• Home
  • Events and Calendar
  • Directions
  • Give
  • Contact
St. Paul's Lutheran Church | Falls Church VirginiaSt. Paul's Lutheran Church | Falls Church Virginia
  • Information
  • Adults & Families
  • Youth & Children
  • 中文事工Chinese
    • I'M NEW

Pastor Yang's Sermons in English

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Pastor Yang's Sermons in English
  • The Spirit That Came From The Cross

The Spirit That Came From The Cross

  • Posted by 杨牧师
  • Categories Pastor Yang's Sermons in English, 杨牧师的主日证道
  • Date June 16, 2019
  • Comments 0 comment

The Day of Pentecost (June 8, 2014)

Text: John 7:37-39, Acts 2:1–21

In the name of Jesus, Amen!

In today’s Gospel reading, the last part of John 7:39 reads, “The Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” Did you notice something strange? I did. I had trouble with this when I realized it for the first time that the time when Jesus was glorified was the time of the cross, His crucifixion, His resurrection and His ascension into heaven as Pr. Mark mentioned last Sunday. We have to ask a Lutheran question. What does it mean that the Holy Spirit had not been given because Jesus was not yet crucified and resurrected? Notice that this is Apostle John’s comments on Jesus’ saying to the Jewish people on the last day of the Feast of Booths (Feast of Tabernacles). We have to ask in what manner the Holy Spirit was not given to His people before Jesus was glorified?” Does it mean that there had never been Holy Spirit present with Old Testament believers? It certainly does not mean that because today’s Old Testament reading tells us that the Spirit of YHWH rested on Moses and 70 elders plus two others. The Bible also mentions other individual OT believers like David and the prophets moved by Holy Spirit proclaiming the coming Christ. Even right before Jesus was born, by Holy Spirit Simeon and Anna recognized Jesus as their Savior. Zachariah and Mary were also filled with Holy Spirit. So, how do we understand this? There must have been a special giving or sending of Holy Spirit after Jesus’ glorification that was to be such as it had never been and had never seen before. This special giving was the descending of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. So, John is connecting this giving and sending of the Spirit to the cross, the glorification of Jesus.

Today, we are celebrating the Day of Pentecost. This is the fiftieth day after Passover, when Jesus died as the Passover Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. After Jesus’ resurrection, He appeared to the disciples during forty days. While staying with them, He ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of Holy Spirit from the Father, not many days from now. He said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” So, today’s second reading of Acts chapter 2 tells us that when the Day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. There were about 120 disciples. During this gathering, there was a special manifestation of the Holy Spirit. A heavenly sound like a mighty rushing wind and the appearance of divided fiery tongues resting on the disciples drew the people in Jerusalem to that place. These people were devout men from every nation under heaven. Miraculously, everyone in the crowd heard the disciples speaking in his or her own language because the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit. People were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” Wow, they asked the Lutheran question. What does this mean? This certainly doesn’t mean happy-hour style of worship service without any real Gospel content, because some people from the crowd thought exactly that they were having a happy hour filling with new wine. But it was not so. They were not drunk. The Bible says clearly what was spoken in another language by a disciple was a proclamation of the mighty works of God in Christ Jesus. What followed after all this manifestation was Peter’s preaching, the first sermon of Christian church newly founded by the Holy Spirit. Starting from the OT prophecy of Joel, he preached salvation by grace through faith on account of Jesus Christ. Actually, today’s Acts reading didn’t include Peter’s entire sermon. It ended at only the beginning of his sermon. I recommend you read the whole sermon later today. Peter’s sermon is an excellent example of Christ and cross-centered, law and Gospel rightly divided preaching with Gospel predominant. So, the giving and sending of the Spirit has everything to do with glorification of Jesus.

