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哥林多后书生命读经 · 第25篇

新约职事的素质（一）

The Essence of the New Covenant Ministry (1)
1读经：哥林多后书3:3,6-9,18;4:1上。本篇信息的题目是『新约职事的素质』。『素质』一辞与保罗在林后三章七至十一节所论到新约职事的荣光与卓越有关。这几节经文表明，摩西的职事，律法的职事，即定罪与属死的职事，其荣光较为低下；而使徒的职事，恩典的职事，即义和那灵的职事，其荣光较为卓越。前者是暂时经过荣光的，后者是永远留在荣光里的。使徒在二章十二至十七节，说到使徒职事的得胜与功效；在三章一至六节，说到其功用与资格；在三章七至十一节，说到其荣光与卓越。
1Scripture Reading: 2 Cor. 3:3, 6-9, 18; 4:1a The title of this message is “The Essence of the New Covenant Ministry.” The word essence is related to what Paul says concerning the glory and superiority of the ministry of the new covenant in 3:7-11. These verses show the inferiority of the glory of the Mosaic ministry, the ministry of law, a ministry of condemnation and death, and the superiority of the apostolic ministry, the ministry of grace, a ministry of righteousness and the Spirit. The former was through glory temporarily; the latter remains in glory forever. In 2:12-17 the apostle speaks of the triumph and effect of the apostolic ministry; in 3:1-6, of its function and competency; and in 3:7-11, of its glory and superiority
2在前面的信息里，我们已经交通了好几个与新约职事有关的基本点：得胜、功效、功用、资格、荣光与卓越。在本篇信息中，我们要来看新约职事的素质。
2In previous messages we have covered a number of basic points related to the new covenant ministry: the essence, the effect, the function, the competency, the glory, and the superiority. Now in this message we need to consider the essence of the ministry of the new covenant
3用那灵为素质书写有的人也许会指出，林后三章没有素质一辞。虽然这里没有用到这辞，但素质的观念却含示在第三节里：『你们显明是基督的信，由我们供职所写的，不是用墨，乃是用活神的灵写的，不是写在石版上，乃是写在肉版，就是心上。』本节『供职』一辞实际的意思是供应，原文的意思是摆上东西供应人，就像餐馆里的侍者上菜，或是飞机上的空中小姐供应食物
3INSCRIBED WITH THE SPIRIT AS AN ESSENCE Some may point out that the word essence is not found in 2 Corinthians 3. Although this word is not used here, the concept of essence is nonetheless implied in verse 3: “Being manifested that you are a letter of Christ ministered by us, inscribed not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in fleshy tablets of the heart.” In this verse the word “ministered” actually means served. The Greek word means to serve something to someone, for example, as a waiter serves in a restaurant or a
4一样。因此，保罗的意思是说，哥林多信徒乃是基督的信，由使徒供应而成的。但保罗知道供应一辞还不彀，就接著又用了『写』这个字。这说明了供职、供应的意义。保罗供职的方式乃是藉著写。保罗在三节说，『不是用墨…写的，』他不是说，『不是由墨…来写。』『用』这个字指明，属灵的墨，就是活神的灵，乃是书写者所用的素质、元素。我们要特别注意保罗所用的介系词是『用』，这是很重要的。这个介系词指明，那灵不是书写者，也不是书写的工具，乃是书写时所用的素质、元素、本质。活神的灵，就是活神自己，不是作工具像笔，乃是作元素像书写的墨；使徒们用这元素供应基督作内容，书写传输基督的活信。
4stewardess on an airplane. Thus, Paul is saying that the Corinthian believers are a letter of Christ served by the apostles. However, realizing that the word serve is not adequate, Paul went on to use the word “inscribed.” This explains the meaning of ministered, served. Paul’sway of ministering was by inscribing. In 3:3 Paul says “inscribed not with ink”; he does not say “inscribed not by ink.” The word “with” indicates that the spiritual ink, the Spirit of the living God, is an essence, an element, used by the one doing the inscribing or the writing. It is important that we pay careful attention to Paul’su se of the preposition “with.” This preposition indicates that the Spirit is neither the writer nor the instrument used for writing; rather, the Spirit is the essence, the element, the substance, used in writing. The Spirit of the living God, who is the living God Himself, is not an instrument, such as a pen, but an element, the heavenly ink used in writing, with which the apostles minister Christ as the content for the writing of living letters that convey Christ.
