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以弗所书生命读经 · 第11篇

新约信徒使神的荣耀得著称赞

The New Testament Believers To The Praise Of God’s Glory
1现在我们来看新约信徒使神的荣耀得著称赞这件事。（弗一11～12。）以弗所一章十二节说，『以致我们这首先在基督里有盼望的人，可使祂的荣耀得著称赞。』本节的意思不是说我们要称赞神；意思乃是说，神洋溢之恩，要为我们，且在我们里面，成就太多的事，使宇宙中一切天使和正面的事物都称赞神。他们要称赞神，因为我们这些神的众子，是神在宇宙中行动的中心和焦点。我们好像是轮子上的轮轴。如果把轮轴拿走，轮子就散掉了，因为轮辐失去了支持。在宇宙中，天使和正面的事物就像轮辐，而我们这些神的众子就像轮轴。没有这样的轮轴，宇宙就不能维系在一起。我们这些有洋溢之恩在我们身上、为著我们、且在我们里面成就极多事情的人，要成为宇宙中正面事物发出赞美的原因。这就是十二节的正确意义。
1Now we come to the matter of the New Testament believers being to the praise of God’s glory (1:11-12). Ephesians 1:12 says, “That we should be to the praise of His glory who have before hoped in Christ.” This verse does not mean that we shall praise God. It means that so much will be worked out for us and in us by God’sa bounding grace that all the angels and positive things in the universe will praise God. They will praise God because we, the sons of God, will be the center, the focal point, of God’so per at i on in the universe. We shall be like the hub of a wheel. If the hub is taken away, the wheel will collapse because the spokes have no support. The angels and the positive things in the universe are like the spokes, and we, the sons of God, are like the hub. Without such a hub the universe cannot beheld together. We on whom, for whom, and in whom the abounding grace is accomplishing so much will become the cause for the praise uttered by the positive things in the universe. This is the right meaning of verse 12
2本节开头的『以致』这个小小的辞，是很有意义的。这辞指明，在前面几节已经发生的许多事情，有一个确定的结果：我们应当使神的荣耀得著称赞。这个称赞，主要的是在千年国，至终是在新天新地。我们若在以弗所书这几节的光中来读启示录二十一至二十二章，我们就要看见，新耶路撒冷是神众子的构成；她是新宇宙的中心。天使、列国、以及我们周围的一切正面事物，都将注视著我们，并自然而然的对神发出赞美。所以，神的众子，就是新耶路撒冷的构成分子，将是宇宙性称赞的原因。我们乃是有神洋溢之恩作工在身上的人，整个宇宙都要因我们而称赞神。可惜有许多人，包括我们在内，可能一遍又一遍的读以弗所书，却没有看见这事；因为他们没有正确的观念。我们多半是照著我们的观念来了解圣经。如果叫一个小学三年级的学生读以弗所书，他也许可以读出所有的字，却不能了解其中真正的意义，因为他没有正确的观念。我们对神圣启示的领会，主要的是根据我们已有的观念。我们不该信靠我们天然的观念，反而该把这些观念丢掉。我们若愿意放下我们的观念，智慧的灵就会用一些属灵、属天并永远的东西，顶替我们天然的观念。当我们来读以弗所书时，我们在道理上的知识会叫我们受蒙蔽；我们的观念会成为帕子，蒙蔽我们的灵。但我们若放下我们的观念，我们的灵就是敞开的，我们也是灵里贫穷的。主耶稣在马太五章三节说，『灵里贫穷的人有福了。』那些在灵里贫穷的人看起来好像一无所知，因为他们已经倒空了每一个观念、道理和教训。我们若是灵里贫穷的来读神纯净的话，我们就会看见一些新的东西。
2The little word “that” at the beginning of this verse is very meaningful. It indicates that the many things that have been taking place in the preceding verses have a certain result: that we should be to the praise of God’s glory. This praise will mainly be in the millennium and ultimately in the new heaven and the new earth. If we read Revelation 21 and 22 in the light of these verses from Ephesians, we shall see that the New Jerusalem is a constitution of the sons of God; it is the center of the new universe. The angels, the nations, and all the positive things surrounding us will behold us and spontaneously utter praise to God. Therefore, the sons of God, the constituents of the New Jerusalem, will be the cause of universal praise. The whole universe will praise God for us as those who have been worked upon by God’sa bounding grace. However, many, including us, may read Ephesians again and again without seeing this because they do not have the proper concept. We understand the Bible mainly according to our concept. If a third - grader reads Ephesians, he may be able to say all the words, but he cannot grasp the real meaning because