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罗马书生命读经 · 第34篇

得释放脱离罪、律法和肉体

BEING FREED FROM SIN, THE LAW, AND THE FLESH
1在前面的信息中，我们看见罗马书的中心思想，乃是神将罪人变化成为儿子，以形成基督的身体。这－不是因信称义－乃是罗马书的基本观念。我们若没有这看见，对罗马书就会有非常肤浅的领会。最终，这卷书不仅仅是为著我们个人的救恩，乃是为著基督身体的形成。
1In the previous message we saw that the central thought of the book of Romans is that God is transforming sinners into sons to form the Body of Christ. This—not justification by faith—is the basic concept of this book. If we do not have this view, we shall have a very superficial understanding of Romans. Ultimately, this book is not merely for our personal salvation; it is for the formation of the Body of Christ
四个站口
FOUR STATIONS
2:罗马书里有四个站口：称义、圣别、身体、以及众召会。所有的基督徒都可照著这四个站口分类。许多真基督徒停在称义站。他们蒙了救赎、得著称义、与神和好、并且得救了，但他们的历程停在称义。似乎他们满足了，不愿再听见甚么。已往我和许多基督徒谈到寻求主并跟随主往前，但有些人说，『得救不是就彀好了么？我得救了，耶稣的血救赎了我，我重生了，现在我是神的儿女。有一天我要上天堂。请不要用别的事搅扰我。』大部分真基督徒没有从这一站更往前。
2In the book of Romans there are four stations: justification, sanctification, the Body, and the churches. All Christians may be classified according to these four stations. Many real Christians have stopped at the station of justification. They have been redeemed, justified, reconciled, and saved, but they have stopped their journey at justification. It seems that they are satisfied and do not want to hear anything further. In the past I have talked to many Christians about seeking the Lord and going on with Him. But some have said, “Isn’t it good enough to be saved? I have been saved, the blood of Jesus has redeemed me, I have been regenerated, and I am now a child of God. One day I shall go to heaven. Please don’t bother me with anything else.” A great part of genuine Christians go no farther than this station
3因著主的恩典，有些基督徒寻求所谓更深的生命或内里的生命。他们不满足于仅仅称义，而追求更进一步、更高、更丰富、和更深的东西。这些基督徒至终达到罗马八章的圣别站。第二次世界大战结束以后，有些在第二站的圣徒开始大大谈论身体。照著罗马书，十二章是正确身体生活的站口。但照著今天许多基督徒的经历，这实际上不是身体站，乃是谈论身体站。因此，我们可称这些基督徒为谈论身体者。我来到这个国家时，对一切关于身体职事的谈论觉得希奇。后来我知道所谓身体的职事，就是几个人一位一位的讲道，代替只有一个人讲。虽然基督徒对身体谈论得这么多，但身体在那里？他们越谈论身体，就越引起分裂。一九四五年以前，美国不像今天有这么多的分裂。但从那时起，数百个小团体开始形成，几乎所有的团体都在谈论身体。
3By the Lord’s grace, other Christians seek for what is called the deeper life or the inner life. They are not satisfied merely with justification, but pursue something further, higher, richer, and deeper. These Christians eventually reach the station of sanctification in Romans 8. After the end of World War II, some of the saints in the second station began to talk very much about the Body. According to the book of Romans, chapter twelve is the station of the proper Body life. But according to the experience of many Christians today, it is not actually the station of the Body, but the station of Body-talk. Thus, we may call these Christians the Body - talkers. When I came to this country, I was surprised at all the talk about the Body ministry. Later I learned that what was meant by Body ministry was several preaching one by one instead of only one preaching. Although Christians talk so much about the Body, where is the Body? The more they talk about the Body, the more divisions they cause. Before 1945 there were not so many divisions in the United States as there are today. But from that time, hundreds of little groups began to form, nearly all of which were talking about the Body.
