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创世记生命读经 · 第22篇

人第二次的堕落（一）

The Second Fall of Man (1)
1我们看过了创世记三章人第一次的堕落，并神对福音的宣告，现在继续来看创世记四章。表面上我们在研读人的堕落，实际上我们所注意的乃是福音。如果没有堕落，也就不会有福音了。人的堕落带进了神的福音。赞美主！在本篇信息里我们来看人进一步的堕落，并神对福音进一步的宣告。
1After seeing man’s first fall and God’s proclamation of the glad tidings as recorded in Genesis 3, we now come to Genesis 4. Apparently we are studying the fall; actually we are considering the glad tidings. If there had been no fall, there would have been no glad tidings. Praise the Lord for the fall! Man’s fall has brought in God’s gospel. In this message we come to a further step of man’s fall and also to a further step in the proclamation of God’s glad tidings
2 第二次的堕落
B. The Second Fall
ａ背景
1. The Background
2在创世记四章的时代，人已经堕落了。（创三6～8，22～24。）但人已经接受了神救恩的应许，（创三15，）并且得著了神救恩的路。（创三21。）神应许亚当，女人的后裔要伤蛇的头;亚当相信了，他的反应就是称他的妻子为『活。』亚当和夏娃本在等待死的宣判。因此，当他们听到福音时，亚当就不称他的妻子为『死，』而称她为『活。』我们在第十九篇信息中曾指出，整个人类都是在死，没有一个是在活。但是人听见并接受神的福音之后，人就活了。阿利路亚，我们是活的！
2At the time of Genesis 4 man had already fallen (Gen. 3:6-8, 22-24). Nevertheless, man had received God’s promise of salvation (3:15) and had obtained God’sway of salvation (3:21). When God promised Adam that the seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent, Adam believed and responded by calling his wife “Living.” Adam and Eve had been awaiting the sentence of death. Thus, when they heard the glad tidings, Adam did not call his wife “Dying,” but “Living.” As we pointed out in message nineteen, the whole human race is dying; no one is living. Nevertheless, after hearing and receiving the gospel of God, man becomes living. Hallelujah, we are living
3虽然在创世记三章二十节，亚当的反应证明他相信了福音，但是那章圣经没有指明夏娃也相信了。然而，创世记四章一节告诉我们，夏娃相信了福音。『有一日，亚当和他妻子夏娃同房，夏娃就怀孕，生了该隐，便说，我已经得著了一个男子，耶和华。』（直译。）夏娃生了一个儿子，给他取名叫该隐，意思是『得著。』虽然该隐这个人是恶的，但他的名字很有意思。当夏娃生他的时候,夏娃宣称『我已经得著了！』她没有得著一栋房子，或若干土地;她得著了一个男子。在她的观念里，该隐是创世记三章十五节所应许女人的后裔。神曾应许夏娃，她的后裔要伤蛇的头，就是那恶者的头。夏娃在创世记四章一节的话证明她相信了那应许，并且期待得著那后裔。当她的第一个男孩出生时，她宣称说，『我已经得著了一个男子，耶和华。』你若认为这译法太大胆，我请你去查希伯来原文圣经;在原文圣经中，创世记四章一节在『男子』和『耶和华』之间没有介词。虽然有些译者加进一个介词，像『从』或『藉，』但根据希伯来原文，没有这个介词。希伯来原文圣经只说，『我得著了一个男子，耶和华。』因此，按照夏娃的领会，创世记四章一节她所生的男孩，乃是三章十五节关于女人后裔之应许的应验。所以她称她的孩子为主，耶和华。
3Although Adam’s response in Genesis 3:20 proves that he believed the gospel, we find no indication in that chapter that Eve also believed. However, Genesis 4:1 tells us that Eve believed the glad tidings. “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bear Cain, and said, I have acquired a man, Jehovah” (Heb.). Eve brought forth a son and called him Cain, which means “acquired.” Although Cain, the person, was evil, his name was very meaningful. When Eve brought him forth, she declared, “I have acquired.” She had not acquired a house or some land; she had acquired a man. According to her concept, Cain was the seed of woman promised in Genesis 3:15. God had promised Eve that her seed would bruise the head of the serpent, the evil one. Eve’swords in Genesis 4:1 prove that she had believed that promise and that she was expecting to have that seed. When her first boy was born, she declared, “I have acquired a man, Jehovah.” If you think that this translation is too bold, I ask you to consult the Hebrew text. In the Hebrew text of Genesis 4:1 there is no preposition between the words “man” and “Jehovah.” Although some translators may add prepositions such as “from” or “with,” there is no such preposition in this part of the Word according to the Hebrew text. The Hebrew text simply reads, “I have acquired a man, Jehovah.” The Concordant Version of Genesis renders it this way in the text, and the New American Standard Version places this translation in the margin. Thus, according to Eve’s understanding, the child she bore in 4:1 was the fulfillment of the promise regarding the seed of the woman in 3:15. Therefore, she called her child Jehovah, the Lord.