Now, let’s go back to John 7. At that time, people were divided concerning the identity of Jesus. But no one would dare talk about it openly because religious leaders wanted to kill Him. The Feast of the Booths occurred in the fall and lasted seven days followed by a holy convocation on the eighth day, called the last day or the great day. During the feast, people came to Jerusalem to celebrate the harvest and pray for the much needed rain for the coming year. Every day, the crowd would carry branches of palm or willow, trees that typically associated with water; and then they placed branches at the sides of the altar. A priest would fill a golden pitcher with water from the pool of Siloam, the main water source for Jerusalem. Upon entering the temple courts, the priests would make a solemn procession around the altar saying, “Save us, we beseech you, O Lord!” The priest holding up the water pitcher would climb to the top of the altar and pour the water into the altar through a special channel. The outpouring of water was a visible reminder of God’s faithfulness of providing living water to His people of Israel in the past. Apostle John says that it was the last day of the feast, the great day that Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart (or belly) will flow rivers of living water.’” Actually, depending on how you do the punctuation, these two verses can be translated as this. “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me, and let him drink, whoever believes in me (Period.) As the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart (or belly) will flow rivers of living water.’” The key difference is out of whose heart (belly) will flow rivers of living water. According to the second translation, it’s out of Jesus’ heart will flow rivers of living water! But whatever translation is, one thing everyone agrees is that Jesus is proclaiming He is the living water. I personally think the second translation makes more sense because Jesus is inviting anyone who thirsts to come to Him and drink. Of course, it means we drink from Him. No matter how strange and gruesome is the idea of drinking water from somebody’s heart or belly; we need to ask the Lutheran question, “What does it mean that we drink living water from Jesus’ heart?” This together with the next verse about the Spirit and Jesus’ glorification take us to the cross, where not only blood but also water came out when one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear. Living water flows from Jesus’ heart on the cross. Before this, Apostle John also mentioned the Holy Spirit when he describes how Jesus died. John chapter 19 reads, “Jesus said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his Spirit.” The Greek word for “gave up” is “paradidomi.” It actually means “deliver or hand it over.” So, it should be translated as “He bowed His head and handed over His Spirit.” Jesus handed over His Spirit to whom? Of course, to the Father. So, the Holy Spirit promised by the Father and descended upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost came from Jesus Christ on the cross.

Today, we celebrate the Day of Pentecost and the church exclaims “O Come, Holy Spirit!” But “the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” Then, what does it mean? It means the giving and filling of the Holy Spirit has everything to do with Jesus’ cross. The OT believers were filled by the Spirit when they recognized the saving grace of YHWH and the sacrifice of the coming Messiah. For us, the NT believers, we are filled with the Holy Spirit when we recognize our sin and believe in Christ and His cross for our salvation, when we are compelled by the love of God in Christ Jesus to love one another and love neighbors as ourselves, and when we preach and share the Gospel with others proclaiming the mighty works of God in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit of the Pentecost, therefore of the church, comes from the cross of Jesus.

