第一單元. 對神作扼要的描寫 第五課 “神是神聖的GOD IS HOLY


[W.O.T.S.]
12/31/2020


第一單元. 對神作扼要的描寫

                        第五課 “神是神聖的”     1/03/2021

經文: 彼得前書 1:13-25

Worldwide Outreach Teaching School, Dr. Meiman Lai Saidi (賴美滿校長)

 

前言: 神聖潔之屬性是祂的中心，但這屬性也是基督徒生命要放映出神聖潔之中心。我們要找尋與鼓舞過有聖潔的生命，好使能成為與他人建立有意義的好關係。

 

上週: 已經深深認識神那無窮數的能力。

這週: 將更深認識神是如何神聖的，以及我們應如何回應祂的呼召成聖。

 

1.      謹慎與自守: 彼得前書1:13-16, “13 所以要約束你們的心、〔原文作束上你們心中的腰〕謹慎自守、專心盼望耶穌基督顯現的時候所帶來給你們的恩。14 你們既作順命的兒女、就不要效法從前蒙昧無知的時候、那放縱私慾的樣子。15 那召你們的既是聖潔、你們在一切所行的事上也要聖潔．16 因經上記著說、『你們要聖潔、因為我是聖潔的。”

解經: 彼得前書1:13-16, 基督快要再來會激勵我們為祂而活，就是在思想上警醒、自覺、並專注在盼望上。您是否準備好自己迎見基督呢? (v.13)

vv. 14-16, 以色列的神，也就是基督教會的神，是聖潔的，祂的道德標準與羅馬的宗教教導迴異。祂不愛征戰、姦淫與仇恨，也不像第一世紀的外邦宗教那樣殘忍和淫亂。基督教的神充滿憐憫和公義，祂關心每一個跟隨祂的人。聖潔的神期望我們能夠有崇高的道德標準，使我們與祂親近。正如父神同樣，我們要充滿憐憫和公義，也要像主耶穌基督同樣，為別人而犧牲自己。

(參考聖經靈修版)

2.      現在馬上:  彼得前書17-21, “17 你們既稱那不偏待人、按各人行為審判人的主為父、就當存敬畏的心度、你們在世寄居的日子．18 知道你們得贖、脫去你們祖宗所傳流虛妄的行為、不是憑著能壞的金銀等物．19 乃是憑著基督的寶血、如同無瑕無疵玷污的羔羊之血．20 基督在創世以前、是豫先被　神知道的、卻在這末世纔為你們顯現．21 你們也因著他、信那叫他從死裡復活、又給他榮耀的　神、叫你們的信心、和盼望、都在於　神。”

解經: 彼得前書17-21, “敬畏” 並不是指奴僕對殘暴主人的恐懼，乃是信徒對全能神之尊崇。神是全世之審判者，我們不敢漠視祂，也不感對祂掉以輕心。莫以為我們是神之兒女就可以任意妄為。我們不要作被寵壞的孩子，要作討神喜悅的兒女，對天父存敬畏的心。(v.17)

“贖價” 是指替奴僕贖身的款項。神並非用金錢把我們從罪惡的權勢下贖回，而是用祂愛子的寶血把我們贖回 (參考羅馬書6:6,7 林前6:20; 歌羅西書2:13,14; 來9:12) 我們不能靠自己脫離罪惡，唯有靠神的兒子生命才能得釋放。(vv.18,19)

                                                                                                                                                                                                          

3.     相信, 順從, 與相愛:  彼得前書22-25, “22 你們既因順從真理、潔淨了自己的心、以致愛弟兄沒有虛假、就當從心裡彼此切實相愛．〔從心裡有古卷作從清潔的心〕 23 你們蒙了重生、不是由於能壞的種子、乃是由於不能壞的種子、是藉著　神活潑常存的道。24 因為『凡有血氣的、盡都如草、他的美榮、都像草上的花．草必枯乾、花必凋謝． 25 惟有主的道是永存的。』所傳給你們的福音就是這道。

解經: 彼得前書22-25, 真誠的愛包含了無數的付出，自私自利的人不可能真正

   愛。神之愛和寬恕，使我們不再只注重自己，而是關心別人的需要。基督                籍著捨去自己的生命，表明對我們的真愛。我們可以效法主，犧牲自己去愛           別人(v.22)。彼得提醒我們生命中擁有的一切: 包括財產、成就、身邊的人， 都如過眼雲煙、瞬間即逝，唯有神的旨意、話語和作為才是永恆的 (參考以賽

亞40:6-8). 我們不要再拼命抓住短暫的東西，而要將我們的時間、金錢和精力   集中在永遠的事上，也就是神的話語和我們在基督裏永恆的新生命上 (v.24,25).

