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希伯来书生命读经 · 第27篇

尊大的大祭司与施恩的宝座

A Great High Priest and The Throne of Grace
1希伯来书是一卷对比的书。在前几篇信息里，我们已经看过三个对比：我们的神与犹太人的神，基督与天使，基督与摩西之间的对比。现在我们来看本书另一小段，从四章十四节到七章二十八节，这里又是另一个对比，就是基督与亚伦之间的对比。我们的神超越犹太人所敬拜的神，我们的基督远超过天使、摩西和亚伦。我们也看过，在希伯来书每一个大段中，都有一个警告。第一个警告是在二章一至四节，第二个警告是在三章七节至四章十三节，第三个警告是在五章十一节至六章二十节这一小段。
1The book of Hebrews is a book of comparisons. In the foregoing messages we have seen three comparisons: the comparisons between our God and the God of the Jewish people, between Christ and the angels, and between Christ and Moses. Now we come to another subsection in this book (4:14-7:28) where we find still another comparison—the comparison between Christ and Aaron. Our God is more excellent than the God whom the Jews worship, and our Christ is much superior to the angels, Moses, and Aaron. As we have seen, in each section of Hebrews there is a warning. The first warning is in 2:1-4 and the second is in 3:7 through 4:13. In this subsection we have the third warning, found in 5:11 through 6:20
2在前几章里，我们看过基督是神子、人子、救恩的创始者（元帅）和使徒。这些都使祂彀资格作我们的大祭司。在圣经里，无人比那作我们大祭司的基督更奇妙、超越。祂从神而来，把神供应给我们。在祂来以前，我们与神无分无关。神是神，我们仅仅是人，我们与神并无关系。祂来了，不仅作我们的救主和救赎主，也作我们的大祭司。大多数的人对救主和救赎主这两个名称，只有肤浅的认识。我们若只认识基督是救主和救赎主，我们对祂的认识就只是肤浅的。我们必须进一步认识祂是救恩的创始者、使徒和大祭司。虽然许多基督徒也知道基督是我们的大祭司，但是很多人不明白其真正的意义。我们若要认识基督是大祭司的意义，就必须把整卷希伯来书透彻的看过。四章十四节说，『所以，我们既有一位经过了诸天，尊大的大祭司，就是神的儿子耶稣，便当坚守所承认的。』主耶稣先是藉著成为肉体，（二14，）受差遣从神到我们这里，作我们的使徒、（三1、）创始者、首领、（二10、）那超越摩西的一位、（三3、）和我们的真约书亚，（四8，）要领我们祂这些同伙，（一9，三15，）进入荣耀和安息。（二10，四11。）然后祂藉著复活和升天，（五5～6，）从我们这里回到神那里，作我们的大祭司，
2In the previous chapters we have seen that Christ is the Son of God, the Son of Man, the Captain of our salvation, and the Apostle. All this qualifies Him to be our High Priest. In the Bible, no one is more wonderful or excellent than Christ as our High Priest. He comes from God and ministers God to us. Be fore His coming, we had nothing of God. God was God and we were simply men, having nothing to do with Him. He came not only as our Savior and Redeemer but also as our High Priest. The titles of Savior and Redeemer are understood by most people in a superficial way. If we only know Christ as our Savior and Redeemer, we may know Him just in a superficial way. We must go on to know Him as the Captain of our salvation, the Apostle, and the High Priest. Although many Christians realize that Christ is our High Priest, not many know what this truly means. If we would know what it means for Christ to be our High Priest, we must thoroughly cover the whole book of Hebrews. Hebrews 4:14 says, “Having therefore a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast the confession.” The Lord Jesus firstly was sent from God to us through incarnation (2:14) to be our Apostle (3:1), our Captain, our Leader (2:10), the One superior to Moses (3:3), and our real Joshua (4:8) to bring us, His partners (1:9; 3:14), into glory and rest (2:10; 4:11). He then went back from us to God through resurrection and ascension (5:5-6) to be our High Priest to bear us in the presence of God and to care for all our needs (2:17-18; 4:15).
