148 中翻英 LOVE, HONOR, AND OBEY 爱，尊榮， 和順服 10/02/2026
CHAPTER NINE 1 John 4:17—5:5 LOVE, HONOR, AND OBEY
第九課 约翰壹書 4：17—5：5 爱，尊榮， 和順服
The prospective bridegroom was extremely nervous as he and his fiancée were discussing their wedding plans with their pastor.
准新郎在和他的未婚妻与牧师讨论婚礼计划时非常紧张。
“I’d like to see a copy of the wedding vows,” the young man said, and the pastor handed him the service. He read it carefully, handed it back, and said, “That won’t do! There’s nothing written in there about her obeying me!”
年轻人说，“我希望看看结婚誓言的副本。” 牧师递给他結婚程序。他仔细阅读後，并交回給牧師，说，“這不行！关于她順服我的條文，没有写在結婚誓言裡！”
His fiancée smiled, took his hand, and said, “Honey, the word obey doesn’t have to be written in a book. It’s already written in love in my heart.”
他的未婚妻微笑着，並握住他的手说，“亲爱的，这條文不必写在結婚誓言上。它已经写在我內心的爱中。”
This is the truth in view in this portion of 1 John. Up to this point, the emphasis has been on Christians loving one another; but now we turn to a deeper—and more important—topic: a believer’s love for the Father. We cannot love our neighbor or our brother unless we love our heavenly Father. We must first love God with all our hearts; then we can love our neighbor as ourselves.
从约翰一书的这一部分来看，它是真理。到目前为止，研討重点是基督徒彼此相爱。现在我们要進入更深一層比較重要的话题：信徒对天父的爱。除非我们爱天父，否则我们不能爱我们的邻居或兄弟。我们必须首先，全心全意地爱上帝。这样我们就可以像爱自己一样的爱邻居。
The key word in this section is perfect. God wants to perfect in us His love for us and our love for Him. The word perfect carries the idea of maturity and completeness. A believer is not only to grow in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18), but he is also to grow in his love for the Father. He does this in response to the Father’s love for him.
在本段中的关键词是 “完善"。上帝要在我们里面完善祂对我们的爱，和我们对祂的爱。 “完善” 這字，带有成熟和完成的概念。信徒不仅要在恩典和知识上成长（彼前2：3，18），而且还要在对父的爱中成长。信徒这样做是为了回应天父对他的爱。
How much does God love us? Enough to send His Son to die for us (John 3:16). He loves His children in the same way as He loves Christ (John 17:23). And Jesus tells us that the Father wants the love with which He loved the Son to be in His children (John 17:26).
上帝爱我们究竟有多少？ 祂的愛足夠以差遣祂的儿子为贖我们的罪而死（约3：16）。上帝爱祂的子民与祂爱基督一样（约17：23）。耶稣告诉我们，天父希望祂爱子的爱存在于祂的儿女裡（约17:26）。
In other words, the Christian life is to be a daily experience of growing in the love of God. It involves a Christian’s coming to know his heavenly Father in a much deeper way as he grows in love.
换句话说，基督徒的生活应該是，在上帝的爱中每日成长的经历。当基督徒在爱中成长时，会涉及到他以更深的感受來认识他的天父。
It is easy to fragment the Christian life and become preoccupied with individual pieces instead of the total picture. One group may emphasize “holiness” and urge its members to get victory over sin. Another may stress “witnessing” or “separation from the world.” But each of these emphases is really a by-product of something else: a believer’s growing love for the Father. Mature Christian love is the great universal need among God’s people.
很容易使基督徒的生活支离破碎，变得全神贯注于个人作品而不是整体作品。一群人可能会强调“圣洁”，并敦促其成员战胜罪恶。另一个人可能会强调“见证”或“与世隔绝”。但是，每个重点实际上都是其他事情的副产品：信徒对天父的爱与日俱增。成熟的基督徒的爱是上帝子民中的普遍的需求。
How can a believer know that his love for the Father is being perfected? This paragraph of 1 John suggests four evidences.
信徒怎么能知道他对天父的爱正在趨於完善？约翰一书的这一段提出了四个证据。
1. Confidence (4:17–19)
1. 確信（4：17-19）
Two brand-new words came into John’s vocabulary here: fear and torment. And this is written to believers! Is it possible that Christians can actually live in fear and torment? Yes, unfortunately, many professed believers experience both fear and torment day after day. And the reason is that they are not growing in the love of God.
在约翰的词汇中出现了两个全新的词：恐惧和折磨。这是写给信徒的！基督徒有可能实际上生活在恐惧和折磨中吗？是的，不幸的是，许多自称信徒的人，日复一日地经历恐惧和折磨。原因是他们没有在上帝的爱中成长。
The word boldness can mean “confidence” or “freedom of speech.” It does not mean brazenness or brashness. A believer who experiences perfecting love grows in his confidence toward God. He has a reverential fear of God, not a tormenting fear. He is a son who respects his Father, not a prisoner who cringes before a judge.
大胆一词可能意味着“確信”或“言论自由”。这并不意味着无耻或无礼。经历完全的爱的信徒，对上帝的信心会增长。他对上帝有虔诚的敬畏，而不是受苦的害怕。他是尊重天父的儿子，而不是在法官面前畏縮的囚徒。
We have adopted the Greek word for fear into our English vocabulary: phobia. All sorts of phobias are listed in psychology books; for instance, acrophobia— “fear of heights” and hydrophobia—“fear of water.” John was writing about krisisphobia—“fear of judgment.” John has already mentioned this solemn truth in 1 John 2:28, and now he dealt with it again.
