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以弗所书生命读经 · 第79篇

基督的五方面

FIVE ASPECTS OF CHRIST
1读经：以弗所书5:25-27;2:15-16;1:20-。基督是神的具体化身，也是召会的内容。虽然所有的真基督徒都承认基督是神的儿子，但是没有多少人对祂是神的具体化身有充分的认识。说基督是神的具体化身，意思是说，神所是的一切都具体化在基督里。在已过的永远，神在基督里立了一个计画，拣选我们，并豫定我们，或者说，把我们标出来。然后，神在基督里并藉著基督，创造了万有。至终基督成了肉体，藉著钉死、埋葬、复活，完成了救赎，然后升到三层天上。不仅如此，祂更成为那灵降到祂的身体上。现今祂正等候人向祂敞开，并呼求祂，好使祂能进到他们里面，重生他们，并安家在他们心里。有一天，祂要藉著从祂的子民里面出来，从天降临。那时祂就成为全地的王，祂的选民要在祂的国里与祂一同作王。祂将是新耶路撒冷的中心，直到永远。神在基督里一切所是的、所已经作的并所要作的，实在无法述尽说竭。
1Scripture Reading: Eph. 5:25-27; 2:15-16; 1:20-23; 4:7-8, 11, 12; 3:17a 23; 4:7-8, 11, 12; 3:17a Christ is the embodiment of God and the content of the church. Although all genuine Christians recognize that Christ is the Son of God, not many have an adequate realization that He is the embodiment of God. To say that Christ is the embodiment of God means that in Christ is embodied all that God is. In eternity past, God in Christ made a plan, selected us, and predestinated us, or marked us out. Then in Christ and through Christ God created all things. Eventually, Christ was incarnated, accomplished redemption through crucifixion, was buried, resurrected, and then ascended to the third heaven. Furthermore, He has descended as the Spirit upon His Body. Now He is waiting for people to open to Him and call upon Him so that He may come into them, regenerate them, and make His home in their hearts. One day, He will come back from the heavens by coming out from within His people. Then He will be the King overall the earth, and His chosen people will be co - kings with Him in His kingdom. For eternity, He will be the centrality of the New Jerusalem. It is impossible to exhaust all that God is and all that He has done and will do in Christ.
2我年轻时听过耶稣，但我所听到的，远远搆不上基督是神具体化身的启示。我们许多人能见证，进入主的恢复之前，我们没有充分的认识基督是神的具体化身。然而，我们进入召会生活之后，就开始看见，我们的基督乃是神一切所是的具体化身。
2When I was young, I heard about Jesus, but what I was told was far short of the revelation of Christ as the embodiment of God. Many of us can testify that, before coming into the Lord’s recovery, we did not know Christ adequately as the embodiment of God. However, after we came into the church life, we began to realize that our Christ is the embodiment of all that God is
召会的内容
the content of the church
3基督作神的具体化身，乃是召会的内容。以弗所三章说，那灵使我们得以加强到里面的人里，好叫基督能安家在我们心里。（16～17。）至终，我们要被充满，成为神一切的丰满。（19。）这指明召会的内容乃是神的具体化身。
3As the embodiment of God, Christ is the content of the church. Ephesians 3 says that the Spirit strengthens us into our inner man so that Christ can make His home in our hearts (vv. 16-17). Eventually, we shall be filled unto all the fullness of God (v. 19). This indicates that the content of the church is the embodiment of God
4召会不仅是一班得救脱离沉沦，等候到天上去，并求主赐平安、喜乐、福利的人。在主恢复里的召会不为事物向神求讨。我们在地方召会中，为著主之于我们所是的一切赞美祂！赞美主，召会有神的具体化身作内容！我们何等感谢主，向我们启示这事！
4The church is not simply a group of people who have been saved out of hell, who are waiting to go to heaven, and who beg the Lord to give them peace, joy, and a good life. The church in the Lord’s recovery does not beg God for things. Rather, we in the local churches praise the Lord for all He is to us. Praise Him that the church has the embodiment of God as her content! How we thank the Lord for revealing this to us!
