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约翰壹书生命读经 · 第17篇

神圣交通的条件（九）

Conditions of the Divine Fellowship (9)
1读经：约翰一书二章七至十一节。在本篇信息中，我们要来看约壹二章七至十一节，就是约翰一书论到神圣交通的条件末了的一段。
1Scripture Reading: 1 John 2:7-11 In this message we shall consider 2:7-11, the last portion of the first Epistle of John concerned with the conditions of the divine fellowship
旧诫命
AN OLD COMMANDMENT
2约翰在约壹二章七节说，『亲爱的，我写给你们的，不是一条新诫命，乃是一条你们从起初就有的旧诫命，这旧诫命就是你们所听见的话。』这里题到的『旧诫命』是主在约翰十三章三十四节所赐的诫命：『我赐给你们一条新诫命，乃是叫你们彼此相爱，正如我爱你们，为使你们也彼此相爱。』这诫命是信徒所听见，从起初就有的话。
2In verse 7 John says, “Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment, which you had from the beginning ; the old commandment is the word which you heard.” The “old commandment” referred to here is the commandment given by the Lord in John 13:34: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” This commandment is the word the believers heard and had from the beginning
3约壹二章七节里『从起初』这辞是用在相对的意义上。我们曾经指出，这辞在约翰福音用了二次，在约翰一书用了八次，在约翰二书用了二次。在约翰八章四十四节，约壹一章一节，二章十三至1十四节，三章八节，是用在绝对的意义上；在约翰十五章二十七节，约壹二章七节、二十四节（二次），三章十一节，约贰五节、六节，是用在相对的意义上。约翰写给信徒的不是一条新诫命，乃是一条旧诫命，是他们从起初，就是从主耶稣在地上给他们诫命叫他们彼此相爱的时候就有的。那旧诫命就是他们所听见的话。主的诫命就是祂的话。这意思就是，主的诫命不仅仅是训谕，更是传输生命供应的话。主耶稣在约翰六章六十三节说，『我对你们所说的话，就是灵，就是生命。』因此，约壹二章七节的『话』指明生命的供应。凡主所说的，都是将生命和灵供应我们的话。主所说的可能也是训谕，要求我们作某件事。但是只要那训谕是主所说的，是从祂口里所出的，就是供应我们生命的话。因此，每当我们接受并遵守主的话，我们就接受生命的供应。
3In verse 7 the phrase “from the beginning” is used in the relative sense. We have pointed out that this phrase is used twice in the Gospel of John, eight times in this Epistle, and two times in 2 John. In John 8:44; 1 John 1:1; 2:13, 14; and 3:8, it is used in the absolute sense; whereas in John 15:27; John 2:7, 24 (twice); 3:11; and 2 John 5, 6, it is used in the relative sense. John was not writing a new commandment to the believers; he was writing an old commandment, which they had from the beginning, that is, from the time the Lord Jesus was on earth and gave them the commandment to love one another. That old commandment is the word which they heard. The commandment of the Lord is His word. This means that His commandment is not merely an injunction; the Lord’s commandment is also a word conveying the life supply. In John 6:63 the Lord Jesus said, “The words which I have spoken unto you are spirit and are life.” Therefore, in 2:7 “the word” indicates the life supply. Whatever the Lord speaks is a word supplying us with life and spirit. What the Lord says may also be an injunction demanding that we do a certain thing. Nevertheless, as long as that injunction is something uttered by the Lord, something that proceeds out of His mouth, it is a word that supplies us with life. Therefore, whenever we take the Lord’sword and keep it, we receive the life supply.
