第26章 世人凭着智慧不认识上帝
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第26章 世人凭着智慧不认识上帝
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Chap. 26 - The World By Wisdom Knew Not God
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上帝的真理是无限的,能够无限扩展,我们越多默想它,它就显得越发荣耀。真理虽已展开在我们面前,可是保罗对加拉太人说的话仍适合于我们。他说:“无知的加拉太人哪,耶稣基督钉十字架,已经活画在你们眼前,谁又迷惑了你们呢?我只要问你们这一件:你们受了圣灵,是因行律法呢?是因听信福音呢?你们既靠圣灵入门,如今还靠肉身成全吗?你们是这样的无知吗?你们受苦如此之多,都是徒然的吗?难道果真是徒然的吗”(加3:1-4)?{FE 196.1}[1]
§4
The truth of God is infinite, capable of measureless expansion, and the more we contemplate it, the more will its glory appear. The truth has been opened before us, and yet the words of Paul to the Galatians are applicable to us. He says: O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. {FE 196.1}[1]
§5
基督说:“离了我,你们就不能做什么”(约15:5)。那些承诺要凭自己的力量推进这工作的人,必定会失败。单有教育不会使人配作圣工,也不会使人能对上帝有认识。且听保罗论到这个问题怎么说的:“基督差遣我,原不是为施洗,乃是为传福音,并不用智慧的言语,免得基督的十字架落了空。因为十字架的道理,在那灭亡的人为愚拙;在我们得救的人却为上帝的大能。就如经上所记:我要灭绝智慧人的智慧,废弃聪明人的聪明。智慧人在哪里?文士在哪里?这世上的辩士在哪里?上帝岂不是叫这世上的智慧变成愚拙吗?世人凭自己的智慧,既不认识上帝,上帝就乐意用人所当作愚拙的道理,拯救那些信的人;这就是上帝的智慧了”(林前1:17-21)。{FE 196.2}[2]
§6
Without Me, Christ says, ye can do nothing. Those who undertake to carry forward the work in their own strength will certainly fail. Education alone will not fit a man for a place in the work, will not enable him to obtain a knowledge of God. Hear what Paul has to say on this matter: For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. {FE 196.2}[2]
§7
历经黑暗的时代,在异教的午夜,上帝允许人们作试验,用他们自己的智慧找到上帝,不是要证明人们的无能好使祂自己满意,而是要人们自己看明:他们若不藉着圣灵对祂圣言的启示,就不能得到关于上帝和祂儿子耶稣基督的知识。当基督来到世上时,那个试验就做完了,结果是显然的:世人凭自己的智慧不认识上帝。甚至在教会里,上帝也允许人们在这事上试验他们自己的智慧,然而当因人容易犯错误而带来危机时,上帝便有力地起来护卫祂的子民。当教会被贬低,当考验和压迫临到祂的子民时,祂就用显著的拯救更加丰盛地高举他们。当不忠心的教师来到百姓中间时,软弱便随之而来,上帝子民的信心似乎要消失了;但上帝起来洁净祂的营地,受过考验而忠诚的人便得到提升。{FE 196.3}[3]
§8
Through successive ages of darkness, in the midnight of heathenism, God permitted men to try the experiment of finding out God by their own wisdom, not to demonstrate their inability to His satisfaction, but that men themselves might see that they could not obtain a knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ His Son, save through the revelation of His word by the Holy Spirit. When Christ came to the world, the experiment had been fully tried, and the result made it evident that the world by wisdom knew not God. Even in the church God has allowed men to test their own wisdom in this matter, but when a crisis has been brought about through human fallibility, God has risen mightily to defend His people. When the church has been brought low, when trial and oppression have come upon His people, He more abundantly exalted them by signal deliverance. When unfaithful teachers came among the people, weakness followed, and the faith of Gods people seemed to wane; but God arose and purged His floor, and the tried and true were lifted up. {FE 196.3}[3]
§9
有时候队伍中会有背道的事进来,那些本应与他们神圣的领袖保持同步的人心中便撇弃了虔诚。上帝的子民既与他们的力量之源分离,骄傲、虚荣、奢侈和炫耀便随之而来。里里外外都有偶像;但上帝却差来保惠师责备罪恶,好使祂的子民因背道而受到警告和指责。祂爱心更为宝贵的表现何时得到了感激地承认和赏识,主就会不断赐下安慰的乳香和喜乐油。{FE 197.1}[4]
§10
There are times when apostasy comes into the ranks, when piety is left out of the heart by those who should have kept step with their divine Leader. The people of God separate from the source of their strength, and pride, vanity, extravagance, and display follow. There are idols within and idols without; but God sends the Comforter as a reprover of sin, that His people may be warned of their apostasy and rebuked for their backsliding. When the more precious manifestations of His love shall be gratefully acknowledged and appreciated, the Lord will pour in the balm of comfort and the oil of joy. {FE 197.1}[4]
§11
当人们认识到他们人性的算计远远不够,确信他们的智慧不过是愚拙时,那时他们才会转向主,全心寻求祂,以便寻见祂。{FE 197.2}[5]
§12