5召会是一个新人，有基督作人位。作新人之人位的基督，乃是神的具体化身。你是否看见，你所接受作你人位的那位，就是神的具体化身？我们若看见这异象，就会乐而忘形。哦！在我们里面的，是何等的一个人位！我们都要看见召会是一个器皿，有活的基督作惟一的内容，这是顶要紧的。
5The church is the one new man with Christ as the person. As the person of the new man, Christ is the embodiment of God. Do you realize that the One you are to take as your person is the very embodiment of God? If we see this vision, we shall be beside ourselves with joy. Oh, what a Person we have within us! It is crucial for us all to see that the church is a vessel with the living Christ as its unique content
完全看见基督
SEEING CHRIST IN A FULL WAY
6在本篇信息中，我们要来看基督的五方面。我们若要清楚的看见这五方面，就需要求主吹走历世纪以来使基督徒无法完全看见基督的乌云。在已过的信息中，我们曾指出，基督是无限无量、不可度量、追测不尽的。祂是在万有中充满万有那包罗万有的一位。（一23。）祂甚至就是宇宙那阔、长、高、深的量度。（三18。）祂是何等一位基督！
6In this message we shall consider five aspects of Christ. If we would see these five aspects clearly, we need to ask the Lord to blow away all the clouds that for centuries have kept Christians from seeing Christ in a full way. In previous messages we have pointed out that Christ is unlimited, immeasurable, and unsearchable. He is the all-inclusive One that fills all in all (1:23). He is even the very dimensions of the universe: the breadth, and length, and height, and depth (3:18). What a Christ He is
爱召会的基督
THE CHURCH-LOVING CHRIST
7以弗所五章二十五节说，『基督爱召会，为召会舍了自己。』这一节指明，基督是一位爱召会的基督。加拉太二章二十节说，基督『爱我，为我舍了自己』。基督徒注意这一节，但他们可能没有同时也注意以弗所五章二十五节，那里告诉我们，基督爱召会，为召会舍了自己。
7Ephesians 5:25 says that Christ “loved the church and gave Himself up for her.” This verse indicates that Christ is a church-loving Christ. Galatians 2:20 says that Christ loved me and gave Himself for me. Although Christians pay attention to this verse, they may not also pay attention to Ephesians 5:25, where we are told that Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for the church
圣化召会
Sanctifying the Church
8在五章二十五至二十七节我们看见，基督为召会舍了自己，不是仅仅要拯救召会脱离火湖，把她带到天上，乃是要藉著话中之水的洗涤，圣化她并洁净她。藉著这样的洗涤，祂要把召会献给自己，作荣耀的召会，没有斑点、皱纹、或任何这类的病。基督要献给自己的召会，乃是圣别、没有瑕疵的。基督为召会舍了自己，目的是要圣化召会。祂不仅要把召会从一切凡俗的事物中分别出来，归给自己，更要以祂自己来浸透召会，好使召会能成为祂的配偶。这是藉著话中之水的洗涤完成的。基督何等的爱召会！住在我们里面的基督，乃是爱召会的基督。祂为召会舍了自己并将自己给召会之后，现今正在圣化召会。祂爱召会，因此祂正在洁净并纯净召会，使她成为圣别、没有瑕疵。
8In 5:25-27 we see that Christ gave Himself up for the church, not merely to save the church from hell and bring her into heaven, but to sanctify her and to cleanse her by the washing of the water in the Word. Through this washing He will present the church to Himself glorious, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing. The church Christ will present to Himself will be holy and without blemish. Christ’s purpose in giving Himself up for the church was to sanctify her. He will not only separate the church to Himself from everything common, but will also saturate her with Himself so that she may be His counterpart. This is accomplished by the washing of water in the Word. How Christ loves the church! The Christ who dwells within us is the Christ who loves the church. Having given Himself up for the church and to the church, He is now sanctifying her. In His love for the church, He is cleansing and purifying her to make her holy and without blemish.
