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罗马书生命读经 · 第41篇

在生命里得救脱离天然

SAVED IN LIFE FROM NATURALNESS
1罗马书可用三个辞概述：救赎、生命与建造。头几章说到救赎，中段说到生命，末段论到建造，就是救赎与生命的结果。在前一篇信息中我们看见，在得救、称义、与神和好以后，我们还需要在基督的生命里得救。（五10。）救赎、称义与和好，已藉著基督在十字架上的死成就了。藉著基督的死，在消极方面，我们与神之间的问题得著解决。但在积极方面，神的定旨仍必须完成。神的定旨不是仅仅要拯救我们脱离火湖，或脱离祂的审判；祂在宇宙中的定旨乃是要建造身体，作祂儿子团体的彰显。为这缘故，罗马书不停在救赎或称义，乃继续往前达到神永远定旨的目标。神用以完成祂定旨惟一的路乃是生命。五章以经历的方式介绍生命的事。在五章十节保罗说，『因为我们作仇敌的时候，且藉著神儿子的死得与神和好，既已和好，就更要在祂的生命里得救了。』请注意这里的时态：我们『要』（will）在祂的生命里得救。和好以后，我们仍需要在生命里得救。虽然我们已经得救了，但我们仍需要得救。一面，我们已得救脱离火湖，并脱离神的审判；这是藉著基督在十字架上的死一次而永远成就的。但另一面，我们仍需要得救脱离许多现今的问题。许多基督徒等著到天上去；然而，他们若忽然被送到天上，他们一到那里，可能觉得自己不适合天上的荣耀。天是荣耀的，但在许多方面我们仍是这样低下。你对自己今天的样子满意么？你对自己满意么？我很喜乐我仍在基督进行的救恩过程中。我需要得救，因为我仍然太在自己天然的生命里。虽然我不愿在天然的人里，并且认真竭力要脱离我天然的人，但我必须承认，我仍是天然的。所以，我需要天天，甚至时时在基督的生命里得救，脱离我天然的人。
1The book of Romans may be summarized in three words: redemption, life, and building. The first chapters cover redemption, the middle portion covers life, and the last part deals with the building, which is the issue of redemption and life. In the foregoing message we saw that after being saved, justified, and reconciled to God, we still need to be saved in Christ’s life (5:10). Redemption, justification, and reconciliation have been accomplished by the death of Christ on the cross. Through Christ’s death, the problems between us and God on the negative side have been solved. But God’s purpose on the positive side must still be fulfilled. God’s purpose is not merely to save us from hell or from His judgment; His purpose in the universe is to build up the Body as the corporate expression of His Son. For this reason, the book of Romans does not stop with redemption or justification, but proceeds onward to reach the goal of God’s eternal purpose. The unique way God uses to fulfill His purpose is life. In chapter five the matter of life is introduced in an experiential way. In 5:10 Paul says, “For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved in His life.” Notice the tense here: we shall be saved in His life. After reconciliation, there is still the need for us to be saved in life. Although we have been saved already, we still need to be saved. On the one hand, we have been saved from hell and from the judgment of God. This was accomplished once for all through the death of Christ on the cross. But, on the other hand, we still need to be saved from so many present problems. Many Christians are waiting to go to heaven. However, if they were suddenly transported to heaven, upon arriving there they might feel that they are not suitable for the glory of heaven. Heaven is glorious, but in many respects we still are so low. Are you pleased with the way you are today? Are you satisfied with yourself? I am glad that I am still in the process of Christ’son going salvation. I need to be saved because I am still too much in my natural life. Although I do not want to be in the natural man and earnestly endeavor to be free from my natural man, I must confess that I am still natural. Therefore, I need to be saved daily and even hourly in the life of Christ from my natural man
在基督的人位里得救
saved in the Person of Christ
