the acts of the apostles-第78部分
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been laid a double responsibility。 He bore positive witness concerning the
Messiah before unbelievers； laboring earnestly for their conversion； and at
the same time he did a special work for believers； strengthening them in the
faith of Christ。
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It was after Peter had been led to self…renunciation and entire reliance
upon divine power； that he received his call to act as an undershepherd。
Christ had said to Peter； before his denial of Him； 〃When thou art
converted； strengthen thy brethren。〃 Luke 22：32。 These words were
significant of the wide and effectual work which this apostle was to do in
the future for those who should come to the faith。 For this work； Peter's
own experience of sin and suffering and repentance had prepared him。 Not
until he had learned his weakness； could he know the believer's need of
dependence on Christ。 Amid the storm of temptation he had come to understand
that man can walk safely only as in utter self…distrust he relies upon the
Saviour。
At the last meeting of Christ with His disciples by the sea； Peter； tested
by the thrice…repeated question； 〃Lovest thou Me？〃 （John 21：15…17）； had been
restored to his place among the Twelve。 His work had been appointed him； he
was to feed the Lord's flock。 Now； converted and accepted； he was not only
to seek to save those without the fold； but was to be a shepherd of the
sheep。
Christ mentioned to Peter only one condition of service 〃Lovest thou Me？〃
This is the essential qualification。 Though Peter might possess every other；
yet without the love of Christ he could not be a faithful shepherd over the
flock of God。 Knowledge； benevolence； eloquence； zeal all are essential in
the good work； but without the love of Christ in the heart； the work of the
Christian minister is a failure。
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The love of Christ is not a fitful feeling； but a living principle； which is
to be made manifest as an abiding power in the heart。 If the character and
deportment of the shepherd is an exemplification of the truth he advocates；
the Lord will set the seal of His approval to the work。 The shepherd and the
flock will become one； united by their common hope in Christ。
The Saviour's manner of dealing with Peter had a lesson for him and his
brethren。 Although Peter had denied his Lord； the love which Jesus bore him
had never faltered。 And as the apostle should take up the work of
ministering the word to others； he was to meet the transgressor with
patience； sympathy； and forgiving love。 Remembering his own weakness and
failure； he was to deal with the sheep and lambs committed to his care as
tenderly as Christ had dealt with him。
Human beings； themselves given to evil； are prone to deal untenderly with
the tempted and the erring。 They cannot read the heart； they know not its
struggle and its pain。 Of the rebuke that is love； of the blow that wounds
to heal； of the warning that speaks hope； they have need to learn。
Throughout his ministry； Peter faithfully watched over the flock entrusted
to his care； and thus proved himself worthy of the charge and responsibility
given him by the Saviour。 Ever he exalted Jesus of Nazareth as the Hope of
Israel； the Saviour of mankind。 He brought his own life under the discipline
of the Master Worker。 By every means within his power he sought to educate
the believers for active service。 His godly example and untiring activity
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inspired many young men of promise to give themselves wholly to the work of
the ministry。 As time went on； the apostle's influence as an educator and
leader increased； and while he never lost his burden to labor especially for
the Jews； yet he bore his testimony in many lands and strengthened the faith
of multitudes in the gospel。
In the later years of his ministry； Peter was inspired to write to the
believers 〃scattered throughout Pontus； Galatia； Cappadocia； Asia； and
Bithynia。〃 His letters were the means of reviving the courage and
strengthening the faith of those who were enduring trial and affliction； and
of renewing to good works those who through manifold temptations were in
danger of losing their hold upon God。 These letters bear the impress of
having been written by one in whom the sufferings of Christ and also His
consolation had been made to abound； one whose entire being had been
transformed by grace； and whose hope of eternal life was sure and steadfast。
At the very beginning of his first letter the aged servant of God ascribed
to his Lord a tribute of praise and thanksgiving。 〃Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ；〃 he exclaimed； 〃which according to His
abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection
of Jesus Christ from the dead； to an inheritance incorruptible； and
undefiled； and that fadeth not away； reserved in heaven for you； who are
kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed
in the last time。〃
In this hope of a sure inheritance in the earth made new；
