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以弗所书生命读经 · 第7篇

神意愿的奥秘

THE MYSTERY OF GOD’S WILL
1以弗所一章三至十四节实际上是一个长句；因此，我们不该将其中任何一节、任何一个短句或片语，与整句分开。五节说，神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。六节所说神恩典的荣耀得著称赞，乃是五节儿子名分的结果。儿子名分完全是恩典的事。神的恩典使我们成为神的儿子。儿子的灵、儿子的生命、儿子的地位、儿子的形像、儿子名分的完成、以及在儿子名分里承受神一切的所是，全都是恩典的事。正如我们所指出的，恩典就是神自己。神自己来为我们成就每一件事，使我们能成为祂的儿子，有完满的儿子名分。这恩典是神在那蒙爱者里面所恩赐我们的。（6。）七节启示，神的恩典为我们完成了救赎，并将赦罪应用在我们身上。救赎的完成开始于基督的成为肉体，继续到祂的升天。当祂升到诸天之上时，救赎便完全成就了。在祂的升天里，神赐给祂悔改和赦罪，藉著那灵的来临而浇灌下来。（徒五31。）那灵的来临是指基督的降下说的。从祂降下的时候开始，悔改和赦罪就被带到地上，并浇灌在神所拣选的人身上。结果，我们就有了悔改；悔改已经浇灌到我们心里。悔改之后就是赦罪。藉著救赎的完成和赦罪的应用，我们蒙了重生，成为神的众子。这一切都是照著神恩典的丰富。
1Verses 3 through 14 of Ephesians chapter one are actually one long sentence. Therefore, we should not isolate any verse, clause, or phrase from the whole sentence. Verse 5 says that God has predestinated us unto sonship through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. The praise of the glory of God’s grace spoken of in verse 6 is the issue of the sonship in verse 5. Sonship is altogether a matter of grace. God’s grace makes us sons of God. The Spirit of the Son, the life of the Son, the position of the Son, the image of the Son, the completion of sonship, and the inheritance of all that God is in the sonship are all matters of grace. As we have pointed out, grace is God Himself. God Himself has come to accomplish everything for us that we may be His sons with the full sonship. With this grace God has graced us in the Beloved (v. 6). Verse 7 reveals that God’s grace has accomplished redemption for us and has applied forgiveness to us. The accomplishment of redemption began with Christ’sin carnation and continued through His ascension. When He ascended to the heavens, redemption was fully accomplished. In His ascension God gave Him repentance and forgiveness to pour out through the coming of the Spirit (Acts 5:31). The coming of the Spirit refers to Christ’s descension. Beginning at the time of His descension, repentance and forgiveness were brought down to earth and poured out upon God’s chosen ones. As a result, we have repentance; repentance has been poured into our heart. After repentance came forgiveness. Through the accomplishment of redemption and the application of forgiveness, we have been regenerated to become sons of God. All this is according to the riches of God’s grace
2八节向我们启示神更多的恩典；那里说，神用全般的智慧和明达，使祂的恩典向我们洋溢。然后九节说，『照著祂的喜悦，使我们知道祂意愿的奥秘；这喜悦是祂在自己里面豫先定下的。』十节说到将万有在基督里归一于一个元首之下，十一节说到一个事实：我们『照著那位按祂意愿所决议的，行作万事者的定旨，蒙了豫定』，而成了所选定的基业。神洋溢的恩典，使我们成了神的基业，神的产业。十四节指明，我们也要得著基业。因著神的恩典，我们成了祂的基业；因著祂的恩典，祂也成了我们的基业。这是何等洋溢的恩典！三至十四节，满了神对我们所说的美言。这些经节也必须成为我们对祂所说的美言。
2Even more of God’s grace is revealed in verse 8, which says that God has caused His grace to abound to us in all wisdom and prudence. Then verse 9 says, “Having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself.” Verse 10 speaks of the heading up of all things in Christ, and verse 11, of the fact that we have been made an inheritance, “having been predestinated according to the purpose of the One Who operates all things according to the counsel of His will.” God’sa bounding grace has made us God’s inheritance, God’s possession. Verse 1 4 indicates that we also shall have an inheritance. By God’s grace we are made His inheritance, and by His grace He is made our inheritance. What abounding grace! Verses 3 through 14 are filled with God’s well - speaking concerning us. These verses also need to be our well - speaking concerning Him.
