The Cross—the Center of the Universe
读经∶结四三13～18，罗六6，加二20，六14，西一20，二14～15
壹 按照以西结书的记载，祭坛是殿所在地的中心，也就是殿整个范围的中心─四三13～18：
I. According to the record in Ezekiel, the altar is the center of the compound, the center of the premises of the temple—43:13-18:
一 祭坛不仅是内院的中心，也是殿整个范围的中心。
A. The altar is the center not only of the inner court but also of the whole premises of the temple.
二 表征十字架的祭坛，实际上乃是宇宙的中心：
B. The altar, which signifies the cross, is actually the center of the universe:
1 祭坛是殿所在地的中心；殿所在地是耶路撒冷城的中心；耶路撒冷城是美地的中心；美地是居人之地的中心；从人与神的关系来说，地是宇宙的中心；因此，祭坛至终乃是宇宙的中心。
1. The altar is the center of the temple compound; the temple compound is the center of Jerusalem; the city of Jerusalem is the center of the good land; the good land is the center of the inhabited earth; and, as far as the relationship of God and man is concerned, the earth is the center of the universe; thus, ultimately the altar is the center of the universe.
2 祭坛既表征十字架，十字架就是宇宙的中心。
2. Since the altar signifies the cross, the cross is the center of the universe.
3 主耶稣在十字架上的死，不是仅仅一个人的死，乃是包罗万有的死，其中牵连了神、人和一切受造之物─罗六6，西一20，来二14。
3. The death of the Lord Jesus on the cross was not the death merely of one person; it was an all-inclusive death involving God, man, and all the creatures—Rom. 6:6; Col. 1:20; Heb. 2:14.
贰 十字架的原则乃是：借着十字架，凡是旧造的事以及一切与我们有关的事，都已经被了结、被治死─西一20，二14～15，罗六6，林后五21，彼前二24，加二20，来二14，约十二31，加六14，弗二14～16。
II. The principle of the cross is that by the cross everything of the old creation and all things related to us have been terminated, put to death—Col. 1:20; 2:14-15; Rom. 6:6; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:24; Gal. 2:20; Heb. 2:14; John 12:31; Gal. 6:14; Eph. 2:14-16.
叁 钉十字架的基督，是使徒职事唯一的主题、中心、内容和本质─林前二2：
III. The crucified Christ was the unique subject, the center, the content, and the substance of the apostle’s ministry—1 Cor. 2:2:
一 基督的死成了神的能力，清除宇宙间所有的难处；因此，钉十字架的基督是神的能力，废去所有消极的事物，并完成祂的计划─一23～24：
A. The death of Christ has become God’s power to eliminate all the problems in the universe; thus, Christ crucified is God’s power to abolish all negative things and carry out His plan—1:23-24:
1 人解决难处的办法是协商，但神的办法乃是了结；要解决人与人之间的难处，最好的办法就是了结有关的每一个人─加二20，参林前六7～8。
1. The human way of solving problems is to negotiate, but God’s way is to terminate; the best way to solve problems among people is to terminate everyone involved—Gal. 2:20; cf. 1 Cor. 6:7-8.
2 基督钉十字架使全宇宙静默，使宇宙间极其复杂的情势变为单纯─参林后十一2～3。
2. The crucifixion of Christ has silenced the entire universe and simplified the extremely complicated situation in the universe—cf. 2 Cor. 11:2-3.
二 当我们经历钉十字架的基督时，我们的一切所是、所有并所能，就全都了结，并且祂复活的生命，就借着我们分赐到别人里面─约十二24～26，林后四10～12。
B. When we experience the crucified Christ, all that we are, all that we have, and all that we can do are completely terminated, and His resurrection life is imparted through us into others—John 12:24-26; 2 Cor. 4:10-12.
肆 在神的经纶里，神给我们一个人位─基督，和一条道路─十字架─林前二2，腓二5～11，加六14：
IV. In His economy God gives us one person—Christ—and one way—the cross—1 Cor. 2:2; Phil. 2:5-11; Gal. 6:14:
一 这一个人位─基督，乃是神经纶的中心；这一条道路─十字架，乃是神行政的中心─林前二2，一17～18、23，加六14：
A. The one person—Christ—is the center of God’s economy, and the one way—the cross—is the center of God’s government—1 Cor. 2:2; 1:17-18, 23; Gal. 6:14:
1 神借着十字架管理万有，并借着十字架对付万有─西一20，二14～15。
1. God governs everything by the cross and deals with everything by the cross—Col. 1:20; 2:14-15.
2 借着十字架，神对付了宇宙中一切消极的事物，并且仍然借着十字架管理万有─弗二14～16。
2. By the cross God has dealt with all the negative things in the universe, and He is still governing everything through the cross—Eph. 2:14-16.
