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歌罗西书生命读经 · 第46篇

在基督里面已经生根，并正被建造，就要在祂里面行事为人

WALK IN CHRIST, HAVING BEEN ROOTED AND BEING BUILT UP IN HIM
1读经：歌罗西书2:6-8,16-17。歌罗西书中心并基本的思想乃是：照著神的命定，基督应当以祂自己顶替我们天然之人性生活的一切元素和因素。这些元素和因素可以总括在『文化』一辞之内。我们人的生活是由文化的各方面构成，而文化是由许许多多的因素和元素组成。我们已经看见，歌罗西书对付了我们人性生活的这些因素、元素、成分、构成要素。这卷书启示，延展无限的基督乃是我们人性生活中这一切元素的顶替。
1Scripture Reading: Col. 2:6-8, 16-17 The central and underlying thought of the book of Colossians is that, according to God’so rd i nation, Christ should replace all the elements and factors of our natural human life with Himself. These elements and factors may be summed up in one word—culture. Our human living is constituted of the various aspects of our culture, which is composed of a number of factors and elements. We have seen that the book of Colossians deals with these factors, elements, components, constituents, of our human living. This book reveals the extensive Christ who is the replacement for all these elements in our human living
哲学、传统、和世上的蒙学
PHILOSOPHY, TRADITION, AND THE ELEMENTS OF THE WORLD
2保罗在二章八节说，『你们要谨慎，恐怕有人用他的哲学，和虚空的欺骗，照著人的传统，照著世上的蒙学，不照著基督，把你们掳去。』哲学是文化中的基本因素。不仅如此，若没有传统，文化就不能存在。文化和传统这两个辞几乎是同义辞。二章八节所题世上的蒙学，乃是初阶的原则，初阶的教训。哲学、传统、世上的蒙学，都是文化的组成成分，这些都是与基督相对的。这一节指明，基督来顶替了哲学、传统、和世上的蒙学。因此，这一节在基督与哲学、传统、和世上的蒙学之间，作了一个明显的对比。一个人若没有基督，就必定有这三种文化的元素。然而我们一旦接受了基督，这些东西就该被基督顶替。基督与影儿、规条、
2In 2:8 Paul says, “Beware that no one carries you off as spoil through his philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.” Philosophy is a primary factor in culture. Furthermore, culture cannot exist without tradition. The terms culture and tradition are almost synonymous. The elements of the world spoken of in 2:8 are the elementary principles, the elementary teachings. Philosophy, tradition, and the elements of the world are all components of culture. All these things are versus Christ. This verse indicates that Christ has come to replace philosophy, tradition, and the elements of the world. Hence, this verse presents a vivid contrast between Christ and philosophy, tradition, and the elements of the world. If a person does not have Christ, he will surely have these three cultural elements. But once we receive Christ, these things should be replaced by Christ. CHRIST AND THE SHADOWS, ORDINANCES
以及文化的区别
AND CULTURAL DISTINCTIONS
3在二章十六至十七节，保罗继续说，『所以不拘在饮食上、或在节期、月朔、或安息日方面，都不可让人论断你们，这些原是要来之事的影儿，那实体却属于基督。』保罗在十六节题起四个项目作例子：饮食、节期、月朔、安息日。这些项目代表我们人性生活中的一切事物。这里所题到的这些项目，特别都与犹太教有关，犹太教有饮食的条例，谨守日子、月朔的条例，以及安息日的条例。因此，十六节乃是说到构成犹太人生活要素的各种规条。但正如保罗在下一节所说的，这一切『原是要来之事的影儿，那实体却属于基督』。所以，在这两节里有另一个对比，就是影儿与基督之间的对比。
3In 2:1 6 and 1 7 Paul goes on to say, “Let no one therefore judge you in eating and in drinking or in respect of a feast or of a new moon or of Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ.” In verse 16 Paul mentions four items as illustrations: eating and drinking, feasts, new moons, and Sabbaths. These items represent everything in our human living. In particular, the items mentioned are all related to Judaism, with its regulations about eating and drinking, about the observing of days and new moons, and about the Sabbaths. Hence, verse 16 speaks of various observances which were components of Jewish life. But as Paul says in the following verse, all these things “are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ.” Therefore, in these verses we have another contrast, the contrast between the shadows and Christ.
