读经：约十三34~35，约壹二7~8，三11、23
Scripture Reading: John 13:34-35; 1 John 2:7-8; 3:11, 23
Scripture Reading: John 13:34-35; 1 John 2:7-8; 3:11, 23
壹
在约翰十三章，主耶稣给门徒洗脚，向他们表明祂爱他们到底之后（1），吩咐他们要照样在爱里彼此洗脚（14）；然后祂说，“我赐给你们一条新诫命，乃是叫你们彼此相爱，正如我爱你们，为使你们也彼此相爱。你们若彼此相爱，众人因此就认出你们是我的门徒了”（34~35）：
In John 13, after the Lord Jesus washed His disciples’ feet to show them that He loved them to the uttermost (v. 1), He charged them to do the same to one another in love (v. 14); then He said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (vv. 34-35):
In John 13, after the Lord Jesus washed His disciples’ feet to show them that He loved them to the uttermost (v. 1), He charged them to do the same to one another in love (v. 14); then He said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (vv. 34-35):
一
三十四节的诫命乃是主在新约中所赐给我们的新诫命，与旧约中的旧诫命不同：
The commandment in verse 34 is the new commandment given to us by the Lord in the New Testament, which is different from the old commandments in the Old Testament:
The commandment in verse 34 is the new commandment given to us by the Lord in the New Testament, which is different from the old commandments in the Old Testament:
１
主新约的诫命（约十四15、21，十五10、12，约壹二3、4、7、8，三22、23、24，四21，五2、3，约贰4、5、6）不仅仅是训谕；主的诫命乃是祂的话，是灵与生命作我们的供应—约六63。
The New Testament commandments of the Lord (John 14:15, 21; 15:10, 12; 1 John 2:3, 4, 7, 8; 3:22, 23, 24; 4:21; 5:2, 3; 2 John 4, 5, 6) are not merely injunctions; they are His words, which are spirit and life as a supply to us—John 6:63.
The New Testament commandments of the Lord (John 14:15, 21; 15:10, 12; 1 John 2:3, 4, 7, 8; 3:22, 23, 24; 4:21; 5:2, 3; 2 John 4, 5, 6) are not merely injunctions; they are His words, which are spirit and life as a supply to us—John 6:63.
２
我们爱神和祂的儿女，该用神圣的爱，就是借着主的话传输给我们，并成为我们经历和享受的爱。
We should love God and His children with the divine love that is conveyed to us through the words of the Lord to become our experience and enjoyment.
We should love God and His children with the divine love that is conveyed to us through the words of the Lord to become our experience and enjoyment.
二
接受、经历并享受基督的路，乃是借着遵守祂的新诫命，彼此相爱以彰显祂的爱，使众人认出我们是祂的门徒—十三34~35：
A way to receive, experience, and enjoy Christ is by keeping His new commandment to love one another for the expression of His love that all the people may know that we are His disciples—13:34-35:
A way to receive, experience, and enjoy Christ is by keeping His new commandment to love one another for the expression of His love that all the people may know that we are His disciples—13:34-35:
１
真实的爱乃是在神圣的分赐里享受经过过程之三一神的结果—林后十三14。
Real love is the issue of enjoying the processed Triune God in the divine dispensing—2 Cor. 13:14.
Real love is the issue of enjoying the processed Triune God in the divine dispensing—2 Cor. 13:14.
２
当我们在神圣生命的交通里（约壹一1~3），就是在对三一神的享受里，这享受的结果乃是神圣的爱；我们有了这爱，就自然而然地爱别人；我们尤其爱所有在生机上与生我们的父有关的人（五1）；因为我们有了神圣的出生（约一12~13，约壹二29，三9，四7，五4、18），这爱才有可能。
When we are in the fellowship of the divine life (1 John 1:1-3), that is, in the enjoyment of the Triune God, the outcome of this enjoyment is the divine love with which we spontaneously love others; in particular, we love all those who are organically related to our begetting Father (5:1); this love is possible only because we have had the divine birth (John 1:12-13; 1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:4, 18).
When we are in the fellowship of the divine life (1 John 1:1-3), that is, in the enjoyment of the Triune God, the outcome of this enjoyment is the divine love with which we spontaneously love others; in particular, we love all those who are organically related to our begetting Father (5:1); this love is possible only because we have had the divine birth (John 1:12-13; 1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:4, 18).