4可是，这样的说法是过早了。夏娃实际上并没有生下那男子，耶和华。四千年之后童女马利亚生了一个孩子，祂的名称为全能的神。（赛九6。）那个生在伯利恒马槽里的孩子才是耶和华。祂的名称为耶稣，意思是『耶和华，救主。』（太一21。）虽然夏娃本人没有生下那男子，耶和华，但她却表征那生耶和华的童女马利亚。至终，真正的女人后裔藉著童女马利亚而来。所以耶稣，耶和华，救主，才真是那男子，耶和华。在创世记四章一节，夏娃以为她生的就是这一位。夏娃给她的孩子取名叫该隐，证明她相信了创世记三章十五节神所宣告的福音。虽然需要经过四千年的时间，那男子耶和华，终究藉著童女马利亚而来。
4Such a statement, however, was premature. Eve actually did not bear the man, Jehovah. Four thousand years later the virgin Mary gave birth to a child, and His name was called the mighty God (Isa. 9:6). The child born in the manger at Bethlehem was Jehovah. His name was called Jesus, which means, “Jehovah, the Savior” (Matt. 1:21). Although Eve herself did not give birth to the man, Jehovah, she symbolized the virgin Mary who gave birth to Him. Eventually, the real seed of the woman came through the virgin Mary. Therefore, Jesus, Jehovah, the Savior, is truly the man, Jehovah to whom Eve supposed that she had given birth as mentioned in Genesis 4:1. By giving her child the name Cain, Eve proved that she believed the gospel proclaimed by God in Genesis 3:15. Although four thousand years had to pass, the man, Jehovah eventually came through the virgin Mary
5亚当和夏娃都相信了福音。亚当相信了，称他的妻子为『活;』夏娃相信了，称她的儿子为『得，』以为她已得著神所应许的。亚当和夏娃必然将这福音传给他们的儿女，告诉该隐和亚伯，神如何吩咐他们不可吃知识树，他们如何没有听从神而吃了那树的果子，又如何恐惧战兢等候死的判决，然后神如何来向他们传福音，应许女人的后裔要伤蛇的头。此外，亚当和夏娃也必然告诉孩子们，他们在神面前如何是赤身露体的，神如何杀了羊羔作牺牲，将皮子制成袍子遮盖他们的赤裸，使他们能站立在神面前，与祂有交通。我深信亚当和夏娃必定将这福音传给他们的儿女。在希伯来十一章四节我们可以找到证明，那里说，『亚伯因著信献祭给神，比该隐所献的更美。』按照圣经，信是从听见所传的话来的。（罗十，14。）亚伯既有这样的信，运用这信，并且根据这信献祭给神，他就必定从父母听见了福音的传扬。从那话他得著了信。他没有按照自己的意见或学识献祭，他的献祭并不是他自己的发明。他乃是凭著信，照著他父母所传的话而献祭。
5Both Adam and Eve believed the gospel. Adam believed and called his wife’s name “Living”; Eve believed and called her son “acquired,” thinking that she had acquired what God had promised. Adam and Eve certainly must have preached the gospel to their children, telling Cain and Abel how they had been created by God, how they had been charged by God not to eat of the tree of knowledge, how they had disobeyed God and had eaten of that tree, how they were in fear and trembling as they a waited the sentence of death, and how God came into preach the gospel by promising them that the seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent. Furthermore, Adam and Eve must also have told them how they had stood naked in the presence of God and how God had slain some lambs as sacrifices, using the skins to make robes to cover their nakedness that they could stand before God and have fellowship with Him. I am convinced that Adam and Eve preached this gospel to their children. Evidence of this is found in Hebrews 11:4 which says, “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain.” According to the Bible, faith comes from hearing the word that is preached (Rom. 10:17, 14). Since Abel had 17 such faith, exercised this faith, and offered a sacrifice to God in accordance with this faith, he must have heard the preaching of the glad tidings from his parents. Out of that word he received faith. He did not present his sacrifice according to his own opinion or learning, and his offering was not his own invention. He presented his offering by faith according to the words preached by his parents.
父亲亚当，母亲夏娃，和第二个儿子亚
6伯，都相信了福音。我们这些得救的人不是长子。长子灭亡了，（出十二29，）次子因相信而得救。我们相信的人都是第二个儿子。赞美主，我们是第二个男孩，第二个孩子！亚当是好父亲，领头相信福音。我希望所有读本篇信息的父亲都是领头相信福音的。夏娃是好妻子、好母亲，也是相信的人，跟随她那相信的丈夫，为她的孩子开了相信的路。所以在创世记四章我们有相信的父亲，相信的母亲，和一个相信的孩子。看看这个家庭－他们都相信同一个福音。有人曾问我亚当夏娃是否得救，我说，『为甚么不得救？如果你是得救的，他们自然也是得救的！事实上，他们得救比你早多了。』亚当和夏娃是相信福音的开拓者。亚当开路，夏娃铺路，亚伯走在这路上。现在我们是亚伯的跟随者。我盼望每个父亲都是亚当，每个母亲都是夏娃，所有的儿女都是亚伯。地上第一个家庭是一个福音的家庭，信徒的家庭。
6The father, Adam, the mother, Eve, and the second child, Abel, believed the gospel. We, the saved ones, are not the firstborn. The firstborn perished (Exo. 12:29), and the second born were saved by believing. We who believe are the second child. Praise the Lord that we are the second boys, the second children. Adam was a good father, taking the lead in believing the gospel. I hope that all the fathers reading this message will be leaders in believing the gospel. Eve, a good wife and mother, was also a believer, following her believing husband and opening the way for her child to believe. Therefore, in Genesis 4 we have a believing father, a believing mother, and a believing child. Look at this family—they all believed in the same gospel. When people have asked me if Adam and Eve were saved, I have said, “Why not? If you are saved, then certainly they were saved as well. In fact, they were saved much earlier than you were.” Adam and Eve were pioneers in believing the gospel. Adam cut the way, Eve paved the way, and Abel walked on the way. Now we are followers of Abel. I wish that every father would be an Adam, every mother an Eve, and all the children Abels. The first family on the earth was a gospel family, a family of believers
