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希伯来书生命读经 · 第5篇

承受救恩的人

HEIRS OF SALVATION
1希伯来书是一卷特别的书。全新约中，只有一卷书与希伯来书同类，就是启示录。我个人确信希伯来书是使徒保罗写的，因为在本书的末了题到提摩太。（十三23。）保罗最少写了十三封书信。在新约所有的书信中，希伯来书最为特殊，与众不同，极不寻常。启示录在圣经各卷书中也极为突出。这两卷书都是基督的启示，用独特的方式把基督启示出来。基督的许多方面，只有在希伯来书里才看得到；基督另外一些特殊方面，也只有在启示录中才看得到。这两卷书对基督的启示都非常高深奥妙，以至于这两卷书向许多基督徒是封闭的。许多基督徒虽然能讲说四福音中的故事，知道因信称义，以及蒙头、擘饼、显出恩赐等事，却不能深入领会希伯来书和启示录。有些人研读启示录只谈论角、兽、马、蝎子、蝗虫、青蛙等等。另一些人讨论的比较高一点，谈论到大灾难有多长或被提的时间等。但我从来没有听见人讲论，启示录乃是独特的启示在神行政中的基督，也没有听说启示录乃是说到众地方召会是耶稣的见证。我从年轻时起，就听过许多关于启示录的信息，但从未听到人说启示录开始于七个金灯台，而结束于一个独一的灯台，就是一座金山，托著基督作灯，把神的光照耀出去，直到永远。赞美主！因著主的怜悯，在这末后的日子，祂把这两卷书向我们开启。祂也把这两卷书中基督的深奥向我们开启。我要你们注意希伯来书和启示录，不是因为这两卷书有深奥的道理，乃是因为这两卷书对基督有深奥的揭示。对基督这样的揭示，在其他的书卷中是看不到的。基督，我们亲爱的主，是一位奇妙的人物。祂的奇妙，远超过我们所能领会，所能述说。我们实在不能把祂的深奥说尽，因此，希伯来书和启示录就用各种不同的表达方式，来描写、刻画、揭示这位奇妙的人物。我请求大家，要仔细留意这两卷书种种的启示。
1Hebrews is a special book. In the New Testament there is only one other book in the same category as Hebrews— the book of Revelation. I myself strongly believe that Hebrews was written by the apostle Paul because at the end of the letter he mentions Timothy (13:23). Paul wrote at least thirteen Epistles. Among all the Epistles in the New Testament, Hebrews stands out in a very peculiar way. It is not common; it is quite unusual. Among all the other books of the Bible, Revelation also stands out. Both Hebrews and Revelation are revelations of Christ, revealing Christ in special and particular ways. Many aspects of Christ can only be seen in Hebrews, and other particular aspects of Him can only be found in Revelation. These two books are high, deep, and profound in their revelation of Christ. Because of this, they are closed to most Christians. Although many Christians can talk about the stories in the four gospels, justification by faith, and things such as head covering, the Lord’stable, and the manifestation of the gifts, they cannot touch the depth of Hebrews and Revelation. Some deal with the book of Revelation in the way of talking about horns, beasts, horses, scorpions, locusts, and frogs. Others discuss it in a higher way, talking about the length of the tribulation or the time of the rapture. But I have never heard people talk about it in the way of Christ being revealed so particularly in God’sad ministration, or in the way of the local churches being the testimony of Jesus. Since my youth, I have heard many messages on Revelation, but I have never heard anyone say that Revelation begins with seven golden lampstands and concludes with a unique lampstand, a golden mountain, holding Christ as the lamp shining with God’slight for eternity. We praise the Lord that in His mercy He has opened up these books to us in these last days. He has opened up the depths of His Christ in these books. I do not call your attention to Hebrews and Revelation because these books are deep in doctrine, but because they are profound in the unveiling of Christ. In no other books can we see Christ in such a way. Christ, our dear Lord, is a wonderful person. He is marvelous, far beyond our understanding and utterance. We simply cannot utter His profoundness. Therefore, Hebrews and Revelation use various expressions to describe, portray, and unveil this wonderful person. I ask you to take full note of the particulars revealed in these two books
2本篇信息是说到承受救恩的人，似乎与基督无关。但是请相信我的话，你若要认识基督，就必须明白这篇信息，因为其中说到基督特别的一方面。基督是奇妙、深奥、无限、丰富、超绝的。这样一位基督，当然需要我们众人作祂救恩的承受者。救恩一点不差就是基督自己这奇妙的人位。这位最深奥、最超绝、无限无量的基督自己，乃是我们的救恩。说我们是救恩的承受者，意思就是说，我们承受这位深奥、超绝、无限无量的基督。基督的深奥需要我们与祂同伙；我们与基督同伙，就把祂的深奥揭示出来。
