While the Covenant Apostolic Congregations International maintain an open creed, these statements preserve its theological heritage, and present its latest and best understanding of Scripture.
雖然「盟約使徒會眾國際」維持開放的信條,但這些聲明保留其神學傳統,並呈現其對聖經最新、最好的理解。
CACI 基本信仰
The Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, is God’s inspired Word. Inerrant in its original writing, the Bible is the only authoritative and infallible rule of faith and conduct for humanity.
聖經由舊約和新約組成,是神所默示的話語。聖經原文無誤,是人類信仰和行為的唯一權威和無誤的準則。
The sovereign deity of the universe is YHWH the “I AM”, who is to be worshiped in spirit and in truth. He is the eternal, infinite, holy, self-existent Spirit who created, sustains, rules, redeems, and judges His creation. He is one in nature, essence and being. God, who is one in person, has manifested (or made Himself known) in Scripture as Father in creation, as Son in redemption, and as Holy Spirit in emanation.
宇宙的主宰神是「我是」耶和華,我們要用心靈和誠實來敬拜祂。祂是永恆、無限、聖潔、自我存在的靈體,祂創造、維持、統治、救贖、審判祂所創造的萬物。祂在性質、本質和存在上是合一的。神的位格是合一的,祂在聖經中彰顯(或讓人知道)祂自己,在創造中是父,在救贖中是子,在噴發中是聖靈。
God the Father of whom are all things, whom no one has seen nor can see, reigns in the heavens and transcends our complete knowing. He is revealed as our loving heavenly Father. Ultimately, God the Father will restore perfect harmony to all creation through Messiah and reign eternally over the redeemed.
神是萬有之父,是沒有人看見也不能看見的,祂在天上掌權,超越我們的認知。祂顯明為我們慈愛的天父。最後,父神會藉著彌賽亞恢復所有被造物的完美和諧,並永遠掌權在被贖的人身上。
Jesus Christ is declared by the Angel Gabriel to be Emmanuel - “God With Us”, and by the Apostle Paul to be “God manifested in the flesh” (I Tim 3:16). According to John the Apostle, Jesus was the “WORD (Logos) made flesh” who in the beginning was with God, and was God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. Born of the virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit of God, He became the only “begotten” Son. In His Son-ship He “took on the seed of Abraham” and was “made like unto his brethren”. In that God is not a man, the scripture declares that God was “in Christ” reconciling the world unto Himself. As the Son, He humbled Himself to be subordinate to the Father and, obedient unto death. He lived without sin, died as an atoning sacrifice for our sin and not His own, was entombed for three full days and three full nights, resurrected Himself bodily, ascended to the glory He had before, reigns as Lord in heaven, and will return to earth as judge and King.
加百列天使宣稱耶穌基督是以馬內利——「神與我們同在」,使徒保羅宣稱耶穌基督是「神在肉身顯現」(提摩太前書 3:16)。根據使徒約翰的說法,耶穌是「道(Logos)成肉身」,他起初與 神同在,且是 神。萬物都是藉著他造的,若沒有他,就沒有任何受造物被造了。藉著神聖靈的大能,由童貞女馬利亞所生,祂成為唯一「受生的兒子」。在(以)祂兒子的身份,祂 「承接了亞伯拉罕的種子」,並 「變得與弟兄相似」。在(以)祂兒子的身份,神不是人,經文宣告:神已經「在基督裡」叫世人與自己和好。作為那兒子,祂謙卑自己,從屬於 父,且順服至死。祂沒有罪孽地活著,為我們的罪而非祂自己的罪作贖罪祭而死,被埋葬了整整三天三夜,身體復活,升到祂之前的榮耀,在天上作主,並將以審判者和王的身份回到地上。
The Holy Spirit is the promised divine helper. The Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) literally translated is “Holy Breath” and is God’s presence and power in the world indwelling believers. Thus the Holy Spirit is not a seperate eternal person “IN” the Godhead, but is rather the Spirit of God Himself. By His Holy Spirit, God inspired and illuminates the Scriptures; convicts and regenerates sinners; sanctifies, teaches, comforts, guides, and preserves believers; and empowers them for service.
聖靈是曾應許之神聖助手。Ruach HaKodesh(聖靈)直譯為「聖氣」,是神在世上的同在和能力,住在信徒裡面。因此,聖靈不是「在」神本體(神格 Godhead)中的一個分離的永恆位格,而是神本身的靈。神藉著祂的聖靈啟發和照亮聖經;使罪人定罪和重生;使信徒成聖、教導、安慰、引導和保守信徒;並使他們有能力服事。
Humanity was created in the image of God: sinless, though not naturally immortal. Through Adam and Eve’s disobedience, all human beings became sinners by nature and by choice. The penalty for our sin is alienation from God, physical death (without consciousness) and, ultimately eternal death for those who do not receive the salvation offered by Messiah. It was Satan, the adversary of God, who tempted our first parents in the garden. The Devil is still capable of transforming himself into an angel of light but will finally be destroyed in the lake of fire.
