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加拉太书生命读经 · 第44篇

作神的儿子凭著灵而行（一）

Walking By The Spirit As Sons Of God (1)
1读经：罗马书8:2,4-6,9-11,13-16,23,26,。在新约里，罗马书与加拉太书同列在特别的一类里。这两卷书不但启示神的救赎，也启示神救赎的经纶。救赎是一件事，救赎的经纶是另一件事。许多基督徒读罗马书与加拉太书，很容易就能看见救赎的事。然而少有人看见神救赎的经纶，因为这件事在这两卷书里多少是隐藏的。虽然罗马书与加拉太书里面都没有经纶这辞，然而在这两卷书里能找著救赎的经纶这事实。在本篇信息中，我们的负担是要来看神在祂救赎里的经纶。
1Scripture Reading: Rom. 8:2, 4-6, 9-11, 13-16, 23, 26, 29; Gal. 3:2-3, 5, 11b-14, 26; 4:4-6, 29; 5:16-18 29; Gal. 3:2-3, 5, 11b-14, 26; 4:4-6, 29; 5:16-18 In the New Testament the books of Romans and Galatians stand together in a special category. These two books reveal not only God’s redemption, but also the economy of God’s redemption. Redemption is one thing, and the economy of redemption is another. When many Christians read the books of Romans and Galatians, they can easily see the matter of redemption. However, very few see God’secon o my of redemption, because this matter is somewhat hidden in these two books. Although the word economy cannot be found either in Romans or in Galatians, the fact of the economy of redemption can nonetheless be found in these books. Our burden in this message is to consider God’secon o my in His redemption.
神在救赎里的目标
GOD’S GOAL IN REDEMPTION
2虽然罗马书与加拉太书都说到救赎，但救赎不是神的目标。救赎乃是达到目标的过程或步骤。在神的经纶里，救赎是用来产生某种结局或结果的。神在救赎里的目标是甚么？神的救赎所产生的结果又是甚么？这两个问题的答案都是儿子的名分。儿子的名分是神在救赎里的目标，也是救赎过程的结果。然而，许多基督徒只看见罗马书说到因信称义。他们没有看见罗马书里神圣的儿子名分。我们若仔细读罗马书，就会看见因信称义主要是在头四章。从五章开始，保罗就向著儿子名分这目标往前。照著罗马书里的启示，神正将罪人变化成为众子。因此，罗马书给我们看见，神如何是在由罪人产生众子的过程之中。这里我们看见神的经纶。神的经纶不只是救赎失丧的罪人；祂的经纶乃是要救赎罪人，好使他们成为祂的众子。在神的经纶里，救赎与儿子的名分乃是两件主要的事。在圣经里，神圣的三一─父、子、灵不是为著道理、神学或教训。神圣的三一是为著神的经纶。在祂的经纶里，父神是计画者，制定永远定旨的那位。因为祂有一个定旨，有一个计画，祂就有许多安排，以符合祂的定旨。在神圣的三一里，父神是源头，是计画要完成祂经纶的那位。要完成神圣的经纶，有两件重要的事必须作成─救赎与儿子的名分。在加拉太四章，我们看见父差出祂的儿子，以完成救赎。（4～5。）然后祂差出祂儿子的灵，好产生儿子的名分。因此，父为著完成祂的经纶，首先差出子，然后差出灵。
2Although redemption is covered both in Romans and in Galatians, redemption is not God’s goal. Rather, it is a process, or step, toward the goal. In God’secon o my redemption is used to bring forth a certain issue or result. What is God’s goal in redemption? Also, what is the issue produced by God’s redemption? The answer to both questions is sonship. Sonship is both God’s goal in redemption and the issue of the process of redemption. However, many Christians only see that Romans covers justification by faith. They do not see the divine sonship in the book of Romans. If were ad Romans care fully, we shall see that justification by faith is covered for the most part in the first four chapters. Beginning with chapter five, Paul move son toward the goal of sonship. According to the revelation found in the book of Romans, God is transforming sinners into sons. Hence, the book of Romans shows us how God is in the process of producing sons out of sinners. Here we see God’s economy. God’secon o my is not simply to redeem lost sinners. His economy is to redeem sinners with a view to making them His sons. In God’secon o my the two main matters are redemption and sonship. In the Bible the Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, is not for doctrine, theology, or teaching. The ─ Trinity is for God’secon o my. In His economy, God the Father is the One who plans, who forms an eternal purpose. Because He has a purpose, a plan, He has a great many arrangements to correspond to His purpose. In the Trinity, God the Father is the source, the One who plans to accomplish His economy. For the carrying out of the divine economy, two crucial matters must be worked out—redemption and sonship. In Galatians 4 we see that the Father sent forth His Son to accomplish redemption (v v. 4-5). Then He sent forth the Spirit of His Son to bring forth the sonship. Thus, for the accomplishment of His economy, the Father sent forth first the Son and then the Spirit.
