Christian Assembly of Sydney Quarterly Magazine

禱告聚會

Prayer Meeting

擘饼聚會

Breaking of Bread

信息聚会

Message Meeting

福音座談

Gospel Forum

青少年聚會 (英文)

Youth Fellowship ( E )

编者的话

感谢爱我们的主耶稣基督，祂是教会的元首，祂爱护用

自己的宝血所买赎回来的教会，保守我们在这末后危险

的日子里，虽然屡历各种危机，但在父神的慈爱怜悯保

守下，使教会的危机，转化为转机。我们全体弟兄姐妹

也在保惠师真理的圣灵引领下，不断受恩膏的教导和操

练，使我们经历了不少在每日的生活中，亲身体会主的

恩典是够我们用的，祂的能力在人的软弱上，显得完

全。本期季刊登载我们悉尼基督徒聚会处的六处家庭聚

会的回顾和感恩；另外报道了这一年来的老人团契的活

动概况，以及主日学的幼少年，怎样蒙神的恩典和看

顾，在主日学老师们的辛勤教导和培育下，健康地成

长。今年我们举行了三次教会中长者的安息聚会，他们

都是久经患难，忠心爱主的兄姐。他们安息在主的怀

中，却给我们留下了美好的见证和榜样。在生命信息栏

内，认识基督和高举基督，永远是我们事奉和追求的目

标。活在神的面前以及主内肢体之间要有谦卑、和睦，

是需要圣灵经常提醒我们当学的功课。通过弟兄姐妹的

见证和彼此之间的交通，使我们对肢体之间的情况能有

更多的了解和关怀，对于神的恩典和慈爱能献上更多的

感谢。神的旨意是要我们常常喜乐，不住地祷告，凡事

谢恩。可惜我们还没有普遍学会凡事谢恩，但愿我们众

弟兄姐妹更多地数算神的恩典，好叫我们的内心更多充

满主的喜乐，将荣耀归于我们的神。

葡萄树季刊编缉部

悉尼基督徒聚会处地址 (Address):

Roseville Meeting :

119 Boundary St.(enter via Moore St) East Roseville, NSW 2069

Lidcombe Meeting:

RSL Youth Centre, Church St, Lidcombe NSW 2141

電話 (Tel): (02) 9882 3363 傳真 (Fax): (02) 9882 1755網址 (Website): www.christianassembly.com.au

主 日 聚 会 Sunday Meeting

Roseville Meeting

上午 9:30 - 10 :30am …………………………

10:30 - 11:30am ……………………………

上午 11:30 - 1: 00pm …………………………

上午 10:30 - 11:30am …………………………

下午 1:45 - 3:30pm ………………

禱告聚會

Prayer Meeting

擘饼聚會

Breaking of Bread

信息聚会

Message Meeting

福音座談

Gospel Forum

青少年聚會(中文)

Youth Fellowship (C)

Lidcombe Meeting

上午 9:00 - 10 :00am ………………………

10:00 - 11:00am …………………………

上午 11:00 - 12:00pm ………………………

上午 10:00 - 11:45am ………………………

下午 1:00 - 2:30pm ………………

目 录（第5期）

编者的话 …………………………………………………… 数算主恩 年终联想 ……………………………………… Parramatta 家庭聚会感恩 …………………………… Eastwood 家庭聚会数主恩 …………………………… North Shore 家庭聚会 ……………………………… Hornsbe 家庭聚会回顾与瞻望 ……………………… Lidcombe 家庭聚会回顾和感恩 ……………………… Mascot 家庭聚会 ……………………………………… 老人团契感恩 ………………………………………… 儿女成长 —全赖祢的恩典 …………………

安息聚会 翟宗沛姐妹生平简介 ………………………… 翟宗沛姐妹生平简史 ………………………… 在翟宗沛老姐妹安息聚会中的讲话 ………… 怀念翟老姐妹 ……………………………… 缅怀我亲爱的大姨 —翟宗沛老姐妹 …………

生命信息 你们里头应当有盐 …………………………… 活在神面前 …………………………………… CHRIST LIFTED UP CAN SAVE …………… 见证如云 回国见闻数事 ………………………………… 主的话是我路上的光 ………………………… 读经心得 主教导我学习认识他的权柄 ……………… 基督是我们的赎罪祭 …………………………

