What About . . .
怎么说…
The Gospel
福音
Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. This pamphlet has been prepared to show you how much we need the Gospel, why it is such good news, how we receive it and how we respond to it.
奉我们主耶稣基督的名向您问安。整理这份小册子是为了向你显明我们是多么需要福音，为什么福音是好消息，我们如何领受福音以及我们如何回应福音。
Why do we need the Gospel?
为什么我们需要福音？
We cannot really understand how good the message of the Gospel is until we understand how bad our situation is without it. We are poor miserable sinners. We sin daily and deserve nothing but God’s wrath and punishment. Without Jesus Christ, our situation would be totally hopeless. The Scriptures describe human beings as dead in trespasses and sin. Without the mercy and cleansing of God through the blood of Jesus Christ, there awaits for us only everlasting punishment in hell. Thus, we need the Gospel— desperately!
除非我们明白我们的境况离了福音是多么的糟糕，不然我们不能真正弄懂福音信息是多么的美好。我们是贫穷可怜的罪人。我们每日犯罪，不配得到什么，只配得到上帝的忿怒和刑罚。离了耶稣基督，我们的境况会是完全绝望无助的。圣经说人类是死在罪和过犯之中。若没有上帝藉着耶稣基督的血所施行的怜悯和洁净，等待我们的只能是地狱里面永恒的刑罚。因此，我们需要福音—绝对迫切！
What is the Gospel?
什么是福音？
The word “gospel” is a translation of a Greek word that means,“an announcement of good news.” The Gospel is the good news that God the Holy Trinity decided not to abandon humanity when Adam and Eve first fell into sin. God decided then and there that sin and death would not have the last word. He promised to send a Savior.
“福音”是从一个希腊词翻译过来，原意是“好消息的宣告”。福音就是那个好消息，即圣三一上帝在亚当和夏娃最初跌入罪中的时候决定不撇弃人。上帝马上决定，罪和死亡不能作出最终的宣判。祂应许要差遣一位救赎主。
When the time was right,God sent His Son into our world to be born of the Virgin Mary. Our Lord Jesus Christ lived a perfect life for us. On the cross, He received the penalty and punishment for the sins of the whole world,offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin. Jesus rose from the dead, victorious over our ancient enemies: sin, death and the devil.
当时候满足了，上帝差遣祂的儿子进入我们的世界，由童贞女马利亚所生。我们的主耶稣基督为我们活出一份完美的生命。在那十字架上，他领受整个世人的罪所应得的惩治和刑罚，将祂自己献上作为赎罪祭。耶稣从死人中复活，得胜我们古老的仇敌：罪，死亡和魔鬼。
Therefore, each Christian is able with great joy and confidence to declare before the whole world:“My Lord Jesus Christ has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death.”
因此，每个基督徒都有能力带着丰富的喜乐和信心在整个世人面前宣告：“我主耶稣基督已经并且继续救赎我这失丧、遭咒诅的人，赎买和赢得（救拔）我脱离所有的罪恶，死亡和魔鬼的权势；不是用金银，乃是用祂圣洁宝贵的血、祂的无辜受苦和死亡。”
What glorious good news! The one, true eternal and all-powerful God came into our world to live, suffer, die and rise again for us. We, who are unholy and unrighteous,receive the forgiveness of all our sins and thus receive the perfect holiness and righteousness of Christ our Savior—as a free gift—purely because of His love for us. That is good news! That is the Gospel!
多么荣美的好消息啊！那独一永恒全能的真上帝，来到我们世人中间，生活，受苦，死亡并且复活，都是为了我们。我们这些不圣洁不公义的人，领受我们所有罪的赦免，并因此领受基督我们救赎主的完美圣洁和公义—这完全是一份白白的恩赐，单单出于祂对我们的爱。这就是好消息！这就是福音！
How do we receive this great salvation in our lives today?
我们如何今天在我们的生命中领受这份伟大的救恩？
How do we personally receive the forgiveness Christ won for the entire world? How does what happened on the cross nearly 2,000 years ago flow into our lives today?
