8月5日 圣洁与虚假
圣洁与虚假
“并且穿上新人；这新人是照着神的形像造的，有真理的仁义和圣洁。”（弗4:24）
世界上有这样一等人，他们和那些安然活在罪中的人一样毫不圣洁，只不过他们穿上了一件仿佛护心镜般的伪装，企图以虚假的圣洁来保全自己在世人面前的名声。“我实在告诉你们，他们已经得了他们的赏赐。”（太6:2）然而，这是何等微不足道的赏赐！当你披戴着假冒为善的军装走上战场时，你是在加倍地服侍魔鬼，也是在加倍地得罪神。首先，你使君王对你满怀期待，以为你是一名肯为祂奋勇尽职的精兵；然而，当你临阵退缩时，祂所看见的，不过是一个全副武装、仿佛预备争战得胜，实则却占据了忠臣位置的叛徒。这样的人给君王造成的伤害，甚至比那些怯懦留守之人，或是公然叛变、投奔敌营并明说自己意图的人更为深重。
朋友们，务要严肃对待此事。倘若你所追求的是圣洁，就必须确保它是真实的圣洁。“并且穿上新人；这新人是照着神的形像造的，有真理的仁义和圣洁。”（弗4:24）请留意这段经文中的两处表述。这里的圣洁被称为“照着神的造的”新人，意即这新人是照着神的形像被造的。这形像乃是从神的本性中描绘出来的，犹如画师临摹人的面容一般。此外，“真理的仁义和圣洁”意味着这圣洁必须合乎圣经的真理，绝非法利赛式的或出自人遗传的教训；同时，它也表明真正的圣洁必须以内心为归宿，因为人心正是真实与虚假的所在。
因此，基督徒若要拥有真正的圣洁，就必须在内心拥有公义与圣洁。许多人所拥有的圣洁之美，犹如肉体外表的迷人之处，不过是流于表面的肤浅之物。若将世上最美丽的躯体解剖开来，你所见到的除了血污与腐臭便所剩无几。同样，当虚假的圣洁被揭开伪装时，人们必会发现其内里充斥着的，全都是属灵的污秽与不堪。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：士19章，徒23章，
个人灵修：耶33章，路2章
AUGUST 5, WENDESDAY
HOLINESS AND DECEPTION
“Put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:24).
Some hide behind counterfeit holiness. There are men who are just as unholy as the ones contented in sin—but these wear something like a breastplate, a counterfeit holiness to save their reputation in the world. “Verily I say unto you, they have their reward” (Matthew 6:2). And what a measly reward! You are doing the devil a double service, and God a double disservice, to march into battle armed with hypocrisy. First you draw the prince’s expectations towards you as a soldier who will attempt courageous duties for him. But then when you do nothing he sees only a traitor taking up the place of a faithful subject armed for victory. You do your prince more harm than the coward who stays home, or rebelliously runs over to the enemy’s camp and tells him plainly what he intends to do.
Be serious, friends. If you are after holiness make sure it is true holiness. “Put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:24). Observe two phrases in that passage. Holiness is called the “new man after God”—that is, according to the likeness of God. Such a sculpture is drawn from God’s being, as an artist copies the face of a man. Also, “true holiness” means a holiness of Scripture truth, not pharisaical and traditional doctrine; as well it means a holiness which has as its point of reference the heart, which is the seat of truth or falsehood.
In order to have true holiness then, the Christian must have righteousness and holiness in his heart. Many people have beauty of holiness which is like the attractiveness of the body—skin deep and all on the surface. If you tear open the most beautiful body on earth you will not find much except blood and stench; so also, when counterfeit holiness is exposed, it will have only an abundance of spiritual impurities and filth inside.