he does not have the proper concept. How much we grasp of the divine revelation depends mainly on the concepts we have. We should not trust in our natural concepts; instead, we should drop them. If we are willing to drop our concepts, the spirit of wisdom will replace our natural concepts with something spiritual, heavenly, and eternal. Our knowledge of doctrine will cause us to be veiled when we come to the book of Ephesians. Our concepts become veils over our spirit. But if we drop our concept, our spirit will be open, and we shall also be poor in spirit. In Matthew 5:3 the Lord Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Those who are poor in spirit seem to know nothing, for they have been emptied of every concept, doctrine, and teaching. If we come to the pure Word poor in spirit, we shall see something new.
3在十一至十二节中，我们看到新约的信徒乃是宇宙性称赞的原因。称赞乃是珍赏的发表。我们不称赞泥土，因为我们不珍赏泥土。另一面，我们称赞我们亲爱的主耶稣，因为我们极其珍赏祂。我们的珍赏成为我们的称赞。有一天，所有的天使都要珍赏我们这些神的众子。他们越看我们，就越涌出美言称赞神。他们对我们的珍赏将要成为他们对神的称赞。他们要看见，我们的所是乃是神洋溢之恩的作为。称赞的多少，乃是根据洋溢之恩所作成的工有多少。如果洋溢之恩在我们身上完成更多的工作，天使对我们就有更大的珍赏。圣经说连树木都要欢呼，（诗九六12，）并要赞美主。（一四八9，12。）树木若没有在宇宙中看见任何美妙的事物，牠们不会欢呼。但是看到我们这些神的众子，对树木来说，将是极大的惊喜。因著我们，树木要欢呼赞美。我们使祂的荣耀得著称赞，这事实的意思不是我们要称赞神，乃是我们将成为天使和宇宙中所有正面事物发出称赞的原因。至终，我们要成为神的荣耀。有人也许希奇，我们如何能成为神的荣耀。保罗在帖撒罗尼迦前书说，『因为你们就是我们的荣耀、我们的喜乐。』（二。）保罗在这里所说的，乃是代表神而说的。所以，信徒若是保罗的荣耀，他们必定也是神的荣耀，因为保罗是神所差遣的。信徒若是受差者的荣耀，他们必定也是差遣者的荣耀。在千年国，特别是在新天新地，神能说，『天使、列国、以及一切受造之物，看看我的荣耀。我的众子就是我的荣耀。』按人的一面说，这在一个大家庭里尤为真确。倘若一个父亲有许多好孩子，他们都非常爱主；有一天，这些孩子们都围坐在父亲身边时，父亲能说，『这是我的荣耀，我的孩子就是我的荣耀。』有一天，父也要把我们召聚在一起。那时，我们都已被祂浸透、变化、并且改变形像。祂就能喜乐的对天使和宇宙中一切正面的事物说，我们就是祂的荣耀。
3In verses 11 and 12 we see that the New Testament believers will be a cause of universal praise. Praise is the utterance of appreciation. We do not praise clay because we do not appreciate it. On the other hand, we do praise our dear Lord Jesus because we appreciate Him so much. Our appreciation becomes our praise. The day is coming when we, the sons of God, will be appreciated by all the angels. The more they look at us, the more utterance they will have that will flow out as praise to God. Their appreciation of us will become their praise to God. They will realize that what we are is the work of God’sa bounding grace. The amount of praise depends upon how much work the abounding grace has done. If the abounding grace accomplishes more work upon us, the angels will have a greater appreciation of us. The Bible says that even the trees will rejoice (Psa. 96:12) and praise the Lord (Psa. 148:7, 9). If the trees did not see anything in the universe that was wonderful, they would not rejoice. But seeing us, the sons of God, will be the greatest surprise to the trees. Because of us, the trees will rejoice and praise. The fact that we shall be to the praise of God’s glory does not mean that we shall praise God. It means that we shall be the cause of the praise uttered by the angels and all the positive things in the universe. Eventually, we shall become the glory of God. Some may wonder how we could become the glory of God. In 1 Thessalonians Paul says, “Ye are our glory and joy” (2:20). Paul was speaking here as the representative of God. Therefore, if the believers were the glory of Paul, 20 then they were certainly the glory of God, for Paul was God’ss entone. If the believers are the