35 英翻中 PREPARING FOR THE BEST! 为最好的作准备！ 11/04/2025

35 英翻中         PREPARING FOR THE BEST!             为最好的作准备！                      11/04/2025

Chapter Seven                       PREPARING FOR THE BEST!                  1 Peter 3:8–17                      第七章                                    为最好的作准备！                                                                  彼得前书 3：8-1  

Adevoted pastor was facing serious surgery, and a friend visited him in the hospital to pray with him. “An interesting thing happened today,” the pastor told him. “One of the nurses looked at my chart and said, ‘Well, I guess you’re preparing for the worst!’ I smiled at her and said, ‘No, I’m preparing for the best. I’m a Christian, and God has promised to work all things together for good.’ Boy, did she drop that chart and leave this room in a hurry!”                                                  虔诚的牧师正面临严重的手术，一位朋友到医院探望他，与他一起祷告。 “今天发生了一件有趣的事情，”牧师告诉他。 “其中一位护士看着我的图表说，‘好吧，我猜你是在为最坏的情况做准备！’我对她笑着说，‘不，我正在为最好的做准备。我是基督徒，上帝应许要永远把所有的事情都一起工作。'男孩，她是不是丢下那张图表，匆忙离开这个房间！

Peter wrote this letter to prepare Christians for a “fiery trial” of persecution, yet his approach was optimistic and positive. “Prepare for the best!” was his message. In this section, he gave them three instruc[1]tions to follow if they would experience the best blessings in the worst times.            彼得写这封信是为了让基督徒为遭受迫害的“火热试炼”做好准备，但他的态度是乐观而积极的。 “做好最好的准备！”是他的信息。在本节中，他给了他们三个指示，如果他们能在最坏的时候经历最好的祝福的话。

1.  Cultivate Christian Love (3:8–12)                                                                                                          1. 培养基督徒的爱心（3:8-12） 

We have noted that love is a recurring theme in Peter’s letters, not only God’s love for us, but also our love for others. Peter had to learn this important lesson himself, and he had a hard time learning it! How patient Jesus had to be with him! We should begin with love for God’s people (1 Peter 3:8). The word finally means “to sum it all up.” Just as the whole of the law is summed up in love (Rom. 13:8–10), so the whole of human relationships is fulfilled in love.  This applies to every Christian and to every area of life.                                                                                                          我们注意到，爱是彼得书信中反复出现的主题，不仅是上帝对我们的爱，也是我们对他人的爱。彼得必须自己学习这个重要的一课，而且他很难学习！耶稣必须对他有多么的耐心！我们应该从爱上帝的子民开始（彼得前书 3:8）。这个词最终的意思是“总结一下”。就像整条律法都归结为爱（罗馬書 13:8-10），所有的人际关系也都在爱中完成。这适用于每一个基督徒和生活的每一个领域。

This love is evidenced by a unity of mind (see Phil. 2:1–11). Unity does not mean uniformity; it means cooperation in the midst of diversity. The members of the body work together in unity, even though they are all different. Christians may differ on how things are to be done, but they must agree on what is to be done and why. A man criticized D. L. Moody’s methods of evangelism, and Moody said, “Well, I’m always ready for improvement. What are your methods?” The man confessed that he had none! “Then I’ll stick to my own,” said Moody. Whatever methods we may use, we must seek to honor Christ, win the lost, and build the church. Some methods are definitely not scriptural, but there is plenty of room for variety in the church.                                                  这种爱体现在思想的统一（见    腓立比书 2：1-11）。统一并不意味着一樣；这意味着在多样性中进行合作。身体的成员在团结一致地工作，即使他们都是不同的。基督徒可能对如何做事情有不同的看法，但他们必须就要做的事情和原因达成一致。有人批评慕迪( D. L. Moody )的传福音方法，慕迪说：“嗯，我总是准备好改进。你有什么方法？”那人承认自己没有！ 慕迪说, “那我会坚持我自己的。”无论我们使用什么方法，我们都必须努力荣耀基督，赢回失喪的人，并建立教会。有些方法绝对不符合圣经，但對教会却有很大的变化空间。

