爱神与蒙神悦纳Love to God and the Divine Approval
Love to God and the Divine Approval
William Nicholson, 1862
"But if any man loves God, the same is known by him." 1 Corinthians 8:3
Nothing on earth is of so much consequence to man as the Divine approbation. "He who believes has the witness in himself;" that he loves God, because he first loved him; his heart has been directed into the love of God, 2 Thessalonians 3:5, and the "love of God abides in him." God himself says, "I love those who love me." This is more valuable than thousands of gold and silver. Compared with a saving interest in God's loving-kindness, all earthly possessions are mere vanity and vexation of spirit.
The text is to be considered as a part of a long parenthesis, comprising several cautions and advice to the infant church at Corinth, and designed to suggest proper modes of conduct to Christians dwelling among Heathen idolaters.
I. The Character Here Described.
LOVE is a gracious affection of the soul which induces . . . delight in God, admiration of his nature, perfections, and works, a desire to enjoy his favor, a disposition to praise him, and to promote his glory.
In 1 Corinthians 13, the nature of love is given. Her incomparable painter has there drawn her at full length in all her fair proportions. Every attitude is full of grace; every lineament, of beauty. The whole delineation is perfect, entire, lacking nothing.
"Love never fails." When tongues and prophecies cease, love shall shine and sing in the kingdom of Heaven. Faith will go with us to the gate of paradise, and will bid us farewell; but white-robed love will enter with us through the gates into the city, and never leave us. Knowledge may fade away, but love shall flourish in immortal bloom.
Love is the master-principle of all good society. It is the holy bond which connects man with man. Love is an emanation from God's own purity; "for God is love, and he who dwells in love, dwells in God, and God in him." Love sweetens and sanctifies every privilege, possession, and connection. "And now abides faith, hope, and love — but the greatest is love!"
More particularly observe,
1. Love to God is connected with knowledge . There must be a knowledge of the Divine nature, attributes, and his purposes of grace and mercy — or there can be no genuine love to him. How can anyone love a person of whom he has no knowledge? "Those who know your name, will put their trust in you;" and trust or faith works by love. The more a believer knows of God, the more he will love him.
2. Love to God is connected with faith . Faith is that principle by which the soul rests on Christ for salvation; and by which the soul is brought to enjoy pardon, and every spiritual blessing. This enjoyment as granted by our gracious God, certainly produces love to him. "We love him — because he first loved us." Hence the argument of the Apostle, Romans 5:1-5.
3. Love to God produces obedience . "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." Love teaches us to recognize the relation in which we stand to God — as children to a parent, and as subjects to a prince.
Love is an active operative principle, studious of manifesting its acquiescence in the will, and of testifying its submission to the authority of its great object. Hence it is not merely an empty profession, but practical, James 2:14-17. Love produces obedience to all the precepts of Christ, Psalm 119:6; 1 John 5:3. It produces brotherly love, 1 John 4:7, 8, 11, 20, 21. It leads to active exertions for the prosperity of Christ's kingdom on earth. It produces love to immortal souls. It pants to "save souls from death, and to hide a multitude of sins."
To this end, if the love of God abides in us, we shall be assiduous . . . in the cultivation of our talents and abilities, in the improvement of our time, in the acquisition of knowledge, in devoting ourselves, our property, our influence, and our all — to the service of the great Redeemer.
4. True love to God . . . produces sweet submission to His will, does not rebel at His difficult dispensations , does not resist the appointments of His wise and holy providence , will not permit us to call into question any part of His government , will not indulge a doubt respecting the rectitude of His proceedings .
True love to God says, "This trial, this affliction, this bereavement, this piercing cross--has been arranged by my Father in Heaven! He is infinitely wise, and infinitely good--He does all things well--I submit." Like Job, it says, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave --and the LORD has taken away ; may the name of the LORD be praised." Job 1:21
"Father, if You are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine!" Luke 22:42
5. Love to God is necessary to Christian communion ; 1 John 1:3. All true Christians love God, and one another. Communion consists in a joint participation of the same views and feelings. How then can any one, who does not love Christ, relish the society of his disciples, or enjoy communion with them, or unite in their religious services? How unpleasant would be the situation of such a man when surrounded by a circle of lively Christians! He would feel like a deaf man at a concert of music, or like a blind man in a gallery of pictures, surrounded by others whose senses are gratified, and whose admiration is excited.
