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希伯来书生命读经 · 第45篇

不是永远的沉沦，乃是时代的刑罚

NOT ETERNAL PERDITION, BUT DISPENSATIONAL PUNISHMENT
1本篇信息的题目是『不是永远的沉沦，乃是时代的刑罚』；在主的恢复里，这样一篇打基础的信息是必需的。『时代的刑罚』是主恢复里的新名词，在其他基督教书籍或信息里可能找不到。我们所以要用这个辞，因为有许多基督徒，把时代的刑罚和永远的沉沦混为一谈。根据新约，这二者是分开的事，彼此互不关联。永远的沉沦是对不信的人，而时代的刑罚是对信徒。把二者混在一起，造成了许多的难处。今天基督教里，对于救恩的看法，有两个主要的学派。一派说，救恩是永远的。照这一派的说法，我们一次得救就永远得救，不管我们得救以后作甚么。救恩是永不会失去的。第二派认为，我们得救后若不留心，还可能再失丧。所谓的圣洁宗，大多属于这一派。他们相信一个人可能一再反覆的得救又失丧。因为他们的救恩上上下下，好像电梯一样，我们可以把这种观念的救恩称之为『电梯救恩』。在我不到三十岁时，有一位传道人曾到我们城里传讲说，我们可能在早上得救，晚上又失丧；然后第二天早上悔改认罪，又可以得救。我听见那种讲法以后，就放胆对那城里的圣徒说，这完全是胡言乱语，我们的神永远不会给我们那样的救恩。
1This message, entitled “Not Eternal Perdition, but Dispensational Punishment,” is necessary that we might have a basic foundation in the Lord’s recovery. The term dispensational punishment is not likely to be found in other Christian books or messages, for it is a new term in the Lord’s recovery. This term is necessary because many Christians have confused the matter of dispensational punishment with eternal perdition. According to the New Testament, these are clearly two separate things, having nothing to do with one another. Eternal perdition is for unbelievers, whereas dispensational punishment is for believers. A great deal of trouble has been caused by mixing together these two things. In today’s Christianity, there are two main schools of theology regarding salvation. One school says that salvation is eternal. According to this school, once we have been saved, we are saved eternally, regardless what we do after we are saved. Salvation can never be lost. The second school claims that if we are not careful after being saved, we might be lost again. Most of the so-called holiness churches belong to this school, believing that a person may be saved and lost again and again. Because their salvation goes up and down like an elevator, we may call this concept of salvation “elevator salvation.” Once, when I was less than thirty years of age, a preacher came to our town saying that we could be saved in the morning and lost again that night, and then by repenting and confessing our sins we could be saved again the next morning. When I heard about this, I boldly told the saints in that town that this was nonsense and that our God would never give us such a salvation
2表面看来，传讲『电梯救恩』的人，似乎有一些圣经根据，其实不然。他们好像视力差的人，把英文字母的Ｃ看成了Ｇ。他们大大的误解圣经中的一些经节。他们引用那些说到时代刑罚的经节，来支持他们的道理，说一个得救的人，还可能再失丧。附和这一派神学的人，永远没有得救的把握。就著他们的救恩来说，他们死的时候，若正逢光景美好，就永远得救；若正逢光景下沉，就永远失丧。这是甚么福音？真是太可怕了！
2Apparently those who preach and teach “elevator salvation” have some ground in the Bible; actually they do not. They are like those who see the let te rC and, having poor eyesight, mistake it for aG. They make a big mistake in interpreting certain passages in the Bible. They use all the verses which speak of dispensational punishment to support their belief that a saved person can be lost again. Those who follow this school of theology never have any assurance. If, as far as salvation is concerned, they are up when they die, they will be saved forever. But if they are down, they will be lost eternally. What kind of gospel is this? It is terrible
3另一方面，说得救以后，不论作甚么都没有问题，一直都是得救的，这样的教导也是不正确的。按照这种教训，只要我们有了永远得救的把握，甚么就都好了。我们必须放下这两派神学的教训，来看在神纯正的话中，对这件事怎样说。
3However, it is also wrong to teach that no matter what you do after you have been saved there will be no problem and you will continue to be saved. According to this teaching, as long as we have the assurance of being saved for eternity, it is all right. We need to be unloaded and drop the teaching of both these theological schools and see what the pure Word of God says concerning this matter.
