Watchman Nee / Witness Lee — Anthropology
b8 — The Life That Wins
Old Man and New Man
The old man is crucified with Christ. This is a positional fact, not a command.
“We know that when the Lord was crucified for us, He not only bore our sins but also took us with Him to the cross. We have known the teaching of Romans 6 for many years. Our old man was crucified with Him, just as our sins were borne by Him on the cross.” (b8 — The Life That Wins, p. 55)
Interpretation: Nee reads Romans 6 as positional truth — the believer is crucified with Christ, not only sins but the man himself.
“God miraculously removes our old man and gives us a pure heart.” (b8 — The Life That Wins, p. 48)
The old man is not suppressed but removed through the work of the cross.
In Christ
The life that wins is not in the believer himself, but in Christ.
“The life that wins is not attained, but obtained. It is not a life changed, but rather a life exchanged. It is not suppression, only expression. It is frankly not in you yourself, because it is in Christ who lives in you.” (b8 — The Life That Wins, Translator’s Preface)
“The life which God has ordained for Christians is a life that is hid with Christ in God.” (b8 — The Life That Wins, p. 7)
“Christ is our life as declared in Colossians 3.4. He transcends all; He cannot be touched by anything.” (b8 — The Life That Wins, p. 8)
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus… no being without strength to them that are in Christ Jesus.” (b8 — The Life That Wins, p. 28, Romans 8:1-2)
Death and Life
Believers have died to sin and should no longer live in sin.
“We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein? We who believe in the Lord Jesus have died to sin.” (b8 — The Life That Wins, p. 26, Romans 6:1-2)
“We were buried with him through baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.” (b8 — The Life That Wins, p. 26, Romans 6:4)
Interpretation: Baptism is initiation into Christ’s death; the believer ought to walk in newness of life.
“Sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under grace.” (b8 — The Life That Wins, p. 27, Romans 6:14)
Spirit, Soul and Body (Trichotomy)
Man is tripartite: spirit, soul and body. Paul’s benediction mentions all three.
“The God of peace himself sanctify you wholly: and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (b8 — The Life That Wins, p. 31, 1 Thess. 5:23)
The believer is absolutely able to overcome sins in all three parts:
“Every Christian is absolutely able to overcome sins of the mind, body, flesh and spirit, our contrary disposition, unbelief, and even the love of sin.” (b8 — The Life That Wins, p. 18)
Sin and Human Nature
Eight kinds of failure among Christians are distinguished:
- Sins of the spirit: pride, jealousy, unbelief, fault-finding, lack of prayer
- Sins of the flesh: adultery, unrestrained eyes, unnatural relationships
- Sins of the mind: drifting thoughts, unclean thoughts, doubt, curiosity
- Sins of the body: too much attention to eating, sleeping, hygiene, adornment
- Sins of disposition: quick-tempered, lazy, domineering, withdrawn, fearful
- No heart to keep God’s word: wives not submitting, husbands not loving
- Failure to render to God His due: not consecrating houses, family, wealth
- Unrepentant of sins requiring confession: secret love of sin in the heart
“All these faults in disposition, character and temperament are sins, and every Christian must live victoriously above these things, not be defeated under them.” (b8 — The Life That Wins, p. 14)
Restoration of Man
Man is created to live in holiness and righteousness, free from sin.
“He shall save his people from their sins (Matt. 1:21). The minimum experience of a Christian is to be freed from sin.” (b8 — The Life That Wins, p. 25, Acts 3:26)
“The Lord Jesus has accomplished all at Calvary! While He was on the cross, He thought not only of the penalty of hell but also of the pain of sin. He has a salvation which enables us to live on earth as He once lived on earth.” (b8 — The Life That Wins, p. 21)
Interpretation: Salvation is not only penalty-escape but deliverance from the power of sin for daily life.
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God.” (b8 — The Life That Wins, Gal. 2:20)
Human Inability and Grace
The law of sin and death renders man without strength, but the law of the Spirit of life in Christ sets free.
“The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.” (b8 — The Life That Wins, p. 28, Romans 8:2)
“The total thrust of Romans 7 indicates that I am without strength, I cannot do it. The history of many a Christian is marked by a cycle of resolutions and broken promises.” (b8 — The Life That Wins, p. 28-29)
“Thanks be unto God, who always leadeth us in triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest through us the savor of his knowledge in every place.” (b8 — The Life That Wins, p. 30, 2 Cor. 2:14)