帖撒罗尼迦后书生命读经 · 第6篇

蒙神拣选，藉著那灵的圣别而得救（二）

Chosen by God unto Salvation in Sanctification of the Spirit (2)

1读经：帖撒罗尼迦后书1:3-5,10-11;2:13-14,16。帖撒罗尼迦前后书写得非常浅显，因为这两封信是写给年幼圣徒和初信者的。这两封书信就好比给小学生看的书。不过，即使在最浅显的著作里，也会有一些基本的要素。

1Scripture Reading: 2 Thes. 1:3-5, 10-11; 2:13-14, 16 The books of 1 and 2 Thessalonians were written in an elementary way because they are letters to young saints, to new believers. These two Epistles can be compared to writings that are for students in elementary school. However, even in elementary writings there may be certain basic elements

2在帖后二章十三节，保罗说到藉著那灵的圣别，以致得救。这里我们有三个基本的元素：得救、圣别和那灵。这些辞都是说到神救恩基本的元素。根据保罗在二章十三节的话，神拣选了我们，使我们可以得救。可以得救的意思是，目的是为著得救。保罗在这里是说，神拣选我们，目的是为著救恩；祂已经拣选我们，使我们可以进入救恩。我们在前一篇信息里曾指出，这里的救恩好比一座长桥，跨越一段很长距离的桥。神救恩的桥从时间里一直达到永世，把我们从今世带出来，进到永世里去。神拣选了我们，目的是要把我们带到这座桥上。

2In 2 Thessalonians 2:13 Paul speaks of salvation in sanctification of the Spirit. Here we have three basic elements: salvation, sanctification, and the Spirit. All these terms refer to basic elements of God’ss alvation. According to Paul’sword in 2:13, God has chosen us unto salvation. The word “unto” means with a view to. Here Paul is saying that God has chosen us with a view to salvation; He has chosen us so that we may enter into salvation. In the foregoing message we pointed out that salvation here can be compared to a long bridge, to a bridge with a very long span. The bridge of God’ss alvation reaches from time to eternity; it brings us out of this present age into eternity. God has chosen us with a view of bringing us onto this bridge

从起初蒙了拣选

CHOSEN FROM THE BEGINNING

3我们要懂得写给帖撒罗尼迦人的这些基本事项，就要分析一些保罗使用的辞汇和语句。帖后二章十三节说，『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。』这一节的『从起初』是指从已过的永远。神的拣选乃是祂的选择。父神在已过的永远里就拣选了我们，挑选了我们。保罗在以弗所一章四节说到这拣选：『就如祂在创立世界以前，在基督里拣选了我们，使我们在爱里，在祂面前，成为圣别、没有瑕疵。』父神在永远里有计画，有定旨。神为著完成这定旨，拣选了我们。我们都蒙了神的拣选；按著祂的先见，我们都蒙了拣选。远在我们出生以前，甚至在创立世界以前，父神就看见了我们，也认识了我们。当神看见我们，祂对我们很满意。祂看到你，可能对自己说，『我要这个人来为著我永远的定旨。』

3In order to understand these elementary writings to the Thessalonians, let us analyze some of the words and expressions used by Paul. Second Thessalonians 2:1 3 says, “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 phrase “from the beginning” in this verse refers to eternity past. God’s choosing is His selection. God the Father chose us, selected us, in eternity past. Paul speaks of this selection in Ephesians 1:4: “According as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blemish before Him, in love.” God the Father in eternity had a plan, a purpose. For the fulfillment of this purpose He has selected us. We all have been selected by God. We have been chosen according to His foreknowledge. Long before we were born, even before the foundation of the world, God the Father saw us and knew us. When God saw us, He was happy with us. He may have said to Himself concerning you, “I want this one for My eternal purpose.”