4在二十至二十一节，保罗继续说，『你们若是与基督同死，脱离了世上的蒙学，为甚么仍像在世界中活著，服从那不可拿，不可尝，不可摸等类的规条？』保罗在罗马书里说，我们在基督里向著罪是死的，而在歌罗西书这里说，我们与基督同死，脱离了世上的蒙学，就是脱离了我们天然之人性生活的因素。这里保罗告诉我们说，我们已经与基督同死，脱离了我们的文化。然后他继续问说，既是这样，为甚么我们仍然服从那些与拿、尝、摸有关的规条？在这两节里，又有另一个对比─我们已经与祂同死的基督，以及构成我们文化之要素的规条，这二者之间的对比。保罗在三章十节说到新人，然后在十一节论到新人说，『在此并没有希利尼人和犹太人、受割礼的和未受割礼的、化外人、西古提人、为奴的、自主的，惟有基督是一切，又在一切之内。』这里有基督与文化之间的对比。保罗用化外人和西古提人这两个辞，指明这一节是论到不同文化的区别。基督与这一切的区别相对。
4In verses 20 and 21 Paul continues, “If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why as living in the world do you subject yourself to ordinances: do not handle, do not taste, do not touch.” In Romans Paul says that in Christ we are dead to sin, whereas here in Colossians he says that we have died with Christ from the elements of the world, that is, from the factors of our natural human life. Here Paul is telling us that we have died with Christ from our culture. Then he goes on to ask, since this is the case, why we still subject ourselves to ordinances about handling, tasting, and touching. In these verses we have yet another contrast—the contrast between the Christ with whom we have died and the ordinances, which are components of our culture. In 3:10 Paul speaks of the new man and then in verse 11, referring to the new man, he says, “Where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, freeman, but Christ is all and in all.” Here we have the contrast once again between culture and Christ. Paul’su se of the terms barbarian and Scythian indicates that this verse is dealing with the different cultural distinctions. Christ is versus all such distinctions
基督顶替文化
CHRIST REPLACING CULTURE
5基督已经进来顶替了二章八节、十六至十七节、二十至二十一节，三章十一节所题文化的各方面。基督必须进到我们的人性生活里，顶替哲学、传统和世上的蒙学。祂必须顶替饮食、节期、月朔和安息日。祂必须顶替规条，和一切文化的区别。当这些都完全被基督顶替时，剩下的就只有基督了。这清楚的启示，在歌罗西书里，基督顶替了一切文化的因素和元素。祂必须进到我们的生活中，以祂自己来顶替一切。这乃是圣言中的神圣启示。哦，愿我们的眼睛被开启，看见我们天然之人性生活的因素、元素和各方面，都是与基督相对的。在神的经纶里，这位延展无限的基督必须进来顶替这一切的元素、因素和各方面。最终，惟有基督要存到永远。
5Christ has come into replace all the aspects of culture mentioned in 2:8, 16-17, 20-21; and 3:11. Christ must come into our human living to replace philosophy, tradition, and the elements of the world. He must replace eating, drinking, feasts, new moons, and Sabbaths. He must replace the ordinances and all the cultural distinctions. When all these things have been fully replaced by Christ, only Christ will remain. This clearly reveals that in Colossians Christ is the replacement for all cultural factors and elements. He must come into our living to replace everything with Himself. This is the divine revelation in the holy Word. Oh, may our eyes be opened to see that every factor, element, and aspect of our natural human life is versus Christ. In God’secon o my the extensive Christ must come into replace all these elements, factors, and aspects. Eventually, for eternity, only Christ will remain.
