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Many Christians observe Sunday worship today. Is the Bible's command to keep the Sabbath on Saturday still relevant?

羡慕他人恩赐的低语，比我们愿意承认的还要常见。我们钦佩他人的口才或动听的嗓音，却暗自怀疑自己的是否重要。但比较让我们看不见神赐给我们的恩赐，也削弱了我们愿意服事的心。 赞美心跳，而不仅是微笑 我们常称赞那些引人注目的事物—别人的微笑或令人敬畏的气场。但你可曾被称赞过动脉健康，或心跳有力而规律？这些看不见的部分，才是支撑一切的关键。然而，直到出了问题，我们才注意到它们的存在。教会中也是如此。有些职分不会赢得掌声，但一旦缺少了，整个肢体都会感受到缺口。 恩赐不同，也本该如此 我们的恩赐是有目的地被赐予（哥林多前书12:11），是为要完成我们在基督身体中的独特角色。我们就像神画布上的笔触——有的浓烈，有的细腻；有的勾勒主景，有的填补空白。单看一个笔触可能微不足道，但少了它，整幅画就不完整。我们蒙召要忠心管理所领受的恩赐。无论我们的恩赐是劝勉、服事、施舍、教导、带领或是施怜悯，都要甘心乐意地献上（罗马书12:6-8）。 曾几何时，我带着一盒超市买的冰淇淋参加聚餐，面对一桌精心准备的家常菜，我觉得自己贡献微小。但当看到大家带着笑容添第二碗时，我才意识到我的那一份，其实也有价值。一道菜不能成宴席，正如一个肢体不能建成教会。同样地，是我们每一个人的奉献汇聚起来，才使基督的身体完整（罗马书12:4-5）。对你来说微不足道的事，可能正是别人所需要的力量；而别人的付出，也反过来扶持了我们。因为，我们是一起组成完整的整体。 愿我们学会珍惜那些不显眼却忠心的部分，因为身体上看似软弱的肢体，是不可或缺的（哥林多前书12:22）。我们不需拥有所有恩赐，也无需渴求更多，因为神本意就是让我们彼此倚靠。因此，就让我们忠心地使用自己所领受的恩赐，并欢喜地为别人的恩赐喝彩。 用出来，而不是炫耀 虽然我们被呼召用恩赐去服事，但也要谨防用它们来追求地位或自我荣耀的诱惑。我们的恩赐不是靠挣来的，也不需要靠行为来配得。它的唯一目的，是叫我们去服事（彼得前书4:10）。正如哥林多前书12:7所说，圣灵的显现是为了众人的益处。不要因惧怕或贪图安逸而埋藏你的恩赐，免得被称为不忠心（马太福音25:26-30）。因为神既能赐下，也能收回。 喂养家庭，每道菜都重要 每逢安息日的聚集，就像一场属灵的恩典聚餐。欢喜地把你那一份摆上桌吧！因为当每一份恩赐都在发挥作用时，教会就成为一个合一而光辉的身体。而这一切的背后，神必得荣耀（以弗所书4:16）。

