帖撒罗尼迦前书生命读经 · 第11篇

召会成为三一神的具体化身（三）

The Church Becoming the Embodiment of The Triune God (3)

1读经：帖撒罗尼迦前书1:1;2:12;3:12;4:7;，帖撒罗尼迦后书1:3,5,10;2:13-，歌罗西书3:10-11，启示录1:11-12。

1Scripture Reading: 1 Thes. 1:1; 2:12; 3:12; 4:7; 5:23-24; 2 Thes. 1:3, 5, 10; 2:13-14, 16; Col. 3:10-11; Rev. 1:11-12 5:23-24 14, 16

蒙召进入神的国和荣耀

CALLED INTO GOD’SKIN GDOM AND GLORY

2帖前二章十二节说，『要叫你们行事为人，配得过那召你们进入祂自己的国和荣耀的神。』我们在前一篇信息里看过，行事为人配得过神是甚么意思。现在我们要进一步来看，蒙神呼召进入神的国和荣耀，实际上是甚么意思。许多基督徒，连我们也不例外，都把圣经里的事视为理所当然。譬如，我们读到二章十二节，就理所当然的以为完全懂了。但我们对神的国和荣耀也许没有正确的领会。我当然不是说我已经完全领会二章十二节；但我从研读和经历中，的确有一些领会。我所要说关于二章十二节的国和荣耀的话，主要是根据我的属灵经历。

2First Thessalonians 2:12 says, “That you should walk worthily of God, Who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” In the foregoing message we considered what it means to walk worthily of God. Let us go on to see what it means in a practical way to be called by God into His kingdom and glory. Many Christians, including us, take things in the Bible for granted. For example, we may read 2:12 and take for granted that we understand it. However, we may not have a proper understanding of God’skin gdom and glory. Of course, I do not claim to understand 2:12 in full. However, I do have some understanding from study and experience. What I wish to say concerning the kingdom and glory in 2:12 is mainly according to my spiritual experience

3保罗在这一节经文里说，神召我们进入祂自己的国和荣耀。毫无疑问，神的国和荣耀是祂呼召的目标。不幸的是，基督徒以为神召我们进入天堂。神不是召我们进入天堂，乃是召我们进入祂的国和荣耀。按照许多基督徒所了解的，现今这地不是神的国，但有一天主耶稣要回来，接管这地、治理这地。那个治理就是神的国。我们中间有许多人对于神的国可能就是抱持这种观念。我不是说这种领会完全不正确。但我必须说，这种领会不完全正确，并且实在太肤浅了。神的国是甚么？神的国就是神藉著我们得著彰显。甚么时候我们在日常的生活行动中把神彰显出来，那就是神的国。神自己从我们里面彰显出来就是神的国。假如有一位弟兄在办公室里上班。因著他是一位信徒，有些同事可能和他作对。他们不高兴有他在那里。但是他如果天天在办公室里彰显神，他的同事会发觉他与别人不大

3In this verse Paul says that God has called us into His own kingdom and glory. No doubt, God’skin gdom and glory are the goal of His calling. It is unfortunate that Christians think that God has called us into a heavenly mansion. God’scall ing is not to a heavenly mansion; it is to His kingdom and glory. According to the understanding of many Christians, at present the earth is not God’skin gdom, but one day the Lord Jesus will come back, take over the earth, and establish His rule upon it. That rule will be God’skin gdom. Many of us have probably held such a concept concerning the kingdom of God. I do not say that this understanding is not accurate at all. However, I must say that it is not entirely accurate, and it is certainly much too superficial. What is God’skin gdom? The kingdom of God is God being manifested through us. Whenever we express God in our daily walk, that is the kingdom. The expression of God Himself from within us is the kingdom. Suppose a brother works in an office. Certain of his colleagues may oppose him because he is a believer. They may not be happy to have him there. But if he expresses God daily in the office, his fellow workers will realize that there is something unusual

4一样。他们会知道这位弟兄身上有点特别。这就是神的国，也就是神从那位弟兄里面彰显出来。一面，别人会反对我们、批评我们、不高兴我们；另一面，他们感觉到我们有一种无法形容的东西。这就是神的国，作祂藉著我们所得著的彰显。如果所有的基督徒都彰显神，那该有多好！这彰显的确是神在地上的国。

4about him. They will know that with this brother there is something special. This is God’skin gdom, God expressed from within that brother. On the one hand, others may oppose us, criticize us, and be unhappy with us. On the other hand, they sense something indescribable about us. This is God’skin gdom as His manifestation through us. How marvelous it would be if all Christians expressed God! This expression truly would be the kingdom of God on earth

