In this sermon, the preacher begins by expressing gratitude for God's love and the sacrifice of sending His Son to the world. The preacher emphasizes the importance of being prepared for the Lord's return and questions whether the listeners are ready to meet Him. The preacher then refers to the passage in Matthew 16:13-20, where Jesus asks His disciples who they believe He is. Peter responds by declaring Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus affirms Peter's declaration and states that He will build His church upon this truth. The preacher urges the audience to seek God diligently and to have a desperate spirit in their pursuit of Him.

Will you please turn to 1 Corinthians? 請我們一同翻開戈文多前書 1 Corinthians chapter 2 戈文多前書第二章 We'll begin with verse 1 我們從第一節開始 And I, when I came to you, brethren, came not in excellency of word, or wisdom. 弟兄們,從前我到你們那裡去, 並沒有用高言大字對你們宣傳神的奧秘。 Announcing to you the testimony of God. For I did not judge it well to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 因我曾定了主意, 在你們中間不知道別的, 只知道耶穌基督並祂釘十字架。 Verse 6 第六節 But we speak wisdom among the perfect, but wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of the world, who come to naught. 然而在完全的人中, 我們也講智慧, 但不是這世上的智慧, 也不是這世上有權有位, 將要敗亡之人的智慧。 But we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, that hidden mystery wisdom, which God has predetermined before the ages for our glory. 我們講的乃是從前所隱藏神奧秘的智慧, 就是神在萬世以前預定使我們得榮耀的。 Which none of the princes of this age knew, for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory. 這智慧世上有權有位的人沒有一個知道的, 他們若知道, 就不把榮耀的主釘在十字架上了。 But according as it is written, things which eye has not seen, and ear not heard, and which have not come into man's heart, which God has prepared for them that love Him. 如經上所記, 神愛他的人所預備的, 是眼睛未曾看見, 耳朵未曾聽見, 人心也未曾想到的。 But God has revealed to us by the Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 只有神藉著聖靈向我們顯明了, 因為聖靈參透萬世, 就是神深厚的事也參透了。 For who of man has known the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Thus also, the things of God knows no one except the Spirit of God. 除了在人裡頭的靈, 誰知道人的事? 像這樣, 除了神的靈, 也沒有人知道神的事。 But we have received not the Spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we may know the things which have been freely given to us of God. 我們所領受的 並不是世上的靈, 乃是從神來的靈, 叫我們能知道 神開恩賜給我們的事。 The Gospel According to Matthew, 我們再看馬太福音, Chapter 16, 馬太福音第十六章, 我們由十三節開始。 But when Jesus was come into the path of Caesarea Philippi, He demanded of His disciples saying, Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am? 耶穌到了蓋撒利亞菲利比的井內, 就問門徒說, 人說我人子是誰? And they said, some, John the Baptist, and others, Elias, and others again, Jeremiah, are one of the prophets. 他們說, 有人說是施洗的約翰, 有人說是以利亞, 又有人說是耶律米 或先知米的一位。 He says to them, But ye, who do ye say that I am? 耶穌說,你們說我是誰? And Simon Peter answering said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God. 西門彼得回答說, 你是基督,是永生神的兒子。 And Jesus answering, said to him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in the heavens. 耶穌對他說,西門巴約納, 你是有福的,因為這不是 屬血肉的指示你的, 乃是我在天上的 父指示的。 And I also, I say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and Hades' gates shall not prevail against it. 我還告訴你,你是彼得, 我要把我的教會 建造在這盤石上, 陰間的權柄 不能勝過他。 Verse 21 在看第21節 From that time Jesus began to show to his disciples that he must go away to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elderhood and high priests and scribes and be killed. And on the third day he raised. 從此,耶穌才指示門徒, 他必須上耶路撒冷去 受長老、祭司長 聞試許多的苦, 並且被殺, 第三日復活。 Let's have a word of prayer. 我們有一點禱告。 Dear Lord, as we gather here in thy presence, 親愛的主, 當我們聚在你的腳前, Our hearts do bow in worship. 我們的心 匍匐敬拜。 How we praise and thank thee for thy tremendous love for us. 我們感謝稱頌您, 您有這麼大的大愛給我們。 How we praise and thank thee for sending thy only begotten Son to us. 我們要感謝讚美您, 父,您把您獨生的 愛子賞給我們。 How we praise and thank thee that thou are willing to go to the cross for our sake. 我們謝謝您, 您是那樣願意 為了我們的緣故上了十字架。 We acknowledge that everything comes from thee. 我們承認 一切都是由你而來。 And everything is through thee and unto thee. 一切也是藉著你, 也是向著你。 How we do desire, Lord, that thou be glorified in the midst of thy people. 我們實在願意你的名 在你的兒女們當中被高舉。 So we look to thee this morning 早上我們仰望你, that thy Holy Spirit will work among us, 你的聖名在我們當中做功, release thy word to us, 把你的話 釋放出來, and plant thy word into our hearts, 把你的話 印在我們心中, that it may bear fruit unto thyself. 成為果子 現在你的跟前。 We ask in thy precious name. 我們奉你寶貴的名。 Dear brothers and sisters, 親愛的弟兄姊妹們, we thank God for giving us this opportunity to be together. 我們感謝神給我們 這次機會聚在一起。 We know we are living at the very end of this age. 