我們有甚麼信息傳給未信者?
使徒行傳十章34至48節
34彼得就開口說:我真看出神是不偏待人。
35原來,各國中那敬畏主、行義的人都為主所悅納。
36神藉著耶穌基督(他是萬有的主)傳和平的福音,將這道賜給以色列人。
37這話在約翰宣傳洗禮以後,從加利利起,傳遍了猶太。
38神怎樣以聖靈和能力膏拿撒勒人耶穌,這都是你們知道的。他周流四方,行善事,醫好凡被魔鬼壓制的人,因為神與他同在。
39他在猶太人之地,並耶路撒冷所行的一切事,有我們作見證。他們竟把他掛在木頭上殺了。
40第三日,神叫他復活,顯現出來;
41不是顯現給眾人看,乃是顯現給神預先所揀選為他作見證的人看,就是我們這些在他從死裡復活以後和他同吃同喝的人。
42他吩咐我們傳道給眾人,證明他是神所立定的,要作審判活人、死人的主。
43眾先知也為他作見證說:凡信他的人必因他的名得蒙赦罪。
44彼得還說這話的時候,聖靈降在一切聽道的人身上。
45那些奉割禮、和彼得同來的信徒,見聖靈的恩賜也澆在外邦人身上,就都希奇;
46因聽見他們說方言,稱讚神為大。
47於是彼得說:這些人既受了聖靈,與我們一樣,誰能禁止用水給他們施洗呢?
48就吩咐奉耶穌基督的名給他們施洗。他們又請彼得住了幾天。
信息分享
我們發現,彼得在哥尼流家中所傳講的信息,主要是關乎基督本身。彼得知道哥尼流一家都是虔誠人,他們常常禱告,又廣行善事;可是,他們卻未曾得救──這是神親自告訴彼得的(徒十一14)。這一家人現在最需要的,是認識基督,和得著基督的救恩,且在生活中經歷祂的同在。
留意彼得在第38節說,耶穌是神所膏立的,這點顯示耶穌擁有神兒子的尊貴身分。除此之外,祂的一生都顯明神與祂同在,而祂亦經常運用祂的能力去幫助有需要的人。最終,祂雖然死在十字架上,可是,神卻使祂從死裡復活,讓我們可以藉著祂得救。當世界來到終局的時候,祂將要成為審判眾人的主。
這篇有關基督的信息是何等的全面!彼得講完之後,帶來甚麼結果?當一個內心已作好預備的人,從一個已有充分準備的僕人口中,聽到有關基督的信息,通常便會產生一個正面的結果──好像哥尼流的一家人那樣,立即決志信主和接受洗禮。
我們可以向身邊有需要的人,傳講甚麼信息呢?只有一個信息能真正滿足人心的需要,那就是基督的信息:基督是誰,祂能夠做些甚麼;祂是如何的滿有能力與慈愛,能拯救一切來到祂面前的人。
當然,我們不可忽略一個警告的信息,那就是:來到最後,神將會用一個簡單的標準審判世人:「你怎樣接待我的兒子耶穌基督?」。彼得在這裡的第42節提醒我們,而保羅亦曾經在雅典提醒眾人(徒十七31)。在啟示錄出現的最後一幕景象,就是世人站在白色的大寶座前,按著羔羊的生命冊,接受神的審判。
反思:
我們如何向人更多談論耶穌基督?
WHAT IS OUR MESSAGE FOR THE UNSAVED?
Acts 10: 34 - 48
34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.
35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.
36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—
37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree.
40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly,
41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.
43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.
Then Peter answered,
47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
Message
As you read Peter's message in the home of Cornelius you will find it is full of thoughts about Christ. Peter knew that this was a good family. They had evening prayer and often did good deeds. But they were not saved. It was God who had said they were not (Acts 11:14). What these fine people needed was a saving relationship with Christ and a living experience of him.
Notice what Peter said. In verse 38 he says Jesus was anointed by God. This means he was particularly honoured as God's son. He was powerful. He was concerned about people. God was with him. He died on the cross, but God raised him again. Through him we can be saved. At the end of time all the world will be judged by him.
What a message about Christ! What was the result? When a prepared heart meets a prepared messenger with a message about Christ, the result is always the same. Cornelius and his whole family were converted and baptised immediately.
What message do we have for the needy souls around us? It is the same. It is Christ - who he is and what he can do. He is still full of power and love. He can save all who come to him.
There is a message of warning too. One day God will judge all the world by this simple test - 'What did you do with my Son, Jesus Christ?' Peter said it here in verse 42. Paul said it at Athens (Acts 17:31). One of the last scenes in Revelation is that of the Great White Throne and the Lamb's book of life when all men will be judged.
A Question:
How do we talk about Christ more?

