在犹太人中间作工
“保罗在这一封书信(《罗马书》)中充分地发表了他心中为犹太人所负的重担。自从他悔改以来，他一直渴望帮助他的犹太同胞清楚地认识到福音的信息。他说：‘我心里所愿的，向上帝所求的，是要以色列人得救’(罗10:1)。{PH114 1.1}
“保罗所有的这种渴望不是一种平常的心愿。他不住地恳求上帝为以色列人行事，他们未能在拿撒勒的耶稣身上认出上帝所应许的弥赛亚。保罗向罗马的信徒说：‘我在基督里说真话，……有我良心被圣灵感动，给我作见证;我是大有忧愁，心里时常伤痛。为我弟兄，我骨肉之亲，就是自己被咒诅，与基督分离，我也愿意。他们是以色列人;那儿子的名分、荣耀、诸约、律法、礼仪、应许，都是他们的’(罗9:1-4)。{PH114 1.2}
“犹太人原是上帝的选民。祂的旨意原是要藉着他们使全人类得福。上帝曾从他们犹太人中兴起许多先知。这些先知曾经预言到救赎主的来临，而这位救赎主将要被那应当最先承认祂为上帝所应许之救主的人所拒绝所杀害。”{PH114 2.1}
“以色列虽然拒绝了上帝的儿子，但上帝并没有拒绝他们。且听保罗继续辩论说：‘我且说，上帝弃绝了祂的百姓吗?断乎没有。因为我也是以色列人，亚伯拉罕的后裔，属便雅悯支派的。上帝并没有弃绝祂预先所知道的百姓。你们岂不晓得经上论到以利亚是怎么说的呢?他在上帝面前怎样控告以色列人，说：“主啊，他们杀了祢的先知，拆了祢的祭坛，只剩下我一个人，他们还要寻索我的命。”上帝的回话是怎么说的呢?祂说：“我为自己留下七千人，是未曾向巴力屈膝的。”如今也是这样，照着拣选的恩典，还有所留的余数’(罗11:1-5)。{PH114 2.2}
“以色列固然已经失足跌倒，但这并不是说他们再不能站起来了。保罗发问说：‘他们失脚是要他们跌倒吗?’他随即回答说：‘断乎不是!反倒因他们的过失，救恩便临到外邦人，要激动他们发愤。若他们的过失，为天下的富足，他们的缺乏，为外邦人的富足;何况他们的丰满呢?我对你们外邦人说这话，因我是外邦人的使徒，所以敬重我的职分。或者可以激动我骨肉之亲发愤，好救他们一些人。若他们被丢弃，天下就得与上帝和好，他们被收纳，岂不是死而复生吗’(罗11:11-15)?”{PH114 2.3}
“以色列作为一个国家，虽然已经失败了，但他们中间依然还有一些能得救的余数。在救主降世的时候，曾有忠心的男女欣然接受施洗约翰的信息，藉此得蒙指引重新去研究那有关弥赛亚的预言。在早期的基督教会成立时，其中的成员就是这些忠心的犹太人，他们承认拿撒勒人耶稣就是他们长久等待的主。保罗以下的话就是指着这个余数说的：‘所献的新面若是圣洁，全团也就圣洁了;树根若是圣洁，树枝也就圣洁了’(罗11:16)。”{PH114 3.1}
“以色列作为一个国家因不信，又因拒绝上帝对她所有的旨意，而已经与上帝断绝了关系。但上帝还可以使这些脱离了原橄榄树的枝子与树干重新接连起来,这树干就是那一直效忠于他们先祖之上帝的余数。保罗论到这些折下来的枝子说：‘他们若不是长久不信，仍要被接上;因为上帝能够把他们从新接上。’他又对外邦人说：‘你是从那天生的野橄榄树上砍下来的，尚且逆着性得接在好橄榄上，何况这本树的枝子，要接在本树上呢?弟兄们，我不愿意你们不知道这奥秘(恐怕你们自以为聪明);就是以色列人有几分是硬心的，等到外邦人的数目添满了’(罗11:23-25)。”{PH114 4.1}
“犹太人作为一个国家，在他们拒绝拿撒勒人耶稣的时候虽然早已有可怕的厄运宣布在他们头上，但各世代都有许多高尚的、敬畏上帝的男女犹太人默默地忍受痛苦。上帝在他们受难的时候安慰了他们的心，凭怜悯顾念他们悲惨的境遇。祂已经垂听那些全心全意寻求祂、为要明白祂圣言之人的呼求。其中有一些人终于看出他们祖先所拒绝所钉死的那位卑微的拿撒勒人就是以色列的真弥赛亚。当他们的思想领会到那长久因遗传和谬解而致模糊的预言的意义时，他们就充满了感谢上帝之心，因为祂把说不出来的恩赐，赐给每一个选择接受基督为个人救主的人。”{PH114 4.2}
“这福音何时能丰丰满满地传给犹太人，何时就会有许多人接受基督为弥赛亚。在今日基督教的传道人中，只有少数人感觉自己有责任去向犹太人传道;但那使人靠基督得到怜悯和指望的信息，必须传给那些常被疏忽的一等人，像传给其他一切人一样。{PH114 5.1}
“在传福音的工作行将结束时，必要进行一番特别的工作，就是向那些过去被人疏忽的人传道。上帝要祂的福音使者特别注意那些散布在世界各国的犹太人。当旧约圣经能配合新约圣经来解释耶和华永恒旨意的时候，这必要成为犹太人新生的曙光和心灵的复苏。当他们在旧约圣经中看到新约的基督，并看出新约圣经多么清楚地解释旧约圣经时，他们沉迷的意识便要觉醒起来，他们就必认明基督是世界的救主了。……以下的经文将要应验在他们身上：‘凡接待祂的，就是信祂名的人，祂就赐他们权柄，作上帝的儿女’(约1:12)。{PH114 6.1}
“在犹太人中有一些是像古时大数的扫罗一样熟悉圣经的，而且这一等人将要以奇妙的能力宣讲上帝律法的不变性。以色列的上帝必能在我们这一个时代实现这一件事。祂的膀臂并非缩短不能拯救。当祂的仆人们凭信心为那些长久被人疏忽，被人轻视的犹太人工作时，祂的救恩必要彰显出来。”(使徒言行录)35章){PH114 6.2}
“上帝以极其显著的方式在马库斯·利希腾斯坦的心中作工，并带领这名青年来到了巴特尔克里克，以便他在这里受到真理的影响并经历转变。……他在犹太教所接受的教育使他有资格从事预备书刊的工作。他懂希伯来文，因此可以帮助出版社接触他们以其它方式无法接触的一等人。上帝把马库斯赐给出版社绝非下等的恩赐。”(《教会证言》卷三206页){PH114 7.1}
“时候到了，犹太人应当得到亮光。主希望我们鼓励和支持愿意为犹太人从事这正确工作的人;因为必有许多人信服真理，站在上帝一边。时候将到，一日之内将有许多人悔改，正如五旬节的日子门徒受了圣灵以后那样。{PH114 7.2}
“犹太人应当成为向犹太人作工的一种力量。我们就会看到上帝的救恩。”(引自怀爱伦在1905年总会华盛顿会议上的讲话){PH114 8.1}
“有一项大工要在我们的世界完成。主宣布说，要把外邦人收集进来，不仅是外邦人，还有犹太人。在犹太人中有许多人要归主;我们会看到上帝的救恩发出，如明灯发亮(赛62:1)。{PH114 8.2}
“到处都有犹太人;现代真理的亮光要传给他们，好叫他们有机会接受。犹太人中会有许多人来就近亮光，并要以奇妙的能力传扬上帝不变的律法。主上帝必要作工。祂必本着公义行奇妙的事。{PH114 8.3}
“但愿那些没有亲自从事福音传道工作的人不要觉得人人都应该像他们那样看事情。要让上帝以祂自己的方式作工，你们不要插手干预祂正在各城中使用的人。{PH114 8.4}
“我们必须摆脱小气的作风，而要制定较大的计划。必须更加广泛地向前伸展。我们必须为近处的人和远处的人作工。”(引自怀爱伦在1905年总会华盛顿会议上的讲话){PH114 9.1}
