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创世记生命读经 · 第23篇

该隐与亚伯

Cain and Abel
1段插进来的话。我们需要多看一些该中，我们曾数次指出，在创世记头三章里，几乎每一项目都是一粒种子，要在圣经以后各卷，特别在新约中发展。该隐和亚伯的事例也是这样。按照神圣话语的启示，这两个兄弟该被视为撒在创世记四章两粒重要的种子。这可由新约题到该隐，也题到亚伯，得著证明。（犹11，约壹三12，太二三35，来十一4，十二24。）主耶稣在约翰八章四十四节说到魔鬼『从起初就是杀人的，』就是隐指该隐说的。在前一篇信息，我们看见该隐与魔鬼成为一，所以该隐与魔鬼都是杀害亚伯的凶手。在约翰八章四十四节，主耶稣也说，魔鬼是说谎的。『他说谎是出于他自己的私有物，因他是说谎的，也是说谎者的父。』我信这话也是隐指该隐，说到神向该隐问他兄弟亚伯的事时，该隐向神所说的谎。（创四9。）该隐在神面前说谎。因此，他不仅是杀人的，也是说谎的。所以主在约翰八章四十四节说的话，证明创世记四章该隐的故事是一粒种子。
1Genesis 4, we need to see more about Cain and Abel. out several times that nearly every item found in the first three chapters of Genesis is a seed that is developed in the following books of the Bible, especially in the New Testament. This is also true in the case of Cain and Abel. According to the revelation of the divine Word, these two brothers should be considered as two important seeds sown in Genesis 4. This is proved by the fact that the New Testament speaks of both Cain and Abel (Jude 11; 1 John 3:12; Matt. 23:35; Heb. 11:4; 12:24). The Lord Jesus was alluding to Cain in John 8:44 when He said that the Devil “was a murderer from the beginning.” As we saw in the previous message, Cain became one with the Devil and, thus, both Cain and the Devil were the murderer of Abel. In John 8:44 the Lord Jesus also said that the Devil was a liar: “When he speaks a lie, he speaks out of his own self; for he is a liar and the father of it.” I believe that this also was an allusion to Cain, referring to the lie that he told God when He asked him about his brother (Gen. 4:9). Cain lied to God in His presence. Thus, Cain was not only a murderer, but also a liar. Therefore, the Lord’sword in John 8:44 is evidence that the story of Cain in Genesis 4 is a seed.
2我们看过，人起初被放在两棵树，就是生命树和知识树跟前。（创二8～9。）这两棵树代表两个源头，由这两个源头引出两条贯串全本圣经的线：生命树的线和知识树的线。无疑的，该隐是在知识树的线上，亚伯是在生命树的线上。
2We have seen that in the beginning man was placed in front of two trees, the tree of life and the tree of knowledge (Gen. 2:8-9). These two trees represent two sources out of which two lines continue throughout the whole Bible: the line of the tree of life and the line of the tree of knowledge. Undoubtedly, Cain was on the line of the tree of knowledge, and Abel was on the line of the tree of life
3除了该隐和亚伯二人以外，亚当和夏娃必定还生了很多孩子。然而，圣经在这里只题到该隐和亚伯。为甚么只题到这二人？因为神圣话语的目的是要给我们看见，在人类第二代开始时的两班人：该隐，代表知识树的线；亚伯，代表生命树的线。
3Adam and Eve certainly must have produced more children than the two mentioned here. However, the Bible here only mentions Cain and Abel. Why does the Bible only mention these two here? Because the intention of the Holy Word is to show us the two categories of people which existed from the beginning of the second human generation: Cain, who represents the line of the tree of knowledge, and Abel, who represents the line of the tree of life
4圣经的结束和牠的开始一样。圣经开始于两棵树，指明两个源头，结束于两座城－大巴比伦和新耶路撒冷－指明两个结局。这两座城，一座是大的，另一座是圣的。大巴比伦是知识树的线和该隐种子的终极完成。该隐的种子撒在创世记四章，在整本新约里发展，并要完成于启示录十七和十八章所启示的大巴比伦。同样，新耶路撒冷不仅是生命树的线的终极完成，也是亚伯的种子的终极完成。凡是新耶路撒冷一部分的人，都是亚伯。那城的每一块宝石都是永世里的亚伯。相反的，在大巴比伦里大多数的人都是该隐。因此，大巴比伦是许多该隐的终极完成，新耶路撒冷是所有亚伯的总和。你是甚么？是亚伯，还是该隐？我希望读这篇信息的，没有一个是该隐。
4The Bible ends as it begins. It begins with two trees denoting two sources and it concludes with two cities — the great Babylon and the New Jerusalem — denoting two consummations. One of these cities is great and the other is holy. The great Babylon will be the ultimate consummation both of the line of the tree of knowledge and of the seed of Cain. The seed of Cain is sown in Genesis 4, developed throughout the Old and New Testament, and will be consummated in the great Babylon revealed in Revelation 17 and 18. Like wise, the New Jerusalem will not only be the ultimate consummation of the line of the tree of life, but also of the seed of Abel. Everyone who will be a part of the New Jerusalem will be an Abel. Every piece of precious stone in that city will be an Abel for eternity. On the contrary, the majority of those in the great Babylon will be Cains. Hence, the great Babylon is the ultimate consummation of so many Cains, and the New Jerusalem is the totality of all the Abels. What are you — an Abel or a Cain? I hope that no one reading this message is a Cain.