我们在英语词汇中采用了希腊语“恐惧”一词：恐惧症。心理学书中列出了各种恐惧症。例如，惧高症（“恐高症”）和惧水症（“恐水症”）。约翰在写有关恐惧症的文章，即“惧怕审判”。约翰在约翰一书2章28節中已经提到过这个严肃的真理，现在他又处理它了。
If people are afraid, it is because of something in the past that haunts them, or something in the present that upsets them, or something in the future that they feel threatens them. Or it may be a combination of all three. A believer in Jesus Christ does not have to fear the past, present, or future, for he has experienced the love of God, and this love is being perfected in him day by day.
如果人们感到恐惧，那是因为过去的某些事情困扰着他们，或者由于现在的某些事情使他们感到不安，或者因为将来的某些事情使他们感到威胁。 或可能是这三者的结合。 信奉耶稣基督的信徒不必惧怕过去，现在或未来，因为他已经体验了上帝的爱，而这种爱在他心中，日趋完善。
“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). But a Christian does not fear future judgment, because Christ has suffered his judgment for him on the cross. “Truly, truly I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24 nasb). “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1 nasb). For a Christian, judgment is not future; it is past. His sins have been judged already at the cross, and they will never be brought against him again.
“人註定要死一次，但在此之後, 就是审判”（来9:27）。但是基督徒不會惧怕将来的审判，因为基督在十字架上为他遭受了审判。 “我實實在在的告訴你們，那听我话，又信差我來者的，就有永生，不至于定罪，是已經出死入生了”（约5:24新美國標準版）。 “如今，那些在基督耶稣里的，就不定罪了”（罗8：1 新美國標準版）。对于基督徒来说，审判不是未来。它已经过去了。他的罪已经在十字架上被审判了，以后再也不会对他不利了。
The secret of our boldness is “As he is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). We know that “we shall be like him” when He returns (1 John 3:1–2), but that statement refers primarily to the glorified bodies believers will receive (Phil. 3:20–21). Positionally, we are right now “as he is.” We are so closely identified with Christ, as members of His body, that our position in this world is like His exalted position in heaven.
我们的勇敢秘诀是 “因為祂如何，我们在这世界也如何”（约壹4:17）。我们知道，当他再来时 “我们将要像祂”（约壹3：1-2），但是那句话主要是指信徒将得到的荣耀的身体（腓3：20-21）。在位置上，我们现在“像祂如何”。我们作为基督的身体与基督如此紧密地联系在一起，以致我们在这个世界的地位，就像祂在天上的崇高地位。
This means that the Father deals with us as He deals with His own beloved Son. How, then, can we ever be afraid?
这意味着天父与我们相交，就像祂与自己心爱的儿子相交一样。那么，我们怎么能害怕呢？
We do not have to be afraid of the future, because our sins were judged in Christ when He died on the cross. The Father cannot judge our sins again without judging His Son, for “as He is, so are we in this world.”
我们不必惧怕未来，因为我们的罪孽是在基督死在十字架上时，在基督里审判的。天父若不审判祂的儿子，就无法再次审判我们的罪，因为 “祂如何，我们在这世界也如何。”
We do not have to be afraid of the past, because “He first loved us.” From the very first, our relationship to God was one of love. It was not that we loved Him, but that He loved us (see 1 John 4:10). “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Rom. 5:10 nasb). If God loved us when we were outside the family, disobeying Him, how much more does He love us now that we are His children!
我们不必害怕过去，因为 “祂首先爱我们”。从一开始，我们与上帝的关系就是這种爱。不是我们爱祂，而是祂先爱我们（见 约壹4:10）。 “因为我们作仇敌的時候，且藉著祂儿子的死，而与上帝和好，既已和好，就更要因祂生而得救”（罗5:10 新美國標準版）。如果我们在上帝的家庭之外蒙爱，不服从祂，那么既然我们是祂的孩子，祂爱我们还能愛我們有多少！
We do not need to fear the present because “perfect love casteth out fear” (1 John 4:18). As we grow in the love of God, we cease to be fearful of what He will do.
我们不需要担心现在，因为“完全的爱驱散了恐惧”（约壹4:18）。当我们在上帝的爱中成长时，我们不再惧怕祂会做什么。
Of course there is a proper “fear of God,” but it is not the kind of fear that produces torment. “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’ ” (Rom. 8:15 nasb) “For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7).
誠然有适当的 “敬畏上帝”，但不是那产生折磨的恐惧。 “因为你没有得到再次导致恐惧的奴役的靈，已经有了被接納的养子的靈，我们因此可呼喊，‘阿巴！父！’ ”（罗8:15 新美國標準版）“因为上帝没有给我们恐懼的靈；却是有能力，有爱，有健全的思想”（提後2：17）。
Fear is actually the beginning of torment. We torment ourselves as we contemplate what lies ahead. Many people suffer acutely when they contemplate a visit to the dentist. Think of how an unsaved person must suffer as he contemplates the day of judgment. But since a Christian has boldness in the day of judgment, he can have boldness as he faces life today, for there is no situation of life today that begins to compare with the terrible severity of the day of judgment.
恐惧实际上是從折磨开始的。当我们考虑未来时，我们会折磨自己。许多人打算去看牙医时会遭受严重的痛苦。想想未得救的人，在考虑审判之日时，必须遭受的苦难。但是由于基督徒在审判之日已有胆识，所以，他在面对今天的生活时也有胆识，因为在今天没有如在审判之日的严重生活的情况, 可以相提并论。
God wants His children to live in an atmosphere of love and confidence, not fear and torment. We need not fear life or death, for we are being perfected in the love of God. “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? … But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:35, 37–39 nasb).
