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出埃及记生命读经 · 第67篇

人的工作所造成的污秽以及因著人的方法而造成的暴露

The Pollution Caused by Man’s Work and the Nakedness Exposed through Man’s Way
1读经：出埃及记20:24-26；腓立比书3:2-3；哥林多前书1:18-25。
1Scripture Reading: Exo. 20:24-26; Phil. 3:2-3; 1 Cor. 1:18-25
2在本篇信息中，我有负担由二十章二十四至二十六节进一步说到敬拜神。在人与神的关系中，敬拜是极其重要的。在人类数千年的历史中，有思想的人一直思考敬拜神的事。这些人思想宇宙、日、月、星辰，以及地球和所有的植物、生物，并人类，他们就认定定规有一位神，有一位全能者。然后他们就想知道这位神当如何受人的敬拜。诸如此类的思想兴起了不同的宗教。人所发明的宗教起源于有思想之人的深思熟虑。人研究自然，发现了许多事物。再者，人观察、发现的结果，形成了推理。宗教便是对自然深入的研究加上人类哲学推理的结果。然而，从圣经来看，神不容许人设计自己敬拜神的方式。神一点也没有给人天然的观念或思想留地步。神不许可堕落的人按著研究自然所得的结论来敬拜祂。神定罪人对于敬拜神的天然推理。反之，在圣经里，神启示人必须怎样来敬拜祂。创世记对敬拜神的方式没有清楚的启示，出埃及记则有更完整的启示。神把祂所拣选并救赎的百姓领到神的山之后，便降临与他们有交通。我们已指出，律法是在求婚的气氛中在山上颁布的。这意思是说，神在西乃山向祂的百姓求婚。神赐给他们十诫，就是全部律法的主宰原则，之后，又颁布了许多的条例。在颁布十诫和条例之间，神对百姓说到他们应当敬拜祂的方式。（二十22～26。）在短短的五节里，说到敬拜神的重点。我们会看见，在二十章二十四至二十六节，人的工作和人的方法都全然为神所弃绝。
2In this message I am burdened to give a further word concerning the worship of God from 20:24-26. Worship is a very crucial matter in man’s relationship with God. Throughout the thousands of years of human history, thoughtful people have considered the matter of the worship of God. When such people ponder the universe with the sun, moon, and stars, and the earth with all the plants, living creatures, and mankind, they realize that there must be a God, an almighty Being. Then they begin to wonder how this God is to be worshipped. Considerations such as these have given rise to different religions. The religions invented by man have their source in the considerations of thoughtful people. By studying nature man has discovered certain things. Furthermore, as a result of his observations and discoveries, he has made inferences. Religion is the result of a thoughtful study of nature with man’s philosophical inferences. According to the Bible, however, God does not allow man to devise his own way to worship Him. God does not give any ground to man’s natural concept or thought. He does not permit fallen man to worship Him according to inferences drawn from the study of nature. God condemns man’s natural inferences as related to worship. On the contrary, in the Bible God reveals how man is to worship Him. In Genesis we do not have a clear revelation concerning the way to worship God. Exodus contains a much fuller revelation of this. After God brought His chosen and redeemed people to His mountain, He came to have fellowship with them. We have pointed out that the decree of the law on the mountain was given in an atmosphere of courtship. This means that at Mount Sinai God was courting His people. After giving them the Ten Commandments, the governing principles of the entire law of God, God went on to issue a number of ordinances. Between the giving of the Ten Commandments and the decreeing of the ordinances, God spoke to the people concerning the way they should worship Him (20:22-26). In the short span of five verses, the main points related to the worship of God are covered. As we shall see, in 20:24-26 both man’s work and man’sway are utterly rejected by God.
