珍赏主耶稣
保罗在二章二十节末了的话，证明这一节的信，是属于基督，也是在基督里面的信。他总结这一节时，说到神的儿子乃是“爱我，为我舍了自己”的那一位。保罗写这些话的时候，满了对主耶稣的珍赏。否则，在这样长的经节末了，他不需要说到基督爱他，为他舍了自己。他可以结束于“在神儿子的信里…所活的”这句话。但是当他说到现今他如何活着，他的心满了感谢和珍赏。信来自这种对主耶稣的珍赏。在基督里面的信，和属于基督的信，是从对基督的珍赏来的。
在林后五章十四至十五节保罗说，“原来基督的爱困迫我们，因我们断定：一人既替众人死，众人就都死了；并且祂替众人死，是叫那些活着的人，不再向自己活，乃向那替他们死而复活者活。”我们思想这些经节就能看见，保罗的信来自珍赏基督那困迫的爱。我们越珍赏基督那困迫的爱，我们就越有信。这信不是由我们自己的能力或活动所产生的，乃是由我们所珍赏的这位基督，在我们里面作工所产生的。我们珍赏主耶稣的时候，会说，“主耶稣，我爱你，我宝贵你。”我们对主这样说，祂就在我们里面运行，并成为我们的信。这信产生一种生机的联结，使我们在其中与基督真正成为一。
真实的见证
我愿意告诉你们一个真实的故事，印证这一点：在我们里面运行的信，来自我们对主耶稣的珍赏。在中国拳匪之乱时，数以百计的基督徒殉道。有一天，在中国的古都北平，拳匪正在街上游行。一位年轻的基督徒女子，坐在囚车后方，被押去行刑。行刑者围住她，手拿着刀剑。气氛很恐怖，充满了拳匪的喊叫声。然而，当她向主唱诗赞美的时候，她的脸面发光。商店都因着暴乱而关门；但有一位青年人，从一家店铺门口的缝隙中，看到这个情景。他因着这位年轻女子发光的脸、喜乐和赞美的歌声，而深受感动，当下就决定要寻出基督徒信仰的真理。后来，他的确认识了真理，而成为相信基督的人。最终，他放下他的事业，成了一个传道人。有一天，他访问我的家乡，告诉我他如何成为基督徒的故事。这里的点是说，这位年轻的女子，在这样恐怖的环境当中，能够满了赞美，乃是因为信在她里面作工。她满了对主耶稣的珍赏。因着她这样爱主，主自然而然就成了她里面的信。这信产生一种生机的联结，她在其中联于主。这生机的联结，是神新约的经纶中，一个基本且重要的方面。
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Appreciation of the Lord Jesus — Gal. 2:20
Proof that the faith in Galatians 2:20 is both the faith of Christ and the faith in Christ is found in Paul’s words at the end of the verse. He concludes the verse by referring to the Son of God as the One “Who loved me and gave Himself for me.” In writing these words, Paul was filled with appreciation of the Lord Jesus. Otherwise, at the end of such a long verse there would have been no need for him to speak of Christ loving him and having given Himself for him. He could have concluded with the expression, “the faith of the Son of God.” But as he was speaking of the way he now lived, his heart was filled with gratitude and appreciation. Faith comes from such an appreciation of the Lord Jesus. The faith in Christ and the faith of Christ issues from the appreciation of Christ.
In 2 Corinthians 5:14 and 15 Paul says, “For the love of Christ constraineth us: because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” As we consider these verses, we can see that Paul’s faith came from an appreciation for the constraining love of Christ. The more we appreciate Christ’s constraining love, the more faith we shall have. This faith is not produced by our own ability or activity. Rather, it is produced by the working in us of the very Christ whom we appreciate. In our appreciation for the Lord Jesus, we shall say, “Lord, Jesus I love You and I treasure You.” As we speak such words to the Lord, He operates within us and becomes our faith. This faith brings an organic union in which we and Christ are truly one.
A True Testimony
I would like to tell you a true story which confirms the point that the faith which operates in us comes from our appreciation of the Lord Jesus. During the Boxer Rebellion in China, hundreds of Christians were martyred. One day in Peking, the old capital of China, the Boxers were parading down the street. Sitting in the back of a wagon was a young Christian woman who was being led away to be executed. She was surrounded by executioners with swords in their hands. The atmosphere was terrifying, filled with the shouting of the Boxers. Nevertheless, her face was glowing as she was singing praises to the Lord. The stores were closed because of the rioting. However, a young man was observing this scene through a crack at the front of a store. Deeply impressed with the young woman’s glowing face, happiness and songs of praise, he decided at that moment that he would find out the truth about the Christian faith. Later, he did learn the truth and became a believer in Christ. Eventually, he gave up his business and became a preacher. One day, when he was visiting my home town, he told me this story of how he had become a Christian. The point here is that this young woman could be filled with praises in the midst of such a terrifying situation because faith was working within her. She was filled with appreciation of the Lord Jesus. Because she loved Him so much, He spontaneously became the faith within her. This faith produced an organic union in which she was joined to the Lord. This organic union is a basic and crucial aspect of God’s New Testament economy.