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希伯来书生命读经 · 第18篇

存留之安息日的安息（一）

THE REMAINING SABBATH REST (1)
1在本篇信息中，我们要来看安息日的安息。（来四9。）安息日的安息是指甚么？正如我曾经指出的，历世纪以来，基督徒一直很难领会迦南美地这件事。照样，基督徒也未能正确领会希伯来四章所启示安息日的安息。有些人说，这里安息日的安息是指千年国。他们说，千年国有一千年，（启二十4，）乃是指第七个一千年；头六千年是从亚当被造时起，直到主再来的时候。这个观念是根据一个事实，就是主看千年如一日。（彼后三8。）按照持这种观念的人所说，六天是指六千年，第七天就是第七千年，也就是千年国期间安息日的安息。这种解释，从未令我满意。把希伯来四章九节安息日的安息仅仅说成千年国，并不完全准确；只能说部分是对的。
1In this message we come to the Sabbath rest (4:9). What is the Sabbath rest? As I have already pointed out, throughout the centuries it has been difficult for Christians to understand the matter of the good land of Canaan. Likewise, Christians have been unable to understand properly the Sabbath rest revealed in Hebrews 4. Some say that the Sabbath rest in this chapter is the millennium. They say that the millennial kingdom, a period of a thousand years (Rev. 20:4), will be the seventh period of a thousand years, the first six thousand years being the period from the time of Adam’s creation until the time of the Lord’s coming back. This concept is based upon the fact that in the eyes of the Lord a thousand years are the same as a day (2 Pet. 3:8). According to those who hold this concept, six days mean six thousand years, and the seventh day will be the seventh thousand, the Sabbath rest during the millennium. This interpretation has never satisfied me. To say that the Sabbath rest in 4:9 is simply the millennial kingdom is not altogether accurate; it is only partially correct
壹 第一次题到安息日的安息
I. THE FIRST MENTION OF THE SABBATH REST
2我们要对安息日的安息有正确的领会，就必须来看圣经第一次怎样题到这事。圣经首次题到安息日，是在人被造之后。（创二2～3。）许多基督徒从这事的表面来看，只看见安息日就是第七日，神作完了祂一切创造的工，在这日就安息了。这样说并没有错，但我们还需要深入来看其内容。神为甚么不在第五天安息？你也许说，因为神还没有完工，所以祂不能安息。这是对的。这样说来，神还缺少甚么？要看见神还缺少甚么，这是很有意义的。
2In order to have the proper understanding of the Sabbath rest, we need to consider the first mention of it in the Bible. The first time that the Bible mentions the Sabbath is after the creation of man (Gen. 2:2-3). Many Christians, looking at this matter superficially, only see that the Sabbath was the seventh day, the day on which God rested after completing His work of creation. Although it is correct to say this, we need to look into the contents. Why did God not rest on the fifth day? You may say that He did not rest on the fifth day because He had not finished His work. That is correct. What, then, did God lack? It is very meaningful to see what He lacked
3按照创世记一章的记载，神藉著祂的话创造万物，藉著祂的话称无为有。但人的被造却不是这样。神并不是说要有人，人就出来了。神乃是用地上的尘土造人。（二7。）除了人以外，神未曾用物质造过别的物。神要光，祂就说，『要有光』，光就有了。但造人的时候完全不同，祂不是称无为有。首先，神开了一个神格的会议，（一26，）然后用地上的尘土为材料造人。如果在第六日人还没有造出来，即使万物都造齐了，神还不能安息。工作完毕还不能使神得享安息，乃是人造出来了，神才满意，才能安息。
3According to the record of Genesis 1, God created all things by means of His word, calling things not being as being through His word. But the creation of man was not done in this way. God did not create man simply by saying, “Man,” and bringing mankind into being. No, God made man with the dust of the ground (Gen. 2:7). Nothing else was made with any kind of material substance. When God wanted light, He said, “Light,” and light came into being. The creation of man, however, was absolutely different. When God created man, He did not call things not being as being. Firstly, there was a conference among the Godhead (Gen. 1:26) and then He used a certain material, the dust of the ground, to create man. If man had not been created on the sixth day, God would have been unable to rest on the seventh day even though everything else had been created. It was not the completion of the work that caused God to rest—it was the creation of man. After God created man, He was satisfied and was able to rest.