9按照五章二十七节，召会没有斑点、皱纹的日子就要来到。斑点来自创伤，皱纹来自老旧。藉著基督圣化的工作，至终召会将没有斑点或皱纹。她将是圣别、没有瑕疵的。成为圣别乃是被基督浸透并变化；没有瑕疵乃是没有斑点、皱纹。有一天召会要完全被变化。只有基督才能把召会带到这样的光景里。作神具体化身的基督，乃是那爱召会，现今正藉著话中之水的洗涤洁净召会的基督。
9According to 5:27, the day is coming when the church will not have spot or wrinkle. Spots come from wounds, and wrinkles come from oldness. Through Christ’s sanctifying work, the church will eventually be without spot or wrinkle. She will be holy and without blemish. To be holy is to be saturated and transformed with Christ, and to be without blemish is to be spotless and without wrinkle. One day the church will be fully transformed. Only Christ can bring the church to such a condition. The Christ who is the embodiment of God is the Christ who loves the church and is cleansing her by the washing of the water in the Word
召会生活完全的恢复
A Full Recovery of the Church Life
10我确信主回来之前，祂要完全恢复正当的召会生活。然而，许多基督教教师不相信这是可能的。照他们看，今世我们不可能有召会生活；他们说，召会生活只有在来世才可能。持这种看法的人说，我们不该谈论召会，只要单单的爱主、传福音、帮助信徒属灵。许多采取这种立场的人都反对主当前的恢复。但是我们不管这一切反对，确信召会生活要在今世完全的恢复，而不是在来世。认为召会生活是在来世的说法，是与圣经相反的。来世不是召会时代，乃是国度时代。在现今这世代，在主回来之前，祂必须得著召会生活，以羞辱仇敌。我信历世纪以来，神的仇敌撒但一直就著召会向基督挑战。也许撒但对祂说，『你的召会在那里？给我看看你所应许要建造的召会。你的一些仆人甚至教导说，今世不可能有召会生活。』基督也许会对撒但说，『撒但，看看今天在地上的众地方召会。想想看，我有多少子民，见证今世过召会生活是可能的。他们不仅为著召会生活，也实际的在召会生活里。』
10I have the assurance that before the Lord comes back, He will fully recover the proper church life. Many Christian teachers, however, do not believe that this is possible. According to them, we cannot have the church life in this age; they say the church life is possible only in the age to come. Those who hold this view say that we should not talk about the church, but simply love the Lord, preach the gospel, and help the believers to be spiritual. Many of those who take such a position are opposed to the Lord’sp resent recovery. But in spite of all opposition, we have the assurance that the church life will be recovered in full in this age, not in the age to come. It is contrary to the Scriptures to say that the church life will be in the coming age. The next age will not be the age of the church; it will be the age of the kingdom. In this present age, before His coming back, the Lord must have the church life to shame the enemy. I believe that for centuries Satan, the enemy of God, has been challenging Christ concerning the church. Perhaps Satan has said to Him, “Where is Your church? Show me the church You have promised to build. Some of Your servants even teach that it is not possible to have the church life in this age.” Perhaps Christ is saying to Satan, “Satan, look at the local churches on earth today. Consider how many of My people are testifying that it is possible to have the church life in this age. They are not only for the church life, but are in the church life in a practical way
回到耶路撒冷
back to Jerusalem
11我信在要来几年内，主要把召会生活扩展到英国、德国、法国和义大利。不仅如此，我信有一天在罗马，甚至在耶路撒冷，都会有召会；那里的召会生活是在十九个世纪之前就开始的。行传一章九至十二节告诉我们，基督从橄榄山升天；撒迦利亚十四章四节启示，基督还要回到橄榄山。同样的原则，主在耶路撒冷开始祂的召会，我信，主也要将祂召会的恢复送回到耶路撒冷。多年来我常为中国大陆的沦陷深感1948困扰。经过二十多年的劳苦，在一九四八年，中国各个主要的城市都有了召会，然后突然甚么都失去了。许多年之后，有一天我在这一点上有所看见，很叫我得鼓励。我明白在一九二○年代，主巴望得著正当的召会生活。然而因著欧洲和美国已被宗教破坏，主为著召会生活的恢复，被迫来到远东一个异教国家。倪弟兄有一次告诉我们，主来到中国，因为这里是栽培召会生活的处女地。然而主知道，基本上因著语言的缘故，中国不是扩展祂恢复的最好地方。许多主所启示给我们的，都埋藏在中文里。然而，神使用了中国这块处女地作为苗圃。倪柝声弟兄像一粒种子种到这块土壤里，于是召会生活开始生长。然后藉著中国大陆沦陷，恢复就移植到美国。然而，美国并不是目标，美国乃是主恢复扩展到欧洲，至终到耶路撒冷的踏脚石。主从耶路撒冷开始，然后把召会扩展到希腊和义大利。我信祂也将经由义大利和希腊回到耶路撒冷。我巴望当主耶稣回来时，在耶路撒冷有召会在等候祂。
11I believe that in the coming years the Lord will spread the church life to England, Germany, France, and Italy. Furthermore, I believe that one day there will be a church in Rome and even in Jerusalem, where the church life began more than nineteen centuries ago. Acts 1:9-12 tells us that Christ ascended from the Mount of Olives, and Zechariah 1 4:4 reveals that Christ will return also to the Mount of Olives. In the same principle, the Lord began His church in Jerusalem and, I believe, will send the recovery of His church back to Jerusalem. For years I was deeply troubled by the loss of mainland China. After more than twenty years of labor, in there were churches in all the leading cities of China. Then suddenly everything was lost. One day, after many years had passed, I saw something encouraging about this. I realized that in the 1920st he Lord desired to have the proper church life. However, because Europe and the United States had been spoiled by religion, the Lord was forced to go to a heathen country in the Far East for the recovery of the church life. Brother Nee once told us that the Lord went to China because it was virgin soil for the cultivation of the church life. However, the Lord knew that, primarily because of language, China was not the best place for the spread of His recovery. Much of what the Lord had revealed to us was buried in the Chinese language. Nevertheless, God used the virgin soil of China as a nursery. Watchman Nee was sown as a seed into this soil, and the church life began to grow. Then, through the loss of mainland China, the recovery was transplanted to the United States. However, the United States is not the goal; it is a stepping-stone for the spread of the recovery to Europe and eventually to Jerusalem. The Lord began from Jerusalem and then spread the church to Greece and Italy. I believe that He will also go back to Jerusalem by way of Italy and Greece. I long for there to be a church in Jerusalem waiting for the Lord Jesus when He returns.
