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罗马书生命读经 · 第59篇

身体生活的实行

THE PRACTICE OF THE BODY LIFE
1在本篇信息中，我们要来看罗马书末了几章所陈明之身体生活的实行。
1In this message we shall consider the practice of the Body life as it is presented in the closing chapters of Romans
儿子名分乃是为著身体
SONSHIP FOR THE BODY
2我们已经看见，我们是在神儿子的福音上事奉神。（一9。）这福音乃是儿子名分的福音。儿子名分包括标出、复活、称义、圣别、变化、模成、得荣以及显出。现在我们正在标出的过程中；也就是说，我们藉著复活的大能，正标出为神的儿子。儿子名分乃是为著身体。我们要成为基督身体上的肢体，就必须是神的儿子。我们已经指出，实在说来，十二章是直接接著八章，而九章到十一章是一段插进来括弧的话，论到恩典的拣选。八章启示我们正模成神儿子的形像，（29，）这个模成使我们有资格实行身体生活。
2We have seen that we are to serve God in the gospel of His Son (1:9). This gospel is a gospel of sonship. Sonship includes designation, resurrection, justification, sanctification, transformation, conformation, glorification, and manifestation. We are presently undergoing the process of designation; that is, we are being designated sons of God by the power of resurrection. Sonship is for the Body. In order to be members of the Body of Christ, we must be sons of God. We have pointed out that, in a very real sense, chapter twelve is the direct continuation of chapter eight, with chapters nine through eleven as a parenthetical insertion regarding the selection of grace. Chapter eight reveals that we are being conformed to the image of the Son of God (v. 29). This conformation qualifies us for the practice of the Body life
3身体生活不仅是信徒聚在一起。曾有许多团体成立，目的是要达到身体的生活，结果却都失败了。这些信徒的团体没有看见，身体生活乃在于儿子名分，而儿子名分则来自标出。我们若要有身体生活正确的实行，就必须按著复活的大能被变化。
3The Body life is not simply a matter of believers coming together. Many groups have been formed for the purpose of having the Body life. The result, however, has been failure. These groups of believers did not realize that the Body life depends on sonship, which comes out of designation. If we are to have the proper practice of the Body life, we must be transformed according to the power of resurrection
身体献上，
THE BODY PRESENTED
魂变化，
THE SOUL TRANSFORMED
灵火热
AND THE SPIRIT BURNING
4在十二章保罗题到身体、魂与灵。在一节他说，『所以弟兄们，我藉著神的怜恤劝你们，将身体献上，当作圣别并讨神喜悦的活祭，这是你们合理的事奉。』我们物质的身体必须献给主，使祂能彀得著祂的身体。有些人有心为著身体生活，但他若不将身体献上，实际上就不是为著身体生活。你也许非常关心聚会，但你的身体若是留在家里，怎么来关心？我们若不能为著召会生活将身体献给主，就无法有实际的聚会生活。你若说你有心为著召会的聚会，你需要问问自己，是否将你的身体为著聚会献给主。聚会时你的身体在那里？身体就是我们这个人的容器，因为灵是在魂里，而魂是在身体里。我们必须为著祂身体的缘故，将这个容器献给主。
4In chapter twelve Paul mentions the body, the soul, and the spirit. In verse 1 he says, “I beg you therefore, brothers, through the compassions of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, well-pleasing to God, which is your most reasonable service.” Our physical bodies must be presented to the Lord for His purpose of having the Body. Someone may have a he art for the Body life, but if he does not present his body, he is not for the Body life in a practical way. You may care for the meetings, but what does this accomplish if your body remains at home? If we fail to present our bodies to the Lord for the church life, we cannot have a practical meeting life. If you say that you have a heart for the church meetings, you need to ask yourself if you have presented your body to the Lord for the meetings. Where is your body at meeting time? The body is the container of our being, for the spirit is within the soul and the soul is within the body. We must present this container to the Lord for the sake of His Body.
