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歌罗西书生命读经 · 第62篇

新人的更新

THE RENEWING OF THE NEW MAN
1读经：歌罗西书3:5-11，罗马书12:2。
1Scripture Reading: Col. 3:5-11; Rom. 12:2
2歌罗西书后两章论到基督徒行事为人的各方面。头一方面是我们寻求在上面的事，并且思念这些事。保罗嘱咐我们要寻求在上面的事，这嘱咐我们是根据一、二章里所陈明的启示。这意思是说，我们寻求在上面的事，必须基于基督身位和工作的启示。歌罗西一、二章以奇妙的方式启示基督。不仅如此，本书也完满的陈明基督为我们所成就的工作。这两章启示基督是包罗万有的一位。我们乃是根据基督身位和工作的这个启示，寻求在上面的事。我们已经指出，这些事乃是指基督天上的职事，就是祂作大祭司、执事、以及神经纶的执行者。
2The last two chapters of Colossians cover various aspects of the Christian walk. The first aspect is that we seek the things above and set our mind on them. Paul’s charge to seek the things above is based on the revelation presented in chapters one and two. This means that our seeking of the things above must be based on the revelation of the Person and work of Christ. In Colossians 1 and 2 Christ is revealed in a marvelous way. Furthermore, the work Christ has accomplished for us is also presented in a full way. In these chapters Christ is revealed as the all- inclusive One. Based on this revelation of Christ’s Person and work, we may seek the things which are above. As we have pointed out, these things refer to Christ’she aven ly ministry, to His ministry as the High Priest, Minister, and Administrator of God’secon o my
3与基督天上的职事相呼应基督并非无事可作，祂一直在代求、供应、并执行神的行政。我们在地上该回应基督在天上的活动。虽然基督在地上的职事里，为我们的得救完全成就了救赎，但祂还没有完成祂身体的建造。为著基督身体的建造，就需要祂在天上的职事。基督的愿望，不仅是要得著一大群得救的人；祂乃是要得救的人同被建造成为祂的身体。基督巴望得著一个身体，一个建造，一个新妇。基督的身体要得著建造，祂就必须执行祂在天上职事的工作。
3CORRESPONDING TO CHRIST’SHE AVEN LY MINISTRY Christ is not idle. He is interceding, ministering, and executing God’sad ministration. We on earth should respond to Christ’s activities in heaven. Although Christ in His earthly ministry fully accomplished redemption for our salvation, He has not yet completed the building up of His Body. For the building up of the Body, His ministry in heaven is necessary. It is not the desire of Christ simply to have a large group of saved people; He wants the saved ones to be built up together as His Body. Christ desires a Body, a building, a bride. In order to have the Body built up, Christ must carry on the work of His heavenly ministry
4在天上的基督和地上的我们之间，有一种神圣的传输，就是属天的电流。如果我们接受这种传输，我们就会回应基督在天上的工作。但如果我们在经历中没有一直联于祂，或是容让绝缘体在我们与祂之间树立起来，这种传输就会停止。今天有许多真基督徒，他们在经历中与天上基督的联结已经断绝了，这是顶可怜的事。他们是真基督徒，但他们没有经历神圣的电流，并且他们与主之间没有交通。盼望我们中间的光景完全不是这样。我们在经历中没有与天上的基督断绝，反而不断接受神圣的传输。我们应当日夜让天上的供应注入，并经历在天上的基督与我们之间的来往。我们应当对基督的代求、供应、以及执行神的经纶一直有所回应。
4Between Christ in heaven and us on earth there is a divine transmission, a heavenly current. If we are receiving this transmission, we shall respond to Christ’s work in heaven. However, if in our experience we are not continuously connected to Him or if we allow insulation to build up between us and Him, the transmission will cease. It is most pitiful that among many genuine Christians today the connection with the heavenly Christ in their experience has been severed. They are genuine Christians, but they do not experience the divine current, and there is no fellowship between them and the Lord. We hope that the situation among us will be absolutely different from this. Instead of being cut off from the heavenly Christ, in our experience we need to continually receive the divine transmission. Day and night, we should be infused with a supply from heaven, and experience the transaction between the heavenly Christ and us. We should continually respond to Christ’s interceding, ministering, and executing of God’sad ministration.