我们个人如何领受基督为整个世人所赢得的赦罪呢？2000多年前发生在十字架上的事如何在今天流淌进我们的生命中呢？
Here too there is very good news. God,through His Gospel, offers us forgiveness and help against sin in more than one way. God is surpassingly rich in His grace. He gives His Gospel to us through His Word, through Baptism,through the Sacrament of the Altar, and through confession and absolution. These are the ways God enters our lives today to apply to us personally the great salvation Christ won for the world.
在此也是那大好的信息。上帝藉着祂的福音，赐给我们赦罪恩典以及对付罪所需的帮助，不仅是透过一种方式。上帝在祂的恩典上是出人意外的丰富。祂将祂的福音赐给我们，藉着祂的话语，藉着圣洗礼，藉着圣餐礼，藉着认罪和宣赦。这些都是上帝今天进入我们生命，将基督为世人所赢得的伟大救恩个人性地应用在我们身上的方式。
The Holy Spirit works through the Word of the Gospel to create and sustain faith in our heart that Christ is the Savior of the world, and thus our Savior too. The Bible is the Word of God, written down for our learning and edification. The Scriptures are filled with the good news of Jesus Christ and all that He has done for us.Through the almighty, Spirit-filled Word,God gathers us into His church, which is truly the mother that begets and bears every Christian through the Word of God. The Holy Spirit is present, effective and active through the Word when it is proclaimed, heard and meditated upon.
圣灵藉着福音的圣道（话语）作工，在我们心中创造且供应信心，使我们信基督是世人的救主，也因此是我们的救主。圣经就是上帝的话语，写下来为叫我们学习查考得造就。圣经充满了耶稣基督以及祂为我们所做全部之事的好消息。藉着那全能且圣灵充满的道，上帝招聚我们进入祂的教会，教会真正是藉着上帝的道生出且供应每一位基督徒的母亲。每当圣道被宣讲，聆听以及默想的时候，圣灵就藉着那圣道临在，有效且积极地作工。
The Sacrament of Holy Baptism is water included in God’s command and combined with God’s Word; or as St. Paul says in Holy Scripture, “The washing of water with the word.” Through Baptism, we are made partakers of Christ’s death and resurrection. Therefore, we know that Baptism works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal life to all who believe. Since Baptism is connected to the Word and promise of God, it is truly a life-giving water, rich in grace—a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit.
圣洗礼是蕴含在上帝的命令中并与上帝的道连合的水；或如圣保罗在圣经中所说，是“水藉著道的洗”（弗5:26）。藉着圣洗礼，我们得以有份于基督的死和复活。因此，我们知道圣洗礼生发罪的赦免，救赎脱离死亡和魔鬼，并且赐永生给所有相信的人。因为圣洗礼与上帝的道和应许连合，所以圣洗礼真正是赐生命的水，有丰富恩典—是圣灵里重生的洗。
Christ has provided a special application of the Gospel through confession and absolution. Confession is admitting our sins to God and receiving His forgiveness from our pastor, as from God Himself, not doubting,but firmly believing that by it our sins are forgiven before God in heaven. Thus, by divine ordinance, Christ Himself has entrusted absolution to his Christian church and commanded us to absolve one another from sins.
基督还赐下福音的一种特别应用，藉着认罪和赦罪。认罪和赦罪是向上帝承认我们的罪，然后从我们的牧师那里领受祂的赦罪，正如从上帝自己那里领受的一样，并且毫无疑惑，确实相信我们的罪藉此就在天上的上帝面前被赦免了。因此，出于神圣的命令，基督祂自己将赦罪交托给祂的基督教会，并且吩咐我们彼此宣赦对方的罪。
The Lord’s Supper is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself, for us Christians to eat and to drink. In the Lord’s Supper,Christ’s body and blood are given to us as our treasure and gift which sustains our faith and life in Him. If you are heavy-laden and feel your weakness, go joyfully to the Sacrament and receive refreshment, comfort and strength.