雅各与以扫

Jacob and Esau

4以扫和雅各的事例，可以说明神的拣选。罗马九章十三节说，『正如经上所记：「雅各是我所爱的，以扫是我所恨的。」』神想到这对孪生兄弟（以扫和雅各）时，也许对自己说，『我不喜欢老大以扫，我看不中他。我比

4The case of Esau and Jacob is an illustration of God’ss election. Romans 9:13 says, “As it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” As God considered the twins, Esau and Jacob, He could say to Himself, “I don’t like Esau, the first one. I am not happy with him. I prefer the second one, Jacob, the supplanter

5较喜欢老二雅各，这个抓夺者。』

6你若要我解释神为甚么爱雅各，恨以扫，我会回答说，我解释不来。我不知道神为甚么爱雅各，恨以扫。只有神知道原因。神有祂自己的意愿。圣经告诉我们，神爱雅各，恨以扫，却没有说为甚么。我年轻时认为神不公平。在我看来，以扫似乎比雅各好多了。雅各是贼，又是骗子。最终，我不得不接受圣经所说的：神爱雅各，恨以扫。我们这些为父神所拣选的人，都是雅各。我们没有一个人是以扫。因为我们是雅各，所以我们不该自认为是绅士。不，我们和先祖雅各一样，都是抓夺者。但在已过的永远里，我们这些抓夺者蒙了父神的拣选。

6If you ask me to explain why God loves Jacob and hates Esau, I would have to answer that I am not able to explain it. I do not know why God loves Jacob, but hates Esau. Only He knows the reason. God has His own desire. The Bible tells us that God loved Jacob and hated Esau, but it does not give us the reason. When I was young, I thought that God was unfair. It seemed to me that Esau was much better than Jacob. Jacob was a thief and a deceiver. Eventually, I had no choice but to accept what the Bible says regarding God’s loving Jacob and hating Esau. As those who have been selected by God the Father, we all are Jacobs. None of us is an Esau. Because we are Jacobs, we should not consider ourselves gentlemen. No, like Jacob our forefather, we are supplanters. But we are supplanters who have been selected by God the Father in eternity past

逃脱不掉

No Escape

7我特别要对青年人说一些话。神在已过的永远里拣选了你，所以你想逃脱祂也没有用。真正说来，神是位大渔夫，祂已经把你『钩上』了。神在永远里用钩子把你钩住了，所以你无法逃脱祂的钩子。

7I would like to say a word especially to the young people. Because you were selected by God in eternity past, there is no point in trying to run away from Him. In a very real sense, God is a great fisherman, and He has “hooked” you. God hooked you in eternity. Therefore, there is no way you can get off His hook

8神在已过的永远里散布了许多钩子，都系上很长的线。钩上你的钩子原是随意漂浮的，有一天碰到了你，就把你钩住了。现在你甩不开那钩子。父神拣选了你，你逃脱不掉。

8In eternity past God spread many hooks attached to long strings. The hook on which you were caught was floating free until one day the hook came to you, and you were caught. Now you cannot get off the hook. God the Father has chosen you, and you cannot escape

那灵的应用

THE APPLICATION OF THE SPIRIT

9人受造以后，堕落、败坏了。因此，子神来救赎我们，完成了神所计画的事。之后，灵神来应用神所计画并神儿子基督所完成的一切。这个应用就是圣别。

9After man was created, he fell and became corrupt. Therefore, God the Son came to redeem us and accomplish what God had planned. Following that, God the Spirit came to apply what God had planned and what Christ, the Son of God, had accomplished. This application is sanctification.

10我们也许从未想到过神，对基督也没有心。但有一天我们被那灵捉住了，那灵就开始把父所计画并子所完成的事，应用在我们身上。结果，也不是为著甚么明显的理由，我们信了主耶稣。尽管我们的朋友、邻居、同学、同事不信基督，我们却不能不信祂。我能从我自己的经历中证实这事。有一天，我开始爱主耶稣。我从未见过祂，却是爱祂。祂对我太好了！别人也许会说这是迷信，认为耶稣算不得甚么。我会对他们说，『你也许不在意主耶稣，但是我爱祂。』这不是甚么迷信，这乃是那灵的应用。我们已经指出，那灵的应用就是保罗在帖后二章十三节所说圣别的意思。当我们接受那灵的应用，我们就被分别出来归给主。

