【双语灵修】使万民作门徒和给他们施洗 Making Disciples And Baptizing
“‘你们要去，使万民作我的门徒，奉父、子、圣灵的名给他们施洗。’” - 太 28:19
使徒信经概述圣经启示关于圣父、圣子耶稣、和圣灵的真道。为了要跟从耶稣“使万民作门徒”和给他们施洗的吩咐，初期教会制定了这个简洁的系列“我信”（信条）的宣言，作为教导新信徒认识基督教信仰的准则。
例如，当时有一个传统，教会在春天庆祝复活节时，教导新信徒在这段时间学习基督教信仰和接受洗礼。在复活节前的几个星期，新信徒会研读使徒信经；他们在复活节前夕一起宣读这篇信经，然后在复活节早晨受洗并一起擘饼，他们以教会会友的身份在复活节第一次领受主餐。
当然，藉着研读和默想神的话语来不断学习是很重要的，然而，并非每一个人都有机会接触到圣经的。所以，言简意赅的使徒信经，对人们有极大的帮助。它为每一个人提供清晰的基督教信仰告白。
今天，使徒信经仍然能帮助教会继续领人作门徒和预备给他们施洗。我们可以信赖这篇信经作为真道的根基；在任何环境之下，当信靠和事奉我们慈爱的上帝－父、子、和圣灵－时，这些字句都是我们立场稳固的可靠依据。
祷告
圣父、圣子、和圣灵，我们敬拜你。今天在我们事奉你时，求你帮助我们在对你的认识和恩典的经历上得以成长。阿们。
马太福音 28:16-20
16十一个门徒往加利利去，到了耶稣约定的山上。
17他们见了耶稣就拜他，然而还有人疑惑。
18耶稣进前来，对他们说：“天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我了。
19所以你们要去，使万民做我的门徒，奉父、子、圣灵的名给他们施洗 ，
20凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守。我就常与你们同在，直到世界的末了。”
Making Disciples And Baptizing
“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” - Matthew 28:19
The Apostles’ Creed summarizes the truth about God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit revealed in the Bible. Following Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples” and to baptize them, the early church developed this brief “I believe” (Credo) statement as a guide in teaching new believers about the Christian faith.
For example, it became a tradition for new believers to learn about the faith and be baptized when the church celebrated Easter in springtime. In the weeks leading up to Easter, new believers studied the Apostles’ Creed. On Easter eve, they confessed it together, and then on Easter morning they were baptized and broke bread together, celebrating their first Lord’s Supper as members of the church.
Of course, it was important to keep learning by reading and meditating on God’s Word, but not everyone had access to the Scriptures. So the Apostles’ Creed, in its simple, straightforward way, helped people immensely. It gave everyone a clear statement of the Christian faith.
The creed is still helpful today as the church continues to make disciples and baptize them. We can depend on the bedrock truths of this creed; these are words to stand on as we trust and serve our loving God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—in any situation.
Prayer
God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we worship you. Help us to grow in your knowledge and grace as we serve you today. Amen.