壹 神给信徒永远救恩的保障
I. The Security of God’s Eternal Salvation for the Believer
4神的救恩是永远的，我们一旦得著了，就永远稳妥。关于这一点，有十一个明证。
4God’ss alvation is eternal. Once we have received it, it is secured eternally. This is proved by eleven things
一 神的意愿
A. By the Will of God
5神的意愿是永远救恩的保障。以弗所一章五节说，我们是照著神的意愿所豫定的，而约翰六章三十九节告诉我们，父的意思是凡赐给子的人，一个也不失落。这就是神对我们救恩的意愿。神的意愿比磐石更坚定稳妥。天地可以废去，神的意愿却永远长存，绝不会上上下下，像电梯一样。
5God’s eternal salvation is secured by the will of God. Ephesians 1:5 says that we have been predestinated according to God’s will, and John 6:39 tells us that the Father’s will is that none of those whom He has given the Son should be lost. This is the will of God concerning our salvation. God’s will is more steady and stable than a rock. Although heaven and earth may be removed, God’s will remains forever. It does not go up and down like an elevator
二 神的拣选和呼召
B. By the Selection and Calling of God
6神的拣选和呼召，也是神的救恩的保障。神在创立世界以前，就拣选了我们。（弗一4。）不是我们拣选了祂，乃是祂拣选了我们，（约十五16，）而祂的拣选，不是本于我们的行为，乃是本于那呼召人的。（罗九11。）祂不仅豫定了我们，又召我们来，（八30，）这不是按我们的行为，乃是按祂自己的定旨。（提后一9。）祂的呼召是没有后悔的。祂呼召了我们就永不后悔。祂的拣选和呼召与我们的行为无关，绝不受我们行为的影响，因为祂的拣选和呼召永不改变。神的拣选和呼召既是由神发起，而不是由我们发起，就成了我们救恩的保障。
6God’ss alvation is secured by the selection and calling of God. He has chosen us, selected us, before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). It is not we who selected Him but He who selected us (John 15:16), and His selection is not of our works but of Himself who calls (Rom. 9:11). He has not only predestinated us but also called us (Rom. 8:30), not according to our works but according to His own purpose (2 Tim. 1:9). His calling is irrevocable. He will never repent of it nor regret having called us. His selection and calling have nothing to do with our works; our works can never affect them, for they are unchangeable. Both God’ss election and calling, being initiated by Him, not by us, are the security of our salvation
三 神的爱和恩
C. By the Love and Grace of God
7神的爱和恩，也是我们从神所得救恩的保障。不是我们爱神，乃是神爱我们，差祂的儿子，为我们的罪作了平息的祭物。（约壹四10。）没有一事能叫我们与神的爱隔绝。（罗八38～。）我们会改变，但神的爱永不改变。不仅如此，神救我们，不是按我们的行为，乃是按祂在历世之前，在基督耶稣里赐给我们的恩典。（提后一9。）我们的行为时常失败，但神的恩永不失败。救恩的保障，不在于我们的行为，乃在于那出自祂不变之爱的永远有功效之恩典。
7The salvation we have received of God is also secured by His love and grace. It is not we who loved Him, but He who loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10). Nothing whatsoever shall be able to separate us from the love of God (Rom. 8:38-39). We are changeable, but the love of God is 39 unchangeable. Furthermore, God has not saved us according to our works, but according to His grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began (2 Tim. 1:9). Our works may often fail, but God’s grace never fails. Our salvation is secured not by our works but by God’s prevailing grace which comes out of His unchanging love.