7亚伯自己是个特殊的信徒。也许你
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8多年读圣经，还未注意过亚伯的职业。他是一个『牧羊的。』（创四2。）在亚伯的时候人不吃羊，在洪水以前人只准吃蔬菜。（创一。）乃是到洪水之后，神才命定人吃蔬菜，也可以吃肉。（创九3。）所以亚伯牧羊不是为求食物得生存。似乎该隐聪明多了;他比亚伯实际，他是『种地的。』（创四2。）该隐也许曾对他的兄弟说，『亚伯，你所作的不实际。养羊有甚么用？看我所作的，我在种地，因为地能出产我养生的食物。你怎能单单靠牧羊谋生呢？你所能得到的不过是遮身的皮，但你没有养生的。』我们若进入创世记四章二节的思想，就会看到亚伯工作不是为著他的生活，乃是为著神的满足。亚伯并不关心他自己的满足;他关心神的满足。该隐刚好相反，他不关心神的满足，只关心为自己谋生。
8Abel himself was an extraordinary believer. Although you have read the Bible for years, perhaps you have never noticed Abel’s occupation. He was a “feeder of sheep” (Gen. 4:2, Heb.). During Abel’st i me sheep were of no use for man’seating, since, before the flood, man was only 29 permitted to eat vegetables (Gen. 1:29). Only after the flood did God ordain that man eat meat as well as herbs (Gen. 9:3). Therefore, as Abel was feeding the sheep he was not working for food to live on. It seems that Cain was more clever; he was more practical than Abel and “was a server of the ground” (Gen. 4:2, Heb.). Cain might have said to his brother, “A bel, what you are doing is impractical. What is the use of raising sheep? Look at what I’m doing. I am serving the land because the land will produce food for my living. How can you earn a living simply by feeding sheep? All you can get is the skin to cover you, but you have nothing to live on.” If we enter into the thought of Genesis 4:2, we shall see that Abel was not working for his living, but for God’s satisfaction. Abel did not care about his own satisfaction; he cared for God’s. Cain, on the contrary, did not care for God’s satisfaction; he only cared for earning a living for himself.
创世记四章二节告诉我们两个肉身
9的兄弟：头一个种地，第二个牧羊。地为人出产食物，羊主要是为著献祭给神。因此我们看见该隐服事地，亚伯服事神。我有一个问题要问大家：你们是在牧羊呢，还是在服事地（世界）？我们若为主而活，我们所作的每件事就都是牧羊。然而，我们若不服事主，我们所作的每件事就都是服事地。人只有两类－服事世界的人和为神牧羊的人。你是那一类？所有属世的人都殷勤热诚的服事地，全然没有顾到神。所有堕落的人都是服事地的人，都是地的奴仆。你是不是这样一个服事的人？这样一个奴仆？那些服事地的人以为我们这些为神牧羊的人是疯狂的。当他们知道我们不断的聚会，读圣经，彼此交通，唱诗赞美主，他们会希奇我们到底是那一种的人。我们是牧羊的。白天黑夜我们都在牧羊。不要说你在教书，在作事业;你乃是在为神牧羊。我们是亚伯，是一班关心为神牧羊过于仅仅谋生的人。不要说召会中领头的弟兄才是牧羊的，其他的弟兄姊妹必须顾到他们的职业、行业和事业。表面上你是在你的职位上工作，或在学校里求学;实际上你是为神牧羊的。你的职业或学业是其次，牧羊是首要的。我们生活的主要方面是顾到神的满足。我们不是服事地的，乃是为神牧羊的。
9Genesis 4:2 tells us of two flesh brothers: the first served the ground, and the second fed the sheep. The earth produced food for man, while the sheep were used primarily as offerings for God. Thus, we see that Cain served the earth and Abel served God. I have a question to address to all who are reading this message: Are you feeding the sheep or are you serving the earth, the world? If we are living for the Lord, everything we do is feeding the sheep. However, if we do not serve the Lord, everything we do is serving the earth. There are only two categories of people — the servers of the world and the feeders of sheep for God. What are you? All the worldly people serve the earth diligently and earnestly, not caring at all for God. All fallen human beings are servers of the ground and are slaves to the earth. Are you such a server, such a slave? The people who serve the earth think that we, the feeders of sheep for God, are crazy. When they learn that we meet continually, when they see us reading the Bible and fellowshipping with one another, when they hear us singing and praising the Lord all the time they wonder what kind of people we are. We are sheep feeders. Day and night we are feeding the sheep. Do not say that you teach school or work at your business. You are feeding sheep for God. We are Abels, people who are more concerned with feeding the sheep for God than with merely earning a living. Do not say that the leading brothers in the church are the only ones who feed the sheep and that the other brothers and sisters must care for their employment, profession, and business. Apparently, you are working at your job or studying in school; actually you are feeding the sheep for God. Your employment or education is secondary; feeding the sheep is primary. The main aspect of our living is caring for God’s satisfaction. We are not servers of the earth; we are feeders of the sheep for God.
