Amazing Grace by Watchman Nee

not only to
help people obey the Bible but also obey Bible truth through the Holy Spirit. I
am not in any way denigrating the Bible. I simply maintain that to the Bible
must be added the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer. For the Bible void
of the Holy Spirit is the law. What is needed today is not law but having the
living Christ dwelling in us in order that we might have His leading by means
of God’s Spirit. The Bible is not just law, though many do consider it as simply
law—as the standard for determining
whatever is right or wrong. This is a matter of life and death, and is the
difference between Judaism and Christianity. If we be unclear of this difference,
how can we expect a great revival, for example, in the Chinese south sea area
such as Singapore, the Philippines, and so forth?
    Serving in the house of a medical doctor in Chefoo there
was a maid. Once she came to Shanghai and got saved. She noticed that sisters
had head coverings. She asked why and was told that it was done in obedience to
the teaching of the Bible. Upon hearing this she began wearing a head covering
as other sisters were doing. When she returned home she did the same; so her Christian
mistress asked her why. She really did not know why, so she simply answered
that the Bible taught head covering, and because the other sisters had their heads
covered, she also did the same. Other than that, she knew nothing more. One day
I came to this new sister’s Chefoo home, and her mistress told me the story of
her maid’s head covering. I requested to have her brought to me immediately.
She came, and I told her the following: “I am a representative of the church in
Shanghai, and I wish to tell you that you should not have your head covered for
the reason you stated because we do not have any sister who observes head
covering for the reason you have explained. For the basis of your practice of head
covering is law.”
    Let us be clear on this, which is, that outside rules and
regulations can turn the most spiritual text—the Bible—into a deadening book of
law. One day God had said to Peter, “Listen to My Son; never mind the law and
the prophets.” What God had told Peter He also tells the whole church. Thank
God! Christ Jesus lives not only in heaven, He also lives
today in you and me. We do not listen to law alone, we
should also listen to the leading of the living Christ in relation to that law.
    We must now address the matter of the Old Testament
prophets as represented by Elijah, who had also appeared on the mount with
Jesus. Law is dead rule whereas prophets are living persons. Law cannot be put
forth as the standard for every human act, word, movement or expression of
behavior. You cannot find in the law that which is to govern what I am going to
eat this evening, whether that be rice or congee or
something else. Nor can it define how the church here in Singapore should meet.
You cannot find these matters being determined in the law, since its coverage is
limited. What the law has regulated is good, yet it is comprised of no additional
rules for governing many other matters. That is why during the Old Testament
era, there was not only dead law but also living prophets. For concerning whatever
matter or issue which could not be found in the law you asked the prophets to
inquire of God about on your behalf. The prophets were remedial agents who
could and did fill up what was lacking in the law. You could not ask God
yourself but you could request the prophet to ask Him for you. And then the
prophet would relate to you what God had said.
    Permit me to say that simply to be relieved or released from
the Ten Commandments does not constitute being liberated from the law, since
all outward regulations fall within the scope of the law. On the other hand, whatever
command comes forth from the mouth emanates from the prophet. Back then, you yourself
did not inwardly know God’s will, so you asked the prophet to inquire for you.
Thank God, not