The World needs Peace 世界需要和平
1.We know that God desires peace in the world, for the Bible asks Christians to pray for peace: “for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life.” (1 Timothy 2:2-3 ) 我們知道上帝希望和平臨到世界，因聖經說基督徒要為平安祈禱：“為君王和一切在位的也該如此，使我們可以敬虔、端正、平安無事地度日。這是好的，在神我們救主面前可蒙悅納”（提魔太前書2:2-3）
2.Are you sad when you see the lack of harmony in today’s world? The Bible describes the problems in our world this way: “Where do the conflicts and quarrels among you come from? Is it not from the desires that are striving in you ? You want something, and can’t have it, You kill and are greedy and still can’t get what you want; you fight and argue.” (James 4:1-2) 當你目睹今日世界缺乏和諧的時，你會難過嗎? 聖經描述我們世界的問題時, 如此說: “你們中間的爭戰、鬥毆是從哪裡來的呢？不是從你們百體中戰鬥之私慾來的嗎？你們貪戀，還是得不著；你們殺害嫉妒，又鬥毆爭戰，也不能得。”（雅各書4：1-2）
3.It is good to have harmony as an ideal, but there is a problem in people’s hearts. Jesus said: “out of the heart come all your evil ideas, wanting to kill, wanting to cheat on your wife, wanting to do sexual sins, wanting to steal, wanting to lie, wanting to say bad words about God.” (Matthew 15:19) 和諧是非常好的理想，但是問題源自人的內心。耶穌說: “因為從心裡發出來的，有惡念、兇殺、姦淫、苟合、偷盜、妄證、謗讟.”（馬太福音15：19）
4.The problem is not only in bad people, but can be found in our hearts too. The Bible says: you have no excuse, whoever you are that wants to judge others. In those areas that you criticize others, you are actually criticizing yourself, because you do the same things that you complain about. (Romans 2:1) (examples: resentment at playing our role in our family; refusing to forgive others; gossip). 這個問題不僅存在於壞人，也存在於我們的內心。 。聖經說： “你這論斷人的，無論你是誰，也無可推諉。你在什麼事上論斷人，就在什麼事上定自己的罪，因你這論斷人的，自己所行卻和別人一樣.”（羅馬書2：1）例如說，家裡的衝突，不願彼此饒恕，談別人秘密的事情。 )
5.The Bible says tells us to live in peace with each other. (1 Thess 5:13). Jesus himself says, I give you a new command: love one another.” (John 13:34). When we do not want to live in harmony, we show that we do not want to obey God. 聖經高速我們彼此要和睦相處.（帖撒羅尼迦前書5：13）。耶穌說: “我賜給你們一條新命令，乃是叫你們彼此相愛.”（約翰福音13：34）。我們不和諧的行為就是違背神的旨意。
6.The Bible uses the word “sin” to mean “refusing to obey God,” not only by our actions, but also by our words and in our thoughts. Jesus said, “you have heard that people long ago were told not to murder, and that those who murder deserve to be judged; but I say to you that anyone who has hate for his brother deserves to be judged.” (Matthew 5:21-22). 聖經使用“罪”這個字來代表違反神的態度,不僅是在行為上，也是在語言上和思想上的問題。耶穌說：”你們聽見有吩咐古人的話說：’不可殺人’，又說：’凡殺人的難免受審判。’ 只是我告訴你們，凡向弟兄動怒的，難免受審判.”（馬太福音5 ：21-22）
7.Our sin has caused a problem: because of sin, we are far from God. The Bible says about people’s relationship to God that “you were once separated and were enemies in your thoughts and your evil actions.” (Colossians 1:21 ) Being far from God shows itself in guilt, regret, lack of meaning in life, and hopelessness. 我們因犯罪產生一個問題:，就是遠離神。有關人跟神的關係，聖經說聖經說： “你們從前與神隔絕，因著惡行，心裡與他為敵.”(歌羅西書1:21 ) 遠離神帶來人類的罪惡感，後悔，缺乏生命意義和失去希望。