３
这里有三角的爱，包含神、我们自己以及所有由神而生的人；这三角的爱乃是在我们与那是爱的三一神生机的联结里（四8、16）。
Here we have a triangular love involving God, ourselves, and all those born of God, which is in the organic union with the Triune God who is love (4:8, 16).
Here we have a triangular love involving God, ourselves, and all those born of God, which is in the organic union with the Triune God who is love (4:8, 16).
贰
神的爱就是神自己；爱是神内在的素质，是神的心—8、16节：
The love of God is God Himself; love is the inward essence of God and the heart of God—vv. 8, 16:
The love of God is God Himself; love is the inward essence of God and the heart of God—vv. 8, 16:
一
神的爱是救恩的根源—约三16，弗二4~5，多三4~5。
The love of God is the source of salvation—John 3:16; Eph. 2:4-5; Titus 3:4-5.
The love of God is the source of salvation—John 3:16; Eph. 2:4-5; Titus 3:4-5.
二
神预定我们得神圣的儿子名分，乃是受神圣之爱的推动—弗一4~5。
God’s predestination of us unto the divine sonship was motivated by the divine love—Eph. 1:4-5.
God’s predestination of us unto the divine sonship was motivated by the divine love—Eph. 1:4-5.
三
神的爱为我们成功救恩；神将祂的独生子赐给我们，使我们在法理一面借着祂的死得救脱离沉沦，并在生机一面在祂的复活中得着永远的生命，乃是受神圣之爱的推动—约三16，约壹四9~10：
The love of God accomplished salvation for us; God’s giving of His only begotten Son to us that we may be saved from perdition judicially through His death and have the eternal life organically in His resurrection was motivated by the divine love—John 3:16; 1 John 4:9-10:
The love of God accomplished salvation for us; God’s giving of His only begotten Son to us that we may be saved from perdition judicially through His death and have the eternal life organically in His resurrection was motivated by the divine love—John 3:16; 1 John 4:9-10:
１
在神的爱里，神的儿子不仅用祂的血救我们脱离罪，更用祂的生命救我们脱离死—弗一7，启一5，罗五10。
In the love of God, the Son of God saves us not only from our sins by His blood but also from our death by His life—Eph. 1:7; Rev. 1:5; Rom. 5:10.
In the love of God, the Son of God saves us not only from our sins by His blood but also from our death by His life—Eph. 1:7; Rev. 1:5; Rom. 5:10.
２
神爱我们，差祂的儿子，在祂法理的救赎里，为我们的罪作了平息的祭物，目的是要使我们在祂生机的救恩里，借着祂得生并活着—约壹二1，四9~10，约六57，十四19，加二20。
God loved us and sent His Son as a propitiation for our sins in His judicial redemption with the intention that we might have life and live through Him in His organic salvation—1 John 2:1; 4:9-10; John 6:57; 14:19; Gal. 2:20.
God loved us and sent His Son as a propitiation for our sins in His judicial redemption with the intention that we might have life and live through Him in His organic salvation—1 John 2:1; 4:9-10; John 6:57; 14:19; Gal. 2:20.
３
神超越的爱见于祂为我们的罪成为平息的祭物，也成为平息处，使我们与神相会而被神注入；神是爱，在平息、救赎、照耀的基督里，与我们相会，并对我们说话，使我们能被祂作为爱、怜悯和恩典所注入，以显出祂光辉烈烈的荣耀—罗三24~25，来四16，出二五17、22。
God’s excelling love is seen in His becoming a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins and the propitiation place for us to meet and be infused with God; God as love meets with us and speaks to us in the propitiating, redeeming, and shining Christ so that we can be infused with Him as love, mercy, and grace for His effulgent and radiant glory—Rom. 3:24-25; Heb. 4:16; Exo. 25:17, 22.
God’s excelling love is seen in His becoming a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins and the propitiation place for us to meet and be infused with God; God as love meets with us and speaks to us in the propitiating, redeeming, and shining Christ so that we can be infused with Him as love, mercy, and grace for His effulgent and radiant glory—Rom. 3:24-25; Heb. 4:16; Exo. 25:17, 22.
