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以弗所书生命读经 · 第80篇

藉著长到基督里穿上新人

PUTTING ON THE NEW MAN BY GROWING UP INTO CHRIST
1读经：以弗所书4:12-16,22-24。我们已经指出，召会不仅是基督的身体，也是新人。召会是基督的身体，需要基督作生命。但召会是新人，需要基督作人位。譬如，树有生命，但没有人位，因此没有人格。然而，我们人有生命，也有人位，因为我们是人。
1Scripture Reading: Eph. 4:12-16, 22-24 We have pointed out that the church is not only the Body, but also the new man. As the Body, the church needs Christ as life. But as the new man, the church needs Christ as the person. For example, trees have life, but they do not have a person and therefore have no personality. As human beings, however, we have both life and personality, for we are persons
2基督成为我们心中的人位因为召会不仅是基督的身体，有基督作生命，召会也是新人，有基督作人位，所以保罗在以弗所三章十七节强调基督安家在我们心里的重要性。虽然我们的灵是盛装神的器皿，但灵不是人格的中心；人格的中心乃是心。我们人格的各种功用─我们的心思、情感和意志─直接与我们的心有关，而不是与我们的灵有关。因为人格所有的功用都集中于心，所以心是基督渴望安家的地方。基督这赐生命的灵，现今是在我们的灵里。然而，祂想要扩展到我们心里，并安家在其中。藉著重生，我们有基督作那灵在我们的灵里。但藉著变化，基督要从我们的灵扩展到我们的心里。每一个重生的人，都有基督在他的灵里，但没有多少人让基督扩展到他的心里。因这缘故，保罗祷告，要我们得以加强到里面的人里，使基督能安家在我们心里。（三16～17。）保罗似乎是告诉以弗所人：『因著你们得救了，也重生了，你们就有基督在你们的灵里。但我关心你们没有让基督扩展到你们的心里。因此，我为你们祷告，使你们藉著那灵，得以加强到你们的灵里，使基督能安家在你们心里。』
2CHRIST BECOMING THE PERSON IN OUR HEARTS Because the church is not only the Body with Christ as life but also the new man with Christ as the person, Paul in 3:17 emphasizes the importance of Christ making His home in our hearts. Although our spirit is a vessel to contain God, the spirit is not the center of personality. The center of personality is the heart. The various functions of our personality—our mind, emotion, and will—are directly related to our heart, not to our spirit. Because all the functions of personality are concentrated in the heart, it is the place where Christ desires to make His home. Christ as the life-giving Spirit is now in our spirit. However, He wants to spread into our hearts and make His home there. Through regeneration we have Christ as the Spirit in our spirit. But through transformation Christ will spread from our spirit into our heart. Every regenerated person has Christ in his spirit, but not many have allowed Christ to spread into their hearts. This is the reason Paul prayed that we would be strengthened into our inner man so that Christ may make His home in our hearts (3:16). It seems as if Paul wanted to tell the Ephesians, “Because you have been saved and regenerated, you have Christ in your spirit. But I’m concerned that you have not allowed Christ to spread into your hearts. Therefore, I pray for you that you may be strengthened in your spirit by the Spirit so that Christ may make His home in your hearts
3我们不仅需要接受基督在我们的灵里作生命，也需要接受祂在我们的心里作人位。当基督在我们的灵里时，祂是我们的生命。然而，当祂扩展到我们心里，祂也成了我们的人位。我们都有基督在我们的灵里，但我不知道基督扩展到我们心里有多少。
3We need to take Christ not only as the life in our spirit, but also as the person in our heart. When Christ is in our spirit, He is our life. However, when He spreads into our heart, He also becomes our person. We all have Christ in our spirit, but I wonder how much Christ has spread into our heart.
