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以弗所书生命读经 · 第4篇

豫定得儿子的名分

Predestinated Unto Sonship
1在本篇信息中，我们要来看我们被豫定得儿子名分的事。以弗所一章五节说，『按著祂意愿所喜悦的，豫定了我们，藉著耶稣基督得儿子的名分，归于祂自己。』在四至五节的文法结构中，主词和主要述词不在五节，而是在四节。四节说，『就如祂在创立世界以前，在基督里拣选了我们，使我们在爱里，在祂面前，成为圣别、没有瑕疵。』主词是『祂』，而主要述词是『拣选』。这两节可以写成这样：『就如祂，既豫定了我们，就拣选我们。』神的拣选不能和祂的豫定分开，二者是一件事的两面。神的拣选与祂的豫定并行，而祂的豫定和祂的拣选乃是一。很难说那一个在前面。
1In this message we come to the matter that we have been predestinated unto sonship. Ephesians 1:5 says, “Having predestinated us unto sonship through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” In the grammatical construction of verses 4 and 5, the subject and the main predicate are not in verse 5, but in verse 4. Verse 4 says, “ According as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blemish before Him, in love.” The subject is “He,” and the main predicate is “chose.” These verses can be written like this: “According as He, having predestinated us, chose us.” God’s choosing cannot be separated from His predestinating. They are two aspects of one thing. God’s choosing goes with His predestinating, and His predestinating is one with His choosing. It is very difficult to say which comes first
壹 神所赐的第二项福分
I. THE SECOND ITEM OF GOD’S BLESSING
2豫定得儿子的名分，乃是神所赐的第二项福分。我们在前篇信息曾指出，神所赐的第一项福分，是蒙拣选成为圣别。
2Being predestinated unto sonship is the second item of God’s blessing. As we pointed out in the previous message, the first item of God’s blessing is being chosen to be holy
贰 在已过的永远里，
II. MARKING OUT A DESTINY
为祂所拣选的人标出了定命
FOR HIS CHOSEN ONES IN ETERNITY PAST
3在已过的永远里，神豫定我们得儿子的名分，在创立世界以前，为祂所拣选的人标出了定命。神豫定的目标乃是儿子的名分。我们甚至在被造以前，就被豫定为神的儿子。因此，我们这些神的造物，需要由祂重生，好有分于祂的生命，成为祂的儿子。儿子的名分，不仅含示儿子的生命，也含示儿子的地位。神所标出的人，有生命成为祂的儿子，也有地位承受祂。参豫先标出祂所拣选的人『豫定』，原文也可译作『豫先标出』。豫先标出是过程，豫定是豫先决定定命的目的。神在创立世界以前，拣选了我们，豫先标出了我们归于某种定命。
3In eternity past, God predestinated us unto sonship, marking out a destiny for His chosen ones before the foundation of the world. The goal of God’sp re destination is sonship. We were predestinated to be sons of God even before we were created. Hence, as God’s creatures, we need to be regenerated by Him so that we may participate in His life to be His sons. Sonship implies not only the life, but also the position of the son. God’s marked-out ones have the life to be His sons and the position to inherit Him. III. MARKING HIS CHOSEN ONES OUT BEFOREHAND The Greek word translated “predestinated” can also be rendered “marked out beforehand.” Marking out beforehand is the process, whereas predestination is the purpose to determine a destiny beforehand. God firstly selected us and then marked us out beforehand, that is, before the foundation of the world, unto a certain destiny
肆 照著祂的先见
IV. ACCORDING TO HIS FORESIGHT
4神拣选并豫定我们，乃是照著祂的先见。（彼前一2。）这指明我们与神的关系，是由神照著祂的豫知所开始的。
4God chose and predestinated us according to His foresight (1 Pet. 1:2). This indicates that our relationship with God was initiated by God according to His foreknowledge.