2照著五章十节，我们需要在基督的生命里得救。我们不但藉著祂的生命得救，也在祂的生命里得救。生命就是基督自己的人位。在约翰福音里，主明确并强调的说，『我就是…生命。』（十四6。）所以，在祂的生命里得救，实际上就是在基督自己的人位里得救。挪亚和他一家在方舟里得救，是我们在基督里得救的豫表。挪亚和他一家不但藉著方舟得救，也在方舟里得救。今天，我们在基督里的信徒，乃是在祂这今日的方舟里。基督是我们的生命，而我们在祂里面。我们在祂里面得救。只要我们在祂里面，我们就经历在祂的生命里得救的过程。我们看过我们在基督的生命里得救，脱离罪的律。罪的律在我们里面自然且自动的作工。我们说谎或发脾气不需要挣扎。说谎和发脾气是罪的律自然作工的自动产品。然而，生命之灵的律在基督耶稣里释放了我们，使我们脱离了罪与死的律。（罗八2。）只要我们在基督这生命里，我们就自然藉著祂生命的律得释放，脱离罪与死的律。
2According to 5:10, we need to be saved in Christ’s life. We are saved not only by His life, but also in His life. Life is the Person of Christ Himself. In the Gospel of John the Lord said definitely and emphatically, “I am… the life” (14:6). Therefore, to be saved in His life is actually to be saved in the Person of Christ Himself. The salvation of Noah and his family in the ark is a type of our being saved in Christ. Noah and his family were saved not by the ark but in the ark. Today, as believers in Christ, we are in Him as today’s ark. Christ is our life, and we are in Him. In Him we are being saved. As long as we are in Him, we are in the process of being saved in His life. We have seen that we are saved in Christ’s life from the law of sin. The law of sin works in us spontaneously and automatically. There is no need for us to strive in order to tell lies or to lose our temper. The telling of lies and the losing of temper are an automatic product of the spontaneous working of the law of sin. Nevertheless, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus frees us from the law of sin and of death (8:2). As long as we are in Christ as life, we are spontaneously freed by the law of His life from the law of sin and of death.
3我们也在基督的生命里得救脱离世俗。这就是说，我们在祂的生命里从世界被圣别、分别出来。我们都生在世俗的环境里，然后受训练要世俗。世俗的倾向就在我们的性情里。所以，我们需要在神圣的生命里，好得救脱离世俗。这神圣的生命将我们从世俗分别出来，并在地位上和性质上圣别我们。我们无法藉著遵守某些见于宗教团体的宗教教训或规条，而得救脱离世俗。固守这样的规则，顶多只产生外面、地位上的圣别。然而，罗马书里所说的圣别，不仅是地位上的，也是性质上的，是影响我们这人深处内里的事。在基督的生命里，我们乃是在里面被圣别。
3We are also saved in Christ’s life from worldliness. This means that in His life we are sanctified, separated from the world. We all were born into a worldly situation and were then trained to be worldly. The tendency to be worldly is in our nature. Therefore, we need to be in the divine life in order to be delivered from worldliness. This divine life separates us from worldliness and sanctifies us both positionally and dispositionally. We cannot be saved from worldliness by following certain religious instructions or regulations such as those found among certain religious groups. At most, adherence to such rules can produce only an outward, positional sanctification. The sanctification spoken of in Romans, however, is not merely positional; it is also dispositional, an inward matter that affects the depths of our being. In the life of Christ we are being sanctified inwardly
新陈代谢的改变
A METABOLIC CHANGE
4随著得救脱离罪并脱离世俗，我们需要在生命里得救脱离天然。这就是说，我们需要变化。我们不但需要外面的改变，也需要里面的改变。这里面的改变称为变化。变化与我们这人里面新陈代谢的改变有关。新的元素，就是神圣、圣别、属天的元素，必须加到我们天然的元素里，以产生新陈代谢、生机的改变。这样改变的结果就是变化。
4Along with being saved from sin and from worldliness, we need to be saved in life from naturalness. This means that we need to be transformed. We need not only an outward change, but also an inward change. This inward change is called transformation. Transformation involves a metabolic change in our being. A new element, a divine, holy, heavenly element, must be added to our natural element to produce a metabolic, organic change. The result of such a change is transformation.
