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腓立比书生命读经 · 第23篇

藉著竭力追求基督而赢得祂

GAINING CHRIST BY PURSUING HIM
1读经：腓立比书三章十二至十四节。
1Scripture Reading: Phil. 3:12-14
壹 不是已经完全了，乃是竭力追求
I. NOT YET PERFECTED, BUT PURSUING
2在腓立比三章七至十一节，保罗给我们经历基督的路。在十二至十四节保罗将七至十一节所陈明的事应用到自己身上。在十二节他说，『这不是说，我已经得著了，或已经完全了，我乃是竭力追求，或者可以取得基督耶稣所以取得我的。』完全了，原文也有完成了，或在生命里成熟了的意思。保罗在这里的意思是他仍在长大，因他不以为自己是达到了成熟的人。即使保罗在生命里这样长进，对基督有这么多的经历，他还得说他不是已经得著了，或已经完全了，我们对自己就更该有这样的态度了！在十二节保罗说，『我乃是竭力追求，或者可以取得基督耶稣所以取得我的。』取得，原文也可译为赢得，抓住，据有，甚至可译为握住。为了简明起见，在本篇信息中，我们将用赢得这辞。保罗渴望赢得基督耶稣所以赢得他的。保罗在悔改信主时，被基督赢得。基督赢得保罗，目的是要保罗赢得祂。
2In 3:7-11 Paul gives us the way to experience Christ. In verses 12 through 14 Paul applies to himself the things presented in verses 7 through 11. In verse 12 he says, “Not that I have already obtained or am already perfected, but I pursue, if also I may lay hold of that for which I also have been laid hold of by Christ Jesus.” The Greek word rendered perfected also means “completed or matured in life.” Paul’s meaning here is that he was still growing, for he did not regard himself as one who had reached maturity. If Paul needed to say that he had not already obtained or was not already perfected, even though he had so much growth in life and so much experience of Christ, how much more should we have such an attitude about ourselves! In verse 12 Paul says, “I pursue, if also I may lay hold of that for which I also have been laid hold of by Christ Jesus.” The Greek word translated “lay hold of” may also be rendered “gain, grasp, or get possession of.” It may even be rendered “seize.” For simplicity, in this message we shall use the word gain. Paul aspired to gain that for which he had been gained by Christ Jesus. At the time of his conversion Paul was gained by Christ. Christ had gained Paul with the intention that Paul would gain Him
3很少基督徒像保罗这样说到自己的悔改信主。你有没有听人说过，他悔改相信时，基督赢得祂，好叫他赢得基督？我们需要看见，基督赢得了我们，好叫我们赢得祂。然后我们需要用保罗的发表，来拔高我们关于悔改信主的谈话。基督赢得我们，不仅仅是为著赦免、救赎、救恩、或天堂的缘故。我再说，祂赢得我们，是为著确定的目的，好叫我们赢得祂。你知道你被基督赢得了么？你悔改相信的时候，基督就取得你、握住你、抓住你。你悔改归向基督时，祂就完全占有了你。现今你不可能逃脱祂的掌握。全地都握在主手中。你怎能期望逃离祂？主非常有忍耐；祂不轻易被得罪或发怒。有时候基督徒错讲主耶稣，给人错误的印象，以为人若作错事，祂会立刻发怒。然而，主也许容忍你相当久，却没有向你发怒。祂没有因你想要逃离祂而受困扰。祂知道一旦祂赢得了你，你就离不开了。
3Not many Christians speak of their conversion in the way Paul spoke of his. Have you ever heard anyone say that at the time he was converted Christ gained him so that he might gain Christ? We need to realize that Christ has gained us that we might gain Him. Then we need to use Paul’sex press i on to uplift our conversation about conversion. Christ gained us not merely for the sake of forgiveness, redemption, salvation, or heaven. I repeat, He gained us for the definite purpose that we might gain Him. Do you realize that you have been gained by Christ? At the time of your conversion, Christ laid hold of you, seized you, grasped you. When you were converted to Christ, He took full possession of you. Now it is impossible for you to escape His grasp. The Lord holds the whole earth in His hands. How do you expect to be able to runaway from Him? The Lord is very patient; He is not easily offended or angered. Sometimes Christians misrepresent the Lord Jesus and give others the impression that He will immediately become angry if they do something wrong. However, the Lord may bear with you quite a long time without becoming angry with you. He is not troubled by your attempts to escape from Him. He knows that once He has gained you, you cannot get away.