8.Because of sin, although our body is alive, our soul is dead, that is, our soul cannot connect with God. The Bible says: “you were dead in your evil behavior and sins that you did, going along with the current trends of this world … we all behaved this way, doing whatever we wanted to according to our own body’s thoughts and desires, and we were naturally deserving of wrath, just like everyone else.” (Ephesians 2:1-3) 因為罪的緣故，我們的肉身還活著，但是我們的靈魂卻沒有了生命，也就是說，不能跟神有來往。聖經說： “你們死在過犯罪惡之中…那時你們在其中行事為人…我們從前也都在他們中間，放縱肉體的私慾，隨著肉體和心中所喜好的去行，本為可怒之子，和別人一樣.”(以弗所書2:13)
9.God hates evil. God is just, so God must punish people who do not obey. The Bible says, “God’s anger from heaven is shown on all the people who do not respect him or do what is right, and who in their rejection of what is right refuse to agree with the truth.” (Romans 1:18)。 But God will help us escape from this punishment. 神憎恨罪惡。因為神是公正的，所以神必須 懲罰違背神的人。聖經說： “原來，神的憤怒從天上顯明在一切不虔不義的人身上，就是那些行不義阻擋真理的人.”(羅馬書1:18). 但是神會救我們脫離這種懲罰。
10.Because God loves us, and would not like us to receive this punishment，therefore God sent His Son to deal with the problem of sin and punishment. The Bible says, “God loves the world so much that he sent his only son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”(John 3:16) 因為神愛我們，不想讓我們受到這一類的處罰，所以神派遣耶穌到世上來，為了要處理罪惡和審判的問題。聖經說：“神愛世人，甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們，叫一切信他的不致滅亡，反得永生.”(約翰福音 3:16)
11.God’s son is named Jesus, also called Christ. The Bible tells how Jesus took care of our problem: ““you were once separated and were enemies of God in your thoughts and your evil actions, but now He (Jesus Christ) has brought you back to Gd again through His physical death, so you can stand before God as acceptable, without defect and without blame.” (Colossians 1:21-22) 神的兒子叫耶穌，也被稱為基督。有關耶穌在十字架犧牲生命的事，聖經說： “你們從前與神隔絕，因著惡行，心裡與他為敵；但如今他藉著基督的肉身受死，叫你們與自己和好，都成了聖潔，沒有瑕疵，無可責備，把你們引到自己面前.” (歌羅西書1:21-22)
12.This is how the birth of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, also called the Messiah, happened. “Joseph was engaged to Jesus’ mother Mary, but before they lived together she had a baby in her womb from the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband-to-be was a just man and did not want anyone to know, so he decided secretly to send her away. While he was thinking about this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, “Joseph son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the baby in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus, for he will save the people from their sins.” All this has happened to fulfil the word of the Lord through the prophet saying, “Behold, a virgin will be pregnant and give birth to a son, and his name will be called Immanuel,” which is translated as God with us. Rising from sleep, Joseph did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do and accepted his wife. He did not have sexual relations with her until after the son was born, and he called his name Jesus. (Matthew 1:18-25).
