Books
歌罗西书生命读经 · 第49篇

在基督里成熟

FULL GROWN IN CHRIST
1读经：歌罗西书1:27-29，以弗所书4:13。
1Scripture Reading: Col. 1:27-29; Eph. 4:13
2歌罗西书启示这位包罗万有、延展无限的基督，应当顶替我们天然人性生活的一切因素、元素、方面。我们的人性生活大都是由文化组成的。就著人来说，文化非常好，每一个社会都是藉著文化而蒙保守并得以维持的。人如果没有文化，警察局和法庭的工作就要多得多了。目前，警察局和法庭的工作是补社会文化的不足。当人不照著文化正当行事时，警察就来干涉。每一个国家、社会、团体，都是藉著文化、法律、和警察而蒙保守的。
2The book of Colossians reveals that the all-inclusive, extensive Christ should replace every factor, element, and aspect of our natural human life. To a great degree, our human living is composed of culture. Humanly speaking, culture is very good. Every society is preserved and maintained by culture. If people did not have culture, there would be much more work for the police department and the law courts. At present, the work of the police and the courts is a supplement to the culture of a society. When a person does not conduct himself properly according to culture, the police may intervene. Every nation, society, and community is preserved by culture, the law, and the police
文化的正当用途
THE PROPER USE OF CULTURE
3如果基督徒的父母读到这些论到基督与文化相对的信息后，告诉他们的儿女说，他们不再需要文化了，这是一个严重的错误。没有文化，小孩子的行为就会像禽兽一般。小孩子必须照著文化的标准来养育。他们在达到接受基督的适当年龄之前，必须先在文化上得著建立。小孩子越照著文化受训练，对他们就越好。必须训练小孩子孝敬父母，友爱兄弟姊妹，对邻舍举止合宜，在学校作好学生，遵守所有的法规，并且尊敬师长和长辈。因为小孩子太年幼，无法照著基督行事，所以他们必须受教导，照著文化行事。如果没有文化，我们就会成为野蛮人。
3If, after reading these messages on Christ versus culture, Christian parents tell their children that they no longer need culture, this will be a serious mistake. Without culture, children would act like animals. Children must be raised according to the standards of culture. Before they are of a proper age to receive Christ, the children must be built up in culture. The more the children are trained according to culture, the better it will be for them. The children must be trained to honor their parents, to love their brothers and sisters, to behave properly toward their neighbors, to be good students in school, to obey all laws, and to respect their teachers and other adults. Because children are too young to behave according to Christ, they must be taught to behave according to culture. If we did not have culture, we would be barbarians
4文化的用途可以比作圣经里律法的功用。律法是神颁布的。罗马七章十二节说，『律法是圣的，诫命也是圣的、义的并善的。』律法正确的作用，乃是看守神的选民，直等基督来到。古时富有的家庭有监护人看管小孩子。照样，今天文化也看守小孩子。然而，加拉太书指明，热中犹太教者误用了律法。如今基督已经来到，律法就该把神的选民交给基督。但热中犹太教者误用律法，甚至过度使用律法。热中犹太教者不许律法释放神的选民，把他们交给基督，反倒用律法来使人离开基督。热中犹太教者的观念甚至偷偷的进到召会里，把一些真正在基督里的犹太信徒引回到律法。文化虽然是正当且必需的，却也容易被人误用，而实际的使人离开基督。文化应当用来看守小孩子，直到他们能接受基督，并且照著基督而活。小孩子在成长的过程中，需要藉著文化得蒙保守。
4The use of culture can be compared to the function of the law in the Scriptures. The law was decreed by God. Romans 7:12 says that “the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.” Used rightly, the law kept God’s chosen people in custody until the coming of Christ. Rich families in ancient times had custodians who exercised custody over the children. In like manner, culture keeps children in custody today. However, as the book of Galatians indicates, the law was misused by the Judaizers. Now that Christ has come, the law should deliver God’s chosen people to Christ. But the Judaizers misused the law, even over-using it. Instead of allowing the law to release God’s chosen people and to give them over to Christ, the Judaizers used the law to keep people from Christ. The concept of the Judaizers even crept into the church to distract some of the genuine Jewish believers in Christ back to the law. Although culture is right and necessary, it is also subject to misuse and can actually keep people from Christ. Culture should be used to keep the children until they are able to receive Christ and live according to Christ. Children need to be preserved by culture while they are growing up.