亚伯牧羊只有一个目的，就是供应祭物
10给神。因此，亚伯是绝对事奉神的。你所作的每一件事，都该是为著事奉神。你不该为著任何别的理由来作任何事。我们是事奉神的，是牧羊的，叫我们可以有祭物献给神。每一件事都必须为著这个目的。因为亚伯是这样的一个人，他是一个特殊的信徒。他不仅相信福音，他更实行福音，并为福音活著。
10Abel fed the sheep with the sole purpose of providing offerings for God. Thus, Abel served God absolutely. Everything you do should be for the purpose of serving God. You should not do anything for any other reason. We are serving God, feeding the sheep that we may have offerings to present to Him. Everything must be for this purpose. Since Abel was such a person, he was an extraordinary believer. He not only believed in the gospel, but practiced the gospel and lived for it
当夏娃生该隐的时候，她很兴奋并宣告
11说，『我得著了一个男子，耶和华。』也许隔了不久她失望了，说，『那不是耶和华，那不过是个顽皮的孩子。』不仅如此，该隐不听她的话。所以，当夏娃生第二个儿子的时候，就称他亚伯，意思是『虚空，』像一口气的消逝。当她生第一个孩子的时候，她极其兴奋的喊说，『我得著了;』当她生第二个孩子时，她失望的说，『虚空。』当亚伯出生的时候，夏娃仅仅说，『这是虚空。』这里的思想很有意义。我们是虚空的，但我们是牧羊的。我们没有甚么，也不是甚么，但我们是为神牧羊的。当人问到我的职业时，我觉得很难回答。很多次我回答说，『我很难说，一面说我算不得甚么，另一面说我很了不起。』一面说我算不得甚么，我是虚空;另一面说我是了不起的人，在作了不起的事，就是为神牧羊。没有一件事比为神牧羊更了不起。这就是亚伯。我们生来是虚空的人。我们若不为神牧羊，凡我们所是和所作的就都是『虚空的虚空。』（传一2。）赞美主，在虚空之中我们都在牧羊来满足神。因此我们不再是虚空;我们正在作一件了不起的工作来满足神。
11When Eve gave birth to Cain she was excited and declared, “I have acquired a man, Jehovah.” Probably after not too long a times he was disappointed and said, “That was not Jehovah. That was just a naughty boy.” Furthermore, Cain did not hearken to her word. Therefore, when Eve gave birth to a second boy, she named him Abel, which means “vanity,” like the vanishing of a breath. At the birth of the first child she was enthusiastic and shouted, “I have acquired”; at the birth of the second she was disappointed and said, “vanity.” When Abel was born Eve merely said, “It is vanity.” The thought here is very significant. We are vanity; yet we are feeders of the sheep. We are nothing and nobodies, but we are feeders of the sheep for God. I find it difficult to answer people when they ask me about my profession. A number of times I have replied, “It is hard for me to say. In a sense I am nobody. In another sense I am wonderful.” On the one hand I am nobody, vanity; on the other hand I am a wonderful person doing the wonderful job of feeding the sheep for God. Nothing is more wonderful than the work of feeding the sheep for God. This is Abel. By birth we are people of vanity. If we do not feed the sheep for God, all that we are and do is “vanity of vanities” (Eccl. 1:2). Praise the Lord that in the midst of vanities we are feeding sheep for God’s satisfaction. Hence, we are no longer vanity; we are doing a wonderful work for satisfying God.
ｂ原因
2. The Cause
12在创世记四章我们看见两种榜样。
12
13亚伯乃是相信福音，实行福音，且为福音活著的绝佳榜样。该隐，人类第二代的长子，却是继续堕落，并偏离神救恩的路的榜样。在亚当和夏娃身上主要有两件事：他们所引起的堕落，以及他们所接受并传扬的福音。亚当和夏娃是得救的，他们也将救恩的话传给第二代。我们也必须把这些事分享给我们自己的儿女，告诉他们人类堕落悲惨的故事，并向他们宣扬神救恩的好消息。该隐没有跟随神救恩的路，却继续堕落。他的生活乃是人类堕落的延续和加深。所以我们可以说，在该隐身上，人类经历了第二次的堕落。他的父母引起了第一次堕落，他继续下去，产生了第二次的堕落。
13In Genesis 4 we see two kinds of examples. Abel was an excellent example of believing the gospel, practicing the gospel, and living for the gospel. Cain, the firstborn of the second human generation, was an example of continuing the fall and of turning from God’sway of salvation. With Adam and Eve there were two main matters: the fall which they caused and the gospel which they received and preached. Adam and Eve were saved, and they passed on the word of salvation to the following generation. We also must share these things with our own children, telling them the sad story of man’s fall and proclaiming to them the good news of God’ss alvation. Cain did not follow the way of God’ss alvation, but continued the fall. His life was a continuance and a furtherance of man’s fall. Therefore, we may say that with Cain mankind experienced a second fall. His parents caused the first fall; he continued it and brought about the second
在这里我要说一句警告的话:绝不要继
14续堕落。我们必须从堕落中分别出来，对堕落说，『堕落，我不跟你合作，离开我。我绝不容许你延续，我要奔向神的救恩。』该隐延续了人类的堕落，亚伯却追求神救恩的路。今天我们面对同样的选择。你愿意留在堕落里并继续下去呢，还是愿意走向神来得救恩？我们不应该这样愚昧去延续堕落，我们必须接受神为著我们救恩的豫备。然而该隐却是愚笨的，留在堕落里，实际上还煽动了堕落的发展。
14Here I would speak a word of warning: Never continue the fall. We must separate ourselves from the fall and say to it, “Fall, I refuse to cooperate with you. Stay away from me. I will not allow you to continue. I will run to God’ss alvation.” Cain perpetuated man’s fall, but Abel pursued God’sway of salvation. The same choice confronts us today. Do you want to remain in the fall and continue it or will you go to God for salvation? We should not be so unwise as to continue the fall. We must accept God’spr o vision for our salvation. Nevertheless, Cain was foolish, remaining in the fall and actually abetting its development
（一） 魔鬼的得著
a. The Devil’s Gain
我们需要知道人第二次堕落的原
15因。该隐继续堕落的一个原因是魔鬼在里面得著了他。表面上是该隐拒绝了神的福音，实际上是撒但阻止他走上神救恩的路。撒但知道该隐若接受了福音，他就无法得著他。因此他狡猾的使该隐用自己的作法来敬拜神。藉此他把该隐握在手里，并使他进一步堕落。因此，人第二次的堕落是那狡猾者所煽动的，他得著了该隐，并且在他里面作工。
