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以弗所书生命读经 · 第31篇

召会照著神永远的定旨为显示神的智慧

The Church For God’s Wisdom According To His Eternal Purpose
1在本篇信息中，我们要来看以弗所三章九至十三节。九节说，『并将那历世历代隐藏在创造万有之神里的奥秘有何等的经纶，向众人照明。』神的奥秘乃是祂隐藏的定旨。祂的定旨是要将祂自己分赐到祂所拣选的人里面。因此有了神奥秘的经纶。这奥秘历世历代一直隐藏在神里面，但现今已向新约的信徒照明了。
1In this message we shall consider 3:9-13. Verse 9 says, “And to bring to light what is the dispensation of the mystery, which from the ages has been hidden in God, Who created all things.” God’s mystery is His hidden purpose, which is to dispense Himself into His chosen people. Hence, there is the dispensation of the mystery of God. This mystery was hidden in God from the ages (that is, from eternity) and through all past ages, but now it has been brought to light to the New Testament believers
壹 神的智慧
I. GOD’S WISDOM
2十节接著说，『为要藉著召会，使诸天界里执政的、掌权的，现今得知神万般的智慧。』这节说到神的智慧。一章说到神的能力，（19～20，）二章说到神的恩典，（5～8，）三章说到神的智慧。神非常有智慧，而宇宙显出祂的智慧。
2Verse 10 continues, “In order that now to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenlies might be made known through the church the multifarious wisdom of God.” This verse speaks of God’s wisdom. Chapter one speaks of the power of God (vv. 19-20), chapter two, of the grace of God (vv. 5-8), and chapter three, of the wisdom of God. God is very wise, and the universe reveals His wisdom
3我们需要看见智慧与知识的不同。歌罗西二章三节把这二者并题。智慧比知识更高更深。智慧见于事物的创始，譬如一种新发明的设计；而知识见于实际的应用。你若只有知识而缺少智慧，你就无法创始甚么，也不会发明甚么。神是独一的创始者。祂创始了许多东西，不是凭祂的知识，乃是凭祂的智慧。当祂应用祂所创始的，祂就展示祂的知识。
3We need to see the difference between wisdom and knowledge. In Colossians 2:3 the two are mentioned together. Wisdom is both higher and deeper than knowledge. Wisdom is seen in the initiation of something, for example, in the formulation of a new invention, and knowledge is seen in the practical application. If you have only knowledge and lack wisdom, you will not be able to initiate anything nor to invent anything. God is the unique Initiator. He has initiated many things, not by His knowledge, but by His wisdom. When He comes in to apply what He has initiated, He displays His knowledge
4对我们来说，智慧是在我们的灵里，知识是在我们的心思里。你若不知道如何进入你的灵，即使你有许多知识，你也不会有智慧。但你若是一个在灵里的人，你就会有智慧。不仅如此，在你的心思里还有知识，就是明达。
4In our case, wisdom is in our spirit, and knowledge is in our mind. If you do not know how to get into your spirit, you may have a great deal of knowledge, but you will not have any wisdom. But if you are a person in the spirit, you will be wise. Furthermore, in your mind you will have knowledge, prudence
5十节说，藉著召会，使诸天界里执政的、掌权的，现今得知神万般的智慧。这些执政的、掌权的，指执政和掌权的天使，有良善的也有邪恶的。这里特别是指邪恶的，就是撒但和他的使者。从新约来看，撒但有他的国、他的使者、和他掌权的范围。撒但掌权的范围是在空中和地上。但以理书指明，地上的列国都在空中撒但的掌权之下。所以藉著召会，神不仅使人类，更使那些跟从神仇敌背叛的天使，得知祂的智慧。
5Verse 10 says that through the church the multifarious wisdom of God is made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenlies. These rulers and authorities are the angelic rulers and authorities, both good and evil. The passage here especially refers to the evil ones — Satan and his angels. According to the New Testament, Satan has his kingdom, his angels, and his sphere of rule. Satan’s sphere of rule is in the air and on the earth. The book of Daniel indicates that all nations on earth are under the rule of Satan in the air. Therefore, through the church God makes His wisdom known not mainly to human beings but to those rebellious angels who are the followers of God’se ne my.
