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希伯来书生命读经 · 第21篇

存留之安息日的安息（四）

THE REMAINING SABBATH REST (4)
1在前三篇信息里，我们根据圣言的完满启示，看过了安息日之安息的意义。简略的说，安息日的安息就是神的心意得到了满足。不论何时何地，只要在地上有人彰显神并代表神，神就满足而得到安息。我们曾指出，第一个安息是在人被造之后，第二个安息是在圣殿建成之后。这两个安息都是神安息的豫表，不是神真正的安息。主耶稣来到地上表明神，作为榜样和模型彰显神并代表神之后，召会就藉著祂的死而复活产生出来，成为神团体的彰显和代表。当神得著召会，祂才真正得到彰显和代表。毫无疑问，召会生活是神的真安息。召会作为安息日的安息，不是一个豫表，乃是旧约所豫表的应验。当神得著了召会，祂就得著了真安息。我们也在上一篇信息看过，召会时代乃是撒种和长大的时期。这一个时期不管我们觉得多长，仍然只是一个时期，就是撒种和长大的时期。神在这个时期主要的工作，乃是将祂自己种到人类里面，而使这部分的人类成为召会，就是基督的身体，也就是神的家。神已经把自己作为生命注入到这些人里面，这些人就必须在基督里长大，直到成熟。这一点我们必须认识得非常清楚。神在今世为甚么能得著满足？因为祂在今世藉召会得了彰显和代表。
1In the last three messages we have seen the meaning of the Sabbath rest according to the full revelation of the Holy Word. In brief, the Sabbath rest is simply God’s satisfaction in His heart’s desire. Whenever and wherever God is expressed and represented by man on earth, He is satisfied and at rest. As we have pointed out, the first Sabbath was after the creation of man, and the second Sabbath was after the completion of the building of the temple. Both of these Sabbaths were figures of God’s Sabbath, not the real Sabbath. After the Lord Jesus came to declare God, expressing and representing Him as an example and model, the church was produced by His death and resurrection and became the corporate expression and representation of God. When God has the church, He is truly expressed and represented. Undoubtedly, the church life is a real Sabbath to God. The church as the Sabbath rest is not a figure but a fulfillment of what was prefigured in the Old Testament. When God gained the church, He obtained a real Sabbath. As we saw in the last message, the age of the church is just the sowing and growing stage. Regardless how long this stage may be according to our feeling, it is still one stage, the stage of sowing and growing. In this stage, God’s major task is to sow Himself into mankind and to make this part of mankind the church, the Body of Christ, the house of God. This part of mankind which has been injected with God Himself as life must grow in Christ and reach maturity. We must be very clear about this point. Why is God able to be satisfied in this age? Because in this age He is expressed and represented through the church
2新约圣经清楚的告诉我们，召会作为神的彰显和代表，乃是今天在地上神的国。（罗十四17。）凡接受神的儿子耶稣基督的，就重生进入了神的国。（约三5。）赞美主，今天召会是神的国！希伯来十二章二十八节说，我们所领受的是不能震动的国。这里的意思不是说我们已经领受了，也不是说将来要领受，乃是说我们正在领受这国的过程中。我们不能说我们一点也未曾领受，但我们所领受的国还未完全。神的国已经开始了，现今正在继续中。
2In the New Testament we are clearly told that the church as the expression and representation of God is the kingdom of God on earth today (Rom. 14:17). Whoever receives Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is born into the kingdom of God (John 3:5). Praise the Lord that the church is the kingdom of God today! Hebrews 12:28 says that we are receiving an unshakable kingdom. This verse does not say that we have received the kingdom or that we shall receive it; it says that we are in the process of receiving the kingdom. We cannot say that we have not received an amount of the kingdom, but our receiving of the kingdom has not yet been fully accomplished. The kingdom has already started and it is continuing
3在召会时代，我们是在生长的安息里，就是在基督作生命一直在长大的安息中。在这生长的安息中，神的心多少得著了一些满足，但不是完全的满足，因为这不过是在长大的阶段，尚未达到末了收成的阶段。希伯来书是写给那些飘荡、犹疑、徘徊的希伯来信徒的，鼓励他们进入正确的召会生活，就是今天的安息日之安息。但在这安息之后，接著还有一个更好的安息，就是收成的安息。这两个安息，都是神的真正安息。今天的召会生活，的确叫神得著真实的安息。我们从来没有想到，竟能有如此奇妙的召会生活。但因著主的怜悯，祂开了我们的眼睛，使我们看见召会生活是圣别的、属天的和属灵的，是我们可以在灵里摸著，并能与主一同享受，作我们安息日之安息的。阿利路亚，今天在地上竟有这样的召会生活！
3In the church age we are in the growing Sabbath, in the Sabbath where Christ as life is growing. God’she art is at least somewhat satisfied with this growing Sabbath, but it is not satisfied in full because it is just the growing stage, not the final stage, the stage of harvest. The book of Hebrews was written to encourage the wandering, hesitating, and staggering Hebrews to come into the proper church life, today’s Sabbath rest. But following this Sabbath, there is something still better — the harvest Sabbath. Both of these are real Sabbaths to God. Today God does have a true Sabbath in the church life. We never realized that there could be such a wonderful thing as the church life. But by His mercy, the Lord has opened our eyes, showing us the church life, which is something holy, heavenly, and spiritual that we can touch in our spirit and enjoy with the Lord as our Sabbath rest. Hallelujah, there is such a church life on earth today!