4我们怎能证明这点？在神创造的日子，除第二日外，神看著祂所造的都说，『好。』但在第六日末了，人造出来之后，神看著一切所造的，就说，『甚好。』（一31。）神说『甚好』，意思是说，祂满意了。在第六日末了，神看见人有祂的形像彰显祂，并且得著祂的权柄代表祂，神就能满意的说，『甚好。』我们研读圣经，常受到我们宗教背景的影响。甚至我们尚未读过圣经，就对圣经有了某种观念。这些观念都是非常有害的。我们未看见圣经的本色，就先戴了一副有色的眼镜，结果我们就看不出圣经的本色。我们必须取下有色眼镜，纯正的来看圣经。这就是为甚么我一再的说，我们必须回到神纯正的话语上，重新读、重新学。我们必须忘掉已过对创世记一章所听见的。你若重新读创世记一、二章，就会看见，神在第七日安息，主要不是因为祂的工作完成了，而是因为祂心意中所要的得著了。神所要的，不是工作完成，乃是要人在地上彰显祂并代表祂。这是神心中的愿望。只要神得著这个，神就满足了。当人在地上彰显神并代表神，神的心就满足了。当神有了这个，神就在第七日安息了。
4How can we prove this? In all the days of creation, except for the second day, God looked at His work and said, “Good.” But at the end of the sixth day, after man had been created, God saw everything that He had made and said, “Very good” (Gen. 1:31). When He said, “Very good,” it meant that He was satisfied. At the end of the sixth day, seeing man in His image to express Him and committed with His authority to represent Him, God was satisfied and said, “Very good.” Our study of the Bible has been greatly influenced by our religious background. Even before we ever read the Bible, we already had certain concepts about it. These concepts are damaging. Before we could look at the colors in the Bible, we had already put on colored eye glasses. As a result, we could not see the real colors in the Scriptures. We must take off our glasses and look at the Bible in a pure way. This is why I say again and again that we must return to the pure Word and reread and restudy it. We need to forget what we have heard about Genesis 1 in the past. If you reread Genesis 1 and 2, you will see that God rested on the seventh day not mainly because His work was finished but because He had attained what He desired. What God desired was not a finished work. Rather, He wanted mankind to be on the earth expressing and representing Him. This is His heart’s desire. As long as God can have this, He is satisfied. God’she art is satisfied by having man on the earth expressing and representing Him. When God had this, He rested on the seventh day
贰 失去了安息日的安息
II. THE LOSS OF THE SABBATH REST
5人因堕落受到破坏，这安息也就失去了。在这点上，我们需要来看约翰五章点活软弱人的事例。九至十节上半说，『那人立即痊愈，就拿起褥子走了。那天是安息日。』在点活软弱人的事上，主作了一件事，按照犹太人的规例是不可在安息日作的。结果，犹太人就逼迫主耶稣。十六节说，『所以犹太人逼迫耶稣，想要杀祂，因为祂在安息日作了这事。』他们在安息日，想要杀耶稣。你信一个想要杀人的人，能有安息么？你想这班逼迫耶稣的犹太人，心中有安息么？我不信。主耶稣在十七节回答他们说，『我父作工直到如今，我也作工。』主似乎是说，『你们在守安息日，我的父却在作工。祂原先在第七日所得的安息，因著人被破坏，已经失去了。只要人没有被恢复，我的父就一直作工。看看这个可怜的人。他已经失丧，被神的仇敌破坏、摧残、败坏，我的父怎能安息？你们可以照著传统安息，其实你们并没有真安息。你们虽然说要守安息日，却不知道安息日的真义。你们有安息么？我的父也没有安息。所以我父仍在作工，我也作工。这就是为甚么我在这里；我来是要作我的工。岂不知安息日已经失去了，神得著满意的那个安息日已经失去了，已经被神的仇敌破坏了？你知道神已失去祂所得著的么？我父作工直到如今。从创世记三章起，我父就未停止作工，因为那曾经叫祂满意的人被破坏了。』我们何等需要让安息日的真义，深深铭刻到我们里面！安息日的意义，在于人能彰显神并代表神，使神得著满足。甚么时候人能彰显神并代表神，那个日子就是神的安息日。
5When man was damaged by the fall, this rest was lost. At this point, we need to consider John chapter five, the case of the enlivening of the impotent man. John 5:9 says, “And immediately the man became well, and picked up his bed and walked. Now it was the Sabbath on that day” (Recovery Version). In enlivening the impotent man, the Lord did something which, according to the Jewish regulations, was not permitted on the Sabbath day. As a result, the Jews persecuted the Lord Jesus. Verse 16 says, “And for this the Jews