命運
Thanks Amy, for sharing your story about Micah. I met Micah just a couple of weeks ago, and I can confirm that’s he even cuter in the flesh than he is on video!
We are launching a new series today across all of our campuses, and so I want say a special hi to everyone at East, and at Night Church, and all of the Gracecity at My Place venues, and anyone watching on the internet as well.
谢谢艾米，分享你关于弥迦的故事。几周前我遇到了弥迦，我可以确认他的真人比视频中的更可爱！
今天，我们将同时推出一个新系列，所以我想向 东区姐妹教会，晚间教会（Night Church） 以及所有 恩典之城驻家教会（Gracecity at My Place） 场地的每个人，以及任何在互联网上观看的人打个招呼。
This new series called Resilient, and love way that Amy described the word. As said, dictionary definition of resilience is toughness, strength, hardiness. Ability to bounce back after difficulty or calamity. But did you notice how Amy described it? – coming to the end of ourselves, being utterly dependant on Jesus.
这个新系列叫做复原力，正如 Amy 对这个词充满感情的描述。如前所述，复原力字典上的定义是韧性，强度，坚韧。在困难或灾难后反弹的能力。但是你注意到艾米是如何描述它的吗？ – 当我们走到我们自己路的尽头，完全依赖耶稣时而得到的能力就是复原力。
Over next 7 weeks, we’re going walk together through NT letter of 1 Peter. Was written by apostle Peter, one of Jesus earliest and closest followers and the leader of the apostles. And wrote this letter about 30 years after death and resurrection of Jesus, and coming of Spirit and birth of church, to group of Jesusfollowers in what we would call Turkey today.
They had come from pagan backgrounds to faith in Jesus, but finding that really tough. In opening greeting, Peter calls them “exiles”; later in ch.2 he adds “strangers and exiles.” In other words, they didn’t belong in society, community. They’d been pushed to margins, and this was because faith in Jesus.
在接下来的 7 周里，我们将一起研读新约里彼得前书的书信。由使徒彼得撰写，他是耶稣最早和最亲密的追随者之一，也是使徒的领袖。并在耶稣死后复活、圣灵降临和教会诞生 30 年后写了这封信，写给今天我们称之为土耳其的一群耶稣追随者。
他们来自异教背景，都转而信耶稣，但他们发现这真的很难。在开始问候时，彼得称他们为“流放者”；后来在第 2 章中，他添加了“寄居的人和流放者”。换句话说，他们不属于那个社会、社区。他们被推到边缘，这是因为对耶稣的信。
So the question was, how could they remain resilient and strong in those circumstances? How could they grow in dependency on Jesus on margins?
What going see in series, is Peter going describe 7 key factors and elements in growing in our resilience.
Going to talk about Identity (who are we?); calling (why are we here?); lifestyle (how should we live?); focus (what are we living for?) and so on. Going to explore each of these in coming weeks.
But interestingly, the place that Peter begins his letter, is with our destiny. He wants us to understand where we are going. It was late Stephen Covey in book, “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” that wrote, “Begin with the end in mind.” -Stephen Covey
所以问题是他们如何在这种环境中保持复原力并且刚强壮胆？ 他们怎么能既被边缘化又能靠着耶稣呢灵命成长呢？
本系列中将看到的是，彼得将描述 7 个关键因素和要素，以增强我们的复原力。我们将谈及我们的身份（我们是谁？）；我们的呼召（我们为什么在这里？）；生活方式（我们应该如何生活？）；专注焦点（我们为什么而活？）等等。将在接下来的几周内探索其中的每一个要素。
但有趣的是，彼得开始写信的提到的是我们的命运。他希望我们明白我们何去何从。斯蒂芬柯维在《高效能人士的七个习惯》一书中写道，以终为始。斯蒂芬·柯维
Here’s what he went on to say:
To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination. It means to know where you're going so that you better understand where you are now and so that the steps you take are always in the right direction. Stephen Covey
Essentially that’s what Peter is doing at start of his letter – making sure we have clear understanding of our destination. But simply thinking about what kind of eulogy want at our funeral, or epitaph on grave.
Peter focused on eternity – everlasting life with God in new heavens and new earth.
