Year: 2021

14/12/2021

引言:

罗马书一直讲到‘因信称义’，而在这个称义的生命里面，当我们认识到神圣洁的属性，其实我们很自然地就会活出一个与我们所蒙的恩相称的生命！从上一章开始，我们就看到神的话提醒我们要做活祭，而且保罗也列举出了一些基督徒该有的生命素质，来让我们对照自己的生命。进入今天这一章经文，保罗更是特别提出我们基督徒活出称义生命会有的三大特质。

一、顺服掌权者(V1-7)

1. 顺服(V1-5)

所有掌权者都是在神的许可下，而被授予权柄的，所以人人都应该去顺服。就是说好的权柄也好，坏的权柄也好，都是在神允许的前提下才得着这个权柄的。所以如果我们抗拒权柄，原来就是抗拒神。

人常会有属灵孤儿的心态，不喜欢权柄，不喜欢人来管。但有权柄是好的，权柄会来对着我们的生命来负责。不是说我们地上的权柄就100%都对，但是他们可以做我们的遮盖和监督。沟通也很重要，我们可以表达自己，而沟通后我们应当顺服听从，因为权柄他们需要负起责任！如果我们不听，权柄者也是有权去处罚我们的。很常我们人也会惧怕权柄，因为我们担心我们有做错的地方。但是如果说我们没有故意不听，可能只是理解上的问题，而导致有一些误差，这时候我们就不需要去惧怕。我们需要的是有好的态度，学习怎样与权柄者沟通，并去理解。

从V3我们特别看到保罗跟当时罗马基督徒特别谈到要顺服的是政府的官员，他们当时就是按着法律来治理整个的国家的。所有他们就有权柄去刑罚那些不顺服政府权柄而违法的人，同时也要为那些因着违法之人而受到冤屈的受害者去伸冤！所以保罗就提醒罗马教会的基督徒，要因着一份认识神而有的良心去顺服权柄者，而不要因为权柄者有刑罚人的权柄才去顺服他们。

如果是正直公义的权柄，当然我们人顺服起来就是很容易的。可是，如果我们了解当时《罗马书》的社会背景，就知道其实当时的基督徒是受罗马政府逼迫得很严重的。不过保罗仍然对着罗马的基督徒讲出要顺服政府权柄的真理，为的就是鼓励基督徒要活出与称义生命相配的好见证。基督徒都要在不违反真理的前提下，去顺服我们在上的权柄者。

2.敬奉(V6-7)

当时保罗在写这段经文的背景，罗马政府是以一种暴政的形式来管理国家的，并且他们对基督徒的压迫也是非常地大。但是保罗仍透过真理去教导罗马的基督徒，属于政府的税是我们要交的，政府的规定我们是要守的，政府的官员哪怕不是基督徒，也是要我们带着尊敬和尊荣的心态去对待他们的。

二、爱人不亏欠 (V8-10)

保罗给出我们一些指标去明白怎样才是爱人。

1）凡事都不可亏欠人，就是说我们不要去损害别人，伤害别人，去占别人的便宜；若是我们真的有欠人家什么东西，我们也不要拖延去偿还，而是要快快地补偿回来。2）‘彼此相爱’是为着彼此去考虑，去寻求彼此最大的益处。3）要常以为亏欠。当我们的生命如果真的是有谦卑，我们很容易就会觉得我们做得还不够，其实就是这里的‘常以为亏欠’，然后我们就会愿意摆上更多去爱人。

旧约律法中列举出来了很多的规条来帮助我们在待人接物的层面上去活出神的心意，但是总的来说都概括在‘爱人如己’这句话的里面了。

三、活在光明中 (V11-14)

保罗说现在是我们要趁早醒来的时候，因为现在我们比刚刚初信的时候离得主救赎的日子更近了。所以我们活着每一天，其实我们属灵的生命都是需要去长进的。而醒来，对应的就是沉睡。沉睡是灵里面的骄傲和自满。当我们在我们的灵性上骄傲和自满，其实我们对属神的事物就不会有所追求了。

黑夜很快就会过去，指的就是现今邪恶的时代很快就会过去，而白昼将近，就是指基督很快就要回来了。那么我们就要脱去那些没有活在光明中的、黑暗的行为，反过来我们要带上光明的兵器，其实指的就是要穿上神所赐的全副军装。

当我们穿戴起神所赐的全副军装，行事为人就要光明正直，而不要去放纵自己的肉体，让自己放纵在宴乐醉酒还有好色邪荡的里面。所谓好色邪荡，特别就是那些滥交，并且不负责任的性的行为。

要活在光明中，保罗继续让基督徒看到，不可争竞嫉妒。就是说我们不只是要外在活得光明正直，就是连我们里面的心思意念，也常常要来靠神得洁净，里里外外都是光明的。

简而言之，活在光明中，我们就是要披戴基督，所以我们行事为人基督都跟我们在一起。当我们真的从灵里面有这一份的认识，那么我们就不会去为我们的肉体安排许多满足我们私欲，放纵我们私欲的东西了。

总结：

我们被神称义，永远不是靠着我们的行为所赚取来的。然而当我们领受到了这个身份，我们要回应神，活出称义生命的三大特质。

第一、在真理中顺服在上的掌权者，无论他是好是坏，其实他都是神所设立的，并且神也会向每一个权柄者去追讨他该付的责任，所以我们无论如何都当竭力去活出一个顺服的生命！第二、我们要爱人、不亏欠人，因为爱就已经完全了一切的律法。第三、我们要活在光明中，不再放纵肉体、放纵私欲！

Romans 13: The Three Characteristics of Living a Righteous Life
GK611 Morning Devotion
14/12/2021
Speaker: IP Moses + Rev. Tan

Introduction:

Romans keeps talking about ‘justification by faith’ and within this justified life, when we recognize the attributes of God’s holiness, it is actually quite natural for us to live a life worthy of the grace we have been given! From the previous chapter, we saw that God’s word reminds us to be a living sacrifice, and that Paul listed some qualities of life that Christians should have to compare our lives to our own. As we move into today’s chapter, Paul makes a point of identifying three main qualities that we as Christians will have in order to live a justified life.

1. Submit to the Authorities (V1-7)

(1) Submission (V1-5)

All those who are in authority are given authority with God’s permission, so everyone should obey. That is to say, whether it is good authority or bad authority, the authority is given only with God’s permission. Therefore, if we resist authority, we are resisting God.

All those who are in authority are given authority with God’s permission, so everyone should obey. That is to say, whether it is good authority or bad authority, the authority is given only with God’s permission. Therefore, if we resist authority, we are resisting God.

People often have the mentality of spiritual orphans who don’t like authority and don’t like to be governed by people. But it is good to have authority, and authority will come to be responsible for our lives. Not that our earthly authorities are 100% right, but they can be our covering and supervise. Communication is also important, we can express ourselves, and after communication we should obey and listen, because the authorities need to be held accountable! If we do not listen, the authority has the right to punish us. Often we are afraid of the authority because we fear that we have done something wrong. But if we don’t deliberately disobey, we may just have a problem with our understanding, which leads to some errors, and then we don’t need to be afraid. What we need is to have a good attitude, learn how to communicate with the authority, and understand.

From v3 we see that Paul spoke especially to the Roman Christians of that time about obedience to the officials of the government, who were governing the whole nation according to the law. So they had the authority to punish those who disobeyed the authority of the government and broke the law, and to seek justice for the victims who were wronged by those who broke the law! Therefore, Paul reminded the Christians of the church in Rome to obey the authorities with a conscience based on the knowledge of God, and not to obey them just because they have the authority to punish people.

If it were a righteous and just authority, of course it would be easy for us to obey. However, if we understand the social context of the book of Romans at that time, we know that Christians at that time were in fact being severely persecuted by the Roman government. But Paul still spoke the truth to the Christians in Rome about submitting to the authority of the government, in order to encourage Christians to live a good testimony that is worthy of a justified life. Christians are to submit to our authorities without violating the truth.

(2) Respect and Honor (V6-7)

At the time Paul was writing this passage, the Roman government was running the country as a tyranny, and their oppression of the Christians was very great. But Paul still taught the Christians in Rome through the truth that the taxes belonging to the government are ours to pay, the rules of the government are ours to keep, and the government officials, even if they were not Christians, were to be treated with respect and honor.

