What About . . .
怎么说…
Holy Baptism
圣洗礼
Suppose for a moment that there was a doctor who had such incredible talent that he could prevent people from dying, and bring those who had died back to life, never to die again. Just imagine how people would do whatever they could to be treated by this doctor! Now consider that in Holy Baptism, God actually does give us the gift of eternal life! Let’s learn more about this marvelous blessing.
思想一下，假如有一位医生，他有非常卓越的才华，能够阻止人死亡，并且使那些已经死掉了的人活过来，然后永不再死。可以想象人们会如何尽一切可能去得到这位医生的治疗啊！那么现在请思想另一件事，在圣洗礼中，上帝确实将永生的礼物赐给了我们！让我们进一步认识这份令人惊奇的祝福。
What is Baptism?
什么是圣洗礼？
Baptism is not just plain water,but it is the water included in God’s command and combined with God’s Word.1
洗礼不单单是普通的水，而是蕴含在上帝的命令中并与上帝的道连合的水。1
What’s so special about a handful of simple water? Nothing, until God connects His Word to it! In Baptism, that is exactly what God is doing. He combines His life-creating and life-giving Word with the waters of Holy Baptism, and thereby we are born again of water and the Spirit (John 3:5).
一小撮普通的水有什么特别的呢？没什么，除非上帝将祂的话语与之连合！在圣洗礼中，这正是上帝在做的事。祂将祂创造生命以及赐予生命的话语，同圣洗礼的水连合，因此让我们藉着水和圣灵重生（约3:5）。
What is that Word of God?
那上帝的话语是指？
Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19).
基督，我们的主在马太福音最后一章说：“你们要去，使万民作我的门徒，奉父、子、圣灵的名给他们施洗。”（太28:19）
Our Lord commands Baptism. It is not optional, nor is it simply a nice“extra.”God’s Word takes on many forms, according to His good and gracious will. The Word is preached, taught, and proclaimed. It is read, studied and meditated on. It is shared by Christians, with non-Christian and fellow believer, alike. And it is that Word of God, His promise, that makes Baptism what it is.
我们的主吩咐圣洗礼。因此它就不是可有可无的，也不仅仅是一份华丽的“附加之物”。上帝的话语，依照祂良善洪恩的旨意，采取了许多形式。圣道被传讲，教导以及宣扬。被阅读，查考以及默想。由基督徒分享给非基督徒，也同样分享给其他信徒。正是上帝的话语，祂的应许，成就圣洗礼。
God Himself is present as His name is joined to the water, with all His power and all His blessings of forgiveness, life and salvation. Christ consecrates the water of Baptism with His Word, so as we in Baptism stand with Christ in the water, the Father calls us His beloved children, the Holy Spirit is given to us,and heaven is opened to us.
上帝的圣名与水连合，上帝祂自己就临在其中，连同祂的权能，以及祂所有赦罪，生命和救恩的祝福。基督用祂的话语将圣洗礼的水分别为圣，所以当我们在圣洗礼的水中与基督一同站立之时，天父就称呼我们为祂蒙爱的儿女，圣灵就被恩赐给我们，天国就向我们打开。
Those who receive Baptism after they have been brought to faith by the preaching or teaching of the Word also receive all the blessings God has attached to Baptism.
那些因着圣道的宣讲或教导已经被带领到信心里面的人，领受圣洗礼，也就领受上帝附在圣洗礼中的全部祝福。
What benefits does Baptism give?
这洗礼赐予什么？
It works forgiveness of sins,rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare. Which are these words and promises of God? Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark:“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,but who-ever does not believe will be condemned”(Mark 16:16).
洗礼生发罪得赦免，救赎脱离死亡和魔鬼，并赐永远救恩给凡相信的人，正如上帝的话语和应许所宣告的。上帝的这类话语和应许是指？基督，我们的主，在马可福音最后一章说：“信而受洗的必然得救，不信的必被定罪。”（马可福音16:16）。
In and through Baptism, God cleanses us from all of our sins, snatches us from the power of Satan, and gives us everlasting life. It is all God’s doing as He gives us His blessing. It is His promise. In Baptism, our Triune God imparts to each of us personally the gifts the Lord Jesus Christ won for the world through His life, suffering, death, and resurrection. Please see especially Gal.3:27; Col.1:13–14; 1 Peter 3:21; Titus 3:5–7 and 1 Cor.6:11.