4我们并非仅仅谈论身体，就会有身体。身体惟有在众地方召会里才能实现。你若没有召会生活，如何能有身体？因此，除了第三类基督徒，谈论身体者，还有第四类：实行召会生活的人。这是罗马书的第四站。就著这四站而言，你在那里？我完全确信我在第四站。神一直作工，现今仍在作工，要将罪人变化成为神的儿子。这些神的儿子就是形成基督身体的众肢体，以彰显基督。正如我们所看见的，神在基督里，基督在祂的身体里，祂的身体在众地方召会里。这是本书的基本观念和中心思想。我们若没有看见这点，就是近视。
4We do not have the Body simply by talking about the Body. The Body can be realized only in the local churches. If you do not have the church life, how can you have the Body? Thus, along with the third category of Christians, the Body-talkers, there is the fourth category: those who practice the church life. This is the fourth station in Romans. Where are you in relation to these four stations? I have the full assurance that I am in station four. God has been and still is working to transform sinners into sons of God. These sons of God are the members forming the Body of Christ to express Christ. As we have seen, God is in Christ, Christ is in His Body, and His Body is in the local churches. This is the basic concept and central thought of this book. If we do not see this, we are short-sighted
顾到我们的所作
TAKING CARE OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE
和所是
AND WHAT WE ARE
5神要完成从罪人作出儿子，以形成基督身体的工作，首先就必须顾到我们已往的行为。你仍记得你得救以前所作的事么？你若问我这问题，我会说，『请不要题醒我这事。我已往所作的太污秽、邪恶、丑陋了。我不愿谈论这事。』你若以为你已往的行为不坏，让我问你有没有偷过甚么东西。人告诉我他们多好，我就查问他们偷窃的事。我们没有一个人能夸耀我们的已往。既然神不能悦纳我们有这样邪恶历史的人作祂的儿子，祂就必须顾到这事。神不但对付我们的所作，也对付我们的所是。甚至我们得救以后，仍不怎么好。我们都是别人的难处。妻子是丈夫的难处，丈夫是妻子的难处。儿女是父母的难处，父母是儿女的难处。我是邻舍、姻亲、以及我亲爱妻子和儿女的难处。感谢神，祂顾到我们的所是！
5In order to accomplish the task of making sons out of sinners to form the Body of Christ, God firstly had to take care of our past deeds. Do you still remember the things you did before you were saved? If you were to ask me this question, I would say, “Please don’t remind me of this. What I did in the past was too dirty, evil, and ugly. I don’t want to talk about it.” If you think that your past deeds were not bad, let me ask if you have ever stolen anything. When people tell me how good they are, I check with them about stealing. None of us can boast of our past. Since God cannot accept us as His sons with such an evil history, He had to take care of it. God has dealt with not only what we have done, but also with what we are. Even after being saved, we are still not so good. We are all a problem to others. The wives are a problem to the husbands, and the husbands are a problem to the wives. The children are a problem to the parents, and the parents are a problem to the children. I am a problem to my neighbors, to my in- laws, and to my dear wife and children. Thank God that He takes care of what we are!
6基督在十字架上的死，对付我们的所作；活在我们里面复活的基督，对付我们的所是。藉著祂的死，我们得著义，所以我们在神面前得称义。藉此，我们已往的问题得著解决。现今基督活在我们里面，将神的圣别作到我们这人里面，为我们完成主观的圣别。祂的死将神的义带给我们，但祂的内住将神的圣别作到我们这人里面。这样祂就顾到我们的所是。藉著祂的死顾到我们的已往，并藉著祂活在我们里面顾到我们的所是，祂就将罪人变化成为神的儿子。这虽是如此美妙，但还不是过程的结束。主来的时候，要荣化我们。祂要将我们必死的身体带进神的荣耀，将我们死沉的身体变化成为荣耀的身体。那时我们就要被带进完满的儿子名分里。祂的死为我们得著神的义，祂的活将神的圣别作到我们这人里面，祂的回来要把我们带进神圣的荣耀里，使我们得著完满的儿子名分。
6Christ’s death on the cross deals with what we have done, and the resurrected Christ living in us deals with what we are. Through His death we have obtained righteousness, and we are therefore justified in the presence of God. By this, the problem of our past has been solved. Now Christ is living in us, working God’s ho lines sin to our being to accomplish for us a subjective sanctification. His death brought the righteousness of God to us, but His dwelling in us works God’sho lines sin to our very being. In this way He takes care of what we are. By taking care of our past through His death and by taking care of what we are by His living in us, He is transforming sinners into God’s very sons. As wonderful as this is, it is still not the end of the process. At His coming, the Lord will glorify us. He will bring our mortal body into the glory of God, transfiguring our deadened body into a body of glory. At that time we shall be brought into full sonship. His death has gained the righteousness of God for us, His living is working the holiness of God into our being, and His coming back will bring us into the divine glory so that we may have the full sonship.
