GOD LEADING US
Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, ...
But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) ...
Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him. Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it.
“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
To those who are elect , according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.
Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.
Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers.
I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,
And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed. After three months we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the twin gods as a figurehead.
The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”
And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”
Except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.
And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there,
But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.
The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
And they went through the region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
上帝引领我们
耶和华你们的救赎主,以色列的圣者如此说:“我是耶和华你们的上帝,教训你们使你们得益处,引导你们走当行的路。
亲爱的弟兄啊,我虽然很想写信给你们,论到我们同得的救恩,但现在我还是不得不写信劝你们,要为从前一次交付圣徒的真道竭力争辩。
基督释放了我们,叫我们得以自由;所以要站立得稳,不要再被奴仆的轭挟制。我保罗告诉你们,你们若受割礼,基督就与你们无益了。我再指着凡受割礼的确实地说,他有义务遵守全律法。你们这要靠律法称义的,是与基督隔绝,从恩典中坠落了。我们靠着圣灵,凭着信心,等候所盼望的义。
所以,你们或吃或喝,无论做什么,都要按着自己的意思行。 神的荣耀。
你们中间有冤仇,岂敢在不义的人面前求告,不在圣徒面前求告呢?岂不知圣徒要审判世界吗?若世界要由你们审判,难道你们不配审理这小事吗?岂不知我们要审判天使吗?何况今生的事呢?你们既有这样的事,为何摆在教会中没有地位的人面前呢?我说这话是要叫你们羞愧。难道你们中间没有一个聪明人能审理弟兄间的纠纷吗?……
耶稣回答说:“我父做事直到如今,我也做事。”
主啊,我的心仰望你。我的神啊,我倚靠你;求你不要叫我羞愧;求你不要叫我的仇敌向我欢呼。凡等候你的必不羞愧;惟有行事诡诈的,才必羞愧。主啊,求你使我认识你的道,将你的路教训我。求你以你的真理引导我,教训我,因为你是救我的神;我终日等候你。
他使我躺卧在青草地上,领我在可安歇的水边。
凡说自己住在他里面的,就该照他所行的去行。
各人既得了恩赐,就要照着恩赐彼此服事,作神百般恩赐的好管家。讲道的,要像讲神的圣言;服事人的,要像按着神所赐的力量服事;叫神在凡事上因耶稣基督得荣耀。愿荣耀、权能都归给他,直到永永远远。 阿们。
我说,你们当顺着圣灵而行,就不放纵肉体的情欲了。因为肉体的情欲和圣灵相争,圣灵的情欲和肉体相争,这两个是彼此敌对,使你们不能做所愿意做的事。你们若被圣灵引导,就不在律法之下。情欲的事都是显而易见的,就如奸淫、污秽、邪荡、拜偶像、邪术、仇恨、争竞、嫉妒、恼怒、结党、纷争、分党,
那时,彼得在弟兄中间站起来(聚会的人约有一百二十人),说:“弟兄们,圣灵借大卫的口,预先预言领人捉拿耶稣的犹大,这话是必须应验的。他本来列在我们中间,并且在这职任上得了份。” (这人用他作恶的工价买了一块田,一头栽倒,肚腹崩裂,肠子流出来。这事传遍了耶路撒冷的一切居民,以致那块田按着他们的话名叫亚革大马,就是“血田”的意思。)……
属神的,就听神的话;你们不听,因为你们不是属神的。
耶稣往橄榄山去。清早又回到圣殿。众百姓都到他那里去,他就坐下教训他们。文士和法利赛人带着一个行淫时被拿的妇人,叫她站在当中,对他说:“夫子,这妇人是正行淫之时被拿的。摩西在律法上吩咐我们,要用石头打死这样的妇人。你说该怎样呢?”
