哥林多前书生命读经 · 第8篇

钉十字架的基督，是神的能力和神的智慧（二）

Christ Crucified, God’s Power and God’s Wisdom (2

1读经：哥林多前书一章十八至二十五节。在本篇信息中，我们要进一步来看，钉十字架的基督如何就是神的能力和神的智慧。在林前一章二十三至二十四节保罗说，『我们却是传扬钉十字架的基督，对犹太人为绊脚石，对外邦人为愚拙；但对那蒙召的，无论是犹太人、或希利

1Scripture Reading: 1 Cor. 1:18-25 In this message we shall consider further how the crucified Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom. In 1:23 and 24 Paul says, “But we preach Christ crucified, to Jews an offense, and to the nations foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, God’s power and God’s wisdom

2尼人，基督总是神的能力，神的智慧。』

壹钉十字架的基督

I. CHRIST CRUCIFIED

3我们这些在基督里的信徒，都必须能回答这问题：为甚么基督必须钉十字架？保罗对哥林多那些崇尚哲学的希利尼人传讲的时候，必定指明，为甚么基督必须钉十字架。最常听到的答案也许是：基督必须钉十字架，好让神能拯救我们。基督如果不钉十字架，神就不能拯救我们。照新约看，离了基督的十字架，神就无法拯救我们。现在让我们扼要的来看为甚么如此。

3As believers in Christ, we all must be able to answer this question: Why was it necessary for Christ to be crucified? In his preaching to the philosophical Greeks at Corinth, Paul must have indicated why it was necessary for Christ to be crucified. Perhaps the most common answer to this question is to say that Christ had to be crucified in order for God to save us. God cannot save us apart from the crucifixion of Christ. According to the New Testament, God has no way to save anyone apart from the cross of Christ. Let us consider briefly why this is so

4宇宙间有许多种难处：有撒但、世界、和罪的难处，也有人的难处。神为著祂的目的所创造的人堕落了，成为有罪的。不仅如此，与人有关的，还有肉体和天然生命的难处。此外，宇宙中的一切都变旧了，也就是说，都腐朽、败坏了。不会败坏的东西不可能变老旧，老旧指明缺少生命。一棵树成长的时候有生命，但牠要枯死的时候就缺少生命了。因著撒但、世界、以及人（带著罪、肉体、和天然生命）的缘故，整个宇宙，包括诸天和地在内，都变得老旧、腐败、毁坏，并且满了死亡。除了这一切问题以外，还有一个难处，是关乎神为著人的生活而给人的典章和规条。因此，十字架对付撒但、世界、罪、人、肉体、天然的生命、老旧和规条等难处。要解决这些难处，基督就必须钉在十字架上。

4In the universe there are many kinds of problems. There are the problems of Satan, the world, and sin. There is also the problem of man. The man created by God for His purpose fell and became sinful. Other problems related to man are the flesh and the natural life. In addition, everything in the universe has become old; that is, it has become rotten, corrupt. Anything that is not corrupt cannot be old. Oldness indicates a shortage of life. When a tree grows, it has life. But when it begins to die, there is a shortage of life. Because of Satan, the world, and man with sin, the flesh, and the natural life, the whole universe, including the heavens and the earth, has become old, corrupt, ruined, and full of death. In addition to all these problems, there is the problem of the ordinances and regulations given by God for man’s living. Therefore, the cross deals with the problems of Satan, the world, sin, man, the flesh, the natural life, oldness, and ordinances. In order for these problems to be solved, it was necessary for Christ to be crucified

5基督必须先穿上人的性情，才能被钉死，以解决以上所有的难处。这就是说，祂必须成为一个人，成为一个受造之物。藉著成为人，基督成了受造之物。祂穿上人的性情，目的不仅要替我们死，为我们的罪流血，也是要解决撒但、世界、罪、堕落的人、天然的生命、肉体、老旧和规条等难处。

5Before Christ could be crucified to solve all these problems, He had to put on human nature. This means that He had to become a man, a creature. By becoming a man, Christ became a creature. He took on human nature, not only for the purpose of dying for us and of shedding His blood for our sins, but also for the purpose of solving the problems of Satan, the world, sin, fallen man, the natural life, flesh, oldness, and ordinances.

