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Crucial Experiences in the Practice of the Church Life (2) Aspects of the Church Life as a Living in the Body of Christ, the One New Man

If we would practice the church life 
as a living in the Body of Christ, the one new man, 
we need to experience 
the divine dispensing of the Divine Trinity:

The divine dispensing of the Divine Trinity 
is the base for our daily living 
as believers 
and members of the Body of Christ 
and parts of the new man.

The life of God 
is for the supplying of His children 
with His riches 
in His divine dispensing.

The reality in Jesus 
is the practicality of the life of God, 
that is, the practicing of the life of God 
that took place in Jesus 
while He lived on earth:

This is the divine life 
realized and practiced 
as the reality in Jesus’ humanity.

The reality in Jesus 
is for infusing the believers 
with Christ’s godly living 
in His humanity.

Ephesians 4:30 
speaks of “the Holy Spirit of God, 
in whom you were sealed 
unto the day of redemption”:

This Spirit 
is the sealing Spirit, 
even the sealing “ink” 
with which we all have been sealed.

The contents, the elements, and the essence 
of the sealing Spirit 
are the divine life plus Jesus’ practical humanity.

The sealing Spirit 
saturates, permeates, and soaks us 
with the processed and consummated Triune God.

The Father’s life 
is the reality in Jesus, 
and this reality 
as the practicality of the life of the Father 
becomes the sealing Spirit:

The sealing Spirit 
saturates, permeates, and soaks us 
with the divine life 
in the practicality of Jesus’ daily life, 
making our life 
a reproduction of Jesus’ life.

Through the divine dispensing 
of the Divine Trinity 
with the Father’s life, 
the reality in Jesus, 
and the Spirit’s sealing, 
we may have a daily life 
that is a living 
in the Body of Christ, the new man.

For the church life 
as a living 
in the Body of Christ, the one new man, 
we need to arrive at the oneness 
of the faith 
and of the full knowledge 
of the Son of God:

The oneness of the Spirit 
in Ephesians 4:3 
is the oneness 
of the divine life in reality, 
and the oneness in verse 13 
is the oneness 
of our living in practicality:

The oneness of reality 
needs to be practiced 
and thereby become 
the oneness in practicality.

The word arrive in verse 13 
indicates that a process 
is required for us to arrive at 
the oneness of our living in practicality; 
the oneness of reality 
is the beginning, 
and the oneness in practicality 
is the destination.

The oneness in practicality 
is the oneness of the faith:

The faith in verse 13 
refers 
not to our act of believing 
but to the things 
in which we believe, 
such as the divine person of Christ 
and His redemptive work 
accomplished for our salvation.

In the church life 
we have only one thing 
that is special
—the faith; 
for receiving the believers, 
to insist upon anything besides the faith 
is to be divisive.

The oneness in practicality 
is also the oneness of the full knowledge 
of the Son of God:

The full knowledge 
of the Son of God 
is the apprehension of the revelation 
concerning the Son of God 
for our experience.

The oneness of the faith 
altogether depends on 
the full knowledge 
of the Son of God; 
only when we take Christ as the center 
and we focus on Him 
can we arrive at 
the oneness of the faith, 
for only in the Son of God 
can our faith be one.

In order to preserve the church life 
as a living 
in the Body of Christ, the one new man, 
we must discern the intrinsic factor 
of the winds of teaching 
for their purpose:

The winds of teaching 
are the devilish blowings 
of the evil one 
that bring storms 
into the church.

Any teaching, even a scriptural one, 
that distracts believers 
from Christ and the church 
is a wind 
that carries believers away 
from God’s central purpose.

The intrinsic factor of the winds of teaching 
is the sleight of men, 
man’s subtle ways of cheating, 
the craftiness of men 
with a view to a system of error
—man’s plotted deception 
to induce people 
into the satanic system of error; 
the system of error 
is of the enemy, Satan.

The purpose of the winds of teaching
—the evil purpose of Satan 
versus the economy of God
—is to overthrow 
the faith of some believers (2 Tim. 2:18), 
to devastate the church (Acts 8:3), 
to frustrate and tear down 
the building up of the organic Body of Christ, 
and to divide 
the members of the Body (1 Cor. 1:10-11), 
instead of 
keeping the unique oneness of the Body 
in love and kindness.