他接着说：
以终为始意味着从清楚地了解你的目的地开始。这意味着知道你要去哪里，这样你才能更好地了你现在在哪里，因而你所采取的步骤总是朝着正确的方向。斯蒂芬·柯维
本质上，这就是彼得在信的开头所提及的——确保我们清楚地了解我们的目的地。但只是想想我们的葬礼需要什么样的悼词，或者坟墓上的墓志铭。彼得专注于永恒——在新天新地与 神同在的永生。
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living HOPE through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3
Keyword that sums up what Peter says in most of chapter 1 is word – ‘HOPE’
‘Hope’ in common vocabulary, means our desires, our dreams, it’s wishful thinking.
“I hope get a promotion; I hope we’re having pizza dinner; I hope the Warriors can win soon” but it’s a word of uncertainty; there are no guarantees.But in Bible, ‘hope’ is word of certainty, guarantee; it’s a future outcome that’s assured – eternal life
赞美归于我们主耶稣基督的上帝和父亲！借着耶稣基督从死里复活，他以极大的怜悯赐给我们新生，使我们有一个活生生的希望。 彼得前書 1:3
总结彼得在第一章大部分内容中所说的话的关键词是“希望”
“希望”在常用词汇中，意味着我们的愿望，我们的梦想，是一厢情愿。
“我希望能升职；我希望我们正在吃披萨晚餐；我希望勇士队能尽快获胜”
但这是一个不确定的词；没有任何保证。
但在圣经中，“希望”是确定性、保证的词；这是一个确定的未来结果——永生
He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:5-7
That’s the biblical concept of hope – not wishful thinking, pie-in-the-sky with no guarantees, but the certainty of eternal life with God forever.
And in verses 3-12 Peter notes 4 key characteristics about hope. The 1st is in v.3 that we’ve already read:
他借着圣灵的重生和更新拯救了我们，他所浇灌的借着我们的救主耶稣基督慷慨地赐给我们，使我们因他的恩典称义，我们可能成为继承人，有永生的希望。提多书 3:5-7
这就是圣经中关于希望的概念——不是一厢情愿，没有保证的天上掉馅饼，而是与神永远同在的确定性。
在第 3-12 节中，彼得指出了希望的 4 个关键特征。第一个在 v.3 中 ，我们已经阅读过：
1) We have a living hope that is centred on Jesus (v.3)
This hope – this guaranteed future outcome – is alive, it’s real, it’s tangible – because Jesus is alive!
Peter witnessed Jesus resurrection from the dead; John’s gospel tell us that he and John ran to tomb; they saw risen Jesus on multiple occasions. This hope is living because Jesus is alive!
I felt the power of this during this last week as I stood with other family members at graveside of a muchloved uncle. My dad is one of 7 brothers (with 1 sister); dad is #3; Uncle Geoff was #4. He was a brilliant mix of a wicked sense of humour, and beautiful and warm pastoral heart. And as farewelled him Friday week ago, there were tears; grief; sadness. And yet our grief tinged with hope. It was only farewell for a while; we’re going to see him again. That’s what makes Christian funerals so remarkably different.
Contrast that to first non-Christian funeral I went to as a uni student. Went with a friend from church whose cousin passed away. It was beautiful celebration of short life, but nothing else. No hope, no looking forward – just deep sense of hopelessness and despair.
That’s what Peter’s pointing to – we have something to look forward to beyond the grave. And that hope is assured because Jesus rose from the dead.