6虽然基督可以拒绝十字架的死，但祂还是被钉了。照人的领会，基督是被人处决的；不过，祂对自己受死的领会不同。在约翰十章十一节主耶稣说，『我是好牧人，好牧人为羊舍命。』在十八节主接著说到祂的生命：『没有人夺我的命去，是我自己舍的。我有权柄舍了，也有权柄再取回来。』祂的生命不是被人夺去，相反的，祂是为我们舍了祂的生命。如果基督不愿意舍弃自己的生命，人就不可能把祂处死。基督不为自己争战，反倒接受了十字架的死。祂愿意被钉死，好完成救赎，解决宇宙间所有的难处。钉十字架的基督对那些求神迹的人为绊脚石，对那些寻求智慧的人为愚拙；但对我们这些相信的人，基督乃是神的能力和智慧。

6Although Christ could have refused death by crucifixion, He was crucified. According to the human understanding, Christ was executed by others. However, His understanding of His death was different. In John 10:11 the Lord Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” Concerning His life, the Lord goes on to say in John 10:18, “No one takes it away from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it again.” His life was not taken from Him. On the contrary, He gave up His life for us. If Christ had not been willing to lay down His life, it would not have been possible for people to execute Him. Instead of fighting for Himself, Christ accepted the death of the cross. He was willing to be crucified in order to accomplish redemption and solve all the problems in the universe. Christ crucified is an offense to those who seek signs, and foolishness to those who seek wisdom. But to us who believe He is God’s power and wisdom

贰神的能力

II. GOD’S POWER

7在基督的十字架这里，我们看见神的能力。要打败撒但、世界、罪、堕落的人、肉体、天然的生命、旧造和规条，都需要神的能力。还有甚么能力比钉十字架的基督作为神的能力更大？还有甚么能力能毁坏撒但或胜过世界？惟有神有能力完成这些事。这种能力不是靠说话来作事的能力，像神在创造时所运用的能力。这乃是钉十字架的能力，是基督奇妙之死的能力。这就是说，基督的钉十字架已经成了神的能力。基督的死已经成了神的能力，毁坏撒但，解决世界的难处，除掉罪，并且了结堕落的人、肉体、天然的生命和旧造。藉著这个能力，神也能解决规条的难处。藉著这一个死，就是基督的死，宇宙间所有的难处都清除了。因此，钉十字架的基督是神的能力，废去所有消极的事物，并完成祂的计画。

7In the cross of Christ we see God’s power. It takes the power of God to defeat Satan, the world, sin, fallen man, the flesh, the natural life, the old creation, and the ordinances. What other power is greater than Christ crucified as God’s power? What other power can destroy Satan or overcome the world? Only God has the power to accomplish these things. This power is not that of doing things by speaking, such as the power God exercised in creation. Rather, it is the power of crucifixion, the power of the wonderful death of Christ. This means that the crucifixion of Christ has become the power of God. The death of Christ has become God’s power to destroy Satan, to solve the problem of the world, to eliminate sin, and to terminate fallen man, the flesh, the natural life, and the old creation. By this power God is able also to solve the problem of the ordinances. By one death, the death of Christ, all the problems in the universe have been cleared. Thus, Christ crucified is God’s power to abolish all negative things and carry out His plan

参神的智慧

III. GOD’S WISDOM

8这位钉十字架的基督也是神的智慧。我们要完成一件事，不仅需要能力，也需要智慧。我们已经指出，智慧是为著计画、定意，能力是为著实现、完成所计画、定意的。在神的经纶里，钉十字架的基督是神的能力，也是神的智慧。我们也许有能力、有力量，却没有智慧，没有路。我们若有能力而没有智慧，就可能会白花力气。因此，我们需要基督作能力和智慧。钉十字架的基督作为神的能力和智慧，可以应用于我们所面临脾气的难处。没有例外，我们都受到脾气的搅扰。谁能说他从来没有发过脾气？我们经历一点生命的长大之后，就开始恨自己的脾气，盼望脱离脾气的捆绑。我知道有些姊妹们，在即将结婚之前，发誓再也不发脾气了，特别是绝不对丈夫发脾气；但结果都事与愿违。我们不仅在婚姻生活里，更在日常生活各种情况中，一直受到脾气的搅扰。许多爱主、寻求主的基督徒，都曾经这样祷告过：『主耶稣，你知道我很容易发脾气。主，你是耶和华救主，求你救我脱离发脾气的罪。哦，主阿，救我脱离脾气。』虽然许多人都这样祷告过，结果却没有一个人蒙拯救脱离脾气。我们在自己里面就没有能力胜过脾气，也没有智慧、没有办法胜过脾气。我们可能以为祷告会使我们有能力和智慧；然而，即使我们祷告了，我们还是没有能力、没有智慧。但是当我们呼求主名，享受基督，被赐生命的灵充满时，我们就没有脾气的难处了。我们自然就有胜过脾气的能力，也有对付脾气的路。这个能力和这条路是甚么？就是基督的死。惟有钉十字架的基督，才是对付我们脾气的能力和智慧。我们也可以将钉十字架的基督，作为神的能力和智慧，应用到我们需要忍耐这事上。我们都盼望能忍耐，但我从没有遇见一个真忍耐的人。我们宝贝忍耐，也渴慕能忍耐，但就是忍耐不来。不过，当我们经历了钉十字架的基督，我们自然而然就有忍耐。这位钉十字架的基督，成了使我们能忍耐的能力和智慧。结果，我们有了忍耐的力量，也有了忍耐的路。实际上，我们不是努力忍耐；我们藉著经历钉十字架的基督，就有忍耐。