3『使祂的荣耀得著称赞』这句话，在本段话里出现了三次，分别在六节、十二节和十四节。每次这句话都被用作三一神所说美言的结语。在六节，这句话是父神所说美言的结语；在十二节，这句话是子神所说美言的结语；在十四节，这句话是灵神所说美言的结语。这句话使用了三次，是指著在祂所说的美言中，神格里的三者。
3The phrase “the praise of His glory” is found three times in this portion of the Word, in verses 6, 12, and 14. Each time it is used as a conclusion to the well- speaking of the Triune God. In verse 6 it is a conclusion of the well-speaking of God the Father; in verse 12, of the well-speaking of God the Son; and in verse 14, of the well-speaking of God the Spirit. The three uses of this phrase point to the Three of the Godhead in His well-speaking
壹 这奥秘是历世历代
I. THE MYSTERY HAVING BEEN HIDDEN
以来所隐藏的
THROUGH THE AGES
4在本篇信息中，我们要来看神意愿的奥秘。神的意愿有一个奥秘，就是历世历代以来所隐藏的奥秘。（弗三5，西一26。）宇宙是个奥秘。为甚么会有天？地又是为甚么存在？为甚么宇宙中有万物？为甚么人在地上？所有这些问题都是奥秘，引出许多不同的哲学。这奥秘，也就是神的意愿，已经藉著众使徒给召会知道。意愿就是目的，神的意愿就是神的目的。神的目的与祂心头的愿望有密切的关系。因此，宇宙的奥秘乃是神意愿的事，与神心头的愿望有关。我们需要认识这奥秘，认识神的意愿和神心头的愿望。有些人会说，神的意愿和目的就是要得著召会，召会就是祂心头的愿望。这是对的；但我们要问，召会是甚么？许多基督徒，包括基督教教师，对于召会没有清楚的领会。召会不仅仅是一群人而已。就著我们自己，我们不是召会；我们是可怜的罪人。我们能成为召会，惟一的路乃是神在祂的儿子里，将祂自己作到我们里面。今天大多数的基督徒没有看见这件重要且关键的事，就是神在祂的儿子里，正把祂自己作到祂所拣选并救赎的人里面。他们也许知道有关神的拣选和救赎，也许看见自己是蒙拣选并救赎的人。但是他们没有看见，那位拣选并救赎他们的神，渴望在子的人位里，将祂自己作到他们里面。拣选和救赎都不是目标，二者都是迈向目标的步骤。神的目标乃是将祂自己作到我们里面。
4In this message we come to the mystery of God’s will. God’s will has a mystery, a mystery that has been hidden through the ages (3:5; Col. 1:2 6). The universe is a mystery. Why is there a heaven, and why does the earth exist? Why are there so many millions of items in the universe? Why is man here on earth? All these questions are mysteries and have given rise to many different philosophies. The mystery, which is the will of God, has been made known to the church through the apostles. A will is an intention, and the will of God is God’sin tent i on. God’sin tent i on is intimately related to the desire of His heart. Thus, the mystery of the universe is a matter of God’s will, which is related to the desire of God’she art. We need to know the mystery, the will of God, and the desire of God’she art. Some may say that God’s will and intention is to have the church and that the church is the desire of His heart. This is correct, but we need to ask what the church is. Many Christians, including Christian teachers, do not have a clear understanding concerning the church. The church is not simply a group of people. In ourselves we are not the church; we are pitiful sinners. The only way we can become the church is for God in His Son to work Himself into our being. Most Christians today do not see the crucial and vital matter that God in His Son is working Himself into His chosen and redeemed ones. They may know about God’ss election and redemption, and they may realize that they are the chosen and redeemed ones. But they do not see that the very God who has chosen and redeemed them desires, in the Person of the Son, to work Himself into them. Neither selection nor redemption is the goal. Both are steps toward the goal. God’s goal is to work Himself into our being.
