Today we are going to discuss the subject of repentance, and see from Scripture exactly what repentance is.

今天我们将讨论悔改的主题，并探求圣经所说的悔改究竟是什么。

4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 

5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 

6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 

7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 

8 The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia - your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 

9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 

10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead - Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath." 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10

4 被神所爱的弟兄啊，我知道你们是蒙拣选的。

5因为我们的福音传到你们那里，不独在乎言语，也在乎权能和圣灵，并充足的信心。正如你们知道我们在你们那里，为你们的缘故是怎样为人；

6并且你们在大难之中蒙了圣灵所赐的喜乐，领受真道，就效法我们，也效法了主，

7甚至你们作了马其顿和亚该亚所有信主之人的榜样。

8因为主的道从你们那里已经传扬出来，你们向神的信心不但在马其顿和亚该亚，就是在各处，也都传开了，所以不用我们说什么话。

9因为他们自己已经报明我们是怎样进到你们那里，你们是怎样离弃偶像，归向神，要服侍那又真又活的神，

10等候他儿子从天降临，就是他从死里复活的，那位救我们脱离将来愤怒的耶稣。帖撒罗尼迦前书 1:4-10

Please answer the following questions as we think through this most important issue of repentance together.

请回答下面的问题，我们一起来思考悔改这个最重要的问题。

Question 1

问题 1

According to verse 5, in what manner did the gospel come to the Thessalonians?

根据第5节，福音是以什么方式传到帖撒罗尼迦的？

Question 2

问题 2

According to verses 8 and 9, what things were being reported about these Thessalonian believers?

根据第8，9节，关于帖撒罗尼迦的信徒有些什么样的报道？

Friend, here is a summary of true repentance: "They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God." Repentance has often been described as "doing a 180," meaning we turn away from sin and turn to God. 

This is the very reason that psychology and humanistic programs fall short of truly assisting people who are trapped in sin. 

They attempt to get the person to turn away from sin, but cannot instruct them to turn to God. So they are, in essence, instructing us to do a 90-degree turn. 

This half-turning is never sufficient to truly eradicate sin from our lives. True repentance is not only turning from sin, it is turning to God and serving Him.

朋友，这是一段真实悔改的摘要：“他们说，你是如何从拜偶像转向了神，进而服侍那又真又活的神”。

悔改经常被描绘成“一百八十度大转弯”，意味着我们转身从罪归向了神。这正是心理学和人文学科无法真正做到去帮助那些陷在罪里的人们的原因。

他们试图使人们转离罪，却不能指引他们转向神。因而，他们实质上是教导我们做了九十度的转弯。

这半吊子的转向绝不足以把罪从我们的生命中切实根除。真实的悔改不仅要转离罪，更要转向神并服侍祂。

Question 3

问题 3

Write the words from verse 9 that define true repentance

请从第9节摘抄定义真实悔改的经文。

I was involved in pornography for 15 years, and went through many years of repentance, followed by sin, followed by repentance again. 

But, when God granted me genuine repentance, I turned away completely and have not ever returned.

I'm not saying that my repentance before wasn't genuine but, at the very least, I did not learn how to walk away from the sin from which I had turned.

我染上色情达15年之久，这些年来经历了悔改，又犯罪，继而再悔改。

但是，当神赐给我真正的悔改，我就彻底地转向了，再也没有回过头。

我并不是说自己以前的悔改不真诚，但至少，我没有学会如何从自己陷入的罪中走出来。

10 For, He that would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile: 

11 And let him turn away from evil, and do good; Let him seek peace, and pursue it." 1 Pet. 3:10 - 11

10 因为经上说：“人若爱生命，愿享美福，须要禁止舌头不出恶言，嘴唇不说诡诈的话；11 也要离恶行善，寻求和睦，一心追赶。” 彼得前书 3:10-11

Question 4

问题 4

How do the above verses define repentance? What are the aspects of true repentance, as shown from these verses?

以上的经文如何定义悔改？ 如上述经文所示，真实的悔改有哪些方面?

We can see from Scripture that genuine repentance is a complete turn-around from our previous course. 

For me, that meant totally turning away from the sins of pornography and self-gratification, and turning to God. The turn must be complete! We must put our backs to the sin and walk away from it, never to return again. 

And we must face Christ and walk towards Him. No half-hearted turning will free us from the power of sin; no partial turning will enable us to escape the trap of the devil in sexual sin.

我们可以从圣经中看到，真正的悔改是从我们以前的道路上彻底转回。

对我而言，就是完全转离色情和自我放纵，并转向神。这种转向必须是彻底的！我们必须背弃罪行，与之分道扬镳，永不回头。

同时，也要面向基督，亲近祂。三心二意的转向无法使我们从罪的权势中得释放；半途而废的转向不能使我们脱离性罪的魔鬼网罗。

Oh, the pain in my heart during those long years where I would sin and confess, sin and confess, while not truly turning away from the sin. 