3在神面前担负我们，并照顾我们一切的需要。（二17～18，四15。）
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4今天在召会生活这安息日的安息里，我们所需并所有的这位基督，乃是我们的大祭司。正确的说，一位大祭司不是在街上，也不是在旷野，乃是在至圣所里。今天我们的基督在那里？祂乃是一直在至圣所里。我们的大祭司，今天不在祭坛那里献祭，也不在圣所那里豫备陈设饼，点灯烧香；祂乃是在至圣所里。大多数基督徒只有在祭坛那里的基督，就是在十字架上的基督。许多首诗歌，都说到钉十字架的基督。有些基督徒，只有在圣所里的基督。他们属灵追求最高的得著，只是一位在圣所里豫备陈设饼，点灯烧香的基督。他们忽略了在至圣所里的大祭司。今天我们大祭司的主要功用，既不在祭坛，也不在圣所，乃是在至圣所，就是神的同在和神的荣耀所在之地。不错，祂曾经在十字架上，但一章三节启示我们，祂在十字架上的工作已经完成了。不必求祂回去再作一次。祂的工作已经完成，现今就坐在诸天之上神的右边。没有一个地方比这地方更靠近神。使徒写希伯来书，就是要帮助我们，进前来到这位现今在神面前的基督这里。在至圣所里的基督，不仅是我们的救主、救赎主、使徒、救恩的创始者，祂也是我们的大祭司。祂在至圣所里作甚么？祂正在把神供应到我们里面。我们在前面有一篇信息里已经看过，大祭司的主要功用，乃是把神供应到神所拣选的人里面。哦，我们何等需要这位在至圣所里的大祭司，把神供应到我们里面！我们应当忘掉我们的境遇、软弱、烦恼、甚至自己，只要记住耶稣基督今天乃是在至圣所里，作我们的大祭司。只要有这一位大祭司，我们就有了所需要的一切。根据旧约，每逢大祭司进到至圣所神的面前，肩上要担著两块红玛瑙，上面刻著以色列十二个支派的名字，（出二八9～12，）并带上胸牌，上面有十二块宝石，刻著以色列十二个支派的名字。（15～30。）这表征以色列民是在大祭司的肩上和胸前。肩表征能力，胸表征爱，所以神的子民乃是受大祭司的能力所托住，也是在大祭司的爱里。当大祭司进入至圣所时，祂也把神的子民都带进去。在神看来，大祭司在至圣所里时，神的子民也与他一同在那里。照样，当神看见我们的大祭司基督在至圣所里时，也看见我们是在祂的肩上和胸前。我们何等需要看见这个异象！我们的大祭司，在诸天之上的至圣所里，在神面前担负著我们、佩带著我们。现今我们都在至圣所里，在祂的肩上，在祂的胸前。在那里，我们与祂一同在神的荣耀里。
4The very Christ whom we need and have today in the Sabbath rest of the church life is our High Priest. A high priest, properly speaking, is not on the street nor in the wilderness but in the Holy of Holies. Where is our Christ today? He is continually in the Holy of Holies. Our High Priest is not at the altar offering the sacrifices, nor in the Holy Place preparing the showbread, lighting the lamps, and burning the incense. He is in the Holy of Holies. Most Christians only have a Christ who is at the altar, that is, a Christ on the cross. Many hymns speak of the crucified Christ. Some Christians have a Christ only in the Holy Place. The highest attainment in their spiritual seeking is that of a Christ preparing the showbread, lighting the lamp, and burning the incense in the Holy Place. They have missed the High Priest in the Holy of Holies. The main function of our High Priest today is neither at the altar nor in the Holy Place but in the Holy of Holies, where God’s presence and shekinah glory are. Yes, He was once on the cross, but, as 1:3 reveals, His work on the cross has been finished. Never ask Him to go back to do it again. Now, having finished His work, He is sitting at the right hand of God in the heavens. No place is closer to God than this. The book of Hebrews was written to help us come forward to this Christ who is now in the presence of God. The Christ who is in the Holy of Holies is not merely our Savior, Redeemer, Apostle, or Captain of salvation; He is our High Priest. What is He doing there in the Holy of Holies? He is ministering God into us. As we have seen in a previous message, the major function of the High Priest is to minister God into God’s chosen people. Oh, how we need our High Priest in the Holy of Holies to minister God into us! We should forget our environment, weaknesses, troubles, and even ourselves and only remember that today Jesus Christ is our High Priest in the Holy of Holies. As long as we have such a High Priest, we have everything we need. According to the Old Testament, whenever the high priest went into the presence of God in the Holy of Holies, he bore upon his shoulders two onyx stones on which were engraved the names of the children of Israel (E. o. 28:9-12). He also wore the breastplate in which were set twelve precious stones engraved with the names of the children of Israel (E.o. 28:15-30). This signified that the people of Israel were on the shoulder and breast of the high priest. Since the shoulder signifies strength and the breast signifies love, the people of God were on the strength and in the love of the high priest. When the high priest was in the Holy of Holies, he brought all the people of God along with him. In the eyes of God, when he was there, all the people of God were there with him. Likewise, when God looks at Christ, our High Priest in the Holy of Holies, He sees us upon His shoulder and breast. How we need to see this vision! Our High Priest in the Holy of Holies in the heavens bears us and wears us before God. Right now we are upon His shoulder and upon His breast in the Holy of Holies. We are there with Him in the shekinah glory of God.