5寻求在上面的事，意思就是我们与基督天上的职事相呼应。按照歌罗西三章我们看见，藉著寻求在上面的事而与基督天上的职事相呼应，乃是我们基督徒行事为人的头一面。
5To seek the things above means that we correspond to Christ’she aven ly ministry. According to Colossians 3, corresponding to Christ’she aven ly ministry by seeking the things above is the first aspect of our Christian walk
新人被创造并得更新
THE NEW MAN CREATED AND RENEWED
6歌罗西三章所启示基督徒行事为人的第二面，乃是新人的更新。保罗在三章十节说，『并且穿上了新人；这新人照著创造他者的形像渐渐更新，以致有充足的知识。』一面，保罗说到新人的创造；另一面，他题到新人的更新。新人既然已经创造了，为甚么还需要更新？新人怎能既被创造，又得更新？我们已经看见，新人的创造乃是发生在我们的灵里。我们的灵重生时，新人便创造出来了。因此，灵的重生实际上就是新人的创造。然而，就著魂来说，新人还需要更新。要紧的是，这样的更新特别要发生在我们的心思，就是魂的主要部分里。我们重生以前，我们人的灵是旧造的一部分。然后在我们重生时，灵神就带著神圣的生命与神圣的性情，进到我们的灵里。这意思是说，神的灵用神圣生命与神圣性情的元素，重生了我们的灵。换句话说，我们重生的时候，灵神就将神圣的生命与性情带进我们的灵里。我们重生以前，没有甚么是神圣的。但在重生的时候，有个神圣的东西─神的生命与性情─加到我们的灵里。藉著接受神的生命和性情，我们就由神而生，成为神的众子。如今我们不仅是人的儿子，也是神的儿子。再者，我们不是神的养子，乃是神亲生的儿子。
6The second aspect of the Christian walk revealed in Colossians 3 is the renewing of the new man. In 3:10 Paul says, “And having put on the new man, which is being renewed unto full knowledge according to the image of Him Who created him.” On the one hand, Paul speaks of the creation of the new man; on the other hand, he refers to the renewing of the new man. Since the new man has already been created, why is there still the need for the new man to be renewed? How can the new man be both created and renewed? We have seen that the creation of the new man took place in our spirit. When our spirit was regenerated, the new man was created. Hence, the regeneration of the spirit is actually the creation of the new man. However, as far as the soul is concerned, the new man still needs to be renewed. It is crucial that this renewing take place especially in our mind, the leading part of the soul. Before we were regenerated, our human spirit was part of the old creation. Then at the time of our regeneration, God the Spirit came into our spirit with the divine life and divine nature. This means that the Spirit of God regenerated our spirit with the elements of the divine life and divine nature. In other words, when we were regenerated, God the Spirit brought the divine life and nature into our spirit. Before regeneration we did not have anything divine. But at the time of regeneration, something divine—the life and nature of God—was added into our spirit. By receiving the life and nature of God, we were born of God and became sons of God. Now we are not merely sons of man, but we are also sons of God. Moreover, we are not God’ss ons-in-law; we are His sons in life
7因著神圣的生命和性情加到我们的灵里，我们重生的灵就成了新造的一部分。旧造与新造的不同，乃在于旧造没有神的东西在其中，但新造的确有神的东西加到其中。重生的灵是新造和新人的一部分，原因乃在于神的生命和性情进入重生的灵里。在我们的灵里有一些神圣的东西，就是神的生命和性情。
7Because the divine life and nature have been added to our spirit, our regenerated spirit has become part of the new creation. The difference between the old creation and the new creation is that the old creation has nothing of God in it, but the new creation does have something of God added to it. The reason the regenerated spirit is part of the new creation and of the new man is that the life and nature of God has come into it. In our spirit we have something divine—God’s life and nature.