Another evidence of love is compassion, a sincere “feeling for and with” the needs of others. Our English word sympathy comes from this word. We dare not get hardhearted toward each other. We must share both joys and trials (Rom. 12:15). The basis for this is the fact that we are brethren in the same family (see 1 Peter 1:22; 2:17; 4:8; 5:14). We are “taught of God to love one another” (1 Thess. 4:9).                                                                                                                                              爱的另一个证据是同情，一种对他人需求的真诚“感受”。我们的英语单词 sympathy 就是来自这个词。我们不敢对对方心狠手辣。我们必须分享喜乐和试炼（罗马书 12:15）。这样做的基础是我们是同一个家庭的兄弟（见彼得前书 1:22；2:17；4:8；5:14）。我们“受上帝教导要彼此相爱”（帖前 4:9）。 

Love reveals itself in pity, a tenderness of heart toward others. In the Roman Empire, this was not a quality that was admired, but the Christian message changed all of that. Today, we are deluged with so much bad news that it is easy for us to get insulated and unfeeling. We need to cultivate compassion and actively show others that we are concerned.                                                              爱在怜悯中显露出来，是对他人的温柔。在罗马帝国，这不是一种值得钦佩的品质，但基督教的信息改变了这一切。今天，我们被如此多的坏消息所淹没，我们很容易变得孤立无援。我们需要培养同情心并积极向他人表明我们所关心的

“Be courteous” involves much more than acting like a lady or gentleman. “Be humble-minded” is a good translation, and, after all, humility is the foundation for courtesy, for the humble person puts others ahead of himself.

“彬彬有礼”不仅仅是表现得像女士或绅士。 “谦虚”是很好的翻译，毕竟谦虚是礼貌的基础，因为谦虚的人把别人放在第一位。

Not only should we love God’s people, but we should also love our enemies (1 Peter 3:9). The recipients of this letter were experiencing a certain amount of personal persecution because they were doing the will of God. Peter warned them that official persecution was just around the corner, so they had better prepare. The church today had better prepare, because difficult times are ahead.                                                                                                                                                  我们不仅应该爱上帝的子民，我们也应该爱我们的敌人（彼得前书 3:9）。这封信的收信人因为遵行上帝的旨意而遭受了一定程度的个人迫害。彼得警告他们，官方的迫害指日可待，所以他们最好做好准备。今天的教会最好做好准备，因为困难时期即将到来。 

As Christians, we can live on one of three levels. We can return evil for good, which is the satanic level. We can return good for good and evil for evil, which is the human level. Or, we can return good for evil, which is the divine level. Jesus is the perfect example of this latter approach (1 Peter 2:21–23). As God’s loving children, we must do more than give “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” (Matt. 5:38–48), which is the basis for justice. We must operate on the basis of mercy, for that is the way God deals with us.                                                                                                            作为基督徒，我们可以生活在三个层次之一。我们可以以恶报善，这是撒但的层次。我们可以以善报恶，以善报恶，这是人的层次。或者，我们可以以善报恶，这是神圣的层次。耶稣是后一种方法的完美典范（彼得前书 2：21-23）。作为上帝慈爱的孩子，我们必须做的不仅仅是“以眼还眼，以牙还牙”（马太福音 5:38-48），这是正义的基础。我们必须在怜悯的基础上行事，因为这是上帝对待我们的方式。

This admonition must have meant much to Peter himself, because he once tried to fight Christ’s enemies with a sword (Luke 22:47–53). When he was an unconverted rabbi, Paul used every means possible to oppose the church; but when he became a Christian, Paul never used human weapons to fight God’s battles (Rom. 12:17–21; 2 Cor. 10:1–6). When Peter and the apostles were persecuted, they depended on prayer and God’s power, not on their own wisdom or strength (see Acts 4:23ff.).这个警告对彼得本人来说一定意义重大，因为他曾经试图用剑与基督的敌人作战（路加福音 22：47-53）。当他还是一个未皈依的拉比时，保罗用尽一切可能的手段来反对教会。但当他成为基督徒时，保罗从未使用人类武器来与上帝作战（罗 12:17-21；2 林前 10:1-6）。当彼得和使徒受到迫害时，他们依靠祷告和上帝的能力，而不是依靠自己的智慧或力量（见使徒行传 4:23 比照研讀）。