Then in the next two verses comes the 2nd trait:
1) 我们有一个以耶稣为中心的活生生的希望（第 3 节）
这个希望——这个有保证的未来结果——是活着的，它是真实的，它是有形的——因为耶稣还活着！
彼得目睹了耶稣从死里复活；约翰福音告诉我们，他和约翰跑到坟墓前；他们多次看到复活的耶稣。这个希望是活着的，因为耶稣是活着的！
上周，当我和其他家庭成员站在一位深受爱戴的叔叔的坟墓旁时，我感受到了这种力量的力量。我爸爸是 7 个兄弟之一（有 1 个姐姐）；爸爸是#3；杰夫叔叔是#4。他是有點淘氣的幽默感和美丽而温暖心的完美结合。當周五我們与他告别时，現場有許多的眼泪和悲伤。然而，我们的悲伤卻是带着盼望。我們知道这只是暂时的告别；我们会再见到他的。这就是使基督教葬礼如此不同的原因。
与我作为大学学生参加的第一次非基督徒葬礼形成鲜明对比。和一个堂兄去世的朋友一起去參加。这是对短暂生命的美好庆祝，但仅此而已。没有希望，没有期待——只有深深的绝望和绝望。
这就是彼得所指的——我们在坟墓之外还有一些值得期待的东西。因为耶稣从死里复活，所以这个希望得到了保证。
然后在接下来的两节经文中出现了第二个特征：
He has given us new birth into a living hope … and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:4-5
Peter is saying that:
他给了我们新生，让我们有了一个活生生的希望……以及一个永远不会灭亡、破坏或褪色的产业。这份产业为你保留在天上，你因信而受到神的大能的保护，直到末日将要显明的救恩来临。 1 彼得 1:4-5
彼得是这么说的：
2) We have a guaranteed hope that is completely secure (vv.4-5)
Did notice that language that Peter uses is like describing a sound investment? This hope of eternity comes with a watertight guarantee. Now we’re used to phony guarantees; to companies guaranteeing products or services, only to find that the guarantee has some fine print that makes it useless. Or like our outdoor furniture that was guaranteed for 10 years, except that the company no longer trading.
But what Peter pointing out is that our eternal hope is guaranteed by God himself. God, if you like, underwrites the promise of eternity. Peter says we are shielded by God himself – guaranteed.
By the way, this is part of the beauty of grace that is only part of biblical Christianity. Friends of mine telling me recently of trip to Middle East; 3-day tour of Jordan with Muslim driver. And as talked with him and asked Q’s, discovered he has no certainty of eternal life in his religion. All based on good deeds outweighing bad; no guarantee; no sense of confidence or hope. Doesn’t know if done enough.
Contrast that with Christian faith, that says eternity isn’t based on my good deeds or my performance, but performance of Jesus on my behalf. Means I can have absolute assurance now that my final destination is assured.
Peter then describes the third characteristic of our hope in vv.6-9. Just going to read 6, 8:
2) 我们有一个绝对安全的保证希望 (vv.4-5)
是否注意到彼得使用的语言就像描述一项合理的投资？这种永恒的希望伴随着无懈可击的保证。现在我们已经习惯了虚假的保证；对保证产品或服务的公司，却发现保证书上有一些小字，使其毫无用处。或者像我们的户外家具一样，保修 10 年，只是公司已經倒閉了。
但彼得指出的是，我们永恒的盼望是由神亲自保证的。上帝，如果你愿意的话，会承保永恒的应许。彼得说我们受到上帝本人的保护——这是有保证的。
顺便说一句，这是恩典之美的一部分，而这只是圣经基督教的一部分。我的朋友最近告诉我中东之行；与穆斯林司机为期 3 天的约旦之旅。在与他交谈并問問題时，发现他对自己的宗教信仰中的永生没有把握。一切以善大于恶为基础；不保证；没有信心或希望。不知道做得够不够。
与基督教信仰相比，永恒不是基于我的善行或我的表现，而是耶稣代表我的表现。意味着我现在可以有绝对的把握，我的最终目的地是确定的。
彼得接着在 6-9 节描述了我们盼望的第三个特征。刚读 6、8：
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials…
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. 1 Peter 1:6,8
Notice the double reference to “joy.”
3) We have a joyous hope that carries us through trials (vv.6-9)
I love the way Peter describes our joy in v.8 – “an inexpressible and glorious joy.” Remember, Peter is writing to Christians who are feeling pushed to margins of society for their faith. Later in letter going to talk about suffering, even describing their trials as “fiery ordeals.” But in middle of that, Peter says, we can have “an inexpressible and glorious joy.”
But to get what Peter is saying, we need to understand difference between happiness and joy.