2. Love and does not owe (V8-10)

Paul gives us some indicators to understand what it means to love someone.
1) Owe no one anything except to love one another, which means we should not harm others, hurt them, or take advantage of them; and if we really owe them something, we should not delay to pay it back, but make up for it quickly.
2) to love one another,To think about each other and to seek the greatest benefits for each other.
3) To Always think that you owe. When there is true humility in our lives, we can easily feel that we have not done enough, which is actually the ‘always think we owe’ here, and then we will be willing to put up more to love people.

The Old Testament Law lists many rules to help us live God’s heart in our dealings with others, but in general they are summed up in the phrase ‘love your neighbor as yourself’.

3. Living in the Light (V11-14)

Paul says that now is the time for us to wake up before it is too late, because now we are closer to the day of the Lord’s salvation than when we were first believers. So every day we live, in fact, our spiritual life needs to grow. And waking up corresponds to sleeping. Slumber is pride and complacency in the spirit. When we are proud and complacent in our spirituality, we actually do not pursue the things of God.

The night will soon be over, meaning that the present evil age will soon be over, and the day is near, meaning that Christ will soon return. Then we are to put off the works of darkness, which do not live in the light, and in turn we are to put on the armor of light, which actually means to put on the full armor of God.

When we put on the full armor of God, we should act with integrity and not indulge our flesh in feasting, drunkenness, and lustful debauchery. By lust and debauchery, I mean especially those who have promiscuous and irresponsible sexual behavior.

To live in the light, Paul goes on to show Christians not to compete and jealous. That is, we are not only to live outwardly in light and righteousness, but even our inward mind and heart must always come to be cleansed by God and be bright inside and out.

In short, to live in the light is to put on Christ, so that we act and behave as if Christ were with us. When we really have this knowledge in our spirit, then we will not arrange many things for our flesh to satisfy our selfish desires and indulge our selfish desires.

Conclusion:

Our justification by God is never earned by our works. Yet when we have received this status, we are to respond to God by living out the three characteristics of a justified life.

First, obeying the ruler in the truth, whether he is good or bad, he is in fact established by God, and God will recover his responsibility from every ruler, so we should try to live an obedient life no matter what! Secondly, we are to love people and not to owe them anything, for love has fulfilled all the law. Thirdly, we are to live in the light, and not to indulge in the flesh or in selfish desires!

10/12/2021

引言:

教会就像是耶稣的身体一样，而你我就是身体的一部分。无论你在职场，或是全职服事，我们都是教会的肢体。而这一个身体，就是要献上给神作为活祭的。所以我们是一起被献上，同心合一的活祭。

一、献上身体当作活祭（V1-2）

保罗就像是一个过来人，以神的属性‘慈悲’来劝勉我们。这里‘慈悲’，原文是指‘神的怜悯’。

1.神所喜悦（V1）

将身体献上，这里身体原文有带出‘团结的一群人’身体的意思。而且这身体是要作活祭的。是要活的，是有生命的祭。有生命的祭是圣洁的，是神所喜悦的。

2.理所当然（V1）

将身体献上当作活祭，这样的事奉是理所当然。

3.心意更新（V2）

不要效法这世界。意思说，不要模仿世界的事物来塑造自己。只要心意更新而变化，就是我们思考的能力要变化，去明白查验神的旨意。

我以前没能理解这段经文，现在我可以更深体会这一段经文。过去我会觉得同性恋、婚前性行为、自由性生活等都是世界在流行和认可的，我看见既然是这样，我也觉得是可以接纳的。并且觉得不接纳的人都是老古板过时了。但是当我自己开始从学习中，明白真理的时候，我知道这是神不喜悦的。我知道过去我是以世界的价值观来看事情，所以总是觉得是合理。

现在，我以属神的眼光看事物，就思想我是神的殿，是与神合一的身体。神所不喜悦，我也会觉得不喜悦的。那时候，就没有什么流不流行、迷信、约束等等之类的字眼可以控告我了。因为，我们是属神的，所以要心意更新献上与神对齐，以圣洁的身体成为活祭。

二、合一成为基督身体（V3-8）

1.建立团队（V3-5）

V3 我凭着所赐我的恩对你们各人说：不要看自己过於所当看的，要照着神所分给各人信心的大小，看得合乎中道。4正如我们一个身子上有好些肢体，肢体也不都是一样的用处。

保罗在这里，以一个出于神的恩慈来对个人说，要彼此如同一个身体建立团队，不要过于看自己而已。

最直接的例子，我们可以看见一个主日崇拜。我们有崇拜部的各个团队，一起来服事神。我们有敬拜团，团队里有主领、伴唱、乐手、音控电脑操作、灯光、导播和拍摄等等。现在还有安全大使、冠病检验员、记录员、招待和场地人员。不可或缺的有聚会负责人、讲员、翻译员、主席、带祷告的、领圣餐的等等。

2.里外合一（V5-8）

当然聚会还有少不了的就是会众，都是一起敬拜神的一个身体！在GK611，我也看见，不只是同工，而是在职场的弟兄姐妹们，也一起参与服事，甚至是带领团队，各尽其职，里外合一。每一个人都是教会的肢体，我们一定有可以服事神的一部分。大家可以在自己当作的，尽心专一。这就是大家一起合一结为基督的身体！

三、提升生命以善胜恶（V9-21）

既然我们是一个身体，我们就要彼此合一，好让我们的手脚可以协调，不会打架。而且不是手顾手，脚顾脚而已。而是彼此帮助，彼此协调。保罗在这里给了我们十大守则。让我们可以在其中也来鉴察我们自己，是否有在以下十个层面，可以更多突破提升自己：

• 爱弟兄的心（V9-10）
• 殷勤不懒惰（V11）
• 盼望中有喜乐（V12）
• 款待互助（V13）
• 正面祝福（V14）
• 同理心（V15）
• 谦卑彼此同心（V16-17）
• 与众人和睦（V18）
• 听凭主怒（V19）
• 爱敌人（V20-21）

总结：同心合一建立基督的身体，献上活祭，成为圣洁。

活祭的美好服事

引言：

星期一带着李牧师一家去动物园，其中看到鸟儿的表演，虽然简单，但是也蛮惊讶。一大群不同的鸟，有鸽子有鹦鹉，这些飞禽竟然可以按照牠们的主人的指示作有队形的花式飞翔。因为主人照顾牠们，供养牠们。就像狗儿认定主人也是如此；是因为主人照顾牠，侍养牠。牠就忠心的认定主人，主人一旦发生什么危险，例如掉进水里，狗会奋不顾身的跳下去拯救主人。因为牠的一生只是一个目标，就是为牠的主人而活。

今天蒙神重价所救赎的人又如何呢？

一、活祭属神不属世（V1-2）

12:1 所以弟兄们，我以　神的慈悲劝你们，将身体献上，当作活祭，是圣洁的，是　神所喜悦的，你们如此侍奉，乃是理所当然的。
12:2 不要效法这个世界，只要心意更新而变化，叫你们察验何为　神的善良、纯全、可喜悦的旨意。

什么是献上身体作活祭？神不是真要我们以牺牲性命、摆上身体，放在祭坛上焚烧，那是某些外邦异教献活人为祭物才这样做。经文说这是一种理所当然的事奉，而且是神喜悦我们这样摆上来做。活祭到底是什么？

腓立比书 2:17 我以你们的信心为供献的祭物，我若被浇奠在其上，也是喜乐，并且与你们众人一同喜乐；

活祭指的是我们有一颗活泼有力的信心，这颗心为神分别为圣，不随从世界，而是一心寻求神的旨意，一生为神而活。活祭不是放下工作，留在教会事奉神。活祭不是只有祷告读经敬拜神，活祭是在你的生活中成为基督美好的见证人。无论你有多少种身份，是老板是员工、是父母是儿女···，为神成为活祭，活出最荣耀丰盛的生命见证。我们在世界而不属世界。

二、基督肢体相服事（V3-8）

12:3 我凭着所赐我的恩，对你们各人说：不要看自己过于所当看的，要照着　神所分给各人信心的大小，看得合乎中道。
12:4 正如我们一个身子上有好些肢体，肢体也不都是一样的用处。
12:5 我们这许多人，在基督里成为一身，互相联络作肢体，也是如此。
12:6 按我们所得的恩赐，各有不同。或说预言，就当照着信心的程度说预言；
12:7 或作执事，就当专一执事；或作教导的，就当专一教导；
12:8 或作劝化的，就当专一劝化；施舍的，就当诚实；治理的，就当殷勤；怜悯人的，就当甘心。

