“我们受洗也都是藉着一位圣灵成为一个身体。” – 林前 12:13
基督徒应该多久受一次洗礼?一生只有一次。
这与圣餐完全不同,主耶稣赐给我们的圣餐是定期的灵粮(路 22:19;林前 11:23-26)。这是因为,在洗礼中,神(而不是我们)是恩典和信实的主要誓约者。然而,我们可以通过他人的洗礼、敬拜,甚至是教会建筑的物理特征,不断提醒自己所领受的洗礼。
例如,在一些中世纪教堂中,洗礼池位于礼拜堂的入口处。有些水池甚至做成了十字架的形状,因为我们受洗是归入基督的死。通常,这些水池还有三个下到水里的台阶,表示以圣父、圣子和圣灵的名接受洗礼。当受洗者从水中上来时,他们也会穿上一件白袍,象征着披戴基督(见加 3:27;启 7:14)。
当一个人成年后信靠了基督,他就会被呼召接受洗礼,并在融入完整的教会生活——团契、敬拜和圣餐——之前,公开表明自己的信仰。这样,信徒就承诺与基督和祂的子民合而为一,成为基督的肢体、成为神家里的人。
祷告
主啊,感谢你通过洗礼接纳我们进入你的圣约大家庭。奉耶稣的名,阿们。
哥林多前书 12:12-14; 以弗所书 4:1-6
12就如身子是一个,却有许多肢体,而且肢体虽多,仍是一个身子;基督也是这样。
13我们不拘是犹太人,是希腊人,是为奴的,是自主的,都从一位圣灵受洗,成了一个身体,饮于一位圣灵。
14身子原不是一个肢体,乃是许多肢体。
1我为主被囚的劝你们:既然蒙召,行事为人就当与蒙召的恩相称,
2凡事谦虚、温柔、忍耐,用爱心互相宽容,
3用和平彼此联络,竭力保守圣灵所赐合而为一的心。
4身体只有一个,圣灵只有一个,正如你们蒙召同有一个指望;
5一主,一信,一洗,
6一神,就是众人的父,超乎众人之上,贯乎众人之中,也住在众人之内。
One Baptism, One Body
“We were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body.” – 1 Corinthians 12:13
How often should a Christian be baptized? Only once in life.
This is quite different from the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, which Jesus gave us for regular spiritual nourishment (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:2326). That’s because, in baptism, God (not us) is making the primary statement of grace and faithfulness. However, we can continually be reminded of our baptism through the baptisms of others, through worship, and even in a church building’s physical features.
In some medieval churches, for example, the baptismal pool was at the entrance to the worship area. Some pools were even made in the shape of a cross, since we are baptized into Christ’s death. Often these pools also had three steps going down into the water, signifying baptism in the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As a baptized person came up out of the water, they were also given a white robe to wear, a symbol of being clothed with Christ (see Galatians 3:27; Revelation 7:14).
When, as an adult, a person comes to faith in Christ, they are called to be baptized and to profess their faith publicly before entering the full life of the church—its fellowship, worship, and participation in the Lord’s Supper. In doing so, the believer commits to being one with Christ and with his people in the one body of Christ, the one family of God.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for receiving us into your one covenant family through baptism. In Jesus, Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