3加拉太四章四至五节说，『及至时候满足，神就差出祂的儿子，由女子所生，且生在律法以下，要把律法以下的人赎出来，好叫我们得著儿子的名分。』为著完成救赎，神的儿子必须成为人，为女子所生，且生在律法以下。为了穿上人性，就是人的性情，祂必须『由女子所生』。说马利亚是神的母亲，这是异端。虽然耶稣是神成为肉体来作人，但马利亚并不是神的母亲。她是为人耶稣的母亲。神的儿子耶稣为女子所生，乃是有血有肉的人。（来二14。）神的儿子若没有血肉之体，就无法完成救赎。救赎需要流血。神的儿子为我们完成救赎以后，那灵就受差遣来执行儿子的名分，并使儿子的名分在我们的经历中对我们成为真实的。那灵受差遣来使所有蒙救赎的人成为神的儿子。因此，基督为著救赎而来，那灵为著儿子的名分而来。基督救赎我们，那灵将神圣的生命分
3Galatians 4:4 and 5 say, “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, come of a woman, come under law, that He might redeem those under law, that we might receive the sonship.” For the accomplishment of redemption, it was necessary for the Son of God to become a human being born of a woman and born under the law. In order to put on humanity, a human nature, He had to “come of a woman.” It is a heresy to say that Mary was the mother of God. Although Jesus was God incarnated as a man, Mary was not the mother of God. She was the mother of the man Jesus. By coming of a woman, Jesus, the Son of God, was a man with blood and flesh (Heb. 2:14). If He had not had blood and flesh, there would have been no way for the Son of God to accomplish redemption. Redemption required the shedding of blood. After the Son of God accomplished redemption for us, the Spirit was sent to carry out the sonship and to make it real to us in our experience. The Spirit was sent to make all the redeemed ones sons of God. Thus, Christ came for redemption, and the Spirit came for sonship. Christ redeemed us, and the Spirit imparts the divine life into us to make us sons of God
4赐到我们里面，使我们成为神的儿子。
4
那灵
THE SPIRIT
5罗马书与加拉太书一再说到那灵。罗马八章更是如此。二节说到生命之灵，十五节说到儿子名分的灵。因为我们有儿子名分的灵，我们就有神儿子的生命。我们自然而然呼叫：『阿爸，父。』保罗在九节说到神的灵和基督的灵，在十一、十三节说到那灵。『那灵』这辞也见于十六节：『那灵自己同我们的灵见证我们是神的儿女。』『那灵』这辞非常有意义。约翰七章三十九节说，『耶稣这话是指著信入祂的人将要受的那灵说的；那时还没有那灵，因为耶稣尚未得著荣耀。』为甚么这节说『那时还没有那灵』？虽然基督得著荣耀以前，神的灵、耶和华的灵、和圣灵已经存在，但还没有『那灵』。我们在创世记一章二节看见，神的灵运行在水面上。旧约也经常说到耶和华的灵。主耶稣要在马利亚腹中成孕时，圣经题到圣灵，因为人的性情是凡俗的，要藉著神的灵成为圣别。（太一18，20。）但是当耶稣高声说，『人若渴了，可以到我这里来喝』时，（约七37，）祂乃是说到那灵。然而『那时还没有那灵』，因为耶稣尚未得著荣耀；祂还没有被钉十字架并复活。但祂钉十字架并复活以后，那灵就来了。今天那同我们的灵见证的灵，乃是那灵。林后三章十七节甚至说，『主就是那灵。』请注意这节不是说，『主是一位灵，』乃是说，『主就是那灵。』
5Again and again, the books of Romans and Galatians speak of the Spirit. This is especially true of Romans 8. Verse 2 speaks of the Spirit of life and verse 15, of the spirit of sonship. Because we have a spirit of sonship, we have the life of the Son of God. Spontaneously we cry, “Abba, Father.” In verse 9 Paul speaks of the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ and in verses 11 and 13, of the Spirit. The expression “the Spirit” is also found in verse 16: “The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are the children of God.” The term “the Spirit” is very significant. John 7:39 says, “But this He said concerning the Spirit, Whom those who believed in Him were about to receive; for the Spirit was not yet, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” Why does this verse say that “the Spirit was not yet”? Although the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Jehovah, and the Holy Spirit were in existence before the glorification of Christ, “the Spirit” was not. In