3我年轻的时候，认为出埃及记二十章的这些经节是原始、没有文化的。在我看来，筑土坛或石坛不需要有甚么技巧或发明，连一个小孩子都能作。甚至最原始、没有文化、未受教育的人也能筑这样一座坛来敬拜神。我不懂神为甚么愿意接受这样一座原始的坛。人的方法不会要建筑这样的坛。从文明的历史来看，人喜欢建筑高塔和摩天楼。住在纽约、巴黎、东京的人，也许分别夸耀他们的帝国大厦、巴黎铁塔和东京高塔。堕落人的思想是要建筑高大的东西。这事第一次发生在巴别，（创十一，）人在那里不但想要建造一座城，也要建造一座塔来夸口。这表明建造高大的建筑物，好叫人能彀夸口。愈文明的人，就建造愈高大的建筑物。但神的方式是要有一座没有台阶的坛。人的方式是尽量建造台阶多的东西。在敬拜神的事上，神没有让人的技巧、才干、发明、智慧、劳苦或能力有地位。反之，神所需要的坛，在人的眼中，定规是个原始而没有文化的东西。
3When I was young, I regarded these verses in Exodus 20 as primitive and uncultured. It seemed to me that no skill or inventiveness was required to make an altar of earth or stone. Even a child can do this. Even the most primitive, uncultured, and uneducated people can build such an altar for the worship of God. I could not understand why God was willing to accept such a primitive altar. Man’sway is not to build this kind of altar. According to the history of civilization, man likes to build towers and skyscrapers. Those who live in New York, Paris, and Tokyo may boast respectively of the Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower, and the Tokyo Tower. The thought of fallen man is to build up something high. The first occurrence of this was at Babel (Gen. 11), where the people sought to build not only a city, but also a tower of which they could boast. This indicates that tall buildings are constructed so that man is able to boast. The more cultured people are, the more tall buildings they build. But God’sway is to have an altar without steps. Man’sway is to build up something with as many steps as possible. As far as the worship of God is concerned, God gives no room for man’ss kill, ability, inventiveness, wisdom, labor, or power. On the contrary, the altar God requires must be something which, in the eyes of man, is primitive and uncultured
4论到敬拜神，天然人的倾向就是运用自己的能力和智慧。人用自己的智慧来订计画，并用自己的能力，包括他们所拥有的技巧和才干，来实现他们的计画。但从二十章二十四至二十六节来看，神不承认人的智慧和能力。就连摩西在埃及受过教育，熟悉埃及各方面的文化，『学了埃及人一切的学问』，（徒七22，）神也不允许他用自己的智慧筑一座坛来敬拜神。在神的百姓当中，摩西并不是惟一熟悉埃及文化的人。所有和他一同出埃及的人，都是在那里出生的，并且知道埃及人作事的方法。埃及文化已经强烈地注入他们里头。在二十章二十四至二十六节，神对他们清楚地说到敬拜，吩咐他们用泥土或石头筑坛。他们不可用凿成的石头，也不可筑高大的坛，要上去还需要台阶。神似乎对百姓说：『我不在意人的工作或发明，我也不在意人的方法或观念。要筑坛，你必须使用我所创造的材料。我只在意我所创造的，不在意人的工作或人的方法。』
4Concerning the worship of God, the tendency of the natural man is to use his own power and wisdom. People use their wisdom to make plans and use their power, including whatever skills and abilities they possess, to carry out their plans. But according to 20:24-26, God does not recognize man’s wisdom and power. Even though Moses had been educated in Egypt and was familiar with all the aspects of Egyptian culture, being “trained in all the wisdom of the Egyptians” (Acts 7:22), God did not allow him to use his wisdom to build an altar for the worship of God. Moses was not the only one among God’sp eople familiar with Egyptian culture. All those who came out of Egypt with him had been born there and knew the Egyptian way of doing things. All of them had received a strong infusion of Egyptian culture. In 20:24-26 God gave them a clear word concerning worship, telling them to make an altar either of earth or of stones. They were not to use hewn stones, and they were not to build an altar so high that it required steps in order to reach it. God seemed to be saying to the people, “I do not care for human work or invention, and I do not care for man’sway or concept. For the altar, you must use the materials created by Me. I care only for what I have created, not for man’s work or man’sway.”
