第01章 上帝对他教会的旨意
§1
第01章 上帝对他教会的旨意
§2
Chap. 1 - Gods Purpose for His Church
§3
教会乃是上帝为要拯救人类而设的机构，它是为服务而组织的，它的使命乃是将福音传遍天下。上帝从起初就已计划要借他的教会，向世人反映出他的丰盛与完全。教会的教友，就是他所召出黑暗入奇妙光明的人，都要显出他的荣耀来。教会是基督丰富恩典的宝藏库，上帝大爱最后与完全的表现，终必经由教会而彰显，甚至要向“天上执政的、掌权的”彰显出来。（弗3:10）[1]{AA 9.1 }
§4
The church is Gods appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world. From the beginning it has been Gods plan that through His church shall be reflected to the world His fullness and His sufficiency. The members of the church, those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, are to show forth His glory. The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church will eventually be made manifest, even to the principalities and powers in heavenly places, the final and full display of the love of God. Ephesians 3:10. {AA 9.1 }[1]
§5
《圣经》所载有关教会的应许，真是多而且妙。“我的殿必称为万民祷告的殿。”（赛56:7）“我必使他们与我山的四围成为福源；我也必叫时雨降下；必有福如甘霖而降。”“我必给他们兴起有名的植物；他们在境内不再为饥荒所灭，也不再受外邦人的羞辱。必知道我耶和华他们的上帝是与他们同在，并知道他们以色列家是我的民；这是主耶和华说的。你们作我的羊，我草场上的羊，乃是以色列人，我也是你们的上帝；这是主耶和华说的。”（结34:26,29-31）[2]{AA 9.2 }
§6
Many and wonderful are the promises recorded in the Scriptures regarding the church. Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. Isaiah 56:7. I will make them and the places round about My hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are My people, saith the Lord God. And ye My flock, the flock of My pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God. Ezekiel 34:26, 29-31. {AA 9.2 }[2]
§7
“耶和华说：你们是我的见证，我所拣选的仆人；既是这样，便可以知道，且信服我，又明白我就是耶和华，在我以前没有真神，在我以后也必没有。唯有我是耶和华，除我以外，没有救主。我曾指示，我曾拯救，我曾说明；并且在你们中间没有别神；所以耶和华说，你们是我的见证。”“我耶和华凭公义召你，必搀扶你的手，保守你，使你作众民的中保，作外邦人的光；开瞎子的眼，领被囚的出牢狱，领坐黑暗的出监牢。”（赛43:10-12；42:6,7）[3]{AA 10.1 }
§8
Ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord, and My servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He: before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no Saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are My witnesses. I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. Isaiah 43:10-12; 42:6, 7. {AA 10.1 }[3]
§9
“在悦纳的时候我应允了你，在拯救的日子我济助了你。我要保护你，使你作众民的中保，复兴遍地，使人承受荒凉之地为业；对那被捆绑的人说，出来吧；对那在黑暗的人说，显露吧。他们在路上必得饮食，在一切净光的高处必有食物。不饥不渴；炎热和烈日必不伤害他们，因为怜恤他们的，必引导他们，领他们到水泉旁边。我必使我的众山成为大道，我的大路也被修高。”[4]{AA 10.2 }
§10
In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; that thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for He that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall He guide them. And I will make all My mountains a way, and My highways shall be exalted. . . . {AA 10.2 }[4]
§11
“诸天哪！应当欢呼；大地啊！应当快乐；众山哪！应当发声歌唱；因为耶和华已经安慰他的百姓，也要怜恤他困苦之民。锡安说，耶和华离弃了我，主忘记了我。妇人焉能忘记她吃奶的婴孩，不怜恤她所生的儿子？即或有忘记的，我却不忘记你。看哪！我将你铭刻在我掌上；你的墙垣常在我眼前。”（赛49:8-16）[5]{AA 11.1 }
§12
Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted His people, and will have mercy upon His afflicted. But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands; thy walls are continually before Me. Isaiah 49:8-16. {AA 11.1 }[5]
§13
教会是上帝在叛乱世界中所设的堡垒，也就是他的逃城。任何背叛教会的行为，就是辜负那位曾用自己独生子的宝血赎买人类的主。地上的教会从起初就由忠心的人所组成，历代以来，主都有他的守望者，向其当代的人作忠心的见证。这些哨兵发出警告的信息，一旦他们奉命放下武器，就有别人取而代之。上帝使这些见证人与他自己发生立约的关系，将地上的教会与天上的教会联合起来。他曾差遣天使为他的教会服务，阴间的权柄也从未能胜过他的子民。[6]{AA 11.2 }
§14