Genesis 1:2 we see that the Spirit of God was brooding upon the water. The Old Testament also speaks frequently of the Spirit of Jehovah. When the Lord Jesus was about to be conceived in the womb of Mary, there is mention of the Holy Spirit, because something common, human nature, was to be made holy by the Spirit of God (Matt. 1:18, 20). But when Jesus cried out, saying, “If anyone thirst, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37), He spoke concerning the Spirit. However, “the Spirit was not yet” because Jesus was not yet glorified. He had not been crucified and resurrected. But after His crucifixion and resurrection, the Spirit came. Today the very Spirit who witnesses with our spirit is the Spirit. Second Corinthians 3:17 even says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit.” Notice that this verse does not say, “The Lord is a Spirit,” but, “The Lord is the Spirit.”
神儿子的行事为人
THE WALK OF GOD’SS ONS
6罗马八章十四节说，『因为凡被神的灵引导的，都是神的儿子。』这节指明罗马八章不是说到神儿子的出生，乃是说到神儿子的行事为人。被那灵引导的，就真是神的儿子。四节很强的用到『行』这字：『使律法义的要求，成就在我们这不照著肉体，只照著灵而行的人身上。』基督徒受天然观念的影响，常以为我们得救以后，应当有荣耀神的行事为人。我们留意保罗说到行事为人与我们所蒙的呼召相配，但我们却是照著我们天然的观念来领会这个劝勉。人一得救以后，自然想要行事为人荣耀神。这样的思想自然而然就来了。说我们需要有荣耀神的行为，并没有错。然而，关于这点，我们可能受天然观念的影响。照著天然的观念，行事为人与我们所蒙的呼召相配，就是要诚实、信实、谦卑、温柔、恩慈并有爱心。我们也许以为，我们若有这样的美德，就会荣耀神，别人也会欣赏我们。然而，罗马书这卷在神启示里基本的书，没有嘱咐我们这样行。反之，罗马书教导我们作神的儿子而行。
6Romans 8:14 says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” This verse indicates that Romans 8 is concerned not with the birth of the sons of God, but with the walk of God’ss ons. Those who are led by the Spirit truly are sons of God. The word walk is used strongly in verse 4: “That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to flesh, but according to spirit.” Under the influence of the natural concept, Christians often think that after we are saved, we should have a walk which glorifies God. We pay attention to Paul’sword about walking in away that is worthy of our calling, but we understand this exhortation according to our natural concept. Immediately after people are saved, they automatically try to behave in a way that glorifies God. Such a thought comes spontaneously. It is not wrong to say that we need behavior that glorifies God. However, regarding this we may be under the influence of a natural concept. According to the natural concept, to walk worthy of our calling is to be honest, faithful, humble, gentle, kind, and loving. We may think that we shall glorify God if we have such virtues, and that others will appreciate us. However, the book of Romans, a basic book in God’sr evelation, does not charge us to walk in this way. On the contrary, it teaches us to walk as sons of God
7作神的儿子而行，与作蒙救赎的罪人而行以彰显诚实、恩慈及爱这类美德，二者大不相同。神经纶的目标不是仅仅要得著一班信实、恩慈、并有爱心的人。神在祂经纶里的目标乃是要产生众子。一个人可能诚实、忠信、又有爱心，但他也许不是神的儿子。神所要的乃是儿子，并不是诚实、信实、有爱心的罪人。祂的定旨不是要使有罪的丈夫成为爱妻子的丈夫，或使有罪的妻子成为服从丈夫的妻子。我再说，神在祂经纶里的目标，乃是要产生许多神圣的儿子。
