私和自杀的增加。

Societies and economies are falling apart. While the world population is grow­ing by over fifty million people a year, more than 10,000 children under the age of five are dying each day from starvation and disease. Mankind, left to itself, has a bleak future. It is a very sad story.

社会与经济土崩瓦解。虽然世界人口每年增长超过五千万，但每天五岁以下的儿童死于饥饿和疾病的数目超过１万人。人类，就其自身而言，黯淡无光。这是一个令人忧伤的故事。

 

2. Why is the world in such a mess?

2. 为什么世界如此混乱?

 

Lack of faith in God and obedience to His laws have brought these great evils. From the beginning, man chose his own way, instead of God's way. Adam sinned, he disobeyed God, and we, his 'children', have sinned ever since.

缺乏对神的信仰和对法律的顺从才导致了这些极恶。从一开始人就选择了自己的道路，而没有选择神的道路。亚当犯了罪，他违抗神，我们作为他的“子女”从此也犯了罪。

Jesus Christ, God's Son, was sinless. Listen to what he says: "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander" (Matthew 15:19, New International Version). That's a terri­ble, but accurate, list. The apostle James adds: "What causes fights and quar­rels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?" (James 4:1).

神的儿子耶稣基督是无罪的。让我们听一下他说的话：“因为从心里发出来的，有恶念、凶杀、奸淫、苟合、偷盗、妄证、谤渎”（马太福音15：19，新国际版）。那真可怕，但却是精确的表述。 使徒雅各补充说：“你们中间的争战斗殴是从哪里来的呢？不是从你们本体中战斗之私欲来的吗？” （雅各书4：1）。

 

Let's face it. Man, without God, is in a hopeless, desperate condition. Human nature needs changing. But don't despair: when God sends Jesus Christ back to the earth, things are going to get better—much better.

让我们面对它。离开神，人类就处于无望、绝望的境地。人性需要改变。但不要绝望：当神派遣耶稣基督返回到地球上时事情就会变得更好—好得多。

 

3. Does God really have a plan for the world?

3. 为什么神对我们这个世界确实有一个计划呢？

 

He certainly does! The Bible, His book, tells us all about it. Ask yourself: "What does the world need?" Compare your ideas with these: a world ruler—peace— no starvation—good health—no corrupt leaders—freedom from fear and oppres­sion—a common language—no arms race—just laws—help for the poor and homeless—no pollution. And, most importantly, the world needs God's laws to be known, understood and obeyed.

当然有！他的书圣经告诉了我们一切。请自问一下：“世界需要什么?” 把你的想法和下面这些概念作一比较：世界的统治者—和平— 没有饥饿—好身体—没有腐败的领导—摆脱恐惧与压迫—共同的语言—没有武器竞赛—公平的法律—帮助穷人和无家可归的人—没有污染。更重要的是，我们这个世界需要神的律法得到大家的了解、理解和服从。

God has promised to achieve all of these ideals, through Jesus Christ and his faithful, immortal helpers. The Bible has a phrase for such a time of blessing:

"THE KINGDOM OF GOD".

神已经应许我们会实现所有这些理想，靠耶稣基督和信实不朽的帮手。圣经有一个短语描写这赐福的时光：

“神的国”。

This is God's plan. At a time of great trouble, soon to come on the earth, people "will see the Son of man (Jesus) coming in a cloud with power and great glory" (Luke 21:27). He is coming to fulfil the promise made to Mary at his birth: "The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; his kingdom will never end" (Luke 1:32,33).

这是神的计划。在地球即将发生重大麻烦的时候百姓“要看见人子有能力，有大荣耀驾云降临” （路加福音21：27）。 他来是要实现在他出生时对马利亚的应许：“主神要把他祖大卫的位给他。他要作雅各家的王，直到永远；他的国也没有穷尽”（路加福音1：32，33）。

Yes, Jesus is coming to be the King of the Jews. But, not of the Jews only. He is to be King of the whole world. God never breaks His promises. He promised Jesus: "I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession" (Psalm 2:8). "All kings will bow down to him and all nations will  serve  him"   (Psalm  72:11).  No,　there's no getting away from it: Jesus will be "King of kings, and Lord of lords"　(Revelation 19:16).

是的，耶稣要做犹太人的王。但不仅仅是犹太人的王，他还要做全世界的王。神决不会食言。他答应耶稣：“我就将列国赐你为基业，将地极赐你为田产”（诗篇2：8）。“诸王都要叩拜他；万国都要事奉他”（诗篇72：11）。 不会有错：耶稣要做“万王之王，万主之主”（启示录19：16）。

It will be a time of great blessing for the people who survive God's judgement of the world and live in the Kingdom age. They will enjoy good health, a peaceful life and will learn of God's ways (Isaiah 35). "At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the Lord, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honour the name of the Lord" (Jeremiah 3:17).

对那些幸免于神的审判和能够生活在天国时代里的人来说，那是极大赐福的时候。他们将拥有健康的身体，和平的生活，能学会神的方法 （诗篇35）。“那时，人必称耶路撒冷为耶和华的宝座；万国必到耶路撒冷，在耶和华立名的地方聚集” （耶利米书3：17）。

There are two other wonderful facts about God's choice of His Son, Jesus, as king.