人類是照著神的形像被造的:雖然不是天生不朽,卻是無罪的。由於亞當和夏娃的悖逆,所有的人都因本性和選擇而成為罪人。我們罪的懲罰是與神疏離、肉體的死亡(沒有意識),對於那些沒有接受彌賽亞所提供的救贖的人來說,最終是永恆的死亡。是撒旦,神的對手,在花園裡試探我們的始祖父母。魔鬼仍能變身為光明天使,但最終會在火湖裡被毀滅。
Sinful humanity may be saved from the penalty of eternal death and receive eternal life instead. Atonement for sins, with its attendant promise of eternal life, comes through Messiah’s death, burial, and resurrection on our behalf. We are able to connect to these three elements through…
The Death – Repentance: We believe that repentance is initiated through Godly sorrow, and is a call to turn from sin and mortify the deeds of the flesh.
The Burial - Water Baptism: We believe Scriptural water baptism to be sacramental for the “remission of sins” and is commanded in the scriptures to be done in the singular “Name” of the Messiah, rather than the nameless trinitarian titles.
The Resurrection – Infilling of the Holy Spirit: We believe that true believers are filled by the Holy Spirit in the same way as the first Believers in Acts. Thus, evidenced by the supernatural gifts of the Spirit. (Acts 10:44-46)
有罪的人類可以從永恆死亡的刑罰中得救,取而代之的是永恆的生命。彌賽亞代我們受死、埋葬和復活,為我們贖罪,並應許永恆的生命。 我們可以透過這三個元素…
死亡 - 悔改:我們相信悔改是藉著敬虔的憂傷而發起的,是叫人脫離罪惡、除去肉體行為的呼召。
埋葬 - 水洗:我們相信聖經中的水洗是「赦罪」的聖禮,而且聖經命令要以彌賽亞的單數「名」來行,而不是無名的三位一體稱號。
復活 - 聖靈的灌注:我們相信真正的信徒會像使徒行傳中的第一批信徒一樣被聖靈充滿。因此,聖靈超自然的恩賜就是明證。(使徒行傳 10:44-46)
The Congregation in Scripture is a spiritual body of believers who hold the faith of Jesus and keep the commandments of God. Under the lordship of Messiah and the authority of His Word, the Congregation is His Government of Kings and Priests, and exists universally and locally for purposes of worshiping God, preaching the Kingdom, nurturing believers, and serving humanity. All Saints should participate in this mission by service to others and fellowship with believers.
聖經中的會眾是由持守耶穌的信仰和遵守神的誡命的信徒所組成的屬靈團體。在彌賽亞的主權和祂的話語的權柄之下,會眾是祂的君王和祭司的政府,為了敬拜神、傳講國度、培育信徒和服務人類的目的而普遍和局部地存在。所有聖徒都應透過服務他人和與信徒團契來參與這使命。
Torah means “instructions”. As such, God’s Torah (Genesis - Deuteronomy) contains both the 10 Commandment Law of God as well as the Scrolls of the Book of the Law that was added. These timeless, divine lessons for victorious living express the beautiful Law and Culture of God’s Kingdom to His Covenant People.
Torah 的意思是「指示」。因此,神的妥拉《律法書》(創世記 - 申命記)既包含神的十誡律法,也包含新增的律法書卷。這些勝利生活的永恆、神聖的教訓,向祂立約的子民表達神的國度美麗的律法和文化。
The Torah is perfectly built from two (2) major components; “God’s Law of Ten Commandments” AND the added “Book of the Law of Moses”.
2 Chronicles 33:8 Take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law AND the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.
These two components are essential to understanding Torah’s application under the New Covenant.
To distinguish God’s 10 Commandments from the Book of the Law is NOT to diminish the value of the Torah in the life of the believer, but rather to distinguish that which is the “eternally unalterable law” (10 Commandments) from that which contained “shadows, penalties, and symbolisms” which would be elevated as spiritual applications in the New Covenant (ie Levitical Sacrifices, Literal Circumcision, Etc.).