8This crucified Christ is also God’s wisdom. In order to accomplish anything, we need both power and wisdom. We have pointed out that wisdom is for planning and purposing, whereas power is for carrying out and accomplishing what is planned and purposed. In God’secon o my Christ crucified is both God’s power and His wisdom. It is possible for us to have power or strength without having wisdom or the way. If we have power without wisdom, we may use our strength in a foolish way. Therefore, we need Christ as both power and wisdom. The crucified Christ as God’s power and wisdom can be applied to the problem we face with our temper. Without exception, we all are bothered by our temper. Who can say that he has never lost his temper? After experiencing a certain amount of growth in life, we come to hate our temper and long to be free from it. I know of some sisters who, shortly before the day of their wedding, made a vow that they would never again lose their temper, especially never lose it with their husband. However, in every case this vow was broken. Not only in married life but in all kinds of situations in our daily life, we are troubled by our temper. Many Christians who love the Lord and seek Him have prayed something like this: “Lord Jesus, You know how easy it is for me to lose my temper. Lord, You are Jehovah the Savior. I ask You to save me from this sin of losing my temper. O Lord, deliver me from this.” Although many have prayed in this way, none have been delivered from their temper as a result. In ourselves we simply do not have either the power to overcome our temper or the wisdom, the way, to do it. We may think that prayer will give us power and wisdom. However, even when we pray, we still do not have power and wisdom. But when we call on the name of the Lord, enjoy Christ, and are filled with the life-giving Spirit, we have no problem with our temper. Spontaneously we have both the power to overcome our temper and the way to deal with it. What is this power and this way? It is the death of Christ. Only the crucified Christ is the power and the wisdom to deal with our temper. We may also apply the crucified Christ as God’s power and wisdom to our need for patience. We all desire to be patient. But I have never met a person who is truly patient. We value patience and we desire to be patient, but we cannot be patient. However, when we experience the crucified Christ, we automatically have patience. This crucified Christ becomes to us both the power and the wisdom for patience. As a result, we have both the strength and the way to be patient. Actually, we do not try to be patient. We simply are patient through our experience of Christ crucified.

9我们可以将钉十字架的基督，应用到各种为人的经历上。四十多年来，我们一直在传讲的，没有别的，只有基督并祂钉十字架。在这位钉十字架的基督里面，有复活和升天的元素。因此，我们享受钉十字架的基督，也就享受祂的复活和升天。经历基督的复活和升天的关键，就在于基督的钉十字架。钉十字架是进入基督一切丰富的门槛，十字架乃是经历基督并祂一切丰富的路。离了基督的钉十字架，就没有路让我们进到基督的丰富里。以弗所一章九节说到神在祂自己里面所豫先定下的喜悦。在三章十一节，保罗说到神『在我们的主基督耶稣里，所立的永远定旨』。此外，在一章十一节保罗说，神『按祂意愿所决议的，行作万事』。钉十字架的基督作为神的智慧，与神照著祂的喜悦所定的计画有关；也是照著神完成祂旨意的方式。神照著祂的喜悦所定的计画，以及神完成祂旨意的路，乃是深奥的。然而，这些深奥的事都能应用到我们的经历中。我们已经看见，当我们经历钉十字架的基督时，祂之于我们乃是神的能力和神的智慧。我们既有钉十字架的基督作神的智慧，就不需要寻求找一条路来完成神的旨意。只要经历钉十字架的基督，自然就有路来行神的旨意。我们会很有智慧的来行神的旨意。我们再也不需要下定决心来行神的旨意，或定意要行神的旨意。我们行神的旨意，甚至也不在于祷告说，『主，愿你的旨意成就。』到处都有基督徒祷告，愿神的旨意成就。在基督徒的事奉中，信徒常这样祷告：『主，但愿不是我的意思，乃是你的旨意得成就。』但是，不管信徒有多少次祷告神的旨意成就，神的旨意还是没有成就。如果你要行神的旨意，你不必祷告：『愿你的旨意成就。』只要你经历钉十字架的基督，基督就要成为从神给你的智慧，以完成祂的计画。你会有神的智慧来行祂的旨意。当时你可能不懂，但是过了几个月、几年，你再回头看，就懂得你的确有神的智慧，照著祂的旨意来完成祂的计画。当然，这不是你天然的智慧，乃是钉十字架的基督作神的智慧。

