「與基督聯合」的教義面面觀PERSPECTIVESON THE DOCTRINE OF UNION WITH CHRIST

文/林慈信

http://www.madisonccc.org/Elibrary/materials%20for%20E-library/Readings%20040-044.htm#041A聖靈的工作 ﹕實施救恩

導論 Introduction

(a) 有些基督徒一想到「與基督聯合」﹐腦裡情不自禁的浮現一個私人﹐甜蜜﹐神秘的靈命境界﹐好像一些福音派的詩歌描述的﹕“在花園裡” 與基督同步﹐共話﹔耶穌是最甜蜜的名字﹐等等。

Sometimes, Christians conceive of “union with Christ” only in terms of a private, sweet, spiritual, mystical relationship – many of evangelical “gospel songs” express this sentiment, e.g. “I come to the garden alone”, “Jesus is the sweetest name I know”, etc. It is an image of a very ideal condition of our walk with God.

(b) 有些基督徒把「與基督聯合」(union with Christ) 和「與基督相交」 (communion with Christ) 兩個真理混為一談。後者 (communion – 這裡不是指聖餐) 可以是指個人的禱告﹐默想神的話﹐在基督徒的品格上操練等﹔不等於 “與基督聯合。”

Other Christians confuse “union with Christ” with “communion” – “communion” is related to our regular exercises of personal devotion to and intimacy with Christ, in prayer, meditation on God’s Word, discipline in Christian character, etc. “Communion” is not the same as “union.”

(c) 對上面所指的基督徒來說﹐把「與基督聯合」說成是一項「教義」﹐可能很不習慣。「與基督聯合的教義」聽起來﹐是否太過學術性﹖

For these Christians, it may be a little difficult to approach “union with Christ” as a theological subject matter. The “theology” or “doctrine” of union with Christ may sound a little too academic.

請忍耐一下﹐讓我們思考﹕「與基督聯合」的教義 ﹐須從幾個不同的角度來理解。

I ask that these Christians be patient with us as we explore the different perspectives we should keep in mind as we think about our union with Christ.

1. 永恆的角度﹕神的預旨

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE: GOD’S DECREE

我們與基督的聯合 (關係) 是建立在神永恆的計劃 (預旨) 裡。神在永恆裡﹐在創世之前﹐「在基督裡」揀選了我們﹔意思是﹐神在永恆裡已經計劃﹐使我們與基督聯合。(弗1﹕3-4) 神的預旨﹐是我們與基督聯合的基礎。

The foundation for our union (relationship) with Christ is the fact that, in eternity, God has decreed to choose/elect us (his elect people) “in Christ”, that is, “in union with Christ” (Ephesians 1:3-4). God has planne din eternity to unite us with Christ.

注﹕每次新約 《聖經》用「在基督裡」這詞﹐我們可以理解為﹕「既然我們與基督聯合」﹐或「與基督聯合」。「在基督裡」是一個意義豐富的詞彙。

Note: Every time the New Testament uses the phrase “in Christ,” we can safely assume that it means: “as we are united with Christ,” “in union with Christ,” etc. It is a rich phrase heavily loaded with doctrinal/spiritual meaning.

2. (救贖) 歷史的角度﹕救恩的成就

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: ACCOMPLISHMENT OF REDEMPTION

神在既然在永恆裡預旨我們與基督聯合﹐祂就在歷史 (時空) 裡執行 (implement)了

。神在歷史中成就 (accomplish) 了救贖 – 藉基督道成肉身﹐一生﹐十架上的死﹐復活﹐升天。基督的工作 (這些歷史事實) 是神 (從舊約到新約) 救贖歷史的高潮。

God’s eternal decree concerning our union with Christ, is implemented – salvation is accomplished – by the historical facts of Christ’s incarnation, life, death, resurrection and ascension. These historical facts are the climax of all that God has accomplished in the history of redemption (from OT to NT).

這些歷史事實同樣是建立我們與基督聯合的基礎。保羅說﹐基督若沒有從死裡復活﹐我們的信仰是枉然的 (林前15章)。當然我們不是靠著相信這些事實得救 (我們信的是主耶穌﹗)﹐可是我們的信仰/救恩﹐可不能缺少這些成就救恩的事實。

The historical facts of Christ’s accomplishment of salvation also form a “foundation” for our union with Christ. Paul says that if Christ was not risen physically, our faith is in vain (I Cor. 15:1-20; 21ff.). Now of course, our faith/trust does not rely on these historical facts alone (we trust in Christ!); but without these facts of Christ accomplishing redemption, we will not have true salvation. Our salvation depends on these facts.