5二节说到魂的主要部分－心思：『不要模倣这世代，反要藉著心思的更新而变化。』我们的心思得更新时，我们的魂也就得著变化。因此，我们的身体需要献上，我们的魂需要变化。在这节保罗恳求我们，不要模倣这世代。世界－撒但的系统－乃是由许多世代组成的。十九世纪是一个世代，二十世纪是另一个世代。事实上，连二十世纪本身就有好几个不同的世代。现今的世代乃是撒但世界系统的一部分。这世代不仅包括世俗的世界，也包括宗教的世界。我们若模倣今天的宗教，在实行身体生活的事上，我们就变为无用了。对保罗那时候来说，模倣当时的世代，主要是模倣犹太教。在头一世纪，犹太教是实行身体生活一个厉害的拦阻。犹太教怎样是保罗那时候世代的一部分，照样，基督教这组织的宗教也是今天这世代的一部分。你若模倣组织的基督教，你就是模倣这世代。我们不要模倣这世代，反要藉著心思的更新而变化。
5Verse 2 speaks of the mind, which is the main part of the soul: “And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind.” When our mind is renewed, our soul will be transformed. Hence, our body needs to be presented, and our soul needs to be transformed. In this verse Paul beseeches us not to be conformed to this age. The world, Satan’s system, is a cosmos composed of many ages. The nineteenth century was one age, and the twentieth century is another age. Actually, there have been several distinct ages within the twentieth century itself. The present age is a section of Satan’s world system. This age includes not only the secular world, but also the religious world. If we are conformed to today’s religion, we shall be useless as far as the practice of the Body life is concerned. For Paul in his day to be conformed to the present age was primarily a matter of being conformed to Judaism. Judaism was a serious hindrance to the practice of the Body life in the first century. Just as Judaism was part of the age in Paul’st i me, so Christianity as an organized religion is part of today’sa ge. If you are conformed to organized Christianity, you will be conformed to this age. Instead of being conformed to this age, we need to be transformed by the renewing of our mind
6在十二章十一节保罗说到灵；他告诉我们要『灵里火热』。我们的灵必须火热，也就是说，我们的灵必须烧著且焚烧。我们若有一个献上的身体，一个在变化过程中的魂，以及一个火热的灵，我们就能正确的实行身体生活。
6In 12:11 Paul speaks of the spirit; he tells us to be “burning in spirit.” Our spirit must be fervent; that is, it must be burned and burning. If we have a body presented, a soul in the process of being transformed, and a spirit burning, we shall be able to practice the Body life in a proper way
谈论与实行
TALK AND PRACTICE
72许多人谈论罗马十二章的身体生活，却没有实际的实行身体生活。例如，有些人看见在基督的身体里，我们乃是『各个互相作肢体』，（5，）但他们却说不出那些肢体是与他们特别有关联的。因此，他们所说各个互相作肢体的话，不过是空谈罢了。我们在这里不是为著谈论身体生活，我们乃是为著实行身体生活。
7Many talk about the Body life in Romans 1 without the actual practice of the Body life. For example, some have seen that in the Body of Christ we are “members one of another” (12:5). However, they cannot name any members to whom they are specifically related. Thus, their word about being members one of another is mere talk. We are not here for talk about the Body life; we are for the practice of the Body life.
8罗马书中关于身体生活的教训是在十二章，但实行却是在十四至十六章。这几章是对付一些发生在召会生活中的实际问题。我们来看保罗怎样处理这些问题，就能对于身体生活的日常实行有所学习。
8The teaching in Romans concerning the Body life is in chapter twelve, but the practice is in chapters fourteen, fifteen, and sixteen. These chapters deal with practical problems that occur in the church life. As we consider Paul’s approach to these problems, we can learn something related to the daily practice of the Body life
接纳信徒
RECEIVING THE BELIEVERS
9就著身体生活的道理，十二章是很重要的；而就著身体生活的实行，十四章则很重要。保罗在十四章论到一个问题，就是接纳那些意见和作法与我们不同的信徒。在一节保罗说，『信心软弱的，你们要接纳，但不是为判断所争论的事。』保罗接著题出两个例子，说到信徒可能会持不同看法的事。第一个例子与吃有关：『有人信百物都可吃，但那软弱的，只吃蔬菜。』（2。）第二个例子与守日有关：『有人断定这日比那日强，有人断定日日都一样。』（5。）有许多事使基督徒分裂，这两件事只是其中的两个例子。以受浸为例，有些人坚持浸到水里，有些人坚持洒水。我们若有身体生活正确的实行，就当接纳所有在基督里的真信徒，无论他们是实行浸到水里或洒水。有些人说我们在主恢复里的人狭窄；其实，我们愿意接纳各种不同的基督徒。我们接纳实行浸到水里的，也接纳实行洒水的。到底是谁狭窄－是主恢复里的人，还是那些只接纳在道理或作法上达到某些要求的人？基督徒中间的分裂，乃是来自道理或作法的不同。例如，信徒因著蒙头、洗脚、和守主日或守安息日这类的事情而分裂。这事实应当叫我们重新来看罗马十四章，那里保罗教导我们，凡在基督里有信心的人，我们都要接纳，而不要为次要的事论断他们。若有人来到我们中间，他对某件事有不同的意见，我们仍必须接纳他为主里的弟兄。正如保罗在十五章七节所说，『所以你们要彼此接纳，如同基督接纳你们一样，使荣耀归与神。』