15We need to understand the cause of man’s second fall. One reason for Cain’s continuing the fall was that the Devil had gained him inwardly. Apparently it was Cain that rejected God’s glad tidings; actually it was Satan that kept him from God’sway of salvation. Satan knew that if Cain had received the glad tidings he would have had no way to gain him. Hence, he subtly caused Cain to take his own way of worshipping God. By this means he kept Cain in his hand and even caused him to fall further. Thus, the second fall of man was instigated by the subtle one who had gained Cain and worked within him
（二） 人妄自弃绝神救恩的路
在创世记第四章的时候，魔鬼已经
b. Man’s Presumption in Forsaking God’sWay of Salvation
16将自己注入到人里面，神也将祂救恩的路告诉了人。然而该隐却妄自弃绝神救恩的路。这就是说，他跟从了魔鬼,将神的旨意摆在一边。这是第二次堕落进一步的原因。该隐不在意神的话，神的福音，他也不听父母所传的。我再说，我确信他的父母曾将福音传给他和他的兄弟，告诉他们需要那牺牲羊羔的皮所造的来遮身。我相信这是亚伯愿意作牧羊人的原因。然而该隐不理会这个，妄自弃绝神的路，发明了他自己的路。
16At the time of Genesis 4 the Devil had already injected himself into man, and God had shown man His way of salvation. However, Cain was presumptuous in that he forsook God’sway of salvation. This means that he followed the Devil and put aside God’s will. This was a further cause of the second fall. Cain did not care for God’sWord, for God’s gospel, and he did not hearken to the preaching of his parents. Once again I say that I strongly believe that his parents preached the gospel to him and his brother, telling them of their need for coverings made from the skins of the sacrificial lambs. I believe that this accounts for Abel’s desire to be a feeder of the sheep. However, Cain had no regard for this, presumptuously forsaking God’sway and inventing his own
ｃ过程
3. The Process
（一） 人妄自献
『地里的出产』给神该隐自以为是，照自己的观念来事
a. Man’s Presumption in Offering the Fruit of the Ground” to God
17奉神。『该隐拿地里的出产为供物献给耶和华。』（创四3。）该隐照自己的意见来事奉神，他发明了人意的宗教。在创世记三章没有一个字说到将地的出产献给神。神是要一个流血的祭来满足祂公义的要求，并且要那牺牲羊羔的皮来遮盖堕落赤裸的人。当亚当和夏娃发现他们赤身露体，就用无花果树叶子作裙子遮盖自己，但神不承认那种遮盖。神杀了一些羊羔作赎罪祭，并用这些羊羔的皮制成袍子遮盖男人和女人。我们看过，亚当和夏娃必定将这事告诉过该隐和亚伯，亚伯接受了他们的话，并照著去行。然而该隐认为他自己更聪明，不理神所关切的，拒绝接受神的路。他没有顺从神的福音，却发明了他自己的路，就是照他自己的观念而有的宗教。谁告诉他将地里的出产献上呢？是他被那狡猾者所鼓动，自己告诉自己的。这作法源于他自己的心思。
17Cain was presumptuous and served God according to his own concept. “Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord” (Gen. 4:3). Cain served God according to his opinion. He invented a religion of man’s concept. There is not a word in Genesis 3 about offering the fruit of the ground to God. God cares for a sacrifice in which the blood is shed to meet the requirement of God’s righteousness and He cares for the skins of the sacrificial lambs that can cover fallen, naked persons. When Adam and Eve discovered that they were naked, they covered themselves with skirts made of fig leaves, but God had no regard for that kind of covering. God slew some lambs for sin offerings and from the skins of those lambs He made robes to cover the man and the woman. We have seen that Adam and Eve must have told Cain and Abel about this and that Abel received their word and acted on it. However, Cain considered himself more clever and disregarded God’s concern, refusing to take His way. He did not obey God’s gospel, but invented his own way, a religion according to his own concept. Who told him to offer of the fruit of the ground? He told himself, being motivated by the subtle one. This practice originated with his own mind.
经过这些世纪和世代，该隐有无数的跟
18从者，就是在任何地方和时间，那些发明他们自己宗教的人。他们不是教导人犯罪，乃是教导人事奉神，敬拜神。在他们的自以为是里，他们妄自认为自己是在事奉神。他们说，『这样事奉神有甚么不对？我们不是在赌博、偷窃、或杀人，我们是在事奉神。』然而我要对他们说，『你们事奉神是照著你们的观念。最后，你们没有事奉神，只是事奉自己。你们事奉你们自己的观念，并没有顾到神的满足。神不是你们的神；你们的观念，你们的头脑才是你们的神。
18Throughout the centuries and the generations there have been countless followers of Cain, people in every place and time who have invented their own religion. They did not teach people to sin, but to serve God and worship Him. In their presumption these people think that they are serving God. They say, “What is wrong with serving God in this way? We are not gambling, stealing, or killing. We are serving God.” Nevertheless, I would say to them, “You serve God according to your concept. Ultimately, you do not serve God, you serve yourself. You serve your own concept and you do not care for God’s satisfaction. God is not your God; your concept, your mentality, is your God
我年轻的时候读创世记四章曾有一个
19问题。你们若匆促的读这段圣经，就可能有同样的问题。我说，『神不公平。两兄弟都献供物给神，该隐献的供物有甚么错？他不是在赌博或偷窃，他很虔诚。他若不虔𫍯，就不会来献供物。他在地上劳苦作工，等到有了出产，就留下一些献给神。那不是很好么？神怎能定罪他这样作呢？』然而圣经说，『（神）只是不看该隐和他的供物。』（创四5，直译。）神好像对该隐说，『该隐，你作了一些虔诚的事，但我连看也不看一眼，这不是对我的事奉。你在事奉你自己的观念。我一点也不在乎你的供物。』当我年轻的时候，我无法领会，神为甚么这样反应：看重亚伯的供物而拒绝该隐的。我认为神是不公平的。