5我们可以用原子笔写信这件简单的事，作为例证来说明。你是写信者，原子笔是工具。但是墨不是书写者，也不是工具；墨乃是元素、素质。原子笔若没有墨，就甚么都写不出来；你虽然在纸上写字，纸还是空白的。在这种情况之下，有书写者，也有工具，但没有墨作为必要的书写素质。在林后三章三节，圣灵不是书写者，也不是工具，甚至也不是能力。今天有些基督徒谈到灵的时候，他们的观念就是与能力有关。但我们若仔细读这节经文，留意上下文，就会看见这里的灵不是能力的问题，乃是素质的问题。因著许多基督徒忽略了灵是素质，所以我在本篇信息里特意强调『素质』一辞。今天有那些基督徒把灵看作素质？基督徒最多不过把灵看作是工具，是能力。有些人比较进步，说到那灵是神圣的人位。但我不知道有任何传道人像保罗在林后三章那样说到那灵。在这一章圣经里，保罗把那灵看作素质，用来书写基督的信。他在这里不是把那灵看作人位、工具或能力；反之，那灵乃是用来书写基督活信的素质。
5Let us take as an illustration the simple matter of writing a letter with a ball point pen. You may be the writer, but the pen is the instrument. The ink, however, is neither the writer nor the instrument—it is the element, the essence. But if your pen is out of ink, any writing you try to do with it will be in vain. You may write words on paper, but the paper will be blank. In such a case, there would be a writer and an instrument, but there would not be any ink as the necessary writing essence. In 2 Corinthians 3:3 the Holy Spirit is not the writer, the instrument, or even the power. When many Christians today talk about the Spirit, their concept is related to power. But if we read this verse carefully, considering it in its context, we shall see that the Spirit here is a matter of essence, not of power. Because many Christians neglect the Spirit as an essence, I purposely emphasize the word essence in this message. What Christians today consider the Spirit as an essence? For the most part, Christians think of the Spirit as an instrument or as a power. Others go farther and speak of the Spirit as a divine person. But I do not know of any preachers who speak of the Spirit the way Paul does in 2 Corinthians 3. Paul’s view of the Spirit in this chapter was that of an essence used for inscribing letters of Christ. Here he does not view the Spirit as a person, an instrument, or a power. Rather, the Spirit is the essence used for inscribing living letters of Christ
6新约的职事不是仅仅教导的职事。学校里的老师，没有一位曾经把某种素质写到你里面。他们可能灌输你一些观念，但是他们并没有把甚么素质储存在你里面。然而，新约的职事不仅教导我们，更在我们里面书写。不仅如此，这新约的职事不是用观念、知识或神学书写，乃是用一种素质，一种既真实又具体的东西书写。在主恢复的召会生活中，你难道没有感觉到一直在经历一种属灵的书写么？我们中间许多人能见证，藉著新约的职事，基督已经写到我们里面。一种神圣的素质已经写到我们里面；这种素质就是那灵。
6The ministry of the new covenant is not that of mere teaching. None of your teachers in school ever inscribed an essence into your being. They may have put concepts into you, but they did not deposit the essence of anything into you. However, the new covenant ministry does more than merely teach us; it inscribes us. Furthermore, this new covenant ministry inscribes us not with concepts, knowledge, or theology, but with an essence, with something real and substantial. In the church life in the Lord’s recovery, do you not have the sense that you are under a spiritual inscribing? Many of us can testify that through the new covenant ministry Christ has been inscribed into us. A divine essence has been written into our being, and this essence is the Spirit.
