The All-Sufficiency of Jesus Christ

 

 

 

“Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity”

Isaiah 40:15-17

 

“And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance”

Romans 11:26-29

Introduction:

  1. If you know about the living and true God, you know there is nothing you can offer or do sufficient to please Him or save a single soul (Ps 39:5; 49:6-9; 62:9; Isaiah 40:15-17; Rom 3:23; I Pet 1:18).
  2. Sufficient. Of a quantity, extent, or scope adequate to a certain purpose or object. For: (a) to furnish means or material for, to supply to provide for the performance of (a thing). (b) = to provide for the needs or accommodation of, to satisfy (a person or animal). [OED].
  3. Having studied Romans 11:25-29 earlier today, we saw Christ’s sufficiency even for unbelievers.
  4. The ordinary evidence of eternal life is faith and good works, but God there revealed exceptions.
  5. Eternal life is guaranteed not by anything you