7There is a great difference between walking as sons of God and walking as redeemed sinners who express such virtues as honesty, kindness, and love. The goal of God’secon o my is not merely to have a group of people who are faithful, kind, and loving. God’s goal in His economy is to produce sons. A person may be honest, faithful, and loving, but he may not be a son of God. God wants sons. He does not want honest, faithful, loving sinners. His purpose is not to make sinful husbands into those who love their wives, or sinful wives into those who submit to their husbands. We repeat, God’s goal in His economy is to bring forth many divine sons.
从神而生，成为祂的儿子
BORN OF GOD TO BE HIS SONS
8我们要成为神的儿子，首先必须从祂而生。约翰福音强调这点。约翰一章十二至十三节说，『凡接受祂的，就是信入祂名的人，祂就赐他们权柄，成为神的儿女。这等人不是从血生的，不是从肉体的意思生的，也不是从人的意思生的，乃是从神生的。』然后三章六节告诉我们，从那灵生的，就是灵。儿子的名分完全是生命与性情的事，这乃在于出生。我们已经从神而生，成为神的儿子。所以，我们能有把握宣告，我们不是神的女婿，也不是神的养子，我们乃是神在生命里的儿子，从祂而生的儿子。我们照著圣经里神圣的启示强调一个事实：藉著重生，我们与神之间有生机的联结。我们与神有生机的关系，就是在生命里的关系。首先，因为我们是罪恶的，神就差遣祂的儿子救赎我们。但神也差遣祂的灵，将神圣的生命与性情分赐到我们这人里面。神圣的生命既已进入我们里面，我们与神就有了生机的联结。然而，这件要紧的事，却被那些强调传统教训和观念的基督徒忽略了。
8In order to be sons of God, we must first be born of Him. The Gospel of John emphasizes this. John 1:12 and 13 say, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave authority to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” Then in John 3:6 we are told that that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Sonship is altogether a matter of life and nature, which depend on birth. We have been born of God to become sons of God. Therefore, we can declare with assurance that we are not God’ss ons-in-law, nor merely His adopted sons; we are God’ss on sin life, sons born of Him. According to the divine revelation in the Scriptures, we emphasize the fact that, through regeneration, an organic union has taken place between us and God. We have an organic relation with God, a relationship in life. First, because we are sinful, God sent His Son to redeem us. But God has also sent His Spirit to impart the divine life and nature into our being. Now that the divine life has entered into us, we have an organic union with God. This crucial matter, however, has been neglected by those Christians who emphasize traditional teachings and concepts
9你既已从神而生，成为神的儿子，你有没有胆量宣告你是神圣的？我们是神的儿子，从神而生，实在说来，我们就是神圣的。我们这样教导，有些人就控告我们教导『人成为神』。我们绝对不相信，也不教导，我们这些神的儿子会成为神自己。然而，我们有神圣的生命与性情，这乃是事实。否则，我们不可能成为神的儿子。由德国籍的父亲所生的孩子，难道没有典型德国人的生命与性情么？同样，因为我们从神而生，成为神的儿子，有神圣的生命与性情，我们就是神圣的。有些人曲解我们的话，宣称我们教导说，罪人能成为神格的一部分。不错，我们教导说，我们这些神的儿女是神家里的人。但我们绝对没有教导，我们要成为神自己。然而，事实仍然是：我们的父既是神圣的，祂家里所有的人也是神圣的。正如人有他父亲的生命与性情，照样，我们这些神的儿子也有我们父的生命与性情。就这面说，我们是神圣的。
9Since you have been born of God to become a son of God, do you have the boldness to declare that you are divine? As sons of God born of Him, we are in a very real sense divine. When we teach this, some accuse us of teaching the deification of man. We definitely do not believe or teach that as sons of God we shall become God Himself. Nevertheless, it is a fact that we have the divine life and nature. Otherwise, it would not be possible for us to be sons of God. Does not a child born of a German father have a typical German life and nature? Likewise, because we have been born of God to be sons of God with the divine life and nature, we are divine. Some twist our word and claim that we teach that sinners can become part of the very Godhead. Yes, we teach that as children of God we are members of God’s family. But we certainly do not teach that we shall ever become God Himself. However, the fact remains that since our Father is divine, all the members of His family are also divine. As a human being has the life and nature of his father, so we, God’ss ons, have the life and nature of our Father. In this sense, we are divine.
