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帖撒罗尼迦前书生命读经 · 第6篇

三一神具体化于话里，以产生为著召会生活的圣别生活（二）

The Triune God Embodied in the Word to Produce a Holy Life for The Church Life (2)
1读经：帖撒罗尼迦前书一章一至十节。我们在前一篇信息里看见，帖前一1章启示三一神。保罗在一节和三节说到父神，在十节说到子，在五节和六节说到圣灵。根据一章一节，帖撒罗尼迦人的召会乃是在父神和主耶稣基督里的。这指明召会是在三一神里。在本篇信息中，我们要从帖前一章继续来看，这位三一神是怎样供应给我们的。
1Scripture Reading: 1 Thes. 1:1-10 In the foregoing message we saw that the Triune God is revealed in chapter one of 1 Thessalonians. In verses and 3 Paul speaks of God the Father; in verse 10, of the Son; and in verses 5 and 6, of the Holy Spirit. According to 1:1, the church of the Thessalonians was in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. This indicates that the church is in the Triune God. In this message we shall go on to consider, also from 1 Thessalonians 1, how this Triune God is ministered to us.
主的话
与向神的信心
THE WORD OF THE LORD AND FAITH TOWARD GOD
2保罗在五至六节说，『因为我们的福音传到你们那里，不仅在于言语，也在于能力和圣灵，并充足的确信，正如你们知道，我们在你们中间，为你们的缘故是怎样为人。并且你们在大患难之中，带著圣灵的喜乐，领受了主的话，就效法我们，也效法了主。』照这两节圣经来看，传福音就是传扬话。使徒们所传的福音就是帖撒罗尼迦人所领受的话。保罗在八节又接著说，『因为主的话从你们那里已经宣扬出来，不单在马其顿和亚该亚，就是在各处，你们向神的信心也都传开了，所以不用我们说甚么。』帖撒罗尼迦人先是领受了主的话，然后把主的话宣扬出来。八节里主的话与向神的信心是同义辞。这节经文说，主的话从帖撒罗尼迦人那里已经宣扬出来，他们向神的信心也都传开了。因此，宣扬出来的话就是传开的信心。信心是甚么？几乎没有人能说出一个令人满意的解释。我们很难说出信心是甚么。但我们仔细的看这几节经文，就能对信心有正确的领会。第一，信心乃是有话语传给我们。第二，信心包括我们领受这话，并将这话宣扬出去。这种话乃是信心。福音的话被人传讲、领受并宣扬。这样，话就成了我们里面的信心。传福音的人传讲的时候，话就是福音。但是我们领受话的时候，特别是当我们把话宣扬出去的时候，话就成了我们里面的信心。
2In verses 5 and 6 Paul says, “Because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance, even as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, having accepted the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Spirit.” According to these verses, to preach the gospel is to preach the word. The gospel preached by the apostles was the word accepted by the Thessalonians. In verse 8 Paul goes on to say, “For from you the word of the Lord has sounded out, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to speak anything.” First the Thessalonians accepted the word, and then they sounded it out. In verse 8 the word of the Lord and faith toward God are synonymous. This verse says that from the Thessalonians the word of the Lord sounded out and that their faith toward God went out. Thus, the word that is sounded out is the faith that goes out. What is faith? Hardly anyone can give a satisfactory definition. It is very difficult to say what faith is. However, by considering these verses carefully, we can have a proper understanding of faith. First, faith is a matter of having the word preached to us. Next, faith includes our accepting of the word and our sounding it out. This kind of word is faith. The word of the gospel is preached, accepted, and declared. In this way the word becomes faith within us. In the speaking of the preacher, the word is the gospel. But when we accept the word, and especially when we sound out the word, it becomes faith within us.
