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创世记生命读经 · 第12篇

变化为著生命流中的建造

Transformation for Building in the Flow of Life
1这篇信息是一段插进的话。我们要来看圣经各处所启示的贵重材料。创世记二章十至十二节说到这些材料中的三类－金子、珍珠和红玛瑙。启示录二十一章说到金子、珍珠和各样宝石。（启二一11～14，～21。）我们读出埃及二十八章六至二十一节，看到镶在金槽上的红玛瑙安在以弗得的肩带上；又有十二块宝石镶在大祭司所穿胸牌的金槽中。林前三章十二节也说到贵重的材料。保罗说，我们必须谨慎怎样建造召会，我们要用金、银和宝石建造。保罗虽然用银顶替珍珠，但另外两种材料仍然一样。当主耶稣告诉彼得，他是为著召会建造的石头时，祂说到石头。（太十六18。）后来，彼得在他的第一封书信里也说，我们都是活石，为著建造属灵的殿。（彼前二5。）
1In this message I want to consider, as a parenthesis, the precious materials revealed in various portions of the Bible. Genesis 2:10-12 mentions three categories of these materials — gold, pearl, and onyx stone. Revelation 2 1 speaks of gold, pearl, and several varieties of precious stones (v v. 1 1-1 4, 1 8-2 1). If we read Exodus 28:6-21, we learn that onyx stones 18 mounted in plaited settings of gold were placed upon the shoulders of the ephod and that twelve precious stones were set in gold on the breastplate worn by the high priest. Precious materials are also mentioned in 1 Corinthians 3:12. Paul says that we must take heed how we build the church, that we should build with gold, silver, and precious stones. Although Paul replaces pearl with silver, the other two substances remain the same. The Lord Jesus spoke of stones when He told Peter that he was a stone for the building of the church (Matt. 16:18). Then Peter, in his first Epistle, said that we all are living stones for the building of a spiritual house (1 Pet. 2:5).
2我们还需要注意新约里一个非常重要的辞－变化。在罗马十二章二节，这辞很正确的从希腊文繙过来，说到我们要藉著心2思的更新而变化。同样的希腊文也用于林后三章十八节：『变化成为…同样的形像。』所以，希腊文『变化』一辞在新约中至少用过两次，意思相当于新陈代谢的改变。变化不是仅仅外在的改变，乃是生机的改变，新陈代谢的改变。变化的意思是把某种物质的元素和形状，改变成别种的元素和形状。宝石就是藉著这种变化的过程产生的。这就是变化的意思。
2We also need to pay attention to a very crucial word in the New Testament — transformation. This word is correctly translated from the Greek language in Romans 12:2, which says that we should be transformed by the renewing of our mind. However, the same Greek word is found in Corinthians 3:18 where it is rendered by the King James Version “changed.” According to the proper translation, it should read, “transformed into the same image.” Thus, the Greek word for transformation is found at least twice in the New Testament. An English equivalent to the Greek is the term metabolic change. Transformation is not a mere outward change; it is an organic change, a metabolic change. Transformation means to change a substance from one form and element into another form and element. Precious stones are produced by such a process of transformation. This is the meaning of transformation.
3许多基督徒不知道圣经论到变化这件事，因此本篇信息要专讲这一点。在前几篇信息中我们看过，神永远的定旨乃是要藉著人彰显祂自己，并施行祂的管治。为著达成这目的，神特别的创造了人，作为器皿以盛装神自己作生命。因此，神创造人有人的灵，使人可以接触神，接受神，保留神并吸收神进到他的全人里。神这样创造了人之后，就把人放在一个以生命树为中心的园子里。在生命树旁有一道涌流著活水的河，在这条河流里有金子、珍珠和红玛瑙。创世记二章就是摆出这样一幅生动的图画。
3Many Christians do not know that the Bible covers the matter of transformation. There fore, this entire message will be devoted to it. In the previous messages we have seen the eternal purpose of God, which is to express Himself and to exercise His dominion through man. For the fulfillment of this purpose, God created man in a specific way as a vessel to contain God Himself as life. Thus, God created man with a human spirit that he might contact God, receive God, retain God, and assimilate God into his whole being. After creating man in this way, God placed him in a garden with the tree of life as the center. Near the tree of life was a river flowing with living water, and at the flow of this river were gold, pearl, and onyx stones. Genesis 2 presents such a vivid picture.
