Character: Key to a Clear Vision of God! 品格: 明確看見上帝的關鍵

Presentation on theme: "Character: Key to a Clear Vision of God! 品格: 明確看見上帝的關鍵"— Presentation transcript:

1 Character: Key to a Clear Vision of God! 品格: 明確看見上帝的關鍵
(Ps. 18:25) “With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; 詩18:25 慈愛的人,你以慈愛待他；完全的人,你以完全待他。 (18:26) With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. 詩18:26 清潔的人,你以清潔待他；乖僻的人,你以彎曲待他。

2 一個最明晰的,透過它去看見上帝的鏡片之一, 就是謙卑的鏡片.
We Must Prepare ourselves to know God in Spirit & Truth! 我們必須預備自己在靈與真理中去認識上帝 One of the clearest lenses through which to behold God is the lens of HUMILITY! 一個最明晰的,透過它去看見上帝的鏡片之一, 就是謙卑的鏡片. (2 Chron. 34:27; Psalm 34:18; 51:17; 138:6; James 4:6; I Peter 5:5)

3 Isaiah 57:15; 66:2 and 2 Chronicles 33:12-13 以賽亞書57:15; 66:2; 和歷代誌下33:12-13
“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, Isa 57:15 因為那至高至上、永遠長存（原文作住在永遠）名為聖者的如此說：我住在至高至聖的所在，

4 Isaiah 57:15; 66:2 and 2 Chron. 33:12-13 以賽亞書57:15; 66:2; 和歷代誌下33:12-13
“with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, 也與心靈痛悔謙卑的人同居； “to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” 要使謙卑人的靈甦醒，也使痛悔人的心甦醒。

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6 THE HOLY TRINITY 聖三一 Saint Patrick was mightily used of God to bring salvation to pagan Ireland 聖派崔克被上帝重用,將救恩帶給信異教的愛爾蘭.

7 The Trinitarian God is way above, beyond, and outside our 3 dimensional world! (Transcendent) 三位一體的上帝遠遠超越我們三次方的世界 (超越性) If you use only 1 dimension you can only draw a straight line. 一次方只能畫一條直線. __________ If you use 2 dimensions you can draw a figure: a square – made up of 4 straight lines 二次方能畫圖形: 好比方形 – 由四條直線組成

8 If you use 3 dimensions you can build a solid body:
If you use 3 dimensions you can build a solid body: a cube – made up of 6 squares 三次方能夠建造立方形; 好比一個立方體, 有六個圖面. As you advance to more complicated dimensions you don’t leave behind what you had on the simpler levels – but you combine them in new ways 當次方越複雜時, 我們依據簡單的 層次組成更高的層次.

9 We must acknowledge our great Nescience! (ignorance) 我們必須承認我們龐大的無知
We can fully comprehend Dimensions that are below us but it is impossible to fully comprehend Dimensions above us. 我們能夠完全明瞭低於我們的次方, 但不可能完全明瞭高於我們的次方. The Biblical revelation of God in Scripture could not have been thought up by men. 聖經經文對上帝的啟示,不可能是人所想出來的.

10 Try to fully understand the Trinity & you will lose your mind.
你若試圖完全明白三位一體, 將會失去心智. But if you deny the Trinity, you will lose your soul 但你若否認三位一體, 你將失去靈魂.

11 John Wesley said: 約翰衛斯理說:
“Bring me a worm that can comprehend a man, and then I will show you a man that can comprehend the Triune God!” 「你若帶給我一個能明瞭人的蟲子, 那麼我就能顯示你一個能明瞭三位一體神的人.」

12 Everyone lives by faith: 每個人都憑著信心而生活:
Atheists live by faith in natural laws 無神論者相信自然律而活, Believes everything came from nothing by chance alone; then by time & chance eventually evolved into everything that exists 他們相信萬有靠偶然從虛無而產生, 最後經由時間和偶然進化成存在的萬物. NO Design; NO Designer; NO Purpose; NO Meaning 沒有設計, 沒有設計人; 沒有目的; 沒有意義 NO God – NO peace! KNOW God – KNOW Peace! 沒有上帝 – 沒有平安! 認識上帝 – 認識平安!

