Christadelphian Bible Mission--BASIC BIBLE TRUTHS

基督弟兄会圣经传教--基本圣经真理

The Holy Spirit, GOD'S SPECIAL POWER

圣灵，神的特别能力

 

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

1.    How do God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit relate to each other?

2.    How has God used His Holy Spirit in the past?

3.    Is God's Holy Spirit at work today?

4.    How will God use his Holy Spirit in the future?

 

当你读了本小册子，你就能明白下列问题的答案：

1.              神、耶稣基督和圣灵之间的相互关系如何？

2.              神在过去是如何使用他的圣灵的?

3.      今天神的圣灵还在工作吗?

4.      神在以后将如何使用圣灵呢？

 

1. HOW do God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit relate to each other?

1. 神、耶稣基督和圣灵之间的相互关系如何？

 

•       God is the great creator of all things

•       Jesus Christ is the Son of God

•       The Holy Spirit is the power of God.

•       神是万物伟大的造物主

•       耶稣基督是神的儿子

•       圣灵是神的能力

Can this be proved from the Bible? Yes, it can. God always called Jesus His Son. When Jesus was baptised God said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17).

这点在圣经里能找到证据吗?是的，能。神始终称耶稣是他的儿子。当耶稣受洗时神说：“这是我的爱子，我所喜悦的”(马太福音3:17)。

Jesus never claimed to be equal with God. He said "the Father is greater than I ... I love the Father" (John 14: 28-31). Jesus always called God his Father.

耶稣从来没有说过和神平等。他说“父是比我大的... 我爱父”(约翰福音14: 28-31)。耶稣始终称神是他的父。

God knew from the beginning of cre­ation that He would need to save the world through his son. However, Jesus did not exist until Mary gave birth. Peter said, "He (Jesus) was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake" (1 Peter 1:20). Jesus is always called the "Son of God" in the Bible, and never "God the Son".

神在创世之初就知道他需要靠他的儿子拯救世界。但是，在马丽亚生出耶稣之前，耶稣并不存在。 彼得说：“基督在创世以前是预先被神知道的，却在这末世才为你们显现”(彼得前书1:20)。在圣经里耶稣始终被称为“神的儿子” ，但从未被称呼“圣子”。

The Holy Spirit cannot be the third part of a "Trinity", if the first two parts do not exist. There is a strong relationship between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is not, however, one of being "co-equal and co-eternal".

如果三位一体的前两部分不存在，那么圣灵就不可能是第三部分。父、子和圣灵之间有很大的关系。但不是“共同和共存”的关系。

It is true that sometimes in the Bible, the Holy Spirit is called "He". But it is very common in the Bible for things to be given personalities. Here are two examples: Speaking of "Wisdom", we read "She is more precious than jewels" (Proverbs 3:15). Jesus spoke of "Riches" being a "Master" (Matthew 6:24). We even call ships "Her"!

的确，有时圣经把圣灵称为“他”。但圣经经常把事物拟人化。这里就有两个例子:说到“智慧” ，我们读到“她比珍珠宝贵”(箴3:15)。耶稣把“财富”说成是“主人”(马太福音6:24)。我们甚至把船说成“她”!

The Holy Spirit is God's power, not a person.

圣灵是神的能力，不是人。

 

2. HOW has God used His Holy Spirit in THE PAST?

2.              神在过去如何使用他的圣灵的?

 

God used His Holy Spirit at creation.

神在创世时使用过他的圣灵。

When "the earth was without form and void ... the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters" (Genesis 1:2).

“地是空虚混沌…神的灵运行在水面上”(创世记1:2)。

God used His Holy Spirit to create man. "the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the　man became a living creature" (Genesis 2:7).

神在造人时使用过他的圣灵。“耶和华神用地上的尘土造人，将生气吹在他鼻孔里，他就成了有灵的活人”(创世记2:7)。

God used His Holy Spirit to direct His prophets to teach Israel and to tell the nation of things to come. Peter said "no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). That is why we can trust the Bible teachings. All the mes­sages were God-given.

神使用他的圣灵指导先知，教导以色列，传授该国未来的事情。彼得说“因为预言从来没有出于人意的，乃是人被圣灵感动，说出神的话来”(彼得后书1:21)。正因如此，我们才应相信圣经的教导。所有的信息都是神赐予的。

God used His Holy Spirit on the vir­gin Mary. "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you； therefore the child to be born will be called holy - the Son of God" (Luke 1:35).

神对童女玛丽亚用过圣灵。“圣灵要临到你身上，至高者的能力要荫庇你，因此所要生的圣者必称为神的儿子”(路加福音1:35)。

God gave His Holy Spirit to Jesus without limit. Because of it, Jesus had a unique understanding of scripture. He knew that the Old Testament had prophe­cies about his birth, life, death and resur­rection. They all came true. Jesus raised from the dead Jairus' daughter, the widow of Nain's son and Lazarus. Jesus could truly say to the people, (and to us) “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life" (John 6:63). We should say with Peter "You have the words of eternal life" (v68).

神毫无限制地把他的圣灵给了耶稣。为此，耶稣能独特地理解圣经。他知道旧约圣经有他出生、生活、死亡和复活的预言。所有这些都成了现实。耶稣复活了睚鲁死去的女儿, 拿因村寡妇的儿子和拉撒路。耶稣真实地对百姓说，(也对我们说) “我对你们所说的话就是灵，就是生命”(约翰福音6:63)。我们应当和彼得一起说：“主啊，你有永生之道”(68节)。

God gave His Holy Spirit to the apostles. They needed special help to establish Christianity. It would not be easy. The Romans, who ruled Israel, had their own gods. The Jewish leaders hated Jesus so much that they crucified him. The fact that the apostles could perform miracles added weight to their words. God must have sent them to preach about Jesus. The results were impressive. Thousands believed and were baptised.

