弟兄姊妹们主内平安，今天我们分享的经文来自新约提多书（Titus 3:3-8）

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
我们从前也是无知，悖逆，受迷惑，服侍各样私欲和宴乐，常存恶毒（或作“阴毒”）、嫉妒的心，是可恨的，又是彼此相恨。但到了神我们救主的恩慈和他向人所施的慈爱显明的时候，他便救了我们，并不是因我们自己所行的义，乃是照他的怜悯，藉着重生的洗和圣灵的更新。圣灵就是神藉着耶稣基督我们救主厚厚浇灌在我们身上的，好叫我们因他的恩得称为义，可以凭着永生的盼望成为后嗣（或作“可以凭着盼望承受永生”）。这话是可信的。我也愿你把这些事切切实实地讲明，使那些已信神的人留心作正经事业（或作“留心行善”）。这都是美事，并且与人有益。
我们先来熟悉一下这段经文
1、At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.
disobedient英 [ˌdɪsə'biːdiənt]  adj. 不服从的；不顺从的
deceived英 [dɪ'siːv] v.欺骗，蒙骗deceive的过去式和过去分词
enslaved英 [ɪn'sleɪv] vt.使做奴隶；enslave的过去式和过去分词
passions英 ['pæʃnz] n.爱好;激情 passion的名词复数; 爱情
2、He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior
washing英 [ˈwɒʃɪŋ] n. 洗涤; 洗涤剂
rebirth 英 [ˌriː'bɜːθ] n. 新生；再生；复兴
renewal英 [rɪˈnju:əl] n. 重建，重生; 更新
pour out倾诉；倾吐
generously英 ['dʒenərəsli] adv. 宽大地；慷慨地
3、so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
devote英 [dɪˈvəʊt] vt. 奉献; 把…奉献（给）
excellent英 [ˈeksələnt] adj.优秀的;卓越的
profitable英 [ˈprɒfɪtəbl] adj.有利可图的，有益的
我们一起看一下语法
1、We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another..
one another互相
e.g. We all try and help one another. 
我们都尽力互相帮助
I think we’ve learned a lot about one another in this session.
我认为这段时间我们互相有了很多的了解。
2、not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
because of因为； 由于，我们来看一下和because的区别
（1）because 是连词,其后接句子,例如：
He is called Mitch, because his name is Mitchell. 
人们叫他米奇，因为他大名叫米切尔。
I bought the house simply because it was large.
我购买了这房子，只是因为它面积大。
（2）because of 是复合介词,其后接名词、代词、动名词、what 从句等。例如：
We could see him wasting away because of his illness.
我们看得出他因为生病而日渐消瘦
The game was canceled because of the rain.
比赛因为下雨而取消了。
3、so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.
devote奉献; 把…奉献（给），把…专用（于）
（1）devote yourself to sb. / sth.献身；致力；专心
She devote herself to her career. 
她全心倾注自己的事业。
（2）devote sth. to sth. 把…用于
I could only devote two hours a day to the work.
 我一天只能在这个工作上花两个小时。
（3）devote sth. to v-ing 致力于
She devoted her life to helping homeless children.
她的一生都在帮助无家可归的孩子们。
He has been devoting his whole life to benefiting mankind.
他把自己的一生贡献给了造福人类的事业。
最后我们再回顾一下这段经文
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
这段经文保罗详细描述了我们从前的光景：悖逆神，同样也悖逆父母和其他权威；受魔鬼迷惑，又受我们自己歪曲的判断所迷惑；服事各样不洁的坏习惯，奴役于邪恶的思想生活里。我们是不可爱的、自私的，也是可怜的，但我们却令别人比自己更可怜。我们是可恨的，又彼此相恨：邻舍相争、同事彼此斗争、业务竞争者互相倾轧、家人不和，都是生命中很悲哀的现实！
到第4节，保罗用一个反语“但”字终止了这幅人类堕落的惨淡图画，“但到了神我们救主的恩慈和他向人所施的慈爱显明的时候……”，神开始了伟大的介入，在人的自我毁灭中施以援手！有人称这就是“神在人通往地狱路上的拦路石”。
他救了我们，从一切的罪债和败坏中将我们救拔出来──赦免我们过去、现在和将来的罪。人不能以好行为救自己，因为在神的眼中，人的一切义行都像污秽的衣服（赛六四6）。人不能因过基督徒的生活而成为一个基督徒，因为人自己根本没能力过基督徒的生活。唯有神才能将我们从罪的泥潭中拯救出来！
　　神藉着重生的洗拯救了我们，使我们悔改归向祂，藉着圣灵的更新，做个真正新造的人（林后五17）。从而使我们得以彻底脱离从前败坏的生活和生命。感谢主，因祂是生命的源头和源泉！
继续阅读
阅读原文