SECTION A
甲部
1. Hello, listening friends.
亲爱的朋友，你好，
2. What a joy it is to know that you are following this series of messages, “Blessed to be a Blessing.”
很高兴知道你坚持在听《借我赐恩福》这个系列资讯。
3. I want to begin by asking you a question.
首先让我问你一个问题，
4. Have you ever dealt with anyone who was having an identity crisis?
你曾否和一些不知道自己是谁的人相处过？
5. If you have, then you understand the depth of sadness in such situations.
如果你有这样的经验，必定明白陷入这景况的人多么悲哀。
6. If you have ever been in a situation where you found yourself suffering from an identity crisis,
如果你曾经陷入不知自己身分的痛苦中，
7. you understand how confusing that can be.
你就知道那是多么迷茫。
8. Outwardly, everything may look alright;
外表看不出什么，
9. but, inwardly, you feel insecure and unsure.
但你心中感到不安全，没有把握。
10. There were times in my youth when I was going through my own identity crisis.
当我年轻时，也经历过不确定自己身分的危机。
11. Someone once said
有人说过，
12. millions of people are desperately seeking for their missing identity.
有上百万的人都在迫切地寻找自己失落的身分。
13. For those of you joining us for the first time,
如果你是第一次收听我们的节目，
14. we are in the middle of a series of messages called “Blessed to be a Blessing;”
我们正在讲《借我赐恩福》这个系列资讯，
15. and, today, in I Peter, Chapter 2, verses 4 to 12,
今天我们要看，彼得前书第二章4-12节。
16. Peter shows us how God's blessings should define our identity.
彼得教导我们，因着神所赐的福，决定了我们的身分；
17. Out of His goodness and blessings, God gave us our identity.
出于神的善良和赐福，我们才有了明确的身分。
18. My listening friends, listen very carefully to what I’m going to tell you.
亲爱的朋友，请仔细听我说。
19. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ,
如果你是基督徒，
20. if you follow Him every day,
如果你天天跟随主，
21. then you should not have an identity crisis.
你不应该有身分失落的危机。
22. If you understand the blessings you have in Jesus Christ,
如果你明白你在耶稣基督里所得到的福气，
23. these blessings ought to define your identity;
这些福气让你有明确的身分。
24. and that’s exactly what Peter is saying in this passage:
这正是彼得在这段经文里所说的，
25. that out of God's goodness,
因着神的善良，
26. out of God's mercy,
因着神的怜悯，
27. out of God's grace,
因着神的恩慈，
28. out of God's abundance,
因着神的丰盛，
29. we are given our identity.
我们有了明确的身分。
30. Believers have no reason to flounder in the Christian life.
信徒不应该为了自己是基督徒的身分而感到混乱迷茫，
31. There are some people who see their identity in their family name.
有些人从家世和出身来定自己的身分，
32. Some men see their identity in their jobs,
有些人从职业来定身分，
33. or their titles,
或靠他们的职位，
34. or their achievements.
或靠他们的成就。
35. Some wives see their identities in their husbands.
有些妇女靠丈夫定自己的身分，
36. Some children are happy to identify with their parents.
有些孩子乐于随从父母的身分。
37. Peter is telling us here that our true identity as believers in Jesus Christ
彼得告诉我们，身为基督徒的真实身分，
38. comes from what Jesus did for us and what He did with us.
是靠着耶稣为我们成就的，以及祂与我们一起作的事。
39. Why?
为什么？
40. Because we were nothing and He made us everything.
因为我们原本一文不值，祂使我们成为贵重。
41. In I Peter 2:4 says, “As you come to Him…”
彼得前书二章五节说：你们来到主面前。
42. What does he mean by that?
他是什么意思？
43. Before you come to Christ, you were nobody as far as Heaven was concerned.
当你归向基督之前，你在天上是毫无地位的。
44. As far as justice in the courts of Heaven was concerned, you were dead in sin.
按照天上法庭公正的判断，你是死在罪恶过犯之中的。
45. Before you came to Jesus, you were worse than nobody.
在你归向耶稣之前，你连无名小卒都算不上。
46. Before you came to Jesus, you had no spiritual identity to speak of.
在你归向耶稣之前，你根本没有任何属灵的身分，
47. You live and then you die and that’s the end of it.
你活了一辈子就死了，这就是你的人生。
48. Peter goes on to say that we were dead stones
彼得接着说，我们就好像一块没有生命的石头，
49. and, then, Jesus, the Living Stone, quickened us and made us precious living stones.
