| 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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--【譯】何葉-【校】湑然-【編】何葉2012年7月24日(二)22:10(CST)
第四章
章節大綱
第1-6節，信徒們要警防聽從那偽裝的靈。
第7-21節，敦促兄弟間彼此相愛。
第1-6節
對聖經非常熟悉的基督徒，能夠謙卑地信靠神賜下的教導，明辨哪些人是參照使徒闡釋教義的，哪些是背道而馳的。所揭示的真理概而言之就是教義中與基督有關的，基督的位格和使命。假教師為了不觸怒凡塵俗人而按世人的理念和口味談論世界。所以世人認可他們，他們進步得快，有了很多和他們自身一樣的跟隨者；因為世界愛屬世的，屬世的也就愛世界。有關救贖主的位格這一真理的教義，引導人放棄世界轉投向神，這是真理的靈的一個標誌，與謬誤的靈是相反的。任何教義越至純至潔，便越可能是出於神的；除此以外，我們不能以任何別的規條試驗靈是出於神的不是。物質世界的靈忠於那些像他們自己的，按其敗壞的癖好對其詭詐和邪說自鳴得意，這還有什麼好稀奇的呢？
第7-13節
神的靈是愛的靈。不愛神在神的子民中的形象就未存有對神的認識。因為只有神的性情才會仁慈，並賜下喜樂。神的律法是愛；所有遵守愛的人都會完全的喜樂。福音為饒恕罪惡和罪者所供應的，同於神的榮耀和正義，彰顯著神就是愛。可是，奧秘和無知還殘留在很多事物上。神早已如此表示自己要被愛，儘管嚴厲的審判因我們觸犯了造物主的律法會懲罰我們進入無望的苦難，但是，除非不信仰、不悔悟，否則我們就不至於缺少永恆的喜樂。聖潔之神對罪者那不求回報、驚世駭俗的愛，我們無以言說、感激不盡；其實罪人對神來說本是無關痛癢的，神只在頃刻間就可將其蹍為灰燼；儘管神若覺得適宜祂就能憑著大能的話語創造別的有更多完美人類的世界，但神對這本該遭受復仇的罪人，呈現出來的卻是拯救。我們要探尋整個宇宙在最顯耀的陳設中表現的愛嗎？這得從基督的位格和十字架中找尋。在神與罪人之間存在愛嗎？其實最初，不是我們愛了神，而是神白白地愛了我們。祂的愛在我們身上是不可能沒有果效的，當愛本身的目的已經達到、結局已經產生，就可以說是完全了。所以，信心是由信心的果效完全的。於是，信心會顯出神藉新造的靈住在我們裡面。有愛心的基督徒是完全的基督徒，安排其任何正當職責他都能很擅長，做到極致。這是愛給他感情的車輪抹了油，將其放置在了樂於幫助弟兄的道上。相反地，人若心懷惡意，著手事務，就總是辦得很糟。神住在我們裡面，我們住在神裡面，若神沒有把這些擺在我們面前，對凡人而言這是高不可及的，但如何能得知對此的證據確實是聖靈促進的呢？那些心悅誠服成為神兒女的，必然稱呼神為阿爸父神。出於愛神，他們就討厭罪惡，憎恨與神旨意不符的一切，會有徹徹底底發自肺腑的渴望遵行神的旨意。如此證據就是聖靈的證據了。
第14-21節
父差子，派遣他來到人世。使徒約翰證實了這點。凡認耶穌是神兒子的，神就住在他裡面，他也住在神裡面。這認包括內心以信為根基；不單以口稱謝神和基督的榮耀，更要在生活和行為中彰顯出來，這與世人的阿諛逢迎和卑躬屈膝絕對不同。必定會有那麼一天是普世審判的日子。到那天站在神的面前，知道祂是朋友和調停人而能坦然無懼的，他們該是何等喜樂！面對那天的景象有著聖潔的坦然無懼，仰望等候那天，仰望等候主顯現的，該是何等喜樂！對神的真愛使信徒們確信神愛他們。愛教導我們為主並與主一起承受苦難，因此我們可以相信我們也會和主一起享受榮耀（參看提摩太後書2:12）。我們必須把敬畏神和懼怕神區別開來，敬畏神指的是對神高度的敬意和尊崇，出於愛的馴服和善行，不是像僕人的工作，因著害怕主人發怒而迫不得已做苦力，而是像那恭敬聽話的孩子，服侍親愛的父親大人，做有利於弟兄的事，且是心甘情願效勞。當我們懷疑、恐懼、並憂慮神，凡此種種，就標誌著我們的愛遠非完全。就讓天地都在神的愛中訝然佇立吧！神派話邀請罪人進到這偉大的救恩里，讓他們因喜樂的洗心革面而得到安慰，同時他們便把榮耀歸於神。在基督里、因靈的收養也在基督徒的心裡，愛神就是改變的至大證據。這必當由其對他們的性情、以及對弟兄的言行所產生的果效來試驗。若人宣稱自己愛神，卻肆意發怒或報復、性格自私，那他給出的宣言就是謊言。如若我們本性的敵意顯然變成了愛心和感恩，我們就當因這永恆喜樂之印證而讚美神的名。由此，我們是不同於假教師的，因他們佯裝愛那未見之神，卻憎恨已見的弟兄。
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