Books
腓立比书生命读经 · 第6篇

藉著活基督显大基督

MAGNIFYING CHRIST BY LIVING HIM
1读经：腓立比书一章十九至二十一节。在本篇信息中，我们要来看藉著活基督显大基督这件事。（腓一19～。）二十节保罗说，『这是照著我所专切期待并盼望的，就是没有一事会叫我羞愧，只要凡事放胆，无论是生，是死，总叫基督在我身体上，现今也照常显大。』在保罗的身体受苦时，基督得著显大，也就是显示或宣扬为大（没有限量）、得著高举、得著称赞。他的受苦给他机会，彰显基督无限的伟大。他不要律法，不要割礼，只要基督在他身上显大。腓立比书是论到经历基督。在任何境遇下显大基督，就是经历基督而有最高的享受。
1Scripture Reading: Phil. 1:19-21 In this message we shall consider the matter of magnifying Christ by living Him (1:19-21). In verse 2 0 Paul said, “According to my earnest expectation 21 and hope that in nothing I shall be put to shame, but with all boldness, as always, even now Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether through life or through death.” In Paul’s bodily sufferings, Christ was magnified, that is, shown or declared great (shown to be without limitation), exalted, and extolled. His sufferings afforded him opportunity to express Christ in His unlimited greatness. Only Christ would he have magnified in him, not the law or circumcision. Philippians is concerned with the experience of Christ. To magnify Christ under any circumstances is to experience Him with the topmost enjoyment.
壹 显大基督
I. MAGNIFYING CHRIST
2在二十节有许多辞句，与保罗所说基督在他身上显大的事有关：『凡事放胆』、『无论是生，是死』、『在我身体上』、『现今』、『照常』。保罗不只说『放胆』，更是说『凡事放胆』。然后他特别指出，基督要在他身体上显大。他这样说是因为他的身体上带著锁炼；就算不是整天带著锁炼，至少在夜间保罗是和一个狱卒被铁炼锁在一起。然而，他的身体上虽然带著锁炼，基督仍在他身体上显大。此外，无论是生，是死，基督总要显大。这指明不论环境如何，保罗盼望基督在他身上显大。现在我们必须来看甚么叫显大基督。显大的意思是使一件东西看起来变大了。也许你会希奇，基督已经是宇宙般大了，怎能再显大？从以弗所三章来看，基督的量度–阔、长、高、深–是无法测度的，这是宇宙的量度。虽然基督是广大、宽阔、无法测度的，但在御营全军，就是在该撒皇家卫队的眼中，基督实际上并不存在。在他们眼中，没有耶稣基督这个人。然而，保罗显大基督，他使基督在别人眼前，特别是在那些看守他的狱卒眼前显为大。结果，有些人终于转向基督。腓立比四章二十二节可以证明这一个点，那里保罗说到该撒家里的圣徒。因著保罗显大基督，连该撒家里也有人得救。
2In verse 20 a number of expressions are related to Paul’s statement that Christ would be magnified in him: “with all boldness,” “as always,” “even now,” “in my body,” “whether through life or through death.” Paul does not simply say “with boldness,” but says “with all boldness.” Then he specifically points out that Christ would be magnified in his body. He said this because his body was in chains. At least during the night, if not all the time, Paul was chained to a guard. Nevertheless, even though his body was in chains, Christ would be magnified in his body. Moreover, Christ would be magnified whether through life or through death. This indicates that no matter what the circumstances were, Paul expected Christ to be magnified in him. Now we must consider what it means to magnify Christ. The word magnify means to make something large to our sight. Perhaps you are wondering how Christ can be magnified since He is already universally great. According to Ephesians 3, the dimensions of Christ—the breadth, length, height, and depth—are immeasurable. They are the dimensions of the universe. Although Christ is vast, extensive, and immeasurable, in the eyes of the praetorium, the imperial guard of Caesar, Christ was virtually nonexistent. In their eyes, there was not such a person as Jesus Christ. However, Paul magnified Christ; he made Him great before the eyes of others, especially before the eyes of those who guarded him in prison. As a result, some eventually turned to Christ. Evidence of this is found in 4:22, where Paul speaks of the saints of Caesar’s house hold. Through Paul’s magnification of Christ, even some in Caesar’sho use hold were saved.