3假如传福音的人向不信者讲到人的堕落和神的拯救。传福音的人告诉不信者说，神在基督里成了肉体，为我们的罪钉了十字架，并且神叫祂从死人中复活，如今成了赐生命的灵，为要住在我们里面。当这个不信者领受并宣告福音的话，这话就成了信心。保罗所传话语的内容
3Suppose a preacher of the gospel speaks to an unbeliever concerning man’s fall and God’ss alvation. The one who preaches the gospel tells the unbeliever that in Christ God was incarnate, that He was crucified for our sins, that He was resurrected from among the dead, and that He has become the life-giving Spirit in order to dwell in us. When this unbeliever receives the word of the gospel and declares it, it becomes faith. THE CONTENT OF THE WORD PREACHED BY PAUL
4现在我们需要研读保罗所传讲话语的内容，也就是福音的内容。毫无疑问的，保罗所传讲的是三一神。他在四节说，『蒙神所爱的弟兄们，我们知道你们是蒙拣选的。』拣选是指父在已过的永远里所作的。那时神拣选了我们。保罗在十节说到子是那位拯救我们的；祂是救主、是拯救者。保罗在五节说，他们传福音是在于能力和圣灵；在六节我们看见，帖撒罗尼迦人带著圣灵的喜乐，领受了主的话。福音的传扬在于圣灵，这个事实指出那灵是将神的成分传输到我们里面的一位。因此，父神拣选我们，子神成功救赎以拯救我们，而灵神将一切神圣的事物传输给我们。这是保罗所传福音话语的内容。这就是我说三一神具体化于话里的原因。也许有一位弟兄释放了一篇简短的福音信息，告诉人说，神创造了人，后来人堕落了，基督就来为我们的罪死在十字架上，如今那灵要来重生我们。即使在这样简短的一篇信息里，也包括了父神、子神和灵神。这是正确福音的内容；这福音乃是神圣的话，将三一神具体化，并告诉我们父和子已经作成的工作，以及那灵正在进行的工作。当人相信这话，并领受这话时，这话就成了人里面的信心。当三一神藉著话供应给一个人，那个人领受了话，以致话在他里面成为信心的时候，你知道发生甚么事么？在那时刻，这个人经历了新生。他从神而生了。我们原本都是罪人，却藉著信成了神的儿子。藉著信心，我们经历了新生。
4Now we need to study the content of the word, the gospel, preached by Paul. No doubt, Paul preached the Triune God. In verse 4 he says, “Knowing, brothers beloved by God, your selection.” Selection refers to the Father’s work in eternity past. That was when God selected us. In verse 10 Paul speaks about the Son as the One who delivers us. The Son is the Savior, the Deliverer. In verse 5 Paul says that the gospel they preached came in power and in the Holy Spirit; and in verse 6 we see that the Thessalonians accepted the word with joy of the Holy Spirit. The fact that the gospel was preached in the Holy Spirit indicates that the Spirit is the One who transmits the things of God into us. Thus, God the Father selected us, God the Son accomplished redemption to deliver us, and God the Spirit transmits all the divine things to us. This is the content of the word preached by Paul as the gospel. This is the reason I say that the Triune God is embodied in the word. A brother may give a short gospel message in which he says that God created man, that man has become fallen, that Christ has come to die on the cross for our sins, and that now the Spirit is seeking to regenerate us. Even in such a short message, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit are all included. This is the content of the proper gospel, a gospel that is the divine word embodying the Triune God and telling us what the Father has done, what the Son has done, and what the Spirit is doing. When someone believes this word and accepts it, it becomes faith within him. Do you realize what happens when the Triune God is ministered to a person through the word, and that person receives the word so that it becomes faith within him? At that moment such a person experiences a new birth. He is born of God. We all were sinners, but through faith we have become sons of God. Through faith we experience a new birth.