6基督乃是构成圣经的基本因素。因此，我们可以确实的说，圣经是用基督来写成的。每一个字母都是基督的象征。因这缘故，在圣经里基督说，『我是阿拉法，我是俄梅嘎。』（启二二13。）如果祂是头一个字母，又是末一个字母，祂也必定是其他所有的字母。在我们的人性生活中，基督该是全部的字母。如果祂是我们的字母，自然而然祂就成为每一字、每一句、每一段、每一章，最终成了整本书。神的经纶乃是要我们整个人的生活，都以基督作为独一的因素来撰写、来组成。因这缘故，歌罗西书揭示了这位延展无限的基督，祂进来充满我们生活的每一部分。因此，我们基督徒生活的辞典应当只有一个辞：基督。但底下该有一个小小的注解说，『与召会。』这就是歌罗西书里的启示。
6Christ is the basic factor in the composition of the Bible. We can truly say, therefore, that the Bible is written with Christ. The letters of the alphabet are symbols of Christ. For this reason in the Bible Christ says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega” (Rev. 22:13). If He is the first letter and the last, He must also be all the other letters. In our human living, Christ should be the entire alphabet. If He is our alphabet, He will automatically become every word, sentence, paragraph, and chapter, and ultimately, the whole book. God’secon o my is that our entire human living be written, composed, with Christ as the unique factor. For this reason, the book of Colossians unfolds the extensive Christ, the Christ who comes in to fill every part of our living. Therefore, the dictionary of our Christian life should have just one word: Christ. But at the bottom of the page there should be a small footnote saying, “and the church.” This is the revelation in the book of Colossians
两个条件
TWO CONDITIONS
7以这个启示为基础，我们要来看在基督里行事为人这件重要的事。二章六至七节不是说，『在祂里面行事为人，且在祂里面生根并被建造。』相反的，这两节说，『你们…在祂里面已经生根，并正被建造，…就要在祂里面行事为人。』『已经生根』和『正被建造』，分别是完成式和现在式的分词，描述我们应当如何行事为人。我们能在基督里行事为人，因为我们在祂里面已经生根，并且因为我们在祂里面正被建造。我们要在基督里行事为人，就必须履行这两个条件。我们在基督里行事为人，乃是基于两个条件：我们在祂里面已经生根，以及我们在祂里面正被建造。
7With this revelation as our basis, we come to the crucial matter of walking in Christ (2:6). Verses 6 and 7 do not say “walk in Him, and be rooted and be built up in Him.” On the contrary, these verses say “walk in Him, having been rooted and being built up in Him.” “Having been rooted” and “being built up” are, respectively, perfect and present participles which describe how we should walk. We can walk in Christ because we have been rooted in Him and because we are being built up in Him. These two conditions must be fulfilled if we are to walk in Christ. Our walk in Christ is based on two conditions: that we have been rooted in Him and that we are being built up in Him
8这两节的用字很简单；然而，我们也许会把这些经节视为理所当然，而没有真正明白。在这两节经文里，有三个基本的辞：行事为人、生根、建造。
8The wording of these two verses is simple; however, we may take these verses for granted and not truly understand them. In these verses there are three basic words: walk, rooted, and built
9在歌罗西书，保罗论到基督所是的客观启示，以及基督藉以分赐到信徒里面的主观职事。基督的客观启示和主观职事，合起来使我们对基督有实际的经历。在本篇信息和后面的信息里，我们要特别论到对基督的实际经历。圣经客观的启示揭示这位延展无限并包罗万有的基督，主观的职事将这位基督分赐到我们里面，顶替我们天然人性生活中的每一种元素。我们若看见这事，就能了解在基督里行事为人是甚么意思。
9In Colossians Paul covers the matters of the objective revelation of what Christ is and the subjective ministry by which Christ is dispensed into the believers. The objective revelation of Christ and the subjective ministry of Christ together give us the practical experience of Christ. In this message and in the messages to follow we are particularly concerned with the practical experience of Christ. The objective revelation of the Bible unfolds the extensive and all-inclusive Christ, and the subjective ministry dispenses this very Christ into us to become the replacement for every element of our natural human living. If we see this, we shall then be able to understand what it means to walk in Christ.
在基督以外的事物里行事为人
WALKING IN SOMETHING OTHER THAN CHRIST
10行事为人，在希腊原文的意思是生活、行动、举动、为人。这辞含示我们日常生活中的每一件事。在基督里行事为人，就是在基督里生活、举动、行动、为人。我们不该在基督以外的任何事物里生活、行事、举动、行动、为人。譬如，一位姊妹去买东西的时候，她应当在基督里去买。然而，很少姊妹在基督里去买东西。反之，她们也许在基督以外定意要去购物。因此，在购物的事上，许多姊妹并没有在基督里生活行动。弟兄们理发也是一样。在理发这件实际的事上，弟兄们也许没有在基督里生活行动。一位弟兄也许能作见证说，他爱主、爱召会，并且完全为著主的恢复。然而在许多事上，他没有在基督里为人，却在他的性情、喜好、拣选里为人。譬如，一位弟兄身为一家之主，也许自命事事都能料理得井然有序。他想要给人一个印象，他在家里是作王的。当一位弟兄这样装模作样时，他就不是在基督里行事为人。这是一个实例，说明虽然我们真爱主、真爱主的恢复，但我们在地方召会中，在许多方面并没有真正在基督里行事为人。在基督里行事为人，意思是说，不要有任何基督的代替品。因著人的堕落，文化在人的生活中顶替了神。人原是为著神造的，需要神作他的生命、享受和一切。但人因著失去了神，就发明文化作为神的代替品。现今神在祂的经纶里，命定祂的儿子基督来完成救赎，带人归向神，然后以祂自己顶替一切的代替品。我们已经看见，我们人性生活的各种因素和元素都是基督的顶替。但那些代替神的因素和元素，现今必须由基督来顶替。我们要经历这事，就必须在基督里行事为人。
