在中国的文化中，我们不经常说洗礼，但是经常可以听到一种说法：战火的洗礼，比方漫漫长征路，中国工农红军历经大小近600场战火的洗礼。这里的洗礼可能是形容枪林弹雨铺天盖天，也可能是暗指死里逃生的艰难。虽然我不明白战火的洗礼的确切意义，但我可以感觉出来，它是指一种非常艰难的经历，人在经历过这样艰难的经历后可以得到某种提升。我下面要写的洗礼可不是战火的洗礼，而是指基督教的传统仪式。作为一个仪式，它的起源是什么呢？它是怎么举行的呢？Phil带我们查看了圣经里相关的教导。
圣经一共有66卷书，分为旧约（39本）和新约（27本）。新约的前四本书是福音书。在前三本福音书里，第一次提到洗礼都是指施洗约翰（John the Baptist）在约旦河给犹太人洗礼。施洗约翰的洗礼是悔改的洗礼。犹太人承认自己的罪，他就在约旦河里给他们洗礼。
And so John came, baptising in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptised by him in the Jordan River. (Mark 1:4-5)
关于洗礼，施洗约翰对犹太人说，我是用水给你们洗礼，后来的那位（指耶稣）将要用圣灵给你们洗礼。Phil说，用水只能洗干净身体的外面，只有用圣灵才能洗干净人的里面。
I baptise you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit. (Mark 1:8)
我们接下来读了耶稣对洗礼的教导。耶稣教导他的门徒要去传讲耶稣的教导，以圣父圣子和圣灵的名义给他们施洗。
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19-20)
Phil说，真正的恩典来自于相信耶稣，而不是单单的洗礼这个仪式，但是洗礼是耶稣的教导，接受耶稣的教导就要接受洗礼。
Baptism does not make us Christians. Only faith in Jesus - receiving Jesus into our hearts - makes us Christians. （from Philip Holder）
Phil问我们，哪一个基督徒应该什么时候受洗呢？他带领我们读了使徒行传里，耶稣的一个门徒腓力（Philip）给埃塞俄比亚女王的一个太监洗礼的故事。那个太监在相信耶稣后看见水就立马受洗了。
As they travelled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptised?"Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." (Acts 8:36-37)
Phil说，洗礼一定要在深水里，洗礼时一定要被水完全埋没了。洗礼时，受洗者被施洗者完全浸没到水下，再从水下扶起来。这样一个仪式有什么寓意呢？
Or don't you know that all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:3-4)
当受洗的人被浸没到水里时，它意味着受洗的人和耶稣一同被埋葬，旧的生命已经死了。当受洗的人从水下被扶起来的时候，意味着受洗者和耶稣一同复活，进入了新的生命。
It is a picture of being united to Jesus in his death, burial and resurrection. It is a picture of dying with Jesus to the old life and being buried with Jesus (going under the water) and rising with Jesus to a new life. It means that we are now united to Jesus, we are part of him, and we share in his resurrection life. (from Philip Holder)
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