中英對照/福音原則/第15章

主的約民
The Lord’s Covenant People

聖約的本質
The Nature of Covenants

● 何謂聖約？

• What is a covenant?

後期聖徒為什麼被稱為約民？

Why are Latter-day Saints called a covenant people ?

主從太初起就與祂在世上的兒女立約。

From the beginning, the Lord has made covenants with His children on earth.

祂的人民與祂訂立聖約（或承諾）後，就會知道祂對他們有什麼期望，也會知道能從祂那裡期待哪些祝福。

When His people make covenants (or promises) with Him, they know what He expects of them and what blessings they may expect from Him.

他們更能夠在世上推展祂的事工。

They can better carry out His work on earth .

與主立約的人，或主與之立約的人，被稱為主的約民。

The people who covenant with the Lord and with whom the Lord makes covenants are known as the Lord’s covenant people.

本教會的教友是主約民的一部分。

Members of the Church are part of the Lord’s covenant people .

在福音中，聖約是指神與一個人或一群人共同訂立的神聖協議或相互承諾。

Within the gospel, a covenant means a sacred agreement or mutual promise between God and a person or a group of people.

立約時，神答應，服從某些誡命就會得到某些祝福。

In making a covenant, God promises a blessing for obedience to particular commandments.

祂提出聖約的條件，而且把這些條件啟示給祂的先知。

He sets the terms of His covenants, and He reveals these terms to His prophets.

我們只要選擇遵守聖約的條件，就會得到神所應許的祝福。

If we choose to obey the terms of the covenant, we receive promised blessings.

如果我們選擇不服從，祂就扣留祝福，在某些情況下，還會有懲罰。

If we choose not to obey, He withholds the blessings, and in some instances a penalty also is given .

例如，我們加入教會時，便與神立了好幾個約（見本書第20章）。

For example, when we join the Church we make several covenants with God (see chapter 20 in this book).

我們受洗時，與救主立約要承受祂的名。

We covenant with the Savior at baptism to take upon ourselves His name.

祂應許：「凡悔改、奉我耶穌基督的名受洗並持守到底的人，必然得救」（教約18：22）。

He promises that “as many as repent and are baptized in my name, which is Jesus Christ, and endure to the end, the same shall be saved” (D&C 18:22).

我們領受聖餐時，與主立約（見本書第23章）。

We covenant with the Lord as we partake of the sacrament (see chapter 23 in this book).

我們答應要承受祂的名，記得祂，並遵守祂的誡命。

We promise to take His name upon ourselves, to remember Him, and to obey His commandments.

我們得到的應許是，聖靈會與我們同在。（見教約20：77-79。）

We are promised that the Holy Spirit will be with us.

(See D&C 20:77–79.)

我們接受聖殿教儀時，立了其他神聖的約，只要忠信服從這些聖約，就被應許會得到超升（見教約第132 篇；亦見本書第47 章）。

When we receive temple ordinances, we make other sacred covenants and are promised exaltation for faithful obedience (see D&C 132; see also chapter 47 in this book) .

神也與某些個人或團體訂立特別的約。

God has also made special covenants with particular persons or groups.

祂與亞當、以諾、挪亞、以色列民及李海立了特別的約（見摩西書6：31-36，52；創世記9：9-17；出埃及記19：5-6；尼腓二書第1 章）。

He made special covenants with Adam, Enoch, Noah, the children of Israel, and Lehi (see Moses 6:31–36, 52; Genesis 9:9–17; Exodus 19:5–6; 2 Nephi 1).

祂與亞伯拉罕和他的後裔立了特別的約，教友們和世上所有國家到今日都還蒙受祝福。

He made a special covenant with Abraham and his descendants that blesses members of the Church and all nations of the earth today .

● 想一想你與神所立的約，以及祂應許在你遵守這些聖約時所要給你的祝福。

• Think about the covenants you have made with God and the blessings He has promised you for keeping these covenants .

神與亞伯拉罕及其後裔所立的約
God’s Covenant with Abraham and His Descendants

● 何謂亞伯拉罕聖約？

• What is the Abrahamic covenant ?

亞伯拉罕是舊約的一位先知，祂是一個義人（見本章圖片）。

Abraham, an Old Testament prophet, was a very righteous man (see the picture in this chapter).