5我知道这样的话许多人听起来也许觉得陌生。我多年在基督教的各宗各派里─基要派基督教、弟兄会、内里生命派、以及灵恩运动；但我从未听说神在子的人位里，正把祂自己作到祂所救赎的人里面。然而，这是宇宙的奥秘。新约证实，神正在将祂自己作到我们里面。父、子、灵都在我们里面。（弗四6，林后十三5，约十四17。）根据约翰一书，我们在神里面，神也在我们里面。（四15。）不仅如此，我们住在祂里面，祂也住在我们里面。（约十五4。）使徒保罗在腓立比一章二十一节甚至能说，『在我，活著就是基督。』他在加拉太二章二十节说，不再是他活著，乃是基督在他里面活著。所有这些经节指明，
5I realize that such a word may sound strange to many. For years I was in various branches of Christianity: fundamental Christianity, the Brethren Assemblies, the inner life practices, and the Pentecostal movement. But I was never told that in the Person of the Son, God is working Himself into His redeemed ones. Nevertheless, this is the mystery of the universe. The New Testament proves that God is working Himself into us. The Father, the Son, and the Spirit are all in us (Eph. 4:6; 2 Cor. 13:5; John 14:17). According to 1 John, we are in God, and God is in us (4:1 5). Furthermore, we abide in Him, and He abides in us (John 15:4). In Philippians 1:21 the Apostle Paul could even say, “To me to live is Christ.” In Galatians 2:20 he said that he lived no longer, but that Christ lived in him. All these verses indicate that God in the Son is working Himself into us.
6神在子里正把祂自己作到我们里面。
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7对召会正确的认识，也启示出同样的真理。圣经说召会是基督的身体。然而，有些基督徒不把这个当作事实或实际，而仅仅当作一个比喻。这是多么可怕！召会是基督的身体，这身体的头乃是基督自己。（西一18。）不仅如此，林前十二章十二节启示，身体就是基督。因此，基督不仅是头，也是身体。这指明神作到我们这些作身体肢体的人里面。这也能由约翰十五章葡萄树的例子得著证实。主耶稣在约翰十五章五节说，『我是葡萄树，你们是枝子。』葡萄树不是在枝子里面么？当然是！为此缘故，主说，『你们要住在我里面，我也住在你们里面。』（4。）葡萄树的一切所是，都在枝子里面。我们既是葡萄树的枝子，又是基督身体的肢体，基督的一切所是，就都在我们里面。这就是说，我们被作成基督的一部分。葡萄树的枝子岂不是葡萄树的一部分？是的，枝子乃是树的一部分。因此，我们必须放胆说，『我是基督的一部分。』因为信徒是基督的一部分，保罗才能说，在他，活著就是基督。
7A proper understanding of the church also reveals the same truth. The Bible says that the church is the Body of Christ. Some Christians, however, take this not as a fact, or reality, but merely as an illustration. How terrible! The church is the Body of Christ, the Head of which is Christ Himself (Col. 1:18). Furthermore, 1 Corinthians 12:12 reveals that the Body is Christ. Thus, Christ is not only the Head, but also the Body. This indicates that God is being wrought into us who are the members of the Body. This is also proved by the illustration of the vine in John 15. In John 15:5 the Lord Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches.” Is not the vine in the branches? Certainly it is! This is the reason the Lord says, “Abide in Me and I in you” (John 15:4). Whatever the vine is, is in the branches. As branches of the vine and as members of the Body of Christ, whatever Christ is, is in us. This means that we have been made parts of Christ. Are not the branches of the vine parts of the vine? Yes, they are. Therefore, we must have the boldness to say, “I am a part of Christ.” Because the believers are parts of Christ, Paul could say that to him to live was Christ
8宇宙的奥秘就是召会，而召会是神正将祂自己作到他们里面的一班人。最终，召会要完全被神浸透，终极完成为圣城新耶路撒冷。召会不仅要被神浸透，并且要与祂调和。然而这不是说，我们要成为神格。不，这不是我们所说的，也不是我们的意思。然而，我们这些被神浸透并与祂调和的人，要成为神的彰显。新耶路撒冷乃是神团体的彰显。我们曾多次指出，在宝座上的神（启四3）和新耶路撒冷，（二一11，）都有碧玉的样子。这就是说，全城都有神的样子，并且就是神的彰显。这是宇宙的奥秘。
8The mystery of the universe is the church, and the church is a group of people into whom God is working Himself. Eventually, the church will be fully saturated with God and will consummately become the holy city, the New Jerusalem. The church will not only be saturated with God, but also mingled with Him. This does not mean, however, that we shall become the Godhead. No, this is neither what we say nor what we mean. Nevertheless, as those who are being saturated with God and mingled with Him, we shall become the very expression of God. The New Jerusalem will be the corporate expression of God. As we have pointed out a number of times, both God on the throne (Rev. 4:3) and the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:11) have the appearance of jasper. This means that the entire city has the appearance of God and is the expression of God. This is the mystery of the universe.
