4新约的职事乃是那灵与义的职事。这职事把生命的灵分赐到信徒里面,结果就产生一种光景、情形,圣经称之为义。我们得救以前,是在一种完全被神定罪的光景里。……但是我们得救以后,就被带进一种光景里,使我们能蒙神称义。这就是义。但我们若诚实,就会承认,一面我们是在义的光景里,但另一面,与我们生活有关的一些事仍然不是对的。这些事可能不像我们得救以前生活中曾犯过的粗鄙的罪。但这些事总是不对的。特别是我们与神之间仍有阻隔,这是我们天然的人、我们的己所造成的。这就是罪(哥林多后书生命读经,三八一页)。
4The new covenant ministry is a ministry of the Spirit and of righteousness. This ministry imparts the Spirit of life into the believers. This issues in a state, a condition, that is called righteousness. Before we were saved, we were in a condition that was altogether condemned by God…But after we were saved, we were brought into a state where we could be justified by God. This is righteousness. However, if we are honest, we will admit that, on the one hand, we are in a righteous condition, but, on the other hand, certain things related to our living still are not right. These things may not be comparable to the gross sin that may have been in our living before we were saved. Nevertheless, there are matters that are not right. In particular, there is still the separation between us and God caused by our natural man, our self. This is sin. (Life-study of 2 Corinthians, p. 321)