3. 聖經神學的角度﹕約裡的聯合

BIBLICAL-THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE: COVENANTAL/FEDERAL UNION

耶穌基督在歷史上成就的救贖事件﹐不只是一些「赤裸的事實」。這些事實有神親自在《聖經》裡﹐事先 (舊約﹐新約) 和事後 (新約) 的解釋。我們認識這些事實﹐都是一些帶著神的解釋的事實。若要理解基督的位格 (祂是誰) 和工作(祂成就了什麼) 的教義﹐必須從「神神如何對待祂的選民」的角度來看。

The historical facts of Christ’s work (incarnation, life, death, resurrection, ascension) are not “brute facts”. They are pre-interpreted (OT and NT) and post-interpreted (NT) by God in Scripture. So we come to know and understand these historical facts as pre-interpreted facts (pre-interpreted by God). In Scripture, the doctrine of the person and work of Christ is couched in the context of God’s dealings with his people.

在舊約《聖經》裡﹐神與祂選民的關系﹐神如何對待他們﹐都要從「約」(covenant)

的角度來看。「約」乃是神與選民關係的主題。在新約《聖經》裡﹐主耶穌宣講祂與祂來要救贖的人(選民) 的關係﹔祂以「天國」(kingdom) 為主題。

In the Old Testament, “covenant” was the main theme of God’s relationship with his chosen people. In the New Testament, “kingdom” was the main theme of Christ’s proclamation concerning his relationship with the people he came to save.

無論是「約」﹐或是「天國」﹐神如何對待祂的選民﹖神以聖潔與公義﹔不過最明顯的﹐是以恩典。因此﹐這救贖工作之「約」在神學上被稱為「恩典之約。”」Whether in the “covenant” or in the “kingdom”, how does God deal with his people? In holiness and in righteousness, of course; but most evidently, God deals with them in grace. Therefore, this covenant in God’s redemptive plan is called “the covenant of grace” by theologians.

在舊約裡﹐神向祂的選民說﹐「你們要作我的子民﹐我要作你們的神。」 這就是神在舊約裡表達「我愛你」的說法。(出19﹕5-6﹐彼前2﹕9) 。

在新約裡﹐耶穌基督向祂的門徒 (選民) 說﹕「我必永遠與你們同在」 ﹐「我在你裡面﹐你在我裡面」 – 這樣﹐耶穌說「我愛你。」

In the Old Testament, God’s pronouncement of grace and love is made when he says, “You shall be my people, I shall be your God.” This is God’s Old-Testament-way of saying, “I love you.” (Exodus 19:5-6; I Peter 2:9).

In the New Testament, Jesus says “I love you” with statements like: “I shall be with you always,” “I in you, you in me,” etc.

神的「約」的中心就是祂的恩典/愛。神的約﹐乃是表現祂的愛/恩典的的形式。

The heart of the covenant is God’s grace/love. The form of God’s grace is the covenant.

在恩典之約裡﹐主耶穌基督乃是祂選民的頭﹐主耶穌也是他們的代表。總之﹐耶穌基督是祂的選民的「約中之元首與代表」(federal/covenant head and representative) 。藉著祂的順服﹐耶穌的選民得到豐富的恩典﹐被稱為義﹐永遠在生命中作王 (羅5﹕15-21) 。

In the covenant of grace, Jesus Christ is the head of his people. Jesus is the representative of his people. Jesus Christ, in other words, is the federal (covenant) head and representative of his people. By his obedience, his people receive grace (which abounds to many), are justified, and live (as kings) forever (Romans 5:15-21).

我們可是說﹐下列名詞大體上是同義詞﹕

We consider the following to be rough equivalents:

舊約的「約」 = 新約的「天國」

OT “covenant people” = NT “kingdom”

「約」 = 「律法與福音」 = 「福音」 = 「恩典之約」

“Covenant” = “law and gospel” = “gospel” = “covenant of grace”

因此我們與基督的聯合是「約中的聯合。」我們必須了解神設立「恩典之約」的條件和條款﹐才能理解我們與基督的聯合。神親自﹐單方面訂了「約」的所有條件。

Therefore, our union with Christ is that of “covenantal union.” We cannot understand our union with Christ without understanding the terms and conditions of the covenant, all of which were sovereignly and unilaterally laid down by God himself.

「約」這觀念﹐幫助我們了解﹐神單方地﹐主權的計劃。不過﹐「約」同時有 「人的責任」這方面的條件。「約」能幫助我們理解﹐我們與基督的關係﹐既是個人的﹐也是群體的 – 當我們與基督聯合時﹐我們也同時與基督的子民/身體﹐教會聯合了。

“Covenant” allows us to understand both the unilateral, sovereign designs of God, and the human responsibility which God requires of us. It helps us understand that our relationship with Christ is both individual/personal and corporate – as we are united with Christ, we are also united with his people, his body the Church.

