Watchman Nee was born to a Christian home in China. (Born: November 4, 1903, Guangdong) However, as an unsaved, educated young man, he considered Christian preaching to be the lowest occupation on earth. He was very intelligent and capable, and he had big plans for his future. In 1920, when Watchman Nee was 17 years old, a well-known evangelist came to preach the gospel at his parents’ church. As a result, many in the congregation believed in the Lord and were saved. But although Watchman Nee was in attendance and was moved by the gospel message, he wasn’t immediately saved. He realized that receiving Christ as his Savior also meant receiving Christ as his Lord and would require him to serve the Lord for the rest of his life. In addition to carrying out his ministry through writing and publishing, Nee also spoke in various places in China. These messages were then printed as books. In 1938, he traveled to Europe and gave messages there that eventually were collected and published as The Normal Christian Life. In 1951 some church leaders turned against each other and publicly denounced other Christians and Watchman Nee. This led to the excommunication of all believers who were explicitly pro-government in ’52. Members of the Chinese Communist Party arrested Watchman Nee in March 1952 and labeled him as a "reactionary." He was falsely condemned, judged, and sentenced to 20 years in prison where he remained until his death on May 30, 1972.
Incredible Stories of Forgiveness from Memory Mountain
Another living example of the power of forgiveness was found in Indigenous Elder James Dargin, who travelled from Wollongong in NSW to be at the launch. In the video below, he shares his testimony of pain, suffering and the healing power of forgiveness that saved him from a life of misery. In it, James shared a quote from Watchman Nee, a Chinese Christian evangelist, that had a huge impact on him. He said, ‘The biggest door we open up for Satan is unforgiveness.’ Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.’ (2 Corinthians 2:10-11 NKJV) (Vision 4/14/23) READMORE>>>>>
Another living example of the power of forgiveness was found in Indigenous Elder James Dargin, who travelled from Wollongong in NSW to be at the launch. In the video below, he shares his testimony of pain, suffering and the healing power of forgiveness that saved him from a life of misery. In it, James shared a quote from Watchman Nee, a Chinese Christian evangelist, that had a huge impact on him. He said, ‘The biggest door we open up for Satan is unforgiveness.’ Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.’ (2 Corinthians 2:10-11 NKJV) (Vision 4/14/23) READMORE>>>>>
Museum of the Bible Honors Life of History-Making Chinese Church Leader Watchman Nee
The Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. is honoring the life and legacy of world-changing church leader Watchman Nee to commemorate the 50th anniversary since his death. The showcase is part of the "Personal Stories" exhibit that will explore Watchman Nee's beliefs, which are still in practice today. Watchman founded the "Local Church" movement in China, the first native Christian church movement in the country. This gathering remains the largest indigenous Christian church movement in China, with an estimated two million people tracing the roots of their faith back to Watchman Nee.
(CBN 2/28/22) READMORE>>>>>
The Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. is honoring the life and legacy of world-changing church leader Watchman Nee to commemorate the 50th anniversary since his death. The showcase is part of the "Personal Stories" exhibit that will explore Watchman Nee's beliefs, which are still in practice today. Watchman founded the "Local Church" movement in China, the first native Christian church movement in the country. This gathering remains the largest indigenous Christian church movement in China, with an estimated two million people tracing the roots of their faith back to Watchman Nee.
(CBN 2/28/22) READMORE>>>>>
Francis Chan Asks if the Christian Life Is Crazy or Perfectly Normal
One of the most read books about Christianity of the past 60 years has been The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee. It is a powerful and challenging book. Every believer should read it.Former megachurch pastor Francis Chan wrote a similar best-selling book in 2008, entitled Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God. Both authors write about the Christian life with unbridled passion. (Missions Box 2/18/20) READMORE>>>>>
One of the most read books about Christianity of the past 60 years has been The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee. It is a powerful and challenging book. Every believer should read it.Former megachurch pastor Francis Chan wrote a similar best-selling book in 2008, entitled Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God. Both authors write about the Christian life with unbridled passion. (Missions Box 2/18/20) READMORE>>>>>
Watchman Nee and the Little Flock Movement in Maoist China
The Little Flock Movement or Christian Assembly, was a loosely connected church movement that was started by Watchman Nee in the 1920’s as a wholly Chinese form of Christianity. It strove to be self-supporting, self-propagating, and self-funded in accordance with three-“self” principles that were popular at the time, and quickly grew as the Chinese public turned more strongly against foreign imperialism. Fundamentally the Little Flock modeled itself after the church depicted in Acts; they would be united as a community of believers, and there would be no hierarchy beyond the local church. They strongly promoted the idea of the “priesthood of believers.” They urged their congregations to break cleanly from western missionary movements and rejected the idea of denominational ties. This is somewhat ironic given that the Little Flock benefited greatly from theological training from earlier missionaries. The movement also promoted the idea that there should only be one church in each geographical region, so that there would not be competition between believers.
