We have a continual need to profit from Scripture and employ the power of God's Word in our lives. The antidote to self-deception is listening to God through His Word, and mistrusting one's own capacity to reason (Proverbs 3:5-6, 13:14, 14:15, 14:27). 

The propensity of the human heart to rationalize and justify sin is an everpresent force in our lives—only by yielding to the Word of God do we find life and freedom.

我们需要不断地从圣经中得益，并把神话语的能力运用在我们的生活中。对自欺欺人的解药就是要通过祂的道来听从神，而不是相信自己的判断力（箴言3:5-6,13:14,14:15,14:27）。

人心倾向于为罪找借口、作辩解，这是我们生命中一直存在的一股力量 — 只有顺服于上帝之道，我们才能找到生命和自由。

The rest of this lesson is written by Pastor Dave Wagner from Windsor Ontario, Canada. Please read it and answer the questions throughout.

本课余下的内容是由加拿大安大略省温莎的Dave Wagner牧师所著。请阅读并回答贯穿其中的问题。

Power of the Word

圣言的力量

Learning to Enjoy Freedom in Christ

学习享受在基督里的自由

The biblical principles in The Way of Purity course can shape the hearts, minds, souls and spirits of students who come seeking freedom from addiction. Most of those who come to the course are Christians, or at least have a church background.

In spite of the "availability of scripture and truth," many come to the site hopelessly enslaved to pornography, self-gratification and/or other sexual sin.

洁净之道课程中的圣经原理，对于那些来此寻求从瘾癖中得释放的学员们，能够塑造他们的心思意念和灵魂。到这里来的大多数人是基督徒，或者至少有点教会背景。

不管“圣经和真理到处可以找到”，很多来到这里的人都是无望地处于被色情、自我放纵和（或者）其他的性罪行的奴役之中。

Many students have been reading the Bible for years, yet the truth has escaped them! They derive no spiritual profit from their study of it. The evidence of "bad fruit" in their lives brings us rapidly to the conclusion that, although their store of knowledge has increased, 

so also has their pride. Like a scientist engaged in interesting experiments, the intellectual searcher of the Word is quite elated when he makes a discovery in it... but this joy holds no spiritual meaning for him. His success and sense of self-importance only increase and cause him to look with distain upon others more "ignorant" than they are.

很多学员读经多年，但是真理却与他们擦肩而过！他们没有从查经中得到属灵的益处。他们生命中的“坏果子”让我们很快得出结论，尽管他们的知识储备在增加，他们的骄傲也与日俱增。

就像一个科学家在从事一项有趣的实验，靠理智来探索圣言的人一旦有了新发现，便会飘飘然…但是这种快乐对他而言，没有属灵的意义。他的成功和自负感只会增加，并导致他轻看那些比他更“无知”的人。

The intellectual searcher often makes frequent references to scripture and yet consistently selects "No" to the accountability questions at the end of each lesson. 

In this case, it is apparent there is no correlation between the individual’s knowledge of Scripture and his application of it.

靠理智来探索圣言的人动辄提及圣经经文，却一直对课后的责任问题选择“不”。在这种情况下，显然个人的圣经知识和应用圣经毫不关联。

Question 1

问题 1

Why should we read Scripture?

我们为什么要读经？

Some may read the Word of God for the wrong reasons, such as curiosity or pride (to tell others how often they read it). Others may read to accumulate knowledge as a weapon of war, but not against Satan. Instead, they use it to argue with those who have an opposing point of view. 

In neither case is there any thought of God, yearning for spiritual edification, benefit to the soul, or power in their lives to overcome habitual sin.