5摩西怎样把诫命给了神的选民，作父母的照样也必须把诫命给他们的儿女。但到了儿女能体会他们需要基督并且悔改的时候，我们就该把丰富的基督供应给他们，并且帮助他们接受基督。我们应当告诉儿女，我们所给他们的文化，只适用到某个时期，如今他们需要接受基督。因此，神藉著父母用文化来看守儿女，直到他们接受主的时候来到。看见文化这种正当的用途是很重要的。
5As Moses gave the commandments to God’s chosen people, parents must give commandments to their children. But when the children are able to realize their need for Christ and repent, we should minister the rich Christ to them and help them to receive Him. We should tell our children that the culture we gave them was only good for a certain time and that now they need to receive Christ. Hence, culture is used by God through parents to keep their children in custody until the time comes for them to receive the Lord. It is important to see this proper use of culture
被基督充满
FILLED WITH CHRIST
6-我们既接受了基督，祂这位包罗万有、延展无限者就必须以祂自己顶替我们文化的每一方面。我们已经看见，堕落的人用文化作为神的代替品。首先，这样的文化是神的代替品。然后基督进来，以祂自己来顶替这个代替品。既然我们不再是小孩子，就需要基督来顶替我们文化的每一样元素。这意思不是说，我们该轻视文化。这乃是说，我们应当爱基督。如果我们被基督充满直到满溢，其他的东西在我们里面就没有地位了。我们的每一部分都会被基督占有，被基督充满。然后我们在经历中就有基督的丰满。我们就要被基督充满，达到我们度量所及的地步。这位充满我们全人的基督，要以祂自己来顶替我们的文化。这就是歌罗西书里的启示。
6Now that we have received Christ, He, the all- inclusive, extensive One, must replace every aspect of our culture with Himself. We have seen that fallen man uses culture as a substitute for God. First, such a culture is a substitute for God. Then Christ comes in to replace this substitute with Himself. Since we are no longer children, we need Christ to replace every element of our culture. This does not mean that we should despise culture. Rather, it means that we should love Christ. If we are filled to the brim with Christ, there will not be any room in our being for anything else. Every part of us will be occupied by Christ and with Christ. Then in our experience we shall have the fullness of Christ. We shall be filled with Christ to the extent of our capacity. The Christ who fills our being will replace our culture with Himself. This is the revelation in the book of Colossians
7基督是延展无限且包罗万有的，所以在祂并没有缺乏。我们在经历中若有这样一位基督，就不需要其他的东西了。没有一个需要，是祂不能应付的；没有一个接受祂的度量，是祂不能充满的。我们既有包罗万有的基督，就不需要犹太教、智慧派学说或禁欲主义了。我们有包罗万有且延展无限的基督，以及祂的丰满。祂能充满全宇宙，仍然不会用尽。我们不需要任何古今的东西来代替基督。我们甚至不需要自己制订并加诸己身的文化。我很关心许多人仍旧照著他们加诸己身的文化而活；这些圣徒总是把限制加在自己身上，并且照著这些限制而活。我们不需要被自己制订的文化所监禁。反之，我们应当留在基督里，留在基督的自由里。我们需要让基督充满而满溢。这乃是歌罗西书的基本观念。基督这位延展无限者，必须顶替我们天然人性生活中的一切元素。这需要我们不固守文化的任何事物，因为那样会产生混杂。但愿我们让纯洁的基督充满我们全人，并以祂自己来顶替我们天然人性生活中的每一方面。
7Because Christ is extensive and all-inclusive, with Him there is no scarcity. If we have such a Christ in our experience, we shall not need anything else. There is no need that He cannot meet, and no capacity to receive Him that He cannot fill. Since we have the all- inclusive Christ, we do not need Judaism, Gnosticism, or asceticism. We have the all-inclusive and extensive Christ with His fullness. He could fill the whole universe, and still He would not be exhausted. We do not need anything, ancient or modern, in place of Christ. We do not even need our self-made and self-imposed culture. I am concerned that many among us still live according to their self-imposed culture. These saints are always imposing restrictions on themselves and living according to them. There is no need for us to remain in the custody of our self - made culture. Instead, we should stay in Christ and in the freedom we have in Christ. We need to be filled to the brim with Christ. This is the underlying concept of the book of Colossians. Christ, the extensive One, must replace every element of our natural human life. This requires that we not hold on to anything of our culture, for that would produce a mixture. Let us allow the pure Christ to fill our being and replace every aspect of our natural human life with Himself.