在亚当里
和在基督里的经历
THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN ADAM AND IN CHRIST
7在上一篇信息中我们曾指出，在罗马五章我们在亚当里，在罗马六章我们在基督里，在罗马七章我们在肉体里，在罗马八章我们在灵里。我们若在肉体里，就经历亚当，我们若在灵里，就经历基督。五章的亚当惟有在七章的肉体里才能经历；六章的基督惟有在八章的灵里才能经历。没有七章，我们就没有在亚当里的经历。才生的婴孩当然在亚当里；但在小孩子身上，你看不见在亚当里的经历。然而，我们越年长，就越有在肉体里的经历。我们在亚当里所承受的，乃是在肉体里实际的给我们经历到。我们活在肉体里，就经历亚当一切的丰富。你们作母亲的，虽然爱你们的小婴孩，但那婴孩乃是亚当之丰富的大仓库。你若不信这点，我请你等二十年。这些年间，所贮藏亚当的丰富会逐渐显给你看。然后你会说，『李弟兄是对的。二十年前他说这小孩是亚当之丰富的仓库。那时我不信他，但如今，有了二十年的经历，我终于确信了。亚当一切的丰富，事实上都贮藏在那小孩里面。』我们在亚当里所有的，藉著在肉体里就得以经历。
7In the last message we pointed out that in Romans 5 we are in Adam, in Romans 6 we are in Christ, in Romans 7 we are in the flesh, and in Romans 8 we are in the spirit. If we are in the flesh, we experience Adam, and if we are in the spirit, we experience Christ. The Adam in chapter five can be experienced only in the flesh in chapter seven, and the Christ in chapter six can be experienced only in the spirit in chapter eight. Without chapter seven we do not have the experience of being in Adam. A newborn child certainly is in Adam. But with that little child you do not see the experience of being in Adam. However, the older we are, the more we have the experience of being in the flesh. Whatever we have inherited in Adam is experienced by us in a practical way in the flesh. When we live in the flesh, we experience all the riches of Adam. Mothers, although you love your little baby, that infant is a great storehouse of the riches of Adam. If you do not believe this, I ask you to wait for twenty years. During these years, the stored-up riches of Adam will be gradually shown to you. Then you will say, “Brother Lee was right. Twenty years ago he said that this little one was a storehouse of the riches of Adam. At that time I did not believe him, but now, after twenty years of experience, I am convinced. All the riches of Adam were in fact stored in that little child.” What we have in Adam is experienced by being in the flesh.