伍 藉著耶稣基督
V. THROUGH JESUS CHRIST
5神豫定了我们，藉著耶稣基督得儿子的名分。『藉著耶稣基督』，意即藉著神的儿子，就是救赎者。藉著祂，我们得蒙救赎，成为神的众子，有神儿子的生命和地位。
5God has predestinated us unto sonship through Jesus Christ. “Through Jesus Christ” means through the Redeemer who is the Son of God. Through Him we were redeemed to be the sons of God with the life and position of God’ss ons
6陆按著祂意愿所喜悦的神按著祂意愿，就是祂定旨，所喜悦的，豫定我们得儿子的名分。这启示我们，神有一个意愿，在其中有祂的喜悦。神按著这喜悦，照著祂心所喜爱的，豫定我们作祂的儿子。以弗所书不像罗马书以人有罪的光景为立足点，乃是以神心中的喜悦为立足点；因此，以弗所书更深且更高。
6VI. ACCORDING TO THE GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS WILL God predestinated us unto sonship according to the good pleasure of His will, which is His purpose. This reveals that God has a will in which is His good pleasure. God predestinated us to be His sons according to this pleasure, according to the desire of His heart. The book of Ephesians speaks not from the standpoint of man’ss in ful condition, as does the book of Romans, but from the standpoint of the good pleasure of God’she art. Hence, it is deeper and higher
柒 得儿子的名分
VII. UNTO SONSHIP
7在四节，我们看见神拣选我们成为圣别。然而，成为圣别是程序，不是目标。目标乃是儿子的名分。我们已经被豫定得儿子的名分。换句话说，神拣选我们成为圣别，使我们可以成为祂的儿子。因此，成为圣别是过程，程序；成为神的儿子才是目的，目标。神不是仅仅要一班圣别的子民；祂渴望得著许多的儿子。对我们而言，似乎神拣选我们成为圣别就彀了；我们也许完全满意于此。然而，神拣选我们成为圣别，乃是为著一个目的，这目的就是使我们得以成为神的众子。让我们拿烤蛋糕作例子。姊妹烤蛋糕时，首先将各种成分与面粉调在一起，而豫备面团。当这些成分与面团混合时，我们可以说面团是成为圣别的一幅图画。首先面团被分别出来，然后藉著加上各种成分而成为圣别。这位姊妹混和了面团以后，就把面团作成某种形状。照样，神首先分别我们，然后将祂自己─父、子、灵，放进我们里面。接著就是混和的过程。我们说神将我们混和，意思是说祂搅扰我们；我们也许喜欢过平静的召会生活，但神时常进来把事情搅翻。虽然如此，这却是正常基督徒的召会生活。成为圣别就是与神调和。神圣别我们，是藉著把祂自己放进我们里面，然后使我们与祂的性情调和。这乃是关乎性情的事，是使我们的性情因祂的性情而变化。我们生来是属人的、天然的，但神要我们成为神圣的。这事能发生惟一的路，乃是藉著将神圣的性情放进我们里面，并使我们与之调和。神乃是这样使我们圣别。因此，成为圣别是变化我们性情的程序；然而，这还不是目标。目标乃是与模成或成形有关。这就是神拣选我们成为圣别的同时，还需要豫定我们成为儿子的原因。成为圣别是性情的事，但成为儿子是模成的事。神的众子乃是一班模成特定形状或样式的人。启示录一章里的金灯台，说明了这事。在性质上，灯台是金的，但在形状上，牠是灯台。为了产生金灯台，首先材料必须是精金。这是指程序说的。但这程序的目标，乃是产生具有确定形状的灯台。照样，成为圣别乃是使我们成为神儿子的程序。当我看见圣别是为著神儿子的名分时，我对自己说，『你怎么能把圣别本身当作目的而满足？你只能以作神的儿子为满足。』因此，我们不仅是圣别的，我们也是神的儿子。我们不仅有神圣别的性情，我们也有祂儿子的人位。所以，我们不仅是圣别的个体，也是神的儿子。
7In verse 4 we see that God has chosen us to be holy. However, to be holy is the procedure, not the goal. The goal is sonship. We have been predestinated unto sonship. In other words, God has chosen us to be holy so that we might be His sons. Thus, to be holy is the process, the procedure, whereas to be sons of God is the goal. God does not merely want a group of holy people; He desires many sons. It may seem to us that it is adequate for God to choose us to be holy. We may be fully satisfied with this. Nevertheless, God has chosen us to be holy for a purpose, and this purpose is that we might be the sons of God. Let us take baking a cake as an example. When a sister bakes a cake, she firstly prepares the dough by mixing various ingredients together with flour. As the ingredients are mixed in with the dough, we may say that the dough is a picture of sanctification. First the dough is separated; then it is sanctified through having various ingredients added to it. After the sister mixes the dough, she shapes it into a certain form. Likewise, God first separates us, and then puts Himself, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, into us. Then follows the process of mixing. To say that God mixes us means that He disturbs us. We may like to have a tranquil church life, but often God intervenes to turn things upside down. Nevertheless, this