第06章 《信函》第43号
§1
第06章 《信函》第43号Chap. 6—Letter 43【前言】
§2
怀爱伦曾写道：“不甘心地顺从父亲的意愿会养成叛逆的品格”(《使我认识祂》120页)。上帝的仆人在写这句话时，预料到教师和父母会面临的最大问题：如何培养孩子对教会持积极的态度。这就是下面这封信的主题。{PCP 45.1}[1]
§3
【Preview】
§4
Ellen White once wrote, “A sullen submission to the will of the father will develop the character of a rebel.”—“That I May Know Him“, P. 120. In writing this, God’s servant anticipated the number one problem confronting educators and parents: How to create a positive attitude on the part of children toward the church. This is the subject in the following letter.?{PCP 45.1}[1]
§5
我们不断勉励青年人顺从《彼得后书》第一章的教导。但许多人存叛逆的心理。为什么？因为对上帝和祂希望为他们所做的事情没有正确的认识，孩子们便出于惧怕或责任感，而不是出于羡慕，参加与教会和上帝有关的活动。信仰成了压力，最终遭到拒绝。{PCP 45.2}[2]
§6
Young people are constantly urged to follow the advice given in?2 Peter 1. But many rebel. Why? Because without a positive concept of God and what he wishes to do for them, children relate to their church and to God out of fear or shear duty rather than admiration. Religion becomes oppressive, and it is eventually rejected.?{PCP 45.2}[2]
§7
我们的责任显然是向孩子们介绍站在教会的教义和规范背后的上帝。《彼得后书》帮助我们这么做：重点是认识上帝是一位良友，这才是顺服和成长的基础。{PCP 45.3}[3]
§8
Clearly our duty is to introduce children to the God who stands behind the church’s doctrines and standards. Second Peter helps us do this: The emphasis is on obedience and growth based upon knowing God as a friend.?{PCP 45.3}[3]
§9
《彼得后书》第一章中有许多教训，奏响了胜利的基调。本章的真理深深打动人心。让我们多加学习和实行。使徒写道（彼后1:1-3）：“作耶稣基督仆人和使徒的西门彼得写信给那因我们的上帝和救主耶稣基督之义，与我们同得一样宝贵信心的人。愿恩惠、平安因你们认识上帝和我们主耶稣多多的加给你们。上帝的神能已将一切关乎生命和虔敬的事赐给我们，皆因我们认识那用自己荣耀和美德召我们的主。”上帝和我们救主耶稣基督的义，是我们默想的伟大题旨。默想基督和祂的义就不会给自以为义和自我夸耀留下余地。本章指出，要在认识基督的每一阶段不断地进步，不可停顿。认识基督就是永生。耶稣的祷告说：“认识祢独一的真神，并且认识祢所差来的耶稣基督，这就是永生”（约17:3）。我们要指着上帝夸口。先知说：“耶和华如此说：‘智慧人不要因他的智慧夸口，勇士不要因他的勇力夸口，财主不要因他的财物夸口。夸口的却因他有聪明，认识我是耶和华，又知道我喜悦在世上施行慈爱、公平，和公义，以此夸口。这是耶和华说的’”（耶9:23，24）。祂是我们的“圣洁、救赎。如经上所记：‘夸口的，当指着主夸口’”（林前1:30，31）。“我们不仗着别人所劳碌的，分外夸口；但指望你们信心增长的时候，所量给我们的界限，就可以因着你们更加开展，得以将福音传到你们以外的地方；并不是在别人界限之内，藉着他现成的事夸口。但夸口的，当指着主夸口。因为蒙悦纳的，不是自己称许的，乃是主所称许的”（林后10:15-18）。先知和使徒的见证与这个主题完全一致。我们要指着主我们的上帝夸口。{PCP 45.4}[4]
§10
【Letter】
§11
The first chapter of second Peter is full of instruction, and strikes the keynote of victory. The truth is impressively forced upon the mind by the way it is presented in this chapter. Let us more abundantly recommend the study of these words, and the practicing of these precepts. The apostle writes (2 Peter 1:1-3), “To them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of?“Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” What a grand theme this is for contemplation—the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Contemplating Christ and His righteousness leaves no room for self-righteousness, for the glorifying of self. In this chapter there is no standstill. There is continual advancement in every stage of the knowledge of Christ. Through the knowledge of Christ is life eternal. In His prayer