In the church life 
as a living 
in the Body of Christ, the one new man, 
we all need to learn Christ (Eph. 4:20):

To learn Christ 
is to be molded into 
the pattern of Christ’s death, 
that is, 
to be conformed to 
the image of Christ 
as the firstborn Son of God (Rom. 8:29):

Christ is 
not only life to us 
but also an example (John 13:15; 1 Pet. 2:21).

In His life 
He set up a pattern, 
as revealed in the four Gospels, 
and then 
He was crucified and resurrected 
to become the life-giving Spirit 
so that He might enter into us 
to be our life 
(1 Cor. 2:2; 15:45b; Rom. 8:10; Col. 3:4).

We learn from Christ 
according to His example, 
not by our natural life 
but by Him 
as our life in resurrection.

The basic elements 
in our learning Christ 
are reality and grace:

Reality is 
the truth, the principle, the pattern, the standard; 
we have been placed by God through baptism 
into the pattern, the standard, the principle, 
set up by the living of the Lord Jesus; 
this is 
the reality in Ephesians 4.

As members of the Body of Christ, 
we are learning Christ 
as the reality is in Jesus.

In order to live out such a standard, 
we need grace
—Christ as our enjoyment and supply.

On the positive side, 
the basic factors of learning Christ 
are the life of God and the Spirit of God; 
on the negative side, 
the basic factor 
is the devil, 
who is always seeking an opportunity 
to gain an advantage over us 
and to damage us.

In order to maintain the church life 
as a living in the Body of Christ, the one new man, 
we should be 
kind to one another, 
tenderhearted, 
forgiving one another, 
even as God in Christ has forgiven us; 
in the Spirit 
and by the divine life, 
we can forgive 
as God forgives.

 

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7 replies on “Crucial Experiences in the Practice of the Church Life (2) Aspects of the Church Life as a Living in the Body of Christ, the One New Man”

Prophecy note, 25 January 2015
The faith in Ephesians 4:13
does not refer to our act of believing,
but refers to the object
in which we believe.

Every believer in Christ
accepts this faith.
When we first believed in the Lord Jesus,
we were very simple.
All we had
was the faith.

But afterward
we became quite complicated
by taking in
various doctrines, teachings, and concepts,
nearly all of which
are divisive.

The work of perfecting
will cause believers
to care for 
the oneness of the Spirit
and to lay aside 
the divisive doctrines.

As they arrive at 
the oneness of the faith,
they no longer care for 
the various divisive doctrines
but care only for 
the unique faith
concerning Christ 
and His redemptive work.

By the perfecting work
they also arrive experientially
at the full knowledge
of the Son of God.

They do not pay attention to
divisive doctrines or practices
but care only for Christ
as the Son of God.

They care for 
the full knowledge
of the Son of God
as life
experientially.

They desire more and more
to experience Christ
in their daily life.

By arriving at 
the oneness 
of the faith
and of the full knowledge
of the Son of God,
these believers have
not only the oneness of reality
but also the oneness of practicality.

Now they are able to come together
without division
and to enjoy oneness
in a practical way.

The oneness in the Lord’s recovery
is such a practical oneness.
Our oneness
is the oneness
of our unique faith
and of the full knowledge
of the Son of God
in our daily experience of Him
as our life.

Many of us
have traveled
from the beginning,
the oneness of the Spirit,
to the destination,
the oneness of the faith
and of the full knowledge
of the Son of God.

We have made the journey
from the oneness of reality
to the oneness of practicality.

We must see the center
and must focus on the center.
When we are at the center,
there is no need
to talk about oneness;
we are spontaneously one with others.

Our unique center
is the Son of God
—Christ.
To arrive at 
the oneness of the faith
is to arrive at 
the oneness 
of the full knowledge
of the Son of God.

In this way,
we will arrive 
at a full-grown man experientially,
at the measure
of the stature
of the fullness of Christ.

Day 6

Eph. 4:29
Let no corrupt word 
proceed out of your mouth, 
but only that which is good for building up, 
according to the need, 
that it may give grace 
to those who hear.

Eph. 4:32
And be kind to one another, 
tenderhearted, 
forgiving one another, 
even as God in Christ 
also forgave you.

The basic elements 
in the learning of Christ 
are reality (truth) and grace. 
In contrast to the Gospel of John, 
in Ephesians 4 
truth precedes grace. 
Truth is not the supply; 
it is the shining of light. 
Hence, 
truth is 
the principle, the pattern, the standard. 
As members of the Body of Christ under the Head, 
we are learning Christ 
as the reality is in Jesus.

