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罗马书生命读经 · 第46篇

藉著恩典在生命中作王

REIGNING IN LIFE BY GRACE
1在前面的信息中，我们说过好些我们需要在基督的生命里得救脱离的消极之事：罪的律、世俗、天然、个人主义、分裂、以及己的样式。现在我们要往前到在生命中作王这件事。
1In the foregoing messages we have covered a number of negative things from which we need to be saved in the life of Christ: the law of sin, worldliness, naturalness, individualism, divisiveness, and self- likeness. Now we proceed to the matter of reigning in life
恩典作王叫人得永远的生命
GRACE REIGNING UNTO ETERNAL LIFE
2罗马五章十七节说，『若因一人的过犯，死就藉著这一人作了王，那些受洋溢之恩，并洋溢之义恩赐的，就更要藉著耶稣基督一人，在生命中作王了。』这是圣经里说到在生命中作王的惟一经文。随著十七节，二十一节说，『使罪怎样在死中作王，恩典也照样藉著义作王，叫人藉著我们的主耶稣基督得永远的生命。』也许你听过恩典洋溢，但你可能没有恩典作王的观念。然而恩典是管理万有的王。虽然在经文里，二十一节在十七节之后；但在经历中，牠是在十七节之前。照著二十一节，恩典作王叫人得永远的生命，意思是恩典作王带进永远的生命。我们要在这永远的生命中作王。虽然有许多基督教的书论到胜利和得胜，但我不知道有甚么书论到在生命中作王。好些书写到在千年国里与基督一同作王。然而，在生命中作王不该只是为著将来的事；这该是我们今天的经历。我不满足于将来作王的应许；我渴望今天就在生命中作王掌权。在五章十七节，保罗不是说到千年国。你若看这一节的上下文，就会领悟，保罗乃是说到我们现今的日常生活。赞美主，甚至今天我们就能在生命中作王！
2Romans 5:17 says, “For if by the offense of the one death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” This is the only verse in the Bible that speaks of reigning in life. Going along with verse 17, verse 21 says, “That as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Perhaps you have heard that grace abounds, but probably you have not had the concept of grace reigning. But grace is a king reigning over all things. Although in the text verse 21 comes after verse 17, in experience it comes before verse 17. According to verse 21, grace reigns unto eternal life, which means that the reign of grace results in eternal life. It is in this eternal life that we shall reign. Although there are many Christian books on victory and overcoming, I do not know of any books on reigning in life. A number of books have been written about reigning with Christ in the millennial kingdom. However, reigning in life should not be a matter only for the future. This should be our experience today. I am not content with promises about being a king in the future; I desire to reign in life as a king today. In 5:17 Paul does not refer to the millennial kingdom. If you consider this verse in its context, you will realize that Paul is speaking about our present daily life. Praise the Lord that even today we can be kings in life
3约翰福音的延续在我们进一步探讨在生命中作王的事以前，我们需要看约翰福音与罗马书之间的关系。罗马书是约翰福音的延续。约翰一章四节说，『生命在祂里面，』十四节说，『话成了肉体，支搭帐幕在我们中间，丰丰满满的有恩典，有实际。』十六节继续说，『从祂的丰满里我们都领受了，而且恩上加恩。』因此，约翰一章有生命和恩典。在十章十节主耶稣说，『我来了，是要叫羊得生命，并且得的更丰盛。』约翰八章说到一些消极的事，如罪和死。二十四节说，『你们若不信我是，必要死在你们的罪中。』这就是说，不相信主耶稣的人要留在死里。不但如此，在三十四节主说到作罪的奴仆：『我实实在在的告诉你们，凡犯罪的，就是罪的奴仆。』在三十六节主说到得自由：『所以神的儿子若叫你们自由，你们就真自由了。』在罪的捆绑之下并在死里的人，因著活的神子，那是活的实际者，就能得自由。所以，约翰福音有生命、恩典、生命的丰盛、罪、死、为奴、以及得自由脱离罪和死。
3A CONTINUATION OF THE GOSPEL OF JOHN Before we explore further the matter of reigning in life, we need to consider the relationship between the Gospel of John and the book of Romans. Romans is a continuation of John. John 1:4 says, “In Him was life,” and verse 14 of the same chapter says, “The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us…full of grace and reality.” Verse 16 continues, “For of His fullness we all received, and grace upon grace.” Hence, in the first chapter of the Gospel of John, we have life and grace. In John 10:10 the Lord Jesus says, “I came that they may have life and may have it abundantly.” John 8 speaks of certain negative things, such as sin and death. Verse 24 says, “Unless you believe that I am, you shall die in your sins.” This means that those who do not believe in the Lord Jesus will remain in death. Furthermore, in verse 34 the Lord has a word about being slaves of sin: “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.” In verse 36 the Lord speaks about being set free: “If then the Son shall set you free, you shall be really free.” Those under the bondage of sin and in death can be set free by the living Son of God, the One who is the living reality. Therefore, in the Gospel of John we have life, grace, abundance of life, sin, death, slavery, and being set free from sin and death.