我們知道我們是住在 這最末後的時代。 We do not know whether this gathering will be our last gathering before the Lord's return. 我們不知道我們這一次的聚集 是不是主回來以前 最後的一次。 It is possible. 是很可能的。 And we look forward to it. 我們實在仰望主的再來。 The Lord is coming soon. 我們的主很快就要來。 We love him, even though we have not seen him. 我們愛他,雖然我們還沒有見過他。 But we long to see him face to face. 但是我們實在渴望能夠 面對面的見我們的主。 But there is a problem here. 但這裏有一個難處。 Are we ready for him? 我們預備好見他沒有。 Are we prepared to meet him? 我們有沒有預備好來迎接我們的主? When we shall see him, will we be put to shame? 當我們見他面的時候, 我們會不會帶著羞愧? Or will we be glorifying him? 或者我們能夠 擁有我們的主? And thank God that he still gives us this opportunity 他仍然給我們獻金的機會。 to be ready for our Lord. 叫我們能夠預備好 來見主。 So dear brothers and sisters, 親愛的弟兄姊妹們, to me I feel this is a very crucial time. 對我們來講, 我覺得這是一個很關鍵的時刻。 We cannot afford to be complacent. 我們在這裏,我們實在不能夠 太複雜。 We have to seek him diligently with all our hearts. 我們要 這樣渴慕地來 全心全意地尋求他。 This is not a time to play around. 這不是一個玩耍的時間。 This is a time, dear brothers and sisters, that we all get very serious about him. 我們應該非常的嚴肅 來到他的跟前。 I feel that there is a lack of desperation in our spirit. 我實在覺得在我們當中, 缺乏一種迫切的靈。 If we really know our time, 如果我們實在認識 我們今天的時刻, I believe that we should feel desperate. 我們實在覺得, 我們應該覺得非常的迫切。 May the Lord give us this spirit. 求主把這樣的靈賞給我們。 That we will really look thankfully, selflessly unto Jesus. 我們實在能夠注目仰望我們的主。 The author and finisher of our faith. 是信心創始成中的主。 Now the theme of this conference, I believe is clear to everyone of us. 這一次大會的主題, 我相信大家都很清楚。 The way to the eternal purpose of God, the cross. 通到神永遠旨意的道路, 十字架。 In the past conferences, 在過去的 特會的當中, we shared in many times and in many ways on the eternal purpose of God. 我們許多次也用 許多的角度來 分享到神永遠的旨意。 Because, to know God, is to know His purpose. 要認識神, 就是要認識祂的旨意。 Our God is a God of purpose. 我們的神 是有旨意的神。 Even before the foundation of the world, 從創立世界之前, God's purpose a purpose in Himself. 祂就在祂自己的裡面 定了旨意。 And that purpose governs all His plans and all His ways. 那一個旨意就管理了 祂一切的計劃跟 祂的方法。 換句話說, since eternal past, 永遠裡面, after He has purposed that eternal purpose, 祂已經定下了 那一個永遠的旨意。 He has been working throughout the ages and the generations for that very purpose. 祂在過去的世代, 在過去的日子裡面, 祂一直為了這個旨意 在那裡做工。 So dear brothers and sisters, you can see immediately, 你可以馬上的看到, how important, essential is that purpose. 是多麼的重要, 這個旨意是多麼的重要。 If we miss that purpose, 如果我們沒有 看準這個旨意, then our whole lives will be a loss, a waste. 我們的一生就被浪費了。 What is the eternal purpose of God? 什麼是神永遠的旨意? What is it that God has revealed to us of His heart and of His mind? 神給我們顯現 祂的心思跟祂的意念是什麼? This mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages in God. 這一個在歷史歷代裡面 隱藏的神的奧秘。 Thank God has now been revealed to us through the apostles and the prophets. 感謝神, 祂藉著使徒跟先知 把這個奧秘向我們顯明。 So today, this mystery is an open secret. 今天這個奧秘 被打開了。 But brothers and sisters, 弟兄姊妹們, even though it has been revealed, 雖然向我們已經啟示出來, and has been recorded in the Word of God, 已經記錄在神的話裡面, yet, we must receive personal revelation from the Lord. 但是我們個人需要從主那裡 得到祂給我們 個人的啟示。 Without that revelation, 如果沒有這個啟示, the eternal purpose of God is just a vague theory. 神永遠的旨意 只是一個空泛的謎論。 But when God revealed it into your heart, 但當神 把這一個奧秘 啟示在你心中, as Apostle Paul says, 向使徒保羅所說, It has pleased God to reveal His Son in me. 祂實在是多麼的願意 把祂的兒子啟示 在我心中。 Then you will find there is a transformation. 你就在那裡看到 那裡有一個改變。 In all spiritual things, 在所有屬靈的事物裡面, we need revelation. 我們需要啟示。 Because in ourselves, there is absolutely no way to know God. 因為靠著我們自己, 我們是沒有辦法來認識神的。 So may the Lord give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation. 所以求主給我們 那智慧跟啟示的靈。 Until the full knowledge of God. 求我們能夠真 知道祂。 So in the past, our emphasis 在過去, 我們所注重的, was more on this matter of revelation. 我們是注重在 啟示這一面。 How we need that heavenly vision. 我們實在需要那天上來的 啟示。 So, the Pharisee, 這個防禦賽人, 掃墓。 Before he received, he see that heavenly vision. 當他沒有得到 那天上來的意象以前。 We found that he was grouping in darkness. 我們實在知道他是 活在黑暗的當中。 He wanted to serve God. 他願意侍奉神。 But what he did was opposing God. 但他所做的乃是反對神。 But thank God on the road to Damascus. 當他去大馬壽的路上的時候。 He pleased God to reveal his son in him. 神實在喜悅 把他自己向 掃墓顯現。 And what a transformation came upon him. 就在掃墓的身上 有了極大的改變。 He became Paul, the apostle. 他就成為使徒保羅。 He is one who really knows the eternal purpose of God. 他實在認識神 永遠的旨意。 So brothers and sisters, 親愛的弟兄姊妹們。 Let us pray to the Lord. 讓我們一同在神面前禱告。 That he will grant us the spirit of wisdom and revelation. 他把那智慧跟啟示的名賞給我們。 That we may really know what is the eternal purpose of God. 讓我們能夠真知道什麼是 神那永遠的旨意。 