答:人生的首要目的就是榮耀上帝(1), 並以他爲樂,直到永遠 (2)。
相關參考經文:
1. 詩86:9;賽60:21;羅11:36林前6:20;10:31;啓4:11
2. 詩16:5-11; 73:24-26 ;144:15;路2:10;約17
Quest. 1. What is the chief end of man? Ans. 1. Man's chief end is to glorify God,(1) and to enjoy him forever.(2)
1.
詩86:9 主啊,你所造的萬民都要來敬拜你;他們也要榮耀你的名。
Psalms 86:9 All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name.
賽60:21 你的居民都成為義人,永遠得地為業;是我種的栽子,我手的工作,使我得榮耀。
Isaiah 60:21 Then all your people will be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor.
羅11:36 因為萬有都是本於他,倚靠他,歸於他。願榮耀歸給他,直到永遠。阿們!
Romans 11:36 For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
林前6:20 因為你們是重價買來的。所以,要在你們的身子上榮耀神。
First Corinthians 6:20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
林前 10:31 所以,你們或吃或喝,無論做什麼,都要為榮耀神而行。
First Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
啓4:11 我們的主,我們的神,你是配得 榮耀、尊貴、權柄的;因為你創造了萬物,並且萬物是因你的旨意被創造而有的。
Revelation 4:11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."
2.
詩16:5 耶和華是我的產業,是我杯中的分;我所得的,你為我持守。
Psalms 16:5 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.
詩16:6 用繩量給我的地界,坐落在佳美之處;我的產業實在美好。
Psalms 16:6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.
詩16:7 我必稱頌那指教我的耶和華;我的心腸在夜間也警戒我。
Psalms 16:7 I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.
詩16:8 我將耶和華常擺在我面前,因他在我右邊,我便不至搖動。
Psalms 16:8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
詩16:9 因此,我的心歡喜,我的靈(原文作榮耀)快樂;我的肉身也要安然居住。
Psalms 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,
詩16:10 因為你必不將我的靈魂撇在陰間,也不叫你的聖者見朽壞。
Psalms 16:10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
詩73:24 你要以你的訓言 引導我,以後必接我到榮耀裡。
Psalms 73:24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
詩73:25 除你以外,在天上我有誰呢?除你以外,在地上我也沒有所愛慕的。
Psalms 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
詩73:26 我的肉體和我的心腸衰殘;但神是我心裡的力量,又是我的福分,直到永遠。
Psalms 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
詩144:15 遇見這光景的百姓便為有福!有耶和華為他們的神,這百姓便為有福!
Psalms 144:15 Blessed is the people of whom this is true; blessed is the people whose God is the Lord.
路2:10 那天使對他們說:「不要懼怕!我報給你們大喜的信息,是關乎萬民的;
Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
約17:22 你所賜給我的榮耀,我已賜給他們,使他們合而為一,像我們合而為一。
John 17:22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one-
約17:24 父啊,我在那裡,願你所賜給我的人也同我在那裡,叫他們看見你所賜給我的榮耀;因為創立世界以前,你已經愛我了。
John 17:24 "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
腓4:4 你們要靠主常常喜樂。我再說,你們要喜樂。
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
啓21:3 我聽見有大聲音從寶座出來說:「看哪,神的帳幕在人間。他要與人同住,他們要作他的子民。神要親自與他們同在,作他們的神。
Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
啓21:4 神要擦去他們一切的眼淚;不再有死亡,也不再有悲哀、哭號、疼痛,因為以前的事都過去了。」
Revelation 21:4 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
1.「榮耀神」應該理解為「反映神的榮耀」
2. 羅馬書9:21-23節:保羅說: 窯匠難道沒有權柄從一團泥裡拿一塊做成貴重的器皿,又 拿一塊做成卑賤的器皿麼?倘若神要顯明他的忿怒,彰顯他的權能,就多多忍耐寬容那 可怒預備遭毀滅的器皿, 又要將他豐盛的榮耀彰顯在那蒙憐憫早預備得榮耀的器皿上。
換言之,無論是失喪的人或得救的人,神都可以透過她們張顯祂的榮耀。神的憐憫可以透過得救的人被彰顯、得稱讚。神的憤怒和公義則可以透過失喪的人被彰顯、得尊崇。二者不同處在於,對那些失喪的人(就是不肯悔改及不願信靠基督的),即使祂們並不以祂為樂,神還是使她們榮耀祂。但對那些得救的人,他們是主動願義榮耀神,並且真的以神為樂,直到永遠。
3. 當一個人竭力要榮耀神時,他乃是節力在任何時候、在任何行動中都竭力要做神眼中喜悅的事。忠心工作、正常娛樂和在主日敬拜神、向未信主的人做見證一樣,都同樣是榮耀神的表現。當然我們所做得某些事會比其他事更重要,但基督門徒生活的正確觀念是:要知到生活的全部都是為榮耀神、事奉祂的名而活!
4. 「人對神所當信的,和神所要人當盡的責任」。小要理問答接下來的問答,就是要討論這些事。
問題:
1.要理問答中“主要”這個詞的意思是什麼?
2.要理問答中“目的”這個詞是什麼意思?
3.“榮耀”這個詞的意義是什麼?
4.要理問答指出人生的主要目的的理由是什麼?
5.人在原初被造時是以___為中心的。
6.人在犯罪之後是以___為中心的。
7.真基督徒的生活是以神為中心這句話,是什麼意思?
8.有些人在圖二的中心會放上什麼來代替“自我”這個詞呢?
9.為什麼這樣做也是好不了多少?
10.“榮耀神”不是指著什麼?
11.諸天榮耀神的方法,與人應該榮耀神的方法有什麼分別?
12.邪惡的人榮耀神嗎?請加以解釋。
13.基督徒在榮耀神的本分之外,還應該有別的“本分”嗎?
14.生活的哪些部分應該要用來榮耀神?
15.傳道的人和工廠工作的人,哪一個更榮耀神?請解釋。