10The Greek word for walk means to live, act, move, and have our being. It implies everything in our daily living. To walk in Christ is to live, move, act, and have our being in Christ. We should not live, walk, move, act, or have our being in anything other than Christ. For example, when a sister goes shopping, she should do so in Christ. However, not many sisters go shopping in Christ. Instead, they may decide apart from Christ to go shopping or to purchase certain items. Hence, in the matter of shopping, many sisters do not live and move in Christ. The same may be true of brothers when they get a haircut. In the practical matter of getting a haircut, the brothers may not live and move in Christ. A certain brother may testify that he loves the Lord and the church and that he is wholly for the Lord’s recovery. However, in many matters he may not behave in Christ, but may behave in his disposition, preference, or choice. For example, a brother may pretend that, as the head of his family, he has everything in order. He may try to give the impression that he exercises his kingship at home. Whenever a brother performs in such away, he is not walking in Christ. This is an illustration of the fact that in many ways we in the local churches do not actually walk in Christ, although we surely love the Lord and His recovery. To walk in Christ means not to have any substitute for Christ. Because of man’s fall, culture replaces God in man’s life. Man was made for God and needs God to be his life, his enjoyment, and everything to him. But because man lost God, he invented culture as a substitute for God. Now in His economy God has ordained that Christ, His Son, should accomplish redemption, bring man back to God, and then replace all the substitutes with Himself. We have seen that the various factors and elements of our human life are all replacements for Christ. But the factors and elements that have become substitutes for God must now be replaced by Christ. In order for this to be our experience, we need to walk in Christ.
11在买东西的事情上，我们只该活基督，不该在意基督以外的任何东西。不要去想甚么东西正在大减价，或你的账户里有多少存款。只要活基督，并且在意基督。如果一位弟兄过与主是一的生活，每当他去理发，他必定会在基督里行事为人。他自然而然知道该理怎样的头发。基督不仅是我们行事为人的范围、领域，祂也是我们人性生活的一切因素和元素。这样在我们的经历中有基督，就是在祂里面行事为人。我珍赏许多弟兄们爱基督与召会，并且绝对为著主的恢复。然而，他们没有在基督里行事为人，反而是在他们的尊严里行事为人。他们也许定罪骄傲，却宝贵自己的尊严。在召会生活中领头的弟兄也许喜欢行动有尊严。甚至刚结婚的青年弟兄，也可能照著自己尊严的感觉为人，却不在基督里行事为人。他们与妻子相处时，便摆出架子，好维持丈夫的尊严。倘若妻子作了甚么事有损他们的尊严，他们就非常不高兴。他们会认为这样的行为是侮辱他们作头的地位，并且不彀尊重他们的尊严。他们的态度是认为，神已命定他们作妻子的头，妻子就当敬重他们。所以，他们没有在基督里行事为人，反而在他们的尊严里行事为人。另一些人不在基督里行事为人，却照著情绪的起伏行事为人。情绪低落的时候，他们很冷漠、很安静，不关心别人的需要。但情绪高昂的时候，他们就活跃、健谈起来。他们谈话是照著情绪，不是照著基督。许多圣徒在情绪里行事为人，而不在基督里行事为人。他们高兴时，就很乐意帮助别人。但他们不高兴时，就变得退缩不前，提不起劲，也不关心周围的人。这指明这些圣徒虽然爱基督与召会，却不在基督里行事为人。
11In the matter of shopping we should simply live Christ and not care for anything other than Christ. Do not consider what items are on sale or how much you have in your checking account. Instead, simply live Christ and care for Christ. If a brother lives in oneness with the Lord, he will walk in Christ whenever he gets a haircut. Spontaneously he will know how his hair should be cut. Christ is not only the sphere, the realm, in which we walk, but He is also every factor and element of our human life. To have Christ in this way in our experience is to walk in Him. I appreciate the fact that so many brothers love Christ and the church and are absolute for the Lord’s recovery. Nevertheless, instead of walking in Christ, they walk in their dignity. They may condemn pride, but they treasure their dignity. A brother who is a leading one in the church life may enjoy acting dignified. Even young brothers, those recently married, may behave according to their own sense of dignity instead of walking in Christ. With their wives, they may exercise themselves to maintain their dignity as husbands. They may become very unhappy should their wives do anything to dishonor their dignity. They may regard such behavior as an insult to their headship and a lack of respect for their dignity. Their attitude is that God has ordained them to be the head over their wives and that their wives should respect them and honor them. Therefore, instead of walking in Christ, they walk in their dignity. Instead of walking in Christ, others walk according to the tide of their emotions. When the tide is low, they are cold, silent, and unconcerned for the needs of others. But when the tide is high, they become active and very talkative. They talk according to their mood, not according to Christ. Many saints walk in their moods instead of in Christ. If they feel happy, they are willing to help others. But if they do not feel happy, they become withdrawn and disinterested, unconcerned about those around them. This indicates that, although these saints may love Christ and the church, they do not walk in Christ