4旧诫命成为新的
4the old commandment becoming new
5约翰在二章八节接著说，『再者，我写给你们的是一条新诫命，这在主并在你们都是真的；因为黑暗渐渐过去，真光已经照耀。』弟兄相爱是旧诫命，也是新诫命：是旧诫命，乃因信徒从基督徒生活的开始就有了；是新诫命，乃因在基督徒的行事为人上，这诫命一再露出新的曙光，一再以新的亮光及新鲜的能力照耀著。二章八节的『这』原文为中性，不是指阴性的『诫命，』乃该指弟兄相爱这旧诫命在信徒的基督徒行事为人上是新的这事实。这在主是真的，因祂不仅将这诫命赐给祂的信徒，也在他们日常的行事为人上不断的更新这诫命。这在信徒也是真的，因他们不仅一次永远的领受了这诫命，也一再的蒙其光照，得其复苏。约翰在二章八节告诉我们，黑暗渐渐过去，真光已经照耀。黑暗渐渐过去，就是黑暗在真光的照耀里渐渐消逝。真光乃是主诫命的光。因著这光的照耀，弟兄相爱的诫命就在黑暗中露出曙光，使这条旧诫命在整个基督徒的生活中一直是新鲜的。
5In verse 8 John goes on to say, “Again, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shines.” The commandment of brotherly love is both old and new: old, because the believers have had it from the beginning of their Christian life; new, because in their Christian walk it dawns with new light and shines with new enlightenment and fresh power again and again. The relative pronoun “which” in verse 8 is in neuter gender. It does not refer to “commandment,” which is in feminine gender. It should refer to the fact that the old commandment of brotherly love is new in the believers’ Christian walk. This is true in the Lord, since He not only gave it to His believers, but also renews it in their daily walk all the time. This is true also in the believers, since they have not only received it once for all, but also are enlightened and refreshed by it repeatedly. In verse 8 John tells us that the darkness is passing away and that the true light already shines. The passing away of the darkness is its vanishing in the shining of the true light. The true light is the light of the Lord’s commandment. Because this light shines, the commandment of brotherly love dawns in the darkness and makes the old commandment new and fresh throughout the entire Christian life.
6许多人读了二章七、八节，因约翰所说关于旧诫命和新诫命的话受到困扰。他在七节说，他写的不是一条新诫命，乃是一条旧诫命。但他在八节说，他写的是一条新诫命。旧诫命怎能是新诫命？是新诫命有别于旧诫命呢，还是旧诫命成了新的？如果我们从上下文仔细来读这些经节，会看见旧诫命和新诫命实际上乃是一。这是因为诫命就是主的话，而主的话发出曙光，如同早晨太阳升起，新的一天露出曙光一样。当太阳升起的时候，太阳的照耀就吞灭了黑暗。夜的黑暗总是随著朝阳的照耀而消逝。约翰在此指明，主的诫命，就是主活的话，如同旭日照耀，这照耀吞灭了黑暗。
6Many who read verses 7 and 8 are bothered by what John says concerning an old commandment and a new commandment. In verse 7 he says that he is not writing a new commandment but an old commandment. But in verse 8 he says that he is writing a new commandment. How can an old commandment be a new commandment? Is the new commandment a commandment other than the old commandment, or is it the old commandment becoming new? If we read these verses carefully in context, we shall see that actually the old commandment and the new commandment are one. The reason for this is that the commandment is the word of the Lord, and the word of the Lord dawns as a new day dawns when the sun rises in the morning. When the sun rises, the shining of the sun swallows up the darkness. The darkness of night always vanishes with the shining of the morning sun. Here John indicates that the Lord’s commandment, as His living word, shines as the dawning sun, and this shining swallows up darkness
7人的诫命不论是那一种，颁布以后就逐渐变旧。人的诫命不是活的。因为这些诫命不是活的，所以从来不会发出曙光，也从来不会照耀。但主所赐的诫命是祂活的话。因为主的诫命是祂活的话，这话就照耀。这活的话在黑暗里发出曙光的时候，是带著属天的光。属天之光的照耀使旧的事物成为新的，特别使旧诫命成为崭新、新鲜、且满了亮光的。
7After any kind of human commandment has been given, it gradually becomes old. Human commandments are not living. Because these commandments are not living, they never dawn and they never shine. But the commandment given by the Lord is His living word. Because His commandment is His living word, this word shines. When this living word dawns in the darkness, it dawns with heavenly light. The shining of heavenly light makes old things new. In particular, it makes the old commandment new, fresh, and full of light.
