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约翰壹书生命读经 · 第12篇

神圣交通的条件（四）

Conditions of the Divine Fellowship (4)
1读经：约翰一书一章八至十节。在本篇信息里，我们要进一步看神圣交通的条件。
1Scripture Reading: 1 John 1:8-10 In this message we shall consider further the conditions of the divine fellowship
带自己入歧途
LEADING OURSELVES ASTRAY
2约翰在约壹一章八节说，『我们若说自己没有罪，便是自欺，真理就不在我们里面了。』说我们没有罪，就是说在我们的性情里，没有内住的罪。（罗七l7。）这是智慧派的异端所教导的。使徒要信徒豫防这虚假的教训。一章七节至二章二节这段话，说到信徒重生以后的犯罪，这使他们与神的交通中断。信徒重生后，他们的性情里若没有罪，怎能在行为上犯罪？即使他们只是偶尔犯罪，不是习惯的犯罪，他们的犯罪就足以证明还有罪在他们里面作工；否则，他们与神的交通就不会中断。使徒在这里的教训也定罪了今天『完全论』的教训，这种教训认为从罪得释放的光景，是今生可以达到，或已经达到的；又废除了今天『拔罪根』的错误教训，这种教训误解了三章九节和五章十八节的话，说重生之人的罪性已经连根拔除，所以他们不能犯罪。
2In 1:8 John says, “If we say that we do not have sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” To say that we do not have sin is to say that we do not have indwelling sin (Rom. 7:17) within our nature. This is what the Gnostic heresy teaches. The apostle is inoculating the believers against this false teaching. This section, 1:7—2:2, deals with the believers’ sinning after regeneration, which interrupts their fellowship with God. If after regeneration the believers do not have sin in their nature, how could they sin in their conduct? Even though they sin only occasionally, not habitually, their sinning is an adequate proof that they still have sin working within them. Otherwise, there would be no interruption to their fellowship with God. The apostle’ste aching here also condemns today’ste aching of perfectionism, that a state of freedom from sin is attainable or has been attained in the earthly life, and it annuls today’s wrong teaching of the eradication of the sinful nature, which, by misinterpreting the word in 3:9 and 5:18, says that regenerated persons cannot sin because their sinful nature has been totally eradicated
3『自欺，』原文也可译作『带自己入歧途。』说我们已经重生，所以没有罪（单数），便是自欺，否认了我们自己经历中真正的事实，因而带自己入歧途。八节的真理，指福音里所传输已启示出来之神的实际，真实的事实，就如：神和一切神圣事物的实际，（这一切神圣事物全是基督─约一14，17，十四6，）基督和一切属灵事物的实际，(这一切属灵事物全是那灵--约十四17，十五26，十六13，约壹五6，）以及人光景的实际。（约十六8～11。）这里特别指我们重生后，在与神的交通里，在神圣之光的光照下罪的光景。倘若我们说，我们重生以后就没有罪（单数），这样的实际，真理，就不在我们里面了；这也就是否认了我们自己重生以后真实的光景。
3The Greek words rendered “we are deceiving ourselves” can also be translated “we are leading ourselves astray.” To say that we do not have sin, because we have been regenerated, is self-deceiving. This denies the actual fact of our experience and causes us to lead ourselves astray. Truth in verse 8 denotes the revealed reality of God, the real facts, conveyed in the gospel, such as the reality of God and all the divine things, which are all Christ (John 1:14, 17; 14:6); the reality of Christ and all the spiritual things, which are all the Spirit (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13; 1 John 5:6), and the reality of man’s condition (John 16:8-11). Here it denotes especially our sinful condition after regeneration under the enlightenment of the divine light in our fellowship with God. If we say we do not have sin after being regenerated, such a reality, the truth, does not remain in us; that is, we deny our true post-regeneration condition.