is the normal Christian church life. To be holy is to be mingled with God. God sanctifies us by putting Himself into us and then mingling us with His nature. This is a matter of nature, of having our nature transformed with His. We were born human, natural, but God wants us to be divine. The only way this can take place is through having the divine nature put into our being and mingled with it. In this way, God makes us holy. Thus, sanctification is a procedure to transform our nature. This, however, is not the goal. The goal is related to being formed or shaped. This is the reason that along with God’s choosing us to be holy, there is the need of His predestinating us to be sons. To be holy is a matter of nature, but to be sons is a matter of being formed. God’ss ons are people conformed to a particular form or shape. The golden lampstand in Revelation 1 illustrates this. In nature, the lampstand is golden, but in form it is a lampstand. In order for a golden lampstand to be produced, the material must first be pure gold. This refers to the procedure. But the goal of this procedure is the producing of the lampstand with a definite form. In like manner, to be made holy is the procedure for us to become sons of God. When I saw that holiness was for sonship, I said to myself, “How could you ever have been satisfied with holiness as an end in itself? You can only be satisfied with being a son of God.” Thus, we are not only holy, but also the sons of God. We have not only God’sho ly nature, but also the Person of His Son. There fore, we are not merely holy lumps, but also sons of God.
8所有的基督徒都知道，在基督里的真信徒就是召会。但召会不仅仅是一班得救的人；召会乃是在性情上成为圣别，并作神的儿子的团体人。这个团体人必须成为圣别，被神的性情浸透、调和。这样，他们就成为神的儿子。这样的一班人就是召会。今天基督教的光景离此甚远。在基督教里，我们看见成群得救的人，但他们仍然是凡俗且属世的，毫无圣别可言。不仅如此，他们生活不像神的儿子；反之，许多人生活像罪人之子。虽然许多人相信主耶稣，蒙宝血洗净，由圣灵重生，他们却仍旧是属世且凡俗的，在他们的生活中没有圣别的标记；他们与邻居、朋友、和亲戚没有两样。虽然如此，他们却说自己是召会。这对神是何等的羞辱，对召会是何等的羞辱！召会乃是由一班分别归神，被神的性情浸透，并完全成圣，而生活像神儿子的人所构成的一个团体人。召会当然不该是一班生活像罪人之子的属世基督徒；说这样的一班人是召会乃是羞耻。
8All Christians know that the genuine believers in Christ are the church. But the church is not merely a group of saved ones. The church is a collective people who have been made holy in nature to be the sons of God. This collective people must be sanctified, saturated, and mingled with God’s nature. Then they will be the sons of God. Such a people is the church. The situation of today’s Christianity is far removed from this. In Christianity we see groups of people who are saved, but who are still common and worldly, not having any holiness whatever. Furthermore, they do not live like sons of God. Rather, many of them live like sons of sinners. Although so many believe in the Lord Jesus, have been washed in the blood, and have been regenerated by the Spirit, they are still worldly and common, with no mark of holiness in their living. They are absolutely the same as their neighbors, friends, and relatives. Nevertheless, they talk about being the church. What a shame to God, and what a shame to the church! The church is constituted as a collective people who have been separated unto God and who are saturated with the nature of God and fully sanctified to live like sons of God. The church certainly should not be a group of worldly Christians living like the sons of sinners. It is a shame to say that such a group is the church.