4姊妹们，你们上街购物时，有没有接受基督作你们的人位？你决定买东西时，有没有让祂安家在你心里？作决定的多半是你，不是基督。你有基督在灵里作生命，问题是你将祂限制在你的灵里。我深怕你会说，『主耶稣，你在我的灵里是我的生命，但在购物的事上，我要你留在我的灵里，让我照自己心里所想的买东西，我要买我喜欢的东西。主，我的灵是你的范围，但我的心得保留给我自己。』当你祷告时，你可能在灵里接触主；但你却离开祂，照著你自己的喜好和选择上街购物。当然，姊妹们可能没有说出这样的话，但这也许是她们的态度。恐怕许多姊妹没有与主商量上街购物的事。这指明在上街购物这件实际的事上，她们没有接受基督到心里作人位。仅仅有基督作生命，并不产生召会生活。我们要过正当的召会生活，就必须接受基督作我们的人位。请记得召会是新人，也是基督的身体。召会是新人，需要基督作人位。主要的难处不在于生命，乃在于人位。生命不需要调整，人位却需要改换。我们的心思、情感、意志，都需要被调整。召会生活不仅是我们接受基督作生命的问题，也是我们接受基督作人位的问题。很少圣徒充分的接受基督作他们的人位。接受基督作我们的人位，比接受祂作我们的生命更深、更高、更丰满。在以弗所三章，保罗不是祷告要圣徒们有基督作生命；他乃是祷告要他们能藉著让基督安家在他们心里，接受祂作人位。这是我们今天的需要。
4Sisters, do you take Christ as your person when you go shopping? Do you allow Him to make home in your heart as you are deciding what to buy? For the most part, you are the one who makes these decisions, not Christ. You have Christ in your spirit as life. The problem is that you confine Him to your spirit. Deep within I am afraid that you say, “Lord Jesus, You are my life in my spirit. But when it comes to shopping, I want You to stay in my spirit. Let me shop according to what is in my heart. I want to buy the things I like. Lord, my spirit is Your sphere. But my heart is reserved for me.” When you pray, you may contact the Lord in your spirit, only to leave Him and go shopping according to your own desire and choice. Of course, the sisters may not put this into words, but this may be their attitude. I doubt that many sisters consult the Lord about their shopping. This indicates that in the practical matter of shopping they do not take Christ as their person in their hearts. Simply having Christ as life does not produce the church life. In order to have the proper church life, we must take Christ as our person. Remember that the church is the new man as well as the Body. As the new man, the church needs Christ as the person. The main problem is not with the life, but with the person. There is no need to adjust the life, but there is the need for a change of person. Our mind, emotion, and will all need to be adjusted. With the church life, the problem is not only with our taking Christ as life; it is also with our taking Christ as our person. Very few saints take Christ as their person in an adequate way. To have Christ as our person is deeper, higher, and fuller than to have Him as our life. In Ephesians 3 Paul did not pray that the saints would have Christ as life. He prayed that they would take Him as their person by allowing Him to make His home in their hearts. This is our need today
5无论我们作甚么，我们都该藉著接受基督作我们的人位而作。问题不是我们作甚么，乃是谁在作。是我们，还是基督？上街购物时，问题不是我们打算要买甚么，乃是谁要买那样东西。是我们买，还是基督？我们若是没有接受基督作我们的人位，甚至连买一本圣经在主的眼中都是错的。因此，问题不是我们作甚么或买甚么，乃是谁在作那件事，谁在买那样东西。
5Whatever we do, we should do by taking Christ as our person. The question is not what we do, but who is doing it. Are we the ones, or is it Christ? Concerning shopping, it is not a matter of what we intend to buy; it is a matter of who is buying that particular item. Are we the ones buying it, or is it Christ? If we do not take Christ as our person, it may even be wrong in the eyes of the Lord to purchase a Bible. Hence, the question is not what we do or what we buy; it is who is doing that thing or buying that item
基督彰显在召会中
CHRIST EXPRESSED IN THE CHURCH