9基督徒若能看见这个，对他们将是何等的拯救！许多人只知道得救，重生，成为神的儿女，有一天上天堂。但是得救的目标是为著上天堂的观念，比神意愿的奥秘低多了。神意愿的奥秘是要得著召会，由那些被神浸透并与神调和的人所构成。你们中间有些人听见召会的这个定义后，也许会说，『我在召会中多年了，但我从未见过符合这个描绘的召会。』原因是我们仍在召会生活这乱糟糟的『厨房』中『烹调』。在『烹调』的时候，我们需要忍耐。事实上，『烹调』就是洋溢的恩典。许多人到我这里来，为他们所在地召会的光景哀叹；他们告诉我，再也无法忍受这种光景。不论我们觉得能否忍受这种光景，我们都必须忍受。这是召会生活中的『烹调』和『烘烤』。今天召会生活是『烹调』的召会生活。不要对这种情形失望，不要只从难处的角度来看召会。召会中的每个人都有一分基督，因为基督已经作到我们里面了。无论你快不快乐，我确信从你进入召会生活的时候起，相当分量的基督已经作到你里面。无论你作甚么，那一分基督都留在你里面，因为已经作到你里面了。我因著看见那一分基督作到众圣徒里面，就得了安慰。我很高兴看见圣徒们今天比几年前有更多的基督。虽然我们也许对召会生活不是一直都满意，然而基督已经作到我们里面。这是何等的奥秘！
9What a deliverance it would be for Christians if they could only see this! Many know only about being saved, being regenerated, becoming the children of God, and going to heaven some day. But the concept of being saved for the goal of going to heaven is much lower than the mystery of God’s will. The mystery of God’s will is to have a church constituted with those who have been saturated and mingled with God. When some of you hear this definition of the church, you may say, “I have been in the church for many years, but I have never seen a church that matches this description.” The reason for this is that we are still “cooking” in the “kitchen” of the messed-up church life. During this time of “cooking” we need to be patient. Actually, the “cooking” is the abounding grace. Many have come to me saddened about the condition of the church in their locality. They have told me that they can no longer tolerate this particular situation. Whether we feel that we can bear the situation or not, we must bear it. This is the “cooking” and the “baking” in the church life. The church life today is a “cooking” church life. Do not be disappointed about the situation, and do not look at the church only from the angle of the problems. Everyone in the church has a portion of Christ, for Christ has been wrought into us. Whether you are happy or unhappy, I am certain that some amount of Christ has been wrought into you since you came into the church life. No matter what you do, that portion of Christ remains in you because it has been wrought into you. I am comforted by seeing the portion of Christ that has been wrought into all the saints. I rejoice to see that the saints have more of Christ today than they did some years ago. Although we may not always be happy with the church life, Christ is nevertheless being wrought into us. What a mystery
10宇宙的奥秘，乃是神将祂自己作到我们里面。万事都是为著这目的互相效力。（罗八28。）凡事都是为著这目标效劳；万事都是为著让神把祂自己作到我们里面。这与仅仅有一个快乐的生活大不相同。你也许今天很快乐，明天却不快乐。你也许在聚会中很快乐，但回到家里，妻子或丈夫却为难你。神意愿的奥秘不是使我们成为快乐的人。今天不是我们完满快乐的时候，因为时机尚未成熟。因著很多人没有充分的异象或启示，他们不知道在召会生活中实际上发生甚么事。他们以为我们在这里只是要过得快乐而已。但这不是神意愿的奥秘。这奥秘乃是神将祂自己分赐到我们里面，为祂自己产生召会。这就是历世历代以来所隐藏的奥秘。
10The mystery of the universe is that God is working Himself into us. Everything is working together for this purpose (Rom. 8:28). All things serve this goal. Everything is for God’s working of Himself into our being. This is much different from merely having a happy life. You may be very happy today, but not tomorrow. You may be happy in a meeting, but when you return home, your wife or husband may give you a difficult time. The mystery of God’s will is not that we are becoming happy people. Today is not the time for us to be fully happy, because the time is not yet ripe. Because many do not have the adequate vision or revelation, they do not know what is actually taking place in the church life. They think that we are simply here to have a good time. But this is not the mystery of God’s will. This mystery is that God is dispensing Himself into us to produce the church for Himself. This is a mystery hidden through the ages.
