保罗的完成职事(三):主观地经历基督
弗三9『并将那历世历代隐藏在创造万有之神里的奥秘有何等的经纶，向众人照明。』
弗五32『这是极大的奥秘，但我是指著基督与教会 说的。』
保罗写歌罗西书的目的，是要完成神的话。这是他写这卷书信的主要目的。由保罗所完成之神的话，是如今向圣徒显明的奥秘。不仅如此，根据二十七节，这奥秘就是基督在我们里面成了荣耀的盼望。这奥秘的目标，是要产生教会 。
在使徒写歌罗西书的时候，犹太教已经存在了许多世纪，教会 也已经出现了。但神的话还没有完成。保罗为歌罗西的光景焦急。犹太信徒和外邦信徒总是忽略基督与教会 ；他们把注意力集中於犹太教的规矩和外邦的哲学等类的事上。
包括犹太人和基督徒在内的许多人，说他们认识神也敬拜神。然而基督却一直被忽略，真正的教会 生活始终被摆在一边。因此，保罗写了这卷给歌罗西人的书信，为要完成神的话。
虽然犹太人有旧约，基督徒有整本圣经，但是很少人真正为正确的教会 生活经历基督。基督仍然被忽略，教会 生活仍然被轻忽。因此还需要在实行上完成神的话。
简单的说，完成神的话就是主观的经历基督，并在我们的日常生活中享受他，使正当的教会 生活得以出现，把神彰显出来。这个启示就是神话语的完成。
今天基督徒从事各种为著主的工作，但对基督的经历在那里？教会 生活的实行在那里？保罗知道犹太教不能完成神的心愿，别的宗教也不能。神的愿望乃是要借着他的子民对基督的亲身经历而产生教会 生活。
神要得著一个借着经历基督而产生的生机体，就是基督的身体。在保罗的时代，有许多犹太人，基督徒也不少。但是保罗想到那种光景，也许会问：『对基督的经历在那里？完成神心愿的教会 在那里？』我们今天也要问同样的问题。
我们需要一再的指出，这个启示是关乎基督是神的具体化身，以及教会 是基督的彰显。…有谁背这个负担，宣告救主基督是赐生命的灵，将神圣的生命分赐到我们里面？有谁在卸去这个负担，告诉主的子民，他们应当是基督活的身体？
神话语的完成包括基督与教会 这极大的奥秘、元首基督的完满启示以及教会 ，就是基督身体的完满启示。这些事不只应当铭刻在我们心上，也当注入我们全人里面。
愿主使我们都清楚认识他的恢复，并清楚看见我们是为著完成神的话而摔跤。我们若要成为完成神话语的人，就必须供应基督作赐生命的灵，作基督活的彰显。这就是我们的负担、我们的职事和我们的争战。
参读：歌罗西书生命读经，第十三、三十二篇。
English Version:
Eph. 3:9 "And to enlighten all
that they may see what the economy of the mystery is, which throughout the ages
has been hidden in God, who created all things."
5:32 "This mystery is great, but
I speak with regard to Christ and the church."
Paul's intention in the book of Colossians is to complete the word of
God.This was his main purpose in writing this Epistle.... [Colossians 1:25 and
26] indicate that the word of God completed by Paul is the mystery now
manifested to the saints. Furthermore, according to verse 27, this mystery is
Christ in us, the hope of glory. The goal of this mystery is to produce the
church. (Life-study of Colossians, p. 266)
At the time the book of Colossians was written, Judaism had been in
existence for centuries, and the church had come into being. Nevertheless,even
though the church had come into being, the word of God had not yet been
completed. Paul was troubled by the situation at Colossae. The Jewish and
Gentile believers were neglecting Christ and the church; they were focusing
their attention on such things as Judaistic observances and heathen philosophy.
Many people, Jews and Christians alike, claimed to know God and to worship Him.
However, Christ was being neglected and the genuine church life was being set
aside. Therefore, Paul wrote the Epistle to the Colossians in order to complete
the word of God.
Although the Jews have the Old Testament and the Christians have the
entire Bible, very few people truly are experiencing Christ for the proper
church life. Christ is still neglected, and the church life is still ignored.
Hence, there is still the need for the word of God to be completed in a
practical way.
In simple terms, to complete the word of God is to experience Christ
subjectively and to enjoy Him in our daily living so that the proper church
life may come forth to express God. This revelation is the completion of the
word of God.
Christians today are involved in many different kinds of work for the
Lord. But where is the experience of Christ, and where is the practice of the
church life? Paul knew that neither Judaism nor any other religion could
fulfill the desire of God's heart. God's desire is to have the church life
produced through His people's personal experience of Christ. God wants an
organism, the Body of Christ, brought forth through the experience of Christ.
At the time of Paul, there were many Jews and a good number of Christians as
well. But as Paul considered the situation, he could have asked, "Where is
the experience of Christ, and where is the church to fulfill the desire of
God's heart?" We should ask the same questions today.
We need to point out again and again that this revelation concerns
Christ as the embodiment of God and the church as the expression of Christ....
Who is bearing the burden to declare that Christ the Savior is the life-giving
Spirit imparting the divine life into us? Who is discharging the burden to tell
the
Lord's people that they should be the
living Body to express Christ on the proper ground in each locality? We in the
Lord's recovery must take up the responsibility for this.
The completion of the word of God includes the great mystery of Christ
and the church (Eph. 5:32); the full revelation concerning Christ, the Head
(Col. 1:26-27; 2:19; 3:11); and the full revelation concerning the church, the
Body (Eph. 3:3-6). Not only should these matters be impressed upon us; they
should be infused into our being. May
the Lord make us all clear concerning His recovery and concerning the wrestling
for the completion of the word of God. If we would be those who complete the
word of God, we must minister Christ as the life-giving Spirit and stand with
the church as the living
expression of Christ on the proper
ground of locality. This is our burden, our ministry, and our warfare.
(Life-study of Colossians, pp. 266 -267, 111-112)
Further Reading: Life-study of Colossians, msgs. 13, 32
- 未完待续
