梁家聲弟兄整理
我們常常會問沒有信主的人一個問題－「人生的意義是什麼？」；我們也會問已經信了主的人一個問題－「基督徒的意義是什麼？」。認識人生的意義，我們才信了主；懂得基督徒的意義，我們才知道神為何救了我們。今天神的兒女都要面對一個更嚴肅的問題－「我們的標竿與道路是什麼？」真實的看見標竿，才能得著奔跑道路的力量；真實的認識道路，才能達到標竿。
﹙一﹚奧秘與啟示 － 神心中隱藏永遠的旨意，藉聖靈向我們開啟
「用啟示使我知道福音的奧祕、正如我以前寫過的．你們念了、就能曉得我深知基督的奧祕．這奧祕在以前的世代、沒有叫人知道、像如今藉著聖靈啟示他的聖使徒和先知一樣．這奧祕就是外邦人在基督耶穌裏、藉著福音、得以同為後嗣、同為一體、同蒙應許。」(弗 3:3-6)
保羅在以弗所書說到，「歷代以來隱藏在創造萬物之神裏的奧祕」，這個奧祕關乎神永遠的計劃與旨意，神是按著這個計劃與旨意行作萬事。這個奧祕原本是隱藏的，在以前的世代、沒有叫人知道，一直如同被幕幔所遮掩著。
如今到了聖靈的時代，「神(樂意將祂兒子啟示在我心裏」﹙加1:16﹚，藉著啟示幕幔被打開了，我們才能知道這歷世歷代所隱藏的奧祕，認識神永遠的心意。「神的奧秘就是基督」﹙西2:2﹚，這位豐滿的基督就是神旨意的中心，也是所有啟示的中心。「基督的奧秘」則是「教會」，這是團體的基督，在神旨意達到完滿時，必要成為基督豐滿的彰顯。
﹙二﹚異象與標竿 － 所看見的異象產生託負與使命成為我們奔跑的標竿
「弟兄們、我不是以為自己已經得著了．我只有一件事、就是忘記背後努力面前的、向著標竿直跑、要得著神在基督耶穌裏從上面召我來得的獎賞。」(腓 3:13)
當聖靈將神永遠的旨意向我們開啟，我們所看見得著的就是異象。這異象會吸引我們，並且控制我們一切的生活、言行與事奉。保羅在大馬色的路上看見了榮耀基督的異象，這異象控制著他的一生，直到最後在亞基帕王面前仍宣告說，「我故此沒有違背那從天上來的異象」﹙徒 26:19﹚。
這異象是活的，所產生的託負與使命成為我們奔跑的標竿。歷世歷代奔跑屬天道路的聖徒都有明確的標竿；亞伯拉罕看見那座有根基的城，就是神所經營所建造的；主耶穌因看見前面的喜樂，就輕看羞辱、忍受了十字架，而奔完了祂的路程；這也就是保羅的標竿，所以他只有一件事、就是忘記背後努力面前的、向著標竿直跑。
為要清楚的認識這個標竿與達到標竿的道路，我們需要知道在教會歷史中屬靈產業恢復的腳蹤。在使徒時代所有的啟示已達到最高峰，那一次交付聖徒的真道﹙信仰﹚已完滿的啟示在聖經中，第一次的啟示曾經破碎，屬靈的產業曾經失去，然而神恢復的啟示與產業卻將永不再失去。
﹙一﹚我們的來歷與屬靈產業的承繼
我們在這裏只能簡單列舉一些恢復屬靈產業的聖徒和他們所恢復的產業，由此可以知道 我們的來歷，也知道我們在基督身體中所承繼的產業是何等寶貴。
1. 馬丁路德 － 因信稱義
2. 勞倫斯 － 與神同在
3. 本仁約翰 － 屬靈爭戰
4. 蓋恩夫人 － 絕對順服
5. 新生鐸夫 － 國度事奉
6. 約翰衛斯理 － 成為聖潔
7. 芬尼 － 福音能力
8. 達秘 － 恩典與弟兄相愛
9. 喬治慕勒 － 信心的道路
10. 慕安得烈 － 基督內住
11. 賓路易師母 － 十架真理與得勝生命
12. 弟兄們 － 基督是元首並祂的再來
13. 宣信 － 基督是一切
14. 史百克 － 升天的基督與祂的身體
15. 倪柝聲 － 實行的十架與基督的身體
﹙二﹚我們是什麼
我們在基督身體中一面承繼著所有的產業，另一面主也有祂的託付要我們竭力的去追求，我們若有一點得著也全是為著基督的身體就是祂的教會。
聖經中記載著三個主要的節期，這三個節期可以代表著基督教會中的三個主流。「逾越節」代表著基要派或是福音派，特別強調救恩的真理；「五旬節」代表著靈恩派，特別強調聖靈的經歷；「住棚節」代表著奧秘派，特別強調深入的屬靈生命，進而與主合而為一。以色列的男丁要一年三次上耶路撒冷過節，不是只選一個節期上去，同樣地，我們不排斥任何的派別，乃是接納並聯於所有的肢體。我們乃是站立在救恩穩固的根基上，寶貴聖靈的經歷與恩賜，追求深入的屬靈生命。
