14保罗所经历的恩典,成了他的救恩。凡保罗所享受于三一神的,都成了他的救恩。保罗必定是爱国的犹太人,他爱他的国家,并且极其厌恶罗马帝国主义。因著他传扬主耶稣基督,他成了囚犯,落在罗马帝国主义者的控制之下。事实上,将保罗交给罗马人的,是他的同胞。毫无疑问,保罗在监牢里遭受逼迫时,必定在思想他的工作。在他被监禁以前,他的工作美妙而有能力,甚至在欧洲扩展。但如今他的工作停止了。有些与他同时代的人,由于私图好争,欢喜看见保罗在监牢里受限制,不能完成他的工作。保罗若在这样的景况中哭泣,就会被击败并且羞愧。然而,我们从腓立比书知道,保罗没有哭泣,反倒在主里喜乐。在这短短的一卷书里,保罗一再说到喜乐。这指明他在监牢里时,乃是在主里喜乐。侍卫没有听见他哭泣,反而能听见他喜乐。在此,保罗经历并享受三一神作恩典,这恩典成了他的救恩。他所遭遇的一切,都叫他得救。保罗被主使用,带腓立比的人归向基督,他无疑满了喜乐。然而,保罗若只能在那种环境中喜乐,却不能在监牢中喜乐,就不是真正的得胜者。保罗不仅在腓立比的工作兴旺时喜乐;在监牢里,当他为著主的工作受限制时,他也喜乐。在此我们看见真正的得胜。这得胜就是救恩,就是保罗的救恩。不但如此,我们曾指明,保罗的救恩就是他的恩典,神自己作他的享受。所以,保罗的恩典就是他的救恩,他的救恩就是他在最艰难的环境中扶持他的三一神。这样的救恩不是客观的,而是非常主观的、可经历的。这就是在腓立比书里保罗没有以神学的方式,也没有以客观道理的方式,却以直接、主观、个人、经历的方式说到神的原因。保罗能说,『我的恩典一点不差就是我的神。神是我的恩典,主是我主观、经历上的救恩。』
14The grace experienced by Paul became his salvation. Whatever Paul enjoyed of the Triune God became his salvation. Paul must certainly have been a patriotic Jew, one who loved his nation and intensely disliked Roman imperialism. Because of his preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ, he became a prisoner under the control of the Roman imperialists. Actually, it was Paul’s countrymen who had handed him over to the Romans. No doubt, as Paul was suffering persecution in prison, he was thinking about his work. Prior to his imprisonment, his work had been marvelous and powerful. It was spreading even in Europe. But now his work had ceased. Certain ones among his contemporaries, out of rivalry with him, were glad that Paul was in prison and restricted from carrying out his work. If in the midst of such circumstances Paul wept, he would have been defeated and put to shame. However, we know from the book of Philippians that, instead of weeping, Paul rejoiced in the Lord. In this short book Paul speaks again and again of rejoicing. This indicates that when he was there in prison, he was rejoicing in the Lord. The guards did not hear him weeping; they could hear him rejoicing. In this, Paul experienced and enjoyed the Triune God as grace, and this grace became his salvation. Whatever happened to him turned out for his salvation. When Paul was used of the Lord to bring those in Philippi to Christ, he was no doubt full of rejoicing. However, if Paul could rejoice only in that kind of environment but not in prison, he would not have been a true overcomer. Paul rejoiced not only when the work in Philippi was flourishing, but he also rejoiced in prison when his work for the Lord was restricted. In this we see real victory. This victory is the salvation which was Paul’s salvation. Furthermore, as we have indicated, Paul’ss alvation was his grace, God Himself as his enjoyment. Therefore, Paul’s grace was his salvation, and his salvation was the Triune God sustaining him in a most difficult environment. Such a salvation is not objective; it is very subjective and experiential. This is the reason that in the book of Philippians Paul does not speak of God in a theological way, nor in an objective doctrinal way, but in a direct, subjective, personal, experiential way. Paul could say, “My grace is nothing less than my God. God is my grace, and the Lord is my subjective, experiential salvation.”