the acts of the apostles-第56部分
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Christ he had not been prompted by selfish motives； for his pathway had been
beset by trial and temptation。 〃We are troubled on every side；〃 he wrote；
〃yet not distressed； we are perplexed； but not in despair；
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persecuted； but not forsaken； cast down； but not destroyed； always bearing
about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus； that the life also of Jesus
might be made manifest in our body。〃
Paul reminded his brethren that as Christ's messengers he and his fellow
laborers were continually in peril。 The hardships they endured were wearing
away their strength。 〃We which live；〃 he wrote； 〃are alway delivered unto
death for Jesus' sake； that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in
our mortal flesh。 So then death worketh in us； but life in you。〃 Suffering
physically through privation and toil； these ministers of Christ were
conforming to His death。 But that which was working death in them was
bringing spiritual life and health to the Corinthians； who by a belief in
the truth were being made partakers of life eternal。 In view of this； the
followers of Jesus were to be careful not to increase； by neglect and
disaffection； the burdens and trials of the laborers。
〃We having the same spirit of faith；〃 Paul continued； 〃according as it is
written； I believed； and therefore have I spoken； we also believe； and
therefore speak。〃 Fully convinced of the reality of the truth entrusted to
him； nothing could induce Paul to handle the word of God deceitfully or to
conceal the convictions of his soul。 He would not purchase wealth； honor； or
pleasure by conformity to the opinions of the world。 Though in constant
danger of martyrdom for the faith that he had preached to the Corinthians；
he was not intimidated； for he knew that He who had died and risen again
would raise him from the grave and present him to the Father。
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〃All things are for your sakes；〃 he said； 〃that the abundant grace might
through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God。〃 Not for
self…aggrandizement did the apostles preach the gospel。 It was the hope of
saving souls that led them to devote their lives to this work。 And it was
this hope that kept them from ceasing their efforts because of threatened
danger or actual suffering。
〃For which cause；〃 Paul declared； 〃we faint not； but though our outward man
perish； yet the inward man is renewed day by day。〃 Paul felt the power of
the enemy； but though his physical strength was declining； yet faithfully
and unflinchingly he declared the gospel of Christ。 Clad in the whole armor
of God； this hero of the cross pressed forward in the conflict。 His voice of
cheer proclaimed him triumphant in the combat。 Fixing his gaze on the reward
of the faithful； he exclaimed in tones of victory； 〃Our light affliction；
which is but for a moment； worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory； while we look not at the things which are seen； but at the
things which are not seen： for the things which are seen are temporal； but
the things which are not seen are eternal。〃
Very earnest and touching is the apostle's appeal that his Corinthian
brethren consider anew the matchless love of their Redeemer。 〃Ye know the
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ；〃 he wrote； 〃that； though He was rich； yet
for your sakes He became poor； that ye through His poverty might be rich。〃
You know the height from which He stooped； the depth of humiliation to which
He descended。 Having once entered upon the path of self…denial and
sacrifice； he turned
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not aside until He had given His life。 There was no rest for Him between the
throne and the cross。
Point after point Paul lingered over； in order that those who should read
his epistle might fully comprehend the wonderful condescension of the
Saviour in their behalf。 Presenting Christ as He was when equal with God and
with Him receiving the homage of the angels； the apostle traced His course
until He had reached the lowest depths of humiliation。 Paul was convinced
that if they could be brought to comprehend the amazing sacrifice made by
the Majesty of heaven； all selfishness would be banished from their lives。
He showed how the Son of God had laid aside His glory； voluntarily
subjecting Himself to the conditions of human nature； and then had humbled
Himself as a servant； becoming obedient unto death； 〃even the death of the
cross〃 （Philippians 2：8）； that He might lift fallen man from degradation to
hope and joy and heaven。
When we study the divine character in the light of the cross we see mercy；
tenderness； and forgiveness blended with equity and justice。 We see in the
midst of the throne One bearing in hands and feet and side the marks of the
suffering endured to reconcile man to God。 We see a Father； infinite；
dwelling in light unapproachable； yet receiving us to Himself through the
merits of His Son。 The cloud of vengeance that threatened only misery and
despair； in the light reflected from the cross reveals the writing of God：
Live； sinner； live！ ye penitent； believing souls； live！ I have paid a
ransom。
In the contemplation of Christ we linger on the shore of
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a love that is measureless。 We endeavor to tell of this love； and language
fails us。 We consider His life on earth； His sacrifice for us； His work in
heaven as our advocate； and the mansions He is preparing for those who love
Him； and we can only exclaim； O the height and depth of the love of Christ！
〃Herein is love； not that we loved God； but that He loved us； and sent His
Son to be the propitiation for our sins。〃 〃Behold； what manner of love the
Father hath bestowed upon us； that we should be called the sons of God。〃
1 John 4：10； 3：1。
In every true disciple this love； like sacred fire； burns on the altar of
the heart。 It was on the earth that the love of God was revealed through
Christ。 It is on the earth that His children are to reflect this love
through blameless lives。 Thus sinners will be led to the cross to behold the
Lamb of God。
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Chapter 32
A Liberal Church
In his first letter to the church at Corinth； Paul gave the believers
instruction regarding the general principles underlying the support of God's
work in the earth。 Writing of his apostolic labors in their behalf； he
inquired：
〃Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges？ who planteth a vineyard；
and eateth not of the fruit thereof？ or who feedeth a flock； and eateth not
of the milk of the flock？ Say I these things as a man？ or saith not the law
the same also？ For it is written in the law of Moses； Thou shalt not muzzle
the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn。 Doth God take care for oxen？
or saith He it altogether for our sakes？ For our sakes； no doubt； this is
written： that he that ploweth should plow in hope； and that he that
thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope。
〃If we have sown unto you spiritual things；〃 the apostle further inquired；
〃is it a great thing if we shall reap your
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carnal things？ If others be partakers of this power over you； are not we
rather？ Nevertheless we have not used this power； but suffer all things；
lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ。 Do ye not know that they which
minister about holy things live of the things of the temple？ and they which
wait at the altar are partakers with the altar？ Even so hath the Lord
ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel。〃 1
Corinthians 9：7…14。
The apostle here referred to the Lord's plan for the maintenance of the
priests who ministered in the temple。 Those who were set apart to this holy
office were supported by their brethren； to whom they ministered spiritual
blessings。 〃Verily they that are of the sons of Levi； who receive the office
of the priesthood； have a commandment to take tithes of the people according
to the law。〃 Hebrews 7：5。 The tribe of Levi was chosen by the Lord for the
sacred offices pertaining to the temple and the priesthood。 Of the priest it
was said； 〃The Lord thy God hath chosen him 。 。 。 to stand to minister in
the name of the Lord。〃 （Deuteronomy 18：5。） One tenth of all the increase was
claimed by the Lord as His own； and to withhold the tithe was regarded by
Him as robbery。
It was to this plan for the support of the ministry that Paul referred when
he said； 〃Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel
should live of the gospel。〃 And later； in writing to Timothy； the apostle
said； 〃The laborer is worthy of his reward。〃 1 Timothy 5：18。
The payment of the tithe was but a part of God's plan for
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the support of His service。 Numerous gifts and offerings were divinely
specified。 Under the Jewish system the people were taught to cherish a
spirit of liberality both in sustaining the cause of God and in supplying
the wants of the needy。 For special occasions there were freewill offerings。