Before he mentions grace here, 
Paul presents 
the principle, the pattern, the standard; 
that is, 
he presents the truth. 
We all have been baptized 
not into grace, 
but into the mold, into the pattern, 
which is the life of truth in Jesus. 
We have been placed by God through baptism 
into the pattern, the standard, the principle, 
set up by the living of the Lord Jesus on earth. 
This is 
the reality in Ephesians 4.

In order to live out such a standard, 
we must have grace. 
In Ephesians 4:29 
Paul relates grace to our speaking. 
This indicates 
that we need grace 
for the details of our daily life, 
not just for what we regard as important matters. 
We may have grace in big matters 
but not in small matters. 
For example, 
a brother may have grace 
to minister the Word, 
but he may lack grace 
in speaking to his wife. 
Furthermore, 
in the prayer meeting 
we may all have grace, 
but in our daily conversation 
we may be devoid of grace. 
In no area of our daily life 
do we require grace more 
than in our conversation. 
If we have grace 
in this aspect of our living, 
we shall have grace 
in every other aspect.

In all things 
we need grace 
to live a life 
according to the truth 
that is in Jesus 
and to be molded into the image of Christ. 
Grace is 
our rich supply and enjoyment. 
If we have this supply and enjoyment, 
we shall be able to live 
according to the standard 
of the principle of truth. 
For this reason 
Paul takes truth and grace 
as the basic elements 
in his exhortation in chapter 4.

Along with these basic elements, 
there are also 
some basic factors. 
On the positive side, 
these factors 
are the life of God 
and the Spirit of God.

In contrast to the Gentiles, 
we are not strangers 
to the life of God. 
Instead of being alienated from the life of God, 
we are attached to the source of life. 
The life of God 
has become a fountain 
within our very being. 
Hallelujah for 
the life supply within us!

We also have the Spirit of God. 
The Spirit of God 
is the person of God. 
God Himself in the person of the Spirit 
dwells within us. 
We must be careful, 
therefore, 
not to grieve Him. 
Rather, 
we should obey Him, 
honor Him, 
respect Him, 
and be one with Him 
at all times.

The basic factor 
on the negative side 
is the devil. 
In verse 27 
Paul exhorts us 
not to give place to the devil. 
Although we have 
the life of God and the Spirit of God 
within us, 
the enemy 
is still lurking about us; 
he is always seeking an opportunity 
to gain an advantage over us 
or to damage us. 
We need to be on the alert 
for this crouching enemy.

Finally, 
verse 32 says, 
“And be kind to one another, 
tenderhearted, 
forgiving one another, 
even as God in Christ 
also forgave you.” 
Only the enjoyment of Christ 
as our life supply and as our joy 
can make our hearts tender. 
If we are tenderhearted, 
we shall forgive others. 
In our daily walk, 
we need 
both to forgive others 
and to ask others 
to forgive us. 
This is necessary 
because we are easily offended 
and we easily offend others. 
If we have offended someone, 
we need to ask for forgiveness. 
But if we have been offended, 
we need to extend forgiveness to others, 
even as God in Christ 
has forgiven us.
To have such a living, 
we need to live 
according to truth 
and by God 
in Christ as our grace.

 

Day 5

Rom. 8:29
Because those 
whom He foreknew, 
He also predestinated 
to be conformed to 
the image of His Son, 
that He might be 
the Firstborn among many brothers.

Eph. 4:20
But you did not 
so learn Christ.

With the winds of teaching 
there is talk 
about the Bible 
and about spiritual things, 
but what is 
the intrinsic factor of such teaching? 
In 1933 
a brother among us 
received a note 
from Brother Watchman Nee 
that said, 
“Do the right thing 
in the right way 
with the right spirit.” 
This word 
became a wonderful saying to me. 
I need to remember all the time 
to do the right thing 
in the right way 
with the right spirit. 
The things that are being done today 
related to these winds of teaching 
are not the right thing, 
they are not done in the right way, 
and they are not done in the right spirit. 
What is being done is wrong, 
the way is wrong, 
and the spirit 
in which it is done 
is even more wrong. 
What is being spoken 
in the winds of teaching 
are either entire lies 
or half-truths, 
which are also lies. 
Half-truths and innuendos 
are more evil 
than a straight lie. 
The intrinsic factor 
of such blowing teachings 
is the sleight of men
—man’s subtle ways 
of cheating. 
The sleight of men 
is the craftiness of men 
with a view to a system of error
—man’s plotted deception 
to induce people 
into the satanic system of error. 
The system of error 
is of the enemy, Satan.