4. 聖靈的的工作的角度﹕屬靈的聯合﹐奧秘的聯合

THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: SPIRITUAL/MYSTICAL UNION

在人的實際經歷中將我們與基督聯合的﹐是聖靈的工作。聖靈重生 (再生) 我們﹐以致我們能進入神的國裡。聖靈賜給我們悔改和信心﹔這都是祂給的恩賜。聖靈是賜兒子名份的靈﹔聖靈與我們的心靈作證﹐我們是神的兒子。因此我們與基督的聯合是一個屬靈的聯合。“屬靈” 的意思﹐就是﹐是聖靈作成的聯合。

It is specifically the Holy Spirit who unites us with Christ in human experience. The Spirit re-births (regenerates) us, so that we can enter the kingdom of God. The Spirit grants us the gifts (graces) of repentance and faith. The Spirit is the Spirit of adoption, testifying in our hearts and with our hearts, that we are children of God. Etc. Therefore, our “union with Christ” is a “spiritual union.” The word “spiritual” refers to the fact that it is the Holy Spirit’s work which brings about the union.

除此以外，「屬靈」的意思是說﹐我們與基督的聯合不僅是肉體/ 物質上的聯合。我們不須爬上木架﹐再釘自己在十字架上 (每年﹐在拉丁美洲﹐菲律賓等地﹐都

有人這樣作﹗)。我們與基督的關係﹐有聖靈的印記﹔聖靈親自作為印記。

“Spiritual” also means that our union with Christ is not a mere “physical” union. We do not have to climb onto a wooden cross and hang there for 6 hours, in order to feel more intimate with Jesus (every year, some devout Catholic believers in Latin America and the Philippines do do that!). Our relationship with Christ is “sealed” by the sealing of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, the Holy Spirit IS our seal and pledge.

5. 與基督聯合的核心意義

THE CORE MEANING OF UNION WITH CHRIST

與基督聯合的核心意義﹐就是在基督裡﹐與基督同死。在基督裡﹐與基督同復活。

The core meaning of “union with Christ,” is to die with Christ in Christ, and to rise from the dead with Christ in Christ.

6. 奧秘的聯合﹐真實的聯合﹐個人 (親自) 的聯合

MYSTICAL/REAL/PERSONAL/INDIVIDUAL UNION

雖然我們與基督的關係是「屬靈」的﹐可是的確是真實的關係/聯合。不是想像出來的﹔不是由感情「製造」 ( 硬逼) 出來的﹗聖靈賜給神的選民祂自己的洗禮﹔聖靈使我們與基督聯合﹔這是事實﹗我們與基督的聯合是千真萬確的事實。

Even though our relationship is “spiritual,” it is very real. It is not imaginary, it is not a relationship produced by our feelings. It is a fact that, the Holy Spirit baptizes God’s elect people, and unites them with Christ. Our union with Christ is very real.

我們與基督的聯合﹐在我們的經驗中是一個奧秘的﹐非常個人的﹐真實的聯合。「奧秘」的意思是﹕當我們降服我們的理性在聖靈的掌管之下認識神大能的奇

妙的恩典大工﹔當我們降服我們的心與意志﹐終生信靠﹐順服﹐敬拜﹐愛神的時 –

還有很多事情﹐是我們不可能理解的。這叫「奧秘」。

It is experienced as a mystical, personal, real union. “Mystical” means “mysterious” – after we surrender our reason to the Holy Spirit’s control, and try to understand God’s powerful, wonderful, gracious work for us and in us, after we surrender our will and heart to trust, obey, worship and love God all our lives, there is still much which we do not understand.

「神學就是讚美學。」奧秘催使我們詫異﹐在神面前降服﹐敬拜。

“Theology is doxology.” (Edmund P. Clowney, former president, Westminster Seminary.) Mystery drives us to worship God in awe and wonder.

可是﹐我們必須提防不要墮進神秘主義裡。奧秘與神秘主義大不相同。

「神秘主義」的意思是﹕要認識神/耶穌基督﹐必須繞過理性 (遠志明早期著作﹕理性是原罪﹐因此必須從理性中被拯救出來) ﹐或繞過我們的理性﹐心與意志 =繞過「魂」(倪柝聲﹐李常受) ﹐只以直覺與神交通。在這種地理解中﹐信心裡沒有知﹐情﹐意 (是「空」了知﹐情﹐意的信心) 。

這不是 《聖經》宣講的基督教!

However, we must guard against mysticism. “Mystery” and “mysticism” are totally different. “Mysticism” means: in order to know God, we must bypass our minds (Yuan Zhiming: reason is original sin; original sin consists of reason; we must be saved from our reason), or bypass our minds, hearts and wills (Watchman Nee, Witness Lee) and use our intuition. Faith, then, is exclusively a matter of intuition: faith excludes the use of the mind, emotions and will. Faith is devoid of mind, emotions and will.

This is not Christianity according to the Bible!