4这一切事也都见于罗马书；在罗马书中，关于这些事的真理进一步得著发展。虽然约翰福音和罗马书说到许多同样的主题，甚至用了好些相同的辞，但约翰福音没有说到恩典作王，也没有说到在生命中作王。罗马书用『作王』这辞说到恩典和生命，表明约翰福音里所说之事重要的发展。虽然约翰福音很丰富、深奥，虽然牠说到生命的丰盛，但牠没有说到恩典作王，也没有说到生命作王。因为保罗是在恩典和生命中作王的人，他就能在罗马书里说到这样的事。保罗与今天许多基督徒不同，他不是在等候千年国好与基督一同作王。罗马五章告诉我们，恩典作王，并且那些受洋溢之恩的，能在生命中作王。因为恩典作王是叫人得永远的生命，所以我们也能在生命中作王。作王就是掌权；就是征服某样事物，并加以管理。作王的意思也是有管治权或国度。今天我们的基督徒生活，不但该是胜利和得胜的生活，也该是作王的生活，掌权的生活。我们天天都能作王。
4All these matters are also found in Romans, where the truth concerning them is developed further. Although both John and Romans cover many of the same subjects and even use a number of the same terms, the Gospel of John does not speak of grace reigning, nor of reigning in life. The use of the word “reign” in Romans with respect to grace and life shows a significant development over what is covered in the Gospel of John. Although the Gospel of John is rich and deep and although it speaks of the abundance of life, it says nothing about the reign of grace nor about the reign of life. Because Paul was one reigning in grace and in life, he could speak of such things in Romans. In contrast to many Christians today, Paul was not waiting for the millennium in order to reign with Christ. In Romans 5 we are told that grace reigns and that those who receive abundance of grace can reign in life. Because grace reigns unto life eternal, we also can reign in life. To reign is to be a king; it is to subdue something and rule over it. To reign also means to have a dominion or a kingdom. Our Christian life today should be not only a victorious and overcoming life; it should also be a kingly life, a reigning life. Day by day we can be kings
5管理三个主要的仇敌我们在生命中作王掌权，必须征服仇敌并管理牠们。不要以为你的妻子或丈夫是你必须管理的仇敌。照著约翰福音和罗马书，我们主要的仇敌是罪、死和撒但。甚至你的脾气也不是一个主要的仇敌。罪、死和撒但若被击败，你的脾气也会被击败，甚至成为合宜的。是罪使你的脾气成为这么可厌。同样的原则，己之所以这样丑陋，是因为罪、死和撒但住在我们里面。这三样若被征服，甚至我们的己也是美丽的。所以，我们只有三个主要的仇敌─罪、死和撒但。
5RULING OVER THE THREE MAJOR ENEMIES As kings reigning in life, we must subdue the enemies and rule over them. Do not regard your wife or husband as an enemy over whom you must rule. According to both the Gospel of John and the book of Romans, our major enemies are sin, death, and Satan. Not even your temper is one of the primary enemies. If sin, death, and Satan are defeated, your temper will also be defeated and even become something of comeliness. Sin is what makes your temper so distasteful. In the same principle, the reason the self is so ugly is that sin, death, and Satan make their abode within us. If these things were subdued, even our self would be beautiful. Therefore, we have just three major enemies—sin, death, and Satan.