5在神学里，时常区别自然的宗教和启示的宗教。许多人认为基督教是启示的宗教，它的根源在于神的启示，而认为其它的宗教都是天然的宗教。但可悲的是，今天甚至在基督教里也大大地强调人的工作和人的办法。不论在那一个基督教的团体里面，都很容易看出人的工作和办法，但很难发现有完全照著神启示的东西。请看看天主教和更正教里的光景。人的发明、技巧、计画、方法、能力和智慧何其多！甚至所讲的道也满了这些东西。你能在那里听见一篇纯正而完全是圣经启示的道么？大部分的道总是有许多文化的成份，与主话语中的真理搀杂在一起。几年前，我们中间有些人听见一篇教宗所传讲的信息，这篇信息是圣经真理和人类思想混杂的产品。人的工作、方法、能力和智慧完全渗透到今天的基督教里面，结果，它就成了神圣启示和天然宗教的混杂。我们若仔细读二十章二十四至二十六节，我们就会看见，神的启示没有给人的工作或人的方法留地步。人的能力、才干、技巧、力量、智慧或计画，神连一点地位也没有给。照样，在主的恢复里，我们也没让人的工作或方法有地位。我确信若有人对这个恢复作研究的话，就会发现我们没有给人的工作或人的方法留余地。有些人也许会怀疑，祷读主话的实行是不是人所发明的方法。然而，祷读不是人的发明；而是根据圣经的。在今天的基督教里，很容易看见人的工作和方法，甚至不用仔细考查，就能看得出来。在大多数的基督徒当中，人的工作和人的方法是显而易见的。有些人受到人工作和人方法强烈的影响，认为在主恢复里众教会的聚会相当原始，没有文化。他们对我们的态度是认为我们蒙昧无知、没有教养。几年前有一个人来拜访我，询问在我们中间有多少人有博士学位。他夸口说，与他有交往的人当中，有博士学位的有一百多人。这说明一件事实，在今天的基督教里，非常注意人的能力、才干、技巧和智慧。结果实际上就是把神撇在一旁。人可以说他们敬拜神，其实在他们的敬拜里，人的工作和方法却让他们把神撇在一旁了。罗马帝国接受基督教的时候，许多文化的成分带进所谓的天主教里。康士坦丁大帝开了路，带进许多异教的东西。这使基督教成为人类文化各种成分的大熔炉。再者，天主教把许多这样的东西带进他们的敬拜里。因这缘故，天主教的敬拜里，有许多人的发明。天主教满了人的方法、工作、能力和智慧。但在神的眼中，把人为的东西带到敬拜神里面来乃是可憎的。
5In theology a distinction is often made between natural religion and revealed religion. Many regard Christianity as a revealed religion, a religion which has its source in God’sr evelation, and regard all other religions as natural. However, it is very sad that even in Christianity today there is a great emphasis on man’s work and man’sway. In any Christian group it is easy to detect man’s work and way, but it is difficult to find something which is purely according to God’sr evelation. Consider the situation in Catholicism and Protestantism. How much there is of man’sin vent i on, skill, ability, plans, ways, power, and wisdom! Even the sermons given are filled with such things. Where can you hear a sermon that is pure and limited to the revelation of the Bible? Most sermons have many elements of culture, often mixed with the truth of the Word. A few years ago some of us heard a message given by the pope. This message was a mixture of biblical truth and human thought. Man’s work, way, power, and wisdom have thoroughly saturated today’s Christianity. As a result, it has become a mixture of God’sr evelation and natural religion. If we read carefully 20:24-26, we shall see that God’sr evelation leaves no room for man’s work or way. God does not give even the slightest amount of space to man’s power, ability, skill, strength, wisdom, or plans. In like manner, in the Lord’s recovery we do not give place to man’s work or way. I have the assurance that if someone would conduct research on the recovery, he would find that we do not give ground to man’s work or man’sway. Some may wonder if the practice of pray-reading the Word is a way invented by man. However, pray-reading is not an invention of man; on the contrary, it is according to the Bible. In today’s Christianity it is easy to see man’s work and way. This can be observed even without studying things closely. Among most Christians, man’s work and man’sway are very evident. Some who have been strongly influenced by man’s work and way consider the meetings of the churches in the Lord’s recovery to be primitive and uncultured. Their attitude toward us is that we are ignorant and have no knowledge or education. When a certain person visited me a few years ago, he asked how many among us have doctoral degrees. He boasted that among those associated with him there were more than one hundred with Ph. D. degrees. This is one illustration of the fact that in today’s Christianity much attention is given to human power, ability, skill, and wisdom. The consequence of this is that God is actually set aside. People may claim to worship God, but in their worship the work and way of man have actually caused them to put God aside. When the Roman Empire embraced Christianity, many elements of culture were brought into the so- called Catholic Church. Constantine the Great opened the way for many pagan things to be brought in. This caused Christianity to become a melting pot of different elements of man’s culture. Furthermore, the Catholic Church introduced many such things into their worship. For this reason, in the worship practiced in Catholicism there are many human inventions. Catholicism is filled with human ways, works, power, and wisdom. However, it is abominable in the eyes of God to bring anything man-made into the worship of God.