13 The Universe Came from Nothing! Really? 宇宙來自無有! 真的嗎?
PHd. Peer pressure seems to cause people to abandon reason & common sense. 同儕壓力似乎造成人們拋棄理性與一般見識. You can be super smart & still be a fool (Ps. 14:1; 53:1) 你可以超級聰明, 但仍然是個愚昧人(詩14:1; 53:1).

14 The Universe Came from Nothing! Really? 宇宙來自無有! 真的嗎?
Every one knows “Nothing comes from nothing: nothing ever could!” 每個人都知道: 「虛無生虛無; 虛無無法生有!」

15 Everyone lives by faith: Christians Believe… 每個人都憑信心活著: 基督徒相信 …
An Omnipotent Creator is the best explanation for the incredibly miraculous fine tuning of everything in Creation 一位全能的造物主是造物精細奇妙地調配最好的解釋. God created everything including natural Laws (Gen. 1:1) 上帝創造了萬物, 包括自然律 (創1:1). God gives us an eternal purpose & profound meaning in life 上帝賜給我們永恆的目的以及深刻的人生意義.

16 No one pretends to fully understand the mystery of the Trinity.
I. CHRISTIANS BELIEVE IN THE GOD OF THE BIBLE WHO HAS REVEALED HIMSELF AS A HOLY TRINITY 基督徒相信聖經中的上帝啟示自己為神聖的三位一體 No one pretends to fully understand the mystery of the Trinity. 沒有人假裝完全明白三位一體的奧秘. But throughout history the Church believed the Bible clearly teaches God is Trinitarian in nature 但貫穿歷史, 教會相信聖經明確地教導,上帝的本質是三位一體.

17 A Diagram used by the Early Church 早期教會使用的一個圖表
God is 1 Divine Being manifested as 3 Persons 上帝是一位神聖的存在, 以三個身份顯現. I am 1 Human Being & manifest as 1 Person 我是一個人, 以一個身份顯現. Divinity occupies a dimension that transcends our Humanity 神聖的上帝存在於超乎人類的次方.

18 In His essential nature God will always be incomprehensible to us (Transcendant) 上帝的基要本質永遠是我們無法參透的 (超越性) How can the finite comprehend the Infinite? 有限的如何能夠明瞭無限的呢? But we can experience a loving relationship with this God! 但我們可以經歷與上帝之間恩愛的關係!

19 His General Revelation: in Creation 祂的普遍啟示: 在創造中
II. God’s 2 Great Revelations of His Trinitarian Nature 上帝本質是三位一體的兩個重大啟示 His General Revelation: in Creation 祂的普遍啟示: 在創造中 His Special Revelation: 祂的特殊啟示: In His Written Word – the Holy Bible 在祂寫下的話語中- 聖經 In His Living Word – the LORD Jesus Christ 在祂活著的話語中 – 主耶穌基督

20 我們的思想必須由上帝有關祂自己的啟示來引導 , 而不是出於我們自己的想像或想法.
II. God’s 2 Great Revelations of His Trinitarian Nature 上帝本質是三位一體的兩個重大啟示 Our Thoughts must be guided by these Revelations of God Himself – not our own imaginations or ideas 我們的思想必須由上帝有關祂自己的啟示來引導 , 而不是出於我們自己的想像或想法.

