第40章 我们要显出亏欠吗？
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第40章 我们要显出亏欠吗？
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Chap. 40—Shall We Be Found Wanting?
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（1903年4月21日写于加利福尼亚州圣赫勒拿）
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我们在世上所有的地位，并不是我们所应居的。如果我们的基督徒经验已与那赐给我们的亮光及机会相符合，如果我们自始至今不断地前进上进，则我们就会远超于现今所居的地位。如果我们已行在那赐给我们的亮光之中，如果我们已追求认识上帝，则我们的道路也就越照越明了。然而在那些已有的特别亮光的人中，却有许多人与世俗是这样地联合一致，以致几乎不能将他们从世俗人中分别出来。他们并没有全然显为上帝所拣选及所宝贵的特别的子民。这样在事奉上帝及不事奉上帝的人中间，就很难识别了。{8T 247.1}[1]
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St. Helena, California,April 21, 1903
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Our position in the world is not what it should be. We are far from where we should have been had our Christian experience been in harmony with the light and the opportunities given us, had we from the beginning constantly pressed onward and upward. Had we walked in the light that has been given us, had we followed on to know the Lord, our path would have grown brighter and brighter. But many of those who have had special light are so conformed to the world that they can scarcely be distinguished from worldlings. They do not stand forth as God’s peculiar people, chosen and precious. It is difficult to discern between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not.?{8T 247.1}[1]
§7
基督复临安息日会要被称在圣所的天平里。要照着她所已有的特权及机会受审判。如果她属灵的经验不与基督付上无穷代价而赐予她的种种优越的机会相称，如果她所受的福惠没有使她配作那委托给她的工作，则她所要得到的判决就是：“显出亏欠。”她要按着那赋与她的亮光及机会受审判。{8T 247.2}[2]
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In the balances of the sanctuary the Seventh-day Adventist church is to be weighed. She will be judged by the privileges and advantages that she has had. If her spiritual experience does not correspond to the advantages that Christ, at infinite cost, has bestowed on her, if the blessings conferred have not qualified her to do the work entrusted to her, on her will be pronounced the sentence: “Found wanting.” By the light bestowed, the opportunities given, will she be judged.?{8T 247.2}[2]
§9
【上帝在祂子民身上的旨意】
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上帝已经为凡以心灵和诚实事奉祂的人，聚贮了仁爱，喜乐，平安，和光荣的胜利。守祂诫命的子民，要随时准备服务。他们要接受加增的恩典及能力，并对圣灵的工作有加增的认识。然而许多人却没有准备好，接受上帝所等着要赐给他们那圣灵宝贵的恩赐。他们没有达到高而又高的地步，去接受那从上面来的能力，以便藉着所施的恩赐，他们可以被认作是上帝特选的子民，热心为善。{8T 247.3}[3]
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【God’s Purpose For His People】
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God has in store love, joy, peace, and glorious triumph for all who serve Him in spirit and in truth. His commandment-keeping people are to stand constantly in readiness for service. They are to receive increased grace and power, and increased knowledge of the Holy Spirit’s working. But many are not ready to receive the precious gifts of the Spirit which?God is waiting to bestow on them. They are not reaching higher and still higher for power from above that through the gifts bestowed, they may be recognized as God’s peculiar people, zealous of good works.?{8T 247.3}[3]
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【“要悔改，行起初所行的事”】
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我们所珍视的服务设施遭受了毁灭，这事给我们发出严重的警告说：“所以应当回想你是从哪里坠落的，并要悔改，行起初所行的事”（启2:5）。为什么我们这样迟钝，看不出教会属灵的实况呢？难道站在锡安城墙上的守望者已经盲目了吗？许多作上帝仆人的岂不是漠不关心，而且自满自足，似乎是日间有云柱，夜间有火柱落在圣所上吗？许多身负重责及自称认识上帝的人，岂不是在生活及品格上否认了祂吗？许多自认为上帝特选子民的人，岂不是在生活上未能证明上帝真与他们同在，救他们脱离撒但的网罗及攻击，而竟自以为满足吗？{8T 248.1}[4]
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【“Repent, and Do the First Works”】
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Solemn admonitions of warning, manifest in the destruction of dearly cherished facilities for service, say to us: “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works.”?Revelation 2:5. Why is there so dim a perception of the true spiritual condition of the church? Has not blindness fallen upon the watchmen standing on the walls of Zion? Are not many of God’s servants unconcerned and well satisfied, as if the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night rested upon the sanctuary? Are there not those in positions of responsibility, professing to know God, who in life and character deny Him? Are not many of those who count themselves as His chosen, peculiar people satisfied to live without the evidence that of a truth God is among them to save them from Satan’s snares and attacks??{8T 248.1}[4]
