（腓立比書Philippians 3:1-11）
在保羅的書信中，經常為了守護信仰的純正而辯護，而其中一個問題就是教會內部的猶太主義。
初期教會的第一批基督徒大多數是猶太人，帶著濃厚的猶太信仰傳統和習俗加入教會。他們了解耶穌基督的信仰是透過猶太人的傳統和習俗，因此常常把耶穌的教導，和他們拉比的教導混合在一起。有些熱心的猶太化基督徒，甚至抱著猶太主義的立場，攻擊教會和使徒，保羅就經常要寫信到各教會，澄清這些混亂和對抗攻擊。
其中一個嚴重的混亂就是得救的問題。人如何才能得救呢？猶太主義者堅持，除了信耶穌之外，還要守律法，並遵行猶太人的傳統習俗。他們對自己選民的身份很驕傲，並要求凡信耶穌的外邦人也要接受割禮，不然就不算是義人。保羅在這問題上大力反對，並替耶穌基督的福音辯護。有關這方面更詳細的辯論，可以詳讀羅馬書和加拉太書。保羅在腓立比書只是順帶再提一次（3:1b），並沒有打算深入討論。
耶穌基督的救贖，就是神向背叛祂的人伸出寬恕和接納的手，呼召人與祂重建關係，做祂的兒女。耶穌基督的救贖既然是重建關係的問題，而神又先賜下赦罪的恩典，向人伸出接納的手，人的回應就只需要接納這恩典，並承認耶穌是救主和生命的主，他便被神稱為義，或與神和好了。耶穌所要求的只是人在態度上的轉變，重新藉著接納耶穌，接納神作為他們的神和生命的主。這種態度的轉變是首先的，而且是最重要和必要的，跟人的道德或宗教成就完全無關。這就是保羅多次強調的藉著信靠恩典而得救稱義的道理。
經文默想
我們決志信耶穌就是立志改變我們人生的態度，接納耶穌是我們生命和生活的主，因此保羅便說了從7至11節的一番話。請你在這一週反省你信耶穌的經歷，並比對一下自己的人生態度和保羅的有何不同。為什麼有這些不同處?
In Paul’s letters, he always defended Christian faith against Judaisers’ influences in the church.
The majority of the first generation Christians in the early churches were Jews, who brought with them the tradition and customs of Judaism into the church life. Their understanding of Christian faith was most likely with the perspective of the Jewish rabbinic teachings. Some Christian Judaisers might enthusiastically argue with churches and apostles with their Judaic biases. This was the reason for Paul to write letters to different churches to teach the correct doctrines and respond to challenges.
There was one very confusing issue among others and it was the issue of salvation. How should a person be saved? The Judaisers argued that in addition to having faith in Jesus, one must keep the Jewish law, and observe the Jewish customs. They were very proud of their identity as the chosen people, and required every non-Jewish believer to observe circumcision, or otherwise, they would not be called a righteous person. Paul fought restlessly against such judaized opinion, and prevented the gospel of Christ from corruption. In the epistle of Philippians, Paul only mentioned lightly again this issue (3:1b) and did not want to go any further, but we can find the detail discussions in Romans and Galatians.
The salvation of Jesus is the extended hand of the forgiveness of God to people, and calling them to reconcile with Him to become His children. Since Jesus’ redemption is to bring back a reconciled relationship, and God has already forgiven us and welcomes us to be His children, therefore, the response people need to make is to accept this gift and acknowledge Jesus as the Lord in their lives, and then they will be claimed righteous and make peace with God. Jesus just asks us for an attitude change, and through Him, we receive God to be the Lord in our lives. This attitude change is the most fundamental and necessary, and has nothing to do with any moral or religious achievement. This is what Paul has asserted so many times in his writings the doctrine of “salvation through faith by grace”.
