神应许给您的地
5. God's Land of Promises For You
It's going to be a long trip.
No matter where you live. Small town or big city
Your future is tied up in what happens herethe Middle East.
You may not think much about what happens here day to day
until a new act of terrorism or international incident brings the Middle East to center stage. on the nightly news.
But of all the places on earth, however newsworthy the events of the day, no matter how frightening or tragic or momentous or thrillingthis place, this ancient land is where the most momentous and thrilling events of history have happened and will happen. This is truly God's land of promises. And those promises involve you.
You know it's one thing to sit at home and read your Bible and read about Bible events but it's something else again to be here in the land of Israel surrounded by all this history.
Now you might be asking yourself "How is the history of Israel important to me " Well, sit back, relax. Paul and I will do the driving and we'll use Israel as a backdrop to answer that question. Paul, let's go to the place where it all started.
That's the perfect place to begin.
Shechem is a modern city now. Of course, none of this was here when Abraham arrived. This is where the father of the Jewish people built his first altar in Israel. The reason he built the altar here is that Shechem is where God made the first of many promises to him. It's in Genesis 12:7. "To your seed I will give this land."
Over the course of Abraham's life God continued to make more promises to him because he was a faithful man. Here's a list of references to where these promises are found. They start in Genesis 12 and pop up in the chapters that cover the details of Abraham's life through Genesis 22. The promises all center around these main elements. First, that Abraham would have lots of descendants and one of his descendants would be specially important. Second that Abraham and his offspring would own this land forever. And third that eventually the whole earth would be blessed because of Abraham.
The first element of God's promises to Abraham would definitely seem to have been fulfilled. The literal flesh and blood descendants of Abraham can be found throughout history and throughout the world. In fact Israel is their land, established by miracle in 1948. But here's something amazing. The apostle Paul makes a startling statement in Galatians 3.
"Understand then that those who believe are children of Abraham. The scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: All nations will be blessed through you. So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith." What's startling about this is that Paul who himself was a Jew by birth says that, as far as God is concerned it is people of faith who are the true descendants of Abraham. The same point is emphasized in Romans chapter 2. "For he is not a real Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical. He is a Jew who is one inwardly and true circumcision is a matter of the heart, spiritual and not literal. His praise is not from men but from God."
Now go back to Galatians 3: "For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's then you are Abraham's offspring and heirs according to promise.
In Jesus' day people came to the Jordan to show their repentance. Jesus made baptism and outward sign of an inward commitment to him. Those who want to be Jesus disciples are commanded to be baptized to indicate their faith in him. And when a person has been baptized into Christ Paul says that he or she becomes one of Abraham's offspring, an heir of the promises. What are those promises again Lots of descendants one of whom is special; owning the land of Abraham's sojourning; and blessings for the whole earth.
Before we move on I want to point out that the most important implication of God's promises is that God wants to develop a relationship with people. This is exactly what he said to Abraham in Genesis 17. "I will establish my covenant between me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant to be God to you and to your descendants after you." God wants to begin a fellowship with people in this life that will continue throughout eternity.
There are dozens of Christian churches here in Israel. One stands on just about every spot associated with a key event or part of the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is Gethsemane. I bet it was a lot quieter in Jesus day. Seriously though, Bible Christianity has its roots in the Old Testament.
Do you know about the link between Jesus and the promises made to Abraham and what it could mean to you personally
This is the Via Dolorosa, the way of sorrows. It's the route that Jesus took through Jerusalem carrying his cross to his sacrificial death.
We've come here to emphasize the connection between Jesus and the promises to Abraham. When I say the word gospel my guess is you think of the sacrificial death of Jesus, how Jesus died to make atonement for sin. But there are actually two parts to the gospel. The gospel or good news that Jesus preached was actually about the Kingdom of God, not about his death. Listen to this: "And the people sought him and came to him and would have kept him from leaving them; but he said to them, 'I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also for I was sent for this purpose.'" "Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages preaching and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God."
Jesus sent his disciples to the towns and villages of Israel with a mission. Luke says: "And he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal. And they went through the villages preaching the gospel and healing everywhere." But the gospel they preached didn't include anything about the death and sacrifice of Christ. How do we know this Later in the same chapter Jesus says this: "Let these words sink into your ears. For the son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men. But they did not understand this saying. And it was concealed from them that they should not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
See the point His disciples weren't able to understand that Jesus was going to die. So when he sent them out preaching their gospel didn't include anything about Jesus' sacrifice for sin. It was the same message that Jesus preached. Information about the kingdom of God. And here's something that may surprise you. The message about the kingdom didn't change even after Jesus' death and resurrection. Go to the Acts and we read this: But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women."