5我年轻信主的时候，是照著传统来领会二章十二节。我以为神召我只是要我将来进入祂的国和荣耀。我对于神的国和神荣耀的观念非常肤浅，并且完全是客观的。保罗对于神的国和神的荣耀不是这种看法。我们从二章十二节上下文可以看见，蒙召进入神的国和荣耀与行事为人配得过神有关。我们行事为人配得过神的时候，就有一种特殊的气氛随著我们，这种气氛就是神的国。不仅如此，神的国在那里，神的荣耀也在那里。神的国和神的荣耀可以彰显在我们的婚姻生活里。一位弟兄和他的妻子如果活神，他们的行事为人就配得过神。然后在他们的婚姻生活中就有一种气氛。别人进到这种气氛里的时候，自然而然就会感到敬意。这是神的国同著神的荣耀。今天基督徒的行事为人若配得过神，生活行动若彰显神，神的国就要来到；人就要在地上看见神的国。我们已经多次指出，荣耀乃是神自己彰显出来。每当主从我们里面得著彰显，我们就在一种可以称为荣耀的光景里。如果一个人走进一位弟兄家里，而他正在和妻子争吵，就没有甚么荣耀可言。但你如果去一位弟兄家，发觉他和妻子正在发光、照耀并涌流，你就会看见神的彰显、神的荣耀。

5When I was a young Christian, I understood 2:12 in the traditional way. I thought that God had called me merely to enter into His kingdom and glory in the future. My concept of the kingdom of God and the glory of God was very shallow and altogether too objective. Paul did not have such a view of God’skin gdom and glory. From the context of 2:12 we can see that being called into God’skin gdom and glory is related to walking worthily of God. When we walk worthily of God, there is with us a particular kind of atmosphere, and this atmosphere is God’skin gdom. Furthermore, where the kingdom of God is, there the glory of God is also. It is possible for the kingdom of God and the glory of God to be manifested in our married life. If a brother and his wife live God, they will walk worthily of God. Then in their married life there will be a certain kind of atmosphere. When others come into this atmosphere, they will spontaneously have a sense of respect. This is the kingdom of God with God’s glory. If today’s Christians would walk worthily of God, would walk in a way that expresses Him, the kingdom would come. God’skin gdom would then be seen on earth. As we have pointed out a number of times, glory is God Himself expressed. Whenever the Lord is expressed from within us, we are in a situation that can be described as glorious. If someone would walk into a brother’sho me when he is arguing with his wife, there would not be any glory. However, if you visit a brother’sho use and find him and his wife glowing, shining, and flowing, you would see the expression of God, God’s glory

6我们许多人能见证，当我们活神，行事为人配得过神，与神相配的时候，我们周围就有一种气氛；这种气氛一点不差就是神的国。自然而然的，主得著了彰显。这彰显就是神的荣耀。关于二章十二节里的国和荣耀，乃是

6Many of us can testify that when we live God and walk worthily of God, matching Him, there is an atmosphere around us that is nothing less than God’skin gdom. Spontaneously the Lord is expressed. This expression is God’s glory. Concerning the kingdom and the glory in 2:12, we have a further explanation

7一章一节进一步的说明；那里告诉我们，召会是在父神和主耶稣基督里。

7of 1:1, where we are told that the church is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

爱增多洋溢

INCREASING AND ABOUNDING IN LOVE

8保罗在三章十二节说，『又愿主使你们彼此的爱并对众人的爱，都能增多洋溢，正如我们对你们一样。』在父神和主耶稣基督里的召会，应当是由一班彼此的爱并对众人的爱都增多洋溢的人所组成的。不论召会里有多少信徒（五十、

8In 3:12 Paul says, “And the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love to one another and to all, even as we also to you.” The church in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ should be composed of those who are increasing and abounding in love to one another and to all men. No matter how many believers there may be in the church—fifty, five hundred, or five

9五百或五千），所有的圣徒都应当彼此相爱。不仅如此，他们的爱应当增多洋溢。这种爱当然不是出于我们属人的性情。我们是堕落的人类，不可能有这种爱。但在父神和主耶稣基督里的召会，却是以这种增多洋溢的爱为特征的。我们若真是在父神和主耶稣基督里的召会，我们彼此的爱就会增多洋溢。

9thousand—all the saints should love one another. Furthermore, they should increase in this love and abound in it. This kind of love is surely not of our human nature. As fallen human beings, we are not capable of such love. But the church in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ is characterized by this increasing and abounding love. If we truly are a church in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, the love we have for one another will increase and abound

