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以弗所书生命读经 · 第75篇

神的经纶─基督同召会

GOD’S ECONOMY—CHRIST WITH THE CHURCH
1读经：以弗所书1:5,9-11,22-23;3:2-4,约翰福音15:1,5。
1Scripture Reading: Eph. 1:5, 9-11, 22-23; 3:2-4, 9-11; John 15:1, 5 9-11;
2神的经纶就是基督同召会。当我们来看以弗所书所启示之神的经纶时，我们需要祷告，求主赐给我们一个敞开、清明的天。我们若要认识神的经纶，就不仅必须有以弗所书的知识，也必须摸著这卷书里的实际。我们不是仅仅为著知识，我们乃是为著实际。以弗所书里的实际，乃是神对基督同召会的经纶。
2God’secon o my is Christ with the church. As we consider God’secon o my as revealed in the book of Ephesians, we need to pray that the Lord will give us an open heaven with a clear sky. If we would know God’secon o my, not only must we have the knowledge of the book of Ephesians; we must also touch the reality contained in this book. We are not for mere knowledge—we are for reality. The reality in the book of Ephesians is God’secon o my concerning Christ with the church
一些重要的辞经纶
SOME IMPORTANT TERMS Economy
3说到神的定旨，许多基督徒对经纶这辞不大熟悉。经纶这辞的希腊文是，奥依克诺米亚，在以弗所书里用了三次。在一章十节保罗说到时期满足时的行政或经纶，要将万有在基督里归一于一个元首之下。在三章二节，他说到神恩典的管家职分；在三章九节，他说到奥秘的经纶。『经纶』一辞的英文（economy）是从oikonomia（奥依克诺米亚）演变来的，意思是行政、管家职分、安排或分赐；特别就著这一面的意义说，经纶是指分赐。神的经纶是要将祂自己分赐到祂所拣选的人里面。神没有将祂自己以外的甚么，分赐到祂所拣选的人里面。因此，祂的经纶乃是要将祂自己分赐到我们里面。这完全和基督同召会有关。
3In relation to God’s purpose, the word economy is unfamiliar to many Christians. The Greek word for economy, oikonomia, is used three times in oikonomia Ephesians. In 1:10 Paul speaks of a dispensation, or economy, of the fullness of the times, in which all things will be headed up in Christ. In 3:2 he speaks of the stewardship of the grace of God, and in 3:9, of the dispensation of the mystery. The English word economy is an anglicized form of oikonomia, which means administration, stewardship, arrangement, or dispensation. In particular, in this sense economy denotes dispensing. God’s economy is to dispense Himself into His chosen people. Apart from Himself, God has nothing to dispense into His chosen ones. Hence, His economy is to dispense Himself into us. This is altogether related to Christ with the church.
意愿
Will
4除了经纶这辞，保罗在以弗所书中还用了好些其他重要的辞。在一章，保罗三次题到神的意愿：祂意愿所喜悦的，（5，）祂意愿的奥秘，（9，）和祂意愿所决议的。（11。）神有一个经纶，因为祂有一个意愿。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。
4Besides the term economy, a number of other important terms are used by Paul in Ephesians. Three times in chapter one Paul mentions God’s will: the good pleasure of His will (v. 5), the mystery of His will (v. 9), and the counsel of His will (v. 11). God has an economy because He has a will. In eternity God planned a will. This will was 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
喜悦
good pleasure
5另一个重要的辞是『喜悦』。（一5，。）神有一个意愿，在其中有祂的喜悦。这喜悦指神心所喜爱的。以弗所书乃是以神心中的喜悦为立足点。按照一章九至十节，神的喜悦是祂在自己里面豫先定下的，为著一个经纶。照人的说法，神的喜悦就是使祂快乐的事。在神的心头上，有一件事使祂喜悦并快乐，那就是神的喜悦。不要认为『喜悦』这辞没有意义；相反的，这是以弗所书中一个非常重要的辞。
5Another important term is “good pleasure” (1:5, 9). God has a will in which is His good pleasure. This good 9 pleasure refers to the delight of God’she art. The book of Ephesians speaks from the standpoint of the good pleasure of God’she art. According to 1:9 and 10, God’s good pleasure is what He has purposed in Himself for an administration. In human terms, God’s good pleasure is that which makes Him happy. There is something within God’she art that pleases Him and makes Him happy. This is God’s good pleasure. Do not think that the term “good pleasure” is insignificant. On the contrary, it is a very important term in Ephesians.