我们要适当的看待自己，我们每个人都是彼此的肢体。想象一个人的肢体部位，从头到脚，相互连接，不正是为了彼此服事吗？人的身体没有一个肢体是自私自利，不顾对方的。而且是非常自然的相互照应。例如肚子饿了，头脑发出想吃东西的讯号，眼睛就自然启动扫描功能，看看那里有食物，看到了脚就以行动走去，手就自然去拿，再把食物精准的送到嘴巴，牙齿就开始工作，口水就启动分泌，舌头就分辨食物味道，喉咙就预备下咽，胃部就准备分解食物···等等。

这是很自然、合作无间的各尽其职。保罗要说的是教会的肢体也当如此。只是事实上教会还有许多功课要学，因为基督徒还有许多血气和软弱、有斗争、自我、分门结党等问题。教会肢体中拥有各种不同的恩赐，目的就是要彼此服事，互相造就。

我们每个人的恩赐强项都很不同，我作牧师就比别人更强吗？论理财韵珩传道、Dione姐妹就比我强多了。论种花养鱼，Robeen弟兄就远比我强。论科技媒体电脑的操作，Asher就远比我强。其实每个人都一样，我们当如何看自己呢？就按着个人信心的大小而定，看得合乎中道，既是不要偏激，我们都是作基督的肢体就是要彼此服事。最终目的是大家都得到造就。

三、爱中生活行美事（V9-21）

12:9 爱人不可虚假，恶要厌恶，善要亲近。
12:10 爱弟兄，要彼此亲热；恭敬人，要彼此推让。
12:11 殷勤不可懒惰。要心里火热，常常服侍主。
12:12 在指望中要喜乐，在患难中要忍耐，祷告要恒切。
12:13 圣徒缺乏要帮补，客要一味地款待。
12:14 逼迫你们的，要给他们祝福，只要祝福，不可咒诅。
12:15 与喜乐的人要同乐，与哀哭的人要同哭。
12:16 要彼此同心，不要志气高大，倒要俯就卑微的人（“人”或作“事”）。不要自以为聪明。
12:17 不要以恶报恶。众人以为美的事，要留心去作。
12:18 若是能行，总要尽力与众人和睦。
12:19 亲爱的弟兄，不要自己伸冤，宁可让步，听凭主怒（或作“让人发怒”）。因为经上记着：“主说，伸冤在我，我必报应。”
12:20 所以，“你的仇敌若饿了，就给他吃；若渴了，就给他喝。因为你这样行，就是把炭火堆在他的头上。”
12:21 你不可为恶所胜，反要以善胜恶。

为主而活的活祭就是要分别为圣事奉神；然而事奉神的具体行动就是在肢体生活中作美事！17节说众人以为美的事，要留心去做。这当然不是指世上众人以为美的事，而是在基督里的众人。凡是合乎真理的，效法基督的、顺从圣灵的都是美事。经文中说了许多事情，刚才同工伟健也说了，我就不再重复。原来我们的生活就是要活出种种效法基督的美事。

总结：活祭就是要起来服事

为什么基督徒都理当成为活祭，因为只有起来服事神，生命才活起来，才是摆上事奉神。你不要把为神而做的工当着重担，看为麻烦？因为是神的拣选，给我们机会服事祂，透过服事让自己更成熟和蒙福。

起来服事，成为活祭！

所以弟兄们，我以神的慈悲劝你们，将身体献上，当作活祭，是圣洁的，是　神所喜悦的，你们如此侍奉，乃是理所当然的。不要效法这个世界，只要心意更新而变化，叫你们察验何为　神的善良、纯全、可喜悦的旨意。

Romans 12: The Living Sacrifice of Unity +The Beautiful Service of the Living Sacrifice

The Living Sacrifice of Unity

Introduction:

The church is like the body of Jesus Christ, you and I are part of the body. Whether you are in the workplace, or in full-time ministry, we are all members of the church. And this one body is to be offered to God as a living sacrifice. So we are offered together as a living sacrifice in unity.

1. Offering the Body as a Living Sacrifice (V1-2)

Paul is like a man who came to exhort us with the attribute of God, ‘mercy’. Here ‘mercy’, in the original language, means ‘the mercy of God’.

(1) Pleasing to God (v1)

Offering the body, here the body in the original language has the meaning of the body of ‘a united group’. And this body is to be a living sacrifice. It was to be a living, sacrifice with life. A living sacrifice is holy and pleasing to God.

(2) As a matter of course (v1)

It is a matter of course to offer the body as a living sacrifice.

(3) Renewal of mind (v2)

Do not be conformed to this world, It means, do not imitate the things of the world to shape yourself. Just be renewed and changed, that is, our ability to think should be changed to understand and examine the will of God.

I was not able to understand this passage before, but now I can experience this passage more deeply. I used to think that homosexuality, premarital sex, free sex life, etc were all popular and accepted in the world, and I saw that since they were, I also thought they were acceptable. And I thought that people who didn’t accept it were old-fashioned and outdated. But when I began to understand the truth from the study, I knew that this was not pleasing to God. I knew that I used to see things with the values of the world, so I always thought it was reasonable.

Now, when I look at things with Godly eyes, I think that I am the temple of God, a body that is one with God. What is displeasing to God, I will also feel displeased. At that time, there will be no more words like “popular”, “superstition”, “restraint”, and so on, to charge me. Because we are of God, we need to renew ourselves and offer ourselves in alignment with God, and become a living sacrifice with a holy body.

2. Unity and Become the Body of Christ (V3-8)

(1) Building the Team (V3-5)

V3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function.

Paul says here, in a kindness from God, to individuals, to build up one another as one body, and not to look too much on themselves.

The most direct example we can see is a Sunday service. We have teams of worship ministries that come together to serve God. We have worship teams with worship leaders, backup singers, musicians, Public Address controlled and computer operators, lighting, producer and filming, etc. Now there are also safety officers, FET testers, recorders, ushers and floor crew. Indispensable are the in charge of the service, speakers, interpreters, emcee, prayer leaders, holy communion, etc.

(2) Unity inside and outside (V5-8)

Of course there is also the congregation, all together as one body worshipping God! In GK611, I also saw that not only co-workers, but brothers and sisters in the workplace, also participate in the ministry together, and even lead the team, each doing their part, united inside and out. Each one of us is a member of the church, and we have a part to serve God. We can all be dedicated to what we do. This is the unity of all together as the body of Christ!

3. Enhancing Life to Overcome Evil with Good (V9-21)

Since we are one body, we need to be one with each other so that our hands and feet can coordinate and not fight. And it is not just a matter of hands caring for hands and feet caring for feet. Rather, we are to help each other and coordinate with each other. Paul gives us ten rules here. Let us examine ourselves with them, whether we can have more breakthroughs to improve ourselves in the following ten areas.

– Love of the brotherhood (V9-10)
– Attentiveness and not laziness (V11)
– Joy in hope (V12)
– Hospitality to help each other (V13)
– Positive blessing (V14)
– Empathy (V15)
– Humility with one another (V16-17)
– Harmony with all men (V18)
– Listen to the Lord’s anger (V19)
– Love enemies (V20-21)

Conclusion: Building up the body of Christ in unity, offering a living sacrifice and becoming holy.

The Beautiful Service of the Living Sacrifice

Introduction:

A dog identifies its master because the master takes care of it and feeds it. It recognises the master and is faithful to him, once the master is in danger, such as falling into the water, the dog will jump in to save the master. Because he has only one goal in life, to live for his master.

What about those who are redeemed by God today?

1. Living Sacrifices are of God and Not of the World (V1-2)

What is a living sacrifice? God does not really want us to sacrifice our lives, lay out our bodies, and burn them on the altar, that is what the pagans do when they offer a living sacrifice. The scriptures say that this is a natural service, and that it is God’s pleasure for us to give ourselves to God. What exactly is a living sacrifice?
Philippians 2:17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

A living sacrifice means that we have a living and powerful faith, a heart that is set apart for God, that does not follow the world, but seeks God’s will with one heart and lives for God all the days of our lives. A living sacrifice is not a laying down of work and remaining in the church to serve God. A living sacrifice is not just praying and reading the Bible and worshiping God, but a living sacrifice is being a witness to the goodness of Christ in your life. No matter how many identities you have, whether you are a boss or an employee, a parent or a child — be a living sacrifice for God and live the most glorious and abundant testimony of your life.

