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Watchman Nee
Christian Classics Ethereal Library
About The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee
Title: URL: Author(s): Publisher: Rights: Contributor(s): LC Call no: LC Subjects: The Normal Christian Life http://www.ccel.org/ccel/nee/normal.html Nee, Watchman (1903-1972) Copyright Christian Classics Ethereal Library Heiko J. Unold (Markup) BV4501.2 Practical theology Practical religion. The Christian life
The Normal Christian Life
Watchman Nee
Table of Contents
About This Book. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Normal Christian Life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Preface to the First Edition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Preface to the British Edition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Table of Contents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Blood of Christ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Our Dual Problem: Sins and Sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . God's Dual Remedy: The Blood and the Cross. . . . . . . . The Problem Of Our Sins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Blood Is Primarily For God. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . God Is Satisfied. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Blood And The Believer's Access. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Overcoming The Accuser. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Cross of Christ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Some Further Distinctions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Man's State By Nature. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . As In Adam So In Christ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Divine Way of Deliverance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . His Death and Resurrection Representative and Inclusive. The Path of Progress: Knowing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Our Death With Christ A Historic Fact. . . . . . . . . . . . . . The First Step: "Knowing This...". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Divine Revelation Essential To Knowledge. . . . . . . . . . . The Cross Goes To The Root Of Our Problem. . . . . . . . The Path of Progress: Reckoning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Second Step: "Even So Reckon...". . . . . . . . . . . . . The Reckoning Of Faith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Temptation And Failure, The Challenge To Faith. . . . . . . Abiding In Him. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Divide of the Cross. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Two Creations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Burial Means An End. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Resurrection Unto Newness Of Life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Presenting Ourselves to God. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Third Step: "Present Yourselves...". . . . . . . . . . . . .
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p. ii p. 1 p. 2 p. 3 p. 4 p. 5 p. 5 p. 6 p. 6 p. 7 p. 8 p. 9 p. 11 p. 14 p. 14 p. 16 p. 17 p. 18 p. 20 p. 22 p. 22 p. 24 p. 25 p. 27 p. 28 p. 29 p. 30 p. 31 p. 35 p. 39 p. 39 p. 41 p. 43 p. 45 p. 45
. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 p. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What The Law Teaches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 p. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Faith Is Again The Key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 p. . . . . 102 p. . . . . . . . The Spirit Indwelling. 106 p. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Firstborn Among Many Brethren. . . . . . 64 p. . . . . . . . . 50 p. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 p. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 p. . . . . . . . . . 69 p. 46 p. . . The Path of Progress: Walking In The Spirit. . . . . . . . 86 p. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 p. . . . . . . 104 p. The Flesh And The Spirit. . Christ The End Of The Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Treasure In The Vessel. . . . . . . 69 p. . . . . . 59 p. . . . 111 . . . . . . . . . . . 51 p. One Body in Christ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . One Living Sacrifice. . . . The Law Of This Spirit Of Life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 p. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Eternal Purpose. . 94 p. . . . . . . . More Than Conquerors Through Him. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 p. . . . . . . . . The Holy Spirit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Choice That Confronted Adam. . . . . . . . . . . The Root Question: The Human Soul. . . . . . . . 100 p. . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Cross and the Soul Life. . .. . . . . 92 p. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Diversity Of The Experience. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . After The Spirit". . . . . . 92 p. . . . . . . . . . The Light Of God And Knowledge. . . . . . . . . 84 p. . . . . . . . . . . . The Meaning and Value of Romans Seven. . . . . . . . . . . . . The Love Of Christ. . . . . . . . . . Adam's Choice The Reason For The Cross. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 p. . . Our End Is God's Beginning. . . . Natural Energy In The Work Of God. . . . . . . . . . . . . . They Are All Of One. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv . . . 63 p. . . .The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Separated Unto The Lord. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Flesh And Man's Breakdown. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 p. 95 p. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 p. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 p. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Spirit Outpoured. . . . 80 p. . . . . . . . The Path of Progress: Bearing the Cross. . . . . . . . . . . . A Gate And A Path. . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 p. . . . . Christ Our Life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I Thank God!. 66 p. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. . . . . . . . . . . . . . The True Nature Of The Fall. . . . 52 p. . . . . . . . . The Grain Of Wheat. . . . . 101 p. . . . . . . . . . . 49 p. . . 75 p. . . . . . . . . . Servant Or Slave?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 p. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 p. . . . . . . . . The Manifestation Of The Law Of Life. . . . . . . . . . . . . He That Hath The Son Hath The Life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Absolute Lordship Of Christ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Fourth Step: "Walk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Fourfold Work Of Christ In His Cross. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. . . . Ministering To His Pleasure. The Goal of the Gospel. . . . . . Index of Scripture References. . . . . 131 p. . . . . . . A Dark Night -. . . . . . The Cross And Fruitfulness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 p. . . . 128 p. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 v . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 p. . . The Subjective Working Of The Cross. . . . . . . . . . 126 p. . . Waste. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 p. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 p. Anointing Him Beforehand. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 p. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fragrance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 p. .The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee The Basis Of All True Ministry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 p. . . . . . . Indexes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A Resurrection Morn.
The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee vi .
England. Eastbourne. . . . but Christ" Copyright Angus Kinnear 1961.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee "It is no longer I . Used by permission of Kingsway Publications.
The Normal Christian Life
Watchman Nee
The author of these studies, Mr. Watchman Nee (Nee To-sheng) of Foochow, a true bondservant of Jesus Christ, placed a great many of us in his debt when, on a visit to Europe in 1938 and 1939, he set forth so lucidly in his ministry to many groups of young workers and others the foundation principles of the Christian life and walk. Several of the addresses forming the material from which this book has been compiled have already been published independently and have been the means of blessing to many. Others, covering similar but wider ground, have existed for long in manuscript or note form. It is with the conviction that their message merits a wider circulation at the present time that I have undertaken the editing of the available material to form this larger book. Being deprived of personal contact or communication with the author, I have myself to take full responsibility for the work of editing. This has involved the bringing together of matter from a number of sources to form a logical sequence within the framework provided by two of the original series of studies. Due to the wide variety of this material, including verbatim records of spoken English addresses, private notes of Bible readings and personal conversations, and a few translations from the Chinese, liberties, perforce, have had to be taken with the literary arrangement—not, of course, with the doctrine—making the hand of the editor more evident than I would have wished. But the privilege of close personal contact with Mr. Nee during 1938, and the help and criticism of others who enjoyed his ministry or who have worked with him, and who knew him better than I, have combined, in the few places where interpretation was necessary, to make faithfulness to his thought the more certain. Work on this book has been a searching experience. It goes out now with the prayer that its strong emphasis upon the greatness of Christ and upon the finality and sufficiency of His work may be used of God to bring His children to a place of greater spiritual effectiveness and thus of increasing value to Him. Angus I. Kinnear Bangalore, India 1957
The Normal Christian Life
Watchman Nee
A new edition has made possible further revision and occasional slight expansion of the text with the aid of fresh source material. An index is now provided. The reader is again reminded that the author's message in this collected form had its origin as spoken ministry. It is therefore not wholly systematic. On none of the subjects dealt with is it to be regarded as exhaustive. It should be approached prayerfully—not as a treatise, but as a living message to the heart. Angus I. Kinnear 1958
The Normal Christian Life
Watchman Nee
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: The Blood of Christ Chapter 2: The Cross of Christ Chapter 3: The Path of Progress: Knowing Chapter 4: The Path of Progress: Reckoning Chapter 5: The Divide of the Cross Chapter 6: The Path of Progress: Presenting Ourselves to God Chapter 7: The Eternal Purpose Chapter 8: The Holy Spirit Chapter 9: The Meaning and Value of Romans Seven Chapter 10: The Path of Progress: Walking in the Spirit Chapter 11: One Body in Christ Chapter 12: The Cross and the Soul Life Chapter 13: The Path of Progress: Bearing the Cross Chapter 14: The Goal of the Gospel Scripture quotations are from the Revised Version unless otherwise indicated.
that God will answer all our questions in one way only. but Christ". for while the word 'sins' hardly occurs once. So we can speak of two substitutions—a Substitute on the Cross who secures our forgiveness and a Substitute within who secures our victory. Why is this? It is because in the first section it is a question of the sins I have committed before God. save only by the Son of God Himself. For example. the singular word 'sin' is used again and again and is the subject mainly dealt with. Here he is not stating something special or peculiar—a high level of Christianity. however. and save us from much confusion. Our Dual Problem: Sins and Sin We shall take now as a starting-point for our study of the normal Christian life that great exposition of it which we find in the first eight chapters of the Epistle to the Romans. God makes it quite clear in His Word that He has only one answer to every human need—His Son. No matter how many sins I commit. which can be summarized in the words: I live no longer. which are many and can be enumerated. whereas in the second it is a question of sin as a principle working in me. it is always the one sin principle that leads to them. In all His dealings with us He works by taking us out of the way and substituting Christ in our place. namely. presenting God's normal for a Christian. He is. It is "no longer I. The object of these studies is to show that it is something very different from the life of the average Christian. The Apostle Paul gives us his own definition of the Christian life in Galatians 2:20. It will be helpful first of all to point out a natural division of this section of Romans into two. In the second section. But in that last saving clause lies immediately the answer to our question. I need forgiveness for my sins. The Son of God died instead of us for our forgiveness: He lives instead of us for our deliverance. and we shall approach our subject from a practical and experimental point of view. It will help us greatly. The first eight chapters of Romans form a self-contained unit. Jesus Christ. but I need also deliverance from the power of sin. but Christ lives His life in me. if we keep constantly before us this fact. The former touches 5 . Indeed a consideration of the written Word of God—of the Sermon on the Mount for example—should lead us to ask whether such a life has ever in fact been lived upon the earth. by showing us more of His Son. A careful reading will show us that the subject-matter of the two halves is not the same. this changed. The four-and-a-half chapters from 1:1 to 5:11 form the first half of this unit and the three-and-a-half chapters from 5:12 to 8:39 the second half. and to note certain striking differences in the subject-matter of its two parts. we believe. in the argument of the first section we find the plural word 'sins' given prominence.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Chapter 1: The Blood of Christ What is the normal Christian life? We do well at the outset to ponder this question.
shall we be saved from the wrath of God through him" (Romans 5:8. the latter my life. This is set forth for us in the following passages: "All have sinned" (Romans 3:23). "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God set forth to be a propitiation. In the first part of Romans 1 to 8. we must notice a further difference. through 6 . So life goes on in a vicious circle of sinning and being forgiven and then sinning again. I appreciate the blessed fact of God's forgiveness. This terminology is however not carried on into the second section. The latter aspect will be the subject of our consideration in later chapters. But now. a power within that draws to sin. a new idea is introduced in chapter 6:6. we twice have reference to the Blood of the Lord Jesus. for I realize I have committed sins before Him. We shall see that the Blood deals with what we have done. no abiding peace of mind. with the precious Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and its value to us in dealing with our sins and justifying us in the sight of God. whereas the Cross deals with what we are. while the Cross strikes at the root of our capacity for sin. There is an inward inclination to sin. The argument of the first part gathers round that aspect of the work of the Lord Jesus which is represented by 'the Blood' shed for our justification through "the remission of sins". where we are said to have been "crucified" with Christ. When that power breaks out I commit sins. our deliverance from sin. while we were yet sinners. that is to say. then. being now justified by his blood. I may seek and receive forgiveness. and secondly. but I want something more than that: I want deliverance. and I realize not only that I have committed sins before God but that there is something wrong within. by our union with Christ in His death. namely. I need forgiveness for what I have done. This distinction is a valuable one. in chapter 3:25 and in chapter 5:9. the forgiveness of our sins. where the argument centers now in the aspect of His work represented by 'the Cross'. I may receive forgiveness for all my sins. the discovery of sin. Much more then. The Blood disposes of our sins.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee my conscience. Christ died for us. but when once I have received forgiveness of sins I make a new discovery. The Problem Of Our Sins We begin. When God's light first shines into my heart my one cry is for forgiveness. In the second. burial and resurrection. but because of my sin I have. 9). God's Dual Remedy: The Blood and the Cross Thus in the first eight chapters of Romans two aspects of salvation are presented to us: firstly. I discover that I have the nature of a sinner. "God commendeth his own love toward us. but then I sin once more. but I need also deliverance from what I am. in keeping with this fact. in that. even then.
gives rise in him to a sense of guilt—of estrangement from God.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee faith. for there is something now which hinders. And finally the attack of the enemy has to be met and his accusations answered. Sin enters as disobedience. which henceforth constitutes a barrier to his fellowship with God. Our guilt has to be dealt with and our guilty conscience set at rest by showing us the value of that Blood. to create first of all a separation between God and man whereby man is put away from God. and a clear apprehension of the efficacy of His Blood for our sins. of his righteousness at this present season: that he might himself be just. lest we come under judgment. 'You have sinned'. I say. If I want to understand the value of the Blood I must accept God's valuation of it. it is 'the accuser of the brethren' (Rev. to shew his righteousness. "I have sinned" (Luke 15:18). It is only as the estimate that God puts upon the Blood of Christ is made known to me by His Holy Spirit that I come into the good of it myself and find how precious 7 . "They are all under sin" (Romans 3:9). thirdly. This is a first essential. At this point we will just remind ourselves that when sin came in it found expression in an act of disobedience to God (Romans 5:19). manward and Satanward. and it is that which is known throughout Scripture as 'sin'. There is thus an absolute need for us to appropriate these values of the Blood if we are to go on. God can no longer have fellowship with him. with the help of his awakened conscience. Now we must remember that whenever this occurs the thing that immediately follows is guilt. secondly. and to bring us back to the purpose of God. The Blood Is Primarily For God The Blood is for atonement and has to do first with our standing before God. We shall have reason at a later stage in our study to look closely at the real nature of the fall and the way of recovery. therefore. while our sense of guilt gives him his ground of accusation in our hearts. and this was effected by the precious Blood of Christ. and they are forgiven. and if I do not know something of the value set upon the Blood by God I shall never know what its value is for me. Our sins had first to be dealt with. We must have a basic knowledge of the fact of the death of the Lord Jesus as our Substitute upon the Cross. not because God overlooks what we have done but because He sees the Blood. 12:10) who now says. Nor is this all. for without this we cannot be said to have started upon our road. To redeem us. Then. that sin in man. We need forgiveness for the sins we have committed. The Blood is therefore not primarily for us but for God. Thus it is first of all God who says. Godward. in the forbearance of God. for sin also provides Satan with his ground of accusation before God. because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime. by his blood. the Lord Jesus had to do something about these three questions of sin and of guilt and of Satan's charge against us. for the shewing. and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus" (Romans 3:24-26). Here it is man himself who. says. so that. In the Scriptures the Blood of Christ is shown to operate effectually in these three ways. Let us look then at these three matters more closely.
for the blood was put on the lintel and on the door-posts. for my sins. God Is Satisfied It is God's holiness.' The Blood of Christ wholly satisfies God. Earlier even than this there is described in Exodus 12:13 the shedding of the blood of the passover lamb in Egypt for Israel's redemption. I think. But later. Nothing explains this question of sins so clearly as the description of that day. God's righteousness. was eaten inside the house. Here we have another illustration of the fact that the blood was not meant to be presented to man but to God. In the Old Testament calendar there is one day that has a great bearing on the matter of our sins and that day is the Day of Atonement. and those with dead consciences are certainly of no use to God. Our conscience was dead. I will pass over you". and it is He who says: 'When I see the blood'. It was he alone who took the blood and. and that Blood has to be poured out for me. On that day the sin offering was offered publicly in the court of the tabernacle. But the Lord commanded that no man should enter the tabernacle itself except the high priest. one of the best types in the Old Testament of our redemption. going into the Most Holy Place. connected with his going in there was but one act. the flesh of the lamb. which demands that a sinless life should be given for man. Now I desire to say a word at this point to my younger brethren in the Lord. whereas the meat. for it is here that we often get into difficulties. The Lord required that. away from the eyes of the men who were to benefit by it. There is life in the Blood. It was a transaction between the high priest and God in the Sanctuary. We must be very clear about this. God is the One who requires it to be so. namely. where those feasting inside the house would not see it. he was the one who did the work. our awakened conscience may have 8 . The blood was put on the lintel and on the door-posts. This is again. when we believed. Why? Because the high priest was a type of the Lord Jesus in His redemptive work (Hebrews 9:12). sprinkled it there to make atonement before the Lord. I will pass over you. in order to satisfy His own righteousness. The Blood is therefore in the first place for Him. None but he could even draw near to enter in.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee indeed the Blood is to me. and God said: "When I see the blood. Everything was there in full view and could be seen by all. But the first aspect of it is Godward. In Leviticus 16 we find that on the Day of Atonement the blood was taken from the sin offering and brought into the Most Holy Place and there sprinkled before the Lord seven times. As unbelievers we may have been wholly untroubled by our conscience until the Word of God began to arouse us. I think over a hundred times. God is the One who demands that the Blood be presented. something in which He could find satisfaction. and so. and throughout it is something for God. in figure. Moreover. Throughout the Old and New Testaments the word 'blood' is used in connection with the idea of atonement. the presenting of the blood to God as something He had accepted.
I do not find it stated that the Blood cleanses our hearts. "A new heart also will I give you. In doing so we shall find our valuation. We cannot do it. We do not wash and iron clothing that we are going to throw away. We are to have "hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience" (Hebrews 10:22). as almost to cripple us by causing us to lose sight of the true effectiveness of the Blood. and He must do something more fundamental than cleanse it: He must give us a new one. God says. and this can constitute a real problem to us. When we come to the Epistle to the Hebrews we find that the Blood does this. True. Let us remember that He is holy and He is righteous. is "desperately sick" (Jeremiah 17:9). cleanse my heart from sin by Thy Blood'. It cannot. We have to believe that the Blood is precious to God because He says it is so (1 Peter 1:18. No. that we come to the point where to us our sins loom larger than the Blood of Christ. but wholly objective. and some particular sin may trouble us so many times. What then is the meaning of this? 9 . it is a matter of faith in God's Word. then we can rest assured that the debt has been paid. we are trying to feel its value and to estimate subjectively what the Blood is for us. It may show a misunderstanding of the sphere in which the Blood operates to pray. so terrible. be more. This is most important. "Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience". As we shall shortly see. If God can accept the Blood as a payment for our sins and as the price of our redemption. it must be crucified. The Blood And The Believer's Access The Blood has satisfied God. It has therefore a second value that is manward in the cleansing of our conscience. it does not work that way. the cleansing work of the Blood is seen here in Hebrews 10 to have reference to the heart. The work of God within us must be something wholly new. It seems to us that our sins are so real. If God is satisfied with the Blood. The Blood is first for God to see. but it is in relation to the conscience. and a new spirit will I put within you" (Ezekiel 36:26). We are wrong to connect the heart with the Blood in quite that way. The heart. No. Our valuation of it is only according to His valuation—neither more nor less. before God. Look carefully at what it says. it must satisfy us also. and that a holy and righteous God has the right to say that the Blood is acceptable in His eyes and has fully satisfied Him. 19). and then stop there in his statement. The writer does not tell us that the Blood of the Lord Jesus cleanses our hearts.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee become acutely sensitive. Its work is not subjective in that way. the 'flesh' is too bad to be cleansed. The sense of sin and guilt can become so great. We then have to accept God's valuation of it. Now the whole trouble with us is that we are trying to sense it. but it must not be less. If instead we try to come to a valuation by way of our feelings we get nothing. 'Lord. of course. we remain in darkness. then the Blood must be acceptable.
since they are interdependent. were it conceivably possible for the Blood to suffer any change. so today I can pray better!' Or again. namely. But the Blood has never changed and never will. and that I come to God on the basis of the finished work of the Lord Jesus. today I have been doing a little better. No! A clear conscience is never based upon our attainment. A heart of faith and a conscience clear of any and every accusation are both equally essential to us. I am not feeling too bright now. and never on the basis of my attainment. therefore I cannot approach God. But now. 'by the Blood'? I mean simply that I recognize my sins. after all. Your approach to God is therefore always in boldness. or that I have done something for the Lord this morning. I may be mistaken. The temptation to so many of us when we try to approach God is to think that because God has been dealing with us—because He has been taking steps to bring us into something more of Himself and has been teaching us deeper lessons of the Cross—He has thereby set before us new standards. for example. that I confess that I have need of cleansing and of atonement. I have to come by way of the Blood every time. but I feel very strongly that some of us are thinking in terms such as these: 'Today I have been a little more careful. the feeling that you may have achieved something for God today? Or is your approach based on something far more secure. When we enter the most Holy Place. I began the day feeling very gloomy and moody. and we are made nigh by the Blood every day. on what ground dare we enter but by the Blood? But I want to ask myself. Every one of us knows what a precious thing it is to have a conscience void of offense in our dealings with God. It was constantly reminding me of the barrier that stood between myself and Him. this morning I have been reading the Word of God in a warmer way. it seems that there must be something wrong. the fact that the Blood has been shed. it can only be based on the work of the Lord Jesus in the shedding of His Blood. and God has made that fact known to me in His Word. As soon as we find our conscience is uneasy our faith leaks away and immediately we find we cannot face God. on the ground that I have been extra kind or patient today. never. and I have no more an evil conscience toward God. something new has been effected before God which has removed that barrier. In order therefore to keep going on with God we must know the up-to-date value of the Blood. It never loses its efficacy as our ground of access if we will but lay hold upon it. and that only by attaining to these can we have a clear conscience before Him. God keeps short accounts.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee It means that there was something intervening between myself and God. am I really seeking the way into the Presence of God by the Blood or by something else? What do I mean when I say. is your basis of approach to God? Do you come to Him on the uncertain ground of your feeling.' What. every hour and every minute. and that God looks on that Blood and is satisfied? Of course. through the operation of the precious Blood. as a result of which I had an evil conscience whenever I sought to approach Him. the basis of your approach to God might be less trustworthy. and that 10 . I approach God through His merit alone. my conscience is at once cleared and my sense of guilt removed. 'Today I have had a little difficulty with the family. When that has been believed in and accepted.
for there is a further aspect of the Blood which is Satanward. But thereafter our ground of continual access is still by the Blood. and it is my only plea. Whatever be your measure of attainment today or yesterday or the day before. as soon as you make a conscious move into the Most Holy Place. our standing with God was secured by the Blood. 'That is very simple. Then our conscience is really clear before God. 2:13). an initial and a progressive one. but looking at our weakness will never make us strong.. We may be weak. but the trouble with many of us is that we have moved away from the A. and every time I come before Him it is the same. Initially. No. so the Blood is enough for me. of the Gospel. It is not that I was saved on one basis and that I now maintain my fellowship on another.C. it is always on the ground of the precious Blood. whether you have consciously sinned or not. 10:19... Whenever I come before Thee. Right to the end it will always and only be on the ground of the Blood. that it is there and that it is enough. "No more conscience of sins": these are tremendous words of Hebrews 10:2. As with many other stages of our Christian experience. for we are "made nigh in the blood of Christ" (Eph.B. and we may truly echo the words of Paul: "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not reckon sin" (Romans 4:8). To begin with I was made nigh by the Blood.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee boldness is yours through the Blood and never through your personal attainment. I do not know fully what the value of the Blood is. I see now that whether I have really progressed. But for the present let us be satisfied with the Blood. immediately you have to take your stand upon the safe and only ground of the shed Blood. for we shall shortly study another aspect of the death of Christ which shows us that anything but that is contemplated. so let us be bold in our approach because of the Blood: 'Lord. but we can never do so. boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus. whether I have really attained to something or not. for the apostle exhorts us: "Having therefore. Whether you have had a good day or a bad day. my initial approach to God is by the Blood. No conscience could ever be clear apart from the Blood. is not the point. No trying to feel bad and doing penance will help us to be even a little holier. it is the A. let us draw near" (Heb. That is the ground upon which you may enter. and there is no other.B. We are cleansed from every sin. and to continue in that new relationship I come through the Blood every time. You say.C.. There is no help there. The former is presented to us in Ephesians 2 and the latter in Hebrews 10. This does not mean at all that we should live a careless life. your basis of approach is always the same—the Blood of Christ. but I know that the Blood has satisfied Thee.' Yes. It is the Blood that gives us boldness. Overcoming The Accuser In view of what we have said we can now turn to face the enemy. 22). Satan's most strategic activity in this day is as the accuser of the 11 . this matter of access to God has two phases. We have thought we had progressed and so could dispense with it.
"The blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from every sin". Note the words of Hebrews 9:14: "How 1 1 John 1:7: Marginal reading of New Translation by J. "If God is for us. The Blood is enough for that! Some of us. "Christ having come a high priest. So here again our need is to recognize the absolute sufficiency of the precious Blood. He stands there in the presence of God. who is he that shall condemn? It is Christ Jesus that died. and it does so because in the first place it satisfies God. What a cleansing! It is not that I have not a profound knowledge of myself. but every sin. Because of what man has done. What does it mean? Oh. having obtained eternal redemption" (Hebrews 9:11. through his own blood. 12:10) and it is as this that our Lord confronts him with His special ministry as High Priest "through his own blood" (Hebrews 9:12). But the Blood removes that barrier and restores man to God and God to man. How then does the Blood operate against Satan? It does so by putting God on the side of man against him. No. nor that God has not a perfect knowledge of me. He was Redeemer once. what ground of accusation has Satan? Satan may accuse us before Him.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee brethren (Rev. until it is removed. You remember that verse in John's first Epistle—and this is the translation of it I like best: "The blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from every sin" 1 It is not exactly "all sin" in the general sense. Since God. sins which may be very black and sins which appear to be not so black. Let us remember the word: "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from every sin. and that there the precious Blood cleanses me from every sin. and "he is the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 2:1. entered in once for all into the holy place. who also maketh intercession for us" (Romans 8:33. with the result that God was compelled to withdraw Himself. yes. conscious or unconscious. God points him to the Blood of His dear Son. sins which I think can be forgiven and sins which seem unforgivable. The Fall brought something into man which gave Satan a footing within him. yea rather. can forgive them on the basis of the Blood. It is the sufficient answer against which Satan has no appeal. and as we walk in the light with Him everything is exposed and open to that light.. 2). and because God is on his side he can face Satan without fear. are included in those words: "every sin". every item." Big sins. Man is now outside the garden—beyond reach of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)—because he is inwardly estranged from God. may at times have been tempted to think that there are sins which are almost unforgivable. small sins. there is something in him which. 12). seeing all our sins in the light. oppressed by our own weakness. who is against us?" (Romans 8:31). 34). it is that He is in the light and I too am in the light. that was raised from the dead. so that God can see it all—and yet the Blood is able to cleanse from every sin. Darby 12 . Man is in favour now. but.N. all sins. who is at the right hand of God. It is not that I try to hide something nor that God tries to overlook something. it is a marvelous thing! God is the light.. "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. renders God morally unable to defend him. He has been High Priest and Advocate for nearly two thousand years. remembered or forgotten.
What then of our attitude to Satan? This is important. the accused.. But if we have learned to put no confidence in the flesh. God looks upon the Blood whereby His Son has met the charge. 34). we are sinful. He points to our sins and seeks to charge us with them before God. praise God! the Blood cleanses us from every sin. Satan has succeeded in making us look in the wrong direction. with the result that. in our feelings or our behavior. That is the sure foundation on which we stand. right on to the end (Revelation 12:11). some ground for believing that Satan is wrong. but. And our temptation is to look within and in self-defense to try to find in ourselves. side with the accuser. rendering us ineffective. and that in the precious Blood He has already done so." They underline the sufficiency of His ministry. and Satan has no more ground of attack. The Blood speaks in his favour. and God can have nothing more to do with you. We have not recognized that we are unworthy of anything but death. Our faith in the precious Blood and our refusal to be moved from that position can alone silence his charges and put him to flight (Romans 8:33. going to the other extreme. when Satan comes along and accuses us. as we shall shortly see. Oh. and so it will be. we go down under it. Yes. for the very nature of the flesh is to sin. and you keep on sinning.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee much more shall the blood of Christ. for he accuses us not only before God but in our own conscience also. Alternatively we are tempted to admit our helplessness and. Thus accusation becomes one of the greatest and most effective of Satan's weapons. You are weak. 'You have sinned. Our salvation lies in looking away to the Lord Jesus and in seeing that the Blood of the Lamb has met the whole situation created by our sins and has answered it. but He cannot deal with a man under accusation. Never should we try to answer Satan with our good conduct but always with the Blood. what an emancipation it would be if we saw more of the value of God's eyes of the precious Blood of His dear Son! 13 .' This is his argument. and if we accept his accusations we go down immediately. because such a man is not trusting in the Blood. Christ is our Advocate but we.. but his is listening instead to Satan. It is enough for God. that. Do you understand what I mean? It is because we have not come to appreciate our true nature and to see how helpless we are that we still have some expectation in ourselves. to yield to depression and despair. Now the reason why we so readily accept his accusations is that we are still hoping to have some righteousness of our own. The ground of our expectation is wrong. God is well able to deal with our sins. we are only fit to be crucified anyway. We have not recognized that it is God alone that can answer the accuser. we shall not wonder if we sin. Thereby he wins his point.
The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Chapter 2: The Cross of Christ We have seen that Romans 1 to 8 falls into two sections. 2:8. but before we do so we will look for a moment at a few more features of this passage which serve to emphasize the difference in subject matter and argument between the two halves.The author uses 'the Cross' here and throughout these studies in a special sense. I who was an enemy to God have been "reconciled.—Ed." Here the matter before us is behaviour. 9). as being. Clearly in that use of the term the operation of 'the Blood' in relation to forgiveness of sins (as dealt with in Chapter 1 of this book) is. to use 'the Cross' in a more particular and limited doctrinal sense in order to draw a helpful distinction... Some Further Distinctions Two aspects of the resurrection are mentioned in the two sections. 2:5. and secondly. in chapters 4 and 6. while in the second we shall see that the Cross 2 deals with what we are. the author is compelled. two separate aspects of the doctrine of redemption. Thus the name of the whole is of necessity used for one of its parts. There is still unrest within. We have dealt briefly above with the first of these two and we shall move on now to the second. 2 Note . and was raised for our justification. in the first of which we are shown that the Blood deals with what we have done. Again.. from God's viewpoint. 6:4. "The mind of the flesh is death".. There is peace with God. in the fifth and eighth chapters. In this and the following chapters. In Romans 4:25 the resurrection of the Lord Jesus is mentioned in relation to our justification: "Jesus our Lord. in a wider sense. resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Himself (Phil. 14 . but there is no peace with myself. the entire redemptive work accomplished historically in the death. through the death of his Son" (5:10). burial. There is in fact civil war in my own heart. Romans 5 tells of peace with God which is the effect of justification by faith in His Blood: "Being therefore justified by faith. included (with all that follows in these studies) as a part of the work of the Cross. The reader should bear this in mind in what follows.. so we also might walk in newness of life. But from this the argument leads in chapter 8 to the inward peace of a walk in the Spirit." Here the matter in view is that of our standing before God. because it "is enmity against God". we need also the Cross for deliverance. 6). Most readers will be familiar with the current use of the expression 'the Cross' to signify. firstly. now that I have forgiveness of sins. for lack of an alternative term. Eph. But in Romans 6:4 the resurrection is spoken of as imparting to us new life with a view to a holy walk: "That like as Christ was raised from the dead. namely. that between substitution and identification. however. we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. God will no longer be a cause of dread and trouble to me. from the human angle. the union of believers with Him therein through grace (Rom. 7). "but the mind of the spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:6. however.) This means that. was delivered up for our trespasses." (5:1 mg. We need the Blood for forgiveness. peace is spoken of in both sections. This condition is well depicted in Romans 7 where the flesh and the spirit are seen to be in deadly conflict within me. for within me there is something that draws me to sin. I very soon find.. that I am going to be a great cause of trouble to myself.
So we see that objectively the Blood deals with our sins. When we know the precious truth of justification by faith we still know only half of the story. How then can we live a normal Christian life? How do we enter in? Well. Those who so use it are in danger of arguing the wrong way round. he will use the favourite verse Romans 3:23. Yes. In that chapter a sinner is said to be a sinner because he is born a sinner. there are moral sinners and there are corrupt sinners. The distinction is important. I am in fact a Chinese. and it is important to notice how the sinner is there introduced. Do you follow me? There are bad sinners and there are good sinners. How were we constituted sinners? By Adam's disobedience. 4:5. 22). It needs the Cross to crucify me. It is true that often when a Gospel worker wants to convince a man in the street that he is a sinner. You will scarcely find the word 'sinner' in the first four chapters of Romans. while the second half has as its main topic the corresponding question of sanctification (see Rom. for the teaching of Romans is not that we are sinners because we commit sins. it is yet clear from the above that we must move on to something more. not because he has committed sins. I once asked a class of children. one who sins is a sinner. but it cannot wash away my 'old man'. and the development of thought in these chapters serves to emphasize this. where it says that "all have sinned". We still have only solved the problem of our standing before God. of course. But with that basis truly established through our first act of faith in Christ. namely. So chapter 3 draws our attention to what we have done—"all have sinned"—but it is not because we have done it that we become sinners. 'One who sins'. is a sinner too. The Blood deals with the sins. but rather the sins he has committed. The Lord Jesus has borne them on the Cross for us as our Substitute and has thereby obtained for us forgiveness. 6:19. for example. One who sins is a sinner. the solution of the problem of our conduct. but it is equally true that one who does not sin. 15 . justification and reconciliation. and in need of redemption. but the fact that he sins is merely the evidence that he is already a sinner. initially we must have forgiveness of sins. but the Cross must deal with the sinner. but this use of the verse is not strictly justified by the Scriptures. if he is of Adam's race. we must have justification. The Blood can wash away my sins. We do not become sinners by what we have done but because of what Adam has done and has become. but that we sin because we are sinners. As we go on. In each case the second step follows from the first. We are sinners by constitution rather than by action. God has something more to offer us. I speak English. 25). and if we know only the first then we are still leading a sub-normal Christian life. it is not the cause. This is because there the sinner himself is not mainly in view. As Romans 5:19 expresses it: "Through the one man's disobedience the many were made (or 'constituted') sinners". Romans 3:24-26. 'Who is a sinner?' and their immediate reply was.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Looking further still we find that the first half of the section deals generally speaking with the question of justification (see. we must have peace with God: these are our indispensable foundation. but I am not thereby constituted an Englishman. But we must now go a step further in the plan of God to understand how He deals with the sin principle in us. The word 'sinner' first comes into prominence only in chapter 5.
'Lord. fundamentally wrong. So I am a sinner not of my behaviour but of my heredity. But the result is not what we expected. one constitutionally unable to please God. We try to be loving.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee but they are all alike sinners. We are sinners. we are distressed rather by what we have done than by what we are. At the beginning of our Christian life we are concerned with our doing. We sometimes think that if only we had not done certain things all would be well. The more we try to rectify matters on the outside the more we realize how deep-seated the trouble is within. but he is a Chinese for all that. the Cross procures our deliverance from what we are. but find something within that does not want to please Him. but we ourselves are dealt with by the Cross. The root trouble is the sinner. God is taking pains to show us that we ourselves are wrong. and then how we came to be what we are. The Blood procures our pardon for what we have done. We are apt to think that what we have done is very bad. because he was born a Chinese. and the family likeness which we all share is no merely 16 . grace is brought into contrast with sin and the obedience of Christ is set against the disobedience of Adam. By the Fall a fundamental change took place in the character of Adam whereby he became a sinner. I am not a sinner because I sin. In this great passage. We try to be humble." Here the Spirit of God is seeking to show us first what we are. my parentage. but the trouble lies far deeper than in what we do: it lies in what we are. We try to please the Lord.' The conclusion of Romans 5:19 is beginning to dawn upon us. I see it now! Not only what I have done is wrong. It is birth that counts. he must be dealt with. not with our being. I sin because I am a sinner. but that we ourselves are not so bad. We think that if only we could rectify certain things we should be good Christians. We are members of a race of people who are constitutionally other than what God intended them to be. What is that conclusion? It is found in verse 19 already quoted: "For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners. Our sins are dealt with by the Blood. Man's State By Nature We come therefore to Romans 5:12-21. We smile and try to look very gracious. I am wrong. We discover to our dismay that it is something more than just a case of trouble on the outside—that there is in fact more serious trouble on the inside. It is placed at the beginning of the second section of (Romans 5:12 to 8:39) with which we shall now be particularly concerned. Then we come to the Lord and say. but inwardly we feel decidedly ungracious. A Chinese may be born in America and be unable to speak Chinese at all. but I sin because I come of the wrong stock. even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous. but there is something in our very being that refuses to be humble. but inside we feel most unloving. and we set out therefore to change our actions. and its argument leads to a conclusion which lies at the foundation of our further meditations.
so I sought to explain it in this way. for that is exactly how God has dealt with the situation. We are sinners not because of ourselves but because of Adam. Unless we can change our parentage there is no deliverance for us. 'I have not been in Eden' for potentially we all were there when Adam yielded to the serpent's words. If I act like a Nee I am a Nee. where would you be? You would have died in him! Your experience is bound up with his. Four thousand years ago therefore our nation was founded by Huang-ti. not in our behaviour. I did not go through the list of possible Chinese names and select this one. for I have derived my life from him. and my father was a Nee because my grandfather was a Nee. It is a fairly common Chinese name. How did I come by it? I did not choose it. a sinful nature. Let me try to illustrate this. We have been "constituted sinners". the Adam-nature which is the nature of a sinner. Because by birth I come of Adam. and if I act unlike a Nee I am still a Nee. As In Adam So In Christ 17 . A man said. then I could never have lived.' 'Impossible!' he cried. Now in just the same way the experience of every one of us is bound up with that of Adam. and because his life became a sinful life. 'Oh. If I become President of the Chinese Republic I am a Nee. but nevertheless Huang-ti overcame and slew him. None can say. therefore the nature which we derive from him is also sinful. says Paul. What is more. Now what would have happened if Huang-ti had not killed his enemy. and. His enemy was very strong. It is not because I individually have sinned that I am a sinner but because I was in Adam when he sinned. nothing I can do can alter it. If your great-grandfather had died at the age of three. But it is in this very direction that we shall find the solution of our problem. I can do nothing to alter this. 'We have all sinned in Adam'. he answered. therefore I am a part of him. We derive our existence from him. and by being born "in Adam" we receive from him all that he became as a result of his sin—that is to say. 'All Chinese trace their descent from Huang-ti'. How did this come about? "By the disobedience of one". That my name is Nee is in fact not my doing at all.' Do you see the oneness of human life? Our life comes from Adam. no! Huang-ti can die his death and you can live your life.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee superficial one but extends to our inward character also. but had been himself killed instead? Where would you be now?' 'There would be no me at all'. moreover. So we are all involved in Adam's sin. I cannot by improving my behaviour make myself other than a part of Adam and so a sinner. In China I was once talking in this strain and remarked. the trouble is in our heredity. Nothing I do or refrain from doing will make me other than a Nee. I am a Nee because my father was a Nee. After this Huang-ti founded the Chinese nation. My name is Nee. or if I become a beggar in the street I am still a Nee. I said. as we have said. 'Over four thousand years ago he had a war with Si-iu. 'I don't understand'. So. 'If he had died.