6基督要成为我们的人位，惟一的路就是让祂安家在我们心里。众地方召会的需要，乃是圣徒们接受基督作他们的生命，并藉著让基督安家在心里，接受祂作他们的人位。众召会是主在地上的见证。但这见证必须有内里的实际。我很难过的说，召会有可能成为空的壳子，没有内容的壳子。召会的内容必须是我们所接受进来，作生命和人位的基督。我们若接受基督作我们的人位，当我们聚在一起时，基督就要从我们的灵，藉著我们的心彰显出来。所有与会的人会感觉到，基督与我们同在，作我们的生命和我们的人位。地方召会的聚会，必须是基督的彰显。基督不仅是得胜、优越的生命，也是实际、与我们同在、活的人位。每当我们在聚会中见证，别人能看出我们有没有接受基督作我们的人位。我们若是忠信的接受基督作人位，我们会在聚会中享受主耶稣的同在。事实上，聚会甚至就是祂的同在，因为祂要从我们里面彰显出来。我们必须为自己，也为别人祷告，使我们在日常生活中有接受基督作人位的实际。我们作每一件事，都不该凭自己作，乃该凭基督而作。祂的口味和爱好，必须成为我们的口味和爱好。这样，基督就不仅是我们的生命，也是我们的人位；然后，主就要在我们心里扩大，占有我们的心，并完全安家在我们心里。至终，祂要以祂自己浸透我们全人，我们就不再凭自己而活，乃凭基督而活。这事越多成为我们的经历，召会的聚会就越是主耶稣的同在。在这样的聚会中，不太需要传扬、教导、或运用恩赐，因为基督藉著众圣徒彰显出来了。因著基督在众圣徒的经历中是这样丰富、便利、应时且实际，他们就能彼此分享基督。这样的聚会和今天基督教里的『崇拜』，有何等的不同！
6The only way for Christ to be our person is for Him to make His home in our hearts. The need in all the local churches is for the saints to take Christ both as their life and as their person by allowing Him to make His home in their hearts. The churches are the Lord’s testimony on earth. But this testimony must have an inward reality. I am sorry to say that it is possible for the church to be an empty shell, a shell without content. The content of the church must be the very Christ whom we take as life and as our person. If we take Christ as our person, then as we come to gether in the meetings Christ will be expressed from our spirit and through our heart. All those who come will sense that Christ is present both as our life and as our person. The meetings of a local church must be the expression of Christ. Christ is not only the victorious and prevailing life, but also a practical, present, living Person. Whenever we testify in the meetings, others will be able to tell whether or not we have been taking Christ as our person. If we are faithful to take Christ as our person, we shall enjoy the presence of the Lord Jesus in the meetings. In fact, the meetings will even be His presence, for He will be expressed from within us. We need to pray for ourselves and for others to have the reality of taking Christ as our person in our daily living. Everything we do should be done not by the self, but by Christ. His tastes and preferences need to become ours. Then Christ will be not only our life, but also our person. The Lord will thus expand in our heart, take possession of our heart, and make His home in our heart in a full way. Eventually, He will saturate our whole being with Himself, and we shall live no longer by the self, but by Christ. The more this becomes our experience, the more the meetings of the church will be the presence of the Lord Jesus. In such meetings there is little need for preaching, teaching, or the exercise of gifts, because Christ is expressed through the saints. Because Christ is so rich, available, present, and practical in the experience of the saints, they will be able to share Christ with one another. What a difference between such meetings and the “services” in today’s Christianity!
构成恩赐
CONSTITUTED INTO GIFTS
7我们在以弗所四章看见，当得胜的基督升天时，祂领了一队掳掠的仇敌，并将他们构成恩赐，赐给祂的身体。我们已经指出，我们成为恩赐，乃是藉著经历基督在我们里面的降下和升上。
7In Ephesians 4 we see that when the victorious Christ ascended, He led a train of vanquished foes and constituted them into gifts to His Body. We have pointed out that we become gifts through experiencing Christ’s descending and ascending within us.