4我们若认识圣经和神的经纶，就知道每一个重生得救的人，都需要进入召会生活中。这是神的经纶。你若不进入召会生活，就会失去目标。神的经纶不是要你仅仅蒙拯救得重生；祂的经纶乃是要你进入正确的召会生活，就是今天的安息日。神的经纶是要得著祂自己团体的彰显和代表。神非常有耐心；祂正在逐步的完成祂的经纶。首先，祂已经将自己种到祂所拣选的人里面，现今祂正在给他们时间，使他们得以长大。
4If we know the Bible and God’secon o my, we shall realize that everyone who has been regenerated and has received salvation needs to come into the church life. This is God’secon o my. If you do not come into the church life, you will miss the mark. God’secon o my is not only that you be saved and regenerated; His economy is that you come into the proper church life, which is today’s Sabbath. God’secon o my is to have a corporate expression and representation of Himself. God is very patient; He is fulfilling His economy progressively. Firstly, He has sown Himself into His chosen people and now He is giving them time to grow
拾 伍终极的安息
XV. THE ULTIMATE SABBATH
5现在我们是在召会生活中，也就是在生长的安息里，这要引领我们进入千年国那收成的安息里。但甚至连收成的安息也不是终极的安息。终极的安息日之安息乃是新耶路撒冷。在新耶路撒冷的时侯，就不再有海，不再有撒但的作为，也不再有败坏和污秽的世界。这一切都要丢在火湖里。那时要有一个新地，这新地上有一座城，乃是由经过变化的人作为活的材料建造而成的。这个活的组成，新耶路撒冷，乃是神在将来永远里完全的彰显。在新耶路撒冷里，我们将看见神的彰显和管治。在新耶路撒冷里有神的宝座和祂国度的权柄。新耶路撒冷将是终极永远的安息，因为神在那里得著完全的彰显和代表。那将是神恩典工作的终极完成，我们都要在那里。
5We are now in the church life, the growing Sabbath that is leading us into the harvest Sabbath of the millennial kingdom. But not even the harvest Sabbath will be the ultimate Sabbath. The ultimate Sabbath rest will be the New Jerusalem. At the time of the New Jerusalem, there will be no more sea, satanic work, or corrupted and polluted world. All of that will be in the lake of fire. There will be a new earth, and upon that new earth there will be a city built up with transformed people as the living materials. That living composition, the New Jerusalem, will be God’s complete expression in eternity future. There, in the New Jerusalem, we shall see God’sex press i on and dominion. In the New Jerusalem will be God’s throne and authority for His kingdom. The New Jerusalem will be the ultimate and eternal Sabbath because there God will be fully expressed and represented. That will be the ultimate consummation of God’s work of grace, and we all shall be there
6不管我们是殷勤或是懒惰，我们智慧的父都有办法成全我们，使我们成熟。如果我们不与祂合作，祂还是很忍耐，会等到明天，或下个月、明年，甚至等到来世。在新耶路撒冷来到之前，有两个时期，就是今世和来世。在这两个时期，我们这位满有忍耐的父，要对付祂顽皮的儿女。如果我们顽皮，不肯在今天有分于这个生长的安息，就会失去来世那收成的安息。失去那要来收成的安息，并不是说我们失丧了。我们一成为父的儿女，就永远不会失丧。但如果我们今天不凭著祂的恩典行事为人，而使我们的父很难对付我们，我们就会失去那要来收成的安息。然而，我们的父远比我们有智慧，祂总有办法带我们达到成熟。最终，我们都要在新耶路撒冷，就是在终极的安息里。
6Whether we are diligent or sloppy, our wise Father has a way to perfect us and make us mature. If we do not cooperate with Him, He is patient and will wait for tomorrow, next month, next year, or even for the next age. Before the age of the New Jerusalem, there are two ages, this age and the coming age. During both of these ages our patient Father will deal with His naughty children. If we are naughty and do not participate in the growing Sabbath today, we may miss the harvest Sabbath in the coming age. To miss the coming harvest Sabbath does not mean that we shall be lost. Since we are children of the Father, we can never be lost. But if we do not behave ourselves in His grace today, making it difficult for our Father to deal with us, we may miss the coming harvest Sabbath. However, our Father is much wiser than we are and has a way to bring us to maturity. Eventually we all shall be in the New Jerusalem, the ultimate Sabbath.