So we are presented with a new possibility. Where sin abounded grace did much more abound. through Abraham". of course. at the risk of repetition. he has first to prove that the priesthood of Melchizedek is greater than the priesthood of Levi. but they were in him. That is the issue. which in turn means that Levi 'in Abraham' offered to Melchizedek.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee In Romans 5:12 to 21 we are not only told something about Adam. and. "As through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners. and therefore in making his offering he included with himself all his seed. as the head of the family of faith. When he offered to Melchizedek." In Adam we receive everything that is of Adam. But if that is true. offered a tithe of his spoils to Melchizedek and received from him a blessing. They did not offer separately as individuals. Yet he was "in the loins of his father" Abraham. I wish again to emphasize by means of an illustration the hereditary and racial significance of the term 'in Christ'. 7:14-17). includes the whole family in himself. we are told also something about the Lord Jesus. even so may grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 5:19-21). Now in order to prove that. It is evident that the lesser offers to the greater (Hebrews 7:7). By him sin entered and death through sin. Abraham. This illustration is to be found in the letter to the Hebrews. after the order of Levi. Levi is therefore of less account than Melchizedek. then Jacob also 'in Abraham' offered to Melchizedek. and throughout the race sin has reigned unto death from that day on. our hope is in Christ. "so to say. Why? Because the fact that Abraham offered tithes to Melchizedek. and therefore the priesthood of Aaron is inferior to that of the Lord Jesus. 10). He tells us in Hebrews chapter 7 that one day Abraham. Now this is the exact meaning of 'in Christ'. and as sin reigned unto death. returning from the battle of the kings (Genesis 14). So Levi is less in standing than Melchizedek. Levi at the time of the battle of the kings was not yet even thought of. the whole family offered in him to Melchizedek. But now a ray of light is cast upon the scene. The terms 'in Adam' and 'in Christ' are too little understood by Christians. even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous. Our despair is in Adam. If the writer can demonstrate to us that Melchizedek is greater than Levi. then he has made his point. while that of Aaron is. Inasmuch as Abraham did so. and he proves it in a remarkable way. Do you remember that in the earlier part of the letter the writer is trying to show that Melchizedek is greater than Levi? You recall that the point to be proved is that the priesthood of Christ is greater than the priesthood of Aaron who was of the tribe of Levi. In Adam all was lost. for the simple reason that the priesthood of Christ is "after the order of Melchizedek" (Heb. in Christ we receive everything that is of Christ. The Divine Way of Deliverance 18 . Through the obedience of Another we may be constituted righteous. he offered (Hebrews 7:9. Through the disobedience of one man we were all constituted sinners. and.
I think that is one of the best verses of the whole New Testament: 'Ye are in Christ'. and it is accomplished. died to sin" (Romans 6:2). therefore all died" (2 Cor. This. To do away with our sinfulness we must do away with our life. Bondage to sin came by birth. It is a Divine act. but by recognizing that God has dealt with us in Christ. I do not post the paper. We were born sinners. Many a time when preaching in the villages of China one has to use very simple illustrations for deep Divine truth. But here is our problem. They did not offer separately and individually. God has surely therefore made adequate provision that we should be set free from sin's dominion. we need not try to get in. When the Lord Jesus was on the Cross all of us died—not individually. the Blood cannot take us out of Adam.. but they were in Abraham when he offered.. But how can we die? Some of us have tried very hard to get rid of this sinful life. and his offering included all his seed. How are we to 'get into' Christ? Here again God comes to our help. 'of God') are ye in Christ. We need not plan how to get in. I remember once I took up a small book and put a piece of paper into it. He has put us into Christ. "One died for all. How? "Of him (that is. deliverance from sin comes by death—and it is just this way of escape that God has provided. sin-fettered children? And so "how shall we any longer live therein?" (Romans 6:1. 'Of him are ye in Christ Jesus'. then. We are in. "We. Now I do something with the book. What is the way out? It is not by trying to kill ourselves. Since we came in by birth we must go out by death. and that now seems just as big a problem. for we are in. and He has not only planned it but He has also performed it. What we could not do for ourselves God has done for us. what is more important. for we had not yet been born—but. But if God has dealt with us 'in Christ Jesus' then we have got to be in Him for this to become effective. This is summed up in the apostle's next statement: "All we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death" (Romans 6:3). Death is the secret of emancipation. being in Him. We have in fact no way of getting in. Paul makes this quite plain when he opens chapter 6 of his letter with the question: "Shall we continue in sin?" His whole being recoils at the very suggestion. how then can we cut off our sinful heredity? Seeing that we were born in Adam. God has planned it. Let me remind you of I Corinthians 1:30. 'Now look carefully. we died in Him. Having no special purpose for it at the moment I put it into the book. How could a holy God be satisfied to have unholy. There is only one way. I take a piece of paper. and I said to those very simple ones. certain things follow. When He was crucified all of us were crucified. is a true figure of ourselves as 'in Christ'. In the illustration from Hebrews 7 which we considered above we saw that 'in Abraham' all Israel—and therefore Levi who was not yet born—offered tithes to Melchizedek. "God forbid!". 5:14). he exclaims. Now if this is true. but the paper has been put into the book. 2)." Praise God! it is not left to us either to devise a way of entry or to work it out. how can we get out of Adam? Let me say at once. but we have found it most tenacious. I post it to Shanghai. therefore we need not try to get in. It has an identity of its own. but. quite separate from this book.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee God clearly intends that this consideration should lead to our practical deliverance from sin. Then where is the paper? Can the book go to Shanghai and the 19 .
and His crucifixion is past. for to be 'in Christ' is to have been identified with Him in both His death and resurrection. not that I identify myself in order to be included. In His atoning work before God He acted alone. Now many a time the use of the word 'identification' is good. for it were a physical impossibility to do so. which is the 'once-for-all' tense. It is God's inclusion of me in Christ that matters. He was crucified: then what about us? Must we ask God to crucify us? Never! When Christ was crucified we were crucified. We often use the terms 'substitution' and 'identification' to describe these two aspects of the death of Christ. It is the 'inclusive' death of the Lord which puts me in a position to identify myself. therefore ours cannot be future. The Scripture has never told us that we shed our blood with Christ. But identification would suggest that the thing begins from our side: that I try to identify myself with the Lord. If I drop the book in the river the paper goes too. in spiritual terms. I agree that the word is true. The death of the Lord Jesus is inclusive. shed His Blood. (See: Romans 6:6. 5:24. All the references to it are in the Greek aorist. for it is in the book. And just as no man could ever commit suicide by crucifixion. 47 two remarkable names or titles are used of the Lord Jesus.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee paper remain here? Can the paper have a separate destiny from the book? No! Where the book goes the paper goes. We were crucified when He was crucified. No man could have a share in that. Our destiny is bound up with His. Now we will go to the end of the same letter to see something more of what this means. thus giving His sinless life to atone for our sin and to satisfy the righteousness and holiness of God. It is something God has done. The resurrection of the Lord Jesus is alike inclusive. no other could have a part.' "Of him are ye in Christ Jesus. He died as our Representative. when He died on the Cross. What He has gone through we have gone through. His Death and Resurrection Representative and Inclusive The Lord Jesus." The Lord God Himself has put us in Christ. so also. For that reason those two New Testament words "in Christ" are always very dear to my heart. Whatever experience the book goes through the paper goes through with it. In His death He included you and me. That we have died in Christ is not merely a doctrinal position. Galatians 2:20. and if I quickly take it out again I recover the paper also. the 'eternally past' tense. To do so was the prerogative of the Son of God alone. It is better to begin with the fact that the Lord included me in His death. but it should be used later on. He is spoken of 20 . But the Lord did not die only to shed His Blood: He died that we might die. for God put us there in Him. God does not require us to crucify ourselves. In I Corinthians 15:45. 6:14). I challenge you to find one text in the New Testament telling us that our crucifixion is in the future. it is an eternal fact. and in His dealing with Christ God has dealt with the whole race. We have looked at the first chapter of I Corinthians to establish the fact that we are "in Christ Jesus".
In the first place His union with the race as "the last Adam" began historically at Bethlehem and ended at the cross and the tomb. When therefore the Lord Jesus was crucified on the cross. "For if we have become united with him by the likeness of his death. and there too we are included. nor does it refer to Him as the last Man. Christ is the sum total of humanity. So we have here two unions. We were included there. as the second Man He is the Head of a new race. it never ends—for. we shall be also by the likeness of his resurrection" (Romans 6:5). as the second Man He brings in the new race. As the last Adam He wiped out the old race. In it He gathered up into Himself all that was in Adam and took it to judgment and death. All that was in the first Adam was gathered up and done away in Him. It is in His resurrection that He stands forth as the second Man. Scripture does not refer to Him as the second Adam but as "the last Adam". As the last Adam. The distinction is to be noted. the one relating to His death and the other to His resurrection. having in His death done away with the first man in whom God's purpose was frustrated. He was crucified as the last Adam. He rose again as Head of a new race of men. in whom that purpose shall be fully realized. we live in Him as the second Man.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee there as "the last Adam" and He is spoken of too as "the second man". but as "the second man". for it enshrines a truth of great value. In the second place our union with Him as "the second man" begins in resurrection and ends in eternity—which is to say. The Cross is thus the power of God which translates us from Adam to Christ. We died in Him as the last Adam. 21 .
(c) Presenting ourselves to God. As we study each of them we shall trust the Lord by His Holy Spirit to illumine our understanding. it becomes ours involuntarily. may seem unpractical. Our Death With Christ A Historic Fact Romans 6:1-11 is the passage before us now. There is no need to pray but only to praise. Not only have our sins been laid on Him but we ourselves have been put into Him. not one nor two nor three. But to say that all we need comes to us in Christ by free grace. you only thanked the Lord You did not beseech Him to come and die for you. and (d) Walking in the Spirit. In these verses it is made clear that the death of the Lord Jesus is representative and inclusive. Just as we cannot have justification if we have not seen Him bearing our sins on the Cross. though true enough. They are: (a) Knowing. How did you receive forgiveness? You realized that the Lord Jesus died as your Substitute and bore your sins upon Himself. Lord. it comes to us freely and despite ourselves. "Then believed they his words: they sang his praise" (Psalm 106:12). 22 . so we cannot have sanctification if we have not seen Him bearing us on the Cross. he is a new creature: the old things are passed away. 7 and 8 of Romans we shall discover that the conditions of living the normal Christian life are fourfold. The work is done. In His death we all died.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Chapter 3: The Path of Progress: Knowing Our old history ends with the Cross. and you were dealt with by His Cross. please crucify me'. the second Man. you died in Him. so that when Christ was crucified we were crucified also. for we have to do nothing to get it. 'Lord Jesus. (b) Reckoning. please come and die for my sins'? No. It is an accomplished fact. and that His Blood was shed to cleanse away your defilement. if we are 'in Christ' all that is in Christ comes to us by free grace. without effort on our part but on the ground of simple faith. If we are 'in Adam' all that is in Adam necessarily devolves upon us. You did not pray about your sins. In a similar way. Thus there is no need to pray: 'I am a very wicked person. you did not pray at all. But what is true of your forgiveness is also true of your deliverance. None of us can progress spiritually without seeing this. and they are set forth in that order. but all four. our new history begins with the resurrection. and out of death there is brought a new creation in Christ. That is all wrong. why pray now about yourself? Your sins were dealt with by His Blood. How does it work out in practice? How does it become real in our experience? As we study chapters 6. and we shall seek His help now to take the first big step forward. "If any man is in Christ. 5:17). Praise Him for it and live in the light of it. There is no need to make up our minds to lose our temper or to commit some other sin. God has put us all in Christ. The Cross terminates the first creation. behold they are become new" (2 Cor. If we would live that life we shall have to take all four of these steps. for you realized that He had already done it. All that is left for you to do is to praise the Lord that when Christ died you died also. When you saw your sins all taken away on the Cross what did you do? Did you say.
If you feel that Christ has died. and I with Him. You believe it because the Word of God tells you so. and that you have died is a fact also. 'I was crucified when Christ was crucified' or 'Christ was crucified when I was crucified'. the same Scripture that says He died for us says also that we died with Him. You have died! You are done with! You are ruled out! The self you loathe is on the Cross in Christ. That is the first statement. And "he that is dead is freed from sin" (Romans 6:7. reverently but with equal accuracy. A. because both are statements of fact. And if I believe in the death of the Lord Jesus. 23 . when He died in my stead. It does not depend on your feelings. but He bore me with Him to the Cross. may have tried to save yourselves. but only by accepting what the Lord Jesus did on the Cross. two thieves were crucified at the same time. 'I came here with my friend'. That Christ has died is a fact. So also in historic fact we can say. so that when He died I died. either. Well. but having come together you can make either statement with equal truth. prayed. for they are not two historical events. You read the Bible. Some of you came here in twos. can my crucifixion be said to take place tomorrow? Can His be past and mine be present or future? Praise the Lord. then I can believe in my own death just as surely as I believe in His. W.). You might say. Had one of you come three days ago and the other only today you could not possibly say that. You do not doubt that they were crucified with Him.e.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Do you believe in the death of Christ? Of course you do. 3 The expression "with him" in Romans 6:6 carries of course a doctrinal as well as historical. Some of you. and that is clear enough. When the Lord was crucified. but one. My crucifixion was "with him". you have died. for you were in Him when He died. You traveled to this place together. You believe in the death of the Lord Jesus and you believe in the death of the thieves with Him.V. that the two thieves have died is a fact. My friend came here with me'. Our crucifixion can never be made effective by will or by effort. This is the Gospel for Christians. you have never felt it. It is only in the historical sense that the statement is reversible. at the same time as) our old man'. Now what about your own death? Your crucifixion is more intimate than theirs. and if you do not feel that you have died. because the Scripture says so quite plainly. They were crucified at the same time as the Lord but on different crosses. He has died. but you might just as truly say. and if you do not feel that he died. Look at it again: "Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). If you feel that you have died. 3 Has Christ been crucified? Then can I be otherwise? And if He was crucified nearly two thousand years ago. "We died with Christ" (Romans 6:8). but is this any less clear? "Our old man was crucified with him" (Romans 6:6). How can you know? You can know for the one sufficient reason that God has said so. Why do you believe that the Lord Jesus died? What is your ground for that belief? Is it that you feel He has died? No.N. you have nevertheless just as surely died. or temporal sense. Let me tell you. He has died. whereas you were crucified on the self same cross as He. 'Christ was crucified with (i. Our eyes must be opened to see the finished work of Calvary. prior to your salvation. When are we crucified with Him? What is the date of our old man's crucifixion? Is it tomorrow? Yesterday? Today? In order to answer this it may help us if for a moment I turn Paul's statement round and say. These are Divine facts.
but that in setting you aside altogether God has done it all. God sets us free from the dominion of sin. and peace and joy flowed into your heart. and so we plead with the Lord to strengthen us that we may exercise more self-control. The idea that. not by strengthening our old man but by crucifying him. not by helping him to do anything but by removing him from the scene of action. For God's way of deliverance is altogether different from man's way. leads naturally to this false conception of the way of deliverance. The First Step: "Knowing This. Many Christians mourn over their weakness. you simply answer. maybe. you say. If I ask you how you know. But this is altogether wrong. thinking that if only they were stronger all would be well.. and perhaps this is still your experience. you just know it. What is true of the forgiveness of your sins is no less true of your deliverance from sin. something more is therefore demanded of us. and it is always so. 'I know it!' Such knowledge comes by Divine revelation. gave alms. When once the light of God dawns upon 24 . we say. It comes from the Lord Himself. but when once you see the truth you will recognize that you are indeed powerless to do anything. You just accepted that and thanked God. A light has shined into your inner being and you are wholly persuaded of the fact. this is not Christianity. That is surely rather a peculiar way of victory. Now salvation and sanctification are on exactly the same basis. Of course the fact of forgiveness of sins is in the Bible. then we naturally conclude that to gain the victory over sin we must have more power. you have tried fruitlessly to exercise control over yourself. You receive deliverance from sin in the same way as you receive forgiveness of sins.. God's means of delivering us from sin is not by making us stronger and stronger. but for the written Word of God to become a living Word from God to you He had to give you "a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him" (Eph. you 'see' it in your spirit. but by making us weaker and weaker.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee went to Church. How do you know your sins are forgiven? Is it because your pastor told you so? No. God's way is to remove the sinner. Then one day your eyes were opened and you saw that a full salvation had already been provided for you on the Cross. Man's way is to try to suppress sin by seeking to overcome it. 1:17). If we are preoccupied with the power of sin and with our inability to meet it. Such a revelation brings human self-effort to an end. when you know it in your own heart. which is not just knowing something about the truth nor understanding some important doctrine." The normal Christian life must begin with a very definite 'knowing'. So there comes a time. in regard to any new apprehension of Christ. but an opening of the eyes of the heart to see what we have in Christ. because failure to lead a holy life is due to our impotence. It is not intellectual knowledge at all. For years. 'If only I were stronger'. What you needed was to know Christ in that way. but it is the Divine way. 'I could overcome my violent outbursts of temper'.
' Then. For he knew that he must have the life of Christ flowing out through him and yet felt that he had not got it. until one day light dawned. I am part of Him and I have just to believe it and act upon it. I have seen it long enough in the Bible. It is not now because someone has told you. stem. he said. and unhappily many Christians are using their special experiences and their special scriptures to fight other Christians. is the secret: not asking how I am to get sap out of the Vine into myself. that our old man was crucified with him. You may not feel it. you may not understand it. flowers. for you have seen it. "Knowing this. but remembering that Jesus is the Vine—the root.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee your heart you see yourself in Christ. revelation came and he saw. entered into the normal Christian life it was thus that he did so. that is to say. leaves. fruit. how to draw the sap out of the Vine into himself. Each stresses his own particular way of entering in and produces Scripture to support his experience. branches. that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin" (Romans 6:6). and he saw clearly enough that his need was to be found in Christ. not of ourselves but of the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross. 'Here. the founder of the China Inland Mission. that the body of sin might be done away. twigs. but rather complementary. You know it because God has revealed it to you by His Spirit. 'that if only I could abide in Christ. but I could not. I feel. That is a crucial test and a safe one. in words of a friend that had helped him: 'I have not got to make myself a branch. Divine Revelation Essential To Knowledge So our first step is to seek from God a knowledge that comes by revelation—a revelation. If you ask a number of believers who have entered upon the normal Christian life how they came by their experience. One thing is certain. and not merely because Romans 6 says so. When Hudson Taylor. writing to his sister from Chinkiang in 1869. all indeed. and he writes to his sister again: 'I do not know how far I may 25 . You remember how he tells of his long-standing problem of how to live 'in Christ'. all would be well. some will say in this way and some will say in that.' It was as though something which had indeed been true all the time had now suddenly become true in a new way to him personally. but you know it. And here in our passage Paul makes everything depend upon such a discovery. The fact of the matter is that. 'I knew'. that any true experience of value in the sight of God must have been reached by way of a new discovery of the meaning of the Person and work of the Lord Jesus. nothing can shake your assurance of that blessed fact. while Christians may enter into the deeper life by different ways. Once you have seen yourself in Christ. so to speak. we need not regard the experiences or doctrines they stress as mutually exclusive. but I believe it now as a living reality. It is something more even than that. The Lord Jesus tells me I am a branch.' The more he tried to get in the more he found himself slipping out.
Now today you cannot say. 'He hasn't'. 'The Exchanged Life'.' 'Well. 4 The quotations are from Hudson Taylor and the China Inland Mission by Dr. we need not wait to die. we are dead. you just imagine for a moment that this thermos flask can pray. we make no effort to enter. but without success.. I am ashamed of myself. God in times past has already included you in Christ. I praise Thee that Thou hast already included me in Christ. 'the best thing a man can do is to pray. Wilt Thou make me to be a thermos flask? Lord. Light dawned for that man. and that it starts praying something like this: "Lord.. it is a thermos flask!' Then my brother said. what do you need to pray for?' we asked. so he need do nothing for his sanctification. now I see". all is new! In a word..The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee be able to make myself intelligible about it. 'do you get what you pray for?' 'I am sorry to say that I do not get anything'. trying to get the man to see that he could not have anything apart from Christ. I am dead and buried with Christ—aye. you merely need your eyes opened to see that He has done it all.' That is the point. 'It would be nonsense to pray like that. Do please make me one!" What will you say?' 'I do not think even a thermos flask would be so silly. I want to know this crucified life. 'for I am still losing my temper. 'So many are living beautiful. but I do not know it and see no way of getting there. 26 . you died.' 'Well'. and risen too and ascended. for there is nothing new or strange or wonderful—and yet. Much of our praying for ourselves is just because we are blind to what God has done. The whole passage should be read. and this brother picked it up and said. With tears in his eyes he said.' our friend replied.. We need not work to die. the joy of seeing this truth—I do pray that the eyes of your understanding may be enlightened. and the two of us had been talking for two hours or so. We only need to recognize what the Lord has already done and to praise Him for it." The Lord simply looks at you and says.' Another brother was with us. and tells me to reckon myself so. There was a thermos flask on the table. I want very much to be a thermos flask. the man replied.' 4 Oh. and Mrs. We tried to point out that. came in and joined us.' 'But if God has already given you everything. saintly lives.. you lived. it is a great thing to see that we are in Christ! Think of the bewilderment of trying to get into a room in which you already are! Think of the absurdity of asking to be put in! If we recognize the fact that we are in. he replied. 'Lord. I call myself a Christian and yet when I compare myself with others I feel I am not one at all. "I want to die. "You are dead! You have new life!" All your praying is just as absurd as that of the thermos flask. give me grace to become a thermos flask. Said our friend. when He lived. Oh. Just then a third brother. so I must pray more. this resurrection life. that you may know and enjoy the riches freely given us in Christ. we said. I remember one day in Shanghai I was talking with a brother who was very exercised concerning his spiritual state. just as he had done nothing for his justification.. 'You are doing the same thing. still failing constantly. much used of the Lord. "whereas once I was blind. God reckons me so.—Ed. I want to be crucified. Howard Taylor. I want to have resurrection life. You do not need to pray to the Lord for anything. He said. If we had more revelation we should have fewer prayers and more praises. He knows best. 'What is this?' 'A thermos flask. Chapter 12. When He died.
" says Paul.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee All that is His is mine!' Revelation had come and faith had something to lay hold of. I feel I cannot press this point too much for we must see it. must be closed down if the drink question is to be permanently settled. "That our old man was crucified with him. We are the factory. They have been dealt with. but how are we going to be dealt with? Do you believe the Lord would cleanse away all our sins and then leave us to get rid of the sin-producing factory? Do you believe He would put away the goods produced but leave us to deal with the source of production? To ask this question is but to answer it. The finished work of Christ really has gone to the root of our problem and dealt with it. No. "Knowing this. 6:6). would that meet the case? Surely not. Of course He has not done half the work and left the other half undone. but behind those bottles of strong drink are the factories that produce them. that the body of sin might be done away. that the government of your country should wish to deal drastically with the question of strong drink and should decide that the whole country was to go 'dry'. He has done away with the goods and also made a clean sweep of the factory that produces the goods. what a change you would have found! The Cross Goes To The Root Of Our Problem Let me remind you again of the fundamental nature of that which the Lord has done on the Cross. the breweries and distilleries throughout the land. our actions are the products. how could the decision be carried into effect? How could we help? If we were to search every shop and house throughout the land and smash all the bottles of wine or beer or brandy we came across. that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin" (Rom. production will still continue and there is no permanent solution of the problem. but do you know it? "Or are ye ignorant?" (Rom. May the Lord graciously open our eyes. but would God have stopped there? What about the question of what we are? Our sins were produced by us. "Knowing this"! Yes. The Blood of the Lord Jesus dealt with the question of the products. our sins. and if we only deal with the bottles and leave the factories untouched. So the question of what we have done is settled. namely. We might thereby rid the land of every drop of alcoholic liquor it contains. 27 . for the sake of illustration. There are no half measures with God. The drink-producing factories. 6:3). Suppose. and if you could have met that brother later on.
but I could not make out why nothing resulted from it. It is final. then we reckon spontaneously. the further away death was: I could not get at it. I will not preach any more. once-for-all. 'Lord. This is what we need to know. but nothing came through. 'If this is not clear. as though that were the starting point. clearly. and the more I read Romans 6:11 and tried to reckon. Read them together: 'Knowing that our old man was crucified. Our reckoning must be based on knowledge of divinely revealed fact. They have not first had a Spirit-given revelation of the fact." The sequence is most important. that our old man was crucified with Him". and at times I fasted. yet they try to reckon and soon they get into all sorts of difficulties. When temptation comes they begin to reckon furiously: 'I am dead. "Knowing this. whereas it should rather be upon knowing ourselves to be dead. Unfortunately. and the issue will be sure defeat. I have to confess that for months I was troubled. It concerns what follows this knowledge. I will cease to do anything. then the next step is to reckon it so. and he can never be un-crucified. . for otherwise faith has no foundation on which to rest. is the natural sequel to verse 6. So in teaching this matter we should not over-emphasize reckoning. I am dead!' but in the very act of reckoning they lose their temper.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Chapter 4: The Path of Progress: Reckoning We now come to a matter on which there has been some confusion of thought among the Lord's children.. This. that unless we know for a fact that we are dead with Christ. I said to the Lord. what follows? Look again at our passage. So it comes to this. I want first of all to get thoroughly clear here. I remember one morning—that morning was a real morning and one I can never forget—I was upstairs sitting at my desk reading the Word and praying. The tense of the verb is most precious for it puts the event right back there in the past. I simply could not believe myself dead and I could not produce the death.' For months I was seeking. and I said. When we know. Note again first of all the wording of Romans 6:6: "Knowing this. when we know this. Then they say. I will not go out to serve Thee any more. When we know that our old man has been crucified with Christ. The more I reckoned that I was dead to sin. reckon ye yourselves to be dead'. if I cannot be brought to see this which is so very fundamental. The next command is in verse 11: "Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin". I fully appreciated the teaching that I must reckon. The thing has been done and cannot be undone.. That is the order. Then.. People are always trying to reckon without knowing. Our old man has been crucified once and for ever. the more alive I clearly was. Romans 6:11 is no good. I reckoned from 1920 until 1927. 'It doesn't work. reckon.' And we have to admit that verse 11 is no good without verse 6. For years after my conversion I had been taught to reckon. the more we reckon the more intense will the struggle become.. in presenting the truth of our union with Christ the emphasis has too often been placed upon this second matter of reckoning ourselves to be dead. open my eyes!' And 28 . God's Word makes it clear that 'knowing' is to precede 'reckoning'. I am dead. Whenever I sought help from others I was told to read Romans 6:11.
so I went on: 'Do you not know that Christ has died? Do you not know that I died with Him? Do you not know that my death is no less truly a fact than His?' Oh it was so real to me! I longed to go through the streets of Shanghai shouting the news of my discovery. I saw that I was in Him. I 29 . of one word too much or too little. when we try to tell some incident with the best intention to be honest and truthful. We need to have our eyes opened to the fact of our union with Christ.. because I am dead—because I see now what God has done with me in Christ—therefore I reckon myself to be dead. one plus one equals two. 'do you know that I have died?' I must admit he looked puzzled. That is true in London and it is true in Cape Town. for it is with this as basis that we shall go on. and we ought to be equally clear as to the time when we saw that we died with Christ. 1:17. 16:17. 'Brother'. first of all. I do not mean to say that we need not work that out. fair approximations. From that day to this I have never for one moment doubted the finality of that word: "I have been crucified with Christ". I was carried away with such joy at this great discovery that I jumped from my chair and cried. What. I saw that the question of my death was a matter of the past and not of the future. The whole thing had dawned upon me. I saw my oneness with Christ. 'Praise the Lord. I am dead!' I ran downstairs and met one of the brothers helping in the kitchen and I laid hold of him. and that when He died I died. Yes. Suppose I have fifteen shillings in my pocket. If you travel west to New York or east to Singapore it is still the same. Why does God say we are to reckon ourselves dead? Because we are dead. is the secret of reckoning? To put it in one word. What then can a man do that is utterly reliable? Arithmetic! There is no scope for error there. but very definite. we cannot speak with complete accuracy. Eph. The Second Step: "Even So Reckon. is the basis of it.. indefinite thing. I have been crucified: it has been done. Most of us can remember the day when we saw clearly that Christ died for us. Such revelation is no vague. All the world over and for all time. what do I enter in my account-book? Can I enter fourteen shillings and sixpence or fifteen shillings and sixpence? No. It is that. Can he do it with perfect accuracy? Can the historian vouch for the absolute accuracy of any record. We need revelation from God Himself (Matt." What does reckoning mean? 'Reckoning' in Greek means doing accounts book-keeping. It should be nothing hazy. at best. It is not reckoning toward death but from death. and that is something more than knowing it as a doctrine. it is revelation. 18). Let us keep to the analogy of accounting. Accounting is the only thing in the world we human beings can do correctly. Even in everyday speech. then. One plus one is two in heaven and earth and hell. 'What do you mean?' he said. One chair plus one chair equals two chairs. It is mostly a case of exaggeration or understatement. I said. and therefore I will be dead. but this. That is the right kind of reckoning.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee then in a flash I saw it. and that I was just as truly dead as He was because I was in Him when He died. there is an outworking of the death which we are going to see presently. An artist paints a landscape. or the map-maker for the perfect correctness of any map? They can make. It is not that I reckon myself to be dead.
" There is a definite attitude to be taken. 5:1). Paul said. You look to the Lord. the forgiveness of our sins. It is not really so. For such mental gymnastics the word 'reckoning' would be inappropriate. Accounting is the reckoning of facts. I have fifteen shillings. for where the words 'faith' and 'believe' drop out the work 'reckon' takes their place. If I have only twelve shillings." Never forget that it is always and only true in Christ. I believe in Thee. but because we are dead. God could not ask me to put down in my account-book what was not true. that revelation leads spontaneously to reckoning. and it might at first appear that the emphasis is therefore different. We are justified by faith in Him (Rom. and peace with God are all ours by faith. not that by the process of reckoning we may become dead.. What relates to the future is hope rather than faith. God asks us to do the account. He could not ask me to reckon that I am dead if I am still alive. 'Lord. Reckoning and faith are here practically the same thing. 3:28. But in the second section of Romans we do not find the same repeated mention of faith. It always has its foundations in the past. on the other hand. nor will it make what is untrue true..The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee must enter in my account-book that which is in fact in my pocket. I have fifteen shillings'. The Reckoning Of Faith The first four-and-a-half chapters of Romans speak of faith and faith and faith. When the Lord Jesus was on the cross. but alive unto God. it is a fact that I have fifteen shillings in my pocket. I was there in Him. and know what He has done. we must not lose sight of the fact that we are presented with a command: "Reckon ye. I reckon and declare that I have died in Him. although faith often has its object or goal in the future. as in Hebrews 11. I reckon upon the fact in Thee. Even so. If you look at yourself you will think death is not there. to put down 'I have died' and then to abide by it. Perhaps for this reason the word chosen here is 'reckon'. then. it is because I am really dead that God tells me to account it so. do you think that the mental effort involved will in any way affect the sum that is in my pocket? Not a bit of it! Reckoning will not make twelve shillings into fifteen shillings. having found that I have only twelve shillings in my pocket. He never told us to reckon what was not a fact. not fancies. but it is a question of faith not in yourself but in Him. I hope that by entering fifteen shillings incorrectly in my account-book such 'reckoning' will somehow remedy the deficiency. It won't. "Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin." How is this possible? "In Christ Jesus. Therefore I reckon it to be true. God tells us to reckon ourselves dead. we might rather speak of 'mis-reckoning'! Reckoning is not a form of make-believe. then with great ease and assurance I can enter fifteen shillings in my account-book. yet try to reckon to myself: 'I have fifteen shillings. Righteousness. Having said.' Stand there all the day. What is faith? Faith is my acceptance of God's fact. It is a word that 30 . and without faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ none can possess them. however. Why? Because it is a fact. It does not mean that. But if.
The emphasis is not different. believe that ye have received them. then. for practical purposes." The statement there is that. (Compare Gen. Only that which relates to the past is faith in this sense. How does God state that deliverance is effected? Well. Those who say 'God can' or 'God may' or 'God must' or 'God will' do not necessarily believe at all. we are not told that sin as a principle in us is rooted out or removed. we discover the old desires rising up again? Worse still. God tells us to reckon upon the second fact for our deliverance. So that. of course. in the first place. the two greatest facts in history are these: that all our sins are dealt with by the Blood. and that we ourselves are dealt with by the Cross. When the first fact was revealed to us we believed on Him for our justification. But what now of the matter of temptation? What is to be our attitude when. do I have faith in regard to my crucifixion? Not when I say God can. or must crucify me. What about it? Can you call this death?' When that happens. and have reckoned it so. as it is entered initially. after we have seen and believed these facts. 'God has done it'. or the intangible facts of the spiritual realm which are neither seen nor scientifically proved? Now we must be careful. one of the Devil's main objects is always to make us doubt the Divine facts. Are you going to believe the tangible facts of the natural realm which are clearly before your eyes. that we are indeed dead with Christ. and not forward to as yet to be. When. The Challenge To Faith For us. or will. then 'you shall have them'. by revelation of the Spirit of God. or even that you will get it. It is important for us to recall again what are facts stated in God's Word for faith to lay hold of and what are not. Temptation And Failure. 3:4) After we have seen. he will come and say: 'There is something moving inside. but when with joy I say. therefore. in Christ I am crucified!' In Romans 3 we see the Lord Jesus bearing our sins and dying as our Substitute that we might be forgiven. To reckon on that will be to miscalculate altogether and find ourselves in the false position of the man we considered earlier. This is the kind of faith described in Mark 11:24: "All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for. and ye shall have them.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee relates only to the past—to what we look back to as settled. in Christ). This is faith—to believe that you have already got it. by faith in Divine fact: in Christ and His Cross. who tried to put down the twelve shillings in his pocket as fifteen shillings 31 . The normal Christian life is lived progressively. if you believe that you already have received your requests (that is. what if we fall once more into known sin? What if we lose our temper. or that you can get it. To believe that you may get something. 'Praise God. 'reckoning' in the second section of Romans takes the place of 'faith' in the first section. or worse? Is the whole position set forth above proved thereby to be false? Now remember. what will be our answer? The crucial test is just here. Faith always says. In Romans 6 we see ourselves included in the death whereby He secured our deliverance. is not faith in the sense meant here.
That is why we shall always need to know the operation of the precious Blood. the old master. Thus we can say that 'deliverance from sin' is a more scriptural idea than 'victory over sin'. It is from the Creek root argos. which is. will overpower us and cause us to commit sins again. may easily mislead us. we find instead that God deals with this indirectly. but the slave who served him has been put to death and so is out of reach and his members are unemployed. But there is a great difference between the nature and the history of a thing. By it John is not telling us that sin is now no longer in our history and that we shall not again commit sin. and because of this the body. just as sins in our history are historic facts. The gambler's hand is unemployed. but of course in history it will do so if a hand hold it under water.5 Sin. But whereas we know that. whether consciously or unconsciously.. 'unprofitable'.) does not mean 'annihilated'. but 'put out of operation'. Sin is still there. is unemployed (Romans 6:6). which before had been a vehicle of sin. So it is a question of our choice of which facts we will count upon and live by: the tangible facts of daily experience or the mightier fact that we are now 'in Christ'. but the matter still rests upon our making real in history what is true in Divine fact. He does not remove the sin but the sinner.—Ed. wrongly understood. he cannot sin" (1 John 3:9). "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for. 'inactive'. What is 'in Christ' cannot sin. 6 of the unemployed laborers in the market place. The life of Christ has been planted in us by new birth and its nature is not to commit sin. 1:16). which is the word translated 'idle' in Matthew 20:3.V.. and. 'not working'.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee in his account-book. I think we all know that Hebrews 11:1 is the only definition of faith in the New Testament. It is important 5 The verb katargeo translated 'destroyed' in Romans 6:6 (A. The history is a fact. The power of His resurrection is on our side. in dealing with sins committed. 'made ineffective'. the proving of things not seen" (Heb. sin is not eradicated. 11:1). to blot them out of remembrance by means of the Blood. but the nature is a fact also. 32 . No. God's method is direct. what is in Adam can sin and will do so whenever Satan is given a chance to exert his power. however. The expressions "freed from sin" and "dead unto sin" in Romans 6:7 and 11 imply deliverance from a power that is still very present and very real—not from something that no longer exists. but we are knowing deliverance from its power in increasing measure day by day. It is very much there. This deliverance is so real that John can boldly write: "Whosoever is begotten of God doeth no sin. a statement that. is still about. and "the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor. the swearer's tongue is unemployed. given the opportunity. when we come to the principle of sin and the matter of deliverance from its power. Our old man was crucified with Him. or indeed in the Scriptures. and so is the new nature that we have received in Christ. To illustrate this (though the illustration is an inadequate one) we might say that wood 'cannot' sink. and these members are now available to be used instead "as instruments of righteousness unto God" (Romans 6:13). He is saying that to sin is not in the nature of that which is born of God. for it is not its nature to do so. 4:18). and there is a great difference between the nature of the life within us and our history. and the whole might of God is at work in our salvation (Rom.
You are familiar with the common English translation of these words. violet. and their reality is unaffected by whether or not I am able to appreciate them. To faith it is true. For six nights I had high fever and could find no sleep. blue. yellow. 'Substantiating' means that I have a certain power or faculty that makes that substance to be real to me. Do you know the difference between substance and 'substantiating'? A substance is an object. and these colours are real things. That is the meaning of 'substantiating'. Let us take a simple illustration. We have colours: red. but facts are facts and they remain facts whether we believe them or not. are eternal and therefore real. Faith makes the real things to become real in my experience. If I am blind I cannot distinguish colour. are two of my faculties which substantiate to me the world of light and sound. Then at length God gave me from the Scripture a personal word of healing. By means of our senses we can take things of the world of nature and transfer them into our consciousness so that we can appreciate them. but I have the power to 'substantiate' it. something before me. But if I shut my eyes. the word in the Greek has in it the sense of an action and not just of some thing. green. and that is faith. it is not true. Now we are considering here the things which. and because of this I expected all symptoms of sickness to vanish at once. Sight and hearing. The promises of God are revealed to us by His Spirit that we may lay hold of them. We cannot live in the world without doing so. but faith can 'substantiate' them and make them real in our experience. Instead of that. How do we 'substantiate' something? We are doing so every day. or to mere mental assent apart from spiritual illumination. However. not because it may not be in itself a very real fact to our senses but because God has stated a greater fact before which the other must eventually yield. and I was not only sleepless but more restless than ever. but they are valueless to us. That is much better. describing faith as "the substance of things hoped for" (A. then to me the colour is no longer real.). Some years ago I was ill. Whatever contradicts the truth of God's Word we are to regard as the Devil's lie. Hundreds of thousands of people are reading Romans 6:6: "Our old man was crucified with him". It does not need faith to make these things real in themselves.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee that we should really understand that definition. If we do not believe the facts of the Cross they still remain as real as ever. Darby is especially good in regard to this word: "Faith is the substantiating of things hoped for". to doubt.V. it is simply nothing— to me. not a wink of sleep could I get. I once had an experience which (though not applicable in detail to the present matter) illustrates this principle. It is not only that the colour is there. Let us remember again that we are dealing here not with promises but with facts. Of course we cannot substantiate Divine things with any of our natural senses. My 33 . the things of Christ. It implies the making of them real in experience. or if I lack the faculty of hearing I cannot enjoy music. a 'substance'. though they are not seen. and I confess I have personally spent a number of years trying to find a correct word to translate this. Yet music and colour are in fact real things. for example.N. Faith 'substantiates' to me the things of Christ. but there is one faculty which can substantiate the "things hoped for". I have the power to make that colour true to me and to give it reality in my consciousness. But the New Translation of J.