Christianity today is very divided and is vastly different from the church established by the apostles. There are many denominations, each interpreting the Bible in their own way. Yet to most Christians, many of these differences don’t matter and all churches still collectively belong to the body of Christ. As such, they believe that as long as one is Christian, they can be saved. I once invited a Christian friend to church. He was confused and said, “But… I already go to a church, why don’t you ask others who aren’t Christians?” Is it true that you can go to any church, and that you can be saved as long as you are Christian? Are all churches part of the body of Christ? Some Christians believe that, which is why it does not matter which church you go to. “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:22-23 NKJV “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” Colossians 1:18 NKJV It is a biblical concept that the church is the body of Christ, and Christ is head of the church. The bible goes on to say the following: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:4-6 NKJV There is one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God. Is this reflected by all of Christianity today? Can we say we have one baptism today? Different churches preach different things about baptism. Some are for infant baptism, some are against it. Different churches have different takes on how baptism is conducted and whether it pertains to salvation. Is this considered “One baptism”, as it should be in the body of Christ? This points us to the issue of one Spirit. It was by the power of the Holy Spirit that the church was established on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). In the Acts of the Apostles, we also see clearly how the Holy Spirit guided the actions of the apostles (Acts 16:6). Moreover, the Holy Spirit was also referred to as the Spirit of Truth by the Lord Jesus Himself: “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” John 16:13 NKJV If all churches are led by and established by the one Holy Spirit, how is it that there are so many versions of “truth”? As mentioned earlier, different churches have different takes on baptism. Other differences include tongue speaking. Some churches speak in tongues, while some don’t, who instead claim that tongues have ceased. Some churches hold services on the Sabbath and uphold it is a holy day, while most churches worship on a Sunday and claim that it is not important to worship on the Sabbath. Are all these contradictory pieces of information all from the same Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth? This brings me to my next point: One faith. Can we all say that we have the one same faith, if we have so many differences in our doctrines? Some Christians may argue that we can say we have the same faith, because we all believe in the same Lord Jesus who has given us salvation. These differences in doctrines do not matter. This, I think, is the fundamental reason most may give to justify why going to any church is fine. And they quote: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 NKJV Yes, as written above, it is through believing in Jesus that we can be saved. But is it right to say that nothing else matters? Is that all the Bible says about being saved? Did not Jesus also say, for example, that baptism is necessary for salvation in Mark 16:16? Can believing that baptism is necessary for salvation, and not believing that baptism is necessary for salvation, be considered to be the same faith, simply beacuse both parties believe in Jesus Christ? We can see how highly Paul esteems the oneness of the gospel in his warning to the Galatians, who were pressured to keep the Jewish law, including circumcision: “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-9 NKJV Let us look at what the Lord Jesus once said, which some may find shocking: ““Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV We see here that the Lord Jesus has denied salvation to these people, who clearly believed in Him! If we truly believe in what Jesus says here, we ought to realise that it is not a mere belief and confession in Jesus that saves. If we say we believe in Jesus, yet do not believe in what He says, for example, regarding baptism for salvation, can we really say we believe in Him? This brings us to the last point: One body. If all churches were established by the Holy Spirit, there will not be so many versions of doctrines. These different beliefs cannot all be considered to be one faith, grouped under the umbrella of “believing in Jesus Christ”. There is only one gospel, as Paul says. There is only one complete truth that saves. After all, doesn’t it make sense that Jesus has only one message of salvation for us in the Bible, that should not be open to human interpretation, but rather by revelation of the Holy Spirit? And the role of the church is to uphold the truth! As Paul writes: “but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” I Timothy 3:15 NKJV The church is meant to be the pillar and ground of the truth, that is, to uphold the truth. If these churches do not have the truth, how then can they be considered to be the church of God, the body of Christ, in the Bible? As mentioned in Ephesians 4, there is one faith and one body. That means there is one church with the one complete truth that saves. Do you think you can be saved if you go to a church that does not have the complete truth of salvation, and is not truly part of the body of Christ? Today the True Jesus Church believes that we are the one true church of God that preaches the complete truth, passed down by the apostles through the Bible. The True Jesus Church preaches that Baptism, Foot washing and Holy Communion are sacraments necessary for salvation. We also observe the Sabbath, and believe that receiving the Holy Spirit, evidenced by tongue speaking, is necessary for salvation. These doctrines, can all be substantiated by the Bible and it is the same one faith practiced by the Apostles in the Bible. These will not be discussed in detail in today’s article, but please do reach out to us if you are interested in the learning the truth of salvation.

我从小在教会长大，圣餐中领受饼与杯，是我生命中为数不多的深刻恒常之一。从擘开无酵饼，到倒葡萄汁，再到唱诗歌，以及领受饼与杯的片段，这圣礼的一切，总是以不同方式触动着我。 然而，一个人愿意被感动是一种非常具有意识的决定，是一种警醒的行为。否则，我们很容易就把这看作普通、重复性的仪式。正如所有圣礼一样，它们的属灵意义远超我们眼睛与四肢所能察觉，接触的外在形式。 最核心的理解是，在领受圣餐时，我们是为了记念神对我们的爱。 耶稣从始至终完全顺服神的旨意，正因祂的牺牲，教会才能建立。我们每一个人都是因着耶稣而被赎回、被带入、被接纳，也因祂而被称为配得、被称义。 如果我们明白，要成就基督的身体（即教会）需要我们每一个人，那为何我们还要彼此分门别类？为何我们仍然执意追求自己定下的方向，把基督的旨意抛诸脑后？ 藉着这一章指出教会中属灵与属肉体分裂的例子，我们被清楚地提醒，要谦卑地省察自己的内心。同时也因着基督之死所成就的合一之恩，我们应当祷告、努力尊重他人胜于自己，使我们能彼此同住同工，彼此益处，也归荣耀于神。