上帝的兒子耶穌基督，也稱彌賽亞，出生的經過是這樣的: “他母親馬利亞已經許配了約瑟，還沒有迎娶，馬利亞就從聖靈懷了孕。她丈夫約瑟是個義人，不願意明明地羞辱她，想要暗暗地把她休了。正思念這事的時候，有主的使者向他夢中顯現，說：“大衛的子孫約瑟，不要怕，只管娶過你的妻子馬利亞來，因她所懷的孕是從聖靈來的。她將要生一個兒子，你要給他起名叫耶穌，因他要將自己的百姓從罪惡裡救出來。 ” 這一切的事成就，是要應驗主借先知所說的話說：“必有童女懷孕生子，人要稱他的名為以馬內利。 ”（“以馬內利”翻出來就是“神與我們同在”。）約瑟醒了，起來，就遵著主使者的吩咐把妻子娶過來，只是沒有和她同房，等她生了兒子，就給他起名叫耶穌.”（馬太福音1:18-25）
13.Jesus lived in Israel about 2000 years ago, when Israel was controlled by the Roman Empire. The Bible tells about the birth of Jesus like this: At that time, Roman emperor Caesar Augustus commanded everyone to register… everyone went to register, each to his native city. Joseph went … to the city of David, called Bethlehem, …, because he was a descendant of David, to register with Mary, engaged to be his wife, who was pregnant. The time had come for her to give birth. She gave birth to her first-born son, wrapped him in cloths, and laid him in the place where animals ate, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7). ( Because Jesus was born when the emperor ordered people to register, we know Jesus was a historic person, not a myth. ) (The international way to number years (that is, AD and BC) uses the birth of Jesus as its basis.) 耶穌生活在2000年前的以色列，當時以色列在羅馬帝國的統治以下。聖經這樣描述耶穌的誕生: “當那些日子，愷撒奧古斯都有旨意下來，叫天下人民都報名上冊。… 眾人各歸各城，報名上冊。約瑟也…去到大衛的城，名叫伯利恆，因他本是大衛一族一家的人，要和他所聘之妻馬利亞一同報名上冊。那時馬利亞的身孕已經重了。他們在那裡的時候，馬利亞的產期到了, 就生了頭胎的兒子，用布包起來，放在馬槽裡，因為客店裡沒有地方.”(路加福音2:1-7). 因為耶穌出生在皇帝下令註冊登記的時候，所以我們知道耶穌是歷史上的人物，不是神話。 ）國際記年的方法（就是使用公元前和公元後）是以耶穌誕生作為基準。
14.In Israel at that time, Jesus “went everywhere doing good and healing those who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” (Acts 10:38) 在當時的以色列，耶穌“周流四方，行善事，醫好凡被魔鬼壓制的人，因為神與他同在.” (使徒行轉10:38)
15.Jesus shows the nature of God. The Bible says, “No one has ever seen God, but the only Son of God, who is intimately close to God the Father, and who was brought into being as human, has made God known.” (John 1:18) 耶穌表明出神的本質。聖經說: “從來沒有人看見神，只有在父懷裡的獨生子將他表明出來.” (約翰福音 1:18)
16.Some people in Israel did not like Jesus. Here Peter, a disciple of Jesus, accuses them: “You handed him over to lawless people who killed him by nailing him to the cross, but God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was not possible for death to hold him … everyone in Israel now needs to know that this Jesus, whom you killed on the cross, is the one that God has made to be Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:23, 24, 36). 有些住在以色列的人不喜歡耶穌。耶穌的門徒彼得就控告他們說:“他既按著神的定旨、先見被交於人，你們就藉著無法之人的手，把他釘在十字架上殺了。神卻將死的痛苦解釋了，叫他復活，因為他原不能被死拘禁。 … 故此，以色列全家當確實地知道：你們釘在十字架上的這位耶穌，神已經立他為主、為基督了.”(使徒行轉 2:23-24, 36)
17.Jesus took our place. When Jesus was on the cross, God put the punishment for our sin upon Jesus; God will not punish us, because Jesus took away our sin. The Bible says that Jesus: “carried our sins on his body upon the cross, in order that we, rejecting our sins, will live for righteousness; by his wounds we are healed.” (1 Peter 2:24). 耶穌代替我們，當耶穌釘在十字架的時候，神把我們原來應該受的懲罰由耶穌擔當，神不會懲罰我們，因為耶穌贖我們的罪。聖經說耶穌:“被掛在木頭上，親身擔當了我們的罪，使我們既然在罪上死，就得以在義上活。因他受的鞭傷，你們便得了醫治.”(彼得前書 2:24)