6八节启示，召会是从基督那追测不尽的丰富产生的。当神所拣选的人有分于并享受基督的丰富时，这些丰富就把他们构成召会；藉著召会，诸天界里执政和掌权的天使，就得知神万般的智慧。因此，召会是神对基督一切所是的智慧展示。
6Verse 8 reveals that the church is produced from the unsearchable riches of Christ. When God’s chosen people partake of and enjoy the riches of Christ, these riches constitute them the church, through which God’s multifarious wisdom is made known to the angelic rulers and authorities in the heavenlies. Hence, the church is God’s wise exhibition of all that Christ is
7甚至撒但的背叛，也在神智慧的范围内。若没有撒但的背叛，神的智慧还不能完全揭晓。如果你是一个满有智慧的人，麻烦困难越多，你的智慧就越显出来。但你若平安无事，就没有机会彰显你的智慧。事实上，当一切顺利时，就不需要甚么智慧。你需要有麻烦，好展示你的智慧。
7Even the rebellion of Satan is within the realm of God’s wisdom. If it were not for Satan’s rebellion, God’s wisdom could not be made known in a full way. If you are a person full of wisdom, the more troubles and difficulties you have, the more wisdom you will express. But if everything related to you is peaceful and without problems, you will have no opportunity to express your wisdom. Actually, when everything is going well, there is little need of wisdom. You need trouble in order to display your wisdom
8神也需要麻烦，祂甚至还需要一个对头，撒但。很少基督徒知道，神实际上需要撒但。虽然神需要我们，但祂更需要撒但。我年轻时，常希奇为甚么当撒但背叛时，神不立即把他丢到火湖里。我不懂为甚么神给撒但这么多自由。我也问为甚么神要把善恶知识树放在伊甸园。这树若不在那里，人就不会堕落。然而如果没有撒但，没有知识树，神的智慧就无法完全显明。撒但和知识树制造了许多机会，使神得以用万般的方式，就是多面多方，并从许多角度，显明祂的智慧。『万般』这辞在原文的意思指明，神的智慧有许多方面、讲究和方向。只有藉著难处，神智慧的各方面才能得著显明。
8God also needs trouble. He even needs an adversary, Satan. Few Christians realize that God actually needs Satan. Although God needs us, He needs Satan even more. When I was young, I wondered why God did not cast Satan into the lake of fire immediately when he rebelled against Him. I questioned why God gave Satan so much freedom. I also asked why God put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden of Eden. If this tree had not been there, man would not have fallen. But without Satan and without the tree of knowledge, God’s wisdom cannot be fully manifested. Satan and the tree of knowledge have created many opportunities for God’s wisdom to be manifested in a multifarious way, that is, in various ways and aspects and from many angles. The Greek word translated “multifarious” indicates that God’s wisdom has many sides, aspects, and directions. Only through problems can all the aspects of God’s wisdom be manifested
9有些人听到这话后，也许会说，『那我们就给神多惹点麻烦罢！让我们作恶以成善罢。』千万不要这么说。你若定意要惹麻烦、作恶事，你会发现你作不来。譬如，你站起来容易，但要故意跌倒却不容易。我们必须认识我们的无有。凭我们自己，我们要失败也失败不来，要得胜也得胜不来。你若试著不失败，你可能就失败。但你若想失败，你会发现你失败不来。
9When some hear of such a word, they may be tempted to say, “Let us create more trouble for God. Let us do evil that good may come.” Never say this. If you intend to create trouble or to do evil, you may find yourself unable to do so. For example, although it is easy to stand up, it is difficult to fall purposely. We need to realize our nothingness. On our own, we cannot succeed either in being defeated or in being victorious. If you try not to be defeated, you may be defeated. But if you want to be defeated, you may find that you cannot be defeated