10现在我们既成为神的众子，就需要有神儿子的行事为人。神不要一班仅仅恩慈、诚实、且有爱心的人。祂要一个家。加拉太六章十节称这家为『信仰之家』。我们要作神的儿子而行，就需要是神圣的。仅仅合乎道德或宗教是不彀的。要谦卑或恩慈，并不需要成为神的儿子。一个人谦卑或恩慈也许只是天然、道德的。然而，我们要作神儿子而活，确实必须是神圣的。我们必须有神的生命和神的灵。在圣经的末了，我们读到那灵和新妇。（启二二17。）那灵是三一神的终极完成，新妇是蒙救赎之人的最终结果。那灵和新妇说话如同一人，证明他们乃是一。那灵和新妇一同说，『来！』圣经启示信徒与三一神之间生机的联结，但宗教强调美德和善行。照著宗教的观念，我们这些信徒必须诚实、忠信、有爱心并服从。但神的经纶却不只要求我们有这些美德，更要求我们凭著灵而行。一个人可能天然很谦卑，而另一个人谦卑可能是因为他凭著神的生命与性情而活。表面看来，两种谦卑是一样的。实际上，二者大不相同。一种好比擦亮的铜，另一种好比金子。我们若照著灵而行，就不会像擦亮的铜；而会有金子的样式，神性情的样式。
10Having become sons of God, we now need to walk as sons of God. God does not want a group of people who are simply kind, honest, and loving. He wants a family. In Galatians 6:10 this family is called “the household of the faith.” To walk as God’ss ons we need to be divine. It is not adequate merely to be ethical or religious. It is not necessary to be a son of God in order to be humble or kind. A person may be humble or kind in a natural, ethical way. However, to live as sons of God we certainly must be divine. We must have the life of God and also the Spirit of God. Toward the very end of the Bible, we read of the Spirit and the Bride (Rev. 22:17). The Spirit is the consummation of the Triune God, and the Bride is the ultimate issue of redeemed mankind. The fact that the Spirit and the Bride are one is proved by their speaking as one. Together, the Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!” The Bible reveals the organic union between the believers and the Triune God, but religion emphasizes virtues and good behavior. According to the religious concept, as believers we must be honest, faithful, loving, and submissive. But God’secon o my requires not merely that we have these virtues, but that we walk according to the Spirit. One person may be humble in a natural way, whereas another may be humble because he is living by the life and nature of God. Apparently, both kinds of humility are the same. Actually, they are very different. The one may be compared to polished copper; the other, to gold. If we walk according to the Spirit, we shall not be like polished copper; we shall have the appearance of gold, of the very nature of God
11神的心意不仅仅是要得著一班好人；祂要得著许多与祂在生机上是一，并且有祂生命与性情的儿子。惟有这些儿子才能成为基督身体的肢体。基督的身体是生机体，不是组织。好人可以组织成社团，却无法成为基督的身体这样的生机体。因为基督的身体是生机的，所以这身体上所有的肢体里面必须有生机的元素。我们乃是藉著新生，藉著重生，而得著这元素。
11It is not God’sin tent i on simply to have a group of good people; He wants many sons who are one with Him organically and who possess His very life and nature. Only these sons can be members of the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ is an organism, not an organization. Good people may be organized into a society, but they cannot become the organism known as the Body of Christ. Because the Body is organic, all the members of the Body must have an organic element in them. We receive this element by the new birth, by regeneration
