146 中翻英 LOVE OR DEATH 爱或死 08/02/2026
Lesson Seven 1 John 3:11–24 LOVE OR DEATH
第七課 約壹3：11–24 爱或死
John’s letter has been compared to a spiral staircase because he kept returning to the same three topics: love, obedience, and truth. Though these themes recur, it is not true that they are merely repetitious. Each time we return to a topic, we look at it from a different point of view and are taken more deeply into it.
约翰的書信的寫作好像上螺旋楼梯，因为他一直回到同样的三个主题：爱，顺服和真理。尽管这些主题一再的出現，若說它们只是重复性的说法，這是不正确的。約翰每次回到這三個主题时，都会从不同的角度來申論它們，并对其进行更深入的探討。
We have already learned about our love for other believers—“the brethren” (1 John 2:7–11)—but the emphasis in 1 John 2 was on fellowship. A believer who is “walking in the light” will evidence that fact by loving the brethren. In our present section, the emphasis is on his relationship with other believers.
我们已经了解了愛其他信徒，有如 “弟兄” 之間的爱（约壹2：7-11），但是約壹2章中的重点是“团契”。“行在光明中” 的信徒，将通过爱弟兄来证明这事实。但在本段經节中，約翰強調的是信徒与其他信徒的关系。
Christians love one another because they have all been born of God, which makes them all brothers and sisters in Christ.
基督徒之所以能彼此相爱，是因为他们都是上帝所生的，这使他们成为基督的兄弟姐妹。
Obedience and love are both evidences of sonship and brotherhood. We have been reminded that a true child of God practices righteousness (1 John 3:1–10), and now we shall look into the matter of love for the brethren (1 John 3:11 –24). This truth is first stated in the negative: “Whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother” (1 John 3:10 ).
順服和爱既是儿子名分和兄弟情谊的标志。我们已经知道，真正是上帝的儿女要操練行公义（约壹3：1-10），並且现在開始要研究对弟兄的爱（约壹3：11-24）。这真理首先從負面來说：“谁不行公义，就不是上帝生的，也不爱他的兄弟”（约壹3：10）。
A striking difference should be noted between the earlier and the present treatment of love for the brethren. In the section on fellowship (1 John 2:7–11), we are told that loving the brethren is a matter of light and darkness. If we do not love one another, we cannot walk in the light, no matter how loud our profession. But in this section on brotherhood (1 John 3:11 –24), the epistle probes much deeper. We are told that loving the brethren is a matter of life and death. “He that loveth not his brother abideth in death” (1 John 3:14 ).
对弟兄的爱明显的区别，應該在早期和现在的所面对待愛之不同。在关于团契的部分（约壹2：7-11），我们已經知道，爱弟兄是行在光明与黑暗中的问题。如果我们彼此不相爱，无论我们多么大声的宣稱，都无法行在光明中。但有关于兄弟情谊的这一經节中（约壹3：11–24），书信記載約翰的探究更深。他告诉我们，爱弟兄是與生和死有关的事。 “不爱弟兄的人就住在死裡”（约壹3：14）。
When it comes to this matter of love, there are four possible “levels of relationship,” so to speak, on which a person may live: murder (1 John 3:11 –12), hatred (1 John 3:13 –15), indifference (1 John 3:16 –17), and Christian compassion (1 John 3:18 –24).
谈到爱的问题，可以说有四種赖以生存的可能 “关系层次”：谋杀（约壹3：11-12），仇恨（约壹3：13-15） ），冷漠（约壹3：16-17）和基督徒的憐憫（约壹3：18-24）。
The first two are not Christian at all, the third is less than Christian, and only the last is compatible with true Christian love.
前两種人根本不是基督徒，第三種人算不上是基督徒，只有最后一種人，才与真基督徒的爱相。
1. Murder ( 1 John 3:11 –12)
1. 谋杀（约壹3：11-12）
Murder, of course, is the lowest level on which one may live in relationship to someone else. It is the level on which Satan himself exists. The devil was a murderer from the beginning of his fallen career (John 8:44 ), but Christians have heard, from the beginning of their experience, that they are to “love one another.” John emphasized origins: “Go back to the beginning.” If our spiritual experience originates with the Father, we must love one another. But if it originates with Satan, we will hate one another. “Let that therefore abide in you which ye have heard from the beginning” (1 John 2:24 ).
谋杀者，当然在他生活中与人建立的关系是最壞。这就是撒旦生存的水平。牠的堕落职业生涯一开始就是杀人的（约8:44），但是，基督徒从一开始就听说要 “彼此相爱”的環境裡。约翰强调到生命的源頭：“回到起始点。” 如果我们的属灵经验来自天父，就必须要彼此相爱。但是，如果它起源于撒旦，将彼此憎恨。 “因此，你们務要將那从起初所听見的，常存在心裡”（約壹2:24）。
Cain is an example of a life of hatred; we find the record in Genesis 4:1–16. It is important to note that Cain and Abel, being brothers, had the same parents, and they both brought sacrifices to God. Cain is not presented as an atheist; he is presented as a worshipper. And this is the point: children of the devil masquerade as true believers. They attend religious gatherings, as Cain did. They may even bring offerings. But these actions in themselves are not valid proof that a man is born of God. The real test is his love for the brethren— and here Cain failed.
该隐是仇恨生活的例子。我们在创世纪4章1至16節，中找到這记載。重要的是要注意，该隐和亚伯是兄弟，他們是從相同的父母所生，他们都为上帝带来了牺牲品獻祭。该隐没有表现他不信上帝。他所表演的崇拜上帝者。重点是：魔鬼的孩子假装成真正的上帝的信徒。他们像该隐一样参加宗教聚会。他们甚至可能带来祭品。但是这些行为本身并不能有效证明他是上帝所生的。真正的考验是他对弟兄的爱，而该隐在這點上失败了。
Every man has a “spiritual lineage” as well as a physical, and Cain’s “spiritual father” was the devil. This does not mean, of course, that Satan literally fathered Cain. It means, rather, that Cain’s attitudes and actions originated with Satan. Cain was a murderer and a liar like Satan (John 8:44 ). He murdered his brother, and then he lied about it. “And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not” (Gen. 4:9).