When men are led to realize that their human calculations come far short, and are convinced that their wisdom is but foolishness, then it is that they turn to the Lord to seek Him with all the heart, that they may find Him. {FE 197.2}[5]
§13
我蒙指示看见:我们中间的每一个教会都需要上帝之灵深刻的感动。但愿我们向人们指出髑髅地的十字架。我们应该嘱咐他们仰望祂,就是他们的罪所刺透的主。我们要吩咐他们仰望世界的救赎主因他们违背上帝律法而遭受刑罚。判决乃是:“犯罪的,他必死亡”(结18:4)。但在十字架上,罪人看见天父的独生子替他受死,使犯罪的人得生命。天上地上一切有理智的生灵都蒙召观看父赐给我们是何等的慈爱,竟称我们为上帝的儿女。每一个罪人都可以仰望而得活。不要漫不经心地浏览髑髅地的场景。当全天庭都惊异地注视着拯救堕落世界的巨大救赎之工,切愿查考髑髅地之爱与祸患的奥秘时,天使们若看到我们这些接受上帝之爱的人冷淡、漠不关心、难以感动,岂不要瞧不起我们吗?天使们惊奇诧异地看着那些上天为之提供这么大救恩的人,惊讶上帝的爱竟没有唤醒他们,使他们不断发出美妙的感激与崇拜爱慕之音。但全天庭没有在那些自称跟从基督的人中间看到所期望的结果。我们多么容易对亲友说招人爱的话,却多么迟于对主说这样的话啊!基督钉十字架说明祂的爱无与伦比。{FE 197.3}[6]
§14
It has been shown me that every church among us needs the deep movings of the Spirit of God. O we would point men to the cross of Calvary. We would bid them look upon Him whom their sins have pierced. We would bid them to behold the Redeemer of the world suffering the penalty of their transgression of the law of God. The verdict is that the soul that sinneth it shall die. But on the cross the sinner sees the only-begotten of the Father, dying in his stead, and giving the transgressor life. All the intelligences in earth and heaven are called upon to behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. Every sinner may look and live. Do not survey that scene of Calvary with careless, thoughtless mind. Can it be that angels shall look down upon us, the recipients of Gods love, and see us cold, indifferent, unimpressible, when heaven in amazement beholds the stupendous work of redemption to save a fallen world, and desires to look into the mystery of Calvarys love and woe? Angels in wonder and amazement look upon those for whom so great salvation has been provided, and marvel that the love of God does not awaken them, and lead them to pour forth melodious strains of gratitude and adoration. But the result which all heaven looks to behold is not seen among those who profess to be followers of Christ. How readily do we speak in endearing words of our friends and relatives, and yet how slow we are to speak of Him whose love has no parallel, set forth in Christ crucified among you. {FE 197.3}[6]
§15
我们的天父在把祂的独生子赐给世人的事上所表现的爱心,足以激励每一个人,熔化每一颗刚硬无爱的心,使之痛悔温柔;可是天上的生灵岂可看到基督为之而死的那些人,不在乎祂的爱,心地刚硬,对一切美物的赐予者毫不感恩戴德吗?岂可让次要的事占据人的全部精力,使上帝的爱得不到回报吗?那公义的日头岂可徒然照耀吗?考虑到上帝所做的,祂的要求岂可少加给你们吗?我们岂没有心可以受感动,铭记上帝的爱吗?我们乐意作蒙拣选的器皿吗?上帝的眼目岂不在我们身上,祂岂没有吩咐我们发出祂亮光的信息吗?我们需要增加信心。我们必须等候,我们必须警醒,我们必须祈祷,我们必须作工,恳求圣灵沛降在我们身上,好使我们可以成为世上的光。{FE 198.1}[7]
§16
The love of our heavenly Father in the gift of His only-begotten Son to the world, is enough to inspire every soul, to melt every hard, loveless heart into contrition and tenderness; and yet shall heavenly intelligences see in those for whom Christ died, insensibility to His love, hardness of heart, and no response of gratitude and affection to the Giver of all good things? Shall affairs of minor importance absorb the whole power of the being, and the love of God meet no return? Shall the Sun of Righteousness shine in vain? In view of what God has done, could His claims be less upon you? Have we hearts that can be touched, that can be impressed with divine love? Are we willing to be chosen vessels? Has not God His eye upon us, and has He not bidden us to send forth His message of light? We need an increase of faith. We must wait, we must watch, we must pray, we must work, pleading that the Holy Ghost may be poured out upon us abundantly, that we may be lights in the world. {FE 198.1}[7]
§17
耶稣以无限的怜悯看着世界处于堕落状态。祂亲自取了人性,以便接触和提拔人类。祂来要寻找拯救失丧的人。祂抵达了人类痛苦和祸患的最深处,要就地接受人,就是感染腐败、因恶习而降格、因罪而堕落、在背道中与撒但联合的人,并把他提升到祂的宝座与祂同坐。经上写到祂,说“祂不灰心,也不丧胆”(赛42:4),祂走上了舍己和自我牺牲之路,给我们树立了一个榜样,叫我们跟着祂的脚踪行。我们应当象耶稣那样作工,放弃我们自己的快乐,厌恶撒但的贿赂,藐视安逸,憎恶自私自利,以便寻找拯救失丧的人,将人从黑暗带入光明,进入上帝之爱的阳光中。我们受命要传福音给凡受造的听。我们要把消息带给失丧的人,就是基督能赦免罪恶,能更新本性,能给人披上祂的义袍,使罪人有祂公义的心志,教导他,提拔他成为与上帝同工的人。{FE 199.1}[8]