Of course, to put it very simply. 簡單地來說。 The eternal purpose of God is none other than Christ and his church. 神永遠的旨意 就是基督和教會。 But without revelation from above. 如果我們沒有從上面來的啟示。 Our understanding of Christ and our understanding of the church is completely outward. 我們對於基督與教會的認識 只不過是外面的。 It's all superficial. 而只是表面上的。 And it is full of errors. 讓你實在充滿了錯誤。 Only with revelation from above. 只有從上面來的啟示。 Then we really know Christ. And we really know what the church is. 我們才能夠認識基督。 才能夠知道教會。 But this time our emphasis is different. 這次我們的著重點 有一點不同。 Instead of emphasizing on this matter of revelation. 我們不再著重於 在啟示這一點。 We do not mean to say that revelation is insignificant. 我們不是說啟示 不重要。 It is the very basis. 啟示乃是最基礎的。 But we have gone over this so many times. 我們已經講了許多次了。 So we feel that there is a need to emphasize the way. 我們覺得 這一次是比較注重 講到道路。 You remember in the letter to the Ephesians 我們記得在 以弗所書裡面 There are two prayers that the apostle Paul prayed for the church. 有兩個禱告是 使徒保羅為了教會 所發出的禱告。 His first prayer is God may grant them the spirit of wisdom and revelation to the knowledge of God. 頭一個乃是 求神把賜人智慧 跟啟示的靈賞給教會。 But then you find in chapter 3 在第三章裡面你又看到 He had another prayer. 他又有一個禱告。 And the emphasis of that prayer is that we may apprehend the fullness of God. 那個禱告乃是 叫我們能夠認識 他自己的豐富。 In other words, the first prayer is concerning revelation. 頭一個禱告是 關於啟示。 And the second prayer is concerning the way. 第二個禱告乃是講到 道路。 Because revelation is heavenly. 因為啟示是從天上來的。 But without the way, the cross, it will remain in heaven. 但是如果沒有 道路,沒有十字架, 這個啟示 仍然是在天上。 For that revelation to become reality in our lives. 讓那個啟示成為我們 生活裡面的實際。 To be fulfilled in us. 能夠在我們身上來成就出來。 We need to find the way. 我們需要找到這條路。 And the way is none other but the way of the cross. 這個路 不是別的,乃是十字架的道路。 So this is the emphasis for our time. 這是我們 這次聚會所著重的。 Our brother Lance speaks on the cross and Christ. 安培德利兄講到 基督與十字架。 And our dear brother Christian speaks on the cross and the spirit. 陳立雄講到十字架與聖靈。 And I was assigned to speak on the cross and the church. 我所交通的乃是十字架與教會。 We will look at this matter from three different directions. 我們從三個方面來看。 The cross, the foundation of the church. 十字架 是教會建造的基礎。 Second, 第二點。 The cross and the building of the church. 十字架教會的建造。 And finally, the cross, the testimony of the church. 最後一點,十字架 教會的建造。 So by the grace of God this morning we want to consider the cross and the foundation of the church. 今天我們靠著主的恩典來看 十字架教會的 基礎。 When the Apostle Paul was ready to go into Corinth. 當使徒保羅預備好 來到哥明多的時候。 He went there to announce the testimony of God. 他在那裡要宣講 神的見證。 The testimony of God is none other than what God has revealed of Himself. 神的見證乃是 他如何的把自己 啟示出來。 No one knows God. 沒有人能夠認識神。 God is the greatest mystery in the universe. 神乃是宇宙當中最大的奧秘。 Unless He reveals Himself. 除非他自己 把祂啟示出來。 Nobody will know Him in any way. 沒有任何人能夠靠著任何的方法 來認識祂。 But thank God, He is the God of Revelation. 但是感謝神,祂是那位賜啟示的神。 He is the God who reveals Himself. 祂是那位把自己啟示出來的神。 All that we know of God is because of what He has revealed. 我們之所以能夠認識 我們的神乃是 祂把祂自己啟示給我們。 Nothing more. 我們沒有別的。 Of course. 當然。 What He has revealed to us is not all that He is. 祂所啟示給我們的 不是祂完全的自己。 Because He is far beyond us. 因為祂實在是超越我們的。 But thank God, it pleases Him to reveal Himself to us. 但是感謝神, 祂喜悅把祂自己 向我們顯現出來。 What He reveals is His testimony. 祂所啟示出來的乃是祂的見證。 That is His testified of Himself. Who He is and what He is. 祂自己為自己做見證 祂是誰,祂是怎麼樣的一位。 What is His purpose. 祂的旨意是什麼。 What is His way. 祂的道路是什麼。 And He reveals it to us. 祂向我們啟示出來。 And this is the testimony of God. 這是神的見證。 The Apostle Paul, he went to Corinth to announce the testimony of God. 使徒保羅到 更多要去宣講 神的見證。 But in doing that, 當他要這樣做的時候, he knew that he couldn't do it with the wisdom and the eloquence of man. 他知道他們不能用 人的高顏大智 來宣講。 Because this is far beyond any human capacity. 因為這實在是超越 人所能領會的。 So he decided 所以他決定, that when he arrived at Corinth, 當他到更多的時候, he would know nothing 他不知道別的, except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 只知道耶穌基督 並他釘十字架。 In other words, Jesus Christ and Him crucified is the only way to the testimony of God. 耶穌基督並他釘十字架 乃是唯一 做神見證的道目。 Aside from Jesus Christ and Him crucified, 除了耶穌基督並他 釘十字架, there is no revelation, there is no way to the testimony of God. 對於神的見證來講, 沒有其他的道路, 沒有其他的見證。 Jesus Christ and Him crucified is the very foundation to the testimony of God. 耶穌基督並他 釘十字架, 釘十字架乃是 神見證的基礎。 We know that in the days of the apostles, 我們知道在使徒時代, that city of Corinth was a cultured city. 宮門多乃是一個 文化的都市。 It was noted for its eloquence and for its knowledge. 認為是以它的 文化, 以它的知識 來出名的。 But it is a very corrupted and evil city. 但是是一個非常腐敗 以充滿罪惡的城市。 