每个人都有“屬靈世系”和肉身的世系，而该隐的 “屬靈父亲” 是魔鬼。当然，这并不是說撒旦实質上是该隐的父亲。而是，该隐的心态和行為起源于撒旦。该隐是杀人犯，像撒旦一样是撒谎者（约8:44）。他谋杀了他的兄弟，然后撒谎。耶和华对该隐说：你兄弟亚伯在哪里？他说，我不知道”（创4：9）。
In contrast to this, God is love (1 John 4:8) and truth (John 14:6; 1 John 5:6); therefore, those who belong to God’s family practice love and truth.
與此相對照，上帝是愛(約 14:6; 約壹 5:6); 因此，生在上帝家中的，他們操練愛和真理。
The difference between Cain’s offering and Abel’s offering was faith (Heb. 11:4), and faith is always based on the revelation God has given (Rom. 10:17 ). It seems clear that God must have given definite instructions concerning how He was to be worshipped. Cain rejected God’s Word and decided to worship in his own way. This shows his relationship to Satan, for Satan is always interested in turning people away from the revealed will of God. The devil’s “Yea, hath God said?” (Gen. 3:1) was the beginning of trouble for Cain’s parents and for all mankind since.
该隐的奉献与亚伯的奉献之间的区别是信心（来11：4），而信心总是基于上帝所赐的启示（罗10:17）。显然，上帝必须明确的指示出如何敬拜祂。该隐不聽上帝的话，决定以自己的方式來敬拜。这表明他与撒旦的关系，因为撒但一直有興趣，使人远离上帝所启示的旨意。魔鬼的 “是的，上帝说过吗？” （创3：1）对于该隐的父母和整个人类来说，都是麻烦的开始。
We are not told by what outward sign the Lord accepted Abel’s sacrifice and rejected Cain’s. It may be that He sent fire from heaven to consume Abel’s sacrifice of an animal and its blood. But we are told the results: Abel went away from the altar with God’s witness of acceptance in his heart, but Cain went away angry and disappointed (Gen. 4:4–6). God warned Cain that sin was crouching at the door like a dangerous beast (Gen. 4:7) but promised that if Cain would obey God, he, like Abel, would enjoy peace.
我們不知道，上帝有没有接受亚伯的献祭而拒绝该隐的献祭，因為沒有任何外在的迹象啟示。可能上帝从天上降下火来燒毀，亚伯以动物及其血液作的祭品。但是结果如何却不知道：亚伯帶著上帝接纳他的祭物见证的信心，离开了祭坛，但该隐却生气又失望（创4：4-6）。上帝警告该隐，罪像危险的野兽蹲伏在门口（创4：7），但祂答应该隐，若他听从祂的話，他将像亚伯一样享受平安。
Instead of heeding God’s warning, Cain listened to Satan’s voice and plotted to kill his brother. His envy had turned to anger and hatred. He knew that he was evil and that his brother was righteous. Rather than repent, as God commanded him to do, he decided to destroy his brother.
该隐没有听从上帝的警告，而是听了撒但的声音，并策划杀死他的兄弟。他的嫉妒变成了愤怒和仇恨。他知道自己是邪恶的，他的兄弟是正义的。他寧可不按照上帝的命令悔改，而是决定殺死他的兄弟。
Centuries later, the Pharisees did the same thing to Jesus (Mark 15:9–10), and Jesus called them, too, children of the devil (John 8:44 ).
几个世纪以后，法利赛人对耶稣做了同样的事情（可15：9-10），耶稣也称他们为魔鬼的孩子（约8:44）。
Cain’s attitude represents the attitude of the present world system (1 John 3:13 ). The world hates Christ (John 15:18 –25) for the same reason Cain hated Abel: Christ shows up the world’s sin and reveals its true nature. When the world, like Cain, comes face-to-face with reality and truth, it can make only one of two decisions: repent and change, or destroy the one who is exposing it.
该隐的心态代表了当今世界体系的态度（約壹3:13）。世人憎恨基督（约15：18-25），原因似同该隐恨亚伯：基督彰显了世界的罪恶，并揭示了其真实的本性。当世界像该隐一样与实存和真理面对面时，它只能做出两个决定中之一：悔改和改变，或摧毁揭露现实的那人决定。
Satan is the “prince of this world” (John 14:30 ), and he controls it through murder and lies. How horrible to live on the same level as Satan! A hunter took refuge in a cave during a rainstorm. After he had dried out a bit, he decided to investigate his temporary home and turned on his flashlight. Imagine his surprise when he discovered he was sharing the cave with an assortment of spiders, lizards, and snakes! His exit was a fast one.
撒旦是 “世界的王子”（约14:30），牠通过谋杀和说谎来控制世界。与撒旦生活在同一水平上真是太可怕了！ 在暴雨中，一位猎人躲在山洞里。當稍晴了一点之后，他决定回去研究他的临时住所，并打开手电筒。当他发现自己正与各种各样的蜘蛛，蜥蜴和蛇共享那洞穴時，試想象一下，他該是感到多麼的惊讶！他很快的跑出來。
If the unsaved world could only see, it would realize that it is living on the low level of murder and lies, surrounded by that old serpent Satan and all his demonic armies. Like Cain, the people of the world try to cover up their true nature with religious rites, but they lack faith in God’s Word. People who continue to live on this level will eventually be cast into outer darkness with Satan to suffer apart from God forever.