上帝希望他的孩子们生活在充满爱与信心的氛围中，而不是恐惧与折磨。我们不必惧怕生与死，因为我们已经在上帝的爱中得以完全。 “谁能使我们与基督的爱隔絕呢？難道是患难嗎?，是困苦嗎? 是逼迫嗎? 是饥荒嗎? 是赤身裸体嗎? 是危险嗎? 是刀剑嗎？ ……然而靠著愛我們的主，在這一切的事，已經得勝有餘了。 因为我們深信無論是死，是生，是天使，是掌權的，是现在的事，是未来的事，是有力量，是高度，是低處，是別處受造的物，都不能使我们与上帝的爱隔絕。這愛是在我们的主基督耶稣里”（罗8:35，37-39 新美國標準版）。
Imagine! Nothing in all creation—present or future—can come between us and God’s love!
想像！我们与上帝的爱之间没有任何別的受造物，无论是现在还是未来。
The perfecting of God’s love in our lives is usually a matter of several stages. When we were lost, we lived in fear and knew nothing of God’s love. After we trusted Christ, we found a perplexing mixture of both fear and love in our hearts. But as we grew in fellowship with the Father, gradually the fear vanished, and our hearts were controlled by His love alone. An immature Christian is tossed between fear and love; a mature Christian rests in God’s love.
在我们的生活中，要達到上帝完全的爱，通常需要几个步骤。当我们迷路时，我们生活在恐惧中，对上帝的爱就一无所知。在我们相信基督之后，在心中发现有恐惧和爱的困惑。但是，随着我们与天父的相交，恐惧逐渐消失，我们的心被他的爱所充滿。不成熟的基督徒在恐惧和爱之间折腾；成熟的基督徒依靠上帝的爱。
A growing confidence in the presence of God is one of the first evidences that our love for God is maturing. But confidence never stands alone; it always leads to other moral results.
人们对上帝的確信日益增强，这是我们对上帝的爱日趋成熟的最早证据之一。但是，確信永远不会孤单。它总是导致得到其他道德结果。
2. Honesty (4:20–21)
2. 诚实（4：20–21）
Here it is for the seventh time: “If a man say …”! We have met this important phrase several times, and each time we knew what was coming: a warning against pretending.
这是第七次說，“如果人说……”！我们已经多次遇到这重要的短语，每次我们都會知道会发生：警告不要假装。
Fear and pretense usually go together. In fact, they were born together when the first man and woman sinned. No sooner did Adam and Eve sense their guilt than they tried to hide from God and cover their nakedness. But neither their coverings nor their excuses could shelter them from God’s all-seeing eye. Adam finally had to admit, “I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid” (Gen. 3:10).
恐惧和假装通常会相伴在一起。实际上，当第一對婦夫一起出生就犯罪。亚当和夏娃不久就感到內疚，他们试图躲避上帝，掩盖自己的裸体。但是他们的遮盖物，和借口都无法使他们躲避上帝的看見。亚当最终不得不承认，“我在花园里听到祢的声音，很害怕”（创3:10）。
But when our hearts are confident toward God, there is no need for us to pretend, either to God or to other people. A Christian who lacks confidence with God will also lack confidence with God’s people. Part of the torment that fear generates is the constant worry, “How much do others really know about me?” But when we have confidence with God, this fear is gone, and we can face both God and men without worry.
但是，当我们对上帝充满確信时，就没有必要对上帝或其他人假装。缺乏对上帝的確信的基督徒，也会对上帝的子民缺乏確信。恐惧引起的折磨是使他不断的担忧，“別人对我了解多少？” 但是，当我们对上帝充满確信时，这种恐惧就消失了，我们可以面对上帝和人，而不必担心。
“How many members do you have in your church?” a visitor asked the pastor.
一位访客问牧师，“您的教堂有多少會友？”。
“Somewhere near a thousand,” the pastor replied.
牧师回答，“大约一千左右。”
“That certainly is a lot of people to try to please!” the visitor exclaimed.
访客惊呼， “有這麼多人值得尝试取悦！”
“Let me assure you, my friend, that I have never tried to please all my members, or even some of them,” the pastor said with a smile. “I aim to please one Person—the Lord Jesus Christ. If I am right with Him, then everything should be right between me and my people.”
牧师笑着说，“让我向你保证，朋友，我从未尝试取悦我所有的教友，甚至其中的一些會友，我的目标是取悦主耶稣基督。如果我与祂是对的，那么和我的會友之间的一切都应该是對的。”
An immature Christian who is not growing in his love for God may think he has to impress others with his “spirituality.” This mistake turns him into a liar! He is professing something that he is not really practicing; he is playing a role instead of living a life.
不成熟的基督徒不在上帝的爱中增长，可能会认为以他的 “灵性” 向別人誇張。这错误使他变成了骗子！他自称没有真正操练过; 他是扮演的角色而不是生活。
Perhaps the best example of this sin is seen in the experience of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5). They sold a piece of property and brought part of the money to the Lord, but they gave the impression that they were bringing all the money. The sin of this couple was not in taking money from God, for Peter made it clear that the disposal of the money was up to them (Acts 5:4). Their sin was hypocrisy. They were trying to make people think they were more generous and spiritual than they really were.
也许从亚拿尼亚和撒非喇的事件中，可以說出犯罪的最好例子（徒5章）。他们卖掉了他們的財產，只把部分的钱奉獻给上帝，但他们企圖欺騙別人，說他们把所有的钱都奉獻了。这对夫妇的罪过，不是从上帝那里取钱，因为彼得明确表示，钱的处置取决于他们自己（徒5：4）。他们的罪过是虚伪。他们试图让人认为，他们比实际的更加慷慨和富有靈性。
Pretending is one of the favorite activities of little children, but it is certainly not a mark of maturity in adults. Adults must know themselves and be themselves, fulfilling the purposes for which Christ saved them. Their lives must be marked by honesty.