5信心不是努力去相信我们所信不来的事。你传福音的时候，不要勉强人去信，而要给人看见，三一神是最亲爱、最宝贝、最有价值的一位。别人听到你介绍这样富有吸引的一位，就会珍赏你所说的话，而领受你的话。他们领受的话就要成为他们的信心。这就是相信的意思。信的两方面信有两方面：客观的一面和主观的一面。我们领受神话语的时候，这话就成了我们客观的信仰，也成了我们主观的信心。客观的信仰是指我们所相信的事物，主观的信心是指我们相信的行动。我们藉著这样的信蒙了重生、从神而生，我们与神之间就开始有了生命的关系。不仅如此，藉著这样的信，我们被摆在基督里。我们从前是在基督以外，但我们如今藉著信，得以在基督里。这意思是说，我们与基督之间有了生机的联结。这是基督徒生活的开始，这种生活乃是圣别的生活，总结为召会生活。这样，三一神就传输到我们全人里面，使我们得有新的生命，神圣的生命。因著这新的生命，我们与神有了生命的关系，与基督产生了生机的联结。藉著这个关系和联结，我们就开始基督徒的生活；这种生活是圣别的生活，是为著召会生活的圣别生活。
5Faith is not a matter of trying to believe something that we are not able to believe. Whenever you preach the gospel, do not force anyone to believe. Instead, present the Triune God as the One most dear, precious, and valuable. When others hear the presentation of such an attractive One, they will appreciate what you are saying and receive your word. The word they accept will then become their faith. This is what it means to believe. TWO ASPECTS OF FAITH Faith has two aspects: the objective aspect and the subjective aspect. When we accept the word of God, it becomes both our objective faith and our subjective faith. Objective faith denotes the things we believe, and subjective faith refers to our action of believing. Through such a faith we are regenerated, born of God, and a relationship of life begins between us and God. Furthermore, through this kind of faith we are put into Christ. Formerly, we were outside of Christ. But now through faith we are in Christ. This means that there is an organic union between us and Christ. This is the beginning of the Christian life, and this life is a holy life that consummates in the church life. In this way the Triune God is transmitted into our being so that we may have a new life, the divine life. With this new life we have a relationship of life with God and an organic union with Christ. By means of this relationship and union we begin our Christian life, a life of holiness, a holy life for the church life
6信心的工作现在我们已经把第一节看得相当完全了，接著要来看第三节。保罗在这里说，『在我们的神与父面前，不住的记念你们信心的工作，爱心的劳苦，并对我们主耶稣基督之盼望的忍耐。』保罗在这节经文里说到三件事：信心的工作，爱心的劳苦，以及盼望的忍耐。先是有信心的工作。信心是藉著领受话而来的，这话乃是三一神的具体化。我们领受这话的时候，信心就在我们里面产生。我们已经看过，信是客观的，也是主观的。在原文里，三节的『信心』之前有指定冠词。这指明本节乃是说到这信心的工作。这信心就是我们所领受神的话。这话传扬给我们，且被我们接受，就成了信心。因为这信心是活的，又是主动的，结果就产生信心的工作。
6THE WORK OF FAITH Now that we have considered verse 1 in a rather full way, let us go on to verse 3. Here Paul says, “Remembering unceasingly your work of faith, and labor of love, and endurance of hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father.” In this verse Paul speaks of three matters: the work of faith, the labor of love, and the endurance of hope. The work of faith comes first. Faith comes through our acceptance of the word that is the embodiment of the Triune God. When we accepted this word, faith was produced within us. We have seen that this faith is both objective and subjective. In Greek there is a definite article in verse 3, the faith. This indicates that this verse speaks of the work of the faith. This faith is God’sword accepted by us. The word preached to us and received by us becomes faith. Because this faith is living and active, it results in the work of the faith.
7三节的『工作』这辞的原文，通常都译为行为。保罗在罗马三章二十节用过这辞：『因为凡属肉体的人，都不能本于行律法〔或译作，律法的行为〕在神面前得称义。』罗马三章二十节的『行』，主要是指我们的行为。保罗的意思是说，凡堕落的人，没有一个因他的行为，能在神面前称义。因此，该节的『行』不是指活动，也不是指我们所作的工作，乃是指我们行为中特殊的行动。这样，三节的工作是甚么意思？是指行为，还是指一种工作？这辞在原文里，实际上是指举动、动作、活动；包括我们一切的行动。我们的行动包括行动、行为等等。因此，信心的工作是指信心的一切举动和动作。假如有一个传道人传福音给一个不信者，那个不信者领受了这话，他里面就产生了信心；藉著这信他从神而生，并被摆在基督里面。他既有了信心，就必定有所行动。譬如，他会自然而然的宣告说，『哦，主耶稣，你真宝贵！』他回家以后会告诉妻子、儿女信主耶稣的事。这样宣报并传讲主，都是信心的工作。信心含示神、恩典、能力、亮光、和其他许多的项目。为这缘故，一位初信者向妻子传讲基督的时候，他里面的信心会光照他，叫他看见自己对妻子的态度。于是他会向主承认他的缺欠，为著某些事情向妻子道歉。这也是信心的工作。