4我们初次呼求主耶稣的名而得救时，就被主『钩住』了。呼求主是非常重要的事，因我们呼求祂，就被祂赢得。一旦主赢得我们，我们就无法逃离祂。有些人曾见证，他们多年想要离开主，至终却必须归向祂。主据有我们，好叫我们据有祂。这是祂抓住我们的目的。基督要我们赢得祂。主在祂救恩里的目标是要握住我们，好叫我们完全据有祂。甚至保罗写腓立比书时，他也不以为自己已经完全赢得了基督。反之，他仍然竭力追求基督以赢得祂。在腓立比三章保罗使用三个希腊字，译为赢得、得著和取得。这些辞的意义非常接近，因为得著就是赢得，赢得就是取得。这些辞最强的是取得。基督取得了我们，好叫我们取得祂。祂赢得了我们，好叫我们赢得祂。因此，基督徒的生活是赢得基督的生活。你赢得了基督有多少？这是要紧的问题。我们乃是藉著赢得基督而在生命里长大。我们赢得基督的程度，就是我们凭基督长大的程度。我们都需要赢得基督，好在生命里长大。属灵的长大由我们赢得基督有多少来衡量。
4When we first called on the name of the Lord Jesus for our salvation, we were “hooked” by the Lord. It is a very important matter to call on the Lord, for when we call on Him, we are gained by Him. Once the Lord has gained us, there is no escaping from Him. Some have testified that they tried to get away from the Lord for many years, but eventually had to return to Him. The Lord has taken possession of us so that we might take possession of Him. This was His purpose in grasping us. Christ wants us to gain Him. The Lord’sa i min His salvation is to seize us that we might take full possession of Him. Not even when Paul was writing to the Philippians did he regard himself as having gained Christ in a full way. Rather, he was still pursuing Christ in order to gain Him. In Philippians 3 Paul uses three Greek words that are rendered gained, obtained, and laid hold of. The meaning of these words is very close, for to obtain is to gain, and to gain is to lay hold of. The strongest of these expressions is lay hold of. Christ has laid hold of us that we might lay hold of Him. He has gained us that we might gain Him. Thus, the Christian life is a life of gaining Christ. How much have you gained of Christ? This is a crucial question. We grow in life by gaining Christ. The degree to which we have gained Christ is the degree to which we have grown with Christ. We all need to gain Christ in order to grow in life. Spiritual growth is measured by how much we have gained of Christ
5我盼望圣徒们说到悔改信主和得救的时候，会用三章十二节来增进他们的语汇。照著这节，悔改信主的意思是基督赢得人，好叫这人赢得祂。赢得基督是一生之久的事。日复一日，我们的标竿该是赢得祂。保罗甚至在被监禁的期间，仍竭力追求基督以赢得祂。保罗在十二节用小小的辞『或者』，指明他不确定自己在生命里的长大。确信我们的得救是对的，但不要确定我们在生命里的长大。我们若确信自己在生命里已经长大到很长进的程度，我们可能还没有长大到那个程度。我们该与保罗同说，『或者可以取得…。』
5I hope that the saints will use 3:12 to improve their vocabulary concerning conversion and salvation. According to this verse, conversion means that Christ gains a person so that this person may gain Him. Gaining Christ is a lifelong matter. Day by day our goal should be to gain Him. Even during his imprisonment, Paul was pursuing Christ in order to gain Him. Paul’su se of the little word if in verse 12 indicates that he was not certain about his growth in life. It is right to be sure of our salvation, but not to be certain of our growth in life. If we have the assurance that we have grown in life to an advanced degree, we probably have not grown to that extent. We should join Paul in saying, “If also I may lay hold....”