10We may not have had any thought concerning God or any heart toward Christ. Nevertheless, one day we were caught by the Spirit, and the Spirit began to apply what the Father has planned and what the Son has accomplished. As a result, for no apparent reason, we came to believe in the Lord Jesus. Even though our friends, neighbors, schoolmates, and associates may not believe in Christ, we cannot help believing in Him. I can testify of this from my own experience. One day I began to love the Lord Jesus. I have never seen Him, but I love Him. He is so good to me! Others may say that this is superstitious and regard Jesus as nothing. To them I would say, “You may not care for the Lord Jesus, but I love Him.” This is not any kind of superstition. It is the application of the Spirit. As we have pointed out, the application of the Spirit is what Paul means in 2:13 by sanctification. When we receive the application of the Spirit, we are separated to the Lord

11我的朋友和同学不懂我发生了甚么事，我自己也解释不来。我只知道在我十九岁那年，突然对许多事失去了兴趣，而只在意主。我爱祷告，呼求主的名，读圣经，参加聚会，告诉人主耶稣多可爱。有些人很好奇，以为是谁雇我作这些事。我告诉他们说，『没有人花钱雇我，是我自己心甘情愿、尽所能把我的钱全数摆上，印刷我自己写的单张。』这就是我早期所经历那灵的圣别。我年轻时喜欢踢足球。我得救后，有一天我正在踢足球，球朝著我来的时候，我里面有声音说，『彀了，不要再玩了。离开足球场！』所有的球员都感到惊讶，不知道我发生了甚么事。我离开球场，告诉他们说我再也不踢足球了。那是另一个对那灵圣别的经历。我们中间许多人能作那灵圣别的见证。尽管你在主里非常年幼，但那灵还是应用在你身上。凡那灵应用在你身上的，都是你得著圣别的一面。

11My friends and classmates could not understand what had happened to me, and I myself could not explain it. I only know that, at the age of nineteen, I suddenly lost my interest in other things and cared only for the Lord. I loved to pray, call on the Lord’s name, read the Bible, go to meetings, and tell others how lovable the Lord Jesus is. Certain people wondered who hired me to do this. I told them, “I have not been hired by anyone. Rather, I am willing to spend as much money as possible to print tracts that I myself have written.” This was my early experience of the sanctification of the Spirit. When I was a young person, I loved to play soccer. One day, after I was saved, I was playing soccer. At a certain time, when the ball came to me, something within said, “Stop! Don’t play any longer. Leave the soccer field.” All the players were shocked; they did not know what had happened to me. Then I walked off the field and told them that I would not play soccer any longer. That was an experience of the sanctification of the Spirit. Many of us can give testimonies concerning the Spirit’s sanctification. Even though you may be very young in the Lord, the Spirit is nevertheless being applied to you. Whatever the Spirit applies to you is an aspect of your sanctification

12因为我们经历了那灵的应用，我们就没有自由作一些别人能作的事。这不是教导，乃是灵神活在我们里面。

12Because we have experienced the application of the Spirit, we do not have the freedom to do certain things that others are able to do. This is not a matter of teaching; it is a matter of God the Spirit living within us.

13父神爱我们，并且拣选了我们；子神为我们死，为我们完成了救赎；现在灵神来将这一切应用到我们身上。我信许多姊妹们都能作见证，那灵的圣别影响她们的购物。因为那灵使她们圣别，她们买东西就与从前不同了。当她们考虑要买一样东西时，里面的那灵会说，『不要摸。』那灵说不可比说可以的次数多得多。没有人教导姊妹们要改变逛街购物的习惯。购物的习惯所以改变，乃是那灵圣别的结果。我们就是在那灵的圣别里得救的。这就是藉著那灵的圣别而得救。

13God the Father loves us and has chosen us. God the Son died for us and accomplished redemption for us. Now God the Spirit has come to apply all this to us. I believe that many of the sisters can testify that being sanctified by the Spirit affects their shopping. Because they have been sanctified by the Spirit, their shopping has become different. As they are considering the purchase of a particular item, the Spirit within them may say, “Don’tt ouch that.” The Spirit may say no much more than He says yes. No one teaches the sisters to change their way of shopping. The different way of shopping is the result of the sanctification of the Spirit. It is in this sanctification of the Spirit that we are saved. This is salvation in sanctification of the Spirit

