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以弗所书生命读经 · 第58篇

圣化、洁净、保养与顾惜（二）

SANCTIFYING, CLEANSING, NOURISHING,
AND CHERISHING (2
1以弗所五章二十六和二十九节有四个重要的辞：圣化、洁净、保养和顾惜。因为仇敌蒙蔽了这些事，所以没有多少基督徒清楚明白这些事的意义。为这缘故，我有从主来很重的负担，要在本篇信息中更进一步来看这些事。
1In 5:26 and 29 there are four crucial words: sanctify, cleanse, nourish, and cherish. Because the enemy has veiled these matters, not many Christians have a clear understanding of their significance. For this reason, I am very burdened of the Lord to consider them further in this message
2基督元素的加增在神的经纶里，祂的目的不是要改正我们或改良我们，也不是要得著好人顶替坏人。在神眼中，我们是好是坏都无关紧要；因为在祂的经纶里，惟一有价值的乃是基督自己。所以，神渴望把基督作到我们里面。我们好也罢，坏也罢，都需要基督的元素加到我们里面。这与基督圣化我们的工作有关。在五章二十六节里，圣化的意思不是仅仅从凡俗的事物分别出来，乃是把基督的元素加给我们。圣化不是在外面调整我们自己，以适合召会生活的情形。譬如，一位青年弟兄在进入召会生活之前，可能相当松散。现在他住在弟兄之家，他就不断题醒自己行为要正当。这种行为不是圣化，乃是宗教。在神眼中，这种宗教的行为，包括在保罗所谓的粪土之内。（腓三8。）主不要我们自我改良或自我调整；祂要以祂自己来浸透我们全人。因此，圣化不是行为，乃是基督的元素加到我们全人里面。
2THE ADDITION OF THE ELEMENT OF CHRIST God’sin tent i on in His economy is not to correct us or to improve us. Neither is it to have good people in place of bad people. In the eyes of God, it does not matter whether we are good or bad, for the only thing of value in His economy is Christ Himself. Therefore, God’s desire is to work Christ into us. Whether we are good or bad, we need the element of Christ added into us. This involves Christ’s work in sanctifying us. Sanctification in 5:26 does not mean merely to be separated from what is common, but it means to have the very element of Christ added to us. Sanctification is not a matter of adjusting ourselves outwardly to fit into the situation of the church life. For example, a young brother may have been rather loose before coming into the church. Now that he is living in a brothers’ house he constantly reminds himself to behave properly. This behavior is not sanctification— it is religion. In the eyes of God, such religious behavior is included in what Paul calls dung (Phil. 3:8). The Lord does not want our self-improvement or self-adjustment; He wants to saturate our whole being with Himself. Hence, sanctification is not behavior, but the addition of the element of Christ to our being
不是刻意的行为，
NOT DELIBERATE BEHAVIOR
乃是自然的彰显
BUT A SPONTANEOUS EXPRESSION
3我熟悉圣经，也熟悉孔子的教训，因此我知道，许多基督徒在日常生活中，生活得像孔子的门徒一样。在宗教观念影响下，他们以圣经为一本道理和伦常教训的书。譬如，一位姊妹可能尽心尽力服从她的丈夫。她这样作，实际上活著就像孔子的门徒，但她始终相信自己是个好基督徒。她这样解释自己的行为：按照圣经，她丈夫是头，她理当服从丈夫。这话听起来很好，却是宗教的，因为这话不是照著神把基督作到我们里面的经纶。我们都知道，保罗在以弗所五章二十二节劝勉作妻子的要服从自己的丈夫。但不要忘记，这一节是接著要在灵里被充满的话之后。（18。）这指明妻子的服从，应当是出自那灵的充满，而不是一种外在的、刻意的服从。
3As one who is familiar with both the Bible and the teachings of Confucius, I have come to realize that in their daily living many Christians live as if they were disciples of Confucius. Under the influence of the religious concept, they regard the Bible as a book of doctrines and ethical teachings. For example, a sister may try desperately to submit to her husband. In doing this, she is actually living like a follower of Confucius, all the while believing that she is being a good Christian. She explains her behavior by saying that, according to the Bible, her husband is the head and she is obligated to submit to him. Such a word sounds very good, but it is religious, for it is not according to God’secon o my to work Christ into us. We all know that in 5:22 Paul exhorts the wives to be subject to their own husbands. But do not forget that this follows his word about being filled in spirit (v. 18). This indicates that a wife’s submission should come out of the infilling of the Spirit, not out of an outward, deliberate attempt to be submissive.