圣经中清楚地记载了人领受圣灵的情况。当一个人领受圣灵时，他/她会说方言。在使徒时代，这是一件可以看见也可以听见的事情。不是凭感觉来判断的，而是有明确的迹象表明神的灵已住在那人里面。这也是使徒用来判断一个人是否已经领受圣灵的唯一标准。圣经告诉我们神的话是真实的。从几千年前直到如今，神的灵一直在带领这项工作。圣经中也提到“真理的圣灵”，说明真理与圣灵是不能分开的。因此，我们今天对圣灵的认识，不能也不应该改变。 我过去并不是一个基督徒。但当我来到真耶稣教会时，我看见教会中有圣灵同在。我观察到，当一个人领受圣灵时，他会说方言。在我寻找真理的过程中，我亲身经历了圣灵的感动，后来也领受了圣灵，并通过说方言表现出来。当时我心中有许多疑惑。我问一个也是基督徒的朋友：“圣灵是什么？”他回答：“圣经里有记载，但我也不太确定。”后来我来到真耶稣教会，开始查考圣经，才明白自己所经历的，正是2000年前信徒所经历的——他们领受了神所应许的圣灵，并说起方言。 如今，在基督教界中，每个人对圣灵的凭据有不同的看法。但既然我们都相信耶稣是救主，就应该相信主所赐下的唯一真理。因此，我们要回到圣经中查考。在这么多关于圣灵凭据的说法中，圣经到底怎么说？ 我们来思考五种对圣灵凭据的主张： 使徒行传19:2 ：保罗来到以弗所时遇见几位门徒，问他们：“你们信的时候领受圣灵没有？”他们回答说：“没有，也未曾听见有圣灵赐下。” 这节经文清楚地告诉我们： 信主不等于领受圣灵 。面对不同的观点，我们要回到圣经来看。若是信主就一定有圣灵，那这些门徒为何回答说“连圣灵有没有都没听说”？这令人费解。更何况，如果信主就有圣灵，保罗就不需要多此一问。 那么，保罗如何判断他们有没有领受圣灵？甚至这些门徒自己也不知道自己有没有领受。 有人可能说：这些门徒只是接受了约翰的洗，而非耶稣的洗，所以信仰还不完全，自然没有圣灵。 真是这样吗？ 使徒行传8:1-4 ：耶路撒冷教会受逼迫，门徒四散。第5节记载腓利下到撒玛利亚，向百姓传讲基督。注意，这里传讲的是 基督的福音 。第6节提到群众都一心听腓利所讲的，看到他行的神迹奇事。接着第9-13节记载，有一个行邪术的西门也信了。腓利所传的是 基督的福音 ，撒玛利亚人(8:12) 和西门 (8:13) 都相信了。可是却 没有 领受圣灵使徒行传8:14-17 记载圣灵还未降临在他们身上。由此可见，这些人即使信了主，也还未得着圣灵。 我们若回到使徒行传19，然后假设说这些门徒没有圣灵是因为信的是约翰，不是耶稣基督，那请思考撒玛利亚人信的是耶稣，却同样 还未 领受圣灵。 可见，无论是信约翰还是信耶稣，这些信徒都没有领受圣灵或有圣灵的凭据。 使徒行传 8:7 - 腓利能行神迹奇事，并传讲基督。撒马利亚的人听了基督的福音，就信了，也得了医治。但我们必须认识到，这里出现了两个不同的现象。西门是个行邪术的人，他曾使撒马利亚人惊奇很久（第9节）。然而，当人们见到腓利所行的神迹时，他们比之前更为惊奇。我们可以从中得出一个结论：行神迹不一定代表能力来自神。就连西门行邪术也能使人惊奇。但神的大能胜过了邪恶的力量。 然而，我们还没有看到圣灵降临在这些人身上。因此我们可以进一步明白：神迹奇事的出现，并不代表圣灵的同在。神通过神迹奇事彰显祂的存在，是为了帮助人明白真理，使人信主，引导人认识圣灵。 虽然腓利已经传了真理，也行了神迹奇事，撒马利亚人也相信了，但圣经清楚记载圣灵还没有降在他们身上。这说明即使在使徒时期，有神迹奇事随着福音的传讲，圣灵的降临却是按神的时间成就的。 因此我们必须明白，要回到圣经的教导中去认识圣灵，而不能单凭神迹奇事就断定某人有圣灵。不是每一个神迹都出于神。有时就像西门那样，虽然能行奇事，人们却误以为是从神而来。