4这幅图画表征甚么？我们知道圣经用辞非常精简，没有一段、一句或一字是浪费的，字字都是神的呼出。因此我们必须了解，为甚么神用差不多一整章来描述一个园子，一棵树，一个人，一道河，并三种贵重的材料。这一切是甚么意思？
4What does this picture signify? We know that the Bible is very economical: not one paragraph, sentence, or word is wasted. Every word is God- breathed (2 Tim. 3:16). Therefore, we must learn why God used nearly a whole chapter to portray a garden, a tree, a man, a river, and three precious materials. What does it all mean
5整本圣经乃是神的启示，这启示的种子大都撒在创世记一章和二章。例如：神、人和生命，这些种子都撒在创世记一章，并发展贯串全本圣经。撒在创世记的种子，在圣经以下各卷长大，特别在新约－在书信产生庄稼，在启示录有了收成。撒在创世记一、二章的每样事物，几乎都在启示录成熟丰收。
5The Bible as a whole is God’sr evelation, and most of the seeds of this revelation were sown in Genesis 1 and 2. For example, God, man, and life are some seeds sown in Genesis 1 and developed throughout the whole Bible. The seeds sown in Genesis grow in the following books of the Bible, especially in the New Testament, producing a crop in the Epistles and a harvest in Revelation. Nearly everything sown in Genesis 1 and 2 is reaped as a great harvest in the book of Revelation
6基于这原则，我们要注意在创世记和启示录所看到的一些项目。在创世记二章，园子当中有生命树，然后有一道河流过树旁，产生金子、珍珠和红玛瑙。这一切的背景乃是个园子;园子表征神所创造天然的东西。我们在园子里能看到受造之物的生长。
6Based upon this principle, let us attend to some of the items found in both Genesis and Revelation. In Genesis 2 we have the tree of life in the midst of the garden. Then we have a river which flows by the side of the tree and brings forth gold, pearl, and onyx stone. The setting for all of this is a garden, and a garden signifies the natural things created by God. In a garden we can see the growth of created things
7当我们读到启示录二十一、二十二章，我们没有看到园子，却看到一座城。城不是创造的，乃是建造的。在创世记二章有创造，在启示录二十一、二十二章有建造。在这座城里也有生命树。因此，圣经开始于生命，也结束于生命。此外，在城里我们看见一道活水的河，流自神的宝座，这与园子里的河一致。还有，在启示录我们也看到三类贵重的材料，但不是天然的状态，乃是被建造成为一座由金子、珍珠和宝石所造成的城。所以在创世记里所撒的种子，到启示录就成熟收割了。在创世记和启示录之间，可以看到种子的长大和庄稼的发展。这不是我们属人的观念，乃是圣经头尾两章所看到的神圣启示。
7When we come to Revelation 21 and 22, we do not find a garden, but a city. A city is not created; it is built. In Genesis 2 we have creation; in Revelation 21 and 22 we have the building. In the city we also have the tree of life. Thus, the Bible begins and ends with life. Moreover, in the city we find a river of living water proceeding out of the throne of God. This corresponds to the river in the garden. Furthermore, in Revelation we find the three categories of precious materials, not in a natural state, but built into a city made with gold, pearl, and precious stones. Therefore, what was sown in Genesis as a seed is reaped in Revelation as the harvest. The growth of the seed and the development of the crop are found between Genesis and Revelation. This is not our human concept; it is the revelation of the divine Word found in the first and last chapters of the Bible
8在圣经的开头，我们看到一个园子;在圣经的结束，我们看到一座城。在园子和城之间，需要经过漫长的过程，还必须完成许多工作。然而，撒在园子里的种子，在城里却成了收获。这种子包括生命树、一道水河、和三种贵重的材料。在启示录收割的时期，这些材料不再是天然的状态，乃是成为一座联络合式的建筑。新耶路撒冷是一座金子、珍珠和宝石的建筑。
8In the beginning of the Bible we can see a garden. At the end of the Bible we see a city. Between the garden and the city a long process must transpire, and a great deal of work must be accomplished. Nevertheless, the seed sown in the garden becomes the harvest in the city. This seed includes the tree of life, a river of water, and the three precious materials. At the time of harvest in Revelation, the materials are no longer in a natural state, but become a building fitly joined together. The New Jerusalem is a building of gold, pearl, and precious stones.