2It may seem that this message on the heirs of salvation has nothing to do with Christ. Believe me, if you are going to know Christ, you must know this message, for it contains a particular aspect concerning Christ. Christ is wonderful, profound, unlimited, rich, and marvelous. As such a One, He certainly needs all of us to be heirs of salvation. Salvation is nothing less than the wonderful person of Christ Himself. Christ Himself, as the most profound, marvelous, unlimited, and immeasurable One, is our salvation. To say that we are heirs of salvation means that we inherit this profound, marvelous, immeasurable, and unlimited Christ. Christ’s profoundness requires our partnership. Our partnership with Christ unveils the profoundness of Christ.
壹 长子是被立的后嗣
I. THE FIRSTBORN SON BEING
THE APPOINTED HEIR
3在神的经纶里，祂不仅有伟大的工作，也有无穷的丰富。在神的工作中，有许多事情已经完成，也有许多事情将要完成。祂也创造并产生了许多东西。为此，神不仅立祂的儿子为工师，也立祂为后嗣。神给子权柄，按著神的定旨作成一切；也给祂权利，承受祂工作中的一切。希伯来一章二节说，神藉著子造了宇宙，并且立祂作承受万有者。歌罗西一章十六节说，万有都是藉著子并为著子造的。约翰十三章三节告诉我们，父已将万有交在子手里。因此，子是万人的主。（徒十36。）首先，子为父神所立；（来一2；）然后，子为父用灵所膏；（9；）最后，子被标出是神的儿子，（罗一4，）在复活里为神所生，成为神的长子之后，（来一5，徒十三33，）祂就在升到诸天之上时，就职作万有的主。（二36。）祂不仅为神所立所膏，更在祂被高举时，就职为主为基督，以管理神的工作，并且被标出为合法的后嗣，承受神经纶中的一切。祂如同亚伯拉罕的儿子以撒一样，要承受全地、（诗二8、）国度、（但七13～14、）宝座（路一32）和万有。（太十一27。）因著祂不仅是神的儿子，也是神的后嗣，就是神合法的承受者，所以凡父神所是并所有的，都是祂的。（约十六15。）这位就是我们的救主，也是我们所要承受的救恩。
3In His economy God not only has a great operation, but He also has tremendous riches. In His operation He has accomplished and is going to accomplish many things. He has also created and brought forth many things. For this, He has appointed the Son to be not only the Operator but also the Heir. He also has given the Son the authority to do everything in His purpose and the right to inherit all things in His operation. Hebrews 1:2 says that God made the universe through the Son and that He appointed the Son to be the Heir of all things. Colossians 1:16 says that all things were created by and for the Son. John 13:3 tells us that the Father has given all things to the Son. Thus, the Son is the Lord of all (Acts 10:36). Firstly, the Son was appointed by God the Father (1:2); then He was anointed by the Father with the Spirit (1:9); and eventually, after the Son had been designated to be the Son of God (Rom. 1:4), being begotten of God in His resurrection to be the Firstborn Son of God (1:5; Acts 13:33), He was inaugurated as the Lord of all into His office at the time of His ascension into the heavens (Acts 2:36). He was not only appointed and anointed by God, but, in His exaltation, was inaugurated as both the Lord and Christ to administrate God’so per at i on and was designated as the legal Heir to inherit all things in God’secon o my. He, as Isaac, the Son of Abraham, is going to inherit the earth (Psa. 2:8), the kingdom (Dan. 7:13-14), the throne (Luke 1:32), and all things (Matt. 11:27). Since He is not only the Son of God, but also the Heir of God, even the legal Heir of God, all that God the Father is and has is for His possession (John 16:15). This is our Savior, the One who is the salvation of which we are heirs
贰 众子得救成为共同承受者
II. THE MANY SONS BEING SAVED to be the joint-heirs