但主耶稣是活石，祂赐生命，唤醒我们，使我们也成为宝贵的活石。
50. Peter uses a lot of figurative language here and you have to use your imagination.
彼得在这里使用了很多形象化的比喻，你需要运用你的想象力来理解。
51. Peter gives us 6 characteristics of our identity as believers.
彼得提出基督徒身分的六种特质，
52. Let’s look at them.
让我们一一来看。
53. Number one, we are living and precious stones.
第一，我们是宝贵的活石；
54. Secondly, we are a chosen people.
第二，我们是被拣选的族类；
55. Thirdly, we are royal priesthood.
第三，我们是有君尊的祭司；
56. Fourthly, we are a holy nation.
第四，我们是圣洁的国度；
57. Fifthly, we are God's own possession, God's own people;
第五，我们是属于神自己的子民；
58. and number six, we are mere tourists in this world.
第六，我们在这世界只是客旅。
59. We will look at these one by one.
我们一项一项来看：
60. First, believers are living and precious stones.
第一，基督徒是宝贵的活石。
61. The only reason believers in Christ are called precious stones
基督徒之所以被称为宝贵的活石，唯一的理由就是，
62. is because Christ Himself is the cornerstone.
因为耶稣基督自己就是房角石。
63. Peter sees believers or the church as a magnificent building,
在彼得眼中，基督徒或者教会，就好像一座宏伟的建筑物，
64. a spiritual building.
一栋属灵的房子。
65. Peter is saying that believers are a far more magnificent building than any building anywhere.
彼得说，基督徒成为一座建筑物，比世上任何地方的建筑更宏伟。
66. In ancient times, the whole building was as good as its foundation stone.
古时候，整栋房子最重要的就是基石，
67. The whole building stands or falls on the strength of its cornerstone.
房角石稳固，房子就能坚立，否则房子就会倒塌。
68. The cornerstone was always laid at the intersection of the corner,
房角石就是房角的第一块石头，
69. and the other foundation stones were placed along side of it;
其他的基石是顺着房角石安放的。
70. and, as the building goes up,
当房子往上盖时，
71. every stone in that building was placed in relationship to the cornerstone.
每一块石头都和房角石相连相关。
72. Did you notice that Peter did not say that we are made of bricks?
你有没有注意到，彼得并不是说我们是砖头。
73. Why?
为什么？
74. Because bricks are all look-alike.
因为每块砖头都是一样的，
75. Bricks have the same dimensions.
每块砖头有同样的体积，
76. Bricks have the same shape,
每块砖头有同样的形状。
77. and the reason Peter does not say we are bricks
彼得不把我们比作砖头还有一个原因，
78. is because God does not mass-produce His children,
是因为，神的儿女并非工厂成批大量制造出来的。
79. nor does He expect us to perform the same tasks.
神并没有要求我们都做同样的工作，
80. He has given us different measures of faith.
祂赐给我们不同份量的信心，
81. He has given us different spiritual gifts,
祂给予我们不同的属灵恩赐，
82. and, therefore, what God expects from me is not necessarily what He expects from you,
所以神对我的期望，和对你的期望，不一定相同，
83. as long as we both are faithful;
只要我们都忠心服侍祂。
84. and that is why Peter calls us “stones,”
所以彼得称我们为石头，
85. because each stone is different from the other.
因为每一块石头都不相同，
86. Each stone is distinguished from the other.
每一块石头都是独特的。
87. Spiritually speaking,
从属灵的意义上来讲，
88. sometimes, the Master Builder will have to smooth some rough edges of a given stone.