Meditation on the Scripture:
When we make our decision to accept Jesus, we make the decision to change our life attitude, and take Jesus as the Lord in our lives. This is exactly the situation Paul mentioned in 3:7~11. Let us reflect on our conversion experience, and compare our lives with Paul’s life mentioned in this paragraph.
靈裡的選舉 Election in the Spirit
浸信會的體制是採取會員治會制的。它的精神是由全體信徒同心尋求神對教會的旨意，並按著彼此所領受的恩賜來事奉。我們相信，在教會的生活中，神對教會的旨意，在正常情況下，會向大多數人顯明，因為神要我們同心合意，按著所領受的恩賜服事祂，建立教會。
我們進行同工的選舉就是基於這一信念，在聖靈裡透過選舉，尋求合主心意的教會領袖。所以，當我們進行選舉時，務必認真嚴肅，切切為選舉禱告，一同尋求聖靈的引導，選出合神心意的人來。
每一次進行選舉前要先為自己禱告，求主指引你未來要擔任的服事。如果聖靈要感動你出來服事，就應與弟兄姊妹分享你的呼召，並請大家為你禱告。然後再為別人禱告，求聖靈也呼召別人一起參與事奉。當你有具體的代禱對象，便應與那人分享，一同尋求聖靈同印證的感動。在提名的時候，便憑著這些聖靈的感動推選候選人，有相同感動的人便可以附議。若有兩個或以上的附議，便接納提名人為候選人。當候選人已經齊備，全教會就應同心為候選人禱告，求聖靈進一步指引，選出新的同工來。
教會選舉是沒有什麼當選不當選，都是神按著祂的心意，呼召人在不同的崗位上服事。每一個崗位都同樣尊貴，也同樣重要。教會的選舉也是一種屬靈的操練，讓我們學習在事奉上尋求主的旨意，也學習聆聽聖靈的聲音，順服祂的呼召。
Baptist polity adopts the congregational system in church management. They believe that God intends the whole church to seek His will together in church business and uses our gifts to serve the body. In the normal situation, when God reveals His will to the church, He will bring the consent to the majority to confirm a particular insight, and use different gifts to build up the body, for He wants us to serve Him in one accord.
Based on this belief, we elect our church leaders. We try to administer our election in the Holy Spirit to seek His will in calling our council leaders. Therefore, we urge our brothers and sisters to take our election seriously and prayerfully to seek God’s will together to elect those who are called by the Lord.
Every time before the nomination and election, we should pray for ourselves first to wait for God’s calling to the ministry. If the Holy Spirit calls you to a ministry, you should share that calling with other brothers and sisters, and ask them to pray for you. Secondly, you should pray for others, and ask the Holy Spirit to call people to serve in the church. Once if you have some one in your prayer, you should share your seeing with that person, and pray together to wait for the confirmation from the Holy Spirit. When we come to the day of nomination, we should nominate under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and also wait for at least two people to give the confirmations to second the motion. Any motion for a nominee should be carried with two seconds from the congregation. When the nomination is closed and a pool of nominees is established, the whole church should pray for all the nominees, and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us into the election.
There is no loss or win in church election, for it is God who chooses His people to serve in different positions. Every position is equally important and noble in God’s perspective. Church election is also a kind of spiritual discipline to allow us to learn to serve the Lord and seek His will. It is also the opportunity to learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and obey His calling.