教会生活 天父在暗中察看,必然报答 —记几位姐妹对翟老姐妹的服侍 ……… 我在诗班事奉中学习的几点 ……………… 蒙福的婚姻 ……………………… 小 鸟 飞 翔 ……………………………………

家庭园地 养育儿女 ……………………………………… 主的恩典够我们用 …………………………… 问题解答 ……………………………………

封二

吴莹生 1

1 2

2 34

5 6

蔡陈凤君 7

王明理 10王明理 12

丁荣施 13郭潘慕莲 13郑天珍 14

丁荣施 16 孙务信 19

Ian Robb 23

严惠来 26

高 丽 27

孙何广蕙 28Tony 29

吴黄丽蓉 31黄吴若华 32

孙振光、孙徐克珍 33 方燕红 34

吴华强 35薛晓霞 36严惠来 封三

问题解答

问：圣诞节的由来及耶稣降生的真实意义是什么？

答： 一、圣诞节的由来

耶稣诞生，一处记载在公元６年居里扭统治叙利

亚时（路加福音２：２）；另一处记载在希律（死于公

元前４年）作犹太王时（马太福音２：１）。但耶稣诞

生的具体日期未见圣经记载。

在崇拜多神的古罗马，原先是把12月25日定为太

阳神日，并以宗教礼仪来庆祝这“常胜太阳神日”。

到了第4世纪初，罗马皇帝把太阳神阿波罗的生日12月

25日转化为耶稣的生日。公元354年，罗马的教皇里贝

瑞乌斯(Pope Liberius352-366在位)公然颁布教令：

12月25日为“圣诞节”并加以庆祝。从此之后，12月

25日成为西方基督教会正式的节日。此后，圣诞节已被

西方许多国家所接受，但真实的耶稣诞生日就没有人知

道了。19世纪，圣诞卡的流行、圣诞老人的出现，圣诞

节便在世界各地普遍流行起来了。古代罗马人用青枝绿

叶和灯火装饰住房。英、美等许多西方国家则在家中摆

上圣诞树，向亲人传报佳音，唱圣诞歌，并有人装扮圣

诞老人，向儿童及穷人赠送礼物。火与彩灯是此节日庆

祝活动的中心装饰，象征温暖和长寿；常青树象征不断

进取，奋斗争存。在西方，此节日已成为普遍庆祝的世

俗化节日。

当我们读圣经里有关耶稣之降生，记在马太福音

1：18-25；2：l-20；路加福音2：1-20；以赛亚书9：

6；7：14有预言外，并无有关耶稣降生的日期。因主

耶稣是在肉身显现的神(提摩太前书3：16；约翰福音

3：14)，在太初万物之先已存在(箴言8：22、30；弥迦

书5：2)，耶稣乃是超越物质世界的真神(约翰福音8：

23)。圣经里只记载：当纪念为要完成十字架之救恩而

死的主以外，却没有吩咐纪念祂的降生。再从12月25日

之日期来看，12月25日是巴勒斯坦的冬天，也正是雨

季，在这寒冷多雨的季节，夜晚不可能在野地里放牧羊

群。因此，采用异教太阳日之节日，由人任意定12月

25日为圣诞，实在毫无圣经根据。

二、耶稣降生的真实意义

公元６世纪，罗马憎侣小狄约尼西(Dionysius

Exiguns) 创立耶稣降生来定年代的历法，获普遍支

持，被世界绝大多数国家所采用。耶稣降生标志着人类

新纪元的开始。

后来历史研究发现，耶稣降生年分的推算有几年

的出入，现在大家都同意，耶稣是在公元前６-４年降

生的。

《圣经》记载耶稣降生在犹太伯利恆小城镇（距

耶路撒冷城南面８公里）。耶稣出生在一个穷苦的木匠

家庭，生在马槽里。衪的使命是拯救世人。衪为穷人、

为社会所歧视的人、为一切罪人而生，也为他们钉十字

架而死。

耶稣的降生是人类历史上大喜的信息（路加福

音２：１０），这大喜的信息是从天上神那里来的，

是“关乎万民的”。

早在二千多年前，耶稣开始传道时对在会堂（会堂

是犹太人聚集、崇拜、讲道的会所）里的人引用了旧约

圣经以赛亚书６１：１-２： “主的灵在我身上，因为

衪用膏膏我，叫我传福音给贫穷的人；差遣我报告被掳

的得释放，瞎眼的得看见，叫那受压制的得自由，报告

神悦纳人的禧年。”（路加福音4：18-19）当时耶稣明

确地宣布：“ ‘今天这经应验在你们耳中了。”（路

加福音４：２１）。耶稣引用这段经文是表明祂降生的

目的和任务，也就是天使宣告的“大喜的信息”’。

《圣经》告诉我们：人类从始祖亚当、夏娃犯

罪以后，世世代代的人都受罪的辖制，作罪的奴仆，

没有真正的自由。“我们都如羊走迷，各人偏行己

路…。”（以赛亚书５３：６）。“ 没有义人，连一

个也没有…都是偏离正路…没有行善的，连一个也没

有。”（罗马书３：10-12）。罪带来死亡，“ ……

死后且有审判”。（希伯来书９： ２７）。但是，

神爱世人，差遣衪的独生子（耶稣）降生作人类的救

主，拯救人从罪和死亡中出来，使人“ 出死入生”，

真正成为自由的人。耶稣降生是把神的爱带给世人，

把最宝贵的生命赐给人，因为有神的儿子（耶稣）就

有生命（约翰一书５：１２），这生命就是人的光，

使我们行路有目标、有方向，永远不会迷失方向。

耶稣降生带给人类真正的平安。当今世界，科学

发展日新月异，物质生活不断改善，但道德水准反而

下降，各种灾难不断发生，夺走了无数人的生命。可

以说，世界并不安宁。耶稣降生的故事洋溢着美妙的

音乐，2000年来给作曲家无数的灵感。天使唱的赞美

诗：“至高之处荣耀归与神，在地上平安归与祂所喜悦

的人！”(路加福音2：l4)这首诗称为“荣耀颂”，是

根据拉丁译文的第一个字而命名的。耶稣降生为人类付

上了赎罪的生命代价，开创了与神和好的平安之路，使

人得到真正的平安。

严惠来

1

ParramattaParramatta