9Chapter twelve is important concerning the doctrine of the Body life, whereas chapter fourteen is important concerning the practice of the Body life. In chapter fourteen Paul addresses the problem of receiving believers whose opinions and practices differ from ours. In 14:1 Paul says, “Now him who is weak in faith receive, not with a view to passing judgment on reasonings.” Then Paul proceeds to give two examples of matters about which believers may have different views. The first example concerns eating: “One believes that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables” (v. 2). The second concerns observing days: “One judges one day above another, another judges every day alike” (v. 5). These two matters are illustrations of the many things which have divided Christians. Take the example of baptism. Some insist on immersion, whereas others insist on sprinkling. If we have the proper practice of the Body life, we shall receive all true believers in Christ, whether they practice immersion or sprinkling. Some say that we in the Lord’s recovery are narrow. However, we are willing to receive all kinds of Christians. We receive those who practice immersion and those who practice sprinkling. Who then are the narrow ones — those in the Lord’s recovery or those who accept into their fellowship only those who meet special requirements related to doctrine or practice? The divisions among Christians come from differences over doctrine or practice. For example, believers have been divided over such things as head covering, foot-washing, and the observance of the Lord’s day or the Sabbath day. This fact should turn us afresh to Romans 14, where Paul instructs us to receive those who have the faith in Christ and not to judge them concerning secondary matters. If someone comes to us with a different opinion regarding a particular matter, we must still receive him as a brother in the Lord. As Paul says in 15:7, “Wherefore receive one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”
10接纳信徒的重要性，从我们早期在洛杉矶召会生活的经历中可得著例证。那时，有三个基督徒团体渴慕与我们来在一起过召会生活。一个团体有灵恩派的背景，另一个团体有基要派圣经教训的背景。当我知道他们渴慕并切望能彀聚在一起时，我就题醒他们，历代以来，基督徒因著道理和作法的不同而不断分裂。不仅如此，我还告诉他们，他们若要按照罗马十四章来在一起过召会生活，就必须丢弃自己的意见，并且接纳所有在基督里的真信徒，不论他们在道理上或作法上多么不同。他们同意将他们的不同摆在一边，在一里聚在一起过召会生活。我们在聚会的地方挂上了一些标语，一个是『多样与划一相对』(Variety，另一个是『在多样里合一』(UnityinVariety)，还有一个是『在基督里都是一』(AllOne。可是，经过一段很短的时间之后，有灵恩派背景的人就开始坚持在聚会中一定要说方言、敲铃鼓。那些有圣经教训背景的人受不了，拒绝这么作。我请求那些反对说方言、敲铃鼓的人，担就那些喜欢说方言、敲铃鼓的人，可是他们不愿意。然后我请求那些鼓吹这种作法的人要顾到别人的感觉。他们也拒绝了，并坚持他们所作的一点都没有错。最后，因著双方都不能接纳道理不同、作法不同的信徒，所以就无法在一里同聚，实行召会生活。
10The importance of receiving the believers is illustrated by an experience we had during the early days of the church life in Los Angeles. Three other Christian groups desired to come together with us for the church life. One group had a background of Pentecostalism, and another group had a background of fundamental Bible teaching. When I learned of their desire and excitement over the prospect of meeting together, I reminded them that throughout the centuries Christians have been divided by their opinions about doctrines and practices. Furthermore, I told them that if they would come together for the church life according to Romans 14, they would have to drop their opinions and receive all genuine believers in Christ, no matter how different they were in either doctrine or practice. They agreed to set aside their differences and meet together in oneness for the church life. In the meeting place we hung some banners. One read, “Variety versus Uniformity”; another, “Unity in Variety”; and another, “All One in versus Uniformity) Christ.” After a very short period of time, however, those from a Pentecostal background began to insist on the practices of speaking in tongues and of playing in Christ) tambourines in the meetings. Those from a Bible - teaching background could not tolerate this and refused to go along with it. I asked those who opposed speaking in tongues and playing tambourines to bear with those who favored these things. However, they declined to do so. Then I asked those who advocated these practices to care for the feeling of the others. They also refused, insisting that there was nothing wrong with what they were doing. Eventually, due to the inability on both sides to accept believers with different doctrines and practices, these groups were not able to meet together in oneness for the practice of the church life.