如果未得救的世界只能看到，它将意识到生活在被谋杀和谎言沉迷之中，被那条古老的蛇撒旦及其所有恶魔军队所包围。像该隐一样，世界各地的人们都试图用宗教仪式掩盖他们的真实本性，但他们对上帝的圣言缺乏信心。继续生活在这水平上的人，最终将与撒但被驅逐到外在的黑暗中，永远与上帝隔绝。
2. Hatred (3:13 –15)
2. 仇恨（3：13-15）
At this point, you are probably thinking, “But I have never murdered anyone!” And to this statement, God replies, “Yes, but remember that to a Christian hatred is the same as murder” (1 John 3:15 ; cf. Matt. 5:22 ). The only difference between Level 1 and Level 2 is the outward act of taking life. The inward intent is the same.
在这一点上，或許在想，“但我从未谋杀任何人！” 上帝对这句话回答说，“是的，但请记住，对基督徒的仇恨与谋杀一样”（約壹3：15；参 太5：22）。夺取生命的1级水平和2级水平之间的唯一区别是外在行为的不同。内在的意图是相同的。
A visitor at the zoo was chatting with the keeper of the lion house.
动物园的一位访客正在与狮子屋的管理员聊天。
“I have a cat at home,” said the visitor, “and your lions act just like my cat. Look at them sleeping so peacefully! It seems a shame that you have to put those beautiful creatures behind bars.”
访客说，“我家里有只猫，你狮子的行動就像我的猫一样。看着他们这么安静地睡觉！你将那些美丽的生物关在牢里，不覺这有一些羞辱。”
“My friend,” the keeper laughed, “these may look like your cat, but their disposition is radically different. There’s murder in their hearts. You’d better be glad the bars are there.”
管理员笑着说，“我的朋友，牠们看起来像猫，但是性癖完全不同。牠们心中有吃人的意念。那裡有欄杆使你感到高兴。”
The only reason some people have never actually murdered anyone is because of the “bars” that have been put up: the fear of arrest and shame, the penalties of the law, and the possibility of death. But we are going to be judged by “the law of liberty” (James 2:12 ). The question is not so much, “What did you do?” but “What did you want to do? What would you have done if you had been at liberty to do as you pleased?” This is why Jesus equated hatred with murder (Matt. 5:21 –26) and lust with adultery (Matt. 5:27 –30).
有些人从未真正谋杀过任何人的唯一原因，是因为有“欄杆”阻礙的緣故：它們是害怕逮捕和羞辱，处罚以及可能被法律判死刑。但是，我们将被 “自由律法” 来審判（雅2：12）。问题不多，“你做了什么？” 但是 “你想做什么？ 若你自由地按照自己的意愿去做，你会怎么做？”这就是耶稣为什么把仇恨等同于谋杀（太5：21–26），将眼目情慾等同于犯姦淫（太5：27–30）。
This does not mean, of course, that hatred in the heart does the same amount of damage, or involves the same degree of guilt, as actual murder. Your neighbor would rather you hate him than kill him! But in God’s sight, hatred is the moral equivalent of murder, and if left unbridled it leads to murder. A Christian has passed from death to life (John 5:24 ), and the proof of this is that he loves the brethren. When he belonged to the world system, he hated God’s people, but now that he belongs to God, he loves them.
当然，这并不意味着内心的仇恨，与真正的谋杀造成的伤害等同，或有同等程度的内疚感。你的邻居宁愿你恨他也不愿意你杀死他！但是在上帝看来，仇恨從道德上看等同于谋杀，如果放任不加管束，仇恨就会导致谋杀。基督徒从死里复活（约5:24），这证明他爱弟兄。当他属于世界体系时，他讨厌上帝的子民，但是既然他属于上帝，他就爱他们。
These verses (1 John 3:14–15), like those that deal with habitual sin in a believer (1 John 1:5–2:6), concern a settled habit of life: a believer is in the practice of loving the brethren, even though on occasion he may be angry with a brother (Matt. 5:22 –24). Occasional incidents of anger do not nullify the principle. If anything, they prove it true, because a believer out of fellowship with his fellow Christians is a miserable person! His feelings make clear to him that something is wrong.
这些经文（約壹3：14-15）与那些处理信徒習惯性犯罪的经文（約壹1：5–2：6）一样，都关注着一种養成的生活习惯：信徒尽管有时可能会對兄弟生气，却仍操練爱弟兄们（太5：22-24）。偶尔发生的愤怒事件，不会使该原则失效。如果有的话，它们证明这是真的，因为不与基督徒在團契裡的信徒是可悲的！他的感觉使他清楚地知道某些事出了点问题。
Notice another fact: we are not told that murderers cannot be saved. The apostle Paul himself took a hand in the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:57 –60) and admitted that his vote helped to put innocent people to death (Acts 26:9–11; 1 Tim. 1:12 –15). But in His grace God saved Paul.
注意另一个事实：我们不知道謀殺者无法得救。使徒保罗本人也參與司提反施被石頭打死的謀殺（徒7：57-60），并承认他的贊同有助于使无辜者被謀杀（徒26：9-11; 提前1：12-15）。但是上帝借着祂的憐憫救了保罗。
The issue here is not whether a murderer can become a Christian, but whether a man can continue being a murderer and still be a Christian. The answer is no. “And ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:15 ). The murderer did not once have eternal life and then lose it; he never had eternal life at all.
这里的问题不是謀殺者是否可以成为基督徒，或人是否可以继续成为謀殺者，且仍然是基督徒。答案是“不”。 “你们知道，谋杀者沒有永生在他里面”（約壹3：15）。凶手未曾一度有永生，然后失去了它。他从来没有永生。
The fact that you have never actually murdered anyone should not make you proud or complacent. Have you ever harbored hatred in your heart?
你从未真正谋杀过任何人，你不应以這事感到骄傲或自得。你有没有曾怀恨在內心？
Hatred does the hater far more damage than it does anyone else (Matt. 5:21 –26). Jesus said that anger put a man in danger of facing the local court. Calling a brother an “empty-headed fool” put him in danger of the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish council. But calling him a “cursed fool” put him in danger of eternal judgment in hell. Hatred that is not confessed and forsaken actually puts a man into a spiritual and emotional prison (Matt. 5:25 )!
