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二○二○年一月四日/一月五日                                                                                              Click here for English version

藉著基督說阿們

周曉暉牧師

我們的禱告,是以「阿們」作為結束。「阿們」又可譯為「誠心所願」,意指向天父的祈求是出於真情和實意,所禱念的亦是出於誠實的心。只是有時唸得多,人就當為稀鬆平常,甚至成為口頭禪,凡事都「阿們」一番。

聖經的四本福音書,共有101次記載「阿們」這字詞。但說出「阿們」的,原來就只有主耶穌自己!在中文聖經裡,主耶穌說的「阿們」,通通被翻譯為「實在」,以表達祂所揭示的真理是既確切又重要。

主耶穌又被形容為「那位『阿們』的,忠信和真實的見證者,在神的創造中作元首的」(啟三 14,新漢語譯本),一切真相和真實的,都離不開主耶穌——祂就是真理的本身。祂揭開世情之表象,讓人瞥見人與事的屬靈真相。

顯然,我們禱告時說出「阿們」,並不單出於自身那善於變遷的真誠,也出於我們對主耶穌的確信,「因為神的一切應許,在基督裡都是『是』的」(林後一 20上)。已故的楊牧谷牧師為這節經文作的翻譯,傳意甚佳:「無論神的應許是多麼的多,在基督裡都是可兌現的;為此緣故,我們藉著祂說『阿們』來回應,好叫神得著榮耀。」英文聖經的翻譯更加直白:「For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ」(NIV)。

當我們奉靠主耶穌的名去禱告,能靠賴祂說「阿們」,乃因為主耶穌實際上就是天父旨意和救恩計劃的兌現,是祂成就了這一切。所以,當我們轉眼仰望主耶穌,就能確知:天父的應許雖多,但無一會落空。

可是,我們的禱告,不為滿足我們的需求而設;我們的禱告,也不單是關乎自身生活之衣食住行和供應。主耶穌作為「Yes」,是對著上帝應許的成就而言,而非對人的苛求而說,否則,祂就被矮化為實現願望的神燈精靈,只隨著人意而作。

我們的禱告,是要回歸天父的旨意之下,向祂表達接受治理人生的天國法則,立志作祂的天國子民,按照主耶穌「實實在在」宣告的真理而行,以此活出人生終極的目的——榮耀神!

在「感恩禱告」年的首季,北宣家的講壇會選讀主耶穌在四福音中說過的「阿們」,探討關於「阿們」的神學意涵,並聆聽主耶穌「實在」告訴我們的真理。祈求基督真光照亮北宣眾人新一年的禱告生活,教我們記得禱告是「藉著基督說『阿們』」。




Pastor's Sharing
Saying "Amen" through Christ
Rev Arnold Chow

We conclude our prayer with "Amen." "Amen" can be translated as "let it be so" (or "誠心所願" in Chinese), meaning that the prayer has been said with all earnestness of faith and intensity of desire. But as the term is so frequently used, it is often considered as an ordinary phrase, or can even become a pet phrase. We find some people saying amen all the time.

"Amen" appears in the four gospels a total of 101 times. But the term is spoken only by Jesus! In the Chinese Bible, the “Amen” said by the Lord Jesus is invariably translated as "實在(truly)" to express that the truth revealed is trustworthy and important.

The Lord Jesus is "the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation" (Revelations 3:14). The Lord is about what is true and real – He is the truth. He takes us beneath the surface, giving us a glimpse of the spiritual reality about people and matters.

Obviously, when we say "Amen" in our prayer, we do not do so only out of our personal limitations or a volatile earnestness. We do so because of our conviction in the Lord Jesus. "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ. And so through Him the 'Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God" (2 Corinthians 1:20). The Chinese translation of this verse by the late Rev. Arnold Yeung captures its meaning well. It expresses that no matter how many promises are made by God, they can be fulfilled in Christ. For that reason, we respond with "Amen" in Christ to give God glory. The NIV translation of the first part of the verse is also straightforward.

We can say Amen through Christ when we pray in the name of Jesus because the Lord Jesus is really the fulfilment of God‘s will and salvation. Jesus has accomplished it all. So when we turn our eyes upon Jesus, we can be convinced that all the numerous promises of the Heavenly Father will be fulfilled.

In addition, the Lord Jesus is the "Yes" in terms of the fulfilment of the promises of God. There is nothing demanding to man in this respect. Otherwise the Lord will be downgraded to a genie for the fulfilment of dreams, acting in accordance with human wishes. Therefore, our prayer is not for the satisfaction of our needs, nor is our prayer solely about our daily necessities.

Our prayer is to take us back to the will of God, to say to Him that we are willing to accept heavenly rules over our lives and are determined to be the people of God. We are willing to act in accordance with the truths verily proclaimed by the Lord Jesus and by that means live out the ultimate goal of life, which is to magnify God!

During the first quarter of the Thanksgiving and Prayer Year, the NPAC Family will study selected passages about the “Amens” in the four gospels and explore their theological meanings. We will listen to the truths that the Lord Jesus told us verily. May the true light of Christ illuminate our prayer lives in the new year, and teach us to remember that prayer is "saying 'Amen' through Christ."