四
神的爱使我们得着救恩（林后五18~20，太二二3，徒五32，提后三15）并得作祂的儿女（约壹三1）。
The love of God causes us to obtain salvation (2 Cor. 5:18-20; Matt. 22:3; Acts 5:32; 2 Tim. 3:15) and become His children (1 John 3:1).
The love of God causes us to obtain salvation (2 Cor. 5:18-20; Matt. 22:3; Acts 5:32; 2 Tim. 3:15) and become His children (1 John 3:1).
五
神的爱带领我们过生活—帖后二16~17，来十二6。
The love of God leads us in our living—2 Thes. 2:16-17; Heb. 12:6.
The love of God leads us in our living—2 Thes. 2:16-17; Heb. 12:6.
六
神已将祂的爱随同所赐给我们的圣灵，浇灌在我们心里（罗五5），作了我们里面的动力，叫我们在一切的患难中得胜有余（八37与注1）。
God has poured out His love in our hearts with the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5), who has been given to us, as the motivating power within us, so that we may more than conquer in all our tribulations (8:37 and footnote 1).
God has poured out His love in our hearts with the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5), who has been given to us, as the motivating power within us, so that we may more than conquer in all our tribulations (8:37 and footnote 1).
七
神的爱为我们效力，直到永远—耶三一3，约十三1，罗八38~39。
The love of God works for us eternally—Jer. 31:3; John 13:1; Rom. 8:38-39.
The love of God works for us eternally—Jer. 31:3; John 13:1; Rom. 8:38-39.
叁
在约壹二章七至八节，使徒约翰论到主在约翰十三章三十四节的诫命说，“亲爱的，我写给你们的，不是一条新诫命，乃是一条你们从起初就有的旧诫命，这旧诫命就是你们所听见的话。再者，我写给你们的是一条新诫命，这在主并在你们都是真的；因为黑暗渐渐过去，真光已经照耀”：
In 1 John 2:7-8, relating to the Lord’s commandment in John 13:34, the apostle John says, “Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you but an old commandment, which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you heard. Yet again a new commandment I am writing to you, which is true in Him and in you because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining”:
In 1 John 2:7-8, relating to the Lord’s commandment in John 13:34, the apostle John says, “Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you but an old commandment, which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you heard. Yet again a new commandment I am writing to you, which is true in Him and in you because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining”:
一
弟兄相爱是旧诫命，也是新诫命：是旧诫命，乃因信徒从基督徒生活的开始就有了；是新诫命，乃因在基督徒的行事为人上，这诫命一再露出新的曙光，一再以新的亮光及新鲜的能力照耀—约壹二7~8，三11、23，参约十三34。
The commandment regarding brotherly love is both old and new: old, because the believers have had it from the beginning of their Christian life; new, because in their Christian walk it dawns with new light and shines with new enlightenment and fresh power again and again—1 John 2:7-8; 3:11, 23; cf. John 13:34.
The commandment regarding brotherly love is both old and new: old, because the believers have had it from the beginning of their Christian life; new, because in their Christian walk it dawns with new light and shines with new enlightenment and fresh power again and again—1 John 2:7-8; 3:11, 23; cf. John 13:34.
二
旧诫命是新的这事实，在主是真的，因祂不仅将这诫命赐给祂的信徒，也在他们日常的行事为人上不断地更新这诫命；这在信徒也是真的，因他们不仅一次永远地领受了这诫命，也一再地蒙其光照，得其复苏。
The fact that the old commandment is new is true in the Lord, since He not only gave it to His believers but also renews it in their daily walk continually; it is true also in the believers, since they not only have received it once for all but also are enlightened and refreshed by it repeatedly.
The fact that the old commandment is new is true in the Lord, since He not only gave it to His believers but also renews it in their daily walk continually; it is true also in the believers, since they not only have received it once for all but also are enlightened and refreshed by it repeatedly.