  • Share:
杨牧师
杨牧师

Previous post

你是谁,决定你做什么
June 16, 2019

Next post

从十架来的圣灵
June 16, 2019

You may also like

为生命计划
19 April, 2022

二零二二年复活主日 经文:以赛亚书65:17–25,哥林多前书15:19–26,路加福音24:1–12 基督复活了! 祂实在是复活了!哈利路亚! 今天是复活节,我们庆祝耶稣从死里复活,并且相信将来我们也要复活!在洗礼中我们与主同死同复活,在末日我们将进入永生;但如今死亡对我们来说仍然是无法避免的,我们周围的一切和自己的身体都在提醒我们未来有一天将要面临死亡这件事。然而今天是复活节,上帝提醒我们死亡不是最后的声音,生命才是,悲哀的感觉不能取代喜乐的现实。是的,你听的没错,喜乐是现实,悲哀才是可以取代的感觉,是可以消失的。当我们知道什么是真正的现实以后,我们才能做出正确的决定,做好准备工作来迎接这个现实的未来。是的,让我们抛弃可以消失的感觉,迎接注定到来的未来。上帝早已为我们做出了计划,预备了美好的未来,只是我们没有意识到或常常忘记这一点。上帝在创世以先就已做出这个计划,这个未来就是耶稣基督和祂的复活为我们开辟的未来—生命的未来,所以我们当为生命而计划。   这个世界常常提醒我们,当预备死亡。“新冠病毒,新冠病毒,疫苗,疫苗。。”“俄国,乌克兰,第三次世界大战。。”等等,政府和媒体一直提醒我们死亡的事情,网上给我们推送的广告和我们搜寻的信息很多都是关于这个不能吃,那个有毒,或者关于营养保健和医疗相关信息,其实基本上就是以各种形式提醒我们与死亡有关的事。有些文章或广告干脆直接提醒我们怎么计划死亡,比如:如何写遗嘱,如何规避遗产税,任何在投资不动产时把自己和家人的坟墓放入计划当中等等。如果你不知道圣经正确的信息和真正的意义,你所看到的圣经也只会加强这一点,使你更加悲观与恐慌;因为圣经说“罪的工价乃是死”,“你本是死在罪恶过犯当中”。然而,复活节提醒了我们圣经最终的真理:死亡的故事和声音不是全部,更不是最后的故事和声音;喜乐的生命才是,因为上帝早有计划,这计划不是像我们用医药保健暂时缓解痛苦和延年益寿的短暂计划,而是征服死亡,恢复生命的计划。这生命是上帝真正想要我们拥有的生命,不是被罪恶污染的我们现在所知道、所拥有的生命。上帝从起初就计划了生命,使我们在耶稣基督里能战胜死亡,拥有不再死亡而复活的生命!   我们回到创世记时可以知道上帝起初的计划与心意。当上帝创造一切的时候,祂不只说,“这是好的”,祂是“看著一切所造的都甚好”。注意:这个“好的”标准,可不是我们以为的“好的”标准,而是上帝“好的”标准。这个计划包括了上帝的子民,祂所创造的人。第一对夫妻,在一个美好的地方,与上帝和谐地在一起,也彼此相爱和睦。然而在人堕落以后,我们知道历史是怎样发展的,罪和死亡如何进入了人间,如何使整个世界也跟着一起遭到咒诅。但上帝有祂的计划,这计划并不像某些人所说,上帝面对人的犯罪和死亡,无奈之下才想出了B计划,而是从创世以前就有的。这个计划有两个关键:一、罪和死亡的问题必须得到解决;二、一个新生命必须诞生,这个生命来自那位将气息吹入亚当并使亚当成为有灵的活人的那同一位上帝。