回顧 至今為止，我們已經討論了： 1) 知識需要有一個起始點
2) 對於基督徒來說，聖經是一切知識、道德、真理的起始點
3) 貫穿聖經的主題──神通過十字架的救贖之工為自己帶來榮耀
4) 我們為什麽應該信聖經──因為聖經具有自證的權威
5) 聖經的主題──神；神是可知的；我們為什麽應該信神
6) 人與神開始建立起關係的方式 今天早上，我們來討論我們與神建立起關係的目的。 序言 在這一講中，我首先要討論的題目是：人生最主要的目的是什麽？即我們活著是為了什麽？(我可以先把答案告訴大家，那就是：榮耀神，永遠以神為樂)。其次，當第二目的或次要目的成為人生的第一目的或主要目的時，會發生什麽情況？什麽是“榮耀神”？ 一、什麽是第一目的或主要目的？ 1) 基督徒做什麽？ 基督徒為什麽去教會？這個問題看上去太簡單了。每個禮拜天早上，數以百萬計的基督徒們穿戴整齊，帶著孩子們一起去教會。人們對這一活動給出多種解釋，其中許多都是高尚的。有人說是為了在屬靈上長進；他們有心要與神、與其他基督徒們交通；他們想要多學點有關神的事；或許他們想要潔淨一下自己；他們想要得到神的平安；或許隻是想去結識一些新朋友......。你沒聽說過嗎？“教會的人都不錯。” 作為一個需要被糾錯的基督徒，我記得自己曾大膽地對牧師說：“教會的禱告和那套敬拜程序是八股一樣的不必要。禱告我自己可以在家裏做；我來教會是來學習的！” 學習不是件壞事。上麵所列的這些，沒有一件是壞事；但這些都不應該是我們去教會的主要目的。讓我們進一步挖掘一下這個問題。基督徒或任何其他人為什麽做任何事情？目的何在？基督徒為什麽去上班、養家、度假、做義工或慈善工作、參軍、投票選舉，或早上醒來？我們當然有各種各樣的理由；但這些都是第二原因。“我早上醒來、起床，因為要給孩子準備早餐啊！”但我為什麽要為他們準備呢？“那是我的責任啊！”但我為什麽要負這些責任呢？難道就是為了不進監獄嗎？盡管遵紀守法是我們行事為人的正當動力，但它不應該是基督徒的主要動力──我們一定有更高的目的。 基督徒為什麽去教會？也為什麽做任何其它的事？聖經中大量的見證都說明基督徒(或任何其他人)做任何事的目的──除了第二目的或次要目的外──人做任何事都是與他/她和神之間的關係為第一目的。曆史上那些最偉大的神學家們通過對聖經的解釋，一致認為人生的最主要目的是榮耀神，永遠以神為樂。 下麵我稍微列出了幾處經文來看聖經是如何教導這一真理的。 若有講道的，要按神的聖言講；若有服侍人的，要按著神所賜的力量服侍，叫神在凡事上因耶穌基督得榮耀。原來榮耀、權能都是他的，直到永永遠遠，阿們！(彼前4:11) 所以你們或吃或喝，無論做什麽，都要為榮耀神而行。不拘是猶太人，是希利尼人，是神的教會，你們都不要使他跌倒。(林前10:31) 我所禱告的，就是要你們的愛心，在知識和各樣見識上多而又多，使你們能分辨是非，作誠實無過的人，直到基督的日子；並靠耶穌基督結滿了仁義的果子，叫榮耀稱讚歸於神。(腓1:9-11) ......叫一切在天上的、地下的和地底下的，因耶穌的名無不屈膝，無不口稱耶穌基督為主，使榮耀歸於父神。(腓2:10-11) ......那賜諸般恩典的神曾在基督裏召你們，得享他永遠的榮耀，等你們暫受苦難之後，必要親自成全你們，堅固你們，賜力量給你們。願權能歸於他，直到永永遠遠。阿們！(彼前5:10-11) 願榮耀因耶穌基督歸於獨一全智的神，直到永遠，阿們！(羅16:27) 神能照著運行在我們心裏的大力，充充足足地成就這一切，超過我們所求所想的。但願他在教會中，並在基督耶穌裏，得著榮耀，直到世世代代，永永遠遠。阿們！(弗3:20-21) 但願尊貴、榮耀歸於那不能朽壞、不能看見、永世的君主、獨一的神，直到永永遠遠。阿們！(提前1:17) 願榮耀、威嚴、能力、權柄，因我們主耶穌基督歸於他，從萬古以前並現今，直到永永遠遠。阿們！(猶25) 2) 以神為樂 我的心哪，你要仍歸安樂，因為耶和華用厚恩待你。(詩116:7) 你必將生命的道路指示我；在你麵前有滿足的喜樂，在你右手中有永遠的福樂。(詩16:11) 你們要嚐嚐主恩的滋味，便知道他是美善。(詩34:8) 二、當次要目的變成主要目的的時候 1) 次要目的 人生的主要目的是榮耀神並非意味著人生就沒有次要的或第二目的。 但我勸弟兄們要更加勉勵，又要立誌作安靜人，辦自己的事，親手做工，正如我們從前所吩咐你們的，叫你們可以向外人行事端正，自己也沒有什麽缺乏了。(帖前4:10-12) 工作、家庭、休息、教育、愛國、善良的品德等等，都是人生追求的高尚目標；在某種意義上說也符合聖經。但是，當我們把這些視為人生追求的最高目標而不是第二目標時，這些東西的美麗外表便開始變色，開始腐朽。 2) 你愛誰更深？ 我的幾個孩子常常為這樣一句話──“你們愛神要勝於彼此相愛”──產生不解與好奇心。四歲的兒子經常問我一個很難回答的問題：“爸爸，你愛神比愛我還多嗎？”對此，我的回答有點含糊其辭但卻是真實的：“正因為我愛神，我才會這麽愛你。”一個人隻有在“榮耀神”成為他的人生主要目的時，他的生活的其它各個方麵才有了正確的方向。我們可以來想像一下這樣一種情形：一隻巨大的氣球與海底的一大堆碎片雜物係在一起；氣球升起的時候，帶起了那些碎片雜物一起升上水麵。假如這些碎片雜物僅僅是相互之間聯係在一起，無論它們中間有些部份是多麽美──或許是沉入海底的財寶──它們也都隻能是呆在下麵。 3) 更偉大的國家、更真誠的愛、更舒適的休息 當一個國家的人民將他們的勤勞努力看作是為神做的而不是為人做的(西3:23)，那麽他們就會比一個單將勤勞努力視為人的主要目標的國家更勤奮。一個把對神負責視為高於對家庭成員之間相互負責的家庭，他們相互之間一定會有更真誠、更深的愛 (約13:34)。按神所決定的方式停下勞作休息的時候，一定比那些隻尋求過舒適、安逸生活的人休息得更充份：“唯有耶和華所親愛的，必叫他安然睡覺 ”(詩127:2)。 當我們的動力與追求目標是神的美善與榮耀時，所產生的就更有果效、更能持久。這一點是很容易看到的。假如驅使我的是別人的良善而不是神的良善，那麽上司自身的缺陷常常會讓我無所適從。假如我們以別人愛我們的方式去愛別人而不是以基督愛我們的方式，那麽我們就會發現自己的愛像潮水一樣大起大落。 4) 與碎片雜物係在一起 假如我的主要目的是教育，是愛國，哪怕是自由，而不是神的榮耀，最終我會將自己和受我直接影響的那些人交給無知、獨裁、甚至是捆綁。許多叛國罪犯、背信棄義的惡棍常常有很高的學位。要說愛國熱忱，很少有人像希特勒那樣熱愛他的國家。“自由” 一詞十分美好動聽，但自由本身也可以變成一個模糊不清的抽象概念，甚至成為侵吞、霸占別人財產的理由。當我們把自己的希望係到這些高尚的然而也是不確定的、無個性也無明確定義的東西上的時候，我們就是將自己與那些沉下去的碎片雜物係在了一起。 我當初與妻子談戀愛時，曾差一點兒遭到她拒絕，因為她認為她與神的關係因我們的相愛而受阻礙了。她告訴我，她若看不出與我建立親密關係這件事有助於增加她信神的經曆的話，那麽我們之間的關係就不太會有前途了。而我則從這一點上獲得了極大的安慰──竟能娶到這樣一位比我更愛神、對神更負責的姑娘。婚姻的雙方若是將所有的希望都寄托在對方的優點之上而不是為榮耀神的時候，那麽這個婚姻就很可能會是一隻駛向冰山的船。 5) 拜偶像 聖經裏多處警告我們不可將任何──哪怕是好的東西──置於太高的位置。神叫摩西在曠野裏鑄的銅蛇曾救了許多以色列民(民21:9)，但他們後來都將它當成偶像來拜(王下18:4)。以利的兒子們把耶和華的約櫃抬到戰場上，當作自己的秘密武器，結果造成失敗與滅亡(撒上4:11)。<使徒行傳>十章25節裏彼得被神所用傳講福音時，就被人拜過。當人生的主要目的離開了聖潔、公義、偉大的神的榮耀，人就踏出了毀滅與混亂之路的第一步。 三、榮耀神、以神為樂到底是什麽意思？ 人怎樣開始榮耀神、以神為樂？當然，十五分鍾之內我們是找不到一個簡單的公式的。下麵這段《家庭教育指南》說得很好： 1)當人們對於神具有最崇高的仰慕、最牢靠的信心和最高度的熱情，這就是在靈裏榮耀神。“你們是重價買來的，所以要在你們的身子和靈裏榮耀神。”(林前6:20)[注1] 2)以神為樂就是將自己“安歇在神裏”視為最美好、最滿足、最快樂。“我的心哪，你要仍歸安樂，因為耶和華用厚恩待你。”(詩116:7) 榮耀神、以神為樂就意味著我們對神具有最崇高的敬仰；我們尋求、愛慕他的完全、純潔、偉大、權能、智慧、聖潔、公義的旨意、榮耀、愛、憐憫、忍耐、豐豐富富的美善、真理、公義等等。我們最大的信心就在於我們信這位神，信這位神的這些特征與屬性。這就是我們榮耀神的第一步。 在基督裏找到答案 如前所述，這些信息是通過聖經告訴人的。我們很快就會學到，神的最大啟示就是神的兒子耶穌基督和他所完成的工作。“因為神本性一切的豐盛，都有形有體地居住在基督裏麵”(西2:9)。我們應通過參與神已經提供的方式來加深我們與救主之間的關係。 那麽，什麽是神已經提供的方式呢？這就是我們下個主日要討論的內容，即：神到底已經提供了什麽方式讓我們來參與、培養我們與神的關係。 _______________ [注1]