6在这一点上，我特别要对青年人说一句话。我们不知道主要多久才回来，这个恢复也许还要持续多年。你们中间有些人开始在教会中领头的时候，可能会想，主的恢复到美国这里来方式非常原始。你们就想要用『工具』凿石头来装饰这个恢复，拔高这个恢复。要达到这种方式所建造的『坛』，自然就需要『台阶』。事实上，以往就有人题议以某些方式来拔高这个恢复，有些人甚至想要建一座事奉小组的金字塔。但靠著主的怜悯和恩典，这座金字塔废掉了。导向金字塔顶的每一个台阶都拆毁了。反之，只要人愿意，我们就让每一个人都有事奉的机会。青年人，不要把人的工作或人的方法带到敬拜神的事上。把出于人的东西带进来，就是侮辱我们所敬拜的神。我们若研究宗教历史和现今基督教的光景，我们就会看见许多人的工作和方法。但我再说一遍，神不许可这些东西在对祂的敬拜中有任何的地位。
6At this point I would like to say a word especially to the young people. We do not know how long it will be before the Lord comes back. The recovery may need to continue for many years. When some of you begin to take the lead in the churches, you may think that the Lord’s recovery was brought to this country in a very primitive way. Then you may want to use “tools” to hew stones to beautify the recovery and to lift it up. Automatically “steps” will be necessary to reach what has been built up in this way. In fact, in the past proposals were made to lift up the recovery in certain ways. Some even tried to build a pyramid related to the service groups. But by the Lord’s mercy and grace, this pyramid was demolished. Every step leading to the top of the pyramid was torn down. Instead, we simply gave everyone the opportunity to serve if they so desired. Young people, do not bring man’s work or man’sway into the worship of God. To bring in anything of a human source is to insult the very God whom we worship. If we study the history of religion and the present situation of Christianity, we shall see an abundance of man’s work and way. But I repeat, God does not allow these things to have any place in His worship
一 人的工作所造成的污秽
I. THE POLLUTION CAUSED BY MAN’S WORK
（一） 堕落的人在神眼中就是罪
A. Fallen Man Being Sin in the Eyes of God
7出埃及记二十章二十五节说：『你若为我筑一座石坛，不可用凿成的石头，因你在上头一动工具，就把坛污秽了。』（直译。）在这里我们看见，神不许可人的工作在敬拜神的事上有分。整个堕落的人在神眼中就是罪就是污秽；我们无论是有文化的，没有文化的，受过教育的，未受教育的，在神面前都是罪。因这缘故，人的工作不是神所悦纳的。人的工作除了玷污敬拜神的事以外，甚么也不能作，因为人的本身就是污秽。不要把任何出于人的东西加到敬拜神的事上。把人的工作加到十字架上乃是神所憎恶的。
7Exodus 20:25 says, “And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.” Here we see that God does not allow man’s work to have apart in the worship of God. The entire fallen man is sin—pollution— in the eyes of God. Whether we are cultured or uncultured, educated or uneducated, we are sin before God. For this reason, no work of man is acceptable to God. Man’s work can do nothing other than pollute the worship of God, for man himself is pollution. Do not add anything of man to God’s worship. To add man’s work to the cross is abominable to God.