认自己的罪
CONFESSING OUR SINS
4约翰在九节接著说，『我们若认自己的罪，神是信实的，是公义的，必要赦免我们的罪，洗净我们一切的不义。』这里的认罪是指承认我们重生以后的罪（复数）和失败，不是指承认重生以前的罪（复数）。
4In verse 9 John goes on to say, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous that He may forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Confession here denotes the confession of our sins, our failures, after regeneration, not the confession of our sins before regeneration
5神在祂的话上是信实的，(约壹一，）在祂儿子耶稣的血上又是公义的。（约壹一7。）祂的话，就是祂福音真理的话，（弗一13，）告诉我们，祂要因著基督赦免我们的罪；(徒十43；）并且基督的血已经满足了神公义的要求，使祂能赦免我们的罪。太二六28。）我们若认自己的罪，祂就要照著祂的话，并基于那藉著耶稣之血的救赎，赦免我们，因为祂必须在祂的话上信实，并在耶稣的血上公义；否则，祂就是不信实、不公义的。我们要得著祂的赦免，就需要认罪。这种为了恢复与神交通的赦免，乃是有条件的，就是在于我们的认罪。约翰在九节说到赦免和洗净。神赦免我们，就是释放我们，使我们脱离罪的亏欠；神洗净我们，就是洗去我们不义的玷污。不义与罪是同义辞。一切的不义都是罪。（约壹五17。）二者都是指我们错误的行为。罪指明我们错误的行为对神对人的亏欠;不义指明我们错误行为的玷污，使我们与神与人都是不对的。亏欠需要神的赦免，玷污需要神的洗净。为著恢复我们与神中断的交通，使我们可以用没有亏欠的良心，（提前一5，徒二四16，）在不受打岔的交通中享受神，神的赦免与神的洗净都是我们所需要的。
5God is faithful in His word (v. 10) and righteous in the blood of Jesus His Son (v. 7). His word is the 10 word of the truth of His gospel (Eph. 1:13), which tells us that He will forgive us our sins because of Christ (Acts 10:43), and the blood of Christ has fulfilled His righteous requirements that He may forgive us our sins (Matt. 26:28). If we confess our sins, He, according to His word and based upon the redemption (through the blood of Jesus, forgives us, because He must be faithful in His word and righteous in the blood of Jesus. Otherwise, He would be unfaithful and unrighteous. Our confession is needed for His forgiveness. Such forgiveness of God for the restoration of our fellowship with Him is conditional and depends on our confession. In verse 9 John speaks of both forgiveness and cleansing. For God to forgive us is for Him to release us from the offense of our sins. For Him to cleanse us is for Him to wash us from the stain of our unrighteousness. “Unrighteousness” and “sins” are synonyms. All unrighteousness is sin (1 John 5:1 7). Both unrighteousness and sins refer to our wrongdoings. Sins indicate the offense of our wrongdoings against God and men; unrighteousness indicates the stain of our wrongdoings that we are not right either with God or with men. The offense needs God’s forgiveness, and the stain requires His cleansing. Both God’s forgiveness and His cleansing are needed for the restoration of our fellowship with Him that has been broken so that we may enjoy Him in uninterrupted fellowship with a good conscience void of offense (1 Tim. 1:5; Acts 24:16).
我们重生以后有罪的光景
our sinful condition after regeneration
6十节说，『我们若说自己没有犯过罪，便是以神为说谎的，祂的话就不在我们里面了。』八节证明我们重生以后，里面仍有罪。十节进一步证明甚至我们外面还犯罪，尽管不是习惯的犯罪。我们在外面的行为上仍旧犯罪，因为我们在里面的性情中仍旧有罪。二者都证实我们重生以后罪的光景。使徒说到这样的光景时，使用代名词『我们，』表示没有把他自己排除在外。
6Verse 10 says, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” Verse 8 proves that after regeneration we still have sin inwardly. Verse 10 proves further that we even still sin outwardly, though not habitually. We still sin outwardly in our conduct because we still have sin inwardly in our nature. Both verses confirm our sinful condition after regeneration. In speaking of such a condition, the apostle uses the pronoun “we.” This indicates that he does not exclude himself.