12按照歌罗西书里基督延展无限的启示，我们不该在基督以外的任何事物里行事为人。这意思是说，我们不该在哲学、传统、世上的蒙学里行事为人，我们也不该在某些仪式和规条里行事为人。
12According to the extensive revelation of Christ in the book of Colossians, we should not walk in anything other than Christ. This means we should not walk in philosophy, in tradition, or in the elements of the world. Neither should we walk in certain observances or ordinances
13在我们的习惯里，而不在基督里行事为人也很容易。我们生来就在习惯里生活、行事为人，而不在基督里。在祷告的时候，我们也许把自己祷告到灵里，那时，我们是在基督里为人。但一祷告完，我们就回到习惯里生活行事。因此，我们不是在基督里行事为人，乃是在文化里行事为人。今天你的行事为人，有多少是在基督里？你的谈话、行动、态度，有多少是在基督以外？我们必须承认，我们没有在基督里行事为人，反而在生活中许多顶替基督的因素或元素里行事为人。但根据歌罗西书，我们应当在这位延展无限的基督里行事为人，就是在这位宇宙般延展无限，并且是我们一切的基督里行事为人。我们不需要哲学，基督就是我们的哲学；我们不需要传统，基督就是我们所承受上好的产业；我们不需要初阶的原则，基督乃是我们每一项的原则。我们所要作的，乃是接受基督作一切，并且在祂里面行事为人。我们必须承认，甚至在地方召会里，我们也几乎都是在基督以外行事为人。我们爱主、爱主的恢复，但我们却在那些不是基督自己的事物里生活、行事、为人。一位弟兄因著行事怯懦，而不是在基督里行事为人，他就不愿意在爱里坦白的对人说实话。然而，这例子不是说，我们行事为人应当大胆而不怯懦。重点乃是我们应当在基督里行事为人。我们中间少有圣徒在犯罪的事上行事为人，却有许多人在良善、道德、伦理的事上行事为人。他们照著自己的生活方式而行。倘若我们真在基督里行事为人，有时候我们就能放胆责备人。根据加拉太二章，当彼得退去不与外邦人一同吃饭时，保罗就公开责备彼得。这里的重点不是说，我们该到处责备人，乃是说我们所有的行为都该在基督里。
13It is also easy to walk in our habits instead of in Christ. By nature, we all live, walk, and have our being in our habit, not in Christ. During times of prayer, we may pray ourselves into the spirit and, at those times, have our being in Christ. But as soon as prayer is ended, we turn back to living and walking in our habit. Thus, instead of walking in Christ, we walk in our culture. How much have you walked in Christ today? How much of your talk, actions, and attitudes have been in something other than Christ? We must admit that instead of walking in Christ, we walk in many other factors or elements of our living that are replacements for Christ. But according to the book of Colossians, we should walk in the extensive Christ, in the Christ who is universally vast and who is everything to us. We do not need philosophy—Christ is our philosophy. We do not need tradition—Christ is the best heritage. We do not need the elementary principles—Christ is every principle to us. What we need to do is to take Christ as everything and walk in Him. We have to admit that even in the local churches nearly all of us walk in something other than Christ. We love the Lord and His recovery, but we live, walk, and have our being in things that are not Christ Himself. Because a certain brother walks in his timidity, not in Christ, he is not willing to speak the truth to others frankly in love. However, this illustration should not be taken to mean that we should walk in boldness instead of timidity. The point is that we should walk in Christ. Very few saints among us walk in things that are sinful. But a great many walk in things that are good, moral, and ethical. They walk according to their own manner of life. If we truly walk in Christ, there will be times when we shall boldly rebuke others. According to Galatians 2, Paul openly rebuked Peter when Peter withdrew from eating with the Gentiles. The point here is not that we should go around rebuking others. It is that all our behavior should be in Christ
14我们必须在基督里生活行动。青年人不该说，他们还年轻；年长的也不该说，他们已经老了。我们无论年轻、年长，都必须在基督里生活行动。在召会中没有年轻的、年长的，也没有怯懦的、大胆的。在召会中只有基督，祂是新人一切的肢体，又在一切的肢体之内。因此，我们都该在基督里行事为人，不该照著文化的元素而活。我再说，基督不仅该是我们的范围，就是我们在其中行事为人的宽阔领域；祂也该成为我们日常生活一切的元素和因素。
14We need to live and act in Christ. The young people should not say that they cannot help being young, and the old ones should not say that they cannot keep from being old. Whether we are young or old, we all must live and act in Christ. In the church there are no young ones or old ones, no timid ones or bold ones. There is only Christ, who is all the members of the new man and in all the members. Therefore, we all should walk in Christ and not live according to any element of culture. I repeat, not only should Christ be our sphere, the extensive realm in which we walk; He should also become all the elements and factors of our daily living.