6. Love to God is necessary to the enjoyment of Heaven . If the society of the pious, if their praises, their pious duties, their privileges and pleasures — cannot, by the sinner, be relished on earth, they cannot be in Heaven. He loves the world and its vanities — but these will not be in Heaven. He would, therefore, feel like a stranger there — he would wish to return to this poor earth.
"You doubtless recollect the unhappy man who was executed in this town for murder, about ten years ago. While in his dungeon, after listening to the description which Scripture writers give of Heaven, he told me that he would rather remain in that dungeon through eternity, than go to such a Heaven as he had heard described. Now I appeal to those of you who do not love the Lord Jesus, whether your feelings are not, in some degree at least, similar to his? If you hesitate to admit this, permit me to make the following supposition. Suppose some town in our country should be made, as nearly as possible, to resemble Heaven. Suppose all the inhabitants, without exception, to be not only pious, but eminently so. Suppose all worldly amusements, all political discussions, all commercial transactions, all secular conversation, to be banished from among them — while the presence of Christ should be enjoyed in a peculiar manner, and all the employment would be to love and praise and serve him. Would you joyfully choose that town, in preference to all other places, for your earthly residence? Could you, while retaining your present character, while destitute of the love of Christ, cheerfully leave everything behind, and live happily in such a place? If you reply, "No" then it is much more evident that you could not be happy in Heaven. If you reply, "Yes I could be happy in such a situation" — I ask, why then do you not, so far as is possible, live such a life of devotion here? Why are not those who appear to love Christ most sincerely, and to praise him more ardently, your chosen companions?" Edward Payson
II. The Divine Approval of Such Characters: "The same is known by him."
1. He is made to know — that is, he is taught of God . This sense is given by several commentators. The love of God which rules in his heart, is the result of the Spirit's teaching. And he shall know more experimentally of the doctrines, the privileges, the joys, and the hopes of God's salvation.
2. He is approved and accepted of God. Job 23:10; Psalm 110; 138:6; Nahum 1:7. The Psalmist appeals to God, Psalm 139:23, 24. It is God's prerogative to know and understand the inward state of Christians. He infallibly ascertains the principles by which the saint is actuated. We are obliged to judge of men's motives by their actions — but God judges of actions by their motives. God discerns and dissects the intents of the heart, and determines with infallible precision, the the inmost motives. "The LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts!" 1 Chronicles 28:9
"The same is known by him" — the Creator, the Governor of the universe, the Lord of all, the God of infinite grace and mercy! What an honor — an earthly worm to be approved by such a Being!
"The same is known by him" — though he may write bitter things against himself, and his spiritual attainments may be very low.
"The same is known by him" — though ignorant, though poor, and base in the estimation of the world. "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7
"The same is known by him" — in all his troubles and sorrows, when he dies, when God judges the world. Oh, what a glorious privilege — to be known of God!
APPLICATION.
Encouragement — to the weak but sincere believer. Their spiritual condition is not to be judged by their intellectual powers or natural acquirements. Many Christians doubt of their eternal safety because they possess so little light, are so weak in understanding, and deficient in recollection. Light is good as the medium of action, but only so when sanctified by the Spirit, or impregnated with love.
It teaches us to aspire after the Divine approbation. Mere speculative knowledge will avail nothing, but love which is "the fulfilling of the law."