9我们若仔细读启示录二十一、二十二章，会看到整座新耶路撒冷城是一座金山。牠不是一座泥土的大厦。这座金山也是一座金城。因此，金子是城建筑的基地、场地。宝石是建造在新耶路撒冷的墙上，而这墙的每一个门是一颗大珍珠。新耶路撒冷的基地是金子，墙是宝石构成的，十二个门各是一颗珍珠。因此，这座城就是在园子里所看到那些天然贵重的材料所构成的。那些贵重的材料，在创世记是散在园子里;在启示录是建造成了一座城。
9If we read Revelation 21 and 22 carefully, we will see the entire city of New Jerusalem is a mountain of gold. It is not an edifice of clay. This golden mountain is also a golden city. Thus, the gold is the site, the ground for the building of the city. The precious stones are built into the wall of the New Jerusalem, and every gate in this wall is a large pearl. The site of the New Jerusalem is gold, the wall is composed of precious stones, and each of the twelve gates is a pearl. Therefore, this city is a composition of the precious materials found in a natural state in the garden. In Genesis the precious substances are lying in the garden; in Revelation they are built into a city
10这不是我的解经。在创世记和启示3录之间有哥林多前书。保罗在林前三章说，他好像一个工头，立好了惟一的根基－耶稣基督，我们都必须谨慎怎样在上面建造。我们用甚么材料建造召会？保罗告诉我们要用金、银和宝石建造。（稍后我们会知道，为甚么他用银顶替珍珠。）藉此我们看见，不但新耶路撒冷是用金、珍珠和宝石建造，连今世的召会也必须用金、银和宝石建造，不能用木、草、禾楷建造。以后我们要看到，金与木相对，银与草相对，宝石与禾楷相对。
10This is not my interpretation. Between Genesis and Revelation we have 1 Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians Paul says that as a masterbuilder he laid the unique foundation, Jesus Christ, and that we all must take heed how we build upon it. What materials are we using in building up the church? Paul tells us to build with gold, silver, and precious stones. (Later we will see why he substituted silver for pearl.) By this we can see that not only the New Jerusalem is built with gold, pearl, and precious stones, but even the church in this age must be built with gold, silver, and precious stones, not with wood, grass, and straw. As we shall see, gold contrasts with wood, silver opposes grass, and precious stones are versus straw.
11当我年轻的时候，我看见了这点，感到很兴奋。我看见在创世记二章有一个园子，里面有贵重的材料；在启示录有一座城，是用同样的材料建造的；同时我看见在创世记与启示录之间，召会是用金、银和宝石建造的。我看见召会是所有蒙救赎之人的组成，这组成是个建筑。谁是金、银、宝石？你和我。我们这些神所救赎的人就是祂属灵建筑的材料。
11When I saw this as a young Christian, I was excited. I saw a garden in Genesis 2 with precious materials. I saw a city in Revelation built with these same materials. Between Genesis and Revelation I saw a church built with gold, silver, and precious stones. I saw that the church is a composition of all the redeemed people, and that this composition is a building. Who are the gold, silver, and stones? You and I. We, God’s redeemed people, are the materials for His spiritual building
12神在旧约时代有一班百姓，就是以色列民。他们中间最特出的人是大祭司，他在神面前作他们的代表。每当大祭司代替百姓进到神面前，他必须穿上两条肩带和一个胸牌。在肩带上有两大块红玛瑙，上面刻著以色列十二支派的名字。在胸牌上是精金镶嵌的美丽金槽，槽里安放十二块宝石，排成四行，每行三块宝石。这胸牌上的十二块宝石，与新耶路撒冷里『十二』的数目一致。无论是在城里，或在胸牌上，十二这数目都是由四乘三所组成。例如：胸牌有四行，每行有三块宝石；城有四边，每边三个门。胸牌上和城里都有十二这个总数。因此，大祭司胸牌上宝石的数目，就是新耶路撒泠的数目。此外，在这十二块宝石上刻著以色列十二支派的名字。在启示录二十一章，我们看到这十二支派的名字是在城的十二个门上。这是非常有意义的。
12In Old Testament times God also had a people, the children of Israel. The most prominent person among them was the high priest who represented them in the presence of God. Whenever he went into the presence of God on behalf of the people, he had to wear two shoulder plates and a breastplate. On the shoulder plates were two large pieces of onyx stone on which were engraved the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. On the breastplate was a beautiful setting of fine, inlaid gold, and within this setting were set twelve precious stones in four rows of three stones each. The twelve stones in the breastplate correspond to the number twelve in the New Jerusalem. The number twelve both in the city and on the breastplate is composed of four times three. For instance, the breastplate has four rows with three stones in a row, and the city has four sides with three gates on each side, giving a total number of twelve in both the breastplate and the city. Thus, the number of the stones on the breastplate of the high priest was the number of the New Jerusalem. Furthermore, on these twelve stones were engraved the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. In Revelation 21 we find the names of these twelve tribes on the twelve gates of the city. This is very significant.