So the apostle Paul, as he contemplated of announcing the testimony of God to them, 當使徒保羅 要在那裡講如何的 把神的見證對他們宣講的時候, He will not match his intelligence with their intelligence. 他不用他自己的智慧 跟他們的智慧相比。 He will not use his own words trying to match with them. 他不要用他自己的話與他們相比。 He will announce to them Jesus Christ and him crucified. 他對他們只是宣講 耶穌基督和他釘十字架。 Because only Jesus Christ and him crucified could save them. 因為只有耶穌基督 並他釘十字架能夠拯救他們。 Can change them, can transform them. 能夠改變他們, 能夠叫他們變過來。 Jesus Christ and him crucified. 耶穌基督並他釘十字架。 Now brothers and sisters, today when we hear this, 今天當我們 聽到這些話, probably we will feel well that is very elementary. 我們覺得這是 非常太基本的。 Of course we know Jesus Christ. 當然我們知道 耶穌基督。 Of course we know him crucified. 當然我們知道他釘十字架。 And it is because we know him and his crucifixion. 因為我們知道他 釘了十字架。 So we are saved. And we belong to him. And he belongs to us. This is very elementary. 這是非常基本的。 初級的。 But brothers and sisters, 弟兄姊妹們, within that word Jesus Christ and him crucified, 在耶穌基督並他釘十字架 這句話裡面, there is the principle to the full purpose of God. 在那裡帶出 達到神旨意 完全的原則。 To the world. 對世界來講。 To people who are not saved. 對於沒有得救的人來講。 Who are in sins and transgressions. 他們是在罪惡過犯的裡面。 They need to know Jesus Christ and him crucified 他們需要知道耶穌基督 和他釘十字架。 In order to be saved. 才能夠得救。 But after we are saved, 但當我們得拯救以後。 Jesus Christ and him crucified is not something of the past. 耶穌基督跟他釘十字架不是過去的事情。 When we believe in him and his cross, this is just the beginning. 當我們相信主 並接受他的十字架。 這只不過是一個開始。 And if we allow him and his cross to work in our lives. 如果我們讓他 和他的十字架 在我們生命裡面 做工的時候。 Then we will be led into the eternal purpose of God. 那樣我們才能 可以帶進他那 永遠的旨意裡面。 With the Corinthians, Paul was not able to share with them the full counsel of God. 對於更多的人 保羅不能夠把神整個的計畫 向他們傳講。 Even though by announcing to them Jesus Christ and him crucified they got saved. 雖然像他們講了 耶穌基督並他釘十字架 叫他們得救吧。 But after they are saved 當他們得救以後 They are not growing in Jesus Christ and him crucified. 他們沒有在耶穌基督 並他釘十字架的上面 來長進。 They still live by their own natural life. 他們仍然靠著他們 天然的生命來活。 For this reason, Paul was not able to share with them the eternal purpose of God. 因為這個緣故 保羅不能夠跟他們講到 神永遠的旨意。 But he did mention in verse 6 但他第六節在那裡提到 He said, but among the perfect 他說在完全的人中 we do talk about the wisdom hidden wisdom of God. 我們也講到智慧神 那隱藏的智慧。 Now, who are the perfect? 誰是完全的人? The perfect here does not mean sinless perfection. 證明不是說 無罪的完全。 Aside from our Lord Jesus 除了我們的主以外 in this world 在這個世上 there is no one who is sinless perfect. 沒有任何一個人 是無罪的完全。 Only our Lord Jesus 只有我們的主耶穌 He knows no sin. 他不知道罪。 He has never sinned. 他從來沒有犯過罪。 He does not even know what is sin. 他根本就不知道罪是什麼。 Aside from Him, no one is sinless perfect. 沒有任何一個人 是無罪的完全。 But in the Scripture 在聖經中裡面 the perfect here means the grown up, the matured. 證明講到完全是講到成熟 講到長大。 If we believe in Jesus Christ and Him crucified 如果我們相信耶穌基督 並他丁十字架 not only as the means by which we are saved 不單單是因為這個 我們可以得救 But we let Jesus Christ and Him crucified continue to working us. 我們讓耶穌基督 並他丁十字架 繼續的在我們裡面做工 Then we will grow. 然後我們才能夠成長。 We will be more mature. 我們就能夠更加的成熟。 And as we become more mature. 當我們更加成熟的時候。 Then we can talk about the eternal purpose of God. 我們才能夠講神永遠的旨意。 We can talk about God's mystery. 我們可以講到神的奧秘。 How His wisdom is in a hidden mystery. 講到 祂的智慧 是在隱藏的奧秘。 But when you read 1 Corinthians chapter 2 當我們讀 哥格諾前述第二章的時候。 From verse 6 onward. 從第六節開始。 Paul in a way tried to describe what is that mystery. 保羅在這裡就形容 那一個奧秘。 What is God's wisdom in a mystery. 就是講到 神奧秘的智慧。 He tells us that this is a wisdom that the world never knows. 這一個奧秘 是世界的人所不明白的。 And this is a wisdom that man has never heard, never seen, and has never thought about it. 所以這一個智慧 是世人眼睛未曾聽見 耳朵未曾聽見 人心也未曾想到的。 It has never been thought about. 人從來沒有想過的。 Because it's far beyond human possibility. 因為這實在是超越人所能的。 And it concerns us. 這是關於我們的。 Concerns those who love God. 是對於愛神的人來講的。 It is something that is revealed only by the Spirit of God. 這只是神的名 才能夠啟示出來的。 And it is for our glory. 這是為了我們得榮耀。 Brothers and sisters, 弟兄姊妹們, what is it? It is the church. 是教會。 So here you'll find the connection between the cross and the church. 你在這裡就看到 教會跟十字架的 關係。 It is through the cross that the church is revealed and realized. 乃是藉著十字架 教會被啟示 被顯示出來。 Now we'll go back to Matthew 16. 我們再回到馬太十六章。 We remember that our Lord Jesus, He went to the border of Caesarea Philippi. 我們知道我們的主到了 Caesarea Philippi的境內。 We know Caesarea Philippi is a Gentile city. 我們知道 Caesarea Philippi 是一個外邦的城市。 Our Lord was rejected by His own people. 主自己的百姓拒絕了他。 So He retreated to the border of a Gentile city. 