The Normal Christian Life

<p>The Normal Christian Life is a book by Watchman Nee first delivered as a series of addresses to Christian workers who were gathered in Denmark for special meetings in 1938 and 1939. The messages were first published chapter by chapter in the magazine A Witness and A Testimony published by Theodore Austin-Sparks. The first chapter was published in the November-December 1940 issue. This first publication of the book can be viewed in the original magazines on Austin-Sparks.Net. The messages were later compiled into a book by Angus Kinnear in 1957 in Bombay India.</p><p><br></p><p>In The Normal Christian Life Watchman Nee presents foundational principles for the Christian life and walk drawing primarily from the book of Romans. The book is generally regarded by many as the first introduction of Watchman Nee to the Western world. As of 2009 this book has sold over 1 million copies and is available in many editions and languages. </p><p><br></p><p>Watchman Nee based his speaking on the first eight chapters of the New Testament book of Romans. Nee takes the first eight chapters of Romans as a self-contained unit and divides these chapters into two parts: Romans 1:1 to 5:11 as part one and Romans 5:12 to 8:39 as part two. In the first part of Romans sins is given prominent attention and deals with the question of the sins man has committed before God. However the second section deals with sin that is the inward nature or inward working principle within man that causes man to commit sin. Thus there is a difference between the acts of a sinner sins and the inward nature of a sinner sin. Nee reveals that God's dual remedy is the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Cross of Christ. The Blood deals with what we have done whereas the Cross deals with what we are. The Blood disposes of our sins while the Cross strikes at the root of our capacity for sin. As Nee progressively moves along in his book he first touches upon the Blood and then focuses upon the Cross for the remainder of the book. </p><p><br></p><p>Watchman Nee gave four steps in which a Christian lives the Christian life. Basing from Romans 6:6 there is the need for the knowledge of the cross of Christ as a fact in our experience.</p><p><br></p><p>The second step is the matter of reckoning. Reckoning is the stating and considering of facts and promises that God has revealed to be true.</p><p><br></p><p>The third step is the matter of presenting to God. Coming to Romans 6:13 Watchman Nee says that Christians consecrate that which passed through death and resurrection in the new creation. In this way Christians would no longer live to themselves but to Christ because He has the full authority over their lives.</p><p><br></p><p>The fourth step is the matter of Walking after the Spirit. Firstly walking after the Spirit does not refer to our working but of dependence on God's working and operation. Secondly it refers to subjection. This means that the Christian life is the yielding of all the dictates of our flesh and be of subjection to the Spirit. </p><p><br></p><p>The Normal Christian Life is one of Nee's most well known books. It is considered by many to be a spiritual classic of Christianity. It has been reprinted and reissued in many editions and in many languages. The book's enduring appeal is not only due to Nee's exposition of Romans but also to the many illustrations personal accounts and anecdotes that Nee used. The Normal Christian Life has impacted millions of Christians since Nee spoke it and is a major contributor to the local churches movement today. Nee was recognized in the United States House of Representatives by Christopher H. Smith of New Jersey in 2009. He recognized Nee as having been one of the most influential Chinese Christians of his era. In the Congressional record The Normal Christian Life is highlighted by Smith as being among his most popular and influential books. (wikipedia.org)</p>