否认己
DENYING THE SELF
8有些圣徒对于自己和蔼的个性，或天然的美德，就如谦卑、忍耐、仁慈等，也许相当引以为荣。如果你有这样的个性和这样的美德，你不该恨恶，也不该珍赏。反之，你该让这位延展无限的基督顶替你良善的个性和美德。神不要我们活出天然的人，并天然人的美德。如果你照著你的个性和美德而活，你就不能和保罗一同说，『在我，活著就是基督。』（腓一21。）相反的，你必须承认，在你，活著就是你天然的人。在作为新人的召会里，任何一种天然的人都没有地位。在新人里，基督必须是一切，又在一切之内。（三11。）我们已经指出，我们不该恨恶我们天然的所是，也不该珍赏我们天然的所是。恨恶我们的所是乃是实行禁欲主义，就是一种自杀。我们不该想去恨恶天然的所是，反倒该照著主的话来否认己。否认己就是不顾己，忘掉己，不去注意己。假定你走在人行道上，有人拦住你，向你要钱，他一再的请求你给他钱。你不该恨恶这个人，也不该爱他。反之，你应当不去注意他的要求。最终，他晓得不能从你得著甚么，就会走开。这说明我们对己该有的态度。己是贪心的，总是有所求讨。我们不该恨恶己或爱惜己，只该不注意己。
8Some saints may be rather proud of their pleasant disposition or of their natural virtues, such as humility, patience, and kindness. If you have such a disposition and such virtues, you should neither hate them nor treasure them. Instead, you should allow the extensive Christ to replace even your good disposition and your virtues. God does not want us to live out our natural being with its virtues. If you live according to your disposition and your virtues, you will not be able to say with Paul, “To me to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21). On the contrary, you will have to admit that to you to live is your natural being. In the church as the new man, there is no room for any kind of natural person. In the new man Christ must be all and in all (3:11). We have pointed out that we should neither hate our natural being nor treasure it. To hate our being is to practice asceticism, a form of suicide. Instead of trying to hate the natural being, we should follow the Lord’sword to deny ourselves. To deny the self is to ignore the self, to forget it, to pay no attention to it. Suppose as you are walking down the sidewalk, someone stops you and begs you for money. Again and again, he pleads with you to give him money. You should neither hate this person nor love him. Rather you should pay no attention to his request. Eventually, realizing that he can get nothing from you, he will go away. This illustrates the attitude we should have toward the self. The self is greedy, always begging for things. Instead of either hating the self or loving it, we should simply refuse to pay attention to it
9为基督所吸引，并被祂所据有然而，我们若要不注意己，就必须专注于比己更好的事。我们之所以需要看见歌罗西书所陈明，基督之延展无限的异象，其原因就在此。我们若看见这个异象，就会把我们的全人集中在这位延展无限的基督身上，然后基督就要充满我们，并占有我们。我们既被这位延展无限的基督所充满，就不需要犹太教、智慧派学说、奥秘主义或禁欲主义。我们全人会被这位宽广、有追测不尽丰富、延展无限的基督所占有。自然而然的，这位基督会进来，以祂自己顶替我们天然人性生活中的每一方面。
9ATTRACTED BY CHRIST AND POSSESSED BY HIM However, if we would keep from paying attention to the self, we must concentrate on something better than the self. This is the reason we need a vision of the extensiveness of Christ, the vision presented in the book of Colossians. If we see this vision, we shall concentrate our entire being on the extensive Christ, who will then fill us and occupy us. Because we are filled with the extensive Christ, we shall have no need of Judaism, Gnosticism, mysticism, or asceticism. Our being will be occupied with the vast, unsearchably rich, extensive Christ. Spontaneously this Christ will come in to replace every aspect of our natural human life with Himself.