' In five minutes I was asleep. and we cannot expect him to stop at words in his lying. I am dead with Christ. Nee. But I am speaking here of our being moved from a revealed position in Christ. but was rebuked. Fact would triumph over fiction. Let me make it clear that I do not deny the reality of the 'flesh'. Nee and when I forget it I am still Mr. Will we believe Satan's lie or God's truth? Are we going to be governed by appearances or by what God says? I am Mr. We must believe God. no matter how convincing Satan's arguments appear. 'This sleeplessness is a lie. But whether I feel like it or not. How can I be sure? Because Christ has died. Indeed we shall have a good deal more to say about this further on in our study. 'You are Miss K. Nee. Nee and when I am awake I am Mr. It is a fact upon which I can confidently count. then 34 . Nee!' I should be caught out and should answer to my own name. and God's Word to me is truth. Now of course. and since "one died for all. It is a fact which nothing I experience or fail to experience can alter. The Devil is a skillful liar. this headache is a lie. So also. assured that He cannot do injustice to His work or His Word. 'Mr. this fever is a lie. this high pulse is a lie. 'Where is God's promise? Where is your faith? What about all your prayers?' So I was tempted to thrash the whole matter out in prayer again. In view of what God has said to me. A skillful liar lies not only in word but in gesture and deed. Nee. and all my reckoning would break down at that crucial moment. but if we rest unshaken in the assurance of God's stated fact. things would be much more difficult. Now of course in a particular personal matter such as the above it might be quite possible for me to deceive myself as to what God had said. Nee and therefore I have no difficulty whatever in reckoning myself to be Mr. my pulse beat faster and my head ached more severely than before. then his object is secured and he has us in his power. and I awoke the following morning perfectly well. As soon as we have accepted our death with Christ as a fact.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee temperature rose higher. Nee. when I am sleeping I am Mr. Nee. I should have to keep saying to myself all the time. While I stand upon that fact Satan cannot prevail against me. now be sure to remember that you are Miss K. the fact remains unchanged. So we must choose. or I might dream that I am some other person. The enemy asked. If he can get us to doubt God's Word.. were I to pretend to be someone else. Nee. I know that I am Mr. he can as easily pass a bad coin as tell an untruth. Remember that his attack is always upon our assurance. If I were to try and pose as Miss K. If God' Word is truth.' and despite much reckoning the likelihood would be that when I was off my guard and someone called. all these symptoms of sickness are just your lies. It is of course possible that I might lose my memory and forget that I am Mr. and this Scripture came to mind: "Thy word is truth" (John 17:17). then what are these symptoms? They must all be lies! So I declared to the enemy. He will resort to lying signs and feelings and experiences in his attempts to shake us from our faith in God's Word. but of the fact of the Cross there can never be any such question. therefore all died" (2 Cor.. 5:14). Satan will do his best to demonstrate convincingly by the evidence of our day-to-day experience that we are not dead at all but very much alive. when I remember it I am Mr. I thought. whether I feel it or not. Whether my experience proves it or seems to disprove it. But I am Mr.
The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee it does not matter what tactics Satan adopts. that is just the place where it is not to be found. he lost his balance and tumbled off the wall. Abiding In Him Now although we have already spent long on this matter. and poor old Experience fell down after him. to take our eyes off the Lord and to take account of appearances. It is our occupation with Christ that has this result. and faith is always the 'substantiating' of eternal fact—of something eternally true. We are not told to get there. but as soon as he became concerned about Experience and turned to see how he was getting on. we shall find Satan's lies are often enough true to our experience. Faith is always meeting a mountain. It was God's own act that put us in Christ. That is the mark of maturity. for it means that He becomes progressively real to us on concrete issues. but if we refuse to accept as binding anything that contradicts God's Word and maintain an attitude of faith in Him alone. there is a further thing that may help to make it clearer to us. I could well afford to do the same. not by appearance" (2 Cor. we can well afford to laugh at him. Faith and Experience walking along the top of a wall. a mountain of evidence that seems to contradict God's Word. We are dead not in ourselves but in Christ. In a given situation we see Him as real holiness. We were crucified with Him because we were in Him. but the trouble is that many a time the mountain stays and faith goes. and we are to abide in Him. If we resort to our senses to discover the truth. a mountain of apparent contradiction in the realm of tangible fact—of failures in deed. That is what Paul means by his words to the Galatians: "I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you" (4:19). We are familiar with the words of the Lord Jesus. mg). but nowhere do they say that we are dead in ourselves. "We walk by faith. Nee. 5:7. the Scriptures declare that we are "dead indeed". and I in you" (John 15:4). First they remind us once again that we have never to struggle to get into Christ. You probably know the illustration of Fact. If anyone should try to persuade me that I am not Mr. "Abide in me. 35 . Fact walked steadily on. That must not be. as well as in the realm of feeling and suggestion—and either faith or the mountain has to go. All temptation is primarily to look within. We shall look in vain to find death within. real resurrection life—for us. What we see in Him objectively now operates in us subjectively—but really —to manifest Him in us in that situation. we shall find instead that Satan's lies begin to dissolve and that our experience is coming progressively to tally with that Word. Let us consider them for a moment. Faith is 'substantiating' God's facts. They cannot both stand. Faith followed and all went well so long as he kept his eyes focused upon Fact. for we are told to stay there where we have been placed. turning neither to right nor left and never looking behind.
What God has done in His gracious purpose is to include us in Christ. anything that is not from Him in this way is an experience that is going to evaporate very soon. 'There was a day when George Muller died'. each branch trying to produce something of its own without reference to the vine. which is that God has done the work in Christ and not in us as individuals. 6. and another branch tried to bear grapes with a green skin. and yet another branch grapes with a very dark purple skin. How about that? Well. It is not that God effects something within us so that we can say. Then. God does not intend that we should acquire something exclusively personal in our experience. No. It is something that has already been effected. What we call 'our' experience is only our entering into His history and His experience.' Oh it is a great thing to know the facts of Christ as the foundation for our experience. this verse lays down for us a Divine principle. in association with Him. 'Last Wednesday I asked for a definite experience and I have got it'. that we were quickened. that is not the way. It is not just something that is still to be effected in us (though it is that. It would be odd if one branch of a vine tried to bear grapes with a reddish skin. I am not questioning the reality of the spiritual experiences we go through nor the importance of 36 . 2:10). of course). then. The Scriptures tell us that we were crucified "with Him". it is mine! I possess it. Col. 'I died with Christ last March' or 'I was raised from the dead on January 1st. of resurrections as something. bowing himself down to the ground. It has already been experienced by Christ. unthinkable. Eph. So God's basic principle in leading us on experimentally is not to give us something. raised. and they never stop to think that the whole is related to a Person. in dealing with the Head He has dealt with all the members. Yet certain Christians are seeking experiences as experiences. only as the Lord opens our eyes to see the Person do we have any true experience. Praise the Lord. No. It is impossible. 1937. I do not seek experiences in themselves as in this present year of grace. some of us have passed through real crises in our lives. In the Scriptures we find that no Christian experience exists as such. 6:6. and apart from Him. The character of the branches is determined by the vine. It is the history of Christ which is to become the experience apart from Him. because it is in Thee.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee But further. It is altogether wrong for us to think that we can experience anything of the spiritual life in ourselves merely. The all-inclusive death and the all-inclusive resurrection of God's Son were accomplished fully and finally apart from us in the first place.' or even. For instance George Muller could say. 2:5. It is not to bring us through something. what about the crises so many of us have passed through? True. and that we are complete "in Him" (Rom. They think of crucifixion as something. some will say. Lord. and He is not willing to effect anything like that for you and me. 'I have discovered that in Christ. In dealing with Christ God has dealt with the Christian. All the spiritual experience of the Christian is already true in Christ. Time must not be allowed to dominate my thinking here. Every true spiritual experience means that we have discovered a certain fact in Christ and have entered into that. and set by God in the heavenlies "in Him". and as a result to put something into us which we can call 'our experience'. of ascension as something.
' Satan is always trying to get us out. There is a reading-lamp on the table beside you. 'Lord. and by temptations. 9. and that is the way of deliverance. there is an objective and a subjective side to God's working. Our first thought is that. judging by the feelings we now have. to convince us that we are out. You would like to have the light on in order to read. in bondage to sin" (Rom. if we were in Christ. All that they have is only an entering into what God has already done. to keep us out. and where before "sin reigned" (Rom. I have already stressed the need for us to be quite as definite ourselves about such crisis in our own lives.. But the point is that God does not give individuals individual experiences. and therefore. but when we look over there to the Lord. It is in Christ. As we stand steadfastly on the ground of what Christ is. It makes room for the operation of His superior power—the power of resurrection (Rom. That is to say. we must be out of Him. and I in you. We are "alive unto God" (Rom.. we are incorporated into Christ. We need to dwell upon the objective—"abide in me"—and to let God take care of the subjective. the "I in you" is the outcome of our abiding in Him. you get up and cross over to the other side of the room where the switch is on 37 . It is the 'realizing' in time of eternal things. The entire work regarding us is not done in us here but in Christ. We need to guard against being over-anxious about the subjective side of things. and the subjective side depends upon the objective. I will abide in Him. 11). God has done all in His Son. If we get there in faith we have everything. Even eternal life is not given to us as individuals: the life is in the Son. we do not have a separate history from His. indeed. 5:21) we make now the joyful discovery that we are truly "no longer.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee crises to which God brings us in our walk with Him. 'God has put me in Christ. You are in a room and it is growing dark. "Abide in me. if we return back here we find nothing. We have only to look within to find we are very much alive to sin. And this He has undertaken to do. to make us feel acutely that we are outside of Christ. The history of Christ becomes our experience and our spiritual history. So often we go to the wrong place to find the death of self. put me into Christ'. 10)—so that the facts of Christ do progressively become the facts of our daily experience. But how is it so? Because it opens the way for God to take a hand in our lives and to work the thing out in us. and so we begin to pray. we should not be in this state. God sees to it that death works here but that "newness of life" is ours also. and He has included us in Him. 6:4. and therefore all that is true of Him is true of me. No! God's injunction is to "abide" in Christ. and so becoming turned in upon ourselves. and "he that hath the Son hath the life". If instead we come onto the ground of what we are in ourselves we will find that all that is true of the old nature remains true of us. Now the point of all this is that there is a very real practical value in the stand of faith that says. failures. I have illustrated this from the electric light. What do you do? Do you watch it intently to see if the light will come on? Do you take a cloth and polish the bulb? No. He does no separate work in individuals apart from what He has done there. suffering. trial. 6:6). 6:4. we find that all that is true of Him is becoming experimentally true in us." This is a double sentence: a command coupled with a promise.
Look at Christ and see yourself in Him. 3:18 mg. As the apostle Paul puts it. the same beareth much fruit" (John 15:5).. are transformed into the same image" (2 Cor. The same principle holds good in the matter of fruitfulness of life: "He that abideth in me. "We all. So in our walk with the Lord our attention must be fixed on Christ. Our business is to look away to Him.. Rest in the fact that God has put you in His Son.' It was the work of God to put you there and He has done it. 6:14). beholding. 38 .The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee the wall and you turn the current on..). It is for Him to make good the glorious promise that "sin shall not have dominion over you" (Rom. Abide in Him.. Now stay there! Do not be moved back onto your own ground. the glory of the Lord. and live in the expectation that He will complete His work in you. Never look at yourself as though you were not in Christ. and I in him. "Abide in me. Faith in the objective facts make those facts true subjectively. As we do so He undertakes to fulfill His Word in us. How do we abide? 'Of God are ye in Christ Jesus. and I in you" is the Divine order. We do not try to produce fruit or concentrate upon the fruit produced. You turn your attention to the source of power and when you have taken the necessary action there the light comes on here.
and of which realm we belong to. Unless we are created anew we can never fit into the new realm. But Satan. Do we belong to the old creation or the new? Are we born of the flesh or of the Spirit? Our ultimate suitability for the new realm hinges on the question of origin. he is a new creature (mg. and the resurrection was the means He employed to impart to us all that was necessary for our life in that new world. He must make of us new creatures. something altogether new for Himself. working through man's flesh.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Chapter 5: The Divide of the Cross The kingdom of this world is not this kingdom of God. However educated. The question is not 'good' or bad?' but 'flesh or Spirit?' "That which is born of the flesh is flesh". namely. Two Creations Thus. God must do something new in us. leaves us in no doubt as to which of these two realms is now in fact ours. "If any man is in Christ. in Satan's hands. It is a question now of these two rival realms. 'there is a new creation'): the old things are passed away. Our fitness for the new kingdom is determined by the creation to which we belong. the old kingdom or the old world can be transferred to the new. He tells us that God. but He could not bring us as we were into that which He had purposed. neither doth corruption inherit incorruption" (John 3:6. of course. then we shall see clearly that we can never bring any contribution from the old realm into that new thing. 17). God wanted to have us for Himself. behold. however cultured. and it will never be anything else. 1:12. He has in fact become "the prince of this world" (John 12:31). "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. 1:16. flesh is still flesh. so He first did away with us by the Cross of Christ. however improved it be. a new kingdom and a new world. the first creation has become the old creation. and. Being now new creatures with a new nature and a new set of faculties. God had in His heart a world-system a universe of His creating—which should be headed up in Christ His Son (Col. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh". That which is of the old creation can never pass over into the new. and then by resurrection provided a new life for us. we can enter the new kingdom and the new world. and God's primary concern is now no longer with that but with a second and new creation. But in order to bring us into His new kingdom. they are become new" (2 Cor. and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love" (Col. in redemption. "We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death: that 39 . 5:17). and nothing of the old creation. He is bringing in a new creation. The apostle Paul. 15:50). has set up instead a rival system known in Scripture as "this world"—a system in which we are involved and which he himself dominates. The Cross was the means God used to bring to an end 'the old things' by setting aside altogether our 'old man'. 1 Cor. Once we really understand what God is seeking. "delivered us out of the power of darkness. 13).
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). ending one creation. In other words. This is the figure developed by Peter when he writes of the eight souls who were "saved through water" (1 Peter 3:20). Then God made. in figure. It was not so much that they were personally not drowned. 6:14). and I unto the world" (Gal. Then Peter goes on: "Which also after a true likeness (mg. We are involved in Satan's world-system. says Paul. The greatest negative in the universe is the Cross. even baptism" (verse 21). You may be a good man in the old creation. "Believe on the Lord Jesus. 4). but as long as you belong to the old you are under sentence of death. The Cross is God's declaration that all that is of the old creation must die. And he "was baptized. by that aspect of the Cross which is figured in baptism you are delivered from this present evil world. but your world is drowned. "the world hath been crucified unto me. and. the better. 'in the antitype') doth now save you. The sooner we see that. So the resurrection stands at the threshold of the new creation. you too have been crucified with Christ!' None of us can escape that verdict. said Paul at Philippi. Entering into the ark. immediately" 40 . To be saved is to make our exit from his world-system into God's In the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. 6:4). We have now two worlds before us. and that the resurrection introduces all that pertains to the second. you come up in Christ. We cannot speak scripturally of 'baptismal regeneration' but we may speak of 'baptismal salvation'. you confirm this. because nothing of the old can go over to the new. having in view a new one (Rom. you who belong to the old creation are all included in that. You go down into the water and your world. goes down with you. Noah and those with him stepped by faith out of that old corrupt world into a new one. Everything that had its beginning before resurrection must be wiped out. God gathered up in the Person of His Son all that was of Adam and crucified Him. for through it God brought into being all He will have in the new sphere. What is the significance of these words? Baptism in Scripture is associated with salvation. it all ends there. but to the cosmos or world-system. It is a blessed thing to see that the Cross ends all that belongs to the first regime. "Are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death" (Rom.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father. the old and the new. Resurrection is God's new starting-point. and "spake the word of the Lord" to the jailer and his household. by your baptism in water. so we also might walk in newness of life" (Rom. but it is also baptism "into Christ Jesus". This brings us to the subject of baptism. Nothing of the first Adam can pass beyond the Cross. That is salvation. for with it God wiped out everything that was not of Himself: the greatest positive in the universe is the resurrection. so in Him all that was of Adam was done away. What is salvation? It relates not to our sins nor to the power of sin. In the old. he and all his. for it is by the Cross that God has made a way of escape for us from that old creation. but that they were out of that corrupt system. and thou shalt be saved". as it were. It is baptism "into his death". a proclamation throughout the universe saying: 'Through the Cross I have set aside all that is not of Me. 6:3). Satan has absolute dominion. 6:3.
Burial Means An End Peter goes on now to describe baptism in the passage just quoted as "the answer of a good conscience toward God" (1 Peter 3:21 A. a Cross that includes you and me. they try to die by getting themselves buried! Let me say emphatically that. what are you going to say to that?' What is my answer? 'Lord. As a result. Thus it is clear that baptism is no mere question of a cup of water. But who qualifies for burial? Only the dead! So if I ask for baptism I proclaim myself dead and fit only for the grave. When are we willing to bury our dear ones? Only when we are absolutely sure that they have passed away. The reason we step down into the water is that we have recognized that in God's sight we have already died. But He has spoken. It is an all inclusive Cross. If God had said nothing we should have no need to answer. In doing so. Now.). she flatly refused to have him buried. Now what is my answer to God's verdict on the old creation? I answer by asking for baptism. by my request for baptism I give public assent to that fact. I say Yes to the death and to the burial to which You have committed me. I believe You have done the crucifying. of the old creation and of the old kingdom. Day after day for a fortnight he lay in the house. of the world.' He has consigned me to death and the grave. becoming deranged by her loss. Alas. By it He has told of His judgment of us. relating as it does both to the death and to the resurrection of our Lord. poor woman. 'No'. 'he is not dead.' She was unwilling to have him buried because. she did not believe him to be dead. So when will I ask for baptism? When I see that God's way is perfect and that I deserved 41 . we read. His people and the spiritual powers that they were indeed saved from a world under judgment. he and those with him testified before God. they rejoiced greatly. It is a tremendous thing. I talk with him every night. a 'corporate' Cross. He has spoken to us by the Cross. Anyone who has worked in a pagan country knows what tremendous issues are raised by baptism. 'Christ has died. While there is the tiniest hope that they are alive we will never bury them. "having believed in God". Now we cannot answer without being spoken to . and crucified us in Him. God has put us all into His Son. Why? In Romans 6:4 Paul explains that baptism means burial: "We were buried therefore with him through baptism". we have no right to be baptized. and I have included you there. unless our eyes have been opened by God to see that we have died in Christ and been buried with Him. nor of a baptistry of water. It is to that that we testify. In China a woman lost her husband. God's question is clear and simple. and having in view two worlds.V. Baptism is of course connected with both death and resurrection. In the last Adam He has wiped out all that was of the first Adam. she said. but.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee (Acts 16:31-34). though in itself it is neither death nor resurrection: it is burial. The Cross is not only Christ's personally—an 'individual' Cross. some have been taught to look on burial as a means to death.
There is an old world and a new world. A couple of minutes later I asked. now get me buried!' In China we have two emergency Services. When once we see this. why be baptized? You should never have been baptized if you meant to live on in the old realm'. the second deals with those who are already dead in famine. I am quite dead. before God. 'Praise God. they cannot now be separated. God has already crucified me. Paul speaks of our being "united with him by the likeness of his death". I say. God has done the work of crucifixion so that now we are counted among the dead. so that His death became ours. but it helped him to see the intimacy and the finality of our union with Christ in death. By Him even the still living are condemned to death and to burial. in effect.' It was a simple illustration. It affirms that I am cut off from the old world and belong now to the new. You have slain me. In Romans 6:5. so I took a lump of sugar and stirred it into my tea. and God's acts cannot be reversed. that they may be raised again to new life. we clear the ground for the new creation by our assent to the burial of the old. passed upon me in the Cross of His Son. My baptism confirms God's sentence. then I apply for baptism. to give them burial. Once I am fully persuaded that. a 'Red Cross' and a 'Blue Cross' The first deals with those who are wounded in battle but are still alive. One day I was seeking to emphasize this truth to a Christian brother. still writing to those who "were baptized" (verse 3). mighty enough and all-inclusive enough to carry away in it and bring to an end everything in us that is not of God. We happened to be drinking tea together. Our death and His became then so closely identified that it is impossible to divide between them. This is the meaning of Romans 6:2: "We who died to sin. but we must accept this and submit to the work of the 'Blue Cross'. It is to this historic 'baptism'—this God-wrought union with Him—that we assent when we go down into the water. and between the two there is a tomb. It is God that has put us there. 'Can you tell me where the sugar is now. flood or war. So baptism is no small thing. For by baptism we acknowledge in a figure that God has wrought an intimate union between ourselves and Christ in this matter of death and resurrection. to bring them succour and healing. What. Our public testimony in baptism today is our admission that the death of Christ two thousand years ago was a mighty all-inclusive death. and where the tea?' 'No'. he said.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee to die. 'If you would continue in the old world. how shall we any longer live therein?" Paul says. and when I truly believe that God has already crucified me. but I must consent to be consigned to the tomb. He does not set out to patch up the old creation. 'you have put them together and the one has become lost in the other. God's dealings with us in the Cross of Christ are more drastic than those of the 'Red Cross'. by sealing that death with 'burial'. It means for me a definite conscious break with the old way of life. I am dead! Lord. 42 . in fact does this union imply? The real meaning behind baptism is that in the Cross we were 'baptized' into the historic death of Christ.
for. I am "baptized into his death". Now with resurrection the figure is different because something new is introduced. their fruit would be only about the size of a raspberry. 'When a tree has grown to a certain height'. while the same thing is true. we shall be also be the likeness of his resurrection (Rom. from which the grafts for all the others are taken. 'I have left the old shoots with their useless fruit 6 Greek sumphtuos 'planted or grown along with'. If the other trees were just left to follow the course of nature. and would consist mainly of thick skin and seeds. because all the grafts for the other trees are taken from that one. In Fukien I once visited a man who owned an orchard of long-ien7 trees. but I do not enter in quite the same way into His resurrection.—Ed. In the death of the Lord the emphasis is solely upon 'I in Christ'. It is eaten either fresh or dried. without some qualification. which he gladly did. and of course all the grafted trees bear fruit like it.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Resurrection Unto Newness Of Life "If we have become united with him by the likeness of his death. 'Do you think'. he said. The word is used in the sense of 'grafted' in Classical Greek.V. a very good illustration with these very same words: "united with him".' Pointing to a special tree he asked. For the word 'united' (A. for it is not quite safe to imply. bears a luscious fruit the size of a plum. with very thin skin and a tiny seed.' 'How does it happen?' I asked. and is prized by the Chinese both for its flavour and for its food value. that Christ is grafted into the old stock. 7 long-ien (Euphoria longana) is a tree native to China. he said. He had three or four acres of land and about three hundred fruit trees. This tree. 'planted together') may carry in the Greek the sense of 'grafted' 6 and it gives us a very beautiful picture of the life of Christ which is imparted to us through resurrection. 'I lop off the top and graft on to it. in the delightful illustration which follows. papery skin and a delicious white. How is it possible for Christ to communicate His resurrection life to me? How do I receive this new life? Paul suggests.' 'But how can it grow?' I asked. 6:5). 'I make a cleavage in the poor tree and insert a slip from the good one. 'I simply take a little of the nature of the one tree and transfer it to the other'. 'I don't know'. imparting to me a new life. and rich juicy fruit from the new stock above the graft. a dry. there is now a new emphasis upon 'Christ in me'. light brown. he explained. With the resurrection. Its fruit resembles an apricot in size and has a round central stone. he replied. 43 . I inquired if his trees had been grafted or if they were of the original native stock. 'united with'. grape-like pulp.' Then he showed me a tree bearing miserably poor fruit from the old stock below the graft. 'but it does grow. I think. 'that I would waste my land growing ungrafted trees? What value could I ever expect from the old stock? So I asked him to explain the process of grafting. Praise the Lord! His resurrection enters into me. the analogy of grafting should perhaps not be pressed too closely. But what parable can adequately describe the miracle of the new creation?— Ed. Then I bind it up and leave it to grow. 'Do you see that tree? I call it the father tree.
You can appreciate. but there remained a patch of white foreign skin on her yellow arm to tell the tale of the past. Owing to her age and ill-nourishment the skin graft was too poor and would not 'take'. My glorying is in the fact that it has been done—that. has become my life. In order to prevent serious contracture due to scarring it was found necessary to graft some new skin over the injured area. My baptism is my public testimony to that fact. that old world has " been crucified unto me. but it is done. and thou hearest the voice thereof. but knowest not whence it cometh. By it. through the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ . 8 cannot the Divine Surgeon implant the life of His Son into me? I do not know how it is done. The new skin knit with the old. the statement which follows is not open to challenge. 'From it you can understand the value of grafting. and whither it goeth.—Ed. New birth is the reception of a life which I did not possess before. Then a foreign nurse offered a piece of skin and the operation was carried out successfully. graft it into us? A Chinese woman burned her arm badly and was taken to hospital. but I know that it did grow. We call this the 'new birth'. and the woman left the hospital with her arm perfectly healed. "The wind bloweth where it listeth. for by the resurrection God has already done it. We cannot tell how God has done His work in us. You ask how the skin of another grew on that woman's arm? I do not know how it grew. 44 . he said. so is every one that is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8). God has cut off the old creation by the Cross of His Son in order to bring in a new creation in Christ by resurrection. He has shut the door to that old kingdom of darkness and translated me into the kingdom of His dear Son. a life altogether new. and I unto the world" (Galatians 6:14). my "confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:10). why I grow only grafted trees?' How can one tree bear the fruit of another? How can a poor tree bear good fruit? Only by grafting. cannot God take of the life of His Son and. We can do nothing and need do nothing to bring it about. can you not. If an earthly surgeon can take a piece of skin from one human body and graft it on another.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee on them to show the difference'. 8 Whatever question medical men may raise as to the account of this unusual incident. It is not that my natural life has been changed at all. so to speak. but the doctor attempted in vain to graft a piece of the woman's own skin onto the arm. God has done everything. it is that another life. Only by our implanting into it the life of a good tree. altogether Divine. as by my oral witness. There is only one fruitful life in the world and that has been grafted into millions of other lives. But if a man can graft a branch of one tree into another.
.V. for He has condemned all that is of the old creation to the Cross. 'Yield' contains a passive idea of 'surrender' that has coloured much evangelical thought.—Ed. This defines for us the point at which consecration begins. Of course that is what it does mean. The 'presenting' spoken of is the outcome of my knowing my old man to be crucified. 13 we read: "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body. but only of that which has passed through death to resurrection. and in Luke 2:22 where it is used of the presenting of the infant Jesus to God in the Temple. Col. where the A. 2 Cor. reckoning. Paristemi occurs frequently with this meaning. The Third Step: "Present Yourselves. Death has cut off all that cannot be consecrated to Him. as alive from the dead. Presenting myself to God means that henceforth I consider my whole life as now belonging to the Lord. in Rom. for both the death and the resurrection side of the Cross are to be accepted by faith. not mine. translation 'present' is greatly to be preferred. as alive from the dead". It is not the consecration of our 'old man' with his instincts and resources—our natural wisdom. and resurrection alone has made consecration possible. In Romans 6:12." 9 Note. Paul says: "Present yourselves unto God. 12:1. 11:2. in verses 13. Knowing. giving myself to Him follows. and when I know that I am raised with Him from the dead. that ye should obey the lusts thereof: neither present your members unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness.—Two Greek verbs paristano and paristemi are translated in these verses by 'present' in the R. 1:22.g. but present yourselves unto God. 16 and 19.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Chapter 6: The Path of Progress: Presenting Ourselves to God Our study has now brought us to the point where we are able to consider the true nature of consecration. 28. We have before us the second half of Romans 6 from verse 12 to the end. presenting to God: that is the Divine order. for all is His. But without passing through death I have nothing to consecrate. has 'yield'.. so I cannot but present everything to Him. then spontaneously I reckon myself dead (verses 6 and 11). When this point is reached.V. strength and other gifts—to the Lord for Him to use. and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For what is here referred to is not the consecration of anything belonging to the old creation. but which is not in keeping with the context here in Romans.V. e. 45 ." The operative word here is "present" and this occurs five times. In resurrection He is the source of my life—indeed He is my life. nor is there anything God can accept. then likewise I reckon myself "alive unto God in Christ Jesus" (verses 9 and 11). When I really know I am crucified with Him. This will be at once clear from verse 13.9 Many have taken this word "present" to imply consecration without looking carefully into its content. Note there the clause "as alive from the dead". but not in the sense in which we so often understand it. Both words have an active sense for which the R.
'holiness')" (Romans 6:19). because we realize they are the Lord's not ours? How many of us have such a strong sense that we belong to Another that we dare not squander a shilling of our money. 19). not by the eradication of anything evil in them. In Old Testament times. How many of us know that. Lacking a fourth to complete the game. he said. is now unemployed in respect to sin. Paul says. But if they belong to another who has committed them to me in trust." Separated Unto The Lord What is holiness? Many people think we become holy by the eradication of something evil within. That brother regarded the members of his body as belonging entirely to the Lord. "Present yourselves to God. and then there followed the explanation of the transfer of ownership that had taken place in his life. Thereafter he was regarded as set apart to God. and all true holiness is holiness "to the Lord" (Exodus 28:36). Make it a definite act. It is a great thing when I discover I am no longer my own but His.' 'Whatever do you mean?' they asked in blank astonishment.. "Present your members as servants to righteousness unto sanctification (A. God requires of me that I now regard all my members. he said. Presenting myself to God implies a recognition that I am altogether His. That does not mean that I consecrate myself to be a preacher or a missionary. Real Christian life begins with knowing this. That is true holiness. 'This pair of hands does not belong to me'. In the same manner even animals or material things—a lamb. they invited this brother to join them. we become holy by being separated unto God. then I have full authority over them. then I cannot buy what I please with them. "Present yourselves. No. it was when a man was chosen by God to be altogether His that he was publicly anointed with oil and was then said to be 'sanctified'. as we said earlier. 'I am sorry to disappoint you'. and your members". and from that day forward I belong to Him and no longer to myself. but by being thus reserved exclusively to the Lord. because Christ is risen. Alas.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Let us observe that this 'presenting' relates to the members of my body—that body which. I give myself over wholly to Christ: that is holiness. as belonging wholly to Him. This giving of myself is a definite thing. we are therefore alive "unto God" and not unto ourselves? How many of us dare not use our time or money or talents as we would.. and again: "Present your members" (Romans 6:13. 'but I cannot join your game for I have not brought my hands with me. or any of our mental or physical powers? On one occasion a Chinese brother was traveling by train and found himself in a carriage together with three non-Christians who wished to play cards in order to while away the time. all my faculties. or an hour of our time. just as definite as reckoning. many people are 46 . says Paul.V. or the gold of the temple—could be sanctified. and I dare not lose them. There must be a day in my life when I pass out of my own hands into His. "Holiness' in the Hebrew sense meant something thus set apart. If the ten shillings in my pocket belong to me.
We cannot expect a tailor to make us a coat if we do not give him any cloth.' Do you want anything apart from God. His finger will touch. Many things we dare not look into. their own uncrucified natural faculties to the doing of His work. or church relationships. in the sense of which we are speaking. 'I want nothing for myself. but to do so will bring us out of the will of God. We have only one life to live down here and we are free to do as we please with it. A devoted Christian once said in my hearing. or business. but that is not true consecration. then God has marked out a pathway for you—a 'course' as Paul calls it in 2 Timothy 4:7. lest we lose our peace. but it is a blessed thing just to hand ourselves over to Him and let Him have His way with us. namely. He wants something. allotted to our parts just as God wills and not as we choose. That strong self-assertive will of mine must go to the Cross. Some were generals and others were gatekeepers. We must be willing to be either generals or gatekeepers. God will not let anything of ourselves remain. We can evade the issue in that way. They have 'consecrated' (as they would put it) something altogether different. Then to what are we to be consecrated? Not to Christian work. and I must give myself over wholly to the Lord. or does all your desire center in His will? Can you truly say that the will of God is "good and acceptable and perfect" to you? (Romans 12:2) For it is our wills that are in question here. Servant Or Slave? If we give ourselves unreservedly to God. If at the close of a life we can say with Paul: "I have finished my course". or in the matter of our personal views. dare not pray about. point by point. I give myself to Thee with this desire alone. I want everything for God. and it is of supreme importance that each one should know and walk in the God-appointed course. and He will say: 'This must go'. David had many mighty men. then we are blessed indeed. dare not even think about.' That is true giving. they have not consecrated themselves to Him. nor a builder to build us a house if we let him have no building material. everything that is not of Him. Are you willing? It is foolish to resist God. and always wise to submit to Him.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee missionaries not because they have truly consecrated themselves to God but because. We admit that many of us still have controversies with the Lord. we must give ourselves to Him to do as He pleases with us. It is always an easy matter to get out of His will. If you are a Christian. There is nothing more tragic than to come to the end of life and know we have been on the wrong course. 'Lord. Not only Paul's path but the path of every Christian has been clearly marked out by God. but to the will of God to be and do whatever He wants. 47 . while we want something else. without controversy. according as the king assigned them their task. "Present yourselves unto God" (Romans 6:13). and in just the same way we cannot expect the Lord to live out His life in us if we do not give Him our lives in which to live. but if we seek our own pleasure our life will never glorify God. Without reservations. many adjustments may have to be made: in family. to know and walk in the path Thou hast ordained.
and to maintain it is true consecration. and you protest and find fault with the ways of God. How did I become the slave of the Lord? On His part He bought me. After you give yourself to the Lord. precious relationships. I am the Lord's and now no longer reckon myself to be my own but acknowledge in everything His ownership and authority. his servants ye are whom ye obey?" (Romans 6:16). but if I would be His slave I must willingly give myself to Him. The word here rendered 'servant' really signifies a bondservant. I am willing for anything. 48 . but the ownership does not pass to that other. But to stay there is to be no more than just a broken vessel—no good for the world because you have gone too far for the world to use you. I do not consecrate myself to be a missionary or a preacher. My giving of myself to the Lord must be an initial fundamental act. a slave. When once His ownership is established. Not so is it with the slave. that will have to go. If he likes his master he can serve him. God will take you seriously. for I am His exclusive property. for He will never compel me to do so. That is the attitude God requires. then I dare do nothing in my own interests. You are out of gear with the world. that to whom ye present yourselves as servants unto obedience. The trouble with many Christians today is that they have an insufficient idea of what God is asking of them.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee How good it is to have the consciousness that we belong to the Lord and are not our own! There is nothing more precious in the world. what did the Lord do with it? He broke it. What is the difference between a servant and a slave? A servant may serve another. By right of redemption I am God's property. This is the tragedy of many a Christian. even if you did not mean it seriously. not finding fault with His use of me but accepting with praise even what the flesh revolts against. Then day by day I must go on giving to Him. so do not give yourself to God unless you mean it. and no good for God either because you have not gone far enough for Him to use you. It is that which brings the awareness of His continual presence. office or kitchen. Everything seems to go wrong. When the Galilian boy brought his bread to the Lord. "Know ye not. strong wills. much-loved work. He begins to break what was offered to Him. be it in school. but if he does not like him he can give in his notice and seek another master. God will always break what is offered to Him. and on my part I presented myself to Him. May we always be possessed by the consciousness that we are not our own. He breaks what He takes. This word is used several times in the second half of Romans 6. but after breaking it He blesses and uses it to meet the needs of others. for nothing but good can come to those who are wholly His. counting whatever He ordains for me to be the very best. I consecrate myself to God to do His will where I am.' Do you know that God is asking of you your very life? There are cherished ideals. He is not only the servant of another but he is the possession of another. How glibly they say: 'Lord. and the reason is obvious. I must first have the sense of God's possession of me before I can have the sense of His presence with me. and you have a controversy with God.
but let us look into it more carefully. He was with the Father from all eternity. Before therefore we consider further the question of inward experience. them he also glorified" (Romans 8:29. he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son. glory as of the only begotten from the Father)". but God's thought is always of the glory man will miss if he sins. God's purpose in redemption is glory. them he also called: and whom he called. that we may be also glorified with him. How could an only begotten Son become a first begotten? The answer is simple: by the Father having more children. It is: "The glory of God" (Romans 3:23). That may perhaps at first convey very little to many of us. let us first look at the great Divine goal before us. Firstborn Among Many Brethren This consideration takes us forward into Romans chapter 8 where the topic is developed in verses 16 to 18 and again in verses 29 and 30. The result of sin is that we forfeit God's glory: the result of redemption is that we are qualified again for glory. He wanted also to make Him His first begotten. What was God's objective? It was that His Son Jesus Christ might be the firstborn among many brethren. them he also justified: and whom he justified. but sin thwarted that purpose by causing man to miss God's glory. glory." God's purpose. glory. God's purpose for man was glory. In Romans 3:23 we read: "All have sinned. In John 1:14 we are told that the Lord Jesus was God's only begotten Son: "the Word became flesh. and again: "Whom he foreknew. and "The glory of the children of God" (Romans 8:21). But. If you 49 . God was not satisfied that Christ should remain the only begotten Son. 30). one from each of our two sections of Romans. we are told. we invariably associate it with condemnation and hell. that he might be the firstborn among many brethren: and whom he foreordained. Man's thought is always of the punishment that will come to him if he sins. then. if so be that we suffer with him. and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory. How did God realize that objective? "Whom he justified. heirs of God. of faith and of consecration. in creation and redemption was to make Christ the firstborn Son among many glorified sons. and fall short of the glory of God".The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Chapter 7: The Eternal Purpose We have spoken of the need of revelation. them he also glorified. That He was God's only begotten Son signifies that God had no other Son but this one. But unless we see the end God has in view we shall never clearly understand why these steps are necessary to lead us to that end. What is God's purpose in creation and what is His purpose in redemption? It may be summed up in two phrases. if we are to live the normal Christian life. and joint-heirs with Christ. Paul says: "We are children of God: and if children. all of whom should be conformed to His image. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us" (Romans 8:16-18). When we think of sin we instinctively think of the judgment it brings. then heirs.
do you know. 2:10). That was His purpose in redemption. But what remains in my memory of that interview was his frequent repetition of these two questions: 'Brother. and there you have at the last the purpose of God fulfilled in His "bringing many sons unto glory" (Heb. For He does not want His sons to live in a barn or a garage or a field. and as the only begotten He had no brothers.. He cannot do without me?' In reading the story of the prodigal son most people are impressed with all the troubles the prodigal meets. I cannot do without Him? And do you know. mature and responsible. was lost. and the beloved Son have many brethren. his great age and physical frailty made any sustained conversation impossible. with Him in glory. do you know. I cannot do without Him? And do you know. God is seeking full-grown sons. The Lord Jesus was the only begotten Son. "My son. That is the explanation of Romans 8:30: "Whom he justified. and could not be satisfied without us. The Grain Of Wheat But how could God's only begotten Son become His first begotten? The method is explained in John 12:24: "Verily. When I was ushered into the presence of this old saint of ninety-three years. Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die.. and is found"—there is the heart of the story. He wants them in His home. He wanted us. It is not a question of what the son suffers but of what the Father loses. but if thereafter you have other children then the only begotten becomes the first begotten. But that is not the point of the parable. I say unto you. In His dealings with them God will never stop short of that goal. A son is lost: whose is the loss? The Father's. He made provision for the whole of Heaven to be peopled with glorified sons. and to have those sons. he took my hand in his and in a quiet. That is the lesson of Luke chapter 15. A coin is lost: whose is the loss? The woman's. them he also glorified. There you have the whole story of the Incarnation and the Cross. from the point of view of God the Father it is "sons". Both words in this context convey the idea of maturity. in Hebrews 2:10 of "many sons". How could He bring that about? By justifying them and then by glorifying them.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee have but one son then his is the only begotten. He is the loser. The Divine purpose in creation and redemption was that God should have many children. Certainty and Enjoyment. A sheep is lost: whose is the loss? The shepherd's. From the point of view of the Lord Jesus it is "brethren". deliberate way he said: 'Brother. 50 . but He does not stop even there. they are occupied in thinking what a bad time he is having. verily." Sonship—the full expression of His Son—is God's goal in the many sons. But the Father sent the Son in order that the only begotten might also be the first begotten. He is the sufferer. In Romans 8:29 we read of "many brethren". He cannot do without me?' Though I was with him for over an hour. the writer of the well-known tract Safety. He set Himself to have sons. George Cutting. He wants them to share His glory. Some time ago I called to see Mr.