13让我们看看这是甚么意思。在新约有用金、银、宝石建造的召会；在旧约有用金和宝石组成为一个整体的神的百姓。在神眼中，大祭司的胸牌是未来新耶路撒冷之小影的一部分。同样，用金、银、宝石建造的召会，也是新耶路撒冷小影的一部分。在旧约有以色列十二支派，在新约有召会连同十二使徒。因此，以色列加上召会等于新耶路撒冷。以色列十二支派的名字是在新耶路撒冷的十二个门上，召会十二使徒的名字是在这城的十二根基上。这个建筑包括了整本圣经，开始于创世记的一个园子，结束于启示录的一座城。在园子与城之间有两班人－以色列和召会。以色列和召会都有十二个名字。至终，他们都变化成为金、银或珍珠、宝石。所以，园子、城和这两班人，都与三类贵重的材料有关。
13Let us consider the meaning of this. In the New Testament we have a church built with gold, silver, and precious stones. In the Old Testament we have God’sp eople composed with gold and precious stones to become a complete entity. In the eyes of God, the breastplate of the high priest was a part of the miniature of the coming New Jerusalem. Likewise, the church built with gold, silver, and precious stones is also a part of the miniature of the New Jerusalem. In the Old Testament we have Israel with twelve tribes. In the New Testament we have the church with twelve apostles. Hence, Israel plus the church equals the New Jerusalem. The names of the twelve tribes of Israel are on the twelve gates of the New Jerusalem, and the names of the twelve apostles of the church are on the twelve foundation stones of the city. This building covers the entire Bible from the beginning with a garden in Genesis to the conclusion with a city in Revelation. Between the garden and the city are two peoples, Israel and the church. Both Israel and the church have twelve names. Eventually, all of these have been transformed into gold, silver or pearl, and precious stones. Hence, the garden, the city, and the two peoples are all related to the three categories of precious materials
14在圣经里，园子与城之间，不仅有以色列和召会这两班人，由金子和宝石所代表，被建造在一起成为神的居所；并且有生命与河给他们享受。诗篇三十六篇八至九节告诉我们，以色列人享受生命的源头并神乐河的水。约翰六、七两章指出，召会里的人享受生命的粮和活水的江河。因此，在圣经中不仅继续说到贵重的材料，也继续说到首尾所题过的生命与河。
14In the Bible, between the garden and the city, there are not only the two peoples, Israel and the church, represented by gold and precious stones, built together as God’s dwelling place, but there are also the life and the river enjoyed by these two peoples. Psalm 36:8-9 tells us that the children of Israel enjoyed the fountain of life and the river of pleasures in God. John 6 and 7 point out that the people in the church enjoy the bread of life and the rivers of living water. Hence, in the Bible there is the continued mention not only of the precious materials but also of the life and river mentioned at the beginning and at the end.
1521为甚么在创世记二章和启示录二十一章看到珍珠，而在林前三章看到银？在林前三章有银，因为银在豫表上代表救赎，救赎的意义是对付罪。若是从来没有罪，就不需要救赎。在创世记二章的园子那里没有罪，在启示录二十一章的新耶路撤冷那里罪被驱除，直到永远。罪在创世记三章进来，而在启示录二十章完全被除去。因此，在创世记二章或启示录二十一章都看不到罪。所以，在这种情形下就不需要救赎─银。在那里所需要的不是为著救赎的银，乃是为著重生的珍珠。救赎是要除去罪；重生是要带进神圣的生命。在创世记二章与启示录二十一章之间有银代表救赎，这是由于罪这大难题，使救赎成为必要的。我们在今世需要银。
15Why is pearl found in Genesis 2 and Revelation and silver in 1 Corinthians 3? In 1 Corinthians 3 we have silver because in typology silver represents redemption. The meaning of redemption is to deal with sin. If there had been no sin, there would have been no need of redemption. In the garden of Genesis 2 there was no sin, and for eternity in the New Jerusalem of Revelation 2 1 sin will be banished. Sin came in from Genesis 3 and will be fully eliminated in Revelation 2 0. Thus, in neither Genesis 2 nor Revelation 2 1 do we find sin. Therefore, in these situations there is no need for redemption, for silver. The need there is not silver for redemption, but pearl for regeneration. Redemption is to take away sin; regeneration is to bring in the divine life. Silver stands for redemption between Genesis 2 and Revelation 21 because of the great problem of sin that necessitates redemption. In the present age we need silver.
16以这些为背景，我们现在来看变化这主题。我们看过神有一个目的，为著达成这目的，祂创造人作器皿，使人有人的灵来盛装祂。主耶稣告诉撒玛利亚妇人说，神是灵，那敬拜祂的必须在灵里敬拜。（约四24。）我们若要敬拜神，就必须用正确的器官。比方，我们喝水不能用耳朵，乃是用口。神是活水，我们若要喝祂作我们的活水，就必须运用我们的灵。当我们运用我们的灵接触神这灵，就实际的喝到这位是活水的神。（约四24，14。）因此，神创造人有灵，以接触并敬拜祂。
16With all of this as a background, we come to the subject of transformation. We have seen that God has a purpose, and for the fulfillment of His purpose He created man as a vessel to contain Him, making him with a human spirit. The Lord Jesus told the Samaritan woman that God is Spirit and they that worship Him must worship in spirit (John 4:24). If we are going to worship God, we must use the proper organ. For example, we cannot drink water with our ears, but with our mouth. God is living water. If we want to drink Him as our living water, we must exercise our spirit to contact Him. When we exercise our spirit to contact God the Spirit, we are actually drinking of God as the living water (John 4:24, 14). Thus, God made man with a spirit to contact and worship Him
17神是生命。神自己是生命树。当祂在肉体里来时，祂启示自己是生命并生命的供应。基督是生命的粮。（约六。）我们无论吃了甚么食物，都会将食物吸收到里面，这是十分有意义、十分重要的。神是以食物的形态作我们的生命，我们需要藉著吃来接受祂。一旦神进入我们里面，祂就在我们里面成为生命的流。为著正确的吃，我们需要7食物和饮料。约翰六章说到生命的粮给我们吃；约翰七章说到活水给我们喝。我们若有食物而没有水，就难以下咽。我们怎能没有水而消化并吸收食物？我们需要生命的流。在创世记二章有生命树作我们的食物，并有涌流的河作我们的饮料。先是食物，接著是饮料。当我们接受主作食物，我们也要得著祂作水，涌流在我们里面。
17God is life. God Himself is the tree of life. When He came in the flesh, He revealed Himself as life and as the life supply. Christ is the bread of life (John 6:3 5). Whatever we take into us as food will be 35 assimilated into our being. This is very meaningful and significant. God is life to us in the form of food. We need to receive Him by eating Him. Once God enters into us, He becomes the flow of life within us. For proper eating we need food and drink. John 6 covers the bread of life for our eating, and John covers the living water for our drinking. If we have food without water, it will be difficult for us to eat. How can we digest and assimilate our food without water? We need the flow of life. In Genesis 2 we have the tree of life for our food and the flowing river for our drink. Food comes first and drink follows. When we take in the Lord as our food, we will also have Him as the water flowing within us.
