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罗马书生命读经 · 第21篇

荣耀的后嗣（四）

HEIRS OF GLORY(4)
2 外面藉著万有互相效力
2. Outwardly by the Working Together of All Things
1我们无法避免前一篇信息所题的过程，因为那是圣灵用叹息代求的目的。父神知道那灵叹息的目的，因此祂使万有都互相效力。（罗八28。）在二十六至二十七节说到那灵的代求以后，二十八节说，『还有，我们晓得万有都互相效力，叫爱神的人得益处，就是按祂旨意被召的人。』圣灵在我们里面叹息，为我们代求，父神就答应这代求，使万有都互相效力，叫我们得益处。『万有』原文意万人、万事、万物，一切的一切。父神是主宰一切的，祂安排每件事。祂知道你需要几根头发，（太十30，）你该有几个儿女。不要埋怨你的儿女，因为神给你的不会多于或少于你所需要的。祂是主宰一切的，祂知道。祂知道你需要顺从的儿女或顽皮的儿女。祂知道你需要男孩或女孩。我一再说，祂知道。祂使万人、万事、万物都互相效力，叫你得益处。似乎神为你牺牲每个人。对妻子而言，丈夫是牺牲品；对丈夫而言，妻子是牺牲品。对儿女而言，父母是牺牲品；对父母而言，儿女是牺牲品。谁能作这样的工作？惟有神。我曾告诉主：『主，为甚么你单单为我牺牲每个人？』我里面感觉到，与我配搭的众弟兄，甚至众召会，都为我牺牲了。然而，你受苦的时候，我更受苦。妻子受苦的时候，丈夫更受苦；儿女受苦的时候，父母更受苦。赞美主，神使万人、万事、万物都互相效力，叫爱祂、蒙祂呼召的人得益处，目的是要成全祂的定旨。神豫先定了我们的定命，但如果没有使万有都为我们互相效力的神圣安排，这定命绝不能完成。我们的定命是要模成神长子的形像。我们还没有完全在神长子的形像里，但父神正在计画、模塑、并实施，使万有互相效力，叫我们得益处。赞美主！我们长大的时候，祂就在模塑。
1We cannot avoid the process mentioned in the previous message, for it is the purpose of the Holy Spirit’s intercession with groanings. God the Father knows the purpose of the Spirit’s groaning and thus He causes all things to work together (v. 28). Following verses 26 and 27 which speak of the Spirit’s intercession, we have verse 28 which says, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to the purpose.” The Holy Spirit groans within us, interceding for us, and God the Father answers this intercession by causing all things to work together for good. In Greek the word translated “all things” means all matters, all persons, all things, all in all. God the Father is sovereign and He arranges everything. He knows how many hairs you need (Matt. 10:30) and how many children you should have. Do not complain about your children, for God will not give you more or less than you need. He is sovereign. He knows. He knows whether you need obedient children or naughty children. He knows whether you need boys or girls. Again and again I say that He knows. He causes all things, all matters, and all persons to work together for your good. It seems that God sacrifices everyone for you. To the wife her husband is a sacrifice, and to the husband his wife is a sacrifice. To the children the parents are a sacrifice, and to the parents the children are a sacrifice. Who can do such a work? Only God. I have told the Lord, “Lord, why do You sacrifice everyone just for me?” I have the inward sensation that all the brothers with whom I coordinate and even all the churches are sacrifices for me. Nevertheless, when you suffer, I suffer more. When the wife suffers loss, the husband suffers more, and when the children suffer, the parents suffer more. Praise the Lord that God causes all things, all matters, and all persons to work together for good to those who love Him and who have been called by Him to the end that He may fulfill His purpose. God has determined our destiny beforehand, and this destiny can never be fulfilled without the divine arrangement which causes all things to work together for us. Our destiny is to be conformed to the image of the firstborn Son of God. We are not yet fully in the image of the firstborn Son of God, but God the Father is planning, molding, and performing by causing all things to work together for good. Praise the Lord! While we are growing, He is molding.