9倘若我们宣称是召会，我们就必须问自己是不是一班被分别、被圣别的人。我们有否分别归神并被神浸透？我们是否在地位和性质上都因神的性情被圣别，生活像神的儿子？哦，但愿我们的眼睛被开启，看见召会是甚么！召会不是一班热心，却又凡俗而属世，没有任何分别或浸透的基督徒。召会乃是由那些因神成为圣别，生活像神儿子的人所构成的。要记住，以弗所书是论到召会的。这卷书开头的话告诉我们，召会是在神美言下的一班人。（一3。）神美言的第一项是我们蒙拣选成为圣别。这是神对我们的祝福，也就是祂论到我们的美言。然而，许多基督徒拒绝这项福分。神说祂拣选了我们成为圣别，但他们说他们不要和别人有分别。有些人说，『我们不要成为圣别，我们喜欢凡俗。』神说，『你们已被拣选而有所分别。』但是他们说，『我们不要有分别，我们要和别人一样。』这样拒绝神的美言就是背叛。哦，愿主怜悯我们！因著今天的光景是如此可怜，我们何等需要祂的怜悯！我们需要看见，我们已被拣选成为圣别，使我们可以过神儿子的生活。
9If we claim to be the church, we must ask whether we are a separated and sanctified people. Are we separated unto God and saturated with God? Are we sanctified both positionally and dispositionally with God’s nature to live like the sons of God? Oh, may our eyes be opened to see what the church is! The church is not a group of Christians who are zealous, yet who are common and worldly without any separation or saturation. The church is constituted with those who have been sanctified by God to live like sons of God. Remember, the book of Ephesians is concerned with the church. In the opening word of this book, we are told that the church is a people under God’swell-speaking (1:3). The first item of God’swell-speaking is that we have been chosen to be holy. This is God’s blessing, His well-speaking, concerning us. However, many Christians reject this blessing. God says that He has chosen us to be holy, but they say that they do not want to be different from others. Some say, “We don’t want to be holy. We like to be common.” God says, “You have been chosen to be different.” But they say, “We don’t want to be different. We want to be the same as others.” This rejection of God’swell-speaking is rebellion. Oh, may the Lord have mercy on us! How we need His mercy because today’s situation is so pitiful! We need to see that we have been chosen to be holy so that we may live the life of the sons of God
一 藉著神儿子的灵
A. By the Spirit of the Son of God
10现在我们需要来看关于儿子的名分，关于成为神儿子的三件事。首先神豫定我们得儿子的名分，乃是藉著把祂儿子的灵放进我们里面。在我们相信主耶稣并重生的时候，神的灵就进到我们里面，作神儿子的灵。所以我们重生以后，能很容易并甜美的呼喊『阿爸，父』。在我们重生以前，我们顶多能说，『神阿！帮助我。』但在我们得救之后，我们自然而然带著温柔、亲切的感觉，开始呼叫：『哦，阿爸，父。』罗马八章十五节和加拉太四章六节两处都说到这事。加拉太四章六节说，儿子的灵呼叫『阿爸，父』；但罗马八章十五节说，这样呼叫的乃是我们。这指明我们的呼叫就是祂的呼叫，祂的呼叫就是我们的呼叫。我们与祂一同呼叫『阿爸，父』。没有那灵，我们不能如此甜美而亲切的呼叫『阿爸，父』。但是当我们这样说的时候，我们觉得何等的愉快、甜美和安适！这是一个有力的证明，神
10Now we need to consider three things concerning sonship, concerning being sons of God. The first is that God has predestinated us unto sonship by putting the Spirit of His Son into us. At the time we believed in the Lord Jesus and were regenerated, the Spirit of God came into us as the Spirit of the Son of God. This is the reason that after regeneration we can easily and sweetly call, “Abba, Fat her.” Before we were regenerated, we could say at most, “O, God, help me.” But after we were saved, we spontaneously began to cry, with tender, intimate feeling, “O, Abba, Father.” Both Romans 8:1 5 and Galatians 4:6 speak of this. Galatians 4:6 says that the Spirit of the Son cries, “Abba, Father,” but Romans 8:15 says that it is we who cry out in this way. This indicates that our cry is His cry and that His cry is ours. Together, we and He cry, “Abba, Father.” Without the Spirit, we cannot cry, “Abba, Father,” so sweetly and intimately. But what a pleasant, sweet, and comfortable feeling we have when we say this! This is a strong proof that the Spirit of God is within us. We have the Spirit of sonship.