The apostles simply expanded the gospel to include information about Jesus work of redemption.
Sea of Galilee. Gorgeous view isn't it
Sure is. It was in this area that Jesus met with his disciples just after his resurrection. He was getting them ready for the mission work he was going to do after he left them and what he spoke to them about was the kingdom of God. It's right here in Acts 1: "To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking of the kingdom of God." This was his gospel or good news.
Now while we're on the subject of the gospel let me show you something else. Sometimes people think that the gospel is only a New Testament term or idea. But that's not the case. Here, take a look at this: And the scripture seeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed."
See It was long, long ago that Abraham had the gospel preached to him. It's the good news of God, God's kingdom on earth. One day the whole earth will be blessed by God. Abraham believed and he was blessed. And faithful men and women throughout the ages will also be blessed with Abraham, Jew and Gentile alike.
It was on a mountain like this where Jesus taught his disciples to pray. You remember the Lord's prayer. He taught us to pray: "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
God has made it clear that he intends to fill the earth with his glory. When we pray the Lord's prayer, we're letting God know that we're looking forward to his kingdom coming here to earth so that his will will be done here as it's beijng done in heaven. We're expressing our desire for his glory to fill the earth. These ideas go hand in hand with the Beatitudes that Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount: "The meek shall inherit the earth." The faithful of all ages will one day inherit all the earth and will begin here in the land of Israel and start with Abraham the father of the faithful.
God promised very specifically to give to Abraham this land that I'm standing on. Let's go back to that list that we looked at earlier and look at another one of the references. Notice how direct God's statement is: "And the Lord said unto Abraham after Lot was separated from him, 'Lift up now thine eyes and look from the place where thou art northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which thou seest to thee will I give it and to thy seed for ever.'"
Now take a look at this: "And he gave him none inheritance in it, no not so much as to set his foot on; yet he promised to give it to him for a possession and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child."
Acts 7:5 is clear. God give him even this much land, enough to set his foot on. The writer to the Hebrews is equally clear: "These all died in faith not having received what was promised, but having seen it and having greeted it from afar and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. And all these (including Abraham) though well attested by their faith did not receive what was promised since God had foreseen something better for us that apart from us they should not be made perfect."
So the question is: Does God keep His promises or not Genesis tells us how Abraham lived on this land, traveling from place to place, actually having to buy a piece of ground near Hebron to bury Sarah his wife. Abraham's been dead and buried there too for thirty eight hundred years or so. How will God keep His promise to Abraham By raising him from the dead.
It is said that this is the tomb that Jesus was place in after his crucifixion. That may or may not be true. But one thing is certain. Jesus did rise from the dead and it certainly could have been from a tomb like this. His death is important but his resurrection is vitally important.
Jesus' resurrection is the model for what is going to happen to all the faithful who have died waiting for the kingdom of God. They'll be resurrected. That's what Paul says: "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. By firstfuits he means that Jesus is simply the first of many people who will eventually be raised from the dead.
That's how Abraham will be able to inherit the land that he has been promised. God will bring him back to life the same way he brought Jesus back to life. Look what Paul wrote to the Thessalonians:
"For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with the cry of command, with the archangel's call and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord."
This concept of resurrection is found throughout the Bible. You might want to make a note of these passages and look them up later.
(ancient Caesarea
Mount Tabor
Nazareth
Looking across the Sea of Dalilee
Qumart Cave IV
The Dead Sea
Ten miles west of Jerusalem )
The part I really like best about coming to Israel is going to Jerusalem. It's just an awesome city. It will be the throne of the king.
This place is especially linked to God's promises. It's the temple mount in Jerusalem. The Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa mosque stand here now, but it's the site of the ancient temples of Israel.
Remember the elements of the promises God made to Abraham Abraham would have lots of descendants one of whom would be special. He and his descendants would possess the land of Israel. And the whole earth would be blessed as a result of Abraham's faith. Right after Abraham showed that he was willing to sacrifice his only son Isaac God restated His promises to Abraham.
"By myself I have sworn saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, that in blessing I will bless thee and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is upon the seashore. And thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because thou hast obeyed my voice."
Now it's not too difficult to figure out who this seed is. But there is no need for us to guess. The apostle Paul makes it perfectly clear: "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, 'And to seeds, as of many, but as of one, "And to thy seed which is Christ." So Jesus Christ is the central figure of the promises to Abraham. But what was God talking about when he said, "Thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies "
The only way into or out of a city that has walls is through the gate. When you possess the gate of your enemy, you control your enemy. In first Corinthians 15, a chapter that gives us a lot of information about resurrection, Paul talks about how Jesus is going to systematically deal with his enemies in the future. Let's read the passage: "Then comes the end when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until hi has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death."