2我们都该受安慰。你若有好妻子，要为著你的好妻子赞美主。你若有难办的妻子，更要为著你难办的妻子赞美主。无论你有好妻子或难办的妻子，好丈夫或难办的丈夫，顺从的儿女或顽皮的儿女－无论你有甚么，你都该受安慰。你该告诉主：『主，我会犯错，也犯了许多错，但你永不会错。甚至我的错也在你手中。你若不允许我犯错，你只要动动你的小指头，调度环境，我就不会犯错。一切都在你手中。』所以，我们都必须受安慰。然而，不要属灵到走极端，祷告父给你苦难。不要祷告求苦难。反而你该祷告：『父，救我脱离试诱，救我脱离各种苦难，使我离开各种搅扰。』虽然你这样祷告，但有些艰难和患难仍会临到你。这些事临到的时候，不要埋怨，也不要受搅扰，乃要说，『父，为这事感谢你。父，若是可能，就把这杯从我撤去。然而，父，不要成就我的意思，只要成就你的意思。』这是正确的态度。绝不要祷告求苦难来临，乃要祷告求父使苦难离开你。然而，苦难来临时，不要失望；要接受苦难并继续祷告：『父，若是可能，就把这事撤去。保守我在你面前，离开一切为难和打岔。』一面我们必须这样祷告；另一面我们必须对父所赐给我们的一切喜乐，因为我们知道一切都在祂手中，临到我们是要叫我们模成祂长子的形像。这模成是豫备叫我们得荣耀。现在让我们往前到三十一节：『这样，对这些事，我们可说甚么？神若帮助我们，谁能抵挡我们？』我们不该照著天然的观念接受这话。神不是以我们的方式，乃是以祂的方式帮助我们。
2We all should be comforted. If you have a nice wife, praise the Lord for your nice wife. If you have a difficult wife, praise the Lord even more for your difficult wife. Whether you have a nice wife or a difficult wife, a nice husband or a difficult husband, obedient children or naughty children—whatever you have you should be comforted. You should tell the Lord, “Lord, I can make and I have made many mistakes, but You can never be mistaken. Even my mistakes are in Your hands. If You do not allow me to make a mistake, You just move Your little finger and change the situation and I will not make one. Everything is in Your hands.” Therefore, we all must be comforted. However, do not be so spiritual that you go to an extreme and pray the Father to give you suffering. Do not pray for sufferings. Instead you should pray, “Father, deliver me from temptation. Deliver me from all manner of sufferings. Keep me away from every kind of disturbance.” Although you pray in this way, some hardships and afflictions will visit you. When they come, do not complain and do not be troubled, but say, “Father, thank You for this. Father, if it is possible, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, Father, not my will but Thine be done.” This is the proper attitude. Never pray that sufferings come, but pray the Father to keep sufferings away from you. However, when the sufferings come, do not be disappointed; accept them and continue to pray, “Father, if possible take this away. Keep me in Your presence, away from every trouble and distraction.” On one hand we must pray in this way; on the other hand we must be happy with all that the Father gives us, because we know that everything is in His hands and comes our way that we may be conformed to the image of His firstborn Son. This conformation is the preparation for our glorification. Let us now proceed to verse 31. “What shall we then say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” We should not take this word according to our natural concept. God is not for us in our way, but in His
3三十二节说，『神既不吝惜自己的儿子，为我们众人舍了，岂不也把万有和祂一同白白的赐给我们么？』本节的『万有』，原文也是万人、万事、万物的意思。万人、万事、万物已白白的赐给我们。我们必须信一切都互相效力，叫我们得益处。甚至我们的仇敌也叫我们得益处。
3Verse 32 says, “He Who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not also with Him freely give us all things?” The word “all” in this verse is also the Greek word panta, which means all things, matters, and persons. All things, matters, and persons have been freely given to us. We must believe that everything works together for good. Even our enemies are for our good.