15我们承认，在基督里行事为人并不容易。保罗吩咐我们要在基督里行事为人时，加上这句话说，『在祂里面已经生根，并正被建造。』我们若要在基督里行事为人，就必须履行在祂里面已经生根，以及在祂里面正被建造的条件。我们在基督里行事为人的基础，乃是我们在基督里已经生根。一面，我们在基督里已经生根；另一面，我们是在过程之中，在祂里面正被建造。已经完成的生根，是在基督里行事为人的一个条件；正在进行的建造，是另一个条件。保罗用植物深深扎根在土壤里为例，说明已经生根；用石头为例，说明我们在基督里正被建造。
15We admit that it is not easy to walk in Christ. After charging us to walk in Christ, Paul immediately adds the words, “having been rooted and being built up in Him.” If we would walk in Christ, we must fulfill the conditions of having been rooted in Him and being built up in Him. Our basis for walking in Christ is that we have been rooted in Christ. On the one hand, we have already been rooted in Christ; on the other hand, we are in the process of being built up in Him. The rooting, which has been accomplished, is one condition for walking in Christ. Being built up, which is taking place, is another condition. For being rooted, Paul uses the illustration of plants rooted deeply in the soil. As an illustration of our being built up in Christ, Paul uses the example of stones
生机的过程
AN ORGANIC PROCESS
16我们无论多年长、多年轻，都已经深深扎根在文化和许多构成我们日常生活的因素和元素里。我们怎样在文化里生根，现今也该照样在基督里生根。生根是生命的事。植物在土壤里生根，包含了生机的过程。没有这样的过程，植物就无法生根。植物的根伸展到土里越深，生机的过程就越延展。当植物根部的组织发展时，植物的生命就扩充并发展了。在基督里生根，就是经历这种生命的发展、扩充和活动。再以接枝为例，我们可以说，我们这些野橄榄树的枝子，已经接在基督这棵栽种的橄榄树上。接枝也包含生机长大的过程。没有这样的过程，这两棵树就无法一同生长。藉著接枝，两棵树结合在一起，并且牠们的生命调和在一起。这调和产生生机的长大。在这样的生长里，接上的枝子，就是野橄榄树的枝子，便在栽种的橄榄树上深深的扎根。
16No matter how old or young we may be, we all have been deeply rooted in our culture with the many factors and elements which make up our daily living. Just as we have been rooted in our culture, we should now be rooted in Christ. Being rooted is a matter of life. For a plant to be rooted in the soil involves an organic process. Apart from such a process, no plant can become rooted. The deeper a plant’s roots extend into the earth, the more far- reaching is the organic process. As a plant’sr o ot system develops, the life of the plant spreads and develops. To be rooted in Christ is to experience such a development, spreading, and activity of life. Using once again the illustration of grafting, we may say that we, branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted into Christ as the cultivated olive tree. Grafting also involves the process of organic growth. Without such a process, the two trees cannot grow together. Through grafting, the trees are knit together and their lives are mingled. This mingling produces organic growth. In this growth the grafted branch, the branch from the wild olive tree, becomes deeply rooted in the cultivated olive tree
17接枝和栽种的原则都是一样。要成功的移植一棵树，土壤里就必须有树根生长和发展的地方。根若得著浇灌，并有生长的地方，就会深深扩展到土里。在我们与基督的关系上，原则也是一样。一面，我们已经接枝到基督里面；另一面，我们已经栽种到基督里面，甚至移植到祂里面。无论我们从接枝或从栽种的观点来说，都需要向内并往下的生长。根向下生长进行得很慢；向上生长却是很快。有些圣徒像草菇般的长大，露在地面的很多；然而，他们的根缺少在土壤之下往下生长。
17The principle is the same with both grafting and planting. In order to transplant a tree successfully, there must be room in the soil for the tree’s roots to grow and develop. If the roots are watered and have room to grow, they will spread deep into the earth. The principle is the same in our relationship with Christ. On the one hand, we have been grafted into Christ; on the other hand, we have been planted into Christ, even transplanted into Him. Whether we speak from the standpoint of grafting or planting, there is the need for growth that is inward and downward. The downward growth of the roots may take place very slowly, whereas the upward growth may occur quickly. Some saints grow like mushrooms. A great deal appears above the earth. However, they lack the downward growth of the roots beneath the soil.
