20在哥林多前书我们也有乳香,就是在复活里的基督。事实上,十五章整章是讲复活的事。所以,我们在这卷书里的确看见复活基督的馨香之气。……保罗在五十八节给我们鼓励的话:“所以我亲爱的弟兄们,你们务要坚固,不可摇动,常常竭力多作主工,因为知道你们的劳苦,在主里面不是徒然的。”我们的劳苦不是徒然的,因为我们不是在自己天然的生命里劳苦,乃是在基督的复活里劳苦。我们在祂复活生命里为着祂的劳苦,绝不会是徒然的。……在七章保罗嘱咐信徒留在他们蒙召时的身分里:“弟兄们,你们各人是在什么身分里蒙召,仍要与神一同留在这身分里。”(24)他用奴仆作比方。“你是一个奴仆蒙召么?不要在意;但即使你能自由,也宁可仍用奴仆的身分。因为一个奴仆在主里蒙召,就是属于主得自由的人。”(21~22上)保罗不是在作释放奴仆的工作,乃是鼓励作奴仆的信徒留在奴仆的身分里,就是留在他们蒙召时的身分里,过一种能忍受奴役并胜过奴役的生活。奴仆特别有机会,证明复活的实际,并借着过一种胜过奴役的生活来荣耀基督。……〔人蒙召时的〕身分越差,人就越有机会活基督。……这就是作大丈夫。我们都能成为被那灵调抹而与那灵联为一灵的人,我们也能完全在复活里,彰显复活基督的馨香之气。
20In 1 Corinthians we also have the frankincense, that is, Christ in resurrection. In fact, one entire chapter, chapter 15, is devoted to the matter of resurrection. Paul gives us a word of encouragement. “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (v. 58). Our labor is not in vain because we are laboring not in our natural life but in the resurrection of Christ. Our labor for the Lord in His resurrection life will never be in vain. In chapter 7 Paul charges the believers to remain in the state in which they were called. “Each one, brothers, in what status he was called, in this let him remain with God” (v. 24). He uses the slaves as an example. “Were you called as a slave? Let it not concern you; but even if you are able to become free, use your status as a slave rather. For the slave who has been called in the Lord is the Lord’s freedman” (vv. 21-22a). Instead of doing a work of emancipation, Paul encouraged the believers who were slaves to remain in slavery, the state in which they were called, and live a life that can endure slavery and overcome it. The slaves have a particular opportunity to demonstrate the reality of resurrection and to glorify Christ by living a life that overcomes slavery. The worse this state [in which one is called] is, the more opportunity one has to live Christ…This is to be a man. We all can be men oiled with the Spirit and joined to the Spirit to be one spirit, and we can be fully in resurrection, manifesting the fragrance of the resurrected Christ.