“仇恨”对具有仇恨在心的人的伤害，远大過它對其他任何人（太5：21–26）。耶稣说，愤怒使人有到法院去的危险。称呼兄弟为 “無思想的傻瓜” 会把他帶到犹太最高法院 --- 公會去的危险中。但是称他为 “被诅咒的傻瓜” 会使他得到地狱永恒审判的危险。仇恨未被承认和消除，实际上是置人入精神上和情感上的监狱（太5:25）！
The antidote for hatred is love. “Hateful and hating one another” is the normal experience of an unsaved person (Titus 3:3). But when a hateful heart opens to Jesus Christ, it becomes a loving heart. Then instead of wanting to “murder” others through hatred, one wants to love them and share with them the message of eternal life.
仇恨只有愛可以解除。未得救的人的正常经历是 “互相懷恨”（多3：3）。但是，当有仇恨人的心向耶稣基督敞开时，它就会变成爱心。然后，人不再因仇恨想 “谋杀” 他人，而改變成想爱他们，并与他们分享永生的信息。
Evangelist John Wesley was stopped one night by a highwayman who robbed the Methodist leader of all his money. Wesley said to the man, “If the day should come that you desire to leave this evil way and live for God, remember that ‘the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin.’”
传教士约翰·衛斯理（John Wesley）一天晚上被攔路強盜擋住，抢劫了卫理公会的領袖所有的钱财。卫斯理对那个人说，“有一天，你若想离开这邪恶的行業，为上帝而活，请记住， '耶稣基督的血可洗净一切罪。' ”
Some years later, Wesley was stopped by a man after a church service. “Do you remember me?” the man asked. “I robbed you one night, and you told me that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin. I have trusted Christ, and He has changed my life.”
几年后，在教堂礼拜之后，卫斯理被一个人拦住，他說， “你还记得我吗？ 有一天我攔路抢劫了你，你告诉我，耶稣基督的宝血可洗净一切的罪。我信靠基督，祂改变了我的生命。
3. Indifference (3:16 –17)
3. “不関心”（3：16–17）
But the test of Christian love is not simply failure to do evil to others. Love also involves doing them good. Christian love is both positive and negative. “Cease to do evil; learn to do well” (Isa. 1:16 –17a).
但是，基督徒对爱的考验不仅仅不會对他人作壞的事。爱还還使他们作美好的事。基督徒的爱有积极的和消极的兩方面。 “停止作恶；学会做善事”（赛1：16-17上）。
Cain is our example of false love; Christ is the example of true Christian love. Jesus gave His life for us that we may experience truth. Every Christian knows John 3:16 , but how many of us pay much attention to 1 John 3:16? It is wonderful to experience the blessing of John 3:16, but it is even more wonderful to share that experience by obeying 1 John 3:16: Christ laid down life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
该隐是我们虚假爱的榜样；基督是基督徒真正爱的榜样。耶稣为我们献出了生命，使我们可以体验真理。基督徒都知道约翰福音3章16節，但是，对約翰壹書3章16節却沒有多少人注意？体验约翰福音3章16節的祝福真是太好了，但順服約翰壹書3章16節来分享经验，则更加精彩：基督为我们捨命，我们应该为弟兄捨命。
Christian love involves sacrifice and service. Christ did not simply talk about His love; He died to prove it (Rom. 10:11 –18; 15:13 ). “Self-preservation” is the first law of physical life, but “self-sacrifice” is the first law of spiritual life.
基督徒的爱包括牺牲和服事。基督并不仅仅是谈论祂的爱。祂以捨命來证明这一点（罗5：6-10）。耶稣不是以烈士的形象獻身。祂自願的牺牲自己的生命（约10：11-18; 15:13）。 “自我保护”是肉体生活的第一法则，而 “自我牺牲” 是靈命生活的第一律法。
But God does not ask us to lay down our lives. He simply asks us to help a brother in need. John wisely turned from “the brethren” in 1 John 3:16 to the singular, “his brother,” in 1 John 3:17 .
但是上帝并没有要求我们捨棄生命。祂只要求我们帮助需要帮助的兄弟。约翰明智地从約翰壹書3章16節中，“弟兄们” 转变为約壹3章17節中的单数 “他的兄弟”。
It is easy for us to talk about “loving the brethren” and to neglect to help a single other believer. Christian love is personal and active.
我们很容易淪為只谈论 “爱弟兄”，而忽略帮助其他单獨的信徒。基督徒的爱是个人和主動的。
This is what Jesus had in mind in the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25 –37). A lawyer wanted to talk about an abstract subject: “Who is my neighbor?” But Jesus focused attention on one man in need, and changed the question to “To whom can I be a neighbor?”
耶稣在好撒玛利亚人的比喻裡，祂就是思想到这样的愛（路10：25-37）。有位律师想與祂谈抽象的话题：“谁是我的邻居？” 但是耶稣将注意力集中在需要帮助的人身上，并将話题改为 “我可以成為谁的邻居？”
Two friends were attending a conference on evangelism. During one of the sessions, Larry missed Pete. At luncheon, when he saw Pete, he said, “I missed you at the 10 o’clock session. It was really terrific! Where were you?”
两个朋友同時参加传福音会议。在其中一场会议中，萊銳(Larry)沒見到彼得(Pete)。在午餐上，当他见到彼得时，他说，“我在十点钟的討論會上沒見到你。那討論會真是太棒了！当时你在哪里？”
“I was in the lobby talking to a bellhop about Christ. I led him to the Lord,” said Pete.
彼得说，“當時我在大厅和一位侍者谈论基督。我把他帶领给主”。
There is nothing wrong with attending conferences, but it is easy to forget the individual and his needs while discussing generalities. The test of Christian love is not in loud professions about loving the whole church, but in quietly helping a brother who is in need. If we do not even help a brother, it is not likely we would “lay down our lives” for “the brethren.”