有些人可能出于错误的原因来读上帝之道，例如好奇或是骄傲（告诉别人他们多么经常地读经）。其他人学习可能是为了积累知识，以用作争战的兵器，但却不是为了对抗撒旦。

相反地，他们用来与不同观点者争辩。这两者都没有想到神，不渴望属灵的教导、灵魂的受益、或在生命中胜过习惯性罪的能力。

Our goal is to help you profit from the Word. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 gives us clear guidance as to how the Word should influence our lives:

我们的目标是帮助你从圣言中受益。提摩太后书3:16-17就圣言应如何影响我们的生活给出了清楚的指引。

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Tim. 3:16-17

圣经都是神所默示的（或作“凡神所默示的圣经”），于教训、督责、使人归正、教导人学义都是有益的，叫属神的人得以完全，预备行各样的善事。提摩太后书 3:16-17

Question 2

问题 2

What things is Scripture is profitable for?

圣经在哪些方面是有益的？

The Word of God will accomplish many things!

上帝之道可以成就很多事情！

1.First, the Word of God convicts us of sin and reveals our depravity. One of the ways you will know you are profiting from the Word, and not merely gaining knowledge, is when you begin to recognize your sin and see the depravity of your heart.

1.首先，上帝之道定我们有罪，又显明了我们的堕落。你明白自己正从圣言受益而不仅是获得知识的方式之一，就是在你开始认识自己的罪并看到你内心堕落的时候。

Question 3

问题 3

Friend, is this happening in your life? If so, please give an example:

朋友，这也发生在你的生活中吗？如果是这样，请给出一个例子。

2.The Word of God will make the captive Christian sorrow over sin. Many students come to the course with a stony heart. As the Holy Spirit applies the Word, the student is able to see and feel his inward corruption and discover the strongholds Satan has set up in his life. 

This discovery produces a broken heart, and leads him to humble himself before God.

2.上帝之道将使被掳的基督徒对罪懊悔。很多学员带着一副石头心肠来到课程中。当圣灵运行圣言时，学员就能看到并感觉到内心的败坏，并识破撒旦在他生命中建造的营垒。这种发现会带来一颗破碎的心，使他在神的面前谦卑自己。

Question 4

问题 4

Has God been revealing your sinfulness and causing you to sorrow over it?

神是否显明了你的罪并使你懊悔？

You'll know that you are on the right track when you see this humbling of spirit begin to take place; it will be evident in the words you write. If God is at work in your heart, you will be brought to a daily repentance.

You will also experience liberation from guilt and shame, and you will be enabled to joyfully answer "Yes" to the daily accountability questions at the end of each lesson.

当你看到心灵的谦卑开始出现时，你就知道正走上了正路；这将显明在你所写的话上。如果神在你心里动工，你每日都会有悔改。你还将经历从罪疚和羞愧中得释放，并且你将会很喜乐地对每天课后的责任问题给出“是”的答案。

This "sorrow over sin" goes through a pre-defined process. In the Old Testament, God laid out a process for the Paschal lamb—it was to be eaten with "bitter herbs" (Ex. 12:8). As the Word works on your heart, the Holy Spirit makes it "bitter" before it becomes sweet to your taste. There must be mourning before comfort (Matt. 5:4), and humbling before exaltation (1 Peter 5:6)!

这种“为罪懊悔”要经历一个预定的流程。在旧约里，神为逾越节羔羊设定了一个流程 – 它要和苦菜同吃（出埃及记12:8）。当圣言在你心里作工的时候，圣灵要使之先“苦”后甜。得安慰以前必须要哀恸（马太福音5:4），升高以前要先降卑（彼得前书5:6）！

Reading God's Word causes us to remember our sinful life, which was a bitter experience for us. As God changes our hearts and lives, that bitterness is changed to sweetness—we find forgiveness, and enjoy our new life in Christ.

阅读神的话使我们记住罪中的生活，那对我们来说是一段痛苦的经历。当神改变我们的心灵和生命时，那种苦涩变成了甘甜 – 我们找到了饶恕，在基督里享受到了我们的新生活。

3.The Word of God leads to confession of sin. The Scriptures are profitable for reproof (2 Tim. 3:16). When you come to God with an honest heart and soul, you confess sin and acknowledge your faults. 