4在基督徒的婚礼中，牧师常会用保罗在以弗所五章论到丈夫和妻子的话，嘱咐新娘和新郎。妻子答应服从她的丈夫，丈夫发誓要爱他的妻子。然而，新娘和新郎都不知道，服从和爱乃是我们在灵里被三一神充满的结果。如果一位姊妹的服从是真的，她就不需要刻意的努力。相反的，她会因著对基督的经历和享受，自然而然的服从。她甚至可能不知道自己是服从的，因为她的服从不是故意作出来的。这样的服从，是出自分赐到那位姊妹里面之基督的元素。这与她受教导要服在丈夫作头身分之下而有的服从，是何等不同！那种刻意的服从是宗教，并不是照著神的经纶。
4Often in Christian weddings a pastor will charge the bride and groom according to Paul’sword in Ephesians 5 regarding husbands and wives. The wife promises to submit to her husband, and the husband vows to love his wife. However, neither the bride nor the groom realizes that submission and love are the issue of being filled in our spirit with the Triune God. If a sister’s submission is genuine, it will not require deliberate effort. On the contrary, she will submit spontaneously out of her experience of Christ and her enjoyment of Him. She may not even realize that she is submissive, for she submits without purposely trying to do so. Such submission comes out of the element of Christ that has been imparted into that sister. How different this is from submitting because she has been taught to be under the headship of her husband! Such deliberate submission is religious and is not according to God’secon o my
接受基督作我们的生命和我们的人位
TAKING CHRIST AS OUR LIFE AND OUR PERSON
5圣化与行为之间，有很大的不同。在圣化中，我们不是刻意要作甚么。我们所作的，乃是我们接受基督作生命和人位的自然彰显。当基督是我们的生命和人位时，祂就活在我们里面。祂就是那爱人且服从人的一位。因著内住的基督而服从，是一回事；因著行为或外面的改正而服从，完全是另一回事。召会中领头的人，不该告诉别人作甚么。反之，我们都必须能见证，我们不是照外面的教训而活，乃是照那住在我们里面，作我们生命和人位的基督而活。我们的目标不是要行事为人与众不同，乃是简单的接受基督作我们的生命和人位。然后我们所作的就是里面生命的涌流。自然而然的，妻子会服从丈夫，丈夫会爱妻子，儿女也会听从父母。然而，这种生活不是刻意作出来的，乃是在灵里被三一神充满的结果。
5There is a great difference between sanctification and behavior. In sanctification we do things without trying on purpose to do them. They are the spontaneous expression of our taking Christ as our life and our person. When Christ is our life and our person, He lives within us. It is He who is loving and submissive. To submit because of the indwelling Christ is one thing, but to submit because of behavior or outward correction is an altogether different matter. The leading ones in the churches should not tell others what to do. Instead, we all must be able to testify that we live, not according to outward teachings, but according to the Christ who dwells in us to be our life and our person. Our aim is not to be have in a particular way, but simply to take Christ as our life and our person. Then what we do will be the outflow of the inner life. Spontaneously, the wives will submit to their husbands, the husbands will love their wives, and the children will be obedient to their parents. However, this kind of living will not be deliberate; it will be the issue of being filled in spirit with the Triune God.