8保罗是基督赐给祂身体最有用的恩赐。在被构成赐给召会的恩赐以前，保罗是基督的仇敌，且是逼迫召会的人。虽然如此，主耶稣向保罗显现时，他被打败了。他仆倒在地，说，『主阿，你是谁？』藉著呼喊主耶稣的名，他得救了，主进到他里面。那时，大数的扫罗就成了一个被掳掠的仇敌。在以后的年日中，他继续经历基督在他里面的降下和升上。至终，藉著经历基督这样的历程，保罗成为一个赐给基督身体的杰出恩赐。在我们身上，原则也是一样。虽然我们从前是主的仇敌，但有一天，也许就在我们往大马色的路上，祂遇见了我们。主征服了我们，俘掳了我们，并把我们摆在祂所掳掠之仇敌的行列中。现今，藉著在我们里面升上和降下，祂把我们构成恩赐，赐给祂的身体。许多基督徒以为只有领头的使徒、申言者、传福音者、牧人和教师，才是赐给召会的恩赐。然而，我们若读四章七节的上下文，就看见每一个肢体，包括我们每一个人，都是赐给基督身体的恩赐。在四章十六节，保罗说到『每一部分』，那就是指每一个肢体。基督身体的每一个肢体，若是被降下、升上的基督所构成，就都可成为恩赐。
8Paul is the most useful gift given by Christ to His Body. Before being constituted a gift to the church, Paul was an enemy of Christ and a persecutor of the church. Nevertheless, when the Lord Jesus appeared to him, Paul was defeated. He fell to the ground, and said, “Who art thou, Lord?” By calling on the name of the Lord Jesus, he was saved, and the Lord came into him. At that moment, Saul of Tarsus became a vanquished foe. In the years to follow, he went on to experience Christ’s descending and ascending within him. Eventually, through this experience of the traveling Christ, Paul became an outstanding gift to the Body. The principle is the same with us. Although we were once enemies of the Lord, one day He met us, perhaps as we were on our road to Damascus. The Lord vanquished us, captured us, and put us in His train of vanquished foes. Now, by descending and ascending within us, He is constituting us into gifts to His Body. Many Christians think only the leading apostles, prophets, evangelists, and shepherds and teachers are gifts to the church. However, if we read 4:7 in context, we shall see that every member, including every one of us, is a gift to the Body. In 4:16 Paul speaks of every part, that is, every member. Every member of the Body may be a gift if he is constituted by the descending and ascending Christ.
藉著供应基督
PERFECTING THE SAINTS
而成全圣徒
THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF CHRIST
9四章十二节说到成全圣徒。成全圣徒主要的不是教训他们，乃是把基督供应给他们。圣徒所需要的不是知识道理，乃是基督的供应。每当有人把基督供应给我们，我们自然而然就感觉得著𫗪养和滋养，感觉我们接受了基督作我们食物的供应。藉著这样的供应，我们得了加强并蒙光照。
9Ephesians 4:12 speaks of the perfecting of the saints. To perfect the saints is not mainly to teach them; it is to minister Christ to them. What the saints need is not the knowledge of doctrine, but the ministering of Christ. Whenever someone ministers Christ to us, we spontaneously have the sense that we are fed and nourished, that we have received Christ as our food supply. Through this supply we are strengthened and enlightened
10然而，有些人带著诱惑人的问题来到我们这里时，情形就完全不一样了。当蛇在园子里接触夏娃时，牠问：『神岂是真说…？』照样，消极的人常题出试探的问题。我们需要立刻认清，这样的问题不是从主来的。那些这样接触我们的人，不是供应基督；他们不是用食物供应我们，他们没有浇灌我们，没有加强我们、使我们明亮、或装备我们。他们所发的问题，结果乃是带来黑暗和死亡。我们一察觉这种说话，就必须向这种说话关闭，拒绝接受。
10However, it is altogether different when someone comes to us with enticing questions. When the serpent contacted Eve in the garden, he asked, “Has God said?” In like manner, negative ones often raise tempting questions. We need to realize immediately that such questions do not come from the Lord. Those who contact us in this way do not minister Christ. They do not supply us with food, they do not water us, and they do not strengthen, enlighten, or equip us. The effect of their questions is darkness and death. As soon as we are aware of this kind of speaking, we must close ourselves to it and refuse to take it in.