8我们重生的时候，神的生命和性情就加进我们的灵里，使我们的灵成为新造；然而，我们的魂连同魂里心思、情感、意志的功能仍在旧造里。因此，神圣的生命和性情需要由我们的灵扩展到魂里，并浸透我们的魂。这种扩展与浸透的过程，就是我们所说的变化。在罗马十二章二节，保罗嘱咐我们要『藉著心思的更新而变化』。因为心思是魂的主要部分，所以魂的更新乃在于心思的更新。当神圣的生命与性情由我们重生的灵扩展到心思、情感、意志时，我们的魂就得以更新。魂的更新实际上就是新人的更新。即使我们重生了，我们还时常倾向于照著旧人而活，也就是照著旧造而活。然而，我们灵的深处却有个渴慕、愿望，要活在生命的新样中。这种愿望来自我们灵里的新人，寻求要把神圣的生命与性情扩展到我们的魂里。这种扩展就是新人的更新。很少基督徒看见，新人的更新在于我们寻求在上面的事。如果我们不寻求在上面的事，并思念这些事，我们就很难在魂里得更新。但每当我们思念在上面的事，我们里面的人自然而然就得以更新。我们的经历证实这事。
8At the time of regeneration the life and nature of God were added into our spirit, making it the new creation; nevertheless, the soul with its faculties of mind, emotion, and will remains in the old creation. Thus, there is the need for the divine life and nature to spread from our spirit into our soul and to saturate the soul. This process of spreading and saturating is what we call transformation. In Romans 12:2 Paul charges us to “be transformed by the renewing of the mind.” Since the mind is the leading part of the soul, the renewing of the soul depends on the renewing of the mind. As the divine life and nature spread from our regenerated spirit into the mind, emotion, and will, our soul will be renewed. This renewing of the soul is actually the renewing of the new man. Even though we have been regenerated, we are often inclined to live according to the old man, that is, to live according to the old creation. However, deep in our spirit we have the aspiration, the desire, to live in newness of life. This desire comes from the new man in our spirit seeking to spread the divine life and nature into our soul. This spreading is the renewing of the new man. Not many Christians have seen that the renewing of the new man depends on our seeking the things which are above. If we do not seek the things above and set our mind on them, it will be difficult for us to be renewed in soul. But whenever we set our mind on the things above, our inner being is renewed spontaneously. Our experience testifies of this
9保罗劝戒歌罗西的信徒要寻求在上面的事，因为他们已经受打岔，转向地上的事，就如犹太教、智慧派学说、神秘主义、禁欲主义等世上的蒙学。只要他们被这些事打岔，他们就与在上面的事无分无关。这就是为甚么保罗嘱咐他们要忘掉犹太教、希腊哲学、智慧派学说、神秘主义、和各种文化，而寻求在上面的事，并思念这些事。在上面的事不包括任何宗教、哲学或文化。反之，在上面的事包括基督的祭司职分、职事、行政、以及祂一切的行动。要紧的是，我们必须认识基督是我们的元首，我们是祂身体上的肢体；基督和我们一同构成一个宇宙人。祂这位在天上者，乃是元首；我们这些在地上的人，乃是祂的身体。祂是元首，在天上藉著代求、尽职、管理而作工时，我们作为基督的身体，就在地上作工，回应基督天上的职事，并反应祂在天上所作的。这是何等重大的事！我们不该在意地上的宗教、属世的哲学、以及其他世上的蒙学，乃该寻求在上面的事，并思念这些事。如果我们转向在天上的基督，和祂一切的活动，并思念这些事，新人的更新就会自动的发生。
9Paul admonished the Colossian believers to seek the things which are above because they had been distracted to earthly things, to the elements of the world such as Judaism, Gnosticism, mysticism, and asceticism. As long as they were distracted by these things, they could have nothing to do with the things above. This was the reason Paul charged them to forget Judaism, Greek philosophy, Gnosticism, mysticism, and any kind of culture and to seek the things above and set their mind on them. The things above do not include any religion, phil osophy, or culture. Instead, they include Christ’s priesthood, ministry, and administration with all His activities. It is crucial for us to realize that Christ is our Head and that we are the members of His Body. Christ and we together form a universal man. As the One in heaven, He is the Head, and as those on earth, we are the Body. As the Head is working in heaven by interceding, ministering, and administ rating, we, the Body, are working on earth responding to the heavenly ministry of Christ and reflecting what He is doing in heaven. What a tremendous matter this is! Instead of caring for earthly religion, worldly philosophy, and the other elements of the world, we should seek the things above and set our mind on them. If we turn to the heavenly Christ with all His activities and set our mind on these things, the renewing of the new man will take place automatically.