贰 神的意愿乃是神的目的，
II. GOD’S WILL BEING GOD’SIN TENT I ON
要完成祂为自己所切望的
TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE DESIRES FOR HIMSELF
11神的意愿就是神的目的，要完成祂在已过的永远里所定意的，并祂为著将来的永远为自己所切望的。祂所定意并切望的，乃是要得著召会。这就是
11God’s will is God’sin tent i on to accomplish what He has purposed in eternity past and what He desires for Himself for eternity future. He purposed and He desires to have the church. This is His will and intention
12祂的意愿和目的。
12
参 神意愿的奥秘，
III. THE MYSTERY OF GOD’S WILL
已经藉著启示给我们知道
HAVING BEEN MADE KNOWN TO US BY REVELATION
13以弗所一章九节说，神已经使我们知道祂意愿的奥秘。使我们知道祂意愿的奥秘，乃是神智慧和明达的一项。在永远里神计画了一个意愿，这意愿是隐藏在祂里面的，因此是个奥秘。神用祂的智慧和明达，藉著祂在基督里的启示，就是藉著基督的成为肉体、钉十字架、复活并升天，使我们知道这隐藏的奥秘。使我们知道神意愿的奥秘，乃是神心中的喜悦。
13Ephesians 1:9 says that God has made known to us the mystery of His will. To make known to us the mystery of His will is one item of God’s wisdom and prudence. In eternity God planned a will. This will has been hidden in Him; hence, it was a mystery. In His wisdom and prudence He has made this hidden mystery known to us through His revelation in Christ, that is, through Christ’sin carnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. It was the pleasure of God’she art to reveal to us the mystery of His will
14肆照著神的喜悦神的喜悦乃是祂心里所切望的，就是要得著召会；神启示祂隐藏的意愿，是照著祂这个心中的愿望。这是照著祂的喜悦。
14IV. ACCORDING TO GOD’S GOOD PLEASURE God’s good pleasure is the desire of His heart, that is, to have the church, and God’sr evelation of His hidden will is according to this desire of His heart. This is according to His good pleasure
伍 神的喜悦
V. GOD’S GOOD PLEASURE
是神豫先定下的
HAVING BEEN PURPOSED BY GOD
一 在祂自己里面
A. In Himself
15神的喜悦是神在祂自己里面豫先定下的。这就是说，神自己是祂永远定旨的起始、来源和范围。神有一个计画，一个愿望，并且照著祂的计画，祂有一个定旨。宇宙的存在是照著神的定旨。天、地、万物、以及人类，都是照著神所定的愿望而有的。最终，这一切都要归结于神的愿望。在宇宙中有一个愿望，就是神的愿望。因为这愿望是神所定的，所以无人无物能推翻这愿望。在地上发生的每一件事，都是为著这个定旨。我们这些神的众子，有神的恩典在我们身上洋溢，我们乃是祂定旨的中心点；万有都为我们效力。神在祂自己里面定了这个愿望。在这件事上，祂没有和其他任何人商议。
15God’s good pleasure has been purposed by God in Himself. This means that God Himself is the initiation, origination, and sphere of His eternal purpose. God has a plan, a desire, and according to His plan, He has a purpose. The existence of the universe is according to God’s purpose. Heaven, earth, millions of items, and the human race are all according to God’s purposed desire. Eventually, all these things will issue in God’s desire. In the universe there is a desire, God’s desire. Because this desire has been purposed by God, no one and nothing can overthrow it. Everything that takes place on earth is for this purpose. We, the sons of God, in whom God’s grace abounds, are the focal point of His purpose, and everything is working for us. God has purposed this desire in Himself. He did not take counsel with anyone else regarding it.