14夫妻之间很容易吵嘴；这在婚姻生活中是司空见惯的。但我能作见证，藉著那灵的圣别，我已经在夫妻吵嘴这件事上得救。如果没有那灵的圣别，我可能会天天和妻子争吵。但我能在主面前作见证，在我的婚姻生活中，我已经藉著那灵的圣别得救，不再与妻子争吵了。

14It is very easy for a husband and wife to exchange words. This is extremely common in married life. But I can testify that in the sanctification of the Spirit I have been saved from exchanging words with my wife. If I did not have the sanctification of the Spirit, I would probably exchange words with my wife every day. However, I can testify before the Lord that in my married life I have been saved in sanctification of the Spirit from exchanging words with my wife

主观的圣别人者

A SUBJECTIVE SANCTIFIER

15我们每天，甚至每一分钟，都在圣别的过程中。圣别我们的那一位乃是那灵。这是圣经说到那灵的圣别的原因。那灵─三一神的第三者─整天都在圣别我们，将父所计画，并子所成就的应用到我们身上。哦，我们有这样实际、活而主观的圣别人者。甚至我们在犯罪的时候，那灵也在圣别我们。也许你在犯罪，但即使在那时，那灵也在运行，为要圣别你。这是何等的恩典！希伯来十章二十九节甚至称那灵为恩典的灵。我们这些在基督里的信徒，都接受了恩典的灵。恩典的灵毫无条件的圣别我们。那灵受托付圣别我们。那灵已经赐给了我们，目的是要完成圣别的工作。

15Every day, even every minute, we are being sanctified. The One who sanctifies us is the Spirit. This is the reason the Bible speaks of the sanctification of the Spirit. All day long the Spirit, the third of the Trinity, is sanctifying us, applying to us what the Father has planned and what the Son has accomplished. Oh, we have such a practical, living, and subjective Sanctifier! Even while we are sinning, the Spirit is sanctifying us. You may be committing a sin, but even then the Spirit is working to sanctify you. How gracious this is! In Hebrews 10:29 the Spirit is even called the Spirit of grace. As believers in Christ, we all have received the Spirit of grace. The Spirit of grace sanctifies us unconditionally, that is, without any conditions or terms. The Spirit has been commissioned to sanctify us. He has been given to us for the purpose of completing the work of sanctification

三一神的标记

THE MARK OF THE TRIUNE GOD

16圣别将我们分别出来归神，乃是藉著把一个标记摆在我们身上。这标记实际上就是三一神自己。只要我们得著圣别，三一神就成了我们的标记。结果，别人就能在我们身上看见三一神。不仅如此，这标记一直加增，越过越强。年复一年，这标记已经深深的作到我的生命里。这就是那灵圣别的工作。我们藉著那灵圣别的工作一直在得救，不仅如此，这是我们为著过召会生活之圣别生活的路。

16Sanctification separates us unto God by putting a mark on us. This mark is actually the Triune God Himself. Whenever we are sanctified, we are marked with the Triune God. As a result, others can see the Triune God in us. Furthermore, this mark is increasing and becoming more intensified. Year after year, this mark has been wrought deeply into my life. This is the work of the Spirit’s sanctification. By the sanctifying work of the Spirit we are being saved. Furthermore, this is the way we live a holy life for the church life.