8敬拜神的必要条件是有祭坛。圣经清楚地指出，没有祭坛，就没有对神的敬拜。堕落的人不能直接敬拜神。我们要敬拜神，就必须经过祭坛。许多基督徒都知道，在祭坛那里，藉著祭物豫备了救赎。虽然这没有错，但祭坛所作的，比这个还多。祭坛也了结我们。每一个敬拜神的人，都在祭坛那里了结了。因我们全然是罪，全然是污秽，当我们来敬拜神时，我们应当说：『主，用宝血洁净我，并用你自己遮盖我。主，我不敢凭自己作甚么。我藉著你的十字架来敬拜你。用你救赎的血来洗净我，并用你自己作我的义来遮盖我。因为我是堕落的人，我不敢作甚么，计画甚么，或带来我自己的甚么。』每当我们敬拜神，都需要有这样的领会。虽然我有勇气传讲圣经的话，我却没有勇气建议教会生活中的事。每当弟兄们带著建议到我这里来，我总鼓励他们去祷告，要知道这是不是真出于主的。凡出于我们的东西都是污秽的，因此，出于堕落之人的，不论甚么都不能有分敬拜神的事。
8A prerequisite to the worship of God is having an altar. The Bible clearly shows that if there is no altar, there can be no worship of God. Fallen man cannot worship God directly. In order to worship Him, we must pass through the altar. Many Christians realize that at the altar redemption is provided by means of sacrifices. Although this is true, the altar does more than this. The altar also terminates us. Everyone who worships God is terminated at the altar. Because we are a totality of sin, pollution, we should say when we come to worship God, “Lord, cleanse me with the precious blood and cover me with Yourself. Lord, in myself I dare not do anything. I come to worship You through Your cross. Wash me with Your redeeming blood and cover me with Yourself as my righteousness. Because I am a fallen person, I dare not do anything, plan anything, or bring anything of my own.” We all need to have such a realization whenever we worship God. Although I have the boldness to preach the word of the Bible, I do not have the boldness to make proposals concerning matters in the church life. Whenever brothers come to me with a proposal, I encourage them to pray to learn whether or not this is truly of the Lord. Anything that is of us is pollution. Nothing of fallen man, therefore, should have a part in the worship of God
（二） 人的工作不是神所悦纳的
B. No Work of Man Acceptable to God
9因为堕落的人在神眼中就是一个污秽，人的工作就不是祂所悦纳的。该隐被定罪，因他把自己的工作带到敬拜神的事里面。他以为能彀把他劳力所得的东西带给神。但该隐不认识他在神眼中全然是污秽，凡从他而来的也是污秽的。因此，他所献给神的，就不是神所悦纳的，反倒完全是可憎的。起源于我们的东西，从我们劳苦所得来的东西，都是污秽，都不为神所悦纳。
9Because fallen man is pollution in the eyes of God, no work of man is acceptable to Him. Cain was condemned because he brought his own work into the worship of God. He thought that he could bring something to God of what he had acquired through his labor. But Cain did not realize that he was totally pollution in God’ss ight and that whatever came from him was also pollution. Therefore, what he offered to God was not acceptable to Him. On the contrary, it was altogether abominable. Anything that originates with us, anything which comes from our labor, is pollution and is not acceptable to God
（三） 把人的工作加到十字架上是神所憎恶的
C. The Addition of Man’s Work to the Cross Abominable to God
10把人的工作加到十字架上是可憎的。十字架完全是神的工作，不可加上人的工作。在林前一章十八节保罗说，『十字架的话，在那灭亡的人为愚拙；在我们得救的人却为神的大能。』（直译。）为甚么十字架在那灭亡的人为愚拙呢？因为十字架是粗糙、原始的东西，完全没有文化、没有美貌，也没有人的技巧。在保罗的时代，十字架是用来处决罪犯的刑具。然而，神却用这样的方法来拯救我们。因此，在犹太人为绊脚石，在希利尼人为愚拙。
10It is an abomination to add man’s work to the cross. The cross is wholly the work of God, and no human work is allowed to be added to it. In 1 Corinthians 1:18 Paul says that “the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Why is the cross foolishness to those who perish? It is foolishness because it is something crude, primitive, and altogether without culture, beauty, or human craftsmanship. In Paul’st i me the cross was an instrument used to execute criminals. Nevertheless, God used such a means to save us. Hence, this was a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks
11在林前一章二十三节保罗说：『我们却是传钉十字架的基督。』有意义的是这里保罗没有说他是传复活、升天、得荣或登宝座的基督。以往我有时候感到疑惑，为甚么保罗不对希利尼人说，他是传升天并被高举的基督，反倒是传钉十字架的基督。他所传的那位被钉死在十字架上，好像是一个被处决的罪犯。传钉十字架的基督，在犹太人为绊脚石，在外邦人为愚拙，但在那蒙召的，无论是犹太人、希利尼人，这位基督总为『神的能力，神的智慧。』（24。）赞美主，我们已经蒙召，接受钉十字架的基督！我们定意接受这样一位基督，不是我们发起的；我们接受祂，因为神呼召了我们；神豫定我们来接受这位基督。然而，许多基督徒接受了钉十字架的基督以后，却想要装饰祂。有些人也想要使教会在人的眼中成为美丽的。然而，不论主恢复里的甚么东西，我们一装饰，都是侮辱神。我们不该把东西加以装饰，反倒该保留在人所以为原始、没有文化的情形里。我们不该凿石头，而该有神所创造的石坛或土坛。这样的坛是祂所悦纳的。