10我们天天所想的，指明我们思念的是甚么。保罗写信给歌罗西人的时候，热中犹太教的人思念他们的宗教，智慧派的人思念他们的哲学。然而，我们不该思念宗教、哲学或文化，乃该思念基督和祂在天上的职事。我们越思念在上面的事─基督和祂天上的职事，我们灵里神圣的元素就越浸透我们的魂，并更新我们的魂。我们灵中所有的一切，就能有自由的通道，扩展到我们里面的全人。藉著这种浸透与扩展，魂就得著更新。如果我们只有罗马十二章二节，而没有歌罗西三章，我们就很难领会，藉著心思的更新而变化是甚么意思。但歌罗西三章指明，这种更新与寻求在上面的事，并思念这些事有关。但愿我们不在意地上的事，就如宗教、哲学、伦理或文化。这些东西是社会所需要的，并且是对社会有益的，但对神的经纶却是一种拦阻，对神经纶的成就也是一种阻挠。在神的经纶里，不需要宗教、哲学或文化；神的经纶乃是祂将自己分赐到我们里面。只要我们在主恢复里的人，有神的分赐，我们就不需要宗教或文化。在新耶路撒冷里的人，如何不需要天然的光或人造的光，今天我们在召会中，也不需要宗教或文化。然而，宗教和文化却是社会所需要的。在召会之外，的确需要宗教和文化来保全社会。但在召会中，我们有神的分赐，因此不需要宗教或文化。一天过一天，神正将祂自己分赐到我们里面。这是何等的奇妙！
10What we think about day by day indicates where our mind is set. At the time Paul wrote to the Colossians, the mind of the Judaizers was set on their religion, and the mind of the Gnostics was set on their philosophy. Our mind, however, should be set not on religion, philosophy, or culture, but on Christ and His heavenly ministry. The more we set our mind on the things above—on Christ and His heavenly ministry—the more the divine elements in our spirit will saturate our soul and renew our soul. All that is in our spirit will have free course to spread throughout our inner being. Through this saturating and spreading, the soul is renewed. If we had only Romans 12:2 but not Colossians 3, it would be rather difficult to understand what it means to be transformed by the renewing of the mind. But as Colossians 3 makes clear, this renewing is related to seeking the things above and setting our mind on them. Let us not care for earthly things such as religion, philosophy, ethics, or culture. These things are needed by society and are helpful in society. However, they are a hindrance to God’secon o my and a frustration to its accomplishment. In God’secon o my there is no need for religion, philosophy, or culture. God’secon o my is His dispensation of Himself into us. As long as we in the Lord’s recovery have God’s dispensation, we do not need religion or culture. Just as those in the New Jerusalem will not need either natural light or man-made light, we in the church today do not need religion or culture. However, religion and culture are necessary in society. Outside the church they are definitely needed for the preservation of society. But in the church we have God’s dispensation and therefore have no need for religion or culture. Day by day, God is dispensing Himself into us. How wonderful
11歌罗西的基督徒不明白文化与神经纶之间的不同。因著不彀明白，就给宗教、哲学、文化开了门，偷著进到召会生活中，阻挠神经纶的完成。原则上，今天基督徒当中的光景也是这样。想想看，多少的宗教、哲学、文化、以及各样的主义，拦阻了神的经纶！因此，要紧的是，我们都要看见，我们在主的恢复里有独一的需要─我们的需要乃是让活的神不断的将祂自己分赐到我们里面。
11The Christians at Colosse were not clear about the difference between culture and God’s economy. This lack of clarity opened the way for religion, philosophy, and culture to creep into the church life and frustrate the accomplishment of God’secon o my. In principle, the situation is the same among Christians today. Consider how much religion, philosophy, culture, and all manner of isms have hindered God’s dispensation! There fore, it is crucial for us to see that in the Lord’s recovery we have a unique need—our need is for the living God to dispense Himself into our being continually.