4要领会我们是救恩的承受者，就必须认识在神的经纶里，神有长子也有众子。在基督成为肉体之前，神有几个儿子？祂只有一个独一的儿子，圣经称这儿子为独生子。（约一14，。）基督徒顶熟悉的约翰三章十六节说，神爱世人，甚至将祂的独生子赐给他们。神的独生子就是基督。在祂死而复活之前，祂是神惟一的儿子。新约圣经启示，藉著基督的死与复活，产生了神的众子。（彼前一3。）主耶稣在复活的那一天清早，对马利亚说，『你往我弟兄那里去，告诉他们说，我要升到我的父，也是你们的父那里，到我的神，也是你们的神那里。』（约二十17。）在那日之前，主从来没有称祂的门徒为弟兄。即使在约翰十五章，祂也不过是说，『以后我不再称你们为奴仆，因为奴仆不知道主人所作的事；我乃称你们为朋友。』（15。）在复活以前，祂对门徒最亲密的称呼乃是『朋友』。但主复活以后，遇见了一位女性门徒，并叫她到祂的弟兄那里去。诗篇二十二篇已经豫言到这件事；第一节说，『我的神，我的神，为甚么离弃我？』这句话是主在十字架上说的。（太二七。）诗篇二十二篇前二十一节是说到主被钉十字架，到二十二节忽然说，『我要将你的名传与我的弟兄。』这证明主经过了死而进入复活。祂经过死与复活，就产生了许多弟兄。祂是那一粒麦子，经过死而复活，就结出许多子粒来。（约十二24。）如今神有许多儿子，祂不仅有一个儿子，乃是有长子和众子。基督在复活之前，是神的独生子；祂复活后，因著产生了许多神的儿子，祂就成了神的长子，有许多弟兄。甚么是子？子是父的彰显。许多时候，我看见一个人的儿子，就认出他父亲的样子，因为儿子总是彰显父亲。有时候，我看到一个孩子就知道他是谁的孩子，因为我看见他的面孔，就看见了他父亲的面孔。父亲不是儿子的彰显，儿子乃是父亲的彰显。神有几个儿子？在基督复活之前，神只有一个儿子。这意思是说，神只有一个独一的彰显。今天神有多少彰显？祂有许多的彰显，因为祂有许多儿子；这些儿子都是祂的彰显。我们若能领会这事，基本上就能明白救恩的承受者是怎么回事。
4In order to realize that we are the heirs of salvation, we must be aware that, in God’secon o my, God has the Firstborn Son and the many sons. How many sons did God have before Christ was incarnated? He had only one, unique Son. In the Bible, this Son is called the only begotten (John 1:14, 18). John 3:16, a verse familiar to 18 every Christian, says that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. God’son ly begotten Son was Christ. Before His death and resurrection, Christ was the unique Son of God. The New Testament reveals that through Christ’s death and resurrection the many sons of God were born (1 Pet. 1:3). Early in the morning of the day of His resurrection, the Lord Jesus said to Mary, “Go to My brothers and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father and My God and your God’” (John 20:17). He never called His disciples brothers before that morning. Even in John 15 He said, “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his lord is doing; but I have called you friends” (v. 15). The most intimate term He used regarding His disciples before His resurrection was “friend.” But after His resurrection, He met one of His female disciples and told her to go to His brothers. This was prophesied in Psalm 22. The first words of this psalm, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” were spoken by the Lord when He was on the cross (Matt. 27:46). The first twenty- one verses of this psalm speak of the Lord’s crucifixion. Suddenly, verse 22 says, “I will declare thy name unto 46 my brethren.” This proves that He passed through death and entered into resurrection. After He passed through death and resurrection, the many brothers were produced. He was that one grain of wheat which through death and resurrection became many grains (John 12:24). Now God has many sons. He not only has the one Son, but the many sons with the Firstborn. Before His resurrection Christ was the only begotten Son of God. After His resurrection, since many sons of God have been produced, He became God’s Firstborn Son with many brothers. What is a son? A son is the expression of his father. Many times when I see a son I can recognize the father’s face, for the sons express their fathers. Often when I see a little boy I know whose son he is, for when I look at his face I see his father’s face. The father is never the expression of the son; rather the son is the expression of the father. How many sons does God have? Before Christ’s resurrection, God had only one Son. This means that He had one, unique expression. How many expressions does God have today? He has many because He has many sons. All His sons are His expression. An understanding of this is basic to knowing the matter of the heirs of salvation.