10你们看大卫的例子。在拔示巴的事上，大卫大大的失败了。神若不许可大卫在这事上堕落，他就不会堕落。大卫的堕落给神机会彰显祂的智慧。大卫的堕落及悔改，因著与神的赦免结合在一起，使他得了一个儿子─所罗门，成为建造圣殿的人。后来，大卫再度失败，这次是失败在数点以色列百姓的事上。但是藉著这第二次的失败，大卫得了建造圣殿的地基。圣殿的建造，需要建造的人和地基。你若带著这种领会来读圣经，就会看见大卫的堕落既不是出于他自己，也不是出于神，乃是出于撒但。是撒但试诱大卫去犯不道德的事，去数点以色列的百姓。当大卫屈服于这些试诱时，撒但就高兴，以为他破坏了一个绝对为著神的优秀君王。然而撒但并不知道，他的试诱给神制造了机会，使神的智慧得以显明。
10Consider the example of David. With respect to Bath- sheba, David had a great failure. If God had not allowed him to fall in this matter, David could not have fallen. David’s fall gave God an opportunity to express His wisdom. Through David’s fall and repentance combined with God’s forgiveness, David gained a son, Solomon, to be the builder of the temple. Later, David fell again, this time in numbering the army of Israel. But through this second fall David acquired the site on which the temple was built. For the building of the temple there was the need for both the builder and the site. If you read the Bible with understanding, you will see that David’s falls were neither of David nor of God; they were of Satan. It was Satan who tempted David to commit immorality and to number the army of Israel. When David yielded to these temptations, Satan was pleased, convinced that he had damaged an excellent king whose heart was absolute for God. Satan, however, did not know that his temptations created opportunities for God’s wisdom to be manifested.
11神的仇敌所作的一切，都是给神机会显出祂的智慧。我们若从来没有受过毒害并被败坏，我们就不太需要神，也不需要神的救恩。我们越犯罪、越败坏、越受破坏，我们就越需要神，神也越有机会为我们作事。保罗在十节宣告，神要藉著召会，使诸天界里执政的、掌权的，得知神万般的智慧。召会是基督的身体，是同为后嗣，同为应许的分享者。召会是由那些曾经被毁坏、败坏、受残害的人组成的。在我们得救之前，我们是有毒的虺蛇。不仅如此，我们原是死在过犯并罪之中，而且是分散、分裂的，完全不能成为一。因此，召会所有的肢体，原是在毫无指望的光景中。然而，神凭祂的智慧，能使我们成为召会。现今我们不仅得了救赎、拯救、洁净、自由、释放、重生，我们也是联结的。我们与神是一，也彼此是一。所以，我们是召会。
11Whatever the enemy of God does gives God the opportunity to show forth His wisdom. If we had never been poisoned and corrupted, we would not have needed God very much, and there would have been no need for God’ss alvation. The more sinful, corrupt, and damaged we are, the greater is our need for God and the more opportunity there is for God to do something for us. In verse 10 Paul declares that God’s multifarious wisdom is made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenlies through the church. The church is the Body of Christ, the joint-heirs, and the joint-partakers. The church is composed of those who once were ruined, corrupted, and damaged. Before we were saved, we were vipers, poisonous serpents. Furthermore, we were dead in trespasses and sins. Moreover, we were scattered and divided, utterly unable to be one. Thus, all the members of the church were in a hopeless situation. Nevertheless, God in His wisdom is able to make us the church. Now we are not only redeemed, saved, cleansed, freed, liberated, and regenerated—we are also united. We are one with God and with one another. Therefore, we are the church
12召会是神最大的夸耀。你可能不那么在乎召会，但神却非常在乎召会。有时，神也许会说，『撒但，看看你所毁坏的那些人，我已经得著他们，把他们作成召会。你有没有智慧来作这事？你没有这个智慧，我却有。』
12The church is God’s greatest boast. Although you may not care that much for the church, God cares very much for the church. Sometimes God may say, “Look, Satan, I have taken the very people whom you have ruined and I have made them into the church. Do you have the wisdom to do such a thing? You do not have this wisdom, but I have it