We must always be reminded of our calling as Christians, for this will help us love our enemies and do them good when they treat us badly. We are called to “inherit a blessing.” The persecutions we experience on earth today only add to our blessed inheritance of glory in heaven someday (Matt. 5:10–12). But we also inherit a blessing today when we treat our enemies with love and mercy. By sharing a blessing with them, we receive a blessing ourselves! Persecution can be a time of spiritual enrichment for a believer. The saints and martyrs in church history all bear witness to this fact.                                                                                                                                    我们必须时刻提醒我们作为基督徒的呼召，因为这将帮助我们爱我们的敌人，并在他们对我们不好时帮助他们。我们蒙召“承受福分”。我们今天在地上所经历的逼迫只会增加我们有一天在天上继承的荣耀（马太福音 5:10-12）。但是，当我们以爱和怜悯对待我们的敌人时，我们今天也继承了一项祝福。通过与他们分享祝福，我们自己也得到了祝福！对信徒来说，迫害可能是属灵丰富的时期。教会历史上的圣徒和殉道者都见证了这一事实。 

We should love one another, love our enemies, and love life (1 Peter 3:10–12). The news of impending persecution should not cause a believer to give up on life. What may appear to be “bad days” to the world can be “good days” for a Christian, if he will only meet certain conditions.      我们应该彼此相爱，爱我们的敌人，爱生命（彼得前书 3：10-12）。逼迫迫近的消息不应使信徒放弃生命。对世人来说可能是“坏日子”的事情，对基督徒来说可能是“好日子”，只要他满足某些条件。

First, we must deliberately decide to love life. This is an act of the will: “He who wills to love life.” It is an attitude of faith that sees the best in every situation. It is the opposite of the pessimistic attitude expressed in Ecclesiastes 2:17: “Therefore I hated life … for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” We can decide to endure life and make it a burden, escape life as though we were running from a battle, or enjoy life because we know God is in control. Peter was not suggesting some kind of unrealistic psychological gymnastics that refused to face facts. Rather, he was urging his readers to take a positive approach to life and by faith make the most of every situation.                首先，我们必须有意识地决定热爱生活。这是意志的行为：“愿意热爱生活的人。”这是一种在任何情况下都能看到最好的信念的态度。这与传道书 2 章 17 节所表达的悲观态度相反：“所以我恨恶生命……因为一切都是虚空和心烦意乱。”我们可以决定忍受生活，让它成为负担，逃避生活，就好像我们从一场战斗中逃跑一样，或者享受生活，因为我们知道上帝在掌权。彼得并不是在暗示某种拒绝面对事实的不切实际的心理体操。相反，他敦促他的读者对生活采取积极的态度，并凭着信心充分利用每一种情况。 

Second, we must control our tongues. Many of the problems of life are caused by the wrong words, spoken in the wrong spirit. Every Christian should read James 3 regularly and pray Psalm 141:3 daily. How well Peter knew the sad consequences of hasty speech! There is no place for lies in the life of a saint.                                                                                                                                  第二，我们必须控制自己的舌头。生活中的许多问题都是由错误的话语、错误的精神造成的。每个基督徒都应该定期阅读雅各书 3 章，并每天祈祷诗篇 141:3。彼得多么清楚草率讲话的可悲后果！圣人的生活中没有谎言的地方。 

Third, we must do good and hate evil. We need both the positive and the negative. The Old English word eschew means more than just “avoid.” It means “to avoid something because you despise and loathe it.” It is not enough for us to avoid sin because sin is wrong; we ought to shun it because we hate it.                                                                                                                                    第三，要行善恶恶。我们既需要积极的一面，也需要消极的一面。古英语单词 eschew 不仅仅意味着“避免”。它的意思是“避免某事，因为你鄙视和厌恶它。”我们避免罪是不够的，因为罪是错误的；我们应该避开它，因为我们讨厌它。