5现在我们要更透彻的来看这两兄弟。我们要用圣经以后各卷的亮光来看他们。我们先从该隐开始。
5Let us now consider these two brothers more thoroughly, examining them in the light of the subsequent books of the Bible. We begin with Cain
1 该隐
I. Cain
ａ为自己工作生活－『种地的』
A. Working and Living for Himself— ”a Server of the Ground
6在上一篇信息中，我们曾指出该隐种地为生。他被称为『种地的。』（创四２，原文意，服事地的人。）这意思是说，他为著自己工作并生活。他不仅为自己工作生活，也凭自己工作生活。请记得，人堕落以后，人的己就成了撒但的化身。因此，凭人的己而活，实际上就是凭撒但而活。该隐就是一个这样生活的人。
6In the last message we pointed out that Cain was one who served the ground to make a living. He is called here “a server of the ground” (v. 2, Heb.). This means that he was working and living for himself. He not only worked and lived for himself, but also by himself. Please remember that after the fall of man, man’s self became the incarnation of Satan. Thus, to live by man’s self actually means to live by Satan. Cain lived as such a person
ｂ照著他自己那源于撒但的观念敬拜神
B. Worshipping God according to His Own Concept Which Originated with Satan
7该隐到底有甚么错？就著人说，他原先没有错。当我是个年轻的基督徒时，我替该隐作辩护人，在天上的法庭为他争辩。我觉得该隐没有甚么错。他是第一个向神献祭的人，亚伯是第二个。亚伯可能还是向该隐学的。在我看来该隐向神献祭没有错；这不像赌博、说谎或杀人。因此，我与神争辩说，『神，你对该隐不公平，你的不公平激动他杀了他的兄弟。如果你公平，该隐也许会很爱他的兄弟。』我像一个没有学问的辩护人，像一个乡下孩子在法庭里说话。但神对该隐是仁慈的，并没有在他身上执行审判。神也怜悯我，没有叫我死。最后，经过了许多年日，我慢慢明白了神拒绝接受，或看不中该隐和他供物的原因。
7What was wrong with Cain? Humanly speaking, he was not wrong originally. When I was a young Christian, I acted as Cain’s at torney, arguing on his behalf in the heavenly law court. I felt that there was nothing wrong with Cain. He was the first to present an offering to God. Abel was second. He might have learned this from Cain. It seemed to me that it was not wrong for Cain to present an offering to God; it was not like gambling, lying, or murdering. Thus, I argued with God, saying, “God, You were not fair with Cain. Your unfairness provoked him to kill his brother. If You had been fair, Cain probably would have loved his brother very much.” I spoke as an unlearned attorney, as a country boy in a law court. However, God was kind toward Cain, not executing his judgment upon him. God was also merciful to me, not putting me to death. Eventually, through the passing of years I came to understand the reason that God refused to accept or to look upon Cain and his offering.
8让我把原因告诉你。该隐和亚伯都是由堕落的父母生的。亚当和夏娃不仅与神之间有问题，他们里面也已经注入了撒但邪恶的性情。撒但的性情渗透了他们的性情、心思和观念。亚当和夏娃知道他们的光景，承认他们在神面前是错的。事实上，他们也充满了撒但邪恶的元素。他们知道神对他们是有怜悯和恩典的，既应许他们救恩，又给他们皮子作的衣服遮盖赤身，那皮衣豫表基督是那要来的真正的义。我们在前篇信息指出，亚当和夏娃将这事告诉他们的儿女，宣告神救恩的路。因此，该隐和亚伯不是从纯净的父母生的；他们是受过污染、败坏、玷污并毁坏之父母的后裔。
8Let me tell you the reason. Cain and Abel were born of fallen parents. Adam and Eve were not merely wrong with God, but had been injected with the evil nature of Satan. Satan’s nature had penetrated their nature, mind, and concept. Adam and Eve realized their condition, recognizing that they were wrong in the presence of God. In fact, they were also filled with the evil element of Satan. They realized that God was merciful and gracious to them, promising them salvation and providing them robes made of skins to cover their nakedness, which typified Christ as the genuine righteousness to come. As we pointed out in the last message, Adam and Eve told their children about this, declaring God’sway of salvation. Thus, Cain and Abel were not born of pure parents; they were the descendants of polluted, corrupted, contaminated, and ruined parents
9假定这里有一杯纯净的水，还有一杯脏污的水。如果你把那杯纯净的水给我，我会非常喜欢，把牠喝了解渴。但你如果把那杯脏污的水给我，我会觉得受辱。我虽然口渴，也不愿意接受这杯脏污的水。你若明白这个例子，就不会说神拒绝该隐的供物是不公平的了。神实在不能接受脏污的水，就是受过污染的供物。该隐是由受过污染的父母所生，生来就是不洁、被玷污的。相反的，神是圣别、公羲、纯洁的。该隐和亚伯不仅败坏、有罪，他们里面还有神的仇敌。因为神的仇敌撒但活在他们里面，在他们里面行动，并鼓动他们行事，凡他们出于自己所作的，都是神仇敌的行动。如果你是神，并且知道在该隐里面的乃是你的仇敌魔鬼，你会接受他敬拜的行动么？这样的敬拜对神乃是侮辱。
9Suppose we have one glass of pure water and another glass of polluted water. If you offer me the pure water, I would appreciate it very much, drinking it to assuage my thirst. However, if you offer me the glass of polluted water, I would be insulted. Although I may be thirsty, I would refuse the offer of a glass of polluted water. If you understand this example, you will not say that God was unfair in rejecting Cain’s offering. God simply cannot accept polluted water, that is, a polluted offering. Cain was born of polluted parents and, by birth, was unclean and contaminated. God, on the contrary, is holy, righteous, and pure. Not only were Cain and Abel corrupted and sinful, but within them was the enemy of God. Since Satan, God’se ne my, lived and acted in them, and motivated them to do things, everything they did out of themselves would have been an action of God’se ne my. If you were God and realized that within Cain was the Devil, your enemy, would you accept his act of worship? Such worship is an insult to God
10表面上在创世记四章我们没有看见魔鬼，只看见该隐杀人并说谎。但在约翰八章四十四节主耶稣说，那是魔鬼在杀人并说谎。在神眼中，那不仅是该隐，更是魔鬼。还有，约壹三章十二节告诉我们，该隐是『出于那恶者，』就是魔鬼。该隐的源头乃是撒但。这两节经文清楚且完全的给我们看见，该隐和魔鬼，魔鬼和该隐，二者乃是一个。
10Apparently we do not see the Devil in Genesis 4; we see Cain murdering and lying. However, in John 8:44 the Lord Jesus said that that was the Devil murdering and lying. In the eyes of God, it was not merely Cain, but the Devil. Moreover, in 1 John 3:12 we are told that Cain was “of the evil one.” The Greek word translated “of” actually means “out of.” Hence, Cain was out of the evil one, the Devil. Cain’ss our ce was Satan. These two verses show us clearly and thoroughly that Cain and the Devil, the Devil and Cain, were one.