The church is Gods fortress, His city of refuge, which He holds in a revolted world. Any betrayal of the church is treachery to Him who has bought mankind with the blood of His only-begotten Son. From the beginning, faithful souls have constituted the church on earth. In every age the Lord has had His watchmen, who have borne a faithful testimony to the generation in which they lived. These sentinels gave the message of warning; and when they were called to lay off their armor, others took up the work. God brought these witnesses into covenant relation with Himself, uniting the church on earth with the church in heaven. He has sent forth His angels to minister to His church, and the gates of hell have not been able to prevail against His people. {AA 11.2 }[6]
§15
在逼迫，斗争和黑暗的中古世纪，上帝始终支持着祂的教会。没有一片笼罩在教会上的乌云是祂没有预作准备的；没有一个起来拦阻祂圣工的敌对势力，是祂没有预先看到的。一切都照着祂所预言的实现了。祂从来没有丢弃过祂的教会，却在预言的宣示中描述未来的事，而且先知受圣灵感动所预言的事都已应验了。祂的全部旨意都要成全。上帝的律法是与祂的宝座连在一起的。任何邪恶的势力都不能破坏它。真理是上帝所启示所保护的，所以它必战胜一切反对的势力。[7]{AA 11.3}
§16
Through centuries of persecution, conflict, and darkness, God has sustained His church. Not one cloud has fallen upon it that He has not prepared for; not one opposing force has risen to counterwork His work, that He has not foreseen. All has taken place as He predicted. He has not left His church forsaken, but has traced in prophetic declarations what would occur, and that which His Spirit inspired the prophets to foretell has been brought about. All His purposes will be fulfilled. His law is linked with His throne, and no power of evil can destroy it. Truth is inspired and guarded by God; and it will triumph over all opposition. {AA 11.3 }[7]
§17
上帝的教会在属灵的黑暗时代中，正如造在山上的城。天国纯净的道理曾世世代代历代相承地在教会范围之内传扬。教会可能因软弱而显有缺点，但它仍是特为上帝赐予无上关怀的对象。教会是他施恩的场所，他乐于在此彰显他改革人心的神能。[8]{AA 12.1 }
§18
During ages of spiritual darkness the church of God has been as a city set on a hill. From age to age, through successive generations, the pure doctrines of heaven have been unfolding within its borders. Enfeebled and defective as it may appear, the church is the one object upon which God bestows in a special sense His supreme regard. It is the theater of His grace, in which He delights to reveal His power to transform hearts. {AA 12.1 }[8]
§19
基督曾发问说：“上帝的国，我们可用什么比较呢？可用什么比喻表明呢？”（可4:30）他无法用世上的国作为比方。在社会上，他也找不到什么可资比较的。地上的国家是用雄厚的武力来统治的；但各种属世的武器，各种强迫的手段，都为基督的国所不采用的。这个国度是要提高人类而使之成为尊贵的。上帝的教会是圣洁生活的院宇，既满有各种的恩赐，又赋有圣灵。教友们乃应在其予以帮助及加惠之人的幸福上，寻得自己的幸福。[9]{AA 12.2 }
§20
Whereunto, asked Christ, shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? Mark 4:30. He could not employ the kingdoms of the world as a similitude. In society He found nothing with which to compare it. Earthly kingdoms rule by the ascendancy of physical power; but from Christs kingdom every carnal weapon, every instrument of coercion, is banished. This kingdom is to uplift and ennoble humanity. Gods church is the court of holy life, filled with varied gifts and endowed with the Holy Spirit. The members are to find their happiness in the happiness of those whom they help and bless. {AA 12.2 }[9]
§21
主所定意借教会完成而使己名得荣耀的工作，真是不可思议的。在以西结所见医治之河的异象中，有描写这种工作的话说：“这水往东方流去，必下到亚拉巴，直到海；所发出来的水，必流入盐海，使水变甜（原文作得医治，下同）。这河水所到之处，凡滋生的动物，都必生活。……在河这边与那边的岸上，必生长各类的树木，其果可作食物，叶子不枯干，果子不断绝，每月必结新果子；因为这水是从圣所流出来的，树上的果子，必作食物，叶子乃为治病。”（结47:8-12）[10]{AA 13.1 }