Finally, we must seek and pursue peace. “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matt. 5:9). If we go out and seek trouble, we will find it, but if we seek peace, we can find it as well. This does not mean “peace at any price,” because righteousness must always be the basis for peace (James 3:13–18). It simply means that a Christian exercises moderation as he relates to people and does not create problems because he wants to have his own way. “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Rom. 12:18). Sometimes it is not pos[1]sible! See Romans 14:19, where we are also 911 III. GOD’S GRACE AND SUFFERING (3:13—5:11) A.Make Jesus Christ Lord—3:13–22 1 Peter 3 admonished to work hard to achieve peace. It does not come automatically.                                                                                                    最后，我们必须寻求和追求和平。 “使人和睦的人有福了：因为他们必称为上帝的儿女”（马太福音 5:9）。如果我们出去寻找麻烦，我们会找到它，但如果我们寻求和平，我们也会找到它。这并不意味着“不惜任何代价的和平”，因为公义必须始终是和平的基础（雅各书 3：13-18）。它只是意味着一个基督徒在与人交往时要适度，而不是因为他想有自己的方式而制造问题。 “如果可能，尽你所能，与所有人和平相处”（罗马书 12:18）。有时候是不可能的！见罗马书 14:19，我们也是 911 III。上帝的恩典和苦难（3:13-5:11） A. 使耶稣基督为主——3:13-22 1 彼得 3 章告诫要努力工作以实现和平。它不会自动出现。 

“But what if our enemies take advantage of us?” a persecuted Christian might ask. “We may be seeking peace, but they are seeking war!” Peter gave them the assurance that God’s eyes are on His people and His ears open to their prayers. (Peter learned that lesson when he tried to walk on the water without looking to Jesus—Matt. 14:22–33.) We must trust God to protect and provide, for He alone can defeat our enemies (Rom. 12:17–21).                                                                      “但如果我们的敌人利用我们呢？”受迫害的基督徒可能会问。 “我们可能在寻求和平，但他们在寻求战争！”彼得向他们保证，上帝的眼睛注视着祂的子民，祂的耳朵垂听他们的祷告。 （彼得试图在水面上行走而不仰望耶稣时学到了这一课——马太福音 14:22-33。）我们必须相信上帝会保护和供应，因为只有他才能打败我们的敌人（罗马书 12:17– 21)。 

Peter quoted these statements from Psalm 34:12–15, so it would be profitable for you to read the entire psalm. It describes what God means by “good days.” They are not necessarily days free from problems, for the psalmist wrote about fears (Ps. 34:4), troubles (Ps. 34:6, 17), afflictions (Ps. 34:19), and even a broken heart (Ps. 34:18). A “good day” for the believer who “loves life” is not one in which he is pampered and sheltered, but one in which he experiences God’s help and blessing because of life’s problems and trials. It is a day in which he magnifies the Lord (Ps. 34:1–3), experiences answers to prayer (Ps. 34:4–7), tastes the goodness of God (Ps. 34:8), and senses the nearness of God (Ps. 34:18).                                                                                                              彼得引用了诗篇 34 ：12-15 中的这些陈述，因此阅读整篇诗篇对你来说是有益的。它描述了上帝所说的“好日子”是什么意思。他们不一定是没有问题的日子，因为诗人写到恐惧（诗篇 34:4）、烦恼（诗篇 34:6、17）、苦难（诗篇 34:19），甚至心碎（诗篇） . 34:18)。对“热爱生活”的信徒来说，“美好的一天”不是被宠爱、被庇护的一天，而是因为生活的问题和试炼而经历神的帮助和祝福的一天。在这一天，他尊主为大（诗篇 34:1-3），经历祷告蒙应允（诗篇 34:4-7），品尝神的良善（诗篇 34:8），感受与上帝亲近（诗篇 34:18）。 

The next time you think you are having a “bad day” and you hate life, read Psalm 34, and you may discover you are really having a “good day” to the glory of God!                                              下次当你认为自己过着“糟糕的一天”并且讨厌生活时，请阅读诗篇 34，你可能会发现自己真的过着“美好的一天”来荣耀上帝！ 