21 1). God’s Creation Reflects His Trinitarian Nature 上帝的創造反映出祂三位一體的本質
(Rom 1:20) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, 羅1:20 - 自從造天地以來，神的永能和神性是明明可知的，雖是眼不能見， even his eternal power and Godhead; 但藉著所造之物就可以曉得， so that they are without excuse: 叫人無可推諉。

22 Imprint of the Trinity on the Universe 三位一體在宇宙的印記
(Gen. 1:1) In the beginning God created the heaven & the earth. 創1:1 起初，神創造天地。 (1:2) … And the Spirit of God moved … .” 創1:2 ….神的靈運行在水面上。 Records the creation of time (the beginning); of space (heaven); and matter (the earth) (energy is a form of matter - John 6:63) 記錄時間 (起初), 空間(天), 物質 (地) (能量是物質的一種形式- 約6:63) This is the tri-universe: space/matter/time 這是三而一的宇宙: 空間/物質/時間

23 The Imprint of the Trinity on the Universe 三位一體在宇宙的印記
Universe – Space Matter - Time 宇宙 – 空間 – 物質 – 時間 SPACE Length - Width Depth 空間 – 長 – 寬 – 深 MATTER - Liquid - Solid Gas 物質 – 液體 – 固體 – 氣體

24 The Imprint of the Trinity on the Universe 三位一體在宇宙的印記
TIME Past Present - Future 時間 過去 現在 將來 Kingdoms - Animal - Vegetable - Mineral 國度 動物 植物 礦物 Electricity - Positive - Negative - Neutral 電力 正電 負電 中性電力

25 The Imprint of the Trinity on the Universe 三位一體在宇宙的印記
GODHEAD – Father - Son Holy Spirit 三位一體上帝 - 父 – 子 – 聖靈 MAN Soul Body Spirit (Gen. 1:27) (Gen. 2:7,22) (Zech. 12:1) 人 – 魂 – 體 – 靈

26 The Imprint of the Trinity on the Universe 三位一體在宇宙的印記
RACE Caucasian - Negroid - Oriental Japheth Ham Shem 人種 白種人 黑種人 東方人 雅弗 含 閃 The Bible teaches only 1 Race but it is Trinitarian in nature. (a U.N. study agrees) 聖經教導只有一個人種, 但他的本質是三一的. (聯合國的研究同意)

27 The scientific Law of Causality: 因果關係的科學定律
“No effect can be greater than its cause” 「果無法大於它的因」. A Universe of intelligible complex effects, including living systems & conscious personalities is proof of an intelligent, complex, living, conscious Person as its Cause! 一個彰顯智能,複雜的宇宙, 包括生物系統和有意識的人類, 證明一位有智能, 複雜, 活著的位格是它的因!

28 George Washington Carver
“I love to think of Nature as an broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we only will tune in” 「我喜歡把大自然想成是一個廣播電台, 上帝藉著它每時刻對我們說話, 倘若我們播到它的頻道.」 Illus: George Washington Carver: The Man Who Overcame, by Lawrence Elliott, (has the transcript of His testimony to Congress, Jan. 21, 1921)

29 George Washington Carver

30 漸進啟示: 每一個重大的教義, 在創世記中以種子型態開始; 在舊約中發展擴大; 在新約中完全成熟.
2). Veiled Revelations of God’s Trinitarian Nature in the O.T. 舊約中上帝三一本質的啟示是遮掩的 Progressive Revelation: Every major Doctrine begins in seed form in Genesis; grows & enlarges in the O.T.; comes to full fruition in the N.T. 漸進啟示: 每一個重大的教義, 在創世記中以種子型態開始; 在舊約中發展擴大; 在新約中完全成熟. The full glory comes in & through Jesus Christ (Col. 2:3; I Cor. 1:30; 2 Tim. 3:15-17). 上帝完滿的榮耀在耶穌基督身上, 也藉著祂彰顯出來.