7然而，我们仍然需要解释这素质是甚么。我们知道那灵已经写到我们里面，但这灵是甚么？
7However, we still need to define what this essence is. We realize we have been inscribed with the Spirit, but what is this Spirit
死与那灵相对
DEATH VERSUS THE SPIRIT
8现在我们必须接著来看，与新约职事有关的几个辞。保罗在三章七节说到属死的职事，在八节说到那灵的职事。因此，这两节经文有属死的职事与那灵的职事之对比。属死的职事是指旧约的职事，摩西的职事。保罗说到属死的职事，这是很大胆的，难怪犹太人被他得罪了。接著，保罗将属死的职事与那灵的职事作比较。我们多半不会将死与那灵作对比，因为死总是与生命相对。对我们而言，不是生，就是死；不是死，就是生。但保罗在三章八节没有用生命一辞，反而说到那灵。这指明生命既然与死相对，这里的那灵就与生命有关。保罗在三章六节已经说过，那灵赐人生命。因此，这里的那灵是指赐生命的那灵，也是指那灵所赐的生命。旧约的职事是属死的职事，新约的职事是生命的职事，而这生命乃是具体化于那灵。写到我们里面之那灵的素质乃是生命。这里的生命不是工具、人位、能力、力量、才能、才干或恩赐。我们若认识这里的那灵乃是属于生命的，就会明白，新约的职事写在我们里面所用的素质，其性质到底是甚么。
8Now we must go on to see certain terminology related to the ministry of the new covenant. In 3:7 Paul speaks of the ministry of death, and in verse 8, of the ministry of the Spirit. Thus, in these verses we have a comparison between the ministry of death and the ministry of the Spirit. The ministry of death refers to the old covenant ministry, the Mosaic ministry. Paul was bold in speaking of the ministry of death. No wonder the Jews were offended because of him. Then Paul goes on to compare the ministry of death with the ministry of the Spirit. Most of us would not contrast death with the Spirit, for death is always versus life. For us, the issue is a matter of life or death, death or life. But instead of using the word life in 3:8, Paul speaks of the Spirit. This indicates that the Spirit here is related to life, since life is what stands in contrast to death. In 3:6 Paul has already said that the Spirit gives life. Therefore, the Spirit here points to the Spirit who gives life and also to the life given by the Spirit. The old covenant ministry was a ministry of death; the new covenant ministry is a ministry of life embodied in the Spirit. The essence of the Spirit inscribed into us is life. Life here is not an instrument, person, power, strength, ability, talent, or gift. If we realize that the Spirit here is of life, then we shall understand what is the nature of the essence with which we are inscribed through the new covenant ministry
9基督徒说到那灵的时候，通常把祂看作工具、能力或恩赐。我们受了传统的影响，也可能不彀注意那灵是写到我们里面的素质。为这缘故，我要强调这个事实：林后三章的那灵不是指能力或工具，乃是指素质。
9Often Christians refer to the Spirit as an instrument, power, or gift. Under the influence of tradition, we also may not pay adequate attention to the Spirit as the essence inscribed into us. For this reason, I want to emphasize the fact that the Spirit in 2 Corinthians 3 does not denote a power or instrument—it denotes an essence
从荣耀到荣耀
FROM GLORY TO GLORY
10十八节可以证实这样的领会：『但我们众人既然以没有帕子遮蔽的脸，好像镜子观看并返照主的荣光，就渐渐变化成为与祂同样的形像，从荣耀到荣耀，乃是从主灵变化成的。』这里的荣光（荣耀）不是工具、能力、才能或恩赐。荣光也是一种素质。当我们以没有帕子遮蔽的脸观看主的荣光，就因著荣光的素质而渐渐变化。我们在前一篇信息里指出，十八节的『从荣耀到荣耀』就是从主灵到主灵，因为在这一节经节里，荣光（荣耀）与那灵乃是同义词。因此，渐渐变化，从荣耀到荣耀，就是渐渐变化，从那灵到那灵。
10This understanding is confirmed by verse 18: “And we all with unveiled face, beholding and reflecting as a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord Spirit.” Glory here is not an instrument, power, ability, or gift. Glory also is an essence. As we behold the glory of the Lord with unveiled face, we are being transformed with glory as an essence. In a previous message we pointed out that “from glory to glory” in verse 18 means from the Lord Spirit to the Lord Spirit, for in this verse the glory and the Spirit are synonyms. Therefore, to be transformed from glory to glory is to be transformed from the Spirit to the Spirit.
11扩大本新约圣经（AmplifiedNew）把『从荣耀到荣耀』译为：『从一种程度的荣耀，到另一种程度的荣耀。』我们渐渐变化，从一种程度的荣耀到另一种程度的荣耀，这样说是正确的。但我们仍然要找出，荣耀是甚么。三章十八节的荣光（荣耀），实际上就是那灵。这荣光（荣耀）也是指复活的基督，或是指在复活里的基督。主耶稣是藉著复活而得著荣耀。（路二四26。）因此，荣光（荣耀）、那灵、复活，都是说到同一件事。今天我们里面的那灵就是荣光（荣耀），也就是复活的实际。因此，我们再一次看见，林后三章
11The Amplified New Testament renders the Greek words translated from glory to glory as “from one Testament degree of glory to another.” It is correct to say that we are transformed from one degree of glory to another degree of glory. But we still must find out what glory is. The glory in 3:18 is actually the Spirit. This glory also refers to the resurrected Christ, or to Christ in resurrection. The Lord Jesus was glorified by resurrection (Luke 24:26). Hence, the glory, the Spirit, and resurrection all refer to the same thing. Today the Spirit within us is glory and also the reality of resurrection. Therefore, once again we see that the Spirit in 2 Corinthians 3 is an essence, not an instrument or power.
