持守真道

因此,我們必須更加重視所聽的道,以免隨流漂去。 既然藉天使傳下來的話正確無誤,凡干犯、違背的人都受到了應有的報應, 我們若忽略了這麼大的救恩,怎能逃避懲罰呢?這救恩首先由主親口宣講出來,後來由聽見的人向我們證實了。 同時,上帝按自己的旨意,用神蹟、奇事、各樣的異能、聖靈的恩賜和他們一同做見證。

救恩的元帥

上帝並沒有把我們所談論的未來世界交給天使掌管。 相反,有人在聖經中做見證說:

「人算什麼,你竟顧念他?
世人算什麼,你竟眷顧他?
你使他暫時比天使低微一點,
賜他榮耀和尊貴作冠冕,
派他管理你所造的一切,
使萬物降服在他腳下。」

既說叫萬物都降服在人的管理之下,就沒有一樣例外。不過,我們到現在還沒有看到萬物都降服在人的管理之下, 只看見耶穌暫時比天使低微一點,好靠著上帝的恩典為全人類親嚐死亡的滋味。祂因為經歷死亡的痛苦而得到了尊貴和榮耀作冠冕。

10 作為萬物的歸宿和根源的上帝,叫救恩的元帥耶穌經歷苦難而得以純全,以便帶領許多的兒女進入榮耀,這樣的安排是恰當的。 11 因為使人聖潔的耶穌和那些得以聖潔的人都出自同一位父親,所以耶穌不以稱呼他們弟兄姊妹為恥。 12 祂說:

「我要向眾弟兄傳揚你的名,
在會眾中歌頌你。」

13 又說:

「我要倚靠祂。」

還說:

「看啊,我和上帝賜給我的兒女都在這裡。」

14 因為眾兒女都是血肉之軀,所以祂也同樣取了血肉之軀,為要親身經歷死亡,藉此摧毀掌握死亡權勢的魔鬼, 15 釋放那些因怕死而一生做奴隸的人。 16 很明顯,祂要救助的不是天使,而是亞伯拉罕的後裔。 17 所以祂必須在每一方面都與祂的弟兄姊妹相同,以便在事奉上帝的事上成為一位仁慈忠信的大祭司,替眾人獻上贖罪祭。 18 祂經歷過受試煉的痛苦,所以能幫助受試煉的人。

¶ Therefore, it is necessary that we with more diligence keep the things which we have heard, so that we do not fall.

For if the word spoken by the ministry of angels was steadfast and every rebellion and disobedience received a just recompense of reward,

how shall we escape, if we belittle such great saving health? Which, having begun to be published by the Lord, has been confirmed unto us by those that heard him,

God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders and with diverse miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributing them according to his own will.

¶ For unto the angels he has not subjected the world to come, of which we speak.

But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou dost visit him?

Thou didst make him a little lower than the angels; thou didst crown him with glory and honour and didst set him over the works of thy hands.

Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not see yet that all things are put under him.

But we see this same Jesus, crowned with glory and honour, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

10 ¶ For it was expedient that he, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, preparing to bring forth many sons in his glory, should perfect the author of their saving health through sufferings.

11 For both he that sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all of one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

12 saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren; in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee.

13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God has given me.

14 ¶ Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same, that through death he might destroy him that had the empire of death, that is, the devil,

15 and deliver those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to slavery.

16 For verily he did not take the angels, but he took the seed of Abraham.

17 Therefore in all things he should be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.

18 For in that he himself has suffered and was tempted, he is also powerful to help those that are tempted.