Jesus says, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” In God we are to glory. The prophet says, “Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness,” “and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” “Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand. But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.” The testimony of prophets and apostles is in full accord on this subject. We are to glory in the Lord our God.?{PCP 45.4}[4]
§12
【藉着思考上帝的义不断长进】
§13
彼得继续说：“因此，祂已将又宝贵又极大的应许赐给我们，叫我们既脱离世上从情欲来的败坏，就得与上帝的性情有分”（彼后1:4）。我们蒙召认识基督；那是荣耀与美德的知识。耶稣基督向我们所显示的有关上帝品格的完美知识，使我们开始与上帝交往。我们藉着占用那赐给我们的伟大宝贵的应许，得以与上帝的性情有分，脱离世上从情欲来的败坏。{PCP 46.1}[5]
§14
【Continual advancement in contemplating righteousness of God】
§15
Peter continues, saying, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” We have been called to the knowledge of Christ, and that is to the knowledge of glory and virtue. It is a knowledge of the perfection of the divine character, manifested to us in Jesus Christ, that opens up to us communion with God. It is by appropriating the great and precious promises that we are to become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.?{PCP 46.1}[5]
§16
【与上帝的重要关系】
§17
青年人若能持住圣经的神圣保证，将会有广阔的前途。人心很少领悟因与上帝的性情有分所达到的属灵造诣，是有何等的长阔高深。那些天天顺从上帝而与上帝性情有分的人，必每天因遵守上帝的诫命而获得喜乐，因为他与上帝已合而为一。他必须与上帝保持有活力的关系，正如圣子与圣父的关系。他明白基督所祈求在圣父与圣子之间合而为一的意义。耶稣祷告说：“我不但为这些人祈求，也为那些因他们的话信我的人祈求，使他们都合而为一。正如祢父在我里面，我在祢里面，使他们也在我们里面，叫世人可以信祢差了我来。祢所赐给我的荣耀，我已赐给他们，使他们合而为一，象我们合而为一。我在他们里面，祢在我里面，使他们完完全全的合而为一，叫世人知道祢差了我来，也知道祢爱他们如同爱我一样”（约17:20-23）。{PCP 46.2}[6]
§18
【Vital relation with God essential】
§19
What possibilities are opened up to the youth who lay hold of the divine assurances of God’s Word! Scarcely can the human mind comprehend what is the breadth and depth and height of the?spiritual attainments that can be reached by becoming partakers of the divine nature. The human agent who daily yields obedience to God, who becomes a partaker of the divine nature, finds pleasure daily in keeping the commandments of God; for he is one with God. It is essential that he holds as vital a relation with God as does the Son to the Father. He understands the oneness that Christ prayed might exist between the Father and the Son. Jesus prayed, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”?{PCP 46.2}[6]
§20
【崇高的标准】
§21
凡获得了基督门徒那种宝贵信心的人拥有多么大的特权和福气啊！没有什么会留着不给他们的。使徒说：“上帝的神能已将一切关乎生命和虔敬的事赐给我们，皆因我们认识那用自己荣耀和美德召我们的主”（彼后1:3）。在我们面前标准举得越来越高，但我们必须亲自去达到。我们虽然是软弱有罪的人，但藉着每日在基督的学校中学习，藉着与上帝的形像相似，表显祂品格的优美，恩上加恩，攀登一级一级的天梯，在爱子里得以完全，就能成就荣耀和美德。当我们实行加法的计划，凭信心恩上加恩时，上帝就会实施乘法的计划，将丰富的恩典和平安赐给我们。我们要成为基督学校中殷勤的学生，认识祂的旨意，成为祂葡萄园中活跃的工人。{PCP 47.1}[7]
§22
【Lifted standard】
§23