7我们看见，总共有三个真安息，就是召会、千年国、以及在新天新地里的新耶路撒冷。虽然这三个都是神的安息，但第二个安息比第一个好，第三个安息又比第二个完满。我完全有把握，我们每一个人都要有分于第三个最完满的安息，因为那个安息全是恩典，而不是赏赐。那不是奖赏，而是我们的父给祂所有儿女的永分。只要你是祂的儿女，祂总有办法使你成熟，使你最终有分于那第三个安息。
7There will be a total of three real Sabbaths: the church, the millennial kingdom, and the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and the new earth. Although all these are Sabbaths to God, the second will be better than the first, and third will be fuller than the second. I have the complete assurance that we all shall share in the third and fullest Sabbath, for that Sabbath is wholly a matter of grace, not of reward. It is not a prize but our Father’s eternal portion for all of His children. As long as you are a child of the Father, He has a way to make you mature so that eventually you will participate in that third Sabbath
拾 陆我们需要成熟
XVI. OUR NEED TO MATURE
8当你听到说，我们都会在新耶路撒冷里，你也许会说，『阿利路亚，现在我放心了。我能在新耶路撒冷里。』但是在进入新耶路撒冷之先，我们必须先经过召会，再经过千年国。我们智慧的父用召会时代和来世的千年国时代，使我们成熟。祂虽然已经种在我们里面，但我们成熟了么？祂的目的是要我们众人都成熟，祂必定成就这事；没有甚么能阻止祂。我们的懒惰和失败算不了甚么。包括撒但在内，任何事都不能阻止我们的父完成祂的愿望。神不是糊里糊涂的拣选了我们，祂乃是非常慎重的。神对祂的拣选永不后悔；一经选定就绝不废弃，直到永远。祂既救了我们，我们就必定都在新耶路撒冷里。这一切都是恩典的工作。神把我们带进祂的救恩，也将祂自己摆在我们里面，现今就要我们长大。但我们怎样长大，完全在于我们。我们若肯顺服，就可以省祂一点时间。我们若不肯顺服，就给祂添一点麻烦；但祂仍有办法使我们长大。然而，我们若不与祂合作，就会失去今世召会生活的享受，也会失去来世的奖赏。我们智慧的父要对付我们，使我们成熟。你不要以为可以逃避祂的对付。所有得救而仍旧流荡的基督徒，神都有办法对付。我们虽然今天看不见神的对付，但总有一天会看见。
8When you hear that we all shall be in the New Jerusalem, you may say, “Hallelujah, now I am at peace. I’ll be there in the New Jerusalem.” But before we come to the New Jerusalem, we first must pass through the church and then through the millennium. Our wise Father uses the church age and the coming age of the millennial kingdom to cause us to mature. Although He has been sown into us, what about the maturity? His intention is to have all of us matured, and He will accomplish this. Nothing can stop Him. Our sloppiness and failures do not mean anything. Nothing, including Satan, can stop our Father from accomplishing His desire. When He chose us, He was not foolish in doing so, but was very careful. God will never repent of His choice; it is irrevocable and it will stand for eternity. He has saved us, and we shall be there in the New Jerusalem. All of this is a work of grace. God has brought us into His salvation, put Himself into us, and is now charging us to grow. But the way we grow is up to us. If we are obedient, we shall save Him a little time. If we are disobedient, we shall cause Him some difficulty. But He still has a way to cause us to grow. However, if we do not cooperate with Him, we shall suffer the loss of the enjoyment of the church life in this age and the prize in the coming age. Our wise Father deals with us so that we may mature. Do not think that you can escape His dealing. God even has away to deal with all the Christians who have been saved but are now wandering. We cannot see this today, but one day we shall see it.