Cemeteries like this one on the Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem are monuments to the fact that death is our great enemy. But the crowning work of Christ Jesus will be to abolish death completely someday. Jesus talked during his ministry about a time in the future when he will initiate a great resurrection. "For the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come forth; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgement."
Remember the question that Paul posed earlier The Bible is clear that Abraham never got what God promised him. But the Bible is equally clear that the true hope of God's faithful people is to be resurrected. In fact the word that is translated resurrection in our English versions literally means "to stand again."
It's not something mystical or spiritual. It simply means that people who have died will be alive again. Abraham and all God's faithful will stand again on the earth just like Jesus did after his resurrection. And because Abraham's alive, he will receive what God has promised him. But Abraham isn't the only one who will receive the blessings. Remember the elements of the promises to Abraham Lots of descendants, one of them being the Christ. The land of Abraham's sojourning as a real possession. And blessings for the whole earth.
The part about blessings for the whole earth That ties in with our next destination in this land of promises.
Remember the account of Jesus' birth Shepherds were watching their flocks on these very hills outside of Bethlehem the night he was born. An angel suddenly appeared with a heavenly promise: "And the angel said to them 'Be not afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.'"
This idea of a great joy coming to all peoples connects directly to the promise that God made to Abraham that all the nations of the earth would be blessed through him.
Bethlehem! This is David's hometown. It's changed quite a bit since then. King David was a man after God's own heart. In much the same way that God made promises to Abraham, God made some specific promises to David. It was right after David had expressed his desire to build a temple for God in Jerusalem. "Moreover I declare to you that the Lord will build you a house. When your days are fulfilled to go to be with your fathers I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for me and I will establish his throne forever. I will be his father and he shall be my son; I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom for ever and his throne shall be established for ever."
The key word here is "for ever". God promised David that one of his descendants would reign for ever. David recognized immediately that God was talking about someone special, someone in the future, the promised seed of Abraham. We know he understood this because he said this in verse 17: "Thou hast also spoken of thy servants house for a great while to come and hast shown me future generations, O Lord God." God was of course talking about Jesus, the son of David. And that title "the son of David", meant a lot to people of Jesus' day. Look at this. "And all the people were amazed and said 'Can this be the Son of David "
They were actually making refence to that passage in the Old Testament that we just looked at where God made promises to David. They knew that Jesus was literally a descendant of David. What they were wondering was if he was the long promised "Son" with a capital "S", in other words, the Messiah. They were of course, right on the mark. Remember what the angel Gabriel told Mary about Jesus "He shall be great and shall be called the son of the Highest and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end."
God once had a kingdom on earth. It was manifested in the kingdom of David as he ruled over the twelve tribes of Israel from Jerusalem. Scripture makes it clear that David was enthroned as God's representative and the throne still belonged to God. See what it says here in First Chronicles. This is what David said when he announced that Solomon would be king. "And of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons) he has chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne pf the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.
So while there was a human king, he sat upon the Lord's throne. And that throne was here in the city of Jerusalem, right here on Mount Zion where I'm standing. God promised that he would make Zion the capital city of the whole world. Isaiah the prophet said: "It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains and shall be raised above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it. And many peoples shall come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he might teach us his ways and that we may wolk in his paths'. For out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."
The kingdom of God prospered in the days of David and Solomon his son. However as time passed the nation of Israel forsook God and repudiated their privileged position as God's special people. Therefore God let his kingdom be overrun and destroyed by the Gentiles. There would be no king in Jerusalem until the promised son of David appeared. Jesus was born king of the Jews. He is the Messiah of God. When Jesus came to Jerusalem for his last Passover he deliberately rode upon an ass and the colt of an ass in fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy indicating the coming of a king. And the people hailed Jesus as the son of God the one who would sit on David's throne and reign over the house of Israel forever. And Jesus was that man. But first he had to die and win his great victory over death with his resurrection.
Forty days after his resurrection, right here on the Mount of Olives the disciples just had one question for Jesus: "Lord will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel "
They had thought that he was going to restore the kingdom to Israel earlier but had been mistaken. Now they wanted to know, since he was alive again and immortal if this was now the next step. It wasn't the wrong question. It was the right question. It is in God's plan to restore the kingdom to Israel. They just had the timing wrong. This is how Jesus answered their question.