6在十三至十四节保罗继续说，『弟兄们，我不是以为自己已经取得了，我只有一件事，就是忘记背后，努力面前的，向著标竿竭力追求，要得神在基督耶稣里，召我向上去得的奖赏。』即使保罗已经相当经历并赢得基督，他也不是以为自己已经完全经历了，已经彻底赢得了。为这缘故，他仍然向著标竿前进，要赢得基督到最完满的地步。在十三节保罗说到忘记背后。为著要赢得基督到最完满的地步，保罗不但抛弃他在犹太教里的经历，也不停留在他已往对基督的经历中，而受其限制，他乃是忘记背后。不论已往的经历多真实，我们若停留其中，怀记不忘，就会受阻挠，不能进一步追求基督。在十三节保罗告诉我们，他努力面前的。他认识基督的丰富追测不尽，有广阔的范围让我们去取得。他就努力向前，要赢得这些丰富，更多进入这范围。
6In verses 13 and 14 Paul goes on to say, “Brothers, I do not yet reckon myself to have laid hold, but one thing— forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before, I pursue toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Even though Paul had experienced and gained Christ tremendously, he did not consider that he had experienced Him in full or gained Him to the uttermost. For this reason he was still advancing toward the goal— the gaining of Christ to the fullest extent. In verse 13 Paul speaks of forgetting the things behind. In order to gain Christ to the fullest extent, Paul not only forsook his experience in Judaism but also refused to dwell on his past experiences of Christ and be limited by them. To dwell on our past experiences, no matter how real they may have been, frustrates our further pursuing after Christ. In verse 13 Paul tells us that he was stretching forward to the things which are before. He knew that Christ is unsearchably rich, that there is a vast territory of His riches to be possessed. He was stretching forward to gain these riches and to advance further into this territory.
7保罗向著标竿竭力追求，为要得著奖赏。基督是标竿，也是奖赏。标竿是最完满的享受基督，赢得基督；奖赏是在千年国里，对基督极点的享受。这要作奔跑新约赛程之得胜者的赏赐。为了达到标竿，得著奖赏，保罗操练忘记背后，努力面前的。这是藉著竭力追求基督而赢得祂的路。虽然保罗是成熟的圣徒，非常老练的使徒，但他告诉我们，他不是已经得著了，已经完全了。他不以为自己得著了对基督完满的享受，或在生命里完全的成熟。当然，他藉著信徒共同的信，得了信徒共有的救恩，（提前一14～16，）但他仍竭力追求基督以赢得祂。不但如此，保罗也追求基督以得著复活特殊的分。要得著这复活的分，就是杰出的复活，我们必须竭力追求，奔跑赛程，并得胜的跑完我们的路程。我们和保罗一样蒙了重生，但我们还没有在生命里完全或成熟。我们悔改相信的时候，就被基督赢得，好叫我们赢得祂。现今我们是还没有得著，还没有完全的人，我们一直竭力追求基督。
7Paul was pursuing toward the goal for the prize. Christ is both the goal and the prize. The goal is the fullest enjoyment and gain of Christ, and the prize is the uttermost enjoyment of Christ in the millennial kingdom as a reward to the victorious runners of the New Testament race. In order to reach the goal for the prize, Paul was exercised to forget the things which are behind and to stretch forward to the things which are before. This is the way to gain Christ by pursuing Him. Even though Paul was a matured saint and a very experienced apostle, he tells us that he had not already obtained and had not yet been perfected. He did not regard himself as one who had obtained the full enjoyment of Christ or the full maturity in life. He, of course, had obtained the common salvation by the common faith (1 Tim. 1:14-16), but he was still pursuing Christ in order to gain Him. Furthermore, Paul was also seeking Christ in order to have the extra portion of resurrection. In order to have this portion of resurrection, called the out - resurrection, we must pursue, run the race, and finish our course triumphantly. Like Paul, we have been regenerated, but we are not yet perfected, or matured, in life. At the time of our conversion, we were gained by Christ so that we may gain Him. Now as those who have not yet obtained and who have not yet been perfected, we are pursuing Christ.