I was like Lot's wife, who did, indeed, leave the burning city, but longed for it in her heart and turned back just to have a look. 

Her turning away from the sin of that city was not complete, and she perished in her sin, turning into a pillar of salt. 

We should remember Lot's wife, for she is a monument to all who will not fully turn away from sin. 

God has now granted me the repentance that makes me hate my previous way of life and, therefore, turn completely away from it.

哦，在那漫长的年月中，我犯罪后悔改，然而又犯罪又悔改，却始终不能真正脱离罪，真是让我痛心疾首。

就像罗得的妻子，确实真的离开了那烈焰火烧中的城市，但心里却还眷恋着它，转身就看了一眼。因而，她转离那城中罪孽的心并不完全，于是她在自己的罪中灭亡了，变成了盐柱。

我们要记住罗得的妻子，她为那些不愿完全转离罪的人们树立了一块碑。神已经赐给我悔改，就是恨恶自己以前的生活道路，因此彻底转离它。

This is my hope and prayer for you too, Friend. That God would enable you to truly turn away from sin for good, 

and to begin to walk away from it as fast as you can, and to get as far away from it as possible.

这也是我的盼望和祷告，朋友。神会使你真正地离恶行善，转离的越快越好，越远越好。

Now, here is another excellent passage that describes the attitude of genuine repentance:

现在，还有另一处精彩的经文描述了真正悔改应有的态度：

8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double - minded. 

9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 

10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." James 4:8-10

8你们亲近神，神就必亲近你们。有罪的人哪，要洁净你们的手；心怀二意的人哪，要清洁你们的心。

9你们要愁苦、悲哀、哭泣，将喜笑变作悲哀，欢乐变作愁闷。10务要在主面前自卑，主就必叫你们升高。 雅各书 4:8-10

Here is how we can tell when God is granting somebody repentance. They not only make a 180-degree turn, but they also lose their silliness, their hollow laughter, their joking, and their pride. 

They become earnest in being rid of their sin. They feel sorrow over their sins, and even become somewhat gloomy, as the above verses mention. 

This does not mean that they live like this the rest of their lives, because joy comes into the life that is committed to purity. 

But there is a time where all the levity is gone, and there comes a need to be done with sin for good.

这里告诉人们当神赐下悔改应如何回应。他们不仅要做一百八十度的转弯，还要除掉自己的愚顽、嬉笑、戏耍、和骄傲。

他们是怀着真诚的态度脱离罪，为罪痛悔，甚至按照以上经文所说的变得愁闷。这并不是说他们就要如此聊度余生，因为喜乐会进入圣洁的生命中。

但总会有一天，所有的轻浮都会远去，随后就有必要永久地根除这罪孽。

As I first came out of pornography, I was a very gloomy and mournful man, because God had made me earnest in repenting. 

I listened carefully to what others who were walking in purity told me, and I begged God for real repentance. In January of 1999, I made a full turn away from pornography and sexual impurity, and began running as fast as I could away from it. 

My heart ached because of the offenses I had committed against God and others, and I was very sad. 

That was several years ago, but I still remember the sorrow that I felt and the gloom that I experienced, and recall it was good and healthy for the soul.

当我第一次走出色情时，我成了一个非常沮丧哀痛的人，因为神赐我真诚的悔改。

我仔细聆听那些行在圣洁之中人们的教诲，向神祈求真实的悔改。

1999年1月，我彻底转离色情和性污秽，尽我所能地快速远离它。我为自己得罪神、得罪人而心痛，非常难过。

虽然那是多年前的事，但我始终记得当时所感受到的懊悔和经历过的沮丧，回想起这些对我的心灵是有益和健康的。

Please read the following quote and give your comments below:

请阅读以下摘抄，并给出你的见解：

Question 5

问题 5

"Conviction of sin is one of the rarest things that ever strikes a man. It is the threshold of an understanding of God. 

Jesus Christ said that when the Holy Spirit came He would convict of sin, and when the Holy Spirit rouses a man's conscience and brings him into the presence of God, it is not his relationship with men that bothers him, but his relationship with God - against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight. 

Conviction of sin, the marvel of forgiveness, and holiness are so interwoven that it is only the forgiven man who is the holy man, he proves he is forgiven by being the opposite to what he was, by God’s grace. 

Repentance always brings a man to this point: I have sinned. The surest sign that God is at work is when a man says that and means it. Anything less than this is remorse for having made blunders, the reflex action of disgust at himself.