(China Change 12/21/11) READMORE>>>>>
The Little Flock Movement or Christian Assembly, was a loosely connected church movement that was started by Watchman Nee in the 1920’s as a wholly Chinese form of Christianity. It strove to be self-supporting, self-propagating, and self-funded in accordance with three-“self” principles that were popular at the time, and quickly grew as the Chinese public turned more strongly against foreign imperialism. Fundamentally the Little Flock modeled itself after the church depicted in Acts; they would be united as a community of believers, and there would be no hierarchy beyond the local church. They strongly promoted the idea of the “priesthood of believers.” They urged their congregations to break cleanly from western missionary movements and rejected the idea of denominational ties. This is somewhat ironic given that the Little Flock benefited greatly from theological training from earlier missionaries. The movement also promoted the idea that there should only be one church in each geographical region, so that there would not be competition between believers.
(China Change 12/21/11) READMORE>>>>>
Local Church, Shouters, Assembly: Who’s Who in the Watchman Nee Tradition
An interview with J. Gordon Melton, one of the world’s leading scholars of contemporary religion, who explains the differences between the different groups in the tradition of Chinese Protestant preacher Watchman Nee. As an international Evangelical Christian tradition established in China in the 1920s and distinguished by the belief that there should be only one Christian church active in any given city (as a rebuke of denominational rivalries). It grew out of the ministry of Watchman Nee, a Chinese Christian who had been strongly influenced by the Plymouth Brethren. In the 1930s, Nee wrote several books presenting his beliefs and founded churches throughout China. He adopted an Evangelical Christian perspective but believed that the New Testament teaches that, as an expression of church unity, only one church should be established in any given city. Following the establishment of the Communist regime, the CCP disapproved of Nee’s activities and placed him under investigation. As a result, he was exiled from Shanghai and then, in 1952, sent to prison for the rest of his life. (Bitter Winter 1/15/19) READMORE>>>>>
An interview with J. Gordon Melton, one of the world’s leading scholars of contemporary religion, who explains the differences between the different groups in the tradition of Chinese Protestant preacher Watchman Nee. As an international Evangelical Christian tradition established in China in the 1920s and distinguished by the belief that there should be only one Christian church active in any given city (as a rebuke of denominational rivalries). It grew out of the ministry of Watchman Nee, a Chinese Christian who had been strongly influenced by the Plymouth Brethren. In the 1930s, Nee wrote several books presenting his beliefs and founded churches throughout China. He adopted an Evangelical Christian perspective but believed that the New Testament teaches that, as an expression of church unity, only one church should be established in any given city. Following the establishment of the Communist regime, the CCP disapproved of Nee’s activities and placed him under investigation. As a result, he was exiled from Shanghai and then, in 1952, sent to prison for the rest of his life. (Bitter Winter 1/15/19) READMORE>>>>>
When God joined them as man and wife … twice
Being married once is already a momentous life moment. Imagine being married to the same person twice.
David and Jay Chong, a boisterous couple in their 60s, did just that. Their unusual story recalls the book Sit, Walk, Stand: The Process of Christian Maturity by Watchman Nee, who says: “As Christians, our standard of living can never be ‘right or wrong’, but the Cross. The principle of the Cross is our principle of conduct … with Him, it is a question of His grace and not of right or wrong.” For the Chongs, this could not be truer.
(Salt & Light 5/3/18) READMORE>>>>>
Being married once is already a momentous life moment. Imagine being married to the same person twice.
David and Jay Chong, a boisterous couple in their 60s, did just that. Their unusual story recalls the book Sit, Walk, Stand: The Process of Christian Maturity by Watchman Nee, who says: “As Christians, our standard of living can never be ‘right or wrong’, but the Cross. The principle of the Cross is our principle of conduct … with Him, it is a question of His grace and not of right or wrong.” For the Chongs, this could not be truer.
