• 腓立比书 3

真正的义

1末了，我的弟兄们，你们要靠主喜乐。我把这些话再写给你们，对我并不困难，对你们却是妥当的。

2应当防备犬类，防备作恶的，防备妄自行割的。 3因为真受割礼的，就是我们这藉着上帝的灵敬拜、以基督耶稣为夸耀、不依靠肉体的。 4其实，我也可以靠肉体；若是别人以为他可以依靠肉体，我更可以。 5我出生后第八天受割礼；我是以色列族、便雅悯支派的人，是希伯来人所生的希伯来人。就律法说，我是法利赛人； 6就热心说，我是迫害教会的；就律法上的义说，我是无可指责的。 7只是我先前以为对我是有益的，我现在因基督的缘故而当作是有损的。 8不但如此，我已把万事当作是有损的，因我以认识我主基督耶稣为至宝。我为他已经丢弃万事，看作粪土，为要赢得基督， 9并且得以在他里面，不是有自己因律法而得的义，而是有信基督的义，就是基于信，从上帝而来的义， 10使我认识基督，知道他复活的大能，并且知道和他一同受苦，效法他的死， 11或许我也得以从死人中复活。

向着标竿直跑

12这不是说我已经得着了，已经完全了；而是竭力追求，或许可以得着基督耶稣所要我得着的。 13弟兄们，我不是以为自己已经得着了；我只有一件事，就是忘记背后，努力面前的， 14向着标竿直跑，要得上帝在基督耶稣里从上面召我来得的奖赏。 15所以，我们中间凡是成熟的人，总要存这样的心；若在什么事上存别样的心，上帝也会把这些事指示你们。 16然而，我们达到什么地步，就当照这个地步行。

17弟兄们，你们要一同效法我，也当留意看那些效法我们榜样的人。 18因为，我屡次告诉你们，现在又流泪告诉你们：许多人行事是基督十字架的仇敌。 19他们的结局就是灭亡。他们的神明是自己的肚腹；他们以自己的羞辱为光荣，专以地上的事为念。 20我们却是天上的国民，并且等候救主，就是主耶稣基督从天上降临。 21他要按着那能使万有归服自己的大能，把我们这卑贱的身体改变形状，和他自己荣耀的身体相似。

• 启示录 21:1-5

1我又看见一个新天新地，因为先前的天和先前的地已经过去了，海也不再有了。 2我又看见圣城，新耶路撒冷由上帝那里，从天而降，预备好了，就如新娘打扮整齐，等候丈夫。 3我听见有大声音从宝座出来，说： “看哪，上帝的帐幕在人间！ 他要和他们同住， 他们要作他的子民。 上帝要亲自与他们同在。 4上帝要擦去他们一切的眼泪； 不再有死亡， 也不再有悲哀、哭号、痛苦， 因为先前的事都过去了。” 5那位坐在宝座上的说：“看哪，我把一切都更新了！”他又说：“你要写下来，因为这些话是可信靠的，是真实的。”

• 罗马书 8:28

我们知道，万事都互相效力，叫爱上帝的人得益处，就是按他旨意被召的人。

• 歌罗西书 3:23

你们无论做什么，都要从心里做，像是为主做的，不是为人做的；

“［主耶稣基督］叫万有归服自己的大能”（腓立比书3:21；英文圣经作“万有都在他的掌控之下”）。这是一个多么荣耀、值得我们今天牢牢抓住的真理。

上帝掌控我们的健康。

上帝掌控我们的经济。

上帝掌控我们的工作。

虽然我们可能不知道也不明白上帝全部的计划，但是透过整本圣经，上帝证明了他是信实的，是掌王权居首位的，为了他的荣耀使万事互相效力，最终“叫爱上帝的人得益处”（罗马书8:28）。

总有一天，我们会看到那极好的到来，在新天新地中，耶稣永永远远做王。但是在那日子到来之前，上帝要我们在地上为他摄政，辛勤工作，以扩大他的统治，好使他的救赎计划遍及每一个受造之物。

医生们正在夜以继日地工作，以使新冠疫情受到控制。

政府领导们正在奋力工作，以使被打乱的国民生活受到控制。

企业家以及文创人士正在努力工作，以使失序的经济受到控制。

我们所有工作的目标应该是救赎，即依据我们唯一的君王的计划，来修复今天这个世界里的支离破碎。但无论我们成功或者失败，我们为救赎工作所做的所有尝试，都有机会成为路标，指向那条只有通过耶稣才能最终完成的救赎道路。

在第一个复活节的那个早上，耶稣向我们展示他有能力“将我们卑贱的身体改变形状”，变成一个被救赎了的、完美的、“荣耀的”身体（腓立比书3:21）。但圣经也清楚指出，当基督再度回来，在新耶路撒冷永远做王的时候，他不仅仅会救赎我们的身体；他更要救赎一切受造之物，因为最终万有都要归服他。

总有一天，我们为救赎工作所做的一切努力都会圆满完成，但在那一天来临之前，让我们凡事都“从心里做”（歌罗西书3:23），以指向这世界未来的盼望。

• 花点时间向神献上感恩与祈求

• Philippians 3

Righteousness Through Faith in Christ

1Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

2Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Straining Toward the Goal

12Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

17Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

• Revelation 21:1-5

1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

• Romans 8:28

28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

• Colossians 3:23

23Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

“Everything [is] under his control” (Philippians 3:21). What a glorious truth to cling to today.

God is in control of our health.

He is in control of our economy.

He is in control of our work.

And while we may not know or understand his plans, all throughout Scripture, he has proven himself to be faithful and sovereign, working all things for his glory and the ultimate “good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28).

One day, we will see the ultimate culmination of that good on the New Earth where Christ will reign as king forever. But until then, the King has called us to work as His vice-regents, toiling to extend His control and agenda for redemption of every square inch of creation.

Doctors are working around the clock to bring COVID-19 under control.

Government leaders are working to bring our way of life under control.

Entrepreneurs and other culture creators are working to bring the economy under control.

All of our work should be aimed at the redemption of what’s broken in our world today, in-line with the agenda of the One True King. But whether we fail or succeed, all our attempts at redemptive work have the opportunity to serve as sign-posts to the ultimate redemption of all things through Christ.

On that first Easter morning, Jesus showed us that he has the power to “transform our lowly human bodies” into something redeemed, perfect, and “glorious” (Philippians 3:21). But as Scripture makes clear, when Christ returns to rule forever in the New Jerusalem, he won’t just redeem our bodies. He will redeem the whole of creation. Because everything is ultimately under His control.

One day, all of our attempts at redemptive work will be made perfect. Until that day, let us work heartily (Colossians 3:23) to point to the future hope for our world.

• Take a moment to give thanks and prayers to God