5在神的救恩里，我们不仅由神而生，作神的儿子；（约一12～13；）我们也成为『神的后嗣，和基督同作后嗣』。（罗八17，加四7，多三7。）生为神的儿子是一件事，成为神的后嗣是另一件事。你知道儿子和后嗣有甚么分别么？你可能是儿子，却不是后嗣。要作儿子，只要生下来就行；要作后嗣，却必须长大成人。一个孩子要成为后嗣之前，必须先成人；但是成人之后，还不一定完全彀资格作后嗣。后嗣除了成熟以外，还必须经过法律的认可。你或许已经到了成熟的年龄，却不一定是法律上认可的后嗣。因此，要作后嗣，必须成人，也要经过法律的认可。人要作神的后嗣，也需要经过三个阶段：重生成为神的儿女，长大成熟，还要有法理的认可。假定一个君王有五个儿子，五个都能继承王位么？不能，只有长子才能继承王位。但是长子也必须长大，经过册立为太子，才成为合法的王位继承人，承受国度。你听到这里或许会说，『基督既然是长子，国度的宝座就与我们无关了。』但是我愿意告诉你们，虽然英国国王的宝座只为著一个人，属天国度的宝座却是为著长子以及祂许多弟兄的。我们都是祂的弟兄，和祂同作后嗣。祂登宝座，我们也要与祂同坐；（启三21；）我们要与祂一同作王。（二十4，6。）
5In God’ss alvation we are not only born of God to be His sons (John 1:12-13), but also made “heirs of God and joint-heirs of Christ” (Rom. 8:17; Gal. 4:7; Titus 3:7). To be born sons of God is one thing; to be made heirs of God is another. Do you know the difference between a son and an heir? You may be a son without being an heir. To be a son requires the birth; to be an heir requires the maturity in growth. Before a boy can become an heir, he must be matured. However, even after being matured he is not yet fully qualified to be an heir. In addition to reaching maturity, an heir must be legalized. You may be mature according to age and yet not be legalized to be the heir. Thus, in order to be an heir you need to be both mature and legalized. In order for a person to become God’she i r he needs three things: to be reborn as a child of God, to grow into maturity, and to be legalized. Suppose a certain king has five sons. Will they all inherit the throne? No. Only the firstborn will inherit the throne of the kingdom. Nevertheless, the firstborn needs to mature and to be designated as the crown prince. Then he will be the legal successor to the throne and will inherit the kingdom. Perhaps when you hear this you might say, “Since Christ is the Firstborn, we have no right to touch the throne of the kingdom.” But I am here to tell you that although the throne of the United Kingdom is just for one person, the throne of the heavenly kingdom is for the Firstborn and His many brothers. We all are His brothers and we are also His co-heirs. When He is on the throne, we shall be there with Him (Rev. 3:21). We shall be His co-kings (Rev. 20:4, 6
6我们的父是一位伟大的父，远比亚伯拉罕为大。我们作为父神的众子，要与基督这位神的长子，一同承受无比的丰富。但是我们必须在生命里长大成熟，使我们成为合法的后嗣。一个得救之人的定命是甚么？神拯救许多儿子的目的是为著甚么？祂的目的就是要我们和祂的儿子同作后嗣。神的长子是神所立的后嗣，而我们这些众子蒙了拯救，乃是和祂同作后嗣。救恩的最终目的，就是要我们和基督同作后嗣。我们竟然和基督同作后嗣！基督是被立的后嗣，而我们和祂同作后嗣。