7十节的『话，』指神启示的话，就是真理的话，（弗一13，约十七17，）这话传输神新约经纶的内容，与八节的真理是同义辞。在这话中，神暴露了我们重生前与重生后真实有罪的光景。我们若说自己重生以后没有犯过罪，便是以神为说谎的，否认了祂启示的话。我们已经指出，八节是指内住的罪，十节是指犯罪的行动。内住的罪是我们从天生所承受的罪，这罪藉著亚当进到人类里面，现今住在我们的性情里。甚至我们得救、重生以后，罪（单数）仍留在我们堕落的肉体里。这就是我们的身体需要在主回来时得赎的原因。当主耶稣回来的时候，我们的身体要因著主的大能得赎，改变形状。(腓三21。)这就是说，主的大能要将我们的身体改变成为荣耀的身体。然后内住的罪就不再是我们的一部分，因为我们改变形状的身体里不会有罪。约翰在八节说，我们若说自己重生以后不再有内住的罪，便是自欺。约翰在十节告诉我们，我们若说自己重生以后没有犯过罪，便是以神为说谎的。我们若说自己没有犯过罪，便是以神为说谎的，原因是神在祂启示的话─圣经里，清楚告诉我们，我们重生以后仍然会犯罪。但我们若说自己重生以后没有犯过罪，便是以神为说谎的。这就是说，祂启示的话不在我们里面了。
7The “word” in verse 10 is the word of God’sr evelation, which is the word of reality (Eph. 1:13; John 17:17) and which conveys the contents of God’s New Testament economy. It is synonymous with truth in verse 8. In this word God exposes our true sinful condition both before and after regeneration. If we say that we have not sinned after regeneration, we make Him a liar and deny the word of His revelation. We have pointed out that verse 8 refers to indwelling sin and that verse 10 refers to the act of sinning. Indwelling sin is the sin we inherited through our natural birth. This sin came into mankind through Adam, and now it dwells in our nature. Even after we have been saved and regenerated, sin remains in our fallen flesh. This is the reason our body needs to be redeemed at the time of the Lord’s coming back. When the Lord Jesus comes back, our body will be redeemed, transfigured, by the Lord’s power (Phil. 3:21). This means that the Lord’s power will change our body into a glorious body. Then indwelling sin will no longer be a part of us, for there will be no sin in our transfigured body. In verse 8 John says that if we say that, after we have been regenerated, we no longer have indwelling sin, we are deceived. In verse 10 John tells us that if we say that, after we have been regenerated, we have not sinned, we make God a liar. The reason we make God a liar if we say that we have not sinned is that in His word of revelation, the Bible, He tells us clearly that we can still sin after we have been regenerated. But if we say that we have not sinned after we have been regenerated, we make God a liar. This means that the word of His revelation is not in us
8这些经节清楚指明，我们重生以后仍有内住的罪，我们仍可能犯罪。我们需要承认这些事实。首先，我们必须承认，即使我们蒙了重生，仍然有罪住在我们的肉体里。我们若忽略这个事实，就会受欺骗、被引入歧途，结果我们就会放纵犯罪。已过我听到一些基督徒宣称：他们受了灵浸、说了方言以后，里面就不再有罪了。但在他们的经历中，他们陷入非常罪恶的光景里。他们在思想上受了欺骗，以为他们因著经历了灵浸，就不再有罪住在他们里面。
8These verses indicate clearly that after regeneration we still have indwelling sin, and it is still possible for us to sin. We need to admit these facts. First, we must admit that, even though we have been regenerated, we still have sin dwelling in our flesh. If we neglect this fact, we shall be deceived and misled. As a result, we may indulge in sin. In the past I heard of certain Christians who claimed that after they received the baptism in the Spirit and spoke in tongues, they no longer had sin within them. Yet in their experience they became involved in very sinful situations. They were deceived in thinking that because they had experienced the baptism of the Spirit they no longer had sin dwelling within them.