11的灵在我们里面。我们有儿子名分的灵。
11
12许多次青年人来问我关于运动的问题；有人想要争辩说运动没有错。我回答说，『我不是说运动有甚么不对。我只要问：当你打算参加某项运动时，你能否呼喊『阿爸，父』。』他们回答说，『李弟兄，你太聪明了。你知道若是我们呼喊『阿爸，父』，我们就不会去运动了，因为我们知道我们的父不称许这事。』我不是反对运动，我乃是反对魔鬼。你不必问我关于运动的事，你只要呼叫『阿爸，父』。你若这样作，祂会叫你去祷告或读经，而不是去运动。我能作见证，我曾这样被父对付过。这就是神儿子的生活。你过的是神儿子的生活，还是罪人之子，悖逆之子的生活？然而，生活像神的儿子不是外面规条的问题。这完全是神儿子的灵在我们里面的问题。你若呼叫『阿爸，父』，就会知道该如何作。许多次我的孩子到我这里来说，『爸爸，我们能到这个地方去么？』我回答说，『你不必问我。只要你称呼我爸爸，你就知道我要说甚么了。』照样，当我们到父那里去呼叫『阿爸，父』时，我们就知道该过怎样的生活，因为我们有神儿子的灵在我们里面。
12A number of times young people have come to me with questions about sports. Some have tried to argue that there is nothing wrong with sports. I replied, “I don’ts ay that there is anything wrong with sports. I would simply like to ask whether or not you can call, ‘Abba, Father,’ as you are about to take part in a certain sport.” They answered, “Brother Lee, you are too clever. You know that if we call, ‘Abba, Father,’ we will not be able to take part in sports because we know that our Father doesn’t approve of them.” I am not against sports; I am against the Devil. There is no need to ask me about sports. Instead, simply call, “Abba, Father.” If you do this, He may tell you to pray or to read the Bible instead of taking part in sports. I can testify that I have been dealt with by the Father in this way. This is the life of the sons of God. Do you live the life of the sons of God or the life of the sons of sinners, of the sons of disobedience? Living like a son of God, however, is not a matter of outward regulations. It is altogether a matter of the Spirit of the Son of God within us. If you call, “Abba, Father,” you will know what to do. A number of times my children have come to me and said, “Daddy, can we go to a certain place?” I answered, “You don’t need to ask me. As long as you call me daddy, you know what I will say.” Likewise, when we go to our Father and call, “ Abba, Father,” we shall know what kind of life we should live, because we have the Spirit of the Son of God within us
二 在神儿子的生命里
B. In the Life of the Son of God
13我们已经被豫定得儿子的名分，不仅是藉著神儿子的灵，也是在神儿子的生命里。这是非常主观的。我们的确有神儿子的生命。正如约壹五章十二节说，『人有了神的儿子，就有生命。』因此，我们不是神的义子，我们乃是神在生命里的儿子。有时候，我们也许能拒绝神儿子的灵，但我们无法拒绝神儿子的生命，因为神儿子的生命已经成了我们这个人了。我们有两个人：第一个是从我们父母所生天然的人，第二个是从神所生属灵的人。在这第二个人里，我们有神儿子的生命。照著我们第二个人，我们不仅有那灵在我们里面运行并工作，还有生命成为我们的己─但不是天然的己，乃是属灵的己。有时候我们不仅背叛那灵，也背叛我们自己，背叛我们这个人。
13We have been predestinated unto sonship, not only by the Spirit of the Son of God, but also in the life of the Son of God. This is very subjective. We actually have the life of the Son of God. As 1 John 5:12 says, “He that hath the Son hath life.” Therefore, we are not God’ss ons-in-law; we are God’ss on sin life. At times, we may be able to reject the Spirit of the Son of God, but we cannot reject the life of the Son of God because it has become our very being. We have two beings: the first is the natural being that was born of our parents, and the second is the spiritual being that is born of God. In this second being we have the life of the Son of God. According to our second being, we have not only the Spirit moving and working within us, but also the life that has become our self, not the natural self, but the spiritual self. Sometimes we not only rebel against the Spirit, but also against ourselves, against our being
14我不同意在召会中该有任何规条。然而，我知道在每一位神儿子里面，都有神儿子的灵和神儿子的生命。因此，不需要有规条。譬如，在你家里不需要贴一张规条说，你的孩子不应该吃任何苦的东西，只该吃甜的东西。假如孩子把苦的东西放进口中，即使他不懂得『苦』这个字的意义，他也会自然的吐出来。因为在每个孩子里面的生命，都拒绝苦的东西，所以不需要关于苦的规条。我们除了有神儿子的灵之外，还有神儿子的生命。如果我们尝到的东西，对儿子的生命来说是苦的，我们就无法假装对这个东西很高兴。即使我们可以假装快乐，但在我们全人的深处却不快乐，因为知道自己正在违反神儿子的生命而行动。如果我们呼叫『阿爸，父』，并照著神儿子的生命而活，在我们全人的深处就会有喜乐。事实上，我们的全人要被喜乐充满。