6Our Father is a great Father, much greater than Abraham. We, the many sons of God the Father, have so much to inherit with Christ, the Firstborn Son of God. But we need to grow and mature in life that we may be made legal heirs. What is the destiny of a saved person? What is God’s purpose in saving the many sons? His purpose is that we be joint - heirs of His Son. The Firstborn Son of God is God’s appointed Heir, and we, the many sons, have been saved to be His joint-heirs. The destiny of our salvation is to be the joint-heirs of Christ. We are heirs with Christ! Christ is the appointed Heir and we are His joint-heirs.
7我们到底要承受甚么？希伯来二章说，我们这些和基督同作后嗣的人要承受全地。当然，我们所要承受的，远超过地。承受地土只是在千年国里的奖赏，如同学校里优秀的学生得奖一样。我们所要承受的当然远超过这些。林前三章二十一节说，万有全是我们的。
7What are we going to inherit? Hebrews 2 says that we, the joint-heirs of Christ, will inherit the earth. Of course, we shall inherit something far more than the earth. Inheriting the earth during the millennium is just a prize similar to the prize awarded to a student who receives straight A’sin school. We will certainly inherit a great deal more than this. First Corinthians 3:22 tells us that all things are ours.
参 同作后嗣者乃是
III. THE JOINT-HEIRS BEING THE PARTNERS
被立为后嗣者的同伙
OF THE APPOINTED HEIR
8同作后嗣者乃是被立为后嗣者的同伙。（来一9。）因著神的长子基督是神所立的后嗣，而我们这些众子是和祂同作后嗣的，所以我们是祂的同伙。祂与我们，我们与祂，乃是在神圣的企业中为同伙，同享权益。你听说过我们是基督的同伙么？阿利路亚！我们是祂的同伙。假若你是个亿万富翁的合伙人，你也必定很富有，因为这个亿万富翁的所有也属于你，你和他同在一个大企业里。照样，神在宇宙中有一个最伟大的企业，叫作『基督与召会』，我们都是这企业的合伙人。我们不是这企业的雇员，乃是合伙人。在整个宇宙中，神只有这一个企业─基督与召会，其中有千万的天使为我们效力。犹太人不该再以天使夸口；天使不过是我们的仆役。（一14。）
8The joint-heirs are the partners of the appointed Heir (1:9). Since Christ as the Firstborn Son of God is God’sap pointed Heir and we as the many sons of God are His joint-heirs, we are His partners. He and we, we and He, are in one partnership sharing the same interests in the divine corporation. Have you ever heard that we are Christ’s partners? Hallelujah, we are His partners! Suppose you become the partner of a billionaire. You would certainly be assured of having great riches, for whatever the billionaire has is yours. You are one with him in a great corporation. God has the biggest corporation in the universe. The name of this corporation is “Christ and the Church.” We are the partners in this corporation. We have not been hired by this corporation; we are the partners. In the entire universe God has only one corporation—“Christ and the Church”—and this corporation has millions of angels to be the serving ones. The Jews should no longer boast in the angels; the angels are our servants (1:14
肆 众子组成了
IV. THE MANY SONS COMPOSING
神的家─伯特利
THE HOUSE OF GOD—BETHEL
9众子，就是和基督同作后嗣者，并祂的同伙，组成了神的家─伯特利。神的家是由祂所有的儿子组成的。我们是和基督同作后嗣者，并祂的同伙；我们也是众子并神的家。希伯来二章十节说，我们是神许多的儿子；然后三章六节说，我们是神的家。神这个家是活的，因为是由我们这班活神活的儿子建成的。这完全是是灵的神，居住在我们灵里的故事。这位是灵的活神，居住在我们重生的灵里。这就是神在地上的家。因此，这乃是神在我们灵里的居所。（弗二22。）