Therein was the Father-heart of God satisfied. the name of the other tree close by is Life.and your Father". say thirty years old.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee it abideth by itself alone. ". 8:5. the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. I ascend unto my Father and your Father. and of the fruit of every tree you may eat freely. In the whole universe God had only one 'grain of wheat'. though not. and so. He add. is the meaning of these two trees? Adam was. and His life from that time is found in many brethren. but if it die. and in resurrection the only begotten grain became the first begotten grain. from the resurrection onward through all eternity. mark you. in dependence upon God and by virtue of our being 'in Christ'. In respect of His divinity the Lord Jesus remains uniquely "the only begotten Son of God". "Go unto my brethren. after the Lord Jesus died and rose again. that we are children of God" (Rom. At the end of his Gospel he tells us how. By His death and resurrection many brethren have been brought into God's family. it beareth much fruit.. 16). speaking. in a place of special prominence—He planted two trees. that is exactly what Adam was.. Abba. God put His one grain of wheat into the ground and it died. And God brings him into the garden and says to him. then. Think of a grown man. whereby we cry. In the beginning of his Gospel John tells us that Jesus was "the only begotten from the Father". But in the very midst of the garden is one tree called "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil"." Who was that grain? It was the Lord Jesus. and say to them. and from the one grain there have sprung many grains. The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit. he had no knowledge of good and evil. Hitherto in this Gospel the Lord had spoken often of "the Father" or of "my Father". full of fruits. But remember. Adam was created innocent. who has no sense of right or wrong. created morally neutral—neither sinful nor holy. in resurrection. in effect. Now. but innocent—and God put those two trees there so that 51 . He is also the first begotten. as we shall see in a moment. He had no second grain. for in the day that you do so you will surely die. It was by way of the Incarnation and the Cross that the Lord Jesus made this possible. "He is not ashamed to call them brethren" (Heb. the first begotten. for in the Son's obedience unto death the Father has secured His many sons. It is the eldest Son. you must not eat of that. He said to Mary Magdalene. We have "received the spirit of adoption. 2:11). and my God and your God" (John 20:17). The first and the twentieth chapters of John are in this respect most precious. The Choice That Confronted Adam God planted a great number of trees in the garden of Eden. Father. no power to differentiate between the two! Would you not say such a man was undeveloped? Well. Yet there is a sense in which. so to speak. For we who are born of the Spirit are made thereby "partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4). in the same verse He uses this very name for them: "My brethren". as of ourselves but only. but "in the midst of the garden"—that is.' What. 'Now the garden is full of trees.
because the choice he had made involved complicity with Satan and brought him therefore under the judgment of God. In doing so he became (as man is now in his own eyes) a 'fully developed' man. the way of obedience. as it were. or he could choose the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But the consequence for his was death rather than life. These two trees. they represent two planes of life. for God is life. God in Christ we can receive. There you would have God's life in union with man: a race of men having the life of God in them and living in constant dependence upon God for that life. and He is also the source and goal of life. So this was the alternative that lay before him. He could command a knowledge. If on the other hand Adam should turn the other way and take the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. You cannot eat the tree but you can eat the fruit. Adam's choice of the latter was sin. he could go on or stop. judging and acting apart from God. typify two deep principles. by becoming a self-dependent being. is not wrong in itself. Thus you have a life in the garden which is totally dependent on God. he could put the finishing touch to himself. Without it however Adam is in a sense limited in that he cannot decide for himself on moral issues. He did so by choosing 52 . He is the highest form of life. and Adam's only course when faced with any question is to refer it to Jehovah God. though forbidden to Adam. living in dependence upon God for his life. That is why access to the tree of life had thereafter to be forbidden to him. he could become a 'son' of God. but he would have no life from God. Reaching a peak of attainment as a self-sufficient being. From then on he was "wise" (Genesis 3:6). he would partake of the life of God and thus become a 'son' of God. he could decide for himself. because thereby he allied himself with Satan to thwart the eternal purpose of God. The "tree of life" is God Himself. but we can receive the Lord Jesus. Judgment of right and wrong resides not in him but in God. If Adam should take of the tree of life. He could choose the tree of life. then. Two planes of life had been set before Adam: that of Divine life in dependence upon God. Now the knowledge of good and evil. So—may I say it reverently?—the Lord Jesus is really God in a receivable form. he would have the power in himself to form independent judgment. Adam's Choice The Reason For The Cross Adam chose the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and thereby took up independent ground. the Divine and the human. in the sense of having in him a life that derived from God. taking the natural course. The fruit is the edible part. and that of human life with its 'independent' resources. Choosing the way of the Spirit. or. And the fruit: what is that? It is our Lord Jesus Christ. No one is able to receive God as God. then he would develop his own manhood along natural lines apart from God.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee he might exercise free choice. The history of humanity is the outcome of the choice he made. the receivable part of the tree.
The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee to develop his manhood—to become perhaps a very fine man.. for the sake of this story. I shall call 'Mr. But the end was death. to them gave he the right to become children of God. He That Hath The Son Hath The Life There are various planes of life. On that plane He cannot now bring man to glory. born of God. because he had not in him the Divine life necessary to realize God's purpose in his being. so God had to gather up all that was in Adam and do away with it. but 'in the Spirit'. Regeneration and justification go together. The Lord Jesus now has a resurrected body. no longer 'in the flesh'. Our 'old man' has been crucified. and equally deserving of the wrath of God. Wong' (though that was not his real name). a spiritual body.. and whom. But he did not believe in the need for regeneration. The Jews revolted at the thought of eating His flesh and drinking His blood. one born anew. Then Christ arose in new form. and thus all that is of Adam has passed away. and one esteemed throughout the whole of China for his high moral principles. equally subject to the law of sin and death. In China one day I called on a Christian leader who was sick in bed. Thus in Adam we all become sinners. "He that eateth me." (John 1:12. a glorious body. "As many as received him. said Jesus (John 6:57). From this we see the Divine reason for the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. He must have a new man. We must all go to the Cross. but had chosen to become instead an 'independent' agent of the Enemy. Human life lies between the life of the lower animals and the life of God. 53 ... and since He is no longer in the flesh He can now be received by all. 15:45). God has put us all in Christ and crucified Him as the last Adam. he also shall live because of me". equally dominated by Satan. even by his standards a 'perfect' man—apart from God. of God. We see too the Divine reason for true consecration—for reckoning ourselves to be dead unto sin but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. with a body still. Adam chose a self-life rather than a Divine life. a Doctor of Philosophy. which were born. "The last Adam became a life-giving spirit" (1 Cor. and the distance that separates us from the life of God is vastly greater than that which separates us from the life of the lower animals. We cannot bridge the gulf that divides us from the plane above or the plane below. because what is in us by nature is a self-life. subject to the law of sin. he only proclaimed a social gospel. God is not out to reform our life. He was a very learned man. but of course they could not receive Him then because He was still literally in the flesh. and it is by partaking of His resurrection life that we are constituted children of God. for it is on a totally wrong plane. 13). It is not His thought to bring it to a certain stage of refinement. and he had long been engaged in Christian work. and for presenting ourselves unto Him as alive from the dead. Now that He is in the Spirit every one of us can receive Him.
But we who receive the Son of God not only receive the forgiveness of sins. for whom are all things. Your dog may be an intelligent dog. or. but just as truly) we derive our new life from God. I pointed to the dog and inquired his name. but the question is not. "he that sanctifieth" and "they that are sanctified". They Are All Of One God wants sons who shall be joint-heirs with Christ in glory. we possess what he missed. He was "begotten. Is he a dog? He does not need to be bad to be disqualified from being a member of your family. and I went on: 'Do you see what I am getting at? Your daughters were born into your family and they bear your name because you have communicated your life to them. "many sons" and "the author of their salvation". can have no vital relationship with God.. that is just his name'. Are you a man? If your life is on a lower plane than that of God's life. but men as such. Our only hope as men is to receive the Son of God. in different terms. and (in another sense. The Lord Jesus as Man derived His life from God. 'But he lives in your family'. to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Throughout your life your aim in preaching has been to turn bad men into good men.' The Doctor saw the truth. By the new birth we receive something Adam never had. and through whom are all things.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee When I called on Mr." There are two parties mentioned here. 'Is Fido his Christian name or his surname?' I asked (using the common Chinese terms for 'personal name' and 'family name'). of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 54 . What we today possess in Christ is more than Adam lost. and altogether a most remarkable dog. and when we do so His life in us will constitute us sons of God. more or less. a well-behaved dog. Is he a good or a bad dog? It is merely. He remained on that plane. namely. and after speaking with him of the things of God and of the nature of His work in us. indicating his two daughters.. then you cannot belong to the Divine family. he only needs to be a dog. whether good or bad. But these two parties are said to be "all of one". he said. The question is not whether you are a bad man or a good man. 'Why don't you call him Fido Wong?' Then. but how can He bring that about? Turn now to Hebrews 2:10 and 11: "It became him. That is His goal. I protested. Wong his pet dog was by his bedside. 'Do you mean that is just his Christian name? Can I call him Fido Wong?' I continued. 'Oh. and never possessed the life of God. 'Certainly not!' came the emphatic reply. The same principle applies to you in your relationship to God. For both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren. I asked 'Are your daughters not called Miss Wong?' 'Yes!' 'Well then. in bringing many sons unto glory. but simply. we receive also the Divine life which was represented in the garden by the tree of life. why cannot I call your dog Master Wong?' The Doctor laughed. and that day he became a member of God's family by receiving the Son of God into his heart. Adam was only a developed man. He told me he was called Fido.
and even when it has been dealt with.. as it were.. restoring to us access to the tree of life—redemption has given us far more than Adam ever had. in this consideration of the eternal purpose.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee 1:20 mg.. of God" (John 3:5. 1:13). and we were "born of. Sin came in with Adam. for it is not our own life that has been changed. as it has to be. we are all of One. "Of" in the Greek means "out of". But in relating us again to the Divine purpose—in.). So. The first begotten Son and the many sons are all (though in different senses) "out of" the one Source of life. Do you realize that we have the same life today that God has? The life which He has in Heaven is the life which He has imparted to us here on the earth. the whole question of sin ultimately goes out? It no longer has a place. 6:23). That is the precious "gift of God" (Rom. It has made us partakers of the very life of God Himself. we are only brought back to the point where Adam was.. Do you notice that. "born. God says. the spirit". 55 . It is for that reason that we can live a life of holiness. but the life of God that has been imparted to us.
nor dispense them in any arbitrary fashion. upon David the beloved king. judges. I have no doubt that we are right in distinguishing thus between the outward and the inward manifestations of His working. but they are given on a definite basis. And here. (33) Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted. too. which ye see and hear. God has truly "blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). but if those blessings which are ours in Christ are to become ours in experience. and that as we go on we shall find the distinction helpful. "If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ. let us take as our starting-point two verses from Romans. By receiving the gift of the outpoured Holy Spirit we join the ranks of God's chosen servants of the Old Testament dispensation.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Chapter 8: The Holy Spirit We have spoken of the eternal purpose of God as the motive and explanation of all His dealings with us. we shall immediately ask. and our purpose now is to understand on what basis this twofold gift of the Holy Spirit becomes ours. Unfortunately we are apt to esteem our privileges lightly because of their sheer abundance. whereof we all are witnesses. one from each of our sections. kings and prophets—whereas now it is the portion of every child of God. who were not as favoured as we are. I refer to the personal presence and ministry of the Holy Spirit of God. we cannot but come to the conclusion that the inward activity of the Holy Spirit is the more precious. How can I receive the Holy Spirit in this way to equip me with spiritual gifts and to empower me for service? Upon what basis has the Spirit been given? The Spirit Outpoured Let us turn first to Acts chapter 2 verses 32 to 36: "(32) This Jesus did God raise up. God does not give His gifts at random. Moreover. They are given freely to all. and realize too our deep need of it. In considering the gift of the Holy Spirit it is helpful to think of this in two aspects. he is none of his" (Romans 8:9). he hath poured forth this. But to say this is not for one moment to imply that His outward activity is not also precious. Now. we must digress yet again in order to consider something which lies at the heart of all our experience as the vitalizing power of effective life and service. and upon Elijah the mighty prophet. Once we see the value of this gift of God. In their day it was a gift given only to the select few—chiefly to priests. Think! we who are mere nonentities can have the same Spirit resting upon us as rested upon Moses the friend of God. before we return to our study of the phases of Christian experience as set forth in Romans. as the Spirit outpoured and the Spirit indwelling. when we compare them. "The love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Ghost which was given unto us" (Romans 5:5). for God only gives good gifts to His children. could appreciate more readily than we do the preciousness of this gift of the outpoured Spirit. The Old Testament saints. we must know on what ground we can appropriate them. (34) 56 . and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost.
then. but on the Lord's exaltation. (35) Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet. Peter has just referred to the outpouring of the Spirit upon the disciples "which ye see and hear". but to prove the greatness of the Son of God. I have received new life. Now look at verse 36. so we shall get the force of Peter's argument better if we ignore them for the time being. After Jacob had been mourning the 57 . The question of what we are does not come into consideration at all here. Its use always implies that something has been mentioned before. sit thou on my right hand.(36) Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly. this Jesus whom ye crucified. but on the Lord's crucifixion. and for years Jacob lamented Joseph's loss. this Jesus whom ye crucified". The outpouring of the Spirit has no relation to your merits or mine. Now what has preceded this particular 'therefore'? With what is it connected? It cannot reasonably be connected with either verse 34 or verse 35. proves that Jesus of Nazareth whom ye crucified is now both Lord and Christ'. The purpose of Pentecost is to prove the Lordship of Jesus Christ. who was dearly loved of his father. because the Lord Jesus rose from the dead. What. nothing is because of me. which you have witnessed with your own eyes and ears. and he says: "Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly. but only to the merits of the Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit was poured out on earth to prove what had taken place in Heaven—the exaltation of Jesus of Nazareth to the right hand of God. He is glorified." Let us for the moment set verses 34 and 35 aside and consider verses 33 and 36 together. How is this word generally used? Not to introduce a statement. and the enduement with the Holy Spirit is not based on human merit. Peter says. but to follow a statement that has already been made.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee For David ascended not into the heavens: but he saith himself. Remission of sins is not based on human merit. What was the result? He "received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost". The former are a quotation from the 110th Psalm and are really a parenthesis. was the basis upon which the Spirit was first given to the Lord Jesus to be poured out upon His people? It was His exaltation to Heaven. but on the Lord's resurrection. which ye see and hear". in effect. This passage makes it absolutely clear that the Holy Spirit was poured out because the Lord Jesus was exalted. but only what He is. to his audience: 'This outpouring of the Spirit. One day news reached the father of the death of his son. In verse 33 Peter states that the Lord Jesus was exalted "at the right hand of God" (mg.). There is a word here which demands our careful attention: the word 'therefore'. But Joseph was not in the grave. regeneration is not based on human merit. he was in a place of glory and power. I have received the outpoured Spirit. therefore the Spirit is poured out. I have received forgiveness of sins. And what followed? Pentecost! The result of His exaltation was—"this. The Holy Spirit has not been poured out on you or me to prove how great we are. All is because of Him. that God hath made him both Lord and Christ. that God hath made him both Lord and Christ. but it quite obviously relates back to verse 33. The Lord said unto my Lord. because the Lord Jesus has been exalted to the right hand of the Father. There was a young man named Joseph. Because the Lord Jesus died on the Cross.
What do the chariots represent here? They surely typify here the Holy Spirit. If we lack the experience. Hallelujah! Jesus is Lord! Jesus is Christ! Jesus of Nazareth is both Lord and Christ! The exaltation of the Lord Jesus is the basis on which the Spirit has been given. No! On what ground then were your sins forgiven? "Apart from shedding of blood there is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22). the Lord has been glorified. 58 . and since the precious Blood has been shed. but that experience will only come as we rest upon Divine facts. Am I to sit down smugly and say I have everything.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee death of his son for years. we must ask God for a revelation of the eternal fact of the baptism of the Holy Spirit as the gift of the exalted Lord to His Church. but by your putting your faith in what the Lord has already done. or because you read your Bible from cover to cover. your sins have been forgiven. and saw the chariots that Joseph had sent from Egypt. we must never rest content with objective facts alone. How were you justified? Not by doing anything at all. and as we believe. or because of your regular attendance at Church? Was it because of your merits at all? No! A thousand times. experience will follow. Once we see that. it was suddenly reported to him that Joseph was alive and in a high position in Egypt. Is it possible then that the Lord has been glorified and you have not received the Spirit? On what basis did you receive forgiveness of sins? Was it because you prayed so earnestly. Let us go back again to the question of justification. and prayer will give place to praise. But when once we have seen that. dear child of God. God's facts are the basis of our experience. when I know perfectly well I have nothing? No. Now the principle on which we receive the enduement of the Holy Spirit is the very same as that on which we receive forgiveness of sins. who was crucified by wicked men nearly two thousand years ago. Is it possible that the Son of God shed His Blood and that your sins. It was too good to be true. and it is a revelation of what the Lord has done for His Church that will bring to an end our efforts to secure the baptism of the Holy Spirit. At first Jacob could not take it in. have not been forgiven? Never! Then is it possible that the Son of God has been glorified and you have not received the Spirit? Never! Some of you may say: I agree with all this. sent both to be the evidence that God's Son is in glory and to convey us there. How did he come to believe in it? He went out. Enduement with the Holy Spirit becomes yours in exactly the same way as justification. We need subjective experience also. How do we know that Jesus of Nazareth. faith will spring up in our hearts. effort will cease. therefore the Spirit has been poured out upon us. not by your doing anything yourself. But ultimately he was persuaded that the story of Joseph's exaltation was really a fact. but by accepting the fact that the Lord had done everything. therefore our sins have been forgiven. We work because we have not seen the work of Christ. but I have no experience of it. It was a revelation of what the Lord had done for the world that brought to an end our efforts to secure forgiveness of sins. did not just die a martyr's death but is at the Father's right hand in glory? How can we know for a surety that He is Lord of lords and King of kings? We can know it beyond dispute because He has poured out His Spirit upon us. The Lord has been crucified. The sole ground of forgiveness is the shedding of blood.
but when he says: 'Lord. and I have already received the Spirit. for the gift is not for the 'favoured few' but for all. Thou. Those who emphasize tarrying and hold 'tarrying meetings' only mislead us. As soon as we see the Lord Jesus on the Cross. I truly believe Thou wilt forgive me. but the exaltation of Christ. we are in a life-partnership. but of what Christ is. and as soon as we see the Lord Jesus on the Throne. At the close of one in which I was speaking along the above lines. nor even wait. Faith Is Again The Key As for forgiveness. that's all wrong!' and began to pray again: 'Lord Jesus. Seeing Thou hast now been glorified. and that Thou canst blot out all my sins. and when instead you trustfully praise Him that the Spirit has been poured out because the Lord Jesus has been glorified.' Have you any confidence that that man is saved? When will you rest assured that he has really been born again? Not when he prays: 'Lord. attended a series of meetings which I was addressing in Shanghai. The Spirit has been poured out to prove His goodness and greatness. and the Father has promised us two things—glory for Thee.' From that day the power of the Spirit was consciously upon him. for the Spirit to be given. we know the Holy Spirit has been poured out upon us. I believe Thou wilt forgive my sins'. In the same way. 'Lord. The basis upon which we receive the enduement of the Holy Spirit is not our praying and fasting and waiting. Lord. he went home and began to pray earnestly. Suppose then he prays after this fashion: 'Lord Jesus. Suppose an unbeliever expresses the desire to be saved. He is Lord. and the Spirit for me. therefore we have been endued with power from on high. so equally for the coming upon us of the Holy Spirit. therefore my sins are blotted out' You believe a person is saved when prayer turns to praise—when he ceases to ask the Lord to forgive him. I praise Thee! Thou hast already received the glory. not ours. Thou and I. Therefore I am not 59 . because it is not given on the ground of what we are at all. I do want the power of the Holy Spirit.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Some time ago a young man. Christ has been crucified. hast received the glory. Praise God! no single child of His need agonize. Lord. you will find that your problem is solved. It is all because of Him. but praises Him that He has already done so because the Blood of the Lamb has already been shed. Lord. wilt Thou not now pour out Thy Spirit upon me?' Then he corrected himself: 'Oh no. we know our sins are forgiven. I believe Thou hast died for me. who had only been a Christian for five weeks and who had formerly been violently opposed to the gospel. but when you cease to plead with the Lord to pour out His Spirit upon you. and you explain to him the way of salvation and pray with him. therefore we have been forgiven: Christ has been glorified. the whole question is one of faith. therefore it is unthinkable that I have not received the Spirit. you can pray and wait for years and never experience the Spirit's power. I praise Thee that Thou hast forgiven my sins. Jesus is not going to be made Lord. Thou hast died for me.
and ask him if he would therefore kindly let me have the second one. I thereby declare publicly what I believe privately. When in my heart I truly believe that I have died with Christ. Formerly I thought sin a pleasant thing. Here then are two divinely appointed conditions of forgiveness—repentance. my friend. and to your children. and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. The second condition is baptism. Baptism is an outward expression of an inward faith. When our eyes are opened to see that the Spirit has already been poured out because Jesus has already been glorified.' 60 . but now I think differently. God offered you two things if you fulfilled two conditions! Why have you only taken one? What are you doing about the second? Suppose I went into a book-shop. and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins. not the second. Four things are mentioned in this passage: Repentance. once I thought other things utterly worthless. but now I have changed my mind about it. carelessly leaving one volume on the counter. Baptism. Have you repented? Have you testified publicly to your union with your Lord? Then have you received remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost? You say you have only received the first gift.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee going to receive the Spirit. why not just come and take the other now? Say to the Lord. formerly I thought the world an attractive place. which means a change of mind. There is a passage in God's Word which makes the conditions of the outpoured Spirit perfectly clear: "Repent ye. No life can be truly changed apart from such a change of mind. Would you not do the same under the same circumstances? But you are under the same circumstances. I have complied with the conditions for receiving remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost. now I think them most precious. 'Lord. I should simply explain to the shopkeeper that both volumes were duly paid for. The first two are conditions. then I ask for baptism. and I praise Thee for it. All spiritual blessings are given on a definite basis. and the Holy Spirit. If you have fulfilled the conditions you are entitled to two gifts. But. now I think them vile. Now I have come back to take the gift of the Holy Ghost. That is a change of mind. what do you think I should do? I should go straight back to the shop to get the forgotten book. priced at ten shillings. have been buried and have risen with Him. even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him" (Acts 2:38. You have already taken the one. and. When I reached home and discovered the oversight. having put down a ten-shilling note. It is all a question of the faith which comes by revelation. God's gifts are freely given. selected a two-volume book. and to all that are afar off. but I have foolishly only taken the former. 39). walked out of the shop. and that is repentance. Forgiveness. but now I know better. Baptism is faith in action. not just one. but there are conditions which must be fulfilled on our part before the reception of them is possible. then prayer turns to praise in our hearts. and faith publicly expressed. Once I thought certain things delightful. but I should not dream of paying anything for it. What are the conditions to be fulfilled if we are to have forgiveness of sins? According to the Word they are two: repentance and baptism. For to you is the promise. formerly I regarded it a miserable business to be a Christian. The first condition is repentance. I have received the Spirit. and without any further payment I should march happily out of the shop with my possession under my arm. the second two are gifts.
but when Peter says "This is that". Did they dream dreams? How could they. but one thing is sure. The Book of the Acts was written by the Spirit's inspiration. It was not a case of fulfillment. We do not know exactly how they felt. nor about "tongues parting asunder like as of fire" as accompaniments of the Spirit's outpouring. and visions are visions. Note carefully that Peter did not say: 'What you see and hear fulfills what was spoken by the prophet Joel'. some will prophesy. On the other hand. yet these evidences were apparently lacking at Pentecost. without a single one of the evidences mentioned by Joel being found at Pentecost. but of an experience of the same order. though it be no more than an overwhelming sense of the Divine Presence. but of the one belonging to the same category 61 . This is what God has stated through the prophet Joel. When the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples at Pentecost there was something quite extraordinary about their behaviour. each experience is reduplicated and prophecy is prophecy. because people seeing them said they were intoxicated. No description has been given us of the personal sensations and emotions of the disciples at Pentecost. what did Peter mean by using a quotation that seems scarcely to fit the case at all? In the passage quoted (Joel 2:28.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee The Diversity Of The Experience But you ask: 'How shall I know that the Holy Spirit is come upon me?' I cannot tell how you will know. What did Peter mean? Imagine him quoting God's Word to show that the experience of Pentecost was the outpouring of the Spirit spoken of by Joel.' But did Peter prophesy? Well. What the Book mentioned the disciples lacked. prophesy. When it is a case of fulfillment. What is the explanation of this mystery? Let us recall that Peter was himself speaking under the control of the Holy Spirit. yet these were manifest in that upper room. dreams are dreams. hardly in the sense in which Joel meant it. This. Joel's prophecy said not a word about "a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind". is what he said: 'When the Holy Spirit falls upon believers. We cannot and we must not stipulate what particular form such outward expressions will take in any given case. dreams and visions are said to accompany the outpouring of the Spirit. but you will know. some will dream dreams. and others will see visions. and not one word was spoken at random. "This is that" means that 'this which you see and hear is of the same order as that which is foretold'. for were they not all wide awake? Well then. that each one upon whom the Spirit of God falls will know it. it is not a question of the one being a replica of the other. 29). There is no misfit. What he said was: "This is that which hath been spoken by the prophet Joel" (Acts 2:16). When the Holy Spirit falls upon God's people there will be some things which the world cannot account for. in substance. There will be supernatural accompaniments of some kind. and Peter offered an explanation from God's Word to all who witnessed it. but we do know that their feelings and behaviour were somewhat abnormal. Did the hundred and twenty prophesy or see visions? We are not told that they did. and what the disciples had the Book did not mention! It looks as though Peter's quotation of the Book disproves his point rather than proving it. but a perfect harmony. And where in Joel do we find mention of speaking in other tongues? And yet the disciples at Pentecost did so.
. and I could not stop. glory to God. 149. The sermons were not different. but I did not then know my Bible as I know it now. but "this is that". and yet hundreds were converted. Well. I went preaching again. "This" amounts to the same thing as "that". Some time after this experience (I do not recall just how long after).. by R.. the Holy Spirit descended upon 10 11 The Holy Spirit.. It is not a facsimile. 198-9.. and He is Lord. it is almost too sacred an experience to name. It was very quiet moment. and God had pity on my ignorance and said it directly to my soul. Now go and preach. what a day!—I cannot describe it.. Torrey. But that was not when I was baptized with the Holy Spirit.. I can only say that God revealed Himself to me. but the Spirit is one.. 62 . 15. or Torrey's. Paul had an experience of which he never spoke for fourteen years. pp. I seldom refer to it. The Life of Dwight L. What happened to R.' 10 The outward manifestations in Torrey's case were not the same as those described by Joel or by Peter.. suddenly. and we have to admit that occasionally they are strange. by his son. "this is that". The outward evidences may be many and varied. and I had such an experience of His love that I had to ask Him to stay His hand. yet it is the same thing. I found myself shouting (I was not brought up to shout and I am not of a shouting temperament.it would be as the small dust of the balance.. one day. And how did D.. I would not now be placed back where I was before that blessed experience if you should give me all the world . I did not present any new truths. without ever having the thought in my mind that there was any such thing for me.A. Torrey when the Holy Spirit came upon him after he had been a minister for years? Let him tell it in his own words: 'I recall the exact spot where I was kneeling in prayer in my study. "this" is the equivalent of "that". Moody feel and act when the Spirit came upon him? 'I was crying all the time that God would fill me with His Spirit. but who could doubt that "this" which Moody experienced was "that" experienced by the disciples at Pentecost? It was not the same in manifestation. Then God simply said to me. "Glory to God. but it was the very same in essence.' 11 The outward manifestation that accompanied Moody's experience did not tally exactly with Joel's description.D. Moody. or Peter's.. who He is and what He does.R. and I have been a new minister from that day to this.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee as the other. I went and preached. Moody. D. I was baptized with the Holy Spirit when I took Him by simple faith in The Word of God. but I shouted like the loudest shouting Methodist).. What is being emphasized by the Holy Spirit through Peter is the diversity of the experience. in the city of New York—oh." He had already said it to me in His Word in 1 John 5:14. And what was the experience of the great Charles Finney when the power of the Holy Ghost came upon him? 'I received a mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost without any expectation of it. p.. while sitting in my room one day.L. one of the most quiet moments I ever knew. not in any audible voice.A. (See Corinthians 12:4-6). glory to God". "It's yours.. W. without any recollection that I had ever heard the thing mentioned by any person in the world. . but in my heart.
.' 12 Finney's experience was not a duplicate of Pentecost. chapter 2. and this. There is nothing stereotyped about God's dealings with His children. He is Lord. and to give what evidence He pleases of the work He does.. so with the Spirit indwelling. the Spirit has been poured out upon us all. This applies equally to those who require some particular manifestation (such as 'speaking with tongues') as evidence that the spirit has come upon them and to those who deny that any manifestation is given at all.." (Romans 8:9).The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee me in a manner that seemed to go through me body and soul. and it is not for us to legislate for Him. As with the Spirit outpoured. our first need is of Divine revelation. "This. since He has been glorified. It is that which we have spoken of as the Spirit indwelling. either in our own lives or in the lives of others. As we accept the Divine fact in all the simplicity of faith. if we are to know in experience that which is ours in fact. "If so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. 63 . and this. When we see Christ as Lord subjectively—that is. is that!" Let us praise the Lord for every new experience that relates to the exaltation of Christ and of which it can truly be said that "this" is an evidence of "that".. others will proclaim the Word of God with power. Some will receive new vision.. It is important to note that the Christians in Corinth had become preoccupied with the visible signs of the Holy Spirit's outpouring and were making much of 'tongues' and miracles... Finney. others will know a new liberty in soul-winning. we shall know it with such assurance in our own experience that we shall dare to proclaim with confidence—"This is that!" The Spirit Indwelling We move on now to the second aspect of the gift of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit is poured out upon God's people their experiences will differ widely. while at the same time their lives were full of contradictions and were a reproach to the 12 Autobiography of Charles E. When we see Christ as Lord objectively—that is. and let us praise Him that.. as exalted to the throne in Heaven—then we shall experience the power of the Spirit upon us. Let us rejoice that Jesus is on the throne. is more particularly the subject of Romans 8. which. Therefore we must not by our prejudices and preconceptions make a water-tight compartment for the working of His Spirit. and yet others will be filled with heavenly joy or overflowing praise. We must leave God free to work as He wills. as we shall see in our next chapter. as effective Ruler within our lives—then we shall know the power of the Spirit within us. I wept aloud with joy and love. A revelation of the indwelling Spirit was the remedy Paul offered the Corinthian Christians for their unspirituality. nor of Torrey's experience. No words can express the wonderful love that was shed abroad in my heart. but "this" certainly was "that". nor of Moody's.
. We may perhaps have realized that the Spirit is actually within our hearts. I can only repeat: 'He is a Person!' and repeat it again: 'He is a Person!' and repeat it yet again: 'He is a Person!' Oh. They had quite evidently received the Holy Spirit and yet they remained spiritually immature. my friends. there are resources enough in your own heart to meet the demand of every circumstance in which you will ever find yourself? Do you know there 64 . but a blessed reality. and Christ is present in the person of the Spirit too. The Treasure In The Vessel Do you know. In his letter to them Paul wrote: "Know ye not that ye are a temple of God. For others he prayed for enlightenment of heart. and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16). 'The Spirit who dwells within me is no mere influence.. no doubt. and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" Yes. God is present in the person of the Spirit. and the remedy God offered them for this is the remedy He offers His Church today for the same complaint. that was the remedy for their unspirituality—just to know who He really was who dwelt within. In their thinking.that ye may know" (Ephesians 1:18). conscience and the Spirit are more or less identified as some 'thing' within them that brings them to book when they are bad and tries to show them how to be good. I would fain repeat it to you a hundred times—The Spirit of God within me is a Person! I am only an earthen vessel. my friends. They regard Him as a mere influence—and influence for good. but a living Person. Thus if the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts we have the Father and the Son dwelling within. He is very God. The trouble with the Corinthian Christians was not that they lacked the indwelling Spirit but that they lacked the knowledge of His presence. We need the 'opening of the eyes of our understanding' that we may know that God Himself through the Holy Spirit has taken up His abode in our hearts. The infinite God is within my heart!' I am at a loss to convey to you the blessedness of this discovery. They failed to realize the greatness of the One who had come to make His abode in their hearts. and it is no less the need of Christians today.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Lord's Name. but just an influence for all that. that the Holy Spirit dwelling within my heart is a Person. even the Lord of glory. but in that earthen vessel I carry a treasure of unspeakable worth. That is no mere theory or doctrine. that the Spirit within you is very God? Oh that our eyes were opened to see the greatness of God's gift! Oh that we might realize the vastness of the resources secreted in our own hearts! I could shout with joy as I think. but have we realized that He is a Person? Have we understood that to have the Spirit within us it to have the living God within? To many Christians the Holy Spirit is quite unreal. All the worry and fret of God's children would end if their eyes were opened to see the greatness of the treasure hid in their hearts. A knowledge of Divine facts was the need of the Christians then. Do you know. so Paul wrote to them: "Know ye not that ye are a temple of God. ".
The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee is power enough there to move the city in which you live? Do you know there is power enough to shake the universe? Let me tell you once more—I say it with the utmost reverence: You who have been born again of the Spirit of God—you carry God in your heart! All the flippancy of the children of God would cease too if they realized the greatness of the treasure deposited within them. but God Himself. The reason why many Christians do not experience the power of the Spirit. and your whole demeanour will be different too. Has it really come to you that wherever you go you carry with you the Holy Spirit of God? You do not just carry your Bible with you. for it was outwardly of very ordinary material. and then with joyful solemnity continue on your way. Do you realize what happened at your conversion? God came into your heart and made it His temple. It matters little if you lose your money. what a deep reverence will come over our lives! All lightness. is that they lack reverence. and all self-pleasing too. but no careless jaunting along the road. all frivolity will end. but as soon as you neared that special tent you instinctively walked more quietly. There was little unusual about the tent itself. And they lack reverence because they have not had their eyes opened to the fact of His presence. If man or beast dared to do so. In Old Testament days God dwelt in a temple made of stone. for there is not much at stake. When we really see that God has made our hearts His dwelling place. and swinging your stick in the air. though He actually dwells in their hearts. You might move in and out of the common tents talking noisily and laughing gaily. but there was one tent quite different from all the rest. death was the sure penalty. In the common tents you could do just as you pleased—eat or fast. you will quietly finger your treasure again. that some recognize His indwelling and others do not. but the great God had chosen to make it His abode. The fact is there. work or rest. True revelation of the fact of the Spirit's indwelling will revolutionize the life of any Christian. No one could touch it with impunity. 65 . But that other tent was a tent that commanded reverence and awe. but they have not seen it. the position is vastly different. today He dwells in a temple composed of living believers. talking lightly as you go. or even much good teaching about God. and when you stood right before it you bowed your head in solemn silence. slipping your hand into your pocket. In Old Testament times there were hundreds of tents in the camp of Israel. noisy or silent. There will be great gladness in your heart. If you have only ten shillings in your pocket you can march gaily along the street. But if you carry a thousand pounds in your pocket. and once in a while you will slacken your pace and. Why is it that some Christians are living victorious lives while others live in a state of constant defeat? The difference is not accounted for by the presence or absence of the Spirit (for He dwells in the heart of every child of God) but by this. be joyful or sober. What was so very special about it? It was the temple of the living God. when we know that we are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells within us.
'I am a preacher of the Gospel and the pastor of a church. Paul'. now with the Lord. without reservation.D. Revelation is the first step to holiness. to be held henceforth entirely at His disposal. When we see that we are the temple of God we shall immediately recognize that we are not our own. our families. but whether that be so or not. which ye have from God? and ye are not your own. then a full surrender of ourselves to God must follow. Then at length the glad day would arrive when all would greet him as 'Dr. I exhort them to pray. The power of the Spirit is stayed. and he imagined himself first studying for his M. degree and then for his Ph. There may be a practical issue raised by God to test the reality of our consecration. Are you living for the Lord or for yourself? Perhaps that is too general a question. I tell my people they should love the Word of God. If we do not give Him absolute authority in our lives. but. but he did not enjoy the Spirit's presence or experience His power. He can be present. but I myself have little inclination to pray. whose name we will call Paul. he had the Spirit of God within him. but He cannot be powerful. for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body" (1 Cor. for. he was a very dissatisfied man. From that day we are no longer our own masters.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee The Absolute Lordship Of Christ "Know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you. 20). our possessions.A. I tell 66 . and that consequently some recognize the Divine ownership of their lives while others are still their own masters. our business and our time. when we give up all right to ourselves and submit to the absolute Lordship of Jesus Christ. cherished the hope from his early youth that one day he would be called 'Dr. but that some know His indwelling and others do not. as definite as the day of our conversion. The difference between victorious Christians and defeated ones is not that some have the Spirit while others have not. The Lord saved him and called him to preach. but his life was not Christ-like. when once we have made the discovery of the fact that we are the dwelling place of God. there must be a day when. and before long he became pastor of a large congregation. By that time he had his degree and was studying for his doctorate. An American friend. and consecration is the second. we surrender everything to Him—ourselves. He was a Christian. A day must come in our lives. This verse now takes us a stage further. He cannot direct our lives effectually until all control of them is committed to Him. When he was quite a little chap he began to dream of the day when he would enter the university. Paul'. so let me be more specific. Consecration will follow revelation. despite splendid progress in his studies and a good measure of success as a pastor. 6:19. but only stewards. Is there anything God is asking of you that you are withholding from Him? Is there any point of contention between you and Him? Not till every controversy is settled and the Holy Spirit is given full sway can He reproduce the life of Christ in the heart of any believer. but I do not really love it myself. All we are and have becomes His. Not until the Lordship of Jesus Christ is a settled thing in our hearts can the Spirit really operate effectively in us. He thought to himself.