《妥拉律法》是由兩個主要部分所構成的:「神的十誡律法」和加上的「摩西律法書」。
歷代志下 33:8 我所吩咐他們的,他們都要謹慎遵行,就是照摩西手所立的全律法和成文法(律例)和慣例(典章)。
要了解妥拉在新約下的應用,這兩個部分是不可或缺的。
將神的十誡從律法書中區分出來,並「不是」要貶低妥拉在信徒生命中的價值,而是要將「永遠不變的律法」(十誡)與包含「影子、刑罰、象徵」的律法區分開來,這些「影子、刑罰、象徵」在新約中會被提升為屬靈的應用(例如利未人的獻祭、猶太人的割禮等)。
Many believers are unaware that the Torah was given in two separate stages. This knowledge parallels its application in the New Covenant. That which was given first (The 10 Commandments) remains the foundation of God’s Moral Code, and that which was added later to address transgression (The Book of the Law) prophetically shadows the redemptive work of Messiah and reveals the beautiful culture of His Kingdom (festivals, celebrations, foods, & customs).
許多信徒不知道妥拉是分兩個階段賜下的。這個知識與它在新約中的應用相似。先頒布的(十誡)仍是「神的道德法規」的基礎,後加的是為了對付違法行為(律法書),預言性地影射了彌賽亞的救贖工作,並揭示了祂國度的美麗文化(節日、慶典、食物和習俗)。
Let us examine these unfolding stages…
讓我們檢視這些發展階段…
First… The 10 Commandments alone were spoken audibly by God, and the Bible says “And He added no more”. These had been, and always will be, the eternal foundation of God’s Moral Character and standard of righteousness. They have not been altered by Calvary.
首先…只有十誡是由神以聲音說出來的,聖經說「祂不再加添」。這些誡命一直是,而且永遠是神道德品格和公義標準的永恆根基。它們並沒有因為髑髏地而改變。
Then, while Moses was on the mountain receiving the written set of 10 Commandments, Israel transgressed and began worshiping idols of Golden Calves. This infuriated Moses and he threw down the two tables of stones shattering them.
當摩西在山上接受十誡時,以色列人違背了十誡,開始敬拜金牛犊的偶像。這激怒了摩西,他把兩張石桌扔了下去,把它們摔得粉碎。
After this transgression of Israel, God called Moses back onto the mountain where he gave him a re-written set of His 10 Commandments, but this time God had Moses write onto scrolls a “Book of the Law” which was “added because of the transgression”. (Gal 3:19).
在以色列人犯了這次過犯之後,神召摩西回到山上,給了他一套重新寫過的十誡,但這次神讓摩西在書卷上寫下「律法的經」,這本「律法的經」是「因為過犯而加添的」(加 3:19)。 (加 3:19)。
These “added” laws were beautifully constructed with symbolism that would reveal the work of the Messiah, and contain object lessons for righteous and spiritual living. These have been elevated by Calvary to reveal Messiah, and have taken on their “New and Living” application under the New Covenant.
這些 「新增 」的律法都是以象徵意義構成的,可以揭示彌賽亞的工作,並包含公義和屬靈生活的實用教訓。髑髏地提升了這些律法,以揭示彌賽亞的作為,並在新約中以「新而活」的方式應用。
Understanding these two components allows the New Testament Believer to perfectly harmonize the writings of the Apostles concerning the Law.
了解這兩個部分可以讓新約信徒完美地協調使徒所寫的關於律法的著作。
The Apostles without exception uphold the integrity and literal application of God’s 10 Commandment Law as our Christian expression of love both toward God and Others. Thus, the New Covenant Disciple is taught to honor God’s 10 Commandments as a RESULT not as a MEANS of Grace.
使徒們無一例外地堅持上帝十誡律法的完整性和字面應用,作為我們基督徒對上帝和他人的愛的表達。因此,新約門徒被教導要尊崇神的十誡,將其視為恩典的結果而非手段。
1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
約翰一書 5:2 我們愛神,遵守他的誡命,就因此知道我們是愛神的兒女。
At the same time, the Apostles do not abandon the Book of the Law of Moses, but rather from this portion of Torah they lift all of their spiritual lessons and allegories. They speak of “spiritual” circumcision, “spiritual” sacrifices, and a “spiritual” temple. These elements are not absent in the New Covenant, they are elevated and made spiritual and therefore are upheld in a superior way.
與此同時,使徒們並沒有放棄摩西律法書,而是從這部分的律法書中汲取所有屬靈的教訓和寓言。他們談到「屬靈」的割禮、「屬靈」的祭物和「屬靈」的聖殿。這些元素在新約中並非不存在,而是被提升並變得屬靈,因此以更優越的方式來維護。
1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
彼得前書 2:5 你們也像活潑的石頭,被建造為屬靈的房屋,作聖潔的祭司,藉著耶穌基督,獻上屬靈的祭,是神所喜悅的。
The seventh-day Sabbath is God’s gift to humanity from creation, was written into the Ten Commandments by God’s own finger, kept and taught by Jesus, and observed by the early apostolic assemblies. A memorial of both creation and redemption, the Sabbath should be faithfully celebrated by believers now as a day of rest, worship, and well-doing.
