1. Hello, listening friends.
亲爱的朋友，你好！
2. We are delighted that you joined us in this very special time of the year
我们很高兴你能在这个特别的日子跟我们在这里相聚。
3. The whole world is celebrating Christmas
全世界都在庆祝圣诞节。
4. And we want to be talking to you about this season of Christmas
而我们正想跟大家谈谈有关圣诞节的事。
5. The Bible says that: “Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”
圣经上说：“基督耶稣降世，为要拯救罪人。”
6. The Bible does not say that: Jesus came to save those who are strong in their own eyes.”
但圣经并没有说：“耶稣来拯救那些自以为很坚强的人。”
7. No!
不是这样。
8. The Bible says: “Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”
圣经上说：“基督耶稣降世，为要拯救罪人。”
9. So, who are the sinners?
那么，谁才是罪人？
10. Are sinners only people who commit big sins?
是不是只有那些罪大恶极的人才算是罪人呢？
11. Are sinners only people who commit murder or steal?
是不是只有那些犯了谋杀罪或是偷窃罪的才算是罪人呢？
12. In reality every human being is a sinner.
事实上，所有人都是罪人。
13. Why?
为什么？
14. Because we are all born with a hereditary sinful nature.
因为人人都带有与生俱来的罪性。
15. Because every one of us inherited Adam and Eve’s inclination toward independence from God.
因为我们每一个人都继承了亚当夏娃离弃神的倾向。
16. Because every one of us inherited our first parents’ strong mindedness and stubborn wills.
因为我们每一个人都从始祖那儿继承了自以为是和顽固的性格。
17. Because every one of us inherited the desire to say no to God’s claim over us.
因为我们每一个人都继承了叛逆的倾向，拒绝承认神在我们身上的主权。
18. So then, who is a sinner?
那么，谁才是罪人？
19. Everyone of us.
我们每一个人都是。
20. The Bible said:
圣经说：
21. That because of that inherited rotten disposition...
因着我们继承了始祖的败坏……
22. plus our affirming of it by our desire to be independent of our creator...
又情愿离弃造我们的神……
23. we are heading for eternity of torment, pain and suffering.
以至于我们要受永恒痛苦的煎熬。
24. You might ask:
你也许会问：
25. “Is every single person in the world a sinner?”
“是否世界上每一个人都是罪人？”
26. The answer is: yes.
是的。
27. Why?
为什么？
28. Because of the combination of the hereditary disease of sin,...
因为有了与生俱来的罪性……
29. and confirming of that sin by our own action
加上我们自己的行为也顕出罪来，
30. we are sentenced to a forever in the darkness of the pit.
我们所得的刑罚就是落在永远的黑暗里。
31. But God said:
但是神说：
32. “I have got to help these people out.”
“我一定要把这些人救出来。”
33. “I have got to provide them with a way to save them from that disaster and destruction.”
“我要设立一个救赎的方法，把他们从灾难和毁灭中拯救出来。”
34. “I have got to do for them what they cannot do for themselves,...”
“我要为他们作一些他们自己办不到的事……”
35. “namely, provide them with a way of escape.”
“就是为他们开一条出路。”
36. And that way of escape we call Christmas.
而这条出路就是圣诞节。
37. That way of escape we call Jesus.
这救赎之道就是耶稣。
38. God came from the outer space to save His people from their sin.
神从天上来，把祂的子民从罪中拯救出来。
39. Once again we ask, “Who are the sinners?”
我们再问一次：“谁才是罪人？”
40. Everyone.
每一个人都是。
41. Who needs to accept the way of escape that God provided in the God man Jesus Christ?
谁需要接受神在人子耶稣基督身上所设立的救赎之道？
42. Everyone.
每一个人都需要。
43. Oh, but here is the question:
但是，有一个问题：
44. Who is actually going to be saved from hell and judgement?
到底谁能从地狱和审判中被救出来？
45. And that is the most important question.
其实这才是最重要的问题。
46. God said:
神说：
47. Only those who will admit to being sinners.
只有那些承认自己是罪人的。
48. Only those who are realistic about their condition of heredity sin.
只有那些知道自己与生俱来带有罪性的。
49. Only those who will acknowledge that they cannot save themselves.
只有那些承认自己不能救赎自己的。
50. God said,
神说：
51. Only those who will recognize that without the salvation that Jesus is offering, will end up in that place of utter darkness.