persecuted Jesus and sought to kill Him, because He did these things on the Sabbath” (Recovery Version). On the Sabbath day, they sought to kill Jesus. Do you believe that anyone who is seeking to kill a person could be at rest? Do you think that all those persecuting Jews had rest in their hearts? I do not believe it. In verse 17 we see the Lord’s answer to the Jews: “My Father is working until now, and I am working” (Recovery Version). The Lord seemed to be saying, “You are keeping the Sabbath, but My Father is working. The Sabbath that He had on the seventh day has been lost because man has been damaged. As long as man has not been recovered, My Father is still working. Look at this poor man. He has been lost, spoiled, ruined, and corrupted by the enemy of God. How can My Father rest? You may rest according to your tradition, but you don’th ave the real rest. While you say you keep the Sabbath, you don’t know what the Sabbath really means. You do not have rest, do you? Neither does My Father have rest. So, My Father is still working, and I am working too. This is why I am here. I have come here to do My work. Don’ty ou know that the Sabbath has been lost, that the Sabbath on which God was satisfied has been lost, destroyed by the enemy of God? Don’ty ou know that God lost what He had gained? My Father is working until now. Since Genesis 3, My Father has never stopped working because the man who satisfied Him has been damaged.” How we need to be impressed with the real significance of the Sabbath! The significance of the Sabbath is that God is satisfied with man when man expresses and represents Him. When there is a situation in which man expresses God and represents Him, that day is the Sabbath to God.
6参美地乃是安息日的安息现在我们要回来看美地这件事。为甚么美地是安息？以色列人在迦南地有安息么？他们从进入美地的那天起，就不断的争战。但为甚么在申命记十二章九节，神称美地为安息？就表面看，人说迦南美地所以称为安息，是因为人安家、定居在那里。这种解释太天然，也太肤浅了。美地之所以是安息，乃是因为圣殿能在那里建造。美地上有圣殿，神能得著彰显，也得著代表。当神得著彰显并得著代表的时候，神和人也都得到满足，那才是真正的安息。
6III. THE GOOD LAND AS THE SABBATH REST Now we need to return to the matter of the good land. Why was the good land a rest? Did the children of Israel rest in the good land? From the very day they entered into it they were fighting constantly. Then why did God call that land the rest, as He did in Deuteronomy 12:9? Superficially speaking, people say that the good land of Canaan was called the rest because the people made their homes in it and settled there. This thought is rather natural and superficial. The land was a rest because the temple could be built there. There, with the temple, God could have His expression and representation. When God is expressed and represented, there is satisfaction for both God and man, and that is the real rest
肆 基督在三个时期
IV. CHRIST AS THE SABBATH REST
作安息日的安息
IN THREE STAGES