5当基督在至圣所里，在神面前担负著我们的时候，祂就把神供应到我们里面。当使徒保罗祷告主，求祂挪开那根刺的时候，（林后十二7～8，）主却对他说，『我的恩典彀你用的，因为我的能力，是在人的软弱上显得完全。』（9。）主似乎对他说，『保罗，我不会挪开那根刺，但我要把我自己当作恩典分赐到你里面。当我这样作，你就会认识我是如何宝贵、全足，我也就更多加到你里面。』我们这样经历基督这位把我们担负在祂肩上和胸前，并把神供应到我们里面的大祭司，就是在至圣所里的经历，我们在那里享受神自己和祂一切的丰富。当我们进到这种经历时，我们很难说我们在那里，究竟发生了甚么事。我们只能说，我们是在大祭司的肩上和胸前，并知道祂在供应我们，叫我们在里面得著安慰和力量。我们也许只能说，『我的确从主得著一些东西，但是我说不出来，也无法形容。』这种对基督作我们大祭司的经历，乃是最高的经历和享受。我们都必须学习，在至圣所里，留在祂的肩上和胸前。这就是救恩第三阶段的经历，相当于至圣所里的经历。我们不该满意于只作外院子的基督徒，也不该徘徊在圣所里。我们必须竭力往前，进入至圣所，就是有神同在和荣耀的所在。这样经历基督作大祭司，当然是在诸天之上，但也是在我们的灵里和召会中，因为今天召会就是神在我们灵里的居所。这位作为天梯，把地联于天，并把天带到地的基督，乃是在我们的灵里。藉著神的居所和天梯，在诸天之上的至圣所就联于我们的灵。我们可以用电为例说明，藉著电流的流通，我们的家就和发电厂相联。电一面在发电厂的发电机里，一面也在我们家里。电若不流通，发电厂和我们的家就离得很远。但藉著电的流通，两地就联成一个。照样，天虽然离我们的灵很远；但奇妙的基督在诸天之上，同时也在我们的灵里。罗马八章三十四节说，基督在神的右边，为我们代求，而十节说，基督也在我们里面。这不是说有两位基督，一位在诸天之上，另一位在我们里面；这也不是指一位基督在两个不同时期里。发电厂的电如何联于我们的家，在三层天上的基督，也照样联于我们的灵。祂比电的流通更奇妙。若是电的流通能把两地联成一个，我们奇妙的基督岂不更能一面在诸天之上，一面又在我们的灵里么？
5As Christ bears us before God in the Holy of Holies, He ministers God into our being. When the Apostle Paul prayed to the Lord, asking Him to remove the thorn (2 Cor. 12:7-8), the Lord said, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). The Lord seemed to be saying, “Paul, I will not remove that thorn, but I will impart Myself into you as grace. When I do this, you will know how precious and sufficient I am, and more of Me will be added into you.” This experience of Christ as our High Priest who bears us on His shoulder and breast and ministers God in to us is an experience in the Holy of Holies, where we enjoy God Himself and all His riches. When we get into this experience, it is difficult to say where we are or what is happening. We can only say that we are upon the shoulders and breast of our High Priest and that He is ministering something comforting and strengthening into us. Perhaps all we can say is, “I have received something from the Lord, but I simply cannot describe it or give it a name.” This experience of Christ as our High Priest is the highest experience and enjoyment. We all must learn to stay here on His shoulders and on His breast in the Holy of Holies. This is an experience in the third stage of our salvation which corresponds to the experiences in the Holy of Holies. We should not be content to remain outer court Christians; neither should we be Christians staggering in the Holy Place. We must press on into the Holy of Holies where God’s presence and shekinah glory are. This experience of Christ as our High Priest undoubtedly is in the heavens. However, it is also in our spirit and in the church because the church today is God’s habitation in our spirit. Christ, the heavenly ladder which joins earth to heaven and brings heaven down to earth, is in our spirit. By the habitation of God and the heavenly ladder, the Holy of Holies in the heavens is joined to our spirit. Consider the illustration of electricity. By the flow of the current of electricity, our homes are joined to the power plant. Electricity is both in the generator in the power plant and in our homes. Without this flow of electricity, the power plant is far off from our homes. But by the flow of electricity, these two are made one. Likewise, heaven is certainly far away from our spirit. But the wonderful Christ is both in the heavens and also in our spirit. Romans 8:34 says that Christ is at the right hand of God interceding for us, and Romans 8:10 says that Christ is also within us. There are not two Christs, one in the heavens and one within us; neither is it a matter of one Christ at two different times. Just as the electricity in the power plant is joined to our homes, so the Christ in the third heaven is joined to our spirit. He is much more wonderful than the flow of electricity. If by the flow of electricity two places can be made one, how much more can our wonderful Christ be both in the heavens as well as in our spirit.