9The crucified Christ can be applied to all manner of human experiences. For more than forty years, we have been preaching nothing other than Christ and Him crucified. Within this crucified Christ there are the elements Of resurrection and ascension. Thus, when we enjoy the crucified Christ, we also enjoy His resurrection and ascension. The key to experiencing the resurrection and ascension of Christ is found in Christ’s crucifixion. Crucifixion is the threshold into all the riches of Christ. The cross is the way to experience Christ with all His riches. Apart from Christ’s crucifixion, there is no gateway for us to enter into the riches of Christ. Ephesians 1:9 speaks of God’s good pleasure which He purposed in Himself. In Ephesians 3:11 Paul refers to “the purpose of the ages which He made in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Furthermore, in Ephesians 1:11 Paul says that God “operates all things according to the counsel of His will.” The crucified Christ as God’s wisdom is related to God’s plan according to His good pleasure and also according to God’s way to fulfill His will. God’s plan according to His good pleasure and His way to fulfill His will are deep and profound. Nevertheless, these profound matters can be applied to our experience. We have seen that when we experience the crucified Christ, He becomes to us both the power of God and the wisdom of God. Since we have the crucified Christ as God’s wisdom, there is no need for us to seek a way to carry out God’s will. Simply by experiencing the crucified Christ, we spontaneously have a way to do God’s will. We become very wise in doing the will of God. No longer is it necessary for us to make up our mind to do God’s will or to determine to do the will of God. Doing God’s will does not even depend on our praying, “Lord, Your will be done.” Christians everywhere pray for the will of God to be done. It is common in Christian services for believers to pray, “Lord, not our will, but Your will be done.” But no matter how many times believers pray for the will of God to be done, the will of God is not accomplished. If you want to do the will of God, there is no need for you to pray the words, “Your will be done.” As long as you experience the crucified Christ, Christ will become to you God’s wisdom to fulfill His plan. You will have the wisdom of God to do His will. Perhaps you may not understand this at the time. But if you look backward after a period of months or years, you will realize that you did have God’s wisdom to carry out His plan according to His will. This, of course, is not your natural wisdom; it is the crucified Christ as God’s wisdom.

10我们经历钉十字架的基督时，我们就被了结。我们的一切所是、所有和所能，全都了结了。你要被了结，不需要把自己钉在十字架上，甚至也不必算自己是死的。你只要经历钉十字架的基督，就被了结。实际上，没有一个人能把自己钉在十字架上。可是，当我们呼求主耶稣的名，享受祂并经历祂的时候，祂的钉十字架就会了结我们。我们的一切所是就被这位钉十字架的基督了结。钉十字架乃是我们蒙拯救脱离肉体、天然生命和旧造的路。钉十字架的基督不仅是能力，也是道路。这样一位基督对犹太人为绊脚石，对希利尼人为愚拙；但对我们这蒙召的人，钉十字架的基督总是神的能力和神的智慧，拯救我们脱离一切消极的事物。感谢祂，赞美祂，我们如今正在得救的过程中。我们越藉著经历钉十字架的基督而得救，我们就越享受祂。

10When we experience the crucified Christ, we are terminated. All that we are, all that we have, and all that we can do—all is completely terminated. To be terminated, there is no need for you to crucify yourself. There is not even any need for you to reckon yourself dead. You are terminated simply by experiencing the crucified Christ. Actually, it is impossible for anyone to crucify himself. But when we call on the name of the Lord Jesus, as we are enjoying Him and experiencing Him, His crucifixion will terminate us. All that we are is terminated by this crucified Christ. Crucifixion is the way for us to be delivered from the flesh, the natural life, and the old creation. Christ crucified is not only the power; He is also the way. To the Jews, such a Christ is an offense, and to the Greeks, He is foolishness. But to us who have been called, the crucified Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom for us to be delivered from all negative things. We thank Him and praise Him that we are now in the process of being saved. The more we are saved by experiencing the crucified Christ, the more we enjoy Him