7希伯来四章九节里，安息日的安息，就是基督作我们的安息；由迦南美地所豫表。（申十二9，来四8。）基督作众圣徒的安息，分为三个阶段。在召会时代，祂这位属天的基督，彰显了神，代表了神，也满足了神；祂也歇了一切的工，坐在诸天之上神的右边，现今在我们灵里是我们的安息。（太十一28～。）在千年国里，撒但从地上除去之后，（启二十1～3，）神要因基督和得胜的圣徒而得著彰显，得到代表，并得著满足。基督连同国度将是得胜的圣徒更完满的安息，他们要与基督一同作王，（4，6，）有分于并享受祂的安息。在新天新地里，所有的仇敌，包括最后的仇敌，死，都被基督征服之后，（林前十五24～27，）神要在所有在基督里、蒙神救赎的人身上得著完满的彰显，充分的代表和完全的满足；那时，基督这位全胜者，在那样荣耀的光景中，要成为神所有赎民完满的安息，直到永远。因此，四章九节所说安息日的安息，就是迦南美地的安息所豫表的，只该包括基督作我们安息的头两个阶段，不该包括第三阶段。头两个阶段的安息乃是奖赏，要给那些竭力追求基督，不仅蒙了救赎，还丰满的享受了基督，以致成为得胜者的人；而第三个阶段的安息不是奖赏，乃是给所有赎民完满的分。所以，这里所说安息日的安息，是指基督在头两个阶段，特别在第二个阶段，作我们的安息，就是为我们存留，要我们竭力寻求并进入的。基督乃是在作我们安息的第二阶段，要得著全地为业，（诗二8，来二5～6，）作祂的国度一千年。（启十一15。）所有跟从祂的得胜者，就是在第一阶段寻求并享受祂作安息的人，那时要与祂一同作王，（启二十4，6，提后二12，）且要承受地土，（太五5，诗三七11，）有的得权柄管十座城，有的管五座城，（路十九17，19，）也要同享他们主人的快乐。（太二五21，。）那将是国度的安息，由进入迦南美地而得的安息所豫表。对所有得赎并蒙拯救出埃及的以色列人，美地的安息是他们的目标。照样，对我们得赎并蒙拯救脱离世界的新约信徒，要来国度的安息乃是我们的目标。现今我们都在朝著这目标的路上。
7The Sabbath rest in 4:9, as typified by the good land of Canaan (Deut. 12:9; Heb. 4:8), is Christ as our rest. Christ is rest to us in three stages. In the church age, He, as the heavenly Christ, the One who has expressed, represented, and satisfied God and who rests from His work and sits on the right hand of God in the heavens, is the rest to us in our spirit (Matt. 11:28-29). In the millennial kingdom, after Satan has been removed from the earth (Rev. 20:1-3), God will be expressed, 29 represented, and satisfied by Christ and the overcoming saints. Then Christ with the kingdom will be the rest in a fuller way to the overcoming saints who will be co-kings with Him (Rev. 20:4, 6) and share and enjoy His rest. In the new heaven and new earth, after all the enemies, including death, the last enemy, are subdued to Him (1 Cor. 15:24-27), God will be fully expressed, represented, and satisfied by all His redeemed ones in Christ. At that time Christ, as the all - conquering One, with that glorious situation, will be the rest in the fullest way to all God’s redeemed for eternity. Thus, the Sabbath rest mentioned in 4:9 and typified by the rest of the good land of Canaan should only cover the first two stages of Christ as rest to us and should not include the third stage. The rest in the first two stages is a prize to His diligent seekers who are not only redeemed but have also enjoyed Him in a full way so that they have become the overcomers; whereas the rest in the third stage is not a prize but the full portion to all the redeemed ones. Therefore, Christ as rest to us in the first two stages, especially in the second stage, is the Sabbath rest mentioned here, the rest that remains for us to seek after and enter into diligently. It is in the second stage of Christ as rest to us that Christ will take possession of the whole earth as His inheritance (Psa. 2:8; Heb. 2:5-6) for His kingdom in the millennium (Rev. 11:15). All His overcoming followers, who seek and enjoy Him as their rest in the first stage, will participate in His reign at that time (Rev. 20:4, 6; 2 Tim. 2:12). It is then that they will inherit the earth (Matt. 5:5; Psa. 37:11). Some will have authority over ten cities, some over five (Luke 19:17, 19). It is then that they will also partake of the joy of their Lord (Matt. 25:21, 23). That will be the kingdom rest, which is typified by the rest of entering into the good land of Canaan. The 23 rest of the good land was the goal to all the children of Israel who were redeemed and delivered from Egypt; likewise, the rest of the coming kingdom is the goal to the New Testament believers who have been redeemed and saved from the world. We are all on the way now towards this goal.