宽大的态度
A GENERAL ATTITUDE
11主能为我们作见证，我们在实行召会生活上，始终是宽大的，接纳各种不同的信徒。例如，我们既不阻止信徒说方言，也不坚持说方言。虽然如此，别人还是指摘我们狭窄。事实上，狭窄的是那些在宗派里的人，因为他们不接纳各种不同的基督徒。我们在洛杉矶的那些年间，从来没有拒绝过任何一位在基督里的真信徒。不仅如此，我们也没有改正过别人。我们乃是一直在学习，单单将生命供应给每一位前来的人。
11The Lord can testify on our behalf that in our practice of the church life we have been general, receiving all different kinds of believers. For instance, we do not stop the saints from speaking in tongues, but neither do we insist on tongues - speaking. Nevertheless, we have been accused of narrowness. Actually it is those in the denominations who are narrow, for they do not receive all different kinds of Christians. Throughout the years we have been in Los Angeles, we have never rejected any genuine believer in Christ. Furthermore, we have not adjusted others. On the contrary, we have been learning simply to minister life to all who come.
12保罗在罗马十四章的态度非常宽大。就道理上来说，保罗知道信徒可以随意吃肉，也可以吃蔬菜。但他不从道理的角度来处理吃的问题；反之，他对所有的信徒都表示宽大的态度。他既不轻看那些只吃蔬菜的人，也不批评那些百物都吃的人。他对守日的态度也是一样。我们若要正确的实行身体生活，就必须有一种宽大的态度。我们不该勉强别人实行某种特别的作法，也不该反对某种作法。以大声赞美主为例，有些人可能反对，定罪这样作没有秩序，但另一些喜欢大声赞美的人，却想要勉强别人这样作。这两种态度都不对。我们若喜欢在聚会中安静，就不该将我们的观念加诸于人。同样，我们若喜欢呼喊，也不该逼人这么作。祷读也是一样，若有人要实行祷读，他们该有自由这么作。但别人若不注重祷读，也不该强迫他们祷读。在召会生活里，我们必须宽大，能彀接纳所有的真信徒。然而，这个功课并不容易学，因为我们都想要别人和我们一样。愿我们不要求别人，也不要求别人因我们的缘故而改变他们的方式。愿我们在多样里合一，而且有多样而无划一。即使有各样的不同，我们在基督里仍是一。
12In Romans 14 Paul’s attitude was very general. Doctrinally speaking, Paul knew that the believers were free to eat meat as well as vegetables. But he did not approach the question of eating in a doctrinal way. Instead, he expressed a general attitude toward all believers; he despised neither those who ate only vegetables nor those who ate everything. His attitude was the same with respect to observing days. In order to have the proper practice of the Body life, we must have such a general attitude. We should neither impose a particular practice on others nor should we oppose a certain practice. Take the example of praising the Lord by shouting. Some may oppose this and condemn it as being disorderly, whereas those who favor it may seek to impose it on others. Both attitudes are wrong. If we prefer silence in the meetings, we should not impose our view on others. Likewise, if we prefer shouting, we should not impose this on anyone. The same is true regarding pray- reading. If some want to practice pray-reading, they should be free to do so. But if others do not care for this practice, it should not be forced upon them. In the church life we must be general, able to receive all genuine believers. However, it is not easy to learn this lesson, because we all want others to be the same as we are. Let us not make demands of others or require that they change their way for our sake. Rather, let us have unity in variety and variety without conformity. Even though there may be such variety, we still are one in Christ
召会之间的不同
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CHURCHES
13不仅在一处地方召会中的圣徒之间会有不同，连地方召会之间也有不同。例如，一处地方召会实行祷读，但另一处地方召会却不这么实行。你若访问一处召会，与你所在地的召会所实行的不同，不要想去改正，或是去改变甚么。不论你在那里，你只该简单的与当地召会是一。只要是一个地方召会，你就必须随之而行，不要强制，也不要反对。我承认，这么说很容易，实行起来却很困难。然而，我们都必须乐意学这个功课。这样，我们就不仅有罗马十二章身体的道理，也有罗马十四章身体生活的实行。
13There may be differences not only among believers in a local church but also between local churches themselves. For example, the church in one locality may practice pray-reading, but the church in another locality may not practice it. If you visit a church that differs in practice from the church in your locality, do not try to correct it or to change anything. Wherever you are, you should simply be one with the church in that place. As long as it is a local church, you need to go along with it without imposing or opposing. I admit that it is easy to talk about this but that it is difficult to practice it. Nevertheless, we all must be willing to learn this lesson. Then we shall have not only the doctrine of the Body in Romans 12, but also the practice of the Body life in Romans 14
