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以弗所书生命读经 · 第87篇

规条与基督相对

THE ORDINANCES VERSUS CHRIST
18读经：以弗所书二章十一至二十二节。
18Scripture Reading: Eph. 2:11-22
十字架对付规条
THE CROSS DEALING WITH THE ORDINANCES
19以弗所二章是重要的一章，因为这一章启示基督死在十字架上，好在祂自己里面创造一个新人。新人要产生，就必须废掉规条中诫命的律法。基督徒知道基督在十字架上对付了罪、旧人、肉体、世界、和魔鬼撒但。但很少基督徒看见基督在十字架上也对付了规条。明白基督的十字架对付罪，这相当容易；晓得旧人和肉体是难处，要受十字架对付，这也不难。照样，当我们读到新约说，基督的死也对付了世界和撒但时，我们领会这些真理也没有问题。然而，我们也许不晓得规条也是个严重的难处。
19Ephesians 2 is an important chapter because it reveals that Christ died on the cross in order to create in Himself one new man. For the new man to come into being, the law of the commandments in ordinances had to be abolished. Christians realize that on the cross Christ dealt with sin, the old man, the flesh, the world, and the Devil, Satan. But very few Christians have seen that on the cross Christ also dealt with the ordinances. It is rather easy to understand that the cross of Christ deals with sin. It is also easy to realize that the old man and the flesh are problems that are dealt with by the cross. In like manner, when we read in the New Testament that the death of Christ has also dealt with the world and with Satan, we have no problem with understanding these truths. However, we may not realize that ordinances also present a serious problem
20规条与不同的生活并敬拜方式有关。这些看起来不像是消极的，反而似乎非常的好。譬如，有些规条与餐桌礼仪有关。我们很有规矩的进餐，谁能说这不好？然而，不同的人有不同的餐桌礼仪。因此，关于餐桌礼仪的规矩，能成为人与人之间分裂和仇恨的源头。规条也与敬拜的事有关。犹太人按著他们的规条敬拜神，回教徒遵照他们的规条敬拜。今天各宗各派也是如此。因著规条好像对人很有帮助，要看见规条也需要被十字架对付，就相当不容易了。
20Ordinances are related to different ways of living and worship. They do not appear to be negative. On the contrary, they seem quite good. For example, some ordinances are related to table manners. Who can say it is not good to be properly regulated when we eat? However, different peoples have different kinds of table manners. Therefore, regulations concerning table manners can be a source of division and enmity between peoples. Ordinances are involved in the matter of worship. The Jews worship God according to their ordinances, and the Moslems worship according to their ordinances. This is also true with the various denominations today. Because ordinances seem helpful, it is difficult to recognize that they also need to be dealt with by the cross
救赎与神的定旨有关
REDEMPTION IN RELATION TO GOD’S PURPOSE
21人类的堕落乃是一切规条的源头。倘若人没有堕落，今天就不会有规条。神创造人之后，并没有给人一张规条的清单。但是人一堕落，规条就开始进来了。然后，在巴别，神为著祂定旨所造的人分裂了，并且分散成多族、多国，接著彼此就开始争战。这便使神永远的计画无法成就。
21The fall of mankind was the source of all ordinances. If man had not fallen, there would be no ordinances today. After God created man, He did not give him a list of ordinances. But as soon as man fell, the ordinances began to come in. Then, at Babel, the man created by God for His purpose became divided and scattered into a number of races and nations which began to fight against one another. This made it impossible for God’s eternal plan to be fulfilled.
