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歌罗西书生命读经 · 第4篇

脱离黑暗的权势,迁入神爱子的国里

Delivered out of the authority of darkness and transferred into the Kingdom of the Son of His love
1保罗在一章十三节说,『祂拯救了我们脱离黑暗的权势,把我们迁入祂爱子的国里。』保罗这里的话,与他往大马色的路上主对他所说的话一致。按照行传二十六章十八节,主吩咐保罗说,『叫他们的眼睛得开,从黑暗转入光中,从撒但权下转向神,又因信入我,得蒙赦罪,并在一切圣别的人中得著基业。』在这一节和歌罗西一章十二至十三节中,保罗都说到黑暗、光、权势、圣别的人、以及分或基业。毫无疑问的,保罗对歌罗西人所说的话,反映出在他悔改时主对他所说的话。多年前,我以为黑暗的权势单单指著邪恶的事,如赌博、偷盗和淫乱等。后来我才明白,这里黑暗的权势所包含的远多于此。在歌罗西书中,黑暗的权势不是指邪恶的事,乃是指宗教的仪文、外邦人的规条、和智慧派的哲学。在第二章,保罗将拜偶像、敬拜天使,与哲学、神秘主义、智慧派、禁欲主义相题并论。禁欲主义是指苦待己身,为要克制肉体的放纵。这种苦行见于印度教、佛教和天主教。我们以后会看见,禁欲主义在克制肉体的放纵上,是毫无价值的。(23。)宗教的规条、禁欲主义、和哲学都不是邪恶的。有些仪文甚至是根据旧约神的诫命,例如饮食的条例。然而,当保罗说,父拯救了我们脱离黑暗的权势,他是指著仪文、规条、哲学、和禁欲苦行等这些黑暗说的。我们都认为赌场是在黑暗的权势底下。但很少人认为哲学和伦理教训也是这黑暗权势的一部分。因此,了解保罗在歌罗西书中对这辞的用法乃是十分重要的。
1In 1:13 Paul says, “Who delivered us out of the authority of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” Paul’sword here corresponds to the word given him by the Lord on the way to Damascus. According to Acts 26:18, the Lord charged Paul, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the authority of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith that is in me” (Gk.). Both in this verse and in Colossians 1:12 and 13 Paul speaks of darkness, light, authority, those who are sanctified, and the portion or the inheritance. No doubt, Paul’sword to the Colossians reflects the Lord’sword to him at the time of his conversion. Years ago, I thought that the authority of darkness referred only to evil things such as gambling, stealing, and fornication. Later I realized that the authority of darkness here includes a great deal more than this. In the book of Colossians the authority of darkness refers not to evil things, but to religious observances, Gentile ordinances, and Gnostic philosophy. In chapter two Paul linked idolatry, the worship of angels, to philosophy, mysticism, Gnosticism, and asceticism. Asceticism denotes the practice of treating the body severely in order to bridle the indulgence of the flesh. This kind of practice is found in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Catholicism. As we shall see later, asceticism is of no value against the indulgence of the flesh (2:23). Religious observances, asceticism, and philosophies are not evil. Some observances are even based on God’s commandments in the Old Testament; for example, the regulations concerning eating. Nevertheless, when Paul says that the Father has delivered us out of the authority of darkness, he means the darkness of these very observances, ordinances, philosophies, and ascetic practices. All of us regard gambling casinos as under the authority of darkness. But not many think that philosophies or ethical teachings are also part of this authority. Therefore, it is crucial that we understand Paul’su se of this term in the book of Colossians
2壹脱离黑暗的权势一黑暗的权势是撒但的权势,也就是在诸天界里邪恶的势力
2I. DELIVERED OUT OF THE AUTHORITY OF DARKNESS A. The Authority of Darkness Being the Authority
of Satan, the Authority of Evil in the Heavenlies
3黑暗的权势是指撒但的势力。神是光,而撒但是黑暗。撒但黑暗的权势就是在诸天界里,在空中邪恶的势力。(弗六12。)这个邪恶是指背叛神的一些东西。在诸天界里邪恶、背叛的势力,乃是撒但的国,就是黑暗的权势。(太十二26。)
3The authority of darkness denotes the authority of Satan. God is light, and Satan is darkness. Satan’s authority of darkness is the authority of evil in the heavenlies, in the air (Eph. 6:12). This evil refers to something that is in rebellion against God. The authority of evil, of rebellion, in the heavenlies is the kingdom of Satan, the authority of darkness (Matt. 12:26).