11你也许会争辩，魔鬼怎么会鼓动人敬拜神。请想想马太十六章二十一至二十三节彼得的例子。彼得接受了关于基督的属天异象之后，就受撒但鼓动，叫那刚说过自己要受苦被杀的主耶稣，可怜祂自己。但主转过来对彼得说，『撒但，退我后面去罢！』请注意，主不是说，『彼得，退我后面去罢！』因此，这个刚从父得著启示的彼得变成了撒但。他不是因甚么恶事变成撒但，乃是在关心主的事上变成撒但。
11Perhaps you will argue, wondering how the devil can motivate people to worship God. Consider the illustration of Peter in Matthew 16:21-23. After Peter had received the heavenly vision regarding Christ, he was motivated by Satan to tell the Lord Jesus, who had just spoken of His coming suffering and death, to pity Himself. The Lord turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan.” Notice that the Lord did not say, “Get behind Me, Peter.” Thus, the one who had just received a revelation from the Father became Satan. He did not become Satan with respect to something evil, but in the matter of caring for the Lord
12当我们受教导去敬拜神时，或者，当我们亲近主，想要关心祂时，那狡猾者撒但常常不是拦阻我们不要作，而是题议我们用与神启示不同的方法去作，想要使我们离开神的经纶。只要能使我们离开神的路，阻挠我们达成神的目的，撒但甚至会鼓动我们去为神作事。这就是他在该隐身上所作的。
12When we are told to worship God, or when we are close to the Lord, trying to care for Him, Satan, the subtle one, often will not tell us not to do it, but will propose a way different from God’sr evelation in his attempt to keep us from God’secon o my. As long as he can keep us from God’sway and frustrate us in fulfilling God’s purpose, Satan will even motivate us to do things for God. This was how he worked in Cain
13我们必须小心，同样的事也会发生在我们身上。我们必须认识，问题不在于我们作甚么，乃在于我们是甚么。真正的问题不在于我们是否敬拜神，乃在于我们在所作的事上是否与魔鬼是一。即使你爱别人，如果你凭著与魔鬼是一去爱，这种爱对神乃是侮辱，因为神的仇敌撒但在其中有活动。因此，该隐虽是献祭者，魔鬼却是鼓动者，发起该隐敬拜的行动。假定你有一个仇敌，拒绝与你和好，却打发人来拜你，你岂不认为这种敬拜是侮辱么？现在我们能看见，该隐的错是在那里了。
13We should be careful. The same thing may happen to us. We must realize that it is not a matter of what we do, but of what we are. The real issue is not whether or not we worship God; it is whether or not we are one with the Devil in whatever we do. Even if you love others by being one with the Devil, that kind of love is an insult to God, because Satan, God’se ne my, is active in it. Thus, Cain was the one who presented the offering, but the Devil was the motivator, the one who initiated Cain’s act of worship. Suppose you have an enemy who refuses to be reconciled with you, yet he sends someone to worship you. Would you not consider that worship as an insult? Now we can see what was wrong with Cain
14该隐将他自己劳苦的出产献给神。（创四3。）他带来地的出产，是没有流血的。这就是他拒绝从父母所听见神救赎的路。照该隐的父母所得的启示，神救赎的路乃是牺牲流血的路，因为没有流血就没有赦罪。（来九22。）在神眼中，人已经堕落、败坏、有罪并受污染了。人需要流血才得赦罪。该隐的父母必定把神救赎的路告诉了他，但他拒绝了这路，把这路撇在一边。该隐不在意神的路；他照著自己的观念发明了他自己的路。
14Cain offered the fruit of his own labor to God (Gen. 4:3). He brought the fruit of the ground with no blood for shedding. This means that he had rejected God’s way of redemption which he had heard from his parents. God’s way of redemption as revealed to Cain’s parents was that of a sacrifice in which the blood was shed, for without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins (Heb. 9:22). Man was fallen, ruined, sinful, and polluted in the eyes of God. He needed the shedding of blood for the remission of sins. Although Cain’spare nts surely spoke to him of God’sway of redemption, he rejected it, casting it aside. Cain did not care for God’sway; he invented his own way according to his concept.
15甚么是观念？人的观念属于知识树。该隐接受了知识树的路，就将全人向魔鬼敞开。他这样作，就完全被那恶者捉住。该隐是第一个发明宗教的。你也许争辩说，『该隐发明宗教敬拜神，他并没有发明赌场。』但神不在意你发明甚么，祂只在意起源。一切人所发明的，都不是神起始的，也不是人的灵起始的，乃是人的心思起始的。如果你的发明起始于你自己的心思，那个发明不论多好，源头都是撒但，因为那狡猾者撒但就在你的心思里。当该隐设计他自己敬拜神的方法时，他完全与撒但合为一。他被魔鬼充满、饱和、渗透。所以主耶稣在约翰八章四十四节暗示他就是撒但。这样一个人竟敢向神献没有流血的祭！
15What is a concept? The human concept is of the tree of knowledge. By taking the way of the tree of knowledge Cain opened his being to the Devil. By doing this he was completely caught by the evil one. Cain was the first to invent religion. You may argue, “Cain invented religion to worship God. He did not invent gambling casinos.” However, God does not care for what you invent; He cares for the origin. Anything invented by man is not originated by God and is not by man’s spirit, but by his mind. If your invention originates with yourself in your mind, that invention, regardless of how good it is, has its source in Satan, for Satan, the subtle one, is in your mind. When Cain devised his own way of worshipping God, he was absolutely one with Satan. He was filled, saturated, and permeated with the devil. Therefore, the Lord Jesus in John 8:44 alluded to him as Satan. How dare such a person present an offering to God without the shedding of blood
16现在我们能明白神不接受该隐献祭的原因。该隐该知道神所要的是流血的牺牲，但他没有那样作。他照自己的观念敬拜神，没有流血，也没有牺牲的皮遮盖。那就是他拒绝神的路，不接受基督作神的义遮盖他，如腓立比三章九节及林前一章三十节所启示的。他像热心宗教的犹太人，想要建立自己的义，就忽视神的义，不服神的义，如罗马十章三节所启示的。因此，他的献祭对神乃是侮辱；这在神眼中是可憎恶的，神拒绝了这种献祭。