四 神的义
D. By the Righteousness of God
8神那显示与信的义，（罗一16～17，）乃是神永远救恩的保障。神为要显示祂的义，就必须称我们为义；祂已经称我们这些相信主耶稣的人为义。（三26。）称我们为义的，乃是公义的神。（八33。）神的义是祂宝座的根基。（诗八九14。）祂的宝座立定直到永远，永不动摇。我们的救恩，既有神的义作保障，就像祂的宝座一样，永不动摇。
8God’s eternal salvation is secured by the righteousness of God which is revealed to faith (Rom. 1:16-17). For the showing forth of His righteousness, God must justify us, and He has justified us who believe in the Lord Jesus (Rom. 3:26). It is the righteous God who has justified us (Rom. 8:33). His righteousness is the foundation of His throne (Psa. 89:14, Heb.). His throne is established forever and nothing can shake it. Our salvation, being secured by God’s righteousness, is as unshakable as God’s throne
五 神的约
E. By the Covenant of God
9神的约是我们救恩的保障。神以祂的新约救了我们。（来八8～13。）这约明确的立定，祂要把生命之律写在我们里面，并且不再记念我们的罪。祂既是信实的神，就永不背弃祂的约。（诗八九34。）祂不仅受祂的义约束，也受祂的信实约束。因此，祂的约连同祂的信实，乃是我们救恩的保障。
9Our salvation is secured by the covenant of God. God has saved us by His new covenant (Heb. 8:8-13). It has definitely been covenanted that He has written the law of life within us and that He will never remember our sins. As the faithful God, He will never break His covenant (Psa. 89:34). Not only His righteousness but also His faithfulness binds Him. Hence, His covenant with His faithfulness is a security of our salvation
六 神的能力
F. By the Power of God
10神的能力也是神永远救恩的保障。主耶稣说，祂的父比万有都大，谁也不能从父手里把我们夺去。（约十29。）父神比一切更有能力，祂有大能的膀臂，祂的手有力，（诗八九，）谁也不能从祂手里把我们夺去。
10The security of God’s eternal salvation is also by the power of God. The Lord Jesus said that His Father is greater than all, and that no one can snatch us out of the Father’s hand (John 1 0:2 9). God the Father is more powerful than anything. He has a mighty arm, and strong is His hand (Psa. 89:13). No one can pluck us out of His hand.13
七 神的生命
G. By the Life of God
11神的生命也是救恩永远的保障。主说，『我又赐给他们永远的生命，他们必永不灭亡。』（约十28。）永远的生命一旦赐给我们，你想还会收回么？若说我们得救之后还会失丧，就是说赐给我们的永远生命还会收回；这是完全不合逻辑的。一旦我们得著了永远的生命，就永不灭亡。
11Our salvation is eternally secured by the life of God. The Lord said, “I give to them eternal life, and they shall by no means perish forever” (John 10:28, Recovery Version). Do you believe that the eternal life can be recalled once it has been given to us? To say that once we are saved we can be lost again means that the eternal life which has been given to us would be called back. This is altogether illogical. Once we have the eternal life, we shall never perish
八 神自己
H. By God Himself
12神自己乃是我们救恩的保障。祂已经拣选、豫定、呼召、称义、洁净并拯救了我们。在祂并没有转动的影儿；（雅一；）祂是不改变的。（玛三6。）神既为我们作了这一切，好使我们得救，你想神会在这事上改变么？我们的情形和光景，能影响神的性情么？能改变神的作为么？绝不可能！我们救恩的保障，乃是这位不变的神自己。
12Our salvation is secured by God Himself. God has chosen, predestinated, called, justified, cleansed, and saved us. With Him there is no shadow of change (James 1:17); He is unchangeable (Mal. 3:6). After doing so much for 17 us that we might be saved, do you think that God would change in this matter? Can our condition or situation affect God’s nature? Can it change God’s doing? No, it is impossible. Our salvation is secured by the unchangeable God Himself.
九 基督的救赎
I. By the Redemption of Christ
13基督的救赎是我们救恩的保障。基督为我们死了，（罗八34，）祂死所成功的救赎，乃是永远的救赎。（来九。）祂一次把自己献给神，就使我们永久完全，（十14，）而这永远救赎的结果，就是我们永远的救恩。（五。）因此，不论在程度上、时间上，祂都能拯救我们到底。（七25。）
13Our salvation is secured by the redemption of Christ. Christ has died for us (Rom. 8:34), and the redemption accomplished by His death is an eternal redemption (Heb. 9:12). By offering Himself once to God He has 12 perfected us forever (Heb. 1 0:1 4), and His eternal redemption issues in our eternal salvation (5:9). Thus, He is able to save us to the uttermost, not only in extent 9 but also in time (7:25).
