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加拉太书生命读经 · 第31篇

耶稣的烙印与基督的恩典

The Brands of Jesus and the Grace of Christ
1读经：加拉太书六章十七至十八节。在上一篇信息中，我们看到保罗在六章十五节的话：『受割礼不受割礼，都无关紧要，要紧的乃是作新造。』新造完全有别于任何一种宗教。宗教是旧造的一部分。因此，今天宗教的一切作法都属于旧造。只有那种凭著灵的生活行动，才是新造的一部分。我们若要成为新造，就必须进入与三一神生机的联结里。凡在这联结以外的事物，无论是宗教的，还是非宗教的，都是旧造的一部分。
1Scripture Reading: Gal. 6:17-18 In the foregoing message we considered Paul’sword in 6:15: “For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.” The new creation is altogether different from any kind of religion. Religion is part of the old creation. All the practices of today’s religion are, therefore, of the old creation. Only that kind of living and walk which is by the Spirit is part of the new creation. In order to be the new creation, we must enter into an organic union with the Triune God. Everything outside this union, whether religious or nonreligious, is part of the old creation
2在本篇信息中，我们要来看耶稣的烙印，（六17，)以及基督的恩典。（18。)在这封书信的结尾，保罗题到平安与恩典时，中间插进了『耶稣的烙印』这句话，这是相当奇怪的。他在十六节说，『凡照这准则而行的，愿平安怜悯临到他们，就是临到神的以色列。』保罗并没有立刻接著说到恩典，反而说他身上带著耶稣的烙印。然后他说，『弟兄们，愿我们主耶稣基督的恩与你们的灵同在。』（18。）我们要知道保罗为甚么在题到平安与恩典之间，插进『耶稣的烙印』，这是非常要紧的。我们写信的时候，会发表我们里面的观念、感觉或感受。照样，保罗写信给加拉太人的时候，他乃是表达他里面的观念和感觉。当他写到平安与恩典时，他里面有一个领悟：他享受平安，乃是因为他带著耶稣的烙印。耶稣的烙印保守他在平安的光景里。保罗藉著享受恩典，就进入平安的情形里。他带著耶稣的烙印，藉此就蒙保守在这平安里。
2In this message we shall consider the brands of Jesus (6:17) and the grace of Christ (v. 18). It is rather strange that, at the end of this Epistle, Paul inserts a word about the brands of Jesus between the mention of peace and grace. In verse 16 he says, “ And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace be upon them and mercy, even upon the Israel of God.” But instead of following this immediately with a word about grace, Paul refers to bearing in his body the brands of Jesus. Then he says, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers” (v. 18). It is important to know the reason Paul inserted a word about the brands of Jesus between his mention of peace and grace. When we write a letter, we express the concept, feeling, or sense we have within us. Likewise, when Paul wrote to the Galatians, he was expressing the concept and feeling within him. As he was writing about peace and grace, he had the realization within him that he enjoyed peace because he was bearing the brands of Jesus. The brands of Jesus kept him in a peaceful condition. Through the enjoyment of grace, Paul was brought into a peaceful state. He was maintained in this peace by bearing the brands of Jesus
3我们要明白保罗的结语，需要有相当程度的属灵经历。他这封书信写到结尾的时候，以平安与恩典来问候读这卷书信的人。当他问候他们的时候，他自然而然有一个领悟：他能享受平安，乃是因为他带著耶稣的烙印。保罗似乎是说，『弟兄们，我在平安里。因为我带著耶稣的烙印，我就蒙保守在这平安的光景里。人都不要搅扰我。』不要搅扰一个人，就是不要打岔他，不要夺去他的平安。十七节的『搅扰』和十六节的『平安』相对。保罗说平安应当临到凡照这准则而行的人之后，接著就要求说，人都不要搅扰他，因为他身上带著耶稣的烙印。这指明保罗的平安蒙保守，乃是藉著他身上带著耶稣的烙印。所以保罗能彀说，『我既带著耶稣的烙印，我就在平安里，人都不要搅扰我。』保罗知道犹太教徒和逼迫的人不能夺去他的平安，甚至整个撒但的系统也不能搅扰他，因为他带著耶稣的烙印。但他若丢弃这些烙印，拒绝再带著烙印，他就会立刻失去平安。然后不论甚么人或甚么事，都会搅扰他。但因著他带著耶稣的烙印，他就能享受平安，所以他能彀说，『人都不要搅扰我。』