What privileges and blessings are granted to those who have obtained like precious faith with the disciples of Christ. Nothing is withheld from them. The apostle says, “His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” The standard is lifted up before us higher and still higher, and yet we are to reach it individually. We may attain unto glory and virtue, though weak, sinful mortals, by learning daily lessons in the school of Christ, by becoming conformed to the divine image, by manifesting His excellency of character, by adding grace to grace, by climbing round by round the ladder heavenward, by becoming complete in the Beloved. As we shall work upon the plan of addition, by faith adding grace to grace, God will work upon the plan of multiplication, and multiply His grace and peace unto us. We are to be diligent students in the school of Christ, having a knowledge of His will, and becoming active laborers in His vineyard.?{PCP 47.1}[7]
§24
【乘法的计划】
§25
使徒向我们说描述了我们的工作计划。他说：“正因这缘故，你们要分外的殷勤；有了信心，又要加上德行；有了德行，又要加上知识；有了知识，又要加上节制；有了节制，又要加上忍耐；有了忍耐，又要加上虔敬；有了虔敬，又要加上爱弟兄的心；有了爱弟兄的心，又要加上爱众人的心；你们若充充足足的有这几样，就必使你们在认识我们的主耶稣基督上不至于闲懒不结果子了。人若没有这几样，就是眼瞎，只看见近处的，忘了他旧日的罪已经得了洁净。所以弟兄们，应当更加殷勤，使你们所蒙的恩召和拣选坚定不移。你们若行这几样，就永不失脚。这样，必叫你们丰丰富富地得以进入我们主救主耶稣基督永远的国。你们虽然晓得这些事，并且在你们已有的真道上坚固，我却要将这些事常常提醒你们”（彼后1:5-12）。{PCP 47.2}[8]
§26
【Plan of multiplication】
§27
The apostle describes to us the plan on which we are to work. He says, “Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off,?“and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth” (2 Peter 1:5-12).?{PCP 47.2}[8]
§28
【青年要做基督的活见证】
§29
我们的青少年若是愿意留心注意并实行在《彼得后书》1章中定下的规则，就会在公义一边发挥多么有力的影响啊，无论他们是在安娜堡（一所州立大学），还是在我们的机构，或在任何负责的岗位。他们会看明这项真理。他们毕生的工作也将是成功的。他们会意识到需要多多祷告，在真理中扎根、建基，以致借言传身教，成为基督的活见证。他们就会象保罗一样，悔改后便成为了一个通道，使明亮的光照耀在伟大的救赎计划上。他们将会成为与上帝同工的人，重塑道德品格，并成为媒介，在人身上恢复上帝的形像。他们将回应圣灵的工作，在上帝里与基督成为一。他们所曾经干犯的律法不再是一种束缚的轭，而要成为使人自由的律法，就是作儿子的自由。他们既向上帝悔改，在基督里操练信心，就经历赦免，视上帝的律法超过金子，是的，甚至超过纯金。{PCP 48.1}[9]
§30
【Youth to be living witnesses for Christ】
§31
If our youth would take heed to and practice the rules laid down in this chapter, what an influence they would exert on the side of righteousness, whether they were at _____, or in our institutions, or in any place of responsibility. They would see this truth, and their lifework would be successful. They would realize the need of being much in prayer, of being rooted and grounded in the truth, so that by precept and example they might be living witnesses for Christ. They would then be like Paul, who after his conversion was a channel through which bright beams of light were shed upon the great plan of salvation. They would be workers together with God in reshaping moral character, and would be instruments through which the image of God might be retraced in man. They would respond to the working of the Holy Spirit, and become one with Christ in God. No longer would the law which they have transgressed be a yoke of bondage, but it would be the law of liberty, the freedom of sonship. Having repented toward God, having exercised faith in Christ, they have experienced forgiveness, and esteem the law of God above gold, yea, above fine gold.?{PCP 48.1}[9]