10歌罗西书陈明这位奇妙、延展无限、包罗万有之基督的异象。一旦我们看见这个异象，我们全人就会被这位基督吸引、据有并夺取。然后这位夺取我们注意力之延展无限的基督，就要逐渐顶替我们天然人性生活中的每一元素。祂甚至要以祂自己来顶替我们的仁慈、谦卑、和我们对父母的爱。我们天然的美德顶多只可比作擦亮的铜，但基督是金子，祂的价值远超过我们与生俱来的东西。我们越经历这位超越一切的基督，并且在我们天然的生活中，以祂自己来顶替一切，我们就越能宣告说，『在我，活著就是基督。』我们不活谦卑、仁慈或忍耐。我们活著乃是基督，祂完全得著、占有我们，并以自己充满我们。这样一位基督应当顶替我们天然人性生活的一切元素，这就是歌罗西书的信息。如果我们了解这一基本观念，歌罗西书向我们就是一卷敞开的书。
10The book of Colossians presents a vision of the wonderful, extensive, all-inclusive Christ. Once we see this vision, our entire being will be attracted by this Christ and will be possessed by Christ and occupied with Him. Then gradually the extensive Christ who occupies our attention will replace every element of our natural human life. He will even replace with Himself our kindness, our humility, and our love for our parents. At best, our natural virtues can be compared to polished copper, but Christ is gold. He far surpasses in value anything we possess by nature. The more we experience the Christ who exceeds everything and replaces everything in our natural life with Himself, the more we shall be able to declare, “To me to live is Christ.” We shall not live humility, kindness, or patience. To us to live will be the Christ who has taken full possession of us and who occupies us and fills us with Himself. That such a Christ should replace all the elements of our natural human life is the message of the book of Colossians. If we understand this underlying concept, Colossians will be an open book to us
荣耀的奥秘
A GLORIOUS MYSTERY
11延展无限的基督要顶替我们天然生命的每一面；对于这事，我们若在悟性上有充分的确信，就会了解在基督里成熟是甚么意思。保罗在一章二十五节说，他照神的管家职分，作了召会的执事。保罗管家职分的目的，是要把这位延展无限的基督分赐到神的选民里面。这位延展无限的基督乃是一个奥秘，尤其对外邦人而言，更是如此。保罗在二十七节说，『神愿意叫他们知道，这奥秘的荣耀在外邦人中是何等的丰富，就是基督在你们里面成了荣耀的盼望。』这奥秘满了荣耀，而这荣耀有丰富。这满了丰富的荣耀奥秘，乃是基督在我们里面。
11If we have the full assurance of understanding concerning the extensive Christ replacing every aspect of our natural life, we shall realize what it means to become full grown in Christ. In 1:25 Paul says that he became a minister according to the stewardship of God. The goal of Paul’s stewardship was to dispense the extensive Christ into God’s chosen people. This extensive Christ is a mystery, especially to the Gentiles. In 1:27 Paul says, “God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” This mystery is full of glory, and this glory has riches. The glorious mystery full of riches is Christ in us
宣扬基督
ANNOUNCING CHRIST
12在一章二十八至二十九节，保罗继续说，『我们宣扬祂，是用全般的智慧警戒各人，教导各人，好将各人在基督里成熟的献上；我也为此劳苦，照著祂在我里面大能的运行，竭力奋斗。』保罗在二十八节不是说他传扬基督，乃是说他宣扬基督。宣扬某件事比仅仅传扬那件事含有更大程度的确信。譬如，领头的人在聚会结束时报告，这并不是对圣徒传扬，乃是有确信的宣扬。照样，保罗不是仅仅传扬基督而已，他乃是宣扬基督。我也渴望宣扬这位延展无限、包罗万有的基督。
12In 1:28 and 29 Paul goes on to say, “Whom we announce, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man full grown in Christ; for which also I labor, struggling according to His operation which operates in me in power.” In verse 28 Paul does not say that he preaches Christ; he says that he announces Him. Announcing something involves a greater degree of assurance than simply preaching that thing. For example, when the leading ones make announcements at the close of a meeting, they do not preach to the saints. The announcements are made with assurance. Like wise, Paul did not simply preach Christ—he announced Him. I also desire to announce the extensive, all-inclusive Christ.
