| Chapter 4
Chapter Outline
Believers cautioned against giving heed to every one that pretends to the Spirit.(1–6)
Brotherly love enforced.(7–21)
Verses 1–6
Christians who are well acquainted with the Scriptures, may, in humble dependence on Divine teaching, discern those who set forth doctrines according to the apostles, and those who contradict them. The sum of revealed religion is in the doctrine concerning Christ, his person and office. The false teachers spake of the world according to its maxims and tastes, so as not to offend carnal men. The world approved them, they made rapid progress, and had many followers such as themselves; the world will love its own, and its own will love it. The true doctrine as to the Saviour's person, as leading men from the world to God, is a mark of the spirit of truth in opposition to the spirit of error. The more pure and holy any doctrine is, the more likely to be of God; nor can we by any other rules try the spirits whether they are of God or not. And what wonder is it, that people of a worldly spirit should cleave to those who are like themselves, and suit their schemes and discourses to their corrupt taste?
Verses 7–13
The Spirit of God is the Spirit of love. He that does not love the image of God in his people, has no saving knowledge of God. For it is God's nature to be kind, and to give happiness. The law of God is love; and all would have been perfectly happy, had all obeyed it. The provision of the gospel, for the forgiveness of sin, and the salvation of sinners, consistently with God's glory and justice, shows that God is love. Mystery and darkness rest upon many things yet. God has so shown himself to be love, that we cannot come short of eternal happiness, unless through unbelief and impenitence, although strict justice would condemn us to hopeless misery, because we break our Creator's laws. None of our words or thoughts can do justice to the free, astonishing love of a holy God towards sinners, who could not profit or harm him, whom he might justly crush in a moment, and whose deserving of his vengeance was shown in the method by which they were saved, though he could by his almighty Word have created other worlds, with more perfect beings, if he had seen fit. Search we the whole universe for love in its most glorious displays? It is to be found in the person and the cross of Christ.Does love exist between God and sinners? Here was the origin, not that we loved God, but that he freely loved us. His love could not be designed to be fruitless upon us, and when its proper end and issue are gained and produced, it may be said to be perfected. So faith is perfected by its works. Thus it will appear that God dwells in us by his new-creating Spirit. A loving Christian is a perfect Christian; set him to any good duty, and he is perfect to it, he is expert at it. Love oils the wheels of his affections, and sets him on that which is helpful to his brethren. A man that goes about a business with ill will, always does it badly. That God dwells in us and we in him, were words too high for mortals to use, had not God put them before us. But how may it be known whether the testimony to this does proceed from the Holy Ghost? Those who are truly persuaded that they are the sons of God, cannot but call him Abba, Father. From love to him, they hate sin, and whatever disagrees with his will, and they have a sound and hearty desire to do his will. Such testimony is the testimony of the Holy Ghost.
Verses 14–21
The Father sent the Son, he willed his coming into this world. The apostle attests this. And whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. This confession includes faith in the heart as the foundation; makes acknowledgment with the mouth to the glory of God and Christ, and profession in the life and conduct, against the flatteries and frowns of the world. There must be a day of universal judgment. Happy those who shall have holy boldness before the Judge at that day; knowing he is their Friend and Advocate! Happy those who have holy boldness in the prospect of that day, who look and wait for it, and for the Judge's appearance! True love to God assures believers of God's love to them. Love teaches us to suffer for him and with him; therefore we may trust that we shall also be glorified with him, 2Ti 2:12. We must distinguish between the fear of God and being afraid of him; the fear of God imports high regard and veneration for God. Obedience and good works, done from the principle of love, are not like the servile toil of one who unwillingly labours from dread of a master's anger. They are like that of a dutiful child, who does services to a beloved father, which benefit his brethren, and are done willingly. It is a sign that our love is far from perfect, when our doubts, fears, and apprehensions of God, are many. Let heaven and earth stand amazed at his love.He sent his word to invite sinners to partake of this great salvation. Let them take the comfort of the happy change wrought in them, while they give him the glory. The love of God in Christ, in the hearts of Christians from the Spirit of adoption, is the great proof of conversion. This must be tried by its effects on their temper, and their conduct to their brethren. If a man professes to love God, and yet indulges anger or revenge, or shows a selfish disposition, he gives his profession the lie. But if it is plain that our natural enmity is changed into affection and gratitude, let us bless the name of our God for this seal and earnest of eternal happiness. Then we differ from the false professors, who pretend to love God, whom they have not seen, yet hate their brethren, whom they have seen.
