Nov 3_2012 神的應許

講道錄音
主題：神的應許
講員：Rev Simon Lee

http://www.rcac.ca/members/media/353.mp3

I. 「約」的概念
人的應許：一言九鼎，言出必行，言行一致？（合約，合同）
婚約：不在乎天長地久，只在乎曾經擁有！（我願意...無論...)
神的應許：「聖約」(Covenant)

「聖約」(Covenant)的原意：神與創造的約－ God is unshakably committed to His creation, to His human creatures, and to His plans for both.  (Willian J. Dumbrell, Covenant and Creation: A Theology of Old Testament Covenants (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1984), pp. 15-26.)

「聖約」(Covenant) 的基礎：Grace（恩典） - God's Riches At Christ's Expense!

「聖約」(Covenant) 的定義：Covenant refers to the act of God in freely establishing a mutually binding relationship with humankind.  Through the covenant God bestows blessings on human in conditional and unconditional terms.  Conditionally, God blesses humans as they obey the terms of the covenant.  Unconditionally, God bestows blessings on humans regardless of their obedience or disobedience to the terms of the covenant.  God made covenants and his inaugurated the new covenant in Christ, which is for all people who trust in Him (Heb 9:15, 27-28).
Stanley Grenz and others, Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms

舊約：berit　（字根＝bond）出現 285 次
It conveys the ideas of a serious commitment, a guaranteed promise, and a non-negotiable obligation on the part of one or both of the covenant partners.  It is a world that is used primarily for binding relationships between God and human beings.  It can also refer to covenants made between people as well as with oneself. (Gen 21:22-27; Job 31:1)

新約：diatheke, 出現33次（一半是引用舊約）

聖經：舊約＋新約

II.  神與救贖的約：神與創造的約之更新與復原－
１. 挪亞的約 Noahic Covnant (Gen. 9): Global preservation of God's original pattern for human life after the fall and flood; Redemmer from the race of Shem.  (參Genesis 8:22; Genesis 9:1-7)
２. 亞伯拉罕的約 Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 12): Local preservation of God's original pattern for human life after Babel; Redeemer from nation of Israel.
 3.  摩西的約 Mosaic/Sinai/Israeli Covenant (Exod. 19): Consolidation of Israel spiritually and politically as God's creational and law-keeping nation.
 4.  大衛的約 Davidic Covenant (2 Sam. 7): Establishment of a kingly line in Israel; Redeemer from the family of David. (參Jeremiah 33: 20-21)
 5.  新約 New Covenant (Jer. 31): Salvation of the true remnant of Israel after Babylonian captivity; Redeemer in the person of Jesus Christ! (參Col. 1:17; Heb 1:3; Col. 1:20)

III.  「聖約」與我們的關係：重新實現神原初與創造的約：

(1) 人的身份 (the identify of human beings as the image and likeness of God, resulting in relationships with God, others, and the world);
(2) 人管家的使命 the decree to rule and subdue the earth, instituting human culture and civilization; 
(3) 人家庭的責任 the command to man and woman to be fruitful and multiply establishing marriage adn family;
(4) 生活的平衡 (the blessing of the Sabbath as a principle of rest, regulating life in a balanced way before the face of God);
(5) 順服的考驗 (a test of obedience regarding the tree of the knowledge of good evil to determine whether or not humanity would submit to God's royal authority and order human existence according to His creational plan).

Reference:

Willian J. Dumbrell, Covenant and Creation: A Theology of Old Testament Covenants (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1984)