3In order to understand Paul’s concluding word, we need a certain amount of spiritual experience. As he was drawing this Epistle to a close, he greeted his readers with peace and grace. As he was extending this greeting to them, he spontaneously had the realization that he could enjoy peace because he was bearing the brands of Jesus. It seems as if Paul were saying, “Brothers, I am at peace. I am maintained in this peaceful condition because I am bearing the brands of Jesus. Let no one trouble me.” Not to trouble a person means not to disturb him, not to deprive him of peace. The word trouble in verse 17 stands in contrast to peace in verse 16. After saying that peace should be on all those who walk by this rule, Paul asked that no one trouble him, for he bore the brands of Jesus. This indicates that Paul’s peace was maintained by the brands of Jesus he was bearing in his body. Therefore, Paul could say, “Since I am bearing the brands of Jesus, I am at peace. Let no one bother me.” Paul knew that the Judaizers and the persecutors could not take away his peace. Not even the whole system of Satan could trouble him, for he was bearing the brands of Jesus. However, if he cast away these brands, refusing to bear them any longer, he would have immediately lost his peace. Then he could have been troubled by anything or anyone. But because he was enjoying peace through bearing the brands of Jesus, he could say, “Let no one trouble me.”
4原则上，我们的情形和保罗一样；只要带著耶稣的烙印，就会保守我们在平安里。但我们若拒绝带这些烙印，就会受搅扰，我们的平安就会消失。我们一旦失去了平安，就很难继续享受恩典。
4In principle, our situation is the same as Paul’s. Bearing the brands of Jesus will also keep us at peace. But if we refuse to bear these brands, we shall be troubled, and our peace will disappear. Then, having lost our peace, it will be difficult for us to continue in the enjoyment of grace
壹 耶稣的烙印
I. THE BRANDS OF JESUS
5十七节的烙印是指烙在奴仆身上的记号，以指明他们的主人。就保罗说，他是基督的奴仆，（罗一1，)他的烙印，在肉身方面，是他在忠信服事他的主人时，所受之伤的疤痕；（林后十一23～27；)在属灵方面，是表征他所过生活的特征，与主耶稣在地上所过的一样。这样的生活，乃是不断的被钉死，（约十二24，)行神的意思，（六38，)不寻求自己的荣耀，只寻求神的荣耀，（约七18，)服从并顺从神，以至死在十字架上（腓二8)等等。使徒跟从主耶稣的榜样，带著烙印，就是主生活的特征，与犹太教徒完全不同。
5The word brands in verse 17 refers to the marks branded on slaves to indicate their owners. With Paul, a slave of Christ (Rom. 1:1), physically the brands were the scars of his wounds received in his faithful service to his Master (2 Cor. 11:23-27). Spiritually, they signify the characteristics of the life he lived, a life like that lived by the Lord Jesus when He was on this earth. Such a life is continually crucified (John 12:24), doing the will of God (John 6:38), seeking not its own glory but the glory of God (John 7:18), and submissive and obedient to God, even unto the death of the cross (Phil. 2:8). Paul followed the pattern of the Lord Jesus, bearing the brands, the characteristics of His life. In this he was absolutely different from the Judaizers
6保罗看自己是基督的奴仆。奴仆怎样带著烙印，见证他属于某一个主人，保罗也照样在他肉身上带著耶稣的烙印。这就好像基督的名一次又一次烙印在他的身上，见证并宣告说，保罗乃是属于主的。保罗因著忠心服事基督而多次受伤。他在林后十一章二十四至二十五节告诉我们，他被鞭打五次，每次四十，减去一下；被棍打了三次，被石头打了一次。因此，他身上有许多的伤痕，见证他服事基督的年日。这些伤痕也可以看作是耶稣的烙印。
6Paul considered himself a slave of Christ. Just as a slave might bear a brand mark testifying that he belonged to a certain owner, Paul bore in his body the brands of Jesus. It was as if the name of Christ had been branded upon him again and again as a testimony and declaration that Paul belonged to the Lord. Paul had been wounded many times because of his faithfulness in service to Christ. In 2 Corinthians 11:24 and 25 he tells us that five times he received “forty stripes save one,” that three times he was beaten with rods, and that once he was stoned. Therefore, there were many scars on his body testifying of his years of service to Christ. These scars may also be considered the brands of Jesus.