 

4.      結論: 永遠的神聖: 老歌“永遠的神聖” 宣告, “有一被祝福之凱旋歌: 永遠的神聖!” (向主高歌, 502). 讓我們把神聖放在正確的眼光或遠景，因神聖非次要也非暫時. 我們呼召神聖就是中心，因為表達神是神聖的，祂呼召我們要神聖。它不只是神內在的性格，它是神給我們的心意和目標，我們被呼召要像祂，也就是要放映祂的神聖性格。

        

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Unit 1. Profiles of God

                                      Session 5 “GOD IS HOLY"              1/03/2021

       1 Peter 1:13-25

 Dr. Meiman Lai Saidi

    http://www.WorldwideOTS.org

                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Preface: God’s attribute of holiness is central to who He is, but this attribute is also central to the Christian life as we reflect God’s holiness. To find encouragement for holy living and become accountable through meaningful relationships with other believers.

 

Last Week: We gained a deeper understanding of God’s infinite power.

This Week: We will gain a deeper understanding of how God is holy and what it

means to answer His call to us to be holy.

 

1.      ALERT AND PRESENT: 1 Peter 1:13-16, “13. Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14, As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

Commentary: 1 Peter 1:13-16, The imminent return of Christ should motivate us                 to live for Him. This means being mentally alert (“prepare your minds for action”).            Disciplined (“self-controlled”), and focused (“set your hope fully”). Are you        ready to meet Christ? (v.13)

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

2.      HERE AND NOW:  1 Peter 1:17-21, “17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.”

Commentary: 1 Peter 1:17-21, “Reverent fear”is not the fear of a slave for a ruthless master, but the healthy respect of a believer for the all-powerful God. Because God is the judge of all the earth, we dare not ignore Him or treat Him casually. We should not assume that our privileged status as God’s children gives us freedom to do whatever we want. We should not be spoiled children, but grateful children who love to show respect for our heavenly Father.  (v.17)

       A slave was “redeemed” when someone paid money to buy his or her freedom. God redeemed us from the tyranny of sin, not with money, but with the precious blood of his own Son (Romans 6:6,7 1Corinthians 6:20; Colossians 2:13,14; Hebrews 9:12). We cannot escape from sin on our own; only the life of God’s Son can free us (vv.18,19).  

                                                                                                                                                                                                    

3.      BELIEVING, OBEYING, AND LOVING:  1 Peter 1:22-25, “22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.

Commentary: 1 Peter 1:22-25, “Sincere love” involves selfless giving; a self-centered person cannot truly love. God’s love and forgiveness free you to take your eyes off yourselves and to meet others’ needs. By sacrificing his life, Christ showed that he truly loves you. Now you can love others by following his example and giving of yourself sacrificially. (v.22)

     Quoting Isaiah 40:6-8, Peter reminds believers that everything in this life – possessions, accomplishments, people – will eventually fade away and disappear. Only God’s will, word, and work are permanent. We must stop grasping the temporary, and begin focusing our time, money, and energy on the permanent- the word of God and our eternal life in Christ.

                     

4.       POINT: HOLINESS FOREVERMORE:  The old song “Holiness Forevermore” declares, “There’s a blessed triumphant song: Holiness forevermore!” (Sing to the Lord, 502). Let us put the issue of holiness in perspective. Holiness is not a secondary issue, nor a temporary one. Our call to holiness is central because it essentially expresses who God is and what He calls us to be. It is a matter rooted in the deep character of God. It is an issue at the heart of His purpose for us. To be like Him is to reflect His holiness.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

         Excerpts from Henry Spaulding ll is president of Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

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