二 与死亡有关
B. Related to Death
4黑暗与死亡有关。黑暗在那里,死亡就在那里。黑暗抵挡光,而光和生命有关。撒但、黑暗和死亡,与神、光、和生命是相对的。根据彼前二章九节,我们乃是蒙召出黑暗、进入神奇妙之光。黑暗就是那是死亡的撒但,光乃是那是生命的神自己。
4Darkness is related to death. Where darkness is, there death is also. This darkness is opposed to light, which is related to life. Satan, darkness, and death stand in opposition to God, light, and life. According to 1 Peter 2:9, we have been called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light. Darkness is Satan as death, but light is God Himself as life
三 脱离掌死权的魔鬼
C. Delivered from the Devil, Who Has the Might of Death
5脱离黑暗的权势,就是脱离掌死权的魔鬼。(来二14,约十七15。)我们藉著基督的死,(西二15,)和基督在复活里的生命,(约五24,)已经蒙拯救脱离魔鬼撒但。
5To be delivered out of the authority of darkness is to be delivered from the Devil, who has the might of death (Heb. 2:14; John 17:15). We have been delivered from the Devil, Satan, by the death of Christ (Col. 2:15) and by the life of Christ in resurrection (John 5:24
6我们已经看见,黑暗的权势乃是撒但的国,而撒但自己就是黑暗。撒但的国是一个系统。并不是在这系统里的每一件事物都是邪恶的。反之,有许多东西是好的,或者至少是社会所认为好的。撒但利用各种好坏的事物,把人系统化起来,把人拘禁在他的系统中。对爱赌博的人,撒但就用赌博把他们系统化起来。因此,在他的国中有一个赌博的部门。然而,撒但知道有些人欣赏知识;为了将他们系统化,撒但在他的国里就有一个知识的部门。大多数的人定罪赌博,但几乎没有人定罪知识。我们若鼓励人脱离撒但系统中邪恶的方面,人会感谢我们。撒但引诱人犯罪作恶来将某些人系统化,但他也藉著人的努力制恶来将另一些人系统化。撒但国度的另一个部门是哲学。保罗说到黑暗的权势之后,接著题到规条、仪文、哲学、和世上的蒙学,这些都是撒但权势的各方面。今天有许多人在撒但的权下受哲学的控制。故此,要领一个赌徒归向基督,常常要比领一个热中哲学的人来得容易。在中国,我们发现很难带领孔子的跟从者归向基督。撒但利用儒家的伦理教训来系统化、并控制许多中国人。撒但藉著伦理的哲学,将他们控制在他的权下。
6We have seen that the authority of darkness is the kingdom of Satan and that Satan himself is darkness. The kingdom of Satan is a system. Not everything in this system is evil. On the contrary, many things are good, or at least are considered good by society. Satan uses various things, both good and evil, to systematize people and to keep them in his system. For those who are fond of gambling, Satan uses gambling to systematize them. There fore, in his kingdom there is a ministry, a department, of gambling. However, Satan realizes that others may appreciate knowledge. In order to systematize them, Satan has a department of knowledge in his kingdom. Most people condemn gambling, but hardly anyone condemns knowledge. If we encourage others to stay away from the evil aspects of Satan’s system, we shall be appreciated. Satan systematizes some people by luring them into practicing evil, but he systematizes others through their efforts to suppress evil. Another department of the kingdom of Satan is the ministry of philosophy. After speaking of the authority of darkness, Paul goes on to mention ordinances, observances, philosophies, and the elements of the world, all of which are aspects of this satanic authority. Today a great many people are held under Satan’s control by philosophy. For this reason, it is often easier to bring a gambler to Christ than a person devoted to philosophy. In China we found it difficult to convert the followers of Confucius. Satan used the ethical teachings of Confucianism to systematize and to control large numbers of Chinese. Satan controlled them and kept them under his authority through ethical philosophy.