4『谁能控告神所拣选的人？有神称我们为义了。』（33。）惟有神有资格控告我们，但祂称我们为义。『谁能定我们的罪？有基督耶稣已经死了，而且已经复活了，现今在神的右边，还为我们代求。』『34。』在十节我们清楚看见，基督在我们里面，但三十四节这里告诉我们，基督在神的右边。因此，同一章告诉我们，基督在两个地方－在我们里面，也在神的右边。基督在那里？因为祂是那灵，（林后三17，）祂无所不在。祂在天上，也在地上，在神的右边，也在我们的灵里。照著二十六节，那灵在我们里面代求；照著三十四节，基督在神的右边为我们代求。我们有两位代求者『一位在我们里面，另一位在神的右边』么？不，这二者乃是一。这好像电一样。在我们家里和发电厂里都有电；然而电只有一个。同样，基督在神的右边，也在我们的灵里，为我们代求。现在我要请你留意一个事实，在三十节里所有的动词原文都是过去式。让我们再读本节：『祂所豫定的人，又召他们来；所召来的人，又称他们为义；所称为义的人，又叫他们得荣耀。』既然得荣要在将来发生，为甚么保罗用过去式说『叫他们得荣耀』，而不用未来式说『将要叫他们得荣耀』？虽然得荣还没有发生，保罗却用过去式。这是甚么意思？我们再次看见，我们若只照著白纸黑字读圣经，就会陷入难处。我问你，得荣成就了么？为甚么这里使徒保罗用过去式说『叫他们得荣耀』？你得荣了么？圣经说我们已经得荣耀了。三十节所题的每件事都是已成就的事实－豫定、呼召、称义、得荣耀。说已蒙『豫定』没有问题，因为那是过去已成就的行动。我们也可以说，『已蒙呼召』；然而，许多人还没有蒙召，我们必须向他们传福音，使他们蒙召。不但如此，虽然我们得称义了，但还有许多新得救的人要得称义。再者，我们没有一个人已得荣耀，包括保罗自己在内。然而，保罗说每一件事都是用过去式。
4“Who shall bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God Who justifies” (v. 33). Only God is qualified to place a charge against us, but He justifies us. “Who is he that condemns? It is Christ Jesus Who died, but rather Who was raised, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also intercedes for us.” In verse 10 we see clearly that Christ is in us, but here in verse 34 we are told that Christ is at the right hand of God. Thus, in one chapter we are told that Christ is in two places—in us and at the right hand of God. Where is Christ? Because He is the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:17), He is omnipresent. He is both in heaven and on earth, both at the right hand of God and in our spirit. According to verse 26 the Spirit intercedes within us, and according to verse 34 Christ intercedes for us at the right hand of God. Do we have two intercessors—one within us and the other at the right hand of God? No, these two are one. This is similar to electricity. We have electricity in our homes as well as in the power plant; nevertheless there is just one electricity. Likewise, Christ intercedes for us both at the right hand of God and from within our spirit. I would now like to call your attention to the fact that in verse 30 all of the verbs are in past tense. Let us read this verse once again. “And whom He predestinated, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” Since glorification will occur in the future, why does Paul say “glorified” and not “He will glorify”? Although glorification has not yet occurred, Paul uses the past tense. What does this mean? Once again we see that if we only read the Bible according to the black and white letters we will get into difficulty. I ask you, has glorification been accomplished? Why does the Apostle Paul here say “glorified”? Have you been glorified? The Bible says that we have been glorified already. Everything mentioned in verse 30 is an accomplished fact — predestinated, called, justified, and glorified. There is no problem with saying “predestinated,” because that was an action performed in the past. We may also say “called”; however, many people have not yet been called and we must preach the gospel to them that they may be called. Furthermore, although we have been justified, many new converts will be justified. Moreover, none of us, including Paul himself, has been glorified. Nevertheless, Paul put everything in the past tense.
5我们必须记得，我们受时间的限制。一位大教师曾说，天上没有时钟，因为神是永远的神。祂是永远的神，在祂没有时间。你甚么时候得荣耀？你在已过的永远里已经被豫定、蒙呼召、得称义、并得荣耀。在神的眼中，照祂的观念，一切都成就了。请告诉我，得荣若没有成就，使徒约翰怎能在一千九百多年前就看见新耶路撒冷？他不是在作梦－他是真正看见了。（启二一2。）你曾否留意启示录这卷满了将来之事的豫言书里，几乎所用的一切动词都是过去式，指明一切都成就了？为甚么我题这点？因为这说明了罗马八章三十一节接续三十节的原因。我们的豫定是稳妥的，我们不需要保险公司。我们的称义和得荣在永远的神自己里面是稳妥、保险的。地上没有一个保险公司能与祂相比。祂自己是最大的保险公司。我们的救恩、称义、和得荣是保险的，因为祂成就了一切。照著我们的感觉，得荣要在将来发生，但照著神的观念，得荣已经发生了。在神每件事都不受时间限制。我们的被豫定、蒙呼召、得称义、和得荣耀是永远的事，不是时间的事。因此，我们是有保险的。