14I do not agree that there should be any regulations in the churches. Nevertheless, I know that in every son of God there is both the Spirit of the Son of God and the life of the Son of God. Because of this, there is no need for regulations. For example, there is no need to post a regulation in your home saying that your children should not eat anything bitter, but eat only things that are sweet. If a child takes something bitter into his mouth, he will spontaneously spit it out, even if he does not know the meaning of the word bitter. Because the life within every child rejects bitter things, there is no need to have regulations about bitterness. In addition to having the Spirit of the Son of God, we have the life of the Son of God. If we taste something that is bitter to the Son’s life, we cannot pretend to be happy with it. Although we may pretend to be happy, we are not happy in the depths of our being, for we know that we are acting against the life of the Son of God. If we call, “ Abba, Father,” and live according to the life of the Son of God, we shall have joy in the depths of our being. In fact, our whole being will be filled with joy
三 在神儿子的地位上
C. In the Position of the Son of God
15我们不仅有神儿子的灵和神儿子的生命，我们也在神儿子的地位上。（约二十17。）事实上，儿子的名分特别是与地位有关，过于与生命有关。你虽是父亲所生的儿子，但是因著某些法律上的原因，也许你没有儿子的地位。你若没有儿子的地位，你就没有儿子的名分。因此，儿子的名分是法律上的问题。譬如，某个人实际上不是一个富翁所生的儿子。但按法律说，他若有作那人儿子的地位，他就有权继承那人的产业。产业属于他，不是按著生命，乃是按著地位。然而，有些真儿子，虽有父亲的生命，却失去了儿子名分的地位。这说明了一个事实，就是神儿子的生命只与生命有关，但神儿子的地位乃是法律上的问题。阿利路亚，我们有神儿子的灵，神儿子的生命，我们也有神儿子的地位。这一切乃是为著让我们承受产业。因为我们是神的儿子，有儿子的名分，我们就要承受神一切的所是和所有；我们有合法的地位承受父一切的丰富。在召会生活中，我们天天享受父。今天这也许只是生命的问题，但在将来这也是地位的问题。启示录二十一章七节说，『得胜的，必承受这些为业，我要作他的神，他要作我的儿子。』本节中作儿子和承受这些为业，不仅是生命的问题，也是地位的问题。虽然我们今天在生命上是神的儿子，但宇宙还没有看见我们在地位上是神的儿子。然而当新耶路撒冷来到时，整个宇宙都要知道，我们不仅在生命上是神的儿子，也在地位上是神的儿子。倘若我走进一家餐馆，向坐在那里的人宣称我是神的儿子，他们会以为我有精神病。但是当新耶路撒冷来到时，我们就不需要再说甚么了；人人都能看见，我们在地位上是神的儿子。所有的天使要说，『你看那些人─他们是神的儿子。他们在新耶路撒冷里享受神，并承受神一切的所是。』
15Not only do we have the Spirit of the Son of God and the life of the Son of God, but we are also in the position of the Son of God (John 20:17). Actually, sonship is more specifically related to position than it is to life. You may be a son born of your father, but for certain legal reasons, you may not have the position of a son. If you do not have the position of a son, you do not have the sonship. Thus, sonship is a legal matter. For example, a certain person may not actually have been born the son of a rich man. But if, legally speaking, he has the position of being that man’ss on, he will be entitled to his inheritance. The inheritance belongs to him, not according to life, but according to position. Some genuine sons, however, may have the life of the father, but have lost the position of sonship. This illustrates the fact that the life of the son of God is related only to life but that the position of the son of God is a matter of legality. Hallelujah, we have the Spirit of the Son of God, the life of the Son of God, and also the position of the Son of God. All this is for our inheritance. Because we are God’ss ons with the sonship, we shall inherit all that God is and all that He has. We have the legal position to inherit all the riches of the Father. In the church life we enjoy the Father day by day. Today this may simply be a matter of life, but in the future it will also be a matter of position. Revelation 21:7 says, “He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be God to him, and he shall be a son to Me.” In this verse being a son and inheriting all these things is not merely a matter of life, but also a matter of position. Although we are sons of God in life today, the universe cannot yet see that we are sons of God in position. But when the New Jerusalem comes, the universe will know that we are the sons of God in position as well as in life. If I walk into a restaurant and proclaim to the people sitting there that I am a son of God, they will think that I have a mental problem. But when the New Jerusalem comes, there will be no need for us to say anything. Everyone will be able to see that we are the sons of God in position. All the angels will say, “Look at those people—they are the sons of God. They are enjoying God and inheriting all that God is in the New Jerusalem.”
