Friend, have you ever wondered about God's will for your life? Today we'll explore this topic and consider the following questions:

朋友，你是否想过神在你生命中的旨意？今天我们要探究这个题目，并思想下面的问题：

·What is the will of God for our lives?

神对我们生命的旨意是什么？

·How do we find it?

我们怎样可以找到这旨意？

·How do we live it?

我们如何活出这旨意？

·What does God’s will have to do with sexual bondage?

神的旨意与性捆绑有什么关系？

1 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 

2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 

3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 

4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 

5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God;  

6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 

7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 

8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. 1 Thess. 4:1-8

1弟兄们，我还有话说：我们靠着主耶稣求你们、劝你们，你们既然受了我们的教训，知道该怎样行，可以讨神的喜悦，就要照你们现在所行的，更加勉励。

2你们原晓得我们凭主耶稣传给你们什么命令。

3 神的旨意就是要你们成为圣洁，远避淫行； 

4要你们各人晓得怎样用圣洁、尊贵守着自己的身体，

5 不放纵私欲的邪情，像那不认识神的外邦人。 

6 不要一个人在这事上越分，欺负他的弟兄，因为这一类的事，主必报应，正如我预先对你们说过，又切切嘱咐你们的。 

7 神召我们，本不是要我们沾染污秽，乃是要我们成为圣洁。

8所以那弃绝的，不是弃绝人，乃是弃绝那赐圣灵给你们的神。 贴撒罗尼迦前书 4:1-8

Question 1

问题1

In this passage, Paul talks about avoiding sexual immorality, controlling our bodies, and living a holy life. But in verse 1, before he mentions all this, he provides a motive. What is this motive?

在这段经文，保罗说到要远避淫行，守着自己的身体，过圣洁的生活。但是在第一节里，在他提到这些之前，他讲了一个动机，这动机是什么？

Question 2

问题 2

In your own words, why do you think Paul provides this as a motive for holy living?

用自己的话说，为什么你觉得保罗要用这作为过圣洁生活的动机？

There are many good reasons why we should avoid sexual immorality. However, if we are Christians, our primary motivation for pursuing purity should be so that we might please the Lord. 

Before we knew Jesus Christ, we lived to please ourselves in ever-increasing wickedness, but now we earnestly desire to please Him instead of ourselves. 

A sincere desire to please Him will drive us on to resist the devil, forsake the pleasure of sexual immorality, and control our bodies in a way that is holy.

有很多充分的理由使我们应该远避淫行。然而，如果我们是基督徒，我们追求圣洁的首要动机应该是我们可以讨主的喜悦。

在我们认识耶稣基督之前，我们在与日俱增的邪恶中取悦自我，但是现在我们真切地渴慕要讨祂的喜悦，而不是取悦自己。

真诚渴慕讨祂喜悦将带领我们抵挡魔鬼，弃绝淫行的乐趣，并用圣洁守着自己的身体。

Question 3

问题3

Compare your past motives for wanting to break free of impurity with your present motives. How do your present motives differ from your past motives?

对比你过去和现在想要从污秽中得释放的动机，你现在的动机与过去有什么不同？

When we offer ourselves to pornography or sexual impurity, the process of enslavement increases. 

We want more pictures; we continually seek for something new and different; we go from softcore to hardcore; we move from one sex partner to another. We always want more.

当我们把自己交给色情和淫秽的时候，奴役的过程就不断加重。我们想要更多的图片；不断寻找新的不同的东西；从一般性感的图片到赤裸裸的色情；转灯笼似地更换性伴。我们总是得寸进尺。

Course member Paul wrote, "My lust pulled me deeper and deeper into more risqué and perverted activities. After awhile, the women were not as exciting as before, and I found myself drifting into homosexual erotica. 

This was something that would have repulsed me before I became entrapped in the cycle of ‘more and more.’"

学员Paul 写到，“我的欲望一步步把我拉进更加龌龊和变态的行为中。一段时间后，女人就不像以前那么令人兴奋了，我发觉自己竟滑进了同性恋的色情中。

这在以前会让我作呕的东西，现在竟然使我陷入了“得寸进尺”的恶性循环中。”

Question 4

问题 4

But when we present ourselves to the Lord and become slaves of Christ, we enter a path of increasing righteousness. What instruction does Paul give about this in verse 1 above?