31 上帝的實質是不可分的, 祂不是分離的; 祂合一的本質中也是單一的.
God’s Trinitarian Nature is not 3 separate parts but a Transcendent Unity 上帝三一的本質不是三個分立的部分, 而是超越性的合一 God’s substance is indivisible He has no parts but is single in His unitary being. 上帝的實質是不可分的, 祂不是分離的; 祂合一的本質中也是單一的. (Deut. 6:4) “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD” 申6:4 - 以色列啊，你要聽！耶和華我們神是獨一的主。

32 The harmony of His being is not the result
The harmony of His being is not the result of a perfect balance of parts but of the absence of parts 祂和諧的身份不是各部分完美平衡的結果, 而是本身沒有分立的部分.

33 Deuteronomy 申命記 6:4 (Sh’ma Israel)
(Deut 6:4) Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 申6:4 - 以色列啊，你要聽！耶和華我們的神是獨一的主。 The LORD our God (Elohim) is literally “the LORD our Gods 「耶和華我們的神」實際上是「耶和華我們的眾神」. The word “one” (echad) refers to a compound unity as in Gen. 2:24 where the man & his wife “shall be one (echad) flesh” 「獨一」 (echad) 指的是複合的一體, 好比創2:24 – 亞當和夏娃「成為一體」. Hebrew word for an absolute “one” is “yachid” (Genesis 22:2) 希伯來文絕對的「一」的詞是 “yachid” (創22:2). ,

34 Plural Pronouns are used of the 1 true God 複數代名詞使用在唯一真神身上
(Gen 1:26) And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion …over all the earth, 創1:26 -神說：「我們要照著我們的形像、按著我們的樣式造人，使他們管理……全地。」 Thus man is trinitarian: Body, Soul, & Spirit (I Thess. 5:23) 因此人是三合一的: 體, 魂, 靈 (帖前5:23).

35 Plural Pronouns are used of the 1 true God 複數代名詞使用在唯一真神身上
(Gen 3:22) And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: 創3:22 -耶和華 神說：「那人已經與我們相似，能知道善惡.」 “Us” must refer to the plurality in the Godhead because God does not take council from anyone (Isa. 40:13-14; Rom. 11:34-36) 「我們」指的一定是三位一體的上帝, 因為祂不求問任何人.

36 Plural Pronouns are used of the 1 true God 複數代名詞使用在唯一真神身上
(Gen 11:7) Go to, let us go down, & there confound their language {Tower of Babel} 創11:7 - 我們下去，在那裡變亂他們的口音 {巴別塔}.

37 Plural Pronouns are used of the 1 true God 複數代名詞使用在唯一真神身上
(Isaiah 6:8) “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” 賽6:8 - 我又聽見主的聲音說：「我可以差遣誰呢？誰肯為我們去呢？」 Then Isaiah said: “Here am I; send me.” 然後以賽亞說:「我在這裡，請差遣我！」

38 The Name Jehovah is applied to 2 Persons 耶和華這名字應用到兩位身上
(Gen 19:24) Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; 創19:24 -當時，耶和華將硫磺與火從天上耶和華那裡降與所多瑪和蛾摩拉， One “LORD” was on earth with Abraham (Gen. 18:1, 13, 17, 20, 22) 一位「耶和華」在地上與亞伯拉罕在一起, The other “LORD” was in heaven 另一位「耶和華」在天上.

39 The Trinity revealed in the O.T. 舊約所啟示的三位一體的神
(Isa 42:1) Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: 賽42:1 -看哪，我的僕人我所扶持所揀選、心裡所喜悅的！我已將我的靈賜給他…。 (Isa 61:1) The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted… 賽61:1 -主耶和華的靈在我身上；因為耶和華用膏膏我，叫我傳好信息給謙卑的人，差遣我醫好傷心的人…

40 The Trinity in the O.T. 舊約中三位一體的神
(Isa 48:16) Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me. 賽48:16 -你們要就近我來聽這話：我從起頭並未曾在隱密處說話；自從有這事，我就在那裡。現在，耶和華和他的靈差遣我來。 Should be read in its context of 48: The one speaking is “the God of Israel” “the LORD of hosts” (vs. 2) & “the first & the last” (vs. 12) 48:1-18 上下文, 說話的是「以色列的神」, 「萬軍之耶和華」(2節) 和「首先的，也是末後的」(12節).