十 基督的能力
J. By the Power of Christ
14基督的能力也是我们永远救恩的保障。在约翰十章二十八至二十九节，主向我们保证，不仅是父的手，祂的手也保守我们不至灭亡。父是有力的，主是有能的。谁也不能从父手里，或从主手里把我们夺去。父爱的手和子恩典的手，这两只神圣的手，都有保守的大能，乃是我们的保障。
14Our eternal salvation is also secured by the power of Christ. In John 10:28 and 29 the Lord assures us that not only the Father’s hand but also His hand will keep us from perishing. The Father is strong, and He is powerful. No one can snatch us out of the Father’s hand, nor out of His hand. We are secured by two divine hands, the Father’s hand of love and the Son’s hand of grace, both of which are powerful to keep
十一 基督的应许
K. By the Promise of Christ
15末了，基督的应许乃是我们救恩的保障。主耶稣说，『凡父所赐给我的人，必到我这里来；到我这里来的，我绝不把他丢在外面。』（约六37。）这里我们看见，主应许说，凡到祂这里来的，祂绝不拒绝，也不撇弃。以上所有的经节，都很清楚的，一点不含糊的，为我们救恩的保障立了坚固的根基。没有甚么能废掉这些清楚的经节。因此，所有神的儿女，都应该有正确的信心，相信神的救恩是永远的。那些认为得救之后还会失掉救恩的人，诉诸希伯来十章二十九节这样的经节，那里说，『何况那践踏神的儿子，将他藉以成圣的立约之血当作俗物，又亵慢恩典之灵的，你们想，他该受怎样更重的刑罚？』我们对这节经节必须特别小心。这里是说到一个已经得救的人，因为这一节说，这人藉基督的血已经成圣了。但这人虽然得救了，可能要受更重的刑罚，因为他践踏神的儿子，把基督的宝血当作俗物，又亵慢恩典的灵。毫无疑问的，恩典之灵的确在他里面作工，只是他没有听从。
15Finally, our salvation is secured by the promise of Christ. The Lord Jesus said, “All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and him that comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37, Recovery Version). Here we see that the Lord promised that He would never reject or forsake anyone who came to Him. All these verses are very clear and unambiguous, giving a solid foundation for the security of our salvation. Nothing can annul these clear verses. Thus, all God’s children may have the proper faith to believe that His salvation is eternal. Those who believe that a saved person can lose his salvation appeal to such verses as Hebrews 10:29, which says, “By how much do you think he shall be thought worthy of worse punishment who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?” We must deal with this verse very carefully. It speaks of a saved person, for it mentions one who has been sanctified by the blood of Christ. Yet such a one may be worthy of worse punishment because he has trampled under foot the Son of God, regarded the precious blood of Christ as common, and insulted the Spirit of grace. Undoubtedly, the Spirit of grace was working graciously in him, but he did not listen to it.
16要明白这节圣经，我们必须从二十五节看起，那里说到『不可放弃我们自己的聚集，好像有些人习惯了一样』。我们已经看过，希伯来的信徒放弃他们自己的聚集，就等于放弃召会，又回到犹太教去再献牲畜为祭。然后，二十六节说，这就是在『认识了真理以后』，还故意犯罪。我们在上一篇信息曾经指出，『真理』是指前面章节所揭示的事；这些章节使希伯来的信徒完全认识，神已经除去了旧约，立定了新约。他们有了这个认识之后，如果仍然回去为罪献祭，就是故意犯罪。他们知道，按照神的经纶，不再有为著罪的祭物了，因为基督这独一的祭物，已了结其他一切的祭物。从上下文来看，二十九节是指真正得救的人说的。所有希伯来的基督徒都是得救的，但他们有放弃基督徒聚集的危险，也就是放弃召会，又回到犹太教去。他们若是这样作，必定会受到某种的刑罚。虽然这一节指明，一个得救的人可能会受刑罚，但并不是如第二个学派所误解的，以为得救的人还会失丧。这里绝对不是指永远的沉沦，乃是指信徒所受的某种刑罚。贰永远的沉沦是对不信的人十章二十九节里『更重的刑罚』，不同于遭受第二次的死。（启二十6，14，二一8。）遭受第二次的死，是指在火湖里永远的灭亡，也就是永远的沉沦。这是最可怕的。有人辩驳说，没有永远的沉沦这回事；他们说神是爱，不忍心使祂创造的人在火湖里永远受苦。他们似乎忘了启示录十四章十至十一节，十九章二十节，二十章十节，十四至十五节，和二十一章八节。这些经节告诉我们，那些失丧、灭亡的人，要在火湖里永远受苦。神是神。祂爱的时候，是真正的爱；但祂严厉的时候，也真是严厉。不信的人既要面对这可怕的永远沉沦，他们实在需要福音。