17过一种为著召会生活的圣别生活我们的灵蒙保守过一种为著召会生活的圣别生活，乃是叫我们的灵、与魂、与身子得蒙保守。保罗在帖前五章二十三节说到这事：『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。』我们需要保守我们的灵不死沉。这意思是说，我们的灵应当是活的。我们应当时时刻刻接触神，并且以活的方式事奉祂。我们需要一直有从神来的直接感觉；不仅如此，我们需要有无亏的良心。这意思是说，我们保守我们的良心─灵最主要的部分─美好而纯洁。保守我们的灵乃是保守灵不死沉，不受玷污，没有亏欠。我们的灵若这样蒙保守，我们就会有一个活的灵，有直接从神来的感觉；我们的良心里也会有平安。这就是保守我们的灵。我们的魂蒙保守

17LIVING A HOLY LIFE FOR THE CHURCH LIFE Our Spirit Preserved To live a holy life for the church life is to have our spirit, soul, and body preserved. Paul speaks of this in 1 Thessalonians 5:23: “May your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We need to have our spirit preserved from deadness. This means that we should be living in our spirit. We should contact God all the time and serve Him in a living way. We need always to have a direct sense from Him. Furthermore, we need to have a conscience that is without offense. This means that we keep our conscience, the leading part of our spirit, good and pure. To preserve our spirit is to keep it from deadness, contamination, and offenses. If our spirit is preserved in this way, we shall have a living spirit with a direct sense of God. We shall also have peace in our conscience. This is to preserve our spirit. Our Soul Preserved

18我们的全魂也需要蒙保守。我们的心思需要得著更新、变化、并且清明自守。我们的意志应当是降服而柔顺，却又是刚强的。我们的情感应当一直有适当的调整。我们的情感如果正确，就会爱我们所当爱的，恨我们所当恨的。这样，我们就有符合神意愿的情感。如果我们心思、意志、情感的情形是这样，我们的魂就会蒙保守。我们各方面都是不偏不倚，我们魂的各方面都会是正直的。

18We also need to have our entire soul preserved. Our mind needs to be renewed, transformed, and sobered. Our will should be submissive and flexible, yet strong. Our emotion should always be properly adjusted. If our emotion is proper, we shall love what we ought to love and hate what we ought to hate. This is to have an emotion according to God’s desire. If our mind, will, and emotion are in such a condition, our soul is preserved. We are not biased in any way, but every aspect of our soul is upright

19我们的身体蒙保守我们的身体也需要蒙保守。我们的身体若要蒙保守，就不该再凭著我们的旧人生活。我们若不凭旧人生活，我们的身体就会成为义的奴仆，而不作罪的奴仆。从积极一面看，我们保守自己的身体乃是藉著将身体献给神，当作活祭。（罗十二1。）我们的身体甚至要成为基督的肢体，（林前六15，）使我们可以活基督，彰显基督，并显大基督。不仅如此，我们的身体要成为圣灵的殿，给神居住。（19。）神住在我们的身体里，好藉以行动，彰显祂自己，荣耀祂自己。这样，我们的灵、魂、身子就蒙保守在三一神里。这就是圣别的生活，在那灵的圣别中蒙拯救。这也是为著召会生活的那种生活。召会生活乃在于这种圣别的生活。

19Our Body Preserved We also need to be preserved in our body. In order to have our body preserved, we should no longer live by our old man. If we do not live by our old man, our body will be a slave to righteousness instead of a slave to sin. Positively, we preserve our body by presenting it to God a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1). Then our body will even become a member of Christ (1 Cor. 6:15) so that we may live Christ, express Christ, magnify Christ. Furthermore, our body will then be the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit for God’s dwelling (1 Cor. 6:19). God dwells in our body to move and to express Himself, to glorify Himself. In this way our spirit, soul, and body will be preserved in the Triune God. This is a holy life, and this is to be saved in the sanctification of the Spirit. This is the kind of life that is for the church life. The church life depends on such a holy life

20保罗在给帖撒罗尼迦人的两封书信里，写给初信者一些基本的事。我盼望我们都注意保罗在这两卷书信里所说的话，好叫我们天天得以圣别，我们的灵、魂、身子得蒙保守，我们的心─魂的行动机关与代表─得坚固，成为圣别，无可指摘。赞美主，我们能过这样一种为著召会生活的圣别生活！

20In the two Epistles to the Thessalonians Paul wrote to new believers about basic matters. I hope that we shall all pay our attention to what Paul says in these books so that day by day we may be sanctified and that our spirit, soul, and body may be preserved, with our heart, the acting agent and representative of the soul, established blameless in holiness. Praise the Lord that it is possible for us to live such a holy life for the church life