Participants of the Divine Nature - Part 4

Ministry in Word

Participants of the Divine Nature – Part 4

与神的性情有分-第四部

Based on Charles H. Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening devotional

2 Peter 1:3-4

彼得後书1:3-4

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

神的神能已将一切关乎生命和虔敬的事赐给我们，皆因我们认识那用自己荣耀和美德召我们的主。因此，他已将又宝贵又极大的应许赐给我们，叫我们既脱离世上从情欲来的败坏，就得与神的性情有分。」

How are we set apart from the corruption in the world? The Bible tells us it is accomplished through the word of God, the work of God, the work of the Holy Spirit, and our resisting sin.

我们如何从世上的败坏被分别为圣呢？圣经告诉我们那是靠着神的道、神的工作、圣灵的工作和我们抵挡罪得以成就。

We Are Sanctified Through the Word of God

神的道使我们成圣

First, we are sanctified through the word of God. John 17:17-19 records these words of Jesus in His final prayer on earth for His followers: “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” Jesus prayed that we may be sanctified by God’s word which is the truth. Participating in the divine nature means that we are sent into the world yet we are set apart from the world as Jesus were, escaping from the corruption in the world.

首先，神的道使我们成圣。約翰福音17:17-19记载了耶稣在世上为他的跟随者最後祈祷的话：「求你用真理使他们成圣；你的道就是真理。你怎样差我到世上，我也照样差他们到世上。我为他们的缘故，自己分别为圣，叫他们也因真理成圣。」耶稣祈求神用他的道，就是真理，使我们成圣。与神的性情有分表示我们像耶稣一样被差到世上但从世上分别为圣，脱离世上的败坏。

We Are Sanctified Through the Work of God

神的工作使我们成圣

Secondly, we are sanctified through the work of God. Apostle Paul told the believers in Thessalonica these words: “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Th 5:23) So it is the work of God that sanctifies us completely, for it is the divine nature, not our human nature, in which we participate to escape the corruption in the world, to be preserved blameless body, soul and spirit when we will see Christ again.

其次，神的工作使我们成圣。使徒保罗告诉帖撒罗弥迦的信徒这些话：「愿赐平 安的神亲自使你们全然成圣！又愿你们的灵与魂与身子得蒙保守，在我主耶稣基督降临的时候，完全无可指摘！」〔帖前5:23〕所以是神的工作使我们全然成圣，因为是我们有分的神的性情，不是我们人的性情，让我们脱离世上的败坏，我们的灵与魂与身子得蒙保守，当我们再见到基督之时，可以完全无可指摘。

We Are Sanctified Through the Work of the Holy Spirit

圣灵的工作使我们成圣

Thirdly, we are also sanctified through the work of the Holy Spirit. Apostle Paul also told the Thessalonica Christians that God chose them to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth (2 Th 2:13). So it is through our saving faith in the truth, which is Jesus, resulting in the Spirit living in us and our participation in the divine nature, sanctifying us from the corruption in the world.

其三，圣灵的工作使我们成圣。使徒保罗也告诉帖撒罗弥迦的信徒，神从起初拣选了他们，叫他们因信真道，又被圣灵感动，成为圣洁，能以得救〔帖後2:13〕。所以是藉着我们对真理，也就是耶稣，的救赎的信心引至圣灵住在我们之中和使我们与神的性情有分，使我们从世上的败坏分别为圣。

To be continued next week.

下周待续。

May the word of God, the work of God and the Holy Spirit, sanctify us from the corruption in the world, through our participation of the divine nature.

愿神的道、神与圣灵的工作，藉着我们与神的性情有分，使我们从世上的败坏分别为圣。

Tom and Tehwan Tso

仲谋与德菀

“The outcome of your faith is the salvation of your souls.” 1Peter 1:9

“信心的果效， 就是灵魂的救恩” 彼得前书1：9