肆
在约翰一书我们看见，实行神圣的爱，乃是我们享受三一神这包罗万有之灵的结果，祂乃是作为膏油涂抹，在神圣生命的交通里，在我们里面运行并作工，以三一神一切所是，连同祂一切所作，并祂一切所得着和达到的，浸透我们—一3，二3~11、27：
In 1 John we see that the practice of the divine love is the outcome of our enjoyment of the Triune God as the all-inclusive Spirit, the One who is moving and working within us as the anointing in the fellowship of the divine life to saturate us with all that the Triune God is, with all that He has done, and with all that He has obtained and attained—1:3; 2:3-11, 27:
In 1 John we see that the practice of the divine love is the outcome of our enjoyment of the Triune God as the all-inclusive Spirit, the One who is moving and working within us as the anointing in the fellowship of the divine life to saturate us with all that the Triune God is, with all that He has done, and with all that He has obtained and attained—1:3; 2:3-11, 27:
一
我们若要经历并享受神圣的爱，并让这爱成为我们爱别人的爱，就需要不断地活在神圣的生命里，好在经历上认识神—3~6节，腓三10上。
If we would experience and enjoy the divine love and have it become the love by which we love others, we need to know God experientially by continuously living in the divine life—vv. 3-6; Phil. 3:10a.
If we would experience and enjoy the divine love and have it become the love by which we love others, we need to know God experientially by continuously living in the divine life—vv. 3-6; Phil. 3:10a.
二
我们要实行作为神圣生命之美德的神圣的爱，就需要那已经作为神圣种子种到我们这人里面的神圣生命（约壹三9，二29与注7）；我们也需要神圣的灵（三24）；神圣的生命是源头，神圣的灵是实际实行爱人这件事的一位。
In order to practice the divine love as a virtue of the divine life, we need the divine life that has been sown as the divine seed (1 John 3:9; 2:29 and footnote 7) into our being; we also need the divine Spirit (3:24); the divine life is the source, and the divine Spirit is the One who actually carries out the matter of loving others.
In order to practice the divine love as a virtue of the divine life, we need the divine life that has been sown as the divine seed (1 John 3:9; 2:29 and footnote 7) into our being; we also need the divine Spirit (3:24); the divine life is the source, and the divine Spirit is the One who actually carries out the matter of loving others.
三
我们该用神圣的爱，而不该用我们天然的爱，来爱神和祂的儿女；我们天然的爱必须放在十字架上；神的爱与我们天然的爱有一个分别，就是天然的爱很容易被冒犯。
We should love God and His children with the divine love and not with our natural love, which must be put on the cross; one difference between God’s love and our natural love is that it is very easy for our natural love to be offended.
We should love God and His children with the divine love and not with our natural love, which must be put on the cross; one difference between God’s love and our natural love is that it is very easy for our natural love to be offended.
四
我们在神的爱里彼此相爱的生活，乃是这爱在我们里面在其彰显上的成全与完成—四11~12，二5。
Our living in the love of God toward one another is the perfection and completion of this love in its manifestation in us—4:11-12; 2:5.
Our living in the love of God toward one another is the perfection and completion of this love in its manifestation in us—4:11-12; 2:5.
伍
为着生机建造基督身体的召会生活乃是弟兄相爱的生活—四7~8，约贰5~6，约十五12、17，启三7，弗五2，参犹12上：
The church life for the organic building up of the Body of Christ is a life of brotherly love—4:7-8; 2 John 5-6; John 15:12, 17; Rev. 3:7; Eph. 5:2; cf. Jude 12a:
The church life for the organic building up of the Body of Christ is a life of brotherly love—4:7-8; 2 John 5-6; John 15:12, 17; Rev. 3:7; Eph. 5:2; cf. Jude 12a:
一
爱神并爱弟兄的，享受神圣的生命；不爱神和弟兄的，住在撒但的死中—约壹三14，参林后十一2~3。
The one who loves God and the brothers is enjoying the divine life; the one who does not love is abiding in the satanic death—1 John 3:14; cf. 2 Cor. 11:2-3.
The one who loves God and the brothers is enjoying the divine life; the one who does not love is abiding in the satanic death—1 John 3:14; cf. 2 Cor. 11:2-3.
二
正如主耶稣舍了祂的魂生命，使我们能得着神圣的生命，我们在实行身体的生活时，也需要舍去我们的魂生命并否认己，以爱弟兄并将生命供应给他们—约壹三16，约十11、17~18，十五13，弗四29~五2，林后十二15，罗十二9~13。
Just as the Lord Jesus laid down His soul-life that we might have the divine life, we need to lose our soul-life and deny the self to love the brothers and minister life to them in the practice of the Body life—1 John 3:16; John 10:11,17-18; 15:13; Eph. 4:29—5:2; 2 Cor. 12:15; Rom. 12:9-13.
