權柄的本質─啟示錄

上週我們從啟示錄四章1-3節中提到主寶座的象徵意義，這週我們將來看第4節：

寶座的周圍又有二十四個座位；其上坐著二十四位長老，身穿白衣，頭上戴著金冠冕。 

這二十四位長老的議會一直是神學家與聖經教師思索的主題，有些人認為他們是二約的長老，每約各有十二人。或許是，但我們確實知道他們在天上的權柄，因為他們坐在寶座上，頭上戴著冠冕。 

這些長老出現在『耶穌基督的啟示』最重要的理由，有可能是附屬在一位領袖之下的領導階層所反映出的更高領導。那些達到此領導階層的人（有可能是人所能達到的最高階層），將成為主領導地位的最高反射。為此緣故，我們應當盡所能的拾取關於他們的點滴。 

這二十四位長老身穿白衣，指著他們的純淨，他們『身穿』（被穿上）指著此純淨是歸因於耶穌的十字架，這同樣也可以應用在我們所有人身上。這並不代表我們不需尋求行在純淨中，戒除肉體的罪與情慾。我們總要行討神喜悅的事，而不是出於自義。即便如此，在加拉太書五章19-21節警告我們： 

情慾的事都是顯而易見的，就如姦淫、污穢、邪蕩、
拜偶像、邪術、仇恨、爭競、忌恨、惱怒、結黨、紛爭、異端、
嫉妒（有古卷在此有：兇殺二字）、醉酒、荒宴等類。我從前告訴你們，現在又告訴你們，行這樣事的人必不能承受神的國。 

大部分人偶爾會陷入其中的一、二，有時則更頻繁。在對抗老我的爭戰中，我們輸掉一些戰役，但那些『行這樣事的人』，就是把自己交給情慾的事之人，不能承受神的國。這即是我們必須迎面抵擋屬肉體本質戰爭的重要性，我們必須定意贏得這場爭戰。即便如此，正如雅各寫著：『我們在許多事上都有過失』（參考雅各書3:2）。因此我們的義不是以我們做得有多好來衡量，而是以我們對耶穌十字架的信靠來衡量。 

為此緣故，任何信靠耶穌十字架的基督徒，他們的公義穿上白衣，就像這些長老。我們彰顯此生命是藉由跟隨保羅在加拉太書五章22節到六章3節的教導： 

聖靈所結的果子，就是仁愛、喜樂、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信實、
溫柔、節制。這樣的事沒有律法禁止。
凡屬基督耶穌的人，是已經把肉體連肉體的邪情私慾同釘在十字架上了。
我們若是靠聖靈得生，就當靠聖靈行事。
不要貪圖虛名，彼此惹氣，互相嫉妒。
弟兄們，若有人偶然被過犯所勝，你們屬靈的人就當用溫柔的心把他挽回過來；又當自己小心，恐怕也被引誘。
你們各人的重擔要互相擔當，如此，就完全了基督的律法。 

這些長老戴著金冠冕，在聖經中通常指著屬神的本質。所以這表示他們的權柄是出於神的，或是像基督的。我們若如上面經文所述『靠聖靈得生』，便彰顯出此，始於『不要貪圖虛名』，或『彼此惹氣』，或『互相嫉妒』。我們的談話有多少誇大虛名─想要讓自己看起來更大或更好？屬神的權柄不會那樣做，也不會挑戰他人。我們若有不同的意見，會以恩慈來分享，而不是攻擊他人的立場，我們也不出於嫉妒來做任何事。 

若有人偶然被過犯所勝，我們當用溫柔的心挽回他們─正如我們糾正別人小孩時當用的態度，更何況是萬王之王的兒女呢？當耶穌看見我們的罪與敗壞，祂並沒有定我們的罪，反而是捨了自己的生命來拯救我們。這才是一切屬神權柄的本質。 