有时候总工程师要磨平某块石头的棱角，
89. Sometimes, the Master Builder has to chisel some bulges in a given stone.
有时候总工程师要凿开某块石头多余的部份，
90. Sometimes, the Master Builder has to chip away at the jagged edges of a given stone,
有时候总工程师要削掉某块石头的尖角，
91. and all of this can be painful sometimes.
这些都是痛苦的经历。
92. My listening friends, please listen to me carefully.
亲爱的朋友，请留心听我说。
93. Because this can be painful, some believers stay away from the building,
就因为有痛苦，于是有些基督徒就远离这座建筑物，
94. and that is why some believers don’t want to get too close to the other believers.
所以有些基督徒疏远其他基督徒，
95. That is why some believers don’t want to be an active part of a church.
所以有些基督徒不愿意积极参与教会，
96. That is why some believers refuse to fit in their rightful place in the service, in the body of Christ.
所以有些基督徒拒绝参与在基督身体里应有的侍奉。
97. Of course, that’s the height of selfishness.
当然这是极度自私的，
98. Why?
为什么？
99. Because their absence is like a missing stone in a building which, of course, creates a draft.
因为他们的缺席，这栋房子就少了一块石头，而形成漏风口；
SECTION B
乙部
1. Their absence makes the building less efficient.
他们的缺席，减低了房子的功能；
2. Their absence keep the building from being as effective as it could be,
他们的缺席，使这栋房子不能发挥应该有的功效。
3. but when all the stones are there, working and serving the purpose of God,
然而，当每块石头都尽自己的本分，为服事神而努力，
4. God's blessings will fall upon it.
神就会赐福。
5. Let me ask you a few questions.
让我问你几个问题：
6. Are you a good, precious, living stone?
你是不是一块美好宝贵的活石？
7. Are you a living stone who is willing to be placed where the Master Builder wants to place you,
你是一块活石，情愿照总工程师的意思安置吗？
8. or do you run away all the time?
或者你总是在逃避？
9. Are you a living stone who has surrendered to the Master Builder’s shaping,
你是一块活石，情愿照总工程师的意思被雕琢吗？
10. or do you please yourself all the time?
或者你只顾自己的喜好？
11. Are you a living stone who is in your place of service,
你是一块放在侍奉岗位上的活石吗？
12. or are you carelessly letting others bear your load in the building?
或者你疏忽自己的责任，让别人来承担？
13. Are you that precious living stone?
你是那块宝贵的活石吗？
14. Because that’s where your identity is.
因为这就是你的身分，
15. There are some believers who mistakenly think that, if they just receive Jesus as their Savior and Lord, then that’s all they need to do;
有些基督徒误以为，只要接受耶稣基督为救主就够了，
16. but they are wrong.
他们错了。
17. Believers have responsibilities to the Master Builder to be a living stone in His building.
基督徒有责任成为总工程师所建造的房屋里的一块活石，
18. You have responsibility to the cornerstone, the Lord, Jesus Christ.
你要向房角石耶稣基督负责，
19. You also have responsibility to the other living stones to stand with them.
你也对其他的活石有责任，要和他们并肩而立。
20. You stand with them with all of their weaknesses.
他们虽有弱点，你与他们并立；
21. You stand with them with all of their faults.
他们虽有错误，你与他们并立；
22. You stand with them with all of their inadequacies;
他们虽有缺欠，你与他们并立。
23. but, my listening friends, I want to tell you something else.
但亲爱的朋友，让我告诉你，
24. You are not a perfect cut either.
你也不是完美无瑕疵的。
25. First, our identity is that we are precious living stones.
第一，我们的身分是宝贵的活石。
26. Our second identity is that we are a chosen race.
我们第二个身分是，被拣选的族类。
27. This was a term that was used to describe Israel in the Old Testament.
在旧约里，用这个名称来形容以色列民，
28. Now, the Apostle Peter, who lived and walked with Jesus for 3 and 1/3 of a year,
现在，使徒彼得跟随了耶稣三年半的时间，
29. lifts out this description of Israel in the Old Testament
他从旧约里，把这个形容以色列民的名称提出来，
30. and applies it to the church of Jesus Christ,
用在耶稣基督的教会身上，
31. which is now the new Israel of God.
