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以弗所书生命读经 · 第35篇

神在召会中并在基督里得著荣耀

God Glorified In The Church And In Christ
1在本篇信息中，我们要来看以弗所三章二十至二十一节：『然而神能照著运行在我们里面的大能，极其充盈的成就一切，超过我们所求所想的；愿在召会中，并在基督耶稣里，荣耀归与祂，直到世世代代，永永远远。阿们。』这两节是一个颂赞，一个高的赞美，甚至是新约书信里所能找到最高的赞美。召会没有实际出现之前，这样高的赞美是无法发出的。19正如我们在前一篇信息所指出的，从十九节我们看见召会是神的丰满。这里神的丰满乃是我们经历基督之丰富的结果并流出。这样的召会出现之后，使徒保罗就在二十至二十一节发出颂赞，在召会中，并在基督耶稣里，归荣耀与神。只有在作神丰满的召会出现之后，神的荣耀才得著显明。
1In this message we shall consider 3:20 and 21: “But to Him Who is able to do superabundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power which operates in us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all the generations of the age of the ages. Amen.” These verses are a doxology, a high praise, even the highest to be found in the New Testament Epistles. Such a high praise could not have been uttered before the church had come into existence in a practical way. As we pointed out in the foregoing message, in verse we see the church as the fullness of God. The fullness of God here is the result, the issue, of our experience of the riches of Christ. After such a church has come into existence, the Apostle Paul sounds forth the doxology in verses 20 and 21, ascribing to God glory in the church and in Christ Jesus. Only after the church has come into being as the fullness of God can the glory of God be manifested.
神论到召会之话的应验
The Fulfillment Of God’sWord Concerning The Church
2召会在地上虽然已有一千九百多年，却尚未达到成为神丰满的地步。召会最高的定义，就是召会是神的丰满。我们必须承认，今天在我们中间，召会尚未成为神的丰满，神完满的彰显。然而，我信召会要达到这个水平。主这样论到召会，指明祂要作成祂所说的。主的话绝不徒然返回。（赛五五。）凡祂所说的，祂必作成。譬如，神在创世记一章说了一些话，事就这样成了。所以我们相信，主论到召会是神丰满的这话，必要成就。我们不仅相信这话，我们也宣告这话，并照著这话祷告。我们需要祷告：『主，你说过召会是神的丰满，现今你必须成就你所说的。』当召会在地上达到成为神丰满的阶段时，我们就能与保罗一同说，『愿在召会中，并在基督耶稣里，荣耀归与祂。』
2Although the church has been on earth for more than nineteen centuries, it has not yet reached the point of being the fullness of God. The highest definition of the church is that it is the fullness of God. We must admit that among us today we do not yet have the church as the fullness of God, as God’s full expression. However, we believe that the church will come up to this level. The fact that the Lord has spoken such a word concerning the church is an indication that He will do what He has spoken. The Lord’sword will not return void (Isa. 55:11). 11 Whatever He speaks, He will perform. For example, when God spoke something in Genesis 1, it came to pass. Therefore, we believe that the Lord’sword regarding the church as the fullness of God will be accomplished. Not only do we believe this word, but we also claim it and pray according to it. We need to pray, “Lord, You have spoken concerning the church as the fullness of God. Now You must fulfill what You have spoken.” When the church on earth reaches the stage of being the fullness of God, we shall be able to say with Paul, “To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus.”
神在召会中得荣耀的路
THE WAY GOD IS GLORIFIED IN THE CHURCH
3二十至二十一节的『然而…归与祂』这话所表达的思想，指有些东西先从神出来，现在又回到祂那里。保罗在他的祷告里，求父照著祂荣耀的丰富加强众圣徒。这含示神的荣耀可以作到圣徒里面。保罗颂赞说，『愿…荣耀归与祂。』（三21。）这含示神的荣耀作到圣徒里面之后，又回到神那里。神的荣耀先是作到我们里面，然后又回到神那里，叫祂得著荣耀。譬如，以撒的财富先给了利百加作她的妆饰，然后这些财富又随著利百加回到以撒那里，作他的荣耀。（创二四47，53，61～67。）使徒祷告，愿神照著祂的荣耀加强圣徒，『然而』，神的荣耀作到圣徒里面之后，至终又随著得到加强的圣徒回到祂那里。这是神在召会中得荣耀的路。
3The words “but to Him” in verse 20 convey the thought that something has initially gone forth from God and is now returning to Him. In his prayer Paul asked that the Father would strengthen the saints according to the riches of His glory. This implies that the glory of God is wrought into the saints. In the doxology Paul said, “To Him be the glory” (v. 21). This implies that the glory of God returns to God after it has been wrought into the saints. Firstly, the glory of God is wrought into us; then it returns to God for His glorification. As an illustration, Isaac’s wealth was firstly given to Rebekah for her beautification; then when Rebekah came to Isaac, all the wealth came back to Isaac with Rebekah for his glorification (Gen. 24:47, 53, 61-67). The apostle prayed that God would strengthen the saints according to His glory, but eventually God’s glory, after being wrought into them, returns to Him along with the strengthened saints. This is the way God is glorified in the church.
