別人怎麼樣呢?
羅馬書十五章8至12節
8我說,基督是為神真理作了受割禮人的執事,要證實所應許列祖的話,
9並叫外邦人因他的憐憫榮耀神。如經上所記:“因此我要在外邦中稱讚你,歌頌你的名。”
10又說:“你們外邦人當與主的百姓一同歡樂。”
11又說:“外邦啊,你們當讚美主!萬民哪,你們都當頌讚他!”
12又有以賽亞說:“將來有耶西的根,就是那興起來要治理外邦的,外邦人要仰望他。”
信息分享
保羅在這裡引用了四節舊約經文,來證明神的計劃一直接納外邦人進入祂的家。但即使神已明言祂的心意,猶太人仍始終覺得難以接受。
這幾節經文勾畫了一幅美麗的圖畫,就是猶太人和外邦人一同頌讚神、一同歡樂和一同承認基督是他們的王,因基督已拆毀他們中間隔斷的牆。
猶太人認為自己是神的選民,因而排斥其他人。但感謝神,在初期教會的時代,就有猶太人的信徒甘願冒著性命的危險,將基督的福音傳給所有人。基督教福音一個最顯要的特色,就是任何國籍、種族和社會階層的人,都可以藉著信從基督而得救。
但與此同時,每個接受福音的人,都有責任將福音傳開。新約的書信經常稱信徒是管家,基督已將傳揚福音的責任託付我們。
我們批評第一世紀的猶太人偏狹之前,必須先檢視自己的心態。我們如何對待其他人呢?我們是否只管坐在我們精致、舒適的教堂裡,忘記神的心意,是要讓其他人同樣聽到這改變生命的福音?求主今天就激動我們的心,使我們關心他人。
牢記經文:「我立了志向,不在基督的名被稱過的地方傳福音。」(羅十五20)
WHAT ABOUT OTHERS?
Romans 15: 8-12
8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers,
9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:
“For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles,
And sing to Your name.”[c]
10 And again he says:
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!”[d]
11 And again:
“Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles!
Laud Him, all you people!”[e]
12 And again, Isaiah says:
“There shall be a root of Jesse;
And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles,
In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”[f]
Message
Here Paul picked out four quotations from the Old Testament to prove that God had always planned to include the non-Jews in His family. But it was very difficult for the Jewish people to understand and accept that was what God had wanted.
In these verses there is a beautiful picture of Jews and Gentiles praising God together, rejoicing together, and recognizing Christ together. In Christ the middle wall of partition had been broken down.
The Jews thought of themselves as God's own chosen people, to the exclusion of all others. Thank God however that there were those who were willing to preach the Gospel of Christ to all men at the risk of their own lives. One of the greatest features of the Christian Gospel is the fact that no matter who that person may be, what nationality or race, and what social standing, he can come to Christ and be saved.
At the same time, those who have accepted the Gospel have the responsibility of sharing it. Believers are often called stewards in the epistles. The Gospel has been entrusted to us so that we might share it with others.
Before we criticize the first century Jews, let's take a look at our own attitudes. What about others? Are we prepared to sit in our nice and comfortable church buildings and forget that God wants others to hear the wonderful life-changing Gospel, too? Let's ask God to stir our hearts today for others.
A VERSE FOR TODAY: “My ambition is to preach the Gospel where Christ is not known.” (Romans 15:20)