3保罗下监的那段时间，罗马人很藐视犹太人。罗马人是征服者，犹太人是被征服者。被征服的人中有一位名叫耶稣的，虽然祂很伟大，也很奇妙，但在罗马人眼中，祂却微不足道。然而，当保罗被囚在罗马监狱的时候，他显大基督，使基督在囚禁他的人眼中显为大。我们在日常生活中也该显大基督，使祂在别人眼中显为大。在你的办公室或课堂里，人们可能轻看基督、嘲笑祂、并妄称祂的名，触犯了第三条诫命。因此，你必须让别人看见基督，不是很不起眼的，而是扩大、显大的基督。我们在家里也应当显大基督。有些年轻人的父母可能还没有相信基督，反倒藐视基督。所以，这些年轻人必须负起责任，在他们的父母面前显大基督。他们不仅需要向父母传讲基督，还需要显大基督。我们不只需要里面的生命，也需要外面的生活。藉著正当的生活，基督就要在别人眼中显为大。年轻人，要让你们的父母在你们身上看见基督的伟大。
3At the time of Paul’sim prison ment, the Jews were despised by the Romans. The Romans were the conquerors, and the Jews were the conquered ones. Among these conquered ones there was a man named Jesus. Although He is great and most wonderful, in the eyes of the Romans He was nothing. But as Paul was held captive in a Roman prison, he magnified Christ, making Him to appear great in the eyes of his captors. In our daily living we also should magnify Christ, making Him great in the eyes of others. Where you work or go to school people may look down on Christ. They may ridicule Him and take His name in vain, in violation of the third commandment. Therefore, you need to let others see Christ not in a small way, but in the way of enlargement, of magnification. We should also magnify Him at home. The parents of some of the young people may not believe in Christ, but rather may despise Him. Hence, these young people must bear the responsibility to enlarge Christ before their parents. Instead of simply preaching to their parents about Christ, they need to magnify Him. We need not simply the life within, but also the living without. Through the proper living Christ will appear to be great in the eyes of others. Young people, let your parents see Christ’s greatness in you
4我们甚至能彀在没有自由传讲基督的景况中显大基督。也许老师不能向学生传福音，但他们可以在教室里显大基督。他们能彀让基督在学生眼中显为大。我不相信保罗在监狱中能自由的传讲基督。反而，他受了很大的限制，并在严格的监管之下。然而，即使在这样的景况中，基督仍然在他身体上显大。保罗凡事放胆，总要竭力的显大基督。保罗说，无论是生，是死，总叫基督在他身体上照常显大。无论甚么事情临到他─是有机会继续活下去，还是要殉道─保罗总是盼望显大基督。保罗在生活中显大基督，这是藉著生而显大基督。他豫料自己即将殉道，但他还是显大基督，这是藉著死而显大基督。因此，无论是生，是死，基督总是在保罗被囚禁、带锁炼的身体上得以显大。这显然不仅仅是道理，而是对基督真正的经历。
4We can magnify Christ even in situations where we have little or no liberty to speak about Him. Although teachers may not be able to preach the gospel to their students, they can magnify Christ in the classroom. They can cause Christ to appear great in the eyes of their students. I do not believe that when Paul was in prison, he was free to do much preaching of Christ. On the contrary, he was very limited and under strict control. However, even in such circumstances, Christ was magnified in his body. With all boldness Paul sought to magnify Him always. Paul says that Christ would be magnified in him whether through life or through death. No matter what faced him — the opportunity to go on living or martyrdom— Paul expected to magnify Christ. In his living Paul magnified Christ. This is to magnify Him through life. As he was expecting to be martyred, he also magnified Him. This is to magnify Christ through death. Thus, whether through life or death, Christ was magnified in Paul’s imprisoned and chained body. Obviously this is not mere doctrine; it is the genuine experience of Christ.