Just as the Lord Jesus laid down His soul-life that we might have the divine life, we need to lose our soul-life and deny the self to love the brothers and minister life to them in the practice of the Body life—1 John 3:16; John 10:11,17-18; 15:13; Eph. 4:29—5:2; 2 Cor. 12:15; Rom. 12:9-13.
三
我们需要丧失我们的魂生命，不爱这世界及其享乐；反之，我们应当在弟兄相爱的召会生活中接受并彰显爱的神，以此为我们的喜乐、娱乐、消遣和快乐—约壹二15~17，太十六25~26，参提后三4，诗三六8~9。
We need to lose our soul-life by not loving the world with its pleasure; instead, taking in God and expressing God as love in the church life of brotherly love should be our joy, amusement, entertainment, and happiness—1 John 2:15-17; Matt. 16:25-26; cf. 2 Tim. 3:4; Psa. 36:8-9.
We need to lose our soul-life by not loving the world with its pleasure; instead, taking in God and expressing God as love in the church life of brotherly love should be our joy, amusement, entertainment, and happiness—1 John 2:15-17; Matt. 16:25-26; cf. 2 Tim. 3:4; Psa. 36:8-9.
四
在召会生活中，弟兄相爱乃是实际地表现在顾到缺乏圣徒的需要，而没有任何自私的目的或外表自我的显扬；在与缺乏圣徒分享物质的东西时，主生命的恩典连同祂的爱，就在基督身体的众肢体之间涌流，并注入他们里面—约壹三17~18，太六1~4，罗十二13，林后八1~7。
Brotherly love in the church life is expressed practically in our caring for the necessities of the needy saints without any self-serving purpose or outward self-display; in the sharing of material things with the needy saints, the grace of the Lord’s life with His love flows among the members of the Body of Christ and is infused into them—1 John 3:17-18; Matt. 6:1-4; Rom. 12:13; 2 Cor. 8:1-7.
Brotherly love in the church life is expressed practically in our caring for the necessities of the needy saints without any self-serving purpose or outward self-display; in the sharing of material things with the needy saints, the grace of the Lord’s life with His love flows among the members of the Body of Christ and is infused into them—1 John 3:17-18; Matt. 6:1-4; Rom. 12:13; 2 Cor. 8:1-7.
五
在召会中好为首，乃与爱众弟兄相对—约叁9。
Loving to be first in the church is versus loving all the brothers—3 John 9.
Loving to be first in the church is versus loving all the brothers—3 John 9.
六
彼此相爱是我们属于基督的表记（约十三34~35）；我们若要有能力影响人归主，能够结出果子，就必须在召会生活中彼此相爱、合而为一；我们结果子最好的路，乃是接受基督作人位和生命而彼此相爱（35，十七21、23）。
Loving one another is a sign that we belong to Christ (John 13:34-35); if we desire to have the ability to influence people concerning the Lord and to bear fruit, we must have love for one another and become one in the church life; the best way for us to bear fruit is to love one another by taking Christ as our person and life (v. 35; 17:21, 23).
Loving one another is a sign that we belong to Christ (John 13:34-35); if we desire to have the ability to influence people concerning the Lord and to bear fruit, we must have love for one another and become one in the church life; the best way for us to bear fruit is to love one another by taking Christ as our person and life (v. 35; 17:21, 23).
七
真正的传福音乃是在交通里的事（腓一5），因为这是身体的事；树的枝子乃是在交通的方式里结果子（约十五5、12、17）；我们越活在身体生活里，并有身体生活的实际，我们就越会结果子。
The genuine preaching of the gospel is a matter in fellowship (Phil. 1:5) because it is a matter of the Body; the branches of a tree bear fruit in a way of fellowship (John 15:5, 12, 17); the more we live in the Body life and have the reality of the Body life, the more we will be fruitful.
The genuine preaching of the gospel is a matter in fellowship (Phil. 1:5) because it is a matter of the Body; the branches of a tree bear fruit in a way of fellowship (John 15:5, 12, 17); the more we live in the Body life and have the reality of the Body life, the more we will be fruitful.