§22
Wonderful is the work which the Lord designs to accomplish through His church, that His name may be glorified. A picture of this work is given in Ezekiels vision of the river of healing: These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. And it shall come to pass, that everything that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: . . . and by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine. Ezekiel 47:8-12. {AA 13.1 }[10]
§23
上帝从起初就借着他的子民降福与世人。上帝使约瑟成为古埃及国生命之源。由于约瑟的正直，全国人民的生命赖以保全。由于但以理，上帝挽救了巴比伦通国哲士的生命。这一类拯救的事乃作为具体的实例；表明只有与约瑟及但以理所敬拜的上帝联络，便有属灵的福惠临到世人。凡有基督住在心中的人，凡愿将他的爱向世人显扬的人，就是为造福人群而与上帝同工的人。因为他既从救主领受恩典分给他人，他的整个人生就有灵命之潮涌流出来。[11]{AA 13.2 }
§24
From the beginning God has wrought through His people to bring blessing to the world. To the ancient Egyptian nation God made Joseph a fountain of life. Through the integrity of Joseph the life of that whole people was preserved. Through Daniel God saved the life of all the wise men of Babylon. And these deliverances are as object lessons; they illustrate the spiritual blessings offered to the world through connection with the God whom Joseph and Daniel worshiped. Everyone in whose heart Christ abides, everyone who will show forth His love to the world, is a worker together with God for the blessing of humanity. As he receives from the Saviour grace to impart to others, from his whole being flows forth the tide of spiritual life. {AA 13.2 }[11]
§25
上帝拣选以色列人向世人显明他的圣德。他渴望他们在世上成为救恩的泉源。天上的圣言，就是上帝旨意的启示，已经交托他们了。在以色列立国的初期，世上的邦国由于习俗败坏，以致丧失了对于上帝的认识。他们虽曾一度认识他；但因为“不当作上帝荣耀他，也不感谢他；他们的思念变为虚妄，无知的心就昏暗了。”（罗1:21）然而上帝仍凭他的慈爱，未曾除灭他们。他定意给他们一次机会，得以借着他的选民再次认识他。借着献祭仪式所含的教训，基督要在万民面前被高举起来，使凡仰望他的都可以存活。基督原是犹太制度的基础。整个象征与表号的制度乃是综合的福音预言，其中包含救赎应许的启示。[12]{AA 14.1 }
§26
God chose Israel to reveal His character to men. He desired them to be as wells of salvation in the world. To them were committed the oracles of heaven, the revelation of Gods will. In the early days of Israel the nations of the world, through corrupt practices, had lost the knowledge of God. They had once known Him; but because they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, . . . their foolish heart was darkened. Romans 1:21. Yet in His mercy God did not blot them out of existence. He purposed to give them an opportunity of again becoming acquainted with Him through His chosen people. Through the teachings of the sacrificial service, Christ was to be uplifted before all nations, and all who would look to Him should live. Christ was the foundation of the Jewish economy. The whole system of types and symbols was a compacted prophecy of the gospel, a presentation in which were bound up the promises of redemption. {AA 14.1 }[12]
§27
可惜以色列人忽视了作上帝代表的崇高特权。他们忘记上帝，也不履行所负的神圣使命。他们所领受的福分并未使世人蒙福。他们将所有的利益专用来炫耀自己。为要逃避试探，他们竟闭关自守与世隔绝。上帝在他们与拜偶像之人交往上所加的限制原是作为防止他们随从外邦习俗的方法，但他们却用来在自己与其它列国之间筑成一道隔断的墙。他们既夺取了上帝所要他们作的服务，又劫掠了同人应有的宗教指导与圣洁榜样。[13]{AA 14.2 }
§28