19If you read Genesis 4 hastily, you may have the same problem that I had when I read this portion of the Word as a young man. I said, “God is not fair. Both brothers presented an offering to God. What was wrong with Cain’s offering? He wasn’t gambling or stealing. He was religious. If he had not been religious, he wouldn’th ave presented an offering. He labored on the ground until it produced fruit and then he preserved some of that fruit as an offering to God. Wasn’tt hat good? How could God condemn him for doing that?” However, the Bible says, “But upon Cain and on his offering He did not look” (Gen. 4:5, Heb.). God seemed to say to Cain, “Cain, you did something religious, but I will not even look at it. This is not a service to Me. You are serving your own concept. I don’t care at all for your offering.” When I was young I could not understand why God reacted in this way, respecting Abel’s offering and rejecting Cain’s. I thought that God was unfair
等到年岁稍长，我开始明白，虽然
20该隐献供物给神，他并不照神的作法，只照他自己的意见。他根据自己的观念和喜好，发明了一套新的敬拜神的作法。在今天的基督教里，有许多新发明的敬拜神的作法;这样的发明全是自以为是。该隐天然的所是已经不再是纯净的，虽然亚当被神创造的时候是纯净的，但因著堕落，撒但那恶者已将他自己注入人里面。所以无论何时人凭自己行动，就是与魔鬼联合。因此，人不该凭自己行动，乃该拒绝自己并倚靠神。我必须不断的领会自己是个堕落的人，撒但是在我的里面，在我的本性里，在我的思想、喜好和意志里。撒但与我完全是一。我不敢凭自己、运用己作甚么。我必须说，『主，我把我自己摆在一边，我信靠你。主，你来领头，你来发动。主，我要跟随你，接受你的路。』我们不但是有罪的，我们的己更成了魔鬼的，因为撒但就在我们里面。凡我们照本性所想出来的，实际上都是魔鬼的发明。该隐同今天无数的人，都没有认识这点。他认为只要他为神作事，事奉神，并且敬拜神，凡事就都是好的。不要这样想。你必须认识你的立场，你的所是。我们是堕落的人，我们与魔鬼是一，他不但在我们四周，在我们上面,更在我们里面，在我们的本性、心思、情感和意志里。无论何时你生气，撒但就在那里。无论何时你自己动情感，撒但就在你里面活跃了。不要说只是你一个人在这样行，因为撒但与你在一起，就在你里面。不但在你作坏事的时候是这样，甚至在你作好事的时候也是一样。当该隐将地里的出产作供物献给神的时候，撒但也牵连在他的行动里。在该隐里撒但献供物给神。这就是神不看这供物的原因。神好像说，『该隐，你的供物是邪恶的，这对我是侮辱。这在我眼中是可憎的，我不接受这供物。』
20As the years went by I came to realize that although Cain presented an offering to God, he did not present it according to God’sway, but according to his own idea. Out of his own concept and desire he invented a new way of worshipping God. In today’s Christianity there are many new inventions for worshipping God. All such inventions are presumptuous. According to his natural being, Cain was no longer pure. Although Adam was pure when created by God, as a result of the fall Satan, the evil one, injected himself into man. Therefore, whenever man acts by himself he is in union with the Devil. Thus, man should not act on his own, but should reject himself and depend on God. I must continually realize that I am a fallen person and that Satan is within me, in my nature, in my thought, desire, and will. Satan is altogether one with me. I dare not exercise myself in acting on my own. I must say, “Lord, I cast myself aside and I put my trust in You. Lord, You take the lead. You take the initiative. Lord, I want to follow You and take Your way.” We are not merely sinful, but our very self has become devilish because Satan is in us. Everything we devise according to our nature is actually an invention of the Devil. Cain, along with numerous people today, did not realize this. He thought that as long as he did something for God, serving Him and worshipping Him, everything was fine. Do not think this way. You must realize where you stand and what you are. As fallen people, we are one with the Devil. He is not only around us and over us, but also within us, in our nature, in our mind, emotion, and will. Whenever you lose your temper Satan is present. Whenever you exercise your emotions by yourself, Satan is active in you. Do not say that it is only you who behave in such a way, for Satan is with you and in you. This is not only true in evil things, but even in good things. When Cain presented the fruit of the ground as an offering to God, Satan was involved in his activity. In Cain Satan presented an offering to God. That was the reason that God refused to look at it. God seemed to say, “Cain, your offering is evil. It is an insult to Me.
（二） 人的怒气
21当该隐知道神不看他的供物时，『就
21It is an abomination in My eyes. I refuse to accept it
b. Man’sAng er
22大大的发怒，脸色下沉。』（创四，直译。）今天的宗教徒也是这样。你若不称许他们的工作，他们就会向你发怒，说，『我们不是在事奉神么？你为甚么不赞同我？』当他们看见别人照神的路事奉神，并且因而得著神的看重，他们会更加暴怒。该隐是这事的带头人。你若照亚伯的作法，就是照神的作法事奉神，那些所谓的宗教徒就会向你发怒，说，『你不认为我们也在事奉神么？为甚么神接受你们，却不接
22When he learned that God did not look upon his offering, “Cain was very wroth, and his countenance 5 fell” (Gen. 4:5). It is the same among religious people today. If you fail to appreciate their works, they will be angry with you and say, “A re we not serving God? Why don’ty ou agree with me?” When religious people see others serving God in His way and thus gaining His respect, they will be even more furious. Cain was the leader in this. If you serve God, following the way of Abel, meaning that you follow God’sway, the so-called religious people will be angry with you and say, “Don’ty ou think that we also are serving God? Why should
23受我们？』我们常听到这些话。我
23
24请你要小心。虽然你在事奉神，到底你用谁的作法事奉神？用你的还是用祂的？你事奉神是照神的启示呢，还是照你的观念和发明？仅仅说你在事奉神是不彀的，还必须定规你事奉神的作法。你是照著祂的话事奉呢，还是照著你自己的意见？无论如何神还是怜悯该隐，还对他说
24God accept you and not us?” We have heard these words quite often. I ask you to be careful. Although you are serving God, in whose way are you serving Him— in yours or in His? Do you serve God according to His revelation or according to your concept and invention? Simply to say that you are serving God is inadequate. You must determine the way in which you are serving Him. Is your service according to God’s Word or according to your own ideas?
