Books
腓立比书生命读经 · 第54篇

向著标竿竭力追求，为要得著神召我们向上去得的奖赏

PURSUE TOWARD THE GOAL FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING
1读经：腓立比书3:10-14，罗马书8:11，启示录20:6。
1Scripture Reading: Phil. 3:10-14; Rom. 8:11; Rev. 20:6
2本篇信息的中心是腓立比三章十四节的两个辞─标竿与奖赏。我们若达到标竿，就会得著奖赏。因此，向著标竿竭力追求，为的是要得著奖赏。那么，甚么是标竿？甚么是奖赏？许多人会回答说，标竿和奖赏都是基督。这样回答虽然正确，但在本篇信息中，我们必须从三章十至十四节来看标竿与奖赏一些特别的点。
2This message will focus on two words found in 3:14— goaland prize. If we reach the goal, we shall receive the prize. Thus, pursuing toward the goal is for obtaining the prize. But what is the goal, and what is the prize? Many would answer that both the goal and the prize are Christ. Although such an answer may be regarded as correct, in this message we need to see from 3:10-14 something particular concerning the goal and the prize
3十至十三节能帮助我们明白十四节的标竿与奖赏。我们可以说，十一节之杰出的复活，实际上就是基督的同义辞。在十节保罗说到认识基督、并祂复活的大能、以及同祂受苦的交通。这节经文清楚指明，我们若要认识基督，就必须认识祂的复活。然而，许多基督徒把这一件重要的事忽略了。他们至多认识基督和祂的死，却不认识祂复活的大能。今天在基督徒中间，难得有一篇正确且完全的信息，论到基督的大能。少有传道人像保罗那样说到基督复活的大能。我们曾指出，保罗渴望赢得基督，并且给人看出是在祂里面，为要认识祂、并祂复活的大能、以及同祂受苦的交通。这样认识基督，乃是赢得祂并给人看出是在祂里面的结果。这里的思想很深，以致很少基督徒给予应有的注意。我们天然的心思无法摸著『认识基督、并祂复活的大能』意义的深处。
3Philippians 3:10-13 helps us understand the goal and the prize in verse 14. In verse 11 we may say that the out-resurrection is actually a synonym for Christ. In verse 10 Paul speaks of knowing Christ, the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings. This verse indicates clearly that if we would know Christ, we must know His resurrection. However, many Christians neglect this important matter. At most, they know only Christ and His death, not the power of His resurrection. Among Christians today rarely is there a proper and adequate message on the power of Christ. Few preachers speak of the power of Christ’s resurrection in the way Paul spoke. We have pointed out that Paul’s desire was to gain Christ and be found in Him, to know Him, the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings. Knowing Christ in this way is the result of gaining Him and being found in Him. The thought here is so deep that few Christians have given it the attention it deserves. Our natural mind cannot touch the depths of what it means “to know Him and the power of His resurrection
4现在，我们要问一个重要的问题：今天耶稣基督在那里？在本篇信息中，我要回答说，基督乃是在复活里。毫无疑问，基督一面是在诸天之上，另一面也在我们里面。但是我要强调一个奇妙的事实：今天基督乃是在复活里。在已过的永远里就存在的那位基督，有一天，藉著成为肉体，成了一个人。后来，祂被钉十字架，并且埋葬了。祂经过死，进入另一个范围，就是复活的范围。在万物存在以先，在永远里基督就是神，并且与神同在。祂藉著成为肉体，成了一个在肉体里的人；然后祂经过钉死与埋葬，就进到复活里。你们曾否听过，如今基督乃是在复活里？在祂复活的那日，天使就告诉那几个妇女说，在坟墓里是找不著基督的，因为祂已经从死人中复活了。（路二四1～6。）这指明基督乃是在复活里。
4At this juncture we need to ask an important question: Where is Jesus Christ today? In this message I would answer by saying that Christ is in resurrection. No doubt, on the one hand, Christ is in the heavens and, on the other hand, He is in us. However, I want to emphasize the marvelous fact that Christ today is in resurrection. One day, as the One who existed in eternity, Christ became a man by incarnation. Eventually, He was crucified and buried. Through death He entered into another realm, the realm of resurrection. In His preexistence, Christ was God and was with God in eternity; by incarnation He became a man in the flesh; and then, through crucifixion and burial, He entered into resurrection. Have you ever heard that Christ is now in resurrection? On the day of His resurrection angels told the women that Christ could not be found in the tomb, for He had risen from the dead (Luke 24:1-6). This indicates that Christ is in resurrection.