但是当我们把自己献给主并成为基督的奴仆时，我们就走上了公义不断提升的道路。保罗在上述第1节里给出了什么教训？

Question 5

问题 5

Verse 3 above tells us very clearly what God's will is. Please write out verse 3 here:

第3节非常清楚地告诉我们知道神的旨意是什么。请把第3节写在这里：

Question 6

问题 6

As Christians, we must "learn something," according to verse 4. What is it?

作为基督徒，我们必须要“有所学”，根据第4节，这是什么？

To talk right

说恰当的话

To get people to make decision for Christ

领人归信基督

To control our own bodies

守住我们自己的身子

Question 7

问题 7

Verse 5 describes those who live in "passionate lust." What term does he use for them?

第5节描写了那些生活在“私欲的邪情”里的人，他用什么词来形容他们？

Oversexed

性欲过剩者

Heathen

外邦人

Paul is instructing Christians not to live like their pagan neighbors, who did not know God. The pagans lived their lives in lust, giving in to sexual perversion and immorality.

保罗指示基督徒们不要过得像他们的外邦邻舍，不认识神。外邦人活在他们的私欲中，屈从于性变态和淫乱。

History records that pornography played a major role in the culture of Paul's day.

史料记载在保罗的时代，色情是文化中的重要部分。

Pornographic "art" abounded. This was a culture alienated from God, a people who "worshipped" sex in all of its perversions. 

Paul's description of these people as "those who do not know God" is significant; knowing God is the key ingredient which enables us to "escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires" (2 Pet. 1:4).

色情“艺术”泛滥成灾。这是一种与神疏离的文化，是人们“崇拜”一切的性变态。保罗将这些人描述成“不认识神的人”是有重要意义的；认识神是使我们“脱离世上从情欲来的败坏”（彼得后书1:4）的关键要素。

Question 8

问题 8

According to verse 6, what will God do to people who live like this?

根据第6节，神将对如此生活的人们做些什么？

Overlook their sin

忽略他们的罪

Punish them

报应他们

Understand them

理解他们

Question 9

问题 9

How does the following verse reinforce this? "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral" (Hebrews 13:4)

以下的经文如何对此做出了补充？“婚姻，人人都当尊重，床也不可污秽，因为苟合行淫的人，神必要审判。”（希伯来书13:4）

Question 10

问题 10

Verse 7 identifies the "calling" of the Christian. What is it?

第7节定义了基督徒的“呼召”，那是什么？

Make converts

归信基督

Obey God’s commandments

遵行神的诫命

Live a holy life

过圣洁的生活

Question 11

问题 11

How are you doing with your calling?

你对自己的呼召做得怎样？

Friend, as we seek to live a pure life in Christ "more and more," we'll have opportunities to encourage others toward a holy life. Some may listen and heed our warnings and instructions. Others will cling to sin and attempt to justify themselves. 

At Setting Captives Free, we have heard many different excuses from people who will not forsake their sin. Sadly, some of these people even use overtly spiritual language in their rejection of the truth. Here is an example, from an email we received:

朋友，随着我们在基督里“越来越”力图过圣洁的生活，我们将有机会鼓励其他人朝向圣洁的生活。有些人会听从和留意我们的警戒和教训，其他人仍会固守其罪行，并试图为他们的行为辩护。

在“释放被掳的灵魂”课程中，我们从不愿离弃罪的人们那里听到过很多不同的借口。令人悲哀的是，其中有些人甚至公然用属灵的话语来抵挡真理。这里有一个例子，是我们收到的一封邮件：

"When I was saved and regenerated by the Holy Ghost (as salvation precedes regeneration), God showed me that His grace, mercy and lovingkindness are there to forgive every sin I have ever committed and the sins I will continue to commit as a born-again, adopted, grace-bought child of God. 

He does not expect perfection from me; nor does He demand (under this dispensation of grace) that I forsake all sin in order for Him to love me. His grace increases with my sin, and is magnified every time I fall. 

No, I have not forsaken self-gratification and pornography, but yet remain convinced that I know God, am known by God, and loved unconditionally. 

I will remain His child, and do not need you to tell me to forsake sin. God knows I am a human being dwelling in flesh, and is sympathetic to the frailties of my flesh."