壹 尊大
I. GREAT
6希伯来四章十四节告诉我们，神的儿子耶稣是尊大的大祭司。按我们的经历说，尊大这个辞，在这里的意思是绝佳、美妙、荣耀且至尊的。国语和合本在此译为尊荣。今天基督是这样一位绝佳、奇妙、美妙、荣耀并至尊的大祭司，乃是非人言语所能述说的。虽然我们无法从辞典里找到适当的字眼来形容祂，但在至圣所里，在祂肩上和胸上的经历，就使我们知道祂是一位奇妙尊大的大祭司。
6Verse fourteen also says that Jesus, the Son of God, is a great High Priest. According to our experience, the word great here means excellent, wonderful, glorious, and most honorable. The Chinese version of the Bible says that we have an honorable and glorious High Priest. Christ today is such an excellent, marvelous, wonderful, glorious, and most honorable High Priest that no human word can fully describe Him. Although we cannot find the adequate word in any lexicon, the experience of being on His shoulders and on His breast in the Holy of Holies tells us that He is a great and wonderful High Priest
一 在祂的身位上
A. In His Person
7基督这位大祭司的尊大，第一是在祂的身位上。祂是神的儿子，就是神自己。（一5，8。）祂也是人的儿子，就是人自己。（二6。）祂是神又是人，兼有神、人二性。祂不仅知道神的事和人的事，祂也在神的事和人的事中。没有一位大祭司像祂一样。
7Our High Priest, Christ, is great firstly in His Person. He is the Son of God, God Himself (1:5, 8). He is also the Son of Man, man himself (2:6). He, being both God and man, has the divine nature and the human nature. He not only knows the things of God and the things of man; He is also in the things of God and the things of man. No other high priest has ever been like Him
二 在祂的工作上
B. In His Work
8第二，基督的尊大，乃是在祂的工作上。祂洗净我们的罪，又为我们成就平息。（一3，二17。）祂除去罪，解决了罪的问题。祂不仅为人，也为每样东西尝了死味。（二9。）祂藉著尝过死味，战胜并征服了死。死亡不能拘禁祂。（徒二24，27。）祂也废除了掌死权的魔鬼。（来二14。）基督藉著十字架上的死，已经废掉撒但，就是死的权势。藉著战胜死并废除魔鬼，祂释放了我们脱离死的奴役。（15。）我们被祂释放，不仅脱离罪的奴役，也脱离死的奴役。祂藉著苦难，得成全作我们救恩的创始者。（10。）祂争战已经完毕，进入了荣耀。如今祂是开拓者，领我们走同样的路，向著荣耀迈进。现今祂治理神的家，如同摩西一样。（三5～6。）祂是这家的建造者，当然知道如何治理这家。祂也像约书亚一样，正在带领我们进入安息。（四8～9。）祂赐给我们召会时代安息日的安息，也要领我们进入国度时代安息日的安息。祂是我们的大祭司，在这一切奇妙、绝佳的工作上是尊大的；旧约中从来没有一位大祭司，曾完成如此奇妙、绝佳的工作。
8Secondly, our High Priest, Christ, is great in His work. He has made purification of and propitiation for our sins (1:3; 2:17). He has taken away sin and has solved the problem of sin. He has tasted death, not only for every man but also for everything (2:9). By tasting death, He conquered and subdued it. Death could not hold Him (Acts 2:24, 27). He has also destroyed the Devil who has the might of death (2:14). By His death on the cross, Christ has annulled Satan, the power of death. By conquering death and destroying the Devil, He has released us from the slavery of death (2:15). We have been freed by Him not only from the slavery of sin but also from the slavery of death. Through His suffering, He has been perfected to be the Captain of our salvation (2:10). He has fought the battle and has entered into glory. As the Pioneer, He is leading us on in the same way to glory. He is now taking care of God’sho use as Moses did (3:5-6). As the Builder of the house, He surely knows how to take care of it. He is now also bringing us into rest, as Joshua did (4:8-9). He has given us the Sabbath rest in the church age, and He will bring us into the Sabbath rest of the kingdom age. As our High Priest, He is great in all these wonderful and excellent works of His, which no high priest in the Old Testament had ever accomplished.