8同样的原则，在基督里的事实，惟有藉著在灵里才能经历。我们照著灵而行，就经历基督一切的丰富。基督的丰富远胜于亚当的丰富。但要经历基督的丰富，我们就必须照著灵而行。
8In the same principle, the fact of being in Christ can be experienced only by being in the spirit. When we walk according to the spirit, we experience all the riches of Christ. The riches of Christ are far greater than those of Adam. But to experience them we must walk according to the spirit
被放在基督里
PUT INTO CHRIST
9罗马五章十九节说，『藉著一人的悖逆，多人构成了罪人。』你也许以为，因为你得救了，你就不再是罪人。就一面说，我赞同你。然而，我们仍有老旧构成的罪恶元素。我们是由罪构成的罪人。我们不是因为犯了罪才是罪人。不，我们是罪人，因为我们由罪构成。甚至在你出生以前，你已经是罪人。我们不管是善或恶，都构成罪人了。六章三节说，我们『浸入基督耶稣』。这就是说，我们被放在基督里。我们生在亚当里，却被放在基督里。我们生在亚当的范围、领域和元素里，但我们已被迁到基督的范围、领域和元素里。这是事实，这不在于我们的感觉。我说你生在亚当里，你也许回答：『我不觉得我生在亚当里。』无论你觉得或不觉得，这乃是事实。例如，我在美国是事实，尽管我也许觉得自己在台湾。藉此我们能看见，我们的感觉可能是谎言。我也许觉得我是王，但我实际上是个小人物。我也许觉得我非常好，但实际上我也许非常差。关于属灵的事实，我们不该倚靠我们的感觉。
9Romans 5:19 says, “Through the disobedience of one man the many were constituted sinners.” You may think that because you are saved, you are no longer a sinner. In a sense, I agree with you. Nevertheless, we still have the sinful element of our old constitution. We are sinners constituted with sin. We are not sinners because we have sinned. No, we are sinners because we have been constituted with sin. Even before you were born, you were already a sinner. Whether we are good or evil, we have all been constituted sinners. Romans 6:3 says that we “have been baptized into Christ Jesus.” This means that we have been put into Christ. We were born in Adam, but we have been put into Christ. We were born in the realm, sphere, and element of Adam, but we have been transferred into the realm, sphere, and element of Christ. This is a fact, and it does not depend upon our feelings. When I say that you were born in Adam, you may reply, “I don’t feel like I was born in Adam.” Whether you feel it or not, it is a fact nonetheless. For example, it is a fact that I am in the United States, although I may feel like I am in Taiwan. By this we can see that our feeling may be a lie. I may feel like I am a king, but I am actually a small man. I may feel that I am very good, but actually I may be very poor. Regarding the spiritual facts, we should not depend on our feelings
10罗马六章有我们都已被放在基督里的事实。你现今在基督里么？有些人也许回答：『可能我在基督里，但我不觉得我在基督里。一小时前我才发了脾气，我怎能说我在基督里？一小时前我的行为那么差，现今我如何能在基督里？』但基于罗马六章的事实，我们必须宣告：『阿们，我在基督里！』罗马六章有我们已被放在基督里的事实。无论我们喜欢或不喜欢，觉得或不觉得，都无关紧要；事实仍是事实。我们在基督里。
10In Romans 6 there is the fact that we have all been put into Christ. Are you now in Christ? Some may answer, “It may be that I am in Christ, but I don’t feel that I am in Christ. How can I say that I am in Christ when I lost my temper just an hour ago? If my behavior was that poor an hour ago, how can I be in Christ now?” But based upon the fact in Romans 6, we must declare, “Amen, I am in Christ!” In Romans 6 we have the fact that we have been put into Christ. Whether we like it or not, and whether we feel it or not, does not matter. The fact remains the fact. We are in Christ.