7犹太教徒和回教徒强烈的反对基督的福音。回教徒并不是受邪恶之事的控制,乃是受回教教条的控制。一面说,这些教条是好的;但另一面说,牠们是可怕的。摩门教徒以日常生活的诚实、伦常道德而闻名,他们也受这些看起来不错的东西所辖制。摩门教徒不仅禁止喝含酒精的饮料,甚至也不喝咖啡和茶。他们看起来何等严格、何等正直!然而,摩门教也是黑暗权势的一部分,摩门教徒乃是被撒但扣留并控制在黑暗里。在保罗的时代,犹太教成了黑暗权势的主要部分。这位在犹太教中领头的宗教家,在往大马色的路上时,完全在这个权势之下。然后主向他显现,并吩咐他开启别人的眼睛,使他们从黑暗转入光中。保罗遇见基督,他的眼睛暂时瞎了。这个『瞎眼』指明他先前是在瞎眼的人中间。现在他既被带到基督跟前,就必须设法使别人从黑暗转入光中,从撒但权下转向神。保罗得救以前,是在撒但的权下。犹太教就是管辖保罗的黑暗权势。
7The Jews and the Moslems vigorously oppose the gospel of Christ. The Moslems are controlled not by evil things, but by the principles of Islam. In a sense, these principles are good; however, in another sense, they are dreadful. Mormons, who are known to be honest, ethical, and moral in their daily living, also are controlled by seemingly good things. The Mormons not only refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages, but do not even drink coffee or tea. How strict and upright they seem to be! However, Mormonism is part of the authority of darkness, and the Mormons are held and controlled in darkness by Satan. At the time of Paul, Judaism had become a major part of the authority of darkness. When Paul, a leading religionist in Judaism, was on the road to Damascus, he was fully under this authority. Then the Lord appeared to him and charged him to open the eyes of others so that they might turn from darkness to light. As a result of Paul’s confrontation with Christ, he was blinded temporarily. This blindness indicated that he was formerly among the blind. Now, having been brought to Christ, he must seek to turn others from darkness to light, from the authority of Satan unto God. Before Paul was saved, he was under the authority of Satan. The Jewish religion was the authority of darkness through which Paul was controlled
8我们若要正确的明白歌罗西一章十三节,就要从整卷书信的上下文来看这一节。由整卷书来看,黑暗的权势包括犹太宗教及其规条,尤其是割礼;还有外邦人的规条、哲学、神秘主义、和禁欲主义等。今天全世界的人都在黑暗之下,正如使徒写歌罗西书那时候的人一样。在黑暗中,就是没有光。每一个大学和社会团体都在黑暗的权下;社会的每一方面,包括基督教在内,都在黑暗里。不要以为黑暗只存在于邪恶的地方。保罗对歌罗西人说,神拯救了他们脱离黑暗的权势,就是脱离律法、规条、作法、禁欲主义、神秘主义和哲学。这些东西虽然包含文化最高的产物,却是撒但藉以辖制人的黑暗权势。
8If we would have the proper understanding of Colossians 1:13, we need to consider this verse in the context of the whole Epistle. Considering the book as a whole, we see that the authority of darkness includes the Jewish religion with its observances, especially circumcision; it also includes Gentile ordinances, philosophy, mysticism, and asceticism. Throughout the world today people are under darkness, just as they were when the book of Colossians was written. To be in darkness is simply to be without light. Every university and every social group is under the authority of darkness. Every aspect of society, including Christianity, is in darkness. Do not think that darkness is found only where there is evil. Paul was telling the Colossians that God had delivered them out from under the authority of darkness, that is, out from legalities, ordinances, practices, asceticism, mysticism, and philosophy. Although these include the highest products of culture, they are nonetheless the authority of darkness by which Satan controls people.
