使徒行傳 第15章 中英摘要

 


   聖經裡記載第一件基督徒為教義所做的辯論,就是在使徒行傳15章,猶太基督徒和保羅、巴拿巴,爭論外邦人是否必須要受割禮,才能得救;雙方因僵持不下,於是上訴到耶路撒冷的會議,由使徒和長老來斷定。在耶路撒冷的會議中,有些法利賽教門的人,堅持外邦人必須行割禮,遵守摩西的律法,而使徒和長老間也有相當多的辯論,於是彼得就起來說:
  「….神也為他們作了見證,賜聖靈給他們,正如給我們一樣;又藉著信潔淨了他們的心,並不分他們、我們。現在為甚麼試探神,要把我們祖宗和我們所不能負的軛放在門徒的頸項上呢?我們得救乃是因主耶穌的恩,和他們一樣,這是我們所信的。」
  之後雅各也說:「….正如經上所寫的:此後,我要回來,重新修造大衛倒塌的帳幕,把那破壞的重新修造建立起來,叫餘剩的人,就是凡稱為我名下的外邦人,都尋求主….所以據我的意見,不可難為那歸服神的外邦人….」
  弟兄姊妹,勇敢的為真理挺身而出,剛強的為主站住,是何等的重要,我們不能藉高舉「合一」的大旗,而犧牲了神的真理。彼得當時若是想明哲保身,不願起身講話;雅各若是鄉愿,不願拍板做結論,那基督教義就會完全走偏。我們沒有一個人能在耶穌基督的救恩上,再添加一點什麼,因為耶穌基督的救贖是完全的,我們沒有一個人能因行為而得救,我們都是因信而稱義,這個真理一點都不能改變,保羅說:「我不廢掉神的恩;義若是藉著律法得的,基督就是徒然死了」(加2/21)
  在加拉太書2章,保羅提到:「磯法到了安提阿;因他有可責之處,我就當面抵擋他。從雅各那裡來的人未到以先,他和外邦人一同吃飯,及至他們來到,他因怕奉割禮的人,就退去與外邦人隔開了,其餘的猶太人也都隨著他裝假,甚至連巴拿巴也隨夥裝假….」
  我們並不清楚彼得這次的行為,是在使徒行傳15章的事件之前或之後,彼得雖是大使徒,但他仍是個蒙恩的罪人,和我們一樣,他也有軟弱的時候。保羅在這裡當面抵擋彼得,指出他的可責之處,但彼得並沒有因此與保羅反目分裂;在彼得後書3章中,彼得稱保羅為親愛的弟兄,並肯定神所賜給保羅的智慧。
  保羅之後也跟巴拿巴,因著馬可起了爭論,因而彼此分開。這次的爭論,並不是為了真理問題,而是因著個性及彼此的觀念,但隨後保羅也在提摩太後書中提到,馬可在傳道的事上是於他有益處的。
  信耶穌後,神要改變我們的是生命,而不是個性,我們的生命都要像主,但我們也要使用神所給我們的個性,盡心、盡性、盡意、盡力的來愛主、服事主。
葉長老 風美小組信息摘錄

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Acts 15
  The first Christian’s debate upon the religious doctrines is recorded in Acts 15. Jewish Christians, Paul, and Barnabas were arguing whether Gentiles can only be saved after circumcision. The two parties cannot reach an agreement, so they brought it to the council at Jerusalem and let the apostles and elders to decide on this matter. In the council at Jerusalem, believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees insisted that Gentiles be circumcised and keep the law of Moses. There were also disagreements between apostles and elders, therefore, Peter got up and addressed them, “… God, who knows the heart, showed that He accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them, for He purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” Afterward, James spoke up, “… as it is written: ‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name…’ It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.”

  Brothers and sisters, let us comprehend how important it is to stand up bravely for the Truth. Let us not sacrifice God’s Truth in the name of unification. If Peter tried to play it safe and did not get up and speak, or if James was indifferent and did not made the conclusion, then the Christianity doctrines would be totally crooked. None of us can add a thing to the salvation of Jesus Christ, because the salvation of Jesus Christ is complete and whole. No one can be saved through his/her own work. We are all justified by our faith; this is a Truth that cannot be altered. As Paul wrote “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” (Gal 2:21)

  In Galatians chapter 2, Paul wrote, “When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.” We do not know whether Peter’s behavior here was prior to or later than the incident in Acts 15. Even though Peter was a great apostle, he was still a blessed sinner. He has his weakness, just like everybody else. Here, Paul opposed Peter to his face, and pointed out his mistake. However, Paul and Peter did not turn against each other after this event. In 2 Peter, chapter 3, Peter called Paul dear brother, and publically acknowledged Paul to be given wisdom by God.

  Later, Paul and Barnabas held different opinions about Mark, so they separated. This time, they did not argue over the Truth, rather, it is a matter of different personalities and opinions. However, Paul also said in 2 Timothy that Mark is helpful to him in his ministry. After we believe in Jesus, God wants to change our lives, not our personalities. We should all have the life of Jesus, and yet we can embrace and make good use of the characteristics God has given us. We should all love and serve Lord our God with all our hearts, with all our souls, with all our minds, and with all our strengths.

Message by Elder Yeh