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Is it possible to lose your salvation?

2023-11-21 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Hebrews 6:1-12.  Let’s go!

Hebrews 6:1-3 (NIV)
1  Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,
2  instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
3  And God permitting, we will do so. 

On verses 1-3:  Just before this, the writer of Hebrews rebuked his readers for failing to mature spiritually.  As part of telling them to grow up, he mentions six topics that are foundational for every Christian to understand:
The first is “repentance from acts that lead to death” (v1), meaning the importance of turning from our sin (including our tendency to want to earn our salvation by our own good works) and turning to God. 
The second is the importance of faith (v1). 
The third is the importance of baptisms, referring to water baptism and baptism of the Holy Spirit (v2). 

可悲的逆轉

2023-11-21 in , /by

何西阿書13:4  自從你出埃及地以來，我就是耶和華你的神。在我以外，你不可認識別神，除我以外並沒有救主。

閱讀經文:  何西阿書 13:1-16

1從前以法蓮說話，人都戰兢，他在以色列中居處高位，但他在侍奉巴力的事上犯罪就死了。 2 現今他們罪上加罪，用銀子為自己鑄造偶像，就是照自己的聰明製造，都是匠人的工作。有人論說：「獻祭的人可以向牛犢親嘴。」 3 因此，他們必如早晨的雲霧，又如速散的甘露，像場上的糠秕被狂風吹去，又像煙氣騰於窗外。

一、高位變糠秕(13:1-3)

「從前以法蓮說話，人都戰兢，他在以色列中居處高位。」(13:1a) 以法蓮是一個很特別的支派。摩西帶領以色列人過紅海，到曠野，摩西是利未支派；然後約書亞帶領以色列人進入迦南地，約書亞是以法蓮支派；到士師時代，底波拉是以法蓮支派的，撒母耳也是以法蓮支派的，然後到北國耶羅波安，他也是以法蓮支派的，所以以法蓮支派在以色列中居很高的位置。但因為他們拜巴力，就帶來一個可悲的逆轉，他們變成雲霧、甘露、糠秕和煙氣，這四種比喻都表示他們很短暫、沒有份量、稍縱即逝。

Jesus our Perfect High Priest

2023-11-20 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Hebrews 5:1-14.  Let’s go!

Hebrews 5:1-10 (NIV)
1  Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
2  He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.
3  This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.
4  No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.

On verses 1-10:  In verses 1-4 the writer of Hebrews describes how the high priest under Jewish law was appointed and what that high priest did.  The high priest:
–  was selected from among his own people (v1a)
–  was appointed to represent the people in God-related matters and to offer gifts and sacrifices to God for people’s sins, including his own (v1b)
–  dealt gently with sinners because he himself could sympathize with their weaknesses (v2)
–  did not take up the honor of being a high priest on his own initiative, but must be called by God (v4).

審判中的憐憫

2023-11-20 in , /by

何西阿書12:6 所以你當歸向你的神，謹守仁愛、公平，常常等候你的神。

閱讀經文:  何西阿書 12:1-14

1「以法蓮吃風，且追趕東風，時常增添虛謊和強暴，與亞述立約，把油送到埃及。 2 耶和華與猶大爭辯，必照雅各所行的懲罰他，按他所做的報應他。 3 他在腹中抓住哥哥的腳跟，壯年的時候與神較力。 4 與天使較力，並且得勝，哭泣懇求。在伯特利遇見耶和華， 5 耶和華萬軍之神在那裡曉諭我們以色列人，耶和華是他可記念的名。

在這一章裡，神用雅各生平的四個故事來闡述神和以色列的關係。雅各離開迦南地去巴旦亞蘭的路，也是以色列人將被亞述帶離應許之地的路。在雅各出生時，他緊緊抓住以掃的腳跟，因此他被命名為雅各，意思就是抓住。在他的一生中，正彰顯出這個名字的特質，也是每一個人心裡的欲望，總想抓住這世界的什麼，來增加自己心裡的安全感。