三 在祂所达到的事上
C. In His Attainment
9我们的大祭司基督之所以尊大，也是在祂所达到的事上。祂所达到的很高，使祂进入诸天上的至圣所，得了荣耀尊贵为冠冕。（六19，九24，二9。）祂不再是在地上戴著荆棘冠冕的一位，祂现今乃是在高天上，戴著荣耀的冠冕。没有一位大祭司所达到的超过祂；在这事上，甚至无人能与祂相比。
9Our High Priest, Christ, is also great in His attainment. His attainment is so high that He has entered into the Holy of Holies in the heavens and has been crowned with glory and honor (6:19; 9:24; 2:9). He is no longer on earth bearing the crown of thorns; He is now in the highest heavens wearing the crown of glory. No high priest can exceed Him in His attainment; no one can even compare with Him in this manner
贰 经过了诸天
II. HAVING PASSED THROUGH THE HEAVENS
10我们的大祭司基督，在祂的身位、资格、工作、成就、和所达到的事上，都是尊大的，祂已经经过了诸天。（四14。）基督钉十字架以后，复活以先，曾经漫步阴间，在那里遨游。虽然撒但尽其死亡的全力，想要拘禁祂，但祂在复活时，却从坟墓里起来了。（徒二24、27。）复活以后，祂胜过地心吸力，升到诸天之上。尽管鬼魔竭力拦阻祂离地，祂却奇妙的摆脱了地，然后升到诸天之上。当祂穿过空中的时候，所有的恶灵、执政的和掌权的，都想要抓住祂，不许祂上去，但祂却将他们脱下，向全2:15宇宙作展示。这就是歌罗西二章十五节所说，基督『既将执政的和掌权的脱下』，就『把他们公然示众，…向他们夸胜』。在这一节里，我们看见三个主要的点：基督已将执政的和掌权的脱下；祂把他们公然示众；祂也向他们夸胜。现今祂已经从阴间出来，把执政的和掌权的脱下，并经过了诸天，坐在神宝座的右边，享受安息。但祂渴望看见，祂所有的肢体也进入祂的安息。我们进入祂安息的路，乃是藉著经历祂作我们的大祭司。我们将会看见，我们只要来到祂正坐著的施恩宝座前，来受怜悯，得恩典。我们这样作，立刻就在召会生活的安息里，并且和祂一同等候那更美的安息。赞美主！
10Our High Priest, Christ, who is great in His Person, qualification, work, accomplishment, and attainment, has passed through the heavens (4:14). After He was crucified and before He was resurrected, Christ walked through Hades, having a good sightseeing tour. Although Satan and all the powers of death tried to hold Him, at the time of His resurrection, He arose from the grave (Acts 2:24, 27). Later, as He was ascending to the heavens, He overcame the gravitation of earth. The demons desperately tried to prevent Him from leaving the earth, but He made a wonderful takeoff. Then He ascended to the heavens. As He was passing through the air, the evil spirits, the principalities and powers, tried to grasp Him and hold Him back, but He stripped them off, making a display to the whole universe. This is the meaning of Colossians which says that Christ “stripped off principalities and powers” and “made a show of them openly, triumphing over them” (Gk.). In this verse we see three main points: that Christ stripped off the principalities and powers; that He made a show of them; and that He triumphed over them. Now, having risen from Hades, having stripped off the principalities and powers and having passed through the heavens, He is now sitting on the throne at the right hand of God where He is restfully enjoying a Sabbath. But He is desirous to see that all His members come into His Sabbath rest. The way to enter into His Sabbath is by experiencing Him as our High Priest. As we shall see, we simply need to come forward to the throne of grace on which He is sitting and receive mercy and find grace. When we do this, we are immediately in the Sabbath rest of the church life, waiting with Him for the better Sabbath to come. Praise Him!
11参在各方面受过试诱基督为大祭司，在各方面受过试诱，与我们一样，只是祂没有罪。（来四15。）祂既然受过试诱，就有资格有能力，帮助我们这些被试诱的人。（二18。）祂虽受了一切的试诱，却没有被罪玷污。祂的确装备好，能帮助我们经过所有的试诱，并保守我们脱离罪的缠累。
11III. HAVING BEEN TRIED IN ALL RESPECTS As our High Priest, Christ has been tried in all respects like us, but without sin (4:15). Since He has been tried, He is qualified and able to help us who are being tried (2:18). In all His trials, He was never stained with sin. He suffered the trials without being touched by sin. He is truly equipped to help us to pass through trials and to keep us from any entanglement of sin.