在基督里生根，为著在基督里行事为人
rooted in Christ to walk in Christ
18我们若在基督里生根，自然而然就在基督里行事为人。譬如，一位姊妹若在基督里深深的扎根，最终她买东西的方式就会受到影响。但一位姊妹若突然改变了买东西的方式，我对那种改变就没有多少信心；因这可能是一种草菇式的长大，并不是因著在基督里深深的扎根，在祂里面行事为人而长大。要记住，在基督里生根，乃是在祂里面行事为人的条件。
18If we have been rooted in Christ, we shall spontaneously walk in Christ. For example, if a sister becomes deeply rooted in Christ, eventually the way she does her shopping will be affected. But if a sister undergoes a sudden change in her way of shopping, I would not have much confidence in that change. It may indicate a mushrooming type of growth, not the growth which comes from being deeply rooted in Christ and walking in Him. Remember, being rooted in Christ is the condition for walking in Him
19如果圣徒接触主，并且花时间用许多祷告读主的话，他们就会在基督里深深的扎根。倘若一位姊妹这样实行一段时间，她的购物就会在基督里，而不是在基督以外。人因著听过信息后所作的决定而改变行为，不太可靠。我所相信的，乃是接触主、花时间多祷读主的话，而在基督里深深扎根所产生的结果。我们在基督里生根时，就不需要为某些事情来下决心，因为我们自然而然就在祂里面行事为人。在前一篇信息里，我们题出植物如何能行动的问题。歌罗西二章七节说到生根，这是指植物说的。但同一节也说到行事为人，这是指人说的。这样到底是把我们当作植物还是当作人？答案是，就著我们的日常生活来说，我们是人，但就1著我们在基督里生根来说，我们乃是植物。保罗在林前三章说，我们是神的耕地，神的农场。（9。）不仅如此，保罗说，他栽种了，亚波罗浇灌了，惟有神叫人生长。（6。）因此，在长大的事上，我们好像植物。但在日常的行事为人里，我们当然不像植物；我们乃是人。我们可以说，我们乃是人植物：在行事为人上是人，在基督里生根上是植物。
19If the saints contact the Lord and spend time in the Word with much prayer, they will become deeply rooted in Christ. If a sister does this for a period of time, her shopping will be done in Christ, not in something other than Christ. I do not have any confidence in a change of behavior which results from making a decision after hearing a message. My confidence is in what issues from becoming deeply rooted in Christ through contacting the Lord and spending time in the Word with much prayer. When we are rooted in Christ, there is no need for us to makeup our minds about certain things, for spontaneously we shall walk in Him. In a previous message we raised the question of how plants can walk. Colossians 2:7 speaks of being rooted. This refers to plants. But 2:6 speaks of walking. This refers to persons. Then are we considered plants or persons? The answer is that for our daily living, we are persons, but for our being rooted in Christ, we are plants. In Corinthians 3 Paul says that we are God’s farm, God’s husbandry (v. 9, Gk.). Furthermore, Paul says that he planted and Apollos watered, but God gives the growth (v. 6, Gk.). Thus, in the matter of growth, we are like plants. But in our daily walk we, of course, are not like plants; we are people. We may say that we are people-plants: people in walking and plants in being rooted in Christ.