10摆在『盒子』里归与神保罗在四章七节接著说，『神本是在圣别中召了我们，并不是要我们沾染污秽。』在父神和主耶稣基督里，就是在圣别里。圣别原文的意思是分别。惟有当我们在父神和主耶稣基督里的时候，我们才真是从神以外的一切事物中分别归神。我们若不在三一神里，我们就是凡俗的。我们还没有从世界里分别出来，还是与属世的人、事、物纠缠不清，混杂在一起。

10BOXED IN TO GOD In 4:7 Paul goes on to say, “God has not called us for uncleanness but in sanctification.” To be in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ is to be in sanctification. The Greek word sanctification means separation. Only when we are in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ are we truly separated unto God from everything other than God. If we are not in the Triune God, we are still common. Instead of being separated from the world, we are still involved, mixed up, with worldly people and worldly matters

11我盼望特别对青年人说一些话。你们虽然年轻，却要知道，你们既是属主耶稣的人，你们就是召会的一部分，而召会乃是在三一神里的。我们若将神比喻为盒子，就可以说神正把你装进盒子里归给祂自

11I wish to say a word especially to the young ones. Even though you are still young, you need to realize that as those who belong to the Lord Jesus, you are part of the church, and the church is in the Triune God. If we compare God to a box, we may say that God is boxing

12己。你们都需要更多装进盒子里面归给祂。神已经把你放进祂自己这个属灵、神圣、属天的盒子里。你在这盒子里，就被分别归神。换句话说，这样放在盒子里归与神，这样的分别，就是圣别。

12you in to Himself. You all need to be boxed in to Him more and more. God has placed you into Himself as a spiritual, divine, and heavenly box. Being in this box separates you to God. In other words, this being boxed in to God, this separation, is sanctification

13神本是在圣别中召了你们。四章七节里的『在圣别中』，形容神的呼召。神是在圣别这个『盒子』里召了我们。现在我们都需要看见，我们是一班分别归神的人，是一班放进盒子里归给神的人；我们没有权利从这盒子里跳出来。

13God has called you in sanctification. In 4:7 the phrase “in sanctification” modifies God’scall ing. God has called us in the “box” of sanctification. Now we all need to see that we are those separated unto God, boxed in to Him. We have no right to leap out of this box.

14保罗在五章二十三至二十四节说，『且愿和平的神，亲自全然圣别你们，又愿你们的灵、与魂、与身子得蒙保守，在我们主耶稣基督来临的时候，得以完全，无可指摘。那召你们的是信实的，祂也必作成这事。』和平的神全然圣别我们，意思就是说，祂要把我们全然放在盒子里。我们全人没有一部分会留在神这属灵的盒子外面。神这神圣的盒子并不小。相反的，祂是无限的大、无限的深。如果一个青年人受试诱，要纵情于某

14In 5:23 and 24 Paul says, “And the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly, and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He Who calls you, Who also will do it.” For the God of peace to sanctify us wholly means that He will completely box us in. No part of our being will be left out of God as the spiritual box. God as the divine box is not small. On the contrary, He is infinitely large and deep. If a young person is tempted to indulge in a certain

15一种属世的娱乐，这意思是说，他打算从这属天的盒子里出来。但有许多人见证，当他们想从这盒子出来，却发觉出不来；他们的手臂似乎无力爬出来。从这几节圣经来看，神要把我们放进盒子里，使我们全然、完全归祂自己。你已经完全被神摆在盒子里了么？二十三节说，神要保守我们的灵、与魂、与身子，在我们主耶稣基督来临的时候，无可指摘。二十四节说，那召我们，并圣别我们、分别我们的神，是信实的。神要作工，把我们放进盒子里，直到我们完全从世界中分别出来。不论我们在那里─学校、工作地点、家庭，或是与我们的邻居在一起，我们至终要完全被摆在盒子里归与神。青年人，如果有人邀请你去作甚么属世的事，你可能需要说，『我不能有分于那件事，因为我已经被摆在盒子里归与神了。因为我在属天的盒子里，所以我没有自由到那个地方去。』

15kind of worldly entertainment, this means that he is planning to come out of this heavenly box. However, many have testified that when they tried to get out of this box, they found that they were not able to do so. It seems that their arms were powerless to climb out. According to these verses, God intends to box us in to Himself wholly, that is, entirely. Have you been completely boxed in by God? Verse 23 says that God will preserve our spirit and soul and body without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 24 says that God, the One who calls us and who does the sanctifying, separating, work, is faithful. He will do the boxing-in work until we are completely separated from the world. Wherever we may be—at school, at work, at home, or with our neighbors—we shall eventually be fully boxed in to God. Young people, if you are invited to do something worldly, you may need to say, “I cannot participate in that, for I have been boxed in to God. Because I am in a heavenly box, I am not free to go to that place