The purpose of the winds of teaching 
is the evil purpose of the enemy Satan, 
which is 
versus the eternal economy of God. 
Their purpose 
is to overthrow the faith of some believers. 
Some of the saints’ faith 
has been overthrown 
by the winds of teaching. 
They may not oppose the Lord’s recovery, 
but they have lost their faith 
in the Lord’s recovery. 
They are neutral. 
They do not come to the meetings regularly, 
and they are 
not so concerned about the Lord’s interest 
as they once were. 
They have been spoiled.

The purpose of the winds of teaching 
is to devastate the church life. 
This is what Saul of Tarsus did 
before he became Paul the apostle. 
Also, 
the purpose of the winds of teaching 
is to frustrate 
the building up of the organic Body of Christ, 
to tear down 
the building up of the organic Body of Christ, 
and to divide 
the members of the organic Body of Christ
—causing endless divisions (sects) 
in hatred and jealousy, 
instead of keeping the unique oneness 
of the Body of Christ 
in love and kindness. 
According to our past history, 
the instigators of any storm in the recovery 
all became very divisive. 
They even divide among themselves. 
Their division is endless. 
There is 
no love or kindness with them. 
What they do 
is full of hatred and jealousy.

Now we have seen 
the purpose of the winds of teaching 
and their intrinsic factor, 
which is the sleight of men in craftiness 
with a view to bring people, to usher people, 
into a satanic system of error. 
Those who get brought into Satan’s system of error 
are finished with 
the building up of the Body of Christ 
in the central lane 
of God’s New Testament economy.

I am so thankful to the Lord 
that the majority of the saints in the churches 
have the proper discernment. 
They will not be shaken, 
tossed about, 
or carried away. 
Thank the Lord 
that we are still here 
in the advance of His recovery today!

Christ is 
not only life to us 
but also an example. 
In His life on earth 
He set up a pattern, 
as revealed in the Gospels. 
Then 
He was crucified and resurrected 
to become the life-giving Spirit 
that He might enter into us 
to be our life. 
We learn from Him 
according to His example, 
not by our natural life 
but by Him 
as our life in resurrection. 
To learn Christ 
is simply to be molded 
into the pattern of Christ, 
that is, 
to be conformed 
to the image of Christ.

 

Day 4

Eph. 4:14
That we may be no longer little children 
tossed by waves 
and carried about by every wind of teaching 
in the sleight of men, 
in craftiness 
with a view to a system of error.

1 Tim. 1:3b-4
in order that you might charge certain ones 
not to teach different things 
nor to give heed to myths and unending genealogies, 
which produce questionings 
rather than God’s economy, 
which is in faith.

We need to see 
the intrinsic factor 
of the winds of teaching 
for their purpose. 
An intrinsic factor 
is a hidden factor,
a factor that is not apparent. 
To see this intrinsic factor, 
we need a proper and sharp understanding 
that can penetrate into the whole situation. 
Every wind of teaching 
apparently is very good. 
If it were not good in appearance, 
nobody would accept it. 
However, 
within the winds of teaching, 
intrinsically, 
is something different 
that is not good.

In Ephesians 4:14 
“in the sleight of men” 
is in apposition to 
“in craftiness,” 
which is 
“with a view to a system of error.” 
The sleight in this verse 
is of men, 
and the system of error 
is of Satan. 
Man has the sleight, the craftiness, 
but man is not able to have a system 
in this universe. 
Satan is the one 
who is able to have a system of error. 
Man’s sleight, man’s craftiness, 
is related to the satanic system of error.
Ephesians 4:14 
may be considered as 
the conclusion of the history of Christianity. 
Christianity is full of 
the sleight, the craftiness, of men. 
The word for “sleight” in Greek 
signifies the cheating of dice players. 
A crafty gambler 
knows how to play dice 
in order to cheat his opponent.
The sleight of men 
implies the cheating and deception of men. 
The history of Christianity 
shows us 
that there can be cheating and deception 
in a so-called Christian teaching.