6当年轻人得了一篇信息的帮助之后，他们可能会说，他们绝不再像以前一样了。但连这个都可能是宗教的，因为年轻人可能在下意识里想要改良自己。他们可能凭自己的努力，去作他们在那篇信息中所听到的。挣扎努力使自己不一样，并不是圣化。我们要真正的被圣化，只需要接触主并接受祂作我们的生命和人位。我们需要祷告说，『主耶稣，你是我的生命和人位。主，得著我，占有我，并且拥有我。哦主，进到我心里的每个角落，以你自己来充满我的心，并安家在我心里。主，我不在意我有没有不一样，我也不关心我的行为，我只在意你充满我并且从我里面出来。』你若这样接触主，祂就要渐渐的，并自然而然的加到你里面。这种基督的加增，会将你圣化。
6When the young people are helped by a message, they may say that they will never be the same. But even this may be religious, for the young people may unconsciously try to improve themselves. They may try by their own effort to do what they heard in that message. Striving to make ourselves different is not sanctification. In order to be sanctified in a genuine way, we simply need to contact the Lord and take Him as our life and our person. We need to pray, “Lord Jesus, You are my life and my person. Lord, take me, occupy me, and possess me. O Lord, come into every corner of my heart, fill my heart with Yourself, and make Your home in my heart. Lord, I don’t care whether or not I’ll be different, and I’m not concerned about behavior. I care only that You fill me and come out through me.” If you contact the Lord in this way, He will gradually and spontaneously be added into your being. This addition of Christ will sanctify you
一个重的负担
A HEAVY BURDEN
7主观的圣化不是凭教训产生的，乃是凭活的基督内在的工作产生的。这就是为何我们强调，在主的恢复里我们不太注意字句的道理，但非常注意经历基督作我们的生命和人位。我无法表达我心中对这事的负担有多沉重。我若能帮助圣徒晓得甚么是圣化，我信这个负担就会卸下。请记得，圣化绝不是外面的行为，也不是改良的事。神渴望天天把基督的元素分赐到我们里面。惟有这个元素，才使我们被圣化。
7Subjective sanctification does not take place by teaching, but takes place by the inward working of the living Christ. This is the reason we emphasize the fact that in the Lord’s recovery we care little for doctrine in letters, but very much for the experience of Christ as our life and our person. I cannot express how heavy is the burden on my heart concerning this matter. If I can help the saints realize what sanctification is, I believe that this burden will be discharged. Please be impressed that sanctification definitely is not a matter of outward behavior or improvement. God desires to daily dispense the element of Christ into our being. It is this element alone that causes us to be sanctified
洗去天然的性情
WASHING AWAY THE NATURAL DISPOSITION
8在主观的圣化中，一些基督的东西加给了我们；但在洁净时，一些我们的东西，尤其是我们天然的性情减去了。当我们被洁净时，我们天然的性情就被洗去了。性情是我们构成中最内在的一面，是我们所是的根。我们生来就有某种性情。因此，性情完全是内在的。然而，由性情、风俗、和习惯所组合成的性格，部分是内在的，部分是外在的；而行为则完全是外在的。主耶稣不太在意我们的行为，祂比较注意我们的性格，但祂尤其注意我们的性情。当基督把祂的元素加进我们里面时，祂也洁净我们，并除去我们天然的性情。祂的洁净把我们全人深处天然的元素洗去。
8In subjective sanctification something of Christ is added to us, but in cleansing something of us, especially our natural disposition, is subtracted. As we are cleansed, our natural disposition is washed away. Disposition is the most inward aspect of our constitution; it is the very root of our being. We were born with a certain disposition. Disposition, therefore, is altogether inward. However, character, a combination of disposition, custom, and habit, is partly inward and partly outward, whereas behavior is wholly outward. The Lord Jesus cares little about our behavior, more about our character, but very much about our disposition. As Christ is adding His element into us, He is also cleansing us and subtracting our natural disposition. His cleansing washes away the natural element from the depths of our being.