1 使人有神圣的性情－金
I. Causing Man to Have the Divine Nature—Gold
18在第十一篇信息，我们看见这活水的流产生三种材料。第一种是金子，表征神的神圣性情。所有圣经的学者都同意，在豫表上金子表征神圣的性情。金子本身不是变化过的物质，乃是一种元素。珍珠和宝石不像金子，乃是变化过的物质，因为已经从一种形态改变成另一种形态。金子是创造出来的元素，绝不会变化或改变。这是非常有意义的。时间一久，铁或钢会改变，金子却仍然一样。金子是一种最强、最稳定不变的元素。因此金子很宝贝、贵重且有价值。所以在豫表上，神用金子表征祂神圣的性情。这神圣的性情已经带到我们里面，这金子的元素已经加给我们了。（彼后一4，林前三12，启二一18，21。）
18In message eleven we saw that this flow of living water brings forth three kinds of materials. The first of these is gold, which typifies God’s divine nature. All Bible scholars agree that in typology gold signifies the divine nature. Gold itself is not a transformed substance; it is an element. Unlike gold, pearl and precious stones are transformed materials, for they have been changed from one form into another. Gold is a created element and can never be transformed or changed. This is meaningful. Iron or steel can change through the years, but gold remains the same. It is the strongest and the most unchangeable element. Therefore, gold is precious, expensive, and valuable. Thus, in typology God used gold to signify His divine nature. This divine nature has been brought into our being. The element of gold has been added to us (2 Pet. 1:4; 1 Cor. 3:12; Rev. 21:18, 21).
19每当你花一段时间敬拜神或向祂祷告，你会感觉你自己是金的。你会感到你发光、宝贵又有分量。金子是有分量的。在你这样祷告之前，你是轻的、松的；然而，祷告两小时以后，你里面就有一种成分是宝贵、发光又有分量的。难道你没有这经历？当你向父神祷告，或呼喊主耶稣的名，神圣的生命就在你里面涌流，产生出金子。
19Whenever you worship God or pray to Him for a period of time, you will have the sensation that you are golden. You will sense that you are shining, precious, and weighty. Gold is weighty. Before you prayed in such a way, you were light and loose. However, after praying for two hours, you have an element in you that is precious, shining, and weighty. Have you not had this experience? When you pray to God the Father or call on the name of the Lord Jesus, the divine life flows within you to bring forth gold
20在这点上，我要对姊妹们说到购物的事。假设你们姊妹们祷告了两个小时，祷告之后你感觉自己宝贵、有分量。然后你漫不经心的去百货公司购物，不在意里面的金子。你若这样松散的购物，你会感觉里面的金子不在了，消失了。虽然牠还在你里面，但是就你的感觉来说，牠已经消失了。相反的，假设你在祷告两小时之后，打算上街购物，而里面神圣金子的感觉不同意。你若说，『阿们！主，我不去。』你就感觉里面的金子加重了。我们若一直行在灵里，就会感觉里面的金子在不断的增加。神圣的性情要在我们里面增加。
20At this point, I would like to talk to the sisters about shopping. Suppose you sisters pray for two hours. After your prayer, you have the sensation that you are precious and weighty. Then you go to the department store and do your shopping carelessly, unconcerned about the inner gold. If you shop in this loose manner, you will sense that your gold has gone. It disappeared. Although it remains within you, it has disappeared as far as your sensation is concerned. On the contrary, suppose you intend to go shopping after a two - hour period of prayer, and the inner sense of the divine gold does not agree. If you say, “Amen, Lord. I will not go,” you will have the sense that the gold within you has increased in weight. If we walk in the spirit continually, we will sense that the inner gold is increasing constantly. The divine nature will increase within us.