12主的恢复在美国这些年间，许多圣徒经历了神的分赐。起初，关于神的经纶的信息，对他们好像外国话。但如今，神经纶的真理和经历成了他们生活的一部分。事实上，许多人现在能照著这条路线来尽职。甚至在青年人中间，因著被神圣的生命与性情所更新，也有相当的长进。神圣的元素一直在浸透众圣徒，这种浸透产生了真实的不同。几年前，一位弟兄发脾气也许是某一种样子；但现在他发脾气时不一样了。在许多方面，行为也许是一样的，但性质却不同了。有些神圣的东西已经作到圣徒里面的人里。这不只是行为上的改变，乃是性情上的改变。藉著这种内里的改变，新人就从我们的灵扩展到魂里，并且在我们里面实际的增加了。愿主保守众圣徒在生命的路上，使新人多而又多的增长。我愿强调这个事实：新人虽然已经在我们灵里创造了，还需要在我们整个内里的所是里得著更新。这需要新人在神圣的生命同神圣的性情里，扩展到我们全人里面。然后我们就完全得以更新。
12During the years the Lord’s recovery has been in this country, many saints have experienced God’s dispensation. At first, the messages concerning God’secon o my were like a foreign language to them. But now the truth and experience of God’secon o my are part of their living. In fact, many are now able to minister along the same line. There has been considerable progress even among the young people because of the renewing by the divine life and the divine nature. The divine elements have been saturating the saints. This saturation makes a real difference. Years ago, a brother may have lost his temper in a certain way. But now when he loses his temper, he is different. In many respects the behavior may be the same, but there is a difference in nature. Something divine has been wrought into the inner being of the saints. This is not a mere change in behavior; it is a change in nature. Through such an inward change, the new man spreads from our spirit into our soul and actually increases within us. May the Lord preserve all the saints in the way of life that the new man may increase more and more. I wish to emphasize the fact that even though the new man has been created in our spirit, there is still the need for the new man to be renewed throughout our whole inner being. This requires that the new man spread in the divine life with the divine nature throughout our being. Then we shall be fully renewed
更新以致有充足的知识
renewed unto full knowledge
13按照三章十节，新人是渐渐更新，『以致有充足的知识』。有些译本繙作『在完全的认识上』，而不是『以致有充足的知识』。然而，在希腊原文里的介系词应当繙作『以致』。这样的繙译指明，充足的知识乃是更新的结果、结局，而不是得以更新的凭藉。譬如，小孩子是长大以致有充足的知识，但不是藉著认识而长大。小孩子越长大，所认识的就越多。然而，说他们认识的越多就越长大，这就不对了。作父母的若观察孩子的长大和发展，就会看见，孩子不是藉著认识而长大的。反之，他们是长大以致有知识的；当他们成长并发展的时候，知识就加多了。
13According to 3:10, the new man is being renewed “unto full knowledge.” Some translations say “in full knowledge” instead of “unto full knowledge.” However, the Greek preposition should be rendered “unto.” This rendering indicates that full knowledge is the issue of renewing, its result, not the means of being renewed. For example, children grow unto knowledge, but they do not grow by means of knowledge. The more children grow, the more they know. However, it is not true to say that the more they know, the more they grow. If parents consider the growth and development of their children, they will see that they do not grow by means of knowledge. Rather, they grow unto knowledge, increasing in knowledge as they grow and develop
14这种长大以致有知识的原则，也适用在我们属灵的生活中。如果我们寻求在地上的事，而不寻求在上面的事，新人就不能得更新。这意思是说，我们不会经历新人的长大。只要我们寻求属地的事，新人要长大就极为困难。但我们寻求在上面的事时，新人就会在我们里面长大。这种长大的结果乃是有充足的知识。因此，新人长大以致有充足的知识。几年前，你里面的新人没有多少长大，这使你很难认识属灵的事。但如今新人在你里面长大了，你认识属灵的事就容易多了。这指明长大的结果乃是知识。保罗说，新人渐渐更新，以致有充足的知识，原因就在这里。