12的那灵不是工具或能力，乃是素质。
12
那灵的职事
A MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT
13与义的职事保罗在九节接著说，『若定罪的职事有荣光，那称义的职事，就越发充盈著荣光了。』『定罪的职事』也是指摩西旧约的职事。那职事是属死的职事，也是定罪的职事。保罗很大胆的宣告这个事实：摩西的职事是属死的职事，也是定罪的职事。但是九节指明，即使是这样的职事，也是在荣光里来的。（另译。）
13AND OF RIGHTEOUSNESS In 3:9 Paul goes on to say, “For if the ministry of condemnation came in glory, much rather the ministry of righteousness abounds in glory.” The phrase “the ministry of condemnation” also refers to the Mosaic ministry of the old covenant. That ministry was both a ministry of death and a ministry of condemnation. Paul was bold to declare the fact that the ministry of Moses was a ministry of death and condemnation. But, as verse 9 indicates, even this ministry came in glory
14旧约的职事怎样是属死的职事和定罪的职事，新约的职事也照样是那灵的职事和称义的职事。死与具体化于那灵里的生命相对，而定罪与称义相对。
14As the old covenant ministry was of death and condemnation, so the new covenant ministry is of the Spirit and of righteousness. Death is versus life, which is embodied in the Spirit, and condemnation is versus righteousness
15称义的职事，直译，义的职事。我们也许料想保罗不会用义这个字，而会用称义一辞。但保罗在这里是说义（righteousness），而不是说称义（justification）。本章圣经里的那灵乃是素质，基于这个原则，这里的义也该视为素质。因此，新约职事有一种素质，这种素质有两方面：第一方面是那灵，第二方面是义。
15We may have expected Paul to use the word justification instead of righteousness. But here Paul speaks of righteousness, not of justification. Based upon the principle that the Spirit in this chapter is an essence, righteousness here should also be regarded as an essence. Hence, the new covenant ministry has an essence in two aspects: the first aspect is of the Spirit, and the second aspect is of righteousness.
16我们曾经指出，林后三章的那灵与生命有关。这章圣经里的那灵就是指生命。但义是指甚么？我们要回答这个问题，就必须看见保罗把义和那灵归为一类。义和那灵是在同一个水平。新约的职事是那灵与义的职事，那灵与义是这职事之素质的两方面。就如桌子是由木头和油漆构成的，新约的职事照样是由那灵和义构成的。假设一张桌子由木头作成，然后上了油漆。木头是这张桌子的本质，而油漆赋予桌子特别的外表。因此，桌子有本质，也有外表。新约的职事在原则上也是这样。这职事有其本质，也有其外表，彰显。新约职事的本质是那灵，而其彰显、外表乃是义。
16We have pointed out that the Spirit in 2 Corinthians 3 is related to life. The Spirit in this chapter refers to life. But to what does righteousness refer? If we would answer this question, we need to realize that Paul places righteousness in the same category as the Spirit. Both righteousness and the Spirit are on the same level. The new covenant ministry is a ministry of the Spirit and of righteousness, both of which are aspects of the essence of this ministry. Just as a table may be constituted of wood and of paint, so the new covenant ministry is constituted of the Spirit and of righteousness. Suppose a certain table made of wood is painted. Wood is the substance of the table, and the paint gives the table a particular appearance. Therefore, with the table there are both substance and appearance. The principle is the same with the new covenant ministry. This ministry has a substance, and it also has an appearance, an expression. The substance of the new covenant ministry is the Spirit, and the expression, the appearance, is righteousness
我们日常生活中的那灵与义
THE SPIRIT AND RIGHTEOUSNESS IN OUR DAILY LIVING
17我们要从对主经历的观点，来看那灵与义这件事。你是个爱主而且追求主的人，当你活基督的时候，岂不感觉到你里面有个东西是很实在、活泼且活跃的么？这种活的本质不是任何一种道理、教训或神学。相反的，这活泼、活跃的本质就是那灵。今天藉著那职事，我们都有那灵写到我们里面。许多时候，我们在聚会之后，觉得里面有个活泼、实在、活跃的东西。这个活的本质，就是我们里面的那灵，就是已经写到我们里面的那灵。换句话说，神圣的素质已经加到我们全人里面。如果一个人从来没有这种经历，我会怀疑他是否真正得救、重生。我信我们所有在召会生活中的人，都能见证我们曾经活泼、活跃、实在的在里面经历了那灵。除了这内里的本质以外，我们还有外面的彰显；这彰显就是义。凡是有活神的灵写到他里面的人，在他的日常生活中就会有义的彰显。譬如，一位已婚的弟兄，可以藉著来自新约职事的书写，经历那灵在他里面作活的本质。他的妻子自然而然的会看见，有些事发生在她丈夫身上。她也许会对自己说，『他身上发生了一些事，但我不明白那是甚么。他好像各方面都正正当当的，凡事都很得当。从前他作许多事都作得不对，他连收拾东西都不会，因为他从来不把东西放回原处。但是他现在料理事情样样都很恰当。我发现他跟我讲话的态度也不一样了。他要去上班的时候，跟我说再见的态度是那样亲切。他说，『亲爱的，我现在要去上班了。』我丈夫现在连照顾狗也照顾得很合宜。我不知道他到底怎么了。』这位弟兄因著在里面经历了那灵为本质，就在他家庭生活中把义彰显出来。