21你里面有多少『金子』？有些人或许承认他们只有一点。我们若肯多祷告并活在灵中，里面的金子必会逐日增加。神圣生命的水流要把神圣的性情更多的加给我们。虽然我们是泥土造的，但神的心意是要藉著祂生命的流，把祂的金子分赐到我们里面。变化的过程就这样开始了。
21How much “gold” do you have within you? Perhaps some will have to admit that they have just a little. If we pray and walk in the spirit, the inner gold will increase daily. The flow of the divine life will add more of the divine nature to us. Although we were made of clay, God’sin tent i on is to impart His gold into us by the flow of His life. In this way the process of transformation begins
22变化需要一种新的元素加到原来的元素里。假设我是个脸色苍白的人，你用化粧品使我的脸色变红，那是外表的美容，不是里面的变化。我若要有真实的改变，就必须有新的元素加到我里面来。怎样能加进来？藉著我的吃。我若天天吃健康的食物，就会产生内在的变化，就是生命内在新陈代谢的改变。当新陈代谢的改变发生时，就加进新的元素，并排除旧的元素。这就是变化。
22Transformation requires a new element to be added to the original element. Suppose I am a person with a pale complexion. If you color my face with make-up, that is outward beautification, not inward transformation. If I am to have a real change, a new element must be added to me. How can it be added? By my eating. If I eat healthy meals day after day, I will undergo an inward transformation, an inward metabolic change in life. When a metabolic change occurs, new elements are added and old elements are discharged. This is transformation
2 使人重生－珍珠
II. Causing Man to be Regenerated—Pearl
23珍珠表征甚么？虽然在哥林多前书，因著救赎的需要，用银顶替珍珠，但神原初的意思乃是珍珠。我年轻时，不知道珍珠在圣经里意味著甚么。但经过对主许多的经历之后，现在我们明白珍珠的意义了。
23What does the pearl signify? Although pearl is replaced with silver in 1 Corinthians because of the need for redemption, pearl was God’s original concept. When I was young, I did not know what the Bible meant by pearl. However, after passing through many experiences with the Lord, we now understand the meaning of pearl
24想想看珍珠是怎样形成的。生活在海里的蚌被砂粒弄伤，蚌就分泌生命的汁液包围砂粒，直到砂粒变成一颗珍珠。基督是生活在这世界海洋中的蚌。我们是伤害祂的砂粒，伤害祂之后，还留在祂的伤处。祂的生命分泌出生命的素质，一层层的把我们包起来。至终，我们被这生命的分泌物完全包住，就成了一颗珍珠。（太十三46。）这就是重生的经历。我们原来是小砂粒，然而，当基督生命的汁液包围我们全人，我们就成了珍珠。新耶路撒冷的每个门，都是一颗表征神国度入口的珍珠。（启二一21。）主耶稣说，我们若不重生，就不能进神的国。（约三5，参多三5。）我们都已经重生，能进入神的国。不仅如此，因著成为珍珠，我们甚至成了入口。
24Consider how a pearl is formed. An oyster living in these a is wounded by a piece of sand. The oyster secretes life juice around the grain of sand until thes and becomes a pearl. Christ is the oyster who lived in the ocean of this world. We are the grains of sand that wound Him and, after injuring Him, stay a tHis wound. His life secretes His life essence, enveloping us with it layer upon layer. Eventually, after becoming fully enclosed by this life-secretion, we become a pearl (Matt. 13:46). This is the experience of regeneration. Originally, we were small pieces of sand, but we became pearls as the life juice of Christ enveloped our being. Every gate of the New Jerusalem is a pearl, signifying the entrance into the kingdom of God (Rev. 21:21). The Lord Jesus said that unless we are born anew we cannot enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:5; cf. Titus 3:5). We all have been born again and can enter into the kingdom. Furthermore, by becoming pearls, we even become the entrance itself.