11In 1 Corinthians 1:23 Paul says, “We preach Christ crucified.” It is significant that here Paul does not say that he preached Christ resurrected, ascended, glorified, or enthroned. In the past I sometimes wondered why Paul did not tell the Greeks that he preached Christ ascended and exalted. Instead, Paul preached Christ crucified; he preached One who was put to death on the cross, executed as if He were a criminal. To Jews the preaching of Christ crucified is a stumbling block, and to Greeks it is foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, this Christ is “God’s power and God’s wisdom” (v. 24). Praise the Lord that we have been called to receive a crucified Christ! The decision to receive such a Christ did not originate with us; we have received Him because God has called us. God has predestined us to receive this Christ. However, after receiving Christ crucified, many Christians try to beautify Him. Some have also attempted to make the church beautiful in the eyes of man. However, for us to beautify anything in the Lord’s recovery is to insult God. Instead of beautifying things, we should remain in what man would consider a primitive, uncultured situation. Instead of hewn stones, we should have an altar of stones or earth created by God. Such an altar is acceptable to Him.
12因著我们没有把人的工作加到十字架上，只有原始的坛，主的说话便与我们同在。我们不是比别人更能干，比别人更聪明。然而，因著我们没有让人的工作有地位，主就不断把祂的话向我们开启，并且发出祂的亮光来。
12Because we do not add man’s work to the cross, but only have an altar that is primitive, the Lord’s speaking is with us. We are not more capable or more intelligent than others. Nevertheless, because we do not give place to the work of man, the Lord continues to open His Word to us and to send forth His light.
13二因著人的方法而露出下体
13II. NAKEDNESS EXPOSED THROUGH MAN’SWAY
（一） 赤身露体表示堕落之人的羞耻出埃及记二十章二十六节说，『你
A. Nakedness Denoting the Shame of Fallen Man Exodus 20:26 says, “Neither shalt thou go up by
14上我的坛，不可用台阶，免得露出你的下体来。』这表明因著人的方法而露出人的下体来。根据创世记三章七节，赤身露体表示堕落之人的羞耻。在堕落以前，人没有穿衣服。不过即使没有穿衣服，也没有赤身露体，因为没有羞耻。但堕落以后，亚当和夏娃立刻发现他们是赤身露体的，并且设法为自己作一个遮盖。所以，在圣经里，赤身露体表示堕落之人的羞耻。
14steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.” This indicates that man’s nakedness is exposed through man’sway. According to Genesis 3:7, nakedness denotes the shame of fallen man. Before the fall, man was not clothed. However, even though he was unclothed, there was no nakedness because there was no shame. But immediately after the fall, Adam and Eve discovered that they were naked, and they tried to make a covering for themselves. Hence, in the Bible nakedness denotes the shame of fallen man
（二） 神豫备了基督作我们的义来遮盖我们的赤身露体
B. God Preparing Christ as Our Righteousness to Cover Our Nakedness
15创世记三章二十一节说：『耶和华神为亚当和他妻子用皮子作衣服，给他们穿。』这些皮子作的衣服，豫表基督作我们的义来遮盖我们的羞耻。（林前一30，林后五21，腓三9。）现今我们是在基督作我们完全的遮盖底下。根据加拉太三章二十七节，我们已经披戴基督了；我们已经穿上祂。这意思是说，基督好比我们所穿的衣服和袍子。赞美主，我们能在神面前夸口说，我们完全被基督所遮盖！神在基督里的救恩是以基督来遮盖我们，没有一部分是露出来的。虽然神的救恩是以基督来遮盖我们，人的方法却使他堕落的性情暴露出来。登台阶上祭坛，使人露出下体来。这指明人的智慧建筑起有台阶的坛来敬拜神，使人的下体露出来。这里的原则是说，人的智慧建筑台阶，把基督撇在一旁。我们从经历中知道，每当我们运用自己的智慧来计画敬拜神的事情时，事实上就已经把基督撇在一旁了。不仅如此，一个教会的长老若运用他们的智慧订计画，或建筑崇高有台阶的东西，就会把基督撇弃了。我们不该运用智慧来订计画，反倒该完全信靠基督。那么我们就会留在作我们遮盖的基督之下。
15Genesis 3:2 1 says, “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” These coats of skins typify Christ as our righteousness to cover our shame (1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9). Now we are under Christ as our full covering. According to Galatians 3:27, we have put on Christ; we have clothed ourselves with Him. This means that Christ is compared to a garment, a robe, we put on. Praise the Lord that we can boast before God that we are fully covered with Christ! God’ss alvation in Christ covers us with Christ and leaves no part naked. Although God’s salvation clothes us with Christ, man’s way uncovers the nakedness of his fallen nature. Climbing up steps to an altar exposes one’s nakedness. This indicates that man’s wisdom in building an altar with steps for the worship of God causes man’s nakedness to be exposed. The principle here is that man’s wisdom in building steps puts Christ aside. From our experience we know that whenever we exercise our own wisdom to plan something related to the worship of God, we actually put Christ aside. Furthermore, should the elders in a church exercise their wisdom to make plans or to build something elevated with steps, Christ will be set aside. Instead of exercising our wisdom to make our plans, we should fully trust in Christ. Then we shall remain under Christ as our covering.