2.  Practice the Lordship of Christ (3:13–15)                                                                                            2. 实践基督的主权（3:13-15） 

These verses introduce the third main section of 1 Peter—God’s grace in suffering. They introduce the important spiritual principle that the fear of the Lord conquers every other fear. Peter quoted Isaiah 8:13–14 to back up his admonition: “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord” (1 Peter 3:15 niv).                                                                                                                          这些经文介绍了彼得前书的第三个主要部分——上帝在苦难中的恩典。他们介绍了重要的属灵原则，即对主的敬畏战胜了其他一切恐惧。彼得引用以赛亚书 8:13-14 来支持他的劝告：“但在你们心里分别出来基督为主”（彼得前书 3:15 niv）。 

The setting of the Isaiah quotation is significant. Ahaz, King of Judah, faced a crisis because of an impending invasion by the Assyrian army. The kings of Israel and Syria wanted Ahaz to join them in an alliance, but Ahaz refused, so Israel and Syria threat[1]ened to invade Judah! Behind the scenes, Ahaz confederated himself with Assyria! The prophet Isaiah warned him against ungodly alliances and urged him to trust God for deliverance. “Sanctify the Lord of hosts [armies] himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread” (Isa. 8:13).                                                            以赛亚书的背景很重要。由于亚述军队即将入侵，犹大王亚哈斯面临危机。以色列和叙利亚的国王希望亚哈斯加入他们的联盟，但亚哈斯拒绝了，因此以色列和叙利亚威胁要入侵犹大！在幕后，亚哈斯与亚述结盟！先知以赛亚警告他不要与不敬虔的联盟结盟，并敦促他相信上帝的拯救。 “使万军之主自己成圣；让他成为你的恐惧，让他成为你的恐惧”（赛 8:13）。

As Christians, we are faced with crises, and we are tempted to give in to our fears and make the wrong decisions. But if we “sanctify Christ as Lord” in our hearts, we need never fear men or circumstances. Our enemies might hurt us, but they cannot harm us. Only we can harm ourselves if we fail to trust God. Generally speaking, people do not oppose us if we do good; but even if they do, it is better to suffer for righteousness’ sake than to compromise our testimony. Peter discussed this theme in detail in 1 Peter 4:12–19.                                                                                                    作为基督徒，我们面临危机，我们很容易屈服于我们的恐惧并做出错误的决定。但是，如果我们在心里“尊基督为主”，我们就不必惧怕人或环境。我们的敌人可能会伤害我们，但他们无法伤害我们。如果我们不相信上帝，我们只会伤害自己。一般来说，我们做好事，人家不会反对我们；但即使他们这样做了，为正义受苦也比妥协我们的见证要好。彼得在彼得前书 4：12-19 中详细讨论了这个主题。 

Instead of experiencing fear as we face the enemy, we can experience blessing, if Jesus Christ is Lord in our hearts. The word happy in 1 Peter 3:14 is the same as “blessed” in Matthew 5:10ff. This is a part of the “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).

When Jesus Christ is Lord of our lives, each crisis becomes an opportunity for witness. We are “ready always to give an answer.” Our English word apology comes from the Greek word translated “answer,” but it does not mean “to say I am sorry.” Rather, it means “a defense presented in court.” “Apologetics” is the branch of theology that deals with the defense of the faith. Every Christian should be able to give a reasoned defense of his hope in Christ, especially in hopeless situations. A crisis creates the opportunity for witness when a believer behaves with faith and hope, because the unbelievers will then sit up and take notice.

This witness must be given “with meekness and fear [respect]” and not with arrogance and a know-it-all attitude. We are witnesses, not prosecuting attorneys! We must also be sure that our lives back up our defense. Peter did not suggest that Christians argue with lost people, but rather that we present to the unsaved an account of what we believe and why we believe it, in a loving manner. The purpose is not to win an argument but to win lost souls to Christ.