在这一切中你大为欢喜，虽然现在你可能不得不在各种试炼中受苦……虽然你没有见过他，但你爱他；即使你现在看不到他，你也相信他，并充满了一种说不出的荣耀的喜悦。 1 彼得 1:6,8
请注意对“喜樂”的双重提及。
3) 我们有一个喜乐的希望，带领我们度过考验（6-9 节）
我喜欢彼得在第 8 节中描述我们喜乐的方式——“一种无法形容的荣耀喜乐”。请记住，彼得是写给那些因信仰而感到被推到社会边缘的基督徒。后来在信中谈到了苦难，甚至将他们的考验描述为“火热的考验”。但在这中间，彼得说，我们可以拥有“一种无法形容的荣耀的喜乐”。但要明白彼得所说的，我们需要了解幸福和快乐之间的区别。
Happiness is an emotion that rises and falls in response to our circumstances
One writer says, “Happiness is fleeting, temporary and fragile.” Why? Depends on whether circumstances of life are good or not.
Joy is an attitude that rests on our faith in spite of our circumstances
Paul gives an insight into this in 2 Corinthians 6:
As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way … sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 2 Corinthians 6:4,10
Where does this joy come from? According to Peter, it comes from this hope. We know our final destination; we know that God is ultimately working for good; we know where we’re headed. So we are able to have outrageous joy in middle of grief and trials.
Finally, then, the 4th trait is:
幸福感是一种随着环境而起伏的情绪
一位作家说：“幸福是短暂的、短暂的和脆弱的。”为什么？要看生活环境好不好。
喜乐是一种基于我们的信念的态度，无论我们身处何种境遇
保罗在哥林多后书 6 章中对此进行了洞察：
作为上帝的仆人，我们在各方面都称赞自己……悲伤，但总是喜乐；贫穷，却使许多人富足；一无所有，却拥有一切。 2 哥林多前书 6:4,10
这种喜乐从何而来？根据彼得的说法，它来自这个希望。我们知道我们的最终目的地；我们知道上帝最终是在为善而工作；我们知道我们要去哪里。因此，我们能够在悲伤和试炼中获得极大的喜乐。
最后，第四个特征是：
4) We have a privileged hope that is uniquely ours (vv.10-12)
We won’t read vv.10-12 for sake of time, but Peter talks about the prophets of OT describing the coming of Messiah and what he would do, but them not fully understanding what that would mean or how that would feel. Couldn’t quite understand the wonder of God’s grace in Jesus that what you and I experience.
And then concludes at the end of v.12 – “Even angels long to look into these things” This hope is so incredible that the prophets and even the angels longed to be in our shoes.
So for Peter, our glorious future is a certainty – eternity with God forever in the new heavens and earth.
This is a living hope, guaranteed hope, and a hope that brings amazing joy and incredible privilege.
But so what? Why is this such a big deal for Peter? Why start his letter here? Because,
4) 我们有一个独特的希望 (vv.10-12)
由于时间原因，我们不会阅读第 10-12 节，但彼得谈到旧约的先知描述弥赛亚的到来以及他将要做什么，但他们并不完全理解那将意味着什么或感觉如何。不能完全理解你我所经历的上帝在耶稣里恩典的奇妙。
然后在第 12 节结束时得出结论——“甚至天使也渴望研究这些事情” 这个希望是如此不可思议，以至于先知甚至天使都渴望站在我们的立场上。
所以对彼得来说，我们光荣的未来是确定无疑的——在新天新地中与神永远在一起。这是一个活生生的希望，一个有保证的希望，一个能带来惊人的快乐和难以置信的特权的希望。
但那又怎样？为什么这对彼得来说如此重要？为什么要从这里开始他的信？因为，
When you’ve read the final chapter, it changes how you read the rest of the story
You think about a movie that you might have watched and particularly enjoyed. Or a book, a novel, that you read some time ago that you loved. And then some months of a couple of years later, feeling like watching a movie, and that movie you enjoyed pops into your head. Or you have nothing to read on your next holiday, and you see that book on the shelf. And you think, what the heck.
But the 2nd time you watch that well-loved movie, or re-read that book, it’s different. It might still be just as enjoyable, but you watch or read knowing how the story is going to end. You’ve read the final chapter; you’ve seen how the movie ends.
And that means when the hero is in serious trouble; or the romance looks like it never going to happen; or the baddies look like they’re going to win; or that cliff-hanger scene takes place – you know how it’s going to turn out. And you may still enjoy the story, but the tension and the questions are gone.
That’s what Peter wants us to understand.