9我们已经指出，主要洗去召会一切的皱纹。皱纹是我们天然性情所造成的。因此，惟一能消除这些皱纹的路，就是我们天然性情的元素被洁除。在青年人身上，我们很容易指出他们的性情是甚么。然而，如果使徒保罗与我们同在，我们就很难分辨他的性情，因为他已深深的被洁净且纯净了。他老旧、天然的性情，已经被基督的元素洗去了。
9We have pointed out that the Lord will wash the church from all wrinkles. Wrinkles are caused by our natural disposition. Hence, the only way these wrinkles can be removed is for the element of our natural disposition to be cleansed away. With the young people it is easy to point out what their disposition is. However, if the Apostle Paul were with us, it would be difficult to discern his disposition, because he has been so deeply cleansed and purified. His old, natural disposition has been washed away by the element of Christ
10要洗去我们天然的性情，不能靠著教训，只能靠著基督的元素分赐到我们里面，才能成就。基督的元素加多时，我们的一些东西同时也被带走了。所以，一面我们有基督的加增，另一面我们天然的性情减少。逐渐的，基督加到我们里面，我们天然的性情减少。这过程的结果乃是变化，就是把新元素构成到我们里面，并把旧元素带走之新陈代谢的改变。
10The washing away of our natural disposition cannot be accomplished by teaching, but can be accomplished only by the impartation of the element of Christ into our being. At the same time the element of Christ is being added, something of ourselves is being carried away. Therefore, on the one hand, we have the addition of Christ, but, on the other hand, we have the subtraction of the natural disposition. Gradually, Christ is being added into our being, and our natural disposition is being subtracted. The result of this process is transformation, a metabolic change in which the new element is constituted into us and the old element is carried away
活的基督的工作
THE WORK OF THE LIVING CHRIST
11我们已经指出，五章二十五至二十七节陈明在三个阶段中的基督。当基督在头一阶段，就是在肉体的阶段时，祂上了十字架，为召会舍了自己。然后在复活里，祂成了赐生命的灵。（林前十五45。）在这第二阶段里，祂圣化并洁净我们。我们若向祂敞开，告诉祂我们愿意接受祂作我们的生命和人位，祂这赐生命的灵就在我们里面作工，把祂自己加给我们，并带走我们老旧和天然的性情。这就是活的基督圣化和洁净的工作。
11We have pointed out that 5:25-27 presents Christ in three stages. When Christ was in the first of these stages, the stage of the flesh, He went to the cross and there gave Himself up for the church. Then in resurrection He became the life-giving Spirit (1 Cor. 15:45). In this second stage He is sanctifying and cleansing us. If we open to Him and tell Him that we are willing to take Him as our life and our person, He will work within us as the life-giving Spirit to add Himself to us and to carry away our oldness and our natural disposition. This is the work of the living Christ in sanctification and cleansing
滋养与满足
NOURISHMENT AND SATISFACTION
12我们往前来看保养与顾惜。我年轻时，花了许多时间读以弗所书。尽管如此，我还是不懂保养与顾惜是甚么意思。但藉著经历，我才知道甚么是被基督保养与顾惜。每当我们向主耶稣敞开，并接受祂作我们的生命和人位时，祂就圣化我们，并且洁净我们。同时，祂也给我们滋养。我们知道这事，因为我们里面有一种奇妙的满足感觉。圣化乃是来自滋养。
12We proceed to the nourishing and the cherishing. When I was young, I spent a great deal of time studying the book of Ephesians. Nevertheless, I did not understand what it meant to be nourished and cherished. But through experience I have come to know what it is to be nourished and cherished by Christ. Whenever we open to the Lord Jesus and take Him as our life and our person, He sanctifies us and cleanses us. At the same time He gives us nourishment. We know this by the fact that we have a wonderful sense of satisfaction within. Satisfaction comes from nourishment.
洁净与保养
CLEANSING AND NOURISHING
13我们惟有接受生命的供应，才受得了主洁净我们的性情。外科医生知道，病人要经得起外科手术，一定要得著保养。为此，病人要输血并注射葡萄糖。主的洁净乃是一种属灵的外科手术，是在我们里面的深处开刀。主的洁净就是祂的手术。为这样的手术，我们实在需要祂的保养。
13Only by receiving the life supply can we endure the Lord’s cleansing of our disposition. Surgeons realize that for a patient to withstand surgery, he must have nourishment. For this reason, blood and glucose are transfused into the patient. The Lord’s cleansing is a kind of spiritual surgery, surgery on the depths of our inner being. The Lord’s cleansing is His operating. For such an operation we surely need His nourishing
14我认识一位弟兄，天然的性情很粗鲁、卑鄙、甚至残忍。有时他含著泪到我这里来，为自己是这种人痛心疾首。他承认没有人能满意他。他认为自己是地上最令人讨厌的人，他迫切要知道他这样的光景该怎么办。我无法给他任何外面的帮助。但我能见证，主渐渐的、彻底的洁净并炼净了他。他非常爱主，并且向主完全敞开。因著他让主在他里面有地位，主就能进来圣化他并洁净他。主在他身上动手术，洗除他天然性情的元素。我们要忍受这种深入的外科手术，就需要主内在滋养的供应。这位弟兄能见证，当主洁净他时，所带给他的是何等的滋养和享受。每当主圣化并洁净我们时，我们要确信祂也保养我们。