16Now we can understand the reason that God did not accept Cain’s offering. Although Cain should have realized that what God wanted was a sacrifice with the shedding of blood, he did not offer it accordingly. He worshipped God according to his own concept, without the shedding of blood, and without the covering skins of the sacrifice. This means that he rejected God’sway of taking Christ as God’s righteousness to cover him as revealed in Philippians 3:9 and 1 Corinthians 1:30. He, like the religious Jews, sought to establish his own righteousness, ignoring God’s righteousness and not submitting to it as revealed in Romans 10:3. Thus, his offering was an insult to God; it was an abomination in His eyes, and He rejected it
ｃ走自己的道路
C. Going His Own Way
17犹大十一节说到有些人『走了该隐的道路。』甚么是该隐的道路？该隐的道路就是行善讨神喜悦，并在魔鬼的鼓动下，妄自凭人自己的努力，照人自己的发明来敬拜神。该隐的道路是宗教的敬拜神而没有基督。就著人来说，该隐的路并不坏，因为宗教是人类文化最好的发明。事实上，按照圣经，宗教是人类文化第一且首要的发明。但我们必须问：谁发明了宗教？发明宗教的不是该隐自己，乃是他里面的鼓动者撒但。撒但试诱人吃了知识树，窃夺了人类第一代。然而神来干豫，拯救他们，用祂救赎的路恢复他们。虽然从一面说，亚当和夏娃都失丧了，但神进来打开祂救赎的路，就是流血的路，把他们带回归祂自己。这是神拯救的路，救恩的路。我们看过，亚当和夏娃将这路传给了他们的儿女，然而他们的长子该隐拒绝这路，走了自己的路，与魔鬼成为一。这种拒绝，这种走自己的路，就是拒绝神，跟从撒但。这就是该隐邪恶的道路。
17Jude 11 speaks of those who “have gone in the way of Cain.” What is the way of Cain? It is to do good to please God and to worship God presumptuously by man’sown effort and according to man’sown invention under the Devil’s motivation. The way of Cain is to worship God religiously without Christ. In a human sense the way of Cain is not bad, for religion is the best invention of human culture. In fact, according to the Bible, religion was the first and foremost invention of human culture. However, we must ask the question: Who invented religion? It was not Cain himself, but Satan the motivator within him. Satan usurped the first human generation by tempting them to take the tree of knowledge. Nevertheless, God intervened to rescue them and to recover them by His way of redemption. Although, in a sense, both Adam and Eve were lost, God came in to bring them back to Himself, opening His redeeming way, the blood-shedding way. That was God’sway of rescue, of salvation. We have seen that Adam and Eve passed on this way to their children and that Cain, their firstborn, rejected it and took his own, becoming one with the Devil. That rejection, that following of his own way, was the rejecting of God and the following of Satan. This is the evil way of Cain
18神已经将祂的路完全启示给我们。不论亚当和夏娃对他们的儿女传讲了多少，他们总没有像我们这样有一本圣经。我们有一本包括六十六卷书的圣经，把救恩的路，生命的路，流血的路，以及基督的路都完全告诉了我们。我们有这条路。然而，许多人听见这条路，听见福音，却转离了，走他们自己的路，企图照著他们自己的观念，照著他们自己的意愿，尝试作好讨神喜悦。有非常多的人在走该隐的路。该隐的路不是去赌场赌钱，乃是设计出人的宗教，敬拜神的路，这路不照著神的启示，只照著人的发明。表面看这是好的，实际上这是可怕的，因为藉著宗教的发明，人类第二代就完全被撒但掳去了。撒但藉著试诱人吃知识树得著了第一代，又藉著将人从神的路转到人发明的路俘掳了第二代。
18God has given us a full revelation of His way. Regardless of how much Adam and Eve preached to their children, they did not have the Bible as we do. We have a Bible of sixty-six books telling us in full of the way of salvation, the way of life, the way of shedding blood, and the way of Christ. We have the way. However, many people have heard of this way, that is, have heard the preaching of the gospel, but have turned aside and have taken their own way, attempting to worship God according to their own concept and trying to do good to please God according to their own desire. A great many people are taking the way of Cain. The way of Cain is not to gamble in the casinos; it is to devise a human religion, a way of worshipping God, that is not according to God’sr evelation, but according to man’sin vent i on. Apparently this is good; actually it is dreadful, for by inventing religion the second human generation was completely captured by Satan. Satan gained the first generation by tempting man to eat of the tree of knowledge and he captured the second by turning man from God’sway to the way of human invention
19神的路与善和恶都是相对的。许多人以为，只要他们不作坏事就好了。然而，不论你在恶的一边或在善的一边，你仍然是在神的路以外。神不在意你是在善的一边，或是在恶的一边；祂只在意你是否在祂救赎的路上。你也许认为你很高超，你的路比神的更高超。许多宗教人士，就是那些发明他们自己宗教的人，以为他们比跟从神救恩之路的人更高超。也许他们比我们高超，但我们是在神的路上。该隐的路并不是外面看为恶的路，乃是善的路。然而，这路把人从神岔开。撒但是在善与恶的一边。请记得，生命树有一个因素－生命，但知识树却有两个因素─善与恶。因此，不管你是为善还是作恶，只要你不在神的路上，你就是跟从了撒但的路。
19God’s way is in contrast to both good and bad. Many people think that as long as they do not do something bad they are all right. However, whether you are on the bad side or on the good side, you are still outside of God’sway. God does not care whether or not you are on the good side or on the bad; He only cares whether or not you are on His way of redemption. You may think that you are high and that your way is higher than God’s. Many religious people, people who have invented their own religion, think of themselves as higher than those who follow God’s way of salvation. Perhaps they are higher than we are, but we are in God’sway. Cain’sway is not the way of apparent evil; it is the way of good. Nevertheless, it distracts man from God. Satan is on the side of both good and evil. Remember that the tree of life is of one factor—life. However, the tree of knowledge has two factors—good and evil. Hence, as long as you are not in God’s way you are following Satan’s way, regardless of whether you are doing good or evil.