7The Greek word for work in verse 3 is ergon, a word usually rendered as work. Paul uses this word in Romans 3:20: “Because by the works of law no flesh shall be justified before Him.” In Romans 3:20 work mainly denotes our conduct, our behavior. Paul is saying that no fallen person can be justified before God by his conduct. Thus, in that verse work does not refer to an activity or a task that we do; it refers to particular deeds in our behavior. What, then, is the meaning of work in verse 3? Does it refer to deeds, or to some kind of task? Actually, in Greek this word denotes acts, actions, activities. It includes everything of our actions. Our actions involve deeds, conduct, and many other things as well. Therefore, the work of faith refers to all the acts, actions, of faith. Suppose an evangelist preaches the gospel to an unbeliever. The unbeliever accepts the word, faith is produced in him, and through this faith he is born of God and put into Christ. Now that he has faith, certain actions are sure to follow. For example, he may spontaneously declare, “O Lord Jesus, You are so precious!” Then he may go home and speak to his wife and children about believing in the Lord Jesus. Both the declaration concerning the Lord and the preaching of the Lord are works of faith. Faith implies God, grace, power, light, and many other items. For this reason, when a new believer preaches Christ to his wife, the faith within him may enlighten him concerning his attitude toward her. Then he will confess his shortcomings to the Lord and apologize to his wife concerning certain matters. This also is a work of faith
8帖前一章九节说，『因为他们自己正在传报关于我们的事，就是我们是怎样的进到了你们那里，你们又是怎样离弃了偶像转向神，来服事又活又真的神。』保罗在这里说到离弃偶像转向神，这是信心的第一个行动。凡是
8First Thessalonians 1:9 says, “For they themselves report concerning us what manner of entrance we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God.” Here Paul speaks of turning to God from idols. This is the first action of faith. Anyone who has faith will turn to God from idols
9有信心的人，都会离弃偶像转向神。信心的工作包括从我们活的信心所产生的一切行动。这包括我们与别人的关系，以及我们一切的行为。
9The work of faith includes all the actions that issue out of our living faith. This includes our relationship with others and all our behavior. Before a certain person
10一个人得救以前，也许不善待人，并且在许多方面行为都是粗鄙的。但是一旦他在主里有了信心，这信心不会容许他这样待人不仁慈。不仅如此，他也很难再行事粗鄙了。我能从经历中这样见证。我从小就讨厌狗，有时候会虐待狗。但是我得救以后，里面的信心就不容许我再有那样的举动。这种行为上的改变是出自信心的行为。
10was saved, he may have been unkind to others and harsh in many aspects of his behavior. But once he has faith in the Lord, this faith will not allow him to treat others in such an unkind way. Furthermore, it will be difficult for him to behave in a harsh way. I can testify of this from my experience. From my youth, I hated dogs and sometimes mistreated them. But after I was saved, the faith within me no longer allowed me to behave in that way. Such a change in behavior is an action that comes out of faith.
11有信心的人与没有信心的人大不相同。有些人在没有信心的时候，放纵自己作了许多罪恶的事。现今他们有了信心，就再也不能任凭自己胡作非为了；他们自然而然就禁戒不作那些事，这乃是信心的行为，信心的工作。还有些人得救以前不是好邻居，但他们得救以后有了信心，就非常仁慈、温和、慈爱而体贴。没有人教导他们要表现得不一样，这种改变是他们里面的信心产生出来的。这信心使他们能帮助别人，特别是帮助其他的信徒。这是信心工作的另一例证。信心的工作是指真信徒合宜的行动。这不是作某种工作，也不是行甚么善事帮助别人。不，这乃是我们信徒日常的行动，这种行动是信心的产物。这是保罗对信心工作的领会。保罗为帖撒罗尼迦人祷告的时候，记念他们信心的行为。
11Those who have faith are very different from those who do not have faith. Before they had faith, some indulged in sinful things. Now that they have faith, they can no longer indulge in these things. Spontaneously, as an action, a work, of faith, they refrain from those things. Others before they were saved were not good neighbors. But after they were saved and came to have faith, they became very kind, gentle, loving, and considerate. No one taught them to be different. The change was produced by the faith within them. The faith caused them to be helpful to others, especially to other believers. This is another illustration of the work of the faith. The work of faith denotes the proper actions of a genuine believer. It is not the performing of a certain task or the doing of certain good deeds to help others. No, it is our daily action as believers, the action that is a product of faith. This is Paul’s understanding of the work of faith. As he was praying for the Thessalonians, he remembered their action of faith