Paul settled down to prepare his sermon for the following day. and from that time God blessed and owned him in an altogether new way.' Well.' In his distress he cried to the Lord to cause him to know the power of the indwelling Spirit. From that day he knew separation from the world. I want everything for my 67 . but not conscious of any unusual experience. With Mr. And all the while Mr. The Lord blessed that testimony more abundantly than any of his well-prepared sermons. but God made it clear that he must choose between the power he could sway through a doctor's degree and the power of God's Spirit swaying his life. and all Mr. but though he prayed and prayed for months. study as he would. That answer was not long in coming. He promised to go here or there. and it was this: 'I long that you should know the power of My Spirit. for He must have our all. and. Then he retired. no answer came. God is waiting for a settlement of all our controversies with Him. reasoning having failed. and in daily experience he knew the blessedness of the Spirit's presence and power.D. but still the Lord did not change His mind. You have yielded to me all but one thing. he resorted to bargaining with the Lord. It was Saturday. he said. Paul it was a question of his doctor's degree. if only the Lord would allow him to have his doctor's degree. Every time he prayed about the matter he got the same answer.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee them to live a holy life. but. and now the thing he prized above all was almost within his grasp. and that one thing you are holding to yourself—your Ph. and giving his reason. but I want to know the power of the Holy Ghost in my life. Paul's sound reasoning did not alter the Lord's word to him. I warn them not to love the world. but your heart is set on something that I do not wish you to have.' He rose from his knees and wrote a letter to his examiners. Our absolute surrender of ourselves to the Lord generally hinges upon some one particular thing. The ambition of a lifetime was just within reach of realization. He must have it. Paul all my days. though outwardly I shun it. That evening he yielded. asking to be excused from the examination on the Monday. he could get no message. and God is after that one thing. and explained how it came about. Then. He had dreamed of it from childhood and labored for it all through his youth. but my own life is not holy. and Mr. Paul was becoming more and more hungry to know the fullness of the Spirit. very happy. This state of affairs continued to within two days of his final examination. Next morning he told his congregation that for the first time in six years he had no sermon to preach. but with us it may be something quite different. So he reasoned with the Lord in this wise: 'Is there any harm for me to be a Doctor of Philosophy? Will it not bring much more glory to Thy Name to have a Dr. Then he fasted and besought the Lord to show him any hindrance there might be in his life. but to him it was his very life. I was greatly impressed by something a great national leader wrote in his autobiography: 'I want nothing for myself. 'Lord'. Paul preaching the Gospel than a plain Mr. Paul'. In two short months it would be his. Paul' or as 'Dr. Paul?' But God does not change His mind. 'I am willing to be plain Mr. to do this or that. no longer as an outward thing but as a deep inward reality. yet in my heart I myself still love it dearly. to you or me it might be of little consequence whether we were addressed as plain 'Mr.
and when again the young man pleaded for the fullness of the Spirit. the Lord made it clear to him that his relations with that girl must be broken off. unknown to her.' Not until we take the place of a servant can He take His place as Lord. but for him it was everything. But the Lord seemed to care a great deal more about his relationship with that girl than about his going to Tibet. Paul. But he became conscious of his need for holiness. I can truly say now. so he evaded the issue and continued to serve the Lord and to win souls for Him. we need wait for no special feelings or supernatural manifestations. but the Lord seemed continually to ignore his request. and as soon as he was saved he sought to win the one he loved to the Lord. had a controversy with the Lord. I will what Thou willest. "Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee". It struck right home to his heart and he had to admit to himself that he could not truthfully say that he desired no one in Heaven or earth apart from his Lord.' If a man can be willing that his country should have everything and he himself nothing." On his return home he went to a prayer meeting. but she would have nothing to do with spiritual things. But that day the Lord triumphed. and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" "Know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you. Are you willing for anything He wills? Another friend of mine. He is not calling us to devote ourselves to His cause: He is asking us to yield ourselves to His will. the Lord still pointed to the same thing. May the Lord bring us to a definite issue regarding the question of His Lordship. and I want to have nothing outside Thy will. but he was deeply devoted to her. there and then. that for him everything hinged upon his willingness to give up the girl he loved. So he began to reason with the Lord: 'Lord I will go to Tibet and work for Thee there if I may marry that girl'. he had just preached. and no amount of reasoning on his part availed to effect any change of emphasis on the part of the Lord. but can simply look up and praise Him that something has already happened. He asked for the Spirit's fullness that he might have power to live a holy life. A forgiven sinner is quite different from an ordinary sinner. cannot we say to our God: 'Lord. One morning he had to preach in another city and he spoke from Psalm 73:25: "Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee country. The controversy went on for several months. He saw. For some it might not have involved much. I want nothing for myself. and there a sister read out the very same verse from which. like my friend Mr. We can confidently thank Him that the glory of God has already filled His temple.' And that was the beginning of a new life for him. If we do yield wholly to Him and claim the power of the indwelling Spirit. before his conversion he fell in love. I want all for Thee. and followed it with the question: 'Can we truly say: "There is none upon earth that I desire beside thee"?' There was power in that word. which ye have from God?" 68 . and that young man looked up to Him and said: 'Lord. and that consciousness marked the beginning of dark days for him. and a consecrated Christian is quite different from an ordinary Christian.
and that "they that are in the flesh cannot please God" (Rom. 7:5). They would have put it between the fifth and sixth chapters. then perhaps we have no need of Romans 7. but that when He died He included us sinners in His death. Many a Christian is truly saved and yet bound by sin. The Flesh And Man's Breakdown Romans 7 has a new lesson to teach us. 8:8). namely. We broke off at the end of chapter 6 in order to consider two related subjects. and we concluded that this was all that was required. to appreciate this we must first understand what the Law is and what it does. Two things follow that revelation. It is found in the discovery that I am "in the flesh" (Rom. that "I am carnal" (7:18). Now let us retrace our steps for a minute and attempt to describe what is probably the experience of many. "O wretched man that I am!" Could anything be more of an anticlimax? And so some have argued that Paul is speaking here of his unregenerate experience. The man's eyes are opened and he knows he has been crucified with Christ. Others have felt that the chapter is in the wrong place. but that we also need to know deliverance from the Law. but none the less many Christians do experience it. This goes beyond the question of sin. so that not only were our sins dealt with. who supplies the power and resource to bring us to that goal. for it relates also the matter of pleasing God. and 'reckon' on that. In chapter 6 Paul has told us how we could be delivered from sin. If we have come to the point where we really 'know' that. that the Lord Jesus not only died to cleanse away our sins. We are dealing here not with sin in its forms but with man in his carnal state. so straightforward. a chapter which many have felt to be almost superfluous. Well. and an entirely new creation brought in by His resurrection. But what is the difference between deliverance from sin and deliverance from the Law? We all see the value of the former. Perhaps indeed it would be so if Christians really saw that the old creation has been ruled out by the Cross of Christ. How then is this discovery made? It is made with the help of the Law. we must admit that some of what he describes here is not a Christian experience. Chapter 7 now teaches that deliverance from sin is not enough. What then is the teaching of this chapter? Romans 6 deals with freedom from sin. and the Holy Spirit. It is not that he is necessarily living under the power of sin all the time. The latter includes the former but it takes us a stage further. After chapter 6 all is so perfect.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Chapter 9: The Meaning and Value of Romans Seven We must return now to our study of Romans. which is the motive and goal of our walk with Him. but where is the need for the latter? Well. If we are not fully emancipated from the Law we can never know full emancipation from sin. Romans 7 deals with freedom from the Law. We come now to Romans 7. In the first place he reckons that he has 69 . and 'present ourselves' on the basis of that. and then comes breakdown and the cry. for it leads to the discovery that in this realm too we are totally impotent. God's eternal purpose. but we ourselves were dealt with too. but that there are certain particular sins hampering him continually so that he hears the full Gospel message.
I want to please Him and do His will. and sets out to obey Him. only to find greater defeat than ever awaiting him the next time a choice has to be made. We are as yet still in ignorance of the truth set forth in chapter 7. But then he begins to reason as follows: 'I have died with Christ and am raised with Him. since He has done so much for me. that is. Romans 7 is given to us to explain and make real the statement in Romans 6:14. that is incomplete in chapter 6. He thought he could do the will of God and he thought he loved it.' So he brings all his will-power to bear on the situation. But he has barely got up from his knees before he has fallen once more. What is the explanation? First let us be quite clear that the death with Christ described in Romans 6 is fully adequate to cover all our need. but gradually he finds he does not always like it. is the meaning of law? Grace means that God does something for me. Having grasped that. that: "Sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law. God has certain holy and righteous demands which He places upon me: that is law. law means that I do something for God. 19). He sees that he has no more right over himself." The trouble is that we do not yet know deliverance from law. so he prays for the desire and the power to do it. For the good which I would I do not: but the evil which I would not. dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me. now I must do something for Him. They fancy Romans 6 is quite enough. but to do that which is good is not. At times he even finds a distinct reluctance to do it. This time I will be absolutely definite. Then he begins to question his experience. full of praise to the Lord. Ultimately he comes to the conclusion that he never really loved God's will at all. What The Law Teaches Many Christians are suddenly launched into the experience of Romans 7 and they do not know why. before he reaches the point of victory he is conscious of defeat. Then at last he echoes the words of Paul: "For I know that in me. that I practice" (Rom. He confesses his disobedience and promises never to disobey again. He asks himself: 'Did I really know? Yes! Did I really reckon? Yes! Did I really give myself to Him? Yes! Have I taken back my consecration? No! Then whatever is the matter now?' The more this man tries to do the will of God the more he fails. and in the second place. he presents himself to God as alive from the dead. Then he makes a strange discovery. he seeks to discover the will of God. they think there can be no more question of failure. This is the commencement of a beautiful Christian life. recognizing the Lord's claim upon him.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee died and risen with the Lord. What. in my flesh. and then to their utmost surprise they suddenly find themselves in Romans 7.' So. 7:18. Then he says to himself: 'Perhaps my last decision was not definite enough. then. Now if law means that God requires something of me for their fulfillment. then deliverance from law means that He 70 . but under grace. with all that follows from it. after the step of consecration. and I have given myself over to Him for ever. and often when he tries to do it he finds he cannot. It is the explanation of that death.
It may be all right for the Government to require payment of 100 shillings but it will be all wrong if I have only ten shillings with which to meet the demand! I am a man "sold under sin" (Rom. except through the 71 . The demands of the Law are righteous. God must bring us all to the place where we see that we are utterly weak and helpless. Law implies that God requires me to do something for Him. When a holy law is applied to a sinful man. Had it not been for the Law we should never have known how weak we are. it is true. we do not wholly believe it. The Law makes our weakness manifest. stumbles over a footstool a few paces further on. 7:12). The trouble in Romans 7 is that man in the flesh tried to do something for God. then immediately the trouble begins. If he does nothing all day he will be of little use to you. get up and do something'. but as soon as He demands something of us the occasion is provided for a grand display of our sinfulness. but at least he will do no damage that way. and the experience of Romans 7 begins to be yours. Paul says. but I imagine that I am not such a hopeless sinner as some. As long as you leave me alone I seem to be rather a fine type of man. then his sinfulness comes out in full display. It is when you ask me to do something that my sinfulness comes to light. While you let me sit still I appear to be all right. He knocks the chair over as he gets up. If you have a very clumsy servant and he just sits still and does nothing. let it be settled at the outset that the fault does not lie with the Law. but that I am unable to meet them. "the law is holy. don't idle away your time. We are all sinners by nature. He knows that I am weakness incarnate. that I can do nothing. The trouble is that I do not know it. but it was your demands that made manifest the clumsiness that was all the time in his make-up. but the person upon whom the demands are made is unrighteous. all seems to go well. but the man was all wrong. God knows who I am. I (where 'I' is the 'carnal' man of ch. but Himself provides it. As we seek to understand this. If God asks nothing of us. and that in grace He does it Himself. deliverance from law implies that He exempts me from doing it. As soon as you try to please God in that way. then smashes some precious dish as soon as he handles it. No. then his clumsiness does not appear. and righteous. and God has to do something to convince us of the fact. there is nothing wrong with the Law. then you place yourself under law. But if you say to him: 'Now come along. Sin has dominion over me. 7:14) need do nothing for God: that is deliverance from law. and good" (Rom. He knows that from head to foot I am full of sin. but when you ask me to do anything I am sure to spoil that thing. He was as clumsy a man when he was sitting still as when he was working. and if you trust me with a second thing I will as surely spoil it too. I admit that all men are sinners and that therefore I am a sinner. whether he was active or inactive. While we say so. 7:14). He makes this clear when he says in Romans 7:7: "I had not known sin. The trouble is not that the Law's demands are unjust. and the commandment holy. Paul had reached that point. The demands were all right.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee no longer requires that from me. but as soon as you ask him to do anything his awkwardness is seen at once. but there is something decidedly wrong with me. If you make no demands upon him his clumsiness is never noticed.
It has been our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. Let us make no mistake. The Law is that which exposes our true nature.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee law: for I had not known coveting. but when the commandment came. We are so bad that He asks no favour and makes no demands. that God never gave us the Law to keep. while there are two husbands.for apart from the law sin is dead. Whatever might be his experience with the rest of the Law. for she can only be wife of one of the two.." that found him out. that God has to give us something to test us and prove how weak we are. and unfortunately she is married to the less desirable one. The woman is in a very difficult position. The relation between sin and the sinner is that of master to slave. Nowhere in the New Testament are men of faith told that they are to keep the Law. Never has any man succeeded in making himself acceptable to God by means of the Law. and when we have broken it so completely that we are convinced of our utter need.' No. I had not know sin. it was the tenth commandment. Christ The End Of The Law In Romans 6 we saw how God delivered us from sin... The Law was given to make us law-breakers! No doubt I am a sinner in Adam.. "The law came in. except through the law: . 3:24).. He is a most particular 72 . He gave us the Law to break! He well knew that we could not keep it. God knew it all along but we did not. in Romans 7 we see how He delivers us from the Law. and think ourselves so strong. and so God had to bring us through painful experiences to a recognition of the fact.. 5:20). and I died" (Rom. That is why God gave us the Law. that the trespass might abound" (Rom. in chapter 7 we are shown the way of deliverance from the Law in the picture of two husbands and a wife. It was given in the full knowledge that we would break it. the Law was not given in the expectation that we would keep it. which literally translated is: "Thou shalt not desire. the relation between the Law and the sinner is that of husband to wife. "Howbeit. So we can say. that the husband and wife are totally unsuited to one another. 7:7-9). except the law had said. Thou shalt not covet". Notice first that in the picture in Romans 7:1-4 by which Paul illustrates our deliverance from the Law there is only one woman. and I can of myself do nothing whatever to please God. we are so conceited. In chapter 6 we were shown the way of deliverance from sin in the picture of a master and his slave. Alas. but the trouble lies here.. but it does say that the Law was given so that there should be transgression. the man to whom she is married is a good man. There his total failure and incapacity stared him in the face! The more we try to keep the Law the more our weakness is manifest and the deeper we get into Romans 7. until it is clearly demonstrated to us that we are hopelessly weak. then the Law has served its purpose. sin revived.. that He Himself may fulfill it in us (Gal. We need to have our weakness proved to ourselves beyond dispute. reverently. At last we see it and confess: 'I am a sinner through and through.
I can die. but He also helps much. the second husband is Christ. but with her death the marriage bond is dissolved and she is "discharged from the law of her husband". She would fain marry Him. all his demands are perfectly legitimate. but in verse 4 we see that in fact it is the woman who dies. The Law makes demands and leaves us helpless to fulfill them. and you are the woman. The two cannot get on at all. Sin. Verses 1 to 3 show that the husband should die. 73 . but if I die the Law has lost its claim upon me. but offers no help in the carrying out of its requirements. What can she do? She is "bound by law to the husband" and unless he dies she cannot legitimately marry that other Man. theirs are utterly incompatible natures. Indeed there is not the least prospect of his passing away.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee man. Little wonder that the woman desires to be freed from the first husband that she may marry that other Man! But her only hope of release is through the death of her first husband. yea more (Matt. and he holds on to life most tenaciously. While the woman lives she is bound to her husband. The most important point to note in this section of Romans 7 is the transition from verse 3 to verse 4. but when I am dead he calls on me in vain. accurate to a degree. but for me its power to enforce them is ended. So it is with regard to the Law. The Law requires much. then how can I ever be united to Christ? How can I marry a second husband if my first husband simply refuses to die? There is one way out. one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law. "Till heaven and earth pass away. 5:18). she on the other hand is decidedly easy-going. He could ask me to do a hundred and one things when I was alive. till all things be accomplished (Matt. He is no less exacting than her husband. When I have died my old master. If the Law will never pass away. The first husband is the Law. but his power over his slave extends as far as the grave and no further. Thus the poor woman is in great distress. but living with such a husband it seems as though everything she says and does is wrong! What hope is there for her? If only she were married to that other Man all would be well. She is fully aware that she often makes mistakes. I am for ever freed from his tyranny. Christ makes demands. God's righteous demands remain for ever. He wants everything just so. And that is exactly God's way of deliverance from the Law. Exactly the same principle operates in our deliverance from the Law as in our deliverance from sin. and if I die the marriage relationship is dissolved. It cannot follow me beyond the grave. while she accepts things as they come. The Law does not pass away. the trouble is that he has the wrong kind of wife to carry them out. With him all is definite and precise. with her all is vague and haphazard. This picture is not drawn by me but by the apostle Paul. There is nothing wrong with the man and nothing wrong with his demands. 5:21-48) but what He requires from us He Himself carries out in us. and besides. The Law may still make demands. The Law is going to continue for all eternity. still continues to live. How could there be happiness in such a home? And then that husband is so exacting! He is always making demands on his wife. for as a husband he has a right to expect something of her. and if I live I must meet those demands. The Lord Jesus requires just as much. If he will not die. And yet one cannot find fault with him. but her husband is still alive. but He Himself fulfills in us the very demands He makes.
God is no longer veiled but seeks to reveal Himself (1 Cor. 27:51) as by the hand of God. 10:20). driven to despair by the constant demands of her former husband. But when the veil was rent asunder. they could not. by analogy from Ezekiel 1:10 and 10:14. is now set free to marry the other Man. His body (Heb. but if she dies he may make as many demands upon her as he likes. but not within it. When He was crucified. 2:7-10). The body of the Lord Jesus speaks not only of His death but of His resurrection. 7:4). it is perfectly fulfilled. 26:31. It was impossible to rend the veil and preserve them whole. God's purpose in uniting us to Christ was not merely negative. We were in the Lord Jesus when He died. and upon it were embroidered cherubim (Exod. 7:4). And. That veil symbolized our Lord's flesh. when the Lord Jesus died the whole living creation died too. it is true. see the God who dwelt within. it will not affect her in the slightest. Death has set her free from all her husband's claims. And what is the issue of this new union? "That we might bring forth fruit unto God" (Rom. 2 Chron. 74 . sinful woman has died. Thus "through the body of Christ" we are not only "dead to the law' but alive unto God. On the third day He rose again. but being united to Him in death she is united to Him in resurrection also. who with every demand He makes becomes in her the power for its fulfillment. it was gloriously positive—"that ye should be joined to another" (Rom. I have been broken too. Man could look upon the veil. 1:30). 17). for the risen Lord now lives out His life in her. When the veil was rent the cherubim were rent with it. The risen life of the Lord in her empowers her for all the demands God's holiness makes upon her. so that man could gaze right into the Most Holy Place. "Wherefore. Since the death of the Lord Jesus. but the cherubim were there in the veil and were one with it. included that of a man as representing the human head of the whole natural creation (Psalm 8:4-8). ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ. 7:4). and since we are still in Him we are risen too. and that inclusive death of His has for ever freed us from the Law. what happened to the cherubim? God rent only the veil." That woman's husband may be very well and strong. I was crucified with Him. 16:16. in the sight of God. It was the veil of testimony that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. and in the power of resurrection life she brings forth fruit unto God. my brethren. An Old Testament illustration may help to make this clear. The Law of God is not annulled. save by Divine revelation (Matt. who never lifted a little finger to help her carry them out. the veil of the temple was rent from top to bottom (Matt. So in the Gospels men could only look upon the outward form of our Lord. By the body of Christ that foolish. 3:14) whose faces. Death has dissolved the old marriage relationship. so that the woman. In Old Testament days God dwelt within the veil and man without. But when the Lord Jesus died.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Now the vital question arises: 'How do I die?' And the preciousness of our Lord's work comes in just here: "Ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ" (Rom. for His resurrection was a bodily resurrection. When Christ died His body was broken. and since God placed me in Him (1 Cor. for they were embroidered upon it. But our Lord did not remain in the grave. and His life is always well-pleasing to the Father.
staying a little longer with the negative aspect and keeping the positive for our next chapter. I reply. for it is Christ who now fulfills them. for his good pleasure" (Phil. 5:17). to fulfill {the law}" were His words (Matt. then immediately I place myself under the Law.. In the end he must give up and make way for the man who could." 'What a doctrine!' you exclaim. but. It certainly does not mean that we are going to be lawless. we cease trying to please God from the ground of the old man. the Law pronounced the death sentence. we put our trust in the Lord to manifest His resurrection life in us. from the ground of resurrection. all that is His becomes ours. and she shares not his name only but his possessions too.. "I came. Let me illustrate by what I have seen in my own country.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee What happens when a woman marries? She no longer bears her own name but that of her husband. 75 . for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to work. I broke the Law. Thus Paul. Very much the reverse! What it does mean however is that we are free from doing that will as of ourselves. 'What awful heresy! You cannot possibly mean that!' But remember. "It means that from henceforth I am going to do nothing whatever for God: I am never again going to try to please Him. He knows perfectly well he cannot carry it. Now along comes a man who can carry only 120 kilos. and with His infinite resources at our disposal we are well able to meet all His demands. Praise God! its demands are being met. 13). 7:14)—have been set free from all its claims. and now there is in fact a "new commandment" that is infinitely more exacting than the old. can say: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. When we belong to Him. some even 250 kilos. the sentence was executed. What does it mean in everyday life to be delivered from the Law? At the risk of a little overstatement. and here is a load of 250 kilos. and now by death I—the carnal 'I' (Rom. There is still a Law of God. Our End Is God's Beginning Now that we have settled the doctrinal side of the question we must come down to practical issues. Being fully persuaded that we cannot do it. It is God that worketh in you. it is Christ who works in me what is well-pleasing to God. though every one of them knew he could not possibly manage it. So it is when we are joined to Christ. and if he is wise he will say: 'I won't touch it!' But the temptation to try is ingrained in human nature. As a youngster I used to amuse myself watching ten or twenty of these fellows come along and try. if I try to please God 'in the flesh'. so although he cannot possibly carry it he still tries. Deliverance from law does not mean that we are free from doing the will of God. 2:12. Having at last reached the point of utter despair in ourselves so that we cease even to try. In China some bearers can carry a load of salt weighing 120 kilos.
apparently postponing the unwelcome task.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee The sooner we too give up trying the better. 'Think of the distress you would have saved that brother if you had considered yourself a little less and him a little more. As long as we are trying to do anything. who was an expert swimmer. for if we monopolize the task. There was inadequate provision for bathing in the home where we stayed. So I grew desperate and called out: 'Don't you see the man is drowning?' and the other brothers. and I suddenly saw he was sinking fast. but I trust Thee to do everything in me. He makes the demands. But our good swimmer still did not move. I am unable to do anything for Thee. After being a Christian for years I was still trying my best to please God. When I got an opportunity I aired my views.' But the swimmer 76 . The day I was delivered from the Law was a day of Heaven on earth. Himself keeps it. I regarded God as the greatest Demander in the universe. and all who make a like discovery can do the same. I had said in an address something along the above lines. but I found myself impotent to fulfill the least of His demands. I said. Praise God. then there is no room for the Holy Spirit. In my amazement I jumped up and said: "Lord. and He is the Lawkeeper in my heart. In 1923 I met a famous Canadian evangelist. and both were safely ashore. My friend could well jump up and shout when he found he had nothing to do. He can do nothing. he remained just where he was. it is good to hear it again. He is the Lawgiver on the Throne. then we shall find that a Power stronger than ourselves is carrying us through. so I motioned to another brother. light dawned and I saw that I had not only been delivered from sin but from the Law as well. But if we say: 'I'll not do it. with a few swift strokes the swimmer was at his side. but the more I tried the more I failed.' We all need to come to the point where we say: 'Lord. as I read Romans 7. You are still not weak enough. When you are reduced to utter weakness and are persuaded that you can do nothing whatever. It is because of our trying that we fail and fail and fail. but we are not the ones to meet them. But to my astonishment he made no move. and as we walked back to his home afterwards he remarked: 'The note of Romans 7 is seldom sounded nowadays. A brother who was trying to struggle into victory remarked to me. 'I do not know why I am so weak. Suddenly one day. are you really making no demands on me? Then I need do nothing more for You!" God's requirements have not altered. about as agitated as I was. Meantime the voice of the poor drowning brother grew fainter and his efforts feebler. On one occasion a brother had cramp in one leg. I'll trust Thee to do it for me'. 'is that you are weak enough not to do the will of God.' 'The trouble with you'. then God will do everything. to hasten to his rescue. Calm and collected.' I was once staying in a place in China with some twenty other brothers. but you are not weak enough to keep out of things altogether. so we went for a daily plunge in the river. He who gave the Law. God wants to demonstrate to us that we can do nothing at all. shouted vigorously too. and until that is fully recognized our disappointments and disillusionments will never cease. In my heart I said: 'I hate that man! Think of his letting a brother drown before his very eyes and not going to the rescue!' But when the man was actually sinking. I said. but He also meets them. 'I have never seen any Christian who loved his life quite as much as you do'.
in chapter 7 the whole question before us is death. and that was the cause of his trouble. 'he would have clutched me so fast that both of us would have gone under. but in regard to all that pertains to holiness and Heaven and God I am wholly negative.' Do you see it? When we give up the case. my failure in regard to all that is wicked. I Thank God! Romans 6 deals with "the body of sin". 'Had I gone earlier'. We see the Law and we think that we must meet its demands. He is waiting until we are at an end of our resources and can do nothing more for ourselves. but when you try to speak for the Lord you are tongue-tied. The flesh profiteth nothing! If we try to do anything in the flesh we are virtually repudiating the Cross of Christ. that is to say. to that which expresses the will of God) I have a body of death. 7:24).The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee knew his business better than I did. Have you discovered the truth of that in your life? It is no good merely to discover it in Romans 6 and 7. God has declared us to be fit only for death. My activity in regard to sin makes my body a body of sin. wholly positive. A drowning man cannot be saved until he is utterly exhausted and ceases to make the slightest effort to save himself. There was a fundamental misconception in this man's mind. In chapter 6 the whole question before us is sin. he found himself doing what displeased Him. in my nature. God has condemned all that is of the old creation and consigned it to the Cross. What was the result? Far from doing what pleased God. worldly and Satanic I am. to whatever displeases God) I have a body of sin—a body. "The good which I would I do not: but the evil which I would not. In his very efforts to do the will of God he did exactly the opposite of what he knew to be His will. he said. but we need to remember that. though the Law in itself is all right. then we confirm God's verdict by giving up all our fleshly efforts to please Him. But God was requiring no such thing of him. When we truly believe that. when you try to do something for 77 . But in regard to the Law of God (that is. when you try to pray you feel sleepy. Romans 7 with "the body of this death" (6:6. Our continued efforts are a misunderstanding on the one hand of God's demands and on the other hand of the source of supply. Have you discovered that you carry the encumbrance of a lifeless body in regard to God's will? You have no difficulty in speaking about wordly matters. it will be all wrong if it is applied to the wrong person. which is actively engaged in sin. The repeated use of the little word 'I' in this chapter gives the clue to the failure. Our every effort to do His will is a denial of His declaration in the Cross of our utter worthlessness. What is the difference between the body of sin and the body of death? In regard to sin (that is. 7:19). so of course he was trying to keep it. He thought God was asking him to keep the Law. then God will take it up. The "wretched man" of Romans 7 tried to meet the demands of God's law himself. that I practice" (Rom.
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the Lord you feel unwell. You can do anything but that which is related to God's will. There is something in this body that does not harmonize with the will of God. What does death mean? We may illustrate from a well-known verse in the first letter to the Corinthians: "For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep" (1 Corinthians 11:30). Death is weakness produced to its extremity - weakness, sickness, death. Death means utter weakness; it means you are weak to such a point that you can become no weaker. That I have a body of death in relation to God's will means that I am so weak in regard to serving God, so utterly weak, that I am reduced to a point of dire helplessness. "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death?" cried Paul, and it is good when anyone cries out as he did. There is nothing more musical in the ears of the Lord. This cry is the most spiritual and the most scriptural cry a man can utter. He only utters it when he knows he can do nothing, and gives up making any further resolutions. Up to this point, every time he failed he made a new resolution and doubled and redoubled his will-power. At last he discovers there is no use in his making up his mind any more, and he cries out in desperation: "O wretched man that I am !" Like a man who suddenly awakes to find himself in a burning building, his cry is now for help, for he has come to the point where he despairs of himself. Have you despaired of yourself, or do you hope that if you read and pray more you will be a better Christian? Bible-reading and prayer are not wrong, and God forbid that we should suggest that they are, but it is wrong to trust even in them for victory. Our help is in Him who is the object of that reading and prayer. Our trust must be in Christ alone. Happily the "wretched man" does not merely deplore his wretchedness; he asks a fine question, namely: "Who shall deliver me?" "Who?" Hitherto he has looked for some thing; now his hope is in a Person. Hitherto he has looked within for a solution to his problem; now he looks beyond himself for a Savior. He no longer puts forth self-effort; all his expectation is now in Another. How did we obtain forgiveness of sins? Was it by reading, praying, almsgiving, and so on? No, we looked to the Cross, believing in what the Lord Jesus had done; and deliverance from sin becomes ours on exactly the same principle, nor is it otherwise with the question of pleasing God. In the matter of forgiveness we look to Him on the Cross; in the matter of deliverance from sin and of doing the will of God we look to Him in our hearts. For the one we depend on what He has done; for the other we depend on what He will do in us; but in regard to both, our dependence is on Him alone. He is the One who does it all. At the time when the Epistle to the Romans was written a murderer was punished in a peculiar and terrible manner. The dead body of the one murdered was tied to the living body of the murderer, head to head, hand to hand, foot to foot, and the living one was bound to the dead one till death. The murderer could go where he pleased, but wherever he went he had to carry the corpse of that murdered man with him. Could punishment be more appalling? Yet this is the illustration Paul now uses. It is as though he were bound to a dead body and unable to get free. Wherever he goes he is hampered by this terrible burden. At last he can bear it no longer and cries: "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me...?" And then, in a flash of illumination, his cry of despair changes to
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a song of praise. He has found the answer to his question. "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 7:25). We know that justification is ours through the Lord Jesus and requires no work on our part, but we think sanctification is dependent on our own efforts. We know we can receive forgiveness only by entire reliance on the Lord; yet we believe we can obtain deliverance by doing something ourselves. We fear that if we do nothing, nothing will happen. After salvation the old habit of 'doing' reasserts itself and we begin our old self-efforts again. Then God's word comes afresh to us: "It is finished" (John 19:30). He has done everything on the Cross for our forgiveness and He will do everything in us for our deliverance. In both cases He is the doer. "It is God that worketh in you." The first words of the delivered man are very precious—"I thank God". If someone gives you a cup of water you thank the person who gave it, not someone else. Why did Paul say "Thank God"? Because God was the One who did everything. Had it been Paul who did it, he would have said, "Thank Paul". But he saw that Paul was a "wretched man" and that God alone could meet his need; so he said, "Thank God". God wants to do all, for He must have all the glory. If we do some of the work, then we will get some of the glory; but God must have it all Himself, so He does all the work from beginning to end. What we have said in this chapter might seem negative and unpractical if we were to stop at this point, as though the Christian life were a matter of sitting still and waiting for something to happen. Of course it is very far from being so. All who truly live it know it to be a matter of very positive and active faith in Christ and in an altogether new principle of life—the law of the Spirit of life. We are now going to look at the effects in us of this new life principle.
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Chapter 10: The Path of Progress: Walking In The Spirit
Coming now to Romans 8 we may first summarize the argument of our second section of the letter from chapter 5:12 to chapter 8:39 in two phrases, each containing a contrast and each marking an aspect of Christian experience. The are: Romans 5:12 to 6:23: 'In Adam' and 'in Christ'. Romans 7:1 to 8:39: 'In the flesh' and 'in the Spirit'. We need to understand the relationship of these four things. The former two are 'objective' and set forth our position, firstly as we were by nature and secondly as we now are by faith in the redemptive work of Christ. The latter two are 'subjective' and relate to our walk as a matter of practical experience. Scripture makes it clear that the first two give us only a part of the picture and that the second two are required to complete it. We think it enough to be "in Christ", but we learn now that we must also walk "in the Spirit" (Rom. 8:9). The frequent occurrence of "the Spirit" in the early part of Romans 8 serves to emphasize this further important lesson of the Christian life.
The Flesh And The Spirit
The flesh is linked with Adam; the Spirit with Christ. Leaving aside now as settled the question of whether we are in Adam or in Christ, we must ask ourselves: Am I living in the flesh or in the Spirit? To live in the flesh is to do something 'out from' 13 myself as in Adam. It is to derive strength from the old natural source of life that I inherited from him, so that I enjoy in experience all Adam's very complete provision for sinning which all of us have found so effective. Now the same is true of what is in Christ. To enjoy in experience what is true of me as in Him, I must learn what it is to walk in the Spirit. It is a historic fact that in Christ my old man was crucified, and it is a present fact that I am blessed "with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 1:3); but if I do not live in the Spirit, then my life may be quite a contradiction of the fact that I am in Christ, for what is true of me in Him is not expressed in me. I may recognize that I am in Christ, but I may also have to face the fact that my old temper is very much in evidence. What is the trouble? It is that I am holding the truth merely objectively, whereas what is true objectively must be made true subjectively; and that is brought about as I live in the Spirit. Not only am I in Christ, but Christ is in me. And just as physically a man cannot live and work in water but only in air, so spiritually Christ dwells and manifests Himself not in 'flesh' but in 'spirit'. Therefore if I live "after the flesh" I find that what is mine in Christ is, so to say, held in suspense in me. Though in fact I am in Christ, yet if I live in the flesh—that is, in my own strength and under my own direction—then in experience I find to my dismay that it is what is in Adam that manifests itself in me. If I would know in experience all that is in Christ, then I must learn to live in the Spirit.
The author has in mind the Greek preposition ek, the sense of which is not easily conveyed by any single English word.—Ed.
During the first three months of the Japanese war in China we lost a great many tanks and so were unable to deal with the Japanese tanks. This life is completely different from the life I would naturally live of myself. impure thoughts. the flesh does not fight against us but against the Holy Spirit. if we do not come out of the cover of Christ into the realm of the flesh. If we do not move. eager to locate the source of the disturbance. he has gained the victory over us. carefully aimed. We are gloriously carried through by the Lord. You told Him before you set out that in yourself you could not but fail. No. but it should be a constant experience. You have been asked to go and see a friend. but you trusted the Lord to see you through. The whole scheme was devised to bring him out into the open. This is the explanation: the Holy Spirit carried you through. would pop his head out to look around. until the tank driver. then. outside of Christ. then he cannot get us. that is to say. This is what it means to "stand still. The next shot. In other words. After a considerable lapse of time the first shot would be followed by a second. Where. a quick tongue or a critical spirit. Then. for our natural inclinations take us in the wrong direction. and you wondered if you would be just as calm next time. but. and you knew the friend was not very friendly. "for these are contrary the one to the 81 . Satan's temptations are not primarily to make us do something particularly sinful. are we to look for help? Turn now to Galatians 5:17: "The flesh lusteth against the Spirit. I look to Him to do in me what He requires of me. Some of you have no doubt had an experience something like the following. It is not a case of trying but of trusting. though your friend was far from gracious. until the following scheme was devised. and see the salvation of the Lord. and the Spirit against the flesh". When the Holy Spirit takes things in hand there is no need for strain on our part. A single shot would be fired at a Japanese tank by one of our snipers in ambush. This is because as soon as we move we run into danger. then. The Divine way of victory does not permit of our doing anything at all—anything. and you asked Him for all that was needed. On your return you thought over the experience and marveled that you kept so calm. to your surprise. It is not a case of clenching our teeth and thinking that thus we have controlled ourselves beautifully and have had a glorious victory. The object of temptation is always to get us to do something. Unfortunately we only have this kind of experience once in while. after a further silence. by another shot. As long as he remained under cover he was perfectly safe. If I have a hasty temper. but merely to cause us to act in our own energy. 14:13). not of struggling but of resting in Him. and as soon as we step out of our hiding-place to do something on that basis. which he will work for you" (Exod. I shall look to the Spirit of God to produce in me the needed purity or humility or meekness. You were amazed at yourself and sought an explanation.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Living in the Spirit means that I trust the Holy Spirit to do in me what I cannot do myself. where there is a real victory there is no fleshly effort. I shall not set out with a determined effort to change myself. In the same way. you did not feel at all irritated. would put an end to him. reckoning myself dead in Christ to these things. Each time I am faced with a new demand from the Lord.
How many Christians believe in 'reproduction' in this sense. I once arrived in America in the home of a saved couple who requested me to pray for them." I think we have often understood that last clause of this verse in a wrong sense.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee other". 4:19). 'Reproduction' goes further: it means that new life grows and becomes manifest progressively in us. and Christ is our Substitute within. with the result that we shall not do what we naturally would do. Let us consider what it means. We are really dishonoring the Lord. The effect then of our refusal to act out from ourselves is that the Holy Spirit is free to meet and deal with the flesh in us. Christ Our Life "I thank God through Jesus Christ"! That exclamation of Paul's is fundamentally the same as his other words in Galatians 2:20 which we have taken as the key to our study: "I live. and yet no longer I. What is the result? "That ye may not do the things that ye would. culminating in the agonized cry: "O wretched man that I am!" Then follows the shout of deliverance: "Thank God. but Christ". we shall not go off on a course and plan of our own: but shall find instead our satisfaction in His perfect plan. as something more than regeneration? Regeneration means that the life of Christ is planted in us by the Holy Spirit at our new birth. until the very likeness of Christ begins to be reproduced in our lives. not we. who meets and deals with the flesh. a 'substituted life'. we have been in a bad way lately'. and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Gal. the Spirit has been given to produce salvation in us. and yet no longer I... Hence we have the principle: "Walk by the Spirit. We think of the Christian life as a 'changed life'. and it is He. and during the past few weeks we have both lost our tempers several times a day. I inquired the case of their trouble. Christ in our hearts by the Spirit is its power. but Christ liveth in me. we shall not act according to our natural inclinations. Nee. Let me illustrate with another story. 5:16). Our victory lies in hiding in Christ. If we live in the Spirit. He has been given to us to take charge of this business. Christ risen and ascended is the basis of our salvation. Mr. Jesus Christ"! and it is clear that the discovery Paul has made is this. That is what Paul means when he speaks of his travail for the Galatians "until Christ be formed in you" (Gal. 'Oh." This life is not something which we ourselves have to produce. that the life we live is the life of Christ alone. 82 . It is Christ's own life reproduced in us. and in counting in simple trust upon His Holy Spirit to overcome in us our fleshly lusts with His own new desires. they confessed. "I live. 'We are so easily irritated by the children. that is. We saw how prominent is the word 'I' throughout his argument in Romans 7. we can truly 'stand aside' while the Spirit gains new victories over the flesh every day. The Cross has been given to procure salvation for us. if we walk by faith in the risen Christ. What 'would we do' naturally? We would move off on some course of action dictated by our own instincts and apart from the will of God.