3 在召会生活中，基督必须是一切，又在一切之内；凡不是基督的，都必须上十字架─西一18，三10～11。
3. In the church life Christ must be all and in all; everything that is not Christ must go to the cross—Col. 1:18; 3:10-11.
4 我们需要经过十字架，而成为一无所是，一无所有，一无所能；否则，我们的所是、所有、所能，会成为基督的代替─林前一17～18、23。
4. Through the cross we need to become nothing, to have nothing, and to be able to do nothing; otherwise, what we are, what we have, and what we can do will become a substitute for Christ—1 Cor. 1:17-18, 23.
二 在歌罗西书中我们看见一个清楚的异象：十字架是神在祂行政里的路─一20～22，二11～15：
B. In the book of Colossians we see a clear vision of the cross as God’s way in His administration—1:20-22; 2:11-15:
1 “既借着祂在十字架上的血，成就了和平，便借着祂叫万有，无论是在地上的、或是在诸天之上的，都与自己和好了”─一20：
1. “Through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross—through Him, whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens”—1:20:
a 叫万有与自己和好，就是为万有与自己成就和平；这是借着基督在十字架上为我们流血所成就的。
a. To reconcile all things to Himself is to make peace with Himself for all things; this was accomplished through the blood of the cross of Christ.
b 因我们是罪人，我们需要救赎；又因我们与神为敌，我们需要和好─14、21～22节。
b. Because we were sinners, we needed redemption, and because we were also enemies of God, we needed reconciliation—vv. 14, 21-22.
2 “涂抹了规条上所写，攻击我们，反对我们的字据，并且把它撤去，钉在十字架上”─二14：
2. “Wiping out the handwriting in ordinances, which was against us, which was contrary to us; and He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross”—2:14:
a “规条”是指礼仪律法的规条及其仪式，就是生活与敬拜的形式或方式─弗二15。
a. Ordinances refers to the ordinances of the ceremonial law with its rituals, which are the forms or ways of living and worship—Eph. 2:15.
b “钉在十字架上”，意即废去规条中诫命的律法。
b. Nailing it to the cross means to abolish the law of the commandments in ordinances.
三 “既将执政的和掌权的脱下，神就把他们公然示众，仗着十字架在凯旋中向他们夸胜”─西二15：
C. “Stripping off the rulers and the authorities, He made a display of them openly, triumphing over them in it”—Col. 2:15:
1 这一节描绘，当基督钉十字架时，所发生的一场争战：
1. This verse portrays the fighting that took place at the time of Christ’s crucifixion:
a 牵连了基督、神和执政掌权之邪恶天使的这些活动，全都集中在十字架上，所以十字架成了神永远的、中心的并唯一的路─14～15节。
a. Activities involving Christ, God, and the evil angelic rulers and authorities were brought to a focus on the cross; thus, the cross became God’s eternal, central, and unique way—vv. 14-15.
b 同时，邪恶的执政掌权者也忙着要阻挠神和基督的工作，逼近神和基督；因此，有一场争战在十字架那里激烈地进行。
b. At the same time, the evil rulers and authorities were busy in their attempt to frustrate the work of God and Christ, pressing in close to God and Christ; thus, a warfare was raging at the cross.
2 神在十字架上，把那些执政掌权的邪恶天使公然示众，仗着十字架在凯旋中向他们夸胜，羞辱了他们─15节。
2. God openly made a display of the evil angelic rulers and authorities on the cross and triumphed over them in it, putting them to shame—v. 15.
伍 在马太二十七章五十一至五十三节，我们看见基督钉死的功效：─引用经文
V. In Matthew 27:51-53 we see the effect of Christ’s crucifixion:
一 “殿里的幔子从上到下裂为两半”（51上），这表征神与人之间的间隔除去了，因为基督所取之罪的肉体已经钉在十字架上。─引用经文
A. “The veil of the temple was split in two from top to bottom” (v. 51a), which signifies that the separation between God and man had been abolished because the flesh of sin taken by Christ had been crucified.
二 “地就震动”（51中），这表征撒但背叛的根基动摇了。─引用经文
B. “The earth was shaken” (v. 51b), which signifies that the base of Satan’s rebellion was shaken.
三 “磐石也崩裂”（51中），这表征撒但属地之国的营垒崩溃了。─引用经文
C. “The rocks were split” (v. 51c), which signifies that the strongholds of Satan’s earthly kingdom were broken.
四 “坟墓也开了”（52上），这表征死亡和阴间的能力已被胜过并征服了。─引用经文
D. “The tombs were opened” (v. 52a), which signifies that the power of death and Hades was conquered and subdued.
五 “已睡圣徒的身体，多有起来的”（52下），这表征基督之死释放人的能力。─引用经文
E. “Many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised” (v. 52b), which signifies the releasing power of the death of Christ.