22我们若由神的定旨这个角度来看基督的救赎，我们对救赎的观念就会扩大。大多数基督徒只从个人救恩的观点来看基督的救赎。他们不关心神定旨的成就，只关心从地狱蒙拯救并确保能在天上过永世而已。他们对基督死在十字架上的观念极其狭窄。神永远的定旨是把祂自己分赐到人里面并与人成为一，好藉著人来彰显祂自己，看见这点乃是非常紧要的。但是撒但破坏人性，把人类分裂成不同的民族，互相杀伐，藉此阻挠神永远定旨的完成。基督来救赎堕落的人，为要完成神的定旨，不是仅仅拯救我们脱离地狱，保证我们到天上而已。为了救赎被分裂的人类，基督死在十字架上，对付了所有消极的事物，包括规条在内。基督在十字架上废掉了一切分裂列国的规条，就是有关生活与敬拜的规条。神不在意任何规条，只在意我们是一，以及基督作到我们里面。基督废掉了一切的规条，不是使我们可以到天上，或是使我们能属灵或得胜。祂废掉了规条，乃是要在祂自己里面创造一个新的团体人。祂创造新人，不仅是以祂自己为范围，更是以祂自己为元素。基督藉著废掉了规条，并将犹太人和外邦人创造成一个新人，便成就了和平。现今不同国籍的人在基督里就有了和平。
22If we view the redemption of Christ from the angle of God’s purpose, our concept of redemption will be broadened. Most Christians view Christ’s redemption only from the perspective of their personal salvation. They are not concerned with the fulfillment of God’s purpose, but are concerned only with being saved from hell and assured of spending eternity in heaven. Their concept of Christ’s death on the cross is extremely narrow. It is crucial for us to see that God’s eternal purpose is to dispense Himself into man and to become one with man in order to express Himself through man. But Satan has sought to frustrate the fulfillment of God’s purpose by damaging humanity through dividing it into different peoples who war against one another. Christ came to redeem fallen mankind in order that God’s purpose may be fulfilled, not merely that we may be saved from hell and assured of heaven. In order to redeem divided mankind, Christ died on the cross to deal with all the negative things, including ordinances. On the cross Christ abolished all the regulations regarding living and worship, regulations that have divided the nations. God does not care for any ordinances. He cares only that we are one and that Christ is wrought into us. Christ abolished all the ordinances not that we may go to heaven or that we may be spiritual or victorious. He abolished the ordinances in order to create in Himself one new corporate man. He created the new man not only within Himself as the sphere, but also with Himself as the very element. By abolishing the ordinances and creating the Jewish and Gentile believers into one new man, Christ has made peace. Now those of different nationalities have peace in Christ.
在基督里
IN CHRIST
23保罗在二章十一至十二节题醒我们，从前我们远离基督时的光景。那时我们和以色列国民隔绝，在所应许的诸约上是局外人，在世上没有指望，没有神。我们没有目标，没有神。但有一天我们蒙神呼召，我们也藉著呼求主耶稣的名答应祂的呼召。当我们这样作时，三一神就进到我们里面。不论我们走到那里，即使我们想要逃离主或不再相信祂，祂始终与我们同在。何等奇妙！我们竟然有分于基督。然而，即使在我们的经历里似乎没有这么奇妙，我们也无法逃离祂。我们也许想要离开祂，但祂绝不会离开我们。
23In 2:11 and 12 Paul reminds us of our situation when we were apart from Christ. We were alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, we were strangers from the covenants of the promise, we had no hope, and we were without God in the world. We had no goal and no God. But one day we were called by God, and we answered His call by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus. When we did this, the Triune God came into us. No matter where we may go, even if we try to run from the Lord or to stop believing in Him, He will always be with us. How wonderful that we have become involved with Christ! However, even when it does not seem so wonderful in our experience, we cannot get away from Him. We may try to leave Him, but He will never leave us
24我们这些得救的人乃是在基督里。祂是我们的范围，也是我们的源头。我们从前远离神并彼此远离的人，如今在基督耶稣里，靠著基督的血，已经得亲近了。就如十四节所说，这位是我们和平的基督，已经使我们成为一，并且拆毁了中间隔断的墙。祂使我们在一个身体里与神和好了；又来传和平为福音给我们。（16～17。）结果我们就不再是外人和寄居的，乃是圣徒同国之民，是神家里的亲人了。（19。）
24As saved ones, we are in Christ. He is our sphere and our source. Now in Christ Jesus we who once were far off from God and from one another have become near in the blood of Christ. As verse 14 says, the very Christ who is our peace has made us one and has broken down the middle wall of partition. He has reconciled us to God in one Body, and He has come to preach to us the gospel of peace (vv. 16-17). The result is that we are no longer strangers and sojourners, but fellow- citizens of the saints and members of the household of God (v. 19).