“一直让我感到奇怪的是，竟然有那么少的人感到为犹太人作工有负担。犹太人被分散在那么多的国家。基督必与你同在，因为你努力加强你的领悟力，以便更加清晰的仰望上帝的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的。应当唤醒犹太人处于沉睡状态的才能。旧约圣经与新约圣经相结合，对他们来说将如一个新造之人的黎明，又如灵魂的复活。当基督在旧约圣经篇章的描绘中被他们看到时，就会唤醒他们的记忆。当新约圣经的门被旧约圣经的钥匙打开时，犹太民族就会有人得救。当他们看到新约圣经多么清楚地解释了旧约圣经时，基督就会被公认为世界的救主。这些话对他们来说就会应验：‘凡接待祂的，就是信祂名的人，祂就赐他们权柄，作上帝的儿女’(约1:12)。他们就会被改变成主的形像，荣上加荣，如同从主的灵变成的。他们就会得以与上帝的性情有分。上帝的形像就会印在他们的心灵上。他们若是愿意继续学习基督的样式，就必达到基督长成的身量。{PH114 9.2}
“甚愿许多犹太人能敞开心房……我很高兴你的工作如此成功。让我们藉着运用增强的信心来得到力量，逐步前进上进，胜了又胜吧! {PH114 10.1}
“要在主里很有勇气。我祈愿祂继续赐福你，像祂以往赐福了你一样。”(引自1903年3月28日的个人证言){PH114 10.2}
“关于某弟兄正在为犹太人所做的工作，我蒙指示说：要尽量鼓励他。不要用许多禁令来约束他的工作。要帮助他，以便通过他和他同工的努力，使许多以色列人嫁接到真正的树干——基督耶稣身上。……{PH114 10.3}
“我要对某弟兄说，你要保持警惕。不要这么严重地损耗你的精力。主迄今一直与你同在。祂将继续祝福你的努力，且会引导别人与你合作。但你处于不止一个来源的危险之中。你的敌人会对你发怒，因为这个真理正被传递给犹太人。我的弟兄，犹太人不是你的工作唯一帮助的对象。我们自己的人需要这样给他们树立的榜样。{PH114 11.1}
“我恳劝你保持良好的勇气。在你的工作里，不要等待伟大而美妙的机会，而要机会一来就抓住。当上帝的仆人忠诚地利用工作的机会时，真理的力量就会得到证明。”{PH114 11.2}
“我们能看到我们的城市正在进行比过去坚决得多的工作。我们应当向外邦人传福音，也向犹太人传福音。上帝拯救大能的荣耀信息应让所有的人知道。我们为主工作应结合更多的朴素和圣经的善良。不要树立障碍，不要依靠人求智慧。我们的工作应像针对外邦人那样慷慨地针对犹太人。”(引自1908年1月给个人的证言){PH114 11.3}
PH114 - The Work Among the Jews
《Selections From The Testimonies》
【The Work Among the Jews】
“In this letter (Romans) Paul gave free expression of his burden in behalf of the Jews. Ever since his conversion, he had longed to help his Jewish brethren to gain a clear understanding of the gospel message. ‘My heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is,’ he declared, ‘that they might be saved.’?{PH114 1.1}[1]
“It was no ordinary desire that the apostle felt. Constantly he was petitioning God to work in behalf of the Israelites who had failed to recognize Jesus of Nazareth as the promised Messiah. ‘I say the truth in Christ, ‘he assured the believers at Rome, ‘my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises.?{PH114 1.2}[2]
“The Jews were God’s chosen people, through whom He had purposed to bless the entire race. From among them God had raised up many prophets. These had foretold the advent of a Redeemer who was to be rejected and slain by those who should have been the first to recognize Him as the Promised One.”?{PH114 2.1}[3]
“Even though Israel rejected His Son, God did not reject them. Listen to Paul as he continues the argument: ‘I say then, Hath God cast away His people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away His people which He foreknew. Wot ye not what the Scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying Lord, they have killed Thy prophets, and digged down Thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.’?{PH114 2.2}[4]
“Israel had stumbled and fallen, but this did not make it impossible for them?to rise again. In answer to the question, ‘Have they stumbled that they should fall? the apostle replies: ‘God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: if by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead.’”?{PH114 2.3}[5]
“Notwithstanding Israel’s failure as a nation, there remained among them a goodly remnant of such as should be saved. At the time of the Saviour’s advent there were faithful men and women who had received with gladness the message of John the Baptist, and had thus been led to study anew the prophecies concerning the Messiah. When the early Christian church was founded, it was composed of these faithful Jews who recognized Jesus of Nazareth as the one for whose advent they?had been longing. It is to this remnant that Paul refers when he writes, ‘if the first-fruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.’”?{PH114 3.1}[6]
