The Efficacy of Redemption
The red heifer sacrifice and its ashes embody the efficacy of redemption, making Christ's atonement always available for our need.
Watchman Nee emphasizes the unique role of the red heifer in the sacrificial system of Israel, highlighting that while other sacrifices addressed immediate needs, the red heifer was intended for future cleansing. The ashes of the heifer, mixed with water, provided a means of purification for the unclean, symbolizing the efficacy of redemption. In Christian terms, believers have access to the finished work of Christ, which serves as a perpetual source of cleansing without the need for repeated sacrifices. This illustrates the completeness of Christ's atonement and its continual availability for our spiritual needs.
Text
"Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never some yoke." Numbers 19:2
While all Israel's other sacrifices were offered to meet current needs, the red heifer alone was different, it was offered to provide for future eventualities. The whole heifer was to be burned. Then the ashes were collected and stored, so that as the need arose they could be mixed with running water and sprinkled on an unclean person to make him clean.
In those ashes was embodied all the efficacy of redemption. Whenever a man was defiled, he had no need to slay another heifer; he needed only to he sprinkled with this water. Putting this in Christian terms, a believer today does not need the Lord Jesus to work for him a second time; he has the incorruptible ashes and living water of Christ's finished work fur his cleansing. The atonement which God has wrought for us in Christ is always at once available for our need.
Sermon Outline
- The Red Heifer and Redemption
- The Efficacy of Redemption
- Applying Redemption Today
- No Need for Repeated Atonement
- Always Available for Our Need
Key Quotes
“In those ashes was embodied all the efficacy of redemption.” — Watchman Nee
“Putting this in Christian terms, a believer today does not need the Lord Jesus to work for him a second time;” — Watchman Nee
Application Points
- Believers have the incorruptible ashes and living water of Christ's finished work for their cleansing.
- The atonement which God has wrought for us in Christ is always at once available for our need.
- We do not need Jesus to work for us a second time, but can rely on His finished work for our redemption.