“当我被神灵拯救并重生时（因为先有救赎，后有重生），神向我表明了祂的恩典、怜悯和慈爱，就是要赦免我已经犯过的一切罪，还有我作为一个重生的、被收养的、用恩典买赎的神的孩子将要继续犯的罪。

祂不期望我能完美，也不要求我（在这赦免的恩典之下）为了使祂爱我，而离弃一切的罪。祂的恩典在我的罪上显多，而且在我每次跌倒上显大。

不，我还没有弃绝自我放纵和色情，却依然确信我认识神，也被神所认识，并无条件地被神的大爱眷顾着。

我将还是祂的孩子，也不需要你们来告诉我离弃罪。神知道我是一个活在肉体之中的人，并且同情我肉体上的软弱。”

Notice the mixture of truth and error in his message. Despite all his religious language, this person is unable to forsake his sin, and is hostile to encouragement and warnings to do so.

请注意这段信息中，他将真理和谬误交错在了一起。尽管他使用的都是敬虔的语言，这个人无法弃绝他的罪，并对劝诫他的任何鼓励和警告充满了敌意。

1 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 

2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 

3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 

4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 

5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 

6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 

7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 

8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. 1 Thess. 4:1-8

1弟兄们，我还有话说：我们靠着主耶稣求你们、劝你们，你们既然受了我们的教训，知道该怎样行，可以讨神的喜悦，就要照你们现在所行的，更加勉励。

2你们原晓得我们凭主耶稣传给你们什么命令。

3 神的旨意就是要你们成为圣洁，远避淫行； 

4要你们各人晓得怎样用圣洁、尊贵守着自己的身体，

5 不放纵私欲的邪情，像那不认识神的外邦人。 

6 不要一个人在这事上越分，欺负他的弟兄，因为这一类的事，主必报应，正如我预先对你们说过，又切切嘱咐你们的。 

7 神召我们，本不是要我们沾染污秽，乃是要我们成为圣洁。

8所以那弃绝的，不是弃绝人，乃是弃绝那赐圣灵给你们的神。贴撒罗尼迦前书 4:1-8

Question 12

问题 12

According to verse 8, above, when people reject teaching about avoiding immorality, what are they really rejecting?

根据上面的第8节，当人们在弃绝关于避免淫行的教导时，他们实际上是在弃绝什么？

Person who warned them

警告他们的人

Teachings of men

人的教训

God

神

Today there is an addendum in case you would like to enjoy additional teaching. This is an article on self-esteem, written byNeill Morris. Please click here to read the article.

如果你愿意读一下补充的教材，今天有一个附录，是由Neill Morris写的关于自尊的文章。请点击这里阅读。

What do the following passages have to do with the situation described above?

下面的经文与以上表述的情况有什么联系？

Question 13

问题 13

"But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power." 1 Cor. 4:19-20

然而主若许我，我必快到你们那里去；并且我所要知道的，不是那些自高自大之人的言语，乃是他们的权能。因为神的国不在乎言语，乃在乎权能。哥林多前书4:19-20

9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 

10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 

11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor. 6:9-11

9 你们岂不知不义的人不能承受神的国吗？不要自欺，无论是淫乱的、拜偶像的、奸淫的、作娈童的、亲男色的、 

10 偷窃的、贪婪的、醉酒的、辱骂的、勒索的，都不能承受神的国。

11你们中间也有人从前是这样；但如今你们奉主耶稣基督的名，并借着我们神的灵，已经洗净、成圣、称义了。哥林多前书6:9-11

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:24

凡属基督耶稣的人，是已经把肉体连肉体的邪情私欲同钉在十字架上了。 加拉太书5:24

8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. 1 Thess. 4:8

8所以那弃绝的，不是弃绝人，乃是弃绝那赐圣灵给你们的神。贴撒罗尼迦前书 4:8

What is God's will for our lives? That we should be sanctified, that we should avoid sexual immorality, and that we should learn how to control our bodies in a way that honors the Lord. Our motive for doing this is to live in a way that pleases the Lord. Indulging in sexual impurity is a sin that, if not repented, will bring punishment from the Lord. 

If anyone rejects this teaching, they are rejecting God. If we continue in these sins, it follows that we do not know God. 

No amount of "spiritual language" can fool God, who calls us to live a holy life and to be pure. God gives us His Holy Spirit to call us out of slavery to sin, to make us pure and to enable us to live holy lives.

