当我们在经纶一面说到三一神时,我们乃是照着祂的行动和作为说到祂,而不是照着祂的素质。按照经纶,三一神的三者乃是三。
父是起源者,制定了神圣的经纶;(弗一9~10,三9,提前一4下;)子完成了父所制定的神圣经纶;(约五19,八28;)灵将子所完成的应用在神的选民身上。(十六13。)在这经纶里,神格的三者是有先后次序的。这些乃是一个完整行动的几个步骤。
父来成就这计划,这是经纶的第一步。祂是在拣选并预定我们的事上作工。拣选并预定的工作是父作的,不是子或灵作的。但我们必须谨慎,要看见虽然是父作拣选并预定的工作,但祂不是单独作的。三一神格的父,乃是在子里并同着灵而作拣选并预定的工作。
When we speak of the Triune God economically, we speak of him according to his moves and deeds, not according to his essence. Economically, the three of the Triune God are three.
The Father is the originator who instituted the divine economy; (Eph.1:9-10; 3:9, 1 Tim 1:4b), the Son accomplished the divine economy instituted by the Father (John 5:19l 8:28); and the Spirit applied what the Son has accomplished to God’s chosen people. (John 16:13). In this economy, the three of the Godhead are sequential, these are the steps of a complete action.
The Father accomplished this plan, which was the first step in his economy. He was at work in choosing and predestinating us. The work of choosing and predestination was done by the Father, not by the Son or the Spirit. But we must be careful to realize that though the Father did the work of selection and predestination, he did not do it alone. The Father of the Triune Godhead did the work of selection and predestination in the Son and with the Spirit.