整本聖經說到神最中心的旨意乃是一個活的人，就是基督，神這個旨意的終極目的乃是基督充滿萬有﹙弗4:10﹚。這計劃中的基督包括了個人的基督和團體的基督，也就是基督和教會。基督完成救贖，教會成為祂被贖的子民；基督從死復活，教會成為祂的豐滿；基督登上寶座，教會執掌祂的權柄。
﹙一﹚基督 － 榮耀的主
「惟有基督是包括一切、又住在各人之內。」(西 3:11)
1. 基督是一切
基督已經完成了一切救贖的工作，帶著人性登上父神永遠的寶座。有一首詩歌唱說，「哦，在榮耀裏的基督，已將我心全照亮」，到最後唱說，「我已看見基督榮面，別事請勿向我題」，看見了這位榮耀的主，基督就成了我們的一切。「惟有耶穌，永是耶穌」，祂是我們生活與事奉的中心，並且祂在凡事上居首位。「我的心愛主，祢是我異象，惟祢是我一切，他皆虛幻。」
2. 基督又在一切之內 － 從萬有中得著基督
神本性一切的豐盛，原是有形有體的居住在基督裏面﹙西2:9﹚，經過十架，主得著了最大的釋放，在聖靈裏基督進入一切之內，現在我們可以從萬有中得著基督。神使「萬事互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處」，每一個環境裏面，我們都可以看到主，也可以得著主，直到我們得著耶穌基督為至寶。
﹙二﹚教會 － 主的榮耀
「教會是祂的身體，是那充滿萬有者所充滿的。」(弗 1:23)
1. 教會的異象
教會是基督的身體，是那充滿萬有者的豐滿，是神兒子的繼續和彰顯。在聖經創世記第二章，神取了亞當的一條肋骨造成一個女人，到了以弗所書第五章即指出，這極大的奧秘是指著基督和教會說的。而整本聖經最後一卷啟示錄寫到末了，神的旨意達到完全，基督的身體長到了元首豐滿的身量；新婦裝飾整齊，成為聖城新耶路撒冷從天而降；基督藉著教會充滿萬有，神的終極目的完成了。
2. 教會的見證 － 基督身體豐滿的彰顯
教會是基督的豐滿，這一個豐滿實際的被彰顯出來就是「見證」。教會和教會的見證是完全不一樣的，如同「基督徒」和「基督徒的見證」不一樣。一個人只要相信接受了主耶穌，他就得救成為基督徒，但他很可能生活還沒有改變，不一定有基督徒的見證。神今天在教會中的工作就是要讓這見證能顯出來，我們得救之後還要竭力的追求，也是要讓教會的見證今天在地上能出現。
看見了標竿並不是已經達到了標竿，見證也還沒有顯出。但我們若知道向著的榮耀標竿是什麼，我們就不灰心、不喪膽；在仇敵最猛烈的攻擊下，能得著基督的忍耐，和主與眾同伴一同走這條榮耀的道路。
﹙一﹚基督是我們的道路
主耶穌在約翰福音第十四章告訴我們說，「我就是道路、真理、生命；若不藉著我，沒有人能到父那裏去。」主道成了肉身站在人的地位上，三十三年半從一個人身上彰顯神性的一切豐滿。藉著十架的死，結束舊造立定新造；從死裏復活，吞滅了死亡和撒但的權勢；被接升天得著榮耀，是為要率領眾子進入榮耀。基督就是我們的道路，祂如何在世上走十架的道路、我們在世上也必須與主同走十架道路，惟有經過釘十架的基督才能達到標竿。
﹙二﹚十字架的道路
十字架的道路不是要我們受苦的道路，十字架的道路乃是要我們捨己的道路。唯有捨了自己，才能背起十字架，『若有人要跟從我，就當捨己，背起他的十字架來跟從我』（太十六24）。當基督徒甘願放下自己而降服於主，他將會發現，背起十字架的擔子對他來說正如翅膀之於鳥一般—不再是一個沉重的負擔，反要帶我們一直上升。
﹙三﹚新約中三個主要的職事與我們追求的三條線
(1) 彼得福音的職事 － 傳福音為國度得材料