16In order to understand this verse, we must consider the context beginning with verse 25, which speaks of “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the custom with some is.” As we have seen, for the Hebrew believers to forsake the assembling of themselves together meant that they were forsaking the church to return to Judaism to offer the animal sacrifices again. Then verse 26 speaks of sinning willfully “after receiving the full knowledge of the truth.” As we pointed out in the last message, truth here refers to the things disclosed in the foregoing chapters and verses, which afforded the Hebrew believers the full knowledge that God had annulled the old covenant and established the new. If after receiving this knowledge, they still went back to offer the sacrifices for sin, they would have been sinning willfully. They knew that, according to God’secon o my, there no longer remained a sacrifice for sin because all the sacrifices had been terminated by the unique sacrifice of Christ. By considering verse 29 in its context, we see that it refers to a truly saved person. All the Hebrew Christians were saved, but they were in danger of forsaking the Christian assembly, that is, forsaking the church, and returning to Judaism. If they had done this, they would have been worthy of some punishment. Although this verse indicates that a saved person may be punished, it does not mean, as those who follow the second school misinterpret it, that a saved person can be lost. It certainly does not refer to eternal perdition but to a type of punishment of believers. II. The Eternal Perdition for the Unbelievers The “worse punishment” in 10:29 is different from suffering the second death (Rev. 20:6, 14; 21:8). To suffer the second death is to perish in the lake of fire for eternity, that is, to suffer eternal perdition. This is most terrible. Some argue that there is no such thing as eternal perdition, saying that God is love and could not bear to have His creatures suffer in the lake of fire for eternity. But they seem to forget Revelation 1 4:1 0-1 1; 1 9:2 0; 2 0:1 0, 1 4-1 5; and 21:8. These verses tell us that the lost, the perished ones, will suffer in the lake of fire for eternity. God is God. When He loves, He truly loves. But when He is severe, He is surely severe. Since the unbelievers face such a terrible eternal perdition, they certainly need the gospel.
参 时代的刑罚是对失败的信徒
III. The Dispensational Punishment for the Failures of the Believers
一 神的管教或惩治
A. God’s Discipline or Chastening
17信徒虽不会失丧，却可能因失败遭受时代的刑罚。（来十29。）这些日子，我们都听见呼召，要我们进前来，而不要退缩。但假如有些人退缩，他们不会灭亡，却要受神对付，遭受时代的刑罚。在圣经中，时代的刑罚称作管教或惩治。神的刑罚就是祂的管教。父母责罚儿女时，并不是永远弃绝他们。父母管教孩子乃是出于好意。我认识一对基督徒夫妇，在学业方面警告儿女。他们告诉孩子，一切都为他们豫备好了，他们的责任是用功读书。到学期末了，他们若是考到甲等，就有奖赏；若是不及格，就要关在黑房间里一天。这对夫妇果然照他们所说的，在学期末时，给得到甲等的孩子奖赏，给不及格的孩子惩罚。当父母管教孩子的时候，甚至流泪说，『孩子，我爱你，不过没法原谅你。你要在黑房间里待一天，也不准吃饭。』他们并非把孩子弃绝，那黑房间也不是临时监狱，可说是爱的密室。孩子的父母表现了最高的爱；到下一个学期，他也考到甲等了。这就是时代刑罚的例证。
17Although the believers cannot be lost, they may suffer some dispensational punishment for their failures (10:29). In these days we all have heard the call to come forward and not to shrink back. But suppose some would shrink back. They would not be lost, but they would be dealt with by God, undergoing some dispensational punishment. In the Bible dispensational punishment is called chastening, discipline, or chastisement. God’s punishment is His discipline. When parents punish their children, it does not mean that they permanently cast them away. Rather, parents discipline their children with a good intention. I know of one Christian couple who warned their children about their schoolwork. They told their children that everything had been prepared for them and that it was their responsibility to do well in school. If at the end of the school year they had earned A’s, they would receive a great reward, but if they failed, they would be put into a dark room for a day. This Christian couple kept their word. At