假装是小孩最喜欢的遊戲之一，当然它不是人成熟的标志。成年人必须认识自己，并是他們自己，去实现基督拯救他们的目的。他们的生活必须以诚实为标志。
Spiritual honesty brings peace and power to the person who practices it. He does not have to keep a record of the lies he has told, and he is not using his energy to cover up. Because he lives in open honesty with the Father, he can live in honesty with other people. Love and truth go together. Because he knows God loves him and accepts him (even with all his faults), he is not trying to impress others. He loves God, and therefore he loves his fellow Christians.
靈裡的诚实為人带来和平和操練和平力量。他不必保留自己讲过的谎言，也不会用自己的能力去掩盖。因为他与天父生活在公开的诚实中，所以他可以与其他人生活在诚实的环境中。爱与真理并存。因为他知道上帝爱他并接受他（即使他犯下所有的过失），所以他没有试图向别人誇耀。他爱上帝，因此他爱其他的基督徒。
Jerry’s grades were far below his usual performance and, on top of that, his health seemed to be failing. His new roommate was concerned about him and finally persuaded him to talk to the campus psychologist.
杰里（Jerry）的成绩最近远远低于他平常的表现，最重要的是他的健康似乎也在下降。他的新室友很关心他，最后说服他，去与校园心理指導交谈。
“I can’t figure myself out,” Jerry admitted. “Last year I was sailing through school, and this year it is like fighting a war.”
杰里承认，“我想不通。去年我順利在学校里過日子，今年就顛三倒四像作戰一樣。”
“You’re not having trouble with your new roommate, are you?” the counselor asked.
辅导员问，“您有没有與新室友瓜葛？”
Jerry did not reply right away, and this gave the counselor a clue.
杰里没有立即回复，这给了辅导员一點线索。
“Jerry, are you concentrating on living your life as a good student, or on trying to impress your new roommate with your abilities?”
杰里，您是专心過好学生的生活，还是想用自己的能力影響新的室友？”
“Yeah, I guess that’s it,” Jerry answered with a sigh of relief. “I’ve worn myself out acting and haven’t had enough energy left for living.”
杰里松了一口气的回答，“是的，我想是这样。我厌倦了表演，没有足够的精力来维持生活。”
Confidence toward God and honesty with others are two marks of maturity that are bound to show up when our love for God is being perfected.
对上帝的確信和对別人的诚实，是人成熟的两个标志，当我们对上帝的爱得到完全时，这些标志必将显现出来。
3. Joyful Obedience (5:1–3)
3. 喜乐的服从（5：1-3）
Not simply obedience—but joyful obedience! “His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3 nasb).
不仅仅是服从，而是喜乐的順服！ “並且祂的诫命不是難守的”（约壹5：3美國標準版）。
Everything in creation—except man—obeys the will of God. “Fire, and hail; snow, and vapor; stormy wind fulfilling his word” (Ps. 148:8). In the book of Jonah, you see the winds and waves, and even the fish, obeying God’s commands, but the prophet persisted in disobeying. Even a plant and a little worm did what God commanded. But the prophet stubbornly wanted his own way.
除了人以外，一切受造物都遵守上帝的旨意。 “火與冰雹；雪和霧气；成就祂命的狂风”（诗148：8）。在约拿书中，看到风浪，甚至大鱼，都順服上帝的命令，但是先知約拿仍然坚持不服从。凡上帝所吩咐的，即使是一株植物和一条小虫子也照做了。但是先知固执地想要用自己的方式。
Disobedience to God’s will is a tragedy—but so is reluctant, grudging obedience. God does not want us to disobey Him, but neither does He want us to obey out of fear or necessity. What Paul wrote about giving also applies to living: “not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7 nasb).
不服从上帝的旨意是悲剧，但勉强的順服也是如此。上帝不希望我们服从祂，但祂也不希望我们出于恐惧或必須的去順服。保罗写的关于奉献的話也适用于生活，“不要勉强或出於强迫，因为上帝爱喜乐的奉献的人”（林前9：7 新美國標準版）。
What is the secret of joyful obedience? It is to recognize that obedience is a family matter. We are serving a loving Father and helping our brothers and sisters in Christ. We have been born of God, we love God, and we love God’s children. And we demonstrate this love by keeping God’s commandments.
喜乐的順服秘诀是什么？ 要认定服从是家務事。我们正侍奉慈爱的天父，并在基督里帮助我们的兄弟姐妹。我们是上帝所生，爱上帝，也爱上帝的孩子。我们以遵守上帝的诫命来表达祂的爱。
A woman visited a newspaper editor’s office, hoping to sell him some poems she had written.
一位女访问了一家报纸的编辑办公室，希望将她所写的诗歌卖给他。
“What are your poems about?” the editor asked.
编辑问，“你的寫诗是关于那方面的？”
“They’re about love!” gushed the poetess.
激怒了女诗人，“他们是关于爱的！”
The editor settled back in his chair and said, “Well, read me a poem. The world could certainly use a lot more love!”
编辑靠在椅子上坐下来说，“好吧，請读一下你的那首诗。这世界可能會使用更多的爱！”
The poem she read was filled with moons and Junes and other sticky sentiments, and it was more than the editor could take.
她读的那首诗充满了月亮，六月和其他濃厚的情感，它超出了编辑者能承受的接受的可能。
“I’m sorry,” he said, “but you just don’t know what love is all about! It’s not moonlight and roses. It’s sitting up all night at a sickbed, or working extra hours so the kids can have new shoes. The world doesn’t need your brand of poetical love. It needs some good old-fashioned practical love.”