glory of the sent one, then they are surely also the glory of the Sender. In the millennium and especially in the new heaven and new earth, God will be able to say, “Angels, nations, and all created things, look at My glory. My sons are My glory.” In a human sense, this is even true in a large family. Suppose a certain father has many good children, all of whom love the Lord very much. I fall these children would one days it around their father, he could say, “This is my glory. My children are my glory.” One day the Father will gather us all together. At that time, we all shall have been saturated with Him, transformed, and transfigured. Then with joy He will be able to say to the angels and all the positive things in the universe that we are His glory.
4荣耀是彰显出来的神。在时期满足的时候，所有神的众子都要完全被神浸透，并要彰显神。神要从我们得著彰显。这彰显出来的神就是荣耀。一切天使和宇宙中正面的事物，都要称赞彰显出来的神。这就是我们使祂的荣耀得著称赞的意思。壹被放在作元首的基督里面十一节的下半说，我们『也就在祂里面成了所选定的基业』。『在祂里面』是指作元首的基督说的。十节说到万有在基督里归一于一个元首之下；在原文中，这一节以『在祂里面』结尾，而十一节又以『在祂里面』开头。在这里，保罗的写法显得相当笨拙且重复。然而保罗特意这样写，为要强调天上地上一切所有的，都在基督里归一于一个元首之下的事实。为了强调这事实，保罗顾不到文笔的优美。『在祂里面』这辞启示，我们已经被放在作元首的基督里面。
4Glory is God expressed. At the fullness of the times, all the sons of God will be fully saturated with God and will express God. God will be expressed through us. This expressed God is glory. All the angels and positive things in the universe will praise the expressed God. This is what it means to say that we shall be to the praise of His glory. I. Having Been Placed Into The Heading-Up Christ The first part of verse 11 says, “In Whom also we were made an inheritance.” “In Whom” refers to the heading-up Christ. Verse 10, which speaks of heading up all things in Christ, ends with the words “in Him,” and verse 11 begins with the words “in Whom.” Paul’s composition here is rather awkward and repetitious. However, Paul wrote this way purposely in order to emphasize the fact that all things in heaven and on earth are headed up in Christ. In emphasizing this fact, Paul did not care for excellence of composition. The words “in Whom” reveal that we have been placed into the heading-up Christ
5贰成了神所选定的基业在作元首的基督里，我们也成了神所选定的基业。十一节的『也』字，是指万有在基督里归一于一个元首之下。万有都在基督里归一于一个元首之下，而我们也就在祂里面成了所选定的基业。在基督里我们成了基业。请特别注意这里的时态。在将来，万有要在基督里归一于一个元首之下，但是我们已经在祂里面成了所选定的基业。『成了所选定的基业』也可译作『得了基业』。原文全句是一个动词，意选择，或抽签指定。因此全句意即，我们在祂里面被标明为所选定的基业。我们成了所选定的基业，以承受神作基业。一面我们成了神的基业，（18，）给神享受；一面我们承受神作我们的基业，（14，）给我们享受。
5II. HAVING BEEN MADE AN INHERITANCE TO GOD In the heading - up Christ we also were made an inheritance. The word “also” in verse 11 refers to the heading up of all things in Christ. All things are to beheaded up in Christ, and we also have been made an inheritance in Him. In Christ we were made an inheritance. Please pay close attention to the tense here. In the future, all things will be headed up in Christ, but already we were made an inheritance in Him. The Greek words rendered “we remade an inheritance” can also be translated “have obtained an inheritance.” The Greek verb means to choose or assign by lot. Hence, this clause literally means we were designated as a heritage. We were made an inheritance to inherit God’s inheritance. On the one hand, we were made God’s inheritance (v. 18) for God’s enjoyment; and, on the other hand, we were made to inherit God as our inheritance (v. 14) for our enjoyment.