But the people of Israel lost sight of their high privileges as Gods representatives. They forgot God and failed to fulfill their holy mission. The blessings they received brought no blessing to the world. All their advantages they appropriated for their own glorification. They shut themselves away from the world in order to escape temptation. The restrictions that God had placed upon their association with idolaters as a means of preventing them from conforming to the practices of the heathen, they used to build up a wall of separation between themselves and all other nations. They robbed God of the service He required of them, and they robbed their fellow men of religious guidance and a holy example. {AA 14.2 }[13]
§29
祭司和官长们拘泥于仪式的条规。他们因有法定的宗教而踌躇满志，以致无法将天国活泼的真理传与别人。他们以为自己的义全然充足，并不希望有新的成分加入他们的宗教之中。他们接受上帝对人的美意，并不承认那是与己无分的，反倒认为是因自己行善而有的功劳。那使人生发仁爱并洁净心灵的信心，与那仅由人为的仪式和教规所形成的法利赛人的宗教，毫无关联之处。[14]{AA 15.1 }
§30
Priests and rulers became fixed in a rut of ceremonialism. They were satisfied with a legal religion, and it was impossible for them to give to others the living truths of heaven. They thought their own righteousness all-sufficient, and did not desire that a new element should be brought into their religion. The good will of God to men they did not accept as something apart from themselves, but connected it with their own merit because of their good works. The faith that works by love and purifies the soul could find no place for union with the religion of the Pharisees, made up of ceremonies and the injunctions of men. {AA 15.1 }[14]
§31
上帝论到以色列说：“我栽你是上等的葡萄树，全然是真种子；你怎么向我变为外邦葡萄树的坏枝子呢？”（耶2:21）“以色列是空虚的葡萄树，所结的果子归他自己。”（何10:1；根据英文本直译）“耶路撒冷的居民和犹大人哪，请你们现今在我与我的葡萄园中，断定是非。我为我葡萄园所作之外，还有什么可作的呢？我指望结好葡萄，怎么倒结了野葡萄呢？”[15]{AA 15.2 }
§32
Of Israel God declared: I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto Me? Jeremiah 2:21. Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself. Hosea 10:1. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt Me and My vineyard. What could have been done more to My vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? {AA 15.2 }[15]
§33
“现在我告诉你们，我要向我葡萄园怎样行：我必撤去篱笆，使他被吞灭；拆毁墙垣，使他被践踏。我必使他荒废，不再修理、不再锄刨，荆棘蒺藜倒要生长；我也必命云不降雨在其上。万军之耶和华的葡萄园就是以色列家，他所喜爱的树，就是犹大人。他指望的是公平，谁知倒有暴虐；指望的是公义，谁知倒有冤声。”（赛5:3-7）“瘦弱的，你们没有养壮；有病的，你们没有医治；受伤的，你们没有缠裹；被逐的，你们没有领回；失丧的，你们没有寻找；但用强暴严严地辖制。”（结34:4）[16]{AA 15.3 }
§34
And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: and I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah His pleasant plant: and He looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry. Isaiah 5:3-7. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. Ezekiel 34:4. {AA 15.3 }[16]
§35
犹太的领袖们认为自己太聪明了，不再需要教导；太圣洁了，不再需要救恩；太尊贵了，不再需要从基督而来的荣耀。因此救主离开他们，将他们所滥用了的权利和他们所疏忽的工作转托给别人。上帝的荣耀必定显现，祂的话语必要成全。基督的国必要在世上建立起来。上帝的救恩必要在城市乡村传开。使徒们蒙召去完成犹太领袖们所没有完成的事工。[17]{AA 16.1 }
§36
The Jewish leaders thought themselves too wise to need instruction, too righteous to need salvation, too highly honored to need the honor that comes from Christ. The Saviour turned from them to entrust to others the privileges they had abused and the work they had slighted. Gods glory must be revealed, His word established. Christs kingdom must be set up in the world. The salvation of God must be made known in the cities of the wilderness; and the disciples were called to do the work that the Jewish leaders had failed to do. {AA 16.1 }[17]