Our relationship to the Son is our relationship to the life. a fresh trusting in Christ. It is the Lord Jesus being made over to us to be that. and He is the answer to every human need. and when love is needed the fruit of the Spirit is love. 'I mean that one thing is certain'. 'What do you mean? We do not need patience. Some are afraid to discover deficiency in themselves and so they never grow.' At that they said in amazement. He will be humble and patient and loving and everything else I need—in my stead. How can we know more of Christ in this way? Only by way of an increasing awareness of need. and another stretch of land is conquered. some love to the unloving. power. measuring out some patience to the impatient. in quantities that we take and work on as kind of capital.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Will you ask Him to give us patience?' 'That is the one thing I cannot do'. Holiness is Christ. I said. was made unto us wisdom from God. He that hath the Son hath the life. Another letting go. when joy is needed the fruit of the Spirit is joy. 12). but that is not holiness. Greater capacity means greater enjoyment of God's supply. it is the fruit of holiness. and yet we get irritated the whole day long! What do you mean?' 'It is not patience you have need of'. the life of God is given us in the Son. It does not matter what your personal deficiency. but revelation of some new need will lead us spontaneously to trust Him to live out His life in us in that particular. and this life is in his Son. but I would like to ask you if you have ever prayed in this respect. Today there is a call for patience: He is our patience! Tomorrow the call may be for purity: He is our purity! He is the answer to every need. we have said. 'What do you mean?' they asked.. Remember again what is said in 1 Corinthians 1:30: "Christ Jesus. God has one sufficient answer—His Son Jesus Christ. It is "eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. That is why Paul speaks of "the fruit of the Spirit" as one (Gal. between patience and Christ. 'it is Christ. some meekness to the proud. I do not mean quite that. I answered. The life of God is not given us as a separate item.' God will not give me humility or patience or holiness or love as separate gifts of His grace. 5:22) and not of 'fruits' as separate items. I answered. He is not a retailer dispensing grace to us in doses. and he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life" (1 John 5:11. 'Do you mean to tell us we have gone so far that God is not willing to hear us when we ask Him to make us patient?' 'No.' Then the eyes of the wife blazed up. You have. Remember the word in the first Epistle of John: "God gave unto us eternal life. He has given only one gift to meet all our need—His Son Christ Jesus. and righteousness and sanctification. is God doing something for us. 'Christ my life' is the secret of enlargement. 'and that is that God is not going to answer your prayer. and redemption. self-control. and grace. Growth in grace is the only sense in which we can grow. God has given us His Holy Spirit. humility. She said. 83 . between love and Christ. So you can put in anything there: love. and as I look to Him to live out His life in me." The common conception of sanctification is that every item of the life should be holy. We all have the same Christ dwelling within. 6:23). It is a blessed thing to discover the difference between Christian graces and Christ: to know the difference between meekness and Christ. It is always true. But did God answer? No! Do you know why? Because you have no need of patience.. or whether it is a hundred and one different things.
and the difference between the two. 'Lord. With peace in my heart I have no time to feel condemned. therefore I will take my hands off. drawing life from Him. But there are two kinds of condemnation. I labored under a constant sense of handicap. and this statement may at first seem out of place here. I felt disabled at every turn. How can Paul be so daring? On what ground does he declare that he is now free from limitation and "can do all things"? Here is his answer: "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death" (Rom. But there is no 'I cannot' in Christ. there is something definite to account for it.' This is the point where most of us fail. then I know my sins are forgiven. 2. Surely condemnation was met by the Blood through which we found peace with God and salvation from wrath (Rom. but after the Spirit. I cannot.. Why is there no more condemnation? "For . and this becomes my experience as I learn to walk in the Spirit.": there is a reason for it.' I refuse to act. 'Lord.). I found that I "cannot please God" (Rom. The Law Of This Spirit Of Life "There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. "The mind of the spirit is life and peace" (Rom. praise God! "there is therefore now no condemnation". I was always crying out: 'I cannot do this! I cannot do that!' Try as I would. 8:2). trusting the Lord like that. Now it is: "I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me" (Phil. But if I have learned to live by Christ as my life. from now on I trust Thee for that. Believe me.. 5:1. then I have learned the secret of victory. The reason is that there is a law called "the law of the Spirit of life" and it has proved stronger than another law called 'the 84 . When I see that the Blood of Christ has satisfied God. I depend on Him to act and then I enter fully and joyfully into the action He initiates. it is a most active life. as Romans 7 shows. but only to praise Him who leads me on from victory to victory. and there is for me no more condemnation before God. it is the difference between Heaven and hell. But what lay behind my sense of condemnation? Was it not the experience of defeat and the sense of helplessness to do anything about it? Before I saw that Christ is my life. taking Him to be my very life. It is not something just to be talked over as a good thought. "There is therefore now no condemnation". and. Yet I may still be knowing defeat. 8:1. who walk not after the flesh. 9). I cannot do it. and the sense of inward condemnation on this account may be very real. letting Him out His life in me.V. It is in chapter 8 that Paul presents to us in detail the positive side of life in the Spirit. namely. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made free from the law of sin and death" (Rom. 8:6).The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee We have spoken of trying and trusting. 4:13). therefore I will no longer try to do it. It is not passivity. that before God and that before myself (just as earlier we saw there are two kinds of peace) and the second may at times seem to us even more awful than the first. it is stark reality. 8:8). he begins. A. limitation dogged my steps.
What are these laws? How do they operate? And what is the difference between sin and the law of sin. We can illustrate this both from statutory and from natural law. it is a 'natural' law and not the subject of discussion and decision but of discovery. One of our great burdens in China used to be the likin tax. and still more do I need deliverance from death. admitting of no exception. gravity operates. How can I be delivered from the constant repetition of weakness and failure? In order to answer this question let us follow out our two illustrations further. Then again. there is not only death in me but a law of death. and if when I try to please Him in that other thing I again find I cannot. we have said. Why? Because it is against the law of the land. applied throughout the empire and having numerous barriers for collection. No matter where I let it go. It is something which happens repeatedly and unfailingly. originating in the Ch'in Dynasty and operating right down to our own day. opposed to that which is good. There is not only sin in me but a law of sin. Or again. But if. but that law in him is relentless and no human will can resist it. Whenever the same conditions prevail the same effects are seen. at once something goes wrong inside me. when different people pass unkind remarks. The law is there. in this land. and the handkerchief 'naturally' drops by itself without any help from me. but. We might define it more simply as something which happens over and over again. if I drive a car on the right hand side of the road the traffic police will stop me. What is a law? Well. Now what of the law of sin and death? If someone passes an unkind remark about me. unlike the rule of the road. If you do it you will be stopped too. But the same is true if I drop it in New York or Hong Kong. and officers enjoying very large powers. and it always produces the same results. that is sin. He wills to be different. That is the effect of gravity. It is a law of sin and of death. and crippling the man's will to do good. If I drop my handkerchief in London it falls to the ground.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee law of sin and death". and between death and the law of death? First let us ask ourselves. The result was that the charge on goods passing through several provinces might become very heavy indeed. we all know what is meant by gravity. It was an inland tax on the transit of goods. the same 'something' goes wrong inside. not only is gravity a law in the sense that it is constant. Death. is weakness produced to its limit. Weakness is 'I cannot'. It always works the same way. But a few years ago a second law came into operation which set aside the likin law. That is not law. He 'naturally' sins according to the "law of sin" in his members. a law which none could escape. but most of all I need deliverance from the law of sin and of death. it is something constant. then I discern a law at work. a law is a generalization examined until it is proved that there is no exception. How can I be set free from the law of sin an death? I need deliverance from sin. So this brings me to the question. Like the law of gravity. strictly speaking. then I discern a law within—a law of sin. Why? For the same reason that I would be stopped: it is against the law and the law makes no exceptions. Can you imagine the feelings of relief in those who had 85 . And so too with the law of death. Now if when I try to please God in this particular matter I find I cannot. Each time the thing happens it happens in the same way. For example. There is thus a 'law' of gravity. And the "law" discovered by the man in Romans 7:23 is just like that.
Like a car without petrol. but another law superior to it is in operation to overcome it. If we have to exert so much effort in our Christian living. They force themselves to be what they are not. but "I am carnal. That is the point. while admitting there is no meaning in it to them. but all his actions contradicted it. it simply says that we are not really like that at all. I do not deal with the law of gravity. it led him only into worse darkness. In just such a manner God delivers us from one law by introducing another law. that has to be pushed and that stops as soon as it is left alone. the new law was already there and had delivered us from the old law. Gravity can do its utmost but the handkerchief will not drop. it is a law of life in Christ Jesus—the resurrection life that in Him has met death in all its forms and triumphed over it (Eph. In fact we only have 86 . 26:41). The law is there.the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. For after all. Even older Christians do not realize how great a part will-power plays in their lives. How can the law of gravity be annulled? With regard to my handkerchief that law is at work clearly enough. The law of sin and death is there all the time. pulling it down. and it is worse than trying to make water run up-hill. 20). many Christians endeavour to drive themselves by will-power. not by our own power. and if we let Him have a clear way and commit ourselves to Him we shall find that He will keep us from the old law. and which has grown until heavy stone blocks have been lifted by the power of the life within it. We have all seen the tree which was once a small seed fallen between the slabs of a paving. because another law is working against the law of gravity to maintain it there. 'I would do good'.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee suffered under the old law? Now there was no need to think or hope or pray. That is what we mean by the triumph of one law over another. No longer was there need to think beforehand what one would say if one met a likin officer tomorrow! And as with the law of the land. so it is with natural law. but "by the power of God" (1 Peter 1:5). The Manifestation Of The Law Of Life Let us seek to make this practical. His will was good. You see. the very highest point the will can reach is that of willingness (Matt. and however much he made up his mind and set himself to please God. The Lord Jesus dwells in our hearts in the person of His Holy Spirit. Why? The law is still there. and that law is strong enough to deliver us from the law of sin and death. sold under sin". Then why does my handkerchief not fall to the ground? Because there is a power keeping it from doing so. We touched earlier on the matter of our will in relation to the things of God. 1:19. in fact I cannot deal with the law of gravity. We don't need to force ourselves to speak our native language. That was part of Paul's trouble in Romans 7. namely the law of life. and then think the Christian life a most exhausting and bitter one. but God has put another law into operation . We shall learn what it is to be kept. Some even force themselves to say 'Hallelujah!' because others do it. but I have only to place my hand under the handkerchief and it does not drop.
or they may have been born again and the life be there. Should we not read the Bible? Of course we should or our spiritual life will suffer. in which case they have no new life to draw upon. but eventually we shall have to confess: 'How to perform it I know not'. and still less do we bring our will to bear upon our heart. Then half an hour can be more profitable than five hours of forced reading. If we will let go our own wills and trust Him.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee to exert will-power in order to do things we do not do naturally. we shall not fall to the ground and break. If I really see this and put my faith in Him. and slept well. that does not mean that the feeble life we intermittently experience is all God has given us. so long as it has life it works spontaneously. I used to suffer from sleeplessness. No. the law of the Spirit of life. I feel I cannot emphasize this too much. I confessed at length to God that the fault must lie with me and asked to be shown where. there is no absolute necessity for Romans 7 to be repeated in me—either the experience or the conduct. I had been trying to help nature. They may of course never have experienced the new birth. I discovered that fact once in the following way. Once after several sleepless nights. If I "would" it is because I am not. But because we have not believed fully. It is this lack of understanding that results in habitual failure and sinning. There is a new law in us which gives us a hunger for it. You ask. And just as the law of gravity is a natural law and not the result of human legislation. There is no need for us to think about our eyes. Sleep is as much a law as hunger is. bringing them to the place where they almost cease to believe in the possibility of anything better. and certainly not the tremendous display of will-power. We may be able to say: 'To will is present with me. He answer was: 'Believe in nature's laws'. when I had prayed much about it and exhausted all my resources. but a new unveiling of what He has already given. but the law of sin and death wins in the end. and I realized that though I had never thought of worrying whether I would get hungry or not. In other words. and that is the chief trouble with most sufferers from sleeplessness. And it is the same with 87 . similar in principle to the law that keeps our heart beating or that controls the movement of our eyelids. Indeed to do so might rather harm than help it. it is a new revelation of what we already have. But that should not mean forcing ourselves to read. It is not something fresh from God's hand. for the words "made me free" are in the past tense. But now I trusted not only God but God's law of nature. We may do them for a time. so the law of life is a 'natural' law. I had been worrying about sleeping. For He has given us not only life but a law of life. what I already am I do not long to be. Romans 6:23 states that "the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord". Why do men use will-power to try to please God? There may be two reasons. It is a new discovery of a work already done in Christ. So Romans 8:2 speaks not of a new gift but of the life already referred to in Romans 6:23. but they have not learned to trust in that life. and I perform that which is good for two weeks'. I said to God: 'I demand an explanation'. and now in Romans 8:2 we read that "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" has come to our aid. or to decide that we must blink every so often to keep them cleansed. but we shall fall into a different law. No. Our wills only interfere with the law of life.
' Not only is there in them a life with the power of flight. Have you noticed what a trial it is to make an impatient Christian patient? To require patience of him is enough to make him ill with depression. but it certainly never added anything to it. with testimony. do you say to yourself: 'What shall I do? I am a Christian. For me to exhort you to 88 . encroach thus upon the rights of others. but it is no longer governing and we are no longer in its grip..' And yet my friend was himself an educationalist! But it is true.. Are you a person of too many words? When you stay with people. There is no such inherent power in education. they grow. but that life has a law which enables these living creatures quite spontaneously and consistently to overcome the law of gravity. I believe that if anyone is willing to live by the law of the Spirit of life. for a new appreciation of the life that is ours! What a precious discovery this is! It can make altogether new men of us. Forced preaching is apt to result in preaching a warm gospel with a cold heart.. or.'? And for an hour or two you succeed—until on some pretext you loose control and. the Holy Spirit tells us. We cannot. are His words." In a thousand details the Spirit of life can tell them how to act. We fly because it is the law of our life to fly. "That laughter was not right". and we all know what men mean by 'cold charity'. Once I was talking to a Christian friend and he turned to me and said: 'Do you know. So today let me be extra careful to hold myself in check. and there is a dead sparrow in the courtyard. and for us to 'fly' is no longer a question of our will but of His life. how would they reply? They would say: 'We never heard the name of Newton. or. Consider the lilies". so producing in them a true refinement. with preaching. He has given us this new law of the Spirit. Have they the life of the Lord within? For I tell you.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee giving. Yet gravity remains. That is why the Lord says in Matthew 6: "Behold the birds. It checks us when. Take the example of talkativeness. "Be not anxious". Oh. If you get up early one morning when the cold is intense and the snow thick on the ground. But while birds live they overcome it. and the life within them is what dominates their consciousness. for example. Yes. Worrying may possibly decrease a man's height. "Your motive in passing that remark was wrong. for it operates in the smallest things as well as in the bigger ones. If we could ask the birds whether they were not afraid of the law of gravity." He is directing our attention to the new law of life in us. find yourself once again in difficulty with your garrulous tongue. God has been truly gracious to us.' 'What do you mean?' I asked. reminding us that we have not asked permission and have no right to do so. We know nothing about his law. let us be fully assured that the will is useless here. we put out a hand to look at a book in someone else's room. before you know where you are. they are just country folk and have no educational advantages". If we will let ourselves live in the new law we shall be less conscious of the old law. But the real question is. It is still there. that life can say to them: "Your voice is too loud". Some scornfully say: "you can't blame those people for the way they act. such a man will become truly refined. I simple must not talk so much. But God has never told us to force ourselves to be what we are not naturally: to try by taking thought to add to our spiritual stature. but if I am to glorify the name of the Lord.. "Consider the lilies. you are reminded at once of the persistence of that law. . He replied: 'That law has the power to make a man a perfect gentleman.
or the carnal 'I'. we are told. He intervened to deal with the heart of our problem. 'the flesh'. Nothing takes away from the effectiveness of Christian witness as does a pretense of something that is not really there. On that basis you can go to your friend's house for two or three hours.. God. Every careful reader of these two verses will see that there are two things presented here. or stay for two or three days. too much play-acting. for there is a 'natural' law of talkativeness governing him (or her!). after the Spirit". The Fourth Step: "Walk. For consider again: a talkative person remains just that. Love him. This was the first step. 'Lord. for the man in the street unfailingly penetrates such a disguise in the end and finds us out for what we are. He took to death representatively all that belonged to the old creation in us. consequently the ordinance of the law cannot be fulfilled in us "after the flesh". Thus God struck at the very root of our trouble by removing the fundamental ground of our weakness. who died for sin and in doing so "condemned sin in the flesh". He sent His Son in the flesh. (Remember. it is again here a question not of salvation but of pleasing God. believing the Lord's Word. How could this be done? It required God's further provision of the indwelling Holy Spirit. and He is able to do so. They are. It manifests itself in love for the unlovely—for the brother whom on natural grounds we would not like and certainly could not love. That is to say. now. which transcends all else and which has already delivered us from the 'law' of our talkativeness. through me!' And it manifests itself in reality of life—in a true genuineness of moral character. It works on the basis of what the Lord sees of possibility in that brother. it will tell us when we should stop talking—or not start!—and it will empower us to do so. though he keep silent all day. In the first place. and experience no difficulty. in that it was weak through the flesh. who walk not after the flesh. whether we speak of it as 'our old man'. and secondly. pretense gives way to reality when we trust the law of life. Yes.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee exercise your will in this matter would be but to offer you the vain religion of the world. not the life in Christ Jesus. as we "walk. But still "the ordinance of the law" remained to be fulfilled "in us". just as a peach tree is a peach tree whether or not it bears peaches. firstly. "The flesh" is "weak". what the Lord Jesus has done for us.. There is too much hypocrisy in the lives of Christians. because of our inability God took two steps..) Now.. But as Christians we discover a new law in us. condemned sin in the flesh: that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us. what the Holy Spirit will do in us. If. we yield ourselves to that new law. After The Spirit" "For what the law could not do. You see he is lovable and You love him. It is this spontaneous life that is the Christian life. sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin. On your return you will just thank God for His new law of life. It is He who is sent to take care of the inward side of this thing. 89 . but after the Spirit" (Rom. 8:3). the law of the spirit of life.
we must be very thorough. Then secondly. Love is something hidden in the heart of God. "As many as are led by the Spirit of God. which worketh in me mightily" (Col. When therefore we discover something fresh that the Lord Jesus has procured for us in His Cross. and that is be independent of Him. the grace of the Lord Jesus has made it possible for that spiritual wealth to become ours. when he has asked the Lord to forgive his sins and to come into his life. and the communion of the Holy Ghost is the means whereby it is imparted to us. For the first two weeks of my visit. I took care to make clear 90 . for its realization. by our steadfast attitude of subjection and obedience to the Holy Spirit. and the following verses in Romans 8:5-8 make clear where that leads me. to direct his prayer. his heart has become the residence of a living Person. apart from asking a blessing at each meal. That is why Paul contrasts the "works" of the flesh with the "fruit" of the Spirit (Gal. for there is no certainty when he will again have the help of other Christians. That is His ministry. it is a walk. 5:19. I said nothing to my hosts about the Gospel. What the Father has devised concerning us the Son has accomplished for us. The initiative of my life must be with Him. The love of God is the source of all spiritual blessing. and while there it was necessary for me to sleep in one house and take my meals in another. grace is that love expressed and made available in the Son. and now the Holy Spirit communicates it to us. the burdensome and fruitless effort I involved myself in when I sought 'in the flesh' to please God gives place to a blessed and restful dependence on "his working. and. Firstly. 22). for theirs was a real conversion. They were ready to listen and to come to Him in simple faith for the forgiveness of their sins. It only brings me into conflict with God. to open to him the Scriptures that he may find Christ there. it is not a work. keep wide open the way for Him to impart it to us. Praise God. The Holy Spirit of God is now within him. and then one day my opportunity came to tell them about the Lord Jesus. To walk after the Spirit is to be subject to the Spirit. to govern his life. I must be subject to the Holy Spirit. Only as I yield myself to obey Him shall I find the "law of the Spirit of life" in full operation and the "ordinance of the law" (all that I have been trying to do to please God) being fulfilled—no longer by me but in me. and a new light and joy came into their lives. We are all familiar with the words of the benediction in 2 Corinthians 13:14: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. the latter being the home of a mechanic and his wife. and the communion of the Holy Ghost. and to reproduce in him the character of his Lord. He has come for that very purpose—that He may make real in us all that is ours in Christ. late one summer. let us. We always seek to make it clear to a new believer that. We have learned in China that. communion is the importation of that grace by the Spirit. when leading a soul to Christ. 1:29). and the love of God. I went. look in the direction that God has indicated. Walking after the flesh means that I yield to the dictates of the flesh. There is one thing that the man who walks after the Spirit cannot do.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee What does it mean to walk after the Spirit? It means two things. be with you all". 8:14). for a prolonged period of rest to a hill-resort where accommodation was difficult to obtain. They were born again. to "walk after" implies subjection. these are sons of God" (Rom.
and when she had done so. 'Take it away!' he said at length. and then. During the cold winter months the man was in the habit of drinking wine with his meals. and she turned the pages in vain seeking for light on the subject. as he had become accustomed to do. The question is. for I was many miles away and it might be months before they could see me.' But still the man found he just could not return thanks to the Lord for that wine. After one or two vain attempts he turned to his wife. 91 . the husband bowed his head to return thanks for the meal—but no words would come. but this fact has little effect upon our behaviour. the wine appeared on the table again. as the weather turned colder. but though the wife could read she was ignorant of the Word. I said.' I had left a copy of the Scriptures with them. 'Why cannot we pray today? Fetch the Bible and see what it has to say about wine drinking. and he was apt to do so to excess.—Ed. and that day. After my departure. he said. together they asked a blessing on their meal. do we know Him as a living Person. with the return of the cold weather. 'You always listen to Resident Boss!' Many of us know that Christ is our life. said his wife. the time came for me to leave them and return to Shanghai. and do we know Him as 'Boss'? 14 'Resident Boss'—The author's own rendering of li-mien tang-chia tih. We believe that the Spirit of God is resident in us. 'Resident Boss 14 wouldn't let me have that drink!' 'Very good. When eventually the man was able to visit Shanghai he told me the story. 'We'll refer the matter to brother Nee at the first opportunity. 'What is wrong?' he asked. brother'. 'Just drink your wine'. They did not know how to consult God's Book and it was impossible to consult God's messenger.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee to them what had happened. Using an expression familiar in Chinese: 'Brother Nee'.
for they glory in Christ Jesus and have ceased to put confidence in the flesh (Phil. 92 . But it is clear that the new discoveries that we make as we walk with the Lord are many. Through His Word God opens our eyes to the truth of some fact concerning His Son. but they think of the Blood as doing everything. as in Faith we accept that fact for ourselves. It is always essential for us to remember that. Experience (Subjective). All these are first steps. Thus they stop short of God's basic demands. namely that. A Gate And A Path Recognizing a number of such phases in the life and experience of a believer. through the up-to-date blotting out of what he has done on the ground of the shed Blood. As we have seen. And from this as starting-point. What are these steps? First there is revelation. We have sought to make things simple. In them God has a clear foundation on which to build. God separates a man out of the world to be His. To do so may lead us into serious confusion. and that is holiness. I think we have by now seen clearly the inadequacy of this. These are they who really exercise faith in the Lord. Revelation (Objective). while each of them is a precious fragment of truth. that. in order to deliver them from sin and the Law by dealing with the old man. and we must be careful to avoid the temptation to over-simplify the work of God. we note now a further fact. does it become actual as experience in our lives. this always precedes faith and experience. many have gone further still and recognized that consecration (using that word in the right sense) means giving themselves without reserve into His hands and following Him. and so of the full provision He has made. lies in an appreciation of the value of the precious Blood. All come to us as the fruit of the work of Christ on the Cross. They rightly emphasize the importance of keeping short accounts with God over known specific sins. and to explain clearly some of the experiences which Christians commonly pass through. they seem to be marked by certain recurring steps or features. in which they would include the matter of leading a holy life. 2. and the continual efficacy of the Blood to deal with sins committed. and starting from them we have already touched upon other phases of experience set before us by God and enjoyed by many. Thus we have: 1. and we cannot afford to ignore any. They believe in a holiness which in fact means only separation of the man from his past.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Chapter 11: One Body in Christ Before we pass on to our last important subject we will review some of the ground we have covered and summarize the steps taken. and then only. 3:3). There are children of God who believe that all our salvation. and they stop there. Then there are those who go further and see that God has included them in the death of His Son on the Cross. though these phases do not necessarily occur always in a fixed and precise order. no single one of them is by itself the whole of truth.
who is given to come along-side and. to the matter of pleasing God. Consider next the gift of the Holy Spirit. or 'knowing' (Rom. which issues in the dual experience of the Spirit outpoured and the Spirit indwelling. new birth. but perhaps any new experience will come to us more or less on these lines. 2. We will take first our justification and new birth. we note that such experience usually takes the two-fold form of a crisis leading to a continuous process. for He is here for that very thing. in which we initially cease from 'doing' and accept by faith the mighty working of the life of Christ to satisfy God's practical demands in us. if a full presentation of Christ and His Cross is made to us at the very outset. etc. When we see something that God has done in Christ our natural response is: 'Thank you. we may well step into a great deal of experience from the first day of our Christian life. It does not mean that these stages must or will always follow one another in a certain prescribed order. Going a stage further. In fact. 6:11). we again have three steps: the Holy Spirit's work of revelation. and we must beware of forcing any rigid pattern upon the Holy Spirit's working. and experience accords with this. Count upon Him. It is most helpful to think of this in terms of John Bunyan's 'wicket gate' through which Christian entered upon a 'narrow path'. 6:6). 93 . and then faith will open a gate into a pathway. and this leads us into a walk of maintained fellowship with Him (the narrow path). There will certainly always be first an opening of our eyes to some new aspect of Christ and His finished work. that our division of Christian experience into various subjects: justification. to guide us into all the truth (John 16:13). by opening the Scriptures to us.. 2:13). Our Lord Jesus spoke of such a gate and a path leading unto life (Matt. Experience: 1. Our acceptance of this by faith leads at once to a 'wicket gate' experience (Rom. deliverance. the gift of the spirit. or 'reckoning' (Rom. Remember. even though the full explanation of much of it may follow later. This too begins with a new 'seeing' of the Lord Jesus as exalted to the throne. that revelation will always precede faith. 7:14). This in turn leads us into the 'narrow path' of a walk in obedience to the Spirit (Rom. 7:25). the crisis of faith. Would that all Gospel preaching were of such a kind! One thing is certain. A Wicket gate (Crisis) 2. A narrow path (Process) Now let us take some of the subjects we have been dealing with and see how this helps us to understand them. and the continuing process of consecration. there follows the crisis of repentance and faith (the wicket gate). When we come to deliverance from sin. 6:13) on the basis of a walk in newness of life. or 'presenting ourselves' to God (Rom.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Then further. whereby we are initially "made nigh" to God (Eph. for which the ground of our day-to-day access is still the precious Blood (Heb. The picture is not identical in each case. we find again the need for spiritual illumination. too. So now we have: 1. 22). 10:29. Revelation is always the work of the Holy Spirit. Lord !' and faith follows spontaneously. is for our clearer understanding only. sanctification. that we may see the values of the Cross in regard to 'the flesh'—the entire self-life of man. This begins with a revelation of the Lord Jesus in His atoning work for our sins on the Cross. and when such difficulties as lack of understanding or lack of faith confront you. 8:4). Revelation.
Of the four aspects of the Cross which we shall now mention. the flesh and the natural man. The first two of these aspects are remedial. was to co-operate in securing His purposed end by defeating every possible uprising of the enemy and undoing his evil works. and He is now "by the right hand of God exalted" (Acts 2:33). the release of the life of Christ in resurrection for man's indwelling and empowering for service. 3. The work is finished and need never be repeated. Lord. The Working of Death in the natural man that that indwelling Life may be progressively manifest. The Blood of Christ to deal with sins and guilt. who is Spirit. re-create and empower man. We have spoken already of the purpose of God in creation and have said that it embraced far more than Adam ever came to enjoy. The last will be considered in the two succeeding chapters of our study. it may help us if we recognize four aspects of God's redemptive work. we pass on to the fourth aspect. Thus we see that the achievement of the Lord Jesus in His death and resurrection comprises both a work which provided for the redemption of man and a work which made possible the realization of the purpose of God. make this new thing clear to me. 2. we must say a little more about this third side. we have already dealt with three in some detail. How will it now be effected? The answer is again to be found in the death of the Lord 94 . But in doing so it is essential to keep in mind that the Cross of Christ is one Divine work—not many. Lord. the last two are concerned with bringing us into. In the light of Christian experience and for the purpose of analysis. That was the great plan. Before. They relate to the undoing of the work of the Devil and the undoing of the sin of man. The Cross of Christ to deal with sin. Once in Judaea two thousand years ago the Lord Jesus died and rose again. That race. in our consideration of Christ as our life. help Thou my unbelief!' He will not fail you. nor can it be added to. open my eyes. and bringing into us. which I shall call 'bearing the cross'. The last two are not remedial but positive. The first two are concerned with recovering what Adam lost by the Fall. The Fourfold Work Of Christ In His Cross We are now in a position to go a step further still and to consider how great a range is compassed by the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. and relate more directly to the securing of the purpose of God. What was that purpose? God wanted to have a race of men whose members were gifted with a spirit whereby communion would be possible with Himself. They may be briefly summarized as follows: 1. we have seen something of its practical outworking. something that Adam never had. 4. The Life of Christ made available to indwell. In our discussion of the eternal purpose we have also looked briefly at the third aspect—that represented by Christ as the grain of wheat—and in our last chapter. however. We have dealt at some length in earlier chapters with the two aspects of His death represented by the Blood for sins and guilt and the Cross for sin and the flesh. namely. possessing God's own life.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee address those difficulties directly to the Lord: 'Lord.
made he a woman.. belonging to the past. on the other hand. looking forward.. "Husbands. but that it should be holy and without blemish" (Eph. going far beyond the recovery of a lost position. with the other it is positive. that he might sanctify it. and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman (Heb. the ungodly' (Rom. but we have made the terms almost equal to one another. ish)" (Gen. the other corporate. Viewed from that standpoint—from the standpoint of the heart of God—the Church is something which is beyond sin and has never been touched by sin. that he might present the church to himself a glorious church. "And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man. and beginning with 'Christ died for sinners. God speaks here rather of "a glorious church. For generations that has been instilled into us. It is that. 8:35). In Ephesians 5 we have the only chapter in the Bible which explains the passage in Genesis 2. having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word. and it has as its objective that the Son should have a Body to express His life. 2:21-23). The Love Of Christ Now we must have before us two passages of the Word. and he took one of his ribs. and he slept. loved the church". All too often we have thought of the Church as being merely so many 'saved sinners'. In Ephesians. something infinitely greater is introduced. We have been taught to think of ourselves as sinners needing redemption. not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing. for by it. The one is largely individual. which the Lord God had taken from the man. So we have an aspect of the death of the Lord Jesus in Ephesians which we do not have so clearly in other places. which is not the case. but something more.. enemies. but in God's sight the Church is a Divine creation in His Son. It is something positive and purposive. not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing. and brought her unto the man. not only are sin and the old man dealt with and their effects annulled. the standpoint is that of God "before the 95 .The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Jesus. This is now bone of my bones. even as Christ also loved the church. I refer to what is contained in those words: "Christ. The "eternal purpose" is something in the mind of God from eternity concerning His Son.. 5) we are led progressively to "the love of Christ" (Rom. holy and without blemish". as though it were only that. It is a mighty death. 5:25-27). ishshah). With the one the view is negative. if we reflect upon it. What we have presented to us in Ephesians is indeed very remarkable. There is something most precious here. And the man said. and we praise the Lord for that as our beginning. and gave himself up for it. because she was taken out of Man (Heb. Saved sinners—with that thought you have the whole background of sin and the Fall. In Romans things are viewed from the standpoint of fallen man. but it is not what God has in view as His end. love your wives. one from Genesis 2 and one from Ephesians 5. which are of great importance in this connection. but.
5:8). but when it is accomplished there yet remains 96 . to occupy a very large place in our vision. a woman. yet the apostle does not appeal here to any of those types of His death.. Adam was put to sleep for the express purpose that something might be taken out of him to be made into someone else. and then recall that it was not until Genesis 3 that sin came in. That kind of love has fundamentally nothing to do with sin as such. From Genesis 3 onwards. Ephesians was written after the Fall. He put the man (ish) to sleep. There is thus an aspect of the death of the Lord Jesus which is altogether positive and a matter particularly of love to His Church. and the heart of the gospel is: "Christ. wonderful enough. as something determined in the Divine counsels. There were as yet no moral issues involved and no problems at all. Note that. and brought her to the man. but answerable to the sleep of Adam in this chapter. and if our eyes have been opened to see it we will certainly worship. there are numerous types which set forth the death of the Lord Jesus as an atonement for sin. for Eve was not yet even created. for which end it is said that He "gave himself". There is one type of the death of Christ in the Old Testament which has nothing to do with sin. but to this one in Genesis 2. He did. and the message is of God's love for sinners (Rom. and the love here is the love of husband for wife. took a rib from his side and made it into ishshah. but God is saying that we should not make redemption to be everything. God wanted an ishshah. Could we say that Adam was put to sleep because Eve had committed a serious sin? Is that what we have here? Certainly not. 1:4).. an 'emergence' measure. His sleep was not for her sin but for her existence. But we must always view redemption as an interruption. 5:25). and in it we have not only the purpose in Creation but also the scars of the Fall —or there would need to be no mention of "spot or wrinkle". Let us look at it for a moment. What is in view in this passage is not atonement for sin but the creation of the Church. The Fall is indeed a tragic dip downwards in that line of purpose. That is the picture which God is giving us. Because we are still on the earth and the Fall is a historic fact. This experience of Adam had as its object the creation of Eve. made necessary by a catastrophic break in the straight line of the purpose of God. Praise God.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee foundation of the world" (Eph. as though man were created to be redeemed. and on from there through the whole Old Testament. from the 'coats of skins' to Abel's sacrifice. and gave himself up for it" (Eph. where the question of sin and sinners does not directly appear. and that type is here in Genesis 2. It foreshadows an aspect of the death of the Lord Jesus that is not primarily for atonement. That is what is taught in these verses. loved the church. No. and the atonement a blessed recovery whereby our sins are blotted out and we are restored. in Romans it is "we sinned". Redemption is big enough. for it is not subsequent to the Fall but prior to it. We must remember that today we are in fact in Ephesians 5 and not in Genesis 2. to men who had suffered from its effects. Now this is one of the marvelous things in the Word. whereas in Ephesians it is "Christ loved". God forbid that I should suggest that the Lord Jesus did not die for purposes of atonement. To bring this fact home Paul takes that incident in Genesis 2 as illustration. Thus. 'cleansing' is needed.
them he also glorified" (Rom. Adam was never in possession of the life of God as presented in the tree of life. but Adam's sleep preceded that. Adam was put to sleep. but here Adam was not slain. and we have received more than Adam ever possessed. and instead of the Son alone God will have many sons.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee a work to be done to bring us into possession of that which Adam never possessed. From the position of only begotten He will become the first begotten. Now. Thus he prefigures a death that is not on account of sin. and to give God that which His heart desires. 30). One grain of wheat has died and many grains will spring up. Yet in fact this aspect is the very end to which our study of Romans has been moving. These are the Biblical figures we have used hitherto in our study to express this truth. One Living Sacrifice We have said that there is an aspect of the death of Christ presented to us in Ephesians 5 which is to some extent different from that which we have been studying in Romans. now it is changed to be the first grain of many. For God has never forsaken the purpose which is represented by that straight line. Here justification is seen to lead on to glory. But because of the one work of the Lord Jesus in His death and resurrection (and we must emphasize again that it is all one work) His life was released to become ours by faith. Why? Because whenever death is mentioned sin is there in the background. and God is seeking that the only begotten Son should have brethren. God's 'second Man' has awakened from His 'sleep' and His Church is created in Him and of Him. them he also called: and whom he called. Adam slept. rather than that they die. that he might be the firstborn among many brethren: and whom he foreordained. The Lord Jesus laid down His life. The first grain was once the only grain. That is God's method with the Church. Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for it. 8:29. but only put to sleep to awake again. to draw her life from Him and to display that resurrection life. in the figure just considered. and it is into this that the letter is leading us as we shall now see. but that has in view increase in resurrection. Then too we must note that Eve was not created as a separate entity by a separate creation. The very purpose of God is brought within reach of fulfillment by our receiving Christ as our life. a glory that is expressed 97 . "For whom he foreknew. God has a Son who is known to be the only begotten. We remember that it is said of believers that they fall asleep. and Eve was created out of Adam. In Genesis 3 sin entered into the world and death through sin. he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son. and that life emerged in many lives. them he also justified: and whom he justified. for redemption leads us back into God's original line of purpose. 8:14). The outcome of the Cross is a single person: a Bride for the Son. parallel to that of Adam. So the type of the Lord Jesus here is not like other types on the Old Testament. In chapter 8 Paul speaks to us of Christ as the firstborn Son among many Spirit-led "sons of God" (Rom. In relation to sin and atonement there is a lamb or a bullock slain. the singular takes the place of the plural.
are one body in Christ. The ear must not imagine itself to be an eye. the argument of chapter 12 follows that of chapter 8 and not of chapter 11. the subject of which is the Body of Christ. but I can see through others who have the gift of sight. or. An all-too-common attitude to the things of the Lord is that. as we have seen. who are many. Thus. and it is on this basis that the practical instructions follow. we are by nature utterly helpless (ch. This is something that goes beyond the merely individual. The 'presenting' is personal but the sacrifice is corporate. and as a consequence of it: "We. linking us in thought to the "many brethren" of chapter 8:29. Oh that we might really see this! So Romans 12:3-6 draws from the figure of the human body the lesson of our inter-dependence. We need never feel our contribution is not needed. "God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith" (12:3). we are dead with Christ (ch. And it is through this kind of service that we prove "what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (ch. brethren. 7). The vessel through which the Lord Jesus can reveal Himself in this generation is not the individual but the Body. before the theme of the first chapters is resumed. 5). So (speaking figuratively) I may have only the gift of hearing. to present your bodies a living sacrifice. and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God". Intelligent service to God is one service. And this object of our redemption is further set forth. God is satisfied. are one body in Christ" (ch. But now in chapter 12:1 the emphasis is a little different: "I beseech you therefore. After this. and the thing to which it has all been leading. So Paul's appeal "to every man that is among you" (12:3) is in the light of this new Divine fact. It is a call to us for a united step of faith. therefore we rely upon the indwelling Spirit (ch. or. for if it contributes to the service. No amount of prayer will give sight to the ear—but the whole body can see through the eye. and what I don't know. We might very simply summarize these chapters thus: Our sins are forgiven (ch. Romans 12 and the following chapter contain some very practical instructions for our life and walk.. After the first eight chapters of Romans. for our present purpose. 6). that "we. so I receive help from the hands. perhaps I can walk but cannot work. acceptable to God. Individual Christians are not the Body but are members of the Body. I know. 8). in other words. but alone in isolation man can never fulfill God's purpose. holy. it is one sacrifice. realize God's eternal purpose in Christ Jesus. as alive from the dead. there follows a parenthesis in which God's sovereign dealings with Israel are taken up and dealt with. which we have been studying. and in a human body "all the members have not the same office". In chapter 6:13 Paul has said: "Present yourselves unto God. It is as though this were the logical outcome of all that has gone before. for it implies contribution to a whole. It requires a complete Body to attain to the stature of Christ and to display His glory. which is the subject of the last verses of the chapter (8:35-39). by the mercies of God. 'What I know. These are introduced with an emphasis once again on consecration.. which is your reasonable service". 12). This new appeal for consecration is made to us as "brethren". in "the love of Christ" for His own. and severally members one of another" (12:5).The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee not in one or more individuals but in a plurality: in many who manifest the image of One. 12:2). the presenting of our bodies as one "living sacrifice" unto God. I don't 98 . But what is implicit here in chapter 8 becomes explicit as we move over into chapter 12.
