Christ, the Sum of All Spiritual Things

by Watchman Nee

"To sum up all things in Christ" is the mystery of God's will. This needs to be first realized in the church as well as in each individual member before it can be fulfilled in the universe. How very urgent it is for believers to know the reality of Christ as being our all and in all. For God has not given us many things; He gives us only Christ. Things are dead, but Christ is living. Christ must be all things to us. In this small volume, brother Watchman Nee illustrates this basic principle of "not things but Christ" from various angles with many practical helps. His heart burden is for Christ to become real to us. Let things pass away, let life fill us. May Christ be all and in all.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Theology, Christianity, Christian Living, Religion, Christian Non Fiction

104 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Watchman Nee (Chinese: 倪柝聲; pinyin: Ní Tuòshēng; Foochow Romanized: Ngà̤ Táuk-sĭng; 1903–1972) was a Chinese Christian author and church leader during the early 20th century. He spent the last 20 years of his life in prison and was severely persecuted by the Communists in China. Together with Wangzai, Zhou-An Lee, Shang-Jie Song, and others, Nee founded The Church Assembly Hall, later which would be also known as the "Local churches" (Chinese: 地方教會). or more commonly as (聚會所) meaning "assembly hall"

Born into a Methodist family, Watchman Nee experienced a religious revival, and joined the Church of Heavenly Peace, Fuzhou in 1920 at age 17 and began writing in the same year. In 1921, he met the British missionary M. E. Barber, who was a great influence on him. Through Miss Barber, Nee was introduced to many of the Christian writings which were to have a profound influence on him and his teachings. Nee attended no theological schools or Bible institutes. His knowledge was acquired through studying the Bible and reading various Christian spiritual books. During his 30 years of ministry, beginning in 1922, Nee traveled throughout China planting churches among the rural communities and holding Christian conferences and trainings in Shanghai. In 1952 he was imprisoned for his faith; he remained in prison until his death in 1972.

Reviews

[Ms Chuzzlewit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read for Christians. I learned so much from it, after I read a sections it would take me few days to process it before I could read more. It talks about how Christ is everything, he gives us one gift and that is Christ Jesus. He does not give Christians patience, or goodness, or humility, or anything like that, he gives Christ and in Christ you find all those things. He not only gives redemption, but he is redemption itself, he not only gives us life, but he is life! A Christian has nothing but Christ, however, Christ is everything!

[Tim Kruse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book rocks!! It's a lot like the whole Velvet Elvis idea of the brick wall. We have all these "spiritual things" we believe and do and the sum of them is our spiritual life. Nee expresses that we don't need more "spiritual things" we need Christ. He is ALL spiritually good things... intriguing concept...

[Dave]

it is extremely important that "spiritual things" don't replace Christ in our experience and pursuit. this book was a very important read.

[BJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nee is helpful on the centrality of Jesus over and above his gifts. In fact, there are a few great quotes in that respect. The tendency of many Christians, including myself, is to compartementalize the faith and look for patience or forgiveness or humility or whatever, instead of pursuing Jesus. God's greatest gift is Himself. But I give this a two-star because there is also a real push against doctrine toward quasi-mysticism.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really spot on with God's place in our lives.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

Truly a great collection of truths that point to the One who is Truth. Very, very blessed by this book. Going to start it again right now.

[Aaron Cliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredible read. Re-read this as often as you can. Any short snippett I write will not do it any justice, but every read has been profitable.

[Paula Leichtfried · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life changing, this man gives me a new vision for my relationship with God, so many things i haven’t grasped about His character, so much to discover, understand..

[Josh Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used to always think of "going deep" in my walk with Jesus as being in the direction of apologetics, specifically in science, history, language or other more tangible spheres. Nee, however, shows abundantly how lacking I am in spiritual depth. The concept of "Christ the Sum of All Spiritual Things" is simple and is basically repeated throughout this book: Christ doesn't GIVE us things like peace, healing, patience, etc., Christ IS our peace, healing, patience, etc. I can easily see how we can work at and achieve some semblance of life without Christ, but trying to grasp Christ BEING our life is hard to grasp. I have a lot of growing to do and I'm thankful for wise men in the history of Christianity, such as Nee, to help guide me.

[Glen · Rating 2 out of 5]

A solid work that is built around a single motif of not pursuing spirituality, instead we are to pursue Christ and He will be our righteousness, peace, strength, healing, etc.

Very accessible but bordering on excessive redundancy. You appreciate the powerful premise and much needed spiritual guidance but it could have been condensed even more than the 54 pages.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Praise the Lord! Christ is ALL spiritual matters and things. Apart from Him we can do nothing, we have nothing, and we are nothing. We can't have righteousness; we can't have holiness but no Christ; ; we can't have redemption but no Christ; for out of Him we are in Christ, we became wisdom to us from God: both righteousness, and sanctification and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30)!

[NIGEL PEARCE · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will revolutionize your thoughts on the Cosmic Christ. That Jesus Christ does not only bring resurrection he is resurrection. We have a place too much attention on what He has done and not who He really is! This book will revolutionize your thinking about the Cosmic Chrsit

[John Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning revelation

As only Watchman can do, a relatively familiar idea turned completely on its head. Read this book to stimulate your thinking on the objects of Christ or Christ himself. Challenging and enjoyable book.

[Isaiah Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Watchman Nee explains through the lens of various passages and applications that Jesus Christ is the sole object of our Christian life, not a changed behavior or appearance before others / ourselves. An interesting read but may have lost some of its clarity in translation from the original chinese.

[CE · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is as relevant today as ever. Watchman Nee points out that Christ is the centre & all Christianity is about. A fact that now seems lost, making christianity seem difficult & overbearing.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening and encouraging. I think I highlighted more of this book than I left unmarked.

[Jeremy Feghali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe like a 3.5? If you hold it at arms length, rotate it 45 degrees, and squint your eyes, it’s really good.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was translations from Chinese, in 1939, yet so completely focused and profound,