我們進行同工的選舉就是基於這一信念，在聖靈裡透過選舉，尋求合主心意的教會領袖。所以，當我們進行選舉時，務必認真嚴肅，切切為選舉禱告，一同尋求聖靈的引導，選出合神心意的人來。
每一次進行選舉前要先為自己禱告，求主指引你未來要擔任的服事。如果聖靈要感動你出來服事，就應與弟兄姊妹分享你的呼召，並請大家為你禱告。然後再為別人禱告，求聖靈也呼召別人一起參與事奉。當你有具體的代禱對象，便應與那人分享，一同尋求聖靈同印證的感動。在提名的時候，便憑著這些聖靈的感動推選候選人，有相同感動的人便可以附議。若有兩個或以上的附議，便接納提名人為候選人。當候選人已經齊備，全教會就應同心為候選人禱告，求聖靈進一步指引，選出新的同工來。
教會選舉是沒有什麼當選不當選，都是神按著祂的心意，呼召人在不同的崗位上服事。每一個崗位都同樣尊貴，也同樣重要。教會的選舉也是一種屬靈的操練，讓我們學習在事奉上尋求主的旨意，也學習聆聽聖靈的聲音，順服祂的呼召。
Baptist polity adopts the congregational system in church management. They believe that God intends the whole church to seek His will together in church business and uses our gifts to serve the body. In the normal situation, when God reveals His will to the church, He will bring the consent to the majority to confirm a particular insight, and use different gifts to build up the body, for He wants us to serve Him in one accord.
Based on this belief, we elect our church leaders. We try to administer our election in the Holy Spirit to seek His will in calling our council leaders. Therefore, we urge our brothers and sisters to take our election seriously and prayerfully to seek God’s will together to elect those who are called by the Lord.
Every time before the nomination and election, we should pray for ourselves first to wait for God’s calling to the ministry. If the Holy Spirit calls you to a ministry, you should share that calling with other brothers and sisters, and ask them to pray for you. Secondly, you should pray for others, and ask the Holy Spirit to call people to serve in the church. Once if you have some one in your prayer, you should share your seeing with that person, and pray together to wait for the confirmation from the Holy Spirit. When we come to the day of nomination, we should nominate under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and also wait for at least two people to give the confirmations to second the motion. Any motion for a nominee should be carried with two seconds from the congregation. When the nomination is closed and a pool of nominees is established, the whole church should pray for all the nominees, and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us into the election.
There is no loss or win in church election, for it is God who chooses His people to serve in different positions. Every position is equally important and noble in God’s perspective. Church election is also a kind of spiritual discipline to allow us to learn to serve the Lord and seek His will. It is also the opportunity to learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and obey His calling.
快樂階梯 The Pyramid of Happiness
神要我們活得充滿喜樂，所以保羅說要常常喜樂。在舊約的書卷中，到處都可以看到神應許人快樂的話。然而，聖經對喜樂有不同的看法，因此也要求我們以不同的方法去追求快樂。
我們可以用一個快樂階梯來說明基督徒追求快樂的方法，同時也顯出我們對快樂的深刻認識。基督徒也是人，也有物質的需要，所以我們也追求物質的豐富，但同時也認識到物質的豐富不必然帶來心靈的快樂。其實，在我們日常生活中，曾經看見過有人賺了許多錢但不快樂，也看過有人事業很成功卻也不快樂，我們也看過有人交友滿天下也不快樂。
聖經已告訴我們快樂的源頭在神裡面。保羅直接告訴我們，在主裡是喜樂的泉源：「你們要因為與主連結而常常喜樂。我再說，你們要喜樂。」（腓4:4）我們可以從聖經中找到喜樂的階梯，知道喜樂的源頭，和喜樂最高的境界，而這一切都在乎我們與主的關係。
God wants us to live happily. This is the reason why Paul tells us to be joyful always. We can find in the Old Testament books full of God’s promises of giving happiness to His people. In Bible, however, happiness has its unique definition, and therefore, God also requires us to acquire happiness in a unique way.
We can use a pyramid to illustrate how Christians should pursuit happiness, and reveal our profound understanding in this issue. Christians are also human beings, so we have physical needs. We will pursuit earthly wealth, even though we understand that material goods won’t necessary quarantine happiness, especially spiritual joy. As matter of fact, we see rich people and professionally successful people are unhappy in their lives. Sometimes, we also see people are unhappy even though they have a lot of friends.