5假定一个脸色苍白的人将化妆品擦在脸上，以改善他的脸色。这样的改变是外面的；这的确不是里面变化的结果。神的作法不同。首先，祂洗去我们的罪，成就祂义的要求。然后，祂变化我们时，主要不是关切我们外面的样子，乃是关切我们生机的所是。我们继续看化妆品的例证：改善我们脸色最好的作法，不是擦化妆品，乃是吃营养的食物；这食物会引起生机的改变，至终会改善我们的脸色。这种改变就是变化。藉著里面的变化，我们外面的样子就会改变。
5Suppose a person with a pale complexion puts makeup on his face in order to improve his color. Such a change is outward; it is definitely not the result of inward transformation. God’sway is different. Firstly, He washes away our sins in order to fulfill His righteous requirements. Then, in transforming us, He is not primarily concerned with our outward appearance, but with what we are organically. To continue the illustration of makeup, the best way to improve our facial color is not to put on makeup but to eat nourishing food. This food will cause an organic change that will eventually improve our color. This change is transformation. By inward transformation our outward appearance will change
变化
TRANSFORMED
以建造身体
FOR THE BUILDING UP OF THE BODY
6这生机的变化与身体的建造息息相关。虽然我们已藉著基督的死得与神和好，但我们仍非常天然。在召会生活里，有许多不同国籍的信徒：美国人、中国人、墨西哥人、日本人、菲律宾人、英国人、法国人、德国人、韩国人、迦纳人。然而，我们若留在天然的身分里，就无法成为基督的身体。中国人如何能与日本人建造在一起？西方人如何能与东方人建造在一起？然而，在基督的身体里我们必须是一，并且建造在一起。为此，我们需要变化。
6This organic transformation has very much to do with the building up of the Body. Although we have been reconciled to God through the death of Christ, we still are very natural. In the church life we have believers of many different nationalities: Americans, Chinese, Mexicans, Japanese, Filipinos, British, French, Germans, Koreans, Ghanians. However, if we remain in our natural status, we cannot be the Body of Christ. How can the Chinese be built up with the Japanese, or the Westerners with the Easterners? Nevertheless, in the Body of Christ we must be one and be built up together. For this, we need to be transformed
7我们众人生来不是男，就是女。然而，甚至这天然的区别，在召会生活里也引起难处。高举自己男性身分的弟兄，在召会生活里会带给姊妹们难处。所以，甚至在是男是女的事上，我们也需要被变化，以建造身体。我们若留在天然的生命里，就无法与别人建造在一起。我们若是天然的，弟兄就无法与姊妹建造在一起，姊妹也无法与弟兄建造在一起。不但如此，姊妹们若没有被变化，她们也无法彼此建造在一起。在我们天然的身分里，无论男女，我们都不能建造成为身体。我们再次看见，我们需要被变化，在基督的生命里得救，脱离我们的天然。
7By nature, we all are either male or female. However, even this natural distinction causes problems in the church life. A brother who uplifts his male status will cause problems to the sisters in the church life. Therefore, even with respect to being male and female, we need to be transformed for the building up of the Body. If we remain in our natural life, we simply cannot be built up with others. If we are natural, the brothers cannot be built up with the sisters, nor the sisters with the brothers. Furthermore, if the sisters are not transformed, they cannot be built up with one another. In our natural status, whether male or female, we are not capable of being built up as the Body. Again we see that we need to be transformed, to be saved in the life of Christ from our naturalness.