There is a vast difference between the two. but only self-interest and distrust of others. I pointed out that though it was inside all of them it was still one loaf—not many. God does not blame me for being an individual. after it had been distributed and eaten. As I go on with the Lord I soon discover.. Let me stress that this is not just a comfortable thought. albeit from the purest motives. There is no union. for all share His life—as though He were Himself distributed among His members. This is the very opposite of man's condition by nature. His greatest problem is not the outward divisions and denominations that divide His Church but our own individualistic hearts. For the life of Christ is the life of the Body. the life that is sufficient in itself and does not recognize its need for and union in the Body. 20. and yet still be a confirmed individualist. and so cannot provide God with satisfaction. or I shall remain in conflict with His ends. but such an attitude ignores the Body. 99 . allowing doors to close and leaving me ineffectively knocking my head against a blank wall until I realize that I need the help of the Body as well as of the Lord. not only that the problem of sin and of my natural strength has to be dealt with. but for my individualism. and we may know them and enter into the enjoyment of them through others.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee know. I may have got over the problems of sin and the flesh. are one body in Christ. I shall at once have done with independence and shall seek fellowship. and His gifts are given to us for work that builds up the Body. The Body is not an illustration but a fact. I was once with a group of Chinese believers who found it very hard to understand how the Body could be one when they were all separate individual men and women who made it up. We cannot get along without one another. the things we do not know others do. for without the help of the Body I cannot get through. "We. no fellowship in sin. and He will spare no pains to teach me this. but that it is the Body of Christ. Then. In Adam I have the life of Adam. the Cross must do its work here. The Bible does not just say that the Church is like a body. and we are all one in Him.' But in Christ. I want holiness and victory and fruitfulness for myself personally and apart.. who are many. he must deal with me therefore in this matter also. Trusting the Lord by myself may not be enough." on the basis of oneness with the Body. In the sphere of service this is even more apparent. reminding me that in Christ I have died to that old life of independence which I inherited from Adam. I must learn to pray "Our Father. but Christ is not divided even in the sense in which that loaf was. I must trust Him with others. It is a vital factor in the life of God's people. He is still one Spirit in us. Alone I cannot serve the Lord effectively. When I see this. and that in resurrection I have become not just an individual believer in Christ but a member of His Body. Yes. That is why fellowship in prayer is so important. The life of Christ in me will gravitate to the life of Christ in others. and severally members one of another. but that there is also a further problem created by my 'individual' life. Prayer together brings in the help of the Body." All the members together are one Body. and can do quite well without. I can no longer take an individual line. One Sunday I was about to break the bread at the Lord's table and I asked them to look very carefully at the loaf before I broke it. The loaf was divided. as must be clear from Matthew 18:19. but that is essentially individual. He will bring things to an end.
100 . In Ephesians 5 we stand within the history of redemption. Private work will go. It will no longer matter which of us does the work.' That is the great need: to see the Body of Christ as another great Divine fact. The age is closing. Our warfare is with angels and principalities and powers (Rom. 6:12) who are set to withstand and destroy the work of God in us by laying many things to the charge of God's elect.. God knew all about sin and redemption. I said: 'When I see this. whose very history is now forgotten. all will go. for all is now made up and all is new. and yet through grace we still have this eternal purpose of God in view as expressed in the statement that He will 'present unto himself a glorious Church'. Only the Holy Spirit can bring this home to us in all its meaning. who are many. All that will matter will be that the Body grows. 34)—we present a front against which the very gates of Hades shall not prevail. Eph. It is the Body of Christ in glory. It is as though (to speak in finite terms) He leaps in thought right over the whole story of redemption and sees the Church in future eternity. 8:33. Sin. Competition will go. my preferences. This is where we are now. "or wrinkle"—the marks of age and of time lost. 8:38. but what we alone cannot do the Church can. are one body in Christ". and "without blemish"—so that Satan or demons or men can find no ground for blame in her. As we put our faith in what He has done—in "God that justifieth" and in "Christ Jesus that died" (Rom. Alone we could never be their match.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Jealousy will go. We. yet in His great purpose for the Church set forth in Genesis 2 there is no view of sin. having a ministry and a (future) history which is altogether apart from sin and wholly of God. to have it break in upon our spirits by heavenly revelation that "we. and in the Cross God has undone them. There was something in God's mind before the Fall. For now there are defects to be remedied and wounds to be healed. are "more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Rom.. My interests. but when He does it will revolutionize our life and work. self-reliance and individualism were Satan's master-strokes at the heart of God's purpose in man. But now we note that the water of life and the cleansing Word are needed to prepare the Church (now marred by the Fall) for presentation to Christ in glory. 8:37). His Church. And yet how precious is the promise and how gracious are the words used of her: "not having spot"—the scars of sin. my ambitions. and Satan's power is greater than ever. and in the ages to come that thing is to be fully realized. More Than Conquerors Through Him We only see history back to the Fall. God sees it from the beginning. This is the Church that has satisfied God's heart and has attained dominion. expressing nothing of fallen man but only that which is the image of the glorified Son of man.
In Genesis 2:7 we learn that Adam was created a living soul. (Such New Testament verses as 1 Thessalonians 5:23 and Hebrews 4:12 confirm this threefold character of man's being. 3:9-11). That plan He has now proclaimed "to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God. Now our concern is more definitely with the walk of the disciple. We have said that the work of the Cross has two consequences which bear directly upon the realizing of that purpose in us. 101 . On the one hand it has issued in the release of His life that it may find expression in us through the indwelling Spirit. through the bringing of the 'natural man' progressively into his right place of subjection to the Holy Spirit. Hitherto in dealing with the Christian life we have placed our main emphasis upon the crisis by which it is entered. In this way we shall be able to grasp the principles by which we can come again to live in line with that purpose. Clearly these are the positive and the negative sides of one thing.) With his spirit Adam was in touch with the spiritual world of God. So God created a man. Equally clearly we are now touching more particularly on the matter of progress in a life lived for God. The True Nature Of The Fall If we have even a little revelation of the plan of God we shall always think much of the word 'man'. "What is man. at the risk of being tedious. he was found to be a self-conscious and self-expressing being. "a living soul". but He has not stopped there. an entity living in the world. our co-operation in the daily inworking of His death whereby way is made in us for the manifestation of that new life. We shall say with the Psalmist. that thou art mindful of him?" The Bible makes it clear that what God desires above all things is a man—a man who will be after His own heart. So we come to a consideration of the natural man and the 'bearing of the cross'. Viewed thus as a whole. that is. with a spirit inside to commune with God and with a body outside to have contact with the material world. moving by itself and having powers of free choice. It is of him that the Lord Jesus said: "Whosoever doth not bear his own cross. cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:27). with his body he was in touch with the physical world of material things. go back once more to Genesis and consider what it was that God sought to have in man at the beginning and how His purpose was frustrated. On the other hand it has made possible what we speak of as 'bearing the cross'. and come after me. To understand this we must. according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Eph.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Chapter 12: The Cross and the Soul Life God has made full provision for our redemption in the Cross of Christ. He gathered up these two sides of God's creative act into himself to become a personality. having especially in view his training as a servant of God. In that Cross He has also made secure beyond possibility of failure that eternal plan which Paul speaks of as having been from all the ages "hid in God who created all things".
the mind with its reasoning power was developed. He needed a finishing touch somewhere. choosing dependence upon God. Adam would thereby put beyond his reach the attaining of his God-appointed goal. This determined the lines of his development. It is that that was in view with the creation of man. Then again. he had powers of choice and he could. bearing a fruit that could be accepted. His life resident within its members. created neutral. God does not mind—in fact He intends—that we should have a soul such as He gave to Adam. But what God 102 . From then on he could command a knowledge. But—and here we come to the point—the fruit of the tree of knowledge made the first man over-developed in his soul. were voluntarily to turn that way and. There was more in view. but as man he was not yet. but a race which had. God was seeking to have not merely a race of men of one blood upon the earth. if he liked. God had not yet done all that He intended to do in Adam. he yielded to Satan and took of the fruit of the tree of knowledge. If Adam. He would have realized 'sonship'. so to speak. and the will was strengthened. but that from that day on the soul. Such a race will eventually compass the downfall of Satan and bring to fulfillment all that God has set His heart upon.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee We saw earlier that Adam was created perfect—by which we mean that he was without imperfections because created by God—but that he was not yet perfected. for he was 'made wise'. were to receive of the tree of life (representing God's own life). for the difference is most important. He had a spirit which enabled him to hold communion with God. this latter choice involved complicity with Satan. God would then have that life in union with men. because the fruit was pleasant to the eyes. with its independent powers of free choice. he 'knew'. God's goal in man was 'sonship'. we saw that Adam was created neutral. received. Because. The emotion was touched. so that in future he could always decide which way he would go. so that not only was the man a living soul. Standing between the two trees. but it was as yet in abeyance. a purpose which went beyond man himself. he would as a result be 'free' to develop himself on his own lines apart from God. or. but from henceforth man will live by the soul. But if instead Adam should turn to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. takes the place of the spirit as the animating power of man. We have to distinguish here between two things. in addition. God was moving towards the fulfillment of His purpose in creating man. But how could man be instrumental in this? Only by a co-operation that sprang from living union with God. the expression of His life in human beings. making him 'desire'. taken in. however. That Divine life was represented in the garden by the tree of life. turn the opposite way. The whole fruit ministered to the expansion and full development of the soul. The Root Question: The Human Soul Now we know the course that Adam chose. It is not merely that man has a soul. in other words. for it had in view the securing to God of all His rights in the universe through man's instrumentality. finally orientated.
God must cut that off. a faculty. When today the Cross is really working in us. or are we getting outside those bounds? What God is now doing is the pruning work of the vinedresser. but a power which played right into Satan's hands. Are we keeping within God's appointed limit—within the bounds set by Him in the Garden at the beginning—with regard to the soul. but many a time we do not truly tremble at ourselves. There is something in man today which is not just the fact of having a soul. It was this that Satan brought about in the Fall. for God is seeking the fully developed life of His Son in us in order to manifest Himself. I cannot do it'.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee has set Himself to do is to reverse something. to think. even if God does not ask us to do it nor empower us for it. I think we all know ourselves in measure. say: 'If the Lord does not want it. Too often we have been caused to act. an untimely growth. We have become 'big-souled'. These two processes go on all the time. We must however be careful. No. characterless. By taking the fruit. Adam became possessed of an inherent power to act. insensate. we do not become inert. 103 . and whenever we receive something from God the soul will still be used in relation to it. But the point is. We may. You lose that power to act when you come to know the Lord. To remedy this does not mean that we are going to cross out the soul altogether. I will not use it. You have to live by the life of Another. So now there are two things before us to which our eyes must be opened. and a checking and a handing over to death of that other soul-life. as to our soul. 4:11). that has to be checked and dealt with. in a manner of courtesy to God. we still possess a soul. When we are in that condition. Oh. as an instrument. The Lord cuts it off and you find you can no longer act on your own initiative. to have power. to Adam's starting-point. and to that end He is bringing us back. I will put no reliance in myself. to decide. but which constitutes a living by the soul. in a true subjection to Him. On the other hand He is doing a direct work in our hearts to undo that other natural resource that is the result of the fruit of knowledge. So Paul says: "We which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake. Even though I have that inherited power within me. He trapped man into taking a course by which he could develop his soul so as to derive his very life from it. you have to draw everything from Him. that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh" (2 Cor. On the one hand God is seeking to bring us to the place where we live by the life of His Son. In our souls there is an uncontrolled development. but in reality our subconscious thought is that really we can do it quite well ourselves. the life of the Son of God in us is confined and almost crowded out of action. I will not take any step just because I have the power to do so. What does this mean? It simply means that I will not take any action without relying on God. apart from Him. We have grown too big in ourselves. Every day we are learning these two lessons: a rising up of the life of this One. You cannot do that. friends. Many of us Christians today are men with over-developed souls. I will find no sufficiency in myself.
We are none of us without the power of the soul. My interests have been utterly changed (praise God for that!). for he is not yet born again. In our hearts we say. nor allow it to be the power-spring of the work of God. without asking ourselves where they really stand in relation to spiritual things. over chemistry. it is 104 . 'If that man could be a Christian. with a clear brain. and essential union with God that has been set up in my spirit. We encourage them to use their natural powers for preaching. Where did that man's good nature come from? Whence are those splendid managing powers and that good judgment? Not form new birth. and. Before my new birth I had it naturally. what I have inherited of natural gifts and resources. But the Lord Jesus had something to say about this in John 3:6: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh". Far too many of us in the past have reasoned as follows. Take for example the human mind. Consider the matter of eloquence. and again it is a change of subject but the same power. That statement is not very palatable. But now my desire has been changed. Everything which comes not by new birth but by natural birth is flesh and will only bring glory to man. I used my keen mind to get the best out of those studies. Let us take first an obvious illustration of this. they utilize it. We know we have all been born of the flesh. But the trouble arises here. That is the whole point. what an asset he would be to the Church! If only he were the Lord's. Here is a delightfully good-natured man. over business. There are some men who are born orators. Formerly I used to use my mind to pore over history. they can present a case very convincingly indeed. What is this natural energy? It is simply what I can do. or literature. Those who have been taught by the Lord repudiate that principle as a life principle. the energy of the soul is present with us all. and our first need is to recognize it for what it is. a deep work is effected in my spirit. they will not let it reign. The trouble with so many of us is that we have changed the channel into which our energies are directed. what I am of myself. I may have by nature a keen mind. but we have not changed the source of those energies. but now I utilize the same power to study Corinthians and Ephesians that I used before to pursue history and geography. they think it is the power. Now what am I going to do about it? The natural tendency is this. therefore we need a new birth. splendid managing powers and sound judgment. Then they become converted. in the matter of our resource for handling the things of God. I am born anew. You will find there are many such things which we carry over into the service of God. not God. as something developed from my natural birth. but at the same time I carry over with me something which I derive from my natural birth. but I have not changed my method of working. they refuse to live by it. We have spoken of soul-power or natural energy. over questions of the world. But that power is not of God. But those who have not been taught of God rely upon it. or poetry. what a lot it would mean to His cause!' But think for a moment. and God will not allow that. so henceforth I employ the same mind in the things of God. I have therefore changed my subject of interest. we put them on the platform and make preachers of them. We forget that. I become converted.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Natural Energy In The Work Of God The power. but it is true.
that is to say. It is not so much a matter of what we are doing. I knew the Book they haltingly read. Now what will happen? I have asked the self-same thing of both men. may easily prove a barrier to the very thing that God is seeking to manifest in us. but perhaps without quite the same urgency. 'Brother. of course will pray too. Do you see the difference between natural and spiritual gifts? Anything we can do without prayer and without an utter dependence upon God must come from that spring of natural life. they had much in the Spirit. is a poor speaker: he cannot express himself clearly but wanders all round his subject. We think too little of the source of our energy and too much of the end to which it is directed. As I was talking to him I said. is a very good speaker: he can talk fluently and most convincingly on any subject. Now it will be Mr. never coming to a point. How many Christian teachers today are teaching others as I was then. The point is that. but in practical things he is a very bad manager. Shortly after my conversion I went out preaching in the villages. so I considered myself thoroughly capable of instructing the village folk. Let us suppose now that I call on them both and ask them to speak at a convention. He will pray: 'Lord. B. What will happen? The position will be exactly reversed. instead of asking them to speak. A.. but who do you think will pray the harder? Certainly Mr. but maybe not in the same way as Mr. on the other hand. those women hand an intimate knowledge of the Lord. for he knows full well that he has no organizing ability. A. apart from such a working of the Cross. I cannot do it'. most competent in all matters of business. I had much in the flesh. I had had a good education and was well versed in the Scriptures. and is suspect. Mr. very largely in the strength of their carnal equipment! Once I met a young brother—young. among whom were quite a number of illiterate women. whether naturally gifted or not. All too readily do we envy our neighbor who has some outstanding natural gift. will pray too. The following hypothetical case will help us to test the truth of our argument. Why? Because he is no speaker. yet on the other hand he is a splendid manager. because he has something of natural resource upon which to rely. A. Of course it is not true that those only are suited for a particular work who lack the natural gift for it. A. forgetting that with God the end never justifies the means. in years.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee a question not of comparative value but of origin—of where the resource springs from. Now let us suppose that. In the matter of eloquence he has no resources of his own to depend upon. The Lord had brought him through much tribulation to gain that knowledge of Himself. B. for though he knows his need of the Lord he is not nearly so conscious of his need in business matters as is Mr. despite their illiteracy. they must know the touch of the Cross in death upon all that is of nature. But after several visits I discovered that. and both become earnest Christians. Of course Mr. if you do not give me power for this. B. what has the Lord really been teaching you these days?' 105 . and their complete dependence upon the God of resurrection. and fail to realize that our own possession of it. they knew the One of whom the Book spoke. I ask them both to take charge of the practical side of affairs at the convention. Mr. and that both accept. but who had learned a good deal of the Lord. B. Mr.'s turn to pray hard. We must see this clearly. Both these men get converted. but of what powers we are employing to do it.
' Until He does so. one does not feel the necessity for light. and even enjoy. and it will never reach the realm of the Spirit however earnestly you seek God's blessing on it. the teaching. he replied. 'Only one thing: that I can do nothing apart from him. 'What then do you mean when you say you can do nothing apart from Him?' He answered. and we have to accept His estimate and write it down as nothing. and then you may think you will adjust here and improve there and maybe bring it on a better plane. and we can seem to bear fruit. Lord. but when that point is reached. that everything I have done and can do apart from Him is nothing!' We have to come to that valuation. But there will come a day when God opens our eyes. by putting His finger on something which He sees and saying: 'This is natural. but that He has said. but remember that the Lord's word is: "Every plant which my heavenly Father planted not. "Apart from me ye can do nothing". and what was "of the flesh" originally will never be made spiritual by any amount of 'improvement'. and build churches. 'The Lord has shown me that I can do anything. 'that you can do nothing?' 'Well. but it cannot be done. for we can. That which is born of the flesh is flesh. Impurity means mixture. and seeks to go forward with 106 . if one does not set out to serve the Lord whole-heartedly. you know.' So I asked. God is the only legitimate Originator in the universe (Gen. Anything that you plan and set on foot has its origin in the flesh. "The flesh profiteth nothing. and it will never be otherwise. then we find we do not enjoy the doctrine any longer. Purity means something altogether of the Spirit. So it comes to this. I see it!' The word 'purity' is a blessed word." It is only what comes from above that will abide. I do not mean to say we cannot do a lot of things. I said. 'I can do many things! In fact that has been just my trouble. We may assent to. God begins His work of deliverance. It may last for years. I know I am well able to do lots of things. We cannot see this simply by being told it. The Light Of God And Knowledge Of course. it is impure. no'. It is only when one has been apprehended by God. Oh. We are going on shortly to look at the provision He has made for that deliverance. I have always been so confident in myself. this cannot abide. I always associate it with the Spirit. shall be rooted up" (Matt. 1:1).' 'Do you really mean'. but we must stay for a little longer with this matter of revelation. Origin determines destination. Anything for which we are sufficient in ourselves is 'nothing' in God's estimate. we can go to the ends of the earth and found missions. Facing a particular issue we shall have to say. as by revelation: 'It is unclean. but we shall never truly loathe ourselves. this has its source in the old creation. 15:13). Rather we loathe ourselves for the impurity that is in us.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee He said. When God opens our eyes to see that the natural life is something He can never use in His work. we may agree in principle but we can never really see it. God must teach us what is meant. We can take meetings.
to know whether God is really leading us or whether we are walking by our feelings. No turning within. We do not want to live in a fool's paradise. But such self-knowledge does not come by our turning within. and this is in particular connection with the Lord's table.—W. It is: How can I know that I am walking in the Spirit? How do I distinguish which prompting within me is from the Holy Spirit and which is from myself? It seems that all are alike in this. when we have come into that light. The first is in Psalm 36:9: "In thy light shall we see light". It is when we have reached a position where we would like to follow God fully that we find light to be the most necessary thing in the Christian life. It is not concerned with self-knowledge as such. for inward knowledge will never be reached along the barren path of self-analysis. We have to know what is going on within. If we want to satisfy ourselves that our face is clean. to understand the difference between things which are spiritual and things which are carnal. 107 . Sight 15 The two apparent exceptions to this are found in 1 Corinthians 11:28. we shall see. to know what is Divine and what is merely of man. and in doing so are bringing themselves into deeper bondage. The first light is the light which belongs to God but is shed upon us. of course not. to discriminate to analyze. They are trying to look within. in fact. "In thy light shall we see light": we shall know something. by our analyzing our feelings and motives and everything that is going on inside. vacillation and despair. This is in no way related to our daily walk in the Spirit. Now those two lights are different. But the former passage calls upon us to discern ourselves as to whether we recognize the Lord's body or not. There is a fundamental need of light in order for us to know the mind of God. Of course we have to have self-knowledge. There are two lights there. the second is the knowledge imparted by that light. There is "thy light". We might say that the first is objective and the second subjective. we are Christians. I think that is one of the best verses in the old Testament. of whether. it is when there is light coming from God that we see. to discern what is truly heavenly and what is only earthly. There are several passages in the Psalms which illumine this subject. We are never told in the Word of God to examine our inward condition. The strong command of Paul in the latter passage is to examine ourselves as to whether or not we are "in the faith". It is a question of the existence or otherwise in us of a fundamental faith. senses or imaginations. to know what is of the spirit and what is of the soul. to have a spartan will and yet think we are pursuing the will of God. and then trying to pronounce whether we are walking in the flesh or in the Spirit. 15 That way ends only to uncertainty. what do we do? Do we feel it carefully all over with our hands? No. we shall be clear about something. Now this is a situation which is really dangerous to Christian life. We find a mirror and we bring it to the light. 31 and 2 Corinthians 13:5. to have gone altogether wrong and yet not know we have gone wrong. No sight ever came by feeling or analyzing. No. no introspective self-examination will ever bring us to that clear place. or to self-knowledge. In that light everything becomes clear. that one finds how necessary light is. but some have gone further. In my conversations with younger brothers and sisters one question comes up again and again. to differentiate. we shall "see light". I think it is so simple.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Him.N. and then.
and sharper than any two-edged sword. and when once it has come. Some servant of God has been used by Him to confront us with His living Word. and I always think of her as a 'lighted' Christian. we meet with a fulfillment of that word: "The entrance of Thy words giveth light". Or perhaps we ourselves have been waiting before God and. and that Word has made an entrance into us. I am sure. and we look up and confess: 'Lord. But. and know my heart". The light of God brings us to see the light concerning ourselves. we have seen something which we never saw before. In spiritual things we are all 'simple'. That is not the point. and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.). Then one day. and active. who is now with the Lord. as we go on. And it is here that the Word of God operates. With this I think we can pass on from the doctrinal to the practical side of things. what does it mean in practice for us to come into the light? How does it work? How do we see light in His light? Here again the Psalmist comes to our help. In the New Testament the passage which states this most clearly is in the Epistle to the Hebrews: "The word of God is living. Of course that will never mean that I may go blindly on. what it means to say 'Search me'? It certainly does not mean that I search myself. I see it. Yes. 'Search me' means 'You search me!' That is the way of illumination. Many of us. There is impurity there.V. it giveth understanding unto the simple" (Psalm 119:130 A. We know. We have been making progress. and it is an abiding principle that every knowledge of self comes to us in that way. and we do not know of anything much wrong with us. We know where we are wrong. We are dependent upon God to give us understanding. It is for God to come in and search. 4:12. it is the Word of God. It may not always be the Scriptures. In those days I was very young and had been converted about two 108 . The point is that however much my self-examination may reveal in me that needs putting right. 13). careless of my true condition. His Word has come to us in power. that settles our questions. "The entrance of Thy words giveth light. And there is no creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do" (Heb. There is mixture. My true knowledge of self comes not from my searching myself but from God searching me. do you not. Then it is we see something which we have never seen before. the penetrating Scripture of Truth. How blind I was! Just fancy that for so many years I have been wrong there and have never known it!' Light comes in and we see light. If I did but walk into her room. and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit. whether from our memory of Scripture or from the page itself. O God. I was brought immediately to a sense of God. and especially is this so in the matter of our own true nature. are living quite honestly before God. such searching never really gets below the surface. in the light of God radiating from them. there is no longer need to ask if a thing is right or wrong. You remember again how in Psalm 139:23 the writer says: "Search me. You realize.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee only comes by the light of God coming in. and through praying with them or talking with them. it is not for me to search. It is that which discerns our motives and defines for us their true source in soul or spirit. I have met one such. Some of us have known saints who really knew the Lord. you ask. We are convicted. of both joints and marrow.
Yes. and that is the very life of the man. God secures a race of men who will be to His glory. That is the only requirement. If we throw ourselves open to God. The trouble comes when we have closed areas. Barber of Pagoda Anchorage. He will reveal. 256-7. 266-7. He will be the "tree of life" to them. and I had lots of plans. Our defeat lies then not only in our being wrong but in our not knowing that we are wrong.—Ed. I was brought to a place where I could say: 'Lord. we need to be sincere and humble. I repeat that I do not mean we 16 This is one of several references by the author to the late Miss Maragaret E. and who will be His instrument to accomplish His purpose in the universe. as items. to tell her that this or that was the thing to do. where we think with pride that we are right. Light dawned! It simply put me to shame. it fears nothing else. The question of the personality of the man. they will be a people whose life—yea. My 'doing' was all so natural. if you only regard sins. lots of schemes for the Lord to sanction. and where that is the case you will find that such a one is bathed in light. Something happened. and we cannot live in His light and be without understanding. so full of man. Adam let in sin by choosing to have his soul developed to a place where he cold go on by himself apart from God. is important in Christian life. is still something on the outside. See also pp. but here is someone who is not out for them at all'. I want nothing for myself'. What I feel more and more the need of in myself. any movement back to real holiness unto God! But that is not enough. and what I feel that we all as the Lord's children need to seek from God. and that that light illuminates others.16 Light has one law: it shines wherever it is admitted. Foochow. Let us say again with the Psalmist: "O send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me" (Psalm 43:3). my mind is set only in creaturely activities. therefore. ignorance of it is a question of light. a hundred and one things which I thought would be marvelous if they were all brought to fruition. When. That came later. locked and barred places in our hearts. 95-6. She had but one motive. We praise God that sin is being brought to the notice of Christians today more than hitherto. and that was for God. That is real witness. Holiness. Before I could open my mouth she would just say a few words in quite an ordinary way. Wrong may be a question of natural strength. Adam did not let sin into the world by committing murder. and to open ourselves before God! Those who are open can see. she lived for God alone. You have not yet got to the root of the evil. one desire. not merely his sins. With all these things I came to her to try to persuade her. To make the question of sins to be everything is still to be on the surface. 239. is the heart of the matter. Written in the front of her Bible were these words: 'Lord. We may shut it out of ourselves. of his soul-power. whose very breath—is dependent upon Him. lots of beautiful thoughts. God is light. You can see the natural strength in some but they cannot see it themselves. still superficial.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee years. Praise the Lord for any movement toward Himself. There is one thing that must be touched. Oh. is a real revelation of ourselves. 109 . and in consequence many are walking closer to the Lord in seeking deliverance and victory over them. In many places the eyes of Christians have been opened to see that victory over sins.
it is darkness. and we shall seek now to examine an aspect of its work which meets and deals with our problem of the human soul. He is the living Word. Acts 9:3-5. 1:17). No. and when we read the Scriptures that life in Him brings revelation. But here the Cross. the hatefulness of our own selves. We can never know the hatefulness of sin and the hatefulness of ourselves unless there is that flash of God upon us. It cleanses. Luke 22:61. It kills what should not be there. I speak not of a sensation but of an inward revelation of the Lord Himself through His Word. John. but gradually. as servants of God we are finished. It sterilizes. Paul. I judge: and my judgment is righteous.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee should be for ever looking in on ourselves and asking: 'Now. Rev. because I seek not mine own will. Christ is our light. It does for us what doctrine alone can never do. In its radiance the 'dividing asunder of joints and marrow' becomes to us a fact and no mere teaching. in its widest meaning. but it will be more and more clear and searching. Ezekiel. until we see ourselves in the light of God and all our self-confidence is gone. and we know that. It was always by light from God. 110 . Daniel. Isaiah. will come to our help again. all came to a knowledge of themselves because the Lord flashed Himself upon them. and that light is God Himself. and the real threat to the work of God of our unrestrained soul-life and energy. For light is the purest thing in the world. We know fear and trembling as we recognize the corruption of man's nature. 6:5. we know how much of us needs God's drastic dealing if He is to use us. is this soul or is it spirit?' That will never get us anywhere. As never before. Peter. and that flash brought revelation and conviction. For only a thorough understanding of the Cross can bring us to that place of dependence which the Lord Jesus Himself voluntarily took when He said: "I can of myself do nothing: as I hear. 62. apart from Him. but the will of him that sent me" (John 5:30). 10:8. 1:28. Ezek. (Isa. Such illumination may not come to us all at once. Scripture shows us how the saints were brought to self-knowledge. "The life was the light of men" (John 1:4). Dan.
As Son of man He had a will. Yet as Man He had a separate personality from His Father.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Chapter 13: The Path of Progress: Bearing the Cross In our previous chapter we have touched several times upon the matter of service for the Lord. That thing in Him which is in distinction from the Father is the human soul. He might rather. You remember that immediately after the Lord's baptism. as His own words show. What does this teach us? Our Lord was a sinless Man. which He assumed when He was "found in fashion as a man". before His public ministry ever began. but He did not do it. Just as the fact of the death and resurrection of the Lord is the ground of our acceptance with God. Why do You not settle the matter finally now by coming out and proving it?' 111 . Even the Lord Jesus Himself served on that basis. but the will of him that sent me". it will be helpful if we approach that problem by considering first the principles which govern our work for Him and from which no one who tries to serve Him may deviate. as we well know. we know the meaning of baptism: it is a figure of death and resurrection. have tempted Him to sin in a more thoroughgoing way. you feel. But he did not. Now we must tread very carefully when we touch our Lord. You will find in Matthew 3 that. Being a perfect Man our Lord had a soul. He had a will. and it was possible for Him to act from the soul—that is. The Basis Of All True Ministry No one can be a true servant of God without knowing the principle of death and the principle of resurrection. None but He has trodden this earth and known no sin. but the conditions of our service are no less definite. and you are inclined to wonder why he tempted Him to do such strange things. to secure immediate respect for His ministry by appearing miraculously in the temple court. or anything which needed cleansing. Satan came and tempted Him. and before His public ministry began. Here is a challenge. the Holy Spirit came upon Him. he knew better. just as you and I have a soul and a body. No. After He had been baptized and had voluntarily taken the ground of death and resurrection. Some will certainly raise a question as to whether Your claim is real or not. The ministry of the Lord did not begin until He was on that ground. and of course a body. so the principle of death and resurrection is the basis of our life and service for Him. He was baptized not because He had any sin. So this is the point. our Lord was baptized. What does this mean? It certainly does not mean that the Lord had no will of His own. command that these stones become bread". to assume without delay the world dominion destined for Him. He only said: "If thou art the Son of God. is the fact of our Lord's death and resurrection. As we come now to look at the provision that God has made to meet the problem created by the soul-life of man. but remember His words: "I seek not mine own will. from Himself. and then He ministered. The basis of our salvation. He tempted Him to satisfy His essential needs by turning stones to bread. He came to do the will of the Father. What did it mean? The implication was this: 'If You are the Son of God You must do something to prove it.
How does He do so? Twelve dead rods are put before the Lord in the sanctuary over against the testimony. the Lord indicates His chosen minister by the rod which buds. We have learned that our old man has been crucified in order that henceforth we should not serve sin. In Adam. We all know that our forgiveness is based upon the shed Blood. resurrection and ascension. The budding rod speaks of resurrection. He is the one who 'contains' those values and mediates them to men. can we do otherwise? Surely no servant of the Lord can serve Him without himself knowing the working of that principle in his life.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee The whole subtle object of Satan was to get the Lord to act for Himself—that is. and we have praised the Lord that here too His death has worked for our 112 . Now in a similar situation the Son of man takes another ground. the Lord Jesus absolutely repudiated such action. from the soul—and. even though as an actual event Calvary still lay in the future. That is the reason why the Spirit could not be given before the Lord had been glorified. We have seen that the death of the Lord works in different ways and has different aspects. Then. I would refer you to a familiar passage in the seventeenth chapter of Numbers. in the morning. Without that you have nothing. Then only could He rest upon men and women that they might witness. He had died and He was risen. this "power from on high" of which He spoke? It is nothing less than the virtue of His death. It is death and resurrection that marks God-recognized ministry. was done with the principle of death on the cross. prior to His actual death on the cross. that was the whole tragedy of the garden. But if this is so—if the Son of man has to go through death and resurrection (in figure and in principle) in order to work. by the stand He took. The matter of Aaron's ministry has been contested. we do not know!' and so God sets out to prove who is His servant and who is not. and they are there for a night. It is of course out of the question. The Lord made this very clear to His disciples when He left them. Now what is this power of the Holy Spirit. To use another figure. There is a question among the people as to whether Aaron is truly the chosen of God. man had acted from himself apart from God. The budding of Aaron's rod proved him to be on a true basis. blossoms and bears fruit. If we turn to the Old Testament we find the same thing is there. That total denial of the soul-life was to govern all His ministry. and God will only recognize as His ministers those who have come through death to resurrection ground. resurrection and exaltation of the Lord are deposited. that they may be brought to us. They have entertained a suspicion. the Holy Spirit is the Vessel in whom all the values of the death. Everything He did was on that ground. and have said in effect: 'Whether that man is ordained of God or not. and without the values of the death and resurrection of Christ no such witness is possible. So we can safely say that all the work which the Lord Jesus did on earth. We all know the meaning of that. We know how His death has worked in regard to the forgiveness of our sins. Later He defines it as His basic life-principle—and I like the word in the Greek: "The Son can do nothing out from himself" (John 5:19). and He told them to wait in Jerusalem for the Spirit to come upon them. and that without the shedding of Blood there is no remission. and resurrection as basis. Then we have come further and in Romans 6 have seen how death works to meet the power of sin.
there is still a great difference between "the flesh". and the need for consecration is apparent. Luke 17:32-34. and in each a different aspect or manifestation of the soul-life is touched upon. and he comes under the law and the law finds him out. Mark 8:32-35. and to discover the value of the death of the Lord working in this way.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee deliverance. There may still be the lack of knowledge of what is meant by the soul. to build twelve feet of wall. God emphasizes the thing He has done once for all in crucifying us with Christ on the Cross. We have sought to make quite clear that. That indeed constitutes a starting point for our ministry. because of there being somewhere something undealt with by the Cross. and the working of the natural energies of the soul-life in the service of the Lord. With all the above being known—and known in experience—there still remains this one sphere more which the death of the Lord must enter before we are actually of use to Him in service. in respect of our old man. We have seen that three times in the Epistle to the Galatians the 'crucifying' aspect of the Cross is referred to as a thing accomplished. and John 12:24-26. and that is by our bearing the cross daily and following Him. There you find a true man of God trying to please God in righteousness. Even with all these experiences we are still unsafe for Him to use until this further thing is effected in us. but at the same time we destroy our own work. I cannot satisfy God with my powers. and sometimes that of others also. but still it does not touch the core of the question. as spoken of in Romans 7 in relation to holiness of life. as we say in China. These four passages have something in common. As we have just seen. and then more particularly how this touches the question of our service for Him. Then another phase is presented to us in Romans 7 where the question of holiness of life is in view—a living.' I believe some of us have passed through deep waters to learn this. to undo it all by themselves pulling down fifteen feet! We are used in a sense. Further on still the question of human self-will arises. He is trying to please God by using his own carnal power. Now we have to see how the Lord has set out to deal with the soul. 'I cannot do it. when they have done so. How many of God's servants are used by Him. In these verses He makes it very plain that the soul of man can be dealt with in one way and in one way only. I can only trust the Holy Spirit to do that in me. The Subjective Working Of The Cross We must keep before us now four passages from the Gospels. Now mark you. and the Cross has to bring him to the place where he says. personal holiness. In each you have the Lord Himself speaking to us concerning the soul-activity of man. and in Romans 113 . only. and we find death working that way to bring about in us a willingness to let go our own wills and obey the Lord. the soul-life or natural life that is here in view is something further than what we have in those passages which are concerned with the old man or the flesh. They are: Matthew 10:34-39.
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6:6 we have the clear statement that "our old man was crucified", which, if the tense of the word means anything, we might well paraphrase: 'Our old man has been finally and for ever crucified'. It is something done, to be apprehended by Divine revelation and then appropriated by faith. But there is a further aspect of the Cross, namely that implied in the expression 'bearing his cross daily', which is before us now. The Cross has borne me; now I must bear it; and this bearing of the Cross is an inward thing. It is this that we mean when we speak of 'the subjective working of the Cross'. Moreover it is a daily process; it is a step by step following after Him. It is this which is now brought before us in relation to the soul, and let us note that the emphasis here is not quite the same as with the old man. We do not have here the 'crucifixion' of the soul itself, in the sense that our natural gifts and faculties, our personality and our individuality, are to be put away altogether. Were it so it could hardly be said of us, as it is in Hebrews 10:39, that we are to "have faith unto the saving of the soul". (Compare 1 Peter 1:9; Luke 21:19.) No, we do not lose our souls in this sense, for to do so would be to lose our individual existence completely. The soul is still there with its natural endowments, but the Cross is brought to bear upon it to bring those natural endowments into death—to put the mark of His death upon them—and thereafter, as God may please, to give them back to us in resurrection. It is in this sense that Paul, writing to the Philippians, expresses the desire "that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death" (Phil. 3:10). The mark of death is upon the soul all the time to bring it to the place where it is always subordinate to the Spirit and never independently asserts itself. Only the Cross, working in such a way, could make a man of the calibre of Paul, and with the natural resources hinted at in Philippians 3, so distrust his own natural strength that he could write to the Corinthians: "I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" (1 Cor. 2:2, 5). The soul is the seat of the affections, and what a great part of our decisions and actions is influenced by these! There is nothing deliberately sinful about them, mind you, but it is simply that there is something in us which can go out in natural affection to another person and which as a result can influence wrongly our whole course of action. So in the first of the four passages before us the Lord has to say: "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that doth not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me" (Matt. 10:37, 38). You note that to follow the Lord in the way of the Cross is set before us as His normal, His only way for us. What immediately follows? "He that findeth his soul shall lose it; and he that loseth his soul for my sake shall find it" (Matt. 10:39, mg.). The secret danger lies in that subtle working of the affections to turn us away from the pathway of God; and the key to the matter is the soul. The Cross has to deal with that. I have to "lose" my soul in the sense in which the Lord meant those words, and which we are seeking here to explain.