这个新生命将不再归回尘土,而是一个经历罪恶却战胜罪恶,经历死亡却能战胜死亡的生命,这个生命就是耶稣基督死而复活的生命。   其实,我们每周都会提醒大家这个世界不会提醒我们的事情,复活节更是很好的机会,提醒大家这最重要的事情,在上帝救恩的历史上所发生的最重要的事情—那就是基督为我们死而复活了!是的,祂确实是死了,确实进入坟墓了;许多人都认为这是故事的结束,因为这个世界不断提醒我们,而我们也太习惯这样认为。一个人,一个故事,到这儿就是结尾了;不过,某种意义上,基督的死是一个结束—是罪的结束,因为祂担负世人所有的罪,把这些罪都带入了坟墓里,结束了。祂首先解决了刚才说的第一个问题,就是上帝计划的第一个关键—关于罪恶和死亡的问题;耶稣在十字架上为我们承受了上帝对罪的忿怒与刑罚,上帝因而伸张了祂的公义。我们正在学习的启示录告诉我们,最后,魔鬼和死亡本身也将被丢入火湖里。   然而,这仍不是全部的故事。先知以赛亚告诉我们,上帝将创造新天新地,在那里生命的形式与当今世界的生命形式完全不一样。上帝通过以赛亚说,“看哪!我造新天新地;从前的事不再被记念,也不再追想。”这些完全不再被记念和追想的从前的事与新天新地有根本性的不同—就是不再有罪恶了。因为没有罪恶,以赛亚所描述的新天新地与我们现在所认知的世界比较,发生了根本性,甚至是规律性的改变。这改变是上帝赐给新耶路撒冷的祝福,这新的耶路撒冷就是上帝与祂的子民永远同在的天上的城邑,得救的人将在其中欢喜快乐。耶和华上帝说,“我必因耶路撒冷欢喜,因我的百姓快乐;其中必不再听见哭泣的声音和哀号的声音。”注意:这是以赛亚书最后两章的开始部分,以赛亚经历了以色列民的悖逆,预告了耶路撒冷城将被毁灭,人民被掳于巴比伦;然而他知道上帝对祂子民的计划。毁灭与死亡不是最后的声音;因为上帝让他看到了以色列民的回归和上帝在受苦仆人(就是耶稣基督)里的救赎并新天新地。这就像上帝通过先知耶利米告诉以色列民的,今天祂也告诉我们:“耶和华说:我知道我向你们所怀的意念是赐平安的意念,不是降灾祸的意念,要叫你们末后有指望。”(耶29:11)上帝向我们所怀的意念就是给我们的计划,这计划是生命的计划,是要叫我们末后有指望。耶稣基督在今日复活为我们成就了这个计划,祂死是为了我们得生命;祂复活,是为了我们在上帝面前得称为义,圣洁公义地活着,使我们有生命与喜乐的指望!   上帝已经在耶稣基督里为我们创造了新天新地,它不仅是“好的”,而且“甚好”。在新天新地中有个城市叫“新耶路撒冷”,是为所有得救的上帝子民所预备的;所以,我们常常思念天上的事情,当为将要来的新天新地、新耶路撒冷生活做好计划,“忘记背后,努力向前”;“放下各样的重担,脱去容易缠累我们的罪,存心忍耐,奔那摆在我们前头的路程,仰望为我们信心创始成终的耶稣”。(来12:1-2)今天,我们虽然仍有许多的劳苦愁烦,这个世界还在不断地提醒我们罪恶与死亡;但耶稣基督已经复活,已经为我们战胜了这一切;祂向我们的心思意念是美好的,祂的计划是要我们在祂里面得平安,有喜乐,有指望,这个指望就是新天新地,新耶路撒冷的指望。所以,你也最好为此做出计划。 基督复活了! 祂实在是复活了!哈利路亚!