话，该隐既不祷告神，也不求问祂说，
25『神阿，我甚么地方有错？』虽然他没有祷告，满有怜悯的神还是到他面前，对他说话。『耶和华对该隐说，你为甚么发怒呢？你的脸色为甚么下沉呢？』（创四6，直译。）神是问该隐为甚么这样发怒，为甚么脸色下沉。凡是跟随神的路的人，脸都是仰起来的。他们仰起脸来，说，『赞美主！阿们，阿利路亚，耶稣是主！』在创世记四章七节，神对该隐说，『你若行得好，岂不蒙悦纳？』这句话按原文也可译为：『你若行得好，你的脸岂不仰起来么？』我们若在神的路上，我们的脸必要仰起来。虽然许多宗教徒事奉神并敬拜神，神却不看他们。结果他们就发怒，说，『我不是在事奉神么？我不是为祂作了许多事么？』这些怒气的话指明他们的脸色是下沉的。当该隐发怒时，神似乎对他说，『该隐，你无须发怒。你是个罪人。难道你没有从你父母听到福音？我有我的路。你为甚么变成脸色下沉的人呢？你所以变成这样，因为你弃绝了我的路。你没有听你父母所传的，你没有相信福音。你若接受我的路，并相信福音，你的脸就要仰起来。该隐，现在还不太迟。但是要注意，你若这样下去，罪就蹲伏在门口要吞吃你。』在创世记四章七节神给该隐一个警告：
25God, however, was merciful toward Cain and still talked to him. Cain did not pray to God nor ask Him, “God, what is wrong with me?” Although he did not pray, God, who is rich in mercy, came to him and spoke with him. “ And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?” (Gen. 4:6). God was asking Cain why he was so angry and why his countenance had fallen. The people who follow God’sway all have an uplifted countenance. They lift up their countenance and say, “Praise the Lord! Amen, hallelujah. Jesus is Lord!” According to the King James Version, God said to Cain, “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?” The Hebrew may also be rendered, “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?” If we are in God’sway, our countenance will be lifted up. Although many religious people serve God and worship Him, God does not look at them. They become angry as a result, saying, “Am I not serving God? Am I not doing many things for Him?” Such angry words are indicators of a fallen countenance. When Cain was angry God seemed to say to him, “Cain, you don’t need to be angry. You are a sinner. Haven’ty ou heard the glad tidings from your parents? I have My way. Why have you become a person with a fallen countenance? You are like this because you have forsaken My way, because you have not listened to the preaching of your parents, and because you have not believed the gospel. If you take My way and believe the gospel, your face will be lifted up. Cain, it is still not too late. But be careful. If you go on this way, sin is crouching at the door seeking to devour you
『你若行得不好，罪就蹲伏在你门
26口。』（直译。）本节下半不容易繙译。钦定英文译本译为：『他的喜悦是在于你，你却要制伏他。』其他译本将两个代名词『他』译为『牠，』意思是罪的喜悦是向著你，而你必须胜过罪。钦定英文译本译作『他』是对的。这节中的『他』究竟是谁呢？答案在约翰八章四十四节和约翰一书三章十二节。有这些经节的帮助，我们就知道创世记四章七节的『他』乃是指魔鬼。因此，神告诉该隐，罪蹲伏在门口；而他的喜悦，就是撒但的喜悦，乃是要得著该隐，该隐必须胜过他。罪和撒但是一。要小心！你若拒绝神救恩的路，罪就蹲伏在门口要得著你。罪的喜悦，就是撒但的喜悦，要得著你，你必须胜过他。胜过撒但最好的路是逃开你自己的观念，躲到神的救恩里。神的救恩是耶稣作祭物。耶稣为我们的罪流血，并将祂自己给我们作义，遮盖我们的赤身。这是我们逃开撒但，逃避蹲伏在我们门口之罪的路。你们任何一位若读了本篇信息而不接受耶稣作你的救主，我必须告诉你，罪就蹲伏在你的门口，像一只饿兽等待机会来抓著你，把你吞吃。这个罪就是撒但，那狡猾者，那说谎者，以及那从起初就杀人的。
26In Genesis 4:7 God gave Cain a warning. “A nd if thou doest not well, sin is crouching at the door” (Heb.). The latter part of this verse is difficult to translate. The King James Version says, “And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.” Other versions render the pronouns “his” and “him” as “its” and “it,” meaning that sin’s desire is for you and that you must overcome it. The King James Version is correct, using the pronouns “his” and “him.” Who is the “him” mentioned in this verse? The answer is found in John 8:44 and 1 John 3:12. With the help of these verses we can realize that the “him” in Genesis 4:7 is the Devil. Hence, God was telling Cain that sin was crouching at the door and that his desire, meaning Satan’s desire, was for him, and that Cain had to overcome him. Sin and Satan are one. Be careful! If you reject God’sway of salvation, sin is crouching at the door to get you. Sin’s desire, that is, Satan’s desire, is for you, and you must overcome him. The best way to overcome Satan is to flee from your own concept and hide in God’ss alvation. God’ss alvation is Jesus as the sacrifice. Jesus shed His blood for our sins and has given Himself to us as righteousness to cover our nakedness. This is the way for us to flee from Satan and to escape the sin which is crouching at our door. If any one of you reading this message will not take Jesus as your Savior, I must tell you that sin is crouching at your door like a ravenous beast, waiting for the opportunity to seize and devour you. This sin is Satan, the subtle one, the liar, the
