第01章 上帝在教会中的旨意
§1
第01章 上帝在教会中的旨意
§2
Chap. 1—God’s Purpose in the Church
§3
上帝的旨意是要藉祂的子民彰显祂国度的原则。他们可以在生活和品格上表现这些原则。祂希望他们与世界的风俗，习惯和行为分离。祂设法让他们与祂亲近，以便明白祂的旨意。{6T9.1}[1]
§4
It is God’s purpose to manifest through His people the principles of His kingdom. That in life and character they may reveal these principles, He desires to separate them from the customs, habits, and practices of the world. He seeks to bring them near to Himself, that He may make known to them His will.?{6T 9.1}[1]
§5
这就是祂拯救以色列人出埃及的目的。在燃烧的荆棘旁，摩西从上帝领受了给埃及王的信息：“容我的百姓去，好在旷野事奉我”（出7:16）。上帝用大能的手和伸出来的膀臂，将希伯来民族从为奴之地领出来。祂为他们施行了奇妙的拯救，惩罚了他们不听祂话的仇敌，将之全部消灭。{6T9.2}[2]
§6
This was His purpose in the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. At the burning bush Moses received from God the message for the king of Egypt: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.”?Exodus 7:16. With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm God brought out the Hebrew host from the land of bondage. Wonderful was the deliverance He wrought for them, punishing their enemies, who refused to listen to His word, with total destruction.?{6T 9.2}[2]
§7
上帝希望领祂的子民远离世俗，预备他们领受祂的话。祂把他们从埃及带到西奈山，向他们显示自己的荣耀。这里没有什么东西可以引诱他们的感官，使他们的心转离上帝。当群众仰望面前耸立的高山时，他们就能认识到自己在上帝眼中的渺小。在这些若非上帝旨意的大能便不能摇撼的岩石之旁，上帝与人交流。为要使祂的话能在他们的心中长存清楚明晰的印象起见，祂在雷轰电闪及可怕的威严之中，宣布了祂曾在伊甸园里传授过的律法，也就是祂品格的副本。上帝的指头将这些话写在石版上。这样，无穷上帝的旨意，就显示给一班蒙召要向各国各族各方各民宣扬祂天上人间政权原则的子民了。{6T9.3}[3]
§8
God desired to take His people apart from the world and prepare them to receive His word. From Egypt He led them to Mount Sinai, where He revealed to them His glory. Here was nothing to attract their senses or divert their minds from God; and as the vast multitude looked at the lofty mountains towering above them, they could realize their own nothingness in the sight of God. Beside these rocks, immovable except by the power of the divine?will, God communicated with men. And that His word might ever be clear and distinct in their minds, He proclaimed amid thunder and lightning and with terrible majesty the law which He had given in Eden and which was the transcript of His character. And the words were written on tables of stone by the finger of God. Thus the will of the infinite God was revealed to a people who were called to make known to every nation, kindred, and tongue the principles of His government in heaven and in earth.?{6T 9.3}[3]
§9
上帝已呼召祂当代的子民也作这同样的工作。祂已经向他们启示祂的旨意，并且要求他们顺从。在地球历史的末后日子中，那曾在西奈山说话的声音仍然向世人说着:“除了我以外，你不可有别的神”（出20:3）。人虽已定意反对上帝的旨意，但他无法止息这命令的声音。人心虽永不能完全领会自己对这更高权威所应负的义务，但这义务却仍是不能避免的。深奥的理论和推测虽甚繁多，人们虽试图以科学来反对启示，以便废除上帝的律法，然而圣灵却越来越强烈地向他们显示这条命令：“当拜主你的上帝，单要事奉祂”（太4:10）。{6T10.1}[4]
§10
To the same work He has called His people in this generation. To them He has revealed His will, and of them He requires obedience. In the last days of this earth’s history the voice that spoke from Sinai is still saying to men: “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.”?Exodus 20:3. Man has set his will against the will of God, but he cannot silence this word of command. The human mind can never fully comprehend its obligation to the higher power, but it cannot evade the obligation. Profound theories and speculations may abound, men may try to set science in opposition to revelation, and thus do away with the law of God; but stronger and still stronger will the Holy Spirit bring before them the command: “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.”?Matthew 4:10.?{6T 10.1}[4]