the end of the year, the child who earned the A’s received a reward, while the one who failed received some punishment. One of the parents disciplined him, even shedding tears, saying, “Child, I love you, but I cannot help it. You must go to that room for the day and have nothing to eat.” They did not cast him away. That dark room was not even a temporary prison—it was a closet of love. The child’spare nts displayed the best love for him, and the next semester he also received A’sin school. This is an illustration of dispensational punishment
18我们的天父有爱，也有智慧。你以为祂会一直让我们失败么？当然不会。那么我们若失败，祂怎么办？祂会给我们爱的管教，把我们放在爱的黑房间里一段时间。在黑暗里，祂的儿女会受到管教，得到益处。
18Our heavenly Father is loving and wise. Do you think that He will always allow us to fail? Certainly not. What then will He do if we fail? He will give us a loving discipline and put us in a dark room of love for a time. There, in the darkness, His children will be disciplined for their own good
二 有人今世受管教
B. Some in This Age
19所有正确的基要派圣经教师，都相信神会惩治祂的儿女。在希伯来十二章五至十一节，有话警告我们。五至六节说，『你们竟全然忘了那劝勉的话，就是对你们如同对儿子所讲论的，说，『我儿，你不可轻看主的管教，被祂责备的时候，也不可灰心；因为主所爱的，祂必管教，又鞭打凡所收纳的儿子。』』这里的话，主要的是指神在今世的管教。你是神的儿子么？如果你是儿子，你就可能被鞭打。七节说，『为了受管教，你们要忍受。神待你们如同待儿子；那有儿子是父亲不管教的？』作者写本书时，希伯来的信徒正在受惩治。神待他们如同待儿子。我虽然管教自己的孩子，却从未管教在街上的孩子，因为他们不是我的儿女，我与他们无关。八节继续说，『只是你们若不受众子所共受的管教，就是私生子，不是儿子了。』我们若没有父的管教，就是私生子，不是儿子了。我当然不愿作私生子。『再者，我们曾有肉身的父管教我们，我们尚且敬重他们，何况万灵的父，我们岂不更当服从祂而得活著么？肉身的父是在短暂的日子里，照自己以为好的管教我们，惟有万灵的父管教我们，是为了我们的益处，使我们有分于祂的圣别。』（9～10。）圣别是神的性情；有分于祂的圣别，就是有分于神圣别的性情。希伯来的信徒留在犹太教里，乃是凡俗、不圣别的；他们需要圣别出来，归于神的新约，好有分于神圣别的性情。为这目的，神兴起逼迫管教他们，使他们从凡俗中圣别出来。
19All sound fundamental Christian teachers of the Bible believe that God chastises His children. In Hebrews 1 2:5-1 1 we have a word of warning concerning us. Verses 5 and 6 say, “You have completely forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with sons, My son, do not make light of the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when reproved by Him; for whom the Lord loves He disciplines and scourges every son whom He receives.” This word mainly refers to God’s discipline in this age. Are you a son of God? If you are, then you may be scourged. Verse 7 says, “It is for discipline that you are enduring; God is dealing with you as with sons; for what son is there whom the father does not discipline?” When this book was written, the Hebrew believers were suffering chastisement. God was dealing with them as with sons. Although I have disciplined my own children, I have never disciplined the children on the street, because they are not my children and I have nothing to do with them. Verse 8 continues, “But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are bastards and not sons.” If we are without the Father’s discipline, then we must be bastards, not sons. I certainly would not want to be a bastard. “Furthermore, we have had the fathers of our flesh as discipliners and we respected them; shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed disciplined us for a few days as it seemed good to them, but He for our profit that we might partake of His holiness” (vv. 9-10). Since holiness is God’s nature, to partake of God’s holiness is to partake of His nature. It was common, unholy, for the Hebrew believers to remain in Judaism. They needed to be separated to God’s new covenant that they might partake of God’sho ly nature. For this purpose, persecution was aroused to discipline them that they might be separated from the common to the holy.