6保罗在罗马书里对付这些仇敌。在说到罪与死的律的八章二节，我们16:20看见两个仇敌─罪与死。然后在十六章二十节保罗说到撒但：『平安的神快要将撒但践踏在你们的脚下。』不要期望作王管理你的妻子或丈夫。作丈夫的，主立了你们作妻子的头，但不是作管理她的王。作父母的不该作儿女的王。但我们要作王胜过罪、死和撒但。对于我们的家人和召会里的弟兄姊妹，我们是仆人；但对于罪、死和撒但，我们乃是王。
6Paul deals with these enemies in the book of Romans. In 8:2, which speaks of the law of sin and death, we see two of the enemies, sin and death. Then in Paul refers to Satan: “Now the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” Do not expect to be a king over your wife or husband. Husbands, the Lord has appointed you to be the head with respect to your wife, but not to be a king ruling over her. Parents should not be kings over their children. But we are to reign as kings over sin, death, and Satan. With respect to the members of our family and to the brothers and sisters in the church, we are servants. But with respect to sin, death, and Satan, we are kings.
神分赐到我们里面
GOD DISPENSED INTO US
作我们的分
TO BE OUR PORTION
7我们若要知道何谓恩典作王叫人得永远的生命，就必须对恩典有正确的领会。恩典是神自己在基督里赐给我们，并分赐到我们灵里作我们的分。我们若对圣经有透彻的领会，就会领悟，神无意将祂自己以外的任何事物赐给我们。在神以外，凡事都是虚空。智慧的王所罗门说，『虚空的虚空，凡事都是虚空。』（传一2。）用使徒保罗的话说，在基督以外，凡事都是粪土。（腓三8。）我们惟一的分乃是神自己，而恩典是神作我们的分，给我们有分、经历并享受。我们若看约翰一章一节和一章十四节的上下文，就会看见恩典是神临到我1:16们，分赐到我们里面，作我们的享受。约翰一章十六节说，『从祂的丰满里我们都领受了，而且恩上加恩。』在罗马五章十七节保罗说到不仅领受恩典，更是领受洋溢之恩。因为恩典是活的、生长的，所以会洋溢。这洋溢之恩也能作王。恩典不是无生命的元素；恩典乃是活的人位，甚至就是神自己。
7If we would know what it means for grace to reign unto eternal life, we must have a proper understanding of grace. Grace is God Himself given to us in Christ and dispensed into our spirit to be our portion. If we have a thorough understanding of the Bible, we shall realize that God has no intention to give us anything other than Himself. All things other than God are vanity. Solomon, the wise king, said, “Vanity of vanities; all is vanity” (Eccl. 1:2). In the words of the Apostle Paul, all things apart from Christ are dung (Phil. 3:8). Our unique portion is God Himself, and grace is God as our portion for our participation, experience, and enjoyment. If we consider John 1:1 and 1:14 in context, we shall see that grace is God coming to us to be dispensed into us for our enjoyment. John says, “For of His fullness we all received, and grace upon grace.” In Romans 5:17 Paul speaks of receiving not only grace, but the abundance of grace. Because grace is living and growing, it abounds. This abounding grace also reigns. Grace is not a lifeless element; it is a living Person, even God Himself.
两个王
TWO KINGS
8在罗马五章，罪与恩典都是人位化的。如二十一节所指明的，不是罪作王，就是恩典作王；不是恩典积极的作王，就是罪消极的作王。罪是撒但在我们肉体里邪恶性情的具体化身，恩典是神在基督里具体化身在我们的灵里。所以，我们里面有两个王─罪与恩典。在我们的肉体里有罪作王，在我们的灵里有恩典作王。我们里面有一场争战，在这两个王之间激烈的进行。
8In Romans 5 both sin and grace are personified. As verse 21 indicates, either sin or grace may reign, grace positively or sin negatively. Sin is the embodiment of the evil nature of Satan in our flesh, and grace is God in Christ embodied in our spirit. Therefore, we have two kings—sin and grace—within us. In our flesh we have the king of sin, and in our spirit we have the king of grace. Within us a warfare is raging between these two kings
受洋溢之恩
RECEIVING ABUNDANCE OF GRACE
9你也许切望知道如何能得著洋溢之恩。要得著洋溢之恩，惟一的路就是领受。我们领受时，不必劳苦，也不用付代价。我们只是简单的领受。约翰福音和罗马书都说到领受恩典。我们看过，约翰一章十六节说，从祂的丰满里我们都领受了，而且恩上加恩。在罗马五章十七节，保罗说到我们受洋溢之恩。我们需要来到那是恩典的神面前，并且一再领受恩典，直到我们被恩典充满。惟有我们被恩典充满，我们才能经历恩典作王。当恩典得以充满我们，就在我们里面洋溢，然后在我们里面作王。作王的恩典总是随著洋溢的恩典。