凡接待他的,就是信他名的人,他就赐他们权柄,作神的儿女。
有一个利未家的人娶了一个利未女子为妻。那妇人怀孕生子,见孩子俊美,就藏了他三个月。后来不能再藏,就取了一个蒲草筐子,抹上石漆和石油,把孩子放在里头,把筐子搁在河边的芦苇中。孩子的姐姐远远地站着,要看他将来怎样。法老的女儿来到河边洗澡,她的使女们在河边行走。她看见筐子放在芦苇中,就打发婢女去取了。
“你要写信给撒狄教会的使者,说:‘那有神的七灵和七星的,说:‘我知道你的行为,按名你是活的,其实是死的。你当醒悟,坚固那剩下将要衰微的,因为我见你的行为,在我神面前,没有一样是完全的。所以,要回想你所领受、所听见的,又要保守,并要悔改。若不醒悟,我必临到如同贼一样;我几时临到,你也绝不能知道。然而在撒狄你还有几名,是未曾污秽自己衣服的,他们要穿白衣与我同行,因为他们是配得过的。得胜的,必这样穿白衣;我也必不从生命册上涂抹他的名,并且要在我父面前和我父众使者面前认他的名。 “你要写信给以弗所教会的使者,说:‘那右手拿着七星、在七个金灯台中间行走的,说:‘我知道你的行为、你的劳碌、你的忍耐,也知道你不能容忍恶人,你也曾试验那自称是使徒却不是使徒的,看出他们是假的来。我知道你也能忍耐,曾为我的名劳碌,并不乏倦。然而有一件事我要责备你,就是你把起初的爱心离弃了。所以应当回想你是从哪里坠落的,并要悔改,行你起初所行的事。不然,你若不悔改,我就临到你那里,把你的灯台从原处挪去。
所以,你们既脱去一切恶毒、诡诈、假善、嫉妒,和一切毁谤的话,就要爱慕那纯净的灵奶,像才生的婴孩爱慕奶一样,叫你们因此渐长,以致得救。你们若尝过主恩的滋味,就必如此。’ 主乃是活石,为人所弃绝,却在神面前被拣选、所宝贵。你们来到主面前,自己也像活石,被建造成为灵宫,作圣洁的祭司,借着耶稣基督奉献神所悦纳的灵祭。
你们就是照父神的先见被拣选,借着圣灵得成圣洁,以致顺服耶稣基督,又蒙他血所洒的人。愿恩惠、平安多多地加给你们。愿颂赞归与我们主耶稣基督的父神!他曾照自己的大怜悯,藉耶稣基督从死里复活,重生了我们,叫我们有活泼的盼望,可以得着不能朽坏、不能玷污、不能衰残、为你们存留在天上的基业。你们这因信蒙神能力保守的人,必能得着所预备、到末世要显现的救恩。
因我们的大祭司并非不能体恤我们的软弱,他也曾凡事受过试探,与我们一样,只是他没有犯罪。
我在神面前,并在将来审判活人死人的基督耶稣面前,凭着他的显现和他的国度嘱咐你:务要传道,无论得时不得时,总要专心,并用百般的忍耐,各样的教训,责备人、警戒人、劝勉人。因为时候要到,人必厌烦纯正的道理,耳朵发痒,就随从自己的情欲,增添好些师傅,并且掩耳不听真道,偏向荒渺的言语。你却要凡事谨守,忍受苦难,作传道的工夫,尽你的职分。
圣经都是神所默示的,于教训、督责、使人归正、教导人学义都是有益的,叫属神的人得以完全,预备行各样的善事。
作执事的也是如此,必须端庄,不一口两舌,不好喝酒,不贪不义之财。
所以,监督必须无可指责,只作一个妇人的丈夫,有节制,自守,端庄,乐意接待远人,善于教导。
俗话说得对:人若想得监督的职分,就是羡慕美德。所以,监督必须无可指责,只作一个妇人的丈夫,有节制,自守,端庄,乐意接待远人,善于教导;不因酒滋事,不打人,只要温柔,不争竞,不贪财。好好管理自己的家,使儿女顺服。人若不知道管理自己的家,焉能照管神的教会呢?
要常常喜乐,不住地祷告,凡事谢恩;因为这是神在基督耶稣里向你们所定的旨意。
弟兄们,论到时候、日期,不用写信给你们。因为你们自己明明晓得,主的日子来到,好像夜间的贼一样。人正说平安稳妥的时候,灾祸忽然临到他们,如同产痛临到怀胎的妇人一样,他们绝不能逃脱。弟兄们,你们却不在黑暗里,叫那日子像贼一样突然临到你们。因为你们都是光明之子,都是白昼之子,我们不是属黑夜的,也不是属幽暗的。
最后,我的弟兄们,你们要在主里喜乐。把这些话写给你们,对我来说并不难,对你们来说也是平安的。你们要防备犬类,防备作恶的,防备那些残害身体的人。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,不靠着肉体的。虽然我自己也有理由靠着肉体的。 若有人以为他有理由倚靠肉体,我更有理由。我第八天受割礼,我是以色列族,便雅悯支派的人,是希伯来人所生的希伯来人;就律法说,我是法利赛人。