2

Eastwood

North

Shore

3

4

LidcombeLidcombe

5

MascotMascot

6

( 5 16-18)

2006 1 11

2

10 00-12 00

5

2 2 2 1

20 32

7

1.

2

3.

Ian Robb

(

)

4 .

5.

,

6.

7.

,

/

/

/ /

/

/ /

/

/ /

/

7

/ 11

19

unique8

9

12

10

11

12

13

Amity Nursing Home

2 0 0 1

C o l l a r o y

M o n a v a l e

C a s t l e

Hill Retirement Village

North Rocks Amity

Nursing Home

10 23

……

……

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:14-15.

This was the Lord Jesus' reply to an inquiry made by a man called Nicodemus. He had come to Jesus by night, as he knew He was a teacher come from God:

The Lord Jesus spoke to him concerning his need to be fit to enter the Kingdom of God.

Lord Jesus said, 'Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.' John 3:4-7

Nicodemus next inquiry was 'how can these things be?' John 3:9. The Lord Jesus replied And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:14-15.

The Lord Jesus used this term of being 'lifted up' as to the manner in which He was to die. In the gospel of John 12:32-33 the Lord Jesus said, 'And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me. This He said, signifying what death He should die.' Being 'lifted up',

shows us the way Christ was going to die. He would be lifted up and crucified. This was the method that God had ordained to draw all men to Christ. The result of Christ sufferings on the cross would be that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

This man did not understand how he could enter the Kingdom of God and have eternal life. The Lord Jesus used a story from the Bible that Nicodemus was familiar with, to illustrate how he could have eternal life.

The story is found in Numbers 21:4-7. It was about the nation of Israel. God had miraculously brought them out of the nation of Egypt were they had been slaves for 430 years. They had to walk through a very hot and barren wilderness, and experienced God's miraculous preservation for more than 38 years. Now they had become very much discouraged and began to speak against God and against Moses and they despised the blessings that God had given them. As a result of their murmurings, the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. The people came to Moses and said 'we have sinned.' They ask Moses to pray that God would take away the serpents.