肆 同情我们的软弱
IV. SYMPATHIZING WITH OUR WEAKNESSES
12我们的大祭司基督，在各方面受过试诱，与我们一样，就能同情我们的软弱。（四15。）祂很容易体谅我们软弱的感觉，进到我们的软弱里，与我们同受软弱之苦。无论甚么事临到我们，无论我们有甚么苦难，祂都能进到我们的感觉里，并同情我们。
12As the One who has been tried in all respects like us, our High Priest, Christ, is able to sympathize with our weaknesses (4:15). He is easily touched with the feeling of our weaknesses and quickly enters into a fellow- suffering with us in our weaknesses. Whatever happens to us and whatever suffering we may have, He feels it with us and sympathizes with us
施恩的宝座
The Throne of Grace
壹 神的宝座─
I. THE THRONE OF GOD
由平息座所表征
SIGNIFIED BY THE PROPITIATION COVER
13本书作者揭示我们的大祭司以后，就鼓励我们『坦然无惧的来到施恩的宝座前，为要受怜悯，得恩典，作应时的帮助』。（四16。）施恩的宝座，毫无疑问，是指天上神的宝座。（启四2。）神的宝座，对全宇宙是掌权的宝座，（但七9，启五1，）神在其上掌权管理宇宙。这是神行政的宝座。但对我们信徒，却成了施恩的宝座，由至圣所里（来九3，5）见证柜上（出二五17～21，罗三25）洒了基督宝血（利十六15，来九12）的平息座（施恩座）所表征。神就是在这里，与祂的百姓相会相交。（出二五21～22。）每当我们藉著基督的血，来到施恩的宝座前，我们就与神相会相交。
13After the unveiling of our High Priest, the writer encourages us to “come forward with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace for timely help” (4:16). The throne of grace is undoubtedly the throne of God which is in heaven (Rev. 4:2). The throne of God is the throne of authority to all the universe (Dan. 7:9; Rev. 5:1) on which God sits to control and rule over the universe. It is the throne of God’sad ministration. But to us, the believers, it is the throne of grace, signified by the propitiation cover (the mercy seat) over the ark of testimony (Exo. 25:17-21; Rom. 3:25) in the Holy of Holies (Heb. 9:3, 5) sprinkled with the blood of Christ (Lev. 16:15; Heb. 9:12). It is here that God meets and communes with His people (Exo. 25:21-22). When we come to the throne of grace through the blood of Christ, we meet with God and commune with Him.
贰 神和羔羊的宝座
II. THE THRONE OF GOD AND THE LAMB
14希伯来四章施恩的宝座，就是启示录四章掌权的宝座；这宝座到启示录二十二章一至二节，成了神和羔羊的宝座，从那里流出一道生命水的河，明亮如水晶。这河流通整座新耶路撒冷城，河中长著生命树，这启示我们，这位丰富的基督同著活的灵，乃是从施恩的宝座流出来。恩典是甚么？恩典就是长著生命树的那道河流。对于不信的人和鬼魔，神和羔羊的宝座乃是权柄的宝座；对于我们，却是施恩的宝座。每当我们来到这宝座前，我们都觉得有一些东西在流动，滋润并供应我们；这就是恩典。我们确实能喝到并吃到这些供应。
14The throne of grace in Hebrews 4 is the throne of authority in Revelation 4 which becomes in Revelation 22:1 and 2 the throne of God and of the Lamb, out of which proceeds the crystal clear river of water of life. This river flows through the whole city of New Jerusalem. Within this river grows the tree of life, revealing that the rich Christ with the living Spirit flows out of the throne of grace. What is grace? It is the flowing river in which the tree of life grows. To the unbelievers and to the demons, the throne of God and of the Lamb is a throne of authority; to us, it is the throne of grace Whenever we come to this throne, we have the sense that something is flowing to water and supply us. This is grace. We can surely drink and eat of this supply
参 神在我们灵里的居所
III. GOD’S HABITATION IN OUR SPIRIT
15希伯来四章十六节告诉我们要『坦然无惧的来到施恩的宝座前』。施恩的宝座既在诸天之上，我们怎能来到这宝座前？根据基要派的教训，我们必须等到死后到了天上，才来到这宝座前。但是当我们还活在地上时，怎能来到这宝座前？秘诀就在本章十二节，那里说到藉著神活而有功效的话，剖开我们的魂与灵。我们已经看过，那在天上坐在施恩宝座上的基督，（罗八34，）现今也在我们里面，（10，）就是在我们的灵里，（提后四22，）这灵就是神居住的所在。（弗二22。）基督既在我们灵里，父与那灵也必在我们灵里。（约十四20，，罗八16。）因此，三一神就在我们灵里。伯特利是神的家，神的居所，也是天的门；在那里基督是梯子，把地联于天，并把天带到地。（创二八12～，约一51。）虽然施恩的宝座是在诸天之上，我们奇妙的基督却把第三层天带到我们灵里，就是今天神地上居所的所在。我们的灵，可称为今天的伯特利。根据创世记二十八章，伯特利先是一个地方，然后是神的居所。那个地方和那块石头都称为伯特利。按原则说，那里有神的居所，那里就有天梯和天的门。这位从神来到我们这里的奇妙基督，已经完成并成就了这么多的事，并且作了我们的创始者、使徒、大祭司，现今已经进入我们灵里，使这灵成为天的门。现在我们很容易来到施恩的宝座前，因为宝座就在门内。施恩的宝座虽然是在诸天之上，但凭著基督并藉著基督，这宝座已经联于我们的灵。