照著灵而行
WALKING ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT
12我们从神而生，成为神的儿子以后，我们这些儿子必须照著灵而行。保罗在罗马八章并没有说到谦卑、忠信或诚实这样的事。他在这里不是论到人性美德，乃是嘱咐我们要照著灵而行。凡被那灵引导的，都是神的儿子。作神的儿子而行，并不在于具有某些美德；这完全在于照著灵而行。当然，我们若照著灵而行，我们的生活就会产生某种结果。然而，罗马八章不是强调结果，乃是强调神儿子的性情。我们是从神而生的人，不应当竭力培养某些美德；反之，我们应当竭力凭著灵而行。
12After we are born of God to be sons of God, we then must walk as sons according to the Spirit. In Romans 8 Paul does not speak of things such as humility, faithfulness, or honesty. Here he is not concerned with human virtues. Rather, he charges us to walk according to spirit. All those who are led by the Spirit are sons of God. To walk as a son of God is not a matter of possessing certain virtues; it is altogether a matter of walking according to spirit. Of course, if we walk according to spirit, there will be a certain issue brought forth in our living. However, the emphasis in Romans 8 is not on the issue; it is on the nature of God’ss ons. As those who have been born of God, we should not endeavor to cultivate certain virtues. Instead, we should endeavor to walk by the Spirit
13我担心作神的儿子凭著灵而行，对我们不过是道理。我们也许知道我们只需要凭著灵而行，但在日常生活中，我们也许以天然、伦理道德的方式生活。若有人搅扰我们，我们也许生气，或者想要控制自己。但无论如何，我们都没有转向灵，运用灵并凭著灵而行。我们对主有些看见以后，撒但常常来试验我们。假定主使你清楚，你是神的儿子，你所需要作的就是照著灵而行。不久以后，你的丈夫或妻子也许得罪你。这个时候，你可能就忘了凭著灵而行。你没有凭著灵而行，反倒被激怒，或想要压抑你的怒气。你甚至会祷告，求主帮助你。但即使这样祷告，也不是凭著灵而行。宗教教导人循规蹈距，却没有教导人照著灵而行。照著圣经，我们不该想要改良自己的行为，而该凭著灵而行。我们已经由那灵而生。现今我们需要接受恩典，凭著灵而行。你的丈夫或妻子若得罪你，你只要凭著灵而行。不要想压抑你的脾气或强迫自己忍耐，那不过是外面的行为。这时，你所需要作的，就是运用灵，照著灵而行。不要对自己说，『我的行事为人必须配得过召会生活。我若发脾气，那将是我的羞耻。我必须压制我的脾气，正正当当的行事为人。』这不是神的经纶─这是宗教和伦理道德。神的经纶是要使我们真实且实际的成为祂的儿子。为此，我们必须照著灵而行。
13I am concerned that walking by the Spirit as sons of God may be little more than doctrine to us. We may have the knowledge that we simply need to walk by the Spirit, but in our daily living we may live in a natural, ethical way. Should someone bother us, we may either become angry or try to control ourselves. But in neither case do we turn to the spirit, exercise the spirit, and walk by the spirit. Often after we see something of the Lord, Satan comes to test us. Suppose the Lord makes you clear that as a son of God what you need to do is simply walk according to the Spirit. A short while later, your husband or wife may offend you. At such a time, you may forget about walking by the Spirit. Instead of walking by the Spirit, you may either become irritated or try to suppress your anger. You may even pray that the Lord will help you. But not even praying in this way is walking by the Spirit. Religion teaches people to behave; it does not teach them to walk according to the Spirit. According to the Bible, instead of trying to improve our behavior, we should walk by the Spirit. We have been born of the Spirit. Now we need to receive grace to walk by the Spirit. Should your husband or wife offend you, simply walk by the Spirit. Do not try to suppress your temper or