the acts of the apostles-第89章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
meet。
The apostle's desire for those to whom he addressed his letters of counsel
and admonition was that they should 〃be no more children； tossed to and fro；
and carried about with every wind of doctrine；〃 but that they should all
come into 〃the unity of the faith； and of the knowledge of the Son of God；
unto a perfect man； unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of
Christ。〃 He entreated those who were followers of Jesus in heathen
communities not to walk 〃as other Gentiles walk； in the vanity of their
mind； having the understanding darkened； being alienated from the life of
God 。 。 。 because of the blindness of their heart；〃 but 〃circumspectly； not
as fools； but as wise； redeeming the time。〃 Ephesians 4：14； 13； 17； 18；
5：15； 16。 He encouraged the believers to look forward to the time when
Christ； who 〃loved the church； and gave Himself for it；〃 would 〃present it
to Himself a glorious church； not having spot； or wrinkle； or any such
thing〃 a church 〃holy and without blemish。〃 Ephesians 5：25； 27。
These messages； written with a power not of man but of God； contain lessons
which should be studied by all and
471
which may with profit be often repeated。 In them practical godliness is
outlined； principles are laid down that should be followed in every church；
and the way that leads to life eternal is made plain。
In his letter to 〃the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at
Colosse；〃 written while he was a prisoner in Rome； Paul makes mention of his
joy over their steadfastness in the faith； tidings of which had been brought
him by Epaphras； who； the apostle wrote； 〃declared unto us your love in the
Spirit。 For this cause；〃 he continued； 〃we also； since the day we heard it；
do not cease to pray for you； and to desire that ye might be filled with the
knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding； that ye
might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing； being fruitful in every
good work； and increasing in the knowledge of God； strengthened with all
might； according to His glorious power； unto all patience and long…suffering
with joyfulness。〃
Thus Paul put into words his desire for the Colossian believers。 How high
the ideal that these words hold before the follower of Christ！ They show the
wonderful possibilities of the Christian life and make it plain that there
is no limit to the blessings that the children of God may receive。
Constantly increasing in a knowledge of God； they may go on from strength to
strength； from height to height in Christian experience； until by 〃His
glorious power〃 they are made 〃meet to be partakers of the inheritance of
the saints in light。〃
The apostle exalted Christ before his brethren as the One
472
by whom God had created all things and by whom He had wrought out their
redemption。 He declared that the hand that sustains the worlds in space； and
holds in their orderly arrangements and tireless activity all things
throughout the universe of God； is the hand that was nailed to the cross for
them。 〃By Him were all things created；〃 Paul wrote； 〃that are in heaven； and
that are in earth； visible and invisible； whether they be thrones； or
dominions； or principalities； or powers： all things were created by Him； and
for Him： and He is before all things； and by Him all things consist。〃 〃And
you； that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works；
yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death； to
present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in His sight。〃
The Son of God stooped to uplift the fallen。 For this He left the sinless
worlds on high； the ninety and nine that loved Him； and came to this earth
to be 〃wounded for our transgressions〃 and 〃bruised for our iniquities。〃
Isaiah 53：5。 He was in all things made like unto His brethren。 He became
flesh； even as we are。 He knew what it meant to be hungry and thirsty and
weary。 He was sustained by food and refreshed by sleep。 He was a stranger
and a sojourner on the earthin the world； but not of the world； tempted
and tried as men and women of today are tempted and tried； yet living a life
free from sin。 Tender； compassionate； sympathetic； ever considerate of
others； He represented the character of God。 〃The Word was made flesh； and
dwelt among us； 。 。 。 full of grace and truth。〃 John 1：14。
473
Surrounded by the practices and influences of heathenism； the Colossian
believers were in danger of being drawn away from the simplicity of the
gospel； and Paul； in warning them against this； pointed them to Christ as
the only safe guide。 〃I would that ye knew；〃 he wrote； 〃what great conflict
I have for you； and for them at Laodicea； and for as many as have not seen
my face in the flesh； that their hearts might be comforted； being knit
together in love； and unto all riches of the full assurance of
understanding； to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God； and of the
Father； and of Christ； in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge。
〃And this I say； lest any man should beguile you with enticing words。 。 。 。
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord； so walk yet in Him：
rooted and built up in Him； and stablished in the faith； as ye have been
taught； abounding therein with thanksgiving。 Beware lest any man spoil you
through philosophy and vain deceit； after the tradition of men； after the
rudiments of the world； and not after Christ。 For in Him dwelleth all the
fullness of the Godhead bodily。 And ye are complete in Him； which is the
head of all principality and power。〃
Christ had foretold that deceivers would arise； through whose influence
〃iniquity〃 should 〃abound；〃 and 〃the love of many〃 should 〃wax cold。〃
Matthew 24：12。 He had warned the disciples that the church would be in more
danger from this evil than from the persecution of her enemies。 Again and
again Paul warned the believers against these false teachers。 This peril；
above all others； they must guard
474
against； for by receiving false teachers； they would open the door to errors
by which the enemy would dim the spiritual perceptions and shake the
confidence of those newly come to the faith of the gospel。 Christ was the
standard by which they were to test the doctrines presented。 All that was
not in harmony with His teachings they were to reject。 Christ crucified for
sin； Christ risen from the dead； Christ ascended on highthis was the
science of salvation that they were to learn and teach。
The warnings of the word of God regarding the perils surrounding the
Christian church belong to us today。 As in the days of the apostles men
tried by tradition and philosophy to destroy faith in the Scriptures； so
today； by the pleasing sentiments of higher criticism； evolution；
spiritualism； theosophy； and pantheism； the enemy of righteousness is
seeking to lead souls into forbidden paths。 To many the Bible is as a lamp
without oil； because they have turned their minds into channels of
speculative belief that bring misunderstanding and confusion。 The work of
higher criticism； in dissecting； conjecturing； reconstructing； is destroying
faith in the Bible as a divine revelation。 It is robbing God's word of power
to control； uplift； and inspire human lives。 By spiritualism； multitudes are
taught to believe that desire is the highest law； that license is liberty；
and that man is accountable only to himself。
The follower of Christ will meet with the 〃enticing words〃 against which the
apostle warned the Colossian believers。 He will meet with spiritualistic
interpretations of
475
the Scriptures； but he is not to accept them。 His voice is to be heard in
clear affirmation of the eternal truths of the Scriptures。 Keeping his eyes
fixed on Christ； he is to move steadily forward in the path marked out；
discarding all ideas that are not in harmony with His teaching。 The truth of
God is to be the subject for his contemplation and meditation。 He is to
regard the Bible as the voice of God sp