因此我们不能以神迹奇事作为判断一个人是否领受圣灵的标准。 使徒行传 8:12-13 - 撒马利亚人信了基督，也受了洗。但圣灵尚未降临在他们身上。使徒行传 8:14-15 告诉我们，当时在耶路撒冷的使徒听说撒马利亚人领受了神的道，就差派彼得和约翰去为他们祷告，使他们可以领受圣灵。由此可见，一个人即使受了洗，也不代表自动就领受了圣灵。 使徒行传 19:5 - 我们回到在以弗所的门徒。当保罗为他们施洗之后，他还必须为他们按手，因为圣灵还没有降在他们身上（使徒行传 19:5-6）。 那么，领受圣灵的记号是什么呢？圣经记载的记号是说方言（使徒行传 19:6）。因此，圣经清楚指出：无论是撒马利亚的信徒，还是以弗所的信徒；虽然他们已经信了耶稣基督，并奉主耶稣的名受洗；虽然他们当中也有神迹奇事的显现；但他们仍然还没有领受圣灵。 “我信了耶稣之后，感到非常喜乐。这说明我已经领受了圣灵。信主以后，我不再抑郁了，这一定是圣灵在我里面的证据，不然我怎么会这么开心呢？” 使徒行传 8:7-8 记载：有病的得了医治，污鬼被赶出去，那城里就大有欢喜。然而，根据本章事件的时间顺序，当时撒马利亚人还没有领受圣灵。那他们为什么会那么喜乐呢？因为有病的、被鬼附的都得了释放！主的话语充满能力，带来盼望。人听到真理的福音，自然会感到喜乐。但这并不能作为判断一个人是否已经领受圣灵的根据。 使徒行传 10:2 - 有一位外邦人名叫哥尼流，是一个虔诚人，他爱神也爱人。圣经说他敬畏神，乐意赒济百姓，常常向神祷告。但当我们继续读下去，就会发现他当时还没有领受圣灵。 其实，不信耶稣的人当中，也有许多行善、有爱心的人。但我们不会因此就说他们已经领受了圣灵。当然，我们盼望他们有一天能领受圣灵。但圣经清楚地告诉我们：领受圣灵的凭据是说方言。圣经对此有明确的记载。 所以我们不能以一个人是否有爱心，来判断他是否已经领受圣灵。 那么，领受圣灵的凭据到底是什么？我们如何知道领受圣灵的凭据是什么？我们可以看到，那些相信基督的人并不是立刻就领受了圣灵。 使徒行传 8:17-19 记载，使徒为信徒按手之后，他们才领受圣灵。撒马利亚人和以弗所的信徒都是如此。他们有一个共同的现象： 领受圣灵是可以被观察到的。 那么，能观察到什么呢？使徒行传 19:6 说，门徒们开始说方言。而在使徒行传 8 章中，行邪术的西门“看见”了这一现象，并愿意出钱向使徒购买这能力。西门听见也看见了当时发生的事情，所以他愿意出钱，但他却有错的观念。 我们已经讨论过几种被认为是领受圣灵的“凭据”： 使徒行传 2:38-39 - 彼得告诉那些守逾越节的犹太人要悔改、受洗， 就必领受所应许的圣灵 。在这之前我们看到，门徒们聚集祷告时，圣灵降临（使徒行传 2:1-4）。圣经描述，当时有从天上来的响声，门徒开始说出他们自己也不明白的语言。这是门徒首次领受圣灵的现象，是别人可以“看见”的。 更重要的是， 这个教导不是彼得自己说的，而 是耶稣亲自的吩咐。 在耶稣复活后、升天之前，他吩咐门徒不要离开耶路撒冷，要等候父所应许的圣灵（使徒行传 1:4-8）。彼得遵从主的吩咐，留下来祷告，圣灵就降在他们身上。当时，许多人都看见这个现象，他们的信心建立在耶稣的教训和吩咐上。 马可福音 16:15-17 中，耶稣升天前告诉门徒：信而受洗的必然得救，并且有神迹随着他们——他们奉主名赶鬼， 并要说新方言 。 因此， 领受圣灵是一个神迹 ， 也是一个“记号” 。当一个人领受圣灵，他/她自己应该是知道的。因此，使徒约翰在约翰一书 3:24 中说：“遵守神命令的，就住在神里面，神也住在他里面。我们所以知道神住在我们里面，是因祂所赐给我们的圣灵。” 五旬节的时候，有些人虽然不信，却看见了这个记号，这应验了耶稣的应许。