伍 神与人相互的安息
V. A MUTUAL REST FOR GOD AND MAN
8神在第七日安息时，亚当也安息了。照样，神若没有安息，人也没有安息。在约翰四章，主耶稣很劳苦，因为祂是饥饿的。不仅如此，祂和那个撒玛利亚妇人同样都是干渴的。在那里能有安息么？不，那里没有安息，因为神还没有得著人作祂的彰显和代表。除非神得著人来彰显祂，代表祂，神和人才能安息。倘若今天在召会生活中，所有的弟兄姊妹都走自己的路，没有人顾到神的路，即使我们都很积极的来在一起，仍然不会有安息。在这种情形，不会有美好的召会生活。召会生活乃是一班被神得著，作神彰显，并作神代表之人的生活。当这样的光景出现时，我们就进入安息，因为神满足的看见，祂终于能藉著一班人，彰显并代表祂自己。在地上甚么时候有这种光景出现，天上的天使就要因神得满足而欢乐。我们怎么知道神既满足又安息？我们知道，因为我们的灵满足了。现在我们知道，安息日之安息的真义，就是神在人身上得了满足，祂得著了人在地上彰显祂并代表祂。当这种光景出现时，那就是安息日，神与人都满足、安息了。这就是安息日的安息。
8When God rested on the seventh day, Adam also rested. Likewise, when God has no rest, man has no rest either. In John chapter four, the Lord Jesus was laboring because He was hungry. Moreover, both He and the Samaritan woman were thirsty. Was there any rest there? No, there was no rest because man had not yet been gained by God for His expression and representation. Not until man has been gained by God to express and represent Him can God and man have rest. If in the church life today all the brothers and the sisters go their own way and no one goes God’sway, there will be no rest, even if we come together in a very active way. In such a case, there is not the wonderful church life. The church life is a life in which man is gained by God on earth for His expression and representation. When this situation appears, we all shall be in the rest, because God will be satisfied to see Himself expressed and represented through a group of human beings. Whenever this happens on earth so many angels in heaven will be rejoicing for God’s satisfaction. How do we know when God is satisfied and at rest? We know it because our spirit is satisfied. Now we know the real meaning of the Sabbath rest: it is the satisfaction of God with man in having gained man to express and represent Him on earth. Whenever such a situation appears, that is the Sabbath, and both God and man are satisfied and rested. This is the Sabbath rest.
9陆存留的安息日之安息的豫言在豫表里，这安息日的安息乃是美地。但事实上，当以色列人进入美地时，还没有真实的享受到这安息。所以诗篇的著者豫言另有一个安息日的安息，为神的子民存留。（诗九五7～11。）希伯来书论到这安息，就是引用诗篇九十五篇。这个安息日的安息是甚么？原则上说，这安息就是有一种光景，神得著人作祂的彰显，并作祂的代表。这种光景一直等到召会出现时，才产生出来。
9VI. A Prophecy of the Remaining Sabbath Rest In type, this Sabbath rest was the good land. In actuality, however, this rest was not realized by the children of Israel when they entered into the good land. Therefore, the psalmist prophesied of a remaining Sabbath rest for God’sp eople (Psa. 95:7-11). The book of Hebrews quotes Psalm 95 concerning the rest. What is this Sabbath rest? In principle, it is the situation in which man is gained by God to express and represent Him. This situation did not come into being until the church came into existence
10柒召会生活是神的安息就著积极正面的意义说，正确的召会生活就是神的安息日。现在我们就能明白，希伯来书的著者为甚么警告信徒，不要失去那安息日，并吩咐他们要竭力进入其中。这安息日是甚么？乃是正确的召会生活。著者好像告诉他们说，『希伯来信徒阿，不要再回去守那旧的安息日，那已经过去了。在诗篇中，神已豫言另一日，就是为你们存留的安息日之安息。』你若仔细读希伯来三、四章，就会看出这个存留的安息日之安息的应许。这两章说到『别的日子』，而这『别的日子』就是『今日』。（三7，13～14，四7。）就是所应许留给我们安息日的安息。本书著者似乎是说，『希伯来信徒阿，不要愚昧。创世记二章中神曾守过的安息日之安息，已经被破坏，绝不再有了。神在诗篇已另选定一日，也就是『今日』。这是为你们存留的安息日之安息。你们要竭力进入。』
10VII. THE CHURCH LIFE AS GOD’SS ABBA THIn a positive and good sense, the proper church life is God’s Sabbath. Now we can understand why the book of Hebrews warns the believers not to miss the Sabbath, telling them to be diligent to enter into it. What is this Sabbath? It is the proper church life. The writer seems to be saying, “O Hebrew believers, don’t go back to keep the old Sabbath, That is past. In the Psalms God prophesied of another day, the remaining Sabbath rest.” If you read chapters three and four of Hebrews carefully, you will find this promise of the remaining Sabbath rest. These two chapters speak of “another day.” This “another day” is “Today” (3:7, 13, 15; 4:7). This “another day,” “Today,” is the promised Sabbath rest that remains for us. The writer seemed to be saying, “Hebrew believers, don’t be foolish. The Sabbath rest that God kept in Genesis 2 has been destroyed and will never occur again. In the Psalms, God has assigned another day, Today.’ This is the remaining Sabbath rest for you. You must enter into it
