16就一面说,即使许多以色列人悖逆且非常罪恶,以色列国还是神的以色列和神的见证。然而,真以色列,属灵的以色列,乃是召会。但因为以色列国与召会都在低落的光景里,主就需要恢复神的真以色列。为着这样的恢复,我们需要两种生活,两种的行。在第一种行,我们会有爱、喜乐、和平、温柔和恒忍这样的美德,这都是那活在我们里面之基督的彰显。我们也需要第二种行,好叫我们成为神的以色列,背负神的君王职分,有祂的权柄代表祂,并执行祂的行政管理。……就属灵一面说,我们是神的儿子,也是神的以色列。我们是神的儿子,需要有爱、喜乐、和平、信实、温柔;我们是神的以色列,必须照神新约经纶的基本准则而行(加拉太书生命读经,四六六至四六八页)。
16In a sense, the nation of Israel is the Israel of God and a testimony of God, even though many Israelites are rebellious and very sinful. However, the real Israel, the spiritual Israel, is the church. But because both the nation of Israel and the church are in a low condition, there is the need for the Lord to recover the real Israel of God. For such a recovery we need two kinds of living, two kinds of walk. In the first walk we will have such virtues as love, joy, peace, meekness, and long-suffering, all of which are the expression of the Christ who lives in us. We also need the second kind of walk so that we may be the Israel of God bearing God’s kingship, representing Him with His authority, and executing His governmental administration. Spiritually speaking, we are both the sons of God and the Israel of God. As sons of God, we need to be loving, joyful, peaceful, faithful, and meek. As the Israel of God, we must walk according to the elementary rules of God’s New Testament economy. (Life-study of Galatians, pp. 375-376)