警戒各人
WARNING EVERY MAN
13在二十八节保罗说，他警戒各人。有些人因我们宣扬基督，被折服以后，就需要接受警戒。他们听见这位包罗万有的基督，也许想要被基督充满，并且活基督，但许多消极的事物起来敌挡这事。仇敌就像一只蹲伏的野兽，等待机会要抓住我们，使我们不能活基督。如果你爱世界，喜欢属世的娱乐，无心被基督充满，也无心活基督，仇敌不会怎么注意你。但如果你是爱主、寻求照著基督而活的人，你就会遭到反对。
13In verse 28 Paul says that he warned every man. After some are convinced and subdued by our announcing of Christ, they need to be warned. Hearing of the all-inclusive Christ, they may want to be filled with Christ and to live Christ. But many negative things may rise up in opposition to this. The enemy is like a crouching beast, waiting for an opportunity to pounce on us and to keep us from living Christ. If you were to love the world and care for worldly amusements, having no heart to be filled with Christ or to live Christ, the enemy would not pay much attention to you. But if you are one who loves the Lord and seeks to live according to Him, you will face opposition
14许多年前，在我家乡那里有些基督教领袖的儿女变得非常爱世界，追求属世的享受。当召会在当地兴起以后，这些青年人中有许多人转向主，转向召会。他们中间许多人的父母起来反对他们；然而他们从前爱世界时，父母并不反对。这些青年人来到召会中追求基督时，反而遭到激烈的反对。这表明仇敌就蹲伏在那里，等待机会攻击那些追求主的人。保罗写歌罗西书的时候，希腊哲学和犹太教都是将信徒岔开的东西。附和希腊哲学的人，寻找机会使信主的外邦人转向希腊哲学。照样，热中犹太教者也要引诱任何信了基督的犹太人。因著希腊哲学和犹太教在危害信徒，保罗就警戒各人。在这卷短短的歌罗西书里，保罗发出了许多警告。在二章四节他说，『我说这话，免得有人用花言巧语欺骗你们。』在八节2:8他说，『你们要谨慎，恐怕有人用他的哲学，和虚空的欺骗…把你们掳去。』在十六节保罗警告歌罗西信徒，不拘在饮食上、或在节期、月朔、或安息日方面，都不可让人论断他们。在十八节保罗说，『不可让人…骗取你们的奖赏。』保罗知道有许多事物被人利用，使信徒岔开，离开基督和召会生活。今天也是一样。信徒也许不会因为爱世界而遭到反对，但如果他们转向主的恢复，并在召会里追求基督，他们就会遭到反对。
14Years ago, certain of the children of the Christian leaders in my hometown became very worldly and pursued worldly enjoyment. After a church had been raised up in that place, a number of these young people turned to the Lord and to the church. In many cases, their parents rose up against them, even though they had not opposed them for their worldliness. But when these young people came to the church to seek after Christ, they encountered fierce opposition. This shows that the enemy is crouching, waiting for an opportunity to attack those who pursue the Lord. At the time Paul wrote to the Colossians, Greek philosophy and Judaism were among those things which were distracting the believers. Those in favor of Greek philosophy sought the opportunity to convert the believing Gentiles back to Greek philosophy. Likewise, the Judaizers wanted to seduce any Jews who had believed in Christ. Because Greek philosophy and Judaism were endangering the believers, Paul warned every man. In the short book of Colossians, Paul gives a number of warnings. In 2:4 he says, “This I say that no one may delude you with persuasive speech.” In he says, “Beware that no one carries you off as spoil through his philosophy and empty deceit.” In 2:16 Paul warns the Colossian believers to let no one judge them in eating, drinking, or in respect of feasts, new moons, or of Sabbaths. In verse 18 Paul says, “Let no one purposely defraud you of your prize.” Paul realized that many things were there to be utilized to lead the believers astray from Christ and the church life. The same is true today. Believers may not be opposed for their worldliness, but they will be opposed if they turn to the Lord’s recovery and pursue Christ in the church.