It is alarming to the sinner. "If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed!" 1 Corinthians 16:22
爱神与蒙神悦纳
威廉·尼科尔森，1862年
“若有人爱神，这人乃是神所知道的。”（林前8:3）
地上的事，没有什么比蒙神悦纳对人更为重要。“信神儿子的，就有这见证在他心里”：他知道自己爱神，因为神先爱他；他的心已经蒙主引导，进入对神的爱（帖后3:5），并且“爱神的心”常在他里面。神自己说：“爱我的，我也爱他。”这比千万的金银更有价值。与在神的慈爱中得着使人得救的福分相比，地上一切财物不过是虚空，不过是捕风。
这节经文应当看作一段很长的插入语的一部分；这段插入语包含给初建的哥林多教会的几项警告与劝勉，目的是指示住在异教偶像崇拜者中间的基督徒应当怎样行事。
一、这里所描述的品格
爱是灵魂中出于恩典的情感，使人：以神为乐；惊叹祂的本性、完全与作为；渴望享受祂的恩宠；乐意称颂祂，并促进祂的荣耀。
哥林多前书13章说明了爱的本质。那位无可比拟的画师在那里把爱按着她一切优美的比例，完整地描绘出来。每一个姿态都满有优雅，每一处轮廓都带着美丽；整幅描绘完全、完整，毫无缺欠。
“爱是永不止息。”方言与先知讲道之能终止时，爱仍要在天国里照耀歌唱。信心会陪伴我们走到乐园门口，向我们道别；身穿白衣的爱却要同我们一起穿过城门，进入圣城，永不离开我们。知识也许会归于无有，爱却要开出永不凋残的花朵。
爱是一切美好群体生活的主导原则，是把人与人联结起来的圣洁纽带。爱源自神自己的纯洁；“神就是爱；住在爱里面的，就是住在神里面，神也住在他里面。”爱使每一项特权、财物与关系都变得甘甜而圣洁。“如今常存的有信，有望，有爱这三样，其中最大的是爱！”
请更具体地留意：
1．对神的爱与认识相连。人必须认识神的本性、属性，以及祂施恩怜悯的旨意，否则就不可能对祂有真实的爱。人若不认识一个人，怎能爱他呢？“认识你名的人要倚靠你”；而倚靠，也就是信心，是借着爱运行的。信徒越认识神，就越爱祂。
2．对神的爱与信心相连。信心是灵魂倚靠基督得救的原则；灵魂也借着信心享受赦免和各样属灵的福分。这种享受既是我们满有恩典的神所赐，必然使我们爱祂。“我们爱，因为神先爱我们。”使徒在罗马书5:1—5的论证，正是由此而来。
3．对神的爱产生顺服。“你们若爱我，就必遵守我的命令。”爱教导我们认清自己与神的关系：我们像儿女与父母相对，也像臣民与君王相对。
爱是积极而发生功效的原则，竭力显明自己甘愿顺从神的旨意，也见证自己服从这位伟大之神的权柄。因此，爱不只是空洞的宣称，更要在行动中显明（雅2:14—17）。爱使人顺服基督一切训词（诗119:6；约壹5:3）；产生弟兄之爱（约壹4:7、8、11、20、21）；引导人积极努力，促进基督的国在地上兴旺；也使人爱不灭的灵魂。爱切切渴望“救一个灵魂不死，并且遮盖许多的罪”。
为达这个目的，对神的爱若常在我们里面，我们就会殷勤不懈：培养自己的才干与能力；善用光阴；获得知识；把自己、财物、影响力以及自己的一切，都献给伟大救赎主的服事。
4．对神真实的爱：使人甘甜地顺服祂的旨意；在祂艰难的安排中也不悖逆；不抗拒祂智慧而圣洁的护理所指定的事；不容我们质疑祂治理的任何部分；也不容我们怀疑祂一切作为都是正直的。
对神真实的爱说：“这次试炼、这场患难、这次丧亲、这个刺透人心的十字架，都是我天上的父所安排的！祂有无限的智慧，也有无限的美善；祂所做的事都好；我愿顺服。”它又像约伯一样说：“我赤身出于母胎，也必赤身归回；赏赐的是耶和华，收取的也是耶和华。耶和华的名是应当称颂的。”（伯1:21）