8你也许熟悉这项原则：光的照耀指明新。假如你关了房间里的灯，过了一段时间再开灯，那时你自然会有新的感觉。光的照耀带给我们这种新的感觉。光每次照耀，都带进新的光景。因为人的话是死的，不能照耀，因此不能给我们新的开始。但主的诫命，就是祂活的话，总是给我们新的开始，因为祂的话一再照耀，崭新又新鲜。我们许多人能见证，我们这样经历过主话的照耀。比方说，主耶稣在约翰十三章三十四节吩咐我们要彼此相爱。我们能见证，在我们基督徒的生活里，这诫命多次成了崭新又新鲜的。在我们作基督徒的年日里，这旧的训谕常常对我们成为新鲜的话。每当我们接触主，而祂的旧诫命在我们的黑暗中露出曙光时，光就照耀。『新』同著这光而来。旧诫命就是这样成为新诫命的。旧诫命成为新的，因为这是活的、照耀的话。这照耀使得旧诫命崭新又新鲜。
8Perhaps you are familiar with the principle that the shining of light indicates newness. Suppose you shut off the light in a room for a period of time. When you turn on the light again, you will spontaneously have the sense of newness. The shining of light brings us this sense of newness. Every time light shines it brings in a new situation. Because human words are dead, they cannot shine and therefore cannot give us a new beginning. But the Lord’s commandment, as His living word, always gives us a new beginning because His word shines anew and afresh again and again. Many of us can testify that we have experienced the shining of the Lord’sword in this way. For instance, in John 13:34 the Lord Jesus commands us to love one another. We can testify that many times this commandment has become new and fresh in our Christian life. Throughout the years we have been Christians, often this old injunction has become a fresh word to us. Whenever we contact the Lord and His old commandment dawns in our darkness, light shines. With this light there is newness. This is how the old commandment can be a new commandment. The old commandment becomes new because it is a word that is living and shining. This shining makes the old commandment new and fresh
9现在我们能明白为何使徒约翰说，『我写给你们的，不是一条新诫命，乃是一条…旧诫命…。再者，我写给你们的是一条新诫命。』约翰在这些经节里似乎说，『我相信我写给你们的，正照耀在你们身上，并且吞灭黑暗。现今在这新光的照耀里，黑暗渐渐消逝了，过去了。』
9Now we can understand why the apostle John says, “I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment....Again, I am writing a new commandment to you.” In these verses John seems to be saying, “I believe that what I am writing to you is shining upon you and swallowing the darkness. The darkness is now vanishing, passing away, in the shining of this new light
在祂并在我们都是真的
TRUE IN HIM AND IN US
10约翰在约壹二章八节说，弟兄相爱的旧诫命在信徒的基督徒行事为人上是新的，这事实在主并在我们都是真的。这在主是真的，因祂赐下了这诫命，并使这诫命更新且复苏。这在我们也是真的，因我们不仅领受了这条旧诫命，也得著这诫命崭新且新鲜的光照。在这光照之下，我们感觉到这话对我们是新的，且使我们复苏。这话甚至使我们成为新的。因此，这在我们是真的，因为黑暗渐渐消逝，真光已经照耀。
10In verse 8 John says that the fact of the old commandment of brotherly love being new in the believers’ Christian walk is true both in the Lord and in us. This is true in the Lord because He gave the commandment and because He renews and refreshes this commandment. This is true also in us because we not only have received the old commandment, but also have a new and fresh enlightening of this commandment. Under this enlightenment, we have the consciousness that this word is new and refreshing to us. This word even makes us new. Therefore, this is true in us because the darkness is vanishing and the true light is already shining.