他说，“对不起，可能你不知道爱到底是什么一回事！不是月光和玫瑰。而是，整夜在病床上坐着，或者加班工作，以便孩子们可以买雙新鞋。世界不需要你這诗情画意的愛。它需要良好的舊式充實可用的爱。”
D. L. Moody often said, “Every Bible should be bound in shoe leather.” We show our love to God, not by empty words but by willing works. We are not slaves obeying a master; we are children obeying a Father. And our sin is a family affair.
慕迪（D. L. Moody）经常说，“每本圣经都应该用皮鞋連繫在一起。” 向上帝展示我们的爱時，不是以空洞的话，而是要愿意去工作。我们不是以奴隶服从主人的樣式。而是以愛來順服天父的孩子。我们的罪是家务事。
One of the tests of maturing love is our personal attitude toward the Bible, because in the Bible we find God’s will for our lives revealed. An unsaved man considers the Bible an impossible book, mainly because he does not understand its spiritual message (1 Cor. 2:14). An immature Christian considers the demands of the Bible to be burdensome. He is somewhat like a little child who is learning to obey, and who asks, “Why do I have to do that?” or “Wouldn’t it be better to do this?”
成熟的爱的考验之一，是我们对圣经的态度，因为在圣经中，記載了上帝对我们生命的旨意。未得救的人认为圣经是本不可能實現的书，主要是因为他不了解圣经的属灵信息（林前2：14）。未成熟的基督徒认为圣经的要求很累贅。他有点像正在学习服从的小孩，他问，“为什么我必须这样做？” 或 “这样做会更好吗？”
But a Christian who experiences God’s perfecting love finds himself enjoying the Word of God and truly loving it. He does not read the Bible as a textbook, but as a love letter.
但是, 基督徒，经历了上帝的完美之爱，就会发现自己喜欢祂的道并真正地爱祂。他不是将圣经读當教科书，而是像情书般的读。
The longest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 119, and its theme is the Word of God. Every verse but two (Ps. 119:122, 132) mentions the Word of God in one form or another, as “law,” “precepts,” “commandments,” and so forth. But the interesting thing is that the psalmist loves the Word of God and enjoys telling us about it! “O how love I thy law!” (Ps. 119:97). He rejoices in the law (Ps. 119:14, 162) and delights in it (Ps. 119:16, 24). It is honey to his taste (Ps. 119:103). In fact, he turns God’s law into a song: “Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage” (Ps. 119:54).
圣经中最长的诗篇119篇，其主题是上帝的話。除這两节外（诗119：122、132），其他任何一节经文都以一种或另一种形式來提及上帝的話，如 “律法”，“戒律”，“诫命” 等。但是有趣的是诗人爱上帝的話，并且乐于將它們告诉我们！ “哦，我多么喜爱祢的律法！” （诗119：97）。他喜愛律法（诗119：14，162），并喜樂它（诗119：16，24）。在我口中比蜜更甜（诗119：103）。实际上，他把上帝的律法变成了一首歌，“我在世寄居，素來以祢的律例為詩歌”（诗119：54）。
Imagine turning statutes into songs. Suppose the local symphony presented a concert of the traffic code set to music! Most of us do not consider laws a source of joyful song, but this is the way the psalmist looked at God’s law. Because he loved the Lord, he loved His law. God’s commandments were not grievous and burdensome to him. Just as a loving son or daughter happily obeys his father’s command, so a Christian with perfecting love joyfully obeys God’s command.
想象一下，将律法转换成為歌曲。假设当地交响乐团，在音乐会中演奏的音樂，是用交通代码轉換的！我们大多数人并不认为，律法是欢快的歌声的来源，但这是诗篇作者看待上帝律法的方式。因为他爱主，所以他爱祂的律法。上帝的诫命对他而言，不痛苦也不繁重。就像有爱心的儿子或女儿喜乐地順从父亲的命令一样，充满爱心的基督徒也喜乐地服从上帝的命令。
At this point, we can review and understand the practical meaning of “maturing love” in our daily lives. As our love for the Father matures, we have confidence and are no longer afraid of His will. We also are honest toward others and lose our fear of being rejected. And we have a new attitude toward the Word of God: it is the expression of God’s love, and we enjoy obeying it. Confidence toward God, honesty toward others, and joyful obedience are the marks of perfecting love and the ingredients that make up a happy Christian life.
在这点上，我们可以回顾和理解，在日常生活中 “成熟的爱”的实际含义。随着我们对天父的爱日渐成熟，我们就有了確信，不再惧怕天父的旨意。我们也对他人诚实，不会害怕被拒绝。我们对上帝的道有了新的态度：上帝的話是祂的爱表达的方式，我们乐于遵守。对上帝的確信，对他人的诚实，和喜乐的服从是完全的爱的標誌，和构成喜乐基督徒生活的要素。
We can see, too, how sin ruins all this. When we disobey God we lose our confidence toward Him. If we do not immediately confess our sin and claim His forgiveness (1 John 1:9), we must start pretending in order to cover up. Disobedience leads to dishonesty, and both turn our hearts away from the Word of God. Instead of reading the Word with joy to discover the Father’s will, we ignore the Word or perhaps read it in a routine way.
我们也可以看到，罪是如何毁了这一切。当我们不服从上帝时，就会对他失去確信。如果我们不立即承认自己的罪，并懇求祂的宽恕（约壹1：9），我们就必须开始装假來掩饰。不服从导致不诚实，兩者都使我们的心远离上帝的圣言。代替高兴地阅读圣言以及體會天父的旨意，而是忽视圣言或以例行公事的方式阅读圣言。
The burden of religion (man trying to please God in his own strength) is a grievous one (see Matt. 23:4), but the yoke that Christ puts on us is not burdensome at all (Matt. 11:28–30). Love lightens burdens. Jacob had to work for seven years to win the woman he loved, but the Bible tells us that “they seemed unto him a few days, for the love he had to her” (Gen. 29:20). Perfecting love produces joyful obedience.
