Matthew 马太福音 3:7-12 — The Baptism of the King 君王的施洗

 
  1. The Baptism of John 约翰的施洗 (3:7-10) 
John’s Baptism is the baptism of repentance. True repentance will have genuine works to demonstrate the change of heart. James points out, “Faith without works, is dead” (James 2:17).   

约翰的洗是悔改的洗。属实的悔改必会反应在行为上,以此显明内心真实的改变。雅各指出:“信心若没有行为是死的”(雅2:17)。

 
  1. The Baptism of Holy Spirit 圣灵的施洗 (3:11)
Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit will come and He will be with believers forever. At Pentecost and during the initial formation of the church, the promised Holy Spirit did come upon the disciples, baptizing them and placing them in the body of Christ. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is to place believers into the body of Christ. 1 Cor. 12:13 states clearly, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free.”

耶稣曾应许圣灵会来,并与信徒永远同在。五旬节那日,当教会初步形成时,圣灵确实临到了众信徒,为他们施洗,将他们植入在基督的身子里。圣灵的洗,就是为了将信徒植入到基督的身子里。哥林多前书12:13清楚说明:“我们不拘是犹太人,是希利尼人,是为奴的,是自主的,都从一位圣灵受洗,成了一个身体。”

 
  1. The Baptism of Fire 火的施洗 (3:11-12)
The preceding and following verses (10, 12) John clearly uses fire to represent judgment and punishment.  In verse 10, the text said axe is laid to the root of the trees and that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. And verse 12 said that He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. Unquenchable fire is the description of the burning Hell. So the baptism of fire refers to the judgment of hell.

在前后的两节经文中(第10,12节),约翰清楚表明了火代表审判与刑罚。第10节说:“斧子已经放在树根上,凡不结好果子的树,就砍下来,丢在火里。”第12节也说:“他手里拿着簸箕,要扬净他的场,把麦子收在仓里,把糠用不灭的火烧尽了。”那不灭的火指的就是审判,是地狱不灭的火。所以,火的施洗指的就是下地狱的审判。

 
 
 
 
 
Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告
 
 
1. True repentance will have genuine works to demonstrate the change of heart. Is your daily life reflecting your repentance heart? Pray that we have the fruit of repentance to authenticate the heart of repentance.
 
属实的悔改,必结出相应的果子,显明内心的改变。你的日常行为是否反映出一颗悔改的心?让我们求神叫我们结出悔改的果子,反映一颗切实悔改的心。
 
2. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the placement of Christians into the body of Christ. So how is your body-life? Do you stir up one another to love and good works? Have you neglected to meet together and encourage one another (Heb. 10:24-25)?
 
圣灵的施洗将信徒植入在基督的身子里,使我们彼此为肢体。试问你的肢体生活如何?你与其他肢体是否彼此相顾,激发爱心,勉励行善呢?你是否常常停止聚会,冷落了彼此劝勉呢(来10:24-25)?
 
3. “The Baptism of fire” means judgment. If we are not baptized by the Holy Spirit we will be baptized by fire. If we are not saved we will be damned. Let’s examine our hearts to see if we are in the faith (2 Cor. 13:5). Let’s pray for the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit to see our true condition.
 
“火的施洗”就是审判。我们若不受圣灵的施洗,就会受到火的施洗;我们若不得拯救,就会被审判。让我们自己省察有信心没有(林后13:5),并祈求圣灵指教我们,使我们能看清自己真实的属灵状况。