§32
【做儿子的自由】
§33
耶稣是背负罪孽的主。祂除去我们的罪，使我们与祂的圣洁有份。基督向祂血所赎买的人所怀的是多么体贴怜悯的爱啊！凡靠祂来到上帝面前的人，祂都能拯救到底。在这些宝贵的应许中有能力。我们应该与基督合作，奉献我们所有天赐的才干为主服务，使圣灵能藉着我们工作，将荣耀和尊荣归给基督。{PCP 48.2}[10]
§34
【Freedom of sonship】
§35
Jesus is the Sin-bearer. He takes away our sins, and makes us partakers of His holiness. O what tender, pitying love dwells in the heart of Christ toward the purchase of His blood! He is able to save unto the uttermost all who come unto God by Him. There is power in these precious promises, and we should cooperate with the working of Christ, devoting all our God-given talents to the service of the Master, that the Holy Spirit may work through us to the glory and honor of Christ.?{PCP 48.2}[10]
§36
【基督的学生】
§37
学生们对于作基督徒的意义应当有更深更广的认识。做基督徒意味着要在基督的学校里做学生，意味着心灵、头脑与身子都与上帝的智慧相连。当人与上帝这样联合时，我们便受教于赐智慧与知识的上帝。祂的灵会分赐清洁神圣的思想，并提供能存到永生的知识。那些献身、殷勤、不屈不挠的工人，要使用每一才能，为上帝的荣耀奉献他们所有的能力。那些在工作上不怠惰，灵里火热，服侍主的人，将会收获永生的奖赏。但是我们的本分是要有勇气，运用对上帝的坚定信心。{PCP 48.3}[11]
§38
【Learners in Christ】
§39
Students should have a growing, expanding idea of what it means to be a Christian. To be a Christian means to be a learner in the school of Christ. It means the connecting of soul, mind, and body with divine wisdom. When this union exists between the soul and God, we are taught of God, who gives wisdom and knowledge. His Spirit imparts thoughts that are clear and holy, and?gives the knowledge that lives through eternal ages. Those who are consecrated, diligent, persevering laborers, putting to use every capability, employing all their faculties for the glory of God, who are not slothful in business, but are fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, will reap an eternal reward. But it is our part to be courageous, to exercise firm faith in God.?{PCP 48.3}[11]
§40
【让学生分享上帝的知识】
§41
末日近了。学生们应该非常殷勤地致力于聪明地领受知识，以便分给别人。××，我不想写这些话，但是我忍不住。上帝的灵感动我高举基督徒品格的标准。{PCP 49.1}[12]
§42
【Students to share knowledge of the divine】
§43
The end is near, and students should make most diligent effort to carry forward the work intelligently of acquiring knowledge that they may impart to others. _____, I had no idea of writing as I have; but I could not forbear. I felt impelled by the Spirit of God to lift up the standard of Christian character.?{PCP 49.1}[12]
§44
我们如果留意并如磁针指向磁极一样以真诚彼此相待，就必成为上帝的同工。我感谢你费心给我写信，并寄来那些你们认为可能会帮助我的东西。你一直好意这样做，谢谢你设法帮补我的需要。我祈求主赐福你和你的家人。（《信函》1895第43号节选。）{PCP 49.2}[13]
§45
If we will take heed and be true one to another as the needle to the pole, we will be laborers together with God. I thank you for all the pains you have taken in writing to me, and in sending those things which you think will be of service to me. You have been kind to do this, and I thank you for seeking to help me in my need. I pray the Lord to bless you and yours. (Portion of?Letter 43, 1895.).?{PCP 49.2}[13]