“父啊！你若愿意，就把这杯撤去；然而，不要成就我的意思，只要成就你的意思。”（路22:42）
5．对神的爱是基督徒相交所必需的（约壹1:3）。一切真基督徒都爱神，也彼此相爱。相交在于共同领受同样的看见与感受。那么，一个不爱基督的人，怎能喜爱祂门徒的交往，享受与他们的相交，或同他们一起敬拜呢？这样的人若被一群灵命活泼的基督徒围绕，会觉得多么不自在！他仿佛音乐会中的聋子，又仿佛画廊中的瞎子；周围其他人的感官都得了满足，心中也发出赞叹，他却一无所感。
6．对神的爱是享受天国所必需的。罪人在地上若不能喜爱敬虔人的交往、他们的颂赞、敬虔操练、特权与喜乐，到了天上也不能喜爱。他爱世界和世界的虚空之事，这些在天上却都不存在。因此，他会觉得自己在那里是外人，反而想回到这个可怜的世界。
“你们无疑还记得大约十年前，那个因谋杀罪在本城被处死的不幸之人。他关在地牢里时，听了圣经作者对天国的描述，便告诉我：与其到他所听见的那种天国去，他宁愿永远留在那间地牢里。现在，我要问你们这些不爱主耶稣的人：你们的感受岂不是至少在某种程度上与他相似吗？你们若迟疑，不肯承认，就请容我作以下假设。假定我们国家有一座城镇，尽可能与天国相似；假定其中所有居民无一例外，不仅敬虔，而且极其敬虔；假定一切属世娱乐、一切政治讨论、一切商业交易、一切世俗谈论，都从他们中间除去；在那里，人以一种特别的方式享受基督的同在，一切活动都只是爱祂、称颂祂、服事祂。那么，与地上其他一切地方相比，你会不会欢欢喜喜地选择这座城镇作自己的住所？你若仍保留现在的品格，仍没有对基督的爱，能不能欣然撇下一切，在这样的地方快乐生活？你若回答‘不能’，那就更加显明你不可能在天国快乐。你若回答‘能，我在这种环境中可以快乐’，我要问：那么，你如今为什么不尽可能在这里过这样敬虔的生活呢？那些看来最真诚爱基督、最热切称颂祂的人，为什么不是你亲自选择的同伴呢？”——爱德华·佩森
二、神对这等人的悦纳：“这人乃是神所知道的。”
1．神使他得以认识，也就是说，他蒙神教导。几位解经家都采用这种解释。他心里那掌权的爱神之情，是圣灵教导的结果；他也要从经历中更多认识神救恩的教义、特权、喜乐与盼望。
2．他为神所认可、所接纳（伯23:10；诗110；138:6；鸿1:7）。诗人在诗篇139:23、24向神呼求。认识并明白基督徒内在光景，是神的特权。圣徒受什么原则推动，祂绝无错误地察明。我们只能根据人的行为判断他的动机；神却根据人的动机判断他的行为。神辨明、剖察人心里的意念，以绝无错误的精确，判明最深处的动机。“因为耶和华鉴察众人的心，知道一切心思意念。”（代上28:9）
“这人乃是神所知道的”——那知道他的，是创造主、宇宙的治理者、万有的主、满有无限恩典与怜悯的神！一条地上的虫竟蒙这样一位认可，这是何等尊荣！
“这人乃是神所知道的”——即使他严厉责备自己，在属灵生命上的长进也十分微小，仍是如此。
“这人乃是神所知道的”——即使他无知、贫穷，在世人眼中卑微，仍是如此。“人是看外貌；耶和华是看内心。”（撒上16:7）
“这人乃是神所知道的”——他遭遇一切患难忧愁时如此，死亡时如此，神审判世界时也如此。蒙神知道，这是何等荣耀的特权！
应用
鼓励——给软弱却真诚的信徒。不可按他们的心智能力或天然才干判断属灵光景。许多基督徒所得的亮光很少，理解力十分软弱，记忆力又有欠缺，因而怀疑自己永远是否安全。亮光若作为行动的媒介，固然是好的；但唯有这亮光被圣灵分别为圣，或被爱充满时，才真正有益。
这教导我们切慕蒙神悦纳。单有思辨的知识毫无益处；惟有爱才有益处，因为“爱就完全了律法”。
这也向罪人发出可怕的警告：“若有人不爱主，这人可诅可咒。主必要来！”（林前16:22）