3.上帝之道使我们认罪。圣经是于督责有益的(提摩太后书3:16)。当你以一颗诚实的心灵来到神面前时，你要认罪并承认自己的过错。

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, least his deed should be reproved. John 3:20

凡作恶的便恨光，并不来就光，恐怕他的行为受责备。约翰福音3:20

Bringing sin into the light is often extremely difficult. We're often like people who gather on the fringe of darkness around the campfire in a dark forest—we know we need to choose to either step forward into the light or remain in the darkness. 

Sexual sin is often a secret sin, and it's a struggle to expose it.

把罪拽入光中通常是极其困难的。我们经常像是那些在幽暗森林中围在篝火外围的人们 – 我们知道自己需要选择要么进入光中，要么留在黑暗里。性罪行常常是一种隐秘的罪，而要将它曝光是令人挣扎的。

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whosoever confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Prov. 28:13

遮掩自己罪过的，必不亨通；承认离弃罪过的，必蒙怜恤。 箴言28:13

There can be no spiritual prosperity or fruitfulness while we conceal our guilty secrets (Ps. 1:3). There is no real peace for the conscience or rest for the heart while we continue to shoulder the burden of unconfessed sin.

当我们遮掩罪过的时候，不可能有属灵的亨通或是成果（诗篇1:3）。当我们继续肩负未认之罪所带来的重负时，便没有良心上的平安或心灵上的安息。

Question 5

问题 5

Is there any unconfessed or secret sin in your life?

你的生命中是否有什么没有认的罪？

4.The Word of God will produce within you a deep hatred of sin. When you reach the place where you really hate the sin and the addiction it brings, you will begin to find freedom.

4.上帝之道将在你的心中产生对罪深深的恨恶。当你真正地恨恶罪以及它所带来的瘾时，你将开始找到自由释放

ye that love the Lord, hate evil. Psalm 97:10a

你们爱耶和华的，都当恨恶罪恶。 诗篇 97:10a

We cannot love God without hating that which he hates. "Through Thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way" (Psalm. 119:104). Not merely "I abstain from"—but "I hate", and not "some" or "many," but every false way.

我们无法爱神却不恨恶祂所恨恶的。‘借着你的训词得以明白，所以我恨一切的假道。’（诗篇119:104）。不仅是“我离弃”而是“我恨”，不是“有些”或“很多”而是一切的假道。

Question 6

问题 6

Is God producing this hatred of sin in your life, Friend? If so, how is He accomplishing it?

神是否正把这对罪的恨恶放在你的生命中，朋友？如果是这样，祂正在如何成就？

5.The Word of God should induce us to forsake sin. Satan's job is to keep us from reading the Word or, failing that, to prevent us from applying it. Are you familiar with the parable of the sower? 

That story demonstrates that some will read God's Word and apply it, causing them to forsake sin. Others will read but not apply it—and won't forsake their sin.

5.上帝之道应该引导我们离弃罪。撒旦的工作是阻止我们学习圣言，或者在做不到这点的时候阻止我们应用它。你熟悉播种的比喻吗？

这个故事展示了有些人学过圣言并应用，结果离弃了罪，而另一些人愿意学习但却不应用——不会离弃他们的罪。

Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 2 Tim. 2:19

凡称呼主名的人总要离开不义。提摩太后书2:19

The study of God's Word should produce a purging of our sinful ways. If it is not doing this, we need to ask "why not?

"When the Word is personally applied to the life, the end results are dynamic—it causes mentors and students alike to "cleanse our ways." It causes us to "take heed" and "flee fornication." Sin needs to be not only confessed, but also forsaken (Prov. 28:13).

学习圣言将会对我们罪恶的道路带来一次清洗。如果不这样做，我们需要问“为什么不？”当圣言应用到个人的生活中时，最终的结果是活泼的 – 这将使导师和学生以同样的方式“洁净我们的道路”，这将使我们“谨慎”并“逃避淫行”。不仅要认罪，还要离弃它。（箴言28:13）

6. The Word of God produces a fortification against sin.

6. 上帝之道产生对罪的防御。

Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee. Psalm 119:11

我将你的话藏在心里，免得我得罪你。 诗篇119:11

The more Christ's word dwells in us (Col. 3:16), the less room there is for sin. The Word of God fortifies us. Nothing protects delivers us from Satan's temptations and is so effective a preservative against sin as the Word of God. 

