福音的中心就是耶穌基督以及祂在十字架上所成就的工作。這福音不但使我們得以稱義、成聖，而且還使我們得以在基督裡得著榮耀。-- 以弗所
The Gospel is centred upon Christ and His work on the cross allowing us to be justified, sanctified, and glorified through and in Him. -- by Ephesus

不久之前，我參加了一個聚會，在小組討論期間，我們涉及到了有關馬太福音第十章的內容。在那章裡，耶穌多次告訴他的門徒，他們將要受到苦難與試煉。耶穌預言，他們“要為祂的名被眾人恨惡”（第22節），要被 “交給公會，在會堂裡鞭打”（第17節）。但就好像很多現代人一樣，當時的門徒們並不重視傳道人的教導——即使傳道的那個人是耶穌基督。那麼，今天的我們如果想要能夠全備、信實地傳達耶穌在馬太福音第二十八章的教導，是否應該把中心放在 “作門徒的代價” 呢？

During a small group session that I attended some time ago, we were discussing Matthew Chapter 10 in which Jesus made several references to the suffering and tribulations that the disciples would face as His followers. Jesus gave a few examples such as predicting that the disciples "will be hated by everyone because of me" (v.22) and will be "handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues" (v. 17). None of those examples could have been remotely attractive to the disciples at that time and likely do not appeal to most of us today either. If we are to teach what Jesus’ commands (Matthew 28) wholly and faithfully, is it necessary for us to tell them that there is a cost to following Jesus?

值得注意的是，雖然第一批門徒們清楚地知道，他們若選擇跟隨主，就會失掉所從事的工作、穩定的收入；與此同時，他們也必須為了跟隨耶穌的緣故，放下自己的家人和朋友。但是，當主耶穌呼召祂的第一批門徒時，並沒有向他們提及跟隨祂的代價（太4:18-22）。由此可見，主耶穌對門徒們的要求，是有先後的。首先，祂是要求他們有信心，然後才教導跟隨祂的門徒們，身為門徒所需要付出的是生命的代價。也許，在我們與慕道友們談論試煉與逼迫之前，我們也應該把重點先放在傳講耶穌基督的福音上。

Looking back to the time when Jesus called his first disciples, it seems that Jesus never told any of them the consequences of following Him until after they were called (see Matthew 4:18-22). Surely, the disciples realized the immediate effects of following Jesus such as losing their income in their previous vocations and leaving behind their families and friends. However, Jesus required them to first have faith in Him before revealing that it would eventually cost them their lives to follow Him. Perhaps before we think about if we should tell non-believers about trials and tribulations, we should focus firstly on presenting the Gospel message which is all about Jesus.

福音的中心是什麼呢？福音的中心就是耶穌基督以及祂在十字架上所成就的工作。這福音不但使我們得以稱義、成聖，而且還使我們得以在基督裡得著榮耀。當我們被聖靈感動接受福音、決心成為主的門徒以後，那麼接下來我們也將需要預備好，迎接未來旅途中會遭遇到的試煉與逼迫。我們當然要把跟隨主所必須付上的代價告訴慕道友，但更重要的是，當我們需要傳講主在十架上所受的痛苦，當人們深切體會到這份痛苦以後，他們就會知道，所有為了主而付上的代價都是值得的。為主受苦並不能為我們贏得救恩，事實上，正是因為主先為我們付上代價，神的恩典才讓我們成為祂的兒女。於是，我們身為神的兒女，因神的名而受苦，也就是一件極其自然的事情了。

The Gospel is centred upon Christ and His work on the cross allowing us to be justified, sanctified, and glorified through and in Him. If we embrace the Gospel through the Holy Spirit, then we become committed to be His disciples, ready to embrace the trials and tribulations that come our way. We should definitely tell non-believers that following Jesus will be costly but more importantly, that all costs of following Him are worth it when we consider Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Suffering for Christ cannot earn us our salvation. In fact, only because Christ first suffered for us that we can have the grace to be adopted into God's family. Thus, if we are the children of God, would it not be a matter of fact that we will also face sufferings for the name of Jesus?

臉書文摘 -- 遠志明

網上經常收到一些國內弟兄姐妹的代禱求助信，訴說祂們處境的艱難和心境的淒慘。對這樣的弟兄姐妹我想說：在痛苦中忍耐，彷彿直接面對死，又彷佛已經死了一般，等待，等待著神叫你從死裡復活，這齣死入生的盼望，是你致死都相信的。這是一種十字架的經歷。當你活過來，發現神果然做了奇妙大事！那時你會成為一個平靜的人，就像永恆一樣平靜。這話誰能領受，誰就可以有福的領受。

Facebook Digest -- by Zhi-ming Yuan

I often receive prayer requests from brothers and sisters in China via the Internet. Typically, these requests would involve the struggles and sufferings that they are currently facing in life. In response to them, I would like to say: “Be patient in pain, even if it feels much like you are facing death directly. Sometimes, it may feel like that we are already dead. However, keep waiting until God resurrects you. This is what you need to believe until your last moment on earth which is the hope that brings you out of death and into a new life. In fact, this is the experience of Jesus on the cross. When you finally experience the new life, you will be able to see how wonderful God is and the great miracles He has done. Once you have this understanding, you will become a peaceful person and this peace will last into eternity. Friends, whoever can understand this will receive the blessings from our Lord Jesus, the one who is familiar with pain and suffering."