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--【译】何叶-【校】湑然-【编】何叶2012年7月24日(二)22:10(CST)
第四章
章节大纲
第1-6节，信徒们要警防听从那伪装的灵。
第7-21节，敦促兄弟间彼此相爱。
第1-6节
对圣经非常熟悉的基督徒，能够谦卑地信靠神赐下的教导，明辨哪些人是参照使徒阐释教义的，哪些是背道而驰的。所揭示的真理概而言之就是教义中与基督有关的，基督的位格和使命。假教师为了不触怒凡尘俗人而按世人的理念和口味谈论世界。所以世人认可他们，他们进步得快，有了很多和他们自身一样的跟随者；因为世界爱属世的，属世的也就爱世界。有关救赎主的位格这一真理的教义，引导人放弃世界转投向神，这是真理的灵的一个标志，与谬误的灵是相反的。任何教义越至纯至洁，便越可能是出于神的；除此以外，我们不能以任何别的规条试验灵是出于神的不是。物质世界的灵忠于那些像他们自己的，按其败坏的癖好对其诡诈和邪说自鸣得意，这还有什么好稀奇的呢？
第7-13节
神的灵是爱的灵。不爱神在神的子民中的形象就未存有对神的认识。因为只有神的性情才会仁慈，并赐下喜乐。神的律法是爱；所有遵守爱的人都会完全的喜乐。福音为饶恕罪恶和罪者所供应的，同于神的荣耀和正义，彰显着神就是爱。可是，奥秘和无知还残留在很多事物上。神早已如此表示自己要被爱，尽管严厉的审判因我们触犯了造物主的律法会惩罚我们进入无望的苦难，但是，除非不信仰、不悔悟，否则我们就不至于缺少永恒的喜乐。圣洁之神对罪者那不求回报、惊世骇俗的爱，我们无以言说、感激不尽；其实罪人对神来说本是无关痛痒的，神只在顷刻间就可将其蹍为灰烬；尽管神若觉得适宜祂就能凭着大能的话语创造别的有更多完美人类的世界，但神对这本该遭受复仇的罪人，呈现出来的却是拯救。我们要探寻整个宇宙在最显耀的陈设中表现的爱吗？这得从基督的位格和十字架中找寻。在神与罪人之间存在爱吗？其实最初，不是我们爱了神，而是神白白地爱了我们。祂的爱在我们身上是不可能没有果效的，当爱本身的目的已经达到、结局已经产生，就可以说是完全了。所以，信心是由信心的果效完全的。于是，信心会显出神藉新造的灵住在我们里面。有爱心的基督徒是完全的基督徒，安排其任何正当职责他都能很擅长，做到极致。这是爱给他感情的车轮抹了油，将其放置在了乐于帮助弟兄的道上。相反地，人若心怀恶意，着手事务，就总是办得很糟。神住在我们里面，我们住在神里面，若神没有把这些摆在我们面前，对凡人而言这是高不可及的，但如何能得知对此的证据确实是圣灵促进的呢？那些心悦诚服成为神儿女的，必然称呼神为阿爸父神。出于爱神，他们就讨厌罪恶，憎恨与神旨意不符的一切，会有彻彻底底发自肺腑的渴望遵行神的旨意。如此证据就是圣灵的证据了。
第14-21节
父差子，派遣他来到人世。使徒约翰证实了这点。凡认耶稣是神儿子的，神就住在他里面，他也住在神里面。这认包括内心以信为根基；不单以口称谢神和基督的荣耀，更要在生活和行为中彰显出来，这与世人的阿谀逢迎和卑躬屈膝绝对不同。必定会有那么一天是普世审判的日子。到那天站在神的面前，知道祂是朋友和调停人而能坦然无惧的，他们该是何等喜乐！面对那天的景象有着圣洁的坦然无惧，仰望等候那天，仰望等候主显现的，该是何等喜乐！对神的真爱使信徒们确信神爱他们。爱教导我们为主并与主一起承受苦难，因此我们可以相信我们也会和主一起享受荣耀（参看提摩太后书2:12）。我们必须把敬畏神和惧怕神区别开来，敬畏神指的是对神高度的敬意和尊崇，出于爱的驯服和善行，不是像仆人的工作，因着害怕主人发怒而迫不得已做苦力，而是像那恭敬听话的孩子，服侍亲爱的父亲大人，做有利于弟兄的事，且是心甘情愿效劳。当我们怀疑、恐惧、并忧虑神，凡此种种，就标志着我们的爱远非完全。就让天地都在神的爱中讶然伫立吧！神派话邀请罪人进到这伟大的救恩里，让他们因喜乐的洗心革面而得到安慰，同时他们便把荣耀归于神。在基督里、因灵的收养也在基督徒的心里，爱神就是改变的至大证据。这必当由其对他们的性情、以及对弟兄的言行所产生的果效来试验。若人宣称自己爱神，却肆意发怒或报复、性格自私，那他给出的宣言就是谎言。如若我们本性的敌意显然变成了爱心和感恩，我们就当因这永恒喜乐之印证而赞美神的名。由此，我们是不同于假教师的，因他们佯装爱那未见之神，却憎恨已见的弟兄。
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