参加討論会没有错，但是在讨论一般性事務时，很容易忘记个人及其需求。对基督徒之爱的考验，不是在大声地說爱整个教会，而是悄悄地去帮助需要帮助的兄弟。如果我们甚至不帮助單一的兄弟，我们就不可能为 “弟兄们，献出自己生命”。
A man does not have to murder in order to sin; hatred is murder in his heart. But a man need not even hate his brother to be guilty of sin. All he has to do is ignore him or be indifferent toward his needs. A believer who has material goods and can relieve his brother’s needs ought to do it. To “close the door of his heart” on his brother is a kind of murder!
人不必要谋杀人來犯罪。内心對他的仇恨就等於是谋杀他。但是，甚至不必恨他的兄弟而犯罪。他只要忽略他或对他的需求漠不关心就是犯罪。拥有物质财富的信徒可以减轻兄弟的需求，他应该要这样做。对他的兄弟 “漠不关心” 就是一种谋杀！
If I am going to help my brother, I must meet three conditions. First, I must have the means necessary to meet his need. Second, I must know that the need exists. Third, I must be loving enough to want to share.
若我要帮助我的兄弟，我必须具有三个条件。首先，我必须拥有满足他需要的方法。其次，我必须知道这种需求是存在的。第三，我必须有足够的爱心去與他分享。
A believer who is too poor to help or who is ignorant of his brother’s need is not condemned. But a believer who hardens his heart against his needy brother is condemned. One reason Christians should work is so that they may be able “to give to him that needeth” (Eph. 4:28 ).
信徒太穷而无力幫助他的兄弟或不了解他們的需要，是不應受到谴责。但是，使自己的心硬，而不願幫助他兄弟需要的信徒應受到谴责。基督徒应该工作的原因之一，是他们可以有餘， “分給有需要的人”（弗4:28）。
In these days of multiplied social agencies, it is easy for Christians to forget their obligations. “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Gal. 6:10 nasb).
在当今社会如此繁複的情況，基督徒很容易忘记自己應盡的义务。 “因此，在我们有机会的同时，让我们对所有人行善，特别是对那些有信心的人的家庭”（加6:10新美國標準版）。
This “doing good” need not be in terms of money or material supplies. It may include personal service and the giving of oneself to others. There are many individuals in our churches who lack love and would welcome friendship.
这些 “行善” 不一定需要金钱或物质的供应。它可能包括人身的服务和將自己作他人的友誼的奉献。我们教会中有许多人缺乏人去爱，他們会欢迎友谊的手。
A young mother admitted in a testimony meeting that she never seemed to find time for her own personal devotions. She had several little children to care for, and the hours melted away.
一位年轻的母亲在見证会上作見證說，她似乎从来没有機會作個人靈修的时间。她有几个孩子要照顾，时间一下就消失了。
Imagine her surprise when two of the ladies from the church appeared at her front door.
想象一下，当教堂中的两位女士出现在她的门前时，她会如何的感到惊讶。
“We’ve come to take over,” they explained. “You go into the bedroom and get started on your devotions.” After several days of this kind of help, the young mother was able to develop her devotional life so that the daily demands on her time no longer upset her.
他们向她解释说：“我们來接手幫忙了。你走进入卧室，开始你個人的靈修。” 经过几天的这樣的帮助，这位年轻的母亲发展自己的靈修生活，因此，对她的日常需求的时间，就不再让她有抱怨。
If we want to experience and enjoy the love of God in our own hearts, we must love others, even to the point of sacrifice. Being indifferent to a brother’s needs means robbing ourselves of what we need even more: the love of God in our hearts. It is a matter of love or death!
若我们想在自己的心中去体验和享受上帝的爱，就必须爱别人，甚至要牺牲自己。对兄弟的需求漠不關心，意味着被人抢夺了我们需要的更多：上帝的爱在我們心中。这是爱或死的问题！
4. Christian Love (3:18 –24)
4. 基督徒之爱（3：18–24）
True Christian love means loving in deed and in truth. The opposite of “in deed” is “in word,” and the opposite of “in truth” is “in tongue.” Here is an example of love “in word”:
真基督徒之爱，意味着对作为和真理的热爱。 “在作為上” 的反面是 “在話语上”，在 “真理上” 的反面是 “在舌头上”。这里有一个把爱放在話語上的例子：
“If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,’ and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?” (James 2:15–16 nasb).
To love “in word” means simply to talk about a need, but to love “in deed” means to do something about meeting it. You may think, because you have discussed a need, or even prayed about it, that you have done your duty, but love involves more than words—it calls for sacrificial deeds.
去爱 “只是口頭” 仅意味着谈談愛的需求而已，是要去 “行動” ，要去行，去满足它的需求。你可能会认为，已经讨论过它的需求，或者甚至为它祈祷过，就已经算做了，但是爱所涉及的不只是言语，它需要奉献。
To love “in tongue” is the opposite of to love “in truth.” It means to love insincerely. To love “in truth” means to love a person genuinely from the heart and not just from the tongue. People are attracted by genuine love, but repelled by the artificial variety. One reason why sinners were attracted to Jesus (Luke 15:1–2) was because they were sure He loved them sincerely.
爱 “只談談” 与 “真正”去爱却相反。那不是真诚地爱。“真正的” 愛是从内心而不是从舌头去爱人。人被真正的爱所吸引，却被假冒多样性所排斥。罪人之被耶稣所吸引的原因之一（路15：1-2），是因为他们确定，耶稣真诚地爱他们。
“But does it not cost a great deal for the believer to exercise this kind of love?”
“但是，信徒奉操練这种爱不是要花很多的钱吗？”
Yes, it does. It cost Jesus Christ His life. But the wonderful benefits that come to you as by-products of this love more than compensate for any sacrifice you make. To be sure, you do not love others because you want to get something in return, but the Bible principle “Give and it shall be given unto you” (Luke 6:38 ) applies to love as well as to money.