17Let us consider the matters of the Spirit and righteousness in the light of our experience with the Lord. When, as one who loves the Lord and seeks Him, you live Christ, do you not have the sense that within you there is something substantial, living, and active? This living substance is not any kind of doctrine, teaching, or theology. On the contrary, this living, active substance is the Spirit. Through the ministry today, we all have had the Spirit inscribed into our being. Many times after a meeting we realize that inside we have something living, substantial, and active. This living substance is the Spirit in us, the Spirit who has been inscribed into us. In other words, the divine essence has been added into our being. If a certain person has never experienced this, I would doubt that he has truly been saved and regenerated. I believe all of us in the church life can testify that we have experienced the Spirit inwardly in a way that is living, active, and substantial. Along with this inward substance, we also have an outward expression. This expression is righteousness. Anyone who has been inscribed with the Spirit of the living God will have an expression of righteousness in his daily living. For example, a married brother may experience the Spirit as the living substance within him through the inscribing that comes from the new covenant ministry. Spontaneously his wife will realize that something has happened to her husband. She may say to herself, “Something has happened to him, but I don’t understand what it is. He seems to be right in every way and right with everything. Formerly, he was wrong in the way he did many things. He was wrong even in the way he put things away, for he never put them back in the proper place. But now he takes care of everything in the right way. I also see a difference in the way he speaks to me. When it is time for him to go to work, he tells me in such a nice way that he is leaving. He says, Dear, I’m going to work now.’ My husband is even right in the way he takes care of the dog. I don’t know what is going on with him.” Because the brother is experiencing the Spirit inwardly as the substance, he expresses righteousness in his life at home
18我们没有活基督的时候，许多事上都不对。我们可能连关门窗的方式也不对。我们没有好好的关门，而是把门甩上。但是当我们活基督，经历我们里面那实在而活跃的本质时，我们关门窗的方式就对了。事实上，我们作甚么都作得合宜了。有些人摆鞋子、摆衣服的时候随随便便。如果你去看他们的卧室，你会发现许多东西都放得没有条理。但是凡经历那灵作里面本质的人，就会把鞋子、衣服整理得妥当。每样东西都会摆在适当的地方。如果你里面经历了那灵，外面彰显出义来，别人就会看见，你跟以前不一样了。这是新约职事的结果。这职事把一种素质写到我们里面，这素质有内在与外在两方面。内在一面是活的灵在我们里面运行，外在一面是义作我们的彰显。
18When we do not live Christ, we are wrong in many things. We may be wrong in the way we close a window or a door. Instead of closing a door in a proper way, we may slam it. But when we live Christ and experience something in us that is substantial and active, we become right in closing windows and doors. In fact, anything we do will be done in a right way. Some may be very careless in putting away their shoes or their clothes. If you could see their bedroom, you would find that many things are out of order. But if those ones experience the Spirit as the substance within them, they will become right even with their shoes and clothes. Everything will be put in the right place. If you experience the Spirit inwardly and express righteousness outwardly, others will realize that something is different about you. This is the result of the new covenant ministry. This ministry inscribes an essence into our being, an essence that has an inner aspect and an outer aspect. The inner aspect is the living Spirit moving in us; the outer aspect is righteousness as our expression
