1. Hello, our listening friends. We are glad you joined us.
亲爱的朋友，你好。欢迎你再次收听这个节目。
2. We have been going through a series of messages on what is known as, "The Lord's Prayer,"
我们正在进行一个新的系列信息，主题就是“主祷文”。
3. and we saw the importance of the power in prayer.
上一次，我们讲到，祷告所带出来的能力是何等重要。
4. I want to talk to you, today, about the fatherhood of God.
今天，我要讲关于神的“父权”这个主题。
5. One of the most basic elements of the faith in Jesus Christ is the fatherhood of God.
对耶稣基督的信仰，其中一个很基本的要素，就是承认神的父权。
6. One of the most distinguishing marks of Christianity is the fatherhood of God to the believers in Jesus Christ.
基督教最明显的标志之一，是基督徒在耶稣基督里承认神是我们的父亲。
7. One of the most uniquely Christian tenets is being able to call God, "our Father;"
基督教信仰中最独特的一点，就是可以称神为天父。
8. yet, one of the greatest challenges of understanding and comprehending this concept is our experience of our earthly fathers.
但是，要理解和明白这个概念，关键在于我们跟自己生父相处的经验如何。
9. Those, who have grown up with harsh, angry and hard earthly fathers,
如果是一个苛刻、严厉、愤怒的父亲管教下成长的孩子，对他来说，
10. will inevitably relate that image to our heavenly Father.
难免会扭曲他们对天上父亲的理解。
11. Those, who have grown up with fathers who are weak-willed, who do not command respect from their children,
对那些在意志薄弱、缺乏父亲尊严的家庭里长大的孩子来说，
12. will most likely relate that image to our heavenly Father.
他们也会把这种形象与天父的形象联系起来。
13. The challenge for all of us is how not to associate our heavenly Father with our earthly fathers;
对我们来说，最大的挑战，就是不要把天上的父亲和世上的父亲联系起来。
14. but I must say this:
但我们不得不承认：
15. that those who have grown up with fair, honest, loving, generous, strong and gentle earthly fathers have a better chance of comprehending the true image of our heavenly Father;
若有一个公平、诚实、富有爱心、慷慨、强壮和仁慈的父亲，对这样的孩子来说，他们更容易理解天上父亲的真实形象；
16. but, even then, our earthly fathers, no matter how wonderful they may be, are but a pale approximation of the true image of our heavenly Father.
但是，无论我们地上的父亲是多么的美好，一旦和天上这位父亲相比，都会显得黯然失色。
17. Most people use the Lord's Prayer as a kind of magical prayer to get them out of trouble, or, as a substitute for praying;
很多人把主祷文当成了摆脱困境的咒语，或者当成祷告的替代品。
18. but Jesus taught His Disciples that, when you pray, say, “our Father.”
但是，耶稣教导祂的门徒说，你们祷告的时候，要这样说：“我们在天上的父。”
19. In all four Gospels, Jesus spoke of God, as Father, seventy times.
在四福音书当中，记载了七十次耶稣称神为父。
20. In fact, He used the title of "Father" all the time, except the one time on the cross when He cried, “My God, my God.”
事实上，祂一直使用父亲这个称呼。只有一次例外，那就是当祂被钉在十字架上时，祂喊道：“我的神﹐我的神。”
21. Why?
为什么呢？
22. Because, when He said this, He was emphasizing the separation He experienced in being our sin-bearer on the cross.
因为祂说这话，是强调了祂在十字架上担当我们罪恶时与神分离的那种痛苦。
23. The Aramaic word that Jesus would have used, here, is the word, "Abba," which carries an intimate and deeply personal connotation.
在亚兰文里，耶稣用 “阿爸” 这个词，来表明祂和神之间亲密无间的关系。
24. At the time of Jesus’ earthly life, this was a radical view of God.
耶稣在世的那个时代，以这种观点看待神，是相当激进的。
25. This was a new revelation of God.
这是神向人全新的启示。
26. This was a unique way of viewing God.
是认识神，很独特的方式。
27. The Jews knew God as the Father of their nation.
犹太人把神看成是他们的民族之父。
28. For example, Isaiah 63:16 declares, “For You are our Father.”
比如说，以赛亚63：16节那里说：“你是我们的父。”
29. In fact, the entire Gospel of Matthew is written from the view of showing Israel as the son who rejected the Father,
事实上，马太福音整卷书，就是从一个拒绝父亲的儿子的角度写成的。
30. Israel as the son who was in disobedience to the Father;
以色列就好像一个悖逆不道的儿子；
31. but Israel as the son who is, now, replaced by Jesus Christ, the true Son.
