双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：12月19日 神的凭据

12月19日

神的凭据

那在基督里坚固我们和你们，并且膏我们的，就是神；祂又用印印了我们，并赐圣灵在我们心里作凭据。、

哥林多后书1:21-22

当我们信靠基督时，上帝赐给我们的圣灵，不仅仅是作为印记，根据哥林多后书1:22和以弗所书1:14等经文，祂也是我们的凭据，或者如一些翻译所读到的那样，是“定金”或“担保”。

“那在基督里坚固我们和你们，并且膏我们的，就是神；祂又用印印了我们，并赐圣灵在我们心里作凭据。”（哥林多后书1:21-22）。

在使徒保罗时代，商人认为质押具有三重作用：它是一笔确认交易达成的定金；它代表购买的义务，它也是未来所要获得事物的一个样本。

假设你决定买一辆车，质押就是达成交易的首付款，它还代表你承诺支付剩余的购车款。这就是当我们接受“得基业的凭据”时圣灵所应许的（以弗所书1:14）。

正如伟大的传教士政治家耶德逊所说过的：“前景与上帝的应许一样光明。”

今日祷告：

天父，我们相信祢的应许，感谢祢用圣灵充满我们，使我们知道耶稣将会再来；奉耶稣的名，阿们。

December 19

THE PLEDGE

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ.He anointed us,set his seal of ownership on us,and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit,guaranteeing what is to come.2 Corinthians 1:21-22,NIV

As we trust in Christ,God gives us the Spirit not only as a seal.He is also our pledge,or,as some translations read,“earnest”or“guarantee,”according to such passages as 2 Corinthians 1:22 and Ephesians 1:14.

“Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us in God,who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee[pledge]”(2 Corinthians 1:21-22,NKJV).

In the apostle Paul’s day,businessmen considered a pledge to do three things:It was a down payment that sealed a bargain,it represented an obligation to buy,and it was a sample of what was to come.

Suppose you were to decide to buy a car.The pledge would first be a down payment sealing the transaction.It would also represent your promise to pay the rest of the purchase price.This is what the Holy Spirit promises when we receive the“earnest of our inheritance”(Ephesians 1:14).

As the great missionary statesman Adoniram Judson once said,“The prospect is as bright as the promises of God.”

Pray for the Day:

Father,we believe in Your promises,and thank You for filling us with the Holy Spirit,so that we will know Jesus is coming back;in Jesus’Name,Amen.