5如今基督乃是在复活里，所以我们若不认识祂复活的大能，就无法在经历上认识祂。今天有些基督徒认识基督的成为肉体和钉十字架；但是在腓立比三章，保罗渴慕认识基督，不仅认识祂的死，更认识祂的复活。保罗在十一节接著十节说，『或者我可以达到那从死人中杰出的复活。』『杰出的复活』一辞很难明白。基督复活之后，成了一个完全在复活里的人。不仅如此，如今基督所在的复活，不是像拉撒路那种平凡的复活，而是一种卓越的复活。为这缘故，保罗在复活这字前面加上一个字首艾克（ek），以表明基督的复活是非常杰出、卓越的。祂的复活乃是杰出的复活。
5Because Christ is now in resurrection, we cannot know Him experientially unless we know the power of His resurrection. Today some Christians know Christ in His incarnation and crucifixion. But in Philippians 3 Paul aspires to know Him not only in His death, but even the more in His resurrection. In verse 11, a continuation of verse 10, Paul says, “If by any means I may attain to the out-resurrection from among the dead.” The expression “the out-resurrection” is puzzling. After Christ was resurrected, He became a person wholly in resurrection. Furthermore, the resurrection wherein Christ is today is not an ordinary resurrection, like the resurrection of Lazarus; it is an extraordinary resurrection. For this reason, Paul adds the prefix ex to the Greek word for resurrection to show that Christ’s resurrection is extraordinary. His resurrection is the out-resurrection
杰出复活的定义
A DEFINITION OF OUT-RESURRECTION
6在杰出的复活里，意思就是离开一切旧造的事物，并被带进神里面。拉撒路虽然复活了，但他既没有离开旧造的事物，也没有被带进神里面。在来世的末了，所有已死的不信者都要复活，但那种复活不会使他们离开旧造，也不会把他们带进神里面。只有一种复活能把我们带出旧造并带进神里面，这种复活就是基督的复活。因此，基督的复活乃是杰出的复活。基督是那独一经过旧造，又从旧造出来，进入神里面的一位。在前一篇信息里我们曾指出，基督在旧造的身体和环境里生活了三十三年半。祂经过死与复活，就撇下了旧造，并被带进神里面。我们不该以为基督从未在旧造里。根据歌罗西一章十五节，基督是神受造之物的首生者。祂物质的身体是属于旧造；祂又在拿撒勒一个木匠家里生活，就是在旧造的环境里生活。至终，祂将旧造担在自己身上，并将其钉在十字架上。如今在复活里，基督已经完全脱离旧造，并完全在神里面。祂一切的所是、所有并所作，都是在神里面。这就是杰出复活的意义。
6To be in the out-resurrection means to leave everything of the old creation and to be brought into God. Although Lazarus was resurrected, he neither left the things of the old creation nor was he brought into God. At the end of the coming age all the dead unbelievers will be resurrected. Nevertheless, that resurrection will not bring them out of the old creation, and it will not bring them into God. There is only one kind of resurrection which brings us out of the old creation and into God, and this is the resurrection of Christ. Thus, Christ’s resurrection is the outstanding resurrection. Christ is the unique One to pass out of the old creation and to enter into God. In the foregoing message we pointed out that Christ lived in an old creation body and environment for thirty-three and a half years. Through His death and resurrection He left the old creation behind and was brought into God. We should not think that Christ was never in the old creation. According to Colossians 1:15 Christ was the Firstborn of God’s creation. His physical body belonged to the old creation and, living in a carpenter’s home in Nazareth, He lived in the environment of the old creation. Eventually, He took the old creation upon Himself as a burden and nailed it to the cross. Now in resurrection Christ is absolutely out of the old creation and in God. All He is, all He has, and all He does are in God. This is the significance of the out-resurrection.