14This principle of growing unto knowledge applies to our spiritual life. If we seek the things on earth instead of the things above, we shall not have the renewing of the new man. This means that we shall not experience the growth of the new man. It is extremely difficult for the new man to grow as long as we seek earthly things. But when we seek the things above, the new man grows within us. The result of this growth is full knowledge. Therefore, the new man grows unto full knowledge. Years ago, the new man within you had not grown very much. This made it difficult for you to know spiritual things. But now that the new man has grown within you, it is much easier for you to understand spiritual things. This indicates that growth issues in knowledge. This is the reason Paul says that the new man is being renewed unto full knowledge
15我还是年轻基督徒时，读了一些辨别灵与魂的书籍。然而，不论我怎么努力去分析这事，并照著我天然的心思来鉴别，我总是无法分辨魂与灵的不同。但是当我生命长大了，就容易分辨魂与灵了。这说明属灵的事无法藉著运用天然的心思来认识，惟有藉著新人的长大才能认识。在我们里面新人的长大，产生真实属灵的知识。婴孩出生的时候，就有一切必需的生理器官。然而，这些器官若要正确的尽功用，婴孩就必须长大。婴儿要在功用上完全，就需要长大。小孩越长大，功用就越得著发展并成全。最终，到成熟的时候，功用就完全并完备了。我们里面新人长大的原则也是这样。新人在我们灵里创造出来时，就器官而论是完整的；但因著在功用上还不完全，就需要长大和更新。长大和更新的结果，就带进知识。事实上，三章十节里充足的知识就等于功用。新人的长大和更新，带进新人的功用。没有知识，我们就无法尽功用。我们能运用我们的器官乃在于知识。我们肉身的肢体怎样按著知识来尽功用，新人也照样在得更新以致有充足的知识时才尽功用。新人的更新产生知识，这意思是说，更新带进功用。只要新人缺乏长大和更新，就缺少功用。这意思是说，即使新人已经创造好了，在功用上仍不完全。为此，新人必须长大、发展并得更新。然后这种更新的结果，就使新人在功用上得以完全。
15When I was a young Christian, I read books on discerning the spirit from the soul. However, I could not discern the difference between soul and spirit, no matter how hard I tried to analyze the matter and discern it according to my natural mind. But as I grew in life, it became easy to discern between soul and spirit. This illustrates the fact that spiritual things cannot be known through the exercise of the natural mind. They can be known only through the growth of the new man. The growth of the new man within us issues in true spiritual knowledge. At birth, a baby has all the necessary physical organs. However, if these organs are to function properly, the baby must grow. In order for the infant to become complete in function, there is the need of growth. The more the child grows, the more the functions will be developed and perfected. Eventually, at maturity, the functions will be full and complete. The principle is the same with the growth of the new man within us. When the new man was created in our spirit, it was complete as far as organs are concerned. But because it has not yet been completed in function, there is the need for growth and renewing. Growth and renewing issue in knowledge. Actually, the full knowledge in 3:10 is equal to function. The growth and renewing of the new man results in the function of the new man. Without knowledge, we cannot function. The use of our organs depends on knowledge. As the members of our physical body function according to knowledge, so the new man functions as it is renewed unto full knowledge. For the renewing of the new man to result in knowledge means that the renewing results in function. As long as the new man is short of growth and renewing, it will be lacking in function. This means that even though the new man has been created, it is not yet complete in function. For this, the new man must grow, develop, and be renewed. Then, as a result of this renewing, it will become perfect in function.