然而，神的真儿子耶稣基督替代了以色列作为神儿子的地位。
32. Jesus Christ is the Son whose perfect obedience brought along many brothers and sisters, namely, all of those who believe in Him,
神的儿子耶稣基督因着完全的顺服，带领了所有相信祂的人成为弟兄姐妹。
33. those who will put their trust in Him,
凡相信祂的人，
34. those who accept His death on the cross as for them,
凡接受祂为我们的罪死在十字架上的人，
35. those who will follow and obey Him.
凡愿意跟随祂、顺从祂的人。
36. They, and they alone, can call God, "Father."
只有他们可以称神为 “天父”。
37. They are able to say that, because of their faith in their older Brother, Jesus.
因着他们对兄长耶稣的信心，就可以称神为 “天父”。
38. Jesus, and Jesus alone, can get you adopted by His Father.
唯有通过耶稣，你才能成为天父的孩子。
39. Jesus, and Jesus alone, is able to sign your adoption papers.
唯有通过耶稣，你才能成为神的后嗣。
40. Jesus, and Jesus alone, can bring you to the Father.
唯有耶稣能把你带到父神的面前。
41. Jesus, and Jesus alone, can make it possible to call God, "Father."
唯有通过耶稣，你才能称神为 “天父”。
42. Listening friends, listen carefully to what I’m going to tell you.
我亲爱的朋友，请仔细听我说。
43. The Bible tells us that, without the shed blood of Jesus Christ, there can be no forgiveness of sin.
圣经告诉我们，如果没有耶稣基督的宝血，我们的罪就不得赦免。
44. Without the shed blood of Christ, repentance is not accepted in the sight of God.
如果没有耶稣基督的宝血，神就不能接受我们的悔改。
45. Without the shed blood of Christ, there can be no true restoration.
如果没有耶稣基督的宝血，就没有真正的救赎。
46. Without faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, we cannot call God, "Father," or receive forgiveness.
如果不相信耶稣基督所流出的宝血，我们就不能称神为我们的父亲，罪也得不到赦免。
47. Listen again, my listening friend.
亲爱的朋友，我再说一次。
48. Remorse, or decisions to change, are not the same as biblical repentance.
懊悔或是下决心去改变自己，和在神面前认罪悔改，完全不是一回事。
49. Biblical repentance says the following:
圣经所说的悔改，意思是说：
50. "I cannot have salvation without Jesus.
“除了耶稣以外，我无法得救。
51. I cannot have power to overcome sin without Jesus.
离开了耶稣，我就没有能力胜过罪恶。
52. I cannot be a changed person without the power of Jesus,"
若不靠着耶稣的大能，我无法成为新造的人。”
53. and what I’m going to tell you is of vital importance.
我讲的这一点，非常的重要。
54. If we cannot name Jesus’ name, we cannot get the blessings that Jesus brings.
如果我们不靠着耶稣的名字，我们就无法得到祂所带来的福分。
55. If we are ashamed of Jesus’ name, God the Father will be ashamed of us in the Day of Judgment.
如果我们在人前不承认耶稣的名，天父也要在末日审判的时候不认我们。
56. If we are embarrassed to name the name of the only One Who can forgive us, we will not know forgiveness.
如果我们因承认耶稣赦免之恩而感到难为情，我们就不懂得什么是饶恕。
57. If we are anxious to avoid His magnificent name, then, there is no true repentance and, therefore, no true restoration.
如果我们一味否认耶稣伟大奇妙的名字，我们就不能真诚悔改，也就无从得到真正的赦免和更新。
58. Without Jesus, repentance is a mere human effort that has no power with God.
除了耶稣，所谓的悔改只不过是人为的努力而已，丝毫没有神大能的作为在其中。
59. Let me tell you why.
我来告诉你为什么。
60. Jesus’ name is power;
因为，耶稣的名字带着能力；
61. and that power works this way:
这种能力是这样运作的：
62. no one can call God, "Father" who does not have Jesus as his Savior Brother.
若不承认我们的兄长耶稣是救主，就不能称呼神为“父亲”。
63. Our heavenly Father is a very compassionate, loving, graceful and merciful God;
我们在天上的父是满有怜悯、慈爱和恩典的神；
64. but He wants people to come to Him His way, not their way.
但祂要求人们按照祂的方式来归向祂，而不是按照我们自己的方式。
65. In fact, Jesus paints a magnificent picture of what our heavenly Father is like in Luke, Chapter 15.
事实上，在路加福音15章里，耶稣生动地描绘了天父的形象。
66. Jesus said, “There was a father…”
耶稣说：‘有一个父亲……”
67. Jesus was painting a picture of His Father.
耶稣是在描绘祂的父亲。
68. This father was loving, caring, compassionate, patient, longsuffering, slow to anger and quick to forgive;
祂所描绘的是一位充满慈爱、怜悯，长久忍耐，不轻易发怒，并且乐于饶恕的父亲。
69. but, when his son decided to leave home in rebellion, the father let him go.