第七日安息日是神在創世時賜給人類的禮物,由神親手寫在十誡中,由耶穌來遵守和教導,並由早期的使徒團契來遵守。安息日是創世和救贖的紀念,信徒現在應當忠心慶祝安息日,作為休息、敬拜和行善的日子。
The annual feasts of YHWH are moedim (divine appointments) throughout the year. They mark the prophetic sequence of specific events in God’s redemptive plan, and stand in stark opposition to the pagan festivals of Mystery Babylon. They were observed by Apostolic example throughout the New Testament record. They will be observed in the coming millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ, and are celebrated by His faithful Congregation in the present era.
YHWH 一年一度的節期都是 moedim(神的約會)。它們標記著神救贖計畫中特定事件的預言順序,與巴比倫奧秘的異教節日截然相反。在新約聖經的記載中,這些節期都是使徒們以身作則所遵守的。在耶穌基督即將來臨的千禧年國度中,這些節日會被遵守,而在現今時代,祂忠實的會眾也會慶祝這些節日。
Christians are called to holiness in thought, word, and deed and to express faith in Christ through devotion to God and godly interaction with others. As a result — not a cause — of redemption, believers should …
基督徒蒙召要在思想、言語和行為上聖潔,並透過對神的奉獻和與他人敬虔的互動來表達對基督的信心。作為救贖的結果(而非原因),信徒應該…
According to scripture, two NT sacraments are connected to the remission of sin. They are water baptism exclusively in the Name of the Messiah (as appropriately spoken in any language) and subsequently the Blood of the New Covenant which we celebrate through the cup which we bless. Both Sacraments are wrapped in the scriptural phrase “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38 & Mat 26:28). Thus, the Church has remission in the Water and in the Blood of the New Covenant (1 John 5:6). Initially through water baptism and subsequently through the cup.
根據經文,有兩項新約聖禮與罪的赦免有關。這兩項聖禮分別是以彌賽亞之名所行的水洗(適當地以任何語言說出),以及後來我們藉著祝福的杯所慶祝的新約之血。這兩項聖禮都包含在「赦罪」這句經文中(使徒行傳 2:38 和馬太福音 26:28)。因此,教會在新約的水和血中得到赦罪(約翰一書 5:6)。最初透過水洗,後來透過杯洗。
The kingdom of God is realized in three phases:
神的國度分三個階段實現:
The Present Kingdom…
The spiritual kingdom exists now as God rules in the hearts of obedient believers. This kingdom was announced and revealed through the prophets and the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. We surrender to this kingdom when we turn from sin to serve God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Presently the Kingdom reigns in us though we do not yet reign in the Kingdom.
現代王國…
屬靈的國度現在已經存在,因為神在順服的信徒心中掌權。這個國度是透過先知和我們的主耶穌基督的事工來宣告和啟示的。當我們藉著信心在耶穌基督裏,離開罪來事奉神時,我們就降服在這個國度裡。
儘管我們尚未在國度中掌權,但目前國度已在我們心中掌權。
The Millennial Kingdom…
Jesus will return to earth in power and glory to resurrect the righteous dead in the first resurrection (immediately after the tribulation), bestow immortality and eternal life upon the resurrected and the living righteous.. This great Sabbath Rest of one thousand years will be a universal kingdom in which all principalities, powers, and enemies are overcome. During this age, the Messianic promises to Israel and the Oaths to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David will be fully realized. At the end of the thousand years, the rest of the dead will be resurrected, judged before the great white throne, and the wicked will suffer annihilation in the second death.
千年王國…
耶穌將帶著權能與榮耀重返世上,在第一次復活中(緊接著苦難之後)復活正義的死者,並賜予復活者與活著的正義者不朽與永生。這一千年的、大安息日的安息,將是一個普世的國度,在這個國度裡,所有的執政者、掌權者和敵人們都會被戰勝克服。在這個時代,彌賽亞對以色列的應許,以及對亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各和大衛的誓約,都會完全實現。在這一千年結束時,其餘的死人將復活,在白色大寶座前接受審判,而惡人將在第二次死亡中遭受滅絕。
The Eternal Kingdom…
After the annihilation of the final rebellion, God’s eternal kingdom will last through ages without end. God will dwell with the redeemed in the heaven and earth made new where no disappointment, defilement, or death can enter and where righteousness and peace will prevail forever.
永恆國度…
在最後的叛亂湮滅之後,神永恆的國度將永遠持續下去。神將在新造的天地中與被贖的人同住,在那裡,失望、玷污或死亡都無法進入,公義與和平將永遠盛行。