25我们从珍珠门进入新耶路撒冷之后，就走在精金的街道上。（启二一21。）这就是说，我们照著神圣的性情而行，这神圣的性情就成了我们的道路。重生是我们的入口，神圣的性情是我们的道路。不要去问别人你该怎么办，主耶稣就是你的道路。（约十四6。）你只需要照著这精金的街道，就是你里面神圣的性情而行。弟兄们，你们理发是不是照著神圣的性情？姊妹们，你们购物是不是照著神圣的性情？我十分确信这条精金的道路绝不会通往电影院。当你走向电影院的时侯，你会发现自己是在泥土路上。我们都需要走在精金的路上。走在精金的街道上，就是一直接触神的神圣性情。
25After entering the New Jerusalem through the gate of pearl, we find ourselves on the street of gold (Rev. 21:21). This means that we walk according to the divine nature and that the divine nature becomes our way. Regeneration is our gate; the divine nature is our way. Do not go to others to ask them what you should do. The Lord Jesus is your way (John 14:6). You simply need to walk according to the golden street, the divine nature within you. Brothers, do you get your haircut according to the divine nature? Sisters, do you shop according to the divine nature? I am quite sure that the golden way never leads to a movie theater. When you are going in the direction of the movies, you will find yourself on the way of clay. We all need to walk the golden way. To be on the street of gold is to touch the divine nature of God
3 使人变化成为基督的形像－宝石
III. Causing Man to be Transformed into the Image of Christ—Precious Stone
26虽然我们可能有珍珠门和精金街道，但我们还没有一道墙建造起来，彰显神的形像。新耶路撒冷的墙不仅是一道立起来的界线，把圣别的与凡俗的隔开，也是一个建筑，彰显神的形像。在启示录四章二至三节，坐在宝座上的神显出来的样子好像碧玉。新耶路撒冷的墙和墙的第一根基，都是用碧玉建造的，（启二一18～19，）也同样有神显出来的样子。虽然我们已经经过珍珠门，并且走在精金道上，我还盼望看到我们周围有一道墙建造起来，把一切属神的事物包括在内，把一切属世的事物排除在外，并且彰显神的形像。这道墙是藉著变化建造起来的。（林后三18，罗十二2上，林前三12上。）城墙的材料全是变化过的宝石。（启二一11，18上，19～20。）只有变化过的人才能建造在一起。
26Although we may have the gate of pearl and the street of gold, we do not yet have a wall built up to express the image of God. The wall of the New Jerusalem is not only an erected boundary that separates the holy from the common, but also a building that expresses the image of God. In Revelation 4:2-3, God sitting on the throne has the appearance of jasper. The wall of the New Jerusalem and the first foundation stone of the wall are also built with jasper (Rev. 21:18-19), bearing the same appearance as God. Although we have passed through the gate of pearl and are walking the golden way, I still expect to see around us a wall built up to include all godly things, to exclude all worldly things, and to express the image of God. This wall is built up by the way of transformation (2 Cor. 3:18; Rom. 12:2a; 1 Cor. 3:12a). The materials of the wall are all transformed precious stones (Rev. 21:11, 18a, 19- 20). Only transformed people can be built together
27宝石是从那里来的？宝石乃是变化过的东西。一切的宝石本来都是别的物质。但藉著高压和高温，使牠们变成了宝石。金钢石（出二八18）是碳经过高温和高压而形成的。在极大的压力和高温下，碳变成了金钢石。这些是宝石变化的原则。哦，我们需要烧，我们需要活水的流，我们需要压力！
27Where do precious stones come from? A precious stone is a transformed item. All precious stones originally were of other materials. Some of them were formed into igneous rocks by pressure and heat. Others were formed into sedimentary rocks by pressure and by the flowing of water. All became precious stones. Diamond (Exo. 28:18) is formed out of carbon by heat and pressure. Under extreme pressure and intense heat the carbon becomes a diamond. These are the principles of the transformation of precious stones. Oh, we need the burning, we need the flowing of the living water, and we need the pressure!
28在进入珍珠门，走在精金道上之后，你可能以为，你在每一面都与主是对的了。就著门和街来说，你与主是对的。当你走在精金道上，你可能与主没有问题，但别的难处却发生了。例如，年轻的弟兄可能盼望娶到一位非常好的姊妹，姊妹也盼望嫁给一位优秀的弟兄。然而，结过婚的人能作见证，婚姻一面是享受，一面也造成痛苦。每个丈夫都是妻子痛苦的来源，而每个妻子也是丈夫痛苦的来源。你虽然可以给你的配偶一些享受，但你也给对方一些痛苦。我们尽全力要使我们的配偶快乐，然而，我们也无可避免的使对方受苦。虽然婚姻造成痛苫，但我们不能没有婚姻。我们的婚姻不在自己手里，乃是主宰一切的主照著祂的经纶所安排的。除了婚姻所造成的痛苦之外，我们还有许多别的痛苦。在精金的道上，沿途有许多痛楚和刺人的荆棘。
28After entering the gate of pearl and walking the street of gold, you may think you are right with the Lord in every respect. As far as the gate and the street are concerned, you are right with Him. As you walk the golden way, you may have no problem with the Lord, but other difficulties will arise. For example, as a young brother you may expect to have a very good sister as your wife. Also, the sisters expect to have a fine young brother as their husband. However, married people can testify that while marriage is an enjoyment, it also causes suffering. Each husband is a source of suffering to the wife, and each wife is a source of suffering to the husband. Although you may provide enjoyment for your spouse, you also provide some suffering. We try our best to make our spouses happy, yet we cannot avoid making them suffer. Although marriage is a cause of suffering, we cannot do without marriage. Our marriage is not in our own hands; it is overruled by the sovereign Lord Himself according to His economy. Besides the suffering caused by marriage, there are many other sufferings. Along the golden way are many pains and piercing thorns
