當下耶穌從加利利來到約但河，見了約翰，要受他的洗。約翰想要攔住祂，說：「我當受你的洗，你反倒上我這裡來嗎﹖」耶穌回答說：「你暫且許我，因為我們理當這樣盡諸般的義（或作：禮）。」於是約翰許了祂。耶穌受了洗，隨即從水裡上來。天忽然為祂開了，就看見神的靈彷彿鴿子降下，落在祂身上。從天上有聲音說：「這是我的愛子，我所喜悅的。」《馬太福音》3:13-17
洗禮是主耶穌基督親自設立的聖禮，是一件最簡單，但也是最莊嚴的事。
在施洗的時候，牧師用普通的水，奉聖父、聖子、聖靈的名，與領洗的人立下一個意義重大而且深遠的約。藉著這約，上帝接納信祂名的人做祂的兒女，並且應許住在領洗的人心裡，做祂們永遠的主。
與受洗人立約的，不是某一位牧師，也不是某一間教會，而是呼召，救贖，並接納罪人的上帝。這宇宙的創造者要作我們的天父，讓我們做祂的兒子。
這是多麼光榮的一件事啊！
〔謹向在聖誕日受洗成為基督徒的弟兄姐妹致意。〕
5 comments:
還記得在三＋多年之前，牧師與我一同站在受洗池裡，牧師猶如施洗約翰般為我禱告祝福後便把我全身按入水裡...
"與受洗人立約的，不是某一位牧師，也不是某一間教會，而是呼召，救贖，並接納罪人的上帝。"
網主哥哥：你係咪話洗禮唔代表你加入某一個教派、某一個教會，你加入既係上帝既大公教會。咁講啱唔啱呀？
毛毛蟲
相片中的這位姐妹：
恭喜你受洗成為基督徒，進入神豐盛的祝福！
主內
Dear Robin
There are two sacraments mentioned in the Gospels : Baptism and Holy Communion. They are known as Gospel Sacraments and are instituted by Our Lord Jeusu Christ.
When a person being enlightened through the teaching and the words of the Bible during this person's spiritual learning in life. That person may ask for or the church calls for a Sacrament of Baptism. In other words that person sees the sinful darkness in life and repents and accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and saviour. That person after Baptism is accepted as a child of God, and a member of the Kingdom of God.
A baptised person is a member of A church but it is not necessarily THE member of a church. Baptism is a ritual that a minister follows what Jesus taught in the Bible. So he /she is not contracted in condition with a church. Because he/she is baptised into the Holy Catholic(universal) Church. He/she can join for any resason any worship of other churcch. Church on earth should accepted he/she as member, as long as the Baptism is being performed officially and documented.
Baptism is not a contract with a church minister or with a church. It is a matter of relation with God. As the hymn -Amazing Grace : 'I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.' It is he/she found the Truth & the Light.
Today the matter of parish or denomination makes people confusing. Some ministers is so parochialism. Because they think people who live within their church boundary is members of his church. They forget the church is a Catholic Church, and see the church as their wordly business and try to make the profit of it. Yes, in a norrow sense one who baptismed in a church has a duty to support that church. After all he/she is free to stay or to join others at choice. Because he/she is a free person in God's Kingdom.
In Christ
Robert Yeung
多謝楊牧師對〝洗禮〞的詳細解釋。
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