8我与圣徒谈话，或回答他们的问题时，害怕自己是天然的；我不要在天然的个性里。你知道个性是甚么？个性就是我们天然的彰显，我们天然的人；我们的个性就是我们生来的所是。我们若留在天然的个性里，召会如何能得建造？个性不同的人如何能建造成为一？若没有变化，这是不可能的。有些人领悟这点，就变得很失望，以为要有实际的召会生活是办不到的。这时候，他们甚至考虑放弃召会生活。然而，我们没有路回去。我们所搭的『火车』只朝一个方向行驶，绝不退后。甚至我们失望时，召会生活的『火车』仍载著我们往前。我们没有选择，只有向前。这是我们的定命。我们为此而生，甚至为此被豫定。我们只须随著主今天在召会生活里所作的往前。
8In speaking with the saints or in answering their questions, I am afraid of being natural. I do not want to be in my natural disposition. Do you know what disposition is? It is simply our natural expression, our natural being. Our disposition is what we are by nature. How can the church be built up if we remain in our natural disposition? How can those who differ in their disposition be built into one? Without transformation, it is impossible. Some who have realized this have become so disappointed that they have thought it hopeless to have the church life in a practical way. At such times, they have even considered giving up the church life. However, there is no way for us to go back. The “train” on which we are riding goes only in one direction; it never goes backward. Even when we are disappointed, the “train” of the church life carries us onward. We have no choice but to go on. This is our destiny. We were born for this and even predestinated for it. We simply have to go along with what the Lord is doing in the church life today
万有为著
ALL THINGS WORKING
我们的变化效力
FOR OUR TRANSFORMATION
9有些人曾告诉我，他们厌倦作基督徒，不愿再作基督徒了。但你一成为基督徒，就不可能不作基督徒。宇宙并不在我们的控制之下。我们是受造之物，某些关于我们的决定，在我们出生以前就作成了。那决定要将我们生到这世界里的不是我们，这事乃是出于神。这是祂的宇宙和祂的地，我们是祂的子民。照著神的经纶，要作典型的人，就必须作基督徒。我们也已经看见，我们要作基督徒，就必须在召会生活里。既然在这事上我们没有选择，就让我们简单的将自己交在神变化的手中，让祂在我们里面作祂变化的工作。对于我们已婚的人，我们的妻子或丈夫正是我们所需要的。不但如此，在召会生活里，我们有我们所需要的弟兄和姊妹。在召会里所有亲爱的弟兄姊妹，都是为著我们的变化所需要的。主是主宰一切的，我们必须为著祂的主宰敬拜祂。祂从来不会错。有时候我受试诱，对某些弟兄的缓慢，或他们在主的主宰之下所犯的错，感到不耐烦。这时候，内住的灵就题醒我，这一切都是为著变化我。有时候我受题醒，（可能是藉著我的妻子，）神使万有互相效力，叫我们得益处。万有互相效力，叫人得变化的益处。我们需要这种变化，以得救脱离我们的天然。
9Some have told me that they were tired of being Christians and no longer wanted to be Christians. But once you have be come a Christian, it is impossible to stop being a Christian. The universe is not under our control. We are creatures, and certain decisions concerning us were made before we were born. It was not we who decided to be born into this world. This matter was of God. This is His universe and His earth, and we are His people. According to God’secon o my, as typical human beings, we must be Christians. As Christians, we have seen that we must be in the church life. Since we have no choice in this matter, let us simply place ourselves into the transforming hand of God and allow Him to do His transforming work within us. Those of us who are married have just the wife or husband we need. Furthermore, in the church life we have the very brothers and sisters we need. All the dear ones in the church are necessary for our transformation. The Lord is sovereign, and we must worship Him for His sovereignty. He is never wrong. Sometimes I am tempted to be impatient with the slowness of certain brothers or with mistakes they have made under the Lord’s sovereignty. At such a time the indwelling Spirit reminds me that all this is for my transformation. At other times I am reminded, perhaps by my wife, that God causes all things to work together for our good. All things work together for good in the way of transformation. We need this transformation in order to be saved from our naturalness.