陆 在约翰福音里，我们看见基督钉死之释放生命的一面─十九34、36，十二24：
VI. In the Gospel of John we see the life-releasing aspect of Christ’s crucifixion—19:34, 36; 12:24:
一 从主被扎肋旁流出的水，是为着分赐生命，对付死亡，并产生召会─十九34，三14～15，弗五29～30。
A. The water that flowed out of the Lord’s pierced side is for imparting life, dealing with death, and producing the church—19:34; 3:14-15; Eph. 5:29-30.
二 主耶稣如同一粒麦子落在地里死了，好为着召会产生许多子粒─约十二24。
B. As a grain of wheat, the Lord Jesus fell into the ground and died in order to produce many grains for the church—John 12:24.
三 骨头是主复活生命的象征，这生命是什么都不能毁坏的；这就是用以产生并建造召会的生命─十九36。
C. The bone is a symbol of the Lord’s resurrection life, which nothing can break; this is the life with which the church is produced and built—19:36.
柒 十字架把我们引到基督的身体─林前一18，十二12～13、27：
VII. The cross leads us to the Body of Christ—1 Cor. 1:18; 12:12-13, 27:
一 十字架是在身体的范围里作工─罗六6，八13，十二4～5：
A. The cross operates in the sphere of the Body—Rom. 6:6; 8:13; 12:4-5:
1 十字架的工作是达到基督的身体，并且终极完成于基督的身体─林前一18、23，二1～2，十二12～27。
1. The work of the cross goes as far as the Body of Christ and consummates with the Body of Christ—1 Cor. 1:18, 23; 2:1-2; 12:12-27.
2 十字架的工作不仅将我们带进身体，并且身体也成为十字架作工的范围─西一20，三15。
2. Not only does the work of the cross bring us into the Body, but also the Body becomes the realm within which the cross works—Col. 1:20; 3:15.
二 没有十字架，我们就无法在基督的身体里往前─弗二16：
B. In the Body of Christ we cannot go on without the cross—Eph. 2:16:
1 十字架挖去我们天然的生命、我们自己的活动以及任何不相称的生长─太十六24～26。
1. The cross will dig away our natural life, our own activities, and any disproportionate growth—Matt. 16:24-26.
2 身体的生活和工作，需要严厉地对付肉体，这样的对付需要对基督的十字架有深刻的认识─加五24。
2. Life and work in the Body necessitate drastic dealings with the flesh, and such dealings necessitate a deep knowledge of the cross of Christ—Gal. 5:24.
3 身体的限制会取去我们的自由，把我们推到十字架─罗十二3，林后十13～15，弗四7、16。
3. The restriction of the Body will take away our freedom and drive us to the cross—Rom. 12:3; 2 Cor. 10:13-15; Eph. 4:7, 16.
4 神在我们身上的一切对付，都是为着身体来预备我们；祂在我们里面的一切工作乃是清除的过程，好叫我们能成为基督身体尽功用的肢体─罗六6，八13，十二4～8。
4. All of God’s dealings with us have been with a view to prepare us for the Body; all His work in us is a process of elimination so that we can become functioning members of the Body—Rom. 6:6; 8:13; 12:4-8.
5 如果我们天然的生命受十字架的对付，如果我们顺服基督的元首权柄，活出身体的生命来，我们就有圣灵的膏抹，并享受身体的交通─西一18，林前十16。
5. If our natural life is dealt with by the cross and if we submit to the headship of Christ and live the Body life, we will have the Spirit’s anointing and enjoy the fellowship of the Body—Col. 1:18; 1 Cor. 10:16.
捌 我们在基督徒生活中虽然随处都碰着十字架，但是当我们来到神建造中心的祭坛这里时，还要对十字架有特别的经历─结四三13～18：
VIII. Although we meet the cross everywhere in our Christian life, we experience the cross in a particular way when we come to the altar at the center of God’s building—Ezek. 43:13-18:
一 来到中心的祭坛，乃是认识我们一切的所是并所有都在十字架这里了结了─罗六6。
A. To come to the altar at the center is to realize that all that we are and all that we have, have been terminated at the cross—Rom. 6:6.
二 在我们与主的交通中，我们被带到一个地步，确定地摸着十字架，感觉到神不再让我们凭天然的人活着─加二20。
B. In our fellowship with the Lord, we are brought to the point where we touch the cross in a definite way and sense that God will no longer allow us to live in our natural man—Gal. 2:20.
三 当我们经过十字架时，我们的肉体、旧造、己以及天然的人同天然的生命，都会受到对付─六14。
C. As we pass through the cross, our flesh, our old creation, our self, and our natural man with the natural life will all be dealt with—6:14.
四 这就是经历十字架─宇宙的中心─太十六24。
D. This is the experience of the cross—the center of the universe—Matt. 16:24.