9我们的父把我们从流荡的路上带进召会生活，这是何等的怜悯。我们现今不再流荡，而在享受那帮助我们成熟的召会生活。我有把握说，在召会生活中的人必定会早早成熟，成为初熟的果子。我们享受现今的召会和将来的国度，这是何等的好！现今的召会是享受的安息，将来的国度是奖赏的安息。我们今天若好好的享受召会，来世就必得著国度为奖赏。我们今天若不好好的享受召会，来世就要失去国度为奖赏。今天不在召会中好好的享受基督，实在是愚昧至极。这个享受是白给的，并不需代价。我们的父甚至鼓励我们好好的享受基督。我们越多享受基督，父就越欢喜满足。我们若不断的享受基督，有一天父就会说，『孩子，因为你享受我的儿子很多，我要在这收成的安息里给你一个奖赏。你要与我的儿子一同作王。』那时，在收成的安息里，我们要成为基督的真正同伙，与祂一同作王。有人说，只要我们重生成为神的儿女，就必定在千年国里有分。但圣经并不这样说。圣经告诉我们，我们必须享受基督、长大、成熟、受苦并得胜，好得著基督。然后，在来世我们就要得著奖赏。这个奖赏并不是众圣徒要得的永分，乃是在千年国期间给得胜者的赏赐。你若在父的家里，就是在召会中，好好的行事为人，父会说，『因为你在我的家中叫我满意，我要在我的国里给你奖赏。』但我们今天若没有在祂的家中叫祂满意，我们在来世，在祂的国里，就会失去奖赏，受到亏损。选择全在于我们。我们的父是何等有恩典，何等公义、智慧！祂为我们豫备了筵席，并且鼓励我们都来享用。我们享用得越好，祂越高兴。我们若不好好享用这筵席，将是何等愚昧。哦，我们何等需要享受今天的召会生活！
9How merciful it is that our Father has brought us from wandering in the streets into His church life. Now we are no longer wandering; we are enjoying the church life which helps us to mature. I have the full assurance that the church people will mature earlier and become the firstfruits. How good it is to enjoy the present church and the coming kingdom! The present church is the Sabbath of enjoyment, and the coming kingdom is the Sabbath of prize. If we enjoy the church well today, we shall receive the kingdom as a prize in the coming age. If we do not enjoy the church well today, we shall suffer the loss of the kingdom as a prize in the coming age. It is very foolish not to enjoy Christ well in the church today. We do not have to pay anything for this enjoyment; it is free. Our Father even encourages us to enjoy Christ well. The more we enjoy Christ, the more the Father is happy and satisfied. If we continue to enjoy Christ, one day the Father will say, “Child, since you have enjoyed My Son so much, I shall give you a prize in the harvest Sabbath. You will be one of My Son’s co-kings.” At that time, we shall be Christ’s real partners sharing in His kingship in the harvest Sabbath. Some say that as long as we have been regenerated and are children of God, we shall be in the millennial kingdom. But the Bible does not say this. Rather, it tells us that we must enjoy Christ, grow, mature, suffer, and overcome for Christ. Then in the coming age we shall receive the prize. This prize is not the eternal portion of the saints but a reward to the overcomers during the millennium. If you behave yourself in the Father’sho use, the church, the Father will say, “Since you have satisfied Me in My house, I will give you a prize in My kingdom.” But if we do not satisfy Him today in His house, we shall miss the prize and suffer loss during the next age in His kingdom. The choice is up to us. How gracious, righteous, and wise our Father is! He has prepared a feast and He encourages us all to eat well. The better we eat, the happier He will be. It is foolish not to eat well in the feast. Oh, how we all need to enjoy the church life
拾 柒两大派的道理
XVII. THE TWO MAJOR SCHOOLS OF DOCTRINE
10现在我们需要来看两大派的道理─喀尔文派（Calvinistschool）和亚米尼亚派（Arminianschool）。喀尔文派说，一切都在于神的恩典、拣选和豫定。照这一派的说法，神一旦拣选、豫定、拯救我们之后，就不再有问题；我们一旦得救，我们的救恩就确保到永远。喀尔文派宣称我们永不会灭亡，乃是以约翰十章二十八至二十九节主的话为强有力的根据。根据这两节经文，一个得救的人是不能灭亡的。喀尔文派说我们一旦得救就永远得救，这毫无疑问是有圣经根据的。然而他们说我们一旦永远得救，就再也没有问题，就有点太过了。我们知道自己蒙了救赎、得了重生固然很好，但我们不该说只要蒙了救赎、得了重生，就不再有任何问题。小孩子如果说，他既然出生了，就不再有任何问题，那是愚昧的。说这话的孩子，是最愚昧的孩子。不错，我们已经重生了，但是可能还有许多问题。亚米尼亚派的人认为，一个得救了的人，还可能又失丧。他们引用圣经里像希伯来六章的话，坚持的认为，那些曾经尝过属天的恩赐，又有分于圣灵的人，仍有可能偏离，可能没有机会悔改，像被焚烧的田地一样，意思就是说，他们又失丧了。希伯来书中有五个类似这样的警告。亚米尼亚派的人，错用这些有关神对祂儿女惩罚或管教的话，而认为是指著灭亡说的，以为又会失丧了。他们用这些经节，来支持他们的教训说，得救了的人还会灭亡。