三 有人来世受管教
C. Some in the Next Age
20虽然所有基要派的圣经教师，都相信神会惩治祂的儿女，但他们几乎都认为祂的惩治只在今世，不在来世，以为神不会在我们死后再惩治我们。但我在圣经里找不到这样的教训。路加十二章四十五至四十八节清楚的启示，主回来的时候，要惩治那不忠信的仆人。所有的信徒，都要在基督的审判台前，按著他们得救后的生活和工作受审判，断定他们是否要受惩治。这如同到学期末了，孩子们把成续单交给父母，父母就决定赏罚。主回来时，我们都要把成绩单交给祂，祂要决定我们该得甚么。神的管教不仅在今世，也在来世。我们曾指出，来世仍然属于旧天旧地。因此，即使来世的国度时代，仍是父对付祂儿女的时期。
20Although all the fundamental teachers of the Bible believe that God chastens His children, nearly all of them would say that His chastisement is only in this age, not in the coming age, claiming that God will never chastise us after we die. But I cannot find such a teaching in the Bible. Luke 12:45-48 reveals clearly that when the Lord Jesus returns, He will chastise His unfaithful servants. At the judgment seat of Christ, all the believers will be judged concerning how they have lived and what they have done after they were saved. Then the judgment will be made whether they will receive chastisement or not. This is similar to the end of the school year when the children present their parents a record of their grades, and the parents decide whether the children will receive a prize or a punishment. At the Lord’s coming back, we all will present our record to Him, and He will decide what we shall receive. God’s discipline is not only in this age but also in the coming age. As we have pointed out, the next age will still belong to the old heaven and the old earth. Thus, even the coming age of the kingdom will be a time for the Father to deal with His children
21希伯来十章二十七至三十一节所题出的警告，不是指不信之人永远的灭亡，乃是指神对那些不听从祂话之儿女时代的刑罚。我们必须确信，我们一旦得著神的救恩，就永远不会失去。然而，我们若忽略神的话，就会受到刑罚。神惩罚我们，并非憎厌我们。相反的，这是父神爱我们的标记。祂所爱的，祂必管教，祂待我们不像待私生子，乃像至亲的儿子。父必定会管教我们。
21What is mentioned in 10:27-31 as a warning does not refer to eternal perdition for the unbelievers but to God’s dispensational punishment of His children who do not obey His word. We must be assured that once we have God’s salvation, we shall never lose it. However, if we do not care for God’sword, we shall be punished. To be punished by God is not to be hated by Him. Rather, it is a sign that God the Father loves us. He disciplines whom He loves, not treating them as bastards but as dear sons. Surely the Father will discipline us.
22我们何等感谢主，祂向我们开启了祂的经纶，也给了我们警告，叫我们照著祂的经纶往前！我们若不留意神的警告，就会受刑罚。至于甚么时候受罚，完全在于祂，而不在于我们。甚么是对付孩子最好的时候，乃是由作父母的来定规。他们决定是否立即对付，还是等一下更好。照样，我们的父晓得甚么时候对付我们最适当，是否在今世，或是等到来世。路加十二章四十五至四十八节，十九章二十二至二十六节，马太二十四章四十八至五十一节，二十五章二十六至三十节，都清楚而肯定的说，主耶稣回来时，要对付那些不忠信的仆人。现在我们应该清楚，我们从神所得的救恩，是永远稳妥的。但是我们得救以后，必须谨慎的跟随神往前，特别是在这些希伯来书信息中得著对真理完全的认识之后，更是如此。若是这些信息不能帮助你往前，对你的幸福必定毫无益处。我们若知道主的旨意，却不去行，就会多受鞭打。我们若不知道主的旨意，而没有去行，就会少受鞭打。路加十二章四十八节说，『惟有那不知道的，作了当受鞭打的事，必少受鞭打。多给谁，就向谁多取；多托谁，就向谁格外多要。』你若没有心随主往前，你最好一无所知。但我们不再是一无所知。愿我们都听从警告，进前而不退缩。愿我们这样祷告：『主耶稣，帮助我进前来。』
22How we must thank the Lord that He has opened His economy to us and that He has given us the warnings that we might go along with His economy! If we do not heed God’s warnings, we shall be punished. The time of our punishment is altogether up to Him, not us. It is the parents who determine what is the best time to deal with their children. They decide whether to deal with them immediately or to wait. Likewise, our Father knows the right time to deal with us, whether it is in this age or in the coming age. Luke 12:45-48; 19:22-26; Matthew 24:48-51; and 25:26-30 reveal clearly and definitely that when the Lord Jesus comes back, He will deal with His unfaithful servants. By now we should be clear that the salvation which we have received from God is eternally secure. Nevertheless, we must be careful regarding our way of going on with God after we have been saved, especially after receiving the full knowledge of the truth as it has been given to us in these messages on Hebrews. If these messages do not help you to go on, then they will be unprofitable as far as your welfare is concerned. If we know the Lord’s will and yet do not do it, we shall be beaten more. But if we are ignorant of the Lord’s will and do not do it, we shall be beaten less. Luke 12:48 says, “He that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” If you do not have the heart to go on with the Lord, you are better off to be left ignorant. But we are no longer ignorant. May we all heed the warning to come forward and not to shrink back. May our prayer be, “Lord Jesus, help me to come forward.”