The Normal Christian Life

     So I've started reading this book called The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee. I've always heard that this was a really good book, but after reading the first two chapters myself, I am convinced that this will, in fact, be a truly amazing book! The first two chapters, entitled The Blood of Christ and The Cross of Christ literally blew me away.

     Something that really impressed me was seeing that the Blood and the Cross dealt with two different aspects. The Blood dealt with the issue of the forgiveness of our sins and justifying us in the sight of God. When man fell in the garden of Eden, the nature of sin entered into man and created a separation between man and God. The Blood, therefore, was needed to redeem us and bring us back into the fellowship with God. I never realized how important the Blood was, not only for man, but also in the eyes of God and toward Satan. Toward God, the Blood is primarily for the atonement in our standing before God and wholly satisfies God. Toward man, the Blood cleanses his conscience. Toward Satan, the Blood puts God on man's side, and in favor of man, against the accusations of Satan.

     So while the Blood deals with the sins that we commit, the Cross deals with the fact that we are sinners by nature. A good point that was made was that we aren't sinners because we sin, rather we sin because we are sinners. The Blood, then, deals with what we have done, while the Cross deals with what we are. This verse, "For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous." (Romans 5:19), was referenced to show that "in Adam" we became sinners, but "in Christ" we were made righteous. What it means to be "in Christ" was illustrated with a piece of paper in a book. The piece of paper is separate from the book and has its own identity, however, when placed into the book, it goes where the book goes. In like manner, if we are "in Christ," His death, is our death, and His resurrection is our resurrection.  The verse, "Of him are ye in Christ Jesus." (1 Corinthians 1:30), shows us that God placed us "in Christ," and not anything we, ourselves, did. God transferred us from Adam into Christ!

Wow! I can't wait to continue reading and see more of what is means to live a normal Christian life! :)