2. The Body of Christ Serves Each Other (V3-8)

We need to see ourselves appropriately, each of us is a member of one another. Imagine the parts of a person’s body, from head to toe, interconnected, aren’t they meant to serve one another? No member of the human body is selfish and self-serving and does not care about each other. And it is very natural to take care of each other. For example, when one is hungry, the mind sends out a signal that one wants to eat, the eyes naturally activate the scanning function to see where there is food, and when they see it, the feet go with action, the hands naturally go to take it, and then the food is sent to the mouth with precision, the teeth start to work, the saliva starts to secrete, the tongue discerns the taste of food, the throat prepares to swallow, the stomach prepares to break down the food — and so on.

This is a very natural and cooperative way of doing one’s job. Paul is saying that the members of the church should do the same. But the truth is that the church still has many lessons to learn, for Christians still have many problems of the flesh and weakness, struggles, ego, divisions, etc. The church has a variety of gifts among its members for the purpose of serving and building each other up.

Each of us has different strengths in our gifts, so am I stronger as a pastor than others? In terms of financial management, Ps. Wun Hing and sister Dione are much better than me. Brother Robeen is far better than me when it comes to planting flowers and raising fish. In terms of media, technology and computer operation, Asher is far better than me. In fact, everyone’s the same, how should we see ourselves? Let it be according to the size of one’s faith, and let it be according to the righteous way, and let it not be partial, for we are all members of the body of Christ to serve one another. The ultimate goal is that we are all edified.

3. Living and Doing Beautiful Things in Love (V9-21)

The living sacrifice for the Lord is to serve God in a separate and holy way; however, the concrete action of serving God is to do beautiful things in the life of the members! Verse 17 says have[e] regard for good things in the sight of all men. This of course does not refer to what is considered beautiful by all people in the world, but by all people in Christ. Whatever is in the truth, imitating Christ and obeying the Holy Spirit, is beautiful. The scriptures say many things, and I will not repeat them as my co-worker Asher has just said. It turns out that our life is to live all kinds of beautiful things after the example of Christ.

Conclusion: A living sacrifice is to rise up and serve

The reason why all Christians should be living sacrifices is that only when they rise to serve God does their life come alive and they are set apart to serve God. Don’t you think of your work for God as a burden or as a problem? Because it is God’s choice to give us the opportunity to serve Him, and to make ourselves more mature and blessed through our serving. Rise up and serve as a living sacrifice! Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in the mercy of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, and it is only right that you serve in this way. Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may see what is the good, pure, and pleasing will of God.

09/12/2021

引言:

从一开始读罗马书到现在，我们都不难发现焦点一直围绕在两组人身上，以色列和外邦人。在9-11章中更是围绕着神对这两组人救赎计划的争论性。甚至取代神学也认为，因为以色列人的悖逆和硬颈，神已经弃绝了他们，并以外邦教会取代了对以色列的拣选。但，今天来到11章，使徒保罗除了继续强调神的信实和恩典，他更揭开了神对以色列未来的计划。主题：神救赎计划的奥秘。

一、神没弃绝以色列（V1-10）

我且说，神弃绝了他的百姓么？断乎没有！因为我也是以色列人，亚伯拉罕的後裔，属便雅悯支派的。2神并没有弃绝他预先所知道的百姓。你们岂不晓得经上论到以利亚是怎么说的呢？他在神面前怎样控告以色列人说：

3主阿，他们杀了你的先知，拆了你的祭坛，只剩下我一个人，他们还要寻索我的命。4神的回话是怎么说的呢？他说：我为自己留下七千人，是未曾向巴力屈膝的。5如今也是这样，照着拣选的恩典，还有所留的馀数。

从第10章的结尾，我们知道说以色列当时的属灵状况对神来说，依然是悖逆顶嘴的百姓。因此，有人就认为神弃绝了他们。

弃绝=完全放弃

保罗再次以自问自答的方式提问：“神真的完全放弃了祂的选民吗？绝对没有！”信实神绝对没有完全弃绝祂的选民。而其中最好的证据就是使徒自己。一个蒙恩，主亲自来到大马色路上来救赎的犹太人。保罗接着也引用神如何回答以利亚先知说‘祂为自己留下7千人，是未曾向巴力屈膝的’，来加强神对选民不弃绝的论点。并且‘照着神拣选的恩典，其实神在以色列不信的人当中兴起了一群人来作为自己的余民。因此，我们知道说取代神学的教义是不属实的。取代神学认为教会在神的计划中已经代替了以色列。取代神学的拥护者们相信犹太人不再是神的选民，神已经弃绝了以色列，并且神对以色列的未来再也没有特别的计划了。

但是今天我们回顾以色列的历史，纵然以色列悖逆不信神，但神对选民的保护和计划，可以从许多中东的争战中，神如何使以色列神迹般的得胜看出来。并且，在这些心里昏迷，眼睛不能看见，耳朵不能听见，常常在自己当行的路上，自我放下绊脚石的以色列选民当中，神依然为自己存留了不少余民。因此，我们看到近年来，越来越多的弥赛亚信徒被兴起，并且肩负使命，勇敢的把福音传给自己的同胞。

我们感恩神让教会有机会在这些弥赛亚信徒的事工上有份参与奉献来资助他们。弟兄姐妹，我们也要积极的来为这一群把生命献上为主福音火热的弥赛亚信徒来代祷代求，因为以色列当中还有很多不信耶稣是弥赛亚的犹太人。

V6-10说到神给他们昏迷的心，眼睛不能看见，耳朵不能听见，其实是因为人对神的态度出了问题，当人始终悖逆顽梗不化，死不悔改的时候，神就会任凭他们。所以这也再次提醒我们，神出于恩典使我们得救，也以恩典帮助我们不断的让真理来调整我们的生命。所以当我们听见了圣灵的提醒，就不可硬着心抹杀圣灵的感动，不然神就会任凭我们陷入到蒙蔽的里面，导致灵命不但停顿无法成长，更会倒退陷在罪中都不自觉。

二、救恩临到外邦人（V11-24）

1. 外邦蒙恩激动以色列（V11-15）

11我且说，他们失脚是要他们跌倒么？断乎不是！反倒因他们的过失，救恩便临到外邦人，要激动他们发愤。12若他们的过失，为天下的富足，他们的缺乏，为外邦人的富足；何况他们的丰满呢？13我对你们外邦人说这话；因我是外邦人的使徒，所以敬重（原文作：荣耀）我的职分，14或者可以激动我骨肉之亲发愤，好救他们一些人。15若他们被丢弃，天下就得与神和好；他们被收纳，岂不是死而复生么？

失脚=可以重新站起来
跌倒=含有永远毁灭的意思

使徒保罗在这里指出，犹太人在基督这绊脚石上失脚，但神并没有要让他们永远毁灭，而是希望他们能重新站起来。所以，因着他们拒绝福音，救恩就临到外邦。神把原本属于亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各后裔的祝福，都赐给外邦信徒，使他们的生命丰盛到一个地步，目的是要让以色列百姓看了都嫉妒，借此激动他们发奋回转归向神。

我觉得我们对这段经文，可以有2个回应：
首先当神呼召我们，不论是全职或为主去成就某些托付时，我们要珍惜机会，快快回应神。因为当人的心刚硬，不顺服神时，神的作为或计划是不会被人的悖逆所拦阻。神随时都可以兴起其他人来完成祂的旨意。

其次，让我们成为那活出蒙福胜万民的生命，让我们这充满属灵福气，富足丰满的生命，让未信者看了都嫉妒，借此激动他们来认识我们的神。

2. 外邦蒙恩坚信不夸口（V16-22）

16所献的新面若是圣洁，全团也就圣洁了；树根若是圣洁，树枝也就圣洁了。17若有几根枝子被折下来，你这野橄榄得接在其中，一同得着橄榄根的肥汁，18你就不可向旧枝子夸口；若是夸口，当知道不是你托着根，乃是根托着你。19你若说，那枝子被折下来是特为叫我接上。20不错！他们因为不信，所以被折下来；你因为信，所以立得住；你不可自高，反要惧怕。21神既不爱惜原来的枝子，也必不爱惜你。22可见神的恩慈和严厉，向那跌倒的人是严厉的，向你是有恩慈的；只要你长久在他的恩慈里，不然，你也要被砍下来。