14I know of a certain brother whose natural disposition was rude, mean, and even cruel. Sometimes he came to me in tears distraught over the kind of person he was. He admitted that no one could satisfy him. Regarding himself as the most loathsome person on earth, he was desperate to know what to do about his situation. I could not do anything to help him in an outward way. But I can testify that the Lord gradually cleansed and purified him thoroughly. He loved the Lord very much and was completely open to Him. Because he gave the Lord the ground within him, the Lord could come in to sanctify him and to cleanse him. The Lord operated on him and washed away the element of his natural disposition. In order to bear such extensive surgery, we need the supply of the Lord’sin ward nourishment. This brother could testify of the nourishment and enjoyment the Lord gave to him as He was cleansing him. Be assured, whenever the Lord sanctifies and cleanses, He also nourishes
15任何的圣化或洁净，若没有保养就不是真的；那只是自我努力的产品。每当你努力要圣化自己或洁净自己时，你会有属灵饥饿的感觉。但如果主来圣化并洁净，祂就会供给滋养，使你享受甜美的满足。主越炼净你，你就越得祂的滋养。你在炼净的过程之中，不是受苦，乃是享受主并祂丰富的生命供应。
15Any sanctification or cleansing that is not accompanied by nourishment is not genuine. It is the product of self-effort. Whenever you try to sanctify yourself or cleanse yourself, you will have the sense of spiritual starvation. But if the Lord does the sanctifying and the cleansing, He will supply the nourishment, and you will enjoy sweet satisfaction. The more the Lord purifies you, the more of His nourishment you will receive. Instead of suffering under the process of purification, you will enjoy the Lord and His abundant life-supply
藉著主柔和的温暖得著顾惜
CHERISHED BY THE LORD’ST ENDER WARMTH
16当主保养我们时，祂也顾惜我们。祂像母亲在𫗪养孩子时，同时也顾惜孩子。小孩子是何等享受他们母亲的温暖与安慰！你若想想你的经历，你就晓得当主圣化、洁净并滋养你时，祂是以祂柔和的温暖来顾惜你。祂的顾惜安慰你、抚慰你，使你平静下来。阿利路亚，为著主的圣化、洁净、保养和顾惜！
16As the Lord nourishes us, He also cherishes us. He is like a mother who cherishes her child even as she feeds him. How the little ones enjoy the warmth and comfort of their mothers! If you consider your experience, you will realize that when the Lord sanctifies, cleanses, and nourishes you, He cherishes you with His tender warmth. His cherishing comforts you, soothes you, and calms you. Hallelujah for the Lord’s sanctifying, cleansing, nourishing, and cherishing
信靠活的基督
PLACING OUR TRUST IN THE LIVING CHRIST
17惟有活的基督才能作这一切事。教训不能，连圣经也不能。你若要得著圣化、洁净、保养并顾惜，就必须全心信靠活的基督。你要告诉祂说，『主耶稣，没有甚么能顶替你。主，我爱你，我的心向你敞开，我让你在我里面有完全的地位。主，拥有我，作我的生命和我的人位。主，我不在意外面的东西，甚至连召会生活的外表也不在意。主阿，我只在意你作我的生命和我的人位。』你若这样接触主，你会发现祂是何等活、真实、便利且应时。祂要藉著加添祂自己给你，来圣化你。祂要藉著洗涤你天然性情里老旧的元素，来洁净你。祂也要用祂的丰富来保养你，并以祂的温暖来顾惜你。当这些都在你里面发生时，你对主就会有奇妙的享受。这就是主豫备祂新妇的路。这样，我们就变成基督在祂回来时，献给祂自己的荣耀召会。
17Only the living Christ can do all this. Doctrines cannot do it and not even the Bible can do it. If you want the sanctifying, the cleansing, the nourishing, and the cherishing, you must place all your trust in the living Christ. Tell Him, “Lord Jesus, nothing can replace You. Lord, I love You, I open my heart to You, and I give You all the ground in my being. Lord, possess me and be my life and my person. Lord, I don’t care about outward things, not even about the church life in an outward way. I care only that You, Lord, will be my life and my person.” If you contact the Lord in this way, you will discover how living, real, available, and present He is. He will sanctify you by adding Himself to you. He will cleanse you by washing away the old element of your natural disposition. He will also nourish you with His riches and cherish you with His warmth. As all this is taking place within you, you will have a marvelous enjoyment of the Lord. This is the way the Lord is preparing His Bride. In this way we are becoming the glorious church Christ will present to Himself at His coming back