Nee Watchman's Ideas of Christian Life

Nee, Watchman. The Normal Christian Life. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndall, 1957.

The author asks what is the normal Christian life and says at the outset that it is something very different from the life of the average Christian. Such a life has never been lived on earth except by the Son of God himself. The definition for this life was given by the apostle Paul, and God makes clear that he has only one answer for every human need--his Son, Jesus Christ. Nee begins by examining the Christian life as described in the first eight chapters of the Epistle to the Romans, a self-contained unit explaining sin and forgiveness through Christ. The blood and the cross are God's dual remedy for sin. The blood is for God, and the sinner has access to God through Christ and the blood.

We need the blood for forgiveness, and the second section of Romans 1 through 8 takes us to the Cross, which we need for deliverance. Aspects of the resurrection are mentioned in this section, first in relation to our justification, and second in terms of imparting to us a new life with a view to a holy walk. In section five, grace is brought into contrast with sin and the obedience of Christ is set against the disobedience of Adam. We are sinners because of Adam, and our life comes from Adam. The whole family of man is included in Christ. God has dealt with us in Christ, and in his death we achieve our own justification and deliverance.

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he end purpose God has in view, and Nee asks what is God's purpose in creation and in redemption--from scripture, it is "the glory of God" and "the glory of the children of God." Because of sin, we forfeit God's glory, and through redemption, we are again qualified for glory. The divine purpose in creation and redemption is that God wanted many children. The Lord Jesus was the only begotten Son, but the Father sent the Son in order that the only begotten might also be the first begotten and have many brethren through redemption. This is the whole story of the Incarnation and the Cross. Nee considers the issue from the time of Adam, noting how Adam attained the knowledge of good and evil, which also gave Adam choices on moral issues. Adam chose the knowledge of good and evil and so too an independent course which made the cross necessary for the redemption of mankind. 8 The Holy Spirit Nee now considers the personal presence and ministry of the Holy Spirit of God. God does not give his gifts at random--he gives them freely to all, but not in an arbitrary fashion. Rather, there is a definite basis. The question raised is upon what basis was the Spirit first given to the Lord Jesus to be poured out upon his people, and it

Category: Philosophy - N