force yourself to be patient. That is mere outward behavior. What you need to do at such a time is to exercise the spirit to walk according to the Spirit. Do not say to yourself, “I must walk in a way that is worthy of the church life. If I lose my temper, it will be a shame to me. I must hold back my temper and behave in the proper way.” This is not God’secon o my—it is religion and ethics. God’secon o my is to make us His sons in an actual and practical way. For this, we must walk according to the Spirit
模成神长子的形像
Conformed To The Image Of God’s Firstborn Son
14许多基督徒读罗马八章，没有留意这一章所说儿子名分的事。十四节说，凡被神的灵引导的，都是神的儿子；十五节说到儿子名分的灵。不但如此，二十九节说，神已豫定我们『模成神儿子的形像，使祂儿子在许多弟兄中作长子』。基督的许多弟兄就是神的众子。（来二10。）不但如此，罗马八章的儿子名分不是指出生一面说的，乃是指行事为人这一面说的。我们需要有神儿子的行事为人，使我们模成祂儿子的形像。出生是一次永远的，模成神儿子的形像却是一生之久的事。一天又一天，我们逐渐模成神长子的形像。我们凭著灵而行，我们就被模成。在主的恢复里，主所要我们实行的，主要就是凭著灵并照著灵而行。我们若凭著灵而行，神就能得著成熟的儿子。这些儿子也就是承受神丰富的后嗣。我们若要成为后嗣，就必须长大成人。我们要强调一个事实：我们正在模成神儿子的形像，而不是模成召会生活里圣徒们中间的某些作法。我有点担心圣徒们也许模成召会生活，却没有模成神儿子的形像。有些圣徒可能经历许多的改变，但这改变可能不是真实的变化，不是生命里新陈代谢的改变，而不过是外面的改变，模成召会生活里圣徒们中间一般的生活方式。神不要这种改变。祂要看见我们这人里面真实的变化，使我们模成神儿子活的形像。我们要有这种改变，就需要在那灵里、凭著灵、并照著灵而行。
14Many Christians read Romans 8 without paying attention to the matter of sonship covered in this chapter. Verse 14 says that as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God, and verse 15 speaks of a spirit of sonship. Furthermore, verse 29 says that God has predestinated us to be “conformed to the image of His Son, that He should be the firstborn among many brothers.” The many brothers of Christ are the many sons of God (Heb. 2:1 0). Moreover, the sonship in Romans 8 is not in the aspect of birth, but in the aspect of walk. We need to walk as sons of God so that we may be conformed to the image of His Son. Birth takes place once for all, but being conformed to the image of God’s Son is a lifelong matter. Day by day we are being conformed to the image of the firstborn Son of God. This conformity takes place as we walk by the Spirit. In the Lord’s recovery the main thing the Lord wants us to practice is to walk by the Spirit and according to the Spirit. If we walk by the Spirit, God will be able to have mature sons. These sons will also be heirs to inherit God’s riches. If we would be heirs, we must be full - grown. We wish to emphasize the fact that we are being conformed to the image of the Son of God, not to certain practices which may be found among the saints in the church life. I am somewhat concerned that the saints may be conformed to the church life instead of to the image of the Son of God. Some saints may undergo a good deal of change, but this change may not be the real transformation, a metabolic change in life. It may merely be an outward change of conforming to certain ways of living common among the saints in the church life. God does not want this kind of change. He wants to see a real transformation take place inwardly in our being so that we may be conformed to the living image of the Son of God. In order for this kind of change to take place, we need to walk in the Spirit, by the Spirit, and according to the Spirit.