定旨
Purpose
6在以弗所书中，繙作定旨这辞的希腊字用了三次，两次用作名词，一次用作动词。在一章十一节保罗说，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。在三章十一节，保罗说到永远定旨。永远定旨，就是神在已过的永远里所定的永远计画。在一章九节，这希腊字是用作动词：『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。』这里『豫先定下』这辞等于『计画』。神在永远里定了一个计画。神有计画，因为祂有一个意愿、一个喜悦和一个经纶。照著祂的经纶，祂定了一个计画、一个定旨。
6In Ephesians the word purpose is used three times, twice as a noun and once as a verb. In 1:11 Paul says that we have been predestinated according to the purpose of the One who operates all things according to the counsel of His will. In 3:11 Paul speaks of the purpose of the ages. The purpose of the ages is the purpose of eternity, the eternal purpose, the eternal plan of God made in eternity past. In 1:9 the word purpose is used as a verb: “Having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself.” God has a purpose. Here the word purpose is the equivalent of the English word plan. God has a plan which He made in eternity. God has a plan because He has a will, a good pleasure, and an economy. According to His economy, He made a plan, a purpose
决议
Counsel
7保罗在一章十一节用了决议这辞，说到神按祂意愿所决议的，行作万事。神造人时，开了一个神格会议。因此，创世记一章二十六节说，『神说，我们要照著我们的形像…造人。』神和自己决议。这个决议与祂的意愿有关。
7In 1:11 Paul uses the word counsel, saying that God operates all things according to the counsel of His will. When God created man, a conference was held within the Godhead. For this reason, Genesis 1:26 says, “And God said, Let us make man in our image.” God took counsel with Himself. This counsel is related to His will
奥秘
Mystery
8以弗所书中还有另一个重要的辞，就是奥秘。我们已经看见，一章九节题到神意愿的奥秘。保罗在三章三节说，『照著启示使我知道这奥秘。』神隐藏的定旨是个奥秘，这奥秘的揭开就是启示。在三章四节，保罗继续说到『基督的奥秘』。在歌罗西二章二节，神的奥秘是基督；在这里，基督的奥秘是召会。神是个奥秘；基督是神具体的表现彰显神，所以是神的奥秘。基督也是个奥秘；召会是基督的身体彰显基督，所以是基督的奥秘。
8Still another crucial word in Ephesians is mystery. As we have seen, 1:9 mentions the mystery of God’s will. In 3:3 Paul says, “That by revelation the mystery was made known to me.” God’s hidden purpose is the mystery, and the unveiling of this mystery is revelation. In 3:4 Paul goes on to speak of the “mystery of Christ.” The mystery of God in Colossians 2:2 is Christ, whereas the mystery of Christ here is the church. God is a mystery, and Christ, as the embodiment of God to express Him, is the mystery of God. Christ is also a mystery, and the church, as the Body of Christ to express Him, is the mystery of Christ.
9在三章九节，保罗说到向众人照明『奥秘的经纶』。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。这奥秘从永远起，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。神的心意是要使人认识祂奥秘的经纶。以弗所五章三十二节和六章十九节也用了奥秘这辞。在五章三十二节，保罗说，『这是极大的奥秘，但我是指著基督与召会说的。』基督与召会是一灵，（林前六17，）如同丈夫与妻子成为一体所表征的，这是极大的奥秘。在以弗所六章十九节，保罗说到放胆讲明『福音的奥秘』。这奥秘就是基督与召会，为著成就神永远的定旨。
9In 3:9 Paul speaks of bringing to light the “dispensation of the mystery.” God’s mystery is His hidden purpose. His purpose is to dispense Himself into His chosen people. Hence, there is a 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. God’sin tent i on is to make known the dispensation, the economy, of His mystery. Ephesians 5:32 and 6:19 also use the term mystery. In 5:32 Paul says, “This mystery is great, but I speak with regard to Christ and the church.” The fact that Christ and the church are one spirit (1 Cor. 6:17), as typified by the husband and wife who are one flesh, is the great mystery. In 6:19 Paul speaks of making known in boldness the “mystery of the gospel.” This mystery is Christ and the church for the fulfillment of God’s eternal purpose.