5在腓立比一章十九节，保罗题到耶稣基督之灵全备的供应。如果我们让那灵全备的供应在我们里面运行，我们的日常生活就会改变。我们就会有负担凡事放胆，总叫基督显大。我们显大基督，别人就要看见祂的伟大和无限。这样显大基督，当然就是活基督。保罗写腓立比书的时候，已经是个长者。毫无疑问的，狱卒盼望他因著坐监心力交瘁而死。但保罗一点也不疲竭，反倒满了喜乐，他一直在主里喜乐。我确信他一直让基督从他身上照耀出来，一直在彰显基督。这种彰显乃是宣告基督无限的伟大，并宣告基督是取之不尽、用之不竭的。
5In verse 19 Paul mentions the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. If we allow the bountiful supply of the Spirit to work in us, our daily living will be changed. We shall be burdened to magnify Christ always and with all boldness. Through our magnifying of Christ, others will see His greatness and His unlimitedness. To magnify Christ in such a way surely is to live Him. At the time Paul wrote the book of Philippians, he was an elderly person. No doubt, the guards expected him to be exhausted by his imprisonment. But far from being exhausted, Paul was full of joy and rejoicing in the Lord. I am confident that he was shining forth Christ and expressing Him. Such an expression was a declaration of the unlimited greatness of Christ and a declaration that Christ is inexhaustible
6我们的爱总有一天会枯竭，然而基督作为爱却是取用不竭的。照样，我们天然的忍耐是有限的，但基督作我们的忍耐是无限的。我们多少都有忍耐，但只到某个限度，过了这个限度之后，我们就会受不了，发起脾气来。例如，弟兄可能操练要对妻子有忍耐；然而，这样的忍耐是有限度的，过了这个限度之后，他就会向妻子发脾气。虽然我们天然的忍耐这样有限，但基督作为忍耐却是无穷无尽、无法测度的。保罗在监狱中一定受了许多的虐待，但他还能彀喜乐，并且向狱卒显明基督无限的伟大。保罗特别显出基督无穷无尽的忍耐，基督的确在保罗的肉身上显大。保罗天天在主里喜乐，他的喜乐没有随著时间消减。他能彀在喜乐中显出他所经历、所享受那无法测度的基督。保罗就这样彰显、展览、高举、并颂扬基督。我不相信狱卒会跟保罗过不去，或是保罗会跟狱卒过不去。相反的，他是基督活的见证人，见证基督的力量、大能、忍耐、爱心和智慧，都是无限无量的。狱卒可能认为保罗很奇怪、很特别，认为他有一些东西是他们没有的。他们在保罗身上所感觉到的，乃是显大的基督。保罗在监狱里，把基督的伟大扩大的彰显了出来。他凡事放胆，无论是生，是死，总叫基督显大。因著保罗这样显大基督，他就能胜过一切的环境。
6Our love is eventually exhausted, but Christ as love is inexhaustible. Like wise, our natural patience is limited, but Christ as our patience is without limit. We all have the capacity to be patient, but only to a certain extent. Then we become provoked and angry. For example, a brother may exercise patience with his wife. Eventually, however, this patience reaches its limit, and he becomes angry with her. Although our natural patience is so limited, Christ as patience is inexhaustible and immeasurable. Even though Paul must have been mistreated in prison, he could be happy and display to the guards the unlimited greatness of Christ. In particular, Paul displayed Christ’s in exhaustible patience. Christ certainly was magnified in Paul’s physical body. Day by day, Paul was happy in the Lord. His happiness did not diminish as time went by. In his happiness he could show forth the immeasurable Christ he experienced and enjoyed. By this way Paul expressed, exhibited, exalted, and extolled Christ. I do not believe that Paul was offended by the jailers or that he offended them. Rather, he was a living witness of Christ, testifying of His ability, power, patience, love, and wisdom, all without measure. The guards may have considered Paul to be strange or peculiar, viewing him as possessing something which they did not have. What they sensed in Paul was Christ magnified. While he was in prison, Paul expressed the greatness of Christ in an enlarged way. He magnified Christ with all boldness both through life and through death. By magnifying Christ in this way, Paul could overcome any situation.
