QT 27/12/2024 Fri. Christmas Message 09. One Seed. 一个种子。
QT 27/12/2024 Fri. Christmas Message 09. One Seed.
READ http://www.esvbible.org/gen12:1-9
Genesis 12:1–9 [1] Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. [2] And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. [3] I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
[4] So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. [5] And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, [6] Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. [7] Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. [8] From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD. [9] And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb. (ESV)
The nouns in "in you" (12:3) and "your offspring" (literally "seed", 12:7) are all in the singular. Even though we saw the decline of humanity into sin and more sin (Genesis 3:1–11:9), The LORD continued with His plan to save humanity, beginning again with one person–Abram (Gen 11:26). His father had left "Ur of the Chaldeans" in the east (Gen 11:28) and journeyed westwards (north-west) towards the promised land as led by The LORD.
This Christmas season, we are reminded that the Star of Christmas Jesus Christ, is also one man whom God has sent to complete God's plan for the basis of justification and righteousness that God offers to all humanity, especially those who would come to Him in response to this offer.
Paul explained the grammar of "offspring" (zara, translated as "seed") in the Hebrew Scriptures of Gen 12:7 as follows:
Galatians 3:16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. (ESV, emphasis added)
IMPLICATIONS FOR YOU TODAY: The Christmas message that we proclaim is not an advertisement or social media coup attempt to create compelling content to sooth the itching ears of today clamouring for more excitement or entertainment. Rather, the Christmas message is God very long term and serious plan for the salvation of humanity. Is the arrival of Jesus Christ a main component of your life (not just the spiritual aspect), or a merely peripheral? For Abraham, "he built an altar to the LORD" and worshipped wherever he went (12:8). How is your worship life today? Consistent? A drag? Or with a vibrant heart?
The singular "seed" rather than "seeds" (plural) point to the fact that there is no other solution to solve the dilemma of God's justice and Humanity's rebellion but Jesus Christ. Jesus is that "singular" person, one person, the only solution. While there are many competing claims of solutions, only one person delivers. Are you led by this "seed", the Star of Christmas, and is ever open to His leading in your life today?
QT 27/12/2024 星期五. 圣诞信息 09: 一个种子。
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/gen/12
创世记 12:1–9 耶和华对亚伯兰说，你要离开本地，本族，父家，往我所要指示你的地去。 2 我必叫你成为大国，我必赐福给你，叫你的名为大，你也要叫别人得福。3 为你祝福的，我必赐福与他。那咒诅你的，我必咒诅他，地上的万族都要因你得福。
4 亚伯兰就照着耶和华的吩咐去了。罗得也和他同去。亚伯兰出哈兰的时候，年七十五岁。5 亚伯兰将他妻子撒莱和侄儿罗得，连他们在哈兰所积蓄的财物，所得的人口，都带往迦南地去。他们就到了迦南地。6 亚伯兰经过那地，到了示剑地方，摩利橡树那里。那时迦南人住在那地。7 耶和华向亚伯兰显现，说，我要把这地赐给你的后裔。亚伯兰就在那里为向他显现的耶和华筑了一座坛。8 从那里他又迁到伯特利东边的山，支搭帐棚。西边是伯特利，东边是艾。他在那里又为耶和华筑了一座坛，求告耶和华的名。9 后来亚伯兰又渐渐迁往南地去。
“因你” (12:3) 和 “你的后裔” (字面意思是“种子”，12：7）中的名词都是单数。尽管我们看到人类在罪恶和更多的罪恶中衰落（创世记 3：1-11：9），耶和华仍继续着他拯救人类的计划，并再次从一个人--亚伯兰开始（创 11：26）。他的父亲离开了东方的 “迦勒底的吾珥”（创 11：28），在耶和华的带领下向西（西北）前往应许之地。
在这个圣诞季节，我们被提醒，圣诞之星耶稣基督也是一个人，上帝派他来完成上帝的计划，为全人类，特别是那些响应这计划而来到他面前的人，提供称义和公义的基础。
保罗对创 12:7 的希伯来经文中对 “后裔”（zara，译为 “种子”）的语法作了如下解释：
加拉太书 3:16 既然应许是给亚伯拉罕和他的后裔的。这里没有说 “和他的后裔”，指的是许多人，而是指一个人，“和你的后裔”，也就是基督。
今天对你们的影响： 我们所宣扬的圣诞信息并不是今日所创的广告，也不是社交媒体试图制造引人入胜的内容，以抚慰当今人们渴望更多刺激或娱乐的发痒的耳朵。相反，圣诞信息是上帝拯救人类的长期而严肃的计划。耶稣基督的到来是你生活的主要组成部分（不仅仅是属灵方面），还是仅仅是你生活的外围？亚伯拉罕 “为耶和华筑了一座坛”，无论走到哪里都要敬拜耶和华（12:8）。你如今的敬拜生活如何？ 一致？拖沓，还是充满活力？
单数的 “种子 ”而不是 “种子”（复数）表明，要解决上帝的公义和人类的悖逆这一难题，除了耶稣基督别无他法。耶稣就是那个 “单一 ”的人，一个人，唯一的解决方案。虽然有许多解决方案的说法相互竞争，但只有一个人能真正解决问题。今天，你是否被这颗 “种子”--圣诞之星--所引领，是否对他在你生命中的引领持开放态度？