5We must remember that we are subject to time. One great teacher has said that there is no clock in heaven because God is the God of eternity. He is the eternal God; with Him there is no time. When were you glorified? You were predestinated, called, justified, and glorified in eternity past. In God’se yes and according to His concept everything has been accomplished. Tell me, if glorification has not been accomplished, how could the Apostle John have seen the New Jerusalem nineteen hundred years ago? He was not dreaming—he actually saw it (Rev. 21:2). Have you ever noticed that nearly all the verbs used in the book of Revelation, a book filled with prophecies of future events, are in the past tense, indicating that everything has been accomplished? Why do I mention this? Because this explains why verse 31 follows verse 30. Our predestination has been secured, and we do not need an insurance company. Our justification and glorification are secured and insured in the eternal God Himself. There is no insurance company on earth that can compare with Him. He Himself is the greatest insurance company. Our salvation, justification, and glorification are insured because He has accomplished everything. According to our feeling, glorification will happen in the future, but according to God’s concept it has occurred already. With God everything is timeless. Our predestination, calling, justification, and glorification are eternal matters, not matters of time. Thus, we are insured
四得荣
d glorification
1 神的众子显示在荣耀的自由里
1. The Revelation of the Sons of God in the Freedom of Glory
6现在我们来看得荣的事，接续于十九节：『受造之物正在专切期望著，热切等待神的众子显示出来。』『显示』这辞，是本节所用之原文更准确的繙译，比『显明』更好。『显示』原文与启示同字，意思是揭开幔子。有个东西被幔子遮蔽、遮盖了。有一天幔子要挪去，隐藏的事物要显示出来。我们虽是神的众子，却被遮蔽，还未显示出来。主耶稣在地上时，祂是神的儿子，但祂被属人的肉体所遮蔽。有一天在山上祂除去幔子，并显示出来。（太十七1～2。）我们也是一样。我们虽是神的众子，却在幔子之下。有一天这幔子要挪去－那将是我们的得荣。神的众子要从幔子之下出来，并显示出来。然后全宇宙都要观看神的众子。
6We come now to the matter of glorification and continue with verse 19. “For the anxious watching of the creation eagerly expects the revelation of the sons of God.” The word “revelation,” a more accurate rendering of the Greek word used in this verse, is a better word than manifestation. Revelation means to open the veil. Something has been veiled, covered by a veil. One day the veil will be removed, and the hidden things will be revealed. Although we are the sons of God, we are veiled, not yet revealed. When the Lord Jesus was on earth He was the Son of God, but He was veiled by His human flesh. One day on the mountain He was unveiled and revealed (Matt. 17:1-2). It is the same with us. Although we are sons of God, yet we are under a veil. One day this veil will be removed — that will be our glorification. All the sons of God will come out from under the veil and be revealed. Then the whole universe will behold the sons of God.
7受造之物正在专切期望著，热切等待要看见神的众子这样显示出来，因为『受造之物服在虚空之下，不是自己愿意的，乃是因那叫牠服的，指望著受造之物自己，也要从败坏的奴役得著释放，得享神儿女之荣耀的自由』。（罗八20～21。）我们看过，一切受造之物都在虚空、辖制、和败坏的奴役之下。受造之物惟一的盼望，就是神的众子显示出来时，受造之物就要从这败坏的奴役得著释放，得享神儿女之荣耀的自由。虽然一切受造之物目前都被拘留在虚空和败坏的光景里，但神要带进一个国度，顶替目前这光景。目前的光景是虚空和败坏之奴役的光景；要来的国将是神荣耀的国，主要由神显示出来的众子所组成。当这国显示出来的时候，一切受造之物都要得著释放。受造之物正在专切期望著，热切等待这国来临。因此，『一切受造之物一同叹息，一同受生产之苦，直到如今。』（22。）宇宙在叹息并受生产之苦，等待神的众子显示出来。不但如此，就是我们『这有那灵作初熟果子的』，也是自己叹息，热切等待儿子的名分，就是我们的身体得赎。（23。）在二十四节保罗说，『我们是在盼望中得救的；只是所见的盼望不是盼望，谁还盼望他所见的？』本节所题的盼望是荣耀的盼望。既然我们没有一个人见过这盼望，牠就是完整且真正的盼望。有的盼望是局部的，因为我们多少见过一点。然而，荣耀的盼望是完整的盼望，因为我们一点也没有见过。因此，我们在等候那盼望，『忍耐著热切等待。』（25。）