也就是属于神的新以色列民。
32. Why did God choose Israel in the Old Testament?
在旧约时代，神为什么拣选以色列民呢？
33. Not because they were [a] great civilization.
并不是因为他们有了不起的文化，
34. There were civilizations that were far more advanced.
其实他们的文明还差远了。
35. Not because they were obedient people.
也不是因为他们是顺从的百姓，
36. Just ask Moses. They gave him plenty of trouble.
只要问问摩西，就知道百姓给他添多少麻烦。
37. Not because they had superior intelligence.
也不是因为他们有超越的知识，
38. There were far more intelligent people at the time.
当时有很多知识比他们更发达的民族。
39. Not because of anything in them.
完全不是因为他们有什么好的条件，
40. God chose Israel because of His sovereign will.
神拣选以色列是出于神至高的主权，
41. That is the only reason.
这是唯一的理由。
42. He is God and He can do anything He wants to do.
祂是神，祂完全随自己的意思而行，
43. God is not accountable to you and to me.
神不需要向你我交代祂所做的。
44. The sooner we understand this, the sooner we become obedient and effective for the kingdom of God.
只要我们明白这点，就能在神的国里顺服并发挥功效。
45. When the Israelites rejected God's cornerstone,
当以色列人拒绝神的房角石，
46. God's Anointed One,
神所膏立的那一位，
47. they were put aside.
他们就被搁置在一旁。
48. Peter is saying that God has chosen everyone who chooses God's cornerstone.
彼得说，神拣选凡是选择接纳神房角石的人；
49. He chooses everyone who believes and submit[s] to His Messiah.
神拣选凡是相信并顺从弥赛亚的人。
50. and, therefore, the chosen race in the New Testament is not based on physical descent,
因此，新约里的被拣选的族类，不是按照血统渊源，
51. but by adoption of grace.
而是在恩典中领养的。
52. Here’s what Peter is saying.
彼得强调说，
53. Don’t ever forget that the cornerstone was rejected.
千万不要忘记，房角石曾被弃绝。
54. He was despised.
祂被藐视，
55. They spat on Him.
祂被唾弃，
56. They let Him bleed to death,
祂流血至死，
57. but now He is glorified as the mighty cornerstone.
但如今祂得着荣耀，成为伟大的房角石。
58. If you believe in Him, He will protect you.
你若相信祂，祂就会保佑你，
59. He will guard you.
祂会护卫你，
60. He will guide you.
祂会引领你。
61. And the very cornerstone that was rejected?
而这一块被弃绝的房角石，
62. God said of Him that He is the one
神说，就是祂，
63. Who can take you to Heaven.
祂能带你到天堂。
64. While those who surrender to the cornerstone will be protected by Him,
凡是愿意顺从这房角石的，都必得到祂的保守。
65. by the same token, anyone who rejects the cornerstone
同样的，拒绝房角石的人，
66. will be crushed by the very stone that they have rejected.
将会被他们自己所拒绝的石头压伤。
67. Peter is saying that those who reject the Messiah
彼得说，拒绝弥赛亚的人，
68. will one day be crushed by Him.
有一天会被弥赛亚消灭。
69. Those unbelievers will be crushed by the very stone that will receive, accept and protects those who do believe in Him.
这房角石会消灭拒绝相信的人，但会接纳保护凡相信祂的人。
70. Our first identity is that we are living precious stones.
我们的第一个身分就是，宝贵的活石。
71. Our second identity is that we are the chosen race.
我们的第二个身分就是，被拣选的族类。
72. Next time, we will look at our third identity,
下一次节目我们要看第三个身分，
73. namely, that we are the royal priesthood.
也就是有君尊的祭司。
74. Until then, I wish you God’s richest blessing.
愿神大大的赐福给你，下次节目时间再会。