18.Jesus sometimes called himself “son of man.” He said that the reason he, the son of man, came to earth was “not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for all.” (Mark 10:45) 。耶穌偶爾稱自己為”人子.” 耶穌說他來到世界的目的：“因為人子來並不是要受人的服侍，乃是要服侍人，並且要捨命做多人的贖價.”(馬可福音10:45)
19.The Bible explains that “since people must die once, and after that face judgement, therefore Christ offered himself one time to bear the sins of many, and will appear a second time, not because of sin, but to those who are waiting for him to come and save them.” (Hebrews 9:27-28). 聖經說明: “按著定命，人人都有一死，死後且有審判；像這樣，基督既然一次被獻，擔當了多人的罪，將來要向那等候他的人第二次顯現，並與罪無關，乃是為拯救他們.”(希伯來書9:26-28)
20.Three days after Jesus died, he “was shown to be the Son of God … by rising from the dead.” (Romans 1:4). Jesus is both God and man. If Jesus was not a man, He could not die. If Jesus was not God, his death could not have forgiven the sins of the people of the world. 耶穌死後三天,” 因從死裡復活，以大能顯明是神的兒子.” (羅馬書1 ：4)。耶穌是神，同時也是人。耶穌如果不降世為人，不能為人受死；他若非真神，就算犧牲生命也不能救贖世人的罪。
21.Because Jesus died and rose, “now in Christ Jesus you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13). 因為耶穌死而復活， “你們從前遠離神的人，如今卻在基督耶穌裡，靠著他的血，已經得親近了.” （以弗所書2:13）
22.Whoever believes in Jesus has harmony with God, because the Bible says: “ now that we have been declared righteous through faith, you have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.“ (Romans 5:1) God gives us peace. The Bible says, “Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers and requests, with thanksgiving, tell God what you need, and as a result the peace of God, which is far beyond anything we can understand, will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7) Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, peace I give to you, It is not the kind of peace you can get from the world.” ( John 14:27 ). 相信耶穌的人都是跟神和好，因為聖經說“我們既因信稱義，就藉著我們的主耶穌基督得與神相和.” (羅馬書5：1) . 神賜平安。聖經說：” 應當一無掛慮，只要凡事藉著禱告、祈求和感謝，將你們所要的告訴神. 神所賜出人意外的平安，必在基督耶穌裡保守你們的心懷意念.” (腓立比書4:6-7 CSBS)。耶穌說：”我留下平安給你們，我將我的平安賜給你們。我所賜的不像世人所賜的，你們心裡不要憂愁，也不要膽怯。” (約翰福音 14:27)
23.Jesus died and rose to forgive our sin, so we do not need to feel guilt. The Bible says that because of Jesus “we have been set free and our sins are forgiven.” (Colossians 1:14). 因為耶穌死而復活，我們的罪得到赦免，所以我們就不需要活在罪惡感的轄制中。聖經說, “我們在愛子裡得蒙救贖，罪過得以赦免.”（歌 羅 西 書 1:14）
24.Because Jesus died and rose, we do not need to fear death. The Bible says: “death is the end-result of sin; but eternal life is the gift of God, through in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 6 :23) 因為耶穌死而復活，我們就不用懼怕死亡。聖經說：” 因為罪的工價乃是死，唯有神的恩賜，在我們的主基督耶穌裡乃是永生。“ （ 羅馬書 6：23）
25.You receive God’s love even though you do not deserve it, because the Bible says “you are saved by grace though faith; this does not come from you, but rather is God’s gift to you, not because of your good works, so there is nothing you can boast about.”. (Ephesians 2:8-9) 我們領受神的愛，雖然我們不配，因為聖經說：” 你們得救是本乎恩，也因著信。這並不是出於自己，乃是神所賜的；也不是出於行為，免得有人自誇.”（以弗所書嗎2：8-9）
26.Whoever trusts in Jesus becomes part of God’s family, for the Bible says, “you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26 ). 相信耶穌，就成為神家庭的一員，因聖經說：所以，你們因信基督耶穌，都是神的兒子.”（加拉太書3:26 ）