9You may be eager to know how you can have the abundance of grace. The only way to have it is to receive it. In receiving we neither labor nor pay a price. We simply receive. Both John and Romans speak of receiving grace. We have seen that John 1:16 says that of His fullness we have received grace upon grace. In Romans 5:17 Paul speaks of our receiving the abundance of grace. We need to come to the very God who is grace and receive grace again and again until we are filled with grace. Only when we are filled with grace can we experience the reigning of grace. When grace is allowed to fill us, it abounds in us and then reigns in us. The reigning grace always follows the abounding grace
10我们若缺少恩典，恩典就无法在我们里面作王。惟有恩典充满我们到极致，然后从我们满溢出去，我们才能经历恩典作王。恩典作王，罪、死和撒但就被征服，并在我们的脚下，我们也成为恩典中的王。恩典在我们里面作王时，我们就在生命中作王。不要以为藉著恩典在生命中作王是不可能经历的。我能见证，我们的确可能在生命中作王。每当我们被恩典充满，恩典就满溢并作王。然后我们就藉著恩典在生命中作王，胜过罪、死和撒但。我们不但得自由，脱离三个主要的仇敌，我们也作王胜过牠们。在生命中作王的原则启示在第五章，但在生命中作王的经历是在第八章。在生命中作王比在基督的生命里得救更大、更高。
10If we are short of grace, grace cannot reign within us. Only when grace fills us up to the brim and then overflows from us can we experience the reigning of grace. When grace reigns, sin, death, and Satan are subdued and are under our feet, and we become kings in grace. As grace reigns in us, we reign in life. Do not consider that the experience of reigning in life by grace is an impossibility. I can testify that it is surely possible for us to reign in life. Whenever we are filled with grace, grace overflows and reigns. Then by grace we reign in life over sin, death, and Satan. We are not only set free from the three major enemies, but we reign over them. The principle of reigning in life is revealed in chapter five, but the experience of reigning in life is in chapter eight. Reigning in life is greater and higher than being saved in the life of Christ
敞开好被充满
OPENING TO BE FILLED
11在这事上，道理、教训和劝勉都没有用。就一面说，甚至我们的祷告也没有功效，无法使我们藉著恩典在生命中作王。惟一管用的就是来到神圣的源头，并从我们这人深处敞开自己，好被神这恩典充满。我们要被充满，就必须求主除去所有的绝缘体和阻挠。我们需要祷告：『主，我愿意把所有的拦阻除去。我要使自己直接向你敞开。主，以你自己作恩典完全充满我。』无论你在那里，在工作中、在学校里、在车子里，要一直向主敞开，好被祂这恩典充满。这是领受洋溢之恩的意思。你这样领受恩典，就会被恩典充满，至终恩典会从你里面满溢出来。然后你会藉著恩典在生命中作王，胜过罪、死和撒但。在你的经历中，这三个仇敌会完全被征服。罪、死和撒但仍在我们里面作工。但我们若来到属天的源头，并彻底敞开自己，好被恩典充满，我们就会在生命中作王胜过这一切。这是我们今天在召会生活里的需要。虽然我非常珍赏约翰福音里的一切，但我们必须从约翰福音往21前到罗马五章十七和二十一节，以领受洋溢之恩，使恩典在我们里面作王，我们也在生命中作王。
11In this matter doctrine, teaching, and exhortation are of no avail. In a sense, not even our prayer is effectual in enabling us to reign in life by grace. The only thing that works is to come to the divine source and open ourselves from the depths of our being to be filled with God as grace. In order to be filled, we must ask the Lord to remove all insulation and frustration. We need to pray, “Lord, I am willing for every hindrance to be removed. I want to keep myself directly open to You. Lord, fill me completely with Yourself as grace.” Wherever you are, at work, at school, or in your car, stay open to the Lord to be filled with Him as grace. This is what it means to receive the abundance of grace. As you receive grace in this way, you will be filled with grace and eventually grace will overflow from within you. Then you will reign in life by grace over sin, death, and Satan. In your experience these three enemies will be utterly subdued. Sin, death, and Satan are still working within us. But if we come to the heavenly source and open ourselves thoroughly to be filled with grace, we shall reign over them in life. This is our need today in the church life. Although I appreciate very much all that is in the Gospel of John, we must go on from John to Romans 5:17 and to receive abundance of grace so that grace may reign within us and we may reign in life.