耶穌來到世上，將人類從魔鬼的權勢中解救出來, 罪, and death and to 使人與神和好 和 恢復墮落的人的位置. By faith in Jesus Christ and through regeneration man would no longer belong to the generation of fallen man; 老人, but to the generation of the new man; sons God. But the salvation of fallen man and the transfer from the kingdom of the darkness to the Kingdom of God had consequences for the life of the new man on earth. Because Jesus came not to send peace on earth, but Jesus came to send a sword. What did Jesus mean by not sending peace but sending a sword on earth?
Jesus brought division
不要以為我是來為地球帶來和平的: 我不是來寄和和平, 但是一把劍. 因為我來將一個男人與父親差異, 和女兒反對她的母親, 和女兒反對岳母的女兒. 一個人的敵人將是自己的家庭 (墊 10:32-36, 魯 12:51)
耶穌說, that He didn’t come to bring peace on earth, 正如世界定義和平一樣, 但要帶劍.
Jesus came to set a man at variance against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law and someone’s enemies would be those of his own household.
耶穌的意思是, that His coming and His redemption through regeneration and His life in the new creation, would cause division between the 老人 (墮落的人) 和新人.
通過再生, the new man would no longer belong to the world, 但為了神的國度. 所以, the salvation of man would cause a separation between those, 誰屬於世界; 黑暗王國 (魔鬼之子) 和那些, 誰屬於上帝的國 (上帝的兒子).
The result of regeneration
世界不能恨你; 但是我討厭, 因為我作見證, 其行為是邪惡的 (約翰 7:7)
When the disciples of Jesus were not born again and were still the old creation, 誰屬於墮落的人, 耶穌說, that the world could not hate them, because they still belonged to the world. But when they would be born again and the Holy Spirit would dwell in them and Jesus Christ would be in them, that would all change.
His life and His righteousness in the new creation would cause agitation, 愾, 恨, 反抗, 和迫害.
肉體的老男人, who has the nature of the devil and the spirit of the antichrist wouldn’t stand the new man, who has the nature of God and the Spirit of Christ.
Since the Holy Spirit, Who lives in the new man, would reprove those, 誰屬於世界, 罪惡的, 義, 和判斷 (約翰 16:8)
Jesus was hated by the world, 因為他證明她的行為是邪惡的. Therefore the new creations would also be 被世界討厭, because they would also testify that her works are evil (約翰 15:18-27; 16:1-12).
這 再生 in Jesus Christ and living in Him would divide the soulish people, who are born of the seed of Adam and the spiritual people, 誰是上帝的種子 (耶穌).
The Word is powerful and shaper than any two-edged Sword
因此，讓我們努力進入那個休息, 避免任何男人在不信的例子之後跌倒. 因為上帝的話很快, 和強大, 比任何雙劍更尖銳, 甚至刺入靈魂和精神的分裂, 和關節和骨髓, 並且是對內心思想和意圖的辨別者. 他的視線中都沒有任何生物: 但是萬物都是赤裸裸的，向他的眼睛打開了 (赫布 4:11-13)
劍, that Jesus brought not only referred to the relationships between people on earth and the separation between the generation of the old man and the generation of the new man, but the sword also referred to the life of the new man.
Because the Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword and it pierces even to the dividing asunder of soul (老人) 和精神 (新人) and of the joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The Word deals with the old man
The Word is the truth of God and is holy and righteous. When you study the Word through the Holy Spirit and renew your mind, you will get to know the 神的旨意. The truth of God shall expose the lies of the world and shall bring the works of darkness into the light.
The Word shall, 除其他外, confront you with the deeds of your flesh, and then it’s up to you, to obey the Word or not. When you obey the Word of God and do what He says, you shall mortify the deeds of your flesh and 推遲老人.
The Word not only deals with the old man, but the Word also reveals who you have become in Jesus Christ.
The Word builds the new man up in holiness
The Word feeds the spirit of the new creation with the truth of God. The Word shall reveal, 你是誰 in Christ and what inheritance you have been given in Him. Without the Word you will never find out.
Only through obedience to the Word, which is sharper than any two-edged sword you shall kill the works of the flesh and shall do the works of the spirit.
By renewing your mind with the Word and by obeying the Word, the new man shall arise and shall walk in the light; the truth of God as the new creation; 上帝之子. The new man shall be build up in holiness through the Word and shall do the will of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit on earth.
計算成本
所以, 耶穌說, that before you make a choice to follow Him you should 計算成本. Because many people are not willing to lay down their old life and kill the works of the old carnal man through obedience to the Word (the Sword).
Many people are not able to run the race of faith and finish it. They want to be partakers of the race to receive the price, but they are not willing to pay the price. They assume that you won’t have to make any effort to be rewarded. 但事實並非如此.
Every professional athlete knows, what you have to give up to perform at top level and what it cost to win and be rewarded. If you didn’t have to give up anything and didn’t have to make any effort, then everyone would be a professional athlete. 但只有那些, who are willing to pay the price and give up their own lives, their time and social lives and activities for a disciplined training schedule with the right nutrition and a full dedication, will be rewarded.
同樣適用於上帝的兒子. If you wouldn’t have to make any effort, then Jesus wouldn’t have said that you should first 計算成本 before making the choice to follow Him
Jesus wouldn’t have said either: 愛父親或母親勝過愛我的人不配屬於我: 愛兒女勝過愛我的人不配屬於我. 那不是他的十字架, and follows after Me, 不配我. 發現自己生命的人將失去它: 為我而喪掉生命的人將得到生命 (墊 10:37-39)
但這是耶穌的話. And Jesus said many more things, which are nowadays twisted and preached in such a manner, that many believers think that you don’t have to do anything and don’t have to make any effort, that everything will be thrown in your lap and you can live like the world; as those who still belong to the generation of fallen man and keep doing those things that go against the will of God.
但當你決定跟隨耶穌時, it means to give up yourself and 脫去你的肉體. You may even lose friends and/or family members, because they are not able to bear the Truth of God.
Because the Truth of God; the Sword pierces even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and brings division between soulish people and spiritual people on earth.
‘成為地球之鹽’