他拒絕崇拜他父親的偶像，並遵守主所有的誡命。

He refused to worship his father’s idols . He kept all of the Lord’s commandments.

由於亞伯拉罕的正義，主與他及他的後裔立約。

Because of Abraham’s righteousness, the Lord made a covenant with him and his descendants .

主應許亞伯拉罕會有無數的子孫。

The Lord promised Abraham that he would have numberless descendants.

祂應許他們都有資格接受福音、聖職的祝福及超升的所有教儀。

He promised that all of them would be entitled to receive the gospel, the blessings of the priesthood, and all of the ordinances of exaltation.

這些後裔，透過聖職的力量，會把福音帶到各個國家去。

These descendants, through the power of the priesthood, would carry the gospel to all nations.

世上所有的家庭都會因為他們而蒙受祝福（見亞伯拉罕書2：11）。

Through them, all the families of the earth would be blessed (see Abraham 2:11).

神更進一步應許，只要他們正義，祂必與亞伯拉罕所有的後裔訂立祂的約（見創世記17：4-8）。

God further promised that if they were righteous He would establish His covenant with all generations of Abraham’s children (see Genesis 17:4–8) .

● 亞伯拉罕聖約的誡命與應許如何適用於我們？

• How do the commandments and promises in the Abrahamic covenant apply to us?

（想一想這個問題如何適用在不同的場合，例如：在家中、工作場合、社區內或擔任傳教士等。）

(Consider how this question applies in different settings, such as at home, in the workplace, in the community, or as missionaries.)

本教會的教友是約民
Members of the Church Are a Covenant People

● 神的約民今日有哪些祝福與責任？

• What blessings and responsibilities come to God’s covenant people today ?

亞伯拉罕血統上的後裔並不是唯一被神稱為約民的人。

The blood descendants of Abraham are not the only people whom God calls His covenant people.

神對亞伯拉罕說：「凡是接受這福音的，都要以你的名來稱呼，都要被算作你的子孫，都將起來讚頌你，他們的父親」（亞伯拉罕書2：10）。

In speaking to Abraham, God said, “As many as receive this Gospel shall be called after thy name, and shall be accounted thy seed [lineage], and shall rise up and bless thee, as their father” (Abraham 2:10).

因此，有兩群人被算在與亞伯拉罕所立的聖約中：（1）亞伯拉罕正義的血統上的後裔，以及（2）接受並遵從耶穌基督福音而被收養到他的家系中的人（見尼腓二書30：2）。

Thus, two groups of people are included in the covenant made with Abraham: (1) Abraham’s righteous blood descendants and (2) those adopted into his lineage by accepting and living the gospel of Jesus Christ (see 2 Nephi 30:2) .

我們受洗加入教會時，便進入了主與亞伯拉罕、以撒和雅各所立的聖約中（ 見加拉太書3：26-29）。

When we are baptized into the Church, we enter into the covenant the Lord made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (see Galatians 3:26–29).

我們如果服從，就能繼承該聖約的祝福。

If we are obedient, we inherit the blessings of that covenant .

我們有權獲得來自聖靈的幫助與指引。

We have the right to receive help and guidance from the Holy Ghost.

配稱的男性有權持有聖職。

Worthy males have the right to hold the priesthood.

家庭可以獲得聖職的祝福。

Families can receive the blessings of the priesthood.

我們可以在高榮國度中獲得永生。

We can gain eternal life in the celestial kingdom.

沒有比這些更大的祝福了。

There are no greater blessings than these .

我們身為主的約民，除了得到這些祝福外，也身負重責大任。

Along with the blessings we receive as the Lord’s covenant people, we have great responsibilities.

主應許亞伯拉罕，福音將經由他的後裔傳遍世界各地。

The Lord promised Abraham that through his descendants the gospel would be taken to all the earth .

我們透過教會的全部時間傳教士計畫，以及教友所做的傳道事工來完成這項責任。

We are fulfilling this responsibility through the full-time missionary program of the Church and the missionary work done by the members .

傳播福音給全世界的機會，僅屬於主的教會及其約民。

This opportunity to preach the gospel to all the world belongs only to the Lord’s Church and His covenant people .

身為主約民，我們必須遵守祂的誡命。

As the Lord’s covenant people, we should keep His commandments .

主說過：「你們若做我所說的，我，主，就是受約束的；但是你們若不做我所說的，你們就得不到應許」（教約82：10）。

The Lord said, “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise” (D&C 82:10).

