第69章 基督与国籍的关系
§1
第69章 基督与国籍的关系
§2
Christ’s Relation to Nationality
§3
基督不承认国籍，阶级或信仰的区别。文士和法利赛人想把天上的恩赐局限于一个地区或一个民族，而排斥世上其余上帝家里的人。然而基督来拆毁每一道隔墙。祂来显明祂怜悯和慈爱的恩赐像空气，阳光，滋润土地的雨露一样，是没有限制的。{3TT 387.1}[1]
§4
Christ recognized no distinction of nationality or rank or creed. The scribes and Pharisees desired to make a local and a national benefit of all the gifts of heaven and to exclude the rest of God’s family in the world. But Christ came to break down every wall of partition. He came to show that His gift of mercy and love is as unconfined as the air, the light, or the showers of rain that refresh the earth.?{3TT 387.1}[1]
§5
基督的一生创设了一种不分阶级的宗教，不论犹太人，外邦人，自主的，为奴的，都能联合一起，同为弟兄，在上帝面前完全平等。衪不容任何策略问题左右衪的行动。不分邻舍，客旅，朋友，仇敌，衪都一视同仁。那能打动衪慈心的，乃是渴慕生命之水的生灵。{3TT 387.2}[2]
§6
The life of Christ established a religion in which there is no caste, a religion by which Jew and Gentile, free and bond, are linked in a common brotherhood, equal before God. No question of policy influenced His movements. He made no difference between neighbors and strangers, friends and enemies. That which appealed to His heart was a soul thirsting for the waters of life.?{3TT 387.2}[2]
§7
衪从不弃人如草芥，总是设法实行救治。衪不论在哪一等人中，都提供适合时机与环境的教训。人对同胞所显的每一冷漠或侮辱，都使衪更觉得他们需要衪那兼具神性人性的同情。衪竭力让最粗鲁最无望的人生出希望，保证他们能变成纯洁无罪，并获得上帝的儿女所应表现的品格。{3TT 387.3}[3]
§8
He passed no human being by as worthless, but sought to apply the healing remedy to every soul. In whatever company He found Himself, He presented a lesson appropriate to the time and the circumstances. Every neglect or insult shown by men to their fellow men only made Him more conscious of their need of His divine-human sympathy. He sought to inspire with hope the roughest and most unpromising, setting before them the assurance that they might become blameless and harmless, attaining such a character as would make them the children of God.?{3TT 387.3}[3]
§9
【坚固的基础】
§10
使徒彼得说：“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。你们若有这几样，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酥基督永远的国”（彼后1:10、11）。?{3TT 387.4}[4]
§11
【A Sure Foundation】
§12
“Wherefore the rather, brethren,” says the apostle Peter, “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.”?2 Peter 1:10, 11.?{3TT 387.4}[4]
§13
【实际的事例】
§14
多年以前，在相信基督快要降临的人还很少的时候，缅因州托普瑟姆散守安息日的人都聚集在斯托克布里奇·豪兰弟兄家的大厨房里作礼拜。某个安息日的早晨，豪兰弟兄没有出席。我们都觉得很奇怪，因为他向来是非常守时的。不久他进来了，他脸上发亮，有上帝的荣光照耀着。他说：“弟兄们啊，我晓得了。我晓得我们能够实行一件事，这件事有上帝的话作为保证说：‘你们……就永不失脚。’现在我要把这件事告诉你们。”{3TT 388.1}[5]
§15
【A Practical Illustration】
§16
Years ago, when the company of believers in the soon coming of Christ was very small, the Sabbathkeepers at Topsham, Maine, met for worship in the large kitchen in the home of Brother Stockbridge Howland. One Sabbath morning Brother Howland was absent. We were surprised at this, because he was always so punctual. Soon he came in, his face aglow, shining with the glory of God. “Brethren,” he said, “I have found it. I have found that we can pursue a course of action regarding which the guarantee of God’s word is: ‘Ye shall never fall.’ I am going to tell you about it.”?{3TT 388.1}[5]
§17
于是他就告诉我们说，他知道一位弟兄是个穷苦的渔夫，觉得别人看不起他，不尊重他，又觉得豪兰和别的弟兄都自以为比他强。其实不然，但他却以为确是如此；并且已经有好几个安息没有来聚会了。因此豪兰弟兄就到他的家里去，跪在他面前说：“我的弟兄，饶恕我吧。我曾做过什么事呢？”那人就伸手拉他，想要他站起来。豪兰弟兄说：“不，你对我有什么不满吧？”他说：“我对你没有什么不满。”豪兰弟兄说：“但是你一定有的，因为以前我们可以互相交谈，现在你全不理我了。我要晓得究竟为什么缘故。”{3TT 388.2}[6]