是的，的确要花錢。耶稣基督就是為此而捨命。但是，这种爱帶來的奇妙的副产品，远远超过你所付出的一切牺牲。可以肯定的是，你不爱别人是因为想得到回报，但是圣经的原则 “你們要給人，就必有給你們的”（路6:38），既适用于爱也适用于金钱。
John named three wonderful blessings that will come to a believer who practices Christian love.
约翰列举了三项奇妙的祝福，這祝福是赐给操練基督徒的爱的信徒。
1. Assurance (1 John 3:19，20). A believer’s relationship with others affects his relationship with God. A man who is not right with his brother should go settle the matter before he offers his sacrifice on the altar (see Matt. 5:23 –24). A Christian who practices love grows in his understanding of God’s truth and enjoys a heart filled with confidence before God.
1. 得救的確據（約壹 3:19, 20）。信徒与其他人的关系，会影响他与上帝的关系。凡与弟兄不和的信徒在未到祭坛之前，應該先解决这件事才祭献（见 太5：23-24）。实行爱心的基督徒会在对上帝真理的理解中成长，并在上帝面前有得救的確據信心的喜樂。
A “condemning heart” is one that robs a believer of peace. An “accusing conscience” is another way to describe it. Sometimes the heart accuses us wrongly, because it “is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9). The answer to that question is, “God knows the heart!” More than one Christian has accused himself falsely or been harder on himself than necessary, but God will never make such a mistake. A Christian who walks in love has a heart open to God (“God is love”) and knows that God never judges wrongly.
“咀咒之心” 剥夺信徒平安的心。 “良心的责备” 是描述它的另一种方式。有时候，内心会错误地指责我们，因为“人心比万物都诡诈，壞到极處，谁能識透呢？” (耶17：9）这个问题的答案是：“上帝知道人的内心！” 不止一个基督徒虚假的指责自己，或者是对自己进行過分的指責，但上帝永远不会犯这样的错误。行在爱中的基督徒，会向上帝敞开他的心（“上帝就是爱”），并且知道上帝永远不会做出错误的判断。
John may have remembered two incidents from Jesus’ life on earth that illustrate this important principle. When Jesus visited Bethany 10:38 –42). Martha was busy preparing the meal, but Mary sat at His feet and listened to Him teach. Martha criticized both Mary and Jesus, but Jesus knew Mary’s heart and defended her.
约翰可能还记得耶稣在地上生活中发生的两次事件，它們顯明了这一重要原则。耶稣访问伯大尼时，他住在玛丽亞和玛莎的家中（路10：38-42）。玛莎忙于准备饭菜，但玛丽坐在祂脚前，听祂教導。玛莎向耶稣批评玛丽亞，但耶稣知道玛丽亞的心，并为她辩护。
The apostle Peter wept bitterly after he had denied his Lord, and no doubt he was filled with remorse and repentance for his sin. But Jesus knew that Peter had repented, and after His resurrection the Lord sent a special message to Peter that must have assured the hotheaded fisherman that he was forgiven (Mark 16:7). Peter’s heart may have condemned him, for he knew he had denied the Lord three times, but God was greater than his heart. Jesus, knowing all things, gave Peter just the assurance he needed.
使徒彼得在否认自己的主之后，痛苦地哭泣，毫无疑问，他的心充滿为自己的罪羞愧和悔改。但是耶稣確知彼得已经悔改，在祂复活后，主向彼得发出了一条特别的信息給那性急的渔夫，確证他已经被宽恕了（可16：7）。 彼得可能已經谴责了他自己的心，因为他知道自己曾三次否认主，但上帝比他的心更大。耶稣知道一切，只给了彼得所需要的饒恕的確據`。
Be careful lest the devil accuse you and rob you of your confidence (Rev. 12:10). Once you confess your sin and it is forgiven, you need not allow it to accuse you anymore. Peter was able to face the Jews and say, “But ye denied the Holy One and the Just” (Acts 3:14) because his own sin of denying Christ had been taken care of and was forgiven and forgotten.
要小心，避免魔鬼的惡計的譴责，并夺走你得救的確據（启12:10）。一旦你承认自己的罪行，并得到宽恕，就不必再让它来指责你的心。彼得能够面对犹太人说，“但你们否认圣者和义人”（徒3:14），是因为他清楚自己否认基督的罪，已经得到被眷顧，宽恕，并遗忘了。
No Christian should treat sin lightly, but no Christian should be harder on himself than God is. There is a morbid kind of self-examination and self-condemnation that is not spiritual. If you are practicing genuine love for the brethren, your heart must be right before God, for the Holy Spirit would not “shed abroad” His love in you if there were habitual sin in your heart. When you grieve the Spirit, you “turn off” the supply of God’s love (Eph. 4:30 —5:2).
基督徒不应轻视罪恶，但基督徒不应比上帝更严厉的對待罪。存在不属靈病态的自我检查和自责。如果你对弟兄们实行真诚的爱，则你的心在上帝面前是對的，若你的心中有習惯性的犯罪，圣灵就不会把祂的愛 “溢出”在你心中。当你使圣灵忧伤时，你就 “关闭”了上帝的爱的供应（弗4：30-5：2）。
2. Answered prayer (vv. 21–22). Love for the brethren produces confidence toward God, and confidence toward God gives you boldness in asking for what you need. This does not mean that you earn answers to prayer by loving the brethren. Rather, it means that your love for the brethren proves that you are living in the will of God where God can answer your prayer. “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments” (1 John 3:22 ). Love is the fulfilling of God’s law (Rom.