9即使你经历了圣灵里的浸，又说了方言，罪的性情仍然在你里面。我们绝不该相信这性情已经根除。罪的性情要留在我们的肉体里，直到主耶稣回来，藉著祂神圣的大能，将我们堕落的身体改变形状。我们都需要承认，我们有罪的性情。我作基督徒已经五十多年了，我能见证说，我深深相信，里面深深感觉，我的罪性仍然存留。信徒无论多属灵，肉体里仍然有内住的罪。我们都需要领悟这个、承认这个。这会保守我们不被误引。
9Even if you experience the baptism in the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues, the sinful nature is still within you. We should never believe that this nature has been eradicated. The sinful nature will remain in our flesh until the Lord Jesus comes back and by His divine power transfigures our fallen body. We all need to admit that we have a sinful nature. I can testify that, as one who has been a Christian for more than fifty years, I have the deep conviction, the deep inner sense, that my sinful nature still remains. No matter how spiritual a believer may be, he still has indwelling sin in the flesh. We all need to realize this and admit it. This will keep us from being misled
『无罪完全』的教训
THE TEACHING CONCERNING SINLESS PERFECTION
10已过有些基督徒教导说，信徒能达到无罪完全的光景。我不说这种教训是异端；然而，这种教训定规是错误的。一些教导『完全论』的人，使用马太五章四十八节里主的话，说到我们要完全，像我们的天父完全一样。他们也可能误用希伯来六章一节和林前二章六节这类的经节。这两节的『完全』一辞（在林前二章六节译作长成），实际上是成熟或长大成人的意思。说我们基督徒可能会有所谓的第二次祝福，而后成为无罪的完全，这种教训是不对的。我们若曾达到这样的光景，也只能暂时维持。假若一天清早你对主有一次丰富的经历，结果你可能几小时内是无罪的完全。但后来你可能又不小心，得罪了主。
10In the past certain Christians have taught that a believer can reach the state of sinless perfection. I would not say that this teaching is heretical; however, this teaching is surely mistaken. Some who teach perfectionism use the Lord’sword in Matthew 5:48 about being perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. They also may misapply such verses as Hebrews 6:1 and 1 Corinthians 2:6. In these two verses the word “perfect” actually means mature or full-grown. It is not correct to teach that we Christians may have a so-called second blessing and thereafter become sinlessly perfect. If we ever reach such a condition, we can maintain it only temporarily. Suppose one day you have a rich experience of the Lord early in the morning. As a result, for a few hours you may be sinlessly perfect. But then you may become careless again and fail the Lord
11在新约中，有些经节指明我们可以5:48完全。主在马太五章四十八节说到我们要完全，像我们的天父完全一样，这话指明我们可以这样完全，否则主绝不会说这话。然而，以为我们若达到完全的境地就能永远留在其中，这种想法是错误的。有些信徒不是夸大了自己对完全的经历，就是过度描述自己所经历的。我们这里的点乃是：我们不该以为我们能达到永久完全的境地。我们可能今天是完全的，明天却落下去了。在主耶稣回来将我们的身体改变形状以前，我们无法永久在无罪完全的光景里。
11Certain verses in the New Testament indicate that we can be perfect. The Lord’sword in Matthew about being perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect indicates that we can be perfect in this way. Otherwise, the Lord never would have spoken this word. However, it is a mistake to think that if we reach a state of perfection, we can remain in that state forever. Some believers have either exaggerated their experience of perfection or have gone too far in describing what they experienced. The point we are making here is that we should not think that we can reach a permanent state of perfection. We may be perfect today, but we may fall tomorrow. Before the Lord Jesus comes back to transfigure our body, we cannot be permanently in a condition of sinless perfection.
神的信实和公义
GOD’S FAITHFULNESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
12我们需要承认，我们重生以后仍然有罪；就是说，我们仍有内住的罪在我们的罪性里。因为我们里面仍然有罪，所以我们有可能犯罪。甚么时候我们犯罪，我们就需要认罪。然后神在祂新约的话上是信实的，必要赦免我们的罪。在福音里，就是在新约里，神应许要因著基督的救赎赦免我们的罪。所以，我们若认自己的罪，神必须是信实的，以遵守祂的话。神若不肯赦免我们，就是说祂违背自己的话；这样，神就不信实了。然而，我们可以有把握，只要我们藉著基督的救赎承认自己的罪，神必须赦免我们，因为祂在祂的话上必须是信实的。