橄榄根=比喻神与亚伯拉罕所立的约
野橄榄=外邦信徒。
枝子=不信的以色列人

我们知道说使徒保罗写罗马书的其中一个目的，是要那些认为自己已经取代了以色列人在神心目中的地位的外邦信徒知道，他们能够成为属灵的以色列人，被圈在神与亚伯拉罕所立的约中，是因为有几根枝子被折下来，才有机会被接上了好橄榄树的根。所以外邦信徒欠了以色列人福音的债，因此不可向他们夸口。这也正是之前所提到的，那些取代神学的拥护者们所夸口的。这样的夸口其实是忘恩负义的表现。

很多基督徒不明白为什么611教会常要与以色列挂钩，认为我们是‘亲以色列’。很常有这样思想的人是因为不明白神的心意，不晓得我们的蒙恩是和以色列有关。

俗语说，受人恩惠千年记。这里也提醒我们不可忘恩。无论是对养育我们的父母，还是神在我们生命里，给我们安排的属灵长辈、同伴、对我们生命说真话的人，我们都要有感恩的心。

此外，使徒也提醒外邦信徒，不可忽略神的恩慈和严厉。神可以接上，也可以砍下。以色列因为不信所以被砍下。神即不爱惜原来的枝子，更何况是我们这些野橄榄呢？以色列的不信是什么呢？用理性、行为、情感或意志来冒充的，外在的假信心，这样的信必然会被砍下来。

例子：神在这段时间一直在调整我的行为导向、靠自己的服事。星期一虽是休息日，都是很紧张的在写晨祷、忙教会的事，很常压力睡不着。但是最近圣灵却要我放下，星期一出外走走。。。靠圣灵就发现到不再压力，照样可以完成，而且还可以睡。

神不无缘无故地把人从树上折下来或接上，神这样做是根据他们的信。所以我们要学会非势力非才能，也不靠自己的聪明或方式来得人的肯定，或借此表明对主的信心。反之，唯有在基督里，紧紧依靠神，就像师母昨天讲的，要越老越单纯的来坚定信靠神，好叫我们长久在祂的恩慈里不被砍下。

三、息息相关的奥秘（V23-32）

23而且他们若不是长久不信，仍要被接上，因为神能够把他们从新接上。24你是从那天生的野橄榄上砍下来的，尚且逆着性得接在好橄榄上，何况这本树的枝子，要接在本树上呢！25弟兄们，我不愿意你们不知道这奥秘（恐怕你们自以为聪明），就是以色列人有几分是硬心的，等到外邦人的数目添满了，26於是以色列全家都要得救。如经上所记：必有一位救主从锡安出来，要消除雅各家的一切罪恶；27又说：我除去他们罪的时候，这就是我与他们所立的约。28就着福音说，他们为你们的缘故是仇敌；就着拣选说，他们为列祖的缘故是蒙爱的。29因为神的恩赐和选召是没有後悔的。30你们从前不顺服神，如今因他们的不顺服，你们倒蒙了怜恤。31这样，他们也是不顺服，叫他们因着施给你们的怜恤，现在也就蒙怜恤。32因为神将众人都圈在不顺服之中，特意要怜恤众人。

这段经文要带出的是，神对以色列人的拣选是没有后悔的。他们只是暂时心硬不信神所赐给他们的救恩。就如在竹棚节时，George Annadurai 牧师和我们分享的，等到外邦人的数目填满的时候，以色列就要得救。当神的选民和外邦教会合而为一的时候，全世界就会认识神的救恩，那也将是耶稣基督荣耀再来的时候。

所以，以色列人和外邦信徒的命运是息息相关，不但不能彼此代替，反而是相铺相成的。这就是神对选民和外邦人救赎计划的奥秘。

从原本属于以色列的救恩，因着他们的不信，临到外帮人。赐福给外帮人，丰盛到以色列最终感到嫉妒，被激动而回转领受这原本属于他们的救恩。这是神奥秘的智慧。

感恩神让教会有机会制作希伯来的诗歌，让我们录制了华语的以色列国歌。就像牧师说的，当以色列人听到我们这些黄皮肤的中国人唱他们的国歌，唱希伯来诗歌赞美他们祖宗的神，一定会感到非常惊讶。我相信，他们必能感受神对他们的怜悯，而领受这原本属于他们的救恩。

四、颂赞神奥秘智慧（V33-36）
33深哉，神丰富的智慧和知识！他的判断何其难测！他的踪迹何其难寻！34谁知道主的心？谁作过他的谋士呢？35谁是先给了他，使他後来偿还呢？36因为万有都是本於他，倚靠他，归於他。愿荣耀归给他，直到永远。阿们！

神的判断何其难测和深奥，非我们的心灵能完全领会。他行事的踪迹，即他如何安排万物的创造、历史的发展、救赎和神能，都远超过我们有限的理解。因此，使徒保罗以颂赞全能的神为这章经文作为结束。神是独立自足的。祂是一切美善的源头，祂是维系并控制整个宇宙如何运作的总舵主。这样一位全能，可敬可畏的神，竟然愿意与我们分享祂的心意和计划。又以祂的怜悯公义来托着我们，其爱至深，浩大的恩典，我们能做的也只有以一生的敬畏和颂赞，顺服完成祂所托付的，叫一切的荣耀都归给祂!

总结：

神对以色列的救赎永远没有改变。我们是因他们才蒙恩得赎的。我们今天得以进入基督弥赛亚的救恩计划里，不但不可自夸乃，相反的我们要不住感恩，更要明白神的心意，要接下把福音传回耶路撒冷的使命和托付，使神要外邦和以色列合而为一的救赎奥秘得以成就。让全地都齐声来颂赞这位有丰富的智慧和行事奥秘可畏的神!

Romans 11: The Mystery of God’s Plan of Salvation

GK611 Morning Devotion

09/12/2021

Speaker: Ps Deborah + Rev. David Tan

Introduction:

From the very beginning of our reading of Romans until now, it is easy to see that the focus has been centered on two groups of people, Israel and the Gentiles. In chapters 9-11 it even revolves around the controversial nature of God’s plan of salvation for these two groups. Even replacement theology holds that because of Israel’s rebellion and stiff neck, God has rejected them and replaced the chosen people of Israel with the Gentile church. However, today in chapter 11, the apostle Paul not only continues to emphasize the faithfulness and grace of God, but he also unveils God’s plan for Israel’s future. The theme: The mystery of God’s plan of salvation.

1. God Has Not Abandoned Israel (V1-10)

1I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 3 “LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? 4 But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

From the end of chapter 10, we know that the spiritual condition of Israel at that time was still a disobedient and contrary people.” to God. Therefore, some people thought that God had abandoned them.

Abandonment = To give up completely

Paul again asks the question in a self-questioning manner, “Has God really completely abandoned His chosen people? Absolutely not!” The faithful God has definitely not completely abandoned His chosen people. And the best proof of this is the apostle himself. A Jew who was blessed with the grace that the Lord Himself came to the road to Damascus to redeem him. Paul then also quotes how God answered the prophet Elijah, saying, ‘He left 7,000 for Himself, who had not bowed down to Baal’, to strengthen the argument that God does not abandon the chosen people. And ‘according to the grace of God’s election, God actually raised up a people among the unbelievers of Israel as His own remnant. Therefore, we know that the doctrine of replacement theology is untrue. Replacement theology holds that the church has replaced Israel in the plan of God. Proponents of replacement theology believe that the Jews are no longer God’s chosen people, that God has abandoned Israel, and that God has no more special plans for Israel’s future.

But as we look back at the history of Israel today, even though Israel was rebellious and unbelieving, God’s protection and plan for His chosen people can be seen in how God brought about miraculous victories for Israel in many of the battles in the Middle East. Moreover, among these chosen Israelites, who were in a heavy in their hearts, unable to see with their eyes or hear with their ears, and who often put down stumbling blocks in their own way, God still kept a remnant for Himself. Thus, we see in recent years, more and more Messianic believers have been raised up, and have taken up the mission to boldly preach the gospel to their own countrymen.

We are thankful that God has given the church the opportunity to participate in the ministry of these Messianic believers by giving to support them. Brothers and sisters, we also need to actively intercede for this group of fervent Messianic believers who have given their lives to the gospel of the Lord, because there are still many Jews in Israel who do not believe in Jesus as the Messiah.