基督受难的声音
19 April, 2022

二零二二年棕枝主日 证道经文:申命记32:36–39,腓立比书2:5–11,路加福音22:1–23:56 今天的福音经文很长。我们为什么要读那么长的经文呢?教会传统是在圣周特别是受难日时,要读福音书中耶稣基督受苦受死的经历。我们每周都会宣讲主耶稣为我们的罪受苦受死以及祂死而复活的意义,但实际上主耶稣是怎么死的,祂死之前和死的时候发生了什么事情,祂当时说了什么话,关于这些有的弟兄姐妹可能很少听到,(部分原因是因为我们中文堂的情况,弟兄姐妹很少参加英文堂在圣周期间周四周五和周六的敬拜,所以每年中文堂的许多弟兄姐妹都错过了圣周和受难日;)而它们却是很好地了解主耶稣实际受难经历的机会。今天我们就借用棕枝主日来记念主耶稣为我们受苦受死的这段经历,并且特别突出当时的一些声音—就是基督受难的声音。   这个世界有太多各式各样杂乱的声音,使我们无法听到主耶稣的声音,更难听到主耶稣为我们受苦的声音,但那声音太重要了,它关乎我们的罪的赦免与永生。首先,我们听到迫害耶稣和敌对者的声音:听到出卖耶稣的犹大与祭司长并守殿官商量,怎么可以把耶稣交给他们。“事成之后,给我多少银子?”“三十两。”“好的,成交。”我们听到门徒之间起了争论,争论他们中间哪一个可算为大。我们听到撒旦对耶稣说,“给我西门彼得,我要像筛麦子一样把他们筛出来。”又听到撒旦试探耶稣说,“你不必上十字架,听我的,一切都会好起来。”听到犹大对兵丁说,“我与谁亲嘴,谁就是那个你们要抓的人。”听到彼得说,「女子,我不认得他。」三次否认后,听到了鸡叫的声音。听到看守耶稣和戏弄并打祂的人问祂说:「你是先知,告诉我们打你的是谁?」听到公会里的人说:「你若是基督,就告诉我们。」听到彼拉多问耶稣说:「你是犹太人的王吗?」听到希律王说,“给我显个神迹,让我看看。。我问你这么多问题,你为什么不回答呢?”听到众人喊著说:「钉他十字架!钉他十字架!」,并且最后他们的声音得胜了。听到官府的人嗤笑耶稣说:「他救了别人;他若是基督,神所拣选的,可以救自己吧!」兵丁也说:「你若是犹太人的王,可以救自己吧!」你也许会发现,类似的声音也会在如今纷乱的世界中听到。“耶稣不是基督,神迹不会发生”;“一个慈爱的上帝怎么能允许世界上有灾难呢?所以没有上帝”;“我的罪太深重,上帝不可能赦免我”;“如果我也向彼得那样不认主,怎么办?”“听了那么多的道,我还是没有感觉,所以这一切都是虚的”;“2000年前发生的事情跟我有什么关系呢?”相反的,我们当然也能听到“哈利路亚!感谢主!我的罪得赦免了,我有永生了。”在耶稣当时也有这样信心的声音,就在十字架上,那两个与主耶稣同钉十字架的其中一位强盗的声音说,「耶稣啊,你得国降临的时候,求你记念我!」然后耶稣对他说:「我实在告诉你,今日你要同我在乐园里了。」   同样地,就在世界一切的吵杂与罪恶和魔鬼威胁我们的声音之上,有来自主的声音,来自基督受难时发出的声音。耶稣对门徒们说,“我在你们中间如同服事人的”,所以如今祂也在用祂的圣道,圣体和宝血服事你。耶稣对彼得说,“我已经为你祈求,叫你不至于失了信心”。耶稣说,“我告诉你们,经上写著说:『他被列在罪犯之中。』这话必应验在我身上”。祂向天父祷告说:「不要成就我的意思,只要成就你的意思。」因此,我们也坚信上帝在耶稣基督里对我们的意思一定是好的,祂的旨意必然成就。主对前来抓祂的人说,“现在却是你们的时候,黑暗掌权了。”之后,在大祭司的院子里,主转过身来,一个无语的眼神就使彼得想起主对他所说的话:「今日鸡叫以先,你要三次不认我。」耶稣回答彼拉多所问「你是犹太人的王吗?」耶稣回答「你说的是。」但当主面对众人高喊“钉祂十字架,钉祂十字架”的时候,祂却沉默无语,像羊羔被牵到宰杀之地,替我们承受上帝的刑罚。耶稣对那些为祂哭泣的妇女说,“耶路撒冷的女子,不要为我哭,当为自己和自己的儿女哭。”在十字架上,耶稣说:「父啊!赦免他们;因为他们所做的,他们不晓得。」如今祂也一次又一次地为我们向天父祷告说,“父啊!赦免他们”。耶稣对那个悔改的强盗说,“今日你要同我在乐园里了”。而最后,耶稣大声喊著说:「父啊!我将我的灵魂交在你手里。」在这一刻,我们的救恩成就了,完全了。   今天,超越一切世界的声音之上,我们听到了耶稣基督的声音。祂没有解释为什么世上有苦难,而是用自己的受苦受难,为我们解决了罪恶与死亡并一切苦难根源的问题。没有任何罪比上帝在耶稣基督里的恩典更大,“父啊,赦免他们”。耶稣对你说:“我已经使你归于我,成为上帝的儿女,你的罪被赦免了,你有永远的生命。我将被放进坟墓,你也将有这么一天,我将从坟墓里出来,你也将与我一同复活,与我一同在乐园里了。不要相信自己的感觉,应当相信我的话语,相信上帝的应许,聆听我的声音。”   求主的圣灵在今天,在这圣周,在受难日,在复活节,在今后的每一周、每一天,都使我们能听到主受难的声音:“这是我的身体,为你舍的;这是我的宝血为你流出,使罪得赦。”听见这声音并相信的人有福了,因为你拥有了在耶稣基督里永恒的新生命!   奉圣父、圣子、圣灵的名,阿门!

