(8) Living in Righteousness [I]

"For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17)
Paul's word in Romans 14:17 corresponds to what is written in the Old Testament. According to Psalm 89:14, righteousness is the foundation of God's throne. This verse can also be translated to say that righteousness is the establishment of God's throne. God's throne is established with righteousness as the foundation. The book of Isaiah also has much to say about righteousness. For example, Isaiah 32:1 says, "Behold, a King shall reign in righteousness." Here righteousness is again related to the kingdom. Where God's righteousness is, there His kingdom is also. Furthermore, Hebrews 1:8 and 9 say, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness." These verses are a quotation from Psalm 45.

Righteousness means that things are set up and maintained in good order. Where there is righteousness, everything is headed up in a proper way. This is the kingdom. Righteousness first issues in the image of God. Then righteousness establishes the kingdom of God. In Romans 8 we have righteousness and God's image, and in Romans 14 we have righteousness and God's kingdom. Both the image and the kingdom are based on righteousness.

When a husband and wife are not happy with each other and the situation at home is not pleasant, there is no righteousness, no image of the Son, in their family life. Likewise, the kingdom of God is not present, for God's kingdom is righteousness. Others observing the situation will not receive any impression of the image of Christ, the expression of God. However, suppose a brother and his wife live in the Spirit and walk according to the Spirit. They will be happy, and their children will be happy also. What a glorious family life that would be! Others will be able to see the image of God and realize that the kingdom of God is present in that family. This is righteousness in the family life. (Life-Study of 2 Corinthians, Message #29)
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家庭生活中的義 (1)
羅馬十四17:『因為神的國不在於喫喝，乃在於公義、和平、並聖靈中的喜樂。』
保羅在羅馬十四17所說的，與舊約裡所寫的相符合。根據詩篇八十九14，義是神寶座的根基。這節經文也可以繙作：義是神寶座的建立。神的寶座是以義為根基而建立的。以賽亞三十二1說，『看哪，必有一王憑公義行政。』這裡的義也與國度有關。神的義在那裡，神的國也在那裡。不僅如此，希伯來一8-9說，『神阿，你的寶座是永永遠遠的，你國的權杖是正直的權杖。你愛公義，恨惡不法。』這兩節經文是引自詩篇四十五篇。

義的意思是事物得以建立起來，並且維持在良好的秩序中。凡是有義的地方，一切都很合式的服在元首之下。這就是國度。義的第一個結果就是神的形像。其次，義建立神的國。羅馬八章說到義和神的形像，十四章說到義和神的國。形像與國度都是以義為基礎。

當一對夫妻彼此不滿意，家裡的光景不愉快時，在他們的家庭生活中就沒有義，沒有神兒子的形像。照樣，神的國也不在他們中間，因為神的國就是義。看到這種光景的人，得不到任何基督的形像、神的彰顯的印象。然而，假如一位弟兄和他的妻子活在靈裡，照著那靈而行，他們就會喜樂，他們的孩子也會喜樂。那樣的家庭生活何等榮耀！別人能看見神的形像，領略到神的國顯在那個家庭裡。這就是家庭生活中的義。
(摘自『哥林多後書生命讀經』第二十九篇) http://www.lsmchinese.org/