“The Christian Life Cannot Feed on Negatives 基督徒的生命不能以否定為食物“(Philippians 腓立比書 3:12-14)
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.
這並不是說我已經得著了,已經完全了,而是竭力追求,好使我可以得著基督耶穌要我得著的。弟兄們,我不以為自己已經得著了,我只有一件事,就是忘記背後,努力面前,向著目標竭力追求,為要得著 神在基督耶穌裡召我往上去得的獎賞。
Christians are saved from their past sins (which are to be forgotten afterwards) as well as God’s wrath to come both of which they simply have nothing more to do because for them both sin and wrath are cancelled. To be engrossed still in what we have been saved from (which is non-existent) is to live in a state of negation. Spiritual life cannot feed on negatives. The one who is constantly reciting the evils of own unconverted past is looking in the wrong direction. It is as we become occupied with positive things (which exist in truth) that health comes to the soul. Forgetting the things that are behind is a positive necessity if we are to become mature in Christ. The blessed Spirit of God rushes into the empty world vacated by our sins and failures, bringing with Him everything new and best of all a new and satisfying object toward which to direct our soul’s enraptured gaze!
基督徒是從他們過去的罪(得贖後將被忘掉),並神將臨的憤怒中被拯救出來,在這兩方面上再無瓜割,因為對他們來說,罪和憤怒都不存在了。倘若仍全神貫注於那些我們從其中已得拯救的(是不存在的),就是活在否定的狀態裡;屬靈的生命不能以否定為食物。人若經常追憶自己未悔改時的罪愆,就在看錯了方向。就如當我們心中充滿著那些正面事(存在於真理的事),健康就會臨到心靈。我們若要在基督裡成長成熟,忘記背後是一項積極的必須品。神賜福的靈便湧進我們已把罪惡和失敗倒空了的內心世界裡面,將帶來一切事物的更新,並最美好的是一個叫人滿足的新目標,使我們的心靈欣喜地全神專注它!
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, forgive us if we have been deceiving by the devil, our enemy/flesh to negate the fact that once we truly believe and trust in you as our Saviour, both our sins and God’s wrath are cancelled. Help us to not forget/neglect/ignore that what we believe/our faith needs to be practising and being tested/confirmed continually for genuineness until you return. Moreover, help us to stay alert, be on guard and persevere to the end by your living words and our prayers to you. Amen.
禱告: 主耶穌基督啊,如果我們已一直受魔鬼我們的仇敵/肉體所蒙閉,去否定一旦真心地信靠你作自己的救主,我們的罪和神的憤怒兩者就被除去那事實,求你寬恕我們。求你幫助我們不要忘記/忽略/漠視自己信的是甚麼/信心,需要持續不斷地實踐和被考驗/確認其真偽,直至你再來。還有求你幫助我們以你活潑的道和向你的禱告,保持警醒,守護自己和堅忍到底。阿們。