关于神选择他儿子耶稣为王还有另外两个令人惊讶的事实。

•       First, he is the perfect man for the job.　Think of his character: he was sinless,　uncorruptible,  loving, gracious, com­　passionate and sensitive to the needs　of the weak. He was also brave, men­　tally strong and just. He had the power　and authority of God at his command.　As king of the world, he will need all of　those qualities to rule the nations.

•       首先，他是这项工作最理想的人选。请思考一下他的品质：他无罪、不朽、有爱心、高尚、富有同情心，对弱者的需求能敏锐地察觉。而且他勇敢，在精神上坚强和公正。他可以支配神的能力和权柄。作为世界的王，他需要所有这些品质才能统治各国。

•       Second, because he lived a perfect life　on earth, always doing his Father's　will, after his death, "God raised him　from the dead" (Acts 2:24) and made　him  immortal. The world will  never　need another ruler! He will rule until all　God's enemies are destroyed. Finally,　he will destroy the curse of death itself　(1 Corinthians 15:25,26).

•       第二，因为他在地球上过了完美的生活，始终执行父的旨意，死后“神叫他复活”（使徒行传2：24），并使他不朽。世界决不需要另一位统治者！他将一直统治世界，直到神的敌人全部被消灭。他最终将消灭死亡本身（哥林多前书15：25，26）。

 

4. Does God have a plan for you?

4. 神对你有计划吗？

 

Yes, He does! No doubt you have a plan for this life. Perhaps it includes　

(1) getting married and having a family;

(2) holding a good job;

(3) enjoying security and

(4)          early retirement.

是的，他有！难怪你对此生有计划。或许包括

(1) 结婚和建立家庭；

(2) 有一份好的工作；

(3) 确保安全；

(4) 早点退休。

For many people, these are desirable goals. However, they do not compare with the plan that God has for those who faith­fully believe, trust and obey Him now. These are some of God's promises:

对于许多人来说，这些就是他们理想的目标。但是，他们没有把这些目标与神为那些现在忠诚地信仰他、信赖他和服从他的人所制定的计划相比较。下面是神的部分应许：

(a)         When Jesus comes to raise the dead and judge the world,  he will give everlasting life to those who have　loved and obeyed God. As Paul says, Jesus  "will  transform  our  lowly bodies so that they will be like his　glorious body" (Philippians 3:21).

(a) 当耶稣来复活死者和审判世界时，他会把永生赐予那些爱神和顺从神的人。正如保罗所说，耶稣将“我们这卑贱的身体改变形状，和他自己荣耀的身体相似”（腓力比书3：21）。

(b)         Those who are blessed with everlasting  life will  reign with Jesus  over God's Kingdom and help him estab　lish God's laws throughout the earth.

(b) 那些被赐予永生的人将和耶稣一道统治神的国，帮助他在全球建立神的律法。

(c)          The redeemed will help Jesus to rule the  nations  for the whole  of the Kingdom period, for "they came to　life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years" (Revelation 20:4).

(c) 得赎者将在整个天国时期帮助耶稣统治各国，因为“他们都复活了，与基督一同作王一千年”（启示录20：4）。

(d)         God's faithful ones (the redeemed) will never die. After the second resur­ rection at the end of the thousand　years, all God's chosen will live for ever in His Kingdom. God will be "all in all" (1 Corinthians 15:28).

(d) 神的信徒（得赎者）将永不死亡。在千禧年王国结束后第二次复活时，所有被神拣选的人将永远生活在他的国里。神将做“万物之主”（哥林多前书15：28）。

 

God's Conditions

神的条件

 

How does God's plan for His servants compare with your own? Is it bigger and greater? Surely, it is! And, it is ever­lasting. Even if your plan is successful,it won't last long. You must face the unpleasant fact that you are mortal.

神对仆人的计划与你自己的计划相比有什么不同呢? 是不是更宏伟更巨大? 当然是这样！而且还是永无止境的。即使你的计划成功了，也不会持久。你必须面对这个令人厌恶的事实：你是必死的！

God has a plan for you. Do you want to live for ever, in God's new world? You can do; but you need to do something about it. Are you willing to obey Him now? Jesus says, "Follow me", and, "If you love me, you will obey what I com­mand" (John 14:15).

神对你有计划。你想永远生活在神的新世界里吗？你能做得到；但你需要做一些事情。你现在愿意顺从他吗？耶稣说：“你们若爱我，就必遵守我的命令”（约翰福音14：15）。

God has promised: "Whosoever believes and is baptized will be saved"

(Mark 16:16). Jesus says that when he comes in his Father's glory, he will "reward each person according to what he has done" (Matthew 16:27).

神已经应许过：“信而受洗的，必然得救；不信的，必被定罪。”（马可福音16；16）。耶稣说当他藉父的荣誉再临时，他“要照各人的行为报应各人”（马太福音16：27）。

For God's loved ones, the day is com­ing when "the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people ... He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away" (Revelation 21:3,4).

God does not want you to miss that great day!

因为神的爱子，“神的帐幕在人间。他要与人同住，他们要作他的子民… 神要擦去他们一切的眼泪；不再有死亡，也不再有悲哀、哭号、疼痛，因为以前的事都过去了”（启示录21：3，4）。这样的日子马上就要来临了。

神不希望你错失那个伟大的日子！

 

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：

基督弟兄会圣经传教会

c/o 404 SHAFTMOOR LANE

BIRMINGHAM B28 8SZ，英国