10At this point we need to consider the two major schools of doctrine — the Calvinist school and the Arminian school. The Calvinist school says that everything is a matter of God’s grace, selection, and predestination. According to this school, once God has selected and predestinated us and we have been saved, there are no problems; once we have been saved, our salvation is secure for eternity. The Calvinist claim that we shall never perish has a strong basis in the Lord’s word in John 10:28-29. According to these verses, a saved person cannot perish. Calvinism undoubtedly has a ground in the Bible for saying that once we are saved we are saved for eternity. But when Calvinism says that since we are saved for eternity there can be no problems, it goes too far. Although it is good to know that we have been redeemed and reborn, we should not say that since we have been redeemed and reborn we can have no problems. It would be foolish for a child to say that since he has been born, there are no problems. Any child who says this is a most foolish child. Yes, we have been reborn, but there may be many problems. The Arminians believe that a saved person can be lost again. Using portions of the word such as Hebrews chapter six, the Arminians insist that people who have tasted the heavenly gift and who have been partakers of the Holy Spirit may fall away, may have no opportunity to repent, and may be like the land that is burned, meaning that they are lost. The book of Hebrews contains five warnings such as this. The Arminians misuse these portions of the Word concerning God’s punishment or chastisement of His children, considering it as perdition, as being lost once again. They use these portions to support their teaching that a saved person can perish again.
11喀尔文派的人，无法使圣经中这类警告的话与他们的教训相符合，于是解释说，那里所说尝过属天恩赐，又有分于圣灵的人，都是假基督徒。但这种说法，非常荒谬可笑。他们这样说，因为这是他们惟一能转圜的路。不论喀尔文派或亚米尼亚派，都无法把圣经中有关神惩罚祂儿女的话与圣经其他部分相符合，因为他们没有看见在国度里奖赏与惩罚的事。这件在国度里得奖赏或受惩罚的事，乃是接通喀尔文派和亚米尼亚派之间的桥梁。
11The Calvinists, unable to reconcile these portions of the Word with their teaching, say that the persons mentioned there as being tasters of the heavenly gift and partakers of the Holy Spirit are false Christians. But it is ridiculous to say this. They say this because it is their only way of escape. Neither they nor the Arminians have been able to reconcile the portions in the Bible regarding God’s punishment of His children, because they have not seen the matter of prize and punishment in the kingdom. This matter of prize or punishment in the kingdom is the bridge between Calvinism and Arminianism
拾 捌奖赏或惩罚
XVIII. THE MATTER OF PRIZE OR PUNISHMENT
12我们要从圣经的观点来看这件事。我们既已永远蒙神拣选，所以我们一旦得救、重生、得著了永远的生命，我们就永不灭亡。这永远的生命会保守我们。主和父大能的手会托住我们，我们永不会灭亡。（约十28～29。）但这并不是说，我们可以因此随便犯罪，因为我们无论犯了甚么罪，就要在今日或来世受到管教或惩罚。神是公义的。祂的儿女若犯罪，也不理会祂的旨意，就必定会受到管教和惩罚。你在今世若不理会祂的旨意，在要来的国度里就必失去作王的赏赐。我们必须留意这个警告。
12Let us now look at this from a biblical point of view. Since we have been chosen forever, once we have been saved, regenerated, and have received eternal life, we can never perish. The eternal life will keep us. Two mighty hands, the hands of the Lord and of the Father, will uphold us, and we shall never perish (John 10:28-29). But this does not mean that we should be loose about committing sins, for we shall be chastised, punished either today or in the coming age, for whatever sins we commit. God is righteous. If His children commit sin and do not care for His will, they must suffer chastisement, punishment. If you do not care for His will in this age, you will miss the kingship as the reward in the coming kingdom. We must give heed to this warning