20我有一句话要对读这篇信息，还未得救的人说：你需要神救赎的路。不管你所作或所能作的善如何，你必须知道你生来就有罪，就有魔鬼的性情在你的肉体里，撒但的元素在你的心思里。你需要耶稣流血，因为没有流血就没有赦罪。
20I have a word to say to any readers of this message who may not be saved. You need God’s redeeming way. Regardless of the good you have done or can do, you must realize that you were born sinful, that the devilish nature is in your flesh, and that the satanic element is in your mind. You need the shedding of Jesus’ blood, for without it there is no remission of sins
21为著耶稣流血感谢神！藉著流血我们就有罪的赦免。我的妻子可以见证，几乎每次我们一起祷告，我头一句话都是说，『主，我们靠著你的血来到你面前。主，用你的血洁净我们。我们何等需要你血的遮盖！』当我们在旧造中，我们里面仍有污秽、败坏的元素。所以，我们需要耶稣的血的洁净。许多次我在祷告中向主说，『主，我们必须经过祭坛，我们需要你作我们的祭物。主，我们接受你作我们的赎罪祭，我们将脂油献给你。』该隐弄错了目标。他拒绝了流血的路，接受了撒但的路。
21Thank God for the shedding of the blood of Jesus! By it we have the remission of our sins. My wife can testify that almost every time we pray together the first word I say is, “Lord, we come to You by Your blood. Lord, cleanse us with Your blood. How we need the covering of Your blood!” While we are in the old creation, we still have a dirty, defiled element within us. Therefore, we need the cleansing of the blood of Jesus. Many times I have said to the Lord in my prayers, “Lord, we must pass through the altar. We need You to be our offerings. Lord, we take You as our sin offering and we offer You the fat.” Cain missed the mark. He rejected the way of shedding of blood and took the way of Satan
22当使徒保罗还在犹太宗教中的时候，他比他本族许多同岁的人更有长进。（加一14。）然而在那时他没有得著神的义。在腓立比三章九节，他说了一句深刻且优越的话：『并且给人看出我是在祂里面，不是有自己那本于律法的义，乃是有那藉著信基督而有的义，就是那基于信、本于神的义。』保罗并不是要给人看出他在他自己里面，有他自己的义；他乃是要给人看出他是在基督里面，有本于神的义。我们，就像保罗，需要给人看出是在基督里面。祂是我们的义，就如一首著名的诗歌所表达的：『神的基督是我的义，我的美丽，我的锦衣。』（诗歌第二三七首。）基督为神的义乃是我们的遮盖，在祂之下我们站立。神已将我们放在基督里，使祂成了我们的义。（林前一30。）我们站在祂的遮盖之下。我们与祂是一。我们的义乃是祂自己，祂这人位，而不是祂的任何属性。
22When the Apostle Paul was in the Jewish religion, he surpassed many of his equals (Gal. 1:14). However, he did not at that time obtain God’s righteousness. In Philippians 3:9 he spoke a deep and excellent word: “And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God based on faith.” Paul did not want to be found in himself, having his own righteousness; he wanted to be found in Christ, having the righteousness which is of God. We, like Paul, need to be found in Christ. That He is our righteousness is expressed by the words of a well-known hymn: “God’s Christ, who is my righteousness, My beauty is, my glorious dress.” Christ, as God’s righteousness, is our covering under whom we stand. God has put us into Christ and made Him our righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30). We stand under His covering. We are one with Him. He, Himself, His very person, not one of His attributes, is our righteousness
23在罗马十章三节，保罗说到不信的犹太人：『因为不知道神的义，又想要建立自己的义，就不服神的义了。』那些犹太人是真正跟从该隐的人。该隐是他们的先驱，他立了一个榜样，想要立自己的义，不服神以基督为他的义的路。我再说，这是该隐的路。无论何时，我们在基督以外想行善讨神喜悦，在神眼中我们就是跟从该隐的脚踪。切勿这样作。按照神的启示，我们必须认识，照我们自己的路敬拜神乃是对神的侮辱。
23In Romans 1 0:3 Paul spoke of the unbelieving Jews, saying, “For they, being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, did not submit to the righteousness of God.” Those Jews were the true followers of Cain. Cain was their forerunner, setting an example of attempting to establish his own righteousness and of not submitting himself to God’sway of taking Christ as his righteousness. I say again that this is the way of Cain. Whenever we, outside of Christ, try to do good to please God, in the eyes of God we are following the footsteps of Cain. Never do that. According to God’s revelation, we must recognize that worshipping God in our own way is an insult to Him.