一个秘诀
A SECRET
10我们要记住这些重要的辞：意愿、喜悦、定旨、决议、经纶和奥秘。一面说，这些辞既深且奥，需要花许多年才能完全领会。另一面，有一个简单的秘诀，可以了解这些辞的意义；这秘诀就是基督同召会。神的意愿是要得著基督同召会。照样，神的喜悦和定旨也是要得著基督同召会。我们已经指出，基督同召会乃是神的经纶。不仅如此，神与自己决议要得著基督同召会。神的奥秘也是和基督同召会有关。因此，基督同召会乃是了解这些重要之辞的秘诀。神的意愿是甚么？乃是基督同召会。神的喜悦是甚么？基督同召会是祂的喜悦，是祂心所喜爱的。不仅如此，神在永远里的永远定旨乃是基督同召会。照样，神的决议、经纶和奥秘，都是和基督同召会有关。
10It is important that we remember these crucial terms: will, good pleasure, purpose, counsel, economy, and mystery. On the one hand, these terms are deep and profound, and it would take years to understand them adequately. On the other hand, there is a simple secret to grasping their significance. This secret is Christ with the church. God’s will is to have Christ with the church. Likewise, God’s good pleasure and God’s purpose are to have Christ with the church. We have already pointed out that Christ with the church is God’secon o my. Furthermore, God counseled with Himself to have Christ with the church. God’s mystery is also related to Christ with the church. Therefore, Christ with the church is the secret to understanding these crucial terms. What is God’s will? It is Christ with the church. What is God’s good pleasure? Christ with the church is His good pleasure, the delight of His heart. Furthermore, God’s purpose in eternity and for eternity is Christ with the church. Likewise, God’s counsel, economy, and mystery are all related to Christ with the church
神如何完成祂的经纶
HOW GOD FULFILLS HIS ECONOMY
11神的经纶既是基督同召会，我们就需要来看祂如何实现并完成这经纶。愿主在这事上吹散一切的乌云，给我们一个清明的天！关于神经纶的完成，各地方召会众圣徒都必须有清明透亮的天。
11Since God’s economy is Christ with the church, we need to consider how He carries out this economy and fulfills it. Oh, may the Lord blow away all the clouds and give us a clear sky concerning this! Regarding the accomplishment of God’secon o my, the sky over all the saints in all the local churches needs to be crystal clear.
拣选
Selection
12完成神经纶的头一步是神的拣选。以弗所一章四节说，『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。』在已过的永远里，在创立世界以前，神拣选了我们。祂的拣选就是祂的选择。祂从无数人中选上了我们，这是祂在基督里所作的。基督是我们蒙神拣选的范围；在基督之外，我们就不是神所拣选的。这发生在已过的永远里。神按著祂无限的先见，在创造我们之前拣选了我们。
12The first step in the working out of God’secon o my was God’ss election. Ephesians 1:4 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.” In eternity past, before the foundation of the world, God selected us. His choosing is His selection. From among innumerable people, He selected us. This He did in Christ. Christ was the sphere in which we were selected by God. Outside of Christ we are not God’s choice. This took place in eternity past. God chose us according to His infinite foresight before He created us
13神在创立世界以前，在基督里拣选了你，对这事实你有印象么？每当我想到神在已过的永远里拣选了我，我就对祂满了敬拜和赞美。我不需要被人拣选，因为我已蒙三一神拣选。基督徒常对主说，『哦，主！不是我们先爱你，是你先爱我们。』但是对于神的拣选，我们需要说，『主！我们没有拣选你，是你拣选了我们。』我们都需要为著主永远的拣选感谢祂，这拣选是在已过的永远里，为著将来的永远所定的。我们不是蒙拣选要在世上占有显赫的地位，乃是蒙拣选得以在召会中。神的拣选是为著召会。
13Have you ever been impressed with the fact that God chose you in Christ before the foundation of the world? Whenever I think of God choosing me in eternity past, I am filled with worship and praise to Him. I do not need to be chosen by man, for I have been chosen by the Triune God. Christians often say to the Lord, “O Lord, we did not first love You. You were the One who first loved us.” However, concerning God’ss election, we need to say. “Lord, we didn’t choose You—You chose us.” We all need to thank the Lord for His eternal selection, the selection made in eternity past for eternity future. We have been selected not to occupy a position of prominence in the world, but to be in the church. God’ss election was for the church
豫定
Predestination
14神完成祂经纶的第二步是豫定。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。』豫定原文或作『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。这定命就是儿子的名分。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，也有地位承受神自己。
