THE THIRD PART: 24 CRUCIAL LINES IN THE BIBLE
The Cross of Christ
Message Two—The Eternal Cross
Scripture Reading: Heb. 9:12-15; 10:19-20; Rev. 5:6; 13:8
I. The cross of Christ is the center in the accomplishment of God’s New Testament economy, which is to have a church produced through the redemption of Christ—1 Cor. 1:23; 2:2; Eph. 5:25: (Holy Bible Recovery Version, 1 Cor. 1:17 footnote 3)
A. Adam’s deep sleep for the producing of Eve as his wife typifies Christ’s death on the cross for the producing of the church as His counterpart—Eph. 5:25-27; Gen. 2:21; John 1:14; Rom. 5:14. (Holy Bible Recovery Version, Gen. 2:21 footnote 1)
II. The cross is something that has existed since the foundation of the world until now—Rev. 13:8: (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, (Set 1) Vol. 06: The Christian (4), ch. 11)
A In Genesis, Abraham’s offering of his beloved and only son, Isaac, on the altar is a vivid picture of God the Father’s offering of His beloved and only Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross—22:2. (Holy Bible Recovery Version, Gen. 22:2, footnote 1)
B In Exodus, the altar, symbolizing the cross of Christ indicates that as fallen and sinful people, we cannot possibly keep the law of God—24:4; Heb. 13:10. (Holy Bible Recovery Version, Exo. 24:4, footnote 1)
C In Song of Songs, Christ considering her His simple lover (My dove), wants to see His lover’s lovely countenance and hear her sweet voice in her oneness, union, with the cross, signified here by the clefts of the rock and the covert of the precipice—2:14. (Holy Bible Recovery Version, S.S. 2:14, footnote 1)
D In Ezekiel, the altar, which signifies the cross of Christ, is the center not only of the inner court but also of the entire premises of the temple—40:47: (Holy Bible Recovery Version, Ezek. 40:47, footnote 1)
1. This altar is actually the center of the universe; the cross is not only the center but also the circumference of God’s holy building—Matt. 16:24. (Holy Bible Recovery Version, Ezek. 40:47, footnote 1)
E. The book of Galatians is an epistle on the cross; the cross is the center of God’s operation in His economy—3:1: (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, (Set 1) Vol. 06: The Christian (4), ch. 11; Holy Bible Recovery Version, 1 Cor. 1:17, footnote 3)
1. In this Epistle Paul was bringing the believers who had been distracted to the law back to the cross and encouraging them to behold Christ crucified—1:4; 2:19-21; 3:13; 5:24; 6:14. (Holy Bible Recovery Version, Gal. 3:1 footnote 1)
F. In reading Hebrews 9:12-15 it would be very meaningful if we link together the three “eternals” in these verses: (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, (Set 1) Vol. 06: The Christian (4), ch. 11)
1. The Lord accomplished an eternal redemption; by offering up Himself to God through the eternal Spirit, we have obtained an eternal inheritance. (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, (Set 1) Vol. 06: The Christian (4), ch. 11)
2. We ought to realize that the worth of the cross is not determined by man; rather, it is determined by God; God considers the redemption of the cross as eternal. (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, (Set 1) Vol. 06: The Christian (4), ch. 11)
III. Although the Bible says that the Lord Jesus offered up the sacrifice for sins once, it points out that “having offered one sacrifice for sins, [He]…forever…”—Heb. 10:12: (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, (Set 1) Vol. 06: The Christian (4), ch. 11)
A. The word “one” means that the Lord’s sacrifice for sins was perfect; He only needed to redeem man from sins once. (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, (Set 1) Vol. 06: The Christian (4), ch. 11)
B. However, this sacrifice for sins is forever; it is an eternal sacrifice for sins! This means that not only is the effect of this sacrifice for sins eternal, but the sacrifice itself is eternal. (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, (Set 1) Vol. 06: The Christian (4), ch. 11)
IV. Hebrews 10:19 and 20 say, “Having therefore, brothers, boldness for entering the Holy of Holies in the blood of Jesus, which entrance He initiated for us as a new and living way through the veil, that is, His flesh:” (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, (Set 1) Vol. 06: The Christian (4), ch. 11)
A. We need to pay attention to the fact that this way is “new and living;” the word “new” in the original language refers to something freshly offered or freshly sacrificed: (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, (Set 1) Vol. 06: The Christian (4), ch. 11)
1. Every time we come before God, we do not have to offer up sacrifices afresh; our Sacrifice is forever fresh! The Lord Jesus’ cross does not turn old with the years. (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, (Set 1) Vol. 06: The Christian (4), ch. 11)
2. Its freshness is the same today and forever as it was at the time of crucifixion. (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, (Set 1) Vol. 06: The Christian (4), ch. 11)
3. If God did not consider the Lord’s redemptive sacrifice as eternally fresh, we would have perished long ago. (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, (Set 1) Vol. 06: The Christian (4), ch. 11)
B. This way is also “living;” this word can also be translated as “forever living:” (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, (Set 1) Vol. 06: The Christian (4), ch. 11)
1. This way is a way that is “freshly offered;” Christ has resurrected and that His resurrection remains until today. (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, (Set 1) Vol. 06: The Christian (4), ch. 11)
2. We should also know that Christ has died and that His substitutional death continues until today. (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, (Set 1) Vol. 06: The Christian (4), ch. 11)
V. Revelation 5 records how John saw the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven. He said, “And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing as having [just] been slain” (v. 6, according to the original): (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, (Set 1) Vol. 06: The Christian (4), ch. 11)
A. In heaven at the time of the ushering in of eternity, the Lord will still be the One who is freshly slain! Oh, the eternal freshness of the cross! Truly the cross passes through all ages and remains fresh! (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, (Set 1) Vol. 06: The Christian (4), ch. 11)
VI. The Lord intends that His cross be forever fresh in our spirit and our mind; this is why He told us, “This do, as often as you drink it, unto the remembrance of Me”—1 Cor. 11:25: (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, (Set 1) Vol. 06: The Christian (4), ch. 11)
A. The words “as often as” imply “frequently;” the reason the Lord established His supper is for His saints to remember Him always in His death. (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, (Set 1) Vol. 06: The Christian (4), ch. 11)
VII. If the cross on which the Lord died for us is forever fresh, our crucifixion with Him will also become unchanging—Gal. 2:20; 6:14: (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, (Set 1) Vol. 06: The Christian (4), ch. 11)
A. If we have a fresh revelation of the cross day by day, we will add to ourselves many fresh experiences of faith in our dying together with Him. (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, (Set 1) Vol. 06: The Christian (4), ch. 11)
B. Many children of God fail because they do not realize that the death of the cross is not just something that happened a long time ago, but something that is with us continually all the time. (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, (Set 1) Vol. 06: The Christian (4), ch. 11)