一件那灵的事
A MATTER OF THE SPIRIT
14十四章十七节说，『因为神的国不在于吃喝，乃在于公义、和平、并圣灵中的喜乐。』照著这一节，神的国乃是一件那灵的事。只要我们有公义、和平、并圣灵中的喜乐，我们就不该注意道理或作法上的不同。
14Romans 14:17 says, “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” According to this verse, the kingdom of God is a matter of the Spirit. As long as we have righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, we should not be concerned about differences in doctrine or practice
召会的地方性
THE LOCALITY OF THE CHURCH
15十六章一节说，『我向你们推荐我们的姊妹非比，她是在坚革哩的召会的女执事。』这节经文揭示身体生活实行的第二方面：地方的召会。我们若要实际的有身体生活，不仅需要接纳信徒，也要注意地方的召会。照著罗马十六章，身体生活的实行，乃在于召会的地方性。本章不仅说到地方召会－在坚革哩的召会，也说到众召会。在四节保罗题到外邦的众召会，在十六节说到基督的众召会。
15Romans 16:1 says, “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deaconess of the church which is at Cenchrea.” This verse discloses a second aspect of the practicality of the Body life: the matter of the local church. If we would have the Body life in a practical way, we must not only receive the believers, but also pay attention to the church in the locality. According to Romans 16, the practicality of the Body life consists in the locality of the church. This chapter speaks not only of the local church, the church at Cenchrea, but also of the churches. In verse 4 Paul makes mention of the churches of the nations and in verse 16, of the churches of Christ
接待全召会
SHOWING HOSPITALITY TO THE CHURCH
16在二十三节保罗说，『那接待我，也接待全召会的该犹，问你们安。』在这里保罗题到一位接待全召会的弟兄的名字。保罗在这里显然是说到地方召会，不是说到宇宙召会。要紧的是，保罗指出该犹是接待全召会的，而不说他是接待众圣徒的。接待召会与接待圣徒不同，因为我们可能关心圣徒，却不关心召会。但保罗在这卷书中的观念，主要不是关乎众圣徒，乃是关乎召会。我们提供接待时，在我们的感觉和观念里必须有召会。当你接待别人时，你抱持怎样的观念？你的观念是接待圣徒，还是接待召会？你若有正确的观念，就会晓得，你不仅是接待一些圣徒，你更是接待全召会。
16In verse 23 Paul says, “Gaius, my host, and of the whole church, greets you.” Here Paul names a brother who provided hospitality to the whole church. Obviously, Paul is speaking of the local church, not of the universal church. It is important that Paul points out that Gaius was the host of the whole church, not of all the saints. There is a difference between showing hospitality to the church and showing hospitality to the saints, for we may care for the saints without caring for the church. But Paul’s concept in this book is related not mainly to the saints, but to the church. In our giving of hospitality, the church must be in our consciousness and concept. As you extend hospitality to others, what concept do you have? Do you hold the concept that you are providing hospitality to the saints or to the church? If you have the proper concept, you will realize that your hospitality is not simply to certain saints, but to the whole church
在家中的召会
THE CHURCH IN THE HOUSE
17在五节保罗问在百基拉和亚居拉家中的召会安。有人以这节为根据，说家中的召会与城里的召会不同。然而，你若仔细思考上下文，就会看见，在百基拉和亚居拉家中的召会，实际上就是在罗马城的召会。在罗马的召会，乃是在百基拉和亚居拉的家中聚会的。
17In verse 5 Paul sends greetings to the church in the house of Prisca and Aquila. Using this verse as a basis, some say that the church in a house is different from the church in a city. However, if you consider this matter carefully in context, you will see that the church in the house of Prisca and Aquila was actually the church in the city of Rome. The church in Rome held its meetings in Prisca and Aquila’sho use.
18今天我们若要正确的实行身体生活，就必须宽大的接纳各种不同的圣徒。只要一个人真正的相信了主耶稣，即使他在道理或作法上的意见与我们不同，我们也必须接纳他。不仅如此，我们也需要在地方召会里，并且尊重召会的地方性。为了十六章，我何等的感谢主！在这一章圣灵清楚的指明，我们要实行身体生活，就需要在地方召会里。不论我们在那里，我们都必须在当地的召会里。
18If we would have the proper practice of the Body life today, we must be general in receiving all kinds of believers. As long as a person genuinely believes in the Lord Jesus, we must receive him, even though his opinion may differ from ours with respect to doctrine or practice. Furthermore, we need to be in a local church and honor the locality of the church. How I thank the Lord for chapter sixteen! In this chapter the Holy Spirit clearly indicates that for the practice of the Body life, we need to be the local church. Wherever we may be, we must be in the church in that locality