贰 竭力追求的路
II. THE WAY TO PURSUE
8竭力追求基督的路，第一面是我们不认为自己已经得著了。在这之后，我们需要作一件事：忘记背后，努力面前的。我们竭力追求的标竿是对基督完满的享受，而奖赏乃是对基督特殊的享受。我信对基督享受这特殊的分将在千年国里。在千年国里，得胜者要特别的享受基督。这对基督特别的享受，相当于十一节里杰出的复活。这杰出的复活可用高中毕业班一些人的经历来说明。毕业的时候，一些卓越的学生会享受特殊的分。虽然数百名学生也许同时毕业，但只有少数人会享受这特别的分。同样，所有在主回来以前死了的信徒都要复活，但有些人会享受特别的复活，卓越的复活。保罗说这是从死人中杰出的复活，给那些成功的奔跑新约赛程之信徒作奖赏。
8The first aspect of the way to pursue Christ is that we do not consider ourselves to have gained. Following this, we need to do one thing: forget the things which are behind and stretch forward to the things which are before. The goal toward which we are pursuing is the full enjoyment of Christ, and the prize is the extra enjoyment of Christ. I believe this extra portion of the enjoyment of Christ will be in the millennial kingdom. In the millennial kingdom the overcomers will enjoy Christ in an extraordinary way. This extraordinary enjoyment of Christ corresponds to the out-resurrection in verse 11. This out-resurrection can be illustrated by the experience of a few members of a high school graduating class. At the time of graduation, a few outstanding students will enjoy an extra portion. Although hundreds of students may graduate at the same time, only a small number will enjoy this special portion. In like manner, all believers who die before the Lord comes back will be resurrected, but some will enjoy an extraordinary resurrection, an outstanding resurrection. Paul speaks of this as the out-resurrection from among the dead, a prize to those believers who are successful in running the New Testament race
9许多基督徒持守一个观念，以为主回来时，只要他们复活，就不会有任何问题。这观念是错误的。圣经启示所有的不信者都要复活。照著约翰五章二十八至二十九节，有两种复活：第一种是生命的复活，第二种是审判（定罪）的复活。所有死了的信徒都要复活得生命，就是得救恩。然而，不信者要在千年国以后复活被定罪而灭亡。复活不只有一种；因此，按这原则，我们不该说，人只要复活，就不会有任何问题。复活的信徒和不信者也许仍然面临问题。复活的时候，不但信徒和不信者的复活有区别，基督徒中间的复活也有区别。不错，我们都要复活。但许多人会仅仅一般的有分于复活；他们不会享受杰出的复活。他们要像大多数高中毕业班的人。然而，其他的人会享受复活特殊的分。他们会像毕业班少数享受卓越毕业的人。
9Many Christians hold the concept that as long as they are resurrected when the Lord comes back, they will not have any problems. This concept is wrong. The Bible reveals that all unbelievers will be resurrected. According to John 5:28-29, there are two classes of resurrection: the first class is resurrection to life, and the second is resurrection to condemnation. All the believers who have died will be resurrected unto life, that is, unto salvation. However, the unbelievers will be resurrected after the millennium unto condemnation, unto perdition. In light of the principle that there is more than one kind of resurrection, we should not say that simply because a person will be resurrected he will not have any problems. Resurrected believers as well as unbelievers may still face a problem. There will be a distinction not only between the resurrection of the believers and the unbelievers, but also a distinction among Christians at the time of resurrection. Yes, we shall all be resurrected. But many will participate in resurrection merely in a common way; they will not enjoy the out- resurrection. They will be like the majority of a high school graduating class. Others, however, will enjoy the extra portion of resurrection. They will be like the few out of the graduating class who enjoy an outstanding graduation
10有些基督徒也许不赞同把三章十四节的标竿和奖赏解释为与千年国有关。但无论我们怎样解释这节，事实仍是：有个标竿要我们去达到，有个奖赏要我们去赢得。我不坚持我对这节的解释，但我要将你指向标竿和奖赏。要达到标竿，赢得奖赏，你必须跑得正确；不然，你会达不到标竿，得不著奖赏。
10Some Christians may not agree with the interpretation that the goal and the prize in 3:14 are related to the millennial kingdom. But no matter how we interpret this verse, the fact remains that there is a goal for us to reach and a prize for us to gain. I do not insist on my interpretation of this verse, but I would point you to the goal and the prize. In order to reach the goal and gain the prize, you must run in a proper way. Otherwise, you will come short of the goal and fail to receive the prize.