16在帖撒罗尼迦前书，我们看见召会在父神和主耶稣基督里的一些条件。如果我们要实际的，并在实行上成为这样的召会，我们的行事为人必须配得过神，并且答应祂的呼召，进入祂自己的国和荣耀。我们已经指出，我们不该认为神的国与荣耀只是将来才有，不能成为我们今天的经历。我们必须今天就在神的国和神的荣耀里；不仅如此，我们的爱必须增多洋溢，也必须被三一神全然圣别，就是完全被放在祂这『盒子』里。

16In 1 Thessalonians we have seen certain qualifications of the church in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. If we would be such a church in reality and in a practical way, we need to walk worthily of God and fulfill His calling into His own kingdom and glory. As we have pointed out, we should not regard the kingdom and the glory as only something for the future and not for our experience today. We need to be in the kingdom of God and the glory of God today. Furthermore, we need to increase and abound in love, and we need to be fully sanctified, entirely boxed in, by the Triune God

在三一神里的召会

FURTHER CHARACTERISTICS

其他的特征

OF THE CHURCH IN THE TRIUNE GOD

17保罗在帖后一章三节说，『弟兄们，我们应当常为你们感谢神，这本是合宜的；因你们的信心格外增长，你们众人每一位彼此相爱的心也一直增加。』保罗在这节经文说到两件事：信心增长和爱心增加。信心的增长和爱心的增加，也是成为在父神和主耶稣基督里召会的条件和要求。

17In 2 Thessalonians 1:3 Paul says, “We ought to thank God always concerning you, brothers, even as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each one of you all to one another is increasing.” In this verse Paul speaks of two matters: faith growing and love increasing. The growth of faith and the increase of love are also conditions, requirements, of being the church in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

18保罗在二章十三节继续说，『主所爱的弟兄们，我们应当常为你们感谢神，因为祂从起初拣选了你们，叫你们藉著那灵的圣别，并你们对真理的信，可以得救。』藉著那灵的圣别以致得救，是一件深奥的事。神从起初拣选了我们，叫我们藉著圣别，可以得救。这与在父神和主耶稣基督里的生活有关，这也是作为在父神和主耶稣基督里之召会的条件。

18In 2 Thessalonians 2:13 Paul continues, “But we ought to thank God always concerning you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” The matter of salvation in sanctification of the Spirit is profound. God has chosen us from the beginning unto this salvation in sanctification. This is related to a life in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is also a qualification of being a church in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

19十四节说，『神藉著我们所传的福音，也呼召你们到这地步，好得著我们主耶稣基督的荣耀。』我们在此看见，神召我们，是要我们得著祂的荣耀。这又是在父神和主耶稣基督里之召会生活的一方面。

19Verse 14 says, “To which also He called you through our gospel unto the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Here we see that God has called us unto the obtaining of His glory. Once again, this is an aspect of the life of the church in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

20十六节说，『但愿我们的主耶稣基督自己，和神我们的父，就是那爱我们，在恩典中将永远的安慰和美好的盼望赐给我们的。』这是何等的深奥！神在恩典中，将永远的安慰和美好的盼望赐给我们。我们也许对这些事不甚了解，但我们已经得著了。我们得著的安慰是永远的，我们得著的盼望是美好的。神已经在恩典中赐给我们这安慰和这盼望。这太好了！这是在父神和主耶稣基督里之召会生活的一项激励。

20Second Thessalonians 2:16 says, “Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, Who has loved us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope in grace.” How profound! God has given us eternal encouragement and good hope in grace. Although we may not understand these matters adequately, we have nonetheless received them. We have an encouragement that is eternal and a hope that is good. God has given us both this encouragement and this hope in grace. This is marvelous! It is an incentive to have the church life in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ

21我们不是没有激励的，我们也不是没有盼望的。绝不要说你没有盼望，你反而应当宣告：『我满了盼望。我有美好的盼望，就是神在恩典中赐给我的盼望。不仅如此，随著这美好的盼望，我还有永远的安慰。』

21We are not without incentive, and we are not lacking in hope. Never say that you are hopeless. Instead, you should declare, “I am full of hope. I have a good hope, the hope God has given me in grace. Furthermore, with this good hope there is eternal encouragement

新人

THE NEW MAN

22保罗在歌罗西三章十至十一节说到召会是新人：『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；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。』十节的形像是指基督，就是神所爱的，作神的彰显。（一15，来一。）这节经文所指神这位创造者，就是在基督里创造新人的那一位。（弗二15。）召会是三一神的具体表现，至终具有神的形像。

22In Colossians 3:10 and 11 Paul speaks of the church as the new man: “And having put on the new man, which is being renewed unto full knowledge according to the image of Him Who created him; where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, freeman, but Christ is all and in all.” The word image in verse 10 refers to Christ, God’s Beloved, as the very expression of God (Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3). The relative pronoun “who” in this verse refers to God the Creator, the One who created the3 new man in Christ (Eph. 2:15). As the embodiment of the Triune God, the church eventually will bear the image of God.