当您阅读完最后一章后，它会改变您阅读故事其余部分的方式
你想一部电影，你可能看过并且特别喜欢。或者是你前段时间读过的你喜欢的书、小说。然后几年后的几个月，感觉就像在看电影，你喜欢的电影突然出现在你的脑海里。或者你在下一个假期没有什么可读的，你看到书架上的那本书。你想，到底是什么。
但是第二次看那部深受喜爱的电影，或者重读那本书时，情况就不同了。它可能仍然同样令人愉快，但是您观看或阅读时会知道故事将如何结束。你已经阅读了最后一章；你已经看到了电影的结局。
这意味着当英雄遇到严重麻烦时；或者浪漫看起来永远不会发生；或者坏人看起来会赢；或者那个悬崖峭壁的场景发生了——你知道结果会怎样。你可能仍然喜欢这个故事，但紧张和问题都消失了。
这就是彼得想让我们明白的。
When you’ve read the final chapter, it changes how you read the rest of the story
You see, knowing the end of our story and God’s story and how things turn out, changes the way we look at whatever chapter we’re currently in.
So how does that help us? Well, in the next part of his letter (vv.13-21) – peter explains three ways that knowing the final chapter helps us live life today.
1) Reading the final chapter gives us perspective (v.13)
Look at verse 13.
当您阅读完最后一章后，它会改变您阅读故事其余部分的方式
你看，知道我们故事的结局和上帝的故事以及事情的结果，改变了我们看待我们目前所处的任何章节的方式。
那么这对我们有什么帮助呢？好吧，在他信的下一部分（vv.13-21）中，彼得解释了了解最后一章有助于我们今天生活的三种方式。
1) 阅读最后一章为我们提供了视角（第 13 节）
请看第 13 节。
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 1 Peter 1:13
What Peter is saying here is that knowing the final chapter – knowing that the resurrected Jesus is coming back and setting up his kingdom – helps us to think well. It helps keep today in perspective.
If your life is incredibly difficult right now – you’re in a really hard chapter. Facing health challenges, relationship difficulties, problems with kids, financial hardship – whatever it is. Knowing how your story ends at the coming of Jesus, puts all of that into a proper perspective. Doesn’t make it easier; doesn’t take pain away. But it reminds you that no matter how hard it is, you win in the end.
And if your life is amazingly good right now – you’re in a fantastic chapter of life, it also helps you keep perspective. Your career is going well, your family’s great, there’s no health scares – knowing the end of the story, waiting for the coming of Jesus, reminds you that this life is not the main event. It keeps all these good things in proper perspective.
I’ve found that you see this idea most strongly when you meet brothers and sisters from the majority world. Fellow Christians may have very little of what this world values, but incredible perspective.
因此，要保持警觉和完全清醒的头脑，将希望寄托在耶稣基督降临时将要带给你的恩典上。 1 彼得1:13
彼得在这里所说的是，知道最后一章——知道复活的耶稣会回来并建立他的国度——有助于我们好好思考。它有助于保持今天的观点。
如果你现在的生活非常艰难——你正处于一个非常艰难的篇章中。面对健康挑战、人际关系困难、孩子问题、经济困难——无论是什么。知道你的故事在耶稣再来时是如何结束的，就可以正确看待所有这些。不会让事情变得更容易；不会带走痛苦。但它提醒你，无论多么艰难，最终你都会赢。
如果你现在的生活非常好——你正处于人生的精彩篇章，它也可以帮助你保持远见。你的事业很顺利，你的家庭很好，没有健康上的恐慌——知道故事的结局，等待耶稣的到来，提醒你今生不是主要事件。它以正确的视角看待所有这些美好的事物。
我发现当你遇到来自多数世界的兄弟姐妹时，你会最强烈地看到这个想法。同为基督徒的人可能对这个世界所看重的东西知之甚少，但却有着不可思议的观点。
Christians who have their hopes and worldly goods stripped from them in this life seem to have the most to teach us about a lasting hope in the next. They always seem to have the greatest joy, the deepest faith, the most invincible hope. They also seem to be the most likely to proclaim that hope to others. -Elliot Clark
See, reading the final chapter of how the story ends, gives us much-needed perspective.