“认罪是对一个人最罕见的打击之一，那是认识神的门槛。耶稣基督说圣灵来，是叫人为罪自责；当圣灵唤醒人的良心，把他带到神的面前时，使他不安的，不是与人的关系，而是与神的关系 －  '我向你犯罪，唯独得罪了你，在你眼前行了这恶。' 

认罪、奇妙的赦免和圣洁是交织在一起的，只有蒙赦罪的人才能成为圣洁，他蒙赦免的证据，是因着神的恩典，以致前后判若两人。

悔改总是让人承认：我犯了罪。神作工的最大确据，就是一个人真心实意地这样说。若非这样，那就只不过是因过错而生的懊悔，是鄙屑自己的一种反射行为罢了。

The entrance into the Kingdom is through the panging pains of repentance crashing into a man’s respectable goodness; then the Holy Ghost, Who produces these agonies, begins the formation of the Son of God in the life. 

The new life will manifest itself in conscious repentance and unconscious holiness, never the other way about. The bedrock of Christianity is repentance. Strictly speaking, a man cannot repent when he chooses; repentance is a gift of God. 

The old Puritans used to pray for the gift of tears. If ever you cease to know the virtue of repentance, you are in darkness. Examine yourself and see if you have forgotten how to be sorry." 

(Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest, December 7th Devotional)

进入神的国度，是藉着悔改的剧痛，将人自以为是的良善砸得粉碎；然后圣灵来了，他生出这些痛苦，是为了在人里面开始创造神儿子的生命。新生命的表彰，是明明的悔改和不知不觉的成圣，绝不会有其他的表现。

基督信仰的磐石是悔改。严格说来，人若有选择，他便不会悔改，悔改是神的恩赐。古代清教徒就常祈求‘眼泪的恩赐’。

若你不再知道悔改的好处，就是在黑暗里了。省察自己，是否已经忘了怎样知错。（（Oswald Chambers《竭诚为主》，12月7日灵修）

Those (servants of God) who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 

and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:25-26

用温柔劝诫那抵挡的人，或者神给他们悔改的心，可以明白真道，叫他们这已经被魔鬼任意掳去的，可以醒悟，脱离他的网罗。 提摩太后书 2:25-26

Notice that repentance is the only way to escape from the devil's trap.

注意悔改是脱离魔鬼网罗的唯一道路。

Question 6

问题 6

Are you escaping the trap? If so, can you see how God has granted you repentance? 

Explain a little about this repentance. Do you have it? If so, are you enjoying it? If not, will you seek God for it?

你正在脱离网罗吗？ 如果是这样，你能明白神是如何赐你悔改的吗？

请对悔改稍作解释。你已经悔改了吗？如果是这样你喜乐吗？ 如果不是，你会寻求神赐给你吗？

Next, let us examine one final passage of Scripture and note the elements of repentance contained in it:

接下来，我们来查考最后一处经文，并注意悔改所包含的要素：

6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. 

Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. Isaiah 55:6-7

6当趁耶和华可寻找的时候寻找他，相近的时候求告他。7恶人当离弃自己的道路，不义的人当除掉自己的意念。归向耶和华，耶和华就必怜恤他。以赛亚书 55:6-7

Question 7

问题 7

Please list the four defining elements of repentance as stated in Isaiah 55:6-7, above. The first one is "Seek the Lord".

请列出以赛亚书55章6-7节 所述的四个明确的悔改要素，第一个是“寻求神”

Question 8

问题 8

Please make an honest assessment of your life right now. 

Are you seeking the Lord, calling on Him, forsaking your sin, and turning to the Lord? If you wish, you may write out your prayer of repentance to God here.

请对你现在的生命做一个诚实的评估。你正在寻求神、求告祂、离弃自己的罪、归向主吗？如果你愿意，请在这里写出向神悔改的祷告。

Course member Neptali writes, "I am finding joy seeking the Lord and calling upon him. I have forsaken pornography and self-gratification, and I have turned to the Lord. 

I am so glad to receive his mercy and forgiveness. I now recognize that gratifying my flesh is a sin. There were struggles in the past as to whether it is a sin or not. 

A book written by a famous evangelist only confused the issue. However, when I came to this course and recognized it as sin, then I got free. 

There are no struggles anymore. My daily drink of Jesus’ water and my accountability to my mentor through this course are such a big help."

学员Neptall 写道：“我找到了寻求神和求告祂的喜悦。我已经离弃色情和自我放纵，并归向了神。我很高兴得到祂的怜悯和饶恕。

我认识到放纵自己肉体是罪。过去我曾挣扎，究竟这是不是罪。一本由著名传道人所写的书只是让我在这个问题上困惑不已。

然而，当我来到这个课程并认识到这是罪时，我被释放了。再也没有挣扎了。我每天所饮的耶稣之水和贯穿与整个课程的对导师的责任是极大的帮助。

Friend, there is much good news to be found in repentance. It is not as if we were merely turning away from sin only to be left empty and with no excitement in life. 