基督活在我们里面
CHRIST LIVING IN US
15在基督里成熟，就是被基督充满并浸透。我们还是我们，但我们被基督充盈、浸透并充满之后，我们的生活自然而然就是基督。我们不该仅仅说，『基督活在我里面。』我们必须向主绝对，一天又一天让祂活在我们里面。如果你的丈夫或妻子为难你，不要为自己辩护，也不要为自己表白，只要让基督活在你里面。然而，我们必须承认，这样说很容易，实行起来却不容易。正当的基督徒生活不是伦理、道德，也不是改良品格与行为。基督徒的生活乃是基督活在我们里面。我们应当照著基督而活，不该照著天然的温柔、谦卑或坦率而活。我们需要活基督。基督必须浸透我们、充盈我们、并充满我们。然后在我们的生活中，祂就会从我们里面彰显出来。
15To be full grown in Christ is to be filled and saturated with Christ. We remain ourselves, but we are permeated, saturated, and filled with Christ. Then our living spontaneously is Christ. We should not simply say, Christ lives in me.” We must be absolute with the Lord to allow Him to live in us day by day. If your husband or wife gives you a difficult time, do not defend yourself or vindicate yourself. Simply let Christ live in you. However, we must admit that it is easy to talk about this, but it is difficult to practice it. The proper Christian life is not a matter of ethics, morality, or improved character or behavior. The Christian life is Christ living in us. We should live according to Christ, not according to our natural mildness, humility, or frankness. We need to live Christ. Christ must saturate us, permeate us, and fill us. Then in our living He will be expressed from within us
16我们与基督的关系，可由野橄榄树的枝子接在栽种的橄榄树上来说明。基督是栽种的橄榄树，我们是野橄榄树的枝子。首先，我们从野橄榄树上被砍下，然后被接在栽种之橄榄树的切口处。此后，野橄榄树的枝子就接在栽种的橄榄树上；这便是接枝。藉著接枝的过程，栽种的橄榄树生命的汁浆就流进野橄榄树的枝子里面，将其充盈、浸透并充满。最终，枝子就会结果子。照样，我们也是接在基督这栽种的橄榄树上的枝子。如果我们被栽种的橄榄树里生命的汁浆所充盈、浸透并充满，我们就能说，『在我，活著就是栽种的橄榄树。』枝子达到这一阶段，就是在栽种的橄榄树上成熟了。这说明了在基督里成熟的意义。在基督里成熟，就是被基督浸透，被基督充满。这乃是我们全人的每一部分，都被基督占有。这就是在生命里完全长大，并在基督里成熟，这也是歌罗西书里所启示生命的结果。
16Our relationship with Christ can be illustrated by the grafting of a branch from a wild olive tree into a cultivated olive tree. Christ is the cultivated olive tree, and we are branches from the wild olive tree. First, we are cut off from the wild olive tree and then placed into the cultivated olive tree, in the spot where an incision has been made. After this, the branch from the wild olive tree is bound to the cultivated olive tree. This is grafting. Through the process of grafting, the life juice in the cultivated olive tree flows into the branch from the wild olive tree, permeates it, saturates it, and fills it. Eventually, the branch will bear fruit. Likewise, we are branches grafted into Christ as the cultivated olive tree. If we are permeated, saturated, and filled with the life juice from the cultivated olive tree, we shall be able to say, “To me to live is the cultivated olive tree.” When a branch reaches this stage, it will be full grown in the cultivated olive tree. This illustrates what it means to be full grown in Christ. To be full grown in Christ is to be saturated and filled with Christ. It is to have every part of our being occupied with Christ. This is the full growth in life and maturity in Christ, the issue of the life revealed in the book of Colossians.
长成的人
A FULL-GROWN MAN
17一章二十八节里的『成熟』，原文与以弗所四章十三节的『长成』相同；保罗在那一节说，『直到我们众人都达到了信仰上并对神儿子之完全认识上的一，达到了长成的人，达到了基督丰满之身材的度量。』基督丰满之身材的度量，就是长成的人。最终，这样的成熟会带进基督的身体，就是基督团体的彰显。我们都必须长大成熟，好叫基督得著一个团体长成的人，就是基督的身体，作彰显祂的生机体。
17The Greek word for full grown in 1:28 is the same as that used in Ephesians 4:13, where Paul says, “Until we all arrive at the oneness of the faith and of the full knowledge of the Son of God, at a full-grown man, at the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” The measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ is simply a full-grown man. Eventually, this maturity will issue in the Body, the corporate expression of Christ. We all need to grow and become full grown so that Christ may have a corporate full-grown man, the Body, as an organism to express Him