只有那些承认自己没有耶稣基督的救赎，便会落入永远黑暗中的人，
52. Only those who become weak minded enough to know that they cannot save themselves from the eternal flame will be saved
只有那些知道自己是软弱的，不能救自己脱离永刑之火的人，才能得救。
53. Only those who are sorrowful over the fact that they have kept God out of their live will be saved.
只有那些为自己离弃神而感到忧伤痛悔的人，才能得救。
54. Only those who will not trust in their self-sufficiency to save them will be saved
只有那些不倚赖自己的能力，知道自己有所不足的人，才能得救。
55. Only those who will not trust in their good works to save them will be saved
只有那些不靠着自己的善行来救自己的人，才能得救。
56. Only those who will not trust in anything except Jesus Christ will be saved.
只有相信除了耶稣基督以外别无拯救的人，才能得救。
57. What about those who are strong minded?
至于那些充满自信的人又如何？
58. What about the indulgent people?
那些放纵自我的人又如何？
59. What about those who feel that they do not need God?
那些觉得自己不需要神的人又如何？
60. What about those who are proud of their own brilliance?
那些为自己的才华感到自豪的人又如何？
61. What about those who feel that Jesus’ dying on a cross was a waste of a good life?
那些觉得耶稣基督在十字架的死是浪费了美好生命的人又如何？
62. To those the Bible said:
圣经对那些人说：
63. they will spend their forever in darkness, pain and torment,... and indescribable agony
他们将要永远沉沦在黑暗、痛苦与折磨中，以及非笔墨所能形容的极大痛苦中。
64. As someone said the following:
正如有人这样说：
65. Freedom of religion is the God given right for each individual to choose to go to hell the human way or to go to Heaven God’s way.
宗教自由就是神给予每一个人有选择权，或是按人的方法下地狱，或是照着神的方法进天堂。
66. Those who scoff now... will not scoff at the day of judgement.
那些现在讥笑的人，到神审判的日子便不能再讥笑了。
67. Those who mock God now... they won’t mock Him in the day of judgement.
那些现在嘲弄神的，到审判的日子便不能再嘲弄祂了。
68. My listening friends...
亲爱的朋友，
69. it is not always “what you see is what you get.”
事情的结局并不常与目前所看见的一致。
70. You might ask: “wait a minute.”
你也许会说：“等一等，”
71. “What kind of a God would do that to a people?”
“神怎么会这样对待人的？到底祂是怎样的神？”
72. The kind of God who left Heaven and the splendor of Heaven,...
这位神就是离开天上荣华，
73. and lived a life of poverty and simplicity.
降世为人，过了贫穷而简朴的一生。
74. The kind of God who never, ever committed any sin, yet died o n a cross like a criminal.
就是那位从没有犯过罪，却被人当作罪犯钉死在十字架上的神。
75. The kind of God who loves you so,... and is speaking to your inner being... even right now.
就是那位非常爱你，此刻正向你心灵说话的神。
76. The kind of God who is inviting you to come and accept His salvation right now
就是那位现在就邀请你来接受祂的救恩的神。
77. The kind of God who says that “I have done everything to make it possible for you to be saved.”
就是那位说祂会尽全力使你得着拯救的神。
78. The kind of God who is saying to you today,...
这位神今天正对你说话，
79. that if you keep on rejecting Him... your eternal future is in jeopardy.
如果你一直拒绝祂，将危害你自己永恒的归宿。
80. The kind of God who is pleading with you today to turn to Him,...
这位神恳请你今天归向祂……
81. so that you may not end up in the place that was originally prepared for Satan and his demons.
免得你落在原是为撒旦和它的喽啰所设的地方。
82. If you want to make it to Heaven and be assured of Heaven...
如果你想进天堂，并得到这保证……
83. you have to acknowledge that you are weak and helpless.
你必须承认自己是软弱无助的。
84. You have to acknowledge that only Jesus can get you to heaven
你必须承认只有主耶稣才能使你进天堂。
85. If you want a meaningful life... and fulfilled life,...
如果你想得到一个有意义而又充实的人生……
86. if you want a life that is joyful... and a contented life,...
如果你想得到一个喜乐而心满意足的人生……
87. then you must come to God today.
今天，你必须来到神这里。
88. But that requires your admission that you cannot do it by yourself.
同时，你必须承认，靠自己是办不到的。
89. You can be sure of one thing,
有一件事你可以肯定，
90. God said: “When you ask Him to come into your life,...”
神说：“当你请求祂进入你的生命里……”
91. “when you accept His invitation,...
“当你接受祂的邀请……”
92. “when you come to Him,...
“当你来到祂的跟前……”
93. “not only that will come to you with open arms,...