§18
Jesus looked upon the world in its fallen state with infinite pity. He took humanity upon Himself that He might touch and elevate humanity. He came to seek and to save that which was lost. He reached to the very depth of human misery and woe, to take man as He found him, a being tainted with corruption, degraded with vice, depraved by sin, and united with Satan in apostasy, and elevate him to a seat upon His throne. But it was written of Him that He shall not fail nor be discouraged, and He went forth in the path of self-denial and self-sacrifice, giving us an example that we should follow in His steps. We should work as did Jesus, departing from our own pleasure, turning away from Satans bribes, despising ease, and abhorring selfishness, that we may seek and save that which is lost, bringing souls from darkness into light, into the sunshine of Gods love. We have been commissioned to go forth and preach the gospel to every creature. We are to bring to the lost the tidings that Christ can forgive sin, can renew the nature, can clothe the soul in the garments of His righteousness, bring the sinner to His right mind, and teach him and fit him up to be a laborer together with God. {FE 199.1}[8]
§19
悔改归正的人住在基督里。他的黑暗消失,新而属天的亮光照进他心里。“有智慧的,必能得人。”“智慧人必发光如同天上的光;那使多人归义的,必发光如星,直到永永远远”(箴11:30;但12:3)。通过人与上帝合作所做的工作是永不朽坏,而要历经永世的。凡以上帝为自己的智慧、在基督耶稣里长成成人身量的人,必站在君王们面前,在所谓世上的伟人们面前,宣扬那召他出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德。科学和文学无法使暗昧的人心进入上帝儿子光荣的福音所带来的光明中。惟有上帝的儿子才能做照亮人心的伟大工作。怪不得保罗惊叹:“我不以福音为耻;这福音本是上帝的大能,要救一切相信的”(罗1:16)。基督的福音在那些相信的人身上成了个性,使他们成了活的荐信,为众人所知道所念诵。这样,敬虔的影响便进入众人心中。天上的生灵能辨别品格中真伟大的成分;因为只有良善才被上帝看为有功效的。{FE 199.2}[9]
§20
The converted soul lives in Christ. His darkness passes away, and a new and heavenly light shines into his soul. He that winneth souls is wise. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. What is done through the co-operation of men with God is a work that shall never perish, but endure through the eternal ages. He that makes God his wisdom, that grows up into the full stature of a man in Christ Jesus, will stand before kings, before the so-called great men of the world, and show forth the praises of Him who hath called him out of darkness into His marvelous light. Science and literature cannot bring into the darkened mind of men the light which the glorious gospel of the Son of God can bring. The Son of God alone can do the great work of illuminating the soul. No wonder Paul exclaims, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. The gospel of Christ becomes personality in those who believe, and makes them living epistles, known and read of all men. In this way the leaven of godliness passes into the multitude. The heavenly intelligences are able to discern the true elements of greatness in character; for only goodness is esteemed as efficiency with God. {FE 199.2}[9]
§21
基督说:“离了我,你们就不能做什么”(约15:5)。我们的信仰、我们的榜样,必须比以往更加神圣。上帝的道必须得到前所未有的研究;因为这是我们必须介绍给人的宝贵奉献,以便使人们获悉平安的道路,得到那可用上帝的生命衡量的生命。在那种指出为主的赎民行在期间而修筑之路的智慧面前,曾被高举在人间的人的智慧便沉沦到微不足道了。惟有圣经能提供分辨生命之路和通向灭亡的宽路的方法。——《评论与通讯》1891年12月15日。{FE 200.1}[10]
§22
Without Me, Christ says, ye can do nothing. Our faith, our example, must be held more sacred than they have been held in the past. The word of God must be studied as never before; for it is the precious offering that we must present to men, in order that they may learn the way of peace, and obtain that life which measures with the life of God. Human wisdom so highly exalted among men sinks into insignificance before that wisdom which points out the way cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in. The Bible alone affords the means of distinguishing the path of life from the broad road that leads to perdition and death.--Review and Herald, Dec. 15, 1891. {FE 200.1}[10]