但最关键的是：人必须求圣灵。门徒遵守耶稣的命令，留在耶路撒冷祷告。使徒行传 1:5 记载这命令是主升天前亲自交代的。 事实上，在耶稣被钉十字架之前，他已经在 路加福音 11:11-13 中告诉门徒，要像儿子向父亲求食物那样，向天父求圣灵。 在约翰福音 4 章，耶稣与撒马利亚妇人谈论“活水”，这“活水”其实指的就是圣灵（约翰福音 4:10）。这可以从主耶稣在约翰福音 7:37-39 中提到“活水”时清楚看出，当时祂所说的就是指着圣灵而讲的。 约翰福音 7:37-39 - 圣灵还没有赐下，是因为耶稣尚未得荣耀。在主耶稣被钉十字架之前，祂已经将这件事告诉了门徒。而在五旬节的现象中，门徒开始说方言。因此， 领受圣灵唯一的凭据就是说方言 ，这是 可以“看见”也可以“听见”的现象 。这不是一种感觉，也不是其他外在现象所能取代的。信主、受洗、有喜乐、有爱心，甚至有神迹奇事的发生——都不能作为领受圣灵的凭据。 领受圣灵说方言是唯一的凭据。这个证据很重要，因为若没有这个凭据，就表示那人没有基督的灵。正如 罗马书 8:9 所说：“ 人若没有基督的灵，就不是属基督的。 ” 使徒时代，众人看见门徒领受圣灵时的表现，还以为他们是醉了（使徒行传 2:5-13），但彼得站起来解释说： 这就是圣灵的恩赐，说方言是其凭据。 有些人误解圣经，例如引用哥林多前书第 12 章和第 14 章。我们必须分辨清楚：“ 使徒行传 2:38 ”中彼得所说的“圣灵的恩赐”在原文希腊文是 单数，dorea（礼物） 。当耶稣在约翰福音 4:10 向撒马利亚妇人谈到“神的恩赐”时，用的也是 单数 dorea 。 但哥林多前书第12章和第14章中所提到的“恩赐”（ gifts ）这个词，与使徒行传 2:38 和约翰福音 4:10 中的“恩赐”是 不同的字 。 在哥林多前书 12 章和 14 章中， “恩赐”是复数 ，希腊文是 charismata 。首先，圣灵本身就是神赐给人的恩赐（dorea）；其次，圣灵还会赐下多种不同的恩赐（charismata），在这里圣灵是恩赐的赐予者。 我们在研读哥林多前书12章和14章时必须非常清楚：这里提到的恩赐是"charismata"，这与使徒行传2:38中主耶稣所应许的恩赐（dorea）是不同的。我们必须明确：在使徒行传2:38中，圣灵本身就是神赐给人的恩赐（dorea）；而在哥林多前书12章和14章中，圣灵则是赐下各样属灵恩赐（charismata）的赐予者。 让我们仔细分辨其中的差异：哥林多前书12:10提到的"说方言的恩赐"(charismata)只是赐给 少数人的 ；而使徒行传2:38所应许圣灵的恩赐 (dorea) 带来的说方言，是赐给 每一个 领受圣灵之人的。哥林多教会中有人领受了"用方言讲道"的恩赐，但这只是少数人所得的。神也会赐给另一些人"翻方言"的恩赐(林前12:10)。 用方言讲道和用方言祷告是两回事。前者是偶尔性的(为造就教会)；后者是持续性的(为造就自己)。在会众中用方言讲道必须有人翻译(林前14:27)，但圣灵所赐说方言的恩赐，是为了让我们能用灵祷告(林前14:2)。哥林多教会过分推崇用方言讲道，导致聚会混乱。保罗劝诫他们： 不是否定恩赐的重要性；也不是比较恩赐的优劣；而是要纠正聚会无序的问题。 他的意思是：若用方言讲道却无人翻译，听众不明白，就不能得造就。这样，倒不如用易懂的话讲道使人得益处(林前14:1-5)。保罗从未轻视这些恩赐，只是强调：若无人翻译，就当在私下用方言祷告(林前14:2)，而非禁止说方言。 有人因哥林多前书12章和14章就推断"我们不需要说方言"，但根据我们刚才查考的经文，说方言始终是领受圣灵的唯一明证。愿神开启我们的心，使我们能明白这真理。