As long as we love the truth and it is active within us, we will be kept from falling. Storing up the Word in our hearts prepares us for the attacks of Satan.

基督的道理存在我们心里越多（歌罗西书3:16），罪的地步就越少。上帝之道坚固我们。没有什么能像上帝之道一样如防腐剂有效保护我们脱离撒旦的试探。

只要我们热爱真理，而且祂在我们里面活跃，我们将被保守而不跌倒。圣言长存在我们心里，使我们对撒旦的攻击有备无患。

Question 7

问题 7

In your own words, please state what six things the Word of God is designed to do, and provide any additional comments you may have.

请用你自己的话说明上帝之道在六方面的用意，如果你有另外的评论也请提供。

Question 8

问题 8

How are you today? How may we pray for you?

你今天过的怎样？我们能如何为你祷告？

Scriptures for you to consider:

今日思想：

12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:12-13 　

神的道是活泼的，是有功效的，比一切两刃的剑更快，甚至魂与灵、骨节与骨髓，都能刺入、剖开，连心中的思念和主意都能辨明。13 并且被造的没有一样在他面前不显然的。原来万物在那与我们有关系的主眼前，都是赤露敞开的。 希伯来书 4:12-13 

write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 1 John 2:14 14

父老啊，我曾写信给你们，因为你们认识那从起初原有的。少年人哪，我曾写信给你们；因为你们刚强，神的道常存在你们心里；你们也胜了那恶者。 约翰一书2:14 

To clarify what the first accountability question means, we have included the following explanation. 

为了厘清第一个责任问题的涵义，我们给出以下的解释。

What does "feasting" mean?

"Feasting" is more than just reading the Bible; it is a term to express the nourishing of our souls in Jesus Christ. It means that we are sitting at the feet of Jesus, hearing His Word and believing it, for the purpose of implementing the truths into our lives. 

It means we are receiving spiritual nourishment and we are delighting our souls in His grace and truth. This may be done in reading our Bibles, hearing God's Word preached, interacting with others in the Scriptures, and studying through this course, etc. This definition is at least a start; further explanation is included in the lessons. 

什么是“享用筵宴”？

这里的“享用筵宴”不仅仅是读圣经。                                              

这是一个表示我们的灵魂在耶稣基督里得到喂养的词。这表示我们坐在耶稣的脚前，听祂的道，笃信之，目的是要把真理行在我们的生活中；这表示我们得到灵里的滋养，在主的恩典和真理中心灵得喜乐。这可以是读经、听讲道、与他人就经文互动，以及通过这个课程来学习等等。这里只给出一个初步的定义，将来的课程里会有进一步的解释。  

Have you been feasting on God's word?

你享用神的话了吗？ 

Yes是   No 否

If so, when was the last time you feasted? And how? In other words, how did you enjoy God? Reading? Prayer? Worship? Fellowship? Witnessing? 

如果是，你最近一次是什么时候？怎样做的？换句话说，你是怎样靠神喜乐的？是读经、祷告、崇拜、团契，还是做见证？ 

These next, tough, accountability questions apply to the entire period since you did your last lesson. 

接下来那些棘手的责任问题，会在整个课程中出现，要根据你上节课以来的情况来回答。 

Were you free from pornography since you did the last lesson?

上节课以来，你离开色情了吗？ 

Yes是  No否

Were you free from self-gratification since you did the last lesson?

上节课以来，你戒除自我放纵了吗？ 

Yes是  No 否

Were you free from sexual immorality since you did the last lesson?

上节课以来，你远离了淫乱了吗？ 

Yes是  No否

If you answered "no" to any of the above questions, tell us what led to your fall. If you answered "yes" to the above questions, you may use this area for questions or additional comments. 

如果任何一个问题的答案是“否”，请告诉我们是什么导致你的跌倒。如果对以上问题你回答了“是”，你可以在此提出你的问题或其他的评论。