What does it mean to “sanctify Christ as Lord” in our hearts? It means to turn everything over to Him, and to live only to please Him and glorify Him. It means to fear displeasing Him rather than fear what men might do to us. How wonderfully this approach simplifies our lives! It is Matthew 6:33 and Romans 12:1–2 combined into a daily attitude of faith that obeys God’s Word in spite of consequences. It means being satisfied with nothing less than the will of God in our lives (John 4:31–34). One evidence that Jesus Christ is Lord in our lives is the readiness with which we witness to others about Him and seek to win them to Christ.

如果耶稣基督是我们心中的主，我们就不会在面对敌人时经历恐惧，而是会经历祝福。彼得前书 3:14 中的快乐一词与马太福音 5:10ff 中的“祝福”相同。这是“无法形容的充满荣耀的喜乐”的一部分（彼得前书 1:8）。

当耶稣基督是我们生命的主宰时，每一次危机都会成为见证的机会。我们“随时准备给出答案”。我们的英语单词道歉来自翻译成“回答”的希腊词，但它并不意味着“说我很抱歉”。相反，它的意思是“在法庭上提出的辩护”。 “护教学”是神学的一个分支，涉及捍卫信仰。每个基督徒都应该能够合理地捍卫他对基督的希望，尤其是在绝望的情况下。当信徒带着信心和盼望行事时，危机就创造了见证的机会，因为非信徒会坐起来注意。

必须“以温顺和恐惧[尊重]”作证，而不是傲慢和无所不知的态度。我们是证人，不是公诉人！我们还必须确保我们的生命支持我们的防御。彼得并没有建议基督徒与失丧的人争论，而是建议我们以爱的方式向未得救的人讲述我们相信什么以及为什么相信它。目的不是赢得争论，而是赢得迷失的灵魂归向基督。

 

在我们心中“尊基督为主”是什么意思？意思是把一切都交给祂，只为取悦祂、荣耀祂而活着。这意味着害怕使他不悦，而不是害怕人们会对我们做什么。这种方法多么奇妙地简化了我们的生活！马太福音 6:33 和罗马书 12:1-2 结合成一种日常的信仰态度，即不顾后果地服从上帝的话语。这意味着在我们的生活中满足于上帝的旨意（约翰福音 4：31-34）。耶稣基督是我们生命中的主的一个证据是，我们随时准备向他人见证他，并努力争取他们归向基督。

3.  Maintain a Good Conscience (3:16–17)                                                                                          3. 保持无愧的良心（3:16-17）

良心取决于知识，是透过窗户射进来的“光”。信徒研读圣经，更明白神的心意，良心对是非更敏感。 “良心”是在我们认为或做错时指责并在我们做对时批准的良心。保持良心刚强纯洁需要“操练”（使徒行传 24:16）。如果我们在属灵知识和顺服方面没有成长，我们就会有一个“软弱的良心”，很容易因琐事而烦恼（林前 8）。

在考验和反对的时候，良心如何帮助信徒？一方面，它使他更有勇气，因为他知道他与上帝和人是对的，所以他不必害怕。 1521 年 4 月 18 日，马丁路德在德国沃尔姆斯的纪念碑上刻着他在教会会议上发表的勇敢的话：“我站在这里；我不能做别的。神救救我。阿门。”他的良心与上帝的话语捆绑在一起，使他有勇气挑战整个已建立的教会！ 

Our word “conscience” comes from two Latin words: con, meaning “with,” and scio, meaning “to know.” The conscience is that internal judge that witnesses to us, that enables us to “know with,” either approving our actions or accusing (see Rom. 2:14–15). Conscience may be compared to a window that lets in the light of God’s truth. If we persist in disobeying, the window gets dirtier and dirtier, until the light cannot enter. This leads to a “defiled conscience” (Titus 1:15). A “seared conscience” is one that has been so sinned against that it no longer is sensitive to what is right and wrong (1 Tim. 4:2). It is even possible for the con[1]science to be so poisoned that it approves things that are bad and accuses when the person does good! This the Bible calls “an evil conscience” (Heb. 10:22). A criminal feels guilty if he “squeals” on his friends, but happy if he succeeds in his crime!                                                                                                                                我们的“良心”一词来自两个拉丁词：con，意思是“与”，和 scio，意思是“知道”。良心是为我们作见证的内在法官，它使我们能够“知道”，要么批准我们的行为，要么指责（见罗马书 2：14-15）。良心好比是让上帝的真理光照进来的窗户。如果我们坚持不服从，窗户就会越来越脏，直到光线无法进入。这导致“污秽的良心”（提多书 1:15）。 “灼热的良心”是一个被罪得如此之大，以至于不再对是非敏感的人（提姆前书 4:2）。良心甚至有可能被毒化，它认可坏事，当一个人做好事时指责它！圣经称之为“邪恶的良心”（来 10:22）。如果罪犯对他的朋友“尖叫”，他会感到内疚，但如果他成功犯罪，他会很高兴！ 