(Salt & Light 5/3/18) READMORE>>>>>
The Global ‘Body of Christ’ in Taiwan and Beyond
These Christians are part of an international Christian primitivist group founded in the 1920s by a Chinese itinerant preacher who later named himself “Watchman Nee”. Escaping communism in the late 1940s, much of the group moved to Taiwan and grew sevenfold there under the leadership of Nee’s ‘co-worker’, “Witness Lee”. There were 70,000 participants in 1949. Now, according to church estimates, there are up to two million. A basic principle of the group is that there is only one church in the world and that it should be divided only by geography and not by doctrine or name. Thus my informants called themselves only ‘the church in Taipei’. Those meeting in Palo Alto, California call themselves ‘the church in Palo Alto’, and so on. There are many such ‘localities’, as they are termed, worldwide. A very frequently used metaphor which the church employs to describe itself as a global social entity is “the Body of Christ” or, more often, just “the Body”.
(London School of Economics 3/28/18) READMORE>>>>>
These Christians are part of an international Christian primitivist group founded in the 1920s by a Chinese itinerant preacher who later named himself “Watchman Nee”. Escaping communism in the late 1940s, much of the group moved to Taiwan and grew sevenfold there under the leadership of Nee’s ‘co-worker’, “Witness Lee”. There were 70,000 participants in 1949. Now, according to church estimates, there are up to two million. A basic principle of the group is that there is only one church in the world and that it should be divided only by geography and not by doctrine or name. Thus my informants called themselves only ‘the church in Taipei’. Those meeting in Palo Alto, California call themselves ‘the church in Palo Alto’, and so on. There are many such ‘localities’, as they are termed, worldwide. A very frequently used metaphor which the church employs to describe itself as a global social entity is “the Body of Christ” or, more often, just “the Body”.
(London School of Economics 3/28/18) READMORE>>>>>
Sharper Focus on Watchman Nee
Watchman Nee is well known among evangelicals in many parts of the world. Identified with the plight of underground Christianity in China, he became, especially among many Jesus people, a model for victorious Christian living under adverse social pressures. Any leader who directly or indirectly founds 700 churches inevitably invites attention, and many persons were understandably curious about this remote Chinese personality and his “little flock” principles. The worsening political climate—Nee spent the last decade and a half before his death in June, 1972, in Communist work camps—spurred interest in his writings. His many small works, particularly those in applied soteriology, or salvation in practice, quickly gained for him an international following. Mao Tse-tung, Chou En-lai, and other revolutionaries deplored Christian missionaries as foreign-controlled agents reflective of Western culture and interests, as imperialist spies and political propagandists. (Christianity Today 5/9/75) READMORE>>>>>
Watchman Nee is well known among evangelicals in many parts of the world. Identified with the plight of underground Christianity in China, he became, especially among many Jesus people, a model for victorious Christian living under adverse social pressures. Any leader who directly or indirectly founds 700 churches inevitably invites attention, and many persons were understandably curious about this remote Chinese personality and his “little flock” principles. The worsening political climate—Nee spent the last decade and a half before his death in June, 1972, in Communist work camps—spurred interest in his writings. His many small works, particularly those in applied soteriology, or salvation in practice, quickly gained for him an international following. Mao Tse-tung, Chou En-lai, and other revolutionaries deplored Christian missionaries as foreign-controlled agents reflective of Western culture and interests, as imperialist spies and political propagandists. (Christianity Today 5/9/75) READMORE>>>>>
Writing to the Corinthians, Paul said, "To boast is necessary, though indeed not expedient" (2 Cor. 12:1). He admitted that it was "not profitable" (Gk.) for himself to write what he wrote in 2 Corinthians 12. But for the sake of others he had to do it; he was obliged to speak of "visions and revelations of the Lord." .............Did Paul disclose all his revelations? Far from it. He wrote, "I know a man [who is himself] in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body I do not know, or outside the body I do not know; God knows) such a one was caught away to the third heaven" (v. 2). He did not divulge this experience until fourteen years later. What depth there was in Paul! It would be a wonder if we could hide away something we received from God for seven years. But for fourteen years Paul never divulged his experience; for fourteen years God’s church knew nothing of it; for fourteen years not one of the apostles had heard of it. Paul’s roots were deep beneath the soil. --Watchman Nee
“A drowning man cannot be saved until he is utterly exhausted and ceases to make the slightest effort to save himself.” ― Watchman Nee, The Normal Christian Life
- One -- When a sinner comes to see his need for forgiveness, he tries to imagine how it is to be accomplished. The sinner's concept is 'I give you work, you give me wages.' He tries to come as an employee, rather than as a son.