12We need to admit that after regeneration we still have sin; that is, we still have indwelling sin in our sinful nature. Because we still have sin within us, there is the possibility that we may sin. Whenever we sin, we need to confess. Then God will be faithful in the word of His new covenant to forgive us our sins. In the gospel, which is the new covenant, God promises that He will forgive us our sins because of the redemption of Christ. Therefore, if we confess our sins, God must be faithful to keep His word. If God would not forgive us, this would mean that He contradicts His own word. In such a case, God would not be faithful. However, we may have the assurance that as long as we confess our sins through the redemption of Christ, God must forgive us, for He must be faithful in His word
13约翰在九节也告诉我们，神是公义的，要洗净我们一切的不义。神为甚么必须是公义的，要这样洗净我们？神必须是公义的，洗净我们的不义，因为祂在十字架上审判了主耶稣，作我们的代替，将我们所有的罪都归在祂身上。基督既为我们受了神的审判，祂的血就有功效来洗净我们。所以，当我们藉著祂的血认自己的罪时，神别无选择，只有赦免我们。比方说，假定你欠某人一笔钱，你的一个朋友替你还了这笔债，对方也接受了付款。现在对方就不能理直气壮的向你讨债，因为债已经偿还了。同样的，神已经藉著基督在十字架上的死，接受了为我们的罪所作的偿付。现在每当我们藉著基督在十字架上救赎的血，向神认自己的罪时，神都必须赦免我们。在这件事上神别无选择；祂必须是公义的。神在祂的话上是信实的，在祂的行动上是公义的。在祂的话上神必须信实，在祂的行动上祂必须公义。这里我们看见信实和公义之间的分别。
13In verse 9 John also tells us that God is righteous to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Why must God be righteous to cleanse us in this way? God must be righteous to cleanse us from unrighteousness because He judged the Lord Jesus on the cross as our Substitute, putting all our sins upon Him. Because God has judged Christ for us, His blood is efficacious to cleanse us. Therefore, when we confess our sins through His blood, God has no choice but to forgive us. For example, suppose you owe an amount of money to a certain person. A friend of yours pays this debt for you, and the other party receives the payment. Now that party cannot righteously claim the payment from you, for the debt has already been paid. In a similar way, God has received payment for our sins through the death of Christ on the cross. Now whenever we confess our sins to God through the blood of the redemption of Christ on the cross, God must forgive us. In this matter He has no choice. He must be righteous. God is faithful in His word, and He is righteous in His acts. In His word God must be faithful, and in His acts He must be righteous. Here we see the difference between faithfulness and righteousness
赦免与洗净
forgiveness and cleansing
14赦免与洗净有甚么分别？我们要知道这个分别，就得知道罪（复数）与不义的分别。罪是指过犯，不义乃是因我们犯了过失，所造成我们行为上的污点，玷污。每当我们犯罪，我们就有了过犯。然后，这过犯成了我们行为上的玷污，这玷污就是不义。比方说，假若你买了两样东西，但店员只叫你付一样的价钱。你若只付一样东西的钱，那就是得罪商店的行为。就著卖东西给你的人说，那是过犯；但就著你的人格说，那是不义的污点。为这缘故，别人不会说你犯罪，却会说你不义。
14What is the difference between forgiving and cleansing? In order to know this difference, we need to know the difference between sins and unrighteousness. Sins refer to offenses, and unrighteousness is the mark, the stain, on our behavior caused by the committing of an offense. Whenever we sin, we commit an offense. This offense then becomes a stain on our behavior, and this stain is unrighteousness. For instance, suppose you buy two items, but you are charged only for one. If you pay for just one item, that will be an act of sinning against the store. With respect to the person who sold you the items, that is an offense. But with respect to your character, that is a mark of unrighteousness. For this reason, others would not say that you are sinful, but would say that you are unrighteous
15同样的，当我们在神面前犯了罪，就著神说那些罪乃是过犯；但就著我们说，这些乃是不义的玷污。我们需要承认自己的罪。然后，一面神赦免我们的罪，我们的过犯；另一面神洗去我们不义的污点，玷污。这是约翰在一章九节说到赦罪和洗净不义的原因。赦罪实际上就是洗净、洗去我们不义的玷污。