7我们已经指出，『耶稣的烙印』属灵的意义乃是保罗过钉十字架的生活。主耶稣在地上的时候，带头过这种钉十字架的生活。我们读四福音的时候，看见一个一直过著钉十字架生活之人的画像。这种生活乃是一个烙印。因此，主耶稣在地上的时候，祂带著这样一个烙印。祂受人逼迫、嘲笑、藐视和厌弃。但是，祂没有说甚么来为自己辩护。相反的，祂过一种钉十字架的生活，带著烙印，说出祂乃是属于父神。保罗效法主耶稣过这种生活。他在腓立比三章十节说到『同祂受苦的交通』。保罗活在耶稣受苦的交通里，带著耶稣的烙印，这是他过钉十字架生活的表记。当保罗以平安的话问候加拉太人时，想起一件事实，就是耶稣的烙印保守他在这平安里。因为他遭逼迫、藐视、嘲笑、弃绝、定罪，他实在能彀说，他乃是带著耶稣的烙印。我们虽然不敢与保罗同列，但我们实在能说，我们至少在某一程度上也带著耶稣的烙印，因为我们也被嘲笑、嘲弄、藐视、批评、定罪，受到许多恶毒的文字、话语的攻击。我们只要继续走十字架的路，就会遭受这样的反对。我们若忠心的过钉十字架的生活，反对就会一再兴起。保罗在加拉太四章二十九节说，『当时那按著肉体生的，怎样逼迫了那按著灵生的，现在也是这样。』这句话清楚的指明，那些按著肉体的会逼迫那些按著灵的。主耶稣和保罗怎样因著过钉十字架的生活而遭受逼迫，今天我们若靠著主的怜悯与恩典，跟随他们的脚踪过这种生活，也会遭受同样的逼迫。当我们被藐视、弃绝、定罪、讥笑、嘲弄的时候，我们就带著耶稣的烙印了。但因著带了这些烙印，我们就享受平安，不受任何环境或任何景况的搅扰。我信保罗写到平安的时候，他深处有一个感觉，因著他带著耶稣的烙印，他就被保守在平安里。原则上，我们今天的经历也是一样。我想那些批评、逼迫、讥笑我们的人深处不会有平安。但主能为我们作见证，虽然有反对和嘲笑，我们却能享受深处内里的平安，这平安使我们有把握说，我们是走十字架的道路。这种逼迫指明我们不是按著肉体生，乃是按著灵而生的人。凡是逼迫、嘲笑别人的人，必定是按著肉体生的儿女。我们对于因著走十字架道路而遭受的逼迫，应当有积极的看法。我们遭受逼迫的时候，应当赞美并感谢主。我们不是嘲笑以撒的以实玛利；我们乃是被以实玛利嘲笑的以撒。我们被人指控为邪教、传讲异端。有许多不实的控告已经刊登出来攻击我们。但我能见证，我在这一切的光景中有平安，每天晚上都睡得很好。带著耶稣的烙印，保守我们在平安的光景里。不仅如此，这些反对与逼迫也指明我们与主的关系是在正确的轨道上。
7As we have already indicated, the spiritual significance of the expression “the brands of Jesus” is that Paul lived a crucified life. When the Lord Jesus was on earth, He took the lead to live such a crucified life. As we read the four Gospels, we see the portrait of a Man constantly living a crucified life. This kind of life is a brand. Thus, when the Lord Jesus was on earth, He bore such a brand. He was persecuted, ridiculed, despised, and rejected. However, He did not say anything to defend Himself. Instead, living a crucified life, He bore a brand to show that He belonged to God the Father. Paul followed the Lord Jesus to live this kind of life. In Philippians 3:10 he refers to “the fellowship of His sufferings.” As one who lived in the fellowship of Jesus’ sufferings, Paul bore the brands of Jesus as the sign that he lived a crucified life. When Paul was greeting the Galatians with a word of peace, he was reminded of the fact that it was the brands of Jesus that kept him in this peace. Because he was persecuted, despised, ridiculed, rejected, and condemned, he could truly say that he bore the brands of Jesus. Although we do not presume to classify ourselves with Paul, we can say truly that, at least to some extent, we also are bearing the