我们的旧人已经
OUR OLD MAN HAVING BEEN CRUCIFIED
与基督同钉十字架
WITH CHRIST
11罗马六章六节说，『知道我们的旧人已经与祂同钉十字架，使罪的身体失效，叫我们不再作罪的奴仆。』藉著基督的死，我们的旧人已经被了结，甚至举行过葬礼。你知道我们的旧人已经与基督同钉十字架，并且埋葬了么？我们若信我们在基督里，我们也就必须信我们的旧人已经与基督同钉十字架。无论我们觉得或不觉得如此，我们的旧人死了并埋葬了乃是事实。所以保罗说，『知道我们的旧人已经与祂同钉十字架。』在基督里，我们的旧人已经被除去。使罪的身体失效既然我们的旧人已经钉十字架并埋葬了，『罪的身体』就『失效』了。（六6。）因著堕落，我们的身体是罪的身体。这样一个堕落的身体，只适于犯罪。在这身体里没有别的，只有罪。所以，在七章十九至二十节保罗说，『因为我所愿意的善，我反不作；我所不愿意的恶，我倒去作。若我去作所不愿意的，就不是我行出来的，乃是住在我里面的罪行出来的。』住在我们身体里的罪，使身体成为『罪的身体』。无论我们多疲倦，只要有机会犯罪，我们的身体就非常活跃。例如，有些人可以赌博三天三夜，不好好的睡，不好好的吃。但没有一个职员能七十二小时不眠不休的工作。反之，职员若被迫这样作，就会抱怨。但没有一个赌桌旁的人抱怨疲倦，因为人人精力充沛，因为身体是罪的身体。我从未听见有赌鬼说他疲倦，要回家去。即使他的妻子求他回家，他还会在赌桌旁多留几小时。这指明身体对犯罪从不厌倦，尽管对其他的事也许容易厌倦。父母嘱咐孩子作功课，孩子常说，『哦，我太累了。而且，我觉得不舒服。』但到了犯罪作恶时，身体却精力充沛。
11Romans 6:6 says, “Knowing this, that our old man has been crucified with Him that the body of sin might be made of none effect, that we should no longer serve sin as slaves.” Through the death of Christ, our old man has been terminated. He has even had a funeral. Do you know that our old man was crucified with Christ and buried? If we believe that we are in Christ, then we must also believe that our old man has been crucified with Him. Whether or not we feel that this is so, it is a fact that our old man is dead and buried. Therefore, Paul says, “Knowing this, that our old man has been crucified with Him.” In Christ, our old man has been put away. THE BODY OF SIN BEING MADE OF NONE EFFECT Since our old man has been crucified and buried, “the body of sin” has been “made of none effect” (6:6). Because of the fall, our body is a body of sin. As such a fallen body, it is good only for committing sins. In this body there is nothing but sin. Therefore, in 7:19 and 20 Paul says, “For the good which I will, I do not; but the evil I do not will, this I practice. But if what I do not will, this I do, it is no longer I that do it but sin that dwells in me.” The sin dwelling in our body makes it “the body of sin.” However tired we may be, our body is very active when there is opportunity for sinning. For example, some people may gamble for three days and nights without sleeping or eating properly. But not one employee could work for seventy-two hours without sleeping. On the contrary, an employee would complain if he were compelled to do this. But no one at a gambling table complains of tiredness, for everyone is full of energy because the body is a body of sin. I have never heard a gambler say that he was tired and wanted to go home. Even if a man’s wife would plead for him to come home, he would stay at the gambling table for several more hours. This indicates that the body is never tired of sinning, although it may easily tire of other things. When parents charge their children to do their homework, the children often say, “Oh, I’mt o o tired. Besides, I am not feeling well.” But when it comes to doing something sinful, the body is full of energy
12因著我们的旧人已经与基督同埋葬，罪的身体就失业了。牠成了失效的，因为犯罪的人，旧人，已经钉了十字架。身体不是犯罪的人，乃是犯罪的工具，是人犯罪作恶的凭藉。但人既然已经埋葬，罪的身体就失业了。这就是说，我们得释放脱离罪。既然我们的旧人已经与基督同钉十字架并埋葬了，我们就得释放脱离罪。这是罗马六章的要点。
12Because our old man has been buried with Christ, the body of sin has lost its job. It has become of none effect because the sinning person, the old man, has been crucified. The body is not the sinning person; it is the sinning instrument, the means by which a person does sinful things. But now that the person has been buried, the body of sin is unemployed. This means that we are freed from sin. Since our old man has been crucified and buried with Christ, we are freed from sin. This is the main point of Romans 6