§18
He then told us that he had noticed that one brother, a poor fisherman, had been feeling that he was not as highly respected as he ought to be, and that Brother Howland and others thought themselves above him. This was not true, but it seemed true to him; and for several weeks he had not attended the meetings. So Brother Howland went to his house, and knelt before him, saying: “My brother, forgive me. What is it that I have done?” The man took him by the arm and tried to raise him to his feet. “No,” said Brother Howland, “what have you against me?” “I have nothing against you.” “But you must have,” said Brother Howland, “because once we could speak to one another, but now you do not speak to me at all, and I want to know what is the matter.”?{3TT 388.2}[6]
§19
他说：“豪兰弟兄，起来吧。”豪兰弟兄说：“不，我不起来。”他说：“那么，我要跪下了。”于是他也屈膝跪了下来，承认自己是怎样的孩子气，并且还存着多少恶意的猜测。他说：“现在我一定要把它们扫除净尽。”{3TT 388.3}[7]
§20
“Get up, Brother Howland,” he said. “No,” said Brother Howland, “I will not.” “Then I must get down,” he said, and he fell on his knees, and confessed how childish he had been and how many evil surmisings he had cherished. “And now,” he said, “I will put them all away.”?{3TT 388.3}[7]
§21
在豪兰弟兄述说这件事的时候，他的脸上发出主的荣光。正当他的话说完，那个渔夫和他的家眷也走了进来，我们就有了一次极好的聚会。?{3TT 388.4}[8]
§22
As Brother Howland told this story, his face shone with the glory of the Lord. Just as he had finished, the fisherman?and his family came in, and we had an excellent meeting.?{3TT 388.4}[8]
§23
假如我们当中也有人仿照豪兰弟兄的作为，在我们的弟兄心怀猜疑时，走到他们面前去说：“假使我做了什么对不住你的事情，请你饶恕我。”这样我们就可击破撒但的魔力，将我们的弟兄从试探里解脱出来了。断不可容什么隔阂在你们和弟兄之间存在着。你们若能因牺牲什么而使那无谓的猜疑消除，就当去行。上帝要我们彼此相爱如弟兄。衪要我们存慈怜礼让的心。衪要我们自我教育，相信我们的弟兄是爱我们的，也相信基督是爱我们的。惟有爱能生出爱来。{3TT 389.1}[9]
§24
Suppose that some of us should follow the course pursued by Brother Howland. If when our brethren surmise evil, we would go to them saying, “Forgive me if I have done anything to harm you,” we might break the spell of Satan and set our brethren free from their temptations. Do not let anything interpose between you and your brethren. If there is anything that you can do by sacrifice to clear away the rubbish of suspicion, do it. God wants us to love one another as brethren. He wants us to be pitiful and courteous. He wants us to educate ourselves to believe that our brethren love us, and to believe that Christ loves us. Love begets love.?{3TT 389.1}[9]
§25
【怀藏基督的爱】
§26
我们期望在天上会见我们的弟兄吗？倘若我们在此世与他们和好无间地相处，当然在那里也能与他们同居。但是我们若在此世与他们相处，尚不免常常纷争冲突，那又怎能与他们在天上同居呢？凡在行为上常使自己与弟兄隔离而引起纷争不和的人，应有彻底的悔悟。我们的心必须为基督的爱所融化，所折服。我们必须怀藏衪在髑髅地十字架上为我们受死时所显的爱。我们需要更加亲近救主，多多祷告，并且学习运用信心。我们必须更加柔和，更加慈怜礼让。我们经过这个世界只有一回，难道还不应当努力在那些与我们交往之人心上，留下基督品格的印象吗？{3TT 389.2}[10]
§27
【Cherish the Love of Christ】
§28
Do we expect to meet our brethren in heaven? If we can live with them here in peace and harmony we could live with them there. But how could we live with them in heaven if we cannot live with them here without continual contention and strife? Those who are following a course of action that separates them from their brethren and brings in discord and dissension, need a thorough conversion. Our hearts must be melted and subdued by the love of Christ. We must cherish the love that He showed in dying for us on the cross of Calvary. We need to draw closer and closer to the Saviour. We should be much in prayer, and we must learn to exercise faith. We must be more tenderhearted, more pitiful and courteous. We shall pass through this world but once. Shall we not strive to leave on those with whom we associate the impress of the character of Christ??{3TT 389.2}[10]