Moses prayed for them. 'And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.' Numbers 21:8-9

The Lord Jesus used this story to illustrate how those who were bitten were doomed to die yet though they were so close to death if they believed the remedy that God had provided for them and looked in faith they would live.

The Lord Jesus skilfully applied the same principle to illustrate to Nicodemus how that though all men have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that the wages or the payment of those sin is death. (death means to exist in eternal torment for ever) Yet if men can

Ian Robb

CHRIST

LIFTED UP

CAN SAVE

believe that Christ was lifted up and crucified to bear the cursed punishment of their sins, they also can be saved and receive eternal life.

Therefore our great need is to look in faith to Christ hanging on the cross and understand all that He has accomplished on our behalf, that we might gain an entrance into the Kingdom of God. I will just mention only three aspects (there are many more) in which that Christ was exhibited when he was lifted up on the cross that we might have eternal life.

The first consideration of Christ lifted up is that He is God. The divine nature of Christ is revealed in one of His last sayings from the cross. It is recorded for us in Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the spirit.

Here we see that the Lord Jesus had the power to give up his spirit. The Lord Jesus had declared in John 10:17-18 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Christ was both divine and human in one person. Here he shows His power over death. Death could not come to him until he had given permission for his spirit to depart. We mortal sinful men and women have no power in the day of death. We know that when God commands our spirit to depart from this body we can not retain it, it must go. Our bodies die. In Ecclesiastes 8:8 it says, There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.

The death of our Lord Jesus was unique there has never been a life or a death like His. He was obedient to all the commandments of God and was perfect in every way. He never sinned in thought, word, or deed. We read in 2 Corinthians 5:21 of the Lord Jesus ‘who knew no sin.’ Then in Hebrews 4:15 it speaks that Jesus the Son of God who ‘was in all points

tempted like as we are, yet without sin.’ Again in 1 Peter 2:22 it speaks of Christ ‘who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.’

Then lets note that Christ was without sin he could not die as a ordinary sinful man. We are told in Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Death only passes on to those that have sinned. Christ had no sin therefore, the only way He could take the sinner place and pay their eternal death was give His life. This is why He to lay down His life in a voluntary selfless manner. He did this for you and me.

As we look to Christ lifted up on the cross for us we see the absolute perfection of His nature and of the atonement that he offered. Here we see what a unique and perfect sacrifice Christ was able to offer in our place.

The second thing we consider of Christ being lifted up is that the sacrifice that He offered of Himself was able, to completely satisfied Gods justice for the guilty sinner. Thus Christ was able to make full atonement for every sin of every sinner who will believe. The debt of our everlasting misery in hell was fully paid for in all its fullness, through the sufferings of our Lord Jesus.

At the end the of those terrible hours of suffering and agony of Lord Jesus. It is recorded for us in John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. Here Christ triumphantly declares that all that the sinner owes has been paid in full. The discharge of the enormous debt the sinner owed is FINISHED. Nothing more to pay. O what a Saviour that He died for me, from condemnation He has made me free.

As we look at Christ lifted up on the cross for us we understand how God can righteously pardons the sinner, in justifying him freely from all past offences. As Christ alone met the just demands of all our punishment. God’s justice will not demand the punishment twice. We see that ‘Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.’ Also ‘now once in the end of the

24

25

world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.’ Hebrews 9:26, 28

The third thing that is displayed in Christ being lifted up on the cross is that He is a Saviour of great love and compassion for lost sinners to be saved. It is recorded in the gospel of Luke 23:34 that when the Lord Jesus was nailed to the cross He prayed and said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.’ Some were so greedy they were only interested in what they could gain materially from the death of Christ. The Lord Jesus was in no way distracted by the cruel and callous hearted people around His cross. Nor was He distracted by the immense agony that He was suffering. He had come to seek and to save that which was lost. That He must do until His last breath. His passion for lost sinners was superior to all other circumstances.