“Through unbelief and the rejection of Heaven’s purpose for her, Israel as a nation had lost her connection with God. But the branches that had been separated from the parent stock God was able to reunite with the true stock of Israel - the remnant who had remained true to the God of their fathers. ‘They also,’ the apostle declares of these broken branches, ‘if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.’ If thou,’ he writes to the Gentiles, ‘wert cut out of the olive-tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive-tree? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”?{PH114 4.1}[7]
“Notwithstanding the awful doom pronounced upon the Jews as a nation at the?time of their rejection of Jesus of Nazareth, there have lived from age to age many noble, God-fearing Jewish men and women who have suffered in silence. God has comforted their hearts in affliction, and has beheld with pity their terrible situation. He has heard the agonizing prayers of those who have sought Him with all the heart for a right understanding of His word. Some have learned to see in the lowly Nazarene whom their forefathers rejected and crucified, the true Messiah of Israel. As their minds have grasped the significance of the familiar prophecies so long obscured by tradition and misinterpretation, their hearts have been filled with gratitude to God for the unspeakable gift He bestows upon every human being who chooses to accept Christ as a personal Saviour.”?{PH114 4.2}[8]
“When this gospel shall be presented in its fulness to the Jews, many will accept Christ as the Messiah. Among Christian ministers there are only a few who feel called upon to labor for the Jewish people; but to those who have been often passed by, as well as to all others, the message of mercy and hope in Christ is to come.?{PH114 5.1}[9]
“In the closing proclamation of the gospel, when special work is to be done for classes of people hitherto neglected, God expects His messengers to take particular interest in the Jewish people whom they find in all parts of the earth. As the Old Testament Scriptures are blended with the New in an explanation of Jehovah’s eternal purpose, this will be to many of the Jews as the dawn of a new creation, the resurrection of the soul. As they see the Christ of the gospel dispensation portrayed in the pages of the Old Testament Scriptures, and perceive how clearly the New Testament explains the Old, their slumbering faculties will be aroused and they will recognize Christ as the Saviour of the world... . To them will be fulfilled the word, ‘As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.’ (John 1:12)?{PH114 6.1}[10]