律法的难处
THE PROBLEM OF THE LAW
13人堕落的时候，罪进到人里面。然而，人没有领悟他是多罪恶。这使神必须给人律法，使人的罪恶被暴露。虽然律法不该是难处，却成了难处。神给人律法的用意是要暴露人，使人确信他是罪恶的。但即使人被律法的要求所暴露，他仍拒绝承认他是罪恶的。反之，人不当的使用律法，好像说，『律法是绝佳的。我要成就牠一切的要求。』神的心意是要用律法暴露人，但人以为自己能遵守律法。虽然如此，神颁赐律法的目的还是达成了。人越想要遵守律法，就越干犯律法；他越干犯律法，就越被暴露。所以，我们不但有罪的难处，也有律法的难处。正如我们所看见的，罪的难处在罗马六章得解决。但律法的难处如何能解决？在罗马七章，我们有得释放脱离律法的路。得释放脱离律法的路，就像得释放脱离罪的路一样，乃是藉著旧人的死。在六章里，我们的旧人是犯罪者，但在七章里，我们的旧人是自居的丈夫。旧人不该作丈夫，乃该作妻子。然而，旧人没有守住他的地位，却僭取了丈夫的地位。赞美主，旧人这犯罪的人，这自居的丈夫，已经钉十字架并埋葬了！现在我们得释放脱离了罪与死。这就是罗马七章前半所说的。
13At the time of the fall, sin came into man. However, man did not realize how sinful he was. This made it necessary for God to give man the law that man’ss in fulness might be exposed. Although the law should not have been a problem, it nevertheless became a problem. God’sin tent i on in giving man the law was to expose him and to convince him of his sinfulness. But even though man was exposed by the requirements of the law, he still refused to admit that he was sinful. Instead, he used the law in an improper way, as if to say, “The law is excellent. I’ll fulfill all its requirements.” God’sin tent i on was to use the law to expose man, but man thought that he could keep the law. Nevertheless, God’s purpose in giving the law has been fulfilled. The more man tried to keep the law, the more he broke it; and the more he broke the law, the more he was exposed. Therefore, we have not only the problem of sin, but also the problem of the law. As we have seen, the problem of sin is solved in Romans 6. But how can the problem of the law be solved? In Romans 7 we have the way to be freed from the law. The way to be released from the law, like the way to be freed from sin, is through the death of the old man. In chapter six, our old man is the sinning person, but in chapter seven our old man is the self- assuming husband. The old man should not have been the husband; rather, he should have been the wife. The old man, however, has not kept his position, but has assumed the position of the husband. Praise the Lord that the old man as the sinning person and as the self-assuming husband has been crucified and buried! Now we are freed from sin and from the law. This covers the first part of Romans 7
肉体的难处
THE PROBLEM OF THE FLESH
14在七章后半，有另一个难处－肉体。罪使我们的身体成为罪恶肉体的身体。因此，随著罪的难处，我们还有堕落身体，罪恶肉体的难处。我们堕落的身体中完全没有善；牠已经成了肉体。在七章十八节保罗说，『我知道住在我里面，就是我肉体之中，并没有善。』保罗绝对站在神的律法这边，认真要行善，并遵守律法，但他发现与他的愿望相悖的肉体，是一大阻挠。在二十二至二十三节他说，『按著里面的人，我是喜欢神的律，但我看出我肢体中另有个律，和我心思的律交战，藉著那在我肢体中罪的律，把我掳去。』在二十五节他说，『我自己用心思服事神的律，却用肉体服事罪的律。』我们都需要得释放脱离罪、律法和肉体，这一切都是堕落的结果。
14In the second part of this chapter we have another problem — the flesh. Sin has caused our body to become a body of sinful flesh. Thus, along with the problem of sin, we have the problem of the fallen body, the sinful flesh. Our fallen body is absolutely no good; it has become the flesh. In 7:18 Paul says, “I know that in me, that is in my flesh, nothing good dwells.” Standing absolutely on the side of the law of God, Paul sincerely wanted to do good and to keep the law, but he found that his flesh, which opposed his desire, was a great frustration. In 7:22 and 23 he says, “I delight in the law of God according to the inner man, but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and making me a captive in the law of sin which is in my members.” In 7:25 he says, “With the mind I myself serve as a slave the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” We all need to be freed from sin, the law, and the flesh, all of which came as a result of our fall.