心思的更新
THE RENEWING OF THE MIND
10罗马十二章二节告诉我们，要藉著心思的更新而变化。我们难处的源头，是我们被各种天然观念浸透且弥漫的心思。这被天然观念充满的心思，乃是在建造身体的事上引起难处的原因。弟兄、姊妹、年长的、年轻的，都有他们的观念。不但如此，生在东方的人有他们的观念，生在西方的人也有他们的观念。我们若持守不同的观念，如何能建造在一起？为著身体的建造，我们需要心思的更新。我们不但需要丢弃非基督徒的观念，也需要丢弃基督徒的观念，也就是我们在公会里所接受的观念。公会是照著各种观念所形成的分裂。既然主在祂的怜悯里，已为著召会生活将我们带在一起，我们就需要心思的更新。我们里面需要卸下我们的观念。这与在生命里长大有关。我们越在生命里长大，就越被生命浸透。然后这生命会生机的变化我们的心思。自然而然的，这些观念就会被里面生命的长大所吞灭。
10Romans 12:2 tells us to be transformed by the renewing of the mind. The source of our trouble is our mind, which has been saturated and permeated with all kinds of natural concepts. This mind filled with natural concepts is the cause of the trouble in the building up of the Body. The brothers, the sisters, the old, and the young all have their concepts. Furthermore, those born in the Orient have their concepts, and those born in the West have theirs. How can we be built up together if we hold on to our differing concepts? For the building of the Body, we need the renewing of our mind. We need to drop not only non-Christian concepts, but also Christian concepts, the concepts we took in when we were in the denominations. Denominations are divisions formed according to various concepts. Now that the Lord, in His mercy, has brought us together for the church life, we need the renewing of the mind. We need to be inwardly unloaded of our concepts. This is related to the growth in life. The more we grow in life, the more we shall be saturated by life. Then this life will transform our mind organically. Spontaneously the concepts will be swallowed up by the growth of the life within
11我们已学会不与圣徒争辩他们的观念。反之，我们该为他们祷告，将生命供应他们，使他们长大。圣徒长大时，就藉著心思的更新，经历魂里的变化。藉著这样在基督的生命里一起长大，我们至终就同有一个心思。然后我们就是一，不是照著观念，乃是照著里面的生命。
11We have learned not to argue with the saints regarding their concepts. Instead, we should pray for them and minister life to them so that they may grow. As the saints grow, they experience transformation in the soul by the renewing of the mind. By growing together in this way in the life of Christ, we eventually come to have one mind. Then we are one, not according to concept, but according to the inner life
供应生命
MINISTERING LIFE
12倘若弟兄或姊妹持守异议的观念，你不该想要说服那人改变观念。你越想要说服他，异议的观念就会越强。帮助这样的人最好的路，就是让里面的生命解决他的问题。假定你割伤了手臂，伤口敷上药以后，就不要管牠，让牠自己痊愈。然而，你若乱摸伤处，只会耽延痊愈的时间。身体里的生命至终会顾到伤口。同样，顾到异议者最好的路，就是甚么都不作。我们若不理会难处，异议者迟早会对自己的异议不满意。不要改正他，或设法改变他，只要将生命供应他。弟兄姊妹所需要的，是里面、生机的生命供应。你甚至不必对人说太多，也能将生命供应他。你只要注视他，就能将生命灌输到他里面。不要照著知识树对别人说话；乃要运用你的灵，将生命从你的灵灌输到他们里面。这生命，就是活的基督自己，要在他们里面作工，在里面变化他们。至终，里面的生命会更新他们的心思，他们就会被变化。这样，异议的观念就会被吞灭。
12If a brother or sister holds a dissenting concept, you should not try to convince that one to change it. The more you attempt to convince him, the stronger the dissenting concept will be. The best way to help such a one is to allow the inner life to solve his problem. Suppose you cut your arm. After applying medicine to the wound, leave the wound alone and let it heal itself. However, if you tamper with the injury, you will only delay the healing. The life in the body will eventually take care of the wound. Likewise, the best way to care for a dissenting one is to do nothing. If the problem is left alone, he will sooner or later become dissatisfied with his dissenting. Instead of correcting him or trying to change him, minister life to him. What the brothers and sisters need is the inward, organic supply of life. You can minister life to someone without even saying much to him. Simply by looking at him you can transfuse the life into him. Do not speak to others according to the tree of knowledge. Instead, exercise your spirit to transfuse life from your spirit into them. This life, which is the living Christ Himself, will work within them to transform them inwardly. Eventually, the inner life will renew their minds and they will be transformed. Then the dissenting concepts will be swallowed up
13今天，为著召会的建造，我们需要经历这种变化。我们越被变化，就越在基督的生命里得救。愿我们都祷告，求主赐给我们真正、内里、生机的变化。这乃是我们今天的需要。
13Today, for the building up of the church, we need to experience this kind of transformation. The more we are transformed, the more we are saved in the life of Christ. May we all pray that the Lord will grant us a genuine inner, organic transformation. This is our need today