“享受”预苦期
19 April, 2022

二零二二年预苦期第五主日 证道经文:腓利比书3:4b–14,以赛亚书43:16–21,路加福音20:9–20 奉耶稣基督的名,阿门! 今天是预苦期第五主日,是的,我们还在预苦期里。说实话,四十天的预苦期对于很多基督徒来说,太长了,盼望能早点儿过去。人们更喜欢圣诞节和复活节,并不那么喜欢预苦期和受难日。我的回答是,我也不那么喜欢,但我们非常需要它。预苦期是悔改、祷告和信靠的季节,我们回想自己的罪,用上帝的律法,自己责备自己;意识到自己必然灭亡的命运,我们悔改,向上帝认罪;但更重要地是记念耶稣基督为我们所受的一切苦难,祂在十字架上受死,为我们成就的救恩。所以,我们需要“预苦期”和预苦期的经历,是因为耶稣基督的缘故,我们当学会“享受”预苦期。   无论什么事情,我们享受不享受在于享受的对象。当你吃的是美食是好吃的,自然你就享受它,如果你吃的是不好吃的食物,自然你就不享受了。既然,预苦期如此重要,既然最终预苦期给我们带来的是美好的救恩与永生的祝福,那么,我们不够享受,可能是因为我们应当享受的对象错了。   这是什么意思呢?我们先来看,使徒保罗是怎么说的。其实腓利比书的一个重要主题是喜乐,在这段经文之前,保罗刚刚再一次强调要喜乐,第三章第一节,保罗说,“弟兄们,我还有话说,你们要靠主喜乐”。所以看来,我们不够享受预苦期可能是我们自己的原因。说完“要靠主喜乐”之后,保罗马上提醒腓利比教会的弟兄姐妹,今天也类似地提醒我们,“应当防备犬类,防备作恶的,防备妄自行割的。”那时教会主要的问题之一是犹太人要求外邦人基督徒行割礼,保罗称他们是作恶的,熟悉圣经的人知道,行割礼是律法主义在当时的体现;而如今其它形式的律法主义也依然在困扰基督徒。律法主义的要点是将我们得救的确据从耶稣基督转移到我们自己身上,这就是为什么保罗继续说,“因为真受割礼的,乃是我们这以神的灵敬拜、在基督耶稣里夸口、不靠著肉体的。”紧接着就是今天书信经文的开始部分:“若是别人想他可以靠肉体,我更可以靠著了。”然后,他列数了他在肉体上的优秀,和“就律法上的义说”他是如何地“无可指摘”。保罗不是自夸,也不想自夸。他的逻辑是,像我这样在肉体和律法上有东西可以倚靠的人都不靠自己的肉体和律法称义得救,更遑论其他人呢。这就是为什么他紧接着说,“只是我先前以为与我有益的,我现在因基督都当作有损的。不但如此,我也将万事当作有损的,因我以认识我主基督耶稣为至宝。”为什么那些“先前以为有益的”现如今却当作是有损的呢?因为那些我们在肉体上认为有益,引以自豪的事情,会成为我们认识耶稣基督,信靠耶稣的障碍。用今天的话来对比保罗的经历,那些东西可能是出身、学历、地位,成就等等,和在世上在基督之外甚至敌对基督的努力和辛劳。有些事本身看上去不是罪,甚至无法改变,比如出身;关键是我们怎样看待这些事。你也许会问,你讲这些或保罗讲这些事与今天的主题“享受”预苦期有什么关联呢?问题正在于此。我们不够“享受”预苦期就是因为我们在心理上不愿舍弃保罗所说的这些属肉体和律法的事情,我们的眼光不能从这些事情上转移到耶稣基督和祂为我们成就的救恩上。想想看,让你割舍一些你不愿割舍的东西,你当然不会高兴啦,当然会觉得是一种负担,不够享受啦。   然而“享受”预苦期的秘诀正是“丢弃万事,看作粪土,为要得著基督”。这难道说我们什么都不做,什么都不要了吗?像“出家的和尚”,像中世纪的苦行僧那样,这不能做,那不能做吗?不是的,因为保罗曾警告过我们不要那样,“苦待己身”,因为那样反而是律法主义,就像歌罗西书第二章中说的“这些规条使人徒有智慧之名,用私意崇拜,自表谦卑,苦待己身,其实在克制肉体的情欲上是毫无功效。”