6. The Meaning of Faith 信的意义

1) Q. Faith is a popular word used by Christians. Is it mentioned many times in the Bible?
A. Faith appears one hundred fifty times in the New Testaments. When used as a verb, it is translated “believe.” The reason it is mentioned and emphasized repeatedly is because faith is the unique and crucial way of receiving Christ.
问:信是基督徒常用的词。在圣经中提到很多次吗?
答:信这个字,在新约圣经里,一共用过一百五十次。用作动词时,译作“信。”这么多次的说信,就是因为信是得着基督惟一而且重要的途径。


2) Q. Since faith is mentioned so many times, are there many verses that explain it?
A. Only in one verse is the faith explained. Hebrews 11:1 gives us a unique explanation of faith. The verse says, “now faith is the substantiation of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
问:既然信提到许多次,有很多经节解释它吗?
答:只有一处经节,解释信是什么意思。希伯来十一章一节,给了我们关于信惟一的解释。这节说:“信就是所望之事的质实,是未见之事的确据。”


3) Q. If faith is the substantiation of things hoped for. What does substantiation mean?
A. Substantiating is the ability, which enables us to realize a substance. The function of our five senses is to transfer all the objective items into us to become our subjective experience.
问:如果信是所望之事的质实,那么质实是什么意思?
答:叫人能领会实质的能力,就叫作质实。我们五官的作用,就是要把许多客观的东西,搬到我们里面来,成为我们主观的东西。


4) Q. Since substantiating is an ability, which enables us to realize a substance, how important are our five senses?
A. If we do not have our five senses, all of the outside objects will remain outside of us; they will never be able to come into us. The work that the five senses do is a work of substantiating.
问:既然质实是一个能力,能使我们领会事物的实质,那么我们五官的重要性呢?
答:没有了五官,就叫外面许多东西,永远在外面,不会到我们里面来,五官所作的事情,就是我所说的质实。


5) Q. I still don’t get it. Can you please give me another example?
A. Blue is a substance. It is there all the time. But when you take a look at it, your eyes begin to transfer the blue into you. This is what is meant by substantiation. Now you can say that you have substantiated the blue into you.
问:我仍然不能领会,你可以再给我举个例子吗?
答:蓝色是一个本质,它本来存在在那里的。可是现在你把它看了一下,你眼睛就把这个蓝色搬到你里面去了,这就成了实化。这个时候,你可以说,你把那个蓝色实化到你里面了。


6) Q. If we use our senses to substantiate physical things, what organ do we use to substantiate spiritual things?
A. As the eye is to seeing, the ear to hearing, and the nose to smelling, so faith is the organ whereby we substantiate everything spiritual into us. Without faith, every spiritual matter is a nonentity to us.
问:如果我们使用我们的感官去实化物质的事,那么我们用什么器官去实化属灵的事呢?
答:就像眼睛是用来看,耳朵是用来听,鼻子是用来嗅一样。信是将一切属灵的事实化到我们里面的器官;没有了信,一切属灵的事,对我们就像不存在一样。


7) Q. I heard some Christians say that everyone needs to receive the Lord. How do you receive the Lord?
A. It is by faith. Faith is an act of receiving. God has prepared and accomplished everything in Christ. All that it takes is for man to receive Him.
问:我听一些基督徒说每个人都需要接受主。你是如何接受主的?
答:是借着信,信就是接受。神是把一切的事,都在基督里作好了,都预备好了。所需要的就是人来接受祂。


8) Q. When you say that I need to have faith in the Lord, does this mean that I simply agree with you?
A. Faith and agreement are two different matters. Faith is living, while agreement is an exercise of the mind. The receiving of spiritual matters is not a matter of consent but of faith.
问:当你说到我需要信主时,意思仅是我赞成你吗?
答:信和赞成不同。信心是活的,赞成是头脑的。对于属灵的事的接受,不是赞成,乃是信心。


9) Q. People in general struggle with many bad habits or sins. What causes Christians to be different?
A. A man who has met Christ in faith is different. Only those who have touched Christ have His power manifested through them. All the filthy and binding sins are shaken off from us when we touch Christ.
问:人一般都在许多坏习惯或罪中挣扎。基督徒与众不同的原因是什么?
答:一个在信心中与基督碰过的人,和以前就不一样了。基督的能力,要在碰过祂的人身上才显出来。我们许多的罪,污秽的罪,不能脱离的罪,和基督碰过之后,就能脱离了。


10) Q. I highly regard Christian missionaries and martyrs. Is there something that motivates them to choose that kind of life?
A. There is a very high power within this faith, which motivates thousands to become missionaries and martyrs. All these abilities come from faith. When we touch Christ, everything of Him will be transmitted into us.
问:我很尊敬基督徒传道人和殉道者。是什么促使他们选择这种生活呢?
答:这信里有一个很大的能力,产生出很多传道人和殉道人来。这一切能力都是因着信,当我们和基督一碰,基督里面的一切,就都到我们里面来了。