15In a similar way, when we commit sins before God, with respect to God those sins are offenses. But with respect to us, they are stains of unrighteousness. We need to confess our sins. Then, on the one hand, God forgives our sins, our offenses. On the other hand, God washes away the mark, the stain, of our unrighteousness. This is the reason John in 1:9 speaks both of the forgiveness of sins and the cleansing from unrighteousness. The forgiveness of sins is actually the cleansing, the washing away, of the stain of our unrighteousness
恢复交通
THE RESTORATION OF FELLOWSHIP
16使徒约翰这几节写得很柔和、细致。他在六节说，『我们若说我们与神有交通，却在黑暗里行，就是说谎话，不行真理了。』然后在八节，他接著说，『我们若说自己没有罪，便是自欺，真理就不在我们里面了。』在十节他说，『我们若说自己没有犯过罪，便是以神为说谎的，祂的话就不在我们里面了。』但约翰在九节告诉我们：『我们若认自己的罪，神是信实的，是公义的，必要赦免我们的罪，洗净我们一切的不义。』神在祂的话上是信实的，要赦免我们的过犯；祂在祂的行动上是公义的，要洗净我们不义的玷污。藉著神的赦免和洗净，过犯得了赦免，污点也得了洗净。结果我们与神的交通就完全得著恢复。与神的交通因著罪与不义而中断；但当罪得了赦免，不义的玷污得了洁净时，我们与神的交通就恢复了。我们再次藉著与父并与子的交通，享受神圣的生命。
16The writing of the apostle John in these verses is tender and delicate. In verse 6 he says, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and are not practicing the truth.” Then in verse 8 he goes on to say, “If we say that we do not have sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” In verse 10 he says, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” But in verse 9 John tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous that He may forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” God is faithful in His word to forgive our offenses, and He is righteous in His acts to cleanse away the stain of unrighteousness. Through God’s forgiveness and cleansing, the offense is forgiven, and the mark is cleansed. The result is that our fellowship with God is fully recovered. Fellowship with God is broken by sin and unrighteousness. But when sin is forgiven and the stain of unrighteousness is cleansed, our fellowship with God is restored. Once again we have the enjoyment of the divine life through our fellowship with the Father and the Son.
献上基督作我们的赎罪祭和赎愆祭
OFFERING CHRIST AS OUR SIN OFFERING AND TRESPASS OFFERING
17按照豫表，以色列人必须献赎罪祭和赎愆祭。他们向神呈献这些祭物，实际上就是向神认罪。他们献赎愆祭和赎罪祭，指明他们看见自己是有罪的，并且犯了罪。有人可能争辩说，既然主耶稣已经来作一切祭物的应验，旧约赎愆祭和赎罪祭的豫表，就与我们毫无关系。不错，主耶稣是祭物的应验，但身为在基督里的信徒，你的光景、情形如何？你里面没有罪么？你岂不是有时候犯罪么？这样，对于内住的罪和偶尔犯的罪，你该怎么作？你需要承认你仍然有内住的罪，你仍然犯罪，即使你不是习惯的犯罪。这样向主认罪，就是将基督献给神，作你的赎罪祭和赎愆祭。我们每一天，从早到晚，都需要主作我们的赎罪祭和赎愆祭。我能见证，在我的经历中，我早晨、中午、晚上都需要主作我的赎罪祭和赎愆祭。我可能有一段享受主的愉快时间，但几分钟后，我也许就被甚么事物或甚么人绊跌了。
17According to typology, the children of Israel had to offer the sin offering and the trespass offering. By presenting these offerings to God, they were actually making a confession to Him. The fact that they offered the trespass offering and the sin offering indicated that they realized they were sinful and that they had committed sins. Some might argue that the types of the trespass offering and the sin offering in the Old Testament have nothing to do with us, since the Lord Jesus has come to be the fulfillment of all the offerings. Yes, the Lord Jesus is the fulfillment of the offerings. But what about your situation and condition as a believer in Christ? Do you not have sin within you? Do you not sometimes commit sin? What, then, should you do about indwelling sin and about the sins you commit occasionally? You need to confess that you still have indwelling sin and that you still commit sins, even though you do not sin habitually. To make such a confession to the Lord is to offer Christ to God as your sin offering and as your trespass offering. Every day, and throughout the day, we need the Lord as our sin offering and trespass offering. I can testify that in my experience I need the Lord as my sin offering and trespass offering morning, noon, and night. I may have a pleasant time enjoying the Lord, but then a few minutes later I may be stumbled by something or someone
神的应许与我们的认罪