6我们成了所选定的基业，或神在基督里使万有归一于一个元首之下，你想那一件事比较大？我要说，成了所选定的基业，比归一于一个元首之下更好。我们成为神的基业，给祂开了一条路，使宇宙中的万有都归一于一个元首之下。虽然我们已经成了所选定的基业，我们仍需要问自己，到底我们活著是不是神的基业。你的生活是否像神的基业？你是像神的基业，还是像一团泥土？泥土怎么能成为神的基业？在我们自己里面，我们当然不配成为神的基业；但我们已经在作元首的基督里面成了基业。按我们天然的人来看，我们甚么都不配；但是在作元首的基督里面，我们成了神所选定的基业。我们乃是藉著神作到我们里面，被构成为基业。神今天仍把祂自己作到我们里面。我们多半是部分泥土，部分金子。金的那部分是神的基业。我感谢神，在这成为神基业的过程中，金子在我们里面一直增加，泥土一直减少。
6Which do you think is greater, for us to be made an inheritance or for God to head up all things in Christ? I would say that being made an inheritance is much better than being headed up. Our being made God’s inheritance opens the way for Him to head up all things in the universe. Although we have been made an inheritance already, we need to ask ourselves whether or not we live as God’s inheritance. Do you live as one who is the inheritance of God? Do you look like God’s inheritance or like a lump of clay? How can clay be God’s inheritance? In ourselves we certainly are not worthy to be God’s inheritance, but we have been made an inheritance in the heading - up Christ. According to our natural being, we are not worth anything, but in the heading-up Christ we were made God’s inheritance. It is by having God wrought into us that we are being constituted into an inheritance. God is still working Himself into us today. Most of us are part clay and part gold. The part that is gold is God’s inheritance. I thank God that as the process of being made God’s inheritance goes on, the gold in us is increasing and the clay is decreasing.
7我们不该停留在成为神基业的客观教训上。许多年前，我受教导说，我们是神的基业，我听了很高兴。后来我发现我甚么都不是，不过是泥土罢了。泥土竟成为神的基业，这似乎非常荒谬。但在许多的经历并多方研读新约之后，我明白我们还在成为神基业的过程中。在这过程中，天然的生命必须消除，而金子，就是神圣的性情，必须藉著更多作到我们里面而增加。当这个过程完成时，我们将完全成为神的基业；不仅是客观的，也是主观的。成为神基业的过程，和万有在基督里归一于一个元首之下是并行的。我们越愿意在基督里归一于一个元首之下，金子，就是神圣的元素，就越在我们里面增加。这就是变化，也是主观的圣别。在主观的圣别里，我们这人被神的本质、神的素质浸透了。当神的元素作到我们里面时，我们就成了祂的基业。不错，我们已被放在作元首的基督里，但是我们仍在完全成为祂基业的过程中。
7We should not stop with the mere objective teaching about being the inheritance of God. Many years ago I was taught that we are God’s inheritance, and I was very happy to heart his. Eventually I discovered that I am nothing but clay. It seemed absurd that clay could be God’s inheritance. After much experience and study of the New Testament, I learned that we are still in the process of becoming God’s inheritance. In this process the natural life must be eliminated, and the gold, the divine nature, must increase by being wrought into more of our being. When this process has been completed, we shall be fully the inheritance of God not only objectively, but also subjectively. The process of being made God’s inheritance goes along with the heading up of all things in Christ. The more we are willing to beheaded up in Christ, the more the gold, the divine element, will increase within us. This is transformation; it is also subjective sanctification. In subjective sanctification our being is saturated with God’s substance, God’s essence. As God’s element is wrought into our being, we become His inheritance. Yes, we have already been placed in the heading - up Christ, but we are still in the process of being made His inheritance in full.
