邁向完全的教会 The Perfecting Church

耶和华说，你若与步行的人同跑，尚且觉累，怎能与马赛跑呢？你在平安之地，虽然安稳，在约旦河边的丛林要怎样行呢？ "If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? - Jeremiah 12:5

教会是一群不完全的人Church consists of imperfect people

你们要谨慎。若相咬相吞，只怕要彼此消灭了。 16 我说，你们当顺着圣灵而行，就不放纵肉体的情欲了。 17 因为情欲和圣灵相争，圣灵和情欲相争。这两个是彼此相敌，使你们不能作所愿意作的。 18 但你们若被圣灵引导，就不在律法以下。 19 情欲的事，都是显而易见的。就如奸淫，污秽，邪荡， 20 拜偶像，邪术，仇恨，争竞，忌恨，恼怒，结党，纷争，异端， 21 嫉妒，（有古卷在此有凶杀二字）醉酒，荒宴等类，我从前告诉你们，现在又告诉你们，行这样事的人，必不能承受神的国。If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. - Galatians 5:15-21

教会是一群成聖中的罪人Church consists of imperfect people who are being perfected

5:13弟兄们，你们蒙召，是要得自由。只是不可将你们的自由当作放纵情欲的机会。总要用爱心互相服事。 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 5:16我说，你们当顺着圣灵而行，就不放纵肉体的情欲了。 16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 5:22-23 圣灵所结的果子，就是仁爱，喜乐，和平，忍耐，恩慈，良善，信实， 23 温柔，节制。这样的事，没有律法禁止。22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

5:13 弟兄们，你们蒙召，是要得自由。只是不可将你们的自由当作放纵情欲的机会。总要用爱心互相服事。 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 5:16 我说，你们当顺着圣灵而行，就不放纵肉体的情欲了。 16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 6:2 你们各人的重担要互相担当，如此就完全了基督的律法。Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 6:10 所以有了机会，就当向众人行善。向信徒一家的人更当这样。Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

惟有基督在我们还作罪人的时候为我们死，神的爱就在此向我们显明了。 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8

Reasons why people why to leave a church: 人們通常離開教会的理由 Reasons why people why to leave a church:   這個教会不能滿足我家庭的需要 Church isn’t meeting my needs or my family’s needs 我在這個教会找不到朋友 I have no friends at church 我的灵命得不到餵養 I am not being spiritually fed 我不能同意教会所作的某項決定 I don’t agree with the church’s decision to . . . 我不想與某某人打交道 I wish I don’t have to deal with . . .

Reasons why people stay at a church: 人們通常留在教会的理由 Reasons why people stay at a church:   這個教会不能滿足我家庭的需要 Church isn’t meeting my needs or my family’s needs 我在這個教会找不到朋友 I have no friends at church 我的灵命得不到餵養 I am not being spiritually fed 我不能同意教会所作的某項決定 I don’t agree with the church’s decision to . . . 我不想與某某人打交道 I wish I don’t have to deal with . . .

教会是一群被聖靈成聖中的罪人 Church consists of imperfect people who are being perfected by the Spirit

我说，你们当顺着圣灵而行，就不放纵肉体的情欲了。 17 因为情欲和圣灵相争，圣灵和情欲相争。这两个是彼此相敌，使你们不能作所愿意作的。… 22 圣灵所结的果子，就是仁爱，喜乐，和平，忍耐，恩慈，良善，信实， 23 温柔，节制。这样的事，没有律法禁止。… 25 我们若是靠圣灵得生，就当靠圣灵行事。So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. …22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. sinful nature with its passions and desires…. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

顺着情欲撒种的，必从情欲收败坏顺着圣灵撒种的，必从圣灵收永生。 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. - Galatians 6:8

教会是一群一起被聖靈成聖中的罪人 Church consists of imperfect people who are being perfected by the Spirit together

弟兄们，若有人偶然被过犯所胜，你们属灵的人，就当用温柔的心，把他挽回过来。又当自己小心，恐怕也被引诱。 2 你们各人的重担要互相担当，如此就完全了基督的律法。 3 人若无有，自己还以为有，就是自欺了。 4 各人应当察验自己的行为，这样，他所夸的就专在自己，不在别人了。 5 因为各人必担当自己的担子。Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5 for each one should carry his own load. – Galatians 6:1-5

不要自欺，神是轻慢不得的。人种的是什么，收的也是什么。 8 顺着情欲撒种的，必从情欲收败坏顺着圣灵撒种的，必从圣灵收永生。 9 我们行善，不可丧志。若不灰心，到了时候，就要收成。 10 所以有了机会，就当向众人行善。向信徒一家的人更当这样。 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. – Galatians 6:7 - 10