Jesus Really Is Enough

Where do you look when you find yourself in need? To whom do you turn when there is a deficiency? Who do you look to for answers? To expect any person, preacher, group, ideals, trends, methods, technique, organization, or entity other than Christ Jesus to be our total provision and supply in life—both external and internal—is to deny, to some degree, the sufficiency of Christ. That is correct! The Lord Jesus really is plenty for any need we may experience. Note the thoughts of Paul and then Peter:

2 Cor. 9:8, And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 

2 Peter 1:3-4, According as his [Jesus Christ] divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: [4] Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

These verses tell us that God did not leave out anything regarding our needs! He has thought of it all and will or has supplied every need we have or could have. The broader truth is Jesus is our all sufficient Lord! It is equally true that we must grow in our awareness of His great supply towards us.
                                                                                                           

In the first century, false teachers made claims to the new believers that Jesus Christ might be sufficient for some of their needs—perhaps even many or most of their needs.  But that other traditional customs and beliefs were necessary in addition to Christ for a person to experience a total supply of all things. They taught that while Christ Jesus might be sufficient for a person's spiritual salvation, Christ Jesus could not fulfill all practical, emotional, psychological, material, or social needs.

The apostle Paul soundly rejected the claims of these false teachers in a letter that we know as the book of Colossians in the New Testament. This entire letter is devoted to Paul's claim that Christ Jesus is 100 percent sufficient to meet all human needs, now and forever.

                                                                                                           

JESUS CHRIST IS STILL THE SINGULAR ANSWER!

Col. 2:10, And ye are complete in him [The Lord Jesus Christ], which is the head of all…

All that is necessary to live and develop in the Lord Jesus is found in Him in sufficient supply and in full satisfaction whatever the need may be in our lives. Beloved, we are complete in Christ.

“BUT THAT WAS THEN, AND THIS IS NOW!”

“But what does this have to do with me today?”  You may ask.  Paul was writing to people who lived in the ancient past, not the modern world.”

    1.  This is a Direct Attack on the All Satisfying Ability of Jesus Christ the Lord!

The same arguments that were made to the believers in the early churches are being made to Christians and non-Christians today! The sufficiency of Christ Jesus is attacked from many sides, at times directly and boldly, and at times indirectly and with great subtlety. Unfortunately, believers are still falling for the devil's lies instead of trusting God's truth in Christ.

    2.  What You and I Need is an Old Fashion Dose of the Real Lord Jesus Christ.

“No,” says Paul to the Colossians and to us, “you don't need anything beyond Christ Jesus.” Note his words in Colossians 2:5-10,

 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.    [6] As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: [7] Rooted [Deeply fixed in the nourishing soil of Christ] and built up in him [Like a Building Rising and Developing on the Foundation of Christ], and stablished [Continually Confirming the Truth in your heart] in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein [Overflowing, Captivated, and Motivated] with thanksgiving. [8] Beware [Maintain a Sharp Look-out] lest any man spoil you through philosophy [Wisdom and Intelligence Apart from God] and vain deceit [Empty Lies; False Secret Insights known only to a Select Few], after the tradition [Religious Practices Not Based on Scripture] of men, after the rudiments [Worldly Ideals, Rules, and Values] of the world, and not after Christ. [9] For in him [Christ] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily [Christ is the Eternal All Sufficient Lord]. [10] And ye are complete [Everything we need for Life and Godliness] in him [Christ], which is the head of all principality and power:        

                                                                                                                                   

Beloved, because of these truths and Paul’s constant proclamation of Jesus Christ as the perfect, divine, all sufficient Lord, we don’t need to add anything to Him and His work to find fulfillment, completion, confidence, maturity, power, victory, or meaning in this life and the next!  We can boldly say then, away with Christian Science, away with Jehovah’s Witnesses, away with Second Blessings and Tongue Talking, Away with the lies of Modern Psychology and all the rest who contend that we need more then God to make it in this life. Why would a genuine believer accept a teaching, or idea that slights the power, deity, satisfaction, and sufficiency that is in Jesus Christ?  I don’t understand it!  It is obvious that such a person does not understand what they received when they trusted Jesus Christ to save them. 

                                                                                                           

WE DO NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND WHO CHRIST IS!

This is where the problem truly lies.  The Lord God is never the problem.  In fact, He is always the solution.  But, men sure can overlook and even ignore what the Lord Jesus can do and who he really is.

   1.  My Experience as a Missionary/Pastor Confirms This.

In my work as a pastor I have encountered countless church-going, Christ-believing people who have fallen prey to arguments that Christ is not sufficient to meet all of their needs. 