“祂不单张开双手来接纳你……”
94. “but He will forgive you of all of your sins.”
“祂还会赦免你所有的罪……”
95. “And from that moment on... you become His responsibility.”
“从那一刻开始，你便成为祂的儿女……”
96. God is saying, “I will make sure that you get eternal life.”
神说，“我保证你必得永生。”
97. Will you say yes to Him?
你会答应祂吗？
98. Will you accept His free gift of eternal life?
你愿意接受祂白白送给你的永生礼物吗？
99. Will you accept His way of escape?
你愿意接受祂的救赎吗？
100. Will you accept what Christmas is all about?
你愿意接受圣诞节真正的意义吗？
101. Or, will you be like the village fool... who went to the village Christmas party?
或者，就像村里那个傻小子，去参加村庄的圣诞联欢会，
102. At the village Christmas party,
在村庄的圣诞联欢会上，
103. everybody was opening the gifts that were under a great tree in the village square.
每个人都拆开放在广场大树下的礼物。
104. In the midst of the crowd, but sort of in the back stood the village fool.
而傻小子也在其中，远远站在人群后头。
105. This young man bore the brunt of everyone’s jokes.
傻小子一向是众人的笑柄。
106. He took the mockery of the young people.
他受尽了其他年轻人的讥讽。
107. During that Christmas celebration,
圣诞联欢会上，
108. this poor benighted soul was looking more and more downcast.
傻小子越来越沮丧。
109. His name was never called out when the presents were picked up from the tree.
当人们从树下拿起一份又一份的礼物时，从来没有他的份儿。
110. Finally, they were almost all gone.
最后人群差不多都要散去了。
111. But then toward the end,
到了最后一刻，
112. they picked up the largest package under the tree and called his name.
人们从树下拿起一份最大的礼物，并且叫出他的名字。
113. On hearing his name,...
当听到自己的名字时，
114. this man’s face lit up like a brilliant star.
这人的脸整个亮了起来，像闪耀的星星一样。
115. He came forward with utter childish amazement on his face.
他走上前来，脸上带着孩子般的惊喜。
116. He took the package and began to tear the ribbon and the wrapping and opened that huge box.
他把礼物接过来，解开缎带打开盒子。
117. At that moment, his countenance sank as he discovered that it was empty.
却发现盒子是空空的，他的脸色马上沉下来。
118. Someone played a terrible and cruel joke on him.
原来，有人跟他开了一个又大又残酷的玩笑。
119. But that is precisely the joke that the devil is playing on everyone who thinks that they will go to Heaven without the Christ of Christmas.
然而，这就是魔鬼跟每一个以为不用靠基督也可进天堂的人所开的玩笑。
120. Satan holds out the big beautiful box of independence of God.
撒但给人一个又大又漂亮的礼物盒子，里面是叫人离弃神。
121. Satan holds out the big beautiful box of worldly pleasures.
撒但所给的又大又漂亮的礼物盒子，里面是世界的享乐。
122. He holds out the big beautiful box of hoping to be accepted into Heaven without obedience to Christ.
撒但所给的又大又漂亮的礼物盒子，让人满以为不用顺服基督也可进天堂。
123. But when you face your eternity,...
但是当你走到人生的尽头……
124. you will discover that the box is empty.
你将会发现这盒子是空的。
125. And then it will be too late
那时已经太迟了。
126. Coming to Christ right now will spare you from being Satan’s village fool on the day of judgement
现在就归向基督，以免你在审判的时候，成为被撒但愚弄的傻小子。
127. Will you come to Him today?
你愿意今天就归向主耶稣吗？
128. If that is your desire, then you can pray with us this prayer
如果这就是你的心愿，请你跟着我们祷告。
129. Heavenly Father
天上的父神，
130. I come to you
我来到你面前，
131. Helpless and bankrupt
是那么无助又一无所有。
132. Believing that I cannot save myself
我深知自己不能救自己，
133. Forgive me my sins
请你赦免我的罪，
134. Receive me into your Kingdom
让我进到你的国度里。
135. I receive Jesus into my life
我愿接受耶稣，请祂进到我生命里，
136. I receive the fact that he died for me
我承认耶稣为我死，
137. To pay the price for my sins
为我的罪付出代价，
138. And the judgement of my sins
也代替我受了罪的审判。
139. Thank you for receiving me
感谢主接纳我，
140. Help me to walk with you every day
请帮助我每天与你同行。
141. In Jesus’ name
奉主耶稣基督的名祷告，
142. Amen!
阿们。
