Much of what is preached and taught among Christians today concerns the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus, that is, the work He did during His life on the earth. However, just as the person of Christ has two aspects, so does His ministry. While He was on earth, He was the man Jesus. Since His ascension into heaven, however, He is the glorified Christ. His earthly ministry lasted for only a limited time, but His heavenly ministry is eternal; it will never end. What is Christ doing now? In this book, Witness Lee answers this question, opening up the second part of Christ’s ministry, the heavenly ministry, the ministry that continues today.

When God created man, He placed him before two trees: the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life. In warning man to avoid the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, God indicated His desire for man to eat of the tree of life, signifying that man should receive God as his life supply. Witness Lee unveils in The Tree of Life that God is not looking for well-behaved Christians; He is looking for those who will experience and enjoy Christ as the reality of the tree of life.

The Collected Works of Witness Lee, 1954, volume 3, contains messages given by Brother Witness Lee in 1954 through 1956. Historical information concerning Brother Lee's travels and the content of his ministry in 1954 can be found in the general preface that appears at the beginning of volume 1 in this set. The contents of this volume are divided into three sections, as follows: 1. Seven messages given in 1954. The place and time are not accurately known. These messages were previously published in a book entitled Dead to Law but Living to God and are included in this volume under the same title. 2. Six messages given in Manila, Philippines, and Taipei, Taiwan, in 1954 through 1956. These messages were previously published in a book entitled The Service for Building Up the House of God and are included in this volume under the same title. 3. Two hundred sixty-six outlines compiled from messages given in Taipei, Taiwan, in October 1954 on gospel subjects from the Old Testament and the New Testament and various special topics. These outlines were previously published in a book entitled Gospel Outlines and are included in this volume under the same title.

This book presents a vision of Christ and the church. It then goes on the emphasize the need to experience this Christ as the Spirit in our spirit and to practice the church life on the ground of oneness.