9The many sons, who are the joint-heirs of Christ and His partners, compose the house of God, Bethel. The house of God is composed of all His sons. We are the joint-heirs and the partners of Christ. We are also the sons and the house of God. Hebrews 2:10 tells us that we are the sons of God. Then Hebrews 3:6 says that we are the house of God. This house of God is living because it is built with us, the living sons of the living God. It is altogether a matter of God being the Spirit and indwelling our spirit. The living God as the Spirit dwells in our regenerated spirit. Here is the house of God on earth. Hence, it is the habitation of God in our spirit (Eph. 2:22, Gk
伍 长子是
V. THE FIRSTBORN SON BEING
那在伯特利的天梯
THE HEAVENLY LADDER AT BETHEL
10圣经第一次题到神的家，是在创世记二十八章。要记住，凡是圣经第一次题起的事，就确立了那件事的原则。创世记二十八章说到神的家时，也确立了许多属灵的原则：神的家在那里，那里就有天梯；神的家和天梯乃是天的门；那里有神的家和天梯作为天的门，那里就有服役的天使在梯子上上去下来。在地上，那里有神的家，那里就有天梯。这天梯把地联于天，并把天带到地。这个有天梯的地方就是天的门。在这里，天使上去下来执行他们的职务，就是照顾神的家，天的门。这是神的家在地上的一幅图画。我们要记得希伯来书说，我们是和基督同作后嗣，是基督的同伙，也是神的家，就是今天在地上的伯特利。我们既是神的家，真正的伯特利，那么天梯基督也就在这里。天梯既在这里，就必有天使在梯子上上去下来的服事。今天，召会就是神的家，由神的众子，以及祂长子基督这天梯所组成。因此，召会就是天的门，有基督作为天梯，把地联于天，并把天带到地。在这梯子上，有天使上去下来服事。
10The first mention of God’sho use in the Bible is in Genesis 2 8. Remember, the first mention of anything in the Scriptures establishes the principle of that thing. In the mention of the house of God in Genesis 28 many spiritual principles are established: that where the house of God is, there is the heavenly ladder; that the house of God with the heavenly ladder is the gate of heaven; and that where there is the house of God with the heavenly ladder as the gate of heaven, there are the ministering angels ascending and descending upon the ladder. Wherever the house of God is on earth, there is the heavenly ladder. This ladder joins earth to heaven and brings heaven down to earth. The place with the heavenly ladder is the gate of heaven. Here the angels ascend and descend as they do their service, which is to take care of the house of God as the gate of heaven. This is the picture of God’sho use on earth. We must remember that in Hebrews we are told that we are joint - heirs of Christ, His partners, and the house of God, today’s Bethel on earth. Since we are the house of God, the real Bethel, the heavenly ladder, which is Christ, is here. Since the heavenly ladder is here, the angels ascend and descend upon this ladder as they do their service. The church today is the house of God composed of God’s many sons with Christ, the Firstborn Son of God, as the heavenly ladder. Therefore, the church is the gate of heaven with Christ as the heavenly ladder joining earth to heaven and bringing heaven to earth. Upon this ladder the angels are ministering as they ascend and descend.