brands of Jesus, for we are ridiculed, mocked, despised, criticized, and condemned. Many evil things are written about us and spoken concerning us. As long as we continue to take the way of the cross, we shall be opposed in this way. If we are faithful to live a crucified life, opposition will rise up a gain and a gain. In Galatians 4:29 Paul said, “But as then he that was born according to flesh persecuted him that was born according to Spirit, so also it is now.” This word indicates clearly that those who are according to the flesh will persecute those who are according to the Spirit. Just as the Lord Jesus and Paul were persecuted because they lived a crucified life, the same will happen to us if, by the Lord’s mercy and grace, we follow their footsteps to live such a life. When we are despised, rejected, condemned, ridiculed, and mocked, we bear the brands of Jesus. However, because we bear these brands, we enjoy peace, and we are not troubled by any situation or circumstances. I believe that as Paul was writing about peace, he had the sense deep within that he was maintained in peace because he bore the brands of Jesus. In principle, our experience today is the same. I do not think that those who criticize, persecute, and ridicule us have peace deep within. But the Lord can testify for us that, in spite of opposition and ridicule, we enjoy a deep inward peace, the peace which comes with the assurance that we are taking the way of the cross. This kind of persecution is an indication that we are those born according to the Spirit, not according to the flesh. Those who persecute others and mock them surely are children according to the flesh. We should have a positive outlook concerning the persecution which comes because we take the way of the cross. When we are persecuted, we should praise the Lord and thank Him. We are not Ishmael mocking Isaac; we are Isaac being mocked by Ishmael. We are accused of being a cult and of propagating heresy. Many false accusations have been made against us in print. However, I can testify that in the midst of all this, I am at peace and sleep well every night. Bearing the brands of Jesus keeps us in a peaceful condition. Furthermore, this opposition and persecution indicate that we are on the right track with the Lord.
