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 kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life.” (1 Timothy 2:2-3) 我们知道上帝希望和平临到世界，因圣经说基督徒要为平安祈祷：“为君王和一切在位的也该如此，使我们可以敬虔、端正、平安无事地度日。这是好的，在神我们救主面前可蒙悦纳”（提摩太前书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) 当你目睹今日世界缺乏和谐的时，你会难过吗? 圣经描述我们世界的问题时, 如此说: “你们中间的争战、斗殴是从哪里来的呢？不是从你们百体中战斗之私欲来的吗？你们贪恋，还是得不着；你们杀害嫉妒，又斗殴争战，也不能得。”（雅各书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) 和谐是非常好的理想，但是问题源自人的内心。耶稣说: “因为从心里发出来的，有恶念、凶杀、奸淫、苟合、偷盗、妄证、谤讟.”（马太福音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). 这个问题不仅存在于坏人，也存在于我们的内心。。圣经说： “你这论断人的，无论你是谁，也无可推诿。你在什么事上论断人，就在什么事上定自己的罪，因你这论断人的，自己所行却和别人一样.”（罗马书2：1）例如说，家里的冲突，不愿彼此饶恕，谈别人秘密的事情。)
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. 圣经高速我们彼此要和睦相处.（帖撒罗尼迦前书5：13）。耶稣说: “我赐给你们一条新命令，乃是叫你们彼此相爱.”（约翰福音13：34）。我们不和谐的行为就是违背神的旨意。
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). 圣经使用“罪”这个字来代表违反神的态度,不仅是在行为上，也是在语言上和思想上的问题。耶稣说：”你们听见有吩咐古人的话说：‘不可杀人’，又说：‘凡杀人的难免受审判。’ 只是我告诉你们，凡向弟兄动怒的，难免受审判.”（马太福音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. 我们因犯罪产生一个问题:，就是远离神。有关人跟神的关系，圣经说圣经说： “你们从前与神隔绝，因着恶行，心里与他为敌.”(歌罗西书1:21 ) 远离神带来人类的罪恶感，后悔，缺乏生命意义和失去希望。
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) 因为罪的缘故，我们的肉身还活着，但是我们的灵魂卻没有了生命，也就是说，不能跟神有来往。圣经说： “你们死在过犯罪恶之中 …那时你们在其中行事为人 …我们从前也都在他们中间，放纵肉体的私欲，随着肉体和心中所喜好的去行，本为可怒之子，和别人一样.”(以弗所书 2:13)
9.God hates evil. God is just, so God ought to 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. 神憎恨罪恶。因为神是公正的，所以神必须 惩罚违背神的人。圣经说： “原来，神的愤怒从天上显明在一切不虔不义的人身上，就是那些行不义阻挡真理的人.”(罗马书 1:18). 但是神会救我们脱离这种惩罚。
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) 因为神爱我们，不想让我们受到这一类的处罚，所以神派遣耶稣到世上来，为了要处理罪恶和审判的问题。圣经说：“神爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的不致灭亡，反得永生.”(约翰福音 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 God again through His physical death, so you can stand before God as acceptable, without defect and without blame.” (Colossians 1:21-22) 神的儿子叫耶稣，也被稱为基督。有关耶稣在十字架牺牲生命的事， 圣经说： “你们从前与神隔绝，因着恶行，心里与他为敌；但如今他借着基督的肉身受死，叫你们与自己和好，都成了圣洁，没有瑕疵，无可责备，把你们引到自己面前.” (歌罗西书 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). 上帝的儿子耶稣基督，也称弥赛亚，出生的经过是这样的: “他母亲马利亚已经许配了约瑟，还没有迎娶，马利亚就从圣灵怀了孕。她丈夫约瑟是个义人，不愿意明明地羞辱她，想要暗暗地把她休了。正思念这事的时候，有主的使者向他梦中显现，说：“大卫的子孙约瑟，不要怕，只管娶过你的妻子马利亚来，因她所怀的孕是从圣灵来的。她将要生一个儿子，你要给他起名叫耶稣，因他要将自己的百姓从罪恶里救出来。” 这一切的事成就，是要应验主借先知所说的话说：“必有童女怀孕生子，人要称他的名为以马内利。”（“以马内利”翻出来就是“神与我们同在”。）约瑟醒了，起来，就遵着主使者的吩咐把妻子娶过来，只是没有和她同房，等她生了儿子，就给他起名叫耶稣.”（马太福音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 from Nazareth in Galilee to the city of David, called Bethlehem, in Judea, 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.) 耶稣生活在2000年前的以色列，当时以色列在罗马帝国的统治以下。圣经这样描述耶稣的诞生: “当那些日子，恺撒奥古斯都有旨意下来，叫天下人民都报名上册。… 众人各归各城，报名上册。约瑟也从加利利的拿撒勒城上犹太去，到了大卫的城，名叫伯利恒，因他本是大卫一族一家的人，要和他所聘之妻马利亚一同报名上册。那时马利亚的身孕已经重了。他们在那里的时候，马利亚的产期到了, 就生了头胎的儿子，用布包起来，放在马槽里，因为客店里没有地方.”(路加福音 2:1-7). 因为耶稣出生在皇帝下令注册登记的时候，所以我们知道耶稣是历史上的人物，不是神话。）国际记年的方法（就是使用公元前和公元后）是以耶稣诞生作为基準。
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) 在当时的以色列，耶稣“周流四方，行善事，医好凡被魔鬼压制的人，因为神与他同在.” (使徒行转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) 耶稣表明出神的本质。圣经说: “从来没有人看见神，只有在父怀里的独生子将他表明出来.” (约翰福音 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欢耶稣。耶稣的门徒彼得就控告他们说:“他既按着神的定旨、先见被交于人，你们就借着无法之人的手，把他钉在十字架上杀了。神却将死的痛苦解释了，叫他复活，因为他原不能被死拘禁。… 故此，以色列全家当确实地知道：你们钉在十字架上的这位耶稣，神已经立他为主、为基督了.”(使徒行转 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). 耶稣代替我们，当耶稣钉在十字架的时候，神把我们原来应该受的惩罚由耶稣担当，神不会惩罚我们，因为耶稣赎我们的罪。圣经说耶稣:“被挂在木头上，亲身担当了我们的罪，使我们既然在罪上死，就得以在义上活。因他受的鞭伤，你们便得了医治.” (彼得前书 2:24)