13在要来的国度里，就是在收成的安息里，将有何等大的享受！那必定比当前在生长的安息里更好。今天召会生活中生长的安息，乃是带我们进入将来国度里收成之安息的凭藉。我们若忽略今天在召会生活中的安息，就会失去将来在国度中的安息。我们若松懈随便和犯罪，我们便会受到神的惩罚。但这并不是说，我们会再次失丧。希伯来六章证明这事。七至八节说，『就如田地，吸收了屡次下在其上的雨水，并且生长菜蔬，合乎耕种的人用，就从神得享祝福；但若长出荆棘和蒺藜，就被废弃，近于咒诅，结局就是焚烧。』田地会长菜蔬，也会长荆棘。荆棘会被焚烧，田地却还能存留，但要受亏损。照样，信了主的人永不灭亡，但他们所产生一切不合乎神经纶的东西，必被焚烧。凡我们不照著神的旨意所作的一切，都要被焚烧，但这并不是说，我们会灭亡。3:12-说到这里，我们要来看林前三章十二至十四节：『然而，若有人用金、银、宝石，木、草、禾秸，在这根基上建造，各人的工程必然显露，因为那日子要将牠指明出来；牠要在火中被揭露，这火要试验各人的工程是那一种的。人在那根基上所建造的工程若存得住，他就要得赏赐。』信主的人是神的耕地。（9。）我们所长出来的若是木、草、禾秸，就要被焚烧。但我们的工程若是金、银、宝石，就能存留；我们且要得著赏赐、奖赏。然而，一个人的工程若被焚烧，他就会受亏损，但并不是失去救恩。十五节说，『人的工程若被烧毁，他就要受亏损，自己却要得救；只是这样得救，要像从火里经过的一样。』这一节经文非常的清楚。一个得救了的人，可能受亏损，但他不会失去救恩，只是『这样得救，要像从火里经过的一样』。你愿意作一个『得救，要像从火里经过』的基督徒么？如果你问我，这里的火是甚么，我只能说我不知道。三十五年多以前，就有一个年长的基督徒朋友与我争辩，说，『一个得救的人，怎可能要从火里经过而得救？』我回答说，『我不知道，但圣经是这么说。』他接著说，『这里不是真的说『被火焚烧』，乃是说『像被火焚烧』或『像从火里经过』。』说到这里，另一位年长的弟兄插进来对他说，『即使是像从火里经过，也彀你受了。』不管这火是指甚么，必定是不1好的；我不想经历牠。我们既有林前三章这样的话，就不该说我们一经得救，一切就没有问题。一切并不一定没有问题。我们的工程仍可能被焚烧，自己却要『得救；只是这样得救，要像从火里经过的一样』。
13What an enjoyment will be there in the coming kingdom! The harvest Sabbath! It will be better than the present growing Sabbath. The growing Sabbath of the church life today is the means by which we may be ushered into the harvest Sabbath in the coming kingdom. If we neglect today’sS abba thin the church life, we shall miss the next Sabbath in the coming kingdom. If we are careless and commit sins, we shall suffer God’s punishment. But this does not mean that we shall be lost again. Hebrews 6 proves this. Verses 7 and 8 say, “For the earth which drinks the rain which often comes upon it and brings forth vegetation suitable to those for whose sake also it is tilled, partakes of blessing from God; but bringing forth thorns and thistles, it is disapproved and near a curse, whose end is to be burned.” The earth may produce vegetation or thorns. The thorns may be burned, but the land will still remain, having suffered a loss. Likewise, the believers can never be lost, but all that they bring forth which is not according to God’s economy will be burned. Whatever we do that is against the will of God will be burned, but this does not mean that we shall be lost. At this juncture let us consider 1 Corinthians 14. “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built there upon, he shall receive a reward.” The believers are God’s farm (1 Cor. 3:9). Whatever we grow that is wood, hay, and stubble will be burned. But if our work abides as gold, silver, and precious stones, we shall receive a reward, a prize. However, if a man’s work is burned, he shall suffer loss, but this does not mean that he will lose his salvation. The following verse says, “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire” (Gk). This verse is very clear. A saved person may suffer loss, but he will not lose his salvation; he will be “saved as through fire.” Do you want to be “saved through fire”? If you ask me what the fire is here, I would say that I do not know. More than thirty-five years ago, an older Christian friend was arguing with me saying, “How could a saved person still be saved through fire?” I answered, “I don’t know, but the Bible tells us so.” Then he said, “Here it does not really say ‘by fire’ but ‘as by fire’ or ‘as through fire.’” At this point another elderly brother injected, “Even if it is ‘as by fire,’ it can still cause you to suffer.” Whatever this fire is, I know that it is not good and that I do not want to experience it. Since we have this word in Corinthians 3, we should not say that as long as we are saved everything is all right. Everything may not be all right. Our work may be burned and we may be “saved as through fire.”