“Among the Jews are some who, like Saul of Tarsus, are mighty in the Scriptures, and these will proclaim with wonderful power the immutability of the law of God. The God of Israel will bring this to pass in our day. His arm is not shortened that it can not save. As His?servants labor in faith for those who have been long neglected and despised, His salvation will be revealed.”—The Acts of the Apostles, 35.?{PH114 6.2}[11]
“In a most remarkable manner, the Lord wrought upon the heart of Marcus Lichtenstein, and directed the course of this young man to Battle Creek, that he might there be brought under the influence of the truth, and be converted;.... His education in the Jewish religion would have qualified him to prepare publications. His knowledge of Hebrew would have been a help to the office in the preparation of publications through which access could be gained to?a class that otherwise could not be reached. It was no inferior gift that God gave to the Office in Marcus.”—Testimonies for the Church 3:206.?{PH114 7.1}[12]
“The time has come when the Jews are to be given light. The Lord wants us to encourage and sustain men who shall labor in right lines for this people; for there are to be a multitude convinced of the truth, who will take their position for God. The time is coming when there will be as many converted in a day as there were on the?day of Pentecost, after the disciples had received the Holy Spirit.?{PH114 7.2}[13]
“The Jews are to be a power to labor for the Jews; and we are to see the salvation of God.”—From a sermon delivered at the General Conference, at Washington, D.C., in 1905.?{PH114 8.1}[14]
“There is a mighty work to be done in our world. The Lord has declared that the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and not the Gentiles only, but the Jews. There are among the Jews many who will be converted, and we shall see the salvation of God going forth as a lamp that burneth.?{PH114 8.2}[15]
“There are Jews everywhere, and to them the light of present truth is to be brought, that they may have an opportunity to accept it. There are among the Jews many who will come to the light, and who will proclaim the immutability of the law of God with wonderful power. The Lord God will work. He will do wonderful things in righteousness.?{PH114 8.3}[16]
“Let not those who have not engaged in personal, evangelistic work feel that every one should look at things as they do. Let God work in His own way, and keep your hands off those whom He is using in the cities.?{PH114 8.4}[17]
“We must get away from our smallness and make larger plans. There must be a wider reaching forth. We must work for those who are near, and those who are far off.”—From a sermon given at the General Conference, Washington, D. C., 1905.?{PH114 9.1}[18]