使徒行傳第二章記載著，在五旬節得榮耀之耶穌的靈降下，教會正式在地上開始。彼得第一個站起來講話即說，「這耶穌神已經叫祂復活了，我們都為這事作見證」，直到今天，所有神的兒女也都要作耶穌復活的見證。主是那樣真實地活在我們裏面，與我們交談、與我們同行。如此，我們傳福音不是傳一個道理，我們乃傳一位活的主。
(2) 約翰生命的職事 － 屬靈生命的成長與造就
老約翰在約翰壹書一開頭處說，「這生命已經顯現出來，我們也看見過，現在又作見證，將原與父同在，且顯現與我們那永遠的生命傳給你們。」這永遠的生命我們今天都得著了，教會要作基督生命的見證，必須接受十架的製作，順服恩膏的教訓，讓基督那榮美的生命從我們裏面活出。
(3) 保羅建造的職事 － 愛中建造基督的身體
以弗所書是聖經中啟示的最高峰，保羅在第一到第三章闡明這極峰的啟示，由第四章開始則說到實行的道路。首先要竭力保守在聖靈裏的「一」，作身體合一的見證，接著說到在愛中建造基督的身體。我們永遠要持守建造的道路，不單在我們各人身上，更要和眾肢體同被建造，直到教會滿有基督長成的身量。
A common question we often ask our friends is: "What is the meaning of life?" We also like to ask Christians: "what is the meaning of being a Christian?" We ask these questions because only after we truly grasp the meaning of our life, can we believe in the Lord; and only after understanding the meaning of being a Christian, can we realize the reason why God saved us. A very serious subject all Christians have to deal with is - what are our mark and the way to the mark? Because only when we truly see the mark, can we have the strength to run toward it; only when we know the way, can we reach our mark.
I. What Are "Vision" and "Mark"
A. Mystery and Revelation - Through the Holy Spirit, God reveals to us His eternal purpose which was hidden.
"...that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. And by referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to his Holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel."
Eph. 3:3-6
Paul mentioned in the book of Ephesians "the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God". That mystery is concerning God's eternal plan and purpose, and according to which God works. That mystery used to be hidden for ages that no one knew as if covered by layers of veil.