11这安息日的安息是甚么？第一，这是召会生活。我们必须进入召会生活，使神今天在地上能得著彰显，得著代表，并且得著满足和安息。一有这种光景，神与我们就得著安息日的安息。我们若不进入正确的召会生活，我们就会失去安息。然而我们要看见，这一点还不完全是希伯来书所说安息日之安息的意义。主在马太十一章二十八至二十九节说，『凡劳苦担重担的，可以到我这里来，我必使你们得安息。我心里柔和谦卑，因此你们要负我的轭，且要跟我学，你们魂里就必得安息。』许多基督徒非常肤浅的来领会这节经文，以为当他们有重担的时候，只要来到主耶稣跟前，就能得到主的安慰。在起头的时候这对你可能有效，但以后就可能无效了。你若照自己天然自私的观念，以主作你的安息，末了主必会转脸不顾你。许多基督徒在他们基督徒生活开头时，经历到这一种的安慰，但以后就发现并不怎么有效。这是为甚么？因为基督作我们的生命和安息，并不是为著我们个人的享受，乃是为著建造神的家。你若要享受基督作安息，就必须来到祂面前。但祂今天在那里？我们要到那里遇见祂？我们必须来到召会。安息就是基督自己，乃是在召会里。为甚么这安息是在召会里？因为在召会里，神才得著彰显，得著代表，而神在那里得著彰显，得著代表，那里就有那安息日。你若不信，你可以照你的方法向基督祷告，求得安慰。倘若你离开召会，你可能会发现，连祷告也不能了。今天只有一个美地，就是召会生活。今天的召会是美地，因为在召会里神得著祂的居所，作祂的彰显和代表。神的宝座、国度和行政，都在召会里。因此，神乃是在召会里得著满足。神若不是在召会中得著满足，那么祂在何处得著满足？只有一种情形能满足神，就是祂得著一班人作祂的彰显和代表。天使没有这个权利，因为神没有命定他们作祂的彰显和代表。但我们已经蒙神命定、设立，要彰显祂并代表祂。所以，神的满足和安息乃是在召会里。
11What is this Sabbath rest? Firstly, it is the church life. We must enter into the church life so that God may be expressed and represented on earth today, be satisfied, and find rest. When this happens, God and we shall have our Sabbath rest. If we do not get into the proper church life, we shall miss the rest. However, as we shall see, this is not altogether the meaning of the Sabbath rest in Hebrews. In Matthew 11:28-29 the Lord said, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Many Christians understand this verse in a very superficial way, thinking that it means they will find comfort whenever they are heavy laden and come to the Lord Jesus. Although this may work for you the first time, it may not work after that. If you just take the Lord as your rest according to your natural, selfish concept, the Lord will eventually turn His face away from you. Many Christians experienced this kind of comfort at the beginning of their Christian life only to find that it did not work well later on. Why? Because Christ is not our life and rest for our individual enjoyment but for the building up of God’s house. If you want to enjoy Christ as your rest, you must come to Him. But where is He? Where do we go to meet Him? We must come to the church. The rest, which is Christ Himself, is in the church. Why is this rest in the church? Because in the church God is expressed and represented, and where God is expressed and represented, there is the Sabbath. If you do not believe this, try to take your own way and pray to Christ for comfort. If you stay away from the church, you will probably find yourself unable to pray. Today there is only one good land — the church life. Today’s church is the good land because in the church God has His habitation for His expression and representation. God’s throne, kingdom, and government are in the church. Thus, it is in the church that God is satisfied. If He is not satisfied there, then where is He satisfied? There is only one situation that can satisfy God: a situation in which a group of people has been gained by Him to be His expression and representation. The angels do not have this privilege because they have not been ordained to express and represent God. But we have been destined and ordained to express and represent Him. Therefore, God’s satisfaction and rest are in the church.