"It is not for you to know the times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth."
In other words he told them it wasn't for them to know when the kingdom was going to be restored to Israel. Instead he said,'You have work to do first." It would be work that would take the disciples to the ends of the earth.
One of those who was involved in this work was the apostle Paul. He left this city, Caesarea for Rome for trial for his faith. He had appealed to Caesar.
But when Paul arrived in Rome he spoke with the Jews who lived there. This is what he said to them: "For this reason therefore I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain."
What is this hope of Israel It's just what the disciples had talked to Jesus about: the restoration of the kingdom of God to Israel.
That involved Jesus, the promised seed of Abraham, sitting on the throne of David and reigning over Israel from Jerusalem. Faithful people from throughout the ages, the children of Abraham Jews and Gentiles alike, will be resurrected to share in this glorious kingdom. Evenutally the whole earth will be ruled by Jesus. The meek really will inherit the earth. God's kingdom really will come. And in this way, the promise to Abraham that all the families of the earth will be blessed because of him will be fulfilled.
There's one more promise made here in God's land of promises. It was made right here on the Mount of Olives. After Jesus told his disciples that they would be witnesses to the whole world something very unusual happened: "As they were looking on, he was lifted up and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold two men stood by them in white robes and said: 'Men of Galilee why do you stand looking into heaven This Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.'"
The promise couldn't be clearer or more specific. Jesus will come back the same way he left, descending in power to this place. He'll establish the capital of his worldwide government here, in Jerusalem.
That's right Paul. And the prophet Isaiah conveyed the same promise: "Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will do this."
It's a promise from God and God doesn't break any of his promises. You and I have been offered a place in the eternal kingdom of God. That's great news for every one of us.
It's really important that we understand just what God has promised us. The only way is through faith just like Abraham. And by declaring this faith by baptism by into Christ. We have to be in Christ in order to be Abraham's heirs, in line to inherit these promises.
You know Norm this land will be mine one day. Mine too.
Will it be yours
5. 神应许给您的地
这将是一次遥远的旅程.
无论你居住在何处,是小城镇还是大都市…
你的未来都与这里发生的事情紧密相联…中东地区.
你可能不太关心这里日复一日发生的事情…
…直到一起新的恐怖主义行为或国际性事件使中东成了晚间电视报道的中心.
但现在世界各地,无论今天的事件多么具有新闻价值,令人恐惧,悲惨,具有突出意义还是令人毛骨悚然…这个地方,这块古老的地在历史上发生了最重要和最令人心悸的事件,并还将继续发生.这确实是神的应许之地.这些应许还关系到你.
你知道,坐在家里读圣经和圣经里的事件是一回事,而身处这块被历史包围的以色列土地上是有另外一层意义的.
现在你或许会问自己:"以色列的历史怎么对我重要呢 " 好了,坐下来,休息一下. 保罗和我将驾车,我们将用以色列为背景回答那个问题.保罗,让我们回到开始的地方.
这我们开始交谈的最佳地方.
示剑现在是一座现代城市.当然,亚伯拉罕来的时候不是这样的. 在这里犹太人的祖先建立了以色列的第一个祭坛.他在这里建造祭坛的原因是:示剑是神最早向他作应许的地方. 这个应许记录在创世记12:7:"我要把这地赐给你的后裔."
在亚伯拉罕的生命历程里,神继续向他作出更多的应许,因为他是一个有信心的人. 从下面的参考资料中,我们可以找到这些应许. 它们从创世记第12章开始,贯穿创世记22章,涵盖了亚伯拉罕所有的年龄段. 这些应许围绕着以下主要因素: 首先,亚伯拉罕会有许多后裔,有一个后裔特别重要.第二,亚伯拉罕及其后裔将永远拥有这地.第三,最终整个地球都将因为亚伯拉罕而得福.
神对亚伯拉罕第一个应许的因素看起来已经肯定实现了.亚伯拉罕血肉后裔在各历史阶段和世界各地都随处可见.事实上以色列就是他们的国家,这个国家在1948年奇迹般地建立起来了.但还有一些奇妙的事情. 使徒保罗曾在迦拉太书第3章中作过令人惊讶的论述.
"那以信为本的人,就是亚伯拉罕的子孙. 并且圣经既然预先看明,神要叫外邦人因信称义,就早已传福音给亚伯拉罕,说: 万国都必因你得福. 可见那以信为本的人和有信心的亚伯拉罕一同得福." 令人吃惊的是出身为犹太人的保罗说,对于神,有信心的人就是亚伯拉罕的真正后裔. 这一点也在罗马书第二章里强调过:"因为外面作犹太人的,不是真犹太人;外面肉身的割礼,也不是真割礼. 惟有里面作的,才是真犹太人;真割礼也是心里的,在乎灵,不在乎仪文. 这人的称赞不是从人来的,乃是从神来的."