You see, as you both turn from immorality and turn to God, there is a blessed life of satisfaction and joy to be found in Jesus Christ. In reality, we are leaving the lesser and temporary pleasures for the greater and eternal ones. 

Yes, we are giving up the very temporary pleasures of sin, but we are gaining the lasting pleasures of Christ. Indeed, Psalm 16:11 describes the pleasures of Christ as "eternal."

朋友, 通过悔改可以发现太多的好消息。我们离开了罪，并非生命中只剩下空虚和无聊。

你看，当你离开不道德行为并转向神的时候，就在耶稣基督里找到了满足和喜乐的蒙福人生。实际上，我们为了永远的大福乐而离弃了那至轻至暂的。

是的，我们放弃了暂时的罪中之乐，却得到了在基督里永远的福乐。诗篇16:11形容这种在基督里的福乐是“永远的”

Thoughts to consider today:

今日默想经文

"Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?" Romans 2:4

“还是你藐视他丰富的恩慈、宽容、忍耐，不晓得他的恩慈是领你悔改呢？ 罗马书2:4

6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 

7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon Isaiah 55:6-7

6当趁耶和华可寻找的时候寻找他，相近的时候求告他。7恶人当离弃自己的道路，不义的人当除掉自己的意念。归向耶和华，耶和华就必怜恤他。以赛亚书 55:6-7

Course member Joe wrote, "My sorrow was in that I was offending God and was not getting close to Him at all. 

When I confessed in this area, I fell with a broken heart to my knees wanting to be delivered and desiring a closer relationship with God. 

Repentance is a by-product of God's grace. 

He is the one who breaks hearts. I believe a broken heart before God over any sin, and a turning from it, is repentance."

学员Joe写到，“令我懊悔的是我曾经冒犯了神，而且一点也不亲近祂。当我就此认罪的时候，我伤心欲绝地跪倒祈求被拯救，并渴望与神建立更亲密的关系。

悔改是神恩典的意外收获。

祂是那位破碎我们刚硬心肠的神。我相信，一颗在神面前为罪破碎痛悔、并且离弃罪的心，就是悔改。”

To clarify what the first accountability question means, we have included the following explanation. 

为了厘清第一个责任问题的涵义，我们给出以下的解释。 

What does "feasting" mean?"

Feasting" is more than just reading the Bible; it is a term to express the nourishing of our souls in Jesus Christ. 

It means that we are sitting at the feet of Jesus, hearing His Word and believing it, for the purpose of implementing the truths into our lives. 

It means we are receiving spiritual nourishment and we are delighting our souls in His grace and truth. 

This may be done in reading our Bibles, hearing God's Word preached, interacting with others in the Scriptures, and studying through this course, etc. 

This definition is at least a start; further explanation is included in the lessons. 

什么是“享用筵宴”？

这里的“享用筵宴”不仅仅是读圣经。 

这是一个表示我们的灵魂在耶稣基督里得到喂养的词。这表示我们坐在耶稣的脚前，听祂的道，笃信之，目的是要把真理行在我们的生活中；这表示我们得到灵里的滋养，在主的恩典和真理中心灵得喜乐。这可以是读经、听讲道、与他人就经文互动，以及通过这个课程来学习等等。

这里只给出一个初步的定义，将来的课程里会有进一步的解释。  

Have you been feasting on God's word?

你享用神的话了吗？ 

Yes是   No 否

If so, when was the last time you feasted? And how? In other words, how did you enjoy God? Reading? Prayer? Worship? Fellowship? Witnessing? 

如果是，你最近一次是什么时候？怎样做的？换句话说，你是怎样靠神喜乐的？是读经、祷告、崇拜、团契，还是做见证？ 

These next, tough, accountability questions apply to the entire period since you did your last lesson. 

接下来那些棘手的责任问题，会在整个课程中出现，要根据你上节课以来的情况来回答。 

Were you free from pornography since you did the last lesson?

上节课以来，你离开色情了吗？ 

Yes是  No否

Were you free from self-gratification since you did the last lesson?

上节课以来，你戒除自我放纵了吗？ 

Yes是  No 否

Were you free from sexual immorality since you did the last lesson?

上节课以来，你远离了淫乱了吗？ 

Yes是  No否

If you answered "no" to any of the above questions, tell us what led to your fall. 

If you answered "yes" to the above questions, you may use this area for questions or additional comments. 

如果任何一个问题的答案是“否”，请告诉我们是什么导致你的跌倒。

如果对以上问题你回答了“是”，你可以在此提出你的问题或其他的评论。