We need to see 
what the winds of teaching are. 
These winds 
are the devilish blowings 
of the evil one.
The devilish blowings 
of the evil one 
bring storms into the church. 
I have been in the church life 
for about sixty years, 
and I have seen many such storms.
A storm is created 
by winds and waves. 
Ephesians 4:14 
talks about being tossed by waves 
and carried about by every wind of teaching. 
When the wind comes, 
the waves follow. 
The wind plus the waves 
equals a storm. 
From my years of experience, 
I realize 
that we do not need to feel threatened 
by a storm. 
No storm comes and stays forever. 
The storm comes, 
and the storm goes.

The teachings that become winds 
are the “blowing teachings.” 
These teachings are different from 
the New Testament teaching 
concerning the economy of God 
for the building up 
of the unique and organic Body of Christ.

Paul does not speak of the wind of heresy, 
but he speaks of the wind of teaching. 
Any teaching, even a scriptural one, 
that distracts believers 
from Christ and the church 
is a wind 
that carries them away 
from God’s central purpose. 
First Timothy 1:3 and 4 
reveal that some in Paul’s time 
were teaching differently. 
This does not mean 
that they were teaching heresy; 
it means that they were teaching something 
different from God’s New Testament economy. 
Their teaching 
was not the teaching of the New Testament ministry. 
In the New Testament 
there is one ministry. 
This ministry 
is the dispensing of the Triune God 
into the believers 
for the building up of the churches. 
We must beware of 
any teaching or supposed ministry 
that teaches something different 
from God’s economy, 
that is, 
that teaches something 
other than God’s dispensation 
for the building up of the churches.

 

Day 3

Eph. 4:13
Until we all arrive 
at the oneness 
of the faith 
and of the full knowledge 
of the Son of God, 
at a full-grown man, 
at the measure 
of the stature 
of the fullness of Christ.

1 Cor. 2:2
For I did not determine to know 
anything among you 
except Jesus Christ, and this One crucified.

We have pointed out 
that the faith in Ephesians 4:13 
does not refer to our act of believing, 
but refers to the object 
in which we believe. 
Every believer in Christ 
accepts this faith. 
When we first believed in the Lord Jesus, 
we were very simple. 
All we had 
was the faith. 
But afterward 
we became quite complicated 
by taking in 
various doctrines, teachings, and concepts, 
nearly all of which 
are divisive.

Several young men 
may be saved at the same time, 
through the preaching of the same evangelist. 
On the day they are saved, 
they all accept the faith. 
Afterward, however, 
they take in different doctrinal concepts. 
These concepts cause them 
to be divided from one another. 
In order for these believers 
to arrive at the oneness of the faith, 
they need to be perfected 
through the work of 
the apostles, prophets, evangelists, 
and shepherds and teachers. 
This work of perfecting 
will cause them 
to care for the oneness of the Spirit 
and to lay aside the divisive doctrines. 
As they arrive at the oneness of the faith, 
they no longer care for the various divisive doctrines 
but care only for the unique faith 
concerning Christ and His redemptive work. 
By the perfecting work 
they also arrive experientially 
at the full knowledge 
of the Son of God. 
They do not pay attention to 
divisive doctrines or practices 
but care only for Christ 
as the Son of God. 
They care for the full knowledge 
of the Son of God 
as life 
experientially. 
They desire more and more 
to experience Christ 
in their daily life. 
By arriving at the oneness 
of the faith 
and of the full knowledge 
of the Son of God, 
these believers have 
not only the oneness of reality 
but also the oneness of practicality. 
Now they are able to come together 
without division 
and to enjoy oneness 
in a practical way.

The oneness in the Lord’s recovery 
is such a practical oneness. 
Our oneness 
is the oneness 
of our unique faith 
and of the full knowledge 
of the Son of God 
in our daily experience of Him 
as our life. 
I believe 
that most of us in the Lord’s recovery 
have arrived at 
the oneness of practicality. 
Therefore, 
we are one 
both in reality 
and in practicality.

Today many Christians 
who love the Lord, 
including a good number of pastors and ministers, 
have not seen 
the oneness of practicality. 
However, 
they do have 
the oneness of reality, 
which is 
the oneness of the Spirit. 
Many of these Christians 
say that as long as we are genuine believers in Christ 
and have the indwelling of the Spirit, 
we all can be one. 
In a sense, 
this is true. 
But this oneness 
is not yet the oneness of practicality. 
It is real, 
but it is not practical. 
Therefore, 
such Christians 
need to journey the distance 
between the oneness of reality 
and the oneness of practicality. 
I praise the Lord 
that so many of us 
have traveled 
from the beginning, 
the oneness of the Spirit, 
to the destination, 
the oneness of the faith 
and of the full knowledge 
of the Son of God. 
We have made the journey 
from the oneness of reality 
to the oneness of practicality. 