贰 活基督
II. LIVING CHRIST
7二十一节保罗继续说，『因为在我，活著就是基督。』这节开头小小的『因为』一辞很重要，指明以下所说的是前一节的解释。基督所以能在保罗身体上显大，乃是因为保罗活基督。我们若要显大基督，就必须活基督。虽然活基督这么重要，并没有太多基督徒充分注意这事。二十一节『因为』这辞帮助我们看见，保罗能彀显大基督，是因为在他，活著就是基督。在保罗带锁炼的身体上，基督得著高举、颂扬、赞美和珍赏，这都是因为保罗活基督。我们若要活基督，就必须接受祂作我们的人位，并且与祂成为一个人位。祂与我们2:20必须实际的成为一。在加拉太二章二十节保罗宣告说，『基督在我里面活著。』对保罗来说，这不只是个道理，更是一个事实。基督在我们里面活著，对我们也该是真实的。可悲的是，有些基督徒不信基督真的活在他们里面，也不信我们能住在基督里，且让基督住在我们里面。然而圣经明确的告诉我们，基督在我们里面，也在我们里面活著。不仅如此，我们应该住在祂里面，并让祂住在我们里面。
7In verse 21 Paul goes on to say, “For to me to live is Christ.” The little word for at the beginning of this verse is important. It indicates that what is to follow is an explanation of the preceding verse. Christ could be magnified in Paul’s body because Paul lived Christ. In order to magnify Christ, we must live Him. Although the matter of living Christ is of such tremendous importance, not many Christians have paid adequate attention to it. The word for in verse 21 helps us to see that Paul could magnify Christ because to him to live was Christ. In Paul’s chained body Christ was exalted, extolled, praised, and appreciated because Paul lived Christ. If we would live Christ, we must take Him as our person and be one person with Him. He and we must be one in a practical way. In Galatians Paul declared, “Christ lives in me.” For Paul, this was not a mere doctrine; it was a fact. It should also be real to us that Christ lives in us. It is sad that some Christians do not believe that Christ actually lives in them. Neither do they believe that we can abide in Christ and have Him abide in us. But the Bible tells us definitely that Christ is in us and lives in us. Furthermore, we should abide in Him and allow Him to abide in us.
8保罗不只能说基督在他里面活著，更能说，在他，活著就是基督。一面，基督活在保罗里面；另一面，保罗活基督。就里面说，基督是保罗的生命；就外面说，基督是保罗的生活。因此，保罗与基督同有一个生命，同过一个生活。基督的生命就是保罗的生命，保罗的生活就是基督的生活。基督与保罗，二者活著如同一人。林前六章十七节就是说到这种生活。保罗在这节说，我们与主成为一灵。我们与基督之间有了生机的联结，这使我们与祂亲近、密切到一个地步，甚至与祂成为一灵。活基督不光是过圣别的生活或是活出圣别来，活基督乃是活一个人位。我们承认『活基督』是新的发表，我们特意用这辞。已往我们说过活出基督。虽然这个说法没有甚么不对，但加上『出』这个字，可能会减损正确的意义。我们应该单单活基督。我们应该过一种生活，这种生活就是基督自己。
8Paul could say not only that Christ lived in him, but also that to him to live was Christ. On the one hand, Christ lived in Paul; on the other hand, Paul lived Christ. Inwardly Christ was Paul’s life, and outwardly Christ was Paul’s living. Paul and Christ thus had one life and one living. Christ’s life was Paul’s life, and Paul’s living was Christ’s living. The two, Christ and Paul, lived as one. First Corinthians 6:17 refers to such a living. In this verse Paul says that we are one spirit with the Lord. The organic union that has taken place between us and Christ causes us to be so close and intimate with Him that we are even one spirit with Him. To live Christ is not merely to have a holy life or to live holiness. To live Christ is to live a person. We admit that the expression “live Christ” is new. We use this term deliberately. In the past we have spoken of living out Christ. Although this expression is not incorrect, to add the word out may detract from the proper meaning. We should simply live Christ. We should live a life which is Christ Himself.