一 豫定
A. Having Been Predestinated
8父神为使我们成为祂的基业，就豫定我们成为祂的众子。使我们成为神基业的过程，是基于且是按著神永远的豫定。神现今正作工在我们身上，以达到祂豫定的目标。
8To make us His inheritance, God the Father has predestinated us to be His sons. The process of making us God’s inheritance is based upon and is according to God’s eternal predestination. God is now working on us to reach the goal of His predestination
二 照著神的定旨
B. According to the Purpose of God
9十一节说，照著那位行作万事者的定旨，我们成了所选定的基业。神行作万事，乃是按祂意愿所决议的。神的意愿和神的决议不同。神的意愿，指祂的目的；神的决议，指祂的思量，要怎样完成祂的意愿或目的。神行作万事，乃是照著祂对目的的思量。祂的行事，主要的是与我们有关；祂对我们的目的，是要使我们成为祂的基业。在祂的决议里，祂思量要如何完成这事；祂不会不经过慎重的思量就去作。譬如，一位姊妹有意要烤一个别致的蛋糕。但是在烘烤之前，她要先有决议，思考该如何作。没有这样的思量，蛋糕会在烤的过程中烤坏。照样，神是非常周详且谨慎的把我们作成祂的基业。
9Verse 11 says that we have been made an inheritance according to the purpose of the One who operates all things. God operates all things according to the counsel of His will. There is a difference between God’s will and His counsel: the will refers to His intention, and the counsel, to the consideration. God operates all things according to the consideration of His intention. His operation is mainly concerned with us; His intention regarding us is to make us His inheritance. In His counsel He considers how to accomplish this; He does not do it without careful consideration. For example, a sister may have the intention to bake a very special cake. But before baking it, she takes counsel with herself to consider how she should go about it. Without such consideration, the cake would be ruined in the process of baking. Likewise, God is making us an inheritance to Himself in a very thoughtful, careful way
10神行作万事是照著祂意愿所决议的，以致我们可使祂的荣耀得著称赞。这指明神正在我们身上作最精细的工作。没有一样粗制滥造的工作会使人称赞、珍赏。最精细的工作，才引起最高的珍赏，从这珍赏中才会有最高的称赞发出。由于神在我们身上所作的是最精细的工作，我们将是得著最大珍赏的原因。在主的恢复里，我们不仅留意合一的立场，我们在这里也是为著神更精细的工作。今天在一切基督教团体中，很难找到一个团体，神能在其中作更精细的工作。也许我们是地上惟一的一班基督徒，让神有机会在我们身上作更精细的工作。因此，在主的恢复里，我们有责任要给主机会，好在我们身上作这更精细的工作。我们不要肤浅，或是搞一个短暂的运动。相反的，我们愿与神合作，使祂可以进来，在我们中间作精细的工作，以产生宇宙中最高的珍赏。然后每当天使看我们，他们就会珍赏神所作的，并对那位从我们得著彰显的神发出赞美。神在我们身上的工作，不单是改良我们的行为，或叫我们变得更可爱、更谦卑。这样的观念太低了。我们需要让神把祂自己作到我们里面，变化我们的每一部分。这将是宇宙中最精细的产品，一个满了神、满了神圣素质的产品。这样一个精细的工作，会叫天使和一切正面的事物大为珍赏。然后他们要为著神恩典的荣耀而称赞祂。
10God operates all things according to the counsel of His will that we should be to the praise of His glory. This indicates that God is doing the finest work with us. No crude work will bring forth praise or appreciation. It is the finest work that causes the highest appreciation, out of which comes the highest praise. Because God is working on us in the finest way, we shall be the cause of the greatest appreciation. In the Lord’s recovery we do not care only for the ground of unity. We are here for God’s finer work. Among all of today’s Christian groups, it is hard to find one group in which God can do a finer work. Probably we are the only group of Christians on earth who give God the opportunity to do a finer work in them. Therefore, in the Lord’s recovery we are held responsible to afford the Lord the opportunity to do this finer work upon us. We do not want to be shallow or to have a movement that