   2.  This Study Explores the Sufficiency of Christ.

It is focused much on the book of Colossians.  It deals with three questions that are vital to the life of every believer:

Who is Christ Jesus—really? What has Christ Jesus already provided for me as a person who believes that He is God? How can I experience the full sufficiency of Christ Jesus in my life on a practical and personal level? Paul labors to answer these important questions in Colossians 1:14-22,

In whom [Christ our Lord] we have redemption [Redeemer] through his blood [Blood Atonement], even the forgiveness of sins [Forgiver]: [15] Who is the image of the invisible God [Revealer and Representative of God], the firstborn [The Unique Superior and Sovereign over creation] of every creature: [16] For by him were all things created [Creator], that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones [Superior to All Creatures], or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him [Originator], and for him [Supreme Purpose and Meaning]: [17] And he is before all things [Preeminent One], and by him all things consist [The Providential Sustainer]. [18] And he is the head of the body [The Leader of the Church], the church: who is the beginning [The Source of the New Creation], the firstborn [The Superior Resurrection, Glorified Body] from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. [Preeminent One][19] For it pleased the Father that in him [God the Son] should all fulness dwell; [The Complete Fullness of God Permanently Indwells Christ] [20] And, having made peace through the blood [The Peace Sacrifice for Sin] of his cross, by him to reconcile [The Reconciler] all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. [21] And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled [22] In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

We hope to expand on the significance of these truths concerning Christ our Lord who satisfies our every need!

                                                                       

  3.  The Fact Is, If We Don't Fully Know Christ Jesus, We Cannot Know His Sufficiency.

Ignorance Regarding Christ is Dangerous! And if we do not believe that He is sufficient, and have an ability to access His sufficiency, we are vulnerable to arguments that can lead us astray—away from Christ and away from the perfection to which Christ calls us.

Informed Regarding Christ is Victorious! On the other hand, if we have a deep understanding of all that Christ has provided for us and all that He makes available to us, we have a solid foundation on which to grow and develop in every area of our lives. A solid foundation, one established on the eternal principles of God's Word, must become our desire if we truly are to live meaningful, satisfying, and victorious lives!  Yes, Jesus Christ is still the singular answer!

JESUS IS OUR ALL-SUFFICIENT LORD!

2 Cor. 9:8, And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

2 Peter 1:3, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

Beloved, if God cannot meet our needs then we are completely hopeless and certainly no mere man can come up with a great solution to every one of our challenges.  We do have difficulty believing God for everything, all the time, and in every situation. But, in our moments of doubt, we will actually consider what some self-important human being said, while ignoring the power, wisdom, and love of Christ Jesus.  But, still we contend that Jesus is our all-sufficient Lord.  God can meet our needs whatever they may be, however complex they may appear to us.  God has never had to scratch his head in bewilderment, he has never been perplexed, he knows nothing of being puzzled and stomped by our challenges.  Just because we are limited in our perception of Christ’s all ability does not modify one bit His complete sufficiency!

SUFFICIENCY

2 Cor. 3:5, Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

     1. Sufficiency —all that is needed in ample supply.

     2. Supply —what is needed to meet a particular need, solve a specific problem, or overcome a remarkable lack.

     3.  Source —a fountainhead of supply that produces sufficiency.

These three terms—sufficiency, supply, and source—will be used almost interchangeably in this study because Jesus Christ is our Sufficiency for an abundant life, our Supply or Provision, and our Source of wholeness in this life and eternal life in the future.

SCRIPTURE

2 Cor. 12:9-10, And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. [10] Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

    1.  Christ’s Sufficiency is a Biblical Teaching.

How do we know this? Because that is what the Bible teaches about Jesus Christ. This study is based upon the belief that the Bible gives us the whole truth and nothing but the truth about Jesus Christ. My hope as you engage in this study is that you will turn again and again in the Bible to conclude what the Lord Jesus is able to do for you.  Make this study your study about the sufficiency of Christ!

    2.  Scripture is the Final Authority on Who Jesus Christ is.

Countless other books tell about methods and means other than Christ as a foundation for completeness, sufficiency, and everlasting supply. The Bible, however, is God's truth about who Jesus Christ is—really, and about what Christ provides for us. It is when we understand and apply what the Bible says that we truly come to know Christ Jesus as our Sufficiency. Make the Bible your ultimate authority on Jesus Christ and how to get your needs met, and you won't be disappointed!

  

    3.  Grow in Your Comprehension of Christ’s Sufficiency.

Never stop exploring the riches of God's Word on any topic, but especially on the sufficiency of Christ Jesus. The truth of Christ's sufficiency is a lesson that is always timely, and that is always applicable in new ways. Grow in your understanding … and choose to continue growing in your understanding of His sufficiency all the days of your life.

The Savior can solve every problem,

The tangles of life can undo.

There’s nothing too hard for Jesus;

There’s nothing that He cannot do. —Author unknown