25虽然基督是我们的范围、我们的源头、以及我们的和平，虽然祂已经废掉了规条，但是许多基督徒仍然持守著一些规条。在他们的实行里，他们在意规条更甚于基督。许多基督徒忽视基督，却注意祂在十字架上已废掉的规条。这是何等可怜的光景！
25Although Christ is our sphere, our source, and our peace and although He has abolished the ordinances, many Christians still hold to certain ordinances. In their practice, they care more for ordinances than for Christ. Many Christians neglect Christ and pay attention to the very ordinances He abolished on the cross. What a pitiful situation
建造在作根基的基督上
BUILT ON CHRIST AS THE FOUNDATION
26现今我们是在基督里。祂应当是我们在其上被建造的独一根基。在二章二十节，保罗题到使徒和申言者的根基。这是指使徒们所相信，并且供应给别人的基督。摩西的根基是律法，申言者的根基是豫言，但使徒和申言者独一的根基乃是基督。保罗在林前三章十一节说，『因为除了那已经立好的根基，就是耶稣基督以外，没有人能立别的根基。』以弗所二章的根基，与任何规条无分无关；这根基就是基督自己。犹太教的根基是由安息日、割礼、和饮食的条例所组成的。但是当使徒出来尽职时，他们所立的独一根基就是活的基督。
26Now we are in Christ. He should be the unique foundation upon which we are built. In 2:20 Paul speaks of the foundation of the apostles and prophets. This refers to the Christ in whom the apostles believed and whom they ministered to others. The foundation of Moses was the law, and the foundation of the prophets was prophecy. But the only foundation of the apostles and prophets is Christ. In 1 Corinthians 3:11 Paul said, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” The foundation in Ephesians 2 is not related to any kind of ordinances; it is Christ Himself. The foundation of Judaism is composed of the Sabbath, circumcision, and the dietary regulations. But when the apostles came forth to minister, the unique foundation laid by them was the living Christ
27召会是建造在基督上，不是建造在规条或条例上。然而今天，各宗派在基督之外都另有根基。譬如，浸信会除了基督之外还有浸礼作根基。各公会除了在基督作根基之外，似乎还有其他事物作他们基本的根基。召会已经被这些用作根基的不同规条所分裂了。愿主开我们的眼睛，使我们看见坚守规条是一件何等可怕的事。我们也许宣称看见了召会，也许宣告我们是作为地方召会而聚集，但我们若仍旧坚持特别的作法，那些作法将会变成规条。自然而然的，一的立场就会被破坏，甚至失去了。我们就不是聚集在一的立场上，乃是聚集在我们所立之规条的立场上。倘若某种规条成了我们的立场，我们就不再是召会，反而成了宗派。每当我们坚持某种特殊的作法，我们就失去了一的独一立场。这就是为甚么我们不该坚持祷读或呼喊主名之类的事，即使我们从这些事上得著了莫大的帮助。
27The church is built on Christ, not on ordinances or regulations. Today, however, all the denominations have another foundation besides Christ. For example, the Baptist denomination has immersion as a foundation along with Christ. It seems that underneath Christ as the foundation the denominations have something other than Christ as their basic foundation. The church has been divided by the different ordinances used as foundations. May the Lord open our eyes to see how dreadful it is to cling to ordinances. We may claim to see the church, and we may declare that we are meeting as the local church. But if we still insist on particular practices, those practices will become ordinances. Spontaneously, the ground of oneness will be damaged or even lost. Instead of meeting on the ground of oneness, we shall meet on the ground of our ordinances. If a certain ordinance becomes our ground, we cease to be the church and become a sect. Whenever we insist on a particular practice, we lose the unique ground of oneness. This is why we should not insist on things such as pray- reading or calling on the name of the Lord, even though we may receive great benefit from them.
我们必须反对的事
THINGS WE MUST OPPOSE
28只有一些事是我们必须反对的。这些事包括拜偶像、不道德、分裂、以及否认基督的神性。在召会里，偶像绝不能有地位；拜偶像对神乃是侮慢。照样，召会不能容让不道德的事；这事破坏神为著祂的定旨所造的人性。再者，一个分门结党的人，在警戒过之后，若是不停止他分裂的工作，就应当拒绝他。还有，我们不能把任何不承认基督的神性，否认基督是神成肉体的人，接纳进入召会。这些事都是酵，必须从召会生活中除净。但是除了这四件事以外，新约没有叫我们为著任何其他理由拒绝信徒。按照罗马十四章一节，一个人只要有信心，即使他软弱，我们也应该接纳他。在新约里没有其他地方教导我们，若有人不相信受浸就要拒绝他，也没有告诉我们不可接纳那些不蒙头的姊妹。信徒不应当因著擘饼所使用杯子的大小，或洗脚的作法等事被拒绝。除了我们题过的那四件事，在召会生活里没有律法。我们必须接纳所有的圣徒，并且与规条无分无关。基督是我们的和平、源头和范围；祂必须是我们独一的根基。除了基督之外，必须没有任何其他的根基。在这事上，我们应当核对自己，除了基督之外，我们是否还有其他的根基？我们若没有任何规条，基督就真正成为我们独一的根基。
28There are only a few things we must oppose. These include idolatry, immorality, divisiveness, and the denial of Christ’s deity. In the church absolutely no ground can be given to idols. Idolatry is an insult to God. Likewise, the church cannot tolerate immorality, which damages the humanity created by God for His purpose. Furthermore, a factious, sectarian person must be rejected if he does not cease from his divisiveness after being warned. Fourthly, we cannot receive into the church anyone who refuses to recognize the deity of Christ, who denies that Christ is God incarnate. These things are leaven which must be purged out of the church life. But apart from these four things, we are not told in the New Testament to reject believers for any other reason. According to Romans 14:1, as long as a person has the faith, we must receive him, even if he is weak. Nowhere in the New Testament are we instructed to reject someone if he does not believe in immersion. Neither are we told not to receive those sisters who do not wear head coverings. Believers should not be rejected over things such as the size of cup used at the Lord’stable or over the practice of foot-washing. Apart from the four things we have mentioned, there is no legality in the church life. We must receive all the saints and have nothing to do with ordinances. The Christ who is our peace, our source, and our sphere must be our unique foundation. There must not be any other kind of foundation in addition to Christ. We need to check with ourselves concerning this. Do we have any foundation in addition to Christ? If we do not have any ordinances, then Christ will truly be our only foundation