19彰显神的形像那灵与义都和我们彰显神的形像有关；原因是那灵与义实际上就是神自己。神是灵，是在你里面运行的本质，也是活在你里面的素质；因为藉著新约的职事，祂自己已经加到你全人里面。因此，从里面来看，你有那灵。你在外面所彰显出来的义，也是神自己。这样，你不仅在许多方面是对的，你也不仅是义的，你更有神自己作你的义。那位是义的神，成了你的外表，你的彰显。首先，神自己是赐生命的灵，在你里面生活、运行、行动。然后神自己成了义外面的彰显，义的外表。这就是新约职事的素质。
19EXPRESSING THE IMAGE OF GOD The Spirit and righteousness are both related to our expressing the image of God. The reason for this is that the Spirit and righteousness are actually God Himself. God as the Spirit is moving in you as a substance and living in you as an essence, for He Himself has been added into your being by the new covenant ministry. Thus, inwardly you have the Spirit. The righteousness you express outwardly is also God Himself. Therefore, you are not only right in so many ways, and you are not only righteous, but you have God Himself as your righteousness. God as righteousness becomes your appearance, your expression. First, God Himself is the life-giving Spirit who lives, moves, and acts within you. Then God Himself becomes the outward expression, the appearance, of righteousness. This is the essence of the new covenant ministry.
20新约职事的工作与今天大多数传道人和教师的工作完全不同。新约职事的工作不是仅仅教导我们要改良自己的行为，更是用那灵在我们里面书写。书写就是把神的素质更多加到我们里面。这素质在我们里面就是那灵，显在外面就是义。但我们已经看过，里面的那灵与外面的义都是神自己。因此，新约的职事，那灵与义的职事，就是神的职事。说新约的职事是那灵与义的职事，就等于说新约的职事是神的职事。然而，说这职事是神的职事，乃是概括的说法，而说新约的职事是那灵与义的职事，是更为专特的说法。赞美主！那灵是神在我们里面生活、运行、行动，而义是神在我们外面彰显为我们的表现！圣经中心的异象，乃是说到神的形像藉著神的生命得著彰显。关于这一点，创世记头两章是非常重要的。创世记一章给我们看见神的形像：『神说，我们要照著我们的形像，按著我们的样式造人，…神就照著自己的形像造人，乃是照著祂的形像造男造女。』（26～27。）神的心意是要我们有祂的形像来彰显祂。然而，我们若要这样彰显神，就必须有祂的生命。神的生命是由创世记二章九节的生命树所表征的。里面的生命是那灵，外面彰显的形像是义。为著新约的职事有生命与彰显这两方面赞美主！我们里面有那灵作生命，外面有义作彰显。
20The work of the new covenant ministry is altogether different from that of most of today’spr each ers and teachers. The work of the new covenant ministry is not merely to teach us to improve our behavior. Rather, this ministry inscribes us with the Spirit. To inscribe is to add more of the essence of God into us. Inwardly this essence is the Spirit; outwardly it is righteousness. But as we have seen, both the Spirit inwardly and the righteousness outwardly are God Himself. Therefore, the ministry of the new covenant, a ministry of the Spirit and of righteousness, is simply a ministry of God. To say that the ministry of the new covenant is of the Spirit and of righteousness is equal to saying that the new covenant ministry is of God. However, to say that this ministry is of God is to speak in a general way, whereas to say that it is of the Spirit and of righteousness is to speak in a more particular way. Praise the Lord that the Spirit is God within us living, moving, and acting, and righteousness is God expressed to become our appearance outwardly! The central vision of the Bible is related to the image of God expressed by the life of God. Regarding this, the first two chapters of Genesis are very important. In Genesis 1 we have the image of God: “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness....So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (vv. 26-27). God’sin tent i on is that we express Him with His image. However, if we would express God in this way, we need to have His life. The life of God is signified by the tree of life in Genesis 2:9. The life within is the Spirit, and the image outwardly for expression is righteousness. Praise the Lord for the new covenant ministry with the two aspects of life and expression! Inwardly we have the Spirit as life, and outwardly we have righteousness as our expression