13神造了人，并把人摆在园子里之后，撒但就进来打岔，以为毁坏神为祂自己所创造的人最好的方法，就是将他邪恶的性情注射到人里面。在人堕落的时候，撒但作为罪进到人里面，并在许多方面叫人和他一样。为这缘故，圣经将堕落的人比作毒蛇的种类。撒但既已作为罪进到人里面，就使他自己与人成为一，并使人的身体变质为肉体。但有一天神成为肉体。（约一14。）最终，撒但使这位成为肉体者钉在十字架上。撒但先挑唆犹大出卖主耶稣，接著鼓动犹太人和外邦人联合起来钉死祂。然而撒但不知道，当他把这一位放在十字架上时，实际上他是把自己钉死了。如希伯来二章十四节所说：『儿女既同有血肉之体，祂也照样亲自有分于血肉之体，为要藉著死，废除那掌死权的，就是魔鬼。』主耶稣藉著在十字架上的死，废除了撒但。这展示出神何等奇妙的智慧！这是神智慧的一面。
13After God had created man and had put him into the garden, Satan came in to intervene, convinced that the best way to ruin the man created by God for Himself was to inject his own evil nature into him. At the time of the fall, Satan as sin entered into man and, in many respects, caused man to be the same as he is. For this reason the Bible refers to fallen men as the offspring of vipers. Having come in to man as sin, Satan has made himself one with man and has transmuted man’s body into the flesh. But one day God became flesh (John 1:14). Eventually, Satan caused this One who had become flesh to be crucified. Firstly Satan instigated Judas to betray the Lord Jesus, and secondly he stirred up the Jews and the Gentiles to cooperate in crucifying Him. What Satan did not realize, however, was that in putting this One on the cross, he was actually crucifying himself. As Hebrews 2:14 says, “Since therefore the children have partaken of blood and flesh, He also Himself in like manner shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who has the might of death, that is, the Devil.” Through His own death on the cross, the Lord Jesus destroyed Satan. What a display of God’s marvelous wisdom! This is one aspect of God’s wisdom.
141神智慧的另一面启示在林前一章。保罗在这章里说，崇尚哲学的希利尼人寻求智慧；然而，对我们这蒙神呼召并相信主耶稣的人，智慧就是基督。基督是神的智慧。林前一章三十节说，我们得在基督耶稣里，是出于神。我们得在基督里，乃是神的智慧。我无法解释神如何将我们放在基督里，但我深信且有把握的说，我们是在基督里。赞美主，我们都在祂里面！神用祂的智慧，已将我们放在基督里。按照林前一章三十节，基督在公义、圣别和救赎上，是我们的智慧。基督作为我们的公义，对付了我们那全然不义的已往；为著目前的光景，基督是我们的圣别；为著将来，祂是我们的救赎。有一天我们的身体要得赎，也就是改变形状。基督成为我们的公义、圣别和救赎，在神一面需要极大的智慧。虽然基督为著已往是我们的公义，为著现在是我们的圣别，为著将来是我们的救赎，但祂也是我们每天的公义、圣别和救赎。
14Another aspect of God’s wisdom is revealed in Corinthians 1. In this chapter Paul says that the Greeks, the philosophical people, seek wisdom. However, to us, the ones called by God and those who believe in the Lord Jesus, wisdom is Christ. Christ is God’s wisdom. First Corinthians 1:30 says that it is of God that we are in Christ Jesus. For us to be in Christ is the wisdom of God. I cannot explain how God put us in Christ. Nevertheless, I have the deep conviction and assurance that we are in Christ. Praise the Lord that we are all in Him! In His wisdom God has put us in Christ. According to 1 Corinthians 1:30, Christ is our wisdom with respect to righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. As our righteousness, Christ has dealt with our past, which was altogether unrighteous. For our present situation, Christ is our sanctification, and for the future, He is our redemption. One day our body will be redeemed, that is, transfigured. For Christ to be our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption requires much wisdom on God’s part. Although Christ is our righteousness for the past, our sanctification for the present, and our redemption for the future, He is also our daily righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.