所以他就退到 外邦城市的境內。 Then He asked His disciples a question. 祂就問祂的門徒們一個問題。 Who do men say that I, the Son of Man is? 所以人說我人子是誰? And of course the disciples will give Him all the good reports. 這些門徒就告訴他許多 給他好的報告。 Some say you are John the Baptist coming into life. 所以有人說你是斯什約翰活過來了。 And others said you are Isaiah. 有人說你是以利亞。 Others say you are Jeremiah because you weep a lot. Or you are one of the prophets. Then Our Lord turned to His disciples again. 然後我們的主又來問 祂的門徒們說 What do you think that I am? 你們說我是誰? You have been with me. 你們已經跟我在一起了。 What do you think that I am? 你們說我是誰? And Simon Peter as usual the spokesman among the disciples. 你說西門彼得 他是門徒的代言人。 And He said you are the Christ the Son of the Living God. 祂說你是基督 是永生神的兒子。 Our Lord immediately said to him 我們的主馬上對他說 Simon son of Jonah 西門巴約納 You are blessed. 你是有福的。 Because this is not something that flesh and blood can show you. 因為這不是屬血 氣的指示你的。 Flesh and blood can tell you that He is a prophet. 屬血肉的 可以告訴他 說主是一個先知。 But it is the Father who is in heaven who has revealed His Son to you. 說乃是天上的父 把他的兒子指示給你。 So brothers and sisters 弟兄姊妹們 no one know our Lord Jesus 沒有人認識我們的主耶穌。 But the Father 除父以外 and to whom the Father is pleased to reveal 父是願意 把他的兒子指示出來。 感謝神。 When we come to the Lord Jesus 當我們來到主耶穌的跟前 The Father reveals His Son to us and in us. 父 把他的兒子 啟示給我們 也啟示在我們的裡面。 What a mercy, what a grace, what a love. 這是多麼大的憐憫 多麼大的愛,多麼大的恩典。 Because of this revelation of the Father concerning His Son. 因為這個啟示是 父如何的啟示他兒子 on the basis of that revelation. 根據這個啟示 Our Lord Jesus 我們的主耶穌 gave further revelation. 給我們進一步的啟示。 He said 他說 You are Peter 你是彼得 You are a stone 你是一塊小石頭 On this rock I will build my church 我要把 我的教會建造在 這盤石上。 And the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 陰間的泉壁 陰間的門不能勝過它。 This is the first time Our Lord Jesus mentioned the word church while He was on earth. 這是我們的主在地上 頭一次提到教會這個字。 I will build my church 我要建造 我的教會 On this rock 在這個盤石上。 And you are Peter 你是彼得 是一塊小石頭。 So brothers and sisters 弟兄姊妹們 What we have here is What is the foundation of the church. 我們在這裡講到 教會的根基是什麼。 Foundation is most important to a building. 對於一個建築物來講 根基是最重要的。 Even though it is hidden 雖然是隱藏的 Yet it is most important. 但這是最重要的。 What is the foundation of the church. 教會的根基是什麼。 Some people say 有人說 Because the Lord said you are Peter 因為主說你是彼得 You are a stone 你是那塊石頭 On this rock I will build my church 在這個盤石上我要建造我的教會。 Therefore Peter is the foundation of the church. 所以彼得就是教會的根基。 Thank God Peter knows better. 但我們感謝神彼得 知道不是這樣。 Because in 1 Peter chapter 2 因為在彼得前書 第二章那裡告訴我們 In verse 5 he said as we come to the Lord Jesus 他說當我們來到主的跟前 Our Lord is the living stone. 我們的主乃是活石。 As we come to him we all become living stone. 當我們來到他的面前 我們都要像活石。 And we are to build together into a spiritual house. 我們要被建造成為名公。 A holy priesthood. 成為祭司。 To offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 要成為一個神所悅納的 名祭獻給神。 So Peter is not the foundation of the church. 所以彼得不是教會的根基。 If he is the foundation. 如果他是教會的根基。 And as you read on. 當你繼續讀下去的時候。 You will find that how our Lord turned to him and said Satan get behind me. 你就會看到主對著彼得說 撒旦退我後面去。 That foundation has already been shaken. 那個根基已經搖動了。 So brothers and sisters 弟兄姊妹們 We know for sure 我們實在的知道 That Peter is not the foundation of the church. 彼得不是教會的根基。 Nobody is the foundation of the church. 沒有任何人是教會的根基。 Christ Jesus is the only foundation. 耶穌基督乃是那唯一的根基。 Peter is just a little small stone. 彼得只不過是一塊小石頭。 A chip out of the rock. 是從磐石裡面出來的。 And our Lord Jesus is the rock. 我們的主耶穌乃是那磐石。 He is the sure foundation. 祂是那個真正的根基。 You remember the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians chapter 3. 你知道 在更多前述第三章 使徒保羅那裡這樣說 He said I am like a master builder. 我乃像是一個工頭。 Literally it is I am a foreman. 我是一個工頭。 I lay the foundation. 我在那裡立下了根基。 There is no other foundation. 在那裡沒有別的根基 that can be laid. 可以在那裡立下。 The foundation is Jesus Christ. 根基乃是耶穌基督。 And we are all being built upon it. 我們都是在上面被建造。 So brothers and sisters what is the foundation of the church? 教會的根基是什麼? The foundation of the church is Christ Jesus. 教會的根基乃是耶穌基督。 But we find in Ephesians chapter 2 verse 20. 我們在英佛所書第二章 第二十節那裡告訴我們。 There you find the apostle Paul says the church is built upon the foundations of the apostles. 使徒保羅說 教會是被建造在 使徒和 先知的根基上。 And Christ Jesus is the cornerstone. 耶穌基督自己為防角石。 And then if you read Revelation chapter 21. 你讀取石墓第二十一章的時候。 You find in New Jerusalem 你發現在 新耶路撒冷的裡面 there are twelve foundations. 在那邊有十二個根基。 And the names written on the twelve foundations are the twelve apostles of our Lord Jesus. 那十二個根基上面就寫著 十二個使徒的名字。 So is there any contradiction here? 在這裡有沒有 一些的矛盾呢? We know there is none. 