神把他的圣灵给了使徒们。他们需要特别的帮助才能建立基督教。那可不是容易的事情。统治以色列的罗马人有其自己的异神。犹太人的领袖非常憎恨耶稣，他们才钉死他。使徒们能创造奇迹又为他们说话增添了份量。神必须派遣他们传播耶稣。结果感人至深。成千上万的人信耶稣，并受洗。

Within thirty years, Christians were liv­ing in well-organised groups in many towns and cities, including Rome. The special gift of the Holy Spirit had served its purpose. Only the apostles had been able to pass on the power of the Spirit to others by the laying on of hands (Acts 8:14-24； 2 Timothy 1:2). After they died, and those to whom they gave it died, this special gift ceased.

在三十年的时间里，基督徒在许多城镇，包括罗马在内，都生活在良好组织的团体里。圣灵这一特殊的礼物服务神的目的。只有使徒能通过按手将圣灵的能力传递给他人(使徒行传8:14-24；提摩太后书1:2)。在他们死后，还有那些得到圣灵的人死后，这特别的礼物就停止了。

From the first century until today, nobody else has had personal control of God's Holy Spirit. We now have written down for us to read for ourselves, the complete, inspired Bible； these scriptures "are able to make you wise for salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15). We need nothing more.

从第一世纪至今，没有别的人拥有过神的圣灵。现在我们已下决心阅读整部受感动的圣经；这些圣书“能使你因信基督耶稣，有得救的智慧”(提摩太后书3:15)。我们无需别的东西。

 

3. IS God's Holy Spirit at work today? Yes, very much so.

3.今天神的圣灵还在工作吗? 是的，非常正确

 

God is still working through His Spirit by directing world affairs. Daniel told a king, "the Most High rules the king­doms of men and gives it to whom he will" (Daniel 4:32). God is still doing that today. The end of it all will be "the God of heav­en will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed" (Daniel 2:44).

神仍在通过他的圣灵工作，指导世间的事情。但以理曾告诉过一位国王，“至高者在人的国中掌权，要将国赐与谁就赐与谁”(但以理书4:32)。神在今天仍做那事。终结将是“天上的神必另立一国，永不败坏”(但以理书2:44)。

God is still working through His word the Bible. Paul said the gospel of Christ "is the power of God for salvation　to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16). We can be influenced by God's word. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17 NKJV).

神仍通过他在圣经里的道工作。彼得说基督的福音“是神的大能，要救一切相信的”(罗马书1:16)。我们要受神的道的影响。“可见信道是从听道来的，听道是从基督的话来的”(罗马书10:17，NKJV)。

Faith will help us to keep God's command­ments.

信仰有助于我们遵守神的诫命。

Because the scriptures were written under the influence of God's Holy Spirit, believers will have the "Spirit of Christ" (Romans 8:9). That is, the influence of God's word will help us to develop spiritu­al lives. This is vital, but very different from us having special powers like the apos­tles.

因为圣书是在神的圣灵指导下撰写的，信徒有“基督的灵”(罗马书8:9)。也就是说，神的道的影响会帮助他们发展精神生活。这是至关重要的，但不是说我们具有像使徒们那样特殊的能力了。

God is still working by answering prayer. We are encouraged to "pray with­out ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). "If we ask anything according to His will He hears us" (1 John 5:14). Being able to talk to God in prayer is a great blessing. He will answer our prayers in a way which will best help our spiritual growth.

神仍然通过回答祈祷来工作。要求我们“不住的祷告”(帖撒罗尼亚前书5:17)。“我们若照他的旨意求什么，他就听我们”(约翰一书5:14)。在祈祷中能与神交谈是极大的福气。他会回答我们的祈祷，能极大地帮助我们精神成长。

 

4. HOW will God use His Holy Spirit in　THE FUTURE?

4. 神在以后将如何使用圣灵呢？

 

God will use His Holy Spirit to bring about His kingdom on earth. "truly, as I live ... all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD" (Numbers 14:21). This will be achieved when Jesus returns to be king of the world.

神将使用他的圣灵，让他的国降临到地球上。“我指着我的永生起誓，遍地要被我的荣耀充满”(民数记14:21)。当耶稣返回到地球上做王时，这一理想就能实现。

God will use His Holy Spirit to raise the dead, and give his faithful ones ever­lasting life (John 5:28,29). They will then be able to use God's spirit as Jesus did.

神将使用他的圣灵复活死者，让信徒得永生(翰约福音5:28,29)。那时他们能像耶稣那样使用神的灵。

God will use His Holy Spirit, through His word the Bible. The mortal popula­tion, then, as now, will have the opportuni­ty to respond to it.

神将通过他在圣经里的道使用圣灵。那样，腐朽的人类就有对圣灵反应的机会，就像现在一样。

The great news is, if you follow Jesus now, you will live forever with him. You will have a glorified immortal body (one that does not die), just like Jesus has now (Philippians 3:20,21). May we all be wise enough to heed the words of Jesus: "hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live" (John 5:25).

如果你现在顺从耶稣，那么最大的好消息就是你将永远和他一起生活。你将有一个高贵不朽的身体(不死之躯)，就像耶稣现在拥有的身体那样(腓力比书3:20,21)。愿我们大家都明智，注意耶稣的话“要听见神儿子的声音，听见的人就要活了”(约翰福音5:25)。

 

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