Salvation Is Continuous Growth 得救乃是不断地成長馬太 Matt 9

Salvation Is Continuous Growth 得救乃是不断地成長馬太 Matt 9: 16 -17; 18: 1 -4; 歷代志上 1 Chronicles 4: 9 -10; 以弗所 Eph 2: 10; 羅馬 Rom 12: 1 -2; 以赛亞 Isaiah 43: 18 -19

I. Many Christians suffer from the “old baby syndrome” 許多基督徒都患了老嬰兒症. (來 Heb 5: 11 -6: 8) • In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone 12 to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is 13 not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. (5: 12 -13) • 12 看你們學習的夫，本該作師傅，誰知還得有人將神聖言小學的開端，另教導你們‧並且成了那必須吃奶，不能吃乾糧的人‧ 13 凡只能吃奶的，都不熟練仁義的道理‧因為他是嬰孩‧

II. Inability to grow causes serious constriction. 不能長大造成了我們嚴重的束縛. (太 Matt 9: 16 -17; 賽 Isaiah 43: 18 -19; 來 Heb 6: 4 -8) • It limits our view and faith in God. (賽 Isa 43: 18 -19) 它限制我們对神作為的看見及对神的信心. • It limits God’s blessing to us. (太 Matt 9: 16 -17; 賽 Isa 43: 18 -19) 它限制神給我们的祝福. (沒地方裝) • It makes our lives ineffective. (弗 Eph 2: 10; 4: 11 -16) 它限制我們生命的果效. • It might result in a wasted life. (來 Heb 6: 8; 林前 1 Co 3: 14 -15) 它使我們的生命成為浪費.

馬太 Matt 9: 16 -17 • “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an 16 old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do men 17 pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved. ” • 16 沒有人把新布補在舊衣服上‧因為所補上的，反帶壞了那衣服，破的就更大了‧ 17 也沒有人把新酒裝在舊皮袋裡‧若是這樣，皮袋就裂開，酒漏出來，連皮袋也壞了‧惟獨把新酒裝在新皮袋裡，兩樣就都保全了‧

以賽亞 Isaiah 43: 18 -19 • “Forget the former things; do not dwell on 18 the past. 19 I am doing a new thing! Now it See, springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. • 18耶和華如此說，你們不要記念從前的事，也不要思想古時的事‧ 19看哪，我要做一件新事，如今要發現，你們豈不知道麼‧我必在曠野開道路，在沙漠開江河‧

Think deeper 想得深一点 • • Old wine (舊酒) (太 Matt 9: 17) Old wineskins (舊皮袋) (太 Matt 9: 17) New wine (新酒) (太 Matt 9: 17) New wineskins (新皮袋) (太 Matt 9: 17) Real baby (真嬰兒) (彼前 1 Pet 2: 2 -3; 太 Matt 18: 1 -4) Old baby (老嬰兒) (來 Heb 5: 12 -13) God at work, can you see? (神的作為, 看見嗎? ) (賽 Isa 43: 19)

Enlarge my border 擴大我的境界 (代上 1 Chronicles 4: 10) • • Be a possibility thinker. 作個”可能性”的思想者. Live a life of possibilities. 活出”可能性”的生命.

III. Salvation-Yasha- is to relieve such constriction. 救恩乃是要把我們從這种束縛中釋放. (林後 2 Cor 5: 17; 太 Matt 9: 16 -17; 18: 1 -4; 罗 Rom 8: 15 -17; 代上 1 Chron 4: 9 -10)

IV. Positional and experiential salvation 地位性与經驗性的救恩 • Justification: Positional (Faith Alone) 稱義: 地位性 (信心) • Sanctification: Experiential (Faith & Works) 成聖 (成長, 成熟): 經驗性 (信心与行為) – Already but not yet (已經開始, 尚未完全) • Glorification: Culmination, result 得榮耀: 成全, 結果

V. God commands us to pursue growth and maturity. 神命令我們要追求成長与成熟. (來 Heb 6: 1; 罗 Rom 8: 28; 雅 James 1: 2 -4) • Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity • 所以我們應當離開基督道理的開端，竭力進到完全的地步‧ (來 Heb 6: 1 a)

VI. The purpose of our growth and maturity 我們追求成長与成熟的目的 (彼前 1 Pet 2: 9; 弗 Eph 2: 10; 林前 1 Co 3: 10 -15; 林後 2 Co 5: 9 -10) • But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (彼前 1 Pet 2: 9) • 惟有你們是被揀選的族類，是有君尊的祭司，是聖潔的國度，是屬神的子民，要叫你們宣揚那召你們出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德‧

弗 Eph 2: 10 • For we are God’s workmanship (masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. • 我們原是他的作 (傑作)，在基督耶穌裡造成 (創造) 的，為要叫我們行善，就是神所預備叫我們行的‧

VII. Jesus has set a perfect example of continuous growth. 耶穌已為持續的成長立下了完美的榜樣. (路 Luke 2: 52) • And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. • 耶穌的智慧和身量，﹝ 身量或作年紀﹞ 並神和人喜愛他的心，都一齊增長‧

Jesus: Model of balanced growth 耶穌是平衡成長的典範 (路加 Luke 2: 52) • • • Wisdom (IQ) (智慧) Stature (PQ) (身量) Favor with God (SQ) (神喜愛他的心) Favor with men (EQ) (人喜愛他的心) IQ + PQ + SQ + EQ