我們知道那裡沒有。 The foundation of the church is Jesus Christ. 教會的根基 乃是耶穌基督。 The reason why you find in Ephesians and in Revelations 你看在 英佛所書跟在其實論裡面 仍然的記載 that the twelve apostles seem to be the twelve foundations of the New Jerusalem. 那十二個使徒 好像是 新耶路撒冷的根基。 Why? 為什麼呢? Because we are told. 因為是這樣說。 In Ephesians chapter three 在英佛所第三章的裡面 we are told that the mystery 那個奧秘 was revealed to the apostles and the prophets. 那個奧秘乃是向使徒 跟先知來啟示出來。 In other words, today we know about our Lord Jesus. 今天我們能夠認識我們的主, it is through the apostles. 是藉著使徒 our Lord Jesus revealed himself to the apostles. 我們的主把他自己 啟示給使徒們。 And the apostles deliver that revelation to us. 使徒們就把這個啟示 傳遞給我們。 In 1 Corinthians chapter 11 在哥文多前述 第十一章的裡面, when Paul mentioned this matter of the lost table, 當保羅在那裡講到 主的註詞的時候, he said, I deliver to you what I have received from the Lord. 他說,我傳給你們的 就是我從主那裡領受的。 It is not something that is invented by the apostles. 這不是使徒們所發明的。 He received it from the Lord. 他說,是我從主領受的。 And he faithfully delivered it to us. 他就很忠心的 來傳給我們。 The apostle John in 1 John 使徒約翰在 約翰一書的裡面, he said, our fellowship, we fellowship with you, and our fellowship is with the Father and with the Son. 他說,我跟你們交通, 我們的交通是 與父與子來相交。 So the source is the Father and the Son. 所以那個交通的起源 是父與子。 The apostles do not have any teaching. 使徒沒有 自己的教訓。 The apostles do not have any personal fellowship. 使徒他們沒有 自己的一個交通。 Their teaching is the teaching of Christ. 他們的教導乃是 耶穌基督的教導。 Their fellowship is the fellowship of God's Son, Jesus Christ. 他們講的交通乃是 與神的兒子耶穌基督的交通。 So we find the foundation of the church is none other but Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 所以我們看到教會的 根基乃是耶穌基督 並他釘死之架。 But after our Lord Jesus revealed the church to the apostles, 當我們看到 神把教會 啟示給使徒的時候, Then immediately afterwards in verse 21, 馬上在 馬太十六章第二十一節那裡 告訴我們, From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go away to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed and the third day be raised. 從此 耶穌才只是門徒, 他必須上耶路撒冷去, 受長老祭司長文釋許多的苦, 並且被殺, 第三日復活。 Our Lord revealed to Peter 我們的主 向彼得啟示他自己, I will build my church. 我要建造我的教會。 And it will be built on the rock. 這個教會要建造在這盤石上。 It will be built upon himself. 是建造他自己的身上。 Then He further revealed to His disciples 向他的門徒們啟示, that He must go to Jerusalem. 他必須上耶路撒冷。 He will be rejected by the chief priests, by the scribes, by the Pharisees. 他要受長老祭司長文釋對他的拒絕。 He will be killed, 並且被殺。 But on the third day, He will be raised from the dead. 第三日他要從死裡復活。 This is the first time that Our Lord Jesus began to reveal to His disciples what will happen to Him. 這是主第一次 向他的門徒啟示說 他所要受的。 After He has revealed the church, 當他啟示出教會, After He has revealed that He is the foundation of the church, 當他啟示出他是教會的根基, Then He began to explain to His disciples. 然後他就向他的門徒們來解釋, How is this foundation laid? 這一個根基 是如何的在那個立下? He said He must go to Jerusalem. 他說他要上耶路撒冷去。 He must be killed. 他要受被殺。 But on the third day, He will be raised. 第三天他要復活。 Before His crucifixion, 當他釘十字架以前, We find there are three occasions 我們發現呢, 有三次。 That Our Lord Jesus revealed to His disciples about His crucifixion. 我們的主三次 來啟示出他 要釘十字架。 This is the first occasion. 這是頭一次。 Then we find in chapter 17 of Matthew, 我們再看在馬太十七章的時候, After His transformation, 當他改變形象之後, Then He was in Galilee. 他在加利利。 And in Galilee, He continued to reveal to His disciples. 他在加利利繼續向他的門徒 來啟示出他自己。 That He must go to Jerusalem and be killed. 他要上耶路撒冷 並且被殺。 Then the third occasion was in Matthew chapter 20. 第三次是在馬太第二十章。 On His way to Jerusalem. 當他要上耶路撒冷的路上, He again revealed to His disciples. 他再次向他的門徒們 啟示出 他要被釘在十字架上。 Now brothers and sisters, 弟兄姊妹們, 為什麼是這樣呢? Our Lord Jesus is the foundation of the church. 我們的主耶穌乃是教會的根基。 And that foundation is the confession of Peter. 那一個根基乃是 彼得所承認的。 That you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. 你是基督,是永生神的兒子。 Our Lord Jesus is the Son of God. 我們的主耶穌乃是神的兒子。 He is the Eternal Son of the Eternal God. 祂是永遠的神, 那永遠的兒子。 He is forever the Son of God. 祂永遠是神的兒子。 Even after He came into this world. 當祂來到這個地上的時候, And He called Himself the Son of Man. 祂稱自己為仁子。 And yet He is still the Son of God. 但祂仍然是神的兒子。 The Father acknowledged that. 父在那裡念納祂。 This is my beloved Son. 這是我的愛子。 That never changes. And He as the Son was sent into this world. 祂做兒子被拆到這個地上。 To be Christ. 成為基督。 Christ means the Anointed. 基督乃是說到被高的。 He was anointed to do a job. 祂是被高命 做這個工作。 He was sent on a mission. 祂是被差派做這個職勢。 So our Lord Jesus again and again said, 我們的主一再地說, The one who sent me 猜我來的。 I'm here not by myself. 我來不是靠我自己。 There is one who sent me, my father who sent me. 是我的父猜我來的。 And I must do His will. 我要活出他的旨意。 