活基督
LIVING CHRIST
21世上众人当中，最合乎义的人就是活基督的人。只要你活基督，你在各方面都是对的。你不需要人教导怎样才是对的，因为活在你里面的基督会使你对任何人、在任何事上都是对的。如果我们放置东西或关门的方式是随随便便的，就指明我们没有活基督。我们如果真活基督，就会好好的关门。我们敲门或按门铃也会很得体。我再说，我们不需要人教导如何关门、敲门、或按门铃。圣经里面没有这种教导。如果圣经包含我们日常生活每一方面的细则，这本圣经就大到无法携带了。乃是在我们里面的那灵，能叫我们在生活里是义的。我们所需要的是那灵更多的书写。新约的职事乃是那灵的职事。
21Among all the people on earth, the most righteous persons are those who live Christ. Whenever you live Christ, you will be right in every way. You will not need anyone to teach you to be right, for the Christ who lives within you will make you right in everything and right with everyone. If we are careless with our things or in the way we close a door, this is an indication that we are not living Christ. If we truly live Christ, we shall close a door in a right way. We shall also be proper when we knock on someone’s door or ring the doorbell. Once again I say that it is not necessary for someone to teach us how to close a door, how to knock on a door, or how to ring a doorbell. The Bible does not contain such instructions. If the Bible contained a rule for every aspect of our daily living, it would be too big for any of us to carry. It is the Spirit within us who makes us righteous in our living. What we need is more inscribing of the Spirit. The ministry of the new covenant is a ministry of the Spirit.
22当我们得著那灵为素质的书写，神圣的素质就分赐到我们里面。这素质使属灵新陈代谢的过程在我们里面发生。因著这种过程，结果就叫我们渐渐变化，成为主的形像。
22When we are inscribed with the Spirit, the divine essence is imparted into our being. This essence causes the process of spiritual metabolism to take place within us. As a result of this process, we are transformed into the Lord’sim age
里面的变化
INWARD TRANSFORMATION
23与外面的义我们已经看见，渐渐变化成为主的形像，从荣耀到荣耀，就是渐渐变化，从那灵到那灵。我们若经历这种里面的变化，就自然有义作我们外面的表现。这样，我们与神、与人、自己，就都是对的。然而，许多人与神、与人、或与自己，都是不对的。他们每天得罪神，也得罪他们周遭的人。不仅如此，因著他们缺少神圣的素质，他们对自己也是不对的。因此，他们需要职事把神圣的素质写到他们里面。就里面说，这素质是在他们里面的那灵；就外面说，这素质彰显为义。我们对林后三章（特别是十八节）这样的领会，不是仅仅以道理为根据，更是以经历为根据。多年来，我一直寻求要懂三章十八节的意思。现在从我对主的经历，我就懂得，那灵就是神的素质，在我里面生活、运行、行
23AND OUTWARD RIGHTEOUSNESS We have seen that to be transformed into the Lord’sim age from glory to glory is to be transformed from the Spirit to the Spirit. If we experience such an inward transformation, spontaneously we shall have righteousness as our outward appearance. Then we shall be right with God, with others, and with ourselves. However, many people are not right with God, with others, or with themselves. Daily they offend God and those around them. Furthermore, because they are short of the divine essence, they are not right with themselves. Therefore, they need the ministry which inscribes the divine essence into them. Inwardly, this essence will be the Spirit in them, and outwardly it will be expressed as righteousness. This understanding of 2 Corinthians 3, especially of verse 18, is not merely according to doctrine; it is according to experience. For years I have been seeking to understand 3:18. Now from my experience with the Lord I realize that the Spirit is the essence of God living, moving, and acting within me, and
24动；而义是神的素质彰显在外面，作为神的形像彰显祂。我里面有那灵，外面有义作神的形像；结果，我与神、与人、与自己、以及在我日常生活的许多方面，都是对的。因著我们各方面都是对的，我们就有平安、喜乐、安息和信心。这就是新约职事的结果、果效。
24righteousness is the essence of God manifested outwardly as God’sim age to express Him. As a result of having the Spirit inwardly and righteousness as the image of God outwardly, I become right with God, with man, with myself, and with so many aspects of my daily living. Because we are right in every way, we have peace, joy, rest, and faith. This is the issue, the result, of the ministry of the new covenant.