16今天召会是新耶路撒冷的小影。我们在召会这里，无论在生命或地位上都是神的儿子。我们不需要彼此题醒我们是神的儿子，因为我们彼此都认得，我们是神的儿子。我们既有灵、有生命、有地位，我们就彼此了解也互相认识。我们承认我们都是神的儿子。虽然我们有灵、有生命、也有地位作神的儿子，但就我们的性情来说，却没有圣别。因此，在召会生活中，神一直调和我们，使我们因著与祂的性情调和，而得以成为圣别。许多基督教的教师指出，以弗所书是论到召会这个主题，但他们自己却不在实际的召会生活中。我们不满意于只谈论召会；我们要实际的过召会生活。实际的召会生活在于神拣选我们成为圣别，也在于神豫定我们得儿子的名分，有灵、有生命、并有地位。因为我们有这三样东西，父就时常把我们摆进『调和器』中，使我们得以在性情上成为圣别。有时候父似乎说，『孩子阿！你有灵、有生命、也有地位，但你还需要被调和。你需要与我圣别的性情相调和。我已拣选你成为圣别。如今我要在你身上作工，使你成为我圣别的儿子。』这就是召会生活。我们都盼望召会生活是平静、安宁并平安的。但是当厨师在作饭的时候，厨房无法平静安宁。反之，甚么都是乱糟糟的。若是在作饭的时候，厨房不是这样的话，筵席就出不来。今天召会生活就像一个厨房散满了各种东西。一面说，召会生活是美妙又荣耀的；另一面说，召会生活实在是散乱的，为要使我们与神调和而成为圣别。我们越经历混和，就越圣别。新耶路撒冷来到时，将是一个带著灵、生命、和地位之圣别、团体的儿子名分。到那时，混和将成为过去，因为我们都被浸透、成为圣别、且被变化了。那将是完满的儿子名分。
16The church today is a miniature of the New Jerusalem. Here in the church we are sons of God both in life and in position. There is no need for us to tell one another that we are sons of God, for we all recognize one another as God’ss ons. Because we have the Spirit, the life, and the position, we understand one another and recognize one another. We confess that we all are sons of God. Although we have the Spirit, the life, and the position to be the sons of God, we are not yet holy as far as our disposition is concerned. Hence, in the church life God is constantly mixing us so that we might be sanctified by being mingled with His nature. Many Christian teachers have pointed out that the book of Ephesians covers the subject of the church, but they themselves are not in the practical church life. We are not content with mere talk about the church; we want to have the church life in a practical way. The practical church life is in God’s choosing us to be holy and in God’s predestinating us to sonship with the Spirit, the life, and the position. Because we have these three things, the Father often puts us into the “blender” so that we may be dispositionally sanctified. Sometimes the Father seems to say, “My child, you have the Spirit, the life, and the position, but you still need to be blended. You need to be mingled with My holy nature. I have chosen you to be holy. Now I shall work on you to make you My holy son.” This is the church life. We all expect the church life to be calm, tranquil, and peaceful. But no kitchen can be like this when a cook is preparing a meal. Rather, everything is in a mess. If the kitchen were not in such a state during the preparation of the meal, it would not be possible to have a feast. The church life today is like a kitchen with things scattered all over. On the one hand, the church life is wonderful and glorious; on the other hand, it is truly messed up so that we might be mingled with God and made holy. The more mixing we undergo, the more holy we shall become. When the New Jerusalem comes, it will be a holy, corporate sonship with the Spirit, the life, and the position. At that time, the mixing will be over, for we all shall have been saturated, sanctified, and transformed. That will be the full sonship.