- Two -- God lavishes His riches on His children. His wealth never runs out.
- Three -- When God saves a sinner, He celebrates and rejoices.
- Four -- The elder son wanted the father to give him joy. The father's desire was that the son come in and rejoice with him. God never gives anything to anyone just for that one to enjoy: He always wants men to enjoy together with Him.
- Five -- When the father kissed him, the son knew he was forgiven. He sat at the table and gave joy to his father. Worship comes out of joy in the Lord.
- Six -- God has given us many gifts. What a painful loss it is for Him if we run off and waste them! But how great is His joy when we at last return and that which He has lost is found.
Wachman Nee
“When one tries to increase his knowledge by doing mental gymnastics over books without waiting upon God and looking to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, his soul is plainly in full swing. This will deplete his spiritual life. Because the fall of man was occasioned by seeking knowledge, God uses the foolishness of the cross to "destroy the wisdom of the wise.”
― Watchman Nee
― Watchman Nee
“All satanic works are performed from the outside inward; all divine works from the inside outward.”
― Watchman Nee
― Watchman Nee
Wachman Nee
“God does not blame me for being an individual, but for my individualism. His greatest problem is not the outward divisions and denominations that divide His church, but our own individualistic hearts.”
― Watchman Nee, The Normal Christian Life
“Man's thought is always of the punishment that will come to him if he sins. God's thought is always of the glory man will miss if he sins. God's purpose for redemption is glory, glory, glory.”
― Watchman Nee, The Normal Christian Life
― Watchman Nee, The Normal Christian Life
“Man's thought is always of the punishment that will come to him if he sins. God's thought is always of the glory man will miss if he sins. God's purpose for redemption is glory, glory, glory.”
― Watchman Nee, The Normal Christian Life
Wachman Nee
This is our conduct on the positive side. If we want to renew our nous, or have our nous renewed frequently, we must put on the new man in our experience. This also is an act of the will. What does it mean to put on the new man? Our new man, which is according to God’s image, was created in righteousness and holiness of the reality. In other words, the characteristics of the new man are righteousness and holiness of the reality. Righteousness is God’s way; holiness is God’s nature. Concerning God, we can speak of three aspects: (1) glory, referring to God Himself; (2) holiness, referring to God’s nature; and (3) righteousness, referring to the way God acts. We were created according to God’s image, but this is limited to the aspects of God’s righteousness and holiness; we cannot be like God in His glory, since glory has to do with His Godhead. We cannot be part of this. But we have God’s righteousness and holiness. Therefore, if a believer wants to be like God, he should let God’s nature deal with him in God’s way. Today how many believers have deep feelings about sin? I am ashamed to say that my feeling about sin is not deep enough. Miss M. E. Barber deeply understood sin and God’s holiness. Usually one only senses pride or jealousy but does not know what pride and jealousy are. But if you went to Miss Barber, you would have a feeling that you otherwise would not have had. She hated sin the most, and she dealt with sin the best. She dealt with herself very strictly. As a result, she was also extremely straightforward with others. The minute one came into her presence, he realized what pride and jealousy are. She truly knew God. This is why I say that many times we cannot learn truths from a man’s preaching, but we can learn from the truth he practices.
- Watchman Nee; The Renewing of the Mind
- Watchman Nee; The Renewing of the Mind
“Man may think human intellect and reasoning are almighty, that the brain is able to comprehend all truths of the world; but the verdict of God's Word is, "vanity of vanities.” ― Watchman Nee
Wachman Nee
You believe in the death of the Lord Jesus and you believe in the death of the thieves with Him. Now what about your own death? Your crucifixion is more intimate than theirs. They were crucified at the same time as the Lord but on different crosses, whereas you were crucified on the selfsame cross as He, for you were in Him when He died. How can you know? You can know for the one sufficient reason that God said so. It does not depend on your feelings. If you feel that Christ has died, He has died; and if you do not feel that He has died, He had died. If you feel that you have died, you have died; and if you do not feel that you have died, you have nevertheless just as surely died. These are divine facts. That Christ has died is a fact, that the two thieves have died is a fact, and that you have died is a fact also. Let me tell you, You have died! You are done with! You are ruled out! The self you loathe is on the Cross of Christ. And "he that is dead is freed from sin" (Romans 6:7 Amplified). This is the Gospel for Christians.
