(合用 可用 隨便用)
譯本是參照 AFV (A Faithful Version) 2009
1. “And to the angel of the church in Sardis, write: These things says He Who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your works, and that you have a name as if you are alive, but are dead. 2. Be watchful, and strengthen the things that remain, which are about to die. For I have not found your works complete before God. 3. Therefore, remember what you have received and heard, and hold on to this, and repent. Now then, if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you shall by no means know what hour I will come upon you. 4. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with Me in white because they are worthy. 5. The one who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments; and I will not blot out his name from the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 6. The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (A Faithful Version)
1. 寫信給撒狄信眾的信息,是這樣:那擁有神的七靈和七星的,說:我曉得你們的所作所為,因此有了一些名氣,給人的印象是活得精彩,其實是死的。
3. 你們若是能回顧從前所領受的,所聽見的道理,能從改過中持守,悔改。若是仍不理會,我就會像賊一樣,在你不覺的時候到來。
4. 在撒狄,還有幾位仍未污穢自己的,他們要穿白衣與我同行,因為是配得的。
5. 那站得穩的,必穿白衣。也必不會從生命冊上除名,並且在父面前,會認許這個名字。
6. 凡有耳的,就應當聽聖靈向信眾所說的話。
約翰聽白衣人,胸前有祭司象徵的飾物,手中有七星劍,遊走在七燼臺前的七靈,也許就是七長老的,對撒狄的信眾說,一些看似嘉獎的說話,卻不是嘉獎而是相反的含義:生等如死。
看來這是個非常真實的社會現象,不單是在那個新約初啟的年代,在今日,看來也是一樣,就是活得精彩的,如有名氣有錢財有權力的,這些都是人追求的事。是生存得好的夢想,有什麼不對?那擁有七星的似乎不是對精彩的人生有疑問,而是精彩的背後是帶來死亡。
精彩卻引來死亡是什麼意思?也許簡單言之,就是不擇手段。傷人有可能,傷天害理的就很難說了。從約翰的描述,這類別的人是與撒旦為盟友的人。相信這樣的理解不會錯,那麼這人活得精彩卻是死路一條,就明白得多。
這是二個生存的觀念:一個以人為本,一個以傷人害人為本。
若這些信眾當中,聽過耶穌說過展示過那些信仰的精神和原則的,這些人理應在為人處事,以愛為本,它可以同樣在人生和事業上,令這人活得同樣精彩,因為信仰與個人成就不是對立而是相輔相成。這些聽過信仰為何採用不理他人死活這種方式,以私慾為尚,走所謂用力少收獲多這樣的途徑,又可以享受自立為王這種方式,看似輝煌,卻在天國的護照要求,有極大的抵觸,是進天國的死路。因為天國收的是活人,不是死人。
撒狄教會個個死人?不是。那些不以虛榮,不將人性放下,過充實自己,助己又助人一起成長,一起和諧生活的,這人將會有一件白衣,就是天國的通行証,是這等人配得擁有。因為在生命冊上,早有了登記。
你有登記嗎?

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