在圣洗礼中并且藉着圣洗礼，上帝洁净我们脱离我们所有的罪，将我们从撒旦的权势之下抢夺回来，并且赐给我们永恒的生命。祂将祂的祝福赐给我们，圣洗礼全是上帝的工作。圣洗礼也是祂的应许。在圣洗礼中，我们三位一体的上帝，将主耶稣基督藉着祂的生，受苦，死和复活为世人所赢得的礼物，有针对性地恩赐给我们每一位。请特别查考以下经文，加3:27；西1:13-14；彼前3:21; 提多书3:5-7以及林前6:11.
How can water do such great things?
水如何能行使如此大的事情？
Certainly not just water, but the word of God in and with the water does these things, along with the faith which trusts this word of God in the water. For without God’s Word the water is plain water and no Baptism. But with the word of God it is a Baptism,that is, a life-giving water,rich in grace,and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit, as St.Paul says in Titus, chapter three: “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal in the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying”(Titus 3:5–8).
当然不只是水，而是在这水中并与水连合的上帝话语，还有这依靠水中上帝话语的信心。因为离了上帝的话语，这水就是平凡的水，而不是洗礼。但连着上帝的话语，它就是洗礼，就是满有恩典的生命之水和圣灵里重生的洗。正如圣保罗在提多书三章所说：“藉着重生的洗和圣灵的更新。圣灵就是上帝藉着耶稣基督我们救主厚厚浇灌在我们身上的，好叫我们因他的恩得称为义，可以凭着永生的盼望成为后嗣。这话是可信的。”（提多书3:5-8）
Of course, simple water can’t do such great things, but the water of Baptism is not simple water! Baptism is one very special way God delivers to us the blessings Christ won for us. Baptism is not something we do, but something God does. Therefore, it is far more than a symbol. It is a sacred act in which God Himself is at work forgiving sins, giving new life in Christ and bestowing on us the Holy Spirit with all of His gifts. Baptism gives us the faith through which we receive these gifts. God the Holy Spirit works faith in the promises attached to Baptism.
当然，只是水不能成就这大事，但圣洗礼的水不仅仅是水！圣洗礼是上帝使用的一种非常特别的方式，用以将基督为我们赢得的祝福递送给我们。圣洗礼不是一件我们做的事，乃是上帝做的事。因此，圣洗礼远远不止是一个符号仪式。圣洗礼是一个神圣的作为，上帝祂自己在其中作工，赦免罪，赐予在基督里的新生命，并且将圣灵连同祂所有的祝福膏抹在我们身上。圣洗礼也赐给我们信心，我们藉着这信心领受这些礼物。圣灵上帝在附着于圣洗礼的应许中生发信心。
What does such baptizing with water indicate?
用水这样洗礼表示什么？
It indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.Where is this written? St.Paul writes in Romans chapter six:“We were therefore buried with Him through Baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life”(Rom. 6:4).
表示我们里面的老亚当应该，藉着每天的痛心和悔改，与所有的罪、邪恶欲望被淹没致死；并且一个新人再次每天重新兴起，并且在公义和纯洁中活在上帝面前，直到永远。这事写在哪里？圣保罗在罗马书 6 章说：“我们藉着洗礼归入死，和他一同埋葬，原是叫我们一举一动有新生的样式，像基督藉着父的荣耀从死里复活一样。”（罗6:4）。
In Baptism we are buried with Christ, and in Baptism we are raised with Christ. His death and resurrection are made our own, and because of that fact, through our entire life, we are able to say,“I am baptized!” Having been buried with Christ into His death we do not have to be afraid of the tomb in which we will rest one day. Christ has already been there. In Holy Baptism we have passed through His grave into His resurrection.
在圣洗礼中，我们与基督一同埋葬，并且在圣洗礼中，我们与基督一同复活。祂的死和复活得以成为我们自己的，并且因着这个事实，在我们整个的生命旅途中，我们可以说，“我是受了洗的！”已经与基督一同埋葬，归入祂的死，我们就不必惧怕我们有一天也要躺卧进去的坟墓。基督已经到过那里了。在圣洗礼中，我们已经穿过祂的坟墓，进入祂的复活。
As Luther says in his Large Catechism,“If I am baptized, I have the promise that I shall be saved and have eternal life, both in soul and body. …No greater jewel can adorn our body and soul than Baptism. …Baptism is a treasure which God gives us and faith grasps, just as the Lord Christ upon the cross is not a human work, but a treasure comprehended and offered to us in the Word and received by faith.”