15我们要充分的明白这事，就需要看见神经纶的全貌。在人受造并堕落之后，神来成为肉体。然后主耶稣上了十字架，在那里钉死了肉体。祂经过死与复活之后，就升到诸天之上，然后降下，进到我们里面作赐生命的灵，为要点活我们已死的灵，并重生我们。祂既重生了我们，现今就住在我们的灵里作生命。在这生命，就是神圣的生命里，我们有生命的律、生命的感觉、和生命的交通。然而，主不仅是我们的生命，也成了我们里面的膏油涂抹。不仅如此，祂天天在印涂、浸透、涂抹并浸润我们。当这事发生时，我们就自然而然的活出祂，祂也成为我们的公义。这就是神的智慧。因著神的智慧，祂可以向撒但夸耀祂在受败坏且被毁坏的人身上所作的。你们知道今天我们这些信徒所是的一切，乃是出于神的智慧么？惟有神才有智慧创始这么奇妙的事，使犯罪堕落的人成为基督的肢体。
15In order to understand this adequately, we need to see the full scope of God’s economy. After the creation and the fall of man, God became flesh through incarnation. Then the Lord Jesus went to the cross and there crucified the flesh. After passing through death and resurrection, He ascended into the heavens, then descended, and entered into us as the life-giving Spirit in order to enliven our deadened spirit and to regenerate us. Having regenerated us, He now dwells in our spirit as life. In this life, the divine life, we have the law of life, the sense of life, and the fellowship of life. The Lord, however, is not only life to us; He is also the anointing within us. Furthermore, He is daily sealing us, saturating us, anointing us, and permeating us. As this takes place, we spontaneously live Him, and He becomes our righteousness. This is God’s wisdom. Because of His wisdom God can boast to Satan of what He has done with corrupted and ruined man. Have you ever realized that what we are as believers today is of God’s wisdom? Only God has the wisdom to initiate such a wonderful thing, to make sinful and corrupted people the members of Christ.
16藉著生命之灵的工作，我们的性情起了改变。那是新陈代谢的改变，也就是使我们圣别并变化的改变。因此，基督不仅是我们的公义，也是我们的圣别。不仅如此，我们也天天在蒙救赎，并且至终要得荣耀。基督是我们的公义、圣别和救赎，不仅是客观的，更是非常主观的，是以调和的方式，新陈代谢的变化我们。这些都是神万般智慧的明证。神多方面的智慧，显明在祂使基督成为我们的公义、圣别和救赎上。我们在这些事上对基督的经历，乃是照著神万般的智慧。召会是神的杰作，使神的智慧得以如此奇妙的展示出来。在神眼中，宇宙中最奇妙的东西乃是召会，因为藉著召会，撒但和他的使者就得知神万般的智慧。撒但和他的使者蒙羞的日子即将来临。那时他们要知道，他们所作的一切，不过是给神机会显明祂的智慧。同样的原则，我们的失败、错误、挫折、过犯，也都给神机会展示祂的智慧。我们没有人喜欢犯错，反而都喜欢作好。虽然我总想要作对的事，但我还是犯了许多错，甚至犯了一些大错。我当然恨恶这些错误，但我能见证，这些错误给神机会表明祂的智慧。所以，我能为我的一切过错感谢主。
16Through the work of the Spirit of life, a change is taking place in our very nature. It is a metabolic change, a change that sanctifies and transforms us. Thus, Christ is not only our righteousness, but also our sanctification. Furthermore, we are daily being redeemed, and eventually we shall be glorified. Christ is our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, not only in an objective way, but in a very subjective way, in the way of mingling and changing us metabolically. All this is a testimony to God’s multifarious wisdom. Many aspects of God’s wisdom are manifested in His making Christ our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Our experience of Christ in these matters is according to God’s manifold wisdom. The church through which God’s wisdom is so marvelously displayed is God’s masterpiece. In the eyes of God the most wonderful thing in the universe is the church, for through the church God’s multifarious