Our crucifixion can never be made effective by will or by effort, but only by accepting what the Lord Jesus did on the Cross. Our eyes must be opened to see the finished work of Calvary. Some of you, prior to your salvation, may have tried to save yourselves. You read the Bible, prayed, went to church, gave alms. Then one day your eyes were opened and you saw that a full salvation had already been provided for you on the Cross. You just accepted that and thanked God, and peace and joy flowed into your heart. And now the good news is that sanctification is made possible for you on exactly the same basis as that initial salvation. You are offered deliverance from sin as no less a gift of God's grace than was the forgiveness of sins.
For God's way of deliverance is altogether different from man's way. Man's way is to try to suppress sin by seeking to overcome it; God's way is to remove the sinner. Many Christians mourn over their weakness, thinking that if only they were stronger all would be well. . . If we are preoccupied with the power of sin and with our inability to meet it, then we naturally conclude that to gain the victory over sin we must have more power. .
- Watchman Nee; Crucified Life
Our crucifixion can never be made effective by will or by effort, but only by accepting what the Lord Jesus did on the Cross. Our eyes must be opened to see the finished work of Calvary. Some of you, prior to your salvation, may have tried to save yourselves. You read the Bible, prayed, went to church, gave alms. Then one day your eyes were opened and you saw that a full salvation had already been provided for you on the Cross. You just accepted that and thanked God, and peace and joy flowed into your heart. And now the good news is that sanctification is made possible for you on exactly the same basis as that initial salvation. You are offered deliverance from sin as no less a gift of God's grace than was the forgiveness of sins.
For God's way of deliverance is altogether different from man's way. Man's way is to try to suppress sin by seeking to overcome it; God's way is to remove the sinner. Many Christians mourn over their weakness, thinking that if only they were stronger all would be well. . . If we are preoccupied with the power of sin and with our inability to meet it, then we naturally conclude that to gain the victory over sin we must have more power. .
- Watchman Nee; Crucified Life
“Attempting to follow Him without denying the self is the root of all failures.” ― Watchman Nee, The Spiritual Man
Wachman Nee
“Why does God not declare himself as the God of Adam? For we know that Abraham sinned even as Adam did. Why then did He not call himself the God of Adam? Why did He not say the God of Abel, the seed of Adam? Why instead did He call himself the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob? Why according to the flesh was our Lord Jesus presented in the New Testament as having been born of the seed of Abraham? Why from among all men should God have called himself the God of these three particular persons? Wherein lies the difference between these three and other people? Well, apart from the fact that God had covenanted with these three men, He takes them up as representative personages. He chooses them to represent three types of men in the world. What type of man is Abraham? He is a giant of faith. He is rather uncommon; in fact, he is quite special. As the God of Abraham, God declares himself to be the God of excellent people. Yet, thanks be to God, He is not only the God of the excellent. Were He merely this kind of God, we would sink into despair because we are not persons of excellence. But God is also the God of Isaac. What type of person is Isaac? He is very ordinary. He eats whenever he can, and sleeps as he has opportunity. He is neither a wonder man nor a wicked person. How this fact has comforted many of us! Yet God is not only the God of the ordinary men, He is also the God of the bad men: He is the God of Jacob too, for in the Scriptures Jacob is pictured as one of the worst persons to be found in the Old Testament. Hence through these three persons, God is telling us that He is the God of Abraham the best, the God of Isaac the ordinary, and the God of Jacob the worst. He is the God of those with great faith, He is the God of the common people, and He is also the God of the lowest of men such as thieves and prostitutes. Suppose I am special like Abraham; then He is my God. Suppose I am ordinary like Isaac; then He is also my God. And suppose from my mother’s womb I have been bad like Jacob was in that I have striven with my brother; then He is still my God. He has a way with the excellent, with the common, and with the worst of humanity.”
― Watchman Nee, The Finest of the Wheat, volume 1
― Watchman Nee, The Finest of the Wheat, volume 1
Watchman Nee
Second Peter 1:21 says that the prophecy in the Bible, that is, the words of the Bible, is spoken “from God, being borne by the Holy Spirit.” There are two important points worth noticing. One is that it is borne by the Holy Spirit, and the second is that it was spoken from God. To be borne by the Holy Spirit, in Greek, means to be carried along. This is like a sailing boat being carried along by the wind. A sailing boat moves in the water through the propelling of the wind. Here it says that the words in the Bible were spoken by men borne by the Holy Spirit. This bearing is just like the carrying along of the wind. The Holy Spirit is like the wind, coming upon those speaking for God, to carry them along, bearing them in their speaking. The five books of Moses were written by Moses, but the Holy Spirit was there bearing Moses up as he wrote. It is true that many Psalms are the words of David. However, the Holy Spirit was in and upon David, bearing him to speak.