Conscience depends on knowledge, the “light” coming through the window. As a believer studies the Word, he better understands the will of God, and his conscience becomes more sensitive to right and wrong. A “good conscience” is one that accuses when we think or do wrong and approves when we do right. It takes “exercise” to keep the conscience strong and pure (Acts 24:16). If we do not grow in spiritual knowledge and obedience, we have a “weak conscience” that is upset very easily by trifles (1 Cor. 8).                                                                                                  良心取决于知识，是透过窗户射进来的“光”。信徒研读圣经，更明白神的心意，良心对是非更敏感。 “良心”是在我们认为或做错时指责并在我们做对时批准的良心。保持良心刚强纯洁需要“操练”（使徒行传 24:16）。如果我们在属灵知识和顺服方面没有成长，我们就会有一个“软弱的良心”，很容易因琐事而烦恼（林前 8）

How does a good conscience help a believer in times of trial and opposition? For one thing, it fortifies him with courage because he knows he is right with God and men, so that he need not be afraid. Inscribed on Martin Luther’s monument at Worms, Germany are his courageous words spoken before the church council on April 18, 1521: “Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me. Amen.” His conscience, bound to God’s Word, gave him the courage to defy the whole established church!                                                                                                                                  在考验和反对的时候，良心如何帮助信徒？一方面，它使他更有勇气，因为他知道他与上帝和人是对的，所以他不必害怕。 1521 年 4 月 18 日，马丁路德在德国沃尔姆斯的纪念碑上刻着他在教会会议上发表的勇敢的话：“我站在这里；我不能做别的。上帝救救我。阿门。”他的良心与上帝的话语捆绑在一起，使他有勇气挑战整个已建立的教会！ 

A good conscience also gives us peace in our hearts; and when we have peace within, we can face battles without. The restlessness of an uneasy conscience divides the heart and drains the strength of a person, so that he is unable to function at his best. How can we boldly witness for Christ if conscience is witnessing against us?                                                                                                        无愧的良心也能使我们内心平静；当我们内心平静时，我们就可以面对外面的战斗。不安的良心的不安分心，耗尽一个人的力量，使他无法发挥最佳状态。如果良心在作见证反对我们，我们怎能大胆地为基督作见证呢？ 

A good conscience removes from us the fear of what other people may know about us, say against us, or do to us. When Christ is Lord and we fear only God, we need not fear the threats, opinions, or actions of our enemies. “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” (Ps. 118:6). It was in this matter that Peter failed when he feared the enemy and denied the Lord.良好的良心消除了我们对其他人可能了解我们、说反对我们或对我们做什么的恐惧。当基督是主，我们只敬畏神，我们就不必害怕敌人的威胁、意见或行动。 “耶和华站在我这边；我不会害怕：人能对我做什么？” （诗篇 118:6）。正是在这件事上，彼得害怕仇敌、否认主而失败了。

Peter made it clear that conscience alone is not the test of what is right or wrong. A person can be involved in either “welldoing” or “evildoing.” For a person to disobey God’s Word and claim it is right simply because his conscience does not convict him, is to admit that something is radically wrong with his con[1]science. Conscience is a safe guide only when the Word of God is the teacher.彼得清楚地表明，单凭良心并不能检验什么是对还是错。一个人可以参与“善行”或“恶行”。一个人违背上帝的话语并声称它是正确的，仅仅因为他的良心没有使他知罪，就是承认他的良心有一些根本性的错误。只有当上帝的话语是老师时，良心才是安全的向导。