现在让我们回到加拉太书第3章:"所以,你们因信基督耶稣都是神的儿子. 你们受洗归入基督的都是披戴基督了. 并不分犹太人,希腊人,自主的,为奴的,或男或女,因为你们在基督耶稣里都成为一了. 你们既属乎基督,就是亚伯拉罕的后裔,是照着应许承受产业的了."
在耶稣时代,百姓来到约旦河表达他们的悔改. 耶稣作洗礼,通过外在的迹象表达内在对他的忠诚. 那些要做耶稣门徒的人被命令接受洗礼,表达对他的信仰. 当一个人受洗归入基督时,保罗说他或她就成了亚伯拉罕的后裔和应许的继承人.这些应许是什么呢 在众多的后裔中,有一位很特殊;拥有亚伯拉罕生活时的地;对全世界的赐福.
在我们继续往下说之前,我要指出的是,神的应许里最重要的含义是神希望发展与百姓的关系. 这正是他在创世记17对亚伯拉罕说的话:"我要与你并你世世代代的后裔坚立我的约,作永远的约,是要作你和你后裔的神.我要将你现在寄居的地,就是迦南全地,赐给你和你的后裔永远为业,我也必作他们的神." 神希望与他的百姓在这样的生活里相交,使这种关系永远继续.
在以色列有数十座基督教教堂.每座教堂所处的地点都与一件大事或主耶稣基督的传教有关. 这是客西马尼. 我想在耶稣时代这里要安静得多. 严格地说,圣经基督教的根源在旧约圣经里.
你是否知道耶稣与 神对亚伯拉罕应许之间的关系,它对你个人意味着什么呢
这是一条充满悲伤的道路. 它是耶稣背着十字架经过耶路撒冷前往受难地的路途.
这里我们要强调耶稣与亚伯拉罕应许之间的关系. 当我说福音这个词时,我猜想你肯定会想到耶稣的牺牲,耶稣如何为赎罪而死. 福音实际有两个部分. 耶稣传播的福音或好消息实际上是关于神的国,而不是关于他的死亡. 且听一听: "众人去找他,到了他那里,要留住他,不要他离开他们.但耶稣对他们说:'我也必须在别城传神国的福音,因我奉差原是为此.'" "过了不多日,耶稣周游各城各乡传道,宣讲神国的福音."
耶稣差他的门徒去以色列的城乡传教. 路加福音说: "他又差遣他们去宣传神国的道,医治病人. 门徒就出去,走遍各乡宣传福音,到处治病." 但他们传播的福音不包括有关基督死亡及牺牲的任何事情. 我们怎么知道呢 后来耶稣在同一章里说: "'你们要把这些话存在耳中, 因为人子将要被交在人手里.' 他们不明白这话. 意思乃是隐藏的,叫他们不能明白. 他们也不敢问这话的意思."
明白要点了吗 他的门徒不能理解耶稣马上要死. 所以当他差遣他们去传教时,并没有包括耶稣为罪而作的牺牲. 这也是耶稣传播消息, 关于神的国的消息.这里有些事情令你惊讶. 有关天国的消息即使在耶稣死亡和复活之后也没有改变.使徒行传接着说:"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."
使徒们仅仅扩大了福音,使消息也包括了耶稣赎救的工作.
加利利海. 很壮观,不是吗
当然. 耶稣复活后在这个地方遇见了他的门徒. 他要他们准备好在他离去以后应该做的传教事业,他对他们说的话就是神的国. 使徒行传第1章说:耶稣 "用许多的凭据将自己活活地显给使徒看,四十天之久向他们显现,讲说神国的事." 这就是他的福音或好消息.
在我们讨论福音这个主题时,让我告诉你其它一些东西. 有时人们认为福音仅仅是新约圣经里的术语或观点. 实际情况并非如此. 在此,让我读一下这段经文: "并且圣经既然预先看明,神要叫外邦人因信称义,就早已传福音给亚伯拉罕,说:'万国都必因你得福.'"
明白了吗 很久以前亚伯拉罕已经被传授到了福音.这是来自神的好消息,关于神在地上的国度. 总有一天整个地球都将因 神而得福. 亚伯拉罕相信并得福. 每个年代的信男信女也都将和亚伯拉罕一同得福,无论是犹太人还是外邦人.