23金灯台在圣经里，召会有许多不同的象征：神的家、神的国、神的居所、神的丰满、战士、新妇。在启示录里，召会由金灯台所象征。使

23THE GOLDEN LAMPSTAND In the Bible there are many different symbols of the church: the house of God, the kingdom of God, the habitation of God, the fullness of God, the warrior, the bride. In the book of Revelation the church is

241:12徒约翰在启示录一章十二节说，『我转过身来，要看是谁发声与我说话；既转过来，就看见七个金灯台。』启示录一章二十节清楚的说，七灯台就是七个召会。

24symbolized by a golden lampstand. In Revelation the Apostle John says, “And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me; and having turned I saw seven golden lampstands.” Verse 20 of Revelation 1 says clearly, “The seven lampstands are seven churches.”

25出埃及二十五章描述了金灯台，那灯台是基督的豫表。基督是神的具体化身，而灯台是基督这具体化身的豫表。我们在别的信息中曾经指出，灯台表征三一神。灯台的本质、元素乃是金。在豫表里，金表征神圣的性情，就是父神的性情。第二，灯台的金有确定的形状；这形状表征子神。父神是元素，子神是形状。末了，灯台的七灯表征神的七灵作神的彰显。因此，灯台给我们看见元素表征父神，形状化身子神，七灯表征神的灵作为彰显。因此，灯台是描述三一神具体化身在一个实体里。出埃及二十五章的灯台是基督的豫表，但在启示录一章的灯台则表征召会。每一个召会都是一个金灯台。这意思是说，召会是三一神的具体表现，因为召会是在三一神里的一个实体。你知道今天主正在作甚么？祂在尽力铸造我们，变化我们，把我们─全召会─模成三一神的形像。众召会乃是这样成了金灯台，作

25In Exodus 25 there is a description of a golden lampstand. That lampstand is a type of Christ. Christ is the embodiment of God, and the lampstand is a type of Christ as this embodiment. Elsewhere we have pointed out that the lampstand signifies the Triune God. The lampstand is gold in substance, in element. In typology gold signifies the divine nature, the nature of God the Father. Second, the gold of the lampstand is in a definite form. This form signifies God the Son. God the Father is the element, and God the Son is the form. Finally, the seven lamps of the lampstand signify the seven Spirits of God as God’sex press i on. As we consider the lampstand, therefore, we see the element signifying God the Father, we see the form signifying God the Son, and we see the seven lamps signifying the Spirit of God as the expression. Hence, the lampstand portrays the Triune God embodied in a single entity. In Exodus 25 the lampstand is a type of Christ, but in Revelation 1 the lampstand signifies the church. Every church is a golden lampstand. This means that the church is the embodiment of the Triune God, for the church is an entity in the Triune God. Do you realize what the Lord is doing today? He is seeking to mold us, transform us, and conform us, the entire church, into the image of the Triune God. In this way all the churches become golden lampstands as the

26三一神的具体表现。

26embodiment of the Triune God

27我们何等有福，得以看见召会乃是三一神的具体表现！我们的耳朵是有福的，因为听见了这些话。已过许多信徒从未听见或看见这方面的真理。阿利路亚！我们是在召会里，而召会是在父神和主耶稣基督里。我们如今正在被变化成为三一神的形像，也正在被模成这形像，而实际的并在实行上成为三一神的具体表现，有父作我们的元素，子作我们的形状，那灵作我们的彰显，向宇宙照耀出三一神的荣光。这就是被三一神充满的召会。

27How blessed we are to see that the church is the embodiment of the Triune God! Our ears are blessed to hear this word. Many believers in the past never heard or saw anything concerning this. Hallelujah, we are in the church which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Now we are being transformed into the image of the Triune God and conformed to this image to be in reality and practicality the embodiment of the Triune God, having the Father as our element, the Son as our form, and the Spirit as our expression, shining the glory of the Triune God to the universe. This is the church filled with the Triune God.