The Normal Christian Life
Watchman Nee
Some of us know well what it means to lose our soul. We can no longer fulfill its desire; we cannot give in to it; we cannot gratify it: that is the 'loss' of the soul. We are going through a painful process to discourage what the soul is asking for. And many a time we have to confess that it is not any definite sin that is keeping us from following the Lord to the end. We are held up because of some secret love somewhere, some perfectly natural affection diverting our course. Yes, affection plays a great part in our lives, and the Cross has to come in there and do its work. Then we pass to the reference in Mark chapter 8. I think that is a most important passage. Our Lord had just taught His disciples at Caesarea Philippi that He was going to suffer death at the hands of the elders of the Jews, and then Peter, with all his love for his Master, came up and rebuked Him and said to Him: 'Lord, do not do it; pity Thyself: this shall never come to Thee!' Out of his love for the Lord he appealed to Him to spare Himself; and the Lord rebuked Peter, as He would rebuke Satan, for caring for the things of men and not the things of God. And then to all present the word was spoken once more: "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his soul shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his soul for my sake and the gospel's shall save it" (Mark 8:34, 35, mg.). The whole question at issue is again that of the soul, and here it is particularly of the soul's desire for self-preservation. There is that subtle working of the soul which says, 'If I could be allowed to live I would do anything, be willing for anything; but I must be kept alive!' There you have the soul almost crying out for help. 'Going to the Cross, being crucified—oh that is really too much! Have mercy on yourself; pity yourself! Do you mean to say you are going against yourself and going with God?' Some of us know well that in order to go on with God we have many a time to go against the voice of the soul- our own or other people's—and to let the Cross come in to silence that appeal for self-preservation. Am I afraid of the will of God? The dear saint whom I have already mentioned as having had such an influence upon the course of my life, many times asked me the question: 'Do you like the will of God?' It is a tremendous question. She did not ask, 'Do you do the will of God?' she always asked, 'Do you like the will of God?' That question cuts deeper than anything else. I remember once she was having a controversy with the Lord over a certain matter. She knew what the Lord wanted, and in her heart she wanted it too. But is was difficult, and I heard her pray like this: 'Lord, I confess I don't like it, but please do not give in to me. Just wait, Lord—and I will give in to Thee.' She did not want the Lord to yield to her and to reduce His demands upon her. She wanted nothing but to please Him. Many a time we have to come to the place where we are willing to let go things we think to be good and precious—yes, and even, it may be, the very things of God themselves—that His will may be done. Peter's concern was for his Lord and was dictated by his natural love for Him. We might feel that Peter had a marvelous love for his Lord, sufficient even for him to dare to rebuke Him. Only a strong love could bring one to attempt that! Yes, but when there is purity of spirit without that mixture of soul, you will not be led into Peter's mistake. You will recognize the will of God and you will find that that is what your heart delights in alone. You will no longer even
The Normal Christian Life
Watchman Nee
shed a tear in sympathy with the flesh. Yes, the Cross cuts deeply, and we see here once more how utterly it has to deal with the soul. Once again the Lord Jesus deals with the matter of the soul in Luke chapter 17, and now it is in relation to His return. Speaking of "the day that the Son of man is revealed", He draws a parallel between that day and "the day that Lot went out from Sodom" (verses 29, 30). A little later He speaks of the 'rapture' in the twice repeated words: "One shall be taken, and the other shall be left" (verses 34, 35). But between His reference to the calling of Lot out of Sodom and this allusion to the rapture, the Lord says these remarkable words: "In that day, he which shall be on the housetop, and his goods in the house, let him not go down to take them away: and let him that is in the field likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife" (verses 31, 32). Remember Lot's wife! Why? because "whosoever shall seek to gain his soul shall lose it: but whosoever shall lose his soul shall save it alive" (verse 33, mg.). If I mistake not, this is the one passage in the New Testament that tells of our reaction to the rapture call. We may have thought that when the Son of man comes we shall be taken up automatically, as it were, because of what we read in 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52: "We shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump..." Well, however we reconcile the two passages, this one in Luke's Gospel should at least make us pause and reflect; for the emphasis is here very strongly upon one being taken and the other left. It is a matter of our reaction to the call to go, and on the basis of this a most urgent appeal is made to us to be ready (compare Matt. 24:42). There is surely a reason for this. Clearly that call is not going to produce a miraculous last-minute change in us out of all relation to our previous walk with the Lord. No, in that moment we shall discover our heart's real treasure. If it is the Lord Himself, then there will be no backward look. A backward glance decides everything. It is so easy to become more attached to the gifts of God than to the Giver—and even, I should add, to the work of God than to God Himself. Let me illustrate. At the present time17 I am writing a book. I have finished eight chapters and I have another nine to write, about which I am very seriously exercised before the Lord. But if the call to 'come up hither' should come and my reaction were to be 'What about my book?' the answer might well be, 'All right, stay down and finish it!' That precious thing which we are doing downstairs 'in the house' can be enough to pin us down, a peg that holds us to earth. It is all a question of our living by the soul or by the spirit. Here in this passage in Luke, we have depicted the soul-life in its engagement with the things of the earth—and mark you, not sinful things either. The Lord only mentioned marrying, planting, eating, selling—all perfectly legitimate activities with which there is nothing essentially wrong. But it is occupation with them, so that your heart goes out to them, that is enough to pin you down. The way out of that danger is by the losing of the soul. This is beautifully illustrated in the action of Peter when he recognized the risen Lord Jesus by the lake-side. Though with the others he had returned to his former employment, there
the soul becoming preoccupied with things. There is something which is deeper yet. The end in view is fruitfulness. the soul becoming preoccupied with things on the earth: these are still small things. the path of real fruitfulness to God. He let go His life that we might receive it. 12). "Verily. it beareth much fruit. The soul giving rein to its affections. even here. This is the secret of ministry. His life emerged in many lives. He that loveth his life (Greek 'soul'. When he heard John's cry of recognition: "it is the Lord". So then death worketh in us. which is that we lose our own natural life. but life in you" (2 Cor. verily. the soul asserting itself and trying to manipulate things. It has the power to impart its life to others. we read that "he cast himself into the sea". our soul. The Son died. the treasure in the vessel. We all have that precious possession. as we saw earlier. and which I will try now to explain. we are 117 . There is a grain of wheat with life in it. nor even of the net full of fishes so miraculously provided. That is true detachment. sharing thereafter with others the new life of God which is in us. But. The question at issue is always. and do not yet touch the real heart of the matter. and he that hateth his life ('soul') in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die. but if it die. I say unto you. Now we know the way the Lord Jesus took. He passed into death. namely." Here we have the inward working of the Cross of which we have been speaking—the losing of the soul—linked with and likened to that aspect of the death of the Lord Jesus Himself which we have already seen depicted in the grain of wheat. There is new life in us. His death with a view to increase. and. We are living in the soul. but "it abideth alone". it abideth by itself alone. we are as yet only dealing with the more outward aspects of the soul's activity. 25. As Paul says: "We which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake. We are coming to our point.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee was now no thought of the ship. It is here that He makes clear the value of conformity to His death. as in the above passages) loseth it. and came forth as the first of "many sons". in order that we may become life-imparters. It is in this aspect of His death that we are called to die. but to do so it must go down into death. Praise the Lord for the reality of His life within us! But why is there so little expression of that life? Why is there an 'abiding alone'? Why is it not overflowing and imparting life to others? Why is it scarcely making itself apparent even in our own lives? The reason why there is so little sign of life where life is present is that the soul in us is enveloping and confining that life (as the husk envelopes the grain of wheat) so that it cannot find outlet. 4:11. that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. we are working and serving in our own natural strength. if we have received Christ. The Cross And Fruitfulness Let us read again John 12:24. Where is my heart? The cross has to work in us a true spiritual detachment from anything and anyone outside of the Lord Himself.
and follow me" (Mark 8:34). God had to cripple that strength of nature in Jacob. and from then on you no longer do it because you want 118 . Death and resurrection must remain an abiding principle of our lives for the losing of the soul and the uprising of the Spirit. We never get past that. so that we no longer dare trust ourselves. This is the life-long condition of service that is laid down in the words: "Let him deny himself. our natural power is touched and fundamentally weakened. but he continued to be lame. It was the 'natural man' in Jacob that was seeking to serve God and to attain His end.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee not drawing from God. It was impossible to stay silent. He has had to deal with some of us very harshly. There you have set forth the death and resurrection. the life yielded up and the life fained. and there you have the ministry attested. dredging deeply that well-spring of nature. But then at last it is that He can begin to use us. He who evades it "is not worthy of me" (Matt. I can tell you this. through a deep and dark experience. A Dark Night—A Resurrection Morn So we come back to the almond rod. Such a crisis occurred in the life of Jacob at Peniel. and take us through difficult and painful ways. The Lord may graciously allow you to go on a long while like that—and not only so but with a fair measure of blessing—until one day that natural force impelling you is touched. and that He did when He touched the sinew of Jacob's thigh. that for a year after I was converted I had a lust to preach. Jacob continued to walk thereafter. once reached and passed. 10:38). as his change of name implies. He was a different Jacob. Yet here too there may be a crisis that. Lose it. Jacob knew well that God had said: "The elder shall serve the younger". and he limped from an injury from which he would never quite recover. but the strength had been touched. God must bring us to a point—I cannot tell you how it will be. he "cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:27). Preaching had become my very life. and take up his cross. It is a wicket gate by which we may enter upon an entirely new pathway. can transform our whole life and service for God. But how does this work out in practice? How do I recognize that God is dealing with me in this way? First we must be clear about one thing: the soul with its fund of natural energy and resource will continue with us until our death. It was as though there was something moving within me that drove me forward. but he was trying to compass that end through his own ingenuity and resource. At length there comes a time when we no longer 'like' to do Christian work—indeed we almost dread to do things in the Lord's Name. It is the soul that stands in the way of the springing up of life. which was brought into the sanctuary for a night—a dark night in which there was nothing to be seen—and then in the morning it budded. in order to get us there. but He will do it—where. Till then there will be an unending day-by-day need for the Cross to operate in us. for that way lies fullness. and I had to keep going. He had his feet and he could use them.
a God who "dealeth with you as with sons" (Heb. and yet the soul is not now our life-spring. God is bringing you to the place where He has but to express a wish and you respond instantly. When emotionally you are set on His way you go ahead at full speed. we can still have our body. in you. you know what kind of sovereign dealing you will incur if you do it. You were living by the natural life. It is the slave of your temperament. No. he can never be quite the same again. the seat of our natural energy and will and affections. Father". Every true servant of God must know at some time that disabling from which he can never recover. You are not pliable in the Lord's hands. but when it has. giving you life. with the full use of its faculties. When the body becomes our life we live like beasts. until you will do a thing because He wants it and not because you like it. like Jacob. He has therefore to weaken that strength of preference. 17). There must be that established in you which means that from henceforth you will really fear yourself. 8). The Spirit Himself bears witness in your spirit to that relationship. But when this is really established in you. If we want to be spiritual people. You may enjoy it or you may not. under control. You have known something of the chastening hand of a loving God upon you. You discover that what you have lost is coming back—though not as before. has known the touch of the Cross. You will fear to do anything 'out from' yourself. for. but when your emotions are directed the other way you are reluctant to move at all. In the same way we can have our soul. It comes only when our soul. and yet sometimes the Lord could not move you to do one thing that He wanted done. you have come to a new place which we speak of as 'resurrection ground'. you know what a bad time you will have in your own heart before the Lord if you move out on the impulse of your soul. we use it. and that life varies a good deal. even when duty calls. 12:7).The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee to do it but because the Lord wants it. and therefore you do it. something that animates you. and regardless of whether or not it gives you conscious joy. From henceforth what you have lost will be brought back . The principle of life is at work in you now—something that empowers and strengthens you. or it may be just one stroke. The true joy you know in doing His will lies deeper than your variable emotions. you do it now because it is the will of God. We are no longer living in it. but such a spirit does not come naturally to any of us. The way to it may be a painful. Let me make this quite clear again. That is the spirit of the Servant (Psalm 40:7. then you find God releases you into resurrection. but God has His ways and we must have regard to them. Death in principle may have had to be wrought out to a crisis in your natural life. we are no longer drawing from it and living by it. When the soul becomes our life we live as rebels and fugitives from God 119 . but you will do it just the same. there is no need for us to amputate our hands or feet. 8:16. and your response to the 'Father of our spirits' is: "Abba. of like and dislike. and to the inheritance and glory that are ours "if so be that we suffer with him" (Rom. long-drawn-out process with some of us.but now under discipline. Before that experience you preached for the sake of satisfaction you got from serving God in that way. Yet such a servant-spirit is what He seeks and will have in us all. It is not that you can derive a certain satisfaction from preaching or from doing this or that work for God.
the secret of such a ministry: "We. The Lord graciously laid me aside once in my life for a number of months and put me. embracing as it does the whole Mediterranean world. for the obedience of the Gentiles. who could claim to serve God "in my spirit in the gospel of his Son" (Rom. but remember. as he had. But when we come to live our life in the Spirit and by the Spirit. Few can have led a more active life than Paul's. That is spiritual service. He knows what He is doing. if possible. 18). and I picked one up and broke it in half as though to eat it. and that disabling touch has been received. and He has left no aspect of our need unmet in His Cross. 3:3). 120 . 'It is a blessed thing when you know the Lord has met you and touched you in that fundamental way. we cannot bear to wait. They have learned. It cannot be hurried. is it? When once your back is broken. his heart is set on one object only—the uplifting of the One who has made it all possible. Disciples who have gone this way can. All is in darkness. but it is only for a night. I said. no doubt. by word and deed" (Rom. For I will not dare to speak of any things save those which Christ wrought through me. spiritually. 'It looks all right. It was almost as though He had forsaken me—almost as though nothing was going on and I had really come to the end of everything.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee —gifted. 15:17. Lie quiet. To the Romans he puts it on record that he has preached the Gospel from Jerusalem to Illyricum (Rom. you will yield ever after to the slightest touch from God. It will seem as though nothing is happening.' That is it. they are now the servants of the Spirit. We cannot face the thought that God will keep us aside for so long a time. but it is never quite the same again. but alienated from the life of God. And then by degrees He brought things back again. but that is all. educated. cultured. Then. Afterwards you will find that everything is given back to you in glorious resurrection. while you yourself have been passed by and are losing out. and glory in Christ Jesus. though we still use our soul faculties just as we do our physical faculties. But the difficulty with many of us is that dark night. truly echo the words of the apostle Paul. everything you valued is slipping from your grasp.. He said to me. The Lord knows what He is doing with His own. Seemingly everyone else is being blessed and used. to Spain (15:24. that there will be a definite period when He will keep you there. The temptation is always to try to help God by taking things back ourselves. and have no confidence in the flesh" (Phil. that the glory of the Son may be manifested in the sons. And I cannot tell you how long He will take. 1:9). There confronts you a blank wall with no door in it.. and when we have reached that point God can really use us. but in principle I think it is quite safe to say this. fitting the two pieces together again carefully. and nothing can measure the difference between what was before and what now is! I was sitting one day at supper with a young brother to whom the Lord had been speaking on this very question of our natural energy. worship by the Spirit of God. 28). It must indeed be a full night. "I have therefore my glorying in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God. there must be a full night in the sanctuary—a full night in darkness. 15:19) and that he is ready now to go on to Rome (1:10) and thence. I believe. We would like to have death and resurrection put together within one hour of each other. into utter darkness. Yet in all this service.' There was a plate of biscuits between us on the table.
as truly as he was.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee May God make each one of us. 121 . "a bondservant of Jesus Christ".
for we are told that at this feast "Martha also served" (John 12:2 and compare Luke 10:40). that what Mary has done should always be coupled with what the Lord has done. 6. Human reasoning said this was really too much. saying. in its details. From the details given in John chapter 12. If someone is receiving more than he is considered to be worth. 9).. is at once historic and prophetic. and poured it over his head. Waste "But there were some that had indignation among themselves. To what purpose hath this waste of the ointment been made? For this ointment might have been sold for above three hundred pence and given to the poor. These words bring us to what I believe the Lord would have us consider finally together. namely. Mary. as he sat at meat. What does He intend that we should understand by it? I think we all know the story of Mary's action well. among other things. and she brake the cruse. in voicing a general complaint that Mary's action was a wasteful one. Waste means that you give something too much for something too little.. Simon presumably also being a relative of the two sisters. 122 . Wheresoever the gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world. Thus the Lord ordained that the story of Mary anointing Him with that costly ointment should always accompany the story of the Gospel. If a shilling will do and you give a point.18 No doubt every penny mattered to them. Martha and Lazarus. there came a woman having an alabaster cruse of ointment of spikenard very costly. it is a waste. we may gather that the family was not a specially wealthy one. If two ounces will do and you give a kilogram. expended the whole thing on the Lord.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Chapter 14: The Goal of the Gospel For our final chapter we will take as our starting-point an incident in the Gospels that occurs under the very shadow of the Cross—an incident that. That is His own statement. having among her treasures an alabaster cruse containing 'three hundred pence' worth of ointment. it was giving the Lord more than His due. and the other disciples supported him. And they murmured against her" (Mark 14:4.. The sisters had to work in the house themselves. What is waste? Waste means. 5). If three days will suffice to finish a task well enough and you lavish five days or a week on it. Verily I say unto you. it is a waste.—Ed. That is why Judas took the lead. that also which this woman hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her" (Mark 14:3. giving more than is necessary. it is a waste.. where the incident follows not long after her brother's restoration to life. Yet one of those sisters. Jesus said. then that is waste. 18 The author here takes the fairly common view that the "house of Simon the leper" was the home of Mary. that which is signified by the little word "waste". "And while he was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper.
My career. This is the result that He is seeking. The Lord says: 'Do not trouble her'. do some social service for their uplift. it is the right course that I have chosen!' To my professor it seemed a total waste to serve the Lord. We must look at this question of wasting on the Lord from two angles: that of Judas (John 12:4-6) and that of the other disciples (Matt. Many say: 'Such-and-such a man could make good in the world if only he were not a Christian!' Because a man has some natural talent or other asset in the world's eyes. He looked at me from head to foot and from foot to head. so any giving to Him is a waste. 'We could manage better with the money by using it in some other way. Judas felt it a waste. wherever that Gospel should be carried. 26:8. 9). There are plenty of poor people. everything had gone. and for our present purpose we will run together the parallel accounts. The thought of being able to pour our my life for my Lord flooded my soul with glory. namely. never had a place in the hearts of the world. Nothing short of the Spirit of glory was on me then. Men 123 . He is worthy for me to be His prisoner. help the poor in some practical way? Why pour it out at the feet of Jesus?' (See John 12:4-6. He took me into a teashop where we sat down. Do you mean to tell me that this is what you are?' Looking at me with penetrating eyes. Why? Because He intends that the preaching of the Gospel should issue in something along the very lines of the action of Mary here. I praise Thee! This is the best thing possible. Let me give a personal instance. then how can it be a waste? He is worthy to be so served. Here Judas stands for the world.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee But remember. He is worthy for me just to live for Him. I must confess that. I could look up and without a reservation say: 'Lord. that people should come to Him and waste themselves on Him. my health. even water would have been waste. no progress. In the world's estimation the service of the Lord. He is worthy! What the world says about this does not matter. Not only was ointment waste.) That is always the way the world reasons. is sheer waste. everything that was poured out upon Him was waste. he asked that very pointed question. and I met one of my old college professors. but that is what the Gospel is for—to bring us to a true estimate of His worth. during your college days we thought a good deal of you and we had hopes that you would achieve something great. and our giving ourselves to Him for such service. and then he said: 'Now look here. One day I was walking along the street with a stick. All the twelve thought is a waste. and here was my old professor who taught me law in the school. 'What waste of a useful life!' they say. who had never called Jesus 'Lord'. with no success. very weak and in broken health. nothing to show?' But the very next moment—and I have to admit that in all my life it was the first time—I really knew what it meant to have the "spirit of glory" resting upon me. asking me: 'Are you still in this condition. So let us not be troubled. In 1929 I returned from Shanghai to my home town of Foochow. Why not rather give it for charity. To Judas of course. on hearing it. my first desire was to break down and weep. 'Can you not do something better with yourself than this? It is going a bit too far to give yourself altogether to the Lord!' But if the Lord is worthy. they count such people are really too good for the Lord. He has never been loved. we are dealing here with something which the Lord said had to go out with the Gospel.
He wants you and me to be used. and they not only said it but they were very upset. Of course we know that the attitude of mind is all too common among Christians which says. I almost shouted at her. It is not first of all a 124 . is the secret? Clearly it is this. You know the Book in a most living way. were at that time in His training school for this very work of the Gospel. a waste of money. To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much. is the one by whom I have been helped most. 'Get all you can for as little as possible'. I have spoken already of a sister whom I knew for a long time and who. They could do so much more. their whole idea is use. a waste of energy. brethren. "When the disciples saw it. though to some of us at the time this was not so apparent. and given to the poor" (Matt. Why are they not more active?'— and in saying so. if they could secure an entry somewhere and enjoy a greater acceptance and prominence in certain circles. as young men. but we can stand on this ground. they had indignation. the Lord Jesus was laying down one thing as a basis of all service: that you pour out all you have. I said. when I went to see her. go somewhere. saying. As Jesus Himself says here. that the Lord said: 'It is a good work. and if that should be all He allows you to do. your very self. What. that they are apparently not doing enough. I think. that is enough. "the gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world". then. That however is not what is in view here. When once our eyes have been opened to the real worth of our Lord Jesus. do something? It is a waste for her to be living in that small village with nothing happening!' Sometimes. very indignant about it. but something deeper. just sitting here and doing nothing!' But no. 'Why does she not get out and take some meetings. 'No one knows the Lord as you do. But I do not want to dwell too much on Judas. I realize how greatly the Lord was in fact using that dear sister to speak to a number of us who. They could be used to help this or that group of people. And yet we find that they said the same thing as Judas. The one concern in my heart was this: 'She is not used!' Constantly I said to myself. but we do very much mind what other Christians are saying who ought to understand. We do not greatly mind what the world is saying. But the question is one of emphasis. Every true work is not done on the poor. Let me illustrate. She was used of the Lord in a very real way during those years when I was associated with her. 9). we can stand that. Looking back today. unto Him. certainly. 26:8. They could then be used in a far greater way. Everything ought to be used to the full in ways they understand. every true work is done to Me'. 'Here are people who ought to get out into this or that kind of work. nothing is too good for Him. a waste of everything. Has someone been telling you that you are wasting your life be sitting still and not doing much? They say. Let us go on to see what was the attitude of the other disciples. Do you not see the need around? Why don't you do something? It is a waste of time. that in approving Mary's action at Bethany. because their reaction affects us even more than does his.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee may say what they like. God forbid that I should preach inactivity or seek to justify a complacent attitude to the world's need. I cannot thank God enough for her. they think. that is not the first thing with the Lord. There are those who have been very concerned with some dear servants of the Lord on this very ground.
many a Gospel campaign in which we might have a share. the Lord's first concern is with our position at His feet and our anointing of His head. but that is not the most important thing. but He reserves to Himself the right to suspend the service for a time in order to discover to us whether it is that or Himself that holds us. we may say. The Gospel is preached in the first place so that the Lord may be satisfied. It is only when He is satisfied that we shall be satisfied and the sinner will be satisfied. Yes. The principle which determines usefulness is the very principle of scattering. Often enough the giving to Him will be in tireless service. It is impossible. Praise God! the sinner has his part. But we have to remember this. Real usefulness in the hand of God is measured in terms of 'waste'. but that is not the main consideration. The first question is: Has the Lord been satisfied? There is many a meeting we might address. The more you think you can do. let me say it. I have never met a soul who has set out to satisfy the Lord and has not been satisfied himself. Whatever we have as an 'alabaster box': the most precious thing. We have been thinking how the sinner will fare if there is no Gospel.. it seems a waste.. sinners will be satisfied! but their satisfaction is. No. that in Divine service the principle of waste is the principle of power. the more you find that you are applying the principle of the world and not of the Lord. Have you ever given too much to the Lord? May I tell you something? One lesson some of us have come to learn is this. The first thing is this. I am afraid we lay too much emphasis on the good of sinners and we have not sufficiently appreciated what the Lord has in view as His goal. To some. but that is what He seeks above all. The service of the Lord is not to be measured by tangible results. Ministering To His Pleasure "Wheresoever the gospel shall be preached. We could labor and be used to the full. my friends. God meets his need and showers him with blessings. even of those who should understand. that He will never be satisfied without our 'wasting' ourselves upon Him. a blessed by-product of the Gospel and not its primary aim.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee question of whether 'the poor' have been helped or not. and the more you employ your gifts up to the very limit (and some even go over the limit!) in order to do it. Why did the Lord say this? Because the Gospel is meant to produce this. It is not that we are unable to do it. that everything should be to the satisfaction of the Son of God. Our satisfaction comes unfailingly when we satisfy Him first. but the Lord is not so concerned about our ceaseless occupation in work for Him. that also which this woman hath done shall be spoken of" (Mark 14:9). many a convention at which we might minister. the outflow from us of a life that is produced by the very Cross itself—we give that all up to the Lord. That is not His first object. It is what the Gospel is for. God's ways 125 . Praise the Lord. The Gospel is not just to satisfy sinners. the thing dearest in the world to us—yes.
But we must come down to very practical issues. so happy. shall we say. what do I get out of this? He has a good time. why trouble ye her? She hath wrought a good work on me. in order to go on with the Lord in this way. and ask yourself again what it is that He values most highly. and this is something of which we can have a new application today. that our work for Him springs out of our ministering to Him. He too had a bright future.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee with us are all designed to establish in us this other principle. For ye have the poor always with you. not His work. I have all the bad time. for it is as important to us now as it was to her then. enough for the Lord to use you but not enough for Him to shut you up—all would be perfectly all right. What is the meaning of it all? Am I wasting my life? Have I really given too much?' So there is your problem. It seems as though we are giving too much and getting nothing—and that is the secret of pleasing God. She hath done what she could: she hath anointed my body aforehand for the burying" (Mark 14:6-8). and whensoever ye will ye can do them good: but me ye have not always. The whole question was one of obvious 'usefulness' to God in terms that could be measured and put on record. when this is so. but spiritually—and I sometimes think he looks more like a Christian than I do. as people would think. Then. 'wasting' ourselves upon Him. The principle of waste is the principle that He would have govern us. friends. it is enough'. He has never gone this way. and sometimes He keeps me waiting for a definite answer. I do not mean that we are going to do nothing. After all. but the first thing for us must be the Lord Himself. Oh. I do not mind about that. to consecrate yourself enough for the blessing but not enough for the trouble. what are we after? Are we after 'use' as those disciples were? They wanted to make every penny of those three hundred pence go to its full length. The Lord waits to hear us say: 'Lord. He is successful—I do not mean materially. 'She is doing this for Me. We all know that in the age to come we shall be called to a greater work—not to 126 . I have foregone certain attractive possibilities of a bright future. I compare myself with that other fellow who is in a certain big system.' Real satisfaction is brought to the heart of the Son of God only when we are really. You say: 'I have given up a position. but he has never given it up. I have given up a ministry. namely. But would it? You know perfectly well that it would not. In these verses the Lord Jesus introduces a time-factor with the word 'beforehand'. Sometimes He uses me. while I have all sorts of complications coming to me. and yet he has much that Christians today regard as spiritual prosperity. Sometimes it seems that the Lord hears me. so satisfied. but sometimes it seems that He passes my by. He sees souls saved and the Lord blesses his ministry. Now I try to serve Him. He continues on and he serves the Lord. Anointing Him Beforehand "Let her alone. You feel that were you to follow in that other brother's steps—were you. If I can only please Thee. Takes your eyes off that other man! Look at your Lord.
The others never did it. Today it is His crowning that is in view—when He shall be acclaimed in glory as the Anointed One. we shall pour out upon Him. If there is in the world some precious art treasure. I do not mean the expenditure of our effort and energy in trying to do something for Him. and we shall not count it a shame to have done so. The whole question is: How precious is He to us now? If we do not think much of Him. then of course to give Him anything at all. What the Lord Jesus looks for in us is a life laid at His feet—and that in view of His death and burial and of a future day. and yet on the resurrection morning she had no reason to regret her extravagance. and compare Matthew 24:47 and Luke 19:17). just as in the story the care of the poor went on. and that the whole question for us is : What am I doing to the Lord today? Have our eyes been opened to see the preciousness of the One whom we are serving? Have we come to see that nothing less than the dearest. Yes. there were some women who went early in the morning to anoint the body of the Lord. His burial was already in view that day in the home in Bethany. or even a million pounds. be it one thousand. they are as nothing compared with work that is done to the Lord. as things apart. Yes. our most priceless treasure. working for the souls of men and for the eternal good of the sinner—all these so necessary and valuable things—are right only if they are in their place? In themselves. I believe that in that day we shall all love Him as we have never done now. which Mary had to do beforehand or she would have no later opportunity. What does that mean? It means that she had given up her all. for the work of God's house will go on. the most precious. Now I suggest that in just such a way the matter of time may be important to us also. the Christ of God. Did they do it? Did they succeed in their purpose on that first day of the week? No. but yet that it will be most blessed for those who have poured out their all upon the Lord today. and I pay the high price asked for it. The Lord has to open our eyes to His worth. There was something. however small.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee inactivity. By this. When we see Him face to face I trust that we shall all break and pour out everything for Him. everything we have. who anointed Him before hand. there was only one soul who succeeded in anointing the Lord. And the Lord will not be satisfied with anything less from us than that we too should have done 'what we could'. working for the benefit of the world. and it was Mary. She had lavished on Him all she had. then we shall pour out our all 127 . for He had risen. for that is not the point here. But today—what are we doing today? Several days after Mary broke the alabaster box and poured the ointment on Jesus' head. "Well done. our dearest. She had kept nothing in reserve for a future day. is fit for Him? Have we come to see that working for the poor. ten thousand. Of Mary the Lord said: "She hath done what she could". I will set thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord" (Matthew 25:21. But when He is really precious to our soul. remember. nothing will be too good. there will be a greater work. nothing too costly for Him. dare anyone say it is a waste? The idea of waste only comes into our Christianity when we underestimate the worth of our Lord. but they could not always have Him. The poor would always be with them. represented by this pouring out of the ointment. will seem to us a wicked waste. good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things. the costliest.
has been willing to be imprisoned by Him and has thus learned to find satisfaction in the Lord and nowhere else—then immediately you become aware of something. Everyone could smell it and none could be unaware of it. but who has known what it is to let go everything to Him. and who. the presence of God. we dare not break it. Fragrance "And the house was filled with the odor of the ointment" (John 12:3). The least saint in the Body will detect that. May He receive such an anointing from us today. What is the significance of this? Whenever you meet someone who has really suffered—someone who has gone through experiences with the Lord that have brought limitation. one who has not moved freely. and so you smell the odor. That prayer is not exactly for the gift of preaching or teaching. People will scent Christ in you. It is rather that you might be able. The odor that filled the house that day in Bethany still fills the Church today. and we break it and pour it out and say: 'Lord. independently. It needed but one stroke to break the flask for the Lord. something turned and chased and wrought upon. the sense of God. But if once that point is reached. the house was pervaded with the sweetest fragrance. something has been broken in that life. but that breaking and the fragrance of that anointing abides. not with any material oil but with something costly.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee upon Him! But it is a precious thing—indeed it is a far more precious thing to Him—that we should anoint Him now. at the feet of the Lord Jesus. What God is demanding of us now is represented by that flask of alabaster: something mined from the depths. but God will begin to use you to create a hunger in others. That kind of life creates impressions. here it is. and we have given our consent to God's judgment upon it and learnt to know in experience its cutting off. and impressions create hunger. not of what we do or what we preach. It is all Yours. That which is merely external and superficial has no place here. instead of trying to break free in order to be 'used'. from the very depth of our being. something from our hearts. He will sense that here is one who has gone with the Lord. Perhaps you may have been asking the Lord for a long time that He will be pleased to use you in such a way as to impart impressions of Himself to others. and we come to the Lord with that. By the breaking of that flask and the anointing of the Lord Jesus. even your most precious possessions. you cannot produce such impressions of God upon others without the breaking of everything. to impart God. It comes now from the heart. 128 . something that. you may or may not seem to be much used in an outward way. one who has suffered. because it is so truly of the Lord. Something has been crushed. we cherish as Mary cherished that flask—and we would not. Immediately your spiritual senses detect a sweet savour of Christ. Dear friends. It has already been dealt with by the Cross. We are speaking here of what we are. Mary's fragrance never passes. in your touch with others. because You are worthy!'—and the Lord has got what He desired.
too much—but we do not know what it means to be wasted on God. discuss the recipe. I am willing to let go all of this for You: not just for Your work. Many of us have been used to the full—have been used. and that is the working of the Cross in us with regard to the pleasure of the heart of God. whom she had observed but whom she did not know well. but what he was. all we are— yes. It demands that I seek His pleasure. argue about the cost—do everything in fact but eat it! But if they are truly hungry it will not be very long before that cake is gone. No true work will ever begin in a life without first of all a sense of need being created. she said: "Behold now. This matter of our impact upon others turns upon one thing. I was with her at the time. And so it is with the things of the Spirit. we cannot compel people to be hungry. not for anything else.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee and hunger provokes men to go on seeking until they are brought by Divine revelation into fullness of life in Christ. after all. I always like to think of the words of that "great woman" of Shunem. drawing them out and on to know the Lord. That is. and it can be created in others only by those who carry with them the impressions of God. We 129 . This is what I feel to be the heart of everything. a breaking and a pouring out of everything to Him—which gives release to that fragrance of Christ and produces in other lives an awareness of need. I am willing to break my heart in order that I may satisfy Thy heart!' To talk thus of heart-break might with many of us be merely romantic sentiment. that we are this or that or the other. The Gospel has as its one object the producing in us sinners of a condition that will satisfy the heart of our God. we come to Him with all we have. Speaking of the prophet. Looking up she said: 'Lord. So many who have been prominent in the Christian world know nothing of this. admire its appearance. even the most cherished things in our spiritual experience—and we make known to Him: 'Lord. Hunger has to be created. There must be something—a willingness to yield. she could see. It was not what Elisha said or did that conveyed that impression. not for Your children. it meant to her just that. I would say. it was costing her everything. God does not set us here first of all to preach or to do work for Him. that we are gifted. to be wasted! It is a blessed thing to be wasted for the Lord. which passeth by us continually" (2 Kings 4:9). If you set a delicious cake in front of two men who have just had a heavy meal. but for Yourself!' Oh. In order that He may have that. what will be their reaction? They will talk about it. The sister of whom I have spoken came once into a situation that was very difficult for her: I mean. and that I do not mind how much it costs me to do so. and together we knelt down and prayed with wet eyes. But no: the impression left by Elisha was an impression of God Himself. that I seek to satisfy Him only. But how can this be done? We cannot inject spiritual appetite by force into others. By his merely passing by she could detect something. what prepares the soil for the preaching. but in the particular situation in which she was. I perceive that this is an holy man of God. The first thing for which He sets us here is to create in others a hunger for Himself. What are people sensing about us? We may leave many kinds of impressions: we may leave the impression that we are clever.
like Paul. When.The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee like to be always 'on the go': the Lord would sometimes prefer to have us in prison. The Lord grant us grace that we may learn how to please Him. the Gospel will have achieved its end. We think in terms of apostolic journeys: God dares to put his greatest ambassadors in chains. and maketh manifest through us the savour of his knowledge in every place" (2 Cor. which always leadeth us in triumph in Christ. "And the house was filled with the odor of the ointment (John 12:3). 5:9). we make this our supreme aim (2 Cor. "But thanks be unto God. 2:14). 130 .
The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Indexes Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2:7 2:21-23 3 3 3 3:4 3:6 14 Exodus 12:13 14:13 26:31 28:36 Leviticus 16 Numbers 17 2 Kings 4:9 2 Chronicles 3:14 Psalms 8:4-8 36:9 40:7-8 43:3 73:25 106:12 110 119:130 139:23 Isaiah 6:5 Jeremiah 17:9 Ezekiel 1:10 1:28 10:14 36:26 Daniel 10:8 Joel 2:28-29 Matthew 1:20 3 5:17 5:18 5:21-48 6 7:14 10:34-39 10:37-38 10:38 10:39 15:13 16:16-17 16:17 18:19-20 20:3 20:6 24:42 24:47 25:21 26:8-9 26:8-9 26:41 27:51 Mark 8 8:32-35 8:34 8:34-35 11:24 14:3 14:4-5 14:6 14:6-8 14:9 14:9 16:16 Luke 2:22 10:40 14:27 14:27 15 15:18 17 17:29-30 17:31-32 17:32-34 17:33 17:34-35 19:17 21:19 22:61-62 John 131 .
The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee 1:4 1:12-13 1:13 1:14 3:5 3:6 3:6 3:8 5:19 5:30 6:57 12 12:2 12:3 12:3 12:4-6 12:4-6 12:24 12:24-25 12:24-26 12:31 15:4 15:5 16:13 17:17 19:30 20:17 Acts 2:16 2:32-36 2:33 2:33 2:33 2:33 2:34 2:34-35 2:35 2:36 2:36 2:38-39 9:3-5 16:31-34 Romans 1 1 1:1-5:11 1:9 1:10 1:16 3 3 3:9 3:23 3:23 3:23 3:23 3:23 3:24-26 3:24-26 3:25 3:28 4 4:5 4:8 4:25 4:25 5 5 5 5 5:1 5:1 5:1 5:5 5:8 5:8 5:8-9 5:9 5:9 5:10 5:12-21 5:12-21 5:12-6:23 5:12-8:39 5:12-8:39 5:12-8:39 5:19 5:19 5:19 5:19 5:19-21 5:20 5:21 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6:1-2 6:1-11 6:2 6:2 6:3 6:3 6:3 6:3 6:3-4 6:4 6:4 6:4 6:4 6:4 6:4 6:5 6:5 6:5 6:6 6:6 6:6 6:6 6:6 6:6 6:6 6:6 6:6 6:6 6:6 6:6 6:6 6:6 6:6 6:6 6:6 6:6 6:7 6:7 6:8 6:9 6:9 6:10 6:11 6:11 6:11 6:11 6:11 6:11 6:11 6:11 6:11 6:11 6:12-13 6:12-23 6:13 6:13 6:13 6:13 6:13 6:13 6:13 6:14 6:14 6:16 6:16 6:19 6:19 6:19 6:19 6:22 6:23 6:23 6:23 6:23 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7:1-3 7:1-4 7:1-8:39 7:3-4 7:4 7:4 7:4 7:4 7:5 7:7 7:7-9 7:12 7:14 7:14 7:14 7:18 7:18-19 7:19 7:23 7:24 7:25 7:25 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8:1-2 8:2 8:2 8:2 8:3 8:4 8:5 8:5-8 8:6 8:6-7 8:8 8:8 8:9 8:9 8:9 8:14 8:14 8:16 8:16-17 8:16-18 8:16-18 8:21 8:29 8:29 8:29-30 8:29-30 8:29-30 8:30 8:31 8:33-34 8:33-34 8:33-34 8:35 8:35-39 8:37 8:38 10:10 11 12 12 12 12 12:1 12:1 12:2 12:2 12:3 12:3 12:3-6 12:5 15:17-18 15:19 15:24 15:28 1 Corinthians 1:30 1:30 1:30 2:2 2:5 2:7-10 3:16 6:19-20 11:28 11:30 11:31 12:4-6 15:45 15:45 15:47 15:50 15:51-52 2 Corinthians 2:14 3:18 4:11 4:11-12 4:18 5:7 5:9 5:14 5:14 5:17 5:17 11:2 13:5 13:14 Galatians 2:20 2:20 2:20 3:24 4:19 4:19 5:16 5:17 5:19 5:22 5:22 5:24 6:14 6:14 6:14 Ephesians 1:3 1:3 1:4 1:17 1:17-18 1:18 1:19-20 2 2:5-6 2:5-6 2:13 2:13 3:9-11 5 5 5 5 5 5:25 5:25-27 6:12 Philippians 2:8-9 2:12-13 3 3:3 3:3 3:10 4:13 Colossians 1:12-13 1:16-17 1:22 1:28 1:29 2:10 1 Thessalonians 5:23 2 Timothy 4:7 132 .
The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee Hebrews 2:10 2:10 2:10-11 2:11 4:12 4:12-13 7 7 7:7 7:9-10 7:14-17 9:11-12 9:12 9:12 9:14 9:22 10 10 10:2 10:19 10:20 10:22 10:22 10:22 10:29 10:39 11 11:1 11:1 12:7 1 Peter 1:5 1:9 1:18-19 3:20 3:21 3:21 2 Peter 1:4 1 John 1:7 2:1-2 3:9 5:11-12 5:14-15 Revelation 1:17 12:10 12:10 12:11 133 .
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