29在你的厨房里有许多用具，其中有带著烤箱的炉子。没有炉子和烤箱，很难烹调得恰到好处。就一面意义说，召会是个园子；就另一面意义说，召会也是饭厅和厨房。没有厨房，饭厅是空的。召会这厨房有一个大炉子，里面有许多隔间。在那个炉子里，我们每一个人都有一个地方。我从自己的经历能见证，我们在召会里，为著变化的缘故真是被焚烧。带头的弟兄时常彼此烧来烧去。丈夫烧妻子，妻子烧丈夫。实际上这乃是神的焚烧，为叫我们变化。
29In your kitchen you have many appliances. Among them is a stove with an oven. It is difficult to cook properly without a stove and oven. In one sense, the church is a garden. In another sense, the church is a dining room and a kitchen. Without the kitchen, the dining room is empty. The church kitchen has a big stove with many compartments. There is a place in that stove for every one of us. I can testify from my own experience that in the church we are truly burned for the sake of our transformation. The leading brothers burn one another constantly. The husbands burn the wives, and the wives burn the husbands. This is God’s burning for our transformation
30我们是受造的瓦器。虽然这些器皿有用，但他们的原料是泥土，配不上新耶路撒冷。在新耶路撒冷没有砖头，只有变化过的石头。我们在变化成宝石之前，需要大量的压力、焚烧和生命的涌流。我们经历越多的压力、焚烧和涌流，就变得越贵重。
30We were made earthen vessels. Although these vessels are useful, their material, which is clay, does not match the New Jerusalem. In the New Jerusalem there are no bricks, only transformed stones. We need a great amount of pressure and burning and flowing of life before we can be transformed into precious stones. The more pressure, burning, and flowing we experience, the more precious we become
4 为著神赎民的建造
IV. For the Building of God’s Redeemed People
31保罗警戒我们要用正确的方法建造召会。在基督徒中间的工作，大多不是用金、银或珍珠、宝石，乃是用木、草、禾楷。在豫表上，金表征神圣的性情，木代表我们人的性情。因此，木与金相对。我们特别在犯错的时候，喜欢说我们都是人。但我们不能把人性当作藉口。我们的人性必须是复活的人性，因为天然的人性不适合神召会的建造。召会的建造需要变化过的人性，不是木头的人性。
31Paul warned us to build the church in a proper way. Most of the work among Christians is not with gold, silver or pearl, and precious stone, but with wood, grass, and straw. As gold in typology signifies the divine nature, wood represents our human nature. Thus, wood is versus gold. We are fond of saying that we are all human, especially when we make a mistake. However, we should not make our humanity an excuse. Our humanity must be a resurrected humanity, for the natural humanity is inadequate for the building of God’s church. The building of the church requires a transformed humanity, not a humanity of wood.
32草与银相对。圣经告诉我们，一切的肉体都是草。（赛四十6，彼前一24。）草豫表变成肉体的人。草不像木那样结实，乃是软弱且脆弱的。因此，草代表人堕落的性情。
32Grass is versus silver. The Bible tells us that all flesh is grass (Isa. 40:6; 1 Pet. 1:24). Grass typifies the people having become flesh. Grass is not solid like wood; it is weak and fragile. Thus, grass represents the fallen nature of man
333:12保罗在林前三章十二节所说的最后一项是禾楷。禾楷是作物打下榖粒后所留下的秆或茎。禾楷是出于地的，与宝石这变化过的物质相对。林前三章十二节呈现一个鲜明的对比。木是没有果实的树；禾楷是没有谷粒的作物。我们不该是木或禾楷，这些乃是要被烧掉的物质，对神召会的建造毫无用处。
33The last item that Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians is straw. Straw is the stock or stem of a crop which remains after the grain has been threshed. Straw, which comes out of the ground, is versus the precious stone, which is a transformed substance. First Corinthians 3:12 presents a vivid contrast. Wood is a tree without fruit, and straw is a crop without grain. We should not be wood or straw, materials that will be burned away and that are useless for the building of God’s church.
34为著主的建造，我们需要神圣的金子、重生的珍珠、并变化过的宝石。我们越有这几样，就越容易自然的建造在一起。我们若经历金子、珍珠和宝石，我们就不仅是贵重的材料，并且是联络合式的建造，形成神在我们灵里的居所。（弗二22。）因此，变化乃是为著神的建造。我们需要就这些事祷告并交通，使主能带我们进入变化的实际，来为著祂的建造。
34For the Lord’s building, we need the divine gold, the regenerated pearl, and the transformed precious stones. The more we have of these items, the easier it will be for us to be built together spontaneously. If we experience the gold, pearl, and precious stones, we will not only be the precious materials, but also a building fitly joined together to form a habitation of God in our spirit (Eph. 2:22). Thus, transformation is for God’s building. We need to pray about these matters and fellowship concerning them that the Lord may bring us all into the reality of transformation for His building