我们有甚么信息传给未信者?
使徒行传十章34至48节
34彼得就开口说:我真看出神是不偏待人。
35原来,各国中那敬畏主、行义的人都为主所悦纳。
36神借着耶稣基督(他是万有的主)传和平的福音,将这道赐给以色列人。
37这话在约翰宣传洗礼以后,从加利利起,传遍了犹太。
38神怎样以圣灵和能力膏拿撒勒人耶稣,这都是你们知道的。他周流四方,行善事,医好凡被魔鬼压制的人,因为神与他同在。
39他在犹太人之地,并耶路撒冷所行的一切事,有我们作见证。他们竟把他挂在木头上杀了。
40第三日,神叫他复活,显现出来;
41不是显现给众人看,乃是显现给神预先所拣选为他作见证的人看,就是我们这些在他从死里复活以后和他同吃同喝的人。
42他吩咐我们传道给众人,证明他是神所立定的,要作审判活人、死人的主。
43众先知也为他作见证说:凡信他的人必因他的名得蒙赦罪。
44彼得还说这话的时候,圣灵降在一切听道的人身上。
45那些奉割礼、和彼得同来的信徒,见圣灵的恩赐也浇在外邦人身上,就都希奇;
46因听见他们说方言,称赞神为大。
47于是彼得说:这些人既受了圣灵,与我们一样,谁能禁止用水给他们施洗呢?
48就吩咐奉耶稣基督的名给他们施洗。他们又请彼得住了几天。
信息分享
我们发现,彼得在哥尼流家中所传讲的信息,主要是关乎基督本身。彼得知道哥尼流一家都是虔诚人,他们常常祷告,又广行善事;可是,他们却未曾得救──这是神亲自告诉彼得的(徒十一14)。这一家人现在最需要的,是认识基督,和得着基督的救恩,且在生活中经历祂的同在。
留意彼得在第38节说,耶稣是神所膏立的,这点显示耶稣拥有神儿子的尊贵身分。除此之外,祂的一生都显明神与祂同在,而祂亦经常运用祂的能力去帮助有需要的人。最终,祂虽然死在十字架上,可是,神却使祂从死里复活,让我们可以借着祂得救。当世界来到终局的时候,祂将要成为审判众人的主。
这篇有关基督的信息是何等的全面!彼得讲完之后,带来甚么结果?当一个内心已作好预备的人,从一个已有充分准备的仆人口中,听到有关基督的信息,通常便会产生一个正面的结果──好像哥尼流的一家人那样,立即决志信主和接受洗礼。
我们可以向身边有需要的人,传讲甚么信息呢?只有一个信息能真正满足人心的需要,那就是基督的信息:基督是谁,祂能够做些甚么;祂是如何的满有能力与慈爱,能拯救一切来到祂面前的人。
当然,我们不可忽略一个警告的信息,那就是:来到最后,神将会用一个简单的标准审判世人:「你怎样接待我的儿子耶稣基督?」。彼得在这里的第42节提醒我们,而保罗亦曾经在雅典提醒众人(徒十七31)。在启示录出现的最后一幕景象,就是世人站在白色的大宝座前,按着羔羊的生命册,接受神的审判。
反思:
我们如何向人更多谈论耶稣基督?
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?