11创世记二十八章所启示的，主耶稣在约翰一章五十一节里也加以证实：『我实实在在的告诉你们，你们将要看见天开了，神的使者上去下来在人子身上。』主耶稣在这里清楚的告诉我们，祂自己这人子，在复活里生为神的长子，就是天梯；在祂身上，服役的天使要上去下来为神的家效力。
11What was revealed in Genesis 28 was confirmed by the Lord Jesus in John 1:51. “And He said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, you shall see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Here the Lord Jesus tells us clearly that He Himself, as the Son of Man who was born in His resurrection to be God’s Firstborn Son, is the heavenly ladder and that upon Him the ministering angels are ascending and descending as they render their service to the house of God composed of God’s many sons
陆 神的家就是天的门
VI. THE HOUSE OF GOD BEING the gate of heaven
12召会这神的家，活神在地上的居所，乃是天的门。神的家在那里，那里就有天梯基督。基督在那里？祂在诸天之上，同时也在地上，在召会中。因此，祂在召会里作梯子，把地联于天，也把天带到地。这是我们该在的地方。我们这些蒙神拯救之神的众子，和基督同作后嗣的，并基督的同伙，活在地上的时候，就当在召会中生活并行事为人。在这里，我们享受神开启的天。在这里，我们有分于基督作天梯。在这里，我们有许多服役的天使，在各方面为我们效力。最重要的，在这里，我们在神的荣耀里彰显神。
12The church as the house of God, the habitation of the living God on earth, is the gate of heaven. Wherever the house of God is, there is the heavenly ladder, which is Christ. Where is Christ? He is both in the heavens and on the earth in the church. Hence, He becomes the ladder in the church that joins earth to heaven and brings heaven to earth. Here is the place for us to stay. We as God’s saved ones, the many sons of God, the joint-heirs and partners of Christ, should live and have our being in the church while we are on earth. It is here that we enjoy the open heaven of God. It is here that we participate in Christ as the heavenly ladder. It is here that we have so many angels ministering all kinds of services to us. Above all, it is here that we express God in His glory.
柒 天使为
VII. THE ANGELS MINISTERING
那承受救恩的人效力
TO THE HEIRS OF SALVATION
13在这荣耀的希伯来一章末了，说到神儿子的无限量时，也告诉我们，天使不过是我们的仆役：『天使岂不都是服役的灵，奉差遣为那些将要承受救恩的人效力么？』基督是神的后嗣；我们和祂同作后嗣。我们更是祂神圣企业中的合伙人，这是何等高的身分！比天使高多了！在神的经纶中，天使不过是服役的灵，服事我们这些和基督同作后嗣的，并神所立之后嗣的同伙。在神的宇宙中，我们乃是业主，天使不过是仆役。他们乃是为我们这班神的众子，承受救恩的人效力的。
13At the end of such a glorious chapter, chapter one of Hebrews, concerning the unlimited Son of God, we are told that the angels are our servants. “ Are they [angels] not all ministering spirits, sent forth for service for the sake of those who are about to inherit salvation?” Christ is God’sHe ira nd we are the joint-heirs of Christ. Even more, we are His partners in the divine interest. What a high position is this! It is much higher than that of the angels. The angels in God’secon o my are only the ministering spirits rendering service to us, the joint- heirs of Christ and the partners of God’sap pointed Heir. In God’sun i verse we are the owners and the angels are our servants. They serve us, the many sons of God, the heirs of salvation
14我们一同看几个天使服事的实例。当彼得被囚在监里时，有一个天使来，把监门打开，领他出来。（徒十二5～。）彼得就去到马利亚家叩门，使女罗大来开门，并告诉屋里的人说是彼得；他们却说那必是他的天使。我们每人至少都有一个天使。马太十八章十节证实这事：『你们要当心，不可轻看这小子里的一个。我告诉你们，他们的使者在诸天之上，常见我在诸天之上父的面。』我们不可恶待我们的弟兄，因为他们的使者常在父面前。神的使者常在天梯上上去下来，为承受救恩的人效力。再看哥尼流的事例，他在祷告的时候，天使向他显现。（徒十1～4。）不仅如此，诗篇三十四篇七节说，『耶和华的使者，在敬畏祂的人四围安营，搭救他们。』你若爱神并寻求神，祂必差派天使在你的四围安营。我们是谁？我们是承受救恩的人。天使是谁？他们是我们的仆役，时刻为我们效力的。我们怎样成为后嗣？是因著基督。祂是神的长子，我们是神的众子。祂是被立的后嗣，我们蒙了拯救，和祂同作后嗣。我们是『基督与召会』属天企业的合伙人，并且有千万的天使为我们效力。愿主开我们的眼睛，使我们看见这事。