ｄ被魔鬼得著
D. Gained by the Devil
24虽然神怜悯该隐，但该隐并没有悔改。神有合法的立场将该隐处死，但神没有这样作，而是警告他，罪伏在门前，等候机会捉住并吞灭他。（创四7。）在这警告的话中，神指出罪是一个人位，就是撒但，他的愿望是要得著该隐，该隐必须胜过他。该隐忽视了神的警告，只在意他自己的路。他没有悔改，回转或改变。他坚持他自己的路一直到底，甚至到死。所以他是完全被撒但得著，而与魔鬼成为一。（约八44。）因此，约壹三章十二节说，他是『出于那恶者。』
24Although God was merciful to Cain, he did not repent. God had the legal ground to sentence Cain to death, but He did not do it. Instead, He warned him that sin was crouching at the door, waiting for the opportunity to seize and devour him (Gen. 4:7). In that word of warning God indicated that sin was a person, Satan, that his desire was for Cain, and that Cain had to overcome him. Cain neglected God’s warning, only caring for his own way. He did not repent, return, or change. He insisted on his own way unto the end, even unto death. So, he was absolutely gained by Satan and became one with the Devil (John 8:44). Hence, 1 John 3:12 says that he was out “of the evil one
ｅ迫害真正敬拜神的人
E. Persecuting God’sT rue Worshippers
25当该隐看到神悦纳亚伯这位真正敬拜神的人，他就妒忌。该隐为甚么杀他的兄弟？多年来我想找出这问题的答案。我信该隐谋杀亚伯是因为亚伯的面容高扬，而该隐的脸色下沉。四章七节说，『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，岂不高扬？』该隐起来打亚伯，因为亚伯的脸微笑发光。亚伯高扬的面容激起该隐的妒忌。今天的情形也是这样。你若是喜乐并享受神，就会激起别人宗教的妒忌。人会说，『你为甚么这么快乐？难道神只与你同在？祂不也与我们同在么？』结果他们就会逼迫你。我相信这就是该隐攻击亚伯的理由。亚伯发光的脸、高扬的面容和快乐的声音触怒了该隐。在有些地方人警告我们：『不要再这样作，你们若继续这样，我们要把你们赶出去。』宗教的妒忌是可怕的，没有一种妒忌像宗教的妒忌那样可怕。这说出为甚么罗马天主教杀害真基督徒，比罗马帝国杀害的还多。
25When Cain saw how pleased God was with Abel, His true worshipper, he was jealous. Why did Cain slay his brother? For years I tried to find the answer to this question. I believe that Cain murdered Abel because Abel’s countenance was uplifted while Cain’s was fallen. The King James Version renders Genesis 4:7 as, “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?” However, the Hebrew here may be rendered. “If you do well, will you not be lifted up?” Cain fought against Abel because Abel’s face was smiling and shining. Abel’s up lifted countenance provoked Cain to jealousy. The same is true today. If you are happy and are enjoying the Lord, you will provoke the religious jealousy in others. People will say, “Why are you so joyful? Is God only with you? Is not He also with us?” The result is that they will persecute you. This, I believe, was the reason that Cain attacked Abel. He was offended by Abel’s shining face, uplifted countenance, and joyful voice. In so me places people warned us, “Don’t do this anymore. If you continue, we will cast you out.” Religious jealousy is terrible. No jealousy is as awful as the jealousy in religion. This accounts for the fact that the Roman Catholic Church has killed more genuine Christians than the Roman Empire.
26请听主耶稣对法利赛人所说的话：『叫世上所流一切的义血，都归到你们身上，从义人亚伯的血起，直到你们在殿和坛中间，所杀巴拉加的儿子撒迦利亚的血为止。』（太二三35。）那些热心宗教的人在那里杀死撒迦利亚？不是在戏院里；乃是在殿和坛之间，在热心宗教的人敬拜神的地方。热心宗教的人，就在他们照自己作法敬拜神的地方，杀了那些照著神的作法，不照自己作法敬拜神的人。一面他们敬拜，另一面他们杀害。这就是宗教的妒忌。这是何等可怕！
26Listen to what the Lord Jesus said to the Pharisees: “That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar” (Matt. 23:35). Where did the religious people kill Zechariah? It was not in a theater; it was between the temple and the altar, in the place where the religious people worshipped God. The religious people murdered those who worshipped God in His way and not in theirs, killing them in the very place where they rendered, in their own way, their worship to God. On the one hand they worshipped; on the other hand they committed murder. This is the jealousy of religion. How terrible it is
2 亚伯
II. Abel
27ａ为神工作并生活－『牧羊者』
27A. Working and Living for God—”a Feeder of Sheep
28现在我们来看亚伯，这粒完成于新耶路撒冷的种子。亚伯为神工作并生活。他也凭神活著。一天过一天亚伯为神并凭神活著；他是为著神的『牧羊者。』我们在前一篇信息曾经指出，在亚伯时代羊主要是为著神。他不像该隐为自己工作生活，他是为著神所要的满足。他的生活目标与兴趣，乃是照著神的作法满足神。
28Now we come to Abel, the seed that consummates in the New Jerusalem. Abel worked and lived for God. He also lived by God. Day by day Abel lived for God and by God; he was “a feeder of sheep” for God. As we pointed out in the last message, during Abel’st i me sheep were primarily for God. He did not work and live for himself as Cain did, but for God’s satisfaction as God desired. It seems that the purpose and interest of his life was to satisfy God in God’sway
ｂ照著神的启示敬拜神
B. Worshipping God according to God’sR evelation
29亚伯献祭不是照著他自己的观念、思想或作法，乃是照著神救恩的路。他是照著神的启示敬拜神。（来十一4。）他不像该隐，乃是将他羊群中头生的献上。他所献上的可能是羊羔。圣经说，亚伯『将他羊群中头生的，和羊的脂油献上。』（创四4。）他献上脂油，表明牺牲已经被杀了，血也流了，因为若未被杀，就不可能有脂油献给神。亚伯知道他需要献流血的祭。他知道他生自堕落的父母,在神眼中是邪恶、有罪并受污染的。因此他献上他羊群中头生的，为著他的救赎流血，并为著神的满足焚烧脂油。谁告诉他献上羊群中头生的？无疑的，他是照著父母的教导。亚伯所作的正符合以后所赐摩西律法的要求。这证明他敬拜神的作法是照著神的启示，不是照著自己的观念。
29Abel did not present his sacrifice according to his concept, thought, or way, but according to God’sway of salvation. He wo rshipped God according to His reve lation (Heb. 11:4). Unlike Cain, Abel presented the firstlings of his flock, which probably were lambs. The Bible says that he “brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof” (Gen. 4:4). When he offered the fat, the sacrifice was killed and the blood was shed, for without killing it would have been impossible to have the fat to present to God. Abel realized that he needed an offering with the shedding of blood. He knew that he had been born of fallen parents and that he was evil, sinful, and polluted in the eyes of God. Thus, he offered some firstlings of his flock, shedding the blood for his redemption and burning the fat for God’s satisfaction. Who told him to offer the firstlings of the sheep? He undoubtedly did this according to the instruction of his parents. What Abel did corresponded exactly to the requirements of the Mosaic law which was given later. This proves that his way of worshipping God was according to God’s divine revelation, and not according to his concept.