我们也许不再敬拜有形的偶像，但你心里是否有偶像?

我们究竟会付出多少来拯救一个灵魂呢？

Some argue that as infants are unable to believe, they should not be baptised. They quote the incident of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, where Philip told him that if he believed with all his heart, he could get baptised (Acts 8:36-37). However, the True Jesus Church believes that we should, in fact, conduct infant baptism! While it is true that water baptism is an act of faith, it is more than just a confession of one’s faith, but also carries with it important spiritual implications. Let us look at it from a few angles. Firstly, water baptism is necessary for salvation. We can see this from Jesus’ command to the disciples to preach the gospel and baptise people. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:16 NKJV Some argue that it is the faith that saves and not baptism. However, in 1 Pet 3:21, Peter mentions explicitly that baptism saves! “There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” I Peter 3:21 NKJV Baptism saves, because through it we now have a good conscience before God. That means our sins are forgiven! And this is corroborated by Acts 2:38 and Acts 22:16. “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38 NKJV “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’” Acts 22:16 NKJV From these verses, we can see that water baptism is necessary for salvation, because our sins are washed away through baptism. The Bible tell us that death came into the world through the sin of Adam. And death spread to all man, because all sinned! Death is a result of sin, and all are condemned because of Adam’s offence. “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—” Romans 5:12 NKJV “And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.” Romans 5:16 NKJV All humans, from the point of their birth, are subject to death. That is a reflection of the sin that is in us. We are, by default, because of Adam’s sin, sinners as well, and subject to eternal condemnation. That means that if an infant dies, he/she will also be condemned eternally! As such, water baptism should also be conducted for infants for the remission of their sins. Infants also need salvation! Secondly, it is through baptism that we become part of the body of Christ. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” I Corinthians 12:13 NKJV “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.” I Corinthians 12:27 NKJV Paul also links the idea of the body of Christ to salvation, saying that Jesus Christ has reconciled both Jews and Greek, in one body, to God. “and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.” Ephesians 2:16 NKJV Without baptism, infants are not part of this body of Christ that is reconciled to God. How then, can they be saved without baptism? Thirdly, baptism in the new testament, is likened to circumcision in the old testament. “In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” Colossians 2:11-12 NKJV Interestingly, circumcision was also a requirement to be considered a part of God’s people! Even foreigners who want to be included as God’s people, and keep the Passover, also have to be circumcised. “And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”” Genesis 17:14 NKJV “And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it.” Exodus 12:48 NKJV We can see from the above verses that circumcision was very important, and was a requirement to be the people of God. But, what was the significance behind the action? Was it just a physical act, or a work of the law? “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.” Romans 4:11-12 NKJV Paul explains that circumcision was a sign given to Abraham of his righteousness, as a result of his faith in God! And that he might be a father of faith, to those who believe (but are uncircumcised), and those who are not only circumcised, but walk in faith! That is to say, circumcision is actually a sign that one is a descendant of Abraham, the father of faith, and likewise walks in faith in God. When then is circumcision performed on the Israelites? When they are merely 8 days old! “He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant.” Genesis 17:12 NKJV Even though it is a sign of faith, we can see that God commanded the Israelites to be circumcised when they were only eight days old, an age where it is basically impossible for these neonates to show any signs of faith. God wants these children to be part of His people as early as possible! Since baptism is likened to circumcision in various ways, namely an act required to be part of God’s people, and also a sign of faith in God, why should infants be denied baptism, the way of entry into the body of Christ, simply because they are too young to confess their faith? The Bible places an importance on parental faith. In the case of the Philippian jailer, by his faith, his whole household was saved. That would have included his children as well. “So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.” Acts 16:31-33 NKJV We can also see how Jesus saved the children of the nobleman and the Canaanite woman, because they both had faith in Jesus. “The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!” Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.” John 4:49-50 NKJV “Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” Matthew 15:28 NKJV The Bible also tell us that it is the parent’s responsibility to train up children in fearing God. “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4 NKJV “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 NKJV Therefore, children of believers, who are not old enough to understand the concept of faith, should still be baptised, if their parents have faith. In fact, they need to be baptised to be part of the body of Christ and to have their sins forgiven! The responsibility of teaching them how to fear God and walk in faith thereafter, lies with their parents. In conclusion, let us remember that Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God (Mk 10:13-16).” Let us not deny these children from being a part of His body and salvation.

我若使我弟兄跌倒，我就永远不吃肉。

With God, we are never alone.

人生大智慧 - 行事合宜

在一个似乎处处与神真理对立的世界中，我们如何荣耀神？