正如路德在他的大问答里说，“如果我是受了洗的，我就有了那份应许，就是我将得救并且享受永生，在灵魂和身体上。…没有什么比圣洗礼更漂亮的珠宝可以妆饰我们的身体和灵魂。…正如在十字架上的主基督不是我们的工作，乃是在圣道中被认识和恩赐给我们，并且靠赖信心被领取的宝藏一样，圣洗礼就是上帝赐给我们的并且由信心支取的宝藏。”
What does Baptism have to do with our daily life?
圣洗礼与我们每日的生活有什么关系？
Everything! Our entire life is a life lived trusting in the promises of God, given to us in and through Holy Baptism. We are constantly returning to Baptism. In moments of temptation and suffering in our lives, when all seems to be crashing down on us,and in particular in those moments when our sin and the guilt of those sins haunt us, we are able, as Luther says, to“Pull out our Baptism and wave it under the devil’s nose and say,‘I am baptized. …I have God’s bath. It is Christ’s own blood.’It is a bath blessed and mixed with the blood of Christ.”2 We can’t return to the cross of Christ, nor should we attempt to imagine ourselves back there. No,we turn instead to the “here and now”reality of God’s work in our lives. We return to our Baptism. For it was there and then that God buried us with Christ and raised us with Him to a new life.
处处有关系！我们整个的生命就是信靠上帝应许的鲜活生命，祂的应许在圣洗礼中并且藉着圣洗礼已经恩赐给我们。我们是常常回到圣洗礼中。在我们生命中受到试探和经历苦难的时刻，当一切看起来要压垮我们，特别是在我们的罪和那些罪的愧疚要撕扯我们的那些时刻，正如路德所说，我们能够“把我们的圣洗礼掏出来，在魔鬼的鼻子下面挥舞，说，‘我是受了洗的，…我有上帝的沐浴。用的是基督自己的血。’圣洗礼就是基督的血所祝福和参与在其中的淋浴。”2我们不能回到基督的十字架那里，我们也不应该试图想象我们自己回到那里。不，相反，我们回到上帝在我们生命中作工的“此时此地”的现实里。因为正是在那时那地的圣洗礼中，上帝使我们与基督一同埋葬，并且使我们与祂一同复活，得着新生命。
In his Large Catechism, Luther says,“Every Christian has enough to study and to practice all his life. He always has enough to do to believe firmly what Baptism promises and brings—victory over death and the devil, forgiveness of sins, God’s grace, the entire Christ, and the Holy Spirit with His gifts.”And:“If you live in repentance, therefore,you are walking in Baptism, which not only announces this new life, but also produces, begins and promotes it. In Baptism we are given the grace, Spirit and power to suppress the old man, so that the new man may come forth and grow strong. Therefore,Baptism remains forever. …Repentance, therefore, is nothing else than a return and approach to Baptism.”
在他的大问答中，路德说，“每个基督有足够他一生可以学习和操练的。在坚定地信靠圣洗礼所应许和带来的—就是对死亡和魔鬼的得胜，罪的赦免，上帝的恩典，整个基督，以及圣灵连同祂的恩赐之事上，基督徒总是有缺欠的。”并且：“如果你活在悔改中，你就是行走在圣洗礼中，圣洗礼不仅宣扬这一新生命，并且也生发，开启和提升它。在圣洗礼中我们领受恩典，圣灵和权能，来克制那旧人，好叫新人可以复生并且变强壮。因此，圣洗礼持续到永恒。…可以说，悔改不是别的，单单是返回和支取圣洗礼。”
Why are infants and young children baptized?
为什么婴儿和孩童要受洗？
They are baptized for the same reason adults are baptized—because of the command and promise of God. What is promised in Baptism is given to all who receive it; therefore, infants and young children also have the promise of God. They, too, are made children of God. They, too, are included in the words “all nations”(Matt.28:19). Jesus specifically invites little children to come to Him (Luke 18:15–17). But most important,as sinners,infants need what Baptism gives.