GOD’S PROMISE AND OUR CONFESSION
18因为我们里面仍然有罪，并且我们偶尔仍会犯罪，所以我们需要向主认罪。我们不能说我们没有罪，或说我们没有犯过罪。赞美主，九节有力的应许说，我们若认自己的罪，神是信窦的，是公义的，必要赦免我们的罪，洗净我们一切的不义。所以，我们不该被内住的罪所搅扰；并且，我们一旦认了罪，接受了主的赦免和洗净，就不该被我们所犯的罪搅扰。
18Because we still have sin in us and because we still sin occasionally, we need to make confession to the Lord. We cannot say that we have no sin or that we have not sinned. Praise the Lord for the strong promise in verse 9 that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Therefore, we should not be bothered by indwelling sin, and, once we have made confession and received the Lord’s forgiveness and cleansing, we should not be bothered by the sins we have committed
19一章九节的应许绝不该误用来鼓励人犯罪。这就是说，我们不该以为我们可以出去犯罪，然后认罪并接受主的洗净。这种观念引向『废弃道德律论』（Antinomianism），认为我们既在恩典之下，就脱离一切规条，可以放纵犯罪。我们将会看见，约翰在二章一节说，『我将这些事写给你们，是要叫你们不犯罪。』约翰写这些话是盼望我们不犯罪。不过，我们有一章九节的应许，我们若犯罪，只要我们向神认自己的罪，就可以得著赦免并洗净。
19The promise in 1:9 should never be misused as an encouragement to sin. This means that we should not think that we may go out to commit sin and then confess and receive the Lord’s cleansing. This concept leads to Antinomianism, the concept that because we are under grace we are free from every regulation and can indulge in sin. As we shall see, in 2:1 John says, “These things I write to you that you may not sin.” John wrote with the expectation that we would not sin. Nevertheless, we have the promise in 1:9 that if we do sin, we may be forgiven and cleansed, provided we make confession of our sin to God.
平衡的看见
A BALANCED VIEW
20我信我们对于重生以后罪的问题有了平衡的看见。现在我们都该清楚，重生以后，我们的性情里仍然有罪，我们仍可能犯罪。不要信因著你重生了，你的性情里就不再有罪，或者你就不会再犯罪。这乃是欺骗。因为我们的性情里仍然有罪，所以我们总有可能犯罪。你若犯罪，就需要向神承认你的罪。祂在祂的福音里已经应许要赦免我们，祂会在祂的话上信实。不仅如此，在救赎里，神为我们审判了基督。这就是说，我们若藉著基督的救赎承认自己的罪，祂就不会因我们的罪审判我们。祂是公义的神，必要洗净我们的不义。这样我们就可以保守我们与神的交通，并且天天享受祂。
20I believe that we have seen a balanced view concerning the matter of sin after our regeneration. By now we all should be clear that after regeneration we still have sin in our nature and that it is still possible for us to commit sin. Do not believe that because you have been regenerated you no longer have sin in your nature or that you can no longer sin. This is a deception. Because we still have sin in our nature, it is always possible for us to sin. If you sin, you need to confess your sin to God. He has promised in His gospel to forgive us, and He will be faithful in His word. Furthermore, in redemption God judged Christ on our behalf. This means that He will not judge us for our sins if we confess them through the redemption of Christ. As the righteous God, He will surely cleanse us from our unrighteousness. In this way we may preserve our fellowship with Him and enjoy Him day by day
21我们已经指出，我们不该相信，在主来将我们的身体改变形状之前，我们能永远完全。这是完全论的错误观念。我们相信，靠著主的恩典，我们能得胜并完全。然而，这种得胜与完全不是一次永远的。我们总有可能再犯罪。所以，我们需要恐惧战兢并且儆醒，免得我们由于住在我们肉体里的罪受到破坏。一天过一天，我们需要仰望主、祷告、儆醒。倘若我们失败犯罪了，我们该向主认罪。祂会信实、公义的赦免我们，用祂儿子耶稣基督的血洗净我们。
21We have pointed out that we should not believe that we can be forever perfect before the Lord comes to transfigure our body. This is the mistaken concept concerning perfectionism. We believe that by the Lord’s grace we can overcome and be perfect. However, this overcoming and perfection are not once for all. There is always a possibility that we may sin again. Therefore, we need to be in fear and trembling and on the alert lest we be damaged through the sin that dwells in our flesh. Day by day, we need to look to the Lord, pray, and be watchful. In case we fail and commit sin, we should make confession to the Lord. He will be faithful and righteous to forgive us and cleanse us by the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