9我能从经历中作见证说，基督徒生活中最难的事莫过于操练活基督。我们可能『圣别』、『属灵』、『得胜』，而没有活基督。我们可能『圣别』、『属灵』、『得胜』，却仍然是活我们天然的生命；我们并没有活基督。我天生是一个急性子的人。当我姊姊听到我转向了主，她很高兴，想帮助我，特别是要帮助我对付天然的急性子。她不责备我，也不纠正我，却向我说到一些说话行事慢条斯理的人。我知道她这么用心良苦，就对主说，我真后悔我性子这么急，求主使我能慢下来。但是我所作的，不过像猴子模倣人类一样。虽然我能刻意的慢个两、三天，最后老毛病又发了，还是急性子。因为我生来就是快的人，没有办法叫自己慢下来。那时我的姊姊想帮助我，她一直教导我要慢。但是她没有帮助我活基督。五十年后的今天，我能又慢、又忍耐，我也能控制我的脾气。我可以这么说，我能圣别、属灵、而且得胜。但是我又发现，即使不活基督也能如此。我们要活基督，就必须接受祂作我们的人位和生命。虽然我在这事上有进步，但我承认我的操练还不十分成功。我差不多每天早晨都祷告说，『主，感谢你赐给我这一天来操练活你。主，我靠自己作不到。求你题醒我要活你，并赐给我为此所需要的恩典。』然而，我发现这样向主祷告后不久，我可能又回头活自己而不活基督。可能我的生活各方面都很好，但我可能还是没有活基督。我还不能有把握和保罗同作这样的见证：『在我，活著就是基督。』
9From my experience I can testify that the most difficult thing in our Christian life is to practice to live Christ. We may be “holy,” “spiritual,” and “victorious” without living Christ. Even though we may be “holy,” “spiritual,” and “victorious,” we are still the ones living our natural life. We are not living Christ. By nature, I am a quick person. When my sister heard that I had turned to the Lord, she was happy and wanted to help me. In particular, she tried to help me with my natural quickness. She would not rebuke me or correct me. Instead, she would tell me about others who were slow in their speech and behavior. Realizing what she was trying to do, I told the Lord that I regretted my quickness and asked Him to enable me to slow down. But my behavior was like that of a monkey imitating a human being. Although I could deliberately be slow for a few days, eventually I reverted to my natural quickness. Because I had been born a quick person, I just could not make myself slow down. At the time my sister tried to help me, she was teaching me to be slow. But she did not help me to live Christ. Now, more than fifty years later, I can be slow and patient. I can also control my temper. In a sense, I can be holy, spiritual, and victorious. But I have come to see that it is possible to do all this without living Christ. In order to live Christ we must take Him as our person and as our life. Although I have made progress in this matter, I admit that still my practice is not very successful. Almost every morning I pray, “Lord, I thank You for another day to practice living You. Lord, in myself, I cannot do this. I ask You to remind me to live You and grant me the grace I need for this.” I have found, however, that soon after praying to the Lord in this way, I may go back to living myself instead of living Christ. Everything about my living may be good, and yet I may not live Christ. I do not yet have the assurance to testify with Paul, “To me to live is Christ.”
10在基督徒的生活中，遵循一些作法是很容易的。比方说，我们晓得自己多话，就操练三缄己口。然而，我们可能会成功，限制自己的多话，却仍旧没有活基督。遵循某一种作法是一回事，活基督又是另一回事。神不管我们在自己里面有多圣别、多属灵或多得胜。事实上，这样凭自己的努力来活，乃是挣扎努力要守律法。在神眼中算得了数的乃是基督以及活基督。在活基督这件事上，今天基督徒的光景离神的目标很远。所以我们一直竭力争战，要真正实际的活基督。神要祂的子民活基督。我们不该关心圣别、属灵、或得胜这些事情的本身，我们也不该在意天然的美德或属性。相反的，我们应该全神贯注在活基督这件事上，只在意活基督，好叫祂在我们身上显大。
10In the Christian life it is easy to follow certain practices. For example, we may realize that we are talkative and may adopt the practice of limiting our speech. However, we may succeed in restricting our talkativeness and yet fail to live Christ. It is one thing to follow a certain practice; it is another thing to live Christ. God does not care for how holy, spiritual, or victorious we are in ourselves. Actually, to live in this way by self-effort is to strive to keep the law. What counts in the eyes of God is Christ and the living of Christ. Concerning the matter of living Christ, the situation of today’s Christians is far from God’s goal. This is the reason we are fighting and struggling to enter into the genuine living of Christ in a practical way. God wants His people to live Christ. We should not care for holiness, spirituality, or victory as things in themselves, and we should not care for our natural virtues or attributes. Instead, we should focus our whole attention on living Christ and care only to live Christ that He might be magnified in us