他们受洗和成年人受洗有着同样的理由—因为上帝的吩咐和应许。在圣洗礼中所应许的，要恩赐给所有领受洗礼的人；好叫婴儿和孩童也有上帝的应许。他们也能成为上帝的孩子。他们也被包含在“万民”这个词里面（太28:19）。耶稣特别邀请小孩子来到祂跟前（路18:15-17）。但更重要的是，婴儿作为罪人，也需要圣洗礼所赐予的。
By His word, God created all that is seen and unseen. By His word, our Lord Christ called a dead man from the tomb (John 11:43–44). The unborn child, John the Baptist, leaped in his mother’s womb when he heard the word of God (Luke 1:41–44). Why is there any doubt that in and through the Word and the promise of Baptism, God works a similar gift of faith in the infant? If we misunderstand Baptism to be our work, then we will always cast doubt on it. When we recognize that it is not our work, but God’s gracious promise and work, we realize that infants are to be baptized and receive the treasures offered in and through Baptism.
藉着祂的话语，上帝创造了一切有形和无形的。靠赖祂的话语，我们的主基督呼召一个死人从坟墓中出来（约11:43-44）。还未出生的婴孩，施洗约翰，在听到上帝的话语之时就在他母亲的腹中欢喜跳动（路1:41-44）。藉着圣道和圣洗礼的应许并且在其中，上帝在婴儿里面创造一份同样的信心礼物，为什么还有人对此质疑呢？如果我们误以为圣洗礼是我们的行动，那么我们必然总是会对圣洗礼有疑惑。当我们认识到，圣洗礼不是我们的行动，乃是上帝满有恩典的应许和作为之时，我们就明白婴儿也当受洗，领受在圣洗礼中且藉着圣洗礼所赐予的宝藏。
Sadly, there are individuals and church bodies that deny Baptism to young children and infants. They do not believe that these little ones need what Holy Baptism gives. They do not believe what the Bible teaches so clearly, namely, that God saves us through Baptism. As a result of these false teachings, they deny both to themselves and to others the power, blessing and comfort of Holy Baptism. That is tragic, for it is a most serious offense against God to deny what He plainly declares in His Word: “The promise is for you and your children” (Acts 2:39) and “Baptism now saves you”(1 Peter 3:21).
可悲的是，有些个人以及教会群体拒绝将圣洗礼赐给孩童和婴儿。他们不相信这些小家伙需要圣洗礼所赐予的。他们不相信圣经如此清晰和确凿地教训的，即上帝藉着圣洗礼拯救我们。因着这些错误的教导，他们将圣洗礼的权能，祝福和安慰，从他们以及其他人那里排除在外。那是很悲惨的，因为拒绝上帝在祂的话语中所清晰明了地宣告的：“这应许是给你们和你们的儿女”（徒2:39）以及“这水所表明的洗礼，现在藉著耶稣基督复活也拯救你们”（彼前3:21）是对上帝最严重的冒犯。
Conclusion
结论
“We see what a great and excellent thing Baptism is, which snatches us from the jaws of the devil and makes God our own, overcomes and takes away sin and daily strengthens the new man. It always remains until we pass from this present misery to eternal glory”(Large Catechism).
The meaning, power and promise of Holy Baptism rest entirely on the One who lived perfectly in our place and who suffered and died as the sacrificial ransom for the sins of the world. He rose victorious over death and the grave. In Holy Baptism, we receive all the blessings of Christ’s atoning sacrifice. Thank God for His gift of Holy Baptism!
“我们看见圣洗礼是一份多么伟大和卓越的圣事，它将我们从魔鬼的利齿中抢夺回来，使上帝属于我们自己，胜过并且挪去罪，然后每日坚固这新人。圣洗礼会一直存在，直到我们从此生的悲苦去到永恒的荣耀为止”（大问答）。
圣洗礼的意义，权能和应许，完全在于那曾经代替我们的位置完美地生活，作为世人罪孽的赎罪祭受苦和死亡的一位。祂复活，得胜死亡和坟墓。在圣洗礼中，我们领受基督赎罪祭的全部祝福。为着祂圣洗礼的恩赐，感谢上帝！
注释：
- The words in italics are from Luther’s Small Catechism.
1. 斜体字部分是从路德小问答中选摘。
2. WA 47:651,10-19, 32-36.
2. 见路德文集-魏马本47:651, 10-19, 32-26.
— Dr.A.L.Barry
President The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Translated by Lutheran Translation Society
November 29, 2017
翻译由路德宗翻译社提供