秘诀在于我们所作一切都要“得以在基督里面,不是有自己因律法而得的义,乃是有信基督的义,就是因信上帝而来的义,使我认识基督,晓得他复活的大能,并且晓得和他一同受苦,效法他的死,或者我也得以从死里复活。”这正是我们因信称义,仰赖基督死而复活大能的福音,在一切事上生活在洗礼之中,与基督同死同复活的福音。后面,保罗用运动员赛跑的比喻来说明,我们当定睛在耶稣基督身上,因为祂才是我们的标杆,我们的一切努力的目标与奖赏。   是否尊重耶稣基督,是否接受耶稣基督,是否结出来自上帝和我们主耶稣基督的果实来,这也正是今天福音经文中主耶稣所讲比喻的关键,因为那些园户要结属于他们自己的果实,甚至不惜杀害葡萄园主人的爱子,他们彼此商议说,“我们杀他吧,使产业归于我们!”就是这个意思。这爱子当然是主耶稣祂自己,当时的犹太人与主耶稣的分歧,不正在于此吗?是接受上帝在基督里的恩典呢,还是坚持律法主义,靠自己好行为称义呢?这也仍然是如今人们信仰的关键和试金石,这个石头既可以成为救恩的房角石和磐石,也可以成为使人跌倒的绊脚石与最后审判时砸在人身上的石头。   感谢主耶稣基督!祂已经为我们一切的罪死在十字架上,一切就是一切,在救恩的问题上,不需要我们自己的什么东西,因为那些东西都是粪土。主作为活着的,如今依然统管一切的主宰,祂会在我们实际的生活中,将一切事物赋予崭新的意义,带领我们,在祂里面将一切事物改换一新,使我们不断经历预苦期悔改与信靠的历程,就像祂当年带领以色列民出埃及,过红海时所经历的那样。实际过红海的经历只有那一次,但它所预表的洗礼的经历,就是埋葬罪恶并与主同死同复活的经历,却可以在任何信徒生命生活中反复出现。“看哪,我要做一件新事;如今要发现,你们岂不知道吗?我必在旷野开道路,在沙漠开江河。野地的走兽必尊重我;野狗和鸵鸟也必如此。因我使旷野有水,使沙漠有河,好赐给我的百姓、我的选民喝。这百姓是我为自己所造的,好述说我的美德。”这话是以赛亚对当时的人说的,今天也对我们说:我们可以不断经历救恩的新事,但仍然歌颂赞美同一个救恩,同一位救主。所以求主圣灵在这个预苦期里,在我们生活的每一天,使我们不断经历上帝的救恩,因为这才是我们“享受”预苦期的关键。   奉圣父、圣子、圣灵的名,阿门!

Leave A Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories

  • Bible Studies
  • Church Happenings
  • Pastor Mark's Sermons
  • Pastor Yang's Sermons in English
  • Pastor's Corner
  • Stewardship
  • Worship Themed Activities
  • 杨牧师的主日证道
  • 青年团契

Helpful Links

  • Home
  • Upcoming Events
  • Youth Group
  • Give
  • Directions
  • Contact
  • Staff Login

Pastor's Corner

Seventh Sunday of Easter/The Ascension of Our Lord 5/22
26May2022
为生命计划
19Apr2022

Connect With Us

(703) 573-0295

stpaulsoff@aol.com

7426 Idylwood Road, Falls Church, Virginia 22043

Copyright 2020 St. Paul's Lutheran Church