2. 祷告蒙應允（21-22节）。对弟兄们的爱会产生对上帝的確信，而对上帝的確信，会使你勇敢地自问需要什么。这并不是說你通过爱弟兄，而能获得祷告的答案。相反，它告訴你，对弟兄的爱是你生活在上帝旨意中的確據，上帝會回答你的祷告。 “凡我们所求的一切，就從祂得到，因为我们遵守祂的命令”（約壹3:22）。爱是上帝律法的实现（罗13：8-10）；因此，当你爱弟兄时，你就服从了祂的诫命，上帝就能回答你的懇求。
A believer’s relationship to the brethren cannot be divorced from his prayer life. If husbands and wives are not obeying God’s Word, for example, their prayers will be hindered (1 Peter 3:7).
信徒与弟兄的关系不能脱离他的祷告生活。例如，若丈夫和妻子不遵守上帝的圣言，他们的祈祷就会受到阻碍（彼前3：7）。
An evangelist had preached on the Christian home. After the meeting a father approached him.
一位传道人在基督教家庭中传道。傳道结束后，父亲走近他。
“I’ve been praying for a wayward son for years,” said the father, “and God has not answered my prayers.”
父亲说，“多年来我一直在为我任性的儿子祈祷。上帝没有回答我的祷告。”
The evangelist read Psalm 66:18—“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”
传教士读诗篇66篇18節：“若我心里注重罪孽，主必不听。”
“Be honest with yourself and the Lord,” he said. “Is there anything between you and another Christian that needs to be settled?”
他说，“对自己和上帝都要诚实。你和另外基督徒之间是否有需要和解的事？”
The father hesitated, then said, “Yes, I’m afraid there is. I’ve harbored resentment in my heart against another man in this church.”
父亲犹豫了一下，然后说，“是的，恐怕有。我内心对教堂里的另一个人怀有不满。”
“Then go make it right,” counseled the evangelist, and he prayed with the man. Before the campaign was over, the father saw his wayward son come back to the Lord.
传教士建议说，“那你就去先解決吧。” 他和那个人一起祈祷。在認罪禱告结束之前，父亲看到他任性的儿子又回到主身边。
These verses do not, of course, give us all the conditions for answered prayer, but they emphasize the importance of obedience. One great secret of answered prayer is obedience, and the secret of obedience is love. “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15 ). “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.… If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love” (John 15:7, 10a).
誠然，这些经文并没有给我们提供祷告蒙垂聽的全部条件，但它们却强调了順服的重要性。祷告蒙應允的最大秘诀是順服，顺服的秘诀是爱。 “如果你们爱我，必遵守我的诫命”（约14:15）。 “你们若若常在我里面，我的话也常在你们里面，凡你们所願意的，祈求就給你们成就。……你们若遵守我的命令，你们就常在我的爱裡 ...”
It is possible, of course, to keep God’s commandments in a spirit of fear or servitude rather than in a spirit of love. This was the sin of the elder brother in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:24 –32). A believer should keep His Father’s commandments because this pleases Him. A Christian who lives to please God will discover that God finds ways to please His child. “Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (Ps. 37:4). When our delight is in the love of God, our desires will be in the will of God.
当然，有可能以敬畏或懲役的靈，而非爱的靈来遵守上帝的命令。这就是浪子回頭比喻中哥哥所犯的罪（路15：24-32）。信徒理应遵守天父的命令，因为这能使祂喜悅。为取悦上帝而活的基督徒能體會，上帝也尋找取悦祂孩子的路徑。 “又要以耶和华為樂，祂就將你心里所求的賜給給你”（诗37：4）。当我们的喜乐在上帝的爱中时，我们的願望就会在上帝的旨意裡。
3. Abiding (vv. 23–24). When a scribe asked Jesus to name the greatest commandment, He replied, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God.” Then He added a second commandment: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself ” (Matt. 22:34 –40). But God also gives us one commandment that takes in both God and man: “Believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another” (1 John 3:23 nasb). Faith toward God and love toward man sum up a Christian’s obligations. Christianity is “faith which worketh by love” (Gal. 5:6).
3. 內住（23-24节）。当文士問耶稣最大的诫命是什麼时，祂回答说，“你要爱主你的上帝。” 然后，祂又加上第二条诫命：“你要爱邻舍如愛自己”（太22：34-40）。但是上帝也给了我们一条有關上帝和人的诫命：“相信祂儿子耶稣基督的名，並且彼此相爱”（約壹3:23 新美國標準版）。对上帝的信心和对人的爱，总结了基督徒的一切律法。基督信仰是 “……惟獨使人生發仁爱的信心才有功效”（加5：6）。
Faith toward God and love toward men are two sides of the same coin. It is easy to emphasize faith— correct doctrine—and to neglect love. On the other hand, some say doctrine is not important and that love is our main responsibility. Both doctrine and love are important. When a person is justified by faith, he should know that the love of God is being shed abroad in his heart (Rom.
“Abiding in Christ” is a key experience for a believer who wants to have confidence toward God and enjoy answers to prayer. Jesus, in His message to the disciples in the Upper Room (John 15:1–14) illustrated “abiding.” He compared His followers to the branches of a vine. So long as the branch draws its strength from the vine, it produces fruit. But if it separates itself from the vine, it withers and dies.
至于信徒希望，对上帝信心的確據，并享受祷告蒙應允的喜樂来说，“住在基督裡” 是关键的经历。耶稣在樓房裡给门徒的信息中（约15：1-14）说明 “內住”。祂把跟随者比作葡萄树的枝子。只要枝子从葡萄树上汲取養分，它就能结出果子。但是，若葡萄樹與枝子分开，枝子就会枯萎而死亡。
Jesus was not talking about salvation; He was talking about fruit-bearing. The instant a sinner trusts Christ, he enters into union with Christ, but maintaining communion is a moment-by-moment responsibility. Abiding depends on our obeying His Word and keeping clean (John 15:3, 10).
耶稣不是在谈论救恩。祂是说结果子。罪人信任基督的頃刻，他便与基督連结，但要保持彼此的交通却是慢慢形成的。內住決定于我们是否聽從祂的话语，并保持洁淨
（约15：3，10）。
As we have seen, when a believer walks in love, he finds it easy to obey God, and therefore he maintains a close communion with God. “If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him” (John 14:23 ).
