第三十週．週三

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晨興餧養

帖前一１　『保羅、西拉和提摩太，寫信給在父神和主耶穌基督裏，帖撒羅尼迦人的召會：願恩典與平安歸與你們。』

林前一２　『寫信給在哥林多神的召會，就是給在基督耶穌裏被聖別，蒙召的聖徒，同著所有在各處呼求我們主耶穌基督之名的人；祂是他們的，也是我們的。』

有人讀到在三一神裏，帖撒羅尼迦人的召會，可能會說，『你們宣稱一章一節指明召會是在三一神裏。這節經文的確題到父和子—主耶穌基督，但是並沒有說那靈。這節經文如果說到三一神，那靈在那裏？』這裏這個例子給我們看見，聖經上許多沒有說的話，即使不比說出來的話更重要，至少也是同樣重要。我們接觸聖徒的時候，時常會有一些話不說，這些話也許比我們對他們說出來的話更重要。保羅為甚麼不說『在父神、主耶穌基督和聖靈裏，帖撒羅尼迦人的召會』？

我們可以確定，帖前一章一節所說的神乃是三一神。我們如何知道？因為保羅首先題到父—三一神的第一者。只要有第一，就會有第二者子，也會有第三者那靈。保羅說到父的這個事實，有力的指明他所想的是三一神。不僅如此，『主耶穌基督』這話也含示那靈。『父神』與『主耶穌基督』都含示那靈。因此，一章一節含示那靈，是不言而喻的。（帖撒羅尼迦前書生命讀經，六八頁。）

信息選讀

我們在父神和主耶穌基督裏，含示我們也在那靈裏。因此，帖前一章一節含示三一神。這節經文指明，召會是在三一神裏的。

說召會是神的，或是基督的，相當簡單。但宣告召會是在父神和主耶穌基督裏，就深奧多了。譬如，說我們是屬於某一個人的，這是一回事；但說我們是在那個人裏面，就完全是另一回事。對我們人來說，我們可能屬於一個人，但我們不可能真在那個人裏面。召會能在三一神裏只有一條路，就是生機的、並出於生命的路。我們對生命的路了解得不彀，但是神卻非常了解。不僅如此，只有神能以生命的方式來作事。神以生機、生命的方式，使召會能在三一神裏面。

如果召會僅僅是屬於神的，神只要是我們的創造者就彀了。但是召會要在神裏面，神就必須成為我們的父，我們需要與神有生命的關係。照樣，召會要在主耶穌基督裏，基督之於我們就必須是主，是耶穌。

新約並沒有說召會是在神裏，這一點是很重要的。帖前一章一節告訴我們，召會是在父神和主耶穌基督裏的。這啟示召會是在三一神裏，這與召會只在神裏的說法不同。按照聖經，我們找不到召會只在神裏這一回事，但是卻有在三一神裏的召會。

現在我們需要仔細來看神與三一神的區別。我們如果只說神，就是把神看作好像沒有經過過程一樣。但三一神是指經過過程的神。創世記一章一節說，『起初神創造諸天與地。』我們在這一節裏看不見經過過程的神，也就是說，我們看不見父、子、靈。但是新約卻有三一神完滿的啟示。（帖撒羅尼迦前書生命讀經，六八至七○頁。）

參讀：帖撒羅尼迦前書生命讀經，第七篇。

WEEK 30 — DAY 3

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Morning Nourishment

1 Thes. 1:1 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

1 Cor. 1:2 To the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, the called saints, with all those who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, who is theirs and ours.

When some read concerning the church of the Thessalonians in the Triune God, they may say, “You claim that 1 Thessalonians 1:1 indicates that the church is in the Triune God. Yes, this verse mentions the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son, but nothing is said concerning the Spirit. If this verse speaks of the Triune God, where is the Spirit?” Here we have one of the many instances where what the Bible does not say is just as important as what it does say, if not more so. Often in our contact with the saints, we may refrain from saying something to them. This may be more important than what we do say to them. Why did Paul not say “the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit”?

Be assured that the very God spoken of in 1:1 is the Triune God. We know this by the fact that Paul first mentions the Father, the first of the Trinity. Whenever we have the first, we also have the second, the Son, and also the third, the Spirit. The very fact that Paul speaks of the Father is a strong indication that he is thinking of the Triune God. Moreover, the expression the Lord Jesus Christ implies the Spirit. The expressions God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ both imply the Spirit. Therefore, in 1:1 the Spirit is implied and understood. (Life-study of 1 Thessalonians, p. 56)

Todays Reading

To be in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ implies that we are also in the Spirit. Hence, in 1 Thessalonians 1:1 we have the Triune God implied. This verse indicates that the church is in the Triune God.

It is a rather simple matter to say that the church is of God or of Christ. But it is deeper and more profound to declare that the church is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ. For example, it is one thing to say that we are of a particular person. However, it is altogether another matter to claim to be in that person. Humanly speaking, it is possible to be of someone, but it is not possible to be literally in that one. Only in a way that is organic and of life can the church be in the Triune God. We do not adequately understand the way of life, but God does understand it in full. Furthermore, only God can do something in the way of life. In a way that is organic and of life, God has made it possible for the church to be in the Triune God.

For the church to be merely of God, it is sufficient that God be merely our Creator. But for the church to be in God, God must become our Father, and we need to have a life relationship with Him. Likewise, for the church to be in the Lord Jesus Christ, Christ must be the Lord and Jesus to us.

It is important to realize that the New Testament does not say that the church is in God. First Thessalonians 1:1 tells us that the church is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. This is different from speaking of the church as merely in God, for it reveals that the church is in the Triune God. According to the Bible, there is no such thing as the church merely in God, but there is the church in the Triune God.

Now we need to consider carefully the difference between God and the Triune God. To speak only of God is to regard Him as if He had not been processed. However, the Triune God denotes God in His process. Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” In this verse we cannot see the processed God; that is, we cannot see the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. But in the New Testament we have a full revelation of the Triune God. (Life-study of 1 Thessalonians, pp. 56-58)

Further Reading: Life-study of 1 Thessalonians, msg. 7