He was sent to accomplish a work. 祂被猜前來 是完成一個工作。 The work of redemption. 是完成救贖的工作。 But brothers and sisters, how can we accomplish that mission? 祂如何能夠完成 這一個職勢? He has to go to the cross. 祂必須要上十字架。 If He does not go to the cross, 如果祂沒有上十字架的話, that mission cannot be accomplished. 那一個工作 那一個職勢就不能夠完成。 He will fail to be Christ. 祂就不能夠成為基督。 So He must go to the cross. He tells His disciples, 你們承認我是基督。 You acknowledge me as the Christ. 你們承認我是基督。 The foundation of the church. 教會的根基。 Now let me tell you. 我在告訴你。 How am I going to fulfill my mission? 我怎麼樣能夠完成 我的職勢? That I may truly be the Christ. 我能夠真正的成為那基督。 I have to go to the cross. 我一定要上十字架。 There is no other way. 沒有別的方法。 Without the cross, we have no Christ. 如果沒有 十字架,就沒有基督。 Because He cannot accomplish His purpose. 因為祂不能夠完成 祂的旨意。 Thank God. Our Lord Jesus not only came into this world. 我們的主耶穌不單止 來到這個地上。 Our brothers have already mentioned this. 我們的弟兄們已經提到這個。 How He was equal with God. 祂如何的與神同道。 But He emptied Himself. 但是祂倒空了祂自己。 He cannot empty Himself of His deity. 祂不能夠倒空祂的神格。 Because that's what He is. 因為這是祂所示的。 But He emptied Himself of all the glory and honor around deity. 那祂是把祂神格裡面 一切的豐富 榮耀都倒空。 His place. 祂的地位。 His power, authority. 祂的能力,祂的權柄。 He can empty Himself of these things. 祂可以倒空 祂自己的一切。 In order to be a man. 然後祂成為一個人。 And the form is the form of a bond slave. 祂取了一個奴僕的形象。 That is to say, He has no right of anything. 就是說明 祂沒有任何的權利。 He was obedient to the Father. 祂順服 祂的父親。 Even unto death. 順服以至於死。 Dear brothers and sisters, we thank God for sending His Son into this world. His incarnation is a great mystery. We thank God for sending His Son into this world and live for 33 years. But as our brothers already mentioned, if on the Mount of Transfiguration 在變化山上 when Moses and Elijah talk with Him about His exodus. He can easily exit from that mountain to the throne. Because He lives a perfect life. He has lived a life that is a man in God's heart. He is worthy to return. But He refused to return. He came down from the mountain and He went to Jerusalem. And went to the cross. It is for our sake. So dear brothers and sisters, Christ crucified is absolutely necessary to our Lord Jesus. Without that He cannot be Christ. And you know how Satan tried to persuade Him from the cross. Even when He was tempted 40 days in the wilderness. Satan tempted Him. You don't need to go to the cross. All you need to do came from the temple. And let everybody see you descending. And they were all believing. Brothers and sisters, our Lord rejected. That is not the way for His exodus. And even at this last minute Satan tried to use His beloved disciples to dissuade Him from the cross. But our Lord knows better. Thank God. So brothers and sisters, first of all, the cross is necessary for our Lord Jesus. If we proclaim a crossless Christ, there is no salvation. But more than that, our Lord Jesus, He went to the cross. He was there for 6 hours. From 9 o'clock in the morning to 12 o'clock. We find that He was surrounded by His enemies. Not only the priests and the people, they mocked Him. Even the robbers that were crucified with Him mocked Him. And in the darkness, in the hidden way, the enemy is surrounding Him. He suffered tremendously, not only physically, but mentally. But thank God, His Father was with Him. Then at 12 o'clock, we find that the sun was dark. And it was from 12 o'clock to 3 o'clock. It was not man, not man, that rejected Him and crucified Him. It was not just Satan trying to destroy Him. His own Father, whom He loved from eternity, turned His face against Him. In Isaiah 53, it says, Jehovah, God, crush Him. And that's the time when He cried out, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? He does not say, My Father. When He was first crucified, He said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. The Father was with Him. But now, God, the God of the universe, the holy God, the righteous God, crush Him. Because there He became a sin offering. He who knows no sin was made sin for us. Brothers and sisters, He could not bear it. He cried out. And the Father could not bear it. So He turned His face to the love of God. Thank God. Our Lord Jesus suffered eternal death for us during those three hours. Separated from God. That is eternal death. But He was willing for us that we may be saved. Before He passed away, He said, It is finished. The work of redemption is done. Christ has fulfilled His mission. And He gave His Spirit back to His Father. In other words, The Father has received Him back. Because the next day is a great Sabbath. So no one that