V6-10 speaks of God “God has given them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, actually because of man’s faulty attitude toward God, and when man remains rebellious and stubborn and unrepentant, God will let them be. So this reminds us once again that God has saved us by grace, and by grace He helps us to constantly let the truth adjust our lives. Therefore, when we hear the reminder of the Holy Spirit, we must not harden our hearts to reject the moving of the Holy Spirit, otherwise God will allow us to fall into obscurity, resulting in a spiritual life that not only stops and fails to grow, but also falls back into sin without even realizing it.

2. Salvation to the Gentiles (V11-24)

（1）Gentile Received Grace Excites Israel (v11-15)

11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their [b]fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their [c]fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! 13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
Stumbled=you can get back on your feet.

Fall= Contains the meaning of eternal destruction.

The apostle Paul points out here that the Jews stumbled on the stumbling block of Christ, but God did not want them to be destroyed forever, but wanted them to rise up again. Therefore, because of their rejection of the gospel, salvation came to the Gentiles. God gave to the Gentile believers all the blessings that originally belonged to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, so that their lives might be enriched to a point that the people of Israel might look upon them with jealousy, and by this they might be stirred up to turn to God.

I think we can have 2 responses to this passage.

Firstly, when God calls us, whether it is full time or to fulfill some commission for the Lord, we should cherish the opportunity to respond to God quickly. For God’s works or plans are not hindered by man’s rebellion when his heart is hardened and disobedient to God. God can always raise up others to accomplish His will.

Secondly, let us become the life that lives blessed over all nations, so that our life, which is full of spiritual blessings and abundance, may make unbelievers jealous when they look at it, and thereby excite them to come to know our God.

(2) The Gentiles are convinced not to boast (v16-22)

16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and [d]fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, [e]goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

Root of the olive tree= The covenant God made with Abraham
Wild Oliver Tree= Gentiles
Branches= The unbelieving Israelis

We know that one of the purposes of saying that the apostle Paul wrote the book of Romans was to let those Gentile believers who thought they had taken the place of Israel in the heart of God know that they were able to become spiritual Israelites and were enclosed in the covenant God made with Abraham because a few branches were broken down to have the opportunity to be grafted in to the root of the good olive tree. So the Gentile believers were in debt to Israel for the gospel, and therefore were not to boast about it to them. This is exactly what the proponents of replacement theology boasted about, as mentioned before. Such boasting is actually a sign of ungratefulness.

Many Christians do not understand why the 611 church is often linked to Israel, thinking that we are ‘pro-Israel’. Very often those who think this way do so because they do not understand the heart of God and do not know that our blessing is linked to Israel.

As the saying goes, “A thousand years of grace is remembered. Here we are also reminded not to forget our graces. Whether it is to our parents who raised us, or to the spiritual elders, companions, and people who speak truth to our lives that God has placed in our lives, we must have a grateful heart.

In addition, the apostle also reminded the Gentile believers that they should not neglect the kindness and severity of God. God can either pick up or cut down. Israel was cut down because of unbelief. Even God does not love the original branch, let alone us wild olives. What was Israel’s unbelief? It was a false faith, reasoning, behavior, emotion, or will, and such a faith is bound to be cut down.

Example: God has been redirecting my behavior and relying on my ministry during this time. Although Monday was a day of rest, I was very stressed out writing Morning Devotion and working on church matters, and I was often too stressed to sleep. But recently, the Holy Spirit asked me to let go and go out on Monday. By the Holy Spirit, I found that I was no longer stressed, and I could still finish my work and sleep.

God does not bend or join people from the tree for no reason, but He does so according to their faith. So we must learn not by might nor by power, , nor to rely on our own cleverness or ways to come to the affirmation of men, or to use it to show our faith in the Lord. Instead, we must cling to God in Christ, as our Shimu said yesterday, and trust Him more and more simply as we grow older, so that we may not be cut down in His goodness for a long time.

3. The Mystery of Interdependence (V23-32)

23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own [f]opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be [g]saved, as it is written: The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins. ”28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has [h]committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.

What this passage is trying to bring out is that the choosing of God was without regret. They were only temporarily hardened in their hearts against the salvation that God had given them. As Pastor George Annadorai shared with us at the Feast of Tabernacles, Israel will be saved when the number of the Gentiles is filled. When God’s chosen people and the Gentile church are one, the world will know God’s salvation and that will be the glorious return of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, the destinies of the Israelites and the Gentile believers are closely related, and not only cannot replace each other, but are mutually reinforcing. This is the mystery of God’s plan of salvation for the chosen people and the Gentiles.

From the salvation that originally belonged to Israel, it came to the Gentiles through their unbelief. The blessing was given to the Gentiles so abundantly that Israel eventually felt jealous and was excited to turn back and receive the salvation that originally belonged to them. This is the wisdom of the mystery of God.

Grateful to God for giving the church the opportunity to produce Hebrew worship songs and for allowing us to record the Israeli national anthem in Chinese. As the pastor said, the Israelites will be surprised when they hear us yellow-skinned Chinese singing their national anthem and Hebrew worship praising the God of their ancestors. I believe that they will be able to feel God’s mercy on them and receive this salvation that originally belongs to them.

4. Praise the mysterious wisdom of God (V33-36)

33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 34 “For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?” 35 “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?” 36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

God’s judgments are so inscrutable and profound that they cannot be fully comprehended by our minds. The traces of his actions, that is, how he arranged the creation of all things, the development of history, salvation, and divine power, are far beyond our limited understanding. Therefore, the apostle Paul concludes this chapter with the praise of the Almighty God. God is independent and self-sufficient. He is the source of all goodness, and He is the mastermind who sustains and controls how the entire universe works. It is amazing that such an all-powerful, awesome and fearful God would be willing to share His heart and plan with us. And He holds us in His mercy and righteousness. His love is so deep and His grace so great that all we can do is to obediently fulfill what He has entrusted to us with a lifetime of reverence and praise, so that all the glory may be given to Him!

Conclusion:

God’s salvation for Israel has never changed. It is through them that we are redeemed by grace. Today we have entered into Christ’s Messianic plan of salvation, and not only should we not boast, but on the contrary we should not cease to be thankful, but we should understand God’s heart, and take up the mission and commission to bring the gospel back to Jerusalem, so that the mystery of salvation, in which God wants the Gentiles and Israel to be one, may be accomplished. Let all the earth join their voices in praising this God, who is rich in wisdom and who acts in mysterious and fearful ways!

08/12/2021

引言:

可9：14-29记载被污鬼附身的孩子，耶稣斥责当时不信的世代，因为他们亲眼看见耶稣医病赶鬼行异能，死里复活的见证，孩子的父亲依然带着不信的口吻在求问耶稣，”你若能做什么，求你怜悯我们，帮助我们”

耶稣说：”你若能信在信的人，凡事都能”孩子的父亲立刻喊着说：”我信，但我信不足，求主帮助”
在今天这个非凡的季节里，世界被疫情各样的危险事件袭击，我们是否对神充满信心，相信主是我们的避风港湾，此刻你若觉得信心不足，向主呼喊吧！主啊，我信不足，求主加添！

可9：14-29记载被污鬼附身的孩子，耶稣斥责当时不信的世代，因为他们亲眼看见耶稣医病赶鬼行异能，死里复活的见证，孩子的父亲依然带着不信的口吻在求问耶稣，”你若能做什么，求你怜悯我们，帮助我们”

耶稣说：”你若能信在信的人，凡事都能”孩子的父亲立刻喊着说：”我信，但我信不足，求主帮助”
在今天这个非凡的季节里，世界被疫情各样的危险事件袭击，我们是否对神充满信心，相信主是我们的避风港湾，此刻你若觉得信心不足，向主呼喊吧！主啊，我信不足，求主加添！

一、寻求神凭信心——而非人的知识（V1-4）

眼睛所能看的见的不是信心，唯独看不见的才叫作信心。因为天地万物人心都在变，
[来13：8耶稣基督昨日今日一直到永远，是一样的。]