宗教的负担（试图以自己的能力取悦上帝的人）是沉重的负担（见 太23：4），但是基督加给我们的轭是輕省的（太11：28-30） 。爱减轻了负担。雅各必须工作七年才能赢得他所爱的女人，但是圣经告诉我们，“为了他对她的爱，对他而言，七年似乎如几天”（创29:20）。完全的爱会产生喜乐的顺服。
4. Victory (5:4–5)
4. 獲胜（5：4-5）
The Greek goddess of victory was Nike, which also happens to be the name of a United States aerial missile. Both of them are named for the Greek word nike (NEE-kay), which simply means victory. But what does victory have to do with maturing love?
希腊的胜利女神是耐克，她也恰好是美国导弹的名称。两者均以希腊语“耐克”（NEE-kay）命名，这仅表示胜利。但是胜利与成熟的爱有什么关系？
Christians live in a real world and are beset with formidable obstacles. It is not easy to obey
God. It is much easier to drift with the world, disobey Him, and “do your own thing.” But the Christian is “born of God.” This means he has the divine nature within him, and it is impossible for this divine nature to disobey God. “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world” (1 John 5:4 nasb). If the old nature is in control of us, we disobey God, but if the new nature is in control, we obey God. The world appeals to the old nature (1 John 2:15–17) and tries to make God’s commandments seem burdensome.
但是基督徒是 “上帝所生”。他内心具有神圣上帝的本性，而这神圣的本性是使他不可能违背上帝。 “因为凡從上帝生的，就胜过世界”（约壹5：4 新美國標準版）。如果旧的老我控制着我们，就会违抗上帝，但是若新生命的本性控制着我们，就会服从上帝。被世界吸引的老我（约壹2：15-17），并试图說服我們，上帝的诫命是沉重的。
Our victory is a result of faith, and we grow in faith as we grow in love. The more you love someone, the easier it is to trust him. The more our love for Christ is perfected, the more our faith in Christ is perfected too, because faith and love mature together.
我们的胜利是信心的结果，並且我们在信心中成长，如在爱中成长。越爱某人，就越容易信任他。我们对基督的爱越完全，对基督的信心，也就更加完美，因为信心和爱一起成熟。
The word overcome was a favorite with John; he used it in 1 John 2:13–14 with reference to overcoming the devil. He used it seven times in Revelation to describe believers and the blessings they receive (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21). He was not describing a special class of believers. Rather, he was using the word overcomer as a name for the true Christian. Because we have been born of God, we are overcomers.
约翰的最爱用克服这词。他在约翰一书2章13至14兩節中，用它来関連克服魔鬼。他在启示录中使用它七次，来描述信徒和他们如何得到祝福（启2：7、11、17、26； 3：5、12、21）。他没有描述特殊的信徒水平。相反，他使用克服者一词，作为真正的基督徒的名字。因为我们是上帝所生，所以我们是得胜者。
We are told that a soldier in the army of Alexander the Great was not acting bravely in battle. When he should have been pressing ahead, he was lingering behind.
有人告诉我们，亚历山大大帝军中的一名士兵在战斗中并不勇敢。当他应该向前推进时，他一直在后面徘徊。
The great general approached him and asked, “What is your name, soldier?”
大将军走近問他，“士兵，你叫什么名字？”
The man replied, “My name, sir, is Alexander.”
该男子回答，“先生，我叫亚历山大（Alexander）。”
The general looked him straight in the eye and said firmly, “Soldier, get in there and fight—or change your name!”
将军直视他，坚定地说道，“士兵，进去战斗，或者改名字！”
What is our name? “Children of God—the born again ones of God.” Alexander the Great wanted his name to be a symbol of courage; our name carries with it assurance of victory. To be born of God means to share God’s victory.
我们叫什么名字? “上帝的兒女，是上帝重生的孩子。” 亚历山大大帝希望他的名字成为勇气的象征。我们的名字带有胜利的確據。由上帝而生意味着分享祂的胜利。
This is a victory of faith, but faith in what? Faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God! The person who overcomes the world is the one “who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 5:5 nasb). It is not faith in ourselves, but faith in Christ, that gives us the victory. “In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
这是信心的胜利，但是信心是什么？信心在耶稣基督裡，上帝的儿子！胜过世界的人，就是 “相信耶稣是上帝儿子” 的人（约壹5：5新美國標準版）。给予我们胜利的不是自己的信心，而是在基督裡的信心。 “你们在世上必有患难，但要喜樂。我已经勝了世界”（约16:33）。
Identification with Christ in His victory reminds us of the several times we have read “as he is” in John’s letter. “As he is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). We should walk in the light “as he is in the light” (1 John 1:7). If we claim to abide in Him, then we should conduct ourselves as He conducted Himself (1 John 2:6). His children are to be on earth what He is in heaven. It is only necessary for us to claim this wonderful position by faith—and to act on it.
在基督的胜利中与祂认同，使我们想起了在约翰書信中读过几次 “祂如何”。 “祂如何，我们在这世上也如何”（约壹4:17）。应该 “照着祂行在光中” ，我们也行在光中（约壹1：7）。如果我们声称住在祂裡面，那么，就应该按照祂如何行，我们也如何行（约壹2：6）。祂的儿女要在地上像祂在天堂一样。我们仅需凭信心懇求这奇妙的立场，并采取行动。
When Jesus Christ died, we died with Him. Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ” (Gal. 2:20 nasb). When Christ was buried, we were buried with Him. And when He arose, we arose with Him. “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4 nasb).