是在这座山上耶稣教导他的门徒祈祷. 你记得主祷文吧. 他教我们祈祷: " 愿你的国降临;愿你的旨意行在地上,如同行在天上.耶稣教导他的门徒使用这个祈祷模式,基督徒肯定已经学习和背诵了近2,000年.
神说得很明白,他计划让这个地球充满荣耀. 当我们祈祷主祷文时,我们要让神知道我们希望他的国来到这个地球上,使他的旨意行在地球上,如同行在天上. 我们希望他的荣耀充满地球. 这些观念符合耶稣在登山宝训中传播的祝福: "谦卑人必承受地土." 各年代的信徒总有一天要继承地球为产业,从这里的以色列地开始,与信仰之父亚伯拉罕一同生活.
神已经很明确地应许把我站立的这块地方赐给亚伯拉罕. 让我们回到我们早先看过的目录,阅读另一段参考经文. 请注意神的声明多么直接: "罗得离别亚伯兰以后,耶和华对亚伯兰说:'从你所在的地方,你举目向东西南北观看;凡你所看见的一切地,我都要赐给你和你的后裔,直到永远.'"
在此,让我看一下这句经文: "在这地方,神并没有给他产业,连立足之地也没有给他;但应许要将这地赐给他和他的后裔为业;那时他还没有儿子."
使徒行传7:5说得很清楚. 神给了他这么多的地,足以让他立脚. 希伯来书的作者同样说得很清楚: "这些人都是存着信心死的,并没有得着所应许的;却从远处望见,且欢喜迎接,又承认自己在世上是客旅,是寄居的. …这些人都是因信得了美好的证据,却仍未得着所应许的;因为神给我们预备了更美的事,叫他们若不与我们同得,就不能完全."
所以,现在的问题是: 神信守了他的应许吗 创世记告诉我们,亚伯拉罕生活在这里的时候,他到处游荡,后来在希布伦附近买一块地葬他的妻子撒拉. 亚伯拉罕死后也葬在那里,现在已经有3800年左右. 神将怎样实现他对亚伯拉罕的应许呢 答案是让他从死亡中复活.
据说这是耶稣被钉死后被埋葬的坟墓. 可能是真的,也有可能是假的. 但有一件事情是肯定的.耶稣确实从死亡中复活,肯定有这样一个坟墓. 耶稣的死亡很重要,但他的复活更是生死攸关.
耶稣已经复活,所有死去并盼望神的国的信徒将来也会这样. 他们将被复活.保罗说:"基督已经从死里复活,成为睡了之人初熟的果子. 但每个人都有自己的次序. 基督是初熟的果子,然后是在他降临时那些属于基督者. 这里初熟的果子是指耶稣是第一个复活得永生的人.
这样的话,亚伯拉罕就能够继承这块应许之地. 神怎么使耶稣复活就怎么使亚伯拉罕复活. 让我们阅读一下保罗写给帖撒罗尼迦教会的信:
"我们若信耶稣死而复活了,那已经在耶稣里睡了的人,神也必将他与耶稣一同带来. 因为主必亲自从天降临,有呼叫的声音和天使长的声音,又有神的号吹响; 那在基督里死了的人必先复活.以后我们这活着还存留的人必和他们一同被提到云里,在空中与主相遇.这样,我们就要和主永远同在."
复活的概念贯穿整本圣经.你或许可以将这些段落作上记号,供以后查考.
(古代的凯萨利亚
他泊山
拿撒勒
加利利海远眺
库姆兰山洞穴4号
死海
耶路撒冷以西10英里)
在以色列我最喜欢去的地方是耶路撒冷. 这是一座令人敬畏的城市. 它将成为国王的宝座.
这个地方特别联系到神的应许. 这是耶路撒冷的圣殿山.岩石顶(Dome of...Rock)和奥玛清真寺(Mosque of Omar)就坐落在这里,但这是以色列古代神殿的地方.
记得神对亚伯拉罕应许的一些要点吗 亚伯拉罕有许多后裔,其中有一位很特殊. 他和他的后裔将拥有以色列地. 整个地都因为亚伯拉罕的信仰而得到赐福. 就在于亚伯拉罕表示愿意献祭他惟一的儿子以撒时,神重申了对亚伯拉罕的应许. "耶和华说:'你既行了这事,不留下你的儿子,就是你独生的儿子,我便指着自己起誓说:论福,我必赐大福给你;论子孙,我必叫你的子孙多起来,如同天上的星,海边的沙. 你子孙必得着仇敌的城门,并且地上万国都必因你的后裔得福,因为你听从了我的话.'"