16在我尽主职事的这些年间，我学会每当觉得有一种需要时，就该俯伏在主面前祷告说：『主，遮盖我！我不知道要对弟兄们说甚么。主，在这个光景中，你是一切。』这样的祷告就保守自己在作我们遮盖的基督之下。但我们若擅自劝告别人，告诉他们怎样怎样作，便是露出我们的下体，就是露出我们堕落性情的羞耻来。当各种环境兴起来，或是问题发生的时候，我们若留在作我们遮盖的基督之下，不用我们的智慧去处理，我们就会被遮盖，没有人会看见我们堕落性情的羞耻。但我们愈运用智慧订计画、筑『台阶』，我们就愈被暴露。这个暴露是可耻的，也是神所定罪的。神绝不许可那些敬拜祂的人赤身露体。旧约里的祭司必须穿上长袍，神就只能看见遮盖他们的衣服。祭司所穿的长袍豫表主耶稣基督。祂就是我们的长袍。我们敬拜神时，必须留在基督里，并且在祂作我们的遮盖之下。这要求我们不把自己的智慧或计画带进来，筑一座有台阶的高坛。人的方法不但使他堕落的性情露出来；它也藉著天然的才干高举功绩，并且造出不同水平的成就来。在天主教里有一种阶级制度，有许多的『台阶』、许多人类成就的水平。要确信，人的方法藉著天然的才干高举他自己的功绩，并且造出不同水平的成就来。但把人的工作加到十字架上如何是神所憎恶的，照样，人的方法在敬拜神的事上对祂也是可憎的。
16During my years in the Lord’s ministry, I have learned that whenever I become aware of a certain need, I should bow down before the Lord and pray, “Lord, cover me. I don’t know what to say to the brothers. Lord, You be everything in this situation.” To pray in this way is to keep ourselves under Christ as our covering. But if we presume to advise others and tell them what to do, we shall expose our nakedness, the shame of our fallen nature. If we remain under Christ as our covering when various situations come up or when problems arise and do not exercise our wisdom to deal with them, we shall be covered, and no one will see the shame of our fallen nature. But the more we exercise our wisdom to make plans and build “steps,” the more we shall be exposed. This exposure is shameful and condemned by God. God never allows those who worship Him to be naked. The priests in the Old Testament had to wear long robes so that God could see only the garment which covered them. The long robe worn by the priest typifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our long robe. As we worship God, we must remain in Christ and under Him as our covering. This requires that we refrain from bringing in our own wisdom or plans to build a high altar with steps. Man’sway not only uncovers the nakedness of his fallen nature; it also promotes achievement by natural ability and creates different levels of attainment. In Catholicism there is a hierarchical system with many “steps,” many levels of human attainment. To be sure, man’sway promotes his own achievement by natural ability and creates different levels of attainment. But just as adding man’s work to the cross is abominable to God, so man’sway in the worship of God is also abominable to Him
三 祭坛─十字架─
III. THE ALTAR—THE CROSS
了结堕落的人
BEING THE TERMINATION OF FALLEN MAN
及其所有的工作和方法
WITH ALL HIS WORKS AND WAYS
17每当我们要正确地敬拜神，就必须到祭坛那里。祭坛会了结我们，以及我们所有的工作和方法。我们这些堕落的人若要敬拜神，就必须经过祭坛，经过十字架。我们已指出，十字架不但把基督的救赎给人；它也了结堕落的人及其才干与智慧。堕落的人不能用他的才干工作，也不能用他的智慧计画来讨神喜悦。因此，我们必须与坛上的祭物联合，并且被了结。在旧约里，献祭的人要按手在被宰祭牲的头上。这表明献祭的人与祭牲联合；祭牲了结时，献祭的人也在祭牲中了结了。所以，我们在敬拜神的事上，必须与在十字架上作我们祭牲的基督联合，并且被了结。