The oneness of the faith 
altogether depends on 
our full knowledge 
of the Son of God.
We can spontaneously bring people 
to know the Son of God 
because of our knowledge 
of the Son of God.

We must see the center 
and must focus on the center. 
When we are at the center, 
there is no need 
to talk about oneness; 
we are spontaneously one with others.
Our unique center 
is the Son of God
—Christ. 
To arrive at the oneness of the faith 
is to arrive at the oneness 
of the full knowledge 
of the Son of God. 
In this way, 
we will arrive at a full-grown man 
experientially, 
at the measure 
of the stature 
of the fullness of Christ.

 

Day 2

Eph. 4:3
Being diligent 
to keep the oneness of the Spirit 
in the uniting bond of peace.

Eph. 4:13
Until we all arrive 
at the oneness 
of the faith 
and of the full knowledge 
of the Son of God, 
at a full-grown man, 
at the measure 
of the stature 
of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:13 
says that we 
need to arrive at the oneness 
of the faith 
and of the full knowledge 
of the Son of God, 
at a full-grown man, 
and at the measure 
of the stature 
of the fullness of Christ. 
It is difficult 
to define these items adequately 
because they 
are all related to life 
and life is very mysterious. 
The real oneness in practicality 
is a matter of life. 
Likewise, 
the full-grown man 
and the measure 
of the stature 
of the fullness of Christ 
are matters of life. 
Only after our experience of life 
has reached a certain degree 
can we understand 
such a verse as 4:13.

The Greek word rendered “arrive” 
in Ephesians 4:13 
may also be rendered “attain to.” 
This indicates 
that a process is required 
for us 
to attain to or arrive at 
the practical oneness.

The oneness 
of the Spirit 
in verse 3 
is the oneness 
of the divine life in reality, 
whereas the oneness 
in verse 13 
is the oneness 
of our living in practicality. 
We already have 
the oneness of the divine life in reality. 
We only need to keep it. 
But we need to go on 
until we arrive at 
the oneness of our living in practicality. 
This aspect of oneness 
is of two things: 
the faith 
and the full knowledge 
of the Son of God. 
The faith 
does not refer to 
the act of our believing 
but refers to 
what we believe in, 
such as the divine person of Christ 
and His redemptive work 
for our salvation. 
The faith is used in this sense 
in Jude 3, 2 Timothy 4:7, and 1 Timothy 6:21.

The full knowledge 
of the Son of God 
is the realization 
of the revelation concerning the Son of God 
for our experience. 
The Son of God 
refers to the Lord’s person 
as life to us, 
whereas Christ 
refers to His commission 
to minister life to us 
that we, as members of His Body, 
may have gifts for function. 
The more we grow in life, 
the more we shall cleave 
to the faith 
and to the realization of Christ 
and the more we shall drop 
all the concepts 
concerning minor doctrines 
which cause divisions. 
Then 
we shall arrive at, or attain to, 
the practical oneness; 
that is to say, 
we shall arrive 
at a full-grown man, 
at the measure 
of the stature 
of the fullness of Christ.

Many Christians 
do not know the difference 
between the oneness 
of the Spirit 
and the oneness 
of the faith 
and of the full knowledge 
of the Son of God. 
The first 
is the oneness of reality, 
and the second 
is the oneness of practicality. 
Because the Spirit 
is the reality of our oneness, 
the oneness 
of the Spirit 
is the oneness of reality. 
Oneness is 
nothing less than the Spirit Himself. 
If there were no Spirit, 
then 
there would be no oneness. 
Although we have the oneness in reality, 
there is still the need 
for the oneness of practicality. 
This means 
that the oneness of reality 
must be practiced; 
that is, 
it must become 
the oneness in practice. 
Hence, 
in Ephesians 4:13 
Paul speaks of 
the oneness of practicality.