16我们已经看见，歌罗西人被宗教、哲学、文化等属地的事物打岔，离开了在上面的事。保罗写这封书信时，想要把他们从世上的蒙学带回到在上面的事。他要他们思念在上面的事，使新人能从他们的灵里扩展到他们的心思里，至终以神圣的元素浸透他们的全人。这种浸透会带进充足的知识，就是使新人的功用得以完全。
16We have seen that the Colossians were distracted from the things which are in heaven by earthly things such as religion, philosophy, and culture. In writing this Epistle, Paul was seeking to bring them back from the elements of the world to the things which are above. He wanted them to set their mind on the things above so that the new man could spread from within their spirit into their mind and eventually saturate their whole being with the divine element. This saturation would issue in full knowledge, the completion of the function of the new man.
照著神的形像
ACCORDING TO THE IMAGE OF GOD
17现在我们必须往前来看，这种更新乃是照著神的形像，就是创造新人者的形像。换句话说，新人的更新乃是照著那是神形像和彰显的基督。我们思念在上面的事，就给新人开了一条路，将神圣的元素从我们灵里扩展到魂里。这种神圣的元素在我们里面的扩展，乃是照著基督；祂就是神的形像，神的彰显。我们魂里越更新，就越能彰显神。换句话说，我们在魂里所经历的更新越多，我们就越有基督的形像。虽然我们重生了，但在我们的心思、情感、意志里，基督的形像却非常的少；我们反而可能固守著老亚当的形像。但如果我们思念在上面的事，我们灵里神圣的元素就会扩展到魂里。这种扩展乃是照著作为神形像的基督。神圣元素扩展的结果，就使我们有神的形像，并成为祂的彰显。
17Now we must go on to see that this renewing is according to the image of God, the One who created the new man. In other words, the renewing of the new man is according to Christ, who is the image and expression of God. When we set our mind on the things above, the way is open for the new man to spread the divine element from our spirit into our soul. This spreading of the divine element within us is according to Christ, who is the image of God, God’sex press i on. The more renewing that takes place in our soul, the more we shall be able to express God. In other words, the more renewing we experience in the soul, the more we shall have of the image of Christ. Although we have been regenerated, we may have very little of the image of Christ in our mind, emotion, and will. Instead, we may cling to the image of the old Adam. But if we set our mind on the things above, the divine element in our spirit will spread into our soul. This spreading will be according to Christ as the image of God. As a result of the spreading of the divine element, we shall have the image of God and become His expression
基督是一切的事物，
CHRIST AS ALL THINGS
并在一切肢体里面
AND IN ALL MEMBERS
18保罗在三章十一节继续说，『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。』按照这一节，在新人的更新上，任何天然的人都没有地位─希利尼人、犹太人、宗教的、非宗教的、有文化的、无文化的，都没有地位。在新人的更新上，基督是一切，又在一切之内。在希腊原文里，头一个『一切』是中性的，指事物。但第二个『一切』是阳性的，指人。所以，在新人的更新上，基督是一切的事物，又在一切肢体之内。这指明在新人的更新上，基督的确是包罗万有的。一面，祂在所有的人里面，就是在新人的肢体里面；另一面，在新人的更新上，祂乃是一切的事物。
18In 3:1 1 Paul goes on to say, “Where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, freeman, but Christ is all and in all.” According to this verse, in the renewing of the new man there is no room for any natural man—no room for Greek or Jew, for religious or unreligious, for cultured or uncultured. In there newing of the new man, Christ is all and in all. In Greek the first “all” is neuter gender and denotes things. But the second “all” is masculine gender and denotes persons. There fore, in there newing of the new man, Christ is all things, and He is in all the members. This indicates that in the renewing of the new man, Christ truly is all-inclusive. On the one hand, He is in all the persons, the members of the new man; on the other hand, He is all things in the renewing of the new man.