中文和合本聖經隻翻譯了“身子”，未將“靈”字翻譯出來。 | Review It never hurts to review. Up to date, in our Remedial Christianity series, we’ve discussed: 1) the need to have a starting place for knowledge; 2) that for Christians, the Bible is the starting place of all knowledge, ethics, and truth; 3) the over-arching message of the Bible—that God brings glory to Himself through the redemptive work of the cross; 4) why we should believe the Bible—that the Bible is self-authenticating; 5) the main topic of the Bible, God—that He is knowable and why we should believe in Him; and, 6) the means by which the relationship between man and God is to get under way. We will now discuss the purpose of our relationship with God. Preview What I would like to discuss in this portion of the Remedial Christianity series is: What is the primary purpose of mankind—what is our reason for living? (The answer being to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.) Secondly, what happens when secondary reasons for living become primary? And finally, what does it mean to glorify God?
What is the Primary Purpose?
Why Do Christians?
Why do Christians go to church? The question seems simple enough. Millions of professing Christians wake up every Sunday morning, get dressed, load up the kids, and go to church. There are a variety of answers people give for participating in this discipline—many are noble. People wish to grow spiritually. They desire fellowship with God and other believers. They want to learn more about God. They want to clean up a wanton or disheveled life. They want to know the peace of God. Maybe they just want to make new friends. As a remedial Christian I remember boldly proclaiming the folly of too much prayer and liturgy. “I can pray at home, I come to church to learn!” Learning isn’t bad. None of these things are bad, but none of them should be the main purpose for attending church. Let’s push the question a little deeper. Why do (or should) Christians (or people in general) do anything? What is the main purpose for a Christian to go to work, raise a family, go on vacation, do volunteer or charity work, join the military, vote, wake up in the morning? There may be all sorts of secondary reasons for doing things. I may wake up in the morning because one of my children needs breakfast. But why should I provide breakfast. One may answer because it is the responsible thing to do. But why should I do the responsible thing? Is it merely to stay out of jail? Although incarceration may be a legitimate motivation to do the right thing, for Christians it is not, generally, at the top of the motivational list. There must be a greater purpose. Why do Christians go to church? Why do Christians do anything? There is a preponderance of Scriptural testimony regarding why Christians (or people in general) are to do anything. Secondary reasons aside, the primary reason man is to do anything relates to his relationship with God. It has been the uniform testimony of the great theologians of history (through their interpretation of Scripture) that man’s primary purpose in life in is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. I have listed below just a few of the many passages in the Bible which give clear testimony to this truth. Glorifying God If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 4:11). Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God (Philippians 1:9-11). …that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10, 11). But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 5:10, 11). …to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen (Romans 16:27). Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen (Ephesians 3:20, 21). Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen (1 Timothy 1:17). To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen (Jude 25). Enjoying God? Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you (Psalm 116:7). You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11). Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8). When Secondary Becomes Primary Subordinate Purposes That the chief end of man is to glorify God does not suggest that there aren’t secondary or subordinate purposes in a person’s life. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing (1 Thessalonians 4:10-12). Work, family, rest, education, patriotism, and virtue are all noble quests. But when they are viewed as the ultimate versus penultimate quest of man, the smoothness of their skin crackles with corrosion. Who Do You Love More? My children often muse at the notion that we are to love God more than each other. My four-year-old son often asks me the very difficult question, “Do you love God more than you love me?” To which I give the somewhat evasive, but true answer, “It is because of my love for God that I love you so much.” It is when God’s glory becomes man’s chief end, that all other aspects of life ascend. Imagine a huge balloon tied to masses of debris on the bottom of the ocean. The balloon lifts all the debris attached to the surface. If the debris were merely tied to other debris (no matter how beautiful the other debris might appear—perhaps sunken treasure), it would remain submerged. Greater Nation, Love, Rest The industry of a nation who does their work as unto the Lord rather than unto men (Colossians 3:23) will be more industrious than the nation that views industry as man’s chief end. The family who is answerable to God over each other will have a greater love for each other (John 13:34). Those who rest from their labors, as God has determined, rather than seeking a life of leisure will find their rest more satisfying “For so He gives His beloved sleep” (Psalm 127:2). When the source of our motivation and the goal of our achievements are the goodness and glory of God, excellence and consistency are more efficiently produced. This is easily seen. If I am motivated by the goodness of my boss rather than the goodness of the Lord, the gaps in my boss’ goodness will often leave me empty. If we love others the way they love us rather than the way Christ loves us, our love will find itself ebbing like the morning and evening tides which it is seeking to imitate. Tethered to Debris If my chief purpose is education, patriotism, or even freedom rather than the glory of God I will eventually consign myself, and those under my influence, to ignorance, tyranny, and bondage. Many a treacherous villain had a wall laden with degrees. Few were more patriotic than Hitler and freedom itself becomes a vague, ambiguous term of undefined borders and infringements upon the property and possessions of others. When we tie our hopes to these noble, yet fluid, impersonal, and undefined entities we are tethered to sunken debris. When I was dating my wife she almost broke up with me because she thought that her relationship