14The second step God took in working out His economy was predestination. Ephesians 1:5 says, “Having predestinated us unto sonship through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” The Greek word rendered predestinated can also be translated “marked out beforehand.” Marking out beforehand is the process, while 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. This destiny 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 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 God Himself
15我们都必须看见，我们已经被神标出，为著完成祂的经纶。因为神已经在我们身上打上标记，我们就无法逃离祂。我们在出生以前，甚至在创立世界以前，就被神标出。我们既已豫先被标出，就别无选择，只有把自己交给主，为著祂的恢复，甚至不顾一切为著召会生活。
15We all need to have the realization that we have been marked out by God for the accomplishment of His economy. Because God has put His mark on us, we cannot run away from Him. We were marked out by God before we were born, even before the foundation of the world. Since we have been pre - marked, we have no choice except to give ourselves to the Lord for His recovery and even to be beside ourselves for the church life.
16别人看不见神在我们身上的标记，但所有在属灵界里的都能看见。天使、鬼和撒但自己，都晓得我们已经被神标出。这个标记不仅是外面的，更是里面的。因著这里面的标记，我们除非把自己奉献给召会生活，否则就没有平安。我们是蒙拣选并被标出的人。这是神在已过的永远里所完成的。
16Other human beings cannot see God’s mark on us, but all the beings in the spiritual world can see it. The angels, the demons, and Satan himself know that we have been marked out by God. This mark is not merely outward, but something very inward. Because of this inward mark, we have no peace unless we give ourselves to the church life. We are a selected and marked-out people. This was accomplished by God in eternity past
救赎
Redemption
17在一章七节，保罗说到藉基督之血得蒙救赎。我们是蒙拣选并被豫定的。但在受造之后，我们堕落了。因此，我们需要神在基督里，藉著祂的血为我们成就的救赎。救赎是神完成祂经纶的第三步。
17In 1:7 Paul speaks of redemption through the blood of Christ. We were chosen and predestinated. But after creation we became fallen. Hence, we need redemption, which God has accomplished for us in Christ through His blood. Redemption is the third step God took in carrying out His economy
18救赎不仅是为我们个人自身的得救，乃是为著召会。事实上，神不是单个的救赎我们，祂乃是团体的救赎我们。这意思是祂救赎祂所拣选的召会。因此，拣选、豫定和救赎，都是为著召会。
18Redemption is not only for our personal and individual salvation; it is for the church. In fact, God did not redeem us individually; He redeemed us corporately. This means that He redeemed His chosen church. Therefore, selection, predestination, and redemption are all for the church
救恩
Salvation
19第四步与救赎很有关系，就是神的救恩。保罗在二章五节、八节说到救恩时，乃是说到团体的救恩。我们的得救不是个人的，乃是团体的。我们来看旧约以色列人的豫表。他们不是一个一个的从埃及的暴政下得救。相反的，整个以色列国是同时得救的。不错，每个以色列人都个别的经历了这救恩，但他们乃是同时间团体的得救。这指明神的救恩不是为著个人，乃是为著召会。
19The fourth step, closely related to redemption, is God’ss alvation. When Paul speaks of salvation in 2:5 and 8, he speaks of a corporate salvation. We have been saved not as individuals, but as a corporate entity. Consider the type of the children of Israel in the Old Testament. They were not saved from the tyranny of the Egyptians one by one. On the contrary, the entire nation of Israel was saved at the same time. Yes, each of the children of Israel had an individual experience of this salvation, but they were saved corporately, all at the same time. This indicates that God’ss alvation is not for individuals, but for the church
圣化
Sanctification
20保罗在五章论到圣化，这是完成神对基督同召会之经纶的另一步。我们虽然已经蒙了救赎，但仍然在圣化的过程中，这个过程包括我们地位上和性情上的改变。有了这样的改变时，我们就变化了。
20In chapter five Paul deals with sanctification, another step in the carrying out of God’secon o my concerning Christ with the church. Although we have been redeemed, we are still in the process of sanctification. This process involves a change both of our position and of our disposition. As this change takes place, we are transformed
长大
Growth
21要完成神的经纶还需要另一步，就是长大。我们需要在一切事上长到元首基督里面，直到我们达到了长成的人。（四15，13。）我能见证，许多人和我们在一起一些年日，在主里就有真正的长大。我赞美祂，圣徒们在长大！这长大是为著完成神的经纶。
21Still another step in the carrying out of God’secon o my is growth. We need to grow up into Christ, the Head, in all things until we arrive at a full-grown man (4:15, 1 3). I can testify that many who have been with us for some years have truly grown in the Lord. I praise Him that the saints are growing. This growth is for the accomplishment of God’secon o my.