藉著照灵而行
FREED FROM THE FLESH
得释放脱离肉体
BY WALKING ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT
15如我们所看见的，罗马五章说，我们构成了罪人。我们既是这样的罪人，就有罪、律法和肉体的难处。藉著将我们的旧人这犯罪者钉十字架，我们就得释放脱离罪。藉著将我们的旧人这自居的丈夫钉十字架，我们就得释放脱离律法。得释放脱离肉体见于罗马八章，那里我们看见，藉著照灵而行，我们就得释放脱离肉体。我们照著灵而行，就自然而然得释放脱离肉体。我们若不照著灵而行，就仍在肉体里，尽管我们也许得释放脱离了罪和律法。得释放脱离肉体惟一的路，就是在灵里，并照著灵而行。
15As we have seen, Romans 5 says that we were constituted sinners. As such sinners, we have the problems of sin, the law, and the flesh. We are freed from sin by having our old man as the sinning person crucified. We are freed from the law by having our old man as the self-assuming husband crucified. The way to be freed from the flesh is found in Romans 8, where we see that we are freed from the flesh by walking according to the spirit. When we walk according to the spirit, we are spontaneously freed from the flesh. If we do not walk according to the spirit, we are still in the flesh, although we may be free from both sin and the law. The only way to be freed from the flesh is to be in the spirit and to walk according to the spirit
16五至八章有四个要点。五章的要点是我们构成了罪人。六章的要点是我们的旧人已经钉十字架，我们已经得释放脱离罪。七章的要点是我们的旧丈夫已经钉十字架，我们已经得释放脱离律法。八章的要点是我们在灵里，并照著灵而行，我们就得释放脱离肉体，不再受肉体的束缚。『我们并不是欠肉体的债，去照肉体活著。』（12。）我们需要将这点应用在我们日常的生活中。假定我与一位弟兄一同工作时得罪了他。一面，我真正爱他；另一面，我免不了得罪他。得罪他以后，我的良心受搅扰；我到主面前认罪，求祂赦免并用血洁净我。此后，我也许立刻定意说，『我绝不再那样作。从现在起，我不会这样对弟兄说话。』然后我跪下祷告：『主阿，你赦免了我。主，我祷告，从现在起你帮助我，绝不再那样作。』这样祷告不久以后，我又来与这位弟兄一同工作。为著某种原因，这次与他工作很难，使我无法忍受。几分钟后，我发脾气，又大大失败了。我再悔改，认罪，求赦免，并应用血。但现在我羞于定意，因为我开始觉得这不太管用。然而，那天稍晚我定意再试一次，并求主再帮助我一次。
16In chapters five through eight, we have four main points. The main point in chapter five is that we were constituted sinners. The main point in chapter six is that our old man has been crucified and that we have been freed from sin. The main point in chapter seven is that our old husband has been crucified and that we have been freed from the law. The main point in chapter eight is that when we are in the spirit and walk according to the spirit, we are freed from the flesh and no longer obligated to it. “We are debtors not to the flesh to live according to flesh” (8:12). We need to apply this in our daily living. Suppose I offend a brother as I am working with him. On the one hand, I truly love him; on the other hand, I cannot keep from offending him. After offending him, my conscience is bothered, and I go to the Lord, confess, receive forgiveness, and am cleansed by the blood. Immediately following that, I may make up my mind and say, “I will never do that again. From now on, I will not speak to my brother in such a way.” Then I kneel down and pray, “O Lord, You have forgiven me. Lord, I pray that from now on You will help me never to do that again.” Shortly after praying in this way, I come to work with this brother again. For some reason, working with him this time is so difficult that I cannot stand it. After a few minutes, I lose my temper and again have a big failure. Again I repent, confess, ask for forgiveness, and apply the blood. But now I am ashamed to make up my mind, because I have begun to feel that this does not work very well. Nevertheless, later in the day I make up my mind to try again and ask the Lord to help me once more.
