“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” Galatians 2:20
The whole of true Christianity, with respect to its small beginnings to the enduring legacy of its endurance and experience, has its beginning and basis in one central fact, expressed by the Lord Jesus on the cross: “It is finished.” In Watchman Nee’s great classic of his commentary on the book of Ephesians, he declares from the outset that the whole of Christian experience, does not begin with walking, or standing, but by sitting. What does he mean by this? He means that there is a new basis, or foundation, provided by God in Christ, for every virtue possessed, every victory won, even every thought of holiness. It is Christ and Him alone. Like the Apostle John who would write of the new birth, and Paul the Apostle who would speak of the new creation, or the new man in Christ, so Nee speaks of a work on the cross that is the accomplished, and finished basis, for everything pertaining to faith, true faith. The sinful hands of men, and certainly the downward trending heart of man because of sin, are in no wise capable to even begin to reach the heights of the righteousness of God, His Light, His power and holiness. There is but one single accomplishment, one perfect sacrifice by the Son of God, which by His blood alone can deal entirely with all sin, the cross declaring His dealing also with the cause of sin, the sinning heart. Not only did the Lord Jesus finish His course, His race, and work, but the work of redemption was a perfect one, the only one that God the Father could ever accept in behalf of the lost sinner. Thus, Nee speaks of “sitting” down first, coming to grips with the finished work of Christ, a work that is so extensive, complete, and perfect, that it alone can redeem the sinner, and save him from his sin, Satan, and eternal death, or separation from God. What occured then on the cross the moment that Jesus declared that He had perfectly accomplished the Father’s will in securing salvation, for all men?
The first thing is that which most Christians know about, and well. As Isiah the prophet wrote: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (53:6) That which makes the work of Christ an acceptable sacrifice to the Father was that, “He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we ARE healed.” (53:5) The greatest and most perfect manifestation of the love of God was first in the Father giving the Son to come into this world to save us, but then, and also, the Son’s embracing of the cross, and all that it meant, so that men could and would be saved. Christ died for our sins, to pay the price for them, and ransom us by His precious blood.
The second thing was that He positionally took every sinner with Him to the cross, but specifically those who would truly believe in Him as Savior and Lord. Paul declares what occured at that moment for the believer: “Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?” (Romans 6:3) The believer was crucified WITH Christ, (Gal. 2:20). All that pertained to the “old man,” that man of sin not in Jesus Christ, was crucified, died, and was buried with Him. This was God’s provision in dealing with all that pertained, and pertains to sin. But then, comes also the resurrection WITH Christ: “…like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4) The believer is now seated with Christ, from there to live by the very faith of Christ, walking by the Spirit.
Dear Father, Strengthen us to sit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.