with God was becoming somewhat stagnant. She told me that if she didn’t perceive that she was becoming richer in her faith as a result of our relationship there wasn’t going to be much of a future for us. I found great comfort in the notion of marrying a woman who was more motivated and answerable to God than to me. Marriages that tie their hopes to the brilliance of the partner rather than the glory of God are heading for icebergs. Worshiping Idols The Scriptures are replete with warnings against placing even good things on too high a pedestal. The bronze serpent, which God told Moses to form in order to save the people from the serpents’ poison, later became a false idol (Numbers 21:9; 2 Kings 18:4). The sons of Eli brought the Ark of the Covenant into battle as if it were their personal secret weapon. This resulted in their defeat and their death (1 Samuel 4:11). Peter, because he was used by God to deliver the gospel, was briefly worshiped (Acts 10:25). When man’s chief end becomes something other than the glory of a holy, righteous, almighty God, it is step one on a path to destruction and chaos. What Does it Mean to Glorify and Enjoy God? How does one go about glorifying and enjoying God? Unfortunately there aren’t five simple steps to glorifying God in fifteen minutes or less. A Family Instructional Guide states it well: When inwardly they have the highest estimation of him, the greatest confidence in him, and the strongest affections to him, this is glorifying of God in spirit. “Glorify God in your spirit, which is God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20). To enjoy God, is to acquiesce or rest in God as the chief good, with complacency and delight. “Return unto thy rest, O my soul” (Ps. 116:7). To glorify and enjoy God means we have the loftiest estimations of Him. We seek to see and appreciate His perfection, purity, immensity, power, wisdom, holiness, counsel, righteous will, glory, love, grace, mercy, patience, abundant goodness, truth, justice, etc. It is in God and His attributes that we have our uttermost confidence. It is toward Him that we are to devote our strongest affections. It is when the Christian is immersed in these things that he has the greatest joy for he begins to grasp in whose hands his soul rests. Found in Christ As discussed earlier, the means by which this information is brought to the minds of men are the Holy Scriptures. What we will learn is that the greatest manifestation of God is found in the person and work of God the Son, Jesus the Christ, “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9). We are to nurture our relationship with our Savior through proper participation in the means God has provided. What has God determined to be the means by which this relationship is cultivated and preserved? This leads us to what God has determined to be man’s role in the nurturing of his relationship with God. Questions for Study 1. What are some reasons people go to church? Do you remember why you first went to church (page 1)? 2. What are some reasons people do anything? What are some of men’s primary motivations in life (page 1)? 3. What should be man’s chief purpose for doing anything (page 2)? 4. What are some of the dangers that take place when secondary purposes become primary purposes (pages 3, 4)? 5. Why will the world be better in every way if men view the glory of God as their chief purpose (pages 3, 4)? 6. What does it mean to glorify and enjoy God (pages 4, 5)? 7. How has God most fully revealed Himself to humanity (page 5)? |
