The Paper; The Book

Romans 5 introduces us to contrast, that of being
in Adam or being in Christ.

"As through one man's (Adam) disobedience, the
many were made sinners, even so, through the 
obedience of one (Jesus) shall many be made 
righteous. (Romans 5: 19) 

In Adam we receive everything that is in Adam;
in Christ we receive everything that is in Christ.
When He was crucified we were crucified there
with Him, because we had been placed in Him.

Nee gives an illustration of a piece of paper that is 
separate from a book. He puts the paper into a 
book and then sends the book to a friend. He sent 
the book, not the paper, but because the paper was 
in the book the paper went with the book. The paper 
has to go where the book goes. It is not separate
from the destiny of the book.

In 1 Corinthians 15:45,47, Jesus is spoken of as
being the Last Adam and the Second Man. As the
last Adam, Christ is the total sum of humanity;
as the Second Man He is the head of a new race.
As the Last Adam His union with the human race
began in Bethlehem and ends at the Cross and the
Tomb--where He took judgement and death. Our
union with Him as the Second Man begins in
resurrection and ends in never ending Eternity. He 
rose again as Head of a new race of men, in whom 
that purpose will eventually be fully realized. As 
Adam He wiped out the old race; as the Second 
Man, He brings in the new race.

"For if we have been planted together in the 
likeness of his death, we shall be also in the 
likeness of his resurrection. (Romans 6:5)

We died in Him as the last Adam; we live in Him 
as the Second Man. The cross is the mighty act 
of God which translates us from Adam to Christ. 
(Watchman Nee; The Normal Christian Life)

Reader, consider the paper in the book. This one
illustration has given me courage when my heart
fails, and I tank.