Fortunately, we have entered into the era of Holy Spirit, through which "God ... was pleased to reveal His Son..."(Gal 1:15-16). Therefore, the veil has been lifted to bring to light the mystery which for ages has been hidden. We can now see the eternal purpose in God's heart. Bible also tells us that "The mystery of God is Christ"(Col. 2:2). Hence, Christ is the center of God's purpose, and the center of all revelation. The mystery of Christ is "church", which is Christ in a collective form. In due time, Church will become the manifestation of the fullness of Christ.
B. Vision and Mark - The vision we see brings forth a mission in our heart and becomes the mark toward which we run.
"Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Phil. 3:13 –14
We receive a vision when the Holy Spirit reveals in our heart God's eternal purpose. This vision will attract us and control our life style, words, deeds and services. After seeing the vision of the glorious Christ on his way to Damascus, Paul's remaining life was controlled by it. Even till the end of his days, he still proclaimed to King Agippa that "I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision"(Acts 26:19)
Vision is active and living. The mission brought forth by the vision will become the mark toward which we run. Many saints through ages had clearly seen this mark. Abraham was one of them who saw a city with foundations, whose builder and architect is God. Having seen the joy laid ahead of Him, Lord Jesus was able to despise all shames, endure the cross, and finish the course of His journey. The same vision and same mark became Paul's. Therefore, he had only one thing in mind, which is to forget what is behind and press forward toward the mark.
In order to see clearly our mark and the way to the mark, we need to know the footsteps of restoration of spiritual inheritance. In the age of apostles, all revelation reached its peak and fullness. Faith and revelation they received were complete. However, that initial and complete revelation was destroyed afterwards, and the spiritual inheritance originally obtained was lost. Later God worked to restore lost revelation and inheritance. Once restored, they can no longer be destroyed or lost.
II. Footsteps of the Restoration of Revelation
A. Our history and spiritual inheritance
We can only briefly list a few saints who restored important spiritual inheritance. When knowing the history of restoration, we will cherish more the inheritance in the body of Christ.
1. Martin Luther – Justification by faith
2. Lawrence – The presence of God
3. John Bunyan – Spiritual battles
4. Madam Guyon – Absolute obedience
5. Zinsendorf – Service of the kingdom
6. John Wesley – Sanctification
7. Fanny – Power of gospel
8. Darby – Grace and brotherly love
9. George Muller - Way of faith
10. Andrew Murray - Abide in Christ
11. Jesse Penn-Lewis – Truth of the cross and the victorious life
12. Brethren – Christ is the Head and His second coming
13. A. B. Simpson - Christ is all and in all
14. A. Sparks – Ascended Christ and His body
15. Watchman Nee- Working cross and the body of Christ
B. What are we?
On one hand, we are in the body of Christ to receive all inheritance; on the other hand, the Lord urges us to pursuit inheritance in Him. Whatever we obtain will be for the benefit of His church and His body.
Bible records three important festivals, which represents three mainstreams types in the church. The first festival is "Passover", which represents church that emphasizes fundamental teaching or evangelism. The second one is "Pentecost", which represents church that emphasizes the experiences of Holy Spirit. The third one is "Booths", which represents the church that emphasizes deeper, inner spiritual life, and unification with Christ. Each year men of Israel had to go up to Jerusalem three times for the celebration of these three festivals, not just picking one to go. In the same way, we can not just pick one church type, but accept and develop all three. We should stand on the foundation of salvation (Passover), cherish spiritual gifts and experiences (Pentecost), and pursuit deeper, inner spiritual life (Booths).
III. Our Vision and Mark
The whole bible talks about the core of God's purpose is a living person, Christ. The ultimate purpose of God's plan is for Christ to fill all and in all (Eph.4:10). Christ encompasses the individual Christ and Corporate Christ, therefore, Christ and His Church. Christ has completed the salvation, and Church are His redeemed people. Christ has risen from the dead, and church becomes His fullness. Christ has enthroned, and church reigns with Him.