八
召会生活中活力排的情形乃是在一里并同心合意地彼此相爱；圣徒们要实行活力排，就需要受训练如何有交通；交通完全是基于一和同心合意—徒一14。
The condition of the vital groups in the church life is that of loving one another in oneness and with one accord; for the practice of the vital groups, the saints need to be trained how to have fellowship that is altogether based on oneness and one accord—Acts 1:14.
The condition of the vital groups in the church life is that of loving one another in oneness and with one accord; for the practice of the vital groups, the saints need to be trained how to have fellowship that is altogether based on oneness and one accord—Acts 1:14.
九
在弟兄相爱的召会生活里（罗十二10，帖前三12，四9，帖后一3，彼前一22，四8），我们彼此接纳（罗十五7），彼此思念相同的事（5），追求彼此建造的事（十四19），重担彼此担当（加六2），在爱里彼此担就（弗四2），彼此安慰，互相建造（帖前五11），彼此认罪，互相代祷（雅五16），彼此饶恕（弗四32，西三13），彼此服从（弗五21）。
In the church life of brotherly love (Rom. 12:10; 1 Thes. 3:12; 4:9; 2 Thes. 1:3; 1 Pet. 1:22; 4:8), we receive one another (Rom. 15:7), have the same mind toward one another (v. 5), pursue the things for building up one another (14:19), bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2), bear one another in love (Eph. 4:2), comfort and build up one another (1 Thes. 5:11), confess our sins to one another and pray for one another (James 5:16), forgive one another (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13), and are subject to one another (Eph. 5:21).
In the church life of brotherly love (Rom. 12:10; 1 Thes. 3:12; 4:9; 2 Thes. 1:3; 1 Pet. 1:22; 4:8), we receive one another (Rom. 15:7), have the same mind toward one another (v. 5), pursue the things for building up one another (14:19), bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2), bear one another in love (Eph. 4:2), comfort and build up one another (1 Thes. 5:11), confess our sins to one another and pray for one another (James 5:16), forgive one another (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13), and are subject to one another (Eph. 5:21).
十
正确的召会聚会乃是“彼此互相”的聚会，“圆桌”聚会，我们在其中彼此对说（19），互相教导、劝戒（西三16），彼此相顾、劝勉（来十24~25），并彼此听（帖前五20）；我们需要学习在聚会中有正确的彼此相顾（林前十二25~26）。
The proper church meeting is a “one another” meeting, a “round-table” meeting, in which we speak to one another (v. 19), teach and admonish one another (Col. 3:16), consider one another and exhort one another (Heb. 10:24-25), and listen to one another (1 Thes. 5:20); we need to learn to have a proper mutual care in the meetings (1 Cor. 12:25-26).
The proper church meeting is a “one another” meeting, a “round-table” meeting, in which we speak to one another (v. 19), teach and admonish one another (Col. 3:16), consider one another and exhort one another (Heb. 10:24-25), and listen to one another (1 Thes. 5:20); we need to learn to have a proper mutual care in the meetings (1 Cor. 12:25-26).
十一
我们需要被主对付并被主建造（八1），好叫我们治理召会并尽话语职事的结果，会使弟兄姊妹自然地彼此相爱，使召会得建造；当圣徒在属灵生命上真正长大，对神圣生命的经历会产生爱的增加，因为爱是生命的结果（约壹三14）；这会使召会生活成为活的、得胜的、尽功用的和有大能的。
We need to be dealt with and built up by the Lord (8:1) so that our administration of the church and our ministry of the word will result in the brothers and sisters spontaneously loving one another for the building up of the church; when the saints genuinely grow in their spiritual life, the experience of the divine life will result in an increase of love, because love is the issue of life (1 John 3:14); this will cause the church life to be living, prevailing, functioning, and powerful.
We need to be dealt with and built up by the Lord (8:1) so that our administration of the church and our ministry of the word will result in the brothers and sisters spontaneously loving one another for the building up of the church; when the saints genuinely grow in their spiritual life, the experience of the divine life will result in an increase of love, because love is the issue of life (1 John 3:14); this will cause the church life to be living, prevailing, functioning, and powerful.