11圣徒所需要的，乃是基督供应到他们里面。这是召会生活所必需的。在我们一切与圣徒的接触上，都当供应基督作生命的供应。领头的恩赐，乃是藉著这样供应基督来成全圣徒。圣徒越多得著活的基督的供应，他们就越被成全。
11What the saints need is to have Christ ministered into them. This is necessary for the church life. In all our contact with the saints there should be the ministry of Christ as the life supply. The leading gifts are to perfect the saints through such a ministry of Christ. The more the saints are supplied with the living Christ, the more they are perfected
在特定的事上长大
GROWING IN PARTICULAR MATTERS
12当圣徒藉著基督的供应被成全时，他们就长大到基督里。我们有基督在我们里面，但在许多事上，我们仍然在自己里面。因此，我们需要长大，使我们脱离自己，而进到基督里。教训办不到这事，只有藉著供应基督作食物和滋养才办得到。四章十五节的长到基督里，相当于二十四节的穿上新人。穿上新人惟一的路，乃是长到基督里。我们越长到基督里，就越穿上新人。穿上新人，乃是在正当的召会生活里。我们若没有长到基督里，就无法在召会生活里。我们需要在日常生活的每个细节上，譬如，在上街购物或是谈话的时候，长到基督里。我们的说话常常是天然的，没有基督。说话要脱离天然，惟一的路就是藉著长到基督里，而脱去这种天然的说话。我们若在说话的事上长到基督里，至终我们的说话就会在基督里。藉著在这特定的事上长到基督里，我们就自然而然更多的穿上新人。有些地方的圣徒们非常爱主；然而，他们相当天然。他们差不多每一件事都是天然的；他们的行为、美德、说话的方式都是天然的。他们身上没有长到基督里的记号。这对内住的灵乃是困扰，祂渴望召会能实化为新人。为了穿上召会生活作这一个新人的彰显，我们需要藉著长到基督里，而脱去一切天然的事。我们若有四章十三和十五节所说的成全和长大，我们就必定会穿上新人。
12As the saints are perfected through the ministry of Christ, they will grow up into Christ. We have Christ within us, but in many matters we are still in the self. Hence, we need the growth that will bring us out of ourselves and into Christ. Teaching cannot do this. This can be done only through the ministry of Christ as food and nourishment. The growth into Christ in 4:15 is equal to the putting on of the new man in verse 24. The only way to put on the new man is to grow up into Christ. The more we grow into Christ, the more we put on the new man. To put on the new man is to be in the proper church life. We cannot be in the church life if we do not grow into Christ. We need to grow up into Christ in all the details of our daily living, for example, in shopping and in talking. Often our talk is natural and devoid of Christ. The only way to be free from such a natural way of speaking is to grow out of it by growing up into Christ. If we grow in Christ in the matter of talking, our talk will eventually be in Christ. By growing up into Christ in this particular matter, we spontaneously put on more of the new man. In some localities the saints love the Lord very much; however, they are quite natural. Nearly everything about them—their behavior, their virtues, their way of speaking—is natural. With them there is no sign of having grown up into Christ. This is disturbing to the indwelling Spirit, who longs for the church to be realized as the new man. In order to put on the church life as the expression of the one new man, we need to grow out of everything natural by growing up into Christ. If we have the perfection with the growth spoken of in 4:13 and 15, surely we shall put on the new man
正当的团体生活
THE PROPER COMMUNITY LIFE
13当我们长到基督里，我们也会脱去旧人，特别是脱去从前的生活样式。旧人的生活样式就是老旧的社会生活，老旧的团体生活。每一个受造的人都需要团体生活。我们得救之前，有某种的社会生活。现在我们得救了，我们的社会生活需要有改变。这意思是说，我们需要改变团体。召会生活是最好的『社会生活』。我们能彀见证，在召会生活中，我们从前的社会生活已经换成最好的团体生活。为著召会中的『社会生活』，赞美主！
13As we grow into Christ, we shall also put off the old man, especially regarding the former manner of life. The manner of life of the old man is the old social life, the old community life. By creation, every human being needs a community life. Before we were saved, we had a certain kind of social life. Now that we are saved our social life needs a change. This means that we need a change of community. The church life is the best “social life.” We can testify that in the church life our former social life has been exchanged for the best community life. Praise the Lord for the “social life” in the church