建造
Building Up
22随著长大，我们还有建造。保罗在二章二十二节说，我们在祂里面同被建造，成为神在灵里的居所。在四章十二节，他说到建造基督的身体；在四章十六节他指明，藉著每一部分依其度量而有的功用，便叫身体渐渐长大，以致在爱里把自己建造起来。
22Along with the growth, we have the building up. In 2:22 Paul says that we are being built together into a dwelling place of God in spirit. In 4:12 he speaks of the building up of the Body of Christ, and in 4:16 he indicates that, according to the operation in the measure of each part, the Body grows and builds itself up in love.
23我们已蒙拣选、豫定、救赎并得救，现在我们被圣化并在基督里渐渐长大。我们长大时，就被建造成为基督的身体。这些就是神完成祂经纶所采取的各步骤。
23We have been selected, predestinated, redeemed, and saved. Now we are being sanctified and are gradually growing in Christ. As we grow, we are being built up as the Body of Christ. These are the steps God takes in carrying out His economy
葡萄树同枝子
THE VINE WITH THE BRANCHES
24神的经纶不仅启示在以弗所书，也启示在约翰十五章。约翰十五章是福音书中独特的一章，启示神的经纶。约翰十五章一节说，『我是真葡萄树，我父是栽培的人。』在五节主说，『我是葡萄树，你们是枝子。』这真葡萄树同其枝子，就是子同子里的众信徒，乃是神的经纶中三一神的生机体，因神的丰富而长大，并彰显祂神圣的生命。父这栽培的人，是葡萄树的源头、创始者、计画者、种植者、生命、本质、土壤、水分、空气、阳光和一切。子是葡萄树，是神经纶的中心，也是父一切丰富的具体化身。父藉著栽培子，将祂自己连同祂一切的丰富，都作到这葡萄树里面；至终，这葡萄树藉著枝子，作父团体的彰显。这就是父在宇宙中的经纶。神的经纶是葡萄树同枝子，就是基督同召会。神的目的是要照料这葡萄树和枝子，直到我们长大成熟。在神经纶的事上，愿神祝福我们，给我们清楚的异象。
24God’secon o my is revealed not only in Ephesians, but also in chapter fifteen of John. This chapter is the unique chapter in the Gospels revealing God’secon o my. John 15:1 says, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman,” and in verse 5 the Lord says, “I am the vine, you are the branches.” This true vine, which is the Son, with its branches, which are the believers in the Son, is the organism of the Triune God in God’secon o my to grow with His riches and to express His divine life. The Father as the husbandman is the source, the author, the planner, the planter, the life, the substance, the soil, the water, the air, the sunshine, and everything to the vine. The Son as the vine is the center of God’secon o my and the embodiment of all the riches of the Father. The Father, by cultivating the Son, works Himself with all His riches into the vine. Eventually, the vine expresses the Father through its branches in a corporate way. This is the Father’secon o my in the universe. God’secon o my is the vine with the branches, Christ with the church. God’sin tent i on is to care for this vine and the branches until we grow to maturity. Regarding His economy, may God bless us and grant us a clear vision