§29
我们刚硬的心需要打破。我们需要和好无间地联合一致，也需要明了我们是拿撒勒人耶稣基督的血所买来的。惟愿每一个人都说：“衪为我舍去衪的性命。也要我有生之日，将衪为我舍命所表现的爱表现出来。”基督在十字架上将我们的罪担在衪自己的身上，使人知道上帝为义，也称那些信衪的人为义。凡来归服基督的人都有生命，就是那永远的生命。{3TT 389.3}[11]
§30
Our hard hearts need to be broken. We need to come together in perfect unity, and we need to realize that we are the purchase of the blood of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Let each one say: “He gave His life for me, and He wants me, as I go through this world, to reveal the love that He revealed in giving Himself for me.” Christ bore our sins in His own?body on the cross, that God might be just and yet the justifier of those who believe in Him. There is life, eternal life, for all who will surrender to Christ.?{3TT 389.3}[11]
§31
我极愿看见王的荣美。我极愿仰望衪无比的美丽。我要你们也仰望衪。基督将要领导衪所救赎的人到生命河边，并将这世上一切使他们为难的事向他们解明。那恩典的奥秘也必在他们面前显露。凡是从前他们有限的思想只见到纷扰和破碎意愿的地方，那时却要看出最完善，最美妙的和谐来。{3TT 390.1}[12]
§32
I want to see the King in His beauty. I want to behold His matchless charms. I want you to behold Him, too. Christ will lead His redeemed ones beside the river of life and will explain to them all that perplexed them in this world. The mysteries of grace will unfold before them. Where their finite minds discerned only confusion and broken purposes, they will see the most perfect and beautiful harmony.?{3TT 390.1}[12]
§33
让我们竭尽所有力量和所有的智能来事奉上帝。我们的智力若加以善用，就必增长。我们的宗教经验若施用于日常生活之中，就必加强。这样我们就必在那直达天庭的梯子上步步高升，直至达到顶上的一层，便可一蹴而就地跨进上帝的国，但愿我们在此世都作基督徒。然后在荣耀的国里，我们就有永远的生命了。{3TT 390.2}[13]
§34
Let us serve God with all our capabilities, with all our intelligence. Our intelligence will increase as we make use of that which we have. Our religious experience will strengthen as we bring it into the daily life. Thus we shall climb round after round of the ladder reaching to heaven, until at last we step from off the topmost round into the kingdom of God. Let us be Christians in this world. Then we shall have eternal life in the kingdom of glory.?{3TT 390.2}[13]
§35
基督门徒中所存在的团结，乃是天父差衪儿子来拯救罪人的明证。这也是衪权能的证据；因为人类的秉性各有不同，要使他们采取一致行动，一心一意宣讲仁爱的真理，若不藉着上帝奇妙的神能，就绝对做不到。{3TT 390.3}[14]
§36
Unity existing among the followers of Christ is an evidence that the Father has sent His Son to save sinners. It is a witness to His power; for nothing short of the miraculous power of God can bring human beings with their different temperaments together in harmonious action, their one aim being to speak the truth in love.?{3TT 390.3}[14]
§37
上帝的警告和劝戒是明白而确定的。我们读圣经见到合一的为善之力，和纷争的为害之力，怎能不将上帝的圣言接受到心里面呢？猜忌和不信任都象是恶酵。惟有合一的见证才是真理的权能。(9T.190-194.《科利奇维尤的出版工作》.1909年){3TT 390.4}[15]
§38
God’s warnings and counsels are plain and decided. As we read the Scriptures and see the power for good that there is in unity and the power for evil that there is in disunion, how can we fail to receive the word of God into our hearts? Suspicion and distrust are as evil leaven. Unity bears witness to the power of the truth.?{3TT 390.4}[15]