“It has been a strange thing to me that there were so few who felt a burden to labor for the Jewish people, who are scattered throughout so many lands. Christ will be with you as you strive to strengthen your perceptive faculties, that you may more clearly behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. The slumbering faculties of the Jewish people are to be aroused. The Old Testament Scriptures, blending with the New, will be to them as the dawning of a new creation, or as the resurrection of the soul. Memory will be awakened as Christ is seen portrayed in the pages of the Old Testament. Souls will be saved from the Jewish nation, as the doors of the New Testament are unlocked with the key of the Old Testament. Christ will be recognized as the Saviour of the world, as it is seen how clearly the New Testament explains the Old. To them the words will be fulfilled, ‘As many as received Him to them?gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.’ They will be changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. They will be partakers of the divine nature. The image of divinity will be stamped upon their souls. If they will continue to learn of Christ, they will attain to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.?{PH114 9.2}[19]
“Oh that many of the Jewish people may open the chambers of the mind...I am so glad that you are so successful in your work. Let us gain strength by exercising increased faith, moving onward and upward step by step, from victory to victory.?{PH114 10.1}[20] “Be of good courage in the Lord. May He continue to bless you, as He has blessed you in the past, is my prayer.... .—From a Personal Testimony, March?28, 1903.?{PH114 10.2}[21]
“Concerning the work in behalf of the Jewish people being done by Brother -----, I am instructed to say, Give him all the encouragement that is possible. Do not bind about his work by many forbiddings. Help him, so that through his efforts, and the efforts of his fellow-laborers, many of?the seed of Israel may be grafted to the true stock, Christ Jesus.?{PH114 10.3}[22]
“To Brother ----- I would say, You must be guarded. Do not tax your powers so severely. Hitherto the Lord has been with you, and He will continue to bless your efforts, and will lead others to unite with you in your work. But you are in danger from more sources than one. Your enemies will be incensed against you because this truth is being carried to the Jews. My brother, the Jewish people are not the only ones who are being helped by your work. Our own people need the example set before them.?{PH114 11.1}[23]
“I bid you be of good courage. In your labors do not wait for some great and wonderful opening, but seize the opportunities as they come. The power of truth will be vindicated as the servants of God make faithful use of the opportunities that present themselves for labor.”?{PH114 11.2}[24]
“We can see a much more decided work is being done in our cities than in the past. We are to preach the gospel to the Jews as well as to the Gentiles. The glorious message of the power of God unto salvation is to be made known unto all men. We are to bring far more of?simplicity and Bible godliness into our work for the Lord. There is to be no erecting of barriers, no depending on human agencies for wisdom. Our work is to be given as freely to the Jews as to the Gentiles.”—From a Personal Testimony, January, 1908.?{PH114 11.3}[25]
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