17罗马七章十八节说，『立志为善由得我，只是行出来由不得我。』立志为善，立志不发脾气，总是由得我们。然而，将我们所立志的行出来，却由不得我们。在七章十九节保罗说，『我所愿意的善，我反不作。』以上所题的例子中，我对待弟兄是一半属灵，一半不属灵；一半本于怜悯和恩典，一半本于律法。我认罪，应用血，并求主赦免；这一切是本于恩典。但后来我定意行善，并祷告我能成功；这是照著律法。在认罪和应用血时，我来到罗马三至四章。那是正确的。但我定意立志时，就到罗马七章去了。每个基督徒都犯这错误，可能数百甚至数千次。我年轻时，一天重复这错误五十次以上。我是真正寻求圣别的人，但我发现自己常有不圣别的思想。例如，我外面可能亲切的对弟兄说话，但我里面不喜欢甚或藐视他。那是罪恶的，之后我就祷告：『神阿，我的父，赦免我心里藐视弟兄。用血洁净我。从现在起，帮助我不要这样作。』然后我与另一位弟兄说话，同样的事又发生。然而，我没有这样祷告时，就不受搅扰。即使我想要藐视弟兄，也作不到。但我为这事祷告以后，就开始藐视弟兄。这情形继续数年之久。有一天，我发现我一直活在罗马七章里。立志由得我，但将我所立志的行出来却由不得我。
17Romans 7:18 says, “To will is present with me, but to do the good is not.” Willing to do good and to not lose our temper is always with us. However, to do what we will is not present. In 7:19 Paul says, “The good which I will, I do not.” My dealing with the brother in the example mentioned above was half spiritual and half unspiritual; it was half of mercy and grace and half of the law. I made a confession, applied the blood, and asked the Lord for forgiveness. All that was of grace. But then I made up my mind to do good and prayed that I might succeed. This was according to the law. In confessing and applying the blood, I went to Romans 3 and 4. That was correct. But when I made up my mind to will, I went to Romans 7. Every Christian makes this mistake, perhaps hundreds and even thousands of times. When I was young, I repeated this mistake more than fifty times a day. As one who truly sought holiness, I discovered that I often had unholy thoughts. For example, I might speak kindly to a brother outwardly, but inwardly I disliked or even despised him. That was sinful, and I later prayed, “O God, my Father, forgive me for despising my brother in my heart. Cleanse me with the blood. From now on help me not to do this.” Then I spoke with another brother, and the same thing happened again. When I did not pray this way, however, I was not troubled. Even if I tried to despise a brother, I could not do it. But after praying about it, I began to despise the brothers. This situation continued for years. One day I discovered that I had been living in Romans 7. To will was present with me, but to do what I had willed was not
18那我们该怎么办？我们不该再立志。然而，要停下来并不容易。虽然如此，每当你受试诱要立志时，你必须说，『魔鬼，离开我罢。我不要受你欺骗，我不要听你的。』我们不该立志，反而该将我们的心思置于灵。这是秘诀。我们必须只实行一件事：将我们的心思置于灵，并照著灵而行。不要考虑某位弟兄若激怒你，会发生甚么事。你若继续运用你的意志，你就会失败。但你的心思和全人若置于灵，并且你若照著灵而行，你就会实际得释放脱离肉体。你的日常生活会有何等不同！我们需要实行这点。我们不需要留在罗马五、六或七章，乃需要留在罗马八章，将我们的心思置于灵，并照著我们的灵生活行动、行事为人。这样，我们就会经历完全脱离罪、律法和肉体。
18What then should we do? We should not will any more. However, it is not easy to stop. Nevertheless, whenever you are tempted to will, you must say, “Devil, get away from me. I won’t be cheated by you and I won’t listen to you.” Instead of willing, we should set our mind upon the spirit. This is the key. We must practice just one thing: setting our mind upon the spirit and walking according to the spirit. Do not think about what will happen if a certain brother irritates you. If you keep on exercising your will, you will fail. But if your mind and your whole being are set upon the spirit and you act according to the spirit, you will be freed from the flesh in a practical way. What a difference there will be in your daily living! We need to practice this. We do not need to stay in Romans 5, 6, or 7, but in Romans 8, setting our mind upon the spirit and living, walking, and behaving according to our spirit. Then we shall experience a full release from sin, the law, and the flesh.