14Let me share with you some real examples of the ministry of angels. When Peter was put into prison, an angel came, opened the door, and led him out of the prison (Acts 12:5-16). Peter then went and knocked on the door of 10 the house of Mary. When Rhoda, a maidservant, opened the door and told the people in the house that it was Peter, they said that it must have been his angel. We all have at least one angel. Matthew 18:10 proves this. “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.” We should not wrong our brothers because their angels are in the presence of the Father. The angels of God are ascending and descending on the heavenly ladder ministering to the heirs of salvation. We could also cite the example of Cornelius who was visited by an angel when he was praying (Acts 10:1-4). Furthermore, Psalm 34:7 says, “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” If you love God and seek Him, He will send angels to camp round about you. Who are we? We are the heirs of salvation. Who are the angels? They are our servants that minister to us continually. How have we become such heirs? Because of Christ. He is the Firstborn Son of God, and we are the many sons of God. He is the appointed Heir, and we have been saved to be His joint-heirs. We are partners in the heavenly corporation of “Christ and the Church,” and have millions of angels ministering to us. May the Lord open our eyes to see this.
15现在我们要总结这篇信息的重点。神的长子基督，被神立为承受万有者。我们这些神的众子，和基督同作后嗣，（罗八17，）不仅承受救恩，也要与祂一同承受万有。（林前三21～。）所以，我们乃是祂的同伙，与祂同作宇宙的拥有者，天使不过是我们的仆役，不仅低于祂，也低于我们。子已经被立为后嗣。我们蒙了拯救，和祂同作后嗣，同享祂的产业。希伯来二章三节所说『这么大的救恩』，能拯救我们到一个地步，使我们成为祂的同伙，有分于神的设立。因此，凡祂所承受的，我们都有分。我们这些子的同伙乃是神的家、真伯特利、天的门；在此子是天梯，把地联于天，并把天带到地。在这梯子上，神的使者上去下来，（创二八12，16～19，约一51，）作服役的灵，为我们这些承受这莫大救恩的人效力。希伯来书所说的，犹如天的门；在此我们享受基督作那属天的一位，使我们联于天，并把天带给我们，使我们得以成为属天的子民，在地上过属天的生活，且承受一切属天的事物。天使不过是服事我们的仆役，我们却是神奇妙救恩中荣耀的后嗣；希伯来的信徒怎能退回他们的老宗教，以天使为夸耀？
15Now we may summarize the main points of this message. Christ, the Firstborn Son of God, is God’s appointed Heir of all things. We, the many sons of God, are His “joint-heirs,” inheriting not only salvation but also all things with Him. Hence, we are the partners, joint - owners with Him of the universe, while the 22 angels are merely our servants, not only inferior to Him but also to us. The Son has been appointed to be the Heir, and we have been saved to be His joint- heirs, sharing in His inheritance. The “so great a salvation” referred to in 2:3 is able to save us to such an extent that it brings us into the partnership of His appointment. Thus, we share in whatever He inherits. We, as partners of the Son, are the house of God, the real Bethel, the gate of heaven, where the Son is the heavenly ladder, joining earth to heaven and bringing heaven to earth. Upon this ladder the angels of God are ascending and descending as ministering spirits for service to us who inherit so great a salvation. What is covered in the book of Hebrews is like the gate of heaven. Here we enjoy Christ as the heavenly One who joins us to heaven and brings heaven to us that we may be a heavenly people living a heavenly life on earth and inheriting all the heavenly things. How could the Hebrew believers withdraw from this and return to their old religion and boast in the angels? The angels are simply our ministering servants, whereas we are the glorious heirs of God’s marvelous salvation.