30我们是堕落的人，所想的每件事都是有罪的。即使是我们最好的想法，我们的思想还是有罪的。不仅如此，我们所看、所说的也是有罪的。圣奥古斯丁说，就是我们悔改的眼泪也需要血的洁净。我们是这样的有罪，甚至要为我们的悔改来悔改。我们是罪的化身。所以凡起始于我们，起始于我们的思想、说话、听闻、感觉的，都是有罪的。我们必须把自己摆在一边。把我们自己摆在一边，实际上就是把魔鬼摆在一边，因为魔鬼就在我们的自己里面。如果我们把自己摆在一边，我们自然就绝对的拒绝了撒但。不要说，『我的作法很好，我的想法很棒。』不管你的想法好到甚么地步，撒但总是在这想法里面；所以你必须加以拒绝，照著神的启示接受神的路。
30As fallen persons, everything we think is sinful. Even if we think the best thoughts, our thinking is still sinful. Furthermore, whatever we see and say is sinful. St. Augustine said that even our tears of repentance need the cleansing of the blood. We are so sinful that we even need to repent of our repentance. We are the embodiment of sin. Therefore, whatever originates with us, with our thinking, speaking, hearing, and feeling, is sinful. We must put ourselves aside. To put ourselves aside actually means to put the Devil aside, because the Devil is in our self. If we cast ourselves aside, we simultaneously reject Satan in an absolute way. Do not say, “My way is good. My thoughts are excellent.” Regardless of the excellence of your thoughts, Satan is in them, and you must reject them and take God’sway according to His revelation
31亚伯的献祭是基督的豫表。按照民数记十八章十七节，头生的牛羊，（基督的豫表，）以色列人不可以吃;必须献给神。因此在豫表上，亚伯是将基督献给神。献上头生的牛羊，有两个因素：第一是洒在祭坛上作赎罪用的血;第二是烧在坛上作馨香的火祭献给耶和华的脂油，使神满足。主耶稣基督也有这两个因素。祂有为我们流出的血，并有满足神心愿的脂油。亚伯随从他父母关于神救恩之路的话，献上这样的祭给神。因此，亚伯接受基督作他的遮盖，就被神称义。（来十一4，太二三35。）我们需要基督的血洁净我们，还需要基督自己遮盖我们，艬能蒙神悦纳，才能满足神。
31Abel’s offering was a type of Christ. According to Numbers 18:17, the firstling of a cow or sheep, a type Christ, could not be eaten by the Israelites; it had to offered to God. Hence, in typology, Abel offered Christ to God. The offering of the firstling of a cow or sheep had two factors: the blood, which was sprinkled on the altar for redemption, and the fat, which was burned on the altar as an offering, as a sweet savor unto the Lord, for His satisfaction. The Lord Jesus Christ had these two factors. He had the blood which was shed for us and the fat which satisfied God’s desire. Abel, following the word of his parents regarding God’sway of salvation, presented such an offering to God. Thus, Abel took Christ as his covering and was justified by God (Heb. 11:4; Matt. 23:35). We need the blood of Christ to cleanse us and we need Christ Himself to cover us that we may be accepted by God and that we may satisfy Him
32让我交通一点自己的经历。当我是个活跃的年轻人时，我想我能，也该为神作许多事。我相信我很聪明，颇有主动力，也很能干。所以我梦想为神，为召会作许多事。不久之后，属天的光开始照在我身上。虽然在开头看得并不太多，但那光日以继夜，甚至在我睡著的时候，也不断的照亮我。最后我被照亮到一个地步，低头在主面前说，『主阿，我不敢看自己或想自己了，我所是的一切都是羞耻。我全人的每一部分都是丑陋的！』我的确这样看自己。那是我开始领悟主血宝贵的时候。我祷告说，『主阿，我没有甚么可说的，洁净我！用你的血洁净我！洁净我的眼睛，洁净我的思想，洁净我全人的每一部分。主，洁净每一样东西。』有一天我向主认罪，认了整整半天。虽然那时我不停的认罪，到末了我觉得我的认罪还是不透彻。在我里面深深自责，再也不敢作任何事了。我只能说，『主，我不该发起任何事。不是我的所作，乃是我整个人都需要你的洁净。主，我只有应用你的血。主，你来主动。如果你不作甚么，我也不作。』我被属天的异象抓住。我看见我整个人全然是罪，我不该发明甚么事或发起甚么事，凡从我出来的每一件事在神眼中都是败坏的。连我悔改的眼泪都需要主血的洗净。在我的悔改中还有己的成分，使我的悔改不纯净。因此，我需要为那悔改而悔改。这就是应用耶稣的血并穿上基督作义、作遮盖的意思。我终于知道我需要基督的血。我终于领悟我所作的每一件事，都只该是基督的活出，作我的遮盖。『现在活著的，不再是我。乃是基督在我里面活著。』这就是将头生的和脂油献给主的意思。我可以见证，我从来没有像那时候那样喜乐过。我被主的甘甜所充满，我是在诸天界里。这就是亚伯的经历。我知道读本篇信息的人，很多都有这样的经历。
32Let me share with you some of my own experience. When I was an active young man, I thought that I could and should do many things for God. I believed that I was quite intelligent, that I had considerable initiative, and that I was very capable. So, I dreamed of the many things I would do for God and for the church. Not long afterward, the heavenly light began to shine upon me. Although I did not see very much at first, the light continued to shine day and night, even while I slept. Eventually I was enlightened to such an extent that I bowed before the Lord and said, “Lord, I dare not see myself or think about myself. All that I am is a shame. Every part of my being is ugly.” I truly saw myself in such away. That was the time I began to realize the preciousness of the Lord’s blood. I prayed, “Lord, I have nothing to say. Cleanse me. Cleanse me with Your blood. Cleanse my eyes, cleanse my thoughts, cleanse every part of my being. Lord, cleanse everything.” One day I made a confession to the Lord that lasted for half a day. Although I confessed continuously without letup, I felt, at the end of that time, that my confession had not been thorough. Within me came the deep conviction that I did not dare to do anything. I could only say, “Lord, I should not initiate anything. My whole being needs Your cleansing, not my doing. Lord, I just apply Your blood. Lord, You take the initiative. If You do not do anything, neither will I.” I had been caught by the heavenly vision. I had seen that my entire being was altogether sinful, that I should not invent anything or initiate anything, that everything that proceeded out of me was defiled in the eyes of God, that even my tears of repentance needed to be washed with the blood, and that in my repentance was an element of the self that made my repentance impure. Thus, I had to repent of that repentance. This is what it means to apply the blood of Jesus and to put on Christ as your righteousness, as your covering. I had come to know my need for the blood of Christ. I had come to realize that everything I do should simply be the living of Christ as my covering. “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” This is what it means to offer the firstlings and the fat to the Lord. I can testify that never have I been as joyful as at that time. I was filled with the sweetness of the Lord. I was in the heavens. This is the experience of Abel. I know that many of you reading this message have had this kind of experience.