神对我们生命的旨意是什么？就是我们应该成圣，远避淫行，并且晓得用尊荣主的方式来守着自己的身子。我们这样做的动机是活出讨主喜悦的方式。沉溺于淫秽之中是一种罪，如果不悔改，将会招致从主而来的报应。

如果任何人弃绝这个教导，他们就是弃绝神了。如果我们继续行在罪中，紧随而来的就是我们不认识神。

不管说多少“属灵的言语”都不能欺骗神，神呼召我们要过圣洁的生活并且洁净。神赐给我们圣灵把我们从罪的奴役中召出来，使我们洁净并过圣洁的生活。

Scripture warns us about presuming upon God's grace in any area of sexual immorality:

圣经警告我们不要在任何淫秽的领域滥用神的恩典：

8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did - and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 1 Cor. 10:8-9

8 我们也不要行奸淫，像他们有人行的，一天就倒毙了二万三千人；9也不要试探主，（“主”有古卷作“基督”）像他们有人试探的，就被蛇所灭。 哥林多前书 10:8-9

Friend, all of us at The Way of Purity course have, in the past, lived in some form of sexual immorality. During my bondage to pornography, I rebelled against God and presumed upon His grace by not forsaking my sins. God was patient with me, and granted me repentance in His time. 

There is grace for all who turn from their sin and turn to Christ; and grace enables us to live a holy life now, regardless of where we have been. Grace doesn't just forgive the penalty of our sins, while leaving us under the power of sin. 

Instead, it forgives and enables; it pardons and empowers. And it does so "more and more" as we grow in grace.

朋友，我们所有学习洁净之道的人，过去都活在某种形式的淫秽之中。在我被色情捆绑其间，我悖逆神，并不离弃罪，由此滥用了祂的恩典。神对我是满有耐心，并按祂的时候赐给我悔改。

这恩典也是给所有转离罪并转向基督的人们的；而且恩典使我们如今活在圣洁之中，无论我们过去是什么样子。恩典不会只是饶恕罪所应得的惩罚，同时又把我们置于罪的权势之下。

相反，它饶恕我们又赐给我们能力；赦免我们又加给我们力量。随着我们在恩典上成长，就会有“越来越多”的恩典。

Please heed this warning by L. Eiland:

请留意L. Eiland 的警告：

1 Too late, twill be for you to cry, When mercy's day has passed you by! When solemn night, of dark despair, Shall come upon you halting there!

1为时已晚，哭泣也没用，怜悯已与你擦肩而过！漆黑的绝望如幽暗的黑夜,必在你踯躅时临到你！

2 Too late, when death has barred the door, Your wailings can be heard no more! Rejected, there, thy soul will be Shut out, through all eternity!

2.为时已晚,死亡已闩上了门，你的恸哭不再被垂听！你已被弃绝，就在那里，灵魂也被拒之门外，永永远远。

3 Will you not heed the voice today, Inviting you Christ to obey? And be prepared to enter there, A pure and spotless robe to wear?

3. 你不愿听从今天这声音，邀请你顺从基督吗？并准备进入那里，穿上洁净、一尘不染的长袍吗？

4 No longer, there in sin abide! This all-important step decide!

4 不再罪里停留！这是至关重要的抉择时刻！

Come out, where Christ can touch thy soul, And at this moment be made whole!

来吧，让基督触摸你的灵魂！让这一刻得以成就！

Chorus Too late, too late, poor trembling soul! O will this be your fate? Too late, too late to be made whole! Too late, too late, too late!

颂唱为时已晚，为时已晚，可怜的灵魂，你在颤抖！哦，这是你的命定吗？为时已晚，无法成就了！太晚，太晚，太晚了！

 'Too Late' by F.L. EilandF.

L. Eiland 为时已晚

Thoughts to consider:

今日思想：

18 You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety. 

19 You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favor.

20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; their hope will become a dying gasp. Job 11:18-20 18

你因有指望，就必稳固，也必四围巡查，坦然安息。

19你躺卧无人惊吓，且有许多人向你求恩。

20 但恶人的眼目必要失明。他们无路可逃，他们的指望就是气绝。约伯记 11:18-20  

To listen to a short message from Mike Cleveland in a separate pop-up window, click here!

请点击这里收听来自Mike Cleveland的短信。 

朋友你好，让我来为你读以赛亚书第六十一章，“主耶和华的灵在我身上，”耶稣说，“因为耶和华用膏膏我，叫我传好消息给谦卑的人，差遣我医好伤心的人，报告被掳的得释放，被囚的出监牢”。

朋友，这是弥赛亚最重要的使命 － 释放被掳的灵魂。当耶稣降生的时候，祂被起名叫耶稣，因为祂要将自己的百姓从罪中救出来。我盼望你对此赞叹，并享受耶稣在我们生命中所成就的，靠着祂的恩典行在自由中。

谢谢收听，我将在一周后回来。当你寻求祂的时候，愿神祝福你。

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。