§11
世人怎样看待上帝的律法呢？各处的人都在与神圣的律例背道而驰。他们想规避伴随着顺从的十字架，甚至各教会也站在那大叛徒一边，声称上帝的律法已经更改或废除了。人们盲目夸耀神奇的进步与文明；但在天庭众守望者看来，地上却是充斥腐败与强暴。因为罪的缘故，我们的世界弥漫着传染病院的气氛。{6T10.2}[5]
§12
How is the world treating the law of God? Everywhere men are working against the divine precepts. In their desire to evade the cross bearing attendant on obedience, even the churches are taking sides with the great apostate in claiming that the law of God has been changed or abrogated. Men in their blindness boast of wonderful progress and enlightenment; but the heavenly watchers see the earth filled with corruption and violence. Because of sin the atmosphere of our world has become as the atmosphere of a pesthouse.?{6T 10.2}[5]
§13
应当做成一番伟大的工作，将救人的福音真理展示在人面前。这是上帝所定的方法，为要抵制道德败坏的潮流，在人身上恢复祂道德的形像，挽救普世的分崩离析。这是一种吸引人们团结合一的能力。第三位天使信息的工作，就是要传扬这些真理。主的计划，是要使这个信息的传扬，成为现今世上所进行最高尚、最伟大的工作。{6T11.1}[6]
§14
A great work is to be accomplished in setting before men the saving truths of the gospel. This is the means ordained by God to stem the tide of moral corruption. This is His means of restoring His moral image in man. It is His remedy for universal disorganization. It is the power that draws men together in unity. To present these truths is the work of the third angel’s message. The Lord designs that the presentation of this message shall be the highest, greatest work carried on in the world at this time.?{6T 11.1}[6]
§15
撒但不住地怂恿人接受他的原则。他就是这样设法对抗上帝的工作。他常常说上帝的选民是一班受骗的人。他控告弟兄，不断地运用自己的控告能力攻击那些行义的人。主希望祂的子民表现出顺从正义原则的结果，藉以驳斥撒但的指控。{6T11.2}[7]
§16
Satan is constantly urging men to accept his principles. Thus he seeks to counterwork the work of God. He is constantly representing the chosen people of God as a deluded people. He is an accuser of the brethren, and his accusing power he is constantly using against those who work righteousness. The Lord desires through His people to answer Satan’s charges by showing the result of obedience to right principles.?{6T 11.2}[7]
§17
上帝的话所显示过去，现在和将来的亮光，是为每一个愿意接受的人而发的。这亮光的荣耀乃是基督品格的真荣耀，要在基督徒个人，家庭，教会，传道工作上，以及上帝子民所设立的各机构中显现出来。上帝的旨意是要让这一切成为在世界上可以成就之工的诠释，成为福音真理拯救能力的范例，成为实现上帝对人类伟大旨意的媒介。{6T11.3}[8]
§18
All the light of the past, all the light which shines in the present and reaches forth into the future, as revealed in the word of God, is for every soul who will receive it. The glory of this light, which is the very glory of the character of Christ, is to be manifested in the individual Christian, in the family, in the church, in the ministry of the word, and in every institution established by God’s people. All these the Lord designs shall be symbols of what can be done for the world. They are to be types of the saving power of the truths of the gospel. They are agencies in the fulfillment of God’s great purpose for the human race.?{6T 11.3}[8]
§19
上帝的子民要成为传达宇宙间最高感化力的通道。在撒迦利亚的异象中，有两棵橄榄树在上帝面前，流出金色的油，通过金嘴输入圣所的灯盏中。圣所的灯从此得油，而发出长明的光芒。照样，藉着站在上帝面前的众受膏者，祂丰富的亮光，仁爱，与能力，也要赐给祂的子民，使他们能向别人传递亮光，喜乐，与鼓舞。他们要变成通道，使上帝之爱的洪潮，可借此神圣的工具而流到人间。{6T11.4}[9]
§20