Though the Lord Jesus was in great agony, yet he considered those lost sinners about Him and cried out to His Father for their salvation. He knew they were guilty hell bound sinners and that they had no way of escape. They must repent and believed that the one whom they were crucifying, can save them. They were blinded by their own ignorance, they knew not what they were doing. They could not understand the what the Lord Jesus was doing for to secure their eternal welfare. The Lord Jesus loved them and he prayed for them. He pleaded that they might be forgiven for all there past life of sin. The Lord Jesus knew that if they died in there sins they would not go into the presence of God when they died. They would be lost for all eternity. He pleaded with His Heavenly Father that they might be given grace to repent and believe. For this must proceed forgiveness from God. This shows to us the great love the Lord Jesus has for sinners. He is not willing that any should perish but all should come to repentance

You may ask the question, can it be possible that sin, such sin as mine, can be forgiven, forgiven altogether, and for ever? Hell is my portion as a sinner-there is no possibility of my escaping from it while sin remains upon

me. Can the load of guilt be removed? Can the everlasting memory of the guilt of my sin be blotted before God forever? Can the eternal damnation of my soul be reversed and I be given everlasting life? Jesus tells me that I may be cleared, and forgiven of my eternal debt. for ever blessed by His everlasting love. And His full pardon is possible, it is secured to all who rest in Jesus' finished work.

I have believed in the appointed means that God has provided for the removing the guilt of my sins, even Jesus crucified. Therefore my sins are at this moment, and for ever, are forgiven by virtue of His substitutionary pains and death. What joy is this! What bliss to be a perfectly pardoned soul! My soul dedicates all her powers to Him who by His own free love became my surety, and wrought out for me redemption through his blood.

What riches of grace does free forgiveness exhibit! To forgive at all, to forgive fully, to forgive freely, to forgive for ever! Here is a constellation of wonders; and when I think of how great my sins were, how dear was the precious BLOOD of Jesus which cleansed me from my sins. How gracious was the method by which forgiveness was assured to me. I am amazed in wonder and worshipping affection as I bow before the throne of God which absolves me. I clasp the work of CHRIST which delivers me, thus I serve henceforth all my days the Incarnate God, through whom I am this day a pardoned sinner.

The only thing left for you to do now, is to look and believe what Christ has done for you. He was lifted up on the cross in all His eternal fulness, this and this alone was sufficient to break the curse of sin that is upon every sinner. His death can cancel the effects of your sin which is eternal judgment. We are told in Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. Christ was cursed in our place that we might be delivered from the curse of eternal punishmen

26

27

28

293 6

1

3

1.

”

•

•

Tony

•

2.

•

•

•

3.

•

•

•

9 35

4.

•

•

53 6

30

31

32

33

12 1

( )

34

35

36

禱告聚會

Prayer Meeting

擘饼聚會

Breaking of Bread

信息聚会

Message Meeting

福音座談

Gospel Forum

青少年聚會 (英文)

Youth Fellowship ( E )

编者的话

感谢爱我们的主耶稣基督，祂是教会的元首，祂爱护用

自己的宝血所买赎回来的教会，保守我们在这末后危险

的日子里，虽然屡历各种危机，但在父神的慈爱怜悯保

守下，使教会的危机，转化为转机。我们全体弟兄姐妹

也在保惠师真理的圣灵引领下，不断受恩膏的教导和操

练，使我们经历了不少在每日的生活中，亲身体会主的

恩典是够我们用的，祂的能力在人的软弱上，显得完

全。本期季刊登载我们悉尼基督徒聚会处的六处家庭聚

会的回顾和感恩；另外报道了这一年来的老人团契的活

动概况，以及主日学的幼少年，怎样蒙神的恩典和看

顾，在主日学老师们的辛勤教导和培育下，健康地成

长。今年我们举行了三次教会中长者的安息聚会，他们

都是久经患难，忠心爱主的兄姐。他们安息在主的怀

中，却给我们留下了美好的见证和榜样。在生命信息栏

内，认识基督和高举基督，永远是我们事奉和追求的目

标。活在神的面前以及主内肢体之间要有谦卑、和睦，

是需要圣灵经常提醒我们当学的功课。通过弟兄姐妹的

见证和彼此之间的交通，使我们对肢体之间的情况能有

更多的了解和关怀，对于神的恩典和慈爱能献上更多的

感谢。神的旨意是要我们常常喜乐，不住地祷告，凡事

谢恩。可惜我们还没有普遍学会凡事谢恩，但愿我们众

弟兄姐妹更多地数算神的恩典，好叫我们的内心更多充

满主的喜乐，将荣耀归于我们的神。

葡萄树季刊编缉部

悉尼基督徒聚会处地址 (Address):

Roseville Meeting :