當耶稣基督死时，我们与祂同死。保罗说，“我与基督同钉十字架”（加2:20）。当基督被埋葬时，我们与祂一同被埋葬。当祂复活时，我们与祂一起复活。 “所以我们藉著洗礼歸於死，和祂一同埋葬，原是叫我们一舉一動有新生的樣式，像基督藉著父的荣耀从死里复活一樣，”（罗6：4 新美國標準版）。
When Christ ascended to heaven, we ascended with Him and are now seated with Him in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6). And when Christ returns, we shall share His exaltation. “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory” (Col. 3:4 nasb).
当基督升天时，我们与祂一同升天，现在与祂一同坐在天上（弗2：6）。当基督再来时，我们将分享祂高舉提升的榮耀。 “当我们生命的基督被彰显时，你也将与祂一同荣耀地被彰显”（西3：4新美國標準版）。
All these verses describe our spiritual position in Christ. When we claim this position by faith, we share His victory. When God raised Jesus from the dead, He “seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named.… And He put all things in subjection under His feet” (Eph. 1:20–22 nasb). This means that, positionally, each child of God is privileged to sit far above all his enemies!
所有这些经文都是用來描述在基督里的属灵地位。当我们凭信心懇求这地位时，我们就分享祂的胜利。当上帝使耶稣从死里复活时，祂 “在天上就坐在上帝的右边，远超過一切執政的，掌权的，有能的，主治的，和一切有以名的.…又將萬有服在祂的脚下”（弗1：20-22新美國標準版）。这就是说，在位置上，上帝的每个孩子都有榮幸坐在远远高于他所有敌人的位置！
Where a man sits determines how much authority he may exercise. The man who sits in the general manager’s chair has a restricted sphere of authority; the man who sits in the vice president’s chair exercises more control. But the man behind the desk marked “president” exercises the most authority. No matter where he may be in the factory or office, he is respected and obeyed because of where he sits. His power is determined by his position, not by his personal appearance or the way he feels.
人坐的位置决定他有多大权力。坐在总经理椅子上的人，他的权力受到限制；坐在副总统椅子上的人，可以行使更多的統治权。但是，坐在桌面标有 “总统” 字样的人，他能行使最大的权力。无论他在工厂或办公室等任何地方，他都因为坐在那的重要位置受到尊重。他的力量取决于他的位置，而不取决于他的面貌或感觉。
So with a child of God: his authority is determined by his position in Christ. When he trusted Christ, he was identified with Him by the Holy Spirit and made a member of His body (1 Cor. 12:12–13). His old life has been buried and he has been raised to a new life of glory. In Christ, he is sitting on the very throne of the universe!
对于上帝的孩子也是如此：他的权柄取决于他在基督里的地位。当他信靠基督时，他就因圣灵將他與基督認同，并使他成為祂身体的肢體（林前12：12-13）。他的老我已被埋葬，他已被提升得新的荣耀。在基督里，他正坐在宇宙的宝座上！
A Civil War veteran used to wander from place to place, begging a bed and bite to eat and always talking about his friend “Mr. Lincoln.” Because of his injuries, he was unable to hold a steady job. But as long as he could keep going, he would chat about his beloved president.
一位美國内战退伍军人，曾经到处流浪，乞求睡的地方和飲食，並且常常提到他的朋友“林肯先生。” 由于受伤，他无法找到適合的工作。但是只要他能继续活著，他就会聊起他心爱的总统。
“You say you knew Mr. Lincoln,” a skeptical bystander retorted one day. “I’m not so sure you did. Prove it!”
有一天，一位持不相信他的話的旁观者問他說，“你说你认识林肯先生。“我不确定這是否是真的。证明给我看！”
The old man replied, “Why, sure, I can prove it. In fact, I have a piece of paper here that Mr. Lincoln himself signed and gave to me.”
老兵回答，“为什么，可以，我可以证明。实际上，我这里有一张纸，林肯先生亲自签署并交给我。”
From his old wallet, the man took out a much folded piece of paper and showed it to the man。
老兵从他的旧皮夹中取出一张經過多次重復摺疊的纸，交给懷疑的那人看。
“I’m not much for reading,” he apologized, “but I know that’s Mr. Lincoln’s signature.”
他道歉說，“我不很會認字，但我知道這是林肯先生的签名。”
“Man, do you know what you have here?” one of the spectators asked. “You have a generous federal pension authorized by President Lincoln. You don’t have to walk around like a poor beggar! Mr. Lincoln has made you rich!”
另一位观众對他說， “喂，你知道你有的這張纸的用途吗？您拥有林肯总统授权的慷慨的联邦退休金。您不必像可怜的乞丐来回討吃！林肯先生使你变得富有！”
To paraphrase what John wrote, “You Christians do not have to walk around defeated, because Jesus Christ has made you victors! He has defeated every enemy, and you share His victory. Now, by faith, claim His victory.”
用约翰的话来比照解释，“基督徒不必像敗兵一樣四处走走，因为耶稣基督已经戰胜魔鬼！祂击败了所有敌人，你可分享祂的胜利。现在，凭着信心懇求祂的胜利。”
The key, of course, is faith, but this has always been God’s key to victory. The great men and women named in Hebrews 11 all won their victories “by faith.” They simply took God at His word and acted on it, and He honored their faith and gave them victory. Faith is not simply saying that what God says is true; true faith is acting on what God says because it is true. Someone has said that faith is not so much believing in spite of evidence, but obeying in spite of consequence.
当然，关键是信心，但这一直是上帝的关键鑰去獲得胜利。希伯来书11章中提到的男女伟人都 “凭信心” 赢得胜利。他们只是聽从上帝的话，而後去采取行动，祂尊重了他们的信心，賜给了他们胜利。信心不仅是说上帝的话是真实的; 真正的信心是根据上帝的话行事，因为上帝的話是真的。有人说过，信心是不靠证据而相信，而不是因為后果而服从。
Victorious faith is the result of maturing love. The better we come to know and love Jesus Christ, the easier it is to trust Him with the needs and battles of life. It is important that this maturing love become a regular and a practical thing in our daily lives.