12在恢复召会生活的事上，主耶稣不会被击败。当第二次世界大战日军占领菲律宾时，麦克阿瑟将军被迫撤退，但他发誓要再回来。我们都知道，麦克阿瑟将军的确回到了菲律宾。照样，不管撒但怎样破坏召会，主耶稣都要回来，祂的召会也要等候祂。在耶路撒冷城也许将有一个召会，也许会所就离橄榄山不远；橄榄山是祂升天的地方，也是祂再来时要降临的地方。主回来时，在耶路撒冷若没有召会豫备好等候祂，对祂来说乃是羞耻；主不会忍受这样的羞耻。因这缘故，祂正等候祂的恢复扩展到欧洲，至终到耶路撒冷。
12Concerning the recovery of the church life, the Lord Jesus cannot be defeated. When the Japanese army took over the Philippines during World War I I, General MacArthur was forced to withdraw. But he vowed to return. As we all know, General MacArthur did return to the Philippines. In like manner, no matter what Satan does to damage the church, the Lord Jesus will return, and His church will be waiting for Him. There may be a church in the city of Jerusalem. Perhaps the meeting hall will not be far from the Mount of Olives, the place from which He ascended and to which He will descend in His coming back. It would be a shame to the Lord Jesus to come back without having a church in Jerusalem ready for Him. The Lord will not suffer such a shame. For this reason, He is waiting for His recovery to spread to Europe and, ultimately, to Jerusalem.
13愿主在祂的恢复中激动我们关切祂的行动！愿祂扩展召会生活遍及欧洲、中东、并达到耶路撒冷。也许有一天我们要在橄榄山脚下的客西马尼园，有一个祷告聚会，为著主的回来迫切祷告！我们都需要享受基督，并经历祂是爱召会的基督。因为我们也爱召会，所以为著将祂的恢复扩展到全地并回到耶路撒冷，我们与祂是一。哦，基督何等爱召会！祂在我们里面是那爱召会的基督。祂对召会的爱，使我们甘心为著召会生活的恢复献上一切。
13May the Lord inspire us concerning His move in His recovery! May He spread the church life throughout Europe, the Middle East, and to Jerusalem. Perhaps one day we shall hold a prayer meeting in the garden of Gethsemane, which is located at the foot of the Mount of Olives, and pray fervently to the Lord for His coming back! We all need to enjoy Christ and to experience Him as the church-loving Christ. Because we also love the church, we are one with Him for the spread of His recovery throughout the world and back to Jerusalem. Oh, how Christ loves the church! He is in us as the church-loving Christ. His love for the church makes us willing to give our all for the recovery of the church life
创造新人的基督
THE NEW-MAN-CREATING CHRIST
14在二章十五至十六节，我们看见基督也是创造新人的基督。历代以来，基督徒说到基督在十字架上的死，却没有看见基督的死乃是为著创造新人这个终极的点。祂在肉体里废掉了规条，为要在祂自己里面创造一个新人。十字架不仅是为著救恩、释放和得胜，也是为著新人的创造。新人的创造需要废掉一切的规条。赞美主！祂是创造新人的基督。藉著在十字架上废掉了规条，祂把犹太人和外邦人创造成一个新人。
14In 2:15 and 16 we see that Christ is also the new-man- creating Christ. For centuries, Christians have spoken about Christ’s death on the cross without seeing the consummate point that He died for the creation of the new man. He abolished in His flesh the ordinances in order to create in Himself one new man. The cross is not only for salvation, release, and victory; it is also for the creation of the new man. The creation of the new man required that all ordinances be abolished. Praise the Lord that He is the new-man-creating Christ! By abolishing the ordinances on the cross, He has created the Jews and the Gentiles into one new man
将万有归一于一个元首之下的基督
THE ALL-THINGS-HEADING-UP CHRIST
15在一章二十至二十三节，我们看见基督也是使万有归一于一个元首之下的基督。神已经使祂在诸天界里坐在自己的右边，并将万有服在祂的脚下。不仅如此，神也使基督向著召会作万有的头。作万有元首的地位，已经赐给了基督，这是神所给的恩赐。