9我们需要问问自己,我们有多少仍旧在黑暗的权下。我们也许谈论许多活基督的事,但我们真正凭祂而活究竟有多少?在我们的日常生活中,许多人仍在撒但黑暗权势的某一面之下。我们常常不知不觉的、下意识的、且自然而然的照著自己,不照著基督而活。你们每一天有多少时候活在灵中,并照著灵而行?有多少时候仍在自己里面生活行动?我们只要一活在自己里面,立刻就在黑暗权势的控制之下,并被撒但系统化。只要我们一在天然的人里面,一照著自己而活,我们就在撒但的辖制之下。因著撒但的辖制,许多人觉得他们是在黑暗中,觉得没有光。他们在黑暗中,原因乃是他们有些方面仍受黑暗权势的控制。所有的人类,无论有宗教的或是没有宗教的,都在黑暗之中。在这黑暗中,撒但的权势以各种方式得逞,将人系统化,并且辖制人。撒但有许多辖制基督徒的方法。初来参加我们聚会的人可能在黑暗的权下,特别是在道理及其见解的黑暗之下。大多数的基督徒都在某种形式之道理的辖制下,他们不知道这个辖制就是黑暗的权势。
9We need to ask ourselves how much we are still under the authority of darkness. We may talk a lot about living Christ, but how much do we really live by Him? In our daily lives, many of us are still under some aspect of the satanic authority of darkness. Unconsciously, subconsciously, and spontaneously we live according to the self, not according to Christ. How much of each day do you live in the spirit and walk according to the spirit? How much time do you still live and walk in the self? Whenever we live in the self, we are under the control of the authority of darkness and are systematized by Satan. We are under Satan’s control whenever we are in the natural man or live according to the self. Because of this satanic control, many have the sense that they are in darkness, that they have no light. The reason they are under darkness is that they are still cont rolled in some way by the authority of darkness. All of mankind, religious and nonreligious ones a like, are in darkness. In this darkness Satan’s authority is exercised in various ways to systematize people and to control them. Satan has many ways to control Christians. New ones who visit our meetings may be under the authority of darkness, especially the darkness of doctrine and of doctrinal understanding. Most Christians are under some form of doctrinal control. They are not aware that this control is the authority of darkness.
10另一些人落在黑暗的权势下,乃是因为他们凭著某些天然的美德而活。他们也许天生温和或谦卑。然而撒但甚至能藉著这些美德来辖制我们,把我们扣留在黑暗的权下。有些人不接受光,因为他们在天然美德的黑暗之下。每一种天然的美德都是黑暗权势的一方面。许多圣徒受他们的个性所辖制;有的个性是快的,有的个性是慢的。不管我们的个性如何,撒但都能用这个性来辖制我们。当你读到这段话,看见黑暗权势的范围,以及撒但为著将我们扣留在黑暗里,并且辖制我们,所用的各种手段,你也许不知道该如何生活。我们好像没有路往前。无论我们是甚么,无论我们作甚么,无论我们想甚么,无论我们说甚么,都在黑暗的权势之下。这是我们真实的光景。我们惟一可行的,就是到十字架这里,让十字架对付撒但黑暗权势的每一方面。十字架是我们惟一的路。我们也必须相信保罗在一章十三节的话:我们已经蒙拯救,脱离黑暗的权势。
10Others are under the authority of darkness because they live according to some natural virtue. They may be kind or humble in a natural way. However, even through virtues such as these, Satan may control us and hold us under the authority of darkness. Some do not receive light because they are under the darkness of their natural virtue. Every natural virtue is an aspect of the authority of darkness. Many saints are controlled by their disposition, either by a quick disposition or by a slow one. Whatever our disposition may be, Satan can use it to control us. When you read this word about the scope of the authority of darkness and about all the ways Satan uses to keep us in darkness and to control us, you may wonder how we should live. It may seem that we have no way to go on. Whatever we are, whatever we do, whatever we think, and whatever we say— all is under the authority of darkness. This is our actual situation. The only thing we can do is go to the cross and allow the cross to deal with every aspect of the satanic authority of darkness. The cross is our unique way. We also must believe Paul’sword in 1:13. We have already been delivered out of the authority of darkness.