41 The Aaronic Blessing is a Profound Revelation of the Trinitarian God (Num. 6:24-26) 亞倫的祝福深刻啟示三位一體的神 (民6:24-26) (6:24) The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: 6:24 『願耶和華賜福給你，保護你。 (25) The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 6:25 願耶和華使他的臉光照你，賜恩給你。 (26) The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. 6:26 願耶和華向你仰臉，賜你平安。』

42 The Aaronic Blessing is a Profound Revelation of the Trinitarian God (Num. 6:24-26) 亞倫的祝福深刻啟示三位一體的神 (民6:24-26) (27) And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them. 6:27 - 他們要如此奉我的名為以色列人祝福；我也要賜福給他們。

43 The Priest forms His Hand in the form of the Trinitarian Letter ‘Shin’ 祭司用手形成三一字母的形狀‘Shin’

44 An Amazing Revelation in the Passover 逾越節裡奇妙的啟示
The Matzo Tosh was also referred to as the “echad” [the one; the unity] (Sam Nadler) 藏餅的布袋也被稱作「一體」. But in the bag were 3 pieces of Matzo 在袋中有三塊無酵餅.

45 Unity & Diversity are found in the community of the Trinity.
III. God’s Trinitarian nature is a profound & thrilling mystery 上帝三一的本質是深奧, 扣人心弦的奧秘 Unity & Diversity are found in the community of the Trinity. 在三位一體的社群中, 我們找到合一與多樣. God is key to understanding unity in diversity & a unique answer to the great struggle we face between races, cultures, & genders. 在我們面對種族, 文化, 與性別的掙扎中, 上帝是明白在多元中有合一的關鍵和獨特的回答.

46 III. The Trinity: Profound & thrilling mystery 上帝三一的本質是深奧, 扣人心弦的奧秘
God provides a model for a community of love & dignity without mitigating personality, individuality or diversity 上帝提供一個愛與尊嚴的社群模式, 而不削減個性, 個體, 或多元的存在. Faith in the one true Trinitarian God makes a big difference in how life turns out! 相信三位一體的真神令人生有不同的結果! Illustration: America (E Pluribus Unum) & Europe

47 IV. The Trinity is a community of Love (I John 4:8)
IV. The Trinity is a community of Love (I John 4:8). God created us by love, in love & for Love (I John 4:7, 16). 三位一體是一個愛的社群 (約一4:8). 上帝藉著愛,在愛中, 為了愛創造了我們 (1John 4:7) Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 約一4:7 -親愛的弟兄啊，我們應當彼此相愛，因為愛是從神來的。凡有愛心的，都是由神而生，並且認識神。 (4:8) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 4:8 - 沒有愛心的，就不認識神，因為神就是愛。

48 The Trinity is Key to understanding Family & Church 三合一是明白家庭與教會的關鍵
The Trinitarian God who is Father, Son & Holy Spirit 三位一體的真神是父, 子, 聖靈. Can empower us to succeed in our Family Relationships. 祂能夠給我們力量在家庭關係中成功, Gives us the great purpose of Building His Church by learning to live in loving community with other children of God 並且賜給我們偉大的目的 – 建立祂的教會, 學習與其他神的兒女活在愛的社群中.

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51 Resources for further Study on How God Reveals Himself in & through Creation
The Secret of the Universe (1936) by Nathan Wood. reprinted as– The Trinity in the Universe by Nathan Wood, Kregel, 1978

52 A LOVE FOR TRUTH WILL LEAD US TO GOD
“It was science that drove me to the conclusion that the world is much more complicated than can be explained by science. It is only through the supernatural that I can understand the mystery of existence.” (Allan Sandage, Astronomer, “Science Finds God,” Newsweek, July 20, 1998).