我們如果在接受福音之後拒絕所立的約，此約就會失效，而我們就會在神前被定罪（見教約132：4）。

If we reject our covenant after accepting the gospel, the covenant becomes void and we will stand condemned before God (see D&C 132:4).

祂曾說：「不要犯罪，免得嚴厲的懲罰臨頭。

He has said: “Refrain from sin, lest sore judgments fall upon your heads.

因為多給誰，就向誰多要；凡犯罪違背較大的光，就被定較大的罪」（教約82：2-3）。

For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation” (D&C 82:2–3) .

新永約
The New and Everlasting Covenant

● 我們接受福音的時候，答應要做哪些事？

• What do we promise to do when we accept the gospel?

我們信守這些承諾時，天父會賜給我們哪些祝福？

What blessings does Heavenly Father give us as we keep these promises ?

圓滿的福音被稱為新永約，其中包括了在洗禮、聖餐、聖殿及其他時候所立的聖約。

The fulness of the gospel is called the new and everlasting covenant. It includes the covenants made at baptism, during the sacrament, in the temple, and at any other time.

主稱其為「永遠」，因為它是由一位永遠的神所制定的，也因為這聖約永遠不會改變。

The Lord calls it everlasting because it is ordained by an everlasting God and because the covenant will never be changed.

祂曾把此同一聖約賜與亞當、以諾、挪亞、亞伯拉罕和其他眾先知。

He gave this same covenant to Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and other prophets.

就這方面而言，它並不是新的。

In this sense it is not new.

但是，主稱之為「新」，是因為每一次福音從世上取走後又再復興，對接受的人民來說是新的（見耶利米書31：31-34；以西結書37：26）。

But the Lord calls it new because each time the gospel is restored after being taken from the earth, it is new to the people who receive it (see Jeremiah 31:31–34; Ezekiel 37:26) .

我們接受新永約時，便同意要悔改、受洗、接受聖靈、接受恩道門、接受聖殿婚約，並且跟隨、服從基督，直到我們生命終了。

When we accept the new and everlasting covenant, we agree to repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, receive our endowments, receive the covenant of marriage in the temple, and follow and obey Christ to the end of our lives.

我們若遵守所立的聖約，天父就應許我們會在高榮國度中獲得超升（見教約132：20-24；亦見本書第47 章）。

As we keep our covenants, our Heavenly Father promises us that we will receive exaltation in the celestial kingdom (see D&C 132:20–24; see also chapter 47 in this book) .

塵世凡人很難了解這應許有多麼偉大。

The greatness of that promise is hard for mortals to understand.

祂所賜的誡命都是為了我們的益處，我們只要忠信，就可以永遠得享天上和地上的一切祝福及美好事物。

The commandments He gives are for our benefit, and as we are faithful we may forever share the blessings and beauties of heaven and earth.

我們可以住在祂面前，共享祂的愛、同情、權力、偉大、知識、智慧、榮耀及統治。

We may live in His presence and partake of His love, compassion, power, greatness, knowledge, wisdom, glory, and dominions .

● 成為主的約民如何影響我們的穿著、行事，以及遵守神誡命的程度？

• What does being the Lord’s covenant people have to do with how we dress, act, and keep the commandments of God ?

給教師：可以給班員或家人時間去深入思考問題。

For teachers: You can help class members or family members think more deeply about a question by giving them time to ponder.

在他們用足夠的時間思考後，請他們回答。

After they have had enough time, ask for their responses .

其他經文和資料
Additional Scriptures and Other Sources

● 彼得前書2：9-10（特殊的人民）
• 1 Peter 2:9–10 (peculiar people)
● 教約54：4-6（遵守和破壞聖約的後果）
• D&C 54:4–6 (effects of covenants kept and broken)
● 教約132：7（藉適當的權柄立約）
• D&C 132:7 (covenants made by proper authority)
● 教約133：57-60（聖約的目的）
• D&C 133:57–60 (purpose of covenants)
● 教約35：24（服從聖約的應許）
• D&C 35:24 (promises for obedience to covenants)
● 希伯來書8：6（耶穌基督是更美之約的中保）
• Hebrews 8:6 ( Jesus Christ is the mediator of a better covenant)
● 經文指南，第194 頁，「聖約」
• Bible Dictionary, “Covenant,” 651