20要在作土壤的基督里深深的扎根，惟一的路乃是接触祂这土壤，并且天天吸取话中的水。我们越接触土壤、吸收水分，我们就越长大。我们首先往下长，然后向上长。我们往下长一段时间之后，自然而然就不在基督以外的事物中行事为人了。反之，我们既在基督里深深的扎根，也就在基督里生活、行事、行动、为人。当我们在基督里行事为人时，我们就在祂里面得以建造起来。我们已经在文化里生根，并且在其中被建造。甚至小孩子也深深的在文化里扎根。但他们在文化里行事为人时，文化里的东西就建造在他们里面。每一个人都建造在一些事物里。一面，我们在文化里生根；另一面，我们在文化的一些方面里被建造。
20The only way to become deeply rooted in Christ as the soil is to contact Him as the soil and to daily absorb the water in the Word. The more we contact the soil and absorb the water, the more we shall grow. First we grow downward, then upward. After we have grown downward for a period of time, we shall automatically cease to walk in things other than Christ. Instead, because we have been deeply rooted in Christ, we shall live, walk, act, and have our being in Christ. As we walk in Christ, we are built up in Him. We have already been rooted in our culture and built up in it. Even children are deeply rooted in their culture. But as they walk in their culture, something of this culture is built up within them. Everyone is built up in certain things. On the one hand, we are rooted in our culture; on the other hand, we are built up in certain aspects of our culture
21建造基督的彰显保罗的观念是，基督这位包罗万有并延展无限的一位，必须顶替我们人性生活中一切的因素与元素。因此，我们必须在基督里行事为人。但在祂里面行事为人，需要我们在祂里面生根。我们如何曾经在文化里生根，如今也必须在基督里生根。我们既在祂里面生根，自然而然也就在祂里面行事为人。我们在基督里面行事为人的时候，祂的彰显就要在我们里面建造起来。最终，这个彰显要成为基督的身体，就是团体的召会生活，也就是神今天在地上在灵里的居所。如果我们宣称我们是在基督里行事为人，却没有基督的彰显，我们的宣告就是假的。我们要在基督里行事为人，就需要进入一个过程，就是在基督里被建造。这意思是说，当我们在祂里面行事为人时，基督的彰显就必定会在我们里面建造起来。按照我们的经历，我们知道，当我们接触主，并且天天多方祷告进入主的话中，我们就履行了在基督里行事为人的条件，因为我们在祂里面生了根。然后当我们在祂里面行事为人时，基督的彰显就天天在我们里面建造起来。这便使人能看见基督从我们身上活出来。最终，这样活出基督就产生基督团体的彰显，就是召会生活。这乃是基督徒生活正确的路。
21BUILDING UP THE EXPRESSION OF CHRIST Paul’s concept is that Christ, the all-inclusive and extensive One, must become the replacement for every factor and element in our human living. Therefore, we must walk in Christ. But walking in Him requires that we be rooted in Him. Just as we have been rooted in culture, we must now become rooted in Christ. Having been rooted in Him, we shall spontaneously walk in Him. While we walk in Him, the expression of Christ will be built up in us. Eventually, this expression will become the Body, the corporate church life, the habitation of God in spirit on earth today. If we claim to be walking in Christ but lack the expression of Christ, our claim is false. Walking in Christ requires that we be in the process of being built up in Christ. This means that while we are walking in Him, the expression of Christ must be built up in us. According to our experience, we know that when we contact the Lord and daily get into the Word with much prayer, we fulfill the condition of walking in Christ, for we are rooted in Him. Then as we walk in Him, daily the expression of Christ is built up in us. This makes it possible for others to see Christ lived out of us. Eventually this living out of Christ will produce the corporate expression of Christ, the church life. This is the proper way to have the Christian life.
22我们的生活不该照著基督以外的任何事物。我们文化的各种元素，乃是顶替基督最狡诈的代替品。现今基督必须进来，以祂自己顶替我们这一切的代替品。如果我们的经历是这样，在日常生活中，我们就没有基督以外的任何事物了；我们就会在基督里生活、行事、行动并为人。为此，有两个条件：在基督里生根，并在基督里被建造，成为基督的彰显。基督的彰显，就是基督从我们身上活出来，最终要成为团体的彰显。这就是作基督身体和新人的召会。当召会在实际里成为这样的新人时，那就是基督回来的时候。愿主怜悯我们，并赐我们恩典，使我们在召会中这样来活祂。
22Our living should not be according to anything other than Christ. The most subtle substitutes of Christ are the various elements of our culture. Now Christ must come in to replace all these substitutes with Himself. If this is our experience, we shall not have anything other than Christ in our daily living. We shall live, move, act, and have our being in Christ. For this, there are two conditions: being rooted in Christ and being built up in Christ to become the expression of Christ. The expression of Christ, Christ lived out of us, will eventually become corporate. This is the church as the Body and the new man. When the church becomes in reality such a new man, that will be the time for Christ to come back. May the Lord have mercy on us and grant us His grace that we may live Him in the church in this way