然後我們靠互相擔當重擔來完全基督的律法。正如主所教導的，全部的律法都包括在愛神與愛人如己裡面了。我們的權柄是藉由愛來加添燃料嗎？ 

關於屬神的權柄要說的比我們這裡所能涵蓋的更多，但我們知道此權柄不像『外邦人的權柄』，他們用權柄來支配他人，但屬神的權柄是行使在基督的本質中，祂來不是為了受人的服事，而是為了服事人。屬神的權柄是為了幫助人們，而不是利用他們。此幫助是從救贖開始，雖然不會有另一個為罪犧牲的贖祭，此已在耶穌的十字架上全然完成了，但我們可以『天天背起我們的十字架』。我們捨下自己的生命或自私的喜好，為了服事他人，就像主所做的一樣。 

(摘自喬納 word for the week,Week2, 2017)
 

The Nature of Authority—The Book of Revelation
Week 2, 2017
Rick Joyner

         Last week we addressed the symbolism in the Lord’s throne, as spoken of in Revelation 4:1-3. This week we will cover verse 4:

         Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.

         This council of twenty-four elders has been the subject of much speculation by theologians and Bible teachers. Some consider them to be the elders of the two covenants, twelve from each. Perhaps, but we do know that they are authorities in heaven as they sit on thrones, and they have crowns on their heads.

         Possibly the most important reason these elders are part of “the Revelation of Jesus Christ” is that the subordinate leadership under a leader reflects the superior. Those who attain to this level of leadership, possibly the highest attained by men, would be one of the highest reflections of the Lord’s leadership. For this reason, we should glean all we can from what is told to us about them.

         That these twenty-four elders are clothed in white speaks of their purity. That they are “clothed” speaks of how this purity is imputed to them by the cross of Jesus. The same is available to all of us. We can be just as pure if the cross of Jesus is our righteousness. This does not mean that we do not seek to walk in purity and refrain from sin and the lusts of the flesh, but we do this because we love the Lord. We always want to do what is pleasing in His sight, not for our own righteousness. Even so, we are warned in Galatians 5:19-21:

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
“idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
“envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

         Most fall to one or more of these occasionally, and sometimes often. In the war against our old nature, we lose some battles. Yet it is those who “practice these things,” who have given themselves over to them, who will not inherit the kingdom of God. That is how serious we must take this war against the carnal nature, and we must resolve that we will win it. Even so, as James wrote, “We all stumble in many ways” (see James 3:2). So our righteousness is never measured by how well we do, but by our trust in the cross of Jesus.

         For this reason, any Christian who trusts in the cross of Jesus for their righteousness is clothed in white, just like these elders. We demonstrate this by following Paul’s teaching in Galatians 5:22-6:3:

            But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
    If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 
    Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
    Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
       Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

         These elders have crowns of gold, which in Scripture usually speaks of the divine nature. So this denotes that their authority was godly, or Christ-like. We demonstrate this if we “live by the Spirit,” as noted above. This begins by “not being boastful,” or “challenging one another,” or “envying one another.” How much of our conversation is boasting—an attempt to make ourselves look bigger or better? Godly authority does not do that. Neither does it challenge others. If we have a different opinion we share it with grace, not by simply attacking the position of another. Neither do we do anything out of envy.

         If one is caught in any trespass, we seek to restore them in a spirit of gentleness—as we should when correcting anyone else’s children, but how much more those of the King? When Jesus saw our sin and corruption, He did not condemn us. Rather, He laid down His life to save us. Such is the nature of all godly authority.

         Then we fulfill the law of Christ by bearing each other’s burdens. As the Lord taught, the whole law is fulfilled by loving God and loving one another. Is our authority fueled by love?

         There is more that can be said about godly authority than we can cover here, but we do know it is not like “the authority of the Gentiles.” These use authority to dominate others, but godly authority is exercised in the nature of Christ, who did not come to be served but to serve. Godly authority is for the purpose of helping others, not using them. This help begins with redemption. Although there will never be another sacrifice for sin, as this was wholly accomplished by the cross of Jesus, we do “take up our crosses daily.” We lay down our own lives, or selfish interests, to serve others as the Lord did.