正如我们所看到的，当信徒行在爱中时，會发现順服上帝較為容易，因此他与上帝保持着紧密的交通。 “人若爱我，就必遵守我的道；我父也必爱他，我们将来到祂那里，与祂同住”（约14:23）。
The Holy Spirit is mentioned by name in 1 John for the first time in 3:24 . John introduced us to the Holy One (1 John 2:20 ) with emphasis on the Spirit’s anointing and teaching ministry. (This parallels John 14:26 and 16:13 –14.) But the Holy One is also the abiding Spirit (1 John 3:24 ; 4:13 ). When a believer obeys God and loves the brethren, the indwelling Holy Spirit gives him peace and confidence. The Holy Spirit abides with him forever (John 14:16 ), but when the Spirit is grieved, He withdraws His blessings.
在約翰壹書中3章24節，第一次提到圣灵。约翰介绍圣靈給我們（約壹2：20），強調圣灵的恩膏和祂的教导事工。 （這節聖經與 约14:26和16：13-14等經節平行）但圣靈也是內住的灵靈（約壹3:24; 4:13）。当信徒服从上帝，并爱弟兄时，内住的圣灵赐给他平安与確信。圣灵永远与他同在（约14:16），但是当圣灵為他擔憂时，祂便收回了祂的祝福。
The Holy Spirit is also the attesting Spirit (1 John 4:1–6), giving witness to those who are truly God’s children. When a believer is abiding in Christ, the Spirit guides him and warns him of false spirits that would lead him astray.
圣灵也是見证的灵（約壹4：1-6），见证那些是真正的上帝的儿女。当信徒住在基督裡时，圣灵会引导他，并警告他虛假的靈，牠將引导他误入歧途。
He is also the authenticating Spirit (1 John 5:6–8), bearing witness to the person and work of Jesus Christ. This witness of the Spirit is mentioned in Romans 8:14–16.
聖靈还是認证的灵（約壹5：6-8），為耶稣基督的跟隨者和為祂工作的人作见证。罗马书8章14至16等節中，提到了圣灵的见证。
Each member of the Triune Godhead is involved in the “love life” of a believer. God the Father commands us to love one another, God the Son gave His life on the cross, the supreme example of love. And God the Holy Spirit lives within us to provide the love we need (Rom. 5:5). To abide in love is to abide in God, and to abide in God is to abide in love. Christian love is not something we “work up” when we need it. Christian love is “shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost,” and this is your constant experience as you abide in Christ.
三位一体上帝的每一位格都参与信徒的 “爱的生活”。父上帝命令我们彼此相爱，子上帝為我们贖罪，在十字架上自願的捨棄生命，这是爱的至高典范。並且圣灵上帝內住在我们里面，提供我们所需要的爱（罗5：5）。住在爱裡，就是住在上帝裡面，並且住在上帝裡面，就是住在爱裡。基督徒的爱不是我们需要时，“漸漸形成” 的。基督徒的爱是 “被圣灵澆灌下來，住在我们心中”，这是當你住在基督裡时，會有的不断的這種经历。
There are four levels on which a person may live. He may choose the lowest level— Satan’s level—and practice murder. Murderers “have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8).
人可以生活在四个层次上。他可以选择最低層 --- 撒旦的级别 --- 及操練谋杀。谋杀者 “在燃烧着火和硫磺的湖的層次中，这是第二次死亡”（启21：8）。
Or, a person may choose the next level—hatred. But hatred, in God’s sight, is the same as murder. A man who lives with hatred is slowly killing himself, not the other person! Psychiatrists warn that malice and hatred cause all kinds of physical and emotional problems. In fact, one specialist has titled his book Love or Perish!
或者，人可以选择較高的一个层次 --- 仇恨。但是在上帝看来，仇恨与谋杀一样。充满仇恨的人正在慢慢謀杀死自己，而不是別人！ 精神科医生警告说，惡毒和仇恨会造成人生理和情感上各种问题。实际上，一位专家将他的书命名为“爱或毀滅”！
The third level—indifference—is far better than the first two, because the first two are not Christian at all. A man who has constant hatred in his heart, or who habitually murders, proves he has never been born of God. But it is possible to be a Christian and be indifferent to the needs of others.
第三層 --- 漠不關心 --- 比前两層要好得多，因为前两層根本不是基督徒。内心深处藏有仇恨或惯于谋杀的人，证明他从不是上帝生的。但是，有可能成为对他人的需求漠不关心的基督徒。
A man who murders belongs to the devil, like Cain. A man who hates belongs to the world (1 John 3:13 ), which is under Satan’s control. But a Christian who is indifferent is living for the flesh, which serves Satan’s purposes.
像该隐一样，他谋杀他凡親弟弟，属于魔鬼。仇恨的人属于这世界（約壹3:13），这世界在撒但的控制之下。但是漠不关心的基督徒却为肉體而活，是為撒但的目的服務。
The only happy, holy way to live is on the highest level, the level of Christian love. This is the life of joy and liberty, the life of answered prayer. It assures you confidence and courage in spite of the difficulties of life.
唯一快乐，神圣的生活方式是最高的层次，即基督徒爱的平台。这就是喜乐和自由的生活，是祷告蒙應允的生活。尽管生活困难，但它确保你满有信心和勇气。
Dr. Rene Spitz of New York
纽约的雷内·斯皮兹（Rene Spitz）博士对育婴院的孩子们进行研究，以确定爱和忽视对他们的影响。调查結果证明，被忽视和未被爱的孩子的成长速度要慢得多，其中一些甚至死亡。即使从肉体上来说，爱也是生命和它成长的環境。
It is even more so in the spiritual sense.
甚至在屬靈的本性上更是如此。
In fact, it is a matter of love or death!
实質上，是愛和死的重大事件!