4我们在十六节看见，保罗求父照著祂荣耀的丰富，用大能使我们得以加强到里面的人里。照著荣耀得以加强，就是有神的荣耀作到我们里面。这是照著神的荣耀得以加强惟一的路。倘若一个身体孱弱的人，能照著一个身体强壮的人而得以加强；这就是说，强壮者的力量被作到孱弱者的每一个细胞里。同样的原则，照著父的荣耀得以加强到里面的人里，意思就是，有祂的荣耀作到我们里面。荣耀先是到我们这里来，然后回到神那里。当荣耀进到我们里面，我们就被充满并得加强；当荣耀回到神那里，神就在召会中得著荣耀。二十节中的『然而』一辞，原文也可以繙作『现今』。在这种情形下，『现今』的意思就是『鉴于事实』或『基于前者』。保罗在二十至二十一节似乎是说，『现今召会既已出现成为神的丰满，神就能在召会中得著荣耀。在这以前，荣耀要回到神那里是不可能的。但是由于召会已经实际的成为神的丰满，现今这已成为可能的了。』
4We have seen that in verse 16 Paul prayed that the Father would grant us, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power into our inner man. To be strengthened according to glory is to have the glory of God worked into our being. This is the only way to be strengthened according to God’s glory. Suppose a person who is physically very weak can be strengthened according to someone who is physically strong. This would mean that the strength of the strong one is wrought into the very fibers of the weak one. In the same principle, to be strengthened into the inner man according to the Father’s glory means to have His glory wrought into our being. Firstly, the glory comes to us, and then it goes back to God. When the glory comes into our being, we are filled and strengthened. When it returns to God, He is glorified in the church. The Greek word rendered “but” in verse 20 can also be translated “now.” In such a case “now” would mean “in view of the fact that” or “based on the preceding.” In verses 20 and 21 it seems that Paul was saying, “Now that the church has come into existence as the fullness of God, God can be glorified in the church. Before this time it was impossible for the glory to return to God. But because the church has become the fullness of God in a practical way, this is now possible
5在这里把原文繙作『然而』、『现今』都对。无论是那一种情形，这辞都不是毫无意义插入的辞。『然而』这辞说出荣耀已来到我们这里，也已作到我们里面，如今却与我们一同回到神那里。『现今』这辞说出，因著召会已经出现为神的丰满这个事实，神可以在这时，在召会中得著荣耀。这两种繙译都对。
5It is correct to translate the Greek word here as either “but” or “now.” In either case the word is not a meaningless insertion. The word “but” suggests that the glory which has come to us and which has been wrought into our being is now going back to God with us. The word “now” suggests that, in view of the fact that the church has come into existence as the fullness of God, God may at this time be glorified in the church. Both are true
6召会乃是神的荣耀同著神来到我们这里，又同著我们回到神那里。在这样的召会里，神和我们，我们和神之间有一个双向的交通。藉著这双向的交通，神的荣耀就作到我们里面，神也在我们里面得著荣耀。这个交通是由『然而』这个小小的辞所表征的。
6The church is the glory of God coming to us with God and going back to God with us. In such a church there is two-way traffic between God and us, and between us and God. By means of this two-way traffic, God’s glory is wrought into us and God is glorified in us. This traffic is signified by the little word “but.”