is cursed and hanged should be there. So the soldiers came. Usually when a person is crucified, it is a lingering death. So they came to make sure that those who were crucified were dead or may dead. The two robbers, they are still living. So they break their legs to speed them to death. But when they come to the Lord, they saw He was already dead. But to make sure that He was dead, a soldier thrust his spear into His side. And out of it comes out blood and water. And Apostle John was there. He saw it. And he witnessed, bear witness to it. In John chapter 19, He said, I saw it. Blood and water came out. I bear witness to it. And my witness is true. Now brothers and sisters, why is it that John is so emphatic on this fact? Because out of his broken heart, came out the last and it is already disintegrated. Blood and water. What is the meaning of it? Because the blood and water that came out of the side of our Lord is the material for the building of the house of God. Blood for the remission of sins. Water giving His life to us. He poured out His life like water. Brothers and sisters, these are the materials for the building of the church. The church is not built with you and me. The church is built with the blood and water in you and me. The material for the building of the house is Christ Himself in you and me. It is not you and me. It is Christ in you and me. It is His blood that washes away all our sins. That clears up all the sins that are against God. And it is His life poured out into us. And this becomes the building material of the church. So, brothers and sisters, we find that the cross is necessary for our Lord Jesus. Because without it, He cannot fulfill His mission as Christ. On the contrary, He will be our condemnation instead of our justification. Because He is the only one who lives a perfect life. But thank God He is willing to go to the cross for our sake. Now, brothers and sisters, and from this very cross of Christ, comes the material for the building of the church. I believe, brothers and sisters, we need to see this very clearly. Because to many, when you talk about the church, now, what is the church? Many people think that church is that stone building or brick building or even wood building around the corner of the street. And I believe, brothers and sisters, we know better. We know this is not the church. Now we say, what is the church? We say, church are those who are saved. Because the church means the called-out ones gather together. So, we are the called-out ones and we gather together. So, that is the church. In other words, we are the church. Now, in one sense, that is true. But in the strictest sense, this is not true. The church is not you and me. They are you and me. But the church is not built with that. The church is built that which comes out of Christ. Because only that which comes out of Christ can return to Christ. The church is a living body. It rejects all foreign elements. So, what is not of Christ will be rejected. Only what is of Christ can be joined into the body of Christ. I think this is a very important principle we need to hold on. The problem with the church today is not outside. It is not outward of persecution. Fact tells us the more persecution, the stronger the church. The problem of the church is you and me. Are you seeking for a perfect church? Some people said, if you are there, there is no perfect church. That is very true. We are the problem. Because we in our natural life is a foreign element. So, to the living church of the living God, it will be rejected. That is why we say again and again, the cross needs to work in us. It so works that it will eliminate all that is not of Christ. Only what is remain of Christ will be built into the living church of God. The cross is not only a necessity to Christ. The cross is a necessity to everyone of us. His cross gave us the strength to bear our cross. So, after all, it is from Him, through Him, and unto Him. Let us pray. Dear Lord, our hearts are deeply moved by Thy love. Our hearts are moved by Thy love. Who are we that Thou willing to go to the cross? Sometimes, Lord, we wonder if it is worthwhile. Thou has done so much for us. But where? We pray that Thy Spirit will search our hearts. Do not spare us. May Thy cross be transplanted into us. And deliver us from ourselves. That Thy eternal purpose may be fulfilled in us. Dear Lord, forgive us. Forgive us for delaying Thy return. Pray that we may, by Thy grace, be a people who hasten Thy return. Quickly, Lord Jesus, in Thy precious name we pray.