119 Boundary St.(enter via Moore St) East Roseville, NSW 2069

Lidcombe Meeting:

RSL Youth Centre, Church St, Lidcombe NSW 2141

電話 (Tel): (02) 9882 3363 傳真 (Fax): (02) 9882 1755網址 (Website): www.christianassembly.com.au

主 日 聚 会 Sunday Meeting

Roseville Meeting

上午 9:30 - 10 :30am …………………………

10:30 - 11:30am ……………………………

上午 11:30 - 1: 00pm …………………………

上午 10:30 - 11:30am …………………………

下午 1:45 - 3:30pm ………………

禱告聚會

Prayer Meeting

擘饼聚會

Breaking of Bread

信息聚会

Message Meeting

福音座談

Gospel Forum

青少年聚會(中文)

Youth Fellowship (C)

Lidcombe Meeting

上午 9:00 - 10 :00am ………………………

10:00 - 11:00am …………………………

上午 11:00 - 12:00pm ………………………

上午 10:00 - 11:45am ………………………

下午 1:00 - 2:30pm ………………

目 录（第5期）

编者的话 …………………………………………………… 数算主恩 年终联想 ……………………………………… Parramatta 家庭聚会感恩 …………………………… Eastwood 家庭聚会数主恩 …………………………… North Shore 家庭聚会 ……………………………… Hornsbe 家庭聚会回顾与瞻望 ……………………… Lidcombe 家庭聚会回顾和感恩 ……………………… Mascot 家庭聚会 ……………………………………… 老人团契感恩 ………………………………………… 儿女成长 —全赖祢的恩典 …………………

安息聚会 翟宗沛姐妹生平简介 ………………………… 翟宗沛姐妹生平简史 ………………………… 在翟宗沛老姐妹安息聚会中的讲话 ………… 怀念翟老姐妹 ……………………………… 缅怀我亲爱的大姨 —翟宗沛老姐妹 …………

生命信息 你们里头应当有盐 …………………………… 活在神面前 …………………………………… CHRIST LIFTED UP CAN SAVE …………… 见证如云 回国见闻数事 ………………………………… 主的话是我路上的光 ………………………… 读经心得 主教导我学习认识他的权柄 ……………… 基督是我们的赎罪祭 …………………………

教会生活 天父在暗中察看,必然报答 —记几位姐妹对翟老姐妹的服侍 ……… 我在诗班事奉中学习的几点 ……………… 蒙福的婚姻 ……………………… 小 鸟 飞 翔 ……………………………………