is temporary. Instead, we want to cooperate with God that He may come in to do a fine work among us to bring forth the highest appreciation in the universe. Then whenever the angels look at us, they will appreciate what God has done and utter praise to the very God expressed by us. God’s work upon us is not simply to improve our behavior or to make us more loving and humble. Such a concept is too low. We need to allow God to work Himself into our being, to transform every part of us. This will be the finest product in the universe, a product full of God and full of the divine essence. In this way such a fine work will be highly appreciated by the angels and by all positive things; they will then praise God for the glory of His grace
11十二节的『可使』似乎意义不大，但在原文乃是一个重字，也可以繙为『结果使』。这指明某种的珍赏和称赞将因著我们而产生。我们将是天使称赞的原因；当天使看我们时，他们将珍赏我们。然而，我们还没有完全达到这一点。我们需要往前，直到我们这些新约的信徒，成为宇宙中天使称赞神荣耀的原因。
11The word “to” in verse 12 is a rather insignificant word in English, but it is a strong word in Greek. It may be translated “issuing in.” This indicates that some kind of appreciation and praise will be brought forth because of us. We shall be the cause of the angelic praise. When the angels look at us, they will appreciate us. However, we have not yet fully reached this point. We need to go on until we, the New Testament believers, become the cause of the universal angelic praise of the glory of God
参 在这世代中首先在基督里有盼望
III. Having First Hoped In Christ In This Age
12十二节说，我们『首先在基督里有盼望』。『首先』这辞也可译作『豫先』。我们新约的信徒，是在今世首先在基督里有盼望的人。犹太人要在来世，才在基督里有盼望。今天我们在基督里有盼望，犹太人却没有，他们是在一种可怜的光景里。
12Verse 12 says that we “have before hoped in Christ.” The Greek word translated “before” can also be rendered first.” We, the believers of the New Testament, are those who have first hoped in Christ; that is, we have hoped in Him in this age. The Jews will have their hope in Christ in the next age. Today we have hoped in Christ, but the Jews, who have not, are in a pitiful condition
肆 在基督回来
IV. HAVING HOPED IN CHRIST
设立祂来世的国度前，
BEFORE HIS COMING BACK
就在基督里有盼望
TO SET UP HIS KINGDOM IN THE NEXT AGE
13我们在基督回来设立祂弥赛亚国之前，就在基督里有盼望。但是犹太人是在基督回来之后，才在祂里面有盼望。因著我们在基督里满了盼望，我们就能成为宇宙和天使称赞神荣耀的原因。
13We have hoped in Christ before Christ’s coming back to set up His Messianic kingdom. But the Jews will have hope in Christ after His coming back. Because we are full of hope in Christ, we can be made the cause of the universal and angelic praise of God’s glory
伍 使神的荣耀得著称赞
V. TO THE PRAISE OF GOD’S GLORY
14至终，我们将使神的荣耀得著称赞。正如我们所看过的，神乃是在新约信徒身上得著荣耀，得著彰显。这个彰显在今天是看不见的，但有一天却看得见。那时，神藉新约信徒所得的彰显，要引出宇宙性的称赞。我们的神将藉著我们，并在我们中间，得著完满的彰显和荣耀；那时整个宇宙就要称赞祂的荣耀。
14Finally, we shall be to the praise of God’s glory. As we have seen, God is glorified, expressed, in the New Testament believers. This expression is not visible today, but one day it will be visible. At that time God’sex press i on through the New Testament believers will call forth the universal praise. Our God will be fully expressed and glorified through us and among us. Then the entire universe will praise His glory