15Hebrews 4:16 tells us to “come forward with boldness to the throne of grace.” Since the throne of grace is in the heavens, how can we come forward to it? According to fundamental teaching, we must wait until we die and go to heaven. But how can we come forward to it while we are still on earth? The secret is in verse 12 of the same chapter which speaks of the dividing of the soul and spirit by the living and operative word of God. As we have seen, the very Christ who is sitting on the throne of grace in heaven (Rom. 8:34) is also now in us (Rom. 8:10), that is, in our spirit (2 Tim. 4:22), where the habitation of God is (Eph. 2:22—“through the Spirit” should be rendered “in spirit”). As Christ is in our spirit, both the Father and the Spirit are also in our spirit (John 14:20, 23; Rom. 8:16). The Triune God is here in our 23 spirit. At Bethel, the house of God, the habitation of God, which is the gate of heaven, Christ is the ladder who joins earth to heaven and brings heaven to earth (Gen. 28:12-17; John 1:51). Although the throne of grace is 17 in the heavens, our wonderful Christ has brought the third heaven into our spirit, the very place where God’s habitation on earth is today. Our spirit may be called today’s Bethel. According to Genesis 28, Bethel is firstly a place and secondly God’s habitation. Both the place and the stone were called Bethel. According to principle, where God’s habitation is, there is the heavenly ladder and the gate of heaven. Christ, the wonderful One who came to us from God, who has accomplished and attained so much, and who is our Captain, Apostle, and High Priest, has come into our spirit, making it the gate of heaven. Now it is easy for us to come forward to the throne of grace, for it is right within the gate. While the throne of grace is in the heavens, by and through Christ it has been joined to our spirit.
16来到施恩的宝座前，完全是在灵里的事。我们若在心思里，就很难进入至圣所。我们若是属魂的人，常常游荡在魂的旷野里，就必定离至圣所很远。我们的灵今天既是神居住的所在，这灵就是天的门，在这里基督是梯子，把我们这些在地上的人联于天，并把天带给我们。因此，每当我们转到灵里，就能藉著基督作天梯，进入天的门，摸著天上施恩的宝座。为此我们需要神活的话，刺入我们的深处，把游荡的心思与灵分开。只要我们在灵里，我们就有天的门；门内有施恩的宝座。进入至圣所不需要花时间，因为至圣所和我们的灵之间，没有距离。每当我们从深处呼喊『哦，主耶稣』，我们立刻就在至圣所里，摸著施恩的宝座。我们何等需要摸著施恩的宝座！肆受怜悯，得恩典当我们来到施恩的宝座前，我们就能『受怜悯，得恩典，作应时的帮助』。神的怜悯和祂的恩典都是神爱的彰显。当我们在可怜的光景中，神的怜悯先临到我们，把我们带进一种光景，使神能以恩典厚待我们。路加十五章二十至二十四节告诉我们，父亲看见浪子回家，对他动了慈心。这就是怜悯，彰显出父的爱。接著，父亲给他穿上上好的袍子，又给他吃肥牛犊，这就是恩典，也显明了父的爱。神的怜悯比恩典搆得更远，如同一座桥梁，将我们与神的恩典连接起来。我们的光景常是太可怜了，所以我们必须先受怜悯，然后才得恩典。我们来到施恩的宝座前，常常像讨饭的，有点像浪子回到父家的光景。讨饭的像浪子一样需要怜悯。当我们在可怜的光景中，有人给我们一点东西，这是怜悯。若是我们的光景相当不错，有人给我们东西，那是恩典。许多时候当我们来到施恩的宝座前，我们感觉自己很可怜，就说，『父阿，我甚么都不配。』但父会说，『不要紧，你虽不配，但我有怜悯。我的怜悯临到你，叫你配，使你得著装饰。我的怜悯要使你穿上上好的袍子。』我们受父的怜悯之后，很快的会感觉自己是重要人物。这样我们就彀资格坐下来，享受肥牛犊。这就是恩典。这不只是道理，更是在我们的经历上可以印证的。
16Coming forward to the throne of grace is absolutely a matter in our spirit. If we are in the mind, it will be difficult for us to enter into the Holy of Holies. If we are a soulish person staggering in the wilderness of our soul, we shall be far away from the Holy of Holies. Since our spirit is the place of God’s habitation today, it is the gate of heaven where Christ is the ladder that joins us, the people on earth, to heaven, and brings heaven to us. Whenever we turn to our spirit, we enter into the gate of heaven and touch the throne of grace in heaven through Christ as the heavenly ladder. For this, we need the living word of God to pierce into the depths of our being and separate our spirit from our wandering mind. As long as we are in our spirit, we have the gate of heaven. Within the gate is the throne of grace. It takes no time whatever to enter into the Holy of Holies, because there is no distance between it and our spirit. Whenever we say