7超过我们为召会所求所想的保罗在二十节说到，『神能…极其充盈的成就一切，超过我们所求所想的。』严格的说，这里『所求所想』的，不是物质的东西，乃是与召会有关的属灵事物。对这些属灵的事物，我们不仅需要求，也需要想，我们所想的可能比所求的更多。神不仅成就我们为召会所求的，也成就我们为召会所想的，而且神能照著运行在我们里面的大能，极其充盈的成就我们一切所求所想的而超过之。如二十节所启示，神能极其充盈的成就一切，超过我们所求所想的，这个能力与祂创造的能力不同。二十节指的不是创造，乃是召会。我多次听到圣徒引用二十节，见证他们经历神物质上的祝福。为著这样的目的引用这一节，乃是错误的应用。保罗这里的观念，与神在外面为我们所作的无关，乃与祂在里面为我们所作的有关。他特别题到『运行在我们里面的大能』，这就是一章十九至二十节所题，里面的大能，也就是复活的大能。
7Above All We Ask or Think Concerning the Church In verse 20 Paul speaks of “Him Who is able to do superabundantly above all that we ask or think.” Strictly speaking, “ask or think” here refers to the spiritual things related to the church, not to material things. For these spiritual things, we need not only to ask, but also to think. We may think more than we ask. God fulfills not only what we ask for the church, but also what we think concerning the church, and God is able to do superabundantly above all that we ask or think for the church through the power which operates in us. God’s ability to do superabundantly above all that we ask or think, as revealed in verse 20, is different from His ability in creation. Verse 20 refers not to creation, but to the church. A number of times I have heard the saints quote verse 20 in testifying concerning their experience of God’s material blessing. To quote this verse for such a purpose is to misapply it. Paul’s concept here is related not to what God does outside of us, but to what He does inside of us. He specifically mentions “the power which operates in us.” This is the inward power, the resurrection power, as mentioned in 1:19 and 20
8神创造的大能，在我们的环境中，造出物质的东西；（罗八28；）神复活的大能却在我们里面的人里，为著召会成就属灵的事物。神赐给我们好的工作，并不需要复活的大能运行在我们里面。神能极其充盈的成就一切，超过我们所求所想的，这与祂在我们环境中的作为无关，乃与祂在我们里面生机的、新陈代谢的工作有关。就环境一面说，有时神表面上可能没有为你作甚么。你可能求升迁，祂却让你被解雇。在这段失业期间，神可能就在你里面运行，使基督能安家在你里面。当我们在顺境中，可能少有机会让基督扩展到我们心里。但是当我们在艰难的环境中，主也许能有更多机会扩展到我们里面的人里。从我们这一面看，好环境似乎对我们有益；但从主那面看，可能艰难的环境对我们更好，因为这样祂就可以有更多机会作工在我们里面。
8God’s creating power is the origin of the material things in our environment (Rom. 8:28), whereas God’s resurrection power accomplishes the spiritual things for the church within our inward being. In order for God to give us a good job, there is no need for resurrection power to operate in us. God’s being able to do superabundantly above all that we ask or think is related not to His acts in our environment, but to His working organically and metabolically within us. As far as the environment is concerned, there may be times when God apparently does nothing for you. You may pray for a promotion, but He allows you to be laid off from your present job. During this time of unemployment, God may operate within you to enable Christ to make His home in you. When we are in a favorable environment, there may be very little opportunity for Christ to spread Himself in our hearts. But when we are placed in a difficult environment, the Lord may have more of an opportunity to spread within our inward being. From our side, it may seem beneficial for us to be in a good environment, but from the Lord’ss i de, it may be better for us to be in a difficult environment, for then He may have greater opportunity to work within us.
9二十节所说的求和想，应当应用到召会。我们所求所想的，应当是与召会有关，而不是与我们环境中琐碎的事有关。我们所求所想的，应当专注于神的经纶，就是神将祂自己分赐到我们里面，以产生召会作基督的彰显。当我们所求所想的是关于召会时，神总是极其充盈的成就一切，超过我们所求所想的。我们所求所想的，必须是关于基督安家在我们心里，也必须是关于召会被充满，成为神一切的丰满。我们若是这样的求，这样的想，我们就必定会在灵里。这样，无论我们为召会所求的是甚么，必定会得著答应，并且是极其充盈的得著答应。我们何等需要为召会求，为召会想！
9The asking and thinking referred to in verse 20 should be applied to the church. We need to ask and to think concerning the church, not concerning trivial things related to our environment. Our asking and our thinking should be focused on God’s economy to dispense Himself into us to produce the church as the expression of Christ. When our asking and thinking concern the church, God will always do superabundantly above all that we ask or think. We need to ask and to think concerning Christ making His home in our hearts and concerning the church being filled unto all the fullness of God. If we ask and think in this way, we shall certainly be in the spirit. Then whatever we ask concerning the church will be answered, and it will be answered superabundantly. How we need to ask and to think concerning the church!