房角石
THE CORNERSTONE
29基督也该是我们的房角石。祂作房角石，把犹太信徒和外邦信徒这两面墙联结一起。以弗所二章特别题到基督是房角石。（20。）犹太匠人轻弃基督，乃是轻弃基督作房角石，（徒四11，彼前二7，）就是那位要将外邦人联于犹太人，以建造神家者。
29Christ should also be our cornerstone. As the cornerstone, He joins the two walls, the one of the Jewish believers and the other of the Gentile believers. In Ephesians 2 Christ is referred to specifically as the cornerstone (v. 20). When the Jewish builders rejected Christ, they rejected Him as the cornerstone (Acts 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:7), which would join the Gentiles to them for the building of God’sho use.
30我们若仅仅持守包罗万有的基督，而不持守任何的规条，祂就会成为将我们联结一起，为著建造神居所的房角石。宇宙召会和地方召会保罗在以弗所二章二十一节继续说，『在祂里面，全房联结一起，长成在主里的圣殿。』在基督这房角石里面，全房，包括犹太和外邦信徒，联结一起，长成在主里的圣殿。这殿乃是宇宙的召会。我们将要看见，二十二节是指地方的召会。
30If we hold only to the all-inclusive Christ, not to any ordinances, He will be the cornerstone to join us together for the building of God’s dwelling place. THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH AND THE LOCAL CHURCH In verse 21 Paul goes on to say, “In Whom all the building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord.” In Christ who is the cornerstone, all the building, including both Jewish and Gentile believers, is fitted together and is growing into a holy temple. This temple is the universal church. As we shall see, verse 22 refers to the local church
31众地方召会不该有独立的态度，也不该彼此隔离。我们若有独立的态度，就会变成地方宗派，而不是地方召会了。在宇宙中基督只有一个身体。如果每一个地方召会都是基督一个独立的身体，这就是说，基督有许许多多的身体了。无论有多少的地方召会，基督仍然只有一个身体。为这缘故，众地方召会需要联结一起，长成一个宇宙的圣殿。在作根基和房角石的基督里，全房，就是宇宙的召会，联结一起，并在主里渐渐长大。有些人有一种态度，认为他们所在地的召会应当独立，他们也许会指出启2示录二、三章里七个召会之间各有不同，以称义他们的态度。然而，这七个召会作为七个金灯台，在性质、本质、样式上都是相同的。不仅如此，在永远里，新耶路撒冷的四面都是一个样子，都用一样的材料。地方召会不该是组织而成的。反而众召会如果都只持定基督，就会联结一起，作神宇宙的建造。假若某地召会采取一种态度，认为他们是独立的地方召会，他们要凭自己往前，不与其他众召会发生关系；在主眼中，他们会变成地方宗派。所有的召会都该持定基督，联结一起，一起长成在主里的圣殿。当众召会联结一起时，不论一地召会经历了甚么丰富，自然而然就传输到其他所有的召会里。譬如，医生在一个人的膀臂上注射了一针，所注射的成分立刻就传输到这人的全身。这样，整个身体就得著注射的益处。如果有些身体上的肢体认为注射仅仅是为著自己，那将是何等愚昧的事！一个召会所接受的，无论是甚么，都是为著整个身体。因此，我们不该把任何对基督的经历限制在我们的所在地。我们应该看见，我们无论从基督领受甚么，都要传输到身体其他各部分。
31The local churches should not have an independent attitude, and they should not be isolated from one another. If we have an independent attitude, we may become a local sect instead of a local church. Christ has just one Body in the universe. If each local church were an independent body for Christ, this would mean that Christ has a great many bodies. No matter how many local churches there may be, Christ still has just one Body. For this reason, the local churches need to be fitted together and to grow into the one universal temple. In Christ as the foundation and the corners tone, all the building, the universal church, is fitted together and is growing in the Lord. Some of those who have an attitude of independence concerning the church in their locality may point to the differences between the seven churches in Revelation and 3 as a justification for their attitude. However, the seven churches as the seven golden lampstands are the same in nature, substance, and pattern. Furthermore, the New Jerusalem in eternity will have the same appearance and the same material on each of its four sides. The local churches should not be organized. But if all the churches hold only Christ, they will be fitted together as God’s universal building. Suppose the churches in a certain place hold the attitude that, as independent local churches, they want to go on by themselves and have nothing to do with other churches. In the eyes of the Lord, they may become local sects. All the churches should hold to Christ, be fitted together, and grow together into a holy temple in the Lord. When the churches are fitted together, whatever riches are experienced by one church will be spontaneously transfused into all the other churches. For example, a doctor may inject something into a person’s arm, but the injected element is soon transfused throughout the person’s body. In this way the whole body receives the benefit of the injection. How foolish it would be for certain members of the body to regard the injection as only for themselves! Whatever one church receives is for the whole Body. Therefore, we should not try to confine any experience of Christ to our locality. We should realize that whatever we receive of Christ is to be transfused into the rest of the Body.