贰 迁入神爱子的国里
II. TRANSFERRED INTO THE KINGDOM of the Son of His love
一 子的国乃是基督的权柄
A. The Kingdom of the Son Being the Authority of Christ
11我们不仅蒙拯救,脱离黑暗的权势,也迁入神爱子的国里。子的国乃是基督的权柄。(启十一15,十二10。)二父的爱子乃是
11We have been not only delivered out of the authority of darkness, but also transferred into the kingdom of the Son of God’s love. The kingdom of the Son is the authority of Christ (Rev. 11:15; 12:10). B. The Son of the Father Being the Expression
父这生命源头的彰显
of the Father as the Source of Life
12父的爱子乃是父这生命源头的彰显。(约一18,4,约壹一2。)父这生命的源头,乃是在子里得以彰显。
12The Son of the Father is the expression of the Father as the source of life (John 1:18, 4; 1 John 1:2). The Father as the source of life is expressed in the Son
13父的爱子乃是父爱的对象,带著复活里的权柄,在神圣的爱里对我们作生命的具体化身。作神圣生命具体化身的子,乃是父爱的对象。具体化在子里的神圣生命,在神圣的爱里赐给了我们。因此,神圣之爱的对象,带著复活里的权柄,在神圣的爱里对我们作生命的具体化身。这就是神爱子的国。举例说明神爱子的国,比充分解释爱子的国要容易些。想想看你的经历。当我们认识主耶稣是这样的可爱可亲,我们就开始爱祂。我们一爱主耶稣,就感觉到爱的甜美。这个爱的感觉不仅包括了主耶稣,也包括了我们。我们晓得,我们也是神圣之爱的对象。我们既是这神圣之爱的对象,自然而然的就在一种支配或管理之下。我们开始爱主耶稣以前,可以为所欲为。但我们越说,『主耶稣,我爱你!』我们就越没有自由。我们开始爱主耶稣以前,还不觉得有这样的管理和约束。我们待别人不好,或是享受属世的娱乐,一点也不觉得里头的约束。但我们成了爱主耶稣的人之后,就进到祂的管理之下。这个管理并不严酷;相反的,乃是甜美而愉快的。哦,我们是在这甜美的方式中,受约束和管理!因著主在我们里头的管制是甜美的,我们就用不著操心会说闲话,或有不讨祂喜悦的思想。我们在爱的甜美中,受最大的管理和约束。这就是神爱子的国。
13The Son of the Father’s love is the object of the Father’s love to be the embodiment of life to us in the divine love with the authority in resurrection. The Son, as the embodiment of the divine life, is the object of the Father’s love. The divine life embodied in the Son is given to us in the divine love. Therefore, the object of the divine love becomes to us the embodiment of life in the divine love with the authority in resurrection. This is the kingdom of the Son of His love. It is easier to give an illustration of the kingdom of the Son of His love than it is to give an adequate definition of it. Consider your experience. Coming to realize that the Lord Jesus is so loving and lovable, we began to love Him. As we love the Lord Jesus, we are conscious of a sweet sense of love. Not only does this sense of love include the Lord Jesus, but it also includes us. We realize that we also are the objects of the divine love. As objects of this divine love, we spontaneously come under a certain control or ruling. Before we began to love the Lord Jesus, we were free to do whatever we wanted. But the more we say, “Lord Jesus, I love You,” the less freedom we have. Before we began to love the Lord Jesus, we did not sense this ruling or restriction. We could mistreat people or engage in worldly entertainments without any sense of inward restriction. But as those who love the Lord Jesus, we have come under His rule. This rule is not harsh; on the contrary, it is sweet and pleasant. Oh, we are restricted and ruled in such a sweet way! Because of the pleasantness of the Lord’s rule in us, we do not care even to speak a vain word or to have a thought that is displeasing to Him. We are ruled and restricted to the uttermost in the sweetness of love. This is the kingdom of the Son of His love