神在基督里得著荣耀
GOD GLORIFIED IN CHRIST
10二十一节说，『愿在召会中，并在基督耶稣里，荣耀归与祂，直到世世代代，永永远远。阿们。』神的荣耀作到召会中，神就在召会中得著彰显。因此，在召会中荣耀归与神，就是神在召会中得著荣耀。神得著荣耀不仅是在召会中，也是在基督里。因此，这里用『并』字著重的指出这点。在召会中神得著荣耀的范围较为狭小，只限于信仰之家的人。但在基督里，范围就广阔得多，因为基督是在诸天里以及在地上各家族的元首。（一22，三15。）因此，神在基督里得著荣耀，是在神所创造各家族的范围里，不仅在地上，也在诸天里。在基督里的范围不仅比在召会里更广，并且正如『直到世世代代，永永远远』这句话所指明的，在基督里的范围也是永远的。『世世代代，永永远远』构成永世。神在召会中得著荣耀，主要的是在今世；神在基督里得著荣耀，是直到永远。召会只是宇宙许多家族中的一个。其他的家族包括天使家族、人类家族、以色列家族。按照十五节，神是诸天里天使家族和地上所有人类家族的源头。当然，祂也是召会，就是信徒家族的源头。神在召会中得著荣耀，意思是说，祂只在许多家族中的一家得著荣耀。但是神在基督里得著荣耀，意思就是说，祂在那作万有元首的基督里得著荣耀。基督在天使、人类、以色列之上，也在召会之上为元首。神若只在召会中得著荣耀，祂就不能包罗万有的得著荣耀。祂若要在一切的事上得荣耀，就必须也在基督里得荣耀。
10Verse 21 says, “To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all the generations of the age of the ages. Amen.” God’s glory is wrought into the church, and He is expressed in the church. Hence, the glory in the church is to God; that is, God is glorified in the church. God’s glorification is not only in the church, but also in Christ. Hence, the word “and” is used here to emphasize this point. In the church the sphere of God’s glorification is narrow, limited to the household of faith. But in Christ the sphere is much broader, because Christ is the Head of all the families in the heavens and on earth (1:22; 3:15). Hence, God’s glorification in Christ is in the realm of all the families created by God, not only on earth but also in the heavens. Not only is the sphere in Christ much broader than that in the church, but the scope in Christ is eternal, as indicated by the phrase, “unto all the generations of the age of the ages.” All the generations of the age of the ages constitute eternity. God’s glorification in the church is mainly in this age, whereas God’s glorification in Christ is for eternity. The church is just one of the many families in the universe. The other families include the angelic family, the family of mankind, and the family of Israel. According to verse 15, God is the source of the angelic family in the heavens and of all the human families on earth. Of course, He is also the source of the church, which is the family, the household, of the believers. To say that God is glorified in the church means that He is glorified in just one of the many families. But to say that God is glorified in Christ means that He is glorified in Christ as the Head of all things. Christ is the Head over the angels, over mankind, over Israel, and also over the church. If God were glorified only in the church, He would not be glorified in an all-inclusive way. For Him to be glorified all-inclusively, He must also be glorified in Christ.
11神不仅在今世─召会的世代─得著荣耀，也在来世─国度的世代，以及世世代代，即永世里得著荣耀。神要在所有的世代，就是从今世直到永世，得著荣耀，祂就必须在召会中，也在基督里得著荣耀。召会领先荣耀神我们这些信仰之家的人─召会，藉著有神的荣耀作到我们里面，领先归荣耀与神。为使神的荣耀作到我们里面，我们需要照著神荣耀的丰富，得加强进入里面的人里。（三16。）这样，这荣耀就要同著神到我们这里来，并且在作到我们里面之后，要同著我们回到神那里。藉著这双向的交通，召会要领先归荣耀与神。在这宇宙中，我们这些信徒是初熟的果子。（雅一18。）我们若领先归荣耀与神，天上地上的各家族都要跟著我们荣耀祂。
11God will be glorified not only in this age, the age of the church, but also in the coming age, the age of the kingdom, and in the age of the ages, which is eternity. For God to be glorified in all the ages, from the present age throughout eternity, He must be glorified both in the church and in Christ. THE CHURCH TAKING THE LEAD TO GLORIFY GOD As the household of the believers, the church, we take the lead to give the glory to God the Father by having God’s glory wrought into our being. In order for the glory of God to be wrought into us, we need to be strengthened into our inner man according to the riches of God’s glory. Then this glory will come to us with God and, after being worked into us, will return to God with us. By means of this two-way traffic the church takes the lead to give the glory to God. In this universe, as the believers, we are the firstfruit. If we take the lead to give glory to God, all the other families both in heaven and on earth will follow us to glorify Him