14有些人听见我按著这条路线传讲这些事，就定罪我，说我在传讲天主教炼狱的道理。天主教所说的炼狱，也用林前三章为根据，却与神纯净的话语大不相同。照天主教炼狱的观点，你若犯罪且死了，你的亲人可拿钱给天主教，好缩短你在炼狱里的时间。这是鬼魔的教训。我所教导的，乃是出自神纯净话语的纯净真理。林前三章说，我们必须正确的建造，必须照著金所指明的神的神圣性情，照著银所指明的基督的救赎，并照著宝石所指明圣灵的工作来建造。我们必须照著父的性情、子的救赎、和圣灵变化的工作建造。但我们若照著肉体、自己和属世的作法建造，那就是木、草、禾秸。用金、银、宝石建造，和用木、草、禾秸建造，其间的分别非常大。你若用金、银、宝石建造，就会得著赏赐。但你若用木、草、禾秸建造，你仍可得救，却要受亏损。这不是喀尔文派，也不是亚米尼亚派的道理，乃是圣经纯净的话。
14When some heard me preaching along this line, they condemned me, saying that I was teaching the Catholic doctrine of purgatory. The Catholic teaching of purgatory, which uses 1 Corinthians 3 as the basis, is much different from the pure Word of God. According to the Catholic concept of purgatory, if you commit sins and die, a relative may shorten the time you spend in purgatory by paying a certain amount of money to the Catholic Church. This teaching is devilish. What I am teaching is the pure truth from the pure Word. First Corinthians 3 says that we need to build properly: according to God’s divine nature—the gold; according to Christ’s redemption—the silver; and according to the work of the Holy Spirit—the precious stones. We need to build according to the Father’s nature, the Son’s redemption, and the Holy Spirit’s transforming work. But if we build according to the flesh, the self, and the worldly way, that will be wood, hay, and stubble. There is a great difference between building with gold, silver, and precious stones and building with wood, hay, and stubble. If you build with gold, silver, and precious stones, you will receive a reward. But if you build with wood, hay, and stubble, you will suffer a loss, yet still be saved. This is neither Calvinism nor Arminianism but the pure Word of the Bible
15除了神恩典的救恩，还有得奖赏或是受亏损的问题。惟有得著奖赏的人，才有分于那要来的安息，就是收成的安息。那些赢得奖赏的人，要享受千年国里更美的安息；那些得救，却像从火里经过的人，要失去那个安息。我们需要何等努力向著标竿直跑，好得著神在基督耶稣里，召我们向上去得的奖赏。我们不仅得著救恩，还有神召我们向上去得的奖赏，就是在来世国度里收成的安息。这是我们的标竿，是我们的目标。我们若要达到这个目标，就必须经过召会生活；召会生活是我们达到这目标的途径。
15In addition to God’s gracious salvation, there is the matter of receiving a prize or suffering a loss. Only those who receive the prize will participate in the coming Sabbath, the harvest Sabbath. Those who gain the prize will enjoy the better Sabbath in the millennial kingdom, and those who suffer loss but who are saved as through fire will miss that Sabbath. How we need to press on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus and go on positively. In addition to salvation, there will be the prize of this high calling, which will be the harvest Sabbath in the coming kingdom. This is our mark, our goal. If we would reach this goal, we must pass through the church life. The church life is the way for us to reach the goal.