所以,你们该效法神,好像蒙慈爱的儿女一样。也要凭爱心行事,正如基督爱我们,为我们舍己,当作馨香的供物和祭物献与神。至于淫乱并一切污秽,或是贪婪,在你们中间连提都不可,方合圣徒的体统。淫词妄语,和戏笑的话,都不相宜;总要说感谢的话。因为你们确实地知道,所有淫乱的,或污秽的,或贪婪的,在基督和神的国里都是无分的。贪婪就是指拜偶像的。
他所赐的有使徒,有先知,有传福音的,有牧师和教师,为要成全圣徒,各尽其职,建立基督的身体。
作先知讲道的,是对人说,要造就、安慰、劝化他们。
你们要追求爱,也要切慕属灵的恩赐,尤其要渴慕作先知讲道。因为说方言的,原不是对人说,乃是对神说,因为没有人听得出来。他乃是靠着圣灵讲解各样的奥秘。作先知讲道的,是对人说,要造就、安慰、劝化他们。说方言的,是造就自己;作先知讲道的,是造就教会。我愿意你们都说方言,更愿意你们作先知讲道。若没有人翻出来,使教会得造就,那作先知讲道的就比说方言的强了。
你们该效法我,像我效法基督一样。我称赞你们,因为你们凡事记念我,又坚守我所传给你们的传统。但我愿意你们知道,基督是各人的头,丈夫是妻子的头,神是基督的头。凡男人祷告或是讲道,若不蒙着头,就羞辱自己的头;凡妻子祷告或是讲道,若不蒙着头,就羞辱自己的头,因为这就如同剃了头一样。
“凡事我都可行”,但不都有益处。“凡事我都可行”,但我无论如何都不受约束。
岂不知我们就是审判天使,何况今生的事呢?你们既有这样的事,为何摆在教会中没有地位的人面前呢?我说这话,是要叫你们羞愧。 难道你们中间没有人有智慧,能审理弟兄间的纠纷吗?你们竟是弟兄与弟兄告状,而且是在不信主的人面前告状。
我在基督里说真话,并不谎言。有我良心被圣灵感动,给我作见证,我是大有忧愁,心里时常伤痛。为我弟兄,我骨肉之亲,就是自己被咒诅,与基督分离,我也愿意。他们是以色列人,儿子的名分、荣耀、诸约、律法、礼仪、应许都是他们的。列祖也是他们的;按肉体说,基督也是从他们出来的;他是在万有之上,永远可称颂的神。阿们。
弟兄们,这样看来,我们并不是欠肉体的债去顺从肉体活着。你们若顺从肉体活着,必要死;若靠着圣灵治死身体的恶行,必要活着。因为凡被神的灵引导的,都是神的儿子。
如今,那些在基督耶稣里的就不定罪了。 因为赐生命圣灵的律,在基督耶稣里释放了你们,脱离罪和死的律了。律法既因肉体软弱,有所不能行,神就差遣自己的儿子,成为罪身的形状,作了赎罪祭,在肉体中定了罪案,使律法的义成就在我们这不随从肉体,只随从圣灵的人身上。因为随从肉体的人体贴肉体的事;随从圣灵的人体贴圣灵的事。
不但如此,就是我们在患难中也是欢欢喜喜的,因为知道患难生忍耐。
还是你藐视他丰富的恩慈、宽容、忍耐,却不晓得他的恩慈是领你悔改呢?
原来,神的忿怒从天上显明在一切不虔不义的人身上,就是那些用不义阻挡真理的人。 神的事情,人所能知道的,原显明在人心里,因为神已经给他们显明。自从造天地以来,神的永能和神性是明明可知的,虽是眼不能见,但藉着所造之物就可以晓得,叫人无可推诿。因为他们虽然知道神,却不当作神荣耀他,也不感谢他。他们的思念变为虚妄,无知的心就昏暗了。 自称为聪明,反成了愚拙。
保罗是基督耶稣的仆人,奉召为使徒,特派传神的福音。这福音是神从前藉众先知在圣经上所应许的。论到他儿子我们主耶稣基督。按肉体说,是从大卫后裔生的;按圣善的灵说,因从死里复活,以大能显明是神的儿子。我们从他受了恩惠并使徒的职分,叫人在万国中为他的名叫人信服真道。
这事以后,岛上其余的病人也来了,都得了医治。他们也极其尊重我们。我们正要开船的时候,他们把我们一切所需用的都送到船上。三个月后,我们上了一艘在岛上过冬的亚历山大船,船的船头上雕刻着双生神像。
当夜,主站在保罗旁边,说:“放心吧!你怎样在耶路撒冷为我作见证,也必怎样在罗马为我作见证。”
保罗来到我们这里,拿他的腰带捆上自己的手脚,说:“圣灵说:‘犹太人在耶路撒冷要如此捆绑这腰带的主人,把他交在外邦人手里。’”
但圣灵在各城里向我指证,说有捆锁与患难等待我。
现在我往耶路撒冷去,心甚迫切,不知道在那里要遇见什么事。
但有些人心里刚硬,不肯信,在会众面前毁谤这道,保罗就离开他们,带着门徒同去,在推喇奴的院子里天天辩论。
弟兄们随即在夜间打发保罗和西拉往庇哩亚去。他们到了庇哩亚,就进了犹太人的会堂。这些犹太人比帖撒罗尼迦的人贤明,热切领受这道,天天考查圣经,要晓得这道是与不是。
圣灵既然禁止他们在亚细亚传道,他们就走遍那一带地方。
上帝引领我们