8你若核对自己的经历，就会明白你越为著跟随主耶稣而遭逼迫，你里面就越喜乐。行传五章四十至四十一节说，门徒欢欢喜喜，因被算是配为耶稣的名受辱。逼迫给我们把握，证明我们在走对的路。因此，保罗在加拉太六章十六节说，凡照这准则而行的，必有平安临到他们。我们怎么知道我们是照这准则而行？我们知道，是藉著一个事实─我们遭受逼迫。我们若不照这准则而行，逼迫就没有理由临到我们。保罗虽然没有得罪任何人，但他却受了逼迫。逼迫来到，只因著基督与十字架。保罗面临的逼迫表明他是在神经纶的中心，他与主耶稣这位受逼迫者是一。因此，他能彀有把握，并且享受平安。
8If you check with your experience, you will see that the more you are persecuted for following the Lord Jesus, the happier you are inwardly. According to Acts 5:40 and 41, the disciples rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus. Persecution gives us the assurance that we are taking the right way. Therefore, as Paul says in Galatians 6:16, there should be peace on all those who walk by this rule. How do we know we are walking by this rule? We know it by the fact that we are persecuted. If we were not walking by this rule, there would be no reason for persecution to come. Even though Paul did not offend anybody, he was persecuted. Persecution came simply because of Christ and the cross. The persecution Paul faced was a sign that he was in the center of God’secon o my and that he was one with the Lord Jesus, the persecuted One. Therefore, he could have assurance and enjoy peace
贰 基督的恩典
II. THE GRACE OF CHRIST
9说了耶稣的烙印以后，保罗说，『弟兄们，愿我们主耶稣基督的恩与你们的灵同在。阿们。』（六18。)主耶稣基督的恩乃是三一神，具体化身在子里，又实化为赐生命之灵的全备供应，藉著我们灵的运用，给我们享受。一方面，我们带著耶稣的烙印，受逼迫、过钉十字架的生活；另一方面，我们享受基督的恩，并经历那灵全备的供应。哦，包罗万有之灵丰富而全备的供应与我们的灵同在！
9After referring to the brands of Jesus, Paul says, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.” The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ is actually the bountiful supply, the all-inclusive enjoyment, of the life-giving Spirit. On the one hand, we bear the brands of Jesus, are persecuted, and live a crucified life; on the other hand, we enjoy the grace of Christ and experience the bountiful supply of the Spirit. Oh, the rich and bountiful supply of the all-inclusive Spirit is with our spirit!
10我们这些神所拣选的人，乃是神的儿子，而经过过程的三一神已经作到我们的里面。因著我们是神的儿子，有三一神作到我们里面，所以我们就被藐视、遭逼迫。有些人甚至把我们看作邪教。保罗也忍受了类似的攻击。行传二十四章五节说，『我们看这个人是瘟疫，是鼓动普天下众犹太人生乱的，又是拿撒勒派里的一个头目。』保罗回答这控告说，『但有一件事我要向你承认，就是我正按著他们所称为异端的道路，事奉我们祖宗的神，又信合乎律法的，和申言者书上一切所记载的。』（14。)保罗被控告是一个异端、邪派的头目，但他知道他乃是活新造，并且在他的灵里享受包罗万有之灵全备的供应。加拉太书指明，我们若带著耶稣的烙印，过钉十字架的生活，我们就要在我们的灵里享受赐生命之灵的供应。六章十八节的灵指我们重生、有那灵内住的灵。那灵是加拉太书所一再强调，神应许之福的中心。我们在我们重生的灵里，经历享受这灵作新约中心的福。因此，我们需要主的恩典，就是那包罗万有之灵全备的供应，（腓一19，)与我们的灵同在。基督、那灵、新造、以及我们的灵，乃是这卷书所启示基要的四项，这些都是神经纶中基础的思想。基督是神经纶的中心，那灵是基督的实际。当基督藉著那灵，实化在我们灵里，我们就成为新造。因此，为著过新造的生活，以成就神的定旨，我们的灵是极其重要的。
10As God’s chosen people, we are sons of God, and the processed Triune God has been wrought into our being. Because we are sons of God with the Triune God wrought into us, we are despised and persecuted. Some even regard us as a cult. Paul endured a similar kind of attack. Acts 24:5 says, “For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and am over of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.” To this charge Paul replied, “But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call a sect, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets” (Acts 24:14, Gk.). Paul was accused of being the ringleader of a sect, a cult, but he knew that he was living a new creation and was enjoying the bountiful supply of the all-inclusive Spirit in his spirit. As the book of Galatians indicates, if we bear the brands of Jesus and live a crucified life, we shall enjoy the supply of the life- giving Spirit in our spirit. The spirit in 6:18 is our regenerated spirit indwelt by the Spirit, who is the focus of God’s promised blessing stressed so much throughout the book of Galatians. It is in this spirit of ours that we experience and enjoy the Spirit as the focal blessing of the New Testament. Hence, we need the grace of the Lord, which is the bountiful supply of the all-inclusive Spirit, to be with our spirit. Christ, the Spirit, the new creation, and our spirit are the four basic things revealed in this book as the underlying thought of God’secon o my. Christ is the center of God’secon o my, and the Spirit is the reality of Christ. When Christ is realized through the Spirit in our spirit, we become the new creation. Thus, our spirit is vital for us to live the life of the new creation for the fulfilling of God’s purpose.