14我们越因著爱主耶稣,而乐意受祂的约束与管理时,就越在生命中长大,甚至在丰盛的生命中长大。这指明神爱子的国,乃是为了叫我们享受基督作生命。在此我们得著释放,脱离基督以外的一切事物,不仅脱离邪恶的事,也脱离哲学、规条、仪文、和禁欲主义等类的事。当我们持守我们的哲学、伦理、禁欲主义或规条,我们就在黑暗的权势之下。但神已拯救我们脱离了这权势,把我们迁入爱的国里,就是满了生命和亮光的国里。在这里我们没有仪文、形式、规条、作法、哲学、神秘主义、智慧派或禁欲主义,我们只有神的爱子基督。在这里我们有爱、光和生命。这就是凭基督而活。凭基督而活,就是我们不凭基督以外的任何事物而活。我们若看见甚么是凭基督而活,就会领悟,我们许多人仍旧在某种形式的辖制之下;这种辖制是由己所建立,由己所设立并执行的。这种辖制就是黑暗的权势。我们若在这种权势之下,我们读经就得不著光,祷告也没有话语。虽然父拯救了我们脱离黑暗的权势,脱离我们天然的思想、情感、喜好和行为,我们仍旧可能停留在天然人的一些光景里。这使我们被扣留在黑暗的权势之下。事实上,由于我们在黑暗的权势及辖制之下,没有实际在神爱子的国里,我们就很少享受基督作众圣徒的分。我能作见证,因著主的怜悯,我不受黑暗的辖制。有些人偶而会希奇,为甚么我在某些方面似乎不一致。原因乃是我不在任何一面黑暗的控制之下。对于不是罪恶的事,我很有弹性,有时候给人一种答案,有时候给人另一种答案。要记住,歌罗西书不是对付罪,乃是对付规条、作法和哲学。假设一位弟兄问到是否能吃某种东西,我也许对他说,他有自由吃他想吃的东西。但是对另一位问到同样问题的弟兄,我可能给他不一样的答案,我给的答案乃是适合他的情形。表面看来,我好像不一致。事实上,这不是一致与否的问题,这乃是不愿意因规条和仪文而落在黑暗权势控制之下的问题。
14The more we are willing to be restricted and ruled by the Lord Jesus out of our love for Him, the more we shall grow in life, even in the abundance of life. This indicates that the kingdom of the Son of His love is for our enjoyment of Christ as life. Here we are freed from everything other than Christ, not only from evil things, but also from things such as philosophy, ordinances, observances, and asceticism. When we were holding to our philosophy, ethics, asceticism, and ordinances, we were under the authority of darkness. But God has delivered us out of this authority and has transferred us into a kingdom of love that is full of life and light. Here we have no observances, rituals, ordinances, practices, philosophies, mysticism, Gnosticism, or asceticism. We just have Christ, the Son of His love. Here we have love, light, and life. This is to live by Christ. To live by Christ means that we do not live by anything other than Christ. If we see what it is to live by Christ, we shall realize that many of us are still under some form of control established by the self, a control set up and carried out by the self. This kind of control is the authority of darkness. If we are under this authority, we receive no light in reading the Bible, and we have no utterance in prayer. Although the Father has delivered us out of the authority of darkness, out of our natural thought, emotion, preference, and behavior, we may still remain in some aspect of our natural being. This causes us to beheld under the authority of darkness. Because, in actuality, we are under the authority and control of darkness and are not in the kingdom of the Son of His love in a practical way, we have little enjoyment of Christ as the portion of the saints. I can testify that by the Lord’s mercy I am not controlled by the darkness. Others may sometimes wonder why, in certain respects, I do not seem consistent. The reason is that I am not under the control of any aspect of darkness. Concerning matters that are not sinful, I am flexible and may give one answer at one time and a different answer at another time. Remember, the book of Colossians does not deal with sin, but with ordinances, practices, and philosophies. Suppose a brother asks me about eating a certain kind of thing. I may tell him that he has the liberty to eat whatever he desires. But to another brother asking the same question I may give a different answer, an answer appropriate to his situation. It may appear that I am not consistent. Actually, it is not a matter of consistency, but of refusing to be under the control of the authority of darkness through ordinances and observances.