11身为信徒，你必会复活，但不要满意于这事实。不错，你会在复活里『毕业』，但你会得著复活特殊的分么？不要受今天基督徒所欢迎之教训的影响，以为所有的信徒都要在千年国里作王。所有的真信徒都永远得救；然而，就赏赐而论，并非所有的基督徒都在同样的水平上。基督回来的时候，将是赏赐的时候。我们是否从祂得著赏赐，在于我们今天如何奔跑赛程。
11Do not be content with the fact that, as a believer, you will be resurrected. Yes, you will “graduate” in resurrection, but will you have the extra portion of resurrection? Do not be under the influence of the teaching popular with Christians today that all believers will be kings in the millennium. All true believers are eternally saved. However, not all Christians will be on the same level as far as reward is concerned. The time Christ comes back will be the time of reward. Whether or not we receive a reward from Him depends on how we run the race today
参 神召我们向上去得之奖赏的标竿
III. THE GOAL FOR THE PRIZE of the high calling
12我们曾指出，标竿是完满的享受基督，赢得基督；奖赏将是在千年国里对基督极点的享受，作奔跑新约赛程之得胜者的赏赐。这奖赏乃是神在基督耶稣里召我们向上去得的奖赏。召我向上，就是去得神从上头、从诸天之上召我去得的奖赏。这属天的呼召，（来三1，）与二十节在诸天之上的国籍相符，不像那赐给在肉体里之以色列人属地的呼召。这向上的呼召，是要得著基督；而向以色列人属地的呼召，是要得著物质的地土。我们所得著的不是属地的呼召，乃是向上的呼召，属天的呼召。神呼召我们去赢得基督作我们真正的地土。在豫表里，神用属地的呼召来呼召以色列人去赢得美地。现今神用属天的呼召来呼召我们去赢得基督。我愿再次强调，我们需要顾到三章十四节里的一些事实。无论我们怎样解释保罗论到标竿和奖赏的话，我们都不能否认，二者都是事实，包含一些重点。即使你不赞同奖赏是在千年国里对基督拔尖的享受这种解释，你仍需要顾到有个奖赏要你去得著的事实。我们要得著奖赏，就必须达到标竿；我们要达到标竿，就必须奔跑赛程。这些事实非常重要。
12We have pointed out that the goal is the full enjoyment and gain of Christ and that the prize will be the uttermost enjoyment of Christ in the millennial kingdom as a reward to the victorious runners of the New Testament race. This prize is the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. The Greek word rendered high means “above.” The high calling is the calling by God from above, from the heavens. It is a heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1), corresponding to the heavenly citizenship in verse 20, not an earthly one like that given to the children of Israel in the flesh. This high calling is to take possession of Christ, whereas the earthly calling to the children of Israel was to take possession of a physical land. We have received not an earthly calling, but a high calling, a heavenly calling. God has called us to gain Christ as our real land. In typology, God called Israel with an earthly calling to gain the good land. Now God has called us with a heavenly calling to gain Christ. Once again I wish to emphasize that we need to take care of certain facts in 3:14. No matter how we may interpret Paul’sword concerning the goal and the prize, we cannot deny that both are facts with certain points. Even if you do not agree with the interpretation that the prize is the top enjoyment of Christ in the millennial kingdom, you still need to take care of the fact that there is a prize for you to obtain. To receive the prize we must reach the goal, and to reach the goal we must run the race. These facts are of great importance
13我们来看这些事实时，需要照著腓立比三章的上下文，将其应用于我们的情形。在这章里保罗给我们看见，我们需要赢得基督。基督是标竿，也是奖赏。不要受打岔，想努力明白你达到标竿时会得著怎样的奖赏。要紧的是你要领悟，照著神圣的启示，神设立了基督作你的标竿和奖赏。不但如此，祂呼召了你向著标竿努力往前。有些基督徒也许争辩，三章十四节里的奖赏不是指千年国里的享受。我再说，即使你不赞同这解释，你也无法逃避神的确有奖赏要给我们的事实。照著腓立比三章的上下文，标竿和奖赏都是基督。不然，为甚么保罗会说，基督赢得了他，好叫他赢得基督？在十二节他说，『我乃是竭力追求，或者可以取得基督耶稣所以取得我的。』然后在十三至十四节他继续说，『弟兄们，我不是以为自己已经取得了，我只有一件事，就是忘记背后，努力面前的，向著标竿竭力追求，要得神在基督耶稣里，召我向上去得的奖赏。』我劝你留意神设立了标竿，豫备了奖赏的事实。我也劝你留意，需要好好奔跑赛程，忘记背后，努力面前的，竭力追求基督。我相信『面前的』就是关于基督和祂的身体，召会的事。让我们都忘记背后，留意我们前面光明的前途，就是赢得基督，并在祂的身体里经历祂到极点。我们不该仅仅满意于圣经的知识，甚至对腓立比三章的认识。我们需要真实的竭力追求基督。竭力追求，原文也可译为逼迫。保罗在得救前，是逼迫基督；得救后，他竭力追求基督到一个地步，我们甚至可说他也是逼迫基督，不过是在正面上。逼迫人就是搅扰他，不肯放他过去。在保罗得救前，他搅扰基督，不放祂过去，反面的逼迫基督；但他得救并被基督赢得以后，仍然逼迫祂，不过是正面的，因他不肯放基督过去。我们也该这样逼迫基督。这就是竭力追求基督以赢得祂。不要放基督过去。要搅扰祂，逼迫祂，以赢得祂。这样逼迫基督乃是会叫人筋疲力竭的。我们逼迫基督时，该完全花费自己。我们全人同一切的力量都该消耗于竭力追求基督。我盼望我们中间许多人会有深刻的印象，需要竭力追求基督，并且被挑旺起来，甚至以逼迫的方式寻求祂。不要让基督离开你，却要寻求祂，竭力追求祂，以这种正面的方式逼迫祂。这样，你就会赢得祂。