7The creation is eagerly expecting and anxiously watching to see this revelation of the sons of God, because “the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of Him Who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will also be freed from the slavery of corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (vv. 20-21). As we have seen, the entire creation is under vanity, bondage, and the slavery of corruption. Creation’son ly hope is to be freed from this slavery of corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God when the sons of God are revealed. Although the entire creation is presently held in a condition of vanity and corruption, God will bring in a kingdom to replace this present condition. The present condition is a condition of vanity and slavery of corruption; the coming kingdom will be a kingdom of the glory of God, a kingdom composed primarily of revealed sons of God. At the time of the revelation of this kingdom the whole creation will be liberated. The creation is eagerly expecting and anxiously watching for this kingdom to come. Thus, “the whole creation groans together and travails in pain together until now” (v. 22). The universe is groaning and travailing in birth awaiting the revelation of the sons of God. Furthermore, we ourselves, “having the firstfruit of the Spirit,” also groan as we expect sonship, the redemption of our body (v. 23). In verse 24 Paul says that “we have been saved in hope; but hope that is seen is not hope; for what anyone sees, why does he also hope?” The hope mentioned in this verse is the hope of glory. Since none of us has ever seen this hope, it is a hope complete and genuine. Some hope is partial because we have seen a certain percentage of it. However, the hope of glory is a whole hope, for we have not seen any part of it. Hence, we are waiting for that hope, “eagerly expecting it through endurance” (v. 25
2 同享神的荣耀
2. The Sharing of God’s Glory
8五章二节说，我们『因盼望神的荣耀而夸耀』，九章二十三节说，我们是『蒙怜悯、早豫备得荣耀的器皿』。这荣耀将在要来国度的显示里，是我们这些神显示出来的众子所要有分的。神呼召我们进入这荣耀。（帖前二12，帖后二，彼前五10。）基督自己就是我们所期望并等待的这荣耀的盼望。（西一。）我们的盼望不是别的，乃是那要显示为我们荣耀的基督自己。我们现今因这荣耀的盼望而夸耀并欢乐。我们在得荣的日子要同享这荣耀。基督显现的时候，我们要与祂一同显现在荣耀里。（三4。）这是我们的定命。
8Chapter 5:2 says, that we “boast in hope of the glory of God,” and 9:23 says that we are “vessels of mercy, which He had before prepared unto glory.” This glory will be in the revelation of the coming kingdom in which we, as revealed sons of God, shall participate. God has called us into this glory (1 Thes. 2:12; 2 Thes. 2:14; 1 Pet. 5:10). Christ Himself is the hope of this 14 glory (Col. 1:27) which we are expecting and for which we are waiting. Our hope is none other than Christ 27 Himself who will be revealed as our glory. We now boast and rejoice in this hope of glory. We shall share this glory at the day of our glorification. When Christ appears, we shall appear with Him in glory (Col. 3:4). This is our destiny.
9参与神的爱不能隔绝的后嗣『谁能使我们与基督的爱隔绝？难道是患难么？是困苦么？是逼迫么？是饥饿么？是赤身么？是危险么？是刀剑么？如经上所记：「我们为你的缘故，终日被杀，人看我们如将宰的羊。」』（罗八35～36。）虽然这里的确说到苦难，但以下的经文宣告：『然而藉著那爱我们的，在这一切的事上，我们已经得胜有余了。因为我深信，无论是死，是生，是天使，是掌权的，是现今的事，是要来的事，是有能的，是高，是深，或是别的受造之物，都不能叫我们与神的爱隔绝，这爱是在我们的主基督耶稣里的。』（37～39。）我们不被打败；我们得胜有余，因为神爱我们。为甚么神这样关切我们，为我们作这么多事？只因为我们是祂所爱的。没有人能叫我们与祂的爱隔绝。一旦祂爱我们，祂就以永远的爱永远爱我们。没有甚么能使我们与祂隔绝。因为祂爱我们，因为我们是祂所爱的，迟早我们都要被圣别、变化、模成、并得荣。
9III. HEIRS INSEPARABLE FROM GOD’S LOVE “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For Your sake we are being put to death all day long, we have been reckoned as sheep for slaughter” (vv. 35-36). Although this certainly speaks of suffering, the following verses declare, “But in all these things we more than conquer through Him Who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (vv. 37-39). We are not defeated; we more than conquer because God loves us. Why does God care so much for us and do so many things for us? Simply because we are His beloved. No one can separate us from His love. Once He loves us, He loves us forever with an eternal love. Nothing can separate us from Him. Because He loves us and because we are His beloved, sooner or later we all shall be sanctified, transformed, conformed, and glorified.