7我们若要认识基督，就必须认识这杰出的复活，并且达到这复活。保罗说『达到杰出的复活』，含示有一个标竿。腓立比三章十四节所题及的这标竿，就是十一节里杰出的复活。因此，达到杰出的复活，就是达到标竿。在十二至十三节，保罗承认他不是以为自己已经达到了这标竿。他乃是忘记背后，努力面前的，向著杰出的复活这标竿竭力追求。在前面有一篇信息里，我说标竿就是基督自己。现在我要说，标竿就是杰出的复活。说基督是标竿，是照著八节和九节笼统的说法；但准确的说，标竿乃是杰出的复活。我们若就著十一节来看十四节，就会看见，标竿必定是杰出的复活。因此，笼统的说，标竿是基督；专一的说，标竿是杰出的复活。
7If we would know Christ, we must know this out- resurrection and attain to it. Paul’swords “attain to the out-resurrection” imply a goal. This goal, mentioned in verse 14, is the out-resurrection in verse 11. Hence, to attain to the out-resurrection is to arrive at the goal. In verses 12 and 13 Paul confessed that he did not reckon himself as one who had attained to this goal. But forgetting the things behind and stretching forward to the things before, he pursued toward the goal of the out-resurrection. In a previous message I said that the goal is Christ Himself, and now I am saying that the goal is the out- resurrection. To say that Christ is the goal is to speak in a general way according to verses 8 and 9. But to speak in a specific way, the goal is the out-resurrection. If we consider verse 14 in relation to verse 11, we shall see that the goal must be the out-resurrection. Therefore, in general the goal is Christ, but in particular the goal is the out-resurrection
8现在我们要问一个重要的问题：我们在今世就能达到杰出的复活这标竿，还是我们在今世只能奔跑赛程，盼望在来世达到这标竿？也许有人认为，我们必须等到来世，才能达到这标竿。但是，我们若在今世没有达到这标竿，来世我们也达不到。我们必须在我们的一生之中竭力达到这标竿。在一章二十一节保罗说，『在我，活著就是基督。』这位基督是他的标竿。因此，对保罗而言，活著就是这标竿─基督（杰出的复活）。不仅如此，对我们而言，活著也当是杰出的复活，因为我们所应当活的这位基督，祂本身就是杰出的复活。这意思是说，我们应当天天活杰出的复活。例如，有位弟兄非常爱他的妻子。他必须问自己：这样的爱是天然的，还是在复活里的？连非基督徒的丈夫也会天然的爱妻子。若是一位弟兄在复活里爱他的妻子，他的爱就是在旧造之外，并在神里面。这说出活基督就是活杰出的复活，亦即活一种绝对在旧造之外，并绝对在神里面的生活。
8Now we need to ask an important question: Can we reach the goal of the out-resurrection in this age, or can we only run the race and hope to reach the goal in the coming age? Some may think that we must wait until the coming age to reach the goal. But if we do not arrive at the goal in this age, we shall not attain to it in the next age. We must endeavor to arrive at the goal during our lifetime. In 1:21 Paul says, “To me to live is Christ.” This Christ was his goal. Hence, for Paul to live was the goal— Christ as the out-resurrection. Furthermore, for us to live should also be the out - resurrection, for the very Christ whom we should live is Himself the out- resurrection. This means that day by day we should live the out - resurrection. For example, suppose a certain brother loves his wife very much. He needs to ask himself whether this love is natural or in resurrection. Even non-Christian husbands may love their wives in a natural way. If a brother loves his wife in resurrection, his love will be out of the old creation and in God. This shows that to live Christ is to live the out-resurrection, to live a life absolutely out of the old creation and in God.