神說以法蓮吃風，且追趕東風。風是無定形的，抓不住，可見其努力的都將化為虛空。這裡也形容人的愚昧，竟不知所要抓住的都將變為虛空。他們和亞述立約，把油送到埃及，兩隻腳踏兩隻船，以為這樣就什麼都抓住了，沒想到就像雅各一樣，什麼也抓不住。

Approach God with Confidence Because You Have the Perfect Representative

2023-11-19 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Hebrews 4:12-16.  These verses are worth memorizing.  They contain some powerful truths that we need to store up in our hearts.   Let’s go!

Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
12  For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

On verse 12:  Though the Scriptures (the logos “word of God”) were written thousands of years ago, they are incredibly relevant, applicable and helpful for us today.  Case in point: just before this, in verses 1 to 11 the writer of Hebrews gave a powerful sermon on Psalm 95 to communicate the powerful and relevant truth that trusting in Jesus’ finished work on the cross allows us to enter God’s rest.   What can we learn from this?  God actively uses the Scriptures to speak into our current situations.  God’s Word truly is living and active.

神的慈繩愛索

2023-11-19 in , /by

何西阿書11:1  以色列年幼的時候，我愛他，就從埃及召出我的兒子來。

閱讀經文:  何西阿書 11:1-12

1「以色列年幼的時候，我愛他，就從埃及召出我的兒子來。2 先知越發招呼他們，他們越發走開，向諸巴力獻祭，給雕刻的偶像燒香。3 我原教導以法蓮行走，用膀臂抱著他們，他們卻不知道是我醫治他們。4 我用慈繩愛索牽引他們，我待他們如人放鬆牛的兩腮夾板，把糧食放在他們面前。

2018年2月21日一代福音巨人葛理翰牧師（Billy Graham）過世了，享年99歲。葛牧師是愛爾蘭和蘇格蘭人的後裔，也是他家的長子。他從小就喜歡讀書，特別喜歡讀《泰山Tarzan》，並且喜歡學泰山吊掛在樹上大叫，有時把附近的馬和開車的人都嚇跑了。據他父親說，就是因為他的聲音，所以他成了一個佈道家！在他14歲時，美國的禁酒令取消了。他的父親強迫葛理翰和他妹妹凱薩琳喝啤酒，直到他們喝不下為止。從此以後，他們兩人對酒和毒品終生敬而遠之。

尋求耶和華的時候

2023-11-17 in , /by

何西阿書10:12 你們要為自己栽種公義，就能收割慈愛。現今正是尋求耶和華的時候，你們要開墾荒地，等他臨到，使公義如雨降在你們身上。

閱讀經文:  何西阿書 10:1-15

1以色列是茂盛的葡萄樹，結果繁多。果子越多，就越增添祭壇；地土越肥美，就越造美麗的柱像。 2 他們心懷二意，現今要定為有罪。耶和華必拆毀他們的祭壇，毀壞他們的柱像。 3 他們必說：「我們沒有王，因為我們不敬畏耶和華。王能為我們做什麼呢？」

以色列一直是神所栽種，所祝福，所喜愛的葡萄樹。神喜歡用葡萄樹，或甚至葡萄園來形容以色列。但是以色列讓神很腦筋，因為神越祝福他們，他們越發茂盛，結果越多，就越發去造異教的祭壇祭拜偶像，忘記造他們的主，離棄揀選他們的神耶和華。他們用神的祝福去做美麗的柱像，也就是一個又一個的偶像，然後去拜那些自己的手所做出來的，沒有生命之物。

這個用現代的話來說，可不可以說現代人用神給的祝福，所賺來的錢，所賜的時間，去追求更多的享受和物質，而逐漸遠離神？玩手機和上網路取代了親近神的時間，遊戲和美食佔去了我們的心神？偶像沒有什麼了不起，真正的問題是“心懷二意”也可譯為“他們的心是虛假的”，在選擇之間，原本該尊主為大，卻變成尊已欲望為大。那是偶像。我一直覺得，人真正的偶像是自己，和自己的私欲。外表的敬拜只是一種投射，拜偶像也只是一種利用。

Jesus’ Finished Work Brings You Rest

2023-11-17 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Hebrews 4:1-11.  Let’s go!