A. Christ - Glorious Lord
"...but Christ is all, and in all." Col. 3:11
1. Christ is all
Christ has completed salvation and, in His humanity, sit on the Father's eternal throne. A hymn says: "Christ in glory has completely enlightened my heart." Its ending is: "I have seen the glorious face of Christ, do not mention anything else to me." Once we see the glorious Lord, He will become everything to us. "Only Jesus, Jesus ever...", He becomes the center of our living and service as well as the head of everything we do. Then we will say "You are the beloved Lord, my vision; only you are everything to me; all else are vain."
2. Christ is in all - Obtain Christ through all things
In Christ all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form (Col 2:9). The Lord obtained the greatest release through the cross. He is now entering into all things through the Holy Spirit, so that we may obtain Him through all things. God makes all things work together for the benefit of those who love God. In every circumstance, we can see the Lord and obtain the Lord until we have Him as our utmost treasure.
B. Church – the Glory of the Lord
"Which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." Eph. 1:23
1. The vision of church
Church is the body of Christ, the one that fills all and in all. Church is the bride of Christ, the continuation and manifestation of the Son of God. In Chapter two of the book of Genesis, God took one of Adam's ribs and made it into a woman. This mystery is later explained in the book of Ephesians Chapter five that it actually refers to Christ and His church. At the end of Bible in the book of Revelation, God's purpose is accomplished, and the bride is fully adorned, which means the body of Christ has reached its full measure in the form of New Jerusalem, the holy city, descending from above. Finally, Christ fills all through His church, and Gods' ultimate purpose is achieved.
2. The testimony of church - The manifestation of the fullness of the body of Christ
Church is the manifestation of Christ. Once the fullness is manifested, it is called "testimony". "Church" is different from "church's testimony", just as "Christian" is different from "Christian's testimony". The reason is that a person can be saved and become a Christian, but his living may remain pretty much the same, without the testimony of being a Christian. The purpose of God's work today is to let this testimony be seen on earth. Therefore, we need to continuously and earnestly pursue Him after we are saved in order to manifest the testimony of Church.
IV. Our Way
Seeing the mark does not mean reaching it. However, if we know what our mark is, we will not easily grow weary or lose heart. In the most severe battle with our foes, if with the ultimate mark in mind, we can obtain the patience of Christ and press on with other Christians on this glorious way.
A. Christ is our way
Lord Jesus told us in John Chapter 14: " I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through me." The Lord incarnated and lived as a man for 33.5 years, in which He fully manifested the fullness of Deity. In order to bring us into glory, through His death on the cross, He put an end to the old creation, rose from the dead, defeated the power of death and satan, and was received up into heavenly glory. Christ is our way, on which we shall all walk, just as He did on the way of the cross. Only if we go through the way of crucified Christ, can we reach the mark.
B. Three main ministries in the New Testament and three ways we pursue
1. The ministry of Peter – Obtain materials for God's kingdom through gospel preaching
In the book of Acts chapter two, church started officially on Pentecost after Jesus resurrected and poured down His glorified spirit. On that day, Peter stood up and said "...This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses..." Today, in the same way, all children of God should be His witnesses. The Lord truly lives within us. He talks with us, and walks with us. Therefore, we are not preaching a doctrine, but a living Lord.
2. The ministry of Apostle John - The growth and edification of the spiritual life
Apostle John began the book of I John by saying: "What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we beheld and our hands handled, concerning the Word of Life..." Hence, we Christians have received the eternal life, for which the church should bear witness, accept the work of the cross, and obey the anointed teaching in order to show forth the beautiful life of Christ.
3. The ministry of Paul - Build up the body of Christ in love
The book of Ephesians reaches the climax of the revelation in the Bible. Paul explained this revelation in the first three chapters, and talked about the way to practice it from the fourth chapter. First, we need to keep the oneness in the Holy Spirit to bear the witness of unity. Then, we need to build up the body of Christ in love. Hence, we always have to keep ourselves on the way of building up, not just individually, but also collectively, until one day the church reaches the full measure of Christ.