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the early Christians rejoiced； even in times of severe trial and affliction。
〃Ye greatly rejoice；〃 Peter wrote； 〃though now for a season； if need be； ye
are in heaviness through manifold temptations： that the trial of your faith；
being much more precious than of gold that perisheth； though it be tried
with fire； might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing
of Jesus Christ： whom having not seen； ye love； in whom； though now ye see
Him not； 。 。 。 ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory： receiving
the end of your faith； even the salvation of your souls。〃
The apostle's words were written for the instruction of believers in every
age； and they have a special significance for those who live at the time
when 〃the end of all things is at hand。〃 His exhortations and warnings； and
his words of faith and courage； are needed by every soul who would maintain
his faith 〃steadfast unto the end。〃 Hebrews 3：14。
The apostle sought to teach the believers how important it is to keep the
mind from wandering to forbidden themes or from spending its energies on
trifling subjects。 Those who would not fall a prey to Satan's devices； must
guard well the avenues of the soul； they must avoid reading； seeing； or
hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts。 The mind must not be left
to dwell at random upon every subject that the enemy of souls may suggest。
The heart must be faithfully sentineled； or evils without will awaken evils
within； and the soul will wander in darkness。 〃Gird up the loins of your
mind；〃 Peter wrote； 〃be sober； and hope to the end for the grace that is to
be brought unto you at the revelation
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of Jesus Christ； 。 。 。 not fashioning yourselves according to the former
lusts in your ignorance： but as He which hath called you is holy； so be ye
holy in all manner of conversation； because it is written； Be ye holy； for I
am holy。〃
〃Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear： forasmuch as ye know that ye
were not redeemed with corruptible things； as silver and gold； from your
vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers； but with the
precious blood of Christ； as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot： who
verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world； but was manifest
in these last times for you； who by Him do believe in God； that raised Him
up from the dead； and gave Him glory； that your faith and hope might be in
God。〃
Had silver and gold been sufficient to purchase the salvation of men； how
easily might it have been accomplished by Him who says； 〃The silver is Mine；
and the gold is Mine。〃 Haggai 2：8。 But only by the precious blood of the Son
of God could the transgressor be redeemed。 The plan of salvation was laid in
sacrifice。 The apostle Paul wrote； 〃Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ； that； though He was rich； yet for your sakes He became poor； that ye
through His poverty might be rich。〃 2 Corinthians 8：9。 Christ gave Himself
for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity。 And as the crowning
blessing of salvation； 〃the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord。〃 Romans 6：23。
〃Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit
unto unfeigned love of the brethren；〃
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Peter continued； 〃see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently。〃
The word of Godthe truthis the channel through which the Lord manifests
His Spirit and power。 Obedience to the word produces fruit of the required
quality 〃unfeigned love of the brethren。〃 This love is heaven…born and
leads to high motives and unselfish actions。
When truth becomes an abiding principle in the life； the soul is 〃born
again； not of corruptible seed； but of incorruptible； by the word of God；
which liveth and abideth forever。〃 This new birth is the result of receiving
Christ as the Word of God。 When by the Holy Spirit divine truths are
impressed upon the heart； new conceptions are awakened； and the energies
hitherto dormant are aroused to co…operate with God。
Thus it had been with Peter and his fellow disciples。 Christ was the
revealer of truth to the world。 By Him the incorruptible seedthe word of
Godwas sown in the hearts of men。 But many of the most precious lessons of
the Great Teacher were spoken to those who did not then understand them。
When； after His ascension； the Holy Spirit brought His teachings to the
remembrance of the disciples； their slumbering senses awoke。 The meaning of
these truths flashed upon their minds as a new revelation； and truth； pure
and unadulterated； made a place for itself。 Then the wonderful experience of
His life became theirs。 The Word bore testimony through them； the men of His
appointment； and they proclaimed the mighty truth； 〃The Word was made flesh；
and dwelt among us； 。 。 。 full of
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grace and truth。〃 〃And of His fullness have all we received； and grace for
grace。〃 John 1：14； 16。
The apostles exhorted the believers