18.Jesus sometimes called himself “son of man.” He said that the reason he came to earth was “not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for all.” (Mark 10:45) 。 耶稣偶尔称自己为”人子.” 耶稣说他来到世界的目：“因为人子来并不是要受人的服侍，乃是要服侍人，并且要舍命做多人的赎价.”(马可福音 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). 圣经说明: “按着定命，人人都有一死，死后且有审判；像这样，基督既然一次被献，担当了多人的罪，将来要向那等候他的人第二次显现，并与罪无关，乃是为拯救他们.”(希伯来书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. 耶稣死后三天,” 因从死里复活，以大能显明是神的儿子.” (罗马书1：4)。耶稣是神，同时也是人。耶稣如果不降世为人，不能为人受死；他若非真神，就算牺牲生命也不能救赎世人的罪。
21.Because Jesus died and rose, “now in Christ Jesus you who were far have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13). 因为耶稣死而复活， “你们从前远离神的人，如今却在基督耶稣里，靠着他的血，已经得亲近了.” （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 ). 相信耶稣的人都是跟神和好，因为圣经说“我们既因信称义，就借着我们的主耶稣基督得与神相和.” (罗马书5：1). 神赐平安。圣经说：” 应当一无挂虑，只要凡事借着祷告、祈求和感谢，将你们所要的告诉神. 神所赐出人意外的平安，必在基督耶稣里保守你们的心怀意念.” (腓立比书 4:6-7 CSBS)。 耶稣说：”我留下平安给你们，我将我的平安赐给你们。我所赐的不像世人所赐的，你们心里不要忧愁，也不要胆怯。” (约翰福音 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). 因为耶稣死而复活，我们的罪得到赦免，所以我们就不需要活在罪恶感的辖制中。 圣经说, “我们在爱子里得蒙救赎，罪过得以赦免.”（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) 因为耶稣死而复活，我们就不用惧怕死亡。圣经说：” 因为罪的工价乃是死，唯有神的恩赐，在我们的主基督耶稣里乃是永生。“ （ 罗马书 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) 我们领受神的爱，虽然我们不配，因为圣经说：” 你们得救是本乎恩，也因着信。这并不是出于自己，乃是神所赐的；也不是出于行为，免得有人自夸.”（以弗所书吗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 ). 相信耶稣，就成为神家庭的一员，因圣经说：所以，你们因信基督耶稣，都是神的儿子.”（加拉太书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，我们就跟别人也和睦。圣经说：” 所以，你们要彼此接纳，如同基督接纳你们一样，使荣耀归于神。 (罗马书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). 信徒依靠上帝的应许生活。此应许包括：” 我总不撇下你，也不丢弃你.”（希伯來書13:5）和 “神所赐出人意外的平安，必在基督耶稣里保守你们的心怀意念.”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). 在教会里也可以听到深的应许，因圣经说: “你们不可停止聚会，好像那些停止惯了的人，倒要彼此劝勉；既知道那日子临近，就更当如此 … 又要彼此相顾，激发爱心，勉励行善.” （希伯来书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) 洗礼使我们确定会得救，因为圣经说：” 信而受洗的必然得救.”（马可福音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) 信徒领圣餐也是获得得救的确信，因为耶稣有关那杯酒说：”这是我立约的血，为多人流出来，使罪得赦。“ (马太福音 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) 耶稣永远与信徒同在，使他们能够为神而活。圣经说:” 因为你们立志行事，都是神在你们心里运行，为要成就他的美意.”（腓立比书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). 耶稣赐下圣灵帮助信徒能够为神而活。圣经说: “圣灵所结的果子，就是仁爱、喜乐、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信实、温柔、节制；这样的事没有律法禁止.” （加拉太书5:22-23 ）
34.Jesus invites you: “repent and believe the good news” (the “good news” is also called “the gospel.” (Mark 1:15) 耶稣邀请你：“悔改，相信福音.”（马可福音1:15 ）
(“repent” means “Lord, I have disobeyed you, sinned against you, please forgive me.”)
（“悔改“的意思是“主啊，我违背过你，得罪你，求你赦免我”）
(“believe the good news” means you accept Jesus and the salvation he gained for you on the cross.)（“信 福 音“表示你相信且接受耶稣和他在十架上为你而死的救恩。）
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) 耶稣的门徒彼得权说∶” 彼得说：“你们各人要悔改，奉耶稣基督的名受洗，叫你们的罪得赦，就必领受所赐的圣灵.”（使徒行传2:38）.
36.A believer told the Apostle Paul: “calling upon his name, be baptized and wash away your sins.” (Acts 22:16) 一位信徒这样劝使徒保罗：” 起来，求告他的名受洗，洗去你的罪！” （使徒信经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? 圣经说：” 你若口里认耶稣为主，心里信神叫他从死里复活，就必得救.” (罗马书10：9-10 ). 你`相信吗？
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English Bible verses drawn from Greek by the author, Jim Found. Chinese version is Union Version (和合本,CUVMPS, in public domain.