12虽然有很多基督徒真正得救了，但他们并没有在召会生活里。照样，当日有很多以色列人在逾越节时都得救了。他们洒了血，吃了羊羔，也从埃及出来，过了红海，蒙了拯救。但最后他们有多少人进入安息？非常之少。照样，今天虽然有很多真正的基督徒，他们确实得救了，但真正过召会生活的，却少而又少。你相信所有的基督徒都在美地么？不，许多人在飘荡，有些人甚至还留在埃及地，作属世界的事，诸如去电影院等等。这些基督徒，我们不能说他们没有得救，因为他们都相信了主耶稣。然而，他们今天不是在埃及，就是在旷野飘流，并没有进入美地。我们都必须竭力往前，进入安息。今天我们的安息在那里？乃是在召会生活里。
12Although many Christians are truly saved, they are not in the church life. Likewise, many of the children of Israel were saved at the time of the Passover. They struck the blood, ate the lamb, came out of Egypt, crossed the Red Sea, and were saved. But how many of them came into the rest? Very few. In like manner, although there are so many real Christians, those who have been truly saved, very few are in the church life. Do you believe that all Christians are in the good land? No, many are wandering, and others still remain in Egypt, doing such worldly things as going to the movies. Since they have believed in the Lord Jesus, we cannot say that they have not been saved. However, they are in Egypt or in the wilderness, not in the good land. We need to be diligent to press on to enter into the rest. Where is our rest today? It is in the church life
捌 召会生活乃是高品的福音
VIII. The Church Life as the High Gospel
13不仅神盼望在召会生活里得著安息，就是许多不信的人，也都在流荡，对生活的方式不满意。所以我们必须有正确而高品的召会生活，这样的召会生活才是传给干渴者的高品福音。这不是主日上午作礼拜的问题，乃是必须有一个正确的召会生活，叫神与人可以同得满足。当那些饥饿干渴的人来到这样的召会生活中，就会看见这乃是他们所寻找的，是他们所渴求的，他们立刻就能进入这安息日的安息。所有已经相信的，也必须竭力进入这安息。但是今天希伯来书对大多数的基督徒是封闭的，没有人愿意来摸这卷书。我们都必须看见，希伯来书乃是全备福音的一部分。我鼓励所有青年弟兄姊妹们到校园去，把希伯来书里的福音传出去。你们要去传这种高品的福音，使人过正确的人生。
13God is not the only one who desires to rest in the church life. So many unbelieving human beings are wandering, dissatisfied with their way of life. This is why we need to have the proper and high church life, the church life that will be the high gospel for the thirsty ones. This is not a matter of having a Sunday morning eleven o’clock service; it must be the proper church life in which God and man are satisfied. When the hungry and thirsty ones come to such a church life, they will see that this is what they have been looking for, that this is what they desire, and immediately they will enter into the Sabbath rest. All the believers as well must endeavor to enter into this rest. But today the book of Hebrews is closed to most Christians, and no one will touch it. We all must realize that the book of Hebrews is a part of the full gospel. Let me say what is on my heart: I want to encourage all the young brothers and sisters to go to the campuses to preach the gospel according to the book of Hebrews. They need to go and preach this high gospel for the proper human life
14许多年前，我所传的福音多喜欢讲人生的意义、虚空、以及饮于生命活水泉源等等。一九三二年的一次新春传福音，我说到虚空。那次我只传了二十分钟，还没有请他们站起来表示相信接受，很多人就站起来了，因为我实在摸著了他们里面虚空的感觉，点出他们人生的虚空，他们全人里面的虚空。那次，虽然我没有说到罪的问题，但每一个人都为著他们的罪悔改。哦，我们必须去到饥饿、干渴的人群中，把召会生活这个高品的福音传出去，这个才能满足他们人生的饥饿和干渴。召会生活必须是今天安息日的安息，是那流奶与蜜的美地。
14When I was preaching the gospel years ago, my favorite messages were on the meaning of life, vanity, and drinking at the fountain of life. On New Year’s Day in 1932, I preached on the subject of vanity. After preaching for only twenty minutes, so many people stood up even before I had finished my call because I had touched their inward feeling, the feeling of vanity in their life, the vanity in their being. Although I did not preach very much on sin, eventually everyone repented of his sin. Oh, we must go to the thirsty people, to the hungry people, and preach the high gospel of the church life that can satisfy the hunger and thirst in their lives. The church life must be today’s Sabbath rest, the good land flowing with milk and honey.