9我年轻的时候，不明白为甚么保罗似乎很难达到这标竿。我以为是他所遭遇的逼迫所致。依我看，似乎是从别人来的反对，拦阻他奔跑基督徒的赛程。多年以后，藉著经历我才开始看见，叫我胜过逼迫，比叫我不照著天然的生命，而在杰出的复活里爱妻子更为容易。我在基督里已经五十多年了，这些年间我一直是个热心的基督徒。在基督徒的赛程中，我遭遇过许多拦阻；我知道最大的拦阻，乃是天然的生命及其想法和习惯。我们向著标竿奔跑赛程的时候，天然的生命常常拦阻我们。你曾否问过自己，你每日的谈话中，有多少是天然的，有多少是在杰出的复活里的？虽然你不说邪恶、毁谤的话，但你的谈话也许是天然的。你可能说了许多积极的话，但你的说话可能还是在天然里，而不是在复活里。改良我们的品行、行为、伦理、或道德并不难，但要在复活里生活，却极其困难。天然的生命有一个特点，就是罣虑。你完全没有罣虑，没有担忧么？最近我的健康有点问题，罣虑就来了。我就宣告主在腓立比四章六至七节的话：『应当一无罣虑，只要凡事藉著祷告、祈求，带著感谢，将你们所要的告诉神；神那超越人所能理解的平安，必在基督耶稣里，保卫你们的心怀意念。』我宣告我是站在这个应许之上，然而，宣告之后，罣虑立刻又来了。我想要脱离罣虑，但是罣虑始终不放我过去。你知道我为甚么会罣虑么？因为我尚未完全在复活里。在杰出的复活里，是没有罣虑的。罣虑是属旧造的，不能进入复活的范围里，不能进入新造的领域里。
9When I was young I wondered why it seemed difficult for Paul to reach the goal. I thought that the persecutions he suffered made this difficult. It seemed to me opposition from others hindered him in running the Christian race. Years later, through experience I came to see that it is easier for me to overcome persecutions than to love my wife in the out-resurrection and not according to the natural life. I have been in Christ for more than fifty years. During all this time I have been a zealous Christian. Having encountered many hindrances in the Christian race, I have learned that the greatest hindrance is the natural life with its thoughts and habits. The natural life frustrates in running the race toward the goal. Have you ever asked yourself how much of your daily conversation is natural and how much is in the out - resurrection? Although you may not speak in an evil, slanderous way, your talk may be natural. You may speak many positive things, but your words may be spoken in a natural way, not in resurrection. It is easy to improve our character, behavior, ethics, or morality, but it is extremely difficult to live in resurrection. One characteristic of the natural life is anxiety. Are you free from anxiety and worry? Recently I had a problem with my health, and I was anxious about it. I claimed the Lord’sword in Philippians 4:6 and 7: “In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.” However, immediately after declaring that I stood on this promise, I was anxious again. I wanted to be free from anxiety, but it refused to let me go. Do you know why I was anxious? I was anxious because I was not fully in resurrection. There is no anxiety in the out- resurrection. Anxiety belongs to the old creation, and it cannot enter into the realm of resurrection, into the sphere of the new creation.
10保罗从经历中知道，要过一种完全脱离旧造，而在神里面的生活，并不容易。在一章二十一节他能彀宣告说，『在我，活著就是基督。』可是一章里只有宣告，没有说明或解释。三章给我们看见，活基督就是活杰出的复活，而这该是我们的标竿。我们的言语和行为必须在复活里。某一种行为若不是在复活里，我们就不该作。某些话若不是在复活里，我们就不该说。问题不在于事情的对或错，乃在于是否在复活里。甚至我们的爱，也必须在复活里。
10Paul knew from experience that it is not easy to live a life which is wholly out of the old creation and in God. In 1:21 he could declare, “To me to live is Christ.” But in chapter one we simply have the declaration, not the explanation or definition. In chapter three we see that to live Christ is to live the out-resurrection and that this should be our goal. Our deeds and words must be in resurrection. If a certain deed is not in resurrection, we should not do it. If a certain word is not in resurrection, we should not say it. The question is not whether a particular thing is right or wrong, but whether or not it is in resurrection. Even our love needs to be in resurrection.