主圣餐是我们主耶稣基督的真身体和宝血，在饼和酒之下，由基督自己亲自设立，赐给我们基督徒吃喝的。在主圣餐里面，基督的身体和宝血得以恩赐给我们，作为我们的珍宝和礼物，为的是供应我们在祂里面的信心和生命。如果你被重担压迫，感受到自己的软弱，那么请带着欢喜的心来到这圣礼前，领受更新，安慰和力量。
Those who want to be forgiven by God and who want to enjoy His presence in their lives, hunger and thirst for the Word and Sacraments.With the Psalmist we say, “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.When can I go and meet with God?” God has provided the means to receive Him. So, Christians hunger and thirst for God’s Word, absolution, the Sacrament, etc. We have the certainty that God meets us and gives us what we need in His means of grace. The forgiveness Christ won for the world on the cross is applied to us personally by God through His Word and Sacraments. What a joy for us to know that where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.
那些想要被上帝赦免，想要在他们的生命中享受上帝同在的人，要渴慕圣道和圣礼。我们与诗人一同说，“我的心渴想神，就是永生神；我几时得朝见神呢？ ”上帝已经赐下领受祂的方式。所以，基督徒要渴慕上帝的话语，赦罪，圣餐礼，等等。我们确信上帝在祂的施恩具中与我们相见，并且在其中赐给我们所需要的。基督在那十字架上为世人所赢得的赦罪，上帝藉着祂的话语以及圣礼将之有针对性地应用在我们身上。我们知道哪里有罪的赦免，那里就有生命和救恩，这对我们来说是何样的喜乐啊！
Thus, we believe that we cannot, by our own reason or strength,believe in Jesus Christ our Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit calls us by the Gospel, enlightens us with His gifts, sanctifies and keeps us in the true faith. In the same way, He calls,gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all of our sins, and the sins of all believers.
因此，我们相信我们不能凭着我们自己的理性或力量信靠我们的主耶稣基督或亲近祂；但是圣灵藉着福音呼召我，用祂的恩赐光照我，在真信仰中使我成圣并保守我在其中；同样地，祂也在全地呼召，聚集，光照整个基督教会且使之成圣，并保守它在独一真信仰里与耶稣基督联合；在基督教会里，圣灵每天多多赦免我们全部的罪和所有信徒的罪。
How does God cause us to respond to His Gospel?
上帝吩咐我们如何回应祂的福音呢？
We love God because He first loved us.Our Lord is at work in us both to will and to do what is pleasing to Him. Christians look to the Ten Commandments to know what is pleasing to God and wish to serve Him in gratitude for the great salvation that is theirs in Christ.
我们爱上帝因为祂先爱了我们。我们的主在我们里面作工，使我们意愿去行祂所喜悦的事。基督徒查看十条诫命就知晓何为上帝喜悦的事，并且渴望在感恩中服事祂，因为那伟大的救恩在基督里都属于他们了。
From the Word of God we learn that God wants us to put Him first, above any other person or thing, to respect His name and not misuse it, to hear and obey His Word. Children are to honor and obey their parents and others in authority. We are to look out for the welfare of others, doing nothing to hurt or harm our neighbor. We are to live sexually pure and decent lives, with husbands and wives loving and honoring each another. In looking out for our neighbor’s welfare and helping him to improve and protect his property and business, we are also to take care not to lie about our neighbor, but to help, support and defend him in every need, and, finally, we are to be content with what we have been given,and not want what is not ours.
从上帝的话语中我们学到，上帝意愿我们将祂放在首位，过于其他任何人或事，去敬畏祂的名，不妄用之，并且去聆听和顺从祂的话语。孩童要尊敬且顺服他们的父母以及其他掌权者。我们要为着他人的福祉着想，不做任何伤害或折损我们邻舍的事。我们生活言语要端庄贞洁，夫妻彼此亲爱尊重。要看顾我们邻舍的福祉，帮助他增加或保护他的财产和业务，我们也要小心不去说谎中伤我们的邻舍，却要在他有需要的时候帮助，扶持和护卫他，最后，我们要满足于我们所已经领受的，不去贪图不属于我们的。
What a joyful privilege we have to serve God and others! He gives us the opportunity to bear witness to our faith through both our words and our deeds.