19也许你不知道，在新人的更新上，一切的事物是甚么。一切的事物至少必须包括一切的美德和属性。爱、忍耐和谦卑，都是优越的美德。这一切美德乃是基督自己。在新人的更新上，基督乃是一切奇妙的美德，一切美好的事物，以及一切正面的属性。
19Perhaps you are wondering what are all the things in the renewing of the new man. At least, all things must include all virtues and attributes. Love, patience, and humility are all excellent virtues. All these virtues are Christ Himself. In the renewing of the new man, Christ is all the wonderful virtues, all the good things, and all the positive attributes
实现新人的生活
REALIZING THE LIFE OF THE NEW MAN
20我们这些新约的信徒，怎能在实行上实现宇宙新人的生活？在那些思念地上之事的基督徒当中，没有新人的更新，也不可能在实行上过新人的生活。但我们思念在上面的事时，新人就自然而然的在我们里面长大，并得以更新。这使我们全人得著更新和变化。然后我们无论在那里，就都能有新人的实行。最近我听说一位在海军服役的青年弟兄，在远东访问了许多召会，他享受到与众圣徒美好的交通。当然，这位弟兄经历了新人的生活。他虽然是美国人，却能和许多东方的圣徒在交通的灵里融合为一。
20How can we, the New Testament believers, realize the life of the universal new man in a practical way? Among those Christians who set their mind on the things on earth, there is no renewing of the new man and no possibility of having the life of the new man in a practical way. But when we set our mind on the things above, spontaneously the new man grows and is renewed within us. This causes our whole being to be renewed and transformed. Then wherever we may be, we can have the practice of the new man. Recently I heard of a young brother in the Navy who visited a number of churches in the Far East. He enjoyed good fellowship with the saints. To be sure, this brother experienced the life of the new man. Although he was from the United States, he could be merged in the spirit of fellowship with so many saints from the Orient
21如果我们不愿思念在上面的事，就不会给新人开路，让新人在我们里面增长；这样，我们就很难实际的经历新人的生活。但我们若思念在上面的事，新人就要从我们的灵扩展到魂里。然后不论我们与何处的圣徒在一起，就都会实现新人的生活。歌罗西书的确是一卷论到包罗万有之基督的书。然而，保罗在这卷书里也说到新人。新人实际的生活，乃是出于对基督的启示，以及对基督的经历。我们有了基督的启示，以及对基督充分的经历，新人就会实际的在我们中间出现，我们也会实现新人的生活。
21If we are not willing to set our minds on the things above and thus do not open the way for the new man to increase within us, it will be very difficult for us to experience the life of the new man in a practical way. But if we set our mind on the things above, the new man will spread from our spirit into our soul. Then no matter where we may be with the saints, we shall realize the life of the new man. Colossians is definitely a book on the all-inclusive Christ. However, in this book Paul also speaks of the new man. The practical life of the new man comes out of the revelation of Christ and the experience of Christ. When we have the revelation of Christ with the adequate experience of Christ, the new man will appear among us in a practical way, and we shall realize the life of the new man
22神的目标乃是要得著这一个新人，至终这新人要完成于新耶路撒冷。因此，新耶路撒冷将是这一个新人最终的完成。我们在新耶路撒冷里，就会享受这一个宇宙新人的生活。今天我们思念在上面的事，并为我们灵里的新人开一条自由的通路，使其扩展到我们全人里面，我们就能豫尝这种享受。
22God’s goal is to have this one new man, which ultimately will consummate in the New Jerusalem. Therefore, the New Jerusalem will be the final consummation of the one new man. When we are in the New Jerusalem, we shall enjoy the life of the universal one new man. Today we may have a foretaste of this enjoyment by setting our mind on the things above and giving a free way for the new man in our spirit to spread into our whole being.