Between the oneness of reality 
and the oneness of practicality 
there is a distance. 
For this reason, 
there is the need 
to “arrive at” the oneness of practicality. 
The oneness 
of the Spirit 
is the beginning, 
whereas the oneness 
of the faith 
and of the full knowledge 
of the Son of God 
is the destination. 
This indicates 
that we must journey 
from the oneness 
of the Spirit 
to the oneness 
of the faith 
and of the full knowledge 
of the Son of God. 
In other words, 
we must travel 
from the oneness of reality 
until we arrive at 
the oneness of practicality.

As believers, 
we already have 
the oneness of reality. 
But we need to keep it. 
The best way 
to keep the oneness of reality 
is to go on, to proceed, 
toward the oneness of practicality.

 

Day 1

Eph. 4:18
Being darkened in their understanding, 
alienated from the life of God 
because of the ignorance 
which is in them, 
because of the hardness 
of their heart.

Eph. 4:20-21
But you did not so learn Christ, 
if indeed you have heard Him 
and have been taught in Him 
as the reality is in Jesus.

Ephesians 4:17-32 
shows us 
in a very detailed way 
the divine dispensing 
of the Divine Trinity 
in the believers’ living. 
This living 
is related to matters 
such as not stealing from others 
and not letting the sun go down on our anger. 
Although we are a group of people 
who have been mingled and blended with God, 
there is still the need 
for this kind of exhortation 
concerning our living. 
It is not easy 
to have a kind of living 
that matches, backs, supports, and affords 
all the needed elements, factors, and essences 
for the building up of the organic Body of Christ. 
Merely to have wonderful and exciting conferences 
is not enough. 
There is the need 
to take care of our living 
in a proper way.

In Ephesians 4:17-32 
there are three significant verses 
that show the divine dispensing 
of the Divine Trinity. 
From these three verses 
we see 
that the divine dispensing 
of the Divine Trinity 
is the base for our daily living. 
The first 
is verse 18, 
which mentions 
being alienated (estranged) from the life of God. 
To be estranged, or separated, 
from the divine life 
is a serious matter. 
The life of God 
is for the supplying of His children 
with His riches 
in His divine dispensing.

The second verse 
related to the divine dispensing 
is verse 21, 
which speaks of 
the reality (truth) in Jesus. 
The truth in Jesus 
is just the practicality of the life of God, 
that is, the practicing of the life of God, 
that took place in Jesus 
while He lived on earth. 
In the daily life of Jesus, 
as recorded in the four Gospels, 
there was something very real, 
and that real thing was just God’s divine life 
realized and practiced as 
the truth in Jesus’ humanity. 
This reality in Jesus 
is for infusing the believers 
with Christ’s godly living 
in His humanity.

The third verse 
concerning the divine dispensing 
is verse 30, 
which admonishes us 
not to grieve the Holy Spirit, 
in whom we have been sealed. 
This Spirit 
is the sealing Spirit; 
He is even the sealing “ink” 
with which we have all been sealed. 
The contents, the elements, and the essence 
of the sealing ink 
are the divine life plus Jesus’ practical humanity. 
This sealing 
can never become dry; 
it remains wet forever. 
While it is wet, 
it saturates, permeates, and soaks us 
with the Triune God.

The life of God, 
the truth in Jesus, 
and the sealing of the Holy Spirit 
are the three sources 
of the divine dispensing. 
Seemingly, 
Paul was writing 
something quite ordinary, 
but within those ordinary words 
he put in the wonderful elements and factors 
of the Divine Trinity
—the Father’s life, 
the Son’s living in His humanity, 
and the Spirit’s sealing. 
Life is of the Father. 
This life must become 
the truth in our daily living, 
which truth is 
the reality in Jesus. 
This truth 
as the practicality of the life of the Father 
becomes the sealing ink, 
which is the Holy Spirit. 
While the sealing ink seals, 
it saturates, permeates, and soaks us 
with the divine life 
in the practicality of Jesus’ daily life, 
making us 
a “xerox copy” of Jesus’ life, 
which is 
the practicality of the Father’s life.

We have 
the life of the Father in us. 
We also have 
a model and an example, 
which is Jesus’ life 
in His humanity. 
This life in His humanity 
is just the practicality of the divine life 
seen in the four Gospels. 
Furthermore, 
we have the sealing ink, 
which is constituted 
with the divine life 
and with the human living of Jesus. 
This sealing 
is wet all the time; 
it seals, saturates, and permeates us, 
enabling us to have a daily life 
that is suitable 
for the building up 
of the Body of Christ.

 

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