能够服侍上帝，服侍他人，我们所拥有的特权是多么令人欢喜啊！祂赐我们机会藉着我们的话语和行为见证我们的信仰。
How is the Gospel obscured?
福音如何会被弄的模糊不清呢？
The Gospel is obscured by well-intentioned people who want to encourage a life of good works, and end up making Christians think that it is by their works that they are saved. This is a great danger. Through His Word and Sacraments, Jesus is constantly working in our lives to forgive our sins and strengthen our relationship with God. God always receives the credit for our salvation. He is the one working in us. This is not something we can do. Our good works are the result of God’s love in our hearts and lives. Our good works in this life do not save us, only Christ saves us. Works serve our neighbor and show to the world that we are grateful for God’s mercy in our lives.
福音会被那些心怀好意的人弄的模糊不清，他们想要催促信徒有一份充满善工的生命，结果却落得使基督徒以为他们是藉着他们的善工得救的。这是一个巨大的危险。藉着祂的圣道和圣礼，耶稣持续不断地在我们生命中作工，赦免我们的罪，坚固我们与上帝的关系。我们得救的功德总是归于上帝。祂才是在我们里面作工的那位。这不是我们能够做到的事。我们的善工是上帝的慈爱在我们心中和生命中的结果。我们在此生的善工拯救不了我们，唯有基督拯救我们。善行是服侍我们的邻舍并且向世人显明：我们为着上帝在我们生命中的怜悯充满感恩。
Another way the Gospel can be obscured is when too much emphasis is put on an emotional response to the Gospel. Some Christians believe that unless they have some sort of ecstatic, charismatic experience, or feel some sort of “spiritual high,” they are not really Christians. It is truly sad that some people look into their own hearts for the security that they are children of God, instead of putting their hope and trust in the objective work of Christ for them, and in the means God uses to come to them—His Word and Sacraments.
福音被弄得模糊不清的另外一钟方式是太过于强调在情感上对福音的回应。一些基督徒认为，除非他们有某种极其喜乐且充满灵恩的经验，或者感受到某种“属灵上的亢奋”，不然他们就不是真基督徒。为要确保他们是上帝的儿女，一些人在他们自己的内心寻找确据，而不是将他们的盼望和信靠放在基督为他们所做的客观救赎之工，以及上帝为要亲近他们所使用的施恩具—祂的圣道和圣礼上，这实在是令人悲痛的。
If we find ourselves beginning to ask, “Am I doing enough?”or thinking,“It doesn’t matter what I do, for God will forgive me anyway,”then we are at risk of losing Christ and His forgiveness. We look always to Jesus and put our hope and trust in Him. He is our Savior. And, that’s good news!
如果我们发现自己开始问，“我做的足够吗？”或者思想，“我做什么无关紧要，上帝必会赦免我，”那么我们就有危险失去基督和祂的赦罪之恩。我们总是要仰望耶稣，将我们的盼望和信靠放在祂身上。祂是我们的救赎主。是的，这才是好消息！
All blessing, honor, thanks and praise to Father, Son and Spirit, the God who saved us by His grace. All glory to His merit! O triune God in heaven above, you have revealed your saving love. Your blessed name we hallow.
愿所有颂扬，尊荣，感谢和赞美归给圣父，圣子和圣灵，那出于祂的恩典拯救我们的上帝。所有荣耀归给祂的功德！在天上的圣三一上帝啊，你已经显明你救赎的慈爱。你的名当称颂，我们尊之为圣。
— Dr. A.L. Barry
President The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
https://michigandistrict.org/about/beliefs/whatabout
Translated by Lutheran Translation Society
November 6, 2017
翻译由路德宗翻译社提供