In addition, we must also realize that the Bible is the word spoken “from God.” Regarding this phrase, Bible translators and the authorities on the manuscripts have differing opinions. Some say the two words “from God” should refer to the persons speaking, meaning that these were “men of God,” speaking while being borne by the Holy Spirit. Others say that the two words “from God” should not refer to the people who spoke but to the things spoken, meaning that their speaking came from God. The better translations, such as the Revised Standard Version, agree with the second concept. It tells us that the word in the Bible was not only spoken by those being borne by the Holy Spirit, but also by man speaking from God. It is the Spirit of God that carries man along to speak. It is also man speaking from God. In other words, God spoke forth His own word from within man and through man’s mouth. This is the Bible. What is the Bible? The Bible is God’s Spirit coming upon man and carrying man along to speak forth God’s word in him. When God declares His word in the universe from and through man, we have the Bible.
-Watchman Nee; On Knowing God
In addition, we must also realize that the Bible is the word spoken “from God.” Regarding this phrase, Bible translators and the authorities on the manuscripts have differing opinions. Some say the two words “from God” should refer to the persons speaking, meaning that these were “men of God,” speaking while being borne by the Holy Spirit. Others say that the two words “from God” should not refer to the people who spoke but to the things spoken, meaning that their speaking came from God. The better translations, such as the Revised Standard Version, agree with the second concept. It tells us that the word in the Bible was not only spoken by those being borne by the Holy Spirit, but also by man speaking from God. It is the Spirit of God that carries man along to speak. It is also man speaking from God. In other words, God spoke forth His own word from within man and through man’s mouth. This is the Bible. What is the Bible? The Bible is God’s Spirit coming upon man and carrying man along to speak forth God’s word in him. When God declares His word in the universe from and through man, we have the Bible.
-Watchman Nee; On Knowing God
Wachman Nee
I do not know how many Christians know that there is a hope before them. Many people only hope for heaven. Thank the Lord that there is heaven; it is true that there is heaven. But this is not the goal for which God has called us. This is not the hope of His calling. What then is this calling? Verse 4 says, "Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blemish before Him in love." This is God’s calling. God’s calling is that we be like God. On the positive side, it is to be holy, and on the negative side, it is to be without blemish and blameless. Brothers and sisters, what a grand calling this is! If you have never been weak, and if you have never realized that you have erred, you will not realize how special this calling is. But if you know a little about how weak and worthless you are, and how wrong you have been, you will realize the preciousness of this calling. You will say, "Thank the Lord. You have called me to be holy and without blemish; You have called me to be blameless and to be as perfect as You are." Thank the Lord that one day the goal for which God has chosen us will be reached. It does not matter how weak and worthless we are today, and it does not matter how many defects and faults we have today. Thank Him that one day He will bring us to the point where we will stand before Him holy and without blemish as He is. This is what God has chosen us for, and this is what He has called us into. Since He has ordained this, He will surely accomplish it. Now we know the kind of hope we have before God. We have hope, and our hope is to be like God. God has chosen us and called us for this.
Second, let us consider God’s inheritance in the saints. Verse 18 says, "The eyes of your heart having been enlightened, that you may know...what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints." What is the inheritance God has in the saints? The saints are God’s inheritance; they are God’s possession. This verse does not say that God has given the saints an inheritance. Rather, it says that the saints have become God’s inheritance. Paul said that God has an inheritance in the saints. Such an inheritance is glorious. It is not only glorious, but in it are the riches of glory. --Wachman Nee; A Prayer for Revelation
Second, let us consider God’s inheritance in the saints. Verse 18 says, "The eyes of your heart having been enlightened, that you may know...what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints." What is the inheritance God has in the saints? The saints are God’s inheritance; they are God’s possession. This verse does not say that God has given the saints an inheritance. Rather, it says that the saints have become God’s inheritance. Paul said that God has an inheritance in the saints. Such an inheritance is glorious. It is not only glorious, but in it are the riches of glory. --Wachman Nee; A Prayer for Revelation