13As we consider these facts, we need to apply them to our situation according to the context of Philippians 3. In this chapter Paul shows us our need to gain Christ. Christ is the goal and also the prize. Do not be distracted by the effort to understand just what kind of prize you will obtain when you reach the goal. What is crucial is that you realize that, according to the divine revelation, God has set forth Christ as your goal and prize. Furthermore, He has called you to stretch forth toward the goal. Some Christians may argue that the prize in 3:14 does not refer to enjoyment in the millennial kingdom. Again I say, even if you disagree with this interpretation, you cannot avoid the fact that God does have a prize for us. According to the context of Philippians 3, both the goal and the prize are Christ. Otherwise, why would Paul say that Christ had gained him so that he might gain Christ? In verse 12 he says, “I pursue, if also I may lay hold of that for which I also have been laid hold of by Christ Jesus.” Then in verses 13 and 14 he continues, “Brothers, I do not yet reckon myself to have laid hold, but one thing—forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before, I pursue toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” I urge you to care for the fact that God has set up a goal and prepared a prize. I also urge you to care for the need to run a good race and to pursue Christ by forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forth to the things which are before. I believe that the things which are before are things concerning Christ and His Body, the church. Let us all forget the things behind and pay attention to the bright future a head of us, a future of gaining Christ and experiencing Him to the uttermost in His Body. We should not be satisfied simply with Bible knowledge, not even with the knowledge of Philippians 3. We need to have the actual pursuing of Christ. The Greek word for pursue can also be translated “persecu te.” Be fore Paul was saved, he was persecuting Christ in a negative way. After he was saved, he pursued Christ to such an extent we may even say he persecuted Christ, but in a very positive way. To persecute a person is to trouble him and refuse to let him go. Before Paul was saved, he bothered Christ and would not let Him go, persecuting Him negatively. But after he was saved and had been gained by Christ, he still persecuted Him, but positively, for he refused to let Christ go. We also should persecute Christ in this way. This is to pursue Christ in order to gain Him. Do not letCh rist go. Bother Him, persecute Him, in order to gain Him. To persecute Christ in this way is exhausting. As we persecute Christ, we should spend ourselves completely. Our whole being with all of our strength should be consumed in pursuing Christ. I hope that many among us will be impressed with the need to pursue Christ and be stirred up to seek Him even in a persecuting way. Do not allow Christ to get away from you, but seek Him, pursue Him, persecute Him in such a positive way. Then you will gain Him.