家庭园地 养育儿女 ……………………………………… 主的恩典够我们用 …………………………… 问题解答 ……………………………………

封二

吴莹生 1

1 2

2 34

5 6

蔡陈凤君 7

王明理 10王明理 12

丁荣施 13郭潘慕莲 13郑天珍 14

丁荣施 16 孙务信 19

Ian Robb 23

严惠来 26

高 丽 27

孙何广蕙 28Tony 29

吴黄丽蓉 31黄吴若华 32

孙振光、孙徐克珍 33 方燕红 34

吴华强 35薛晓霞 36严惠来 封三

问题解答

问：圣诞节的由来及耶稣降生的真实意义是什么？

答： 一、圣诞节的由来

耶稣诞生，一处记载在公元６年居里扭统治叙利

亚时（路加福音２：２）；另一处记载在希律（死于公

元前４年）作犹太王时（马太福音２：１）。但耶稣诞

生的具体日期未见圣经记载。

在崇拜多神的古罗马，原先是把12月25日定为太

阳神日，并以宗教礼仪来庆祝这“常胜太阳神日”。

到了第4世纪初，罗马皇帝把太阳神阿波罗的生日12月

25日转化为耶稣的生日。公元354年，罗马的教皇里贝

瑞乌斯(Pope Liberius352-366在位)公然颁布教令：

12月25日为“圣诞节”并加以庆祝。从此之后，12月

25日成为西方基督教会正式的节日。此后，圣诞节已被

西方许多国家所接受，但真实的耶稣诞生日就没有人知

道了。19世纪，圣诞卡的流行、圣诞老人的出现，圣诞

节便在世界各地普遍流行起来了。古代罗马人用青枝绿

叶和灯火装饰住房。英、美等许多西方国家则在家中摆

上圣诞树，向亲人传报佳音，唱圣诞歌，并有人装扮圣

诞老人，向儿童及穷人赠送礼物。火与彩灯是此节日庆

祝活动的中心装饰，象征温暖和长寿；常青树象征不断

进取，奋斗争存。在西方，此节日已成为普遍庆祝的世

俗化节日。

当我们读圣经里有关耶稣之降生，记在马太福音

1：18-25；2：l-20；路加福音2：1-20；以赛亚书9：

6；7：14有预言外，并无有关耶稣降生的日期。因主

耶稣是在肉身显现的神(提摩太前书3：16；约翰福音

3：14)，在太初万物之先已存在(箴言8：22、30；弥迦

书5：2)，耶稣乃是超越物质世界的真神(约翰福音8：

23)。圣经里只记载：当纪念为要完成十字架之救恩而

死的主以外，却没有吩咐纪念祂的降生。再从12月25日

之日期来看，12月25日是巴勒斯坦的冬天，也正是雨

季，在这寒冷多雨的季节，夜晚不可能在野地里放牧羊

群。因此，采用异教太阳日之节日，由人任意定12月

25日为圣诞，实在毫无圣经根据。

二、耶稣降生的真实意义

公元６世纪，罗马憎侣小狄约尼西(Dionysius

Exiguns) 创立耶稣降生来定年代的历法，获普遍支

持，被世界绝大多数国家所采用。耶稣降生标志着人类

新纪元的开始。

后来历史研究发现，耶稣降生年分的推算有几年

的出入，现在大家都同意，耶稣是在公元前６-４年降

生的。

《圣经》记载耶稣降生在犹太伯利恆小城镇（距

耶路撒冷城南面８公里）。耶稣出生在一个穷苦的木匠

家庭，生在马槽里。衪的使命是拯救世人。衪为穷人、

为社会所歧视的人、为一切罪人而生，也为他们钉十字

架而死。

耶稣的降生是人类历史上大喜的信息（路加福

音２：１０），这大喜的信息是从天上神那里来的，

是“关乎万民的”。

早在二千多年前，耶稣开始传道时对在会堂（会堂

是犹太人聚集、崇拜、讲道的会所）里的人引用了旧约

圣经以赛亚书６１：１-２： “主的灵在我身上，因为

衪用膏膏我，叫我传福音给贫穷的人；差遣我报告被掳

的得释放，瞎眼的得看见，叫那受压制的得自由，报告

神悦纳人的禧年。”（路加福音4：18-19）当时耶稣明

确地宣布：“ ‘今天这经应验在你们耳中了。”（路

加福音４：２１）。耶稣引用这段经文是表明祂降生的

目的和任务，也就是天使宣告的“大喜的信息”’。

《圣经》告诉我们：人类从始祖亚当、夏娃犯

罪以后，世世代代的人都受罪的辖制，作罪的奴仆，

没有真正的自由。“我们都如羊走迷，各人偏行己

路…。”（以赛亚书５３：６）。“ 没有义人，连一

个也没有…都是偏离正路…没有行善的，连一个也没

有。”（罗马书３：10-12）。罪带来死亡，“ ……

死后且有审判”。（希伯来书９： ２７）。但是，

神爱世人，差遣衪的独生子（耶稣）降生作人类的救

主，拯救人从罪和死亡中出来，使人“ 出死入生”，

真正成为自由的人。耶稣降生是把神的爱带给世人，

把最宝贵的生命赐给人，因为有神的儿子（耶稣）就

有生命（约翰一书５：１２），这生命就是人的光，

使我们行路有目标、有方向，永远不会迷失方向。

耶稣降生带给人类真正的平安。当今世界，科学

发展日新月异，物质生活不断改善，但道德水准反而

下降，各种灾难不断发生，夺走了无数人的生命。可

以说，世界并不安宁。耶稣降生的故事洋溢着美妙的

音乐，2000年来给作曲家无数的灵感。天使唱的赞美

诗：“至高之处荣耀归与神，在地上平安归与祂所喜悦

的人！”(路加福音2：l4)这首诗称为“荣耀颂”，是

根据拉丁译文的第一个字而命名的。耶稣降生为人类付

上了赎罪的生命代价，开创了与神和好的平安之路，使

人得到真正的平安。

严惠来