wisdom is made known to Satan and his angels. The day is coming when Satan and his angels will be put to shame. They will realize that everything they have done has given God the opportunity to manifest His wisdom. In the same principle, our failures, mistakes, defeats, and wrongdoings have also given God opportunities to display His wisdom. None of us likes to be mistaken; on the contrary, we all want to be right. Although I have always intended to do the right thing, I have nevertheless made many mistakes, even some big mistakes. I certainly hate these mistakes, but I can testify that they have afforded God the opportunity to show forth His wisdom. Therefore, I can thank the Lord for all my mistakes
17我们若回顾已往，就会看见我们因著过错所蒙的恩典，比起我们没有犯错所蒙的恩典更多。虽然我犯了一些大错误，但是藉著这些错误，我蒙了许多的怜悯和恩典。似乎错误越严重，所蒙的怜悯和恩典就越多。阿利路亚！我们是神所拣选的人，甚至藉著我们的失败，神万般的智慧也得著显明！然而，我们不可故意失败，为要得神的怜悯和恩典。
17If we review our past, we shall realize that we have received more grace through our mistakes than through the things we have done without any mistake. Although I have made some major mistakes, through them I have received much mercy and grace. It seems as if the amount of mercy and grace received has been in proportion to the seriousness of the mistakes. Hallelujah, we are God’s chosen people, and even through our failures He manifests His multifarious wisdom! However, we should not intentionally try to fail in order to receive God’s mercy and grace
贰 神永远的定旨
II. GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE
18十一节说，『这是照著祂在我们的主基督耶稣里，所立的永远定旨。』永远定旨，就是神在已过的永远里所定的永远计画。那是在基督里所定的计画，有三重的目的：使神得著荣耀，使神所拣选的人得著祝福，并使神的仇敌蒙羞。神定旨的主要目的是要荣耀神，藉著祂所拣选的人彰显祂；这是给我们最大的福分。在此，神的仇敌就大大的蒙羞。
18Verse 11 says, “According to the purpose of the ages which He made in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The purpose of the ages is the purpose of eternity, the eternal purpose, the eternal plan of God made in eternity past. It was made in Christ with a threefold intention for God’s glory, for the blessing of God’s chosen people, and for the shame of God’se ne my. The main intention of God’s purpose is to glorify God, to express Him through His chosen people. This is the greatest blessing to us. In this God’se ne my is shamed to the uttermost
参 我们的胆量、通路、笃信和荣耀
III. OUR BOLDNESS, ACCESS, CONFIDENCE, AND GLORY
19十二节继续说，『在祂里面，我们藉著信祂，就笃信不疑，放心大胆的进到神面前。』我们在基督里不仅得以接近、进入而亲近神，更有分于祂新约的经纶。藉著信基督，我们就笃信不疑，放心大胆的进到神面前，享受神和神永远的计画─经纶。我们在基督里有胆量，我们有进到神面前的通路，我们对神的定旨笃信不疑，并且我们在使徒的患难里有荣耀。（13。）
19Verse 12 continues, “In Whom we have boldness and access in confidence through the faith of Him.” In Christ we have access, entry, not only to approach God, but also to partake of His New Testament economy. Through the faith of Christ, we have such access with boldness in confidence to enjoy God and His eternal plan. We have boldness in Christ, we have access to God, we have confidence in God’s purpose, and we also have the glory in the apostle’s afflictions (v. 13