二 为著一个经纶
B. For an Administration
16神的喜悦乃是在祂自己里面，为著时期满足时的经纶（一10）所豫先定下的。最终，全宇宙都要在一个经纶之下。这里的经纶，希腊文是，奥依克诺米亚，从这字演变为英文的economy。神已豫先定下，要有一个经纶。宇宙中一切的国度─天使的国度、鬼的国度、人的国度、动物的国度、植物的国度─都是为著这个经纶，并且正向其推进。譬如，今天世界局势的中心乃是中东，这是按照圣经的。自从一九四八年以色列复国以来，特别是从一九六七年耶路撒冷归还以色列之后，中东就成了国际关系的中心。这完全是照著圣经的；这也是一个兆头，说出宇宙正向神的经纶前进。这样一个经纶，是神照著祂的愿望所计画并定下的。所有的国度将在这独一的经纶之下，这经纶是要使万有在基督里归一于一个元首之下。
16God’s good pleasure is what He has purposed in Himself for an administration (v. 10). The entire universe will eventually be under one administration. The Greek word rendered “administration” is oikonomia, from which we get the English word economy. God has oikonomia purposed to have an economy. All the kingdoms in the universe—the angelic kingdom, the demonic kingdom, the human kingdom, the animal kingdom, and the plant kingdom — are for this economy, this administ ration, and are moving toward it. For example, today’s world situation, the center of which is the Middle East, is according to the Bible. Since there formation of the nation of Israel in 1948 and especially since the return of Jerusalem to Israel in 1967, the Middle East has become the center of international relations. This is altogether according to the Bible, and it is a sign that the universe is moving toward God’s ad ministration. Such an administration is what God has planned and purposed according to His desire. All the kingdoms will be under this unique administration, which is to head up all things in Christ.
17现今，宇宙是在崩溃的光景中。宇宙不是归一于一个元首之下，乃是乱成一堆。崩溃是由两种背叛产生的，就是撒但的背叛和亚当的背叛。在人类被造以前，神设立了一个天使长（他后来成了撒但），为一切造物之首。但那天使长背叛了神。以后神造了人类，并使亚当成为一切造物之首。按照创世记一章，神将祂所造的万物都放在亚当之下。这指明亚当是元首。然而，亚当受诱惑背叛了神。因此，由于天使的背叛和人的背叛，宇宙就崩溃混乱了。这就是今天人类社会和受造之物本身乱得一团糟的原因。到处满了背叛，甚至蚊子也背叛人。这说明宇宙满了由背叛所引起的争战这个事实。然而，神已定意要把祂的经纶带进来，要将万有在基督里归一于一个元首之下。在这里，我们要问一个问题：是身体支持头，还是头托著身体？答案是头托住身体。这可由事实证明─若是一个人的头被砍掉，身体就仆倒在地上。因此，身体是由头托住的。照样，召会生活是归一于一个元首之下的生活。如果我们真要有一个荣耀的召会，我们就必须甘愿归一于一个元首之下。在我们四周、在学校、在工作中、在机关里，我们所看见的没有别的，只有崩溃的光景；没有任何事物归一于一个元首之下。但在正当的召会生活中，我们归一于一个元首之下。这个在召会生活中归一于一个元首之下，乃是神将万有归一于一个元首之下的开始。在基督之下，并藉著召会，神将使宇宙中的万有归一于一个元首之下。这就是神意愿的奥秘。至终，在宇宙中神意愿的奥秘，乃是将万有在基督里归一于一个元首之下。
17At present, the universe is in a state of collapse. Instead of being headed up, it is a heap. The collapse was brought about through two rebellions, Satan’s rebellion and Adam’s rebellion. Before the creation of the human race, God made an archangel, who later became Satan, the head of all creatures. But that archangel rebelled against God. Then God created the human race and made Adam the head of all created things. According to Genesis 1, God put all things created by Him under Adam. This indicates that Adam was the head. Adam, however, was seduced to rebel against God. Thus, by the angelic rebellion and the human rebellion, the universe collapsed into a heap. This is the reason that today’s human society and creation itself are such a mess. Everywhere there is nothing but rebellion. Even the mosquitoes are rebellious against man. This illustrates the fact that the universe is filled with the fighting caused by rebellion. Nevertheless, God has purposed to bring in His administration to head up all things in Christ. At this point, we need to ask a question: Does the body support the head or does the head uphold the body? The answer is that the head upholds the body. This is proved by the fact that if a person’she ad is cut off, the body falls to the ground. Hence, the body is upheld by the head. In like manner, the church life is a life of being headed up. If we truly want to have a glorious church, we must be willing to be headed up. All around us, at school, at work, and in the government, we see nothing but a state of collapse; nothing is headed up. But in the proper church life we are being headed up. This heading up in the church life is the beginning of God’s heading up of all things. Under Christ and through the church, God will head up all things in the universe. This is the mystery of God’s will. Ultimately, the mystery of God’s will in the universe is to head up all things in Christ.