from the depths of our being, “O Lord Jesus,” we are immediately in the Holy of Holies, touching the throne of grace. How we need to touch the throne of grace! IV. RECEIVING MERCY AND FINDING GRACE When we come forward to the throne of grace, we “receive mercy and find grace for timely help.” Both God’s mercy and His grace are the expression of His love. When we are in a pitiful condition, firstly His mercy reaches us and brings us into a state where God is able to favor us with His grace. Luke 15:20-24 says that when the father saw the prodigal son returning, he had compassion on him. This is mercy, expressing the father’s love. Then the father clothed him with the best robe and fed him with the fatted calf. This is grace, which also mani fests the father’s love. God’s mercy reaches farther than His grace, bridging the gap between us and God’s grace. Often, because of our pitiful condition, we must receive mercy before we can find grace. We come to the throne of grace like beggars, in somewhat the same way as the prodigal son came to his father. A beggar, like the prodigal, needs mercy. When we are in a poor condition and someone gives us something, that is mercy. But when we are in a qualified condition and someone gives us something, that is grace. Many times when we have come to the throne of grace we have had the sense that we were pitiful and said, “Father, I am not worthy of anything.” But the Father said, “That doesn’t matter. You are unworthy, but I am merciful. My mercy reaches you, qualifies you, and adorns you. It clothes you with the best robe.” After receiving the Father’s mercy, we soon feel like a very important person. Then we are qualified to sit down and enjoy the fatted calf. This is grace. This is not merely a doctrine but something which has been confirmed by our experience.
17谁坐在施恩的宝座上？不仅是神，也是羔羊救赎主。神如今坐在奇妙的施恩宝座上，在祂的右边坐著救赎主，我们的大祭司。这个宝座不仅是神的宝座，更是神和羔羊的宝座，意即神在羔羊里，流出自己作恩典，给我们享受。我们不需要作甚么，只需要简单的前来，敞开并接受怜悯和恩典，作应时的帮助。每一天，从这恩典而来的帮助，都是应时的、新鲜的，正合我们当时的光景和需要。根据希伯来书，真正的基督徒生活不仅是来到施恩的宝座前，也是住在至圣所里，在神的宝座前，不断的受怜悯，得恩典。这是我们今天所需要的生活。靠主的怜悯，这些极重要的点若确实的作到我们里面，我们的光景必定与前不同。神的怜悯和恩典对我们总是便利的，然而我们需要运用灵，来到施恩的宝座前，摸著在我们诸般的软弱上同情我们的大祭司，才能受怜悯，得恩典。本书的作者用这些话，勉励疲倦的希伯来信徒要受怜悯，得恩典，作应时的帮助，使他们能挺身而立。（十二12。）
17Who is on the throne of grace? Not only God but also the Lamb, the Redeemer. On the wonderful throne of grace, God is sitting, and at His right hand is the Redeemer, our High Priest. That the throne is not only the throne of God but the throne of God and of the Lamb means that God in the Lamb is flowing Himself out as grace for our enjoyment. We need not do anything. We simply need to come forward, open up, and receive mercy and find grace for timely help. Every day the help which comes from this grace is very timely; it is always new and exactly fits our situation and need. The real Christian life according to Hebrews is a life which not only comes forward to the throne of grace but which also abides in the Holy of Holies in front of the throne, continually receiving mercy and finding grace. This is the life we need today. If, by the Lord’s mercy, these crucial points are wrought into us, we will never be the same. God’s mercy and grace are always available to us. However, we need to receive and find them by exercising our spirit to come forward to the throne of grace and touch our High Priest who sympathizes with us in all our weaknesses. By this word, the writer of Hebrews encouraged the wearied Hebrew believers to receive mercy and find grace for timely help that they might be set upright (12:12