当他的儿子不听话，决定离家出走的时候，这位父亲没有拦阻他。
70. While he waited for his son, day in and day out,
然而，他却天天等他的儿子回来，
71. he never forced him to come back.
他从没有强迫儿子回来，
72. While his heart was broken over his son’s rebellion,
虽然他的心因着儿子的叛逆而破碎，
73. he never sent his servants to bring him back.
他却从来没有打发仆人去把儿子叫回来，
74. While he longed for his son to come back,
虽然他巴望着儿子回家。
75. he never changed his own standards of forgiveness to suit his son.
他却没有为了迁就儿子，降低他饶恕的尺度。
76. Only when the son came into repentance the father’s way was he able to experience his father’s love and forgiveness.
只有等待儿子照着父亲的尺度悔改的时候，才能够体验到父亲的慈爱和饶恕。
77. Listen carefully, my listening friends.
我亲爱的朋友，请听我说。
78. You have to come to God in God’s way.
你必须要按照神的方式来归向神。
79. If the prodigal son got to about a mile from the house, but never made it all the way to the father’s eyesight,
假如那位浪子在离家一里路之外就停了下来，而没有一直走到他父亲面前，
80. he might as well just have stayed in the far country.
倒不如留在异乡算了。
81. If the prodigal son sent someone to speak to his father on his behalf,
假如这位浪子只是打发人给他父亲捎个口信，
82. he might just as well stay away in the far country.
还不如就待在他那个偏远的地方算了。
83. He had to come to the father the father’s way;
他必须按照父亲的方式，回到父亲面前；
84. and, our heavenly Father’s only way for accepting us, forgiving us and restoring us is through the shed blood of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
同样，我们的天父要接纳、饶恕、更新我们的唯一方式，就是要借着祂的儿子，耶稣基督所流出的宝血。
85. No amount of tears or remorse will bring about true forgiveness, unless these tears are tears over the pain and the suffering that our sins cause God,
再多的眼泪和懊悔，都不能给我们带来真正的饶恕，除非我们知道神因我们的罪受苦，以致于流出忧伤痛悔的眼泪。
86. for our sins cost Him the blood of His only Son.
为了赦免我们的罪，神付出了祂独生子宝血的代价，
87. Feeling sorry for your wrongdoing is not true repentance.
单单为你所做的错事而感到遗憾，不是真正的悔改。
88. Feeling remorse over sin is not biblical repentance;
为你所犯的罪懊恼也不是圣经上所说的悔改；
89. and Jesus said, “When you pray, say, ‘our Father.’”
耶稣说：“你们祷告的时候，要这样说：“我们在天上的父。”
90. Do you remember the older brother in the story in Luke 15?
你还记得在路加福音15章里的那位大儿子吗？
91. The older brother stayed home.
大儿子一直待在家里。
92. He probably went to church, and did his chores, and, outwardly, did all the right things.
他或许按时去教会，做家务，表面上，他没有什么不好。
93. The father tried to assure the older son that everything the father owned is his.
父亲向他保证，父亲拥有的一切都是大儿子的。
94. The father tried to assure him that, by Jewish law, he was entitled to twice as much as his repentant brother.
父亲也向他保证，根据犹太人的律法，大儿子应该得到小儿子双倍的产业。
95. The father tried to assure the older son of his love for him, and his affection toward him, and his interest in him;
父亲向大儿子肯定，他对大儿子的喜爱、袒护和关切；
96. but the older son’s pride prevented him from enjoying all the benefits that are at his disposal.
但这位大儿子的骄傲使得他失去了享受丰富的喜乐。
97. Do you know what the problem was?
你知道问题出在哪里吗？
98. The older son did not believe what his father said, and was trying hard to earn what was his for the asking;
问题就出在，大儿子根本不相信父亲所说的话，反而想靠自己的努力来赚取本来就属于他的产业。
99. thus, he forfeited his privileges.
结果，他丧失了他的特权。
100. In fact, the older boy is the most pathetic of the two sons.
事实上，大儿子才是最可怜的。
101. The older boy is a picture of a poor, pathetic person, who may be a regular churchgoer,
这个可怜的大儿子就是那些只知道固定参加教会活动的人的写照。
102. a person who wants to believe in God his way, or, her own way,
他代表了那些照着自己的方式来相信神的人，
103. a person who tries hard—the wrong way,
他们错误地依赖自己的努力，
104. or, a person who takes his father for granted,
或者，他不重视父亲，认为这一切都是理所当然的，
105. or, a person who wants God’s grace and forgiveness some other way, other than through the shed blood of Jesus Christ;
大儿子代表了那些想要得到神赦罪的恩典，却不想通过耶稣基督宝血的人；
106. yet the father was broken-hearted over the older boy, as much as the younger when he was in the far country.