10保罗很有智慧，并且极有深度。正如我在前面曾指出，他是照著神的三个属性－祂的公义、圣别和荣耀，来写罗马书的三段。然而，保罗末了引导我们进入神的爱。至终，我们的保证不但是神的公义、圣别和荣耀，也是祂的爱。神的爱是甚么？爱是神的心。神的爱出自祂的心。公义是神的法则，圣别是神的性情，荣耀是神的彰显，爱是神的心。保罗说到神的公义、圣别、和荣耀以后，就带我们进入神爱的心。为甚么神显示祂的义？因为人是堕落的。人和神不对了，需要祂的义。为甚么神必须运用祂的圣别？因为人是凡俗的。神必须圣别所有蒙祂拣选、凡俗的人。为甚么神必须将祂的荣耀赐给我们？因为所有蒙祂拣选的人都是低微、卑贱、卑鄙的。因此，祂必须运用祂的荣耀使我们改变形状。但原初在神心里的是甚么？乃是爱。在神运用祂的公义、圣别、和荣耀之前，祂就爱了我们。爱是泉源，爱是根本，爱是这一切的源头。神在祂豫定我们之前就爱我们，在祂呼召我们之前就爱我们，在祂称义我们之前就爱我们，在祂叫我们得荣耀之前就爱我们。在其他任何事、一切事之前，祂就爱我们。我们所得的救恩起源于神的爱。爱是神为我们所作一切的源头，这爱就是祂的心。爱是神永远救恩的源头，这救恩包括救赎、称义、和好、圣别、变化、模成和得荣。救恩开始于神爱的心。
10Paul was wise and very deep. As I have pointed out previously, he composed three of the sections in Romans according to three of the attributes of God — His righteousness, holiness, and glory. Eventually, however, Paul guides us into the love of God. Ultimately, our security is not only God’s righteousness, holiness, and glory, but also His love. What is God’s love? Love is the heart of God. God’s love issues out of His heart. Righteousness is the way of God, holiness is the nature of God, glory is the expression of God, and love is the heart of God. After speaking of God’s righteousness, holiness, and glory, Paul brings us into God’she art of love. Why has God demonstrated His righteousness? Because man was fallen. Man was wrong with God and needed His righteousness. Why must God exercise His holiness? Because man is common. God must sanctify all of His common, chosen ones. Why must God give us His glory? Because all His chosen ones are low, mean, and vile. Hence, He must exercise His glory to transfigure us. But what was in God’s he art originally? Love. Before God exercised His righteousness, holiness, and glory He loved us. Love was the fountain, love was the root, and love was the source of it all. God loved us before He predestinated us, He loved us before He called us, He loved us before He justified us, and He loved us before He glorified us. Before everything and anything else He loved us. Our salvation originated with the love of God. Love is the source of all that God does for us, and this love is His heart. Love was the source of God’s eternal salvation which includes redemption, justification, reconciliation, sanctification, transformation, conformation, and glorification. Salvation began with God’she art of love.