15坚持一种特别的规条和作法,就是在黑暗的权势之下。我们的父已经救了我们脱离黑暗的权势,把我们迁入祂爱子的国里。在此我们是在神圣的生命里,受神圣之爱的约束。我们没有规条、仪文、宗教和主义,我们有基督,并且只有基督。我们若看见这事,在召会生活中就没有争执,没有分裂。我们中间若是有分裂,这指明黑暗权势的一些元素还在我们中间。今天基督徒中间的分裂和混乱,就是黑暗权势影响的结果。我们若看见甚么是凭基督而活,就没有仪文或规条。这不是说,我们不尊重圣经。我们相信并尊重圣经,但我们不把圣经当作一本仪文和规条的书。反之,我们把圣经当作那位活的基督的启示。迁入父爱子的国里,就是迁入那是我们生命的子里。(约壹五12。)子在复活里,(彼前一3,罗六4~5,)现今是赐生命的灵。(林前十五45下。)祂在复活的生命里,用爱来管理我们,这就是父爱子的国。我们在复活里,凭著子作我们的生命而活,我们就活在祂的国里,在父的爱里享受祂。
15To insist on a particular ordinance or practice is to be under the authority of darkness. Our Father has delivered us from the authority of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. Here we are restricted by the divine love in the divine life. Instead of ordinances, observances, religion, or isms, we have Christ and Christ alone. If we see this, there will be no disputes or divisions in the church life. If we have anything divisive among us, that is an indication that some element of the authority of darkness is still with us. The division and confusion among Christians today are the result of the influence of the authority of darkness. If we have seen what it is to live by Christ, we shall not have observances or ordinances. This does not mean that we do not honor the holy Word. We believe and honor the Bible, but we do not take the Bible as a book of observances and ordinances. Instead, we take it as the revelation of the living Christ. To be transferred into the kingdom of the Son of the Father’s love is to be transferred into the Son who is life to us (1 John 5:12). The Son in resurrection (1 Pet. 1:3; Rom. 6:4-5) is now the life-giving Spirit (1 Cor. 15:45b). He rules us in His resurrection life with love. This is the kingdom of the Son of the Father’s love. When we live by the Son as our life in resurrection, we are living in His kingdom, enjoying Him in the Father’s love
16我们已经迁入一个范围,在那里我们是在爱和生命中受管理。在此,我们在属天的管理和约束之下有真正的自由,就是在爱中、凭著生命、并在亮光下的正当自由。这就是蒙拯救脱离黑暗的权势,迁入神爱子的国里。在这国里,我们享受基督,并过召会生活。在这里没有意见,没有分裂。在这里我们只有一件事,就是召会生活,以基督作我们的一切。这就是歌罗西书的启示。在歌罗西书,黑暗的权势是指文化好的方面,以及我们的性格、个性、和天然人的优点。黑暗的权势包含我们的美德、宗教、哲学、仪文、规条、原则和道德规范。神已经救了我们脱离这一切,并把我们迁入祂爱子的国里,在那里我们生活在属天的管理和约束之下。在这国里,我们不在严厉的管理之下,乃在子爱的管理之下。在这里我们不觉得是在公义、能力或权柄之下,乃是在可爱可亲的主耶稣之下。我们越告诉主耶稣我们爱祂,一面我们就越得以自由,另一面却越受约束、越受管理。因著我们爱祂,我们就渴慕以祂为我们的人位和生命。这就是为著召会生活的正当基督徒生活。
16We have been transferred into a realm where we are ruled in love with life. Here, under the heavenly ruling and restriction, we have genuine freedom, the proper freedom in love, with life, and under light. This is what it means to be delivered out of the authority of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of the Son of His love. Here in this kingdom we enjoy Christ and have the church life. Here there is no opinion or division. Here we have one thing: the church life with Christ as everything to us. This is the revelation of the book of Colossians. In Colossians the authority of darkness refers to the good aspects of culture and of our character, disposition, and natural being. The authority of darkness includes our virtues, religion, philosophy, observances, ordinances, principles, and ethical standards. God has delivered us out of all this and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, where we live under a heavenly rule and restriction. In this kingdom we are not under a harsh rule, but under the loving rule of the Son. Here we do not sense that we are under righteousness, power, or authority, but under the loving and lovable Lord Jesus. The more we tell the Lord Jesus that we love Him, the more we are freed on the one hand, and the more we are restricted and ruled on the other hand. Because we love Him, we desire to take Him as our person and as our life. This is the proper Christian life for the church life.