现在我们不难想出这后裔是谁. 但我们没有必要去猜. 使徒保罗说得很清楚: "所应许的原是向亚伯拉罕和他子孙说的. 神并不是说'众子孙',指着许多人,乃是说'你那一个子孙',指着一个人,就是基督." 所以,基督是应许给亚伯拉罕的关键人物. 但当神说"你子孙必得着仇敌的城门"时他指什么呢
进出有城墙城市的惟一通道是城门.你占领了敌人的城门,你就能控制敌人. 哥林多前书15章给我们讲述了很多有关复活的信息,保罗讲述耶稣将如何系统地打败他的敌人. 让我们阅读这段经文: "再后,末期到了,那时基督既将一切执政的,掌权的,有能的,都毁灭了,就把国交与父神. 因为基督必要作王,等神把一切仇敌都放在他的脚下. 尽末了所毁灭的仇敌,就是死."
耶路撒冷橄榄山上的公墓纪念碑告诉我们死亡是我们的大敌. 但耶稣至高无比的工作将在某一天完全消灭死亡. 耶稣在传道中说,他将在未来某个时候开始一次伟大的复活:"时候要到,凡在坟墓里的,都要听见他的声音,就出来.行善的,复活得生;作恶的,复活定罪."
还记得保罗以前的问题吗 圣经很明确地指出亚伯拉罕从未得到神对他的应许. 圣经同样明确地指出,复活是神的信徒真实的盼望.英语"复活"这一词从字面上理解是"重新站起来"的意思.
它既不神秘也不是精神意义上的概念. 它仅仅意味着已经死去的人再次得生命. 亚伯拉罕和神所有信徒都将站立在地球上,就像耶稣在复活以后那样. 因为亚伯拉罕又活过来了,他将领受神对他的应许. 但是,亚伯拉罕不是惟一领受这些祝福的人. 记得神给亚伯拉罕应许的一些要点吗 有很多后裔,其中一个是基督. 亚伯拉罕寄居的地是真正的产业. 是对于整个世界的赐福.
赐福的部分属于全人类 它关系到我们在这块应许之地的下一个目的地.
还记得关于耶稣出生的记载吗 他出生的那个晚上,牧羊人正在伯利恒外面的小山上放羊. 天使突然出现,带来了天上的应许: "那天使对他们说:'不要惧伯!我报给你们大喜的信息,是关乎万民的;因今天在大卫的城里,为你们生了救主,就是主基督.'"
关乎万民的大喜讯直接关系到神对亚伯拉罕的应许:地球上的万民都将因他得福.
伯利恒! 这是大卫的家乡.这座城市已经发生了相当大的变化. 大卫王是"合神心意的人".就像对亚伯拉罕作应许那样,神对大卫作了一些具体的应许,时间在大卫希望为神在耶路撒冷建造一座殿之后:"并且我耶和华应许你,必为你建立家室. 你寿数满足归你列祖的时候,我必使你的后裔接续你的位,我也必坚定他的国. 他必为我建造殿宇;我必坚定他的国位直到永远. 我要作他的父,他要作我的子;我却要将他永远坚立在我家里和我国里;他的国位也必坚定,直到永远."
这里关键的词是"永远". 神应许大卫他的一个后代将永远统治. 大卫立即认识到神在谈论某个将来特别的人物,向亚伯拉罕应许的后裔. 我们知道大卫理解这一点,因为在17节他说: "神啊,这在你眼中还看为小,又应许你仆人的家至于久远.耶和华神啊,你看顾我好象看顾高贵的人." 当然神在谈论耶稣――大卫的子孙. "大卫的子孙"这一称呼对耶稣时代的人来说具有重大的意义.例如: " 众人都惊奇,说:'这不是大卫的子孙吗 '"
他们指的实际上是我们刚刚读过的神应许大卫的那段旧约经文. 他们知道耶稣是大卫的后代. 他们想知道他是不是神早就应许的 "儿子",大写的儿子,换句话说,是弥赛亚. 当然他们的预测非常正确. 还记得天使加百利告诉玛利亚有关耶稣的话吗 "他要为大,称为至高者的儿子;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."
神在地球上曾经有过一个国. 这个国就体现在大卫的王国里,大卫从耶路撒冷统治以色列的十二个部落.圣经说得很清楚,大卫作为神的代表,宝座仍然属于神. 这里让我们读一下历代记上所说的话. 大卫在宣布所罗门将成为国王时这样说: "耶和华赐我许多儿子,在我儿子中拣选所罗门坐耶和华的国位,治理以色列人."