爱心的劳苦
the labor of love
12按照三节来看，信心的工作之后就是爱心的劳苦。这种爱心的劳苦不仅仅是一种行动或是一种行为；这实在是一种劳苦，包含了努力、奋斗和工作。我们已经指出，信心的工作开始于离弃偶像转向神。信心的工作必定包含这种转。因此，离弃偶像转向神与信心的工作有关。现在我们必须看见，服事活神与爱心的劳苦有关。我们劳苦服事我们的活神。我们服事这位活神，因为我们爱祂。加拉太五章六节说，信心是藉著爱运行的。这爱首先与服事我们的活神有关。
12According to verse 3, the labor of love comes after the work of faith. This labor of love is truly a labor; it is not merely an action or some kind of conduct. It involves endeavoring, striving, working. We have pointed out that the work of faith begins with turning to God from idols. The work of faith surely implies this kind of turning. Thus, the turning to God from idols is related to the work of faith. Now we must see that serving the living God is related to the labor of love. We are laboring to serve our God, who is living. We serve this living One because we love Him. Galatians 5:6 says that faith operates through love. This love is related first to serving our living God
13我们里面的信心产生许多不同的行动。不仅如此，这信心是在爱里面运行的。我们这些信徒应当在爱里竭力服事我们的活神。我们的神是活的，祂是永活者。祂一直在说话，我们乃是服事祂。
13The faith within us produces many different kinds of actions. Moreover, this faith operates in love. In love, we as believers should endeavor to serve our living God. Our God is living. As the living One, He speaks all the time, and we serve Him
14服事神并不容易，而是一种劳苦。保罗甚至说，服事神是一种奋斗。因此，我们若要服事活神，就必须竭力。神在我们里面所说的一切话，祂指示我们的一切事，我们都需要跟从祂。这就是服事祂这位活神。这样的服事需要对祂有爱。我们首先应当爱神，这爱会叫我们劳苦服事祂。
14It is not easy to serve God; rather, it is a labor. Paul even says that it is a struggle. Therefore, if we would serve the living God, we must struggle. Whatever God speaks in us and whatever He indicates to us, we need to follow Him. This is to serve Him as the living God. This service requires love toward Him. We should first love God, and this love will cause us to labor in serving Him
盼望的忍耐
the endurance of hope
15末了，保罗在帖前一章三节说到盼望3的忍耐。毫无疑问，三节所说盼望的忍耐相当于十节所说等候神的儿子。我们若有盼望的忍耐，就会等候神的儿子从诸天降临。现在我们能看见，基督徒的生活乃是为著召会生活的圣别生活，到底是甚么意思。这种生活的起源乃是三一神。藉著话语的传讲，以及我们对话语的领受，我们与父神有了生命的关系，与基督产生了生机的联结。这是藉著信心来的。然后这信心就工作、行动，结果产生了许多事。这信心特别叫我们离弃一切事物转向神。不仅如此，我们在爱里劳苦、竭力、奋斗，来服事活神。同时，我们因著盼望所生的忍耐，就等候神的儿子回来。这实在是圣别的生活，是成圣而分别的生活。根据四章七节，神已经在圣别中召了我们；根据五章二十三节所说，神现今一直在使我们全然圣别，为著过这一种生活，使我们能有正当的召会生活。
15Finally, in verse 3 Paul speaks of the endurance of hope. No doubt, the endurance of hope in verse corresponds to the waiting for the Son of God in verse 10. If we have the endurance of hope, we shall wait for God’sS on from the heavens. Now we can see what is the Christian life as a holy life for the church life. This life originates with the Triune God. Through the preaching of the word and our acceptance of the word, we enter into a life relationship with God the Father and have an organic union with Christ. This comes through faith. Then this faith works, acts, and issues in many things. In particular, it causes us to turn to God from everything else. Furthermore, in love we labor, struggle, and strive to serve the living God. At the same time, with the endurance of hope we wait for the coming back of the Son of God. This surely is a holy life, a life that is sanctified and separated. According to chapter four, verse 7, God has called us in such a life, and according to chapter five, verse 23, God is now sanctifying us wholly for this kind of life so that we may have the proper church life.