11杰出的复活里毫无旧造的成分，反而满了神圣的成分。人与一个活在杰出复活里的人同在时，会感受到神，就是这个原因。这样一个人的生活，他的言语、行为，乃是在复活里。这就是我们日常生活中杰出的复活。在腓立比三章，保罗就是竭力追求这种生活。当他宣告他渴望认识基督并祂复活的大能，或者他可以达到杰出复活的时候，他心里所想的就是这个。他不是以为自己已经达到了，他乃是向著杰出的复活这标竿竭力追求。我们感谢主，给我们看见腓立比三章这些经文的深处。主所说关于杰出的复活这些话，必不徒然返回。我相信我们中间许多人会过一种脱离旧造，并在神里面的生活。标竿是杰出的复活；照样，奖赏也是杰出的复活。标竿是要我们去得著的，奖赏是给我们享受的。我们在今世就可以达到标竿，但我们要在来世才能享受这奖赏。
11In the out-resurrection there is no element of the old creation. Instead, everything is full of the divine element. This is the reason that people sense God when they are with a person who lives in the out-resurrection. The living of such a person, his deeds and words, is in resurrection. This is the out-resurrection in our daily life. In Philippians 3 Paul was pursuing this kind of living. This is what he had in mind when he declared that his desire was to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and by any means to attain to the out- resurrection. Not regarding himself as having attained, he pursued toward the goal of the out-resurrection. We thank the Lord for showing us the depths of these verses in Philippians 3. What He has spoken regarding the out-resurrection will not be in vain. I believe that many among us will have a living which is out of the old creation and in God. Just as the goal is the out-resurrection, so the prize is also the out-resurrection. The goal is for us to gain, whereas the prize is for us to enjoy. We may reach the goal in this age, but we shall enjoy the prize in the coming age
12在罗马八章十一节保罗说，『然而那叫耶稣从死人中复活者的灵，若住在你们里面，那叫基督从死人中复活的，也必藉著祂住在你们里面的灵，赐生命给你们必死的身体。』这节经文指明，我们在今世就能达到杰出的复活。这里保罗说，那叫基督从死人中复活者的灵，要赐生命给我们这人正在死去的部分，就是我们必死的身体。我们已经看见，那灵是基督复活的实际，是杰出复活的实际。那灵住在我们里面，要真实且实际的将杰出的复活作到我们全人里面。因此，罗马八章十一节指明，我们应当在今世就达到杰出的复活。启示录二十章六节题到来世的奖赏，就是头一次复活的奖赏：『在头一次复活有分的有福了，圣别了，第二次的死在他们身上没有权柄；他们还要作神和基督的祭司，并要与基督一同作王一千年。』在原文里，『头一次』与路加十五章给回头的浪子那『上好的』袍子，是同一个字。头一次复活，就是上好的复活、杰出的复活。倘若我们在今世不竭力追求过一种绝对脱离旧造，而完全在神里面的生活，我们在来世就得不著奖赏作我们的享受。但我们若今天就得著杰出的复活，这复活要成为我们来世的奖赏。这样，今天对我们是标竿的，在千年国我们与基督同王的时候，就成为我们的奖赏。那就是享受杰出的复活作我们的奖赏。神已经在基督里召我们向上去得这奖赏。这奖赏应当是我们在今世竭力追求并得著的标竿。
12In Romans 8:11 Paul says, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from among the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from among the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.” This verse indicates that we can attain to the out-resurrection in this age. Here Paul says that the Spirit of Him who raised Christ from among the dead will give life to that part of our being which is dying, our mortal bodies. We have seen that the Spirit is the reality of Christ’s resurrection, the reality of the out- resurrection. The Spirit is dwelling in us to work the out- resurrection into our being in a real and practical way. Thus, Romans 8:11 indicates that we should attain to the out-resurrection in this age. Revelation 20:6 refers to the prize in the coming age, the prize of the first resurrection: “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection: over these the second death has no authority; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” The Greek word rendered “first” is the same word used for the “best” robe given to the returned prodigal in Luke 15. The first resurrection is the best resurrection, the out-resurrection. If in this age we do not pursue a life which is absolutely out of the old creation and fully in God, we shall not have the prize for our enjoyment in the coming age. But if we obtain the out-resurrection today, it will become a prize to us in the next age. Then what is now our goal will become our prize when, during the millennium, we reign as co- kings with Christ. That will be the enjoyment of the out- resurrection as our prize. In Christ God has called us from above for this prize. This prize should be the goal we pursue and obtain in this age