The Body of Christ: A Reality
The body of Christ is a living reality that we live in, founded on life and life consciousness, and governed by its own laws.
Watchman Nee emphasizes the reality of the body of Christ, asserting that it is not merely an abstract concept but a living experience that believers should actively engage in. He highlights that Christ is the head of the church, and the body of Christ is a vital, life-giving entity that requires a deep, personal relationship among its members and with Christ. Nee encourages believers to move beyond theoretical understanding and to embrace the body of Christ as a daily reality, governed by its own divine laws. He prays for wisdom and strength for all who seek to live in this reality, urging them to recognize the importance of their connection to one another and to Christ. Ultimately, the body of Christ is a manifestation of life that should be experienced and lived out in the community of believers.
Text
"And gave him [Christ] to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all" (Eph 1:22,23). As Christ the head is a reality, so the church as the body of Christ is a reality. To many, however, the body of Christ is a vague, nebulous and abstract term. It is merely a beautiful concept or a noble theory. It is not a living reality as is presented in the Scriptures. The time has come, and now is, that all who seek the Lord should enter into a new understanding of the body of Christ. We need to see that the body of Christ is a life which we live in. It ought to become our daily experience.
In this little volume of collected messages selected for the unity of their subject matter and given by the author through years of faithful ministry, Watchman Nee attempts to show us the reality of the body of Christ. He proves to us that the body of Christ is founded on life and life consciousness. It is built on a living relationship among its members as well as with its head. This body is governed by its own laws, and blessed are those who discover these laws and follow them. To them the body of Christ is indeed a living reality.
May God grant to all who read this book wisdom and strength for living in the reality of the body of Christ.
Sermon Outline
- The Reality of the Body of Christ
- The Foundation of the Body of Christ
- The Laws of the Body of Christ
- Governed by Its Own Laws
- Blessed Are Those Who Discover and Follow These Laws
Key Quotes
“The body of Christ is a life which we live in.” — Watchman Nee
“It is built on a living relationship among its members as well as with its head.” — Watchman Nee
Application Points
- We should see the body of Christ as a life we live in and make it our daily experience.
- We need to discover and follow the laws of the body of Christ to experience it as a living reality.
- Understanding the body of Christ brings wisdom and strength for living.