11加拉太书极为强调十字架和钉十字架的经历，为要对付消极的项目，如律法、肉体、『我』、宗教世界、奴役和咒诅，藉此带进积极的项目，就是本书所启示的基督、那灵、神的儿子、应许的后嗣、信仰之家、新造、以及神的以色列。然而，加拉太书所对付的三样主要消极事物乃是律法、肉体和宗教。这三样是并行的。当我们在律法之下时，我们与肉体、宗教都有牵联。加拉太书里的宗教是最高的宗教，是照神的谕言形成的希伯来宗教。但是就连这样的宗教也与律法和肉体有关。我们藉著十字架，从律法、肉体、宗教里得著释放，而有了基督、那灵、新造、以及我们重生的灵。我们若看见这个异象，就会为著十字架赞美主。因著基督的十字架，律法、肉体和宗教都了结了，好叫我们得著那灵、新造和我们的灵，使我们在灵里藉著那灵，就是基督的实化，能作新造，带著耶稣的烙印，并在我们灵里得享主耶稣基督的恩。我们能彀和保罗一同说，『人都不要搅扰我，因为我身体上带著耶稣的烙印。』然后，我们就知道，基督的恩与我们的灵同在。这就是保罗结束加拉太书的方式。
11The book of Galatians places a strong emphasis on the cross and on the experience of crucifixion. Then, on the positive side, this book reveals Christ, the Spirit, the sons of God, the heirs of promise, the household of faith, the new creation, and the Israel of God. As we have seen, in 6:18 Paul refers to our spirit. On the negative side, the book of Galatians speaks of the law, the flesh, the “I,” the religious world, slavery, and the curse. However, the three main items of the negative things dealt with in Galatians are the law, the flesh, and religion. These three things go together. When we are under the law, we are involved with both the flesh and religion. The religion in Galatians is the highest religion, the Hebrew religion formed according to God’s oracle. Nevertheless, even this religion is related to the law and the flesh. By the cross we are set free from the law, the flesh, and religion, and we have Christ, the Spirit, the new creation, and our regenerated spirit. If we see this vision, we shall praise the Lord for the cross. Because of the cross of Christ, the law, the flesh, and religion have all been terminated. But through the cross of Christ we have the Spirit, the new creation, and our spirit. Now, by the Spirit, who is the realization of Christ in our spirit, we may live the new creation. Living the new creation, we bear the brands of Jesus and enjoy the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ in our spirit. With Paul we can say, “Let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the brands of Jesus.” Then we shall know that the grace of Christ is with our spirit. This is the way Paul concludes the book of Galatians
12保罗在十八节用了『弟兄们』这辞。『弟兄们』这亲密的称呼，（一11，三15，四12，28，31，五11，13，六1，)已经多次用在受责备『无知的加拉太人』（三1)身上。在这严厉、责备、警戒的书信末了，使徒再次用这关切的称呼，并且特别放在结尾，以表示对他们不变的爱，保证他们在信仰之家，（六10，)仍是他的弟兄。
12At the end of verse 18 Paul uses the term brothers. Although Paul had rebuked the Galatians and called them foolish (3:1), he had already used this intimate term to address them a number of times (1:11; 3:15; 4:12, 28, 31; 5:11, 13; 6:1). At the close of such a severe, rebuking, and warning Epistle, the Apostle Paul used this loving term again, especially placing it at the end of the sentence, to express his unchanging love toward them and to assure them that they were still his brothers in the household of the faith (6:10).