捌 归于祂自己
VIII. TO HIMSELF
17儿子的名分带我们归于神，也就是说，归到神自己里面，使我们在生命和性
17Sonship brings us to God, that is, into God Himself that we may be one with Him in life and in nature
18情上，与祂成为一。
18
玖 模成祂儿子的形像
IX. TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON
19当父把我们带到完满的儿子名分时，我们就被模成祂儿子的形像。（罗八。）这意思是说，神要『子化』我们的全人。今天在召会生活中，这『子化』的过程正在进行著。也许你在召会中被某人触犯了，也许你触犯了别人；但是被触犯和触犯人，都有助于『子化』的过程。我不是鼓励你们被别人触犯或是触犯别人，但触犯的事无可避免乃是事实。不是你触犯别人，就是别人触犯你。但我们都因著这些触犯被『子化』了。我们越被触犯，就越被『子化』。倘若你在召会生活中从来没有被触犯过，也许你就没有多少『子化』。若是你被弟兄、姊妹、和长老所触犯，你就有福了，因为你大大的被『子化』了。然而，有些人触犯不得。一旦他们被触犯了，他们就要离开召会生活。在这时候，我们不但不该离开召会生活，反而更该宝贵召会生活，甚至亲吻触犯的事，因为这触犯把我们『子化』了。每当你想要离开召会生活时，在你里面神儿子的生命会说，『不要逃走。留下来忍受触犯，甚至拥抱触犯。』每当你拥抱触犯时，这就成为你的喜乐。这就是在召会生活中的『子化』。我们都在『子化』的过程中。我们有神儿子的灵、神儿子的生命、和神儿子的地位，但我们还需要被模成神儿子的形像。因此，我们需要更多的『子化』。主的心意是要使我们模成祂的形像，就是模成神儿子的形像。这事只能发生在召会生活中。在召会之外，我们无法被模成神儿子的形像。因此，我鼓励你们在乱糟糟的召会生活中要喜乐；不要踢刺，乃要喜乐的接受『子化』的过程。
19As the Father brings us to full sonship, we are being conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29). This means that God intends to “sonize” our whole being. 29 This “sonizing” process is going on today in the church life. Perhaps you have been offended by someone in the church, or perhaps you have offended others. Both being offended and being a cause of offense can help the process of “sonizing.” I do not encourage you to be offended by others or to offend others. But the truth is that offenses cannot be avoided. Either you will offend someone, or someone will offend you. But we are all being “sonized” by these offenses. The more we are offended, the more “sonized” we become. If you have never been offended in the church life, you probably have not been “son ized” very much. Blessed are you if you have been offended by the brothers, the sisters, and the elders, for you have been “sonized” a great deal. Certain ones, however, cannot bear the offenses. As soon as they are offended, they want to leave the church life. Instead of leaving the church life at such a time, we should cherish it all the more and even kiss the offense because it “sonizes” us. Whenever you want to runaway from the church life, the life of the Son of God within you will say, “Don’t runaway. Stay and bear the offense and even embrace it.” Whenever you embrace an offense, it becomes a joy. This is the “sonizing” in the church life. We all are in the process of being “sonized.” We have the Spirit of the Son of God, the life of the Son of God, and the position of the Son of God, but we still need to be conformed to the image of the Son of God. Hence, we need more “sonizing.” The Lord intends to conform us to His image, to the very image of the Son of God. The only place this can happen is in the church life. Outside the church, we cannot be conformed to the image of the Son of God. Thus, I encourage you to be happy in the messed- up church life. Do not kick against the pricks, but gladly accept the “sonizing” process.
拾 在儿子的名分上得以完成
X. TO BE COMPLETED IN SONSHIP
20最终，我们将在儿子的名分上得以完成。儿子名分的完成，就是完满的儿子名分，乃是我们的身体得赎。（罗八23。）这意思乃是，我们的身体要改变形状，就是说，我们的身体也要『子化』。我们的灵已经『子化』了，我们的魂正在『子化』的过程中，而当主来时，我们的身体也要『子化』。那就是儿子名分的完成。
20Eventually, we shall be completed in sonship. The completion of sonship, the full sonship, is the redemption of our body (Rom. 8:23). This means that our body will be transfigured, that is, it will also be “sonized.” Our spirit has been “sonized,” our soul is in the process of being “sonized,” and when the Lord comes, our body also will be “sonized.” That will be the completion of sonship
21拾壹最终，承受神一切的所是最终，儿子名分的意义乃是我们要承受神一切的所是，直到永远。（启二一7。）
21XI. CONSUMMATELY, TO INHERIT ALL THAT GOD IS Consummately, the meaning of sonship is that we shall inherit all that God is for eternity (Rev. 21:7