1.以民得救因信而非知识（V1-2）

从古到今，论知识以色列民确实强盛，但知识只能叫人自高自大，法利赛人的知识非常雄厚，但无法自救，彼得虽是无知的小民，但却能大声告白，你是基督是永生神的儿子。

2.放下己的义寻求神的义（V3-4）

法利赛人禁食祷告奉献，虽是名列前茅，但主说我从来不认识你们，世人的义加在一起就如同一间破烂的衣裳。神的义就是神自己就是基督，我们应当一生追求神的义，神的性情。

二 得救人凭信心——而非人的律法（V5-13）

在律法之下五饼二鱼只会喂饱几个人，凭信心交给主，会变成无限量的祝福。

1.信心的义必会带出基督（V5-7）

信心可以把天上的基督带下来，信心可以把地上的教会带上去。

2.口认耶稣心信从死复活（V8-13）

口是百体最重要的部分，你说什么就会带出什么，同样心里想什么就会说出什么。神让信祂的人永不羞愧。

三 求告主靠神话——而非理论经验（V14-21）

无论是以赛亚还是摩西他们都是坚信神的话，不动摇不放弃，今天无论是以色列民还是我们，只有相信神的话，起初神用话语创造诸世界，太初有道，道就是神，道就是神的话，面对神的话，不要加添和删减，我们面对神的话，要做的是就是单纯的相信，不要考虑，就是单纯的顺服，就是阿们！

1.效法报福音传喜讯的人（V14-16）

没有奉差遣怎么有传道，没有传道，怎么有人信福音呢！经上说，报福音传喜信的人，他们的脚踪何等佳美，效法圣古先贤的福音使者，使徒保罗得胜的凯歌，当跑的跑了，当打的打了，所信的道守住了，从此以后有公义的冠冕为他存留。

2.信道乃是从基督话而来（V17-21）

经上说：他们的声音传遍天下，他们的言语传遍地极。无论多么悖逆刚硬，常常也会惹动神的愤恨，但是只要让神的话进来，高山低谷都可以肖平。

结语：

让我们在等候主来的日子里，每天凭着信心，活在神的兴许活在神的大能里，相信祂昨日拯救我们，今日拯救我们，将来也必拯救我们。神说，时候到了，我要让没有寻找我的人遇见我，没有访问我的人，我要主动向他们显现，因为神说，我整天伸手招呼那悖逆顶嘴的百姓。哈利路亚，感谢主！

Romans 10: Call Upon the Name of the Lord and Be Saved
GK611 Morning Devotion
8/12/2021
Speaker: Ps Li + Rev. David Tan

Introduction:

Mark 9:14-29 describes the incident of the child possessed by an evil spirit. Jesus rebuked the faithless generation, because they witnessed Jesus healing the sick, casting out demons, and raising the dead, but the father of the child, with doubt, asked Jesus “If You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

In this unusual season, when the world is being affected by the pandemic, do we still have faith in God, believing that God is our shelter? If you feel that you do not have enough faith in God right now, cry out to God, and say “O God, I’m lacking in faith, please increase my faith!”

1. Seek the Lord with Faith – Not with the Knowledge of Man

What can be seen with the eyes is not faith, but what is unseen, that is faith. Because everything in the world is changing, but [Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.]

(1) Salvation is by faith, not by knowledge [v1-2]

Since ancient times, the Israelites possess strong knowledge, but knowledge only causes one to become proud. The Pharisees are very knowledgeable, but they could not save themselves. Even though Peter was not a learned man, he could boldly confess that Jesus is the Son of the Living God.

(2) Giving Up Our Righteousness to Seek God’s Righteousness [v3-4]

The Pharisees are the best in fasting, praying, and giving their offerings, but the Lord says that He does not know them. The righteousness of man is like a filthy rag. But the righteousness of God is God Himself, which is Christ. We should pursue God’s righteousness and God’s nature all the days of our lives.

2. People Who are Saved Live by Faith – Not by the Law [v5-13]

Under the Law, 5 loaves and 2 fishes can only feed a few people. Surrender to the Lord in faith and it will become a blessing without limit.

(1) Righteousness in faith can bring out Christ [v5-7]

Faith can bring Christ down from Heaven. Faith can also lift the church up from the earth.

(2) Confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth, and your faith will be brought back to life [v8-13]

The mouth is the most important part of the body, what you say can be brought forth. In the same way, what is in the heart will come out from the mouth. God will not let those who believe in Him be put to shame.

3. Call upon the Lord and depend on His Word – Not on reasoning and experiences [v14-21]

Whether it is the prophet Isaiah or Mosses, they held onto the word of God and never gave up believing it. Whether it is us or the Israelites, we just need to believe the word of God. In the beginning, God created the world through His word. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God, and the Word was with God. Do not add or remove anything from the word of God. When facing God’s Word, all we need to do is to simply believe it, do not contemplate, just obey, and that is to say “Amen!”

(1) Be imitators of Those Who Preach the Good News [v14-16]

When no one is sent, how can there be preachers? If there are no preachers, how will people believe in the gospel? The Scripture says how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news of the gospel! Learn the Apostle Paul, one of our Spiritual forefathers, whose song of victory says “ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness”

(2) Faith comes from hearing the Word of God [v17-21]

Scripture says that their voice goes out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world. No matter how rebellious or hardened our hearts are, it will always provoke the Lord’s anger. But once the word of God comes in, every hill and valley will be made flat.

Conclusion:

As we wait upon the return of the Lord, by faith, let us live in God’s promises and in His power, believing that He has saved us yesterday, today, and He will save us again in days to come. God says that the time has come for Me to let those who have not sought Me to have an encounter with Me. To those who have not asked of Me, I will make myself known. Because God says concerning Israel, “I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people,” Hallelujah, Thank You Lord!

07/12/2021

引言:

扫罗和大卫都是神所拣选的，但是他们最终却有着不一样的结局，扫罗最后被神废去，而大卫则是被称为合神心意的人！是什么导致他们有不一样的结局？其实答案就在于罗马书第9章所要带给我们的一个重要的观念，就是‘神有拣选，但人必须做出对的回应’。

一、选民不信的悲哀（V1-5）

保罗为着他许多的同胞以色列人不愿意接受耶稣就是救赎他们的弥赛亚而感到十分地伤痛。本来以色列人已经有了这些丰富的产业，但是因为他们不相信耶稣，所以就导致他们对这些产业的领受只停留在旧约而已，他们无法进入到这些产业来到新约时代那个更为完整，更为丰盛的领域里面。对当时的以色列人来说，神已经透过历代的先知，还有当时的旧约圣经来对他们说话，但是他们还是不信，所以他们就没有办法得着神在新约中所要给他们的恩典和祝福。

二、神有主权做拣选（V6-21）

1. 应许在于神的拣选 (V6-13)

亚伯拉罕从撒拉所生下来的以撒才是神所应许，要来成就神话语的，而不是亚伯拉罕透过撒拉的女仆夏甲所生下来的以实玛利。然后来到以撒从利百加生的两个孩子也是一样，神所应许要来成就祂话语，成就祂祝福亚伯拉罕的约定，是透过神所应许的这位以撒的小儿子雅各，而不是透过大儿子以扫。就是说神所应许要来成就祂的祝福和心意的人，都是出于祂的拣选。

2. 拣选出于神的主权 (V14-21)

神是那位全人类的创造者，其实祂对于所有的受造物是有祂绝对的主权的。所以祂才能够对摩西说，祂要怜悯谁，就怜悯谁，要恩待谁，就恩待谁。当我们如此地看到神的主权的时候，就会想：既然都是神所安排好了，甚至连法老这样的恶人也是神安排的，那神怎么还可以去指责法老的罪呢？这样的话有谁可以不按神预先设定的结局来行事为人呢？有关这些问题，我们需要去参照圣经其他地方的经文来看：彼得后书3: 9。神的永在性，让祂能够清楚地看到每个人对着祂救恩的回应，于是祂就拣选那些有信心来回应祂的人。如果我们退一万步来看，把神比作窑匠，神其实也是有绝对的主权来决定祂要把人做成怎样的一个器皿的。

很多时候，我们觉得人生有很多的不公平，其实就是因为我们人吃了分辨善恶树的果子，然后就自己去做神。这里保罗其实想要我们看到的是，神把我们创造成怎样的一个人，把我们安置在怎样的一个家庭，这个权柄其实不在我们的手中，我们不要去做神，去做许多的判断，我们应当降服于神的安排，这样，我们才能够从中去体会神美善的心意。例子：神使用破损生命经历重建的见证祝福许多有类似经历的人；神使用不同恩赐的人一起配搭来建造祂的教会。