所以,这个王国有一位人类的国王时,他坐在主的宝座上.宝座就在耶路撒冷城,我站立的锡安山上. 神应许说他将使锡安成为全世界的都城. 先知以赛亚说: "末后的日子,耶和华殿的山必坚立,超乎诸山,高举过于万岭;万民都要流归这山.必有许多国的民前往,说: '来吧,我们登耶和华的山,奔雅各神的殿.主必将他的道教训我们;我们也要行他的路.' 因为训诲必出于锡安;耶和华的言语必出于耶路撒冷."
神的国在大卫和他儿子所罗门时代繁荣昌盛. 但是,随着时间的流逝,以色列民族抛弃神,背叛了作为神的子民享有的特有地位. 于是,神就让这个国受到外邦人的蹂躏与毁灭. 在神应许的大卫儿子诞生之前耶路撒冷没有国王. 耶稣出生就是犹太人的王. 他是神的弥赛亚.当耶稣在他的最后一个逾越节来到耶路撒冷时,他故意骑一头驴驹,履行旧约圣经的预言,表明王的降临. 百姓欢呼耶稣作为神的儿子,他将坐在大卫的宝座上永远统治以色列的国. 耶稣就是那个人. 但首先他得死去,并通过复活极大地战胜死亡.
耶稣复活四十天后,就是在这里橄榄山上,他的门徒请教他: "主阿,你复兴以色列国就在这时候吗 "
他们原想他会早日恢复以色列国,但他们错了. 既然他已复活并且得到永生,他们想知道下步如何. 这不是一个错误的问题. 这是一个正确的问题. 对以色列恢复神的国是神的计划. 他们只是错误地选择了时间. 耶稣就是这样回答他们提问的:
"父凭着自己的权柄所定时候,日期,不是你们可以知道的. 但圣灵降临在你们身上,你们就必得着能力,并要在耶路撒冷,犹太全地,和撒玛利亚,直到地极,作我的见证."
换句话说,耶稣告诉他们说他们不会知道什么时候以色列将恢复神的国.他实际上是说:"你们得首先工作." 这工作就是差遣到他的门徒传福音到地球的每个角落里.
参加这项工作的有使徒保罗. 他离开该撒利亚前往罗马,这段里程是对他信仰的考验. 他因为受到指控而向凯撒提出上诉.
保罗到达罗马后,他与那里的犹太人交谈. 他说: "我请你们来见面说话,我原为以色列人所指望的,被这链子捆锁."
什么是以色列的盼望呢 就是门徒与耶稣谈论的问题: 对以色列恢复神的国.
这关系到耶稣,向亚伯拉罕应许的后代,坐在大卫的宝座上,从耶路撒冷统治以色列. 各年代所有有信的百姓,(亚伯拉罕的子孙)无论是犹太人还是非犹太人都将被复活分享天国的荣耀. 最终,整个地球都将由耶稣统治. "谦卑的人必承受地土." 神的国终究会到来. 如此, 对亚伯拉罕的应许,地球上万族都将因他而得福肯定会实现.
关于神应许之地还有另一个应许. 这个应许是在这里的橄榄山上作出的. 当耶稣告诉他的门徒他们将成为全世界的见证人时,发生了一切不寻常的事情: "他们正看的时候,他就被取上升,有一朵云彩把他接去,便看不见他了. 当他往上去,他们定睛望天的时候,忽然有两个人身穿白衣,站在旁边,说: "加利利人哪,你们为什么站着望天呢 这离开你们被接升天的耶稣,你们见他怎样往天上去,他还要怎样来."
这个应许不能再清楚或更具体的了. 耶稣怎样离去就会怎样回来,凭能力下到这个地方. 他将在这里,在耶路撒冷建立全世界政府的首都.
保罗,你说得对.先知以赛亚传达了同样的应许: "他的政权与平安必加增无穷.他必在大卫的宝座上治理他的国,以公平公义使国坚定稳固,从今直到永远. 万军之耶和华的热心必成就这事."
这是神的应许,神没有违背他的任何应许. 你和我已经在神永恒的国里得到了一个位置. 那对于我们每个人都是大好消息.
我们理解神已经对我们的应许是极其重要的. 惟一的方法是依靠信仰,就像亚伯拉罕一样. 靠洗入基督宣布这个信仰. 我们必须在基督里才能做亚伯拉罕的后裔,才能继承这些应许.
罗曼,你知道有一天终将来到,这块土地将归我们所有.
你也会承受这块土地吗
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