15In 1:20-23 we see that Christ is also the all-things- heading-up Christ. God has seated Him at His right hand in the heavenlies and has subjected all things under His feet. Furthermore, Christ has been made Head over all things to the church. The headship over all things has been given to Christ as a gift from God
产生恩赐并赐下恩赐的基督
THE GIFT-MAKING AND GIFT-GIVING CHRIST
16四章启示，基督是产生恩赐并赐下恩赐的基督。（7～8，11～12。）因为基督向著召会作万有的头，祂就能产生恩赐，并将他们赐给召会。一章二十二节说基督向著召会作万有的头。『向著』这个小小的辞非常重要，含示一种传输。凡元首基督所达到、所得著的，现在都传输给祂的身体─召会。在这传输里，召会与基督同享祂所达到的一切。因为基督所是并所有的一切，已经传输给召会，祂就能把我们构成赐给祂身体的恩赐。
16Chapter four reveals that Christ is the gift-making and gift-giving Christ (4:7-8, 11-12). Because Christ is the Head over all things to the church, He is able to make gifts and to present them to the church. Ephesians 1:22 says that Christ is the Head over all things to the church. The little word to is crucial. It implies transmission. Whatever Christ, the Head, attained and obtained is transmitted to the church, His Body. In this transmission the church shares with Christ in all His attainments. Because all that Christ is and has is transmitted to the church, He is able to constitute us as gifts to the Body
17我们已经指出，基督藉著祂的降下和升上，将我们构成赐给召会的恩赐。藉著祂的历程，藉著祂在我们里面的降下和升上，我们就被作成赐给召会的有用恩赐。当召会生活在洛杉矶刚开始时，我们都感觉自己是软弱并无用的，我们不知道自己怎有可能照顾召会。然而，藉著基督的降下和升上，许多人已经被构成为有用的恩赐。扩展召会生活所需要的领导，乃是这样产生出来的。当弟兄们经历了基督的降下和升上，他们就成为正确的领导者，照顾主所兴起的众召会。这领导不是由人的教育或训练产生的，乃是由降下并升上的基督构成的。为著祂的历程，为著天和地、地和天之间，有美妙的双向交通，我们赞美主。藉著这样的来往交通，这位产生恩赐并赐下恩赐的基督，就产生恩赐，为著祂的身体。
17We have pointed out that it is through His descending and ascending that Christ constitutes us into gifts to the church. By His traveling, by His descending and ascending within us, we are made useful gifts to the church. When the church life first began in Los Angeles, we all had the sense that we were weak and useless. We wondered how we could possibly take care of the church. However, by Christ’s descending and ascending, many have been constituted into useful gifts. The leadership needed for the spread of the church life is produced in this way. As brothers experience the descending and ascending Christ, they become proper leaders to take care of the churches that are raised up by the Lord. This leadership is not produced by man’s education or training; it is constituted by the descending and ascending Christ. We need to praise the Lord for His traveling, for the marvelous two-way traffic between heaven and earth and between earth and heaven. It is through such traffic that the gift-making and gift-giving Christ produces gifts for His Body
安家的基督
THE HOME-MAKING CHRIST
18末了，如三章十七节所启示的，基督是安家的基督。祂不再无家可归，因为祂已安家在我们心里。基督越多定居在我们心里，祂就越能向撒但夸口说，祂在信徒里有一个家。愿我们都对基督的这五方面有深刻的印象。祂是爱召会的基督、创造新人的基督、将万有归一于一个元首之下的基督、产生恩赐并赐下恩赐的基督、以及安家的基督。我们有何等一位基督！
18Finally, as 3:17 reveals, Christ is the home-making Christ. He is no longer homeless, for He is making His home in our hearts. The more Christ settles down in our hearts, the more He can boast to Satan that He has a home in His believers. May we all be impressed with these five aspects of Christ. He is the church-loving Christ, the new-man- creating Christ, the all-things-heading-up-Christ, the gift-making and gift-giving Christ, and the home-making Christ. What a Christ we have