稳定的召会生活
A STABLE CHURCH LIFE
14然而我们若宣告召会是我们的团体生活，却没有长到基督里，我们在召会生活中就不会稳定。有人说他们是为著召会生活，但是，当他们对召会中某些事情失望时，他们就离开了。这指明他们没有藉著长到基督里，真实的穿上召会生活。穿上召会生活，惟一的路就是在凡事上长到基督里面。假如一位姊妹没有在购物的事上长到基督里，只要她在这件事上缺少长大，她的召会生活就不会完全稳固。我们的召会生活是否可靠，乃是根据于我们有没有在特定的事上长到基督里。我们若没有长到基督里，我们可能在召会生活里一天，隔天就离开了。为了稳定的召会生活，我们需要在特定的方式上长到基督里。我们再一次看见，穿上新人就是长大。
14However, if we proclaim that the church is our community life but we do not grow into Christ, we shall not be stable in the church life. Some say that they are for the church life. However, when they are disappointed with something in the church, they leave. This indicates that they have not truly put on the church life by growing up into Christ. The only way to put on the church life is to grow up into Christ in all things. Suppose a sister does not grow up into Christ in her shopping. As long as she lacks growth in this matter, her church life will not be altogether secure. The security of our church life depends upon our growing up into Christ in particular matters. If we do not grow up into Christ, we may be in the church life one day and gone the next. For a steady church life, we need to grow up into Christ in particular ways. Once again we see that to put on the new man is to grow
15我们所需要的不是一般的长大，乃是特定的长大。譬如，一个弟兄也许需要在他剪头发或对待妻子的事上长到基督里。在我们日常生活的这些方面，我们若没有显出任何的长大，别人也许很有理由对我们在召会生活中的稳固打上问号。惟有藉著在特定的事上长大，我们的召会生活才会稳定、稳妥并可靠。我们越长到基督里，就越穿上召会生活。召会生活不是在于好品行或好行为，召会生活完全是在于在特定的事上长到基督里。藉著天天在基督里长大，我们就渐渐脱去老旧的社会生活，并穿上召会─新人，作新的团体生活。当我们长大时，我们就接受基督作我们的生命和人位。长大是根据于基督安家在我们心里。我们若不给基督机会安家在我们里面，我们就无法接受祂作人位，也无法有在基督里真正的长大。我们惟有藉著接受祂作我们的人位，才能在基督里长大。我们越接受基督作我们的人位，就越在特定的事上长到基督里。结果就是我们越穿上召会生活。
15What we need is not growth in a general way, but in particular ways. For example, a brother may need to grow up into Christ in the way he cuts his hair or in the way he deals with his wife. If we do not show any growth in such aspects of our daily life, others may rightfully question the security of our life in the church. Only by growing in particular things will our church life become steady, stable, and secure. The more we grow in Christ, the more of the church life we put on. The church life is not a matter of good character or good works. It is altogether a matter of growth into Christ in particular things. By growing day by day in Christ, we gradually put off the old social life and put on the church the new man as the new community life. As we grow, we take Christ both as our life and as our person. Growth depends upon Christ making His home in our hearts. If we do not give Christ the opportunity to make His home in us, we can neither take Him as our person nor have the genuine growth in Christ. We grow in Christ only by taking Him as our person. The more we take Christ as our person, the more we grow up into Christ in particular things. The result is that we put on more of the church life.
16我们很可能仅仅在外表上过召会生活。然而，我们若没有藉著接受基督作我们的人位而长到祂里面，我们就不是在召会生活的实际里。召会生活的实际和实行，在于长到基督里，而这事又是根据于在特定的事上接受基督作我们的人位。当我们接受基督作我们的人位并长到祂里面，召会生活就构成到我们里面，我们就成为召会的一部分。这就是正当的召会生活。
16It is possible to be in the church life merely in an outward way. However, if we do not grow in Christ by taking Him as our person, we are not in the church life in reality. The reality and practicality of the church life consists in growing up into Christ, which in turn is based upon taking Christ as our person in particular matters. As we take Christ as our person and grow up into Him, the church life is constituted into our being, and we become part of the church. This is the proper church life