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如在过去的时日中，我们接受了主的忠告，承认祂的同在，并离弃一切与祂旨意相反的行为，则我们现在岂不是要得到更大的亮光了吗？如果我们这样行了，天上的亮光就必射进心灵殿宇之内，使我们能够通达真理，敬爱上帝为至尊，又爱邻舍如同自己。许多自称是基督徒的人，在生活上没有与所宣布的信仰相称，亵渎了自已所负的美名，并且在彼此之间没有相爱相敬，不照着上帝所期望的去说仁慈的话语，去作有礼貌的行为，他们真是使基督受了何等大的羞辱啊！{8T 248.2}[5]
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Would we not now have much greater light if, in the past, we had received the Lord’s admonitions, acknowledged His presence, and turned away from all practices contrary to His will? Had we done this, the light of heaven would have shone into the soul-temple, enabling us to comprehend the truth and to love God supremely and our neighbors as ourselves. Oh, how greatly Christ is dishonored by those who, professing to be Christians, disgrace the name they bear by failing to make their lives correspond to their profession, by failing to treat one another with the love and respect that God expects them to reveal in kind words and courteous acts!?{8T 248.2}[5]
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那从底下来的攻势剧烈地发作了，结果便是战争及杀人流血。道德的风气被残忍可怖的行为所毒害了。竞争的精神正在散布，充斥各处。许多人正被欺诈之风或卑劣的手段所控制。许多人要离弃真道，听从那引诱人的邪灵和鬼魔的道理。他们甚至分辨不出自己是被何种的灵所控制。{8T 249.1}[6]
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The powers from beneath are stirred with deep intensity. War and bloodshed are the result. The moral atmosphere is poisoned with cruel, horrible doings. The spirit of strife is spreading; it abounds in every place. Many souls are being taken possession of by the spirit of fraud, or underhand dealing. Many will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. They do not discern what spirit has taken possession of them.?{8T 249.1}[6]
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【不尊敬上帝】
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那能看透万事及鉴察万人之心的主，论到那曾有大亮光的人说：“他们没有因为自己的道德及灵性状况而感到痛苦和惊异。”“这等人拣选自己的道路，心里喜悦行可憎恶的事。我也必拣选迷惑他们的事，使他们所惧怕的临到他们。因为我呼唤，无人答应；我说话，他们不听从，反倒行我眼中看为恶的，拣选我所不喜悦的。”“故此，上帝给他们一个生发错误的心，叫他们信从虚谎，”“因他们不领受爱真理的心，使他们得救，”“倒喜爱不义”（赛66:3,4；帖后2:11,10,12）。{8T 249.2}[7]
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【A Failure To Honor God】
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One who sees beneath the surface, who reads the hearts of all men, says of those who have had great light: “They are not afflicted and astonished because of their moral and spiritual condition.” “Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before Mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.” “God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie,” “because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved,” “but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”?Isaiah 66:3, 4;?2 Thessalonians 2:11, 10, 12.?{8T 249.2}[7]
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那自天而来的教师问道：“你假装是建造在正当的根基上，又以为上帝悦纳你的工作，而在实际上，你所行的许多事却是按着世俗的方针，并且得罪了耶和华，试问有什么样的欺骗较此更能迷惑人心呢？唉！这真是一个大欺骗，一种迷人的妄想，盘据了那一度明白真理之人的思想，以致他们误以敬虔的外貌来代替敬虔的实意及能力；甚至他们自以为富足，已经发了财，一样都不缺，而实际上却是样样都缺少的。”{8T 249.3}[8]
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The heavenly Teacher inquired: “What stronger delusion can beguile the mind than the pretense that you are building on the right foundation and that God accepts your works, when in reality you are working out many things according to worldly policy and are sinning against Jehovah? Oh, it is a great deception, a fascinating delusion, that takes possession of minds when men who have once known the truth, mistake the form of godliness for the spirit and power thereof; when?they suppose that they are rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing, while in reality they are in need of everything.”?{8T 249.3}[8]