那些在今生被剥夺了希望和世俗财富的基督徒似乎最能教导我们关于来世的持久盼望。他们似乎总是拥有最大的喜樂，最深的信心，最不可战胜的盼望。他们似乎也最有可能向他人宣告这种希望。-艾略特·克拉克
看，阅读故事如何结束的最后一章，为我们提供了急需的视角。
2) Reading the final chapter calls us to holiness (vv.14-16)
Listen to verses 14-16.
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ -1 Peter 1:14-16
Notice there’s both a negative and a positive command – wo sides of the same coin. Negatively, in v.14, Peter calls us away from evil desires that we might have once given into. In v15 and 16, positively he calls us to holiness – to being set apart for God and living a righteous life.
Now I’ve preached 1 Peter a few times in my life, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen until now the close connection between what Peter’s already said about our destiny and hope, and being holy today. It’s as though he’s reminding us that sooner than we think, we’re going to see the face of Jesus; we’re going to stand before Him. And we should live in light of that.
2) 阅读最后一章呼召我们成圣（14-16 节）
听 14-16 节。
作为听话的孩子，不要顺从你在无知中的邪恶欲望。但正如召你的人是圣洁的，你所做的一切也要圣洁；因为经上记着：“你们要圣洁，因为我是圣洁的。”1 彼得 1:14-16
请注意，既有否定的命令也有肯定的命令——同一枚硬币的两面。消极的是，在第 14 节中，彼得呼召我们远离我们可能曾经屈服的邪恶欲望。积极地，他呼召我们成圣——为神分别出来，过公义的生活。
现在我已经在我的服恃中講了几次彼得一书，但直到现在我才看到彼得已经说过我们最終的歸屬和盼望与今天必須竭力成为圣洁之间的密切联系。就好像他在提醒我们，我们会比我们想象的更快地看到耶稣的脸；我们要站在祂面前。我们应该以此为生。
And do this, understanding the present time: the hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. Romans 13:11-14
The fact that we know the end of our story, should not only give needed perspective, but fuel a holy life.
这样做，了解现在的时间：你从沉睡中醒来的时刻已经到来，因为我们的救恩现在比我们最初相信的时候更近了。夜晚快结束了；日子快到了。所以让我们放下黑暗的行为，穿上光明的盔甲。让我们举止得体，像白天一样，不酗酒，不淫乱，不争执和嫉妒。而是披戴主耶稣基督，不要想着如何满足肉体的情欲。罗马书 13:11-14
我们知道故事的结局这一事实不仅应该提供所需的视角，而且应该为圣洁的生活提供动力。
3) Reading the final chapter encourages worship (vv. 17-21)
I was planning to only read v.17, which is where the key phrase is found, but I need to read the whole paragraph.
3) 阅读最后一章激勵我們敬拜（17-21 节）
我打算只阅读 v.17，这是找到关键短语的地方，但我需要阅读整个段落。
Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 1 Peter 1:17-21
I want to suggest that the phrase in the NIV “reverent fear,” could also be rendered “worshipful awe.” In light of the second coming of Jesus as the Judge and King, and in light of His first coming as the Lamb sacrificed for us, we should be in awe. This incredible ending to our story – this guaranteed destiny – was actually according to these verses dreamed up before the creation of the world. God knew how the story would end before he even began.
And the more we meditate on the entire plan from start to finish; the more we think about Jesus’ first coming as the Saviour and the Lamb, and His second coming as the Judge and the King, the more we should want to live our hearts and hands and voices and lives in worship.
When you’ve read the final chapter, it changes how you read the rest of the story
既然您呼吁一位公正地评判每个人的工作的父亲，请在虔诚的恐惧中度过您作为外国人的时间。因为你们知道，你们从祖先传给你们的空虚的生活方式中被救赎出来，不是用金银等易坏的东西，而是用基督的宝血，一只没有瑕疵或缺陷的羔羊。他在创造世界之前就被选中了，但为了你的缘故，在最后的时间里被显露出来。通过他，你相信上帝，他使他从死里复活并荣耀他，所以你的信仰和希望都在上帝身上。 1 彼得1:17-21
我想建议 NIV 中的短语“敬畏”也可以翻译为“崇拜敬畏”。鉴于耶稣作为审判者和君王的第二次降临，以及他作为羔羊为我们牺牲的第一次降临，我们应该敬畏。我们故事的这个令人难以置信的结局——这个注定的命运——实际上是根据创造世界之前梦想的这些经文。上帝甚至在他开始之前就知道故事会如何结束。
我们从头到尾对整个计划进行的冥想越多；我们越想耶稣作为救主和羔羊的第一次降临，以及他作为审判者和君王的第二次降临，我们就越应该在敬拜中活出我们的心、手、声音和生活。
当你读完最后一章后，它会改变你阅读故事其余部分的方式
As we finish, just think for a minute about your favourite movie or novel. As many of you know, I love the Lord of the Rings. Now imagine if Frodo, one of the key characters, knew how the rest of the story would unfold. What if he had been able to read the final chapters of the story? Now that would ruin the story in one sense, but imagine how different Frodo might have been.