Hebrews 4:1-3a (NIV)
1  Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.
2  For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.
3  Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.'” …

On verses 1-3a:  What “rest” is the writer of Hebrews talking about here?  What “rest” is he not wanting his readers to miss?  To be clear, the writer of Hebrews is not referring to resting once a week from your normal work as per the 10 commandments.  The rest he is referring to here is a spiritual rest in God, a rest that comes from being forgiven of our sins, a rest where we are no longer separated from God but reconciled to Him.  Another way to describe this “rest” is having peace with God, such that instead of being slaves to sin and doomed to hell, we are now children of God and citizens of heaven.  This is the ultimate rest, a rest that brings benefit to us not just today but for eternity.  This rest comes only from trusting in Jesus Christ, and God offers this rest to all of us today. 

降罰的日子臨近了

2023-11-16 in , /by

何西阿書 9:5  在大會的日子，到耶和華的節期，你們怎樣行呢？

閱讀經文:  何西阿書 9:1-16

1以色列啊，不要像外邦人歡喜快樂，因為你行邪淫離棄你的神，在各穀場上如妓女喜愛賞賜。 2 穀場和酒榨都不夠以色列人使用，新酒也必缺乏。 3 他們必不得住耶和華的地，以法蓮卻要歸回埃及，必在亞述吃不潔淨的食物。 4 他們必不得向耶和華奠酒，即便奠酒也不蒙悅納。他們的祭物必如居喪者的食物，凡吃的必被玷汙，因他們的食物只為自己的口腹，必不奉入耶和華的殿。 5 在大會的日子，到耶和華的節期，你們怎樣行呢？ 6 看哪，他們逃避災難，埃及人必收殮他們的屍首，摩弗人必葬埋他們的骸骨。他們用銀子做的美物上必長蒺藜，他們的帳篷中必生荊棘。

七月一日是加拿大的國慶日，在這一天加拿大人慶祝國家的誕生；美國的國慶在七月四日，也有類似的慶祝。世界各國都有自己的國慶日，是特別歡樂的日子。但就是在這樣的日子，在歡樂的時刻，在舉國慶祝的日子裡；何西阿對歡樂的眾人開始他的演講：“以色列阿，不要……歡喜快樂！”（1節）。

這個穀場是一個既作為打穀，又作為慶祝豐收的公開場所。他所講的卻是悲哀的信息： “他們必不得住耶和華的地。（3節）”間接上，他是宣布上帝與這個國家所立的約已經終止。以色列過去曾經從埃及為奴之地出來，被帶到自由和豐收之地。但是現在先知宣布：“以法蓮卻要歸回埃及”那些歡樂地吃豐收的食物的人，不久將要“在亞述吃不潔淨的食物。（3節）”

Your Heart’s Condition Is Your Choice

2023-11-16 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Hebrews 3:7-19.  Let’s go!

Hebrews 3:7-12 (NIV)
7  So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice,
8  do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert,
9  where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did.
10  That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’
11  So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.'”
12  See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.

On verses 7-12:  There are two crucial lessons I learn as I read these verses today.

First, notice that in verses 7-11 the writer of Hebrews quotes Psalm 95:7-11 and prefaces it was saying, “as the Holy Spirit says”.  In other words, the writer of Hebrews believed the Old Testament is not just people’s words, but the inspired words of the Holy Spirit.  (In chapter 2, the writer of Hebrews credits other parts of the Old Testament to Jesus (see 2:12).  So according to the writer of Hebrews, both Jesus and the Holy Spirit were involved in the writing of Scripture in the Old Testament.)