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上帝对于那保守自己衣服毫无玷污的忠心仆人，是始终不变的。可是许多人正喊着“平安稳妥”的时候，灾祸却要忽然临到他们。除非是有彻底的悔改，除非人是谦心认罪，并接受那在耶稣里的真理，便永不能进入天国，当洁净的工作实施于我们的时候，我们就不再贪图安逸，自夸富足，己经发了财，一样都不缺了。{8T 250.1}[9]
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God has not changed toward His faithful servants who are keeping their garments spotless. But many are crying, “Peace and safety,” while sudden destruction is coming upon them. Unless there is thorough repentance, unless men humble their hearts by confession and receive the truth as it is in Jesus, they will never enter heaven. When purification shall take place in our ranks, we shall no longer rest at ease, boasting of being rich and increased with goods, in need of nothing.?{8T 250.1}[9]
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谁能确切地说：“我们的金子是在火中炼过的；我们的衣服是未被世俗玷污的”呢？我见到我们的指导者，指着那所谓义者的衣服，将他们揭开，显出其下的污秽不洁来。然后祂对我说：“你看不出他们是怎样虚伪地把自己品格上的污秽及朽坏掩盖起来吗？‘可叹忠信的城变为妓女！’我父的殿变成了买卖的地方，一个没有上帝同在及失去了荣耀之处！因而显出了弱点，又缺乏能力。”{8T 250.2}[10]
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Who can truthfully say: “Our gold is tried in the fire; our garments are unspotted by the world”? I saw our Instructor pointing to the garments of so-called righteousness. Stripping them off, He laid bare the defilement beneath. Then He said to me: “Can you not see how they have pretentiously covered up their defilement and rottenness of character? ‘How is the faithful city become an harlot!’ My Father’s house is made a house of merchandise, a place whence the divine presence and glory have departed! For this cause there is weakness, and strength is lacking.”?{8T 250.2}[10]
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【一种改革的呼求】
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除非正为自己的背道所浸染的教会悔改更新，则她必吃自己的行为所结的果子，以致憎恶自己。当她要拒恶择善，谦心寻求上帝，达成她在基督里崇高的恩召，坚立在永远真理的基础上，凭信心把握那为她预备的造诣，她就可以得到医治。她将要在上帝所赐的简朴纯洁中出现，与世俗的缠累隔绝，并表现真理已使她真正得到自由。于是其中的分子才真正成为上帝的选民，祂的代表。{8T 250.3}[11]
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【A Call For Reformation】
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Unless the church, which is now being leavened with her own backsliding, shall repent and be converted, she will eat of the fruit of her own doing, until she shall abhor herself. When she resists the evil and chooses the good, when she seeks God with all humility and reaches her high calling in Christ, standing on the platform of eternal truth and by faith laying hold upon the attainments prepared for her, she will be healed. She will appear in her God-given simplicity and?purity, separate from earthly entanglements, showing that the truth has made her free indeed. Then her members will indeed be the chosen of God, His representatives.?{8T 250.3}[11]
§35
那需要一番彻底改革的时间已经到了，当这种改革开始的时候，祈祷的精神要激动每一信徒，并从教会中排除不睦及纷争的风气。那些向来不在基督徒交契中生活的人，将要彼此密切联络。一个信徒若行事合宜，就要引起别的信徒与他联合代祷，共求圣灵的显示。再没混乱的事了，因为人人都必与圣灵的意志相符。信徒与信徒之间的隔阂要被打破，上帝的仆人也要说出同样的话来。主必与祂的仆人合作。大家都必领悟基督所教祂仆人的祷词，而且祈祷说：“愿祢的国降临，愿祢的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上”（太6:10）。{8T 251.1}[12]
§36
The time has come for a thorough reformation to take place. When this reformation begins, the spirit of prayer will actuate every believer and will banish from the church the spirit of discord and strife. Those who have not been living in Christian fellowship will draw close to one another. One member working in right lines will lead other members to unite with him in making intercession for the revelation of the Holy Spirit. There will be no confusion, because all will be in harmony with the mind of the Spirit. The barriers separating believer from believer will be broken down, and God’s servants will speak the same things. The Lord will co-operate with His servants. All will pray understandingly the prayer that Christ taught His servants: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”?Matthew 6:10.?{8T 251.1}[12]