救赎是为著儿子的名分
REDEMPTION FOR SONSHIP
15我们看过罗马书里的救赎是为著儿子的名分，在加拉太书里也是一样。加拉太三章十三至十四节说，基督既为我们成了咒诅，就赎出我们脱离律法的咒诅，使我们藉著信，可以接受所应许的那灵。因此，基督完成救赎，是要使我们可以接受那灵。加拉太四章五节说，基督救赎我们，好叫我们得著儿子的名分。基督为我们完成救赎以后，神就差出祂儿子的灵，进入我们的心，呼叫：『阿爸，父！』罗马书与加拉太书都题到呼叫『阿爸，父』。这进一步证明在这两卷书里，救赎是为著儿子的名分。
15We have seen that in Romans redemption is for sonship. The same is true in Galatians. Galatians 3:13 and 14 say that Christ redeemed us out of the curse of the law, having become a curse for us, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Thus, Christ accomplished redemption so that we might receive the Spirit. Galatians 4:5 says that Christ redeemed us so that we might receive the sonship. After Christ accomplished redemption for us, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” Both Romans and Galatians mention the cry of “Abba, Father.” This is a further proof that in these books redemption is for sonship.
神今天所要的
what God is seeking today
16罗马书与加拉太书都说到凭著灵而行。这两卷书不是嘱咐我们照著某些道理、教训或劝勉而行，乃是嘱咐我们照著灵而行。我们的行为不论多好，除非我们照著灵而行，我们的行事为人就不是神的儿子。假定有人问你，为甚么不参加某种属世的娱乐。正确的答案是那灵没有引导你作这样的事。同样，人若问你为甚么在家庭生活中作某些事情，或不作另一些事情，你的答案只应当是，你那样生活是因为你照著灵而行。我们多多少少还受宗教观念的影响。因这缘故，我们读圣经的时候，很容易留意妻子要服从自己的丈夫，丈夫要爱自己的妻子这样的劝戒。我们也能领会说到谦卑、恩慈、和忍耐的诫命。然而，这样的诫命不是神经纶里的基本因素。基本因素乃是我们已从神而生，现今是神神圣的儿子，有祂的生命与性情。因为我们是神的儿子，神就要我们作祂的儿子照著灵而行。我们作神的儿子凭著灵而行，结果如何，乃是那灵的责任，不是我们的责任。我们的责任只是照著灵而行。
16Both Romans and Galatians speak of walking by the Spirit. These books do not charge us to walk according to certain doctrines, teachings, or exhortations, but to walk according to the Spirit. No matter how well we may behave, we do not walk as sons of God unless we walk according to the Spirit. Suppose someone asks you why you do not engage in a certain form of worldly entertainment. The proper answer is that the Spirit does not lead you to do such a thing. Likewise, if you are asked why you do certain things in your family life or refrain from doing certain other things, your answer should simply be that you live that way because you are walking according to the Spirit. To some degree at least, we are still under the influence of religious concepts. For this reason, when we read the Bible, it is easy for us to pay attention to such admonitions as wives submitting to their husbands, and husbands loving their wives. We can also understand commandments that speak of humility, kindness, and patience. However, such commandments are not basic factors in God’secon o my. The basic factor is that we have been born of God and are now divine sons of God with His life and nature. Because we are His sons, God wants us to walk according to the Spirit as His sons. The result, the issue, of walking by the Spirit as sons of God is the Spirit’s responsibility, not ours. Our responsibility is simply to walk according to the Spirit
17新约的最高峰乃是那灵。我们的生活、行为、举止、行动都必须照著灵。我们照著灵而行，就真是神的儿子，我们就天天模成祂儿子的形像。这是神今天所要的。
17The climax of the New Testament is the Spirit. Our living, behavior, walk, conduct must all be according to the Spirit. When we walk according to the Spirit, we are sons of God in actuality, and we are being conformed daily to the image of His Son. This is what God is seeking today