胜利的信心是成熟的爱的结果。 越多认识并爱耶稣基督，就越容易用生命的需要和斗争来信靠耶稣。重要的是，成熟的爱在我们的日常生活中，成为常规的和实際的運作的事。
How does a believer go about experiencing this kind of love and the blessings that flow from it?
信徒如何去经历这類的爱，和从中得到的滿溢的祝福？
To begin with, this kind of love must be cultivated. It is not the result of a hit-or-miss friendship! A previous study pointed out that a believer slips back into the world by stages:
首先，必须培养这類的爱。它不是不管成敗的友谊的结果！先前的研究指出，信徒是一步步的分段的溜回世界：
1. Friendship with the world (James 4:4)
1. 与世界為友（雅4：4）
2. Spotted by the world (James 1:27)
2. 被世俗所沾污（雅1:27）
3. Loving the world (1 John 2:15–17)
3. 爱世界（约壹 2： 15–17）
4. Conformed to the world (Rom. 12:2)
4. 與世界妥協（罗12：2）
Our relationship to Jesus Christ, in a similar way, grows by stages.
我们与耶稣基督的关系也以类似的方式逐步发展。
1. We must cultivate friendship with Christ. Abraham was “the friend of God” (James 2:23) because he separated himself from the world and did what God told him. His life was not perfect, but when he sinned, he confessed and went right back to walking with God.
1. 我们必须培植与基督的友谊。亚伯拉罕是 “上帝的朋友”（雅 2：23），因为他使自己与世界隔绝，并按照上帝告诉他的那样做。他的生活并不完美，但是当他犯罪时，他认罪，并立刻返回並与上帝同行。
2. This friendship will begin to influence our lives. As we read the Word and pray, and as we fellowship with God’s people, Christian graces will start to show up in us. Our thoughts will be cleaner, our conversation more meaningful, our desires more wholesome. But we will not be suddenly and totally changed; it will be a gradual process.
2. 與上帝的友谊要开始影响我们的生活。当我们读经祈祷时，並且当我们与上帝的子民在團契裡时，基督的憐憫将开始显现在我们心中。我们的意念会更聖潔，我们的对话会更有意义，我们的慾望会更有益。但是我们不会突然而彻底地改变。这将是循序渐进的过程。
3. Our friendship with Christ and our becoming like Him will lead to a deeper love for Christ. On the human level, friendship often leads to love. On the divine level, friendship with Christ ought to lead to love. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). The Word of God reveals His love to us, and the indwelling Spirit of God makes this love more and more real to us. Furthermore, this love is worked out in our lives in daily obedience. Christian love is not a passing emotion; it is a permanent devotion, a deep desire to please Christ and to do His will.
3. 我们与基督的友谊以及变得像基督，将导致对基督的更深的爱。在人的层面上，友谊通常会导致爱情。在上帝的层面上，与基督的友谊应该导致神聖的爱。 “我们爱上帝是因为祂首先爱我们”（约壹 4:19）。上帝的话语向我们揭示了祂的爱，而上帝的靈内住，使这种爱对我们越来越顯得真实。此外，这种爱在我们的生活中，每日活出對祂的順服。基督徒的爱不是短暂的情感。这是永恒虔誠的奉献，是深深渴望討基督喜悅，并强烈期望遵守祂的旨意。
4. The more we know Him the better we love Him, and the better we love Him the more we become like Him—“conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29). Of course we will not be completely conformed to Christ until we see Him (1 John 3:1–3), but we are to begin the process now.
4. 我们越認識基督，就越發爱祂，並且越爱祂，我们就越想望像祂，“效法祂儿子的形像”（罗8：29）。当然，在我们见到基督之前，不会完全效法祂（约壹3：1-3），但是我们现在就开始这一过程。
What an exciting way to live! As God’s love is perfected in us, we have confidence toward Him and do not live in fear. Because fear is cast out, we can be honest and open; there is no need to pretend. And because fear is gone, our obedience to His commands is born out of love, not terror. We discover that His commandments are not burdensome. Finally, living in this atmosphere of love, honesty, and joyful obedience, we are able to face the world with victorious faith and to overcome instead of being overcome.
多么令人兴奋的生活方式！当上帝的爱在我们里面得到完全时，我们对祂確信，不再生活在恐惧中。因为消除了恐惧，所以我们可以诚实和敞开; 不必要假装。並且，因为恐惧已经消失，我们对祂命令的顺从，是出于爱而不是害怕。我们发现祂的诫命并不沉重。最后，生活在这种充满爱，诚实，和喜乐順服的气氛中，我们能够以胜利的信心面对世界，战胜它而不是被它克服。
The place to begin is not in some daring, dramatic experience. The place to begin is in the quiet, personal place of prayer. Peter wanted to give his life for Jesus, but when he was asked to pray, Peter went to sleep (Luke 22:31–33, 39–46). A believer who begins the day reading the Word, meditating on it, and worshipping Christ in prayer and praise will experience this perfecting love.
开始時，并不是大胆，戏剧化的地方表演。开始的地方是在安静，个人的祈祷场所。彼得想为耶稣献出生命，但是，当他被主要求祈祷时，他去睡著了（路22：31-33，39-46）。信徒在一天的开始，就阅读圣经，默念圣经，并在祷告和赞美中敬拜基督，並且在讚美中，就会经历这种完全的爱。
When it begins, he will know it—and others will know it. His life will be marked by confidence, honesty, joyful obedience, and victory.
一开始时，他会知道的，而其他人也会知道。他的一生将以確信，诚实，喜乐的順服，和胜利为标志。
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