Bible tells us that the ultimate source of happiness is in the Lord. Paul tells us with no hesitation that we will have joy in the union with Christ, “May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: rejoice!” (Phil 4:4) We can find the ladder to happiness in the Bible, and know that the ultimate source of joy and its highest contentment is in the relationship with the Lord.
靈修樂 The Joy of Devotion
教會自從推動每日靈修以來，聽到有弟兄姊妹查詢靈修的方法，也聽到有人抱怨靈修沉悶，很想做，卻提不起勁。這些問題不單初信主的人會遇到，就是信主多年的人也會有這些困惑。我想在這裡提出兩點來回應這兩個問題。
第一個原因是讀不懂。許多人讀聖經的時候讀不懂，就覺得沉悶讀不下去，於是無法堅持每天靈修。有一個很好的辦法來回應這個現象，就是找一些能讀得懂的靈修輔助讀物，作為開始的靈修材料。教會近來介紹了許多這類的靈修課程或讀物，我大力鼓勵你去選購，馬上開始每天的靈修生活。除了使用靈修課程來做每天的靈修外，參與或自組小組靈修是另一個非常好的辦法，透過小組分享，便更容易明白聖經的教導，使靈修更有趣味。
第二個原因是沒有實踐。靈修最精彩的地方，也是靈修的目的，就是實踐每天讀到的聖經教訓。許多屬靈的道理，讀的時候貌似簡單，但實踐的時候才能體會個中的滋味。實踐靈修時所學到的聖經教訓，會讓你體會靈修的重要和功用，也會增加你靈修的興趣和動力。實踐也會幫助我們認識聖經的教訓，或幫助我們更深入地了解聖經的話。有些人讀了許多年的聖經，卻連一些很簡單的聖經道理都不明白，就是因為他們不實踐所學到的教訓。屬靈的真理既是知而後行，也是行而後知的。
我鼓勵大家每週實踐最少一個聖經的教訓，讓我們的靈修更精彩，也更有用。
Since the church has promoted daily devotion, I heard many brothers and sisters asking methods of how to do devotion, and also complaining the boredom of doing it. Many said that they have tried but because of the tedium of reading the Bible that they lost the enthusiasm eventually. It does not only happen to young believers, but also to old Christians. I would like to address these issues with two points:
First, Bible to some people is hard to understand. Many people have hard time to comprehend the teachings of the Bible, and feel bore in their devotional reading. They will very soon give up their daily practices. To respond to this situation, I would recommend some easy reading devotional materials. Our church has introduced many devotional materials or books recently that can help improve this situation. I encourage you to order or buy one or two such devotional materials to help you start your daily quiet time with the Lord. Besides, you can join or create one small group to do devotion together, which will help you understand what you read in the Bible, and add more fun in your quiet time.
Second, people do not practice what they learn from the Bible. Practicing God’s word is the most exciting thing in your devotional reading, and it is the purpose of daily devotion. While many biblical teachings look simple when you read them, but practices will bring out their richness. Practices will also help us understand the biblical teachings deeper. Many Christians have been reading Bible for many years but still are very ignorance even in many simple teachings, because they never put God’s word into practices. Definitely we need to learn the spiritual truth first in order to practice it, but the truth will not reveal its depth to us if we don’t practice them.
I strongly encourage you to learn by heart one biblical teaching every week and put it into practice to enrich your quiet time with the Lord, and make your devotional reading more practical and useful.