在我們結束今天的講道前，请想一想您最喜欢的电影或小说。你们很多人都知道，我喜欢指环王。现在想象一下，如果关键人物之一弗罗多知道故事的其余部分将如何展开。如果他能够阅读故事的最后几章呢？现在从某种意义上说，这会毁了这个故事，但想象一下佛罗多可能会有多么不同。
Reading the final chapter would have given him perspective. When he was despairing on his way to Mordor, getting lost in the mountains and swamps, knowing how it ended would have given him perspective and encouragement. It would have put his difficulties into context.
And reading the final chapters would have encouraged holiness and kindness. As their journey became more dangerous, Frodo turned on his faithful friend Samwise Gamgee, and treated him really harshly. But imagine how his behaviour towards Sam might have been different if seen the rest of the story.
And reading final chapters would have encouraged awe. Through the early part of the story, Frodo learns to like and to trust Strider, the rugged Ranger from the North. But then they separate and follow their separate journeys, and its only at the end that Frodo realises that Strider is in fact Aragorn, the true King of the West.
When you’ve read the final chapter, it changes how you read the rest of the story
阅读最后一章会给他带来视角。当他在前往魔多的路上绝望时，迷失在高山和沼泽中，知道它的结局会给他带来远见和鼓励。这将把他的困难放在上下文中。阅读最后几章会鼓励圣洁和仁慈。随着他们的旅程变得更加危险，佛罗多背叛了他忠实的朋友山姆怀斯·甘吉，对他非常严厉。但是想象一下，如果看到故事的其余部分，他对 Sam 的行为可能会有所不同。
阅读最后几章会让人敬畏。在故事的前半部分，佛罗多学会了喜欢和信任来自北方的粗犷游侠Strider。但随后他们分开并跟随他们各自的旅程，直到最后，弗罗多才意识到 Strider 实际上是阿拉贡，真正的西方王國的王。
当你读完最后一章后，它会改变你阅读故事其余部分的方式.
We can’t give the book to Frodo but God has given you and me the book and we can turn to the end and read the final chapter. That’s what Peter is pointing us to. He’s reminding us there is a destiny and a hope and a future for everyone of us that we have trusted in Jesus and Jesus is coming again and this is the future we are looking forward to.
Eternity, New Heaven and New Earth, redeemed creation, no more pain, no more tears, and death.
That’s how our story end.
And that ending that future that destiny that can change everything now if we will only believe it and only hold on to it.
It can revolutionize our priorities, it can call us to live a much more holy life and it can lead us to lift our hands and hearts and voices lives in worship and owe. He had told us how the story ends.
Let’s live in light of this final chapter
我们不能把书给弗罗多，但上帝已经把书给了你和我，我们可以翻到最后，读到最后一章。这就是彼得指给我们的东西。他在提醒我们，我们每个人都有一个命运、一个盼望和一个未来，我们已经相信了耶稣，耶稣将再次降临，这就是我们所期待的未来。
永恒，新天堂和新地球，被救赎的创造，不再有痛苦，不再有眼泪和死亡。
这就是我们故事的结局。
这个结局，这个未来，这个命运，现在可以改变一切，如果我们只相信它，只坚持它。
它可以彻底改变我们的优先次序，它可以呼唤我们过一种更圣洁的生活，它可以引导我们举起我们的手和心，在敬拜和亏欠中发出生命的声音。他已经告诉我们这个故事的结局。
让我们根据知道最后一章的態度来生活吧