11所以，神的救恩完全成就之后，祂的爱仍是我们的保证。神的爱不但是我们救恩的源头，也是我们救恩的保证。许多基督徒谈论永远的保证。永远的保证乃是神的爱。神在祂任何的属性上都不会有问题。我们的保证是祂的爱。在三十一节保罗问：『这样，对这些事，我们可说甚么？』对豫定、呼召、称义和得荣，我们可说甚么？我们没有甚么可说，只有说，『阿利路亚！』『神若帮助我们，谁能抵挡我们？』现在我们能更深的领会这话。神帮助我们，因为从永远里祂的心就爱我们。因此，祂的爱是我们的保证。保罗在五章八节就题到这爱，他说，『惟有基督在我们还作罪人的时候，为我们死，神就在此将祂自己的爱向我们显明了。』实在说来，这是对神的爱的引介和推荐。我们相信耶稣时，圣灵就将神的爱浇灌在我们心里。（5。）虽然保罗在罗马五章题到爱这件事，但他没有充分说到这爱。乃是等到他讲完神的豫定、呼召、称义、以及使我们得荣耀这广大的范围，完成全部的记载以后，才达到适当的时间和地点，将神的爱完全的启示向我们陈明。保罗深信没有甚么能叫我们与神的爱隔绝，因为他知道这爱不是源于或在于我们，乃是在于神自己。这爱不是我们发起的，乃是神在永远里发起的。因此保罗能说我们在一切的事上得胜。保罗确信没有甚么『能叫我们与神的爱隔绝，这爱是在我们的主基督耶稣里的』。
11Therefore, after God’s salvation has been fully accomplished, His love remains our security. The love of God is not only the source of our salvation, it is the security of our salvation. Many Christians talk about eternal security. Eternal security is the love of God. God cannot be wrong in any of His attributes. Our security is His love. In verse 31 Paul asks, “What shall we then say to these things?” What shall we say about predestination, calling, justification, and glorification? We have nothing to say except, “Hallelujah!” “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Now we can understand this word in a deeper way. God is for us because from eternity His heart loved us. Thus, His love is our security. Paul touched upon this love in 5:8 when he said that “God commends His own love to us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” This actually was an introduction to and a recommendation of the love of God. When we believed in Jesus the Holy Spirit poured out God’s love into our hearts (5:5). Although Paul touched upon this matter of love in Romans 5, he did not cover it adequately. He waited until he had compassed the vast scope of God’s predestination, calling, justification, and glorification. After finishing the entire record he reached the appropriate time and place to present us a full revelation of the love of God. Paul was persuaded that nothing can separate us from the love of God because he knew that this love does not derive from nor depend upon us, but upon God Himself. This love was not initiated by us; it was initiated by God in eternity. Because of this Paul could say that we conquer in all things. Paul was convinced that nothing can “separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
12『在基督耶稣里，』这辞非常有意义。为甚么保罗这样说？因为他知道神的爱若在基督耶稣以外显明，就会有问题。在基督耶稣以外，甚至像发脾气这样小小的罪，也会叫我们与神的爱隔绝。然而，神的爱不仅仅是神的爱本身，神的爱乃是在基督耶稣里。既然神的爱在基督耶稣里，一切都保险了，我们就确定没有甚么能叫我们与这爱隔绝。你保险了么？保罗保险了。我用保险这辞，保罗用『深信』这辞；他说，『我深信。』保罗确信『藉著那爱我们的，在这一切的事上，我们已经得胜有余了』。这不是说，我们在自己里面能得胜；这乃是说，神是爱，基督是得胜者。神爱我们，基督为我们成就了一切。既然神的爱是永远的，祂在基督耶稣里的爱就是我们的保证。我们不但在神的公义、圣别、和荣耀之下，我们也在祂爱的心里。现在我们能领会林后十三章十四节所说，『愿主耶稣基督的恩，神的爱，圣灵的交通，与你们众人同在。』神的爱是源头；所以，使徒保罗带我们经过神的公义、神的圣别、和神的荣耀，进入爱的神的心。这是我们所在的地方。阿利路亚！这是我们永远的保险单。人问你有没有保险，现在你就知道如何回答他们。你能说，『我有保险。我的保险单是罗马八章三十一至三十九节。我是由神心里的爱所保险的。』我们是由神在基督耶稣里永远的爱所保险的。
12This phrase “in Christ Jesus” is very significant. Why did Paul say this? Because he knew that there would be a problem if the love of God had been shown apart from Christ Jesus. Apart from Christ Jesus even a little sin such as losing our temper would separate us from the love of God. However, the love of God is not merely the love of God in itself, but the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. Since the love of God is in Christ Jesus everything is insured, and we are assured that nothing can separate us from it. Are you insured? Paul was. I use the word insured; Paul uses the word “persuaded” saying, “I am persuaded.” Paul was convinced that in all things “we more than conquer through Him Who loved us.” This does not mean that we in ourselves are able to overcome; it means that God is love and that Christ is victor. God loves us and Christ has accomplished everything for us. Since God’s love is eternal, His love in Christ Jesus is our security. We are not only under God’s righteousness, holiness, and glory, but we are in His heart of love. Now we can understand 2 Corinthians 13:14 which says, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” The love of God is the source. Therefore, the Apostle Paul has brought us through the righteousness of God, the holiness of God, and the glory of God into the heart of the God of love. This is where we are. Hallelujah! This is our eternal insurance policy. Now you know how to answer people when they ask you if you have insurance. You can say, “I have insurance. My insurance policy is Romans 8:31-39. I am insured by the love in God’she art.” We are insured by God’s eternal love in Christ Jesus