God’s people are to be channels for the outworking of the highest influence in the universe. In Zechariah’s vision the two olive trees which stand before God are represented as emptying the golden oil out of themselves through golden tubes into the bowl of the sanctuary. From this the lamps of the sanctuary are fed, that they?may give a continuous bright and shining light. So from the anointed ones that stand in God’s presence the fullness of divine light and love and power is imparted to His people, that they may impart to others light and joy and refreshing. They are to become channels through which divine instrumentalities communicate to the world the tide of God’s love.?{6T 11.4}[9]
§21
上帝欲藉祂今日的子民去成全的旨意，正是祂昔日领以色列人出埃及时所要他们去成全的。世人观察到教会中所显示上帝之良善，慈悲，公正和仁爱，便可见到上帝品性的表现。当上帝的律法这样在生活中实行出来时，连世人都会承认，那些敬爱并事奉上帝的人们是超乎地上万民之上的。主的眼目注意祂的每一位子民；祂对于每一个人都有祂的计划。祂的旨意是要使那些实行祂神圣律例的人，成为一班卓著的子民。圣灵默示摩西所写的话，不但属于古代的以色列人，也属于今日上帝的子民：“你归耶和华你上帝为圣洁的民，耶和华你上帝从地上的万民中拣选你，特作自己的子民”（申7:6）。“我照着耶和华我上帝所吩咐的，将律例、典章教训你们，使你们在所要进去得为业的地上遵行。所以你们要谨守遵行，这就是你们在万民眼前的智慧、聪明。他们听见这一切律例，必说：这大国的人真是有智慧、有聪明。哪一大国的人有上帝与他们相近，象耶和华我们的上帝，在我们求告祂的时候与我们相近呢？又哪一大国有这样公义的律例、典章，象我今日在你们面前所陈明的这一切律法呢？”（申4:5-8）。{6T12.1}[10]
§22
The purpose which God seeks to accomplish through His people today is the same that He desired to accomplish through Israel when He brought them forth out of Egypt. By beholding the goodness, the mercy, the justice, and the love of God revealed in the church, the world is to have a representation of His character. And when the law of God is thus exemplified in the life, even the world will recognize the superiority of those who love and fear and serve God above every other people on the earth. The Lord has His eye upon every one of His people; He has His plans concerning each. It is His purpose that those who practice His holy precepts shall be a distinguished people. To the people of God today as well as to ancient Israel belong the words written by Moses through the Spirit of Inspiration: “Thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.”?Deuteronomy 7:6.“Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our?God is in all things that we call upon Him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?”?Deuteronomy 4:5-8.?{6T 12.1}[10]
§23
甚至这些话也没能表达上帝要藉祂子民去成全之旨意的伟大与荣耀。我们不单是要向这个世界，也要向全宇宙显明祂国度的原则。使徒保罗在圣灵的感动下写道：“我本来比众圣徒中最小的还小，然而祂还赐我这恩典，叫我把基督那测不透的丰富传给外邦人；又使众人都明白，这历代以来隐藏在创造万物之上帝里的奥秘，是如何安排的，为要借着教会，使天上执政的、掌权的，现在得知上帝百般的智慧”（弗3:8-10）。{6T13.1}[11]
§24
Even these words fail of expressing the greatness and the glory of God’s purpose to be accomplished through His people. Not to this world only but to the universe are we to make manifest the principles of His kingdom. The apostle Paul, writing by the Holy Spirit, says: “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be [made] known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.”?Ephesians 3:8-10.?{6T 13.1}[11]
§25
弟兄们，“我们成了一台戏，给世人和天使观看。”“你们为人该当怎样圣洁、怎样敬虔，切切仰望上帝的日子来到”（林前4:9；彼后3:11,12）。{6T13.2}[12]
§26
Brethren, “we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.” “What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting the coming of the day of God?”?1 Corinthians 4:9;?2 Peter 3:11, 12, margin.?{6T 13.2}[12]
§27
为了彰显上帝的品格，使我们自己，教会和世界不受伪基督教的欺骗，我们必须亲自认识上帝。我们如果与上帝相交，就是祂的传道人，即使我们从来没有向教堂的会众讲过道。我们是上帝的同工，在人性中展示祂完美的品格。{6T13.3}[13]
§28
In order to manifest the character of God, in order that we may not deceive ourselves, the church, and the world by a counterfeit Christianity, we must become personally acquainted with God. If we have fellowship with God, we are His ministers, though we may never preach to a congregation. We are workers together with God in presenting the perfection of His character in humanity.?{6T 13.3}[13]