VIII. Take effective steps to achieve continuous growth. 採取有效的行動使我們能不断地成長. (代上 1 Chron 4: 10; 箴 Prov 23: 7 a; 太 Matt 18: 1 -4; 9: 16 -17; 羅 Rom 12: 2; 弗 Eph 2: 8 -10; 雅 James 1: 5; 2: 22, 26) • • • Pray the Jabez prayer (1 Chron 4: 10; James 1: 5) Renewal of mind (Rom 12: 2; Pro 23: 7 a) Focus on God (Heb 12: 1; Isa 43: 18 -19) Discipline oneself (1 Tim 4: 8) (操練自己) Becoming new wineskins (childlike) (Matt 9: 16 -17; 18: 1 -4) Participate in God’s work in our lives: (Eph 2: 8 -10) – God’s work for us (Eph 2: 8 -9) (Faith) – God’s work in us (Eph 2: 10 a) (Masterpieces) (Faith & works) – God’s work through us (Eph 2: 10 b; 4: 11 -16; 1 Pet 2: 9) (Faith & works) • • Enjoy the fruit of our labor (Ecc 5: 18 -20; 1 Co 3: 14; Matt 25: 21, 23) Key to success: Constant Practice (Heb 5: 14)

A. Pray the Jabez prayer 向神作亞比斯的祷告 (代上 1 Chron 4: 10; 雅 James 1: 5) • Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain. ” And God granted his request. (代上 1 Chron 4: 10) • 雅比斯求告以色列的神說，甚願你賜福與我，擴張我的境界，常與我同在，保佑我不遭患難，不受艱苦‧神就應允他所求的‧

雅各 James 1: 5 • If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. • 你們中間若有缺少智慧的，應當求那厚賜與眾人，也不斥責人的神，主就必賜給他‧

B. Transformed by the Renewal of Mind 心意更新而变化 (罗 Rom 12: 2; 箴 Pro 23: 7 a; 腓 Phil 4: 8) • not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be Do transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (罗 Rom 12: 2) • 不要效法這個世界‧只要心意更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為神的善良，純全可喜悅的旨意‧

Think of continuous growth 常常想到不断成長 (箴 Pro 23: 7 a) • For as he thinks within himself, so he is. • 因為他心怎樣思量，他為人就是怎樣‧

腓立比 Phil 4: 8 • Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. • 弟兄們，我還有未盡的話‧凡是真實的，可敬的，公義的，清潔的，可愛的，有美名的‧若有什麼德行，若有什麼稱讚，這些事你們都要思念‧

C. Focus on Christ as our goal 定睛在基督身上 (來 Heb 12: 2; 赛 Isa 43: 18 -19) • Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. • 仰望為我們信心創始成終的耶穌他因那擺在前面的喜樂，就輕看羞辱，忍受了十字架的苦難，便坐在神寶座的右邊‧

賽 Isaiah 43: 19 • See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. • 看哪，我要做一件新事，如今要發現，你們豈不知道麼‧我必在曠野開道路，在沙漠開江河‧

D. Discipline oneself 操練自己 (提前 1 Tim 4: 8) • 8 physical training is of some value, but For godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. • 操練身體，益處還少‧惟獨敬虔，凡事都有益處‧因有今生和來生的應許‧

E. Becoming new wineskins (childlike) 成為新皮袋 (小孩樣式) (太 Matt 9: 16 -17; 18: 1 -4) • he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you And change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (18: 3) • 我實在告訴你們，你們若不回轉，變成小孩子的樣式，斷不得進天國‧

太 Matt 18: 1 -4 • 1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? ” 2 called a He little child and had him stand among them. 3 he said: And “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (NIV) • 1當時門徒進前來，問耶穌說，天國裡誰是最大的‧ 2耶穌便叫一個小孩子來，使他站在他們當中，3說，我實在告訴你們，你們若不回轉，變成小孩子的樣式，斷不得進天國‧ 4所以凡自己謙卑像這小孩子的，他在天國裡就是最大的‧

Characteristics of a child 小孩的特性 • • • Flexible (有彈性, 伸縮性) Teachable (可教性) Trusting (信任) Innocent (天真無邪) Unassuming (不先入為主) Sense of awe (驚奇感) Creative (創新性) Eager to learn (渴望学新東西) …. .

F. Our growth is part of God’s own work 我们的成長乃是神自己的作 (弗 Eph 2: 8 -10) • it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and 8 For this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— by 9 not works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s 10 workmanship (masterpieces), created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. • 8 你們得救是本乎恩，也因著信，這並不是出於自己，乃是神所賜的‧ 9 也不是出於行為，免得有人自誇‧ 10 我們原是他的作 (傑作)，在基督耶穌裡造成 (創造) 的，為要叫我們行善，就是神所預備叫我們行的‧

Participate in God’s work in our growth 参与神在我們生命成長的作 (弗 Eph 2: 8 -10) • God’s work for us (2: 8 -9) (Faith) 神替我們所做的作 (信心) • God’s work in us (2: 10 a) (Masterpieces) (Faith & works) 神在我們裡面所做的作 (傑作 ) (信心与作) • God’s work through us (2: 10 b; 4: 11 -16; 彼前 1 Pet 2: 9; 加 Gal 2: 20) (Faith & works) 神藉着我們所做的作 (信心与作)

IX. Personal Response 個人回应 • Growth in the 4 Q’s (PQ, IQ, EQ, SQ) (四方面的成長) • Learn new skills (学習新東西) • Expand personal marketability (擴大境界) • Spiritual disciplines (灵命操練) • More…. . (更多…)

Salvation Is Continuous Growth 得救乃是不断地成長 馬太 Matt 9

Salvation Is Continuous Growth 得救乃是不断地成長馬太 Matt 9