然而，这位父亲却为着大儿子伤透了心，就好像曾经为小儿子伤心一样。
107. I want you to notice something important here.
请你注意很重要的一点。
108. All of the disobedience and the denial does not change the love of the father.
悖逆和拒绝并不能改变父亲的爱。
109. All of that does not change the yearning of the father.
所有这一切并不能改变父亲对我们的思念。
110. All of that does not change the waiting of the father;
这一切不能改变父亲的等候；
111. but the waiting of the father will be in vain, if we try to modify his way,
但如果我们随意更改祂的方式，我们就会让父亲空等，
112. or twist his way,
如果我们扭曲了祂的心意，也会让父亲空等，
113. or improve his way,
如果我们试图改变祂的方式，也会让父亲空等，
114. because his way is not open to modification or change.
因为祂的作为是不可以随意更改的。
115. The little phrase, "our Father," reduces all the complications of life to a very simple relationship.
“我们在天上的父”这个称呼，使得原本错综复杂的人生，变成和天父之间单纯的关系。
116. Do you have that simple relationship?
你拥有这种单纯的关系吗？
117. Have you experienced it?
你经历到这种关系了吗？
118. Jesus said, “When you pray, say, ‘our Father…’"
耶稣说：“你们祷告的时候，要这样说：“我们在天上的父… …”
119. Can you say that, when you pray?
你祷告的时候，会这样说吗？
120. Jesus’ original hearers knew that the role of the father is to be the provider, a protector and the director of his family.
耶稣的门徒明白，父亲的角色应该是一位家庭的供应者、保护者和导师。
121. Having God for my Father means an end to all of my fears.
让神成为我的父亲，就意味着消除一切的恐惧。
122. There are many people in the world who are frightened of their deity, but I am not afraid of my Father.
世界上许多人对神有一种莫明的恐惧，但我对天父却丝毫不害怕。
123. Because of Who my Father is, I am not afraid, period.
因为祂是我的父亲，我就不会害怕，问题就这么简单。
124. Not only that my heavenly Father takes away my fears,
这不仅仅是因为天父除去了我的恐惧，
125. but He gives me all the hope and the confidence I need, and banishes my uncertainty.
而且，祂给了我所需要的希望、信心，并驱除我一切的怀疑。
126. In my Father, I have protection.
在天父的怀抱里，我蒙受保护。
127. In my Father, I have safety.
在天父里面，我安然无恙。
128. In my Father, I have serenity.
在天父里面，我享受安宁。
129. In my Father, I have peace.
在天父里面，我有平安。
130. In my Father, I have salvation.
在天父里面，我蒙救赎。
131. In my Father, I have joy unspeakable, even in the midst of pain.
在天父里面，即使在痛苦中，我仍有说不出来的喜乐。
132. Not only that, when God is my Father, I have no fear;
当神成为我的父亲以后，我不但不再惧怕；
133. not only that, when God is my Father, I have hope and protection;
当神成为我的父亲以后，我不但有了希望和保障；
134. but, thirdly, when God is my Father, I have companionship.
第三，当神成为我的父亲以后，我有了良朋益友。
135. Your family may reject you.
你的家人也许会排斥你，
136. Your friends may forsake you;
你的朋友也许会离弃你；
137. but your heavenly Father never, never, never leaves you, nor forsakes you.
但你的天父永永远远都不会离开你、丢弃你，
138. Jesus said, in John 14:21,
耶稣在约翰福音14：21节那里说，有了我的命令又遵守的，这人就是爱我的，爱我的必蒙我父爱他，并且要向他显现。
139. not only that, when God is my Father, I have no fear;
当神成为我的父亲以后，我不但不再惧怕；
140. not only that, when God is my Father, I have hope and protection;
当神成为我的父亲以后，我不但有了希望和保障；
141. not only when God is my Father, I have companionship;
当神成为我的父亲以后，我不但有了良朋益友；
142. but, finally, when God is my Father, I have His provision.
而且，当神成为我的父亲以后，我就有了祂的供应。
143. All the resources of Heaven are available to God’s children.
神打开天上的窗户供应祂儿女的需要。
144. The problem is that we don’t trust Him to be our heavenly Supplier.
问题在于，我们不相信祂是我们属天的供应者。
145. The word, "our Father," means that God is eager to hear us.
“我们在天上的父”这个称呼意味着，神很愿意听我们的呼求。
146. "Our Father" means that God is eager to empower us.
“我们在天上的父” 意味着，神很乐意赐能力给我们。
147. "Our Father" means that God is eager to lead us by His right hand.
“我们在天上的父” 意味着，神愿意亲自牵着我们的手度过每一天。
148. Do you know God as your Father?
你知不知道神是你天上的父亲呢？
149. It is my prayer that you do that today.
但愿你今天就认识祂。
150. Until next time, I pray for God’s richest blessing.
我们下次节目再见，愿神大大赐福给你。