11在腓立比书中保罗鼓励我们要思念同一件事，（二2，）这一件事就是活基督。我们只该在意活基督并显大基督。我们不该追求圣别、属灵或得胜，我们应该凡事放胆，无论是生，是死，总要竭力活基督并让基督显大。今天神的心意乃是要我们活基督。不要让任何事物打岔你，使你失去对基督直接、亲身的经历。我们的确需要了解腓立比书的背景，并领悟甚么是当前宗教的光景；也需要辨识不同传扬基督的方式。但是这些都不该使我们受打岔离开基督自己。今天我们必须专注于一件事–活基督。
11In the book of Philippians Paul encourages us to think the one thing (2:2). This one thing is to live Christ. We should care only to live Christ and magnify Him. Instead of pursuing holiness, spirituality, or victory, we should seek to live Christ and magnify Him always with all boldness, whether through life or through death. God’s desire today is that we live Christ. Do not allow anything to distract you from the direct, personal experience of Christ. Yes, we need to understand the background of Philippians and realize what is the present religious situation. We also need to discern between the different preachings of Christ. But none of this should distract us from Christ Himself. Today we need to focus our attention on the one thing—to live Christ
参 与律法、割礼无关
III. HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH THE LAW AND CIRCUMCISION
12保罗的生活就是活基督；在他，活著就是基督，不是律法，也不是割礼。他不要活律法，乃要活基督；不要给人看出他是在律法里，而要给人看出他是在基督里。（三9。）基督不仅是他的生命，也是他的生活。他活基督，因为基督活在他里面。他在生命和生活上，都与基督是一；他与基督同有一个生命，同过一个生活。他们同活，如同一人。基督在他里面活著，作他的生命；他在外面活基督，作基督的生活。对基督正常的经历就是活基督，而活基督就是无论环境如何，总叫基督照常显大。保罗在监狱中，一直活基督。因此，他就能给人看出，他不是在律法里面，乃是在基督里面。不论何时，世人、天使、魔鬼都可以看出他是在基督里。我们也必须给人看出我们是在基督里，而不是仅仅有好行为。年轻人，你的父母应该看出你是在基督里。他们应该感觉到你有一点不同。我们所有的亲戚、朋友、同事，都该看出我们是在基督里面。
12Paul’s life was to live Christ. To him, to live was Christ, not the law or circumcision. He would not live the law but would live Christ, not be found in the law but be found in Christ (3:9). Christ was not only his life within, but also his living without. He lived Christ because Christ lived in him. He was one with Christ both in life and in living. He and Christ had one life and one living. They lived together as one person. Christ lived within him as his life, and he lived Christ without as His living. The normal experience of Christ is to live Him, and to live Him is to magnify Him always, regardless of the circumstances. When Paul was in prison, he was living Christ. Therefore, he could be found not in the law, but in Christ. At any time, men, angels, and demons could find him in Christ. We also need to be found by others in Christ, not simply in our good behavior. Young people, your parents should find you in Christ. They should sense that there is something different about you. All of our relatives, friends, and colleagues should find us in Christ
13如果要让人看出我们是在基督里，我们就必须活基督。只有我们活基督的时候，世人、天使、和鬼才会看出我们是在基督里。然而，我们若只是守律法，别人就会看出我们是在律法里面，而不是在基督里面。我们在这里不是要彰显律法，也不是要显大律法，我们的目标乃是要彰显基督、显大基督。我们都必须祷告：『主，怜悯我，救我脱离罪恶的事，也救我脱离善事，甚至救我脱离属灵的事物，不要让这些在我的日常生活中顶替了你。主，拯救我脱离一切的事物，使我转向你自己。也求你天天赐给我恩典，叫我可以真正的活你，并给人看出我是在你里面。』我可以作见证，这种祷告是有功效的。愿我们都寻求并竭力追求那一件事─活基督并显大基督。
13If we would be found in Christ, we must live Christ. Only when we live Christ shall we be found in Him by others and by the angels and demons. However, if we are law-keepers, we shall be found in the law instead of in Christ. We are not here to express the law or magnify the law; our goal is to express Christ and magnify Him. We all need to pray, “Lord, have mercy on me and rescue me both from sinful things and from good things, even spiritual things, that replace You in my daily life. Lord, rescue me from everything back to Yourself. Also, I ask You to grant me the grace each day that I may truly live You and be found in You.” I can testify that this kind of prayer is effective. Let us all seek the one thing and pursue the one thing—to live Christ and magnify Him.