（三） 杀弟兄
one who was a murderer from the beginning
『该隐与他兄弟亚伯说话，二人正在田间，该隐起来打他兄弟亚伯，
c. Man’s Murder of His Brother
27把他杀了。』（创四8。）我们把这处圣经与约翰八章四十四节比较，就知道该隐并不是惟一杀人的；撤但也是杀人的。在那里主耶稣说到魔鬼：『他从起初就是杀人的。』虽然是该隐杀了亚伯，却是撒但在该隐谋杀的行动里杀了人。因为该隐拒绝了神的路和神的警告，他就被撒但那杀人者捉住，与撒但一同成了杀人的。因此，两个杀人犯都犯了同一的罪。因著杀了他的兄弟，该隐就完全被魔鬼占有，因为魔鬼藉著该隐的手，和他的合作，杀了亚伯。该隐轻视他父母所传的福音，又摒弃了神的警告，因此他被撒但推动，照著自己的发明事奉神，至终完全被撒但占有，成了杀人犯。那是人第二次的堕落。人第二次的堕落开始于人发明了宗
27And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him” (Gen. 4:8). When we compare this verse with John 8:44, we learn that Cain was not the only murderer; Satan was the murderer as well. In that passage the Lord Jesus spoke of the Devil, saying, “He was a murderer from the beginning.” Although Abel was slain by Cain, Satan committed murder in Cain’s act of murder. Because Cain had rejected God’sway and God’s warning, he was caught by Satan, the murderer, and became a murderer with Satan. Hence, two murderers committed the same crime. By murdering his brother Cain became completely possessed by the Devil, for the Devil murdered Abel by Cain’s hand and with his cooperation. Cain disdained his parents’ preaching and he discarded God’s warning. Thus, he, motivated by Satan, served God according to his own invention and eventually was totally possessed by Satan and became a murderer. That was the second fall of man
28教。这次的堕落不是开始于偷窃，
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29乃是开始于照著人的观念敬拜神。照著人造的宗教敬拜神，并不能拯救人脱离第一次的堕落，反而使堕落延续。第二次的堕落开始于自造的宗教，完成于一次杀人的行动。你相信宗教徒可能杀人么？你若去读历史，会发现罗马天主教杀害真基督徒，比罗马帝国杀害的还要多。成千成万的基督徒被罗马帝国所杀，而罗马天主教继续这迫害，杀死了更多的真信徒。你若想在西班牙或葡萄牙作一个单纯、真正的基督徒，就得小心，因为那里的宗教徒可能要取你的命。人类的宗教总是如此：开始于事奉神，结束于杀人。这正符合主耶稣在约翰十六章二节所说的话：『时候将到，凡杀你们的，就以为是事奉神。』甚么是人第一次的堕落？人第一次
29The second fall of man began with man’s in vent i on of religion. It did not begin with stealing; it began with worshipping God according to the human concept. Worshipping God according to a man made religion was not a rescue from the first fall, but a continuation of it. The second fall, which began with a self - made religion, was completed by an act of murder. Do you believe that it is possible for religious people to commit murder? If you read history you will discover that the Roman Catholic Church has killed more genuine Christians than the Roman Empire. Thousands of Christians were killed by the Roman Empire, and the Roman Catholic Church continued this persecution, killing even more genuine believers. If you attempt to be a pure and genuine Christian in Portugal or Spain, you will need to be careful, for the religious people there might attempt to take your life. Human religion is always like this: it begins by serving God and it ends by killing people. This exactly corresponds to the word of the Lord Jesus in John 16:2: “An hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think that he is offering service to God.”
的堕落是人接受神以外的东西到自
30己里面。人并没有作甚么恶事；只是将神以外的元素吸收到自己里面。甚么是人第二次的堕落？人第二次的堕落是发明了宗教，结果有了杀人的行动。人第二次堕落的发生是由于人的自以为是。自以为是的意思，就是人不顾到神的经纶，不顾到神的路，只顾到他自己的喜好和观念。当人拒绝跟从神的路，反去发明自己的宗教，至终他就成了杀神百姓的人。那就是人第二次的堕落。把堕落弄清楚，对我们很有帮助，
30What was the first fall of man? The first fall of man was man’st a king into himself something other than God. Man did not do anything evil; he simply absorbed into himself an element other than God. What was man’s second fall? The second fall of man was the invention of religion which resulted in an act of murder. The second fall occurred because of man’s presumption. Presumption means that man does not care for God’secon o my, for God’sway, but that he only cares for his own desires and concepts. When man refused to follow God’sway, inventing instead his own religion, he eventually became a murderer of God’sp eople. That was the second fall of man
31因为这叫我们更能看见神的救恩。
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32我希望本篇信息的读者，没有一个会变成该隐，我们都应该是义人亚伯。让我们都像亚伯，相信福音，实行福音，并且为福音活著。
32It is very helpful to be clear about the fall, for, as a result, we can see more of God’ss alvation. I hope that no one reading this message will become a Cain. We all should be righteous Abels. Let us all be like Abel, believing the gospel, practicing the gospel, and living for the gospel