Watchman Nee / Witness Lee — Antropologie
b8 — The Life That Wins
Oude mens en nieuwe mens
De oude mens is met Christus gekruisigd. Dit is een feitelijke grondslag, geen gebod.
“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)
Interpretatie: Nee leest Romeinen 6 als posionele waarheid — de gelovige is met Christus gekruisigd, niet alleen de zonden maar de mens zelf.
“God miraculously removes our old man and gives us a pure heart.” (b8 — The Life That Wins, p. 48)
De oude mens wordt niet onderdrukt maar verwijderd door het kruiswerk.
In Christus
Het leven dat overwint is niet in de gelovige zelf, maar in Christus.
“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, Romeinen 8:1-2)
Dood en leven
Gelovigen zijn gestorven aan de zonde en moeten niet langer in zonde leven.
“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, Romeinen 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, Romeinen 6:4)
Interpretatie: Doop is de inwijding in de dood van Christus; de gelovige behoort in nieuwheid van leven te wandelen.
“Sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under grace.” (b8 — The Life That Wins, p. 27, Romeinen 6:14)
Geest, ziel en lichaam (trichotomie)
De mens is drieledig: geest, ziel en lichaam. Paulus’ zegenbede vermeldt alle drie.
“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)
De gelovige is absoluut in staat om zonden te overwinnen in alle drie delen:
“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)
Zonde en menselijke natuur
Acht soorten falen bij christenen worden onderscheiden:
- Zonden van de geest: trots, jaloersheid, ongeloof, laster, gebrek aan gebed
- Zonden van het vlees: overspel, ongeremde ogen, onnatuurlijke relaties
- Zonden van de geest (mind): dwaalgedachten, onreine gedachten, twijfel, nieuwsgierigheid
- Zonden van het lichaam: te veel aandacht voor eten, slapen, hygiëne, opschik
- Zonden van dispositie: driftig, traag, bazig, teruggetrokken, bang
- Geen hart om Gods Woord te bewaren: geen onderdanigheid van vrouwen, geen liefde van mannen
- Niet geven aan God wat Hem toekomt: niet volledig toewijden van huis, gezin, bezit
- Niet belijden van zonden: onbekeerlijke zonden in het hart
“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)
Herstel van de mens
De mens is geschapen om te leven in heiligheid en gerechtigheid, vrij van zonde.
“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, Hand. 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)
Interpretatie: Verlossing is niet alleen straf-ontwijking maar bevrijding van de macht van zonde voor het dagelijks leven.
“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)
Menselijk onvermogen en genade
De wet van zonde en dood maakt de mens krachteloos, maar de wet van de Geest van leven in Christus maakt vrij.
“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, Romeinen 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)