三、人要选择做回应（V22-33）

1. 回应神恩才能得救（V22-29）

如果神真的是要在那些惹祂发怒的器皿上彰显祂的愤怒，然后又在那些要显出祂荣耀的器皿上彰显祂的怜悯，这也是人无法去指责的，因为主权是在神那里。本来不是蒙神所爱的外邦人，因为以色列的不信，救恩临到他们，他们最终也要成为神所爱的儿子。而以赛亚也说，选民以色列人虽然很多，但是最终得救的却不过是余下少数的以色列人而已。并且主因为留心保守祂话语的成就，所以祂才让以色列人在各样的患难中仍然能够存留余种，否则的话他们早就像所多玛那样被神所灭绝了。

神虽然是有拣选人进入到这个救恩的里面，但事实上是只有那些愿意去回应神的人才能够去领受这个救恩的。对以色列人，对外邦人都一样。这里经文所讲到那些余民，其实就是那些愿意相信耶稣是弥赛亚的以色列人！

所以神是很公平的，人都要因着信而进入到救恩的里面。哪怕对着那些没有听过福音，又或者是对着那些没有能力去理解福音的人，神也是公平的，祂肯定有祂最合宜的方式去安排和处理。圣经对着这种问题所提到的内容不多，但从彼得前书3:19-20我们清楚看到，神是怜悯人的神，就是有关讲到耶稣如何怜悯挪亚世代那些没有上方舟的人。

2. 唯独因信才能称义（V30-33）

本来不认识神，所以也就没有想要追求义的外邦人，因为听见了福音，相信这个福音而就得到了神所要给人的义。但以色列人因为领受了神的律法，所以就想要透过自己的行为来活出律法，来被称为义。结果他们就离开了这个以信为本的福音。耶稣对他们来说，成为了一块绊脚、跌人的石头；但是对于信的人来说，却是让人脱离羞耻感的主，脱离愧疚感的神！

总结：

怜悯人的神不愿一人沉沦，乃愿人人悔改，所以祂就预先拣选了以色列，来作为一个样品，然后也透过祂爱子耶稣为我们钉十字架来赐给我们那个永恒的救恩。人如果被拣选了，却不愿意去相信神救恩的计划，也不去回应神的心意，最终人其实也是会在救恩中坠落的。

让我们要透过神信实的话语来确信，神对着那些没有听过福音，还有那些没有能力去理解福音的人，祂绝对有祂最美善的安排！神是永在的神，所以祂也透过人会如何来回应祂的预知来做拣选的工作。我们无法否认，今天有很多关于神的事我们人透过有限的头脑是无法去理解的，而日后当我们见主面的时候，就一切都真相大白了。让我们把许多这些判断的权柄归还给神。当我们愿意去按着神的心意生活的时候，我们就是神眼中的义人，并领受上好的福分！

Romans 9: God chooses but man must respond
GK611 Morning Devotion
07/12/2021
Speaker: IP Moses Ou + Rev. David Tan

Introduction:

Saul and David were both chosen by God, but they ended up with different outcomes. Saul was finally abolished by God, while David was known as a man after God’s own heart! What led to their different outcomes? The answer lies in an important concept brought to us in Romans 9, that ‘God chooses, but man must respond in the right way’.

1. The sorrow of the unbelief of the chosen people (V1-5)

Paul was grieved by the unwillingness of many of his fellow Israelites to accept Jesus as the Messiah for their salvation. The Israelites already had these rich possessions, but because they did not believe in Jesus, their reception of these possessions was limited to the Old Testament, and they could not enter into the fuller and more abundant realm of these possessions in the New Testament. For the Israelites at that time, God had spoken to them through the prophets of the ages and the Old Testament of that time, but they still did not believe, so they were not able to receive the grace and blessings that God would give them in the New Testament.

2. God has the authority to choose (V6-21)

(1) The promise is in God’s choice (V6-13)

Isaac, whom Abraham bore from Sarah, was the one God promised to fulfill God’s Word, not Ishmael, whom Abraham bore through Sarah’s maid, Hagar. Then came the two children of Isaac from Rebekah, and the same thing, God promised to fulfill His word and His covenant to bless Abraham, through Jacob, the younger son of Isaac, whom God promised, and not through Esau, the older son. That is to say, those whom God promised to fulfill His blessing and His desire were chosen by Him.

(2) Chosen was by the authority of God (V14-21)

God is the creator of all mankind, and in fact He has His absolute sovereignty over all of His creation. That is why He was able to say to Moses that He would have mercy on whomever He wanted to have mercy and compassion to whomever He wanted to be compassionate. When we see God’s sovereignty in this way, we will think: Since it is all ordained by God, even such a wicked man as Pharaoh was also ordained by God, how can God still accuse Pharaoh of his sin? In that case, who can act as a human being without following God’s predetermined end? We need to look at these questions in light of other passages in the Bible: 2 Peter 3:9. God’s eternal nature allows Him to see clearly the response of each person to His salvation, and He chooses those who have the faith to respond to Him. If we take a step back and compare God to a potter, God actually has the absolute sovereignty to determine what kind of a vessel He will make out of a person.

God is the creator of all mankind, and in fact He has His absolute sovereignty over all of His creation. That is why He was able to say to Moses that He would have mercy on whomever He wanted to have mercy and be gracious to whomever He wanted to be gracious. When we see God’s sovereignty in this way, we will think: Since it is all ordained by God, even such a wicked man as Pharaoh was also ordained by God, how can God still accuse Pharaoh of his sin? In that case, who can act as a human being without following God’s predetermined end? We need to look at these questions in light of other passages in the Bible: 2 Peter 3:9. God’s eternal nature allows Him to see clearly the response of each person to His salvation, and He chooses those who have the faith to respond to Him. If we take a step back and compare God to a potter, God actually has the absolute sovereignty to determine what kind of a vessel He will make out of a person.

Many times we feel that there is a lot of injustice in life, but it is actually because we humans eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and then we go about being gods ourselves. What Paul actually wants us to see here is that the authority of what kind of person God has created us to be and what kind of family He has placed us in is not really in our hands, and we should not try to be God and make many judgments, but we should surrender to God’s arrangement so that we can experience the goodness of God’s heart from it. Example: God uses the testimony of a broken life experience to rebuild to bless many people with similar experiences; God uses people with different gifts to work together to build His church.

3. One has to choose to be responsive (V22-33)

(1) respond to God’s grace to be saved (v22-29)

If God really wants to manifest His wrath on those vessels that provoke Him to anger, and then His mercy on those vessels that are to show His glory, this is also something that man cannot accuse, because the sovereignty is with God. The Gentiles, who were not loved by God, because of Israel’s unbelief, salvation came to them, and they will eventually become the beloved sons of God. Isaiah also said that although there were many chosen Israelites, only a few of them would be saved in the end. And because the Lord is careful to keep His word, He has allowed Israel to remain in the midst of all their troubles, otherwise they would have been exterminated by God like Sodom.

Although God has chosen people to enter into this salvation, the truth is that only those who are willing to respond to God are able to receive this salvation. This is true for Israel as well as for the Gentiles. The remnant that the scriptures speak of here are actually those Israelites who are willing to believe in Jesus as the Messiah!

So God is fair, and all men will enter into salvation by faith. Even to those who have not heard the gospel, or to those who do not have the ability to understand it, God is fair, and He surely has His most appropriate way to arrange and deal with it. The Bible does not say much about this kind of problem, but from 1 Peter 3:19-20 we clearly see that God is a God of mercy, and it is about how Jesus had mercy on those who did not go to the ark in Noah’s generation.

(2) Justification by faith alone (V30-33)

The Gentiles, who did not know God, and therefore did not want to pursue righteousness, received the righteousness that God wanted to give to them because they heard the gospel and believed it. But the Israelites, having received the law of God, wanted to live out the law through their own works, and to be justified. As a result, they left this faith-based gospel. Jesus became for them a stumbling stone but for those who believe, it is the Lord who frees people from shame and the God who frees them from guilt!

Conclusion:

The merciful God does not want one to perish, but all to repent, so He chose Israel in advance as a sample, and then He also gave us that eternal salvation through the crucifixion of His beloved Son, Jesus, for us. If a person is chosen, but is not willing to believe in God’s plan of salvation or to respond to God’s heart, he will eventually fall in salvation.

Let us be assured through God’s faithful Word that He has His most excellent plan for those who have not heard the gospel and for those who are incapable of understanding it! God is an everlasting God, so He also does the work of election through how people respond to His foreknowledge. We cannot deny that there are many things about God today that we cannot understand through our limited minds, but later, when we meet the Lord, all will be revealed. Let us return to God the authority of many of these judgments. When we are willing to live according to God’s heart, we are righteous in God’s eyes and receive good blessings!