27.Being in harmony with God brings harmony with others. The Bible says: Accept one another just as Christ has accepted you.” (Romans 15:7.) 跟神和好，我們就跟別人也和睦。聖經說：”所以，你們要彼此接納，如同基督接納你們一樣，使榮耀歸於神。 (羅馬書15：7)
28.Believers live day by day trusting in the promises of God, such as “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid; no one can do anything to me.” (Hebrews 13:6), and “the peace of God,which is far beyond anything we can understand, will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7). 信徒依靠上帝的應許生活。此應許包括：” 我總不撇下你，也不丟棄你.”（希伯來書13:5）和“神所賜出人意外的平安，必在基督耶穌裡保守你們的心懷意念.”腓立比書4:7)。
29.You can hear the promises in church, for the Bible says “Do not stop meeting together, as some are doing, but rather encourage one another, and all the more so because the (last) day is coming closer.” … “ and think about motivating one another to love and doing good.” (Hebrews 10:25 and 24). 在教會裡也可以聽到深的應許，因聖經說: “你們不可停止聚會，好像那些停止慣了的人，倒要彼此勸勉；既知道那日子臨近，就更當如此… 又要彼此相顧，激發愛心，勉勵行善.” （希伯來書10:25 和24）
30.Baptism makes us sure we will be saved, because the Bible says: “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved.” (Mark 16:16) 洗禮使我們確定會得救，因為聖經說：” 信而受洗的必然得救.”（馬可福音16：16）
31.When a believer receives the Lord’s supper, he again is made sure that that Christ died for him, for Jesus said about the cup of wine: “This is my blood of the covenant poured out for you for forgiveness of sins.” ( Matthew 26:28) 信徒領聖餐也是獲得得救的確信，因為耶穌有關那杯酒說：”這是我立約的血，為多人流出來，使罪得赦。“ (馬太福音26:28 )
32.Jesus is always with believers, making them able to live for God, thus filling their lives with meaning. The Bible says: “God is at work in you to make you want to do what pleases him, and to be able to do it.” (Philippians 2:13) 耶穌永遠與信徒同在，使他們能夠為神而活。聖經說:” 因為你們立志行事，都是神在你們心裡運行，為要成就他的美意.”（腓立比書2:13）
33.Jesus sends the Holy Spirit into a believer’s life to give power to live for God: The Bible says: “the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self -control.” (Galatians 5:22-23). 耶穌賜下聖靈幫助信徒能夠為神而活。聖經說: “聖靈所結的果子，就是仁愛、喜樂、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信實、溫柔、節制；這樣的事沒有律法禁止.” （加拉太書5:22-23 ）
34.Jesus invites you: “repent and believe the good news” (the “good news” is also called “the gospel.” (Mark 1:15) 耶穌邀請你：“悔改，相信福音.”（馬可福音1 :15 ）
(“repent” means “Lord, I have disobeyed you, sinned against you, please forgive me.”) （“悔改“的意思是“主啊，我違背過你，得罪你，求你赦免我”）
(“ believe the good news” means you believe Jesus and the salvation he gained for you on the cross.)（“信福音“表示你相信且接受耶穌和他在十架上為你而死的救恩。）
35.Jesus’ disciple Peter urged: “each of you, repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 2:38) 耶穌的門徒彼得權說∶” “你們各人要悔改，奉耶穌基督的名受洗，叫你們的罪得赦，”（使徒行傳2:38）.
36.A believer told the Apostle Paul: “calling upon his name, be baptized and wash away your sins.” (Acts 22:16) 一位信徒這樣勸使徒保羅：” 起來，求告他的名受洗，洗去你的罪！” （使徒信經22:16 ）
37.The Bible says, “if you agree and say that Jesus is the Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9). Do you believe? 聖經說：” 你若口裡認耶穌為主，心裡信神叫他從死裡復活，就必得救.” (羅馬書10：9-10 ). 你`相信嗎？
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English Bible verses drawn from Greek by the author, Jim Found. Chinese version is Union Version (和合本,CUVMPT, in public domain.