11这真光是甚么？就是照耀在我们身上主话里的光。这照耀好比新的一天露出曙光。
11What is this true light? This light is the light in the word of the Lord that is shining upon us. This shining can be compared to the dawning of a new day
光与黑暗
LIGHT AND DARKNESS
12约翰在二章九节接著说，『那说自己在光中，却恨他弟兄的，到如今还是在黑暗里。』光是神素质的彰显，也是真理的源头。神圣的爱与这神圣的光有关；相对的是属撒但的恨，与属撒但的黑暗有关。恨主里的弟兄乃是在黑暗里的表记。（约壹二11。）照样，爱弟兄乃是住在光中的表记。(约壹二10。）约翰在这封书信的第一章，论到神圣交通的第一条件，说到光与黑暗。他在二章说到第二条件时，也题到光与黑暗。恨是我们在黑暗里的表记，爱是我们在光中的表记。约翰在十节接著说，『那爱他弟兄的，就住在光中，在他并没有绊跌的缘由。』住在光中有赖于住在主里面，（约壹二6，）由此产生对弟兄的爱。绊跌来自眼瞎，眼瞎来自黑暗。
12In verse 9 John continues, “He who says he is in the light and is hating his brother, is in the darkness until now.” Light is the expression of God’s essence and the source of truth. The divine love is related to the divine light. The divine love is versus the satanic hatred, which is related to the satanic darkness. Hating a brother in the Lord is a sign of being in darkness (v. 11). Likewise, loving a brother is a sign of abiding in the light (v. 10). In chapter 1 of this Epistle John speaks about light and darkness with respect to the first condition of the divine fellowship. When in chapter two he speaks regarding the second condition, he also mentions light and darkness. Hatred is a sign that we are in darkness, whereas love is a sign that we are in the light. In verse 10 John goes on to say, “He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him.” Abiding in the light depends upon abiding in the Lord (v. 6), from which issues love toward the brothers. Stumbling comes from blindness, and blindness comes from darkness
13神圣交通的两个条件都在于神圣的光。我们若不在神圣的光中，自然就断绝了神圣生命的交通。我们若没有光，自然就在黑暗里。每当光消逝，就有了黑暗。照样，只要我们住在神圣的光中，黑暗就消逝了。没有神圣的光，是我们不在神圣的交通里有力的表记。在一章关于神圣交通的第一条件，我们是在光中还是在黑暗里，决定于我们有否对付罪。我们若犯罪，就是在黑暗里。但我们若认罪，对付罪，经历神的赦免和洗净，我们就要在光中。在二章关于神圣交通的第二条件，我们是在黑暗里还是在光中，决定于我们是否爱弟兄。我们若恨弟兄，就是在黑暗里。但我们若爱弟兄，就是在光中。当我们在光中，我们就是在神圣的交通里。但是当我们在黑暗里，我们就与这交通无分无关。
13Both conditions of the divine fellowship depend on the divine light. If we are not in the divine light, we are automatically through with the fellowship of the divine life. Whenever we are without light, we are automatically in darkness. Whenever light vanishes, darkness is present. Likewise, as long as we abide in the divine light, darkness vanishes. The absence of the divine light is a strong sign that we are not in the divine fellowship. In chapter one, concerning the first condition of the divine fellowship, whether we are in light or darkness is determined by whether or not we deal with sin. If we sin, we are in darkness. But if we deal with sin by confessing it and experiencing God’s forgiveness and cleansing, we shall be in the light. In chapter two, concerning the second condition of the divine fellowship, whether we are in darkness or light is determined by whether or not we love the brothers. If we hate, we are in darkness. But if we love, we are in the light. When we are in the light, we are then in the divine fellowship. But when we are in darkness, we have nothing to do with this fellowship.