17Whenever we come to worship God in a proper way, we must go to the altar. The altar will terminate us with all our works and ways. As fallen people, we must pass through the altar, the cross, if we are to worship God. As we have pointed out, the cross not only provides man with Christ’s redemption; it also terminates fallen man with his ability and wisdom. Fallen man cannot please God with his ability to work and his wisdom to plan. Therefore, we must identify ourselves with the sacrifice on the altar and be terminated. In the Old Testament one who offered a sacrifice placed his hand upon it when it was slain. This indicates that the one who offered the sacrifice identified himself with the sacrifice. When the sacrifice was terminated, the one who offered it was terminated in the sacrifice. Therefore, in the worship of God we must be identified with Christ as our sacrifice on the cross and be terminated.
四 以基督的美德
IV. THE VIRTUE OF CHRIST
为燔祭和平安祭来敬拜神
AS THE BURNT OFFERING AND THE PEACE OFFERING in the worship of God
18出埃及记二十章二十四节说：『你要为我筑土坛，在上面以牛羊献为燔祭和平安祭。』这一节题到燔祭和平安祭。我们与坛上的祭牲联合而被了结以后，就要以基督的美德为燔祭和平安祭来敬拜神。一方面，十字架所了结的人，以基督的美德为燔祭来敬拜神，让神得著满足。另一方面，这样的人以基督的美德作为平安祭来敬拜神，让神和一同敬拜的人彼此同得满足。这是神所渴望的敬拜，是祂所命定的敬拜，是祂所悦纳的敬拜。因此，让我们学习不要把我们的工作和方法，我们的能力和智慧，我们的才干和计画，带进敬拜神的事中。反之，我们必须弃绝这一切东西。真正敬拜神的人，乃是他和他的能力、智慧一同在十字架上被了结，并且以基督的美德来敬拜神的人。在二十章二十二至二十六节我们看见，神所渴望的敬拜乃是藉著十字架并同著基督，藉著祭坛并同著祭物的敬拜。祭坛豫表十字架，了结所有要敬拜神的人；而祭物豫表基督，满足神，又叫我们与神并与其他的敬拜者彼此同得满足。由此我们看见神所悦纳之敬拜中的重要因素。我们必须藉著十字架并与基督同来敬拜神，十字架了结我们，而基督把神和所有的敬拜者带进彼此的满足里。
18Exodus 20:24 says, “An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen.” This verse mentions the burnt offering and the peace offering. After we have been terminated by identifying ourselves with the sacrifice on the altar, we shall worship God in the virtue of Christ as the burnt offering and the peace offering. On the one hand, a person terminated by the cross worships God in the virtue of Christ as the burnt offering for God’s satisfaction. On the other hand, such a person worships God in the virtue of Christ as the peace offering for a mutual satisfaction with God and with his fellow-worshippers. This is the worship God desires, the worship He has ordained, the worship that is acceptable to Him. Therefore, let us learn not to bring our work and our way, our power and our wisdom, our ability and our plans, into the worship of God. Instead, we must reject all these things. A true worshipper of God is one who is terminated on the cross with his power and wisdom and who worships God in the virtue of Christ. In 20:22-26 we see that the worship God desires is worship through the cross and with Christ, through the altar and with the sacrifices. The altar, typifying the cross, terminates all those who would worship God, and the sacrifices, typifying Christ, satisfy God and give us mutual satisfaction with God and other worshippers. In this we see the vital essence of the worship which is acceptable to God. We must worship God through the cross which terminates us and with Christ who brings God and all the worshippers into a mutual satisfaction.