32保罗在二十二节说，『你们也在祂里面同被建造，成为神在灵里的居所。』『也』指明，二十一节的建造是宇宙的，这节的建造是地方的。按照上下文，二十一节的圣殿是宇宙的，二十二节神的居所是地方的。
32In verse 22 Paul says, “In Whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in spirit.” The word also” here indicates that the building in verse 21 is universal and that the building in this verse is local. According to the context, the holy temple in verse 21 is universal, whereas the dwelling place of God in verse 22 is local
信靠基督
PUTTING OUR TRUST IN CHRIST
33我们已经说过，不要持守规条，只要持守基督；但也许有些人仍然对诸如受浸的方式等有问题。这些问题指明那些发问的人还是有规条。然而，也许有人坚持他们的问题，说，我们需要讲实际，我们必须知道如何替新蒙恩的人施浸。每当我们面对这样实际的问题时，我们应当记得保罗在十八18:节的话：『因为藉著祂，我们两下在一位灵里，得以进到父面前。』我们不该辩论，乃该转向我们的灵，祷告并交通。主是亲近、应时、又便利的。我们若认真寻求祂的引导，祂必定引导我们，我们就会知道如何顾到实际的事。我能见证，多年来主耶稣对我们都是非常真实、宝贵、应时、又便利的。我们只要在每一件与我们有关的事上，简单的向祂敞开自己。当我们这样作时，我们应当乐意把我们先入为主的观念放在一边。这样，主就要用活的方式引导我们。
33After all we have said about not holding to the ordinances but holding to Christ, some may still have questions about things such as the method of baptism. These questions may indicate that those who ask them still have ordinances. Nevertheless, some may persist with their questions by saying that we need to be practical and must know how to baptize new converts. Whenever we face practical problems such as this, we should remember Paul’sword in verse “For through Him we both have access in one Spirit unto the Father.” Instead of arguing, we should turn to our spirit, pray, and have fellowship. The Lord is near, present, and available. If we seriously seek His leading, He will certainly guide us, and we shall know how to take care of the various practical matters. I can testify that throughout the years the Lord Jesus has been very real, precious, present, and available to us. We simply need to open ourselves to Him regarding everything that concerns us. As we do so, we should be willing to set aside any concept that occupies us. Then the Lord will lead us in a living way.
34我们关心召会时，应当记住：基督保养并顾惜召会。祂比我们更关心召会。因此，我们应当信靠祂。只要我们不作任何与拜偶像、不道德、分裂、或否认基督的神性有关的事，所有可能犯的错误就没有一个是严重的。我们不必藉著持守规条来避免错误。我们应当确信包罗万有的基督，并且只该信靠祂。我们若信靠基督以外的任何事物，那就会成为一种破坏召会生活的规条。但我们若接受基督作一切，全地的众地方召会就都会长大，并且健康的往前。
34In our concern for the church, we should remember that Christ nourishes and cherishes the church. He is much more concerned about the church than we are. Therefore, we should place our trust in Him. As long as we do not have anything related to idolatry, immorality, divisiveness, or the denial of the deity of Christ, none of the mistakes that may be made will be serious. Do not try to avoid mistakes by holding to ordinances. Our confidence should be in the all-inclusive Christ and in Him alone. If our trust is in anything other than Christ, that thing will become an ordinance which will damage the church life. But if we take Christ as our everything, all the local churches throughout the world will grow and go on in a healthy way.