14约翰在约壹二章十一节说，『但那恨他弟兄的，是在黑暗里，且在黑暗里行，也不知道往那里去，因为黑暗弄瞎了他的眼睛。』在约翰十二章三十五、四十节，黑暗是眼瞎的结果；在这里，黑暗是眼瞎的缘由。黑暗带进眼瞎，眼瞎是绊跌的缘由。基督徒怎么可能绊跌？基督徒可能因著来自黑暗的眼瞎而绊跌。黑暗是我们交通受打岔的结果。当我们在神圣生命里的交通中断时，我们立刻在黑暗里。这黑暗引致眼瞎，这时我们就容易绊跌。履行两个条件
14In verse 11 John says, “But he who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” In John 12:35 and 40, darkness is the issue of blinding; here it is the cause of blinding. Darkness brings in blindness, and blindness is the cause of stumbling. How is it possible for a Christian to be stumbled? A Christian may be stumbled by the blindness that comes from darkness. Darkness is the result of an interruption in our fellowship. Whenever our fellowship in the divine life is broken, immediately we are in darkness. This darkness causes blindness. Then it is easy for us to stumble. MAINTAINING THE DIVINE FELLOWSHIP BY
以维持神圣的交通
FULFILLING THE TWO CONDITIONS
15在约壹一章五节至二章十一节有神圣交通的条件。第一个条件是承认我们的罪，第二个条件是爱神并爱弟兄。要承认我们的罪，就需要领悟我们还有罪住在肉体里，并且总有可能犯罪。每当我们犯罪时，就需要认我们的罪。我们认罪是基于神的供备：耶稣的血、我们信实且公义之神的信实与公义、辩护者、以及基督作我们平息的祭物。藉著这些供备，我们可以享受交通的恢复，这交通的恢复完全基于平息。实际上，平息本身就是得著恢复的交通。我们以平息为根基，就可以与神交谈，神也与我们交谈。于是我们就有双向的交通，作我们与神之间彼此的享受。这是维持神圣交通的第一个条件。我们已经强调，第二个条件是爱神并爱弟兄。我们要履行这条件，就需要不断的在经历上认识神。偶尔认识神是不彀的，认识神不是一劳永逸的。我们需要不断的活在神圣的生命里，好在经历上认识神。我们日常的生活该是不断认识神的生活，因为我们的生活该是活出神的生活。只要我们活出神，我们就会不断的认识祂。
15In 1:5—2:11 we have the conditions of the divine fellowship. The first condition is the confessing of our sins, and the second condition is loving God and the brothers. In order to confess our sins, we need to realize that we still have sin dwelling in our flesh and that it is always possible for us to sin. Whenever we sin, we need to confess our sin. Our confession is based on God’spr o visions: the blood of Jesus, the faithfulness and righteousness of our faithful and righteous God, the Advocate, and Christ as our propitiation. Through these provisions we may enjoy the restoration of our fellowship. This restoration of fellowship is wholly based on propitiation. Actually, propitiation is itself the restored fellowship. With propitiation as the basis, we may converse with God, and He with us. We then have two-way traffic for a mutual enjoyment between us and God. This is the first condition for maintaining the divine fellowship. We have emphasized the fact that the second condition is loving God and the brothers. In order to fulfill this condition, we need to know God continuously and experientially. It is not sufficient to know God once in a while, and we do not know Him once for all. We need to know Him experientially by continuously living in the divine life. Our daily life should be a life of knowing God constantly, for our life should be a life of living God. As long as we live God, we shall constantly know Him
16我能从经历中作见证，每当我说话，我就有机会认识神。我释放信息，就是盼望在神里面并同著神说话。但是有时候，一句话就要从我口里出来，那时我觉察到需要把那句话吞回去，因为神，就是我在祂里面并同著祂说话的神，规律我所说的。我不要在我自己里面说话，乃要在神里面说话。我无法告诉你，我在说话的事上，逐渐对神有了多少的认识。每当我说话，我就认识神。说话总是一个黄金机会，让我来经历祂。我们若要经历并享受神圣的爱，并让这爱成为我们藉以爱神并爱人的爱，就需要在经历上认识神。这是使神的爱成为我们的爱的基本要求。我们若不断的在经历上认识神，自然就会遵守主的诫命。我们认识神，就遵守主的诫命。遵守主的诫命，意思就是接受祂的话。我们已经指出，主的话不仅是诫命或训谕，主的话对我们也是生命的供应。主的话总是在我们的灵里供应生命，这可由我们的经历得著证实。每当我们接受主的话，并且付诸实行，我们里面立刻得著生命的供应。