33亚伯所作的与新约的福音完全一致，这福音告诉我们接受血的洁净，否认自己，将自己摆在一边，并以基督作遮盖。我们需要认我们的罪，否认我们自己。我们需要献上基督作为神羊群中头生的，并献上祂的脂油作为满足神的肥甘。忘掉我们自己，拒绝我们自己，弃绝我们自己，将我们自己摆在一边，并以祂作我们的遮盖。我们若这样作，就不但为祂活，更凭祂活。基督不但是给神的祭物，也是神的路，救赎和生命的路。希伯来十一章四节说，亚伯因著信献上作基督豫表的祭，藉此便得了称许为义的见证。藉著这样的信，他今天仍旧说话。
33What Abel did corresponds exactly to the gospel in the New Testament, which tells us to receive the cleansing of the blood, to deny ourselves, to put ourselves aside, and to take Christ as our covering. We need to confess our sins and deny ourself. We need to offer Christ as the firstling of God’s sheep and to present His fat as the sweetness which satisfies God, forgetting ourselves, rejecting ourselves, renouncing ourselves, putting ourselves aside, and taking Him as our covering. If we do this, we shall not only live for Him, but by Him. Christ is not only the sacrifice to God, but also the way of God, the way of redemption and of life. Hebrews 11:4 says that by the sacrifice which he offered in faith as a type of Christ Abel obtained the witness that he was righteous. By this kind of faith he still speaks today
ｃ神的第一个祭司
C. The First Priest of God
34亚伯是第一个祭司。他并没有雇用一个祭司替他献祭;他自己献祭。每一个亚伯都是祭司。不要请别人替你献祭。不要去找天主教的神父，不要去找圣公会的祭司，或去找牧师。你该是祭司，献上牺牲的祭。在召会生活中，每一个人都是祭司，不断的将基督献给神。
34Abel was the first priest. He did not hire a priest to offer his sacrifice for him; he did it himself. Every Abel is a priest. Do not ask others to offer your sacrifice. Do not go to a father in the Catholic Church, to a priest in the Anglican Church, or to a minister or pastor. You must be the priest, presenting the sacrificial offering. Everyone in the church life is a priest. We offer Christ to God continually.
ｄ受到在肉体中敬拜者的迫害
D. Persecuted by the Worshippers in the Flesh
35亚伯被该隐逼迫杀害，因为他照神的作法敬拜神，不像该隐照自己的作法敬拜神。该隐是在肉体中，信靠他劳苦的出产，但亚伯对自己毫不信靠。他信靠他的祭物。按豫表说，亚伯是信靠基督，在基督里夸口，而不信靠肉体的。（腓三3。）在肉体里敬拜的人，总是反对并迫害那按著灵敬拜的人。（加四29。）
35Abel was persecuted and killed by Cain because he worshipped God in God’sway, not like Cain who worshipped God in his own way. Cain was in the flesh, trusting in the fruit of his labor, but Abel had no trust in himself. He put his trust in his offering. Typically speaking, Abel trusted and boasted in Christ, having no confidence in the flesh (Phil. 3:3). The worshippers in the flesh always oppose and persecute those who worship by the Spirit (Gal. 4:29
ｅ基督的豫表
E. A Type of Christ
36亚伯是基督的豫表。（来十二24。）甚么是豫表？豫表是影儿或图画。虽然亚伯不是基督，但他是基督的一幅图画，表明基督的一些方面。例如，亚伯是牧羊的人，主耶稣是那实际的牧养者，是神百姓真正的牧人。（约十11，14，来十三20。）在圣经中没有很多人被称为义人，但是基督与亚伯都被称为义人。在马太二十三章三十五节，亚伯被称为『义人亚伯;』在行传七章五十二节和二十二章十四节，主耶稣被称为那义者。亚伯被他肉身的兄弟所杀，主耶稣也是被祂的犹太弟兄所杀。此外，亚伯的血和主耶稣的血都是说话的血。创世记四章十节说，亚伯的血，有声音从地里向神哀告。亚伯之血的说话，只是基督之血说话的豫表。希伯来十二章二十四节乃是创世记四章十节之豫表的应验，告诉我们耶稣的血，乃是『所洒的血,…所说的比亚伯的血所说的更美。』感谢主，我们有说话的血。我们不但有救赎的血，洁净的血，遮盖的血，还有说话的血。亚伯的血从地上说话;耶稣的血从天上说话。耶稣的血所说的，比亚伯的血所说的更美。赞美主！
36Abel was a type of Christ (Heb. 12:24). What is a type? A type is a shadow or a picture. Although Abel was not Christ, he was a picture of Christ showing some of the aspects of Christ. For instance, Abel was a feeder of sheep. The Lord Jesus was the real feeder, the true shepherd of God’sp eople (John 10:11, 14; Heb. 13:20). Although not many people in the Bible are called righteous, both the Lord Jesus and Abel are called righteous. In Matthew 23:35 Abel was called “righteous Abel”; in Acts 7:52 and 22:14 the Lord Jesus is called the Righteous One. Abel was killed by his brother in the flesh. Jesus also was killed by His Jewish brothers. Furthermore, both the blood of Abel and the blood of Jesus are speaking bloods. Genesis 4:10 says that the voice of Abel’s blood cries unto God from the ground. The speaking of Abel’s blood, however, was only a type of the speaking of the blood of Christ. In Hebrews 12:24, the fulfillment of the type in Genesis 4:10, we are told that the blood of Jesus is the “blood of sprinkling, which speaks better than that of Abel.” Thank the Lord. We have the speaking blood. We not only have the redeeming blood, the cleansing blood, and the covering blood, but also the speaking blood. Abel’s blood spoke from the earth; Jesus’ blood speaks from heaven. It speaks better things than the blood of Abel. Praise the Lord