More and more, Christians in today’s society are going to be accused and lied about. Our personal stan[1]dards are not those of the unsaved world. As a rule, Christians do not create problems; they reveal them. Let a born-again person start to work in an office or move into a college dormitory, and in a short time there will be problems. Christians are lights in this dark world (Phil. 2:15), and they reveal “the unfruitful works of darkness” (Eph. 5:11).                                    当今社会越来越多的基督徒会被指责和撒谎。我们个人的标准不是未得救世界的标准。通常，基督徒不会制造问题。他们揭示了它们。让重生的人开始在办公室工作，或者搬进大学宿舍，短时间就会有问题。基督徒是这个黑暗世界中的光（腓 2:15），他们揭示“黑暗的不结果子”（以弗所书 5:11）。

When Joseph began to serve as steward in Potiphar’s house and refused to sin, he was falsely accused and thrown into prison. The government offi[1]cials in Babylon schemed to get Daniel in trouble because his life and work were a witness against them. Our Lord Jesus Christ by His very life on earth revealed the sinful hearts and deeds of people, and this is why they crucified Him (see John 15:18–25). “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecu[1]tion” (2 Tim. 3:12).

 

If we are to maintain a good conscience, we must deal with sin in our lives and confess it immediately (1 John 1:9). We must “keep the window clean.” We must also spend time in the Word of God and “let in the light.” A strong conscience is the result of obedience based on knowledge, and a strong conscience makes for a strong Christian witness to the lost. It also gives us strength in times of persecution and difficulty.

 

No Christian should ever suffer because of evildoing, and no Christian should be surprised if he suffers for welldoing. Our world is so mixed up that people “call evil good, and good evil” and “put darkness for light, and light for darkness” (Isa. 5:20). The religious leaders of Jesus’ day called Him “a malefactor,” which means “a person who does evil things” (John 18:29–30). How wrong people can be!

 

As times of difficulty come to the church, we must cultivate Christian love, for we will need one another’s help and encouragement as never before. We must also maintain a good conscience, because a good conscience makes for a strong backbone and a courageous witness. The secret is to practice the lordship of Jesus Christ. If we fear God, we need not fear men. “Shame arises from the fear of men,” said Samuel Johnson. “Conscience, from the fear of God.”

当约瑟开始在波提乏家里担任管家并拒绝犯罪时，他被诬告并被投入监狱。巴比伦的政府官员计划让但以理陷入困境，因为他的生活和工作是反对他们的见证。我们的主耶稣基督通过他在地上的生命揭示了人们的罪恶心灵和行为，这就是他们将他钉在十字架上的原因（见约翰福音 15：18-25）。 “是的，凡在基督耶稣里敬虔度日的人都将遭受逼迫”（提摩太后书 3:12）。 

如果我们要保持无愧的良心，我们就必须面对生活中的罪并立即认罪（约翰一书 1:9）。我们必须“保持窗户清洁”。我们还必须花时间研读上帝的话语并“让光进来”。强大的良心是基于知识顺服的结果，而强大的良心使基督徒对失丧者有坚强的见证。在迫害和困难时期，它也给了我们力量。

任何基督徒都不应该因为做坏事而受苦，任何基督徒都不应该因为行善受苦而感到惊讶。我们的世界如此混乱，以至于人们“称恶为善，善为恶”，“以暗为光，以光为暗”（以赛亚书 5:20）。耶稣时代的宗教领袖称他为“作恶的”，意思是“做恶事的人”（约翰福音 18：29-30）。人怎么可能是错的！

当教会遇到困难时，我们必须培养基督徒的爱，因为我们将前所未有地需要彼此的帮助和鼓励。我们还必须保持良好的良心，因为良好的良心是坚强的脊梁和勇敢的见证人。秘诀是实践耶稣基督的主权。如果我们敬畏神，我们就不必惧怕人。 “羞耻源于对男人的恐惧，”塞缪尔约翰逊说。 “良心，出于对上帝的敬畏。”