16I can testify from experience that whenever I speak, I have the opportunity to know God. In giving a message my desire is to speak in God and with God. Sometimes, however, a certain word may be about to come out of my mouth. Then I realize that I need to swallow it, for the very God in whom and with whom I speak regulates what I say. I do not want to speak in myself but in God. I cannot tell you how much I have come to know God in the matter of my speaking. Whenever I speak, I know God. Speaking is always a golden opportunity for me to experience Him. If we would experience and enjoy the divine love and have it become the love by which we love God and others, we need to know God experientially. This is the basic requirement for having the love of God become our love. If we continually know God in an experiential way, we shall automatically keep the commandments of the Lord. When we know God, we keep the Lord’s commandment. To keep the Lord’s commandment means that we take His word. We have pointed out that the Lord’sword is not merely a command or injunction; it is also a supply of life to us. The Lord’sword always supplies life in our spirit. This can be proved by our experience. Whenever we receive the Lord’sword and put it into practice, immediately we have the life supply within us
17主的话和摩西的律法不同。摩西的律法是训谕，有命令和要求，却没有供应。然而，凡主在新约里所吩咐我们的，都是供应的话。主生命的供应托住祂的诫命。主的诫命不仅是训谕，要求我们作事；主的诫命也是话，总是供应所要求的。主的话甚至将是生命、是那灵的主自己供应我们。因此，我们可以经历祂并享受祂。我们若认识祂，就遵守祂的话。藉著遵守祂的话，我们就享受祂的供应。当我们遵守主的话，并接受祂的供应，神的爱在我们里面就得著成全。这就是说，当我们接受主话的供应，神的爱就成了我们的享受，这享受产生对神和弟兄的爱。
17The Lord’s word is different from the Mosaic law. The Mosaic law is an injunction with demands and requirements, but without any supply. However, whatever the Lord commands us in the New Testament is a supplying word. His life supply backs up His commandment. His commandment is not merely an injunction requiring us to do something; it is also a word that always supplies whatever it demands. The Lord’s word even supplies us with the Lord Himself as life and as the Spirit. Therefore, we may experience Him and enjoy Him. If we know Him, we shall keep His word. By keeping His word we enjoy His supply. When we keep the Lord’sword and receive His supply, the love of God will be perfected within us. This means that as we receive the supply of the Lord’s word, the love of God becomes our enjoyment, and this enjoyment issues in a love for God and the brothers.
18我们若要履行神圣交通的第二个条件─爱神并爱弟兄的要求，就必须认识神。我们若认识祂，就必遵守祂的话。我们若遵守祂的话，就必接受祂生命的供应。然后，神的爱在我们里面就要得著成全。我们对神爱的经历与享受要产生对神和弟兄的爱，这就履行了维持神圣交通的第二个要求。神圣交通的两个条件在消极方面与罪有关，在积极方面与爱有关。在消极方面，我们需要对付罪；在积极方面，我们需要操练自己爱神并爱弟兄。因此，罪必须受对付，爱必须得成全。我们若对付罪，并操练自己爱神并爱弟兄，我们就履行了保守自己在神圣生命交通里的条件。
18If we would fulfill the second condition of the divine fellowship — the requirement that we love God and the brothers — we must know God. If we know Him, we shall keep His word. If we keep His word, we shall receive His supply of life. Then the love of God will be perfected in us. Our experience and enjoyment of God’s love will issue in a love for God and the brothers. This is the fulfillment of the second requirement for maintaining the divine fellowship. The two conditions of the divine fellowship involve sin on the negative side and love on the positive side. On the negative side, we need to deal with sin; on the positive side, we need to exercise ourselves to love God and the brothers. Therefore, sin must be dealt with, and love must be perfected. If we deal with sin and exercise ourselves to love God and the brothers, we shall fulfill the conditions of keeping ourselves in the fellowship of the divine life.