第一個原因是讀不懂。許多人讀聖經的時候讀不懂，就覺得沉悶讀不下去，於是無法堅持每天靈修。有一個很好的辦法來回應這個現象，就是找一些能讀得懂的靈修輔助讀物，作為開始的靈修材料。教會近來介紹了許多這類的靈修課程或讀物，我大力鼓勵你去選購，馬上開始每天的靈修生活。除了使用靈修課程來做每天的靈修外，參與或自組小組靈修是另一個非常好的辦法，透過小組分享，便更容易明白聖經的教導，使靈修更有趣味。
第二個原因是沒有實踐。靈修最精彩的地方，也是靈修的目的，就是實踐每天讀到的聖經教訓。許多屬靈的道理，讀的時候貌似簡單，但實踐的時候才能體會個中的滋味。實踐靈修時所學到的聖經教訓，會讓你體會靈修的重要和功用，也會增加你靈修的興趣和動力。實踐也會幫助我們認識聖經的教訓，或幫助我們更深入地了解聖經的話。有些人讀了許多年的聖經，卻連一些很簡單的聖經道理都不明白，就是因為他們不實踐所學到的教訓。屬靈的真理既是知而後行，也是行而後知的。
我鼓勵大家每週實踐最少一個聖經的教訓，讓我們的靈修更精彩，也更有用。
Since the church has promoted daily devotion, I heard many brothers and sisters asking methods of how to do devotion, and also complaining the boredom of doing it. Many said that they have tried but because of the tedium of reading the Bible that they lost the enthusiasm eventually. It does not only happen to young believers, but also to old Christians. I would like to address these issues with two points:
First, Bible to some people is hard to understand. Many people have hard time to comprehend the teachings of the Bible, and feel bore in their devotional reading. They will very soon give up their daily practices. To respond to this situation, I would recommend some easy reading devotional materials. Our church has introduced many devotional materials or books recently that can help improve this situation. I encourage you to order or buy one or two such devotional materials to help you start your daily quiet time with the Lord. Besides, you can join or create one small group to do devotion together, which will help you understand what you read in the Bible, and add more fun in your quiet time.
Second, people do not practice what they learn from the Bible. Practicing God’s word is the most exciting thing in your devotional reading, and it is the purpose of daily devotion. While many biblical teachings look simple when you read them, but practices will bring out their richness. Practices will also help us understand the biblical teachings deeper. Many Christians have been reading Bible for many years but still are very ignorance even in many simple teachings, because they never put God’s word into practices. Definitely we need to learn the spiritual truth first in order to practice it, but the truth will not reveal its depth to us if we don’t practice them.
I strongly encourage you to learn by heart one biblical teaching every week and put it into practice to enrich your quiet time with the Lord, and make your devotional reading more practical and useful.
眾樂樂 The Joy of Making People Happy
這兩個主日在崇拜和主日學都會談論到夫妻相處之道，其實夫妻之道也不外是建基在一般人際關係的原則之上。中國對夫妻有一句古老的忠告，就是「相敬如賓」，是很有智慧和道理的。它的意思是，不以親而疏於禮。
人與人之間的相處，很多時候是親而無禮。這是什麼意思呢？它的意思是，當人與人之間的關係漸漸親近了，就不再注重人際關係中的原則，自私的念頭就慢慢增強，常常委屈別人來滿足自己。於是，我們常常看見，兩個熟識的朋友，矛盾反而增多，往往在認識久了之候，朋友就做不成了。這個現象背後有很多原因，而且都是非常有趣和諷刺的，但我不打算在這裡談論。我只想提出一點和大家一起思考的，就是「獨樂樂不如眾樂樂」的交友之道。
在交友的前期，我們都會為了建立友誼，爭取友誼，都會為對方著想及考慮，以對方的快樂為自己的快樂，才有可能成功地建立起友誼。然而一旦成為朋友，友誼深了，人就從他利的態度，漸漸轉變成自利的態度，經常要求朋友滿足自己的需要，而不想再像以前一樣去遷就對方。人從自我中心（自私）的心態中走出來，是性格和屬靈生命成長的重要過程，朋友以至夫妻的關係便成為人自我成長的重要助力。如果我們要享受人際關係的快樂，不管是一般的友誼、或情侶，甚至是夫妻，都要以獨樂樂不如眾樂樂的態度來交往。
On these two Sundays, we will talk about husband and wife relationship in our worship service and Sunday school. Some principles of marital relationship are also principles for building healthy relationship among friends. One ancient Chinese saying has some truth to advise a married couple to treat each other like friends. What it means is that, husband and wife should not abuse their relationship simply because they are married and have a very intimate relationship.
In people relationship, sometimes, we see the closeness will be used as an excuse to abuse friendship. What does it mean? It means that when two persons become close friends, they tend to ignore the principles that they used to observe to build their friendship, and allow their selfish desires have their own ways. Therefore, it will not be surprised to see two persons once become good friends to start fighting and arguing, and eventually to break the friendship.
Of course, we know there are a lot of reasons contributing into this issue, and it is no way to discuss them in this little article. I just want to bring out one thing for discussion, and it is the principle of making people happy is the happiest thing in relationship.
In the earlier stage of building friendship, we are more eager to be considerate and to make people happy for it will make us happy too and secure the friendship. However, once the friendship is built and the relationship is getting closer, our attitude will also change, and become more self-centered and selfish. We will be less eager to give in and more demanding.
Going out of our self-centeredness or selfishness is the process of maturity, and friends or our spouse are the biggest helpers in this process of growth. Therefore, if we want to enjoy relationship, no matter, they are friendship or husband and wife relationship, the principle of making people happy is the happiest thing in relationship is always the golden rule.
人與人之間的相處，很多時候是親而無禮。這是什麼意思呢？它的意思是，當人與人之間的關係漸漸親近了，就不再注重人際關係中的原則，自私的念頭就慢慢增強，常常委屈別人來滿足自己。於是，我們常常看見，兩個熟識的朋友，矛盾反而增多，往往在認識久了之候，朋友就做不成了。這個現象背後有很多原因，而且都是非常有趣和諷刺的，但我不打算在這裡談論。我只想提出一點和大家一起思考的，就是「獨樂樂不如眾樂樂」的交友之道。
在交友的前期，我們都會為了建立友誼，爭取友誼，都會為對方著想及考慮，以對方的快樂為自己的快樂，才有可能成功地建立起友誼。然而一旦成為朋友，友誼深了，人就從他利的態度，漸漸轉變成自利的態度，經常要求朋友滿足自己的需要，而不想再像以前一樣去遷就對方。人從自我中心（自私）的心態中走出來，是性格和屬靈生命成長的重要過程，朋友以至夫妻的關係便成為人自我成長的重要助力。如果我們要享受人際關係的快樂，不管是一般的友誼、或情侶，甚至是夫妻，都要以獨樂樂不如眾樂樂的態度來交往。
On these two Sundays, we will talk about husband and wife relationship in our worship service and Sunday school. Some principles of marital relationship are also principles for building healthy relationship among friends. One ancient Chinese saying has some truth to advise a married couple to treat each other like friends. What it means is that, husband and wife should not abuse their relationship simply because they are married and have a very intimate relationship.
In people relationship, sometimes, we see the closeness will be used as an excuse to abuse friendship. What does it mean? It means that when two persons become close friends, they tend to ignore the principles that they used to observe to build their friendship, and allow their selfish desires have their own ways. Therefore, it will not be surprised to see two persons once become good friends to start fighting and arguing, and eventually to break the friendship.
Of course, we know there are a lot of reasons contributing into this issue, and it is no way to discuss them in this little article. I just want to bring out one thing for discussion, and it is the principle of making people happy is the happiest thing in relationship.
In the earlier stage of building friendship, we are more eager to be considerate and to make people happy for it will make us happy too and secure the friendship. However, once the friendship is built and the relationship is getting closer, our attitude will also change, and become more self-centered and selfish. We will be less eager to give in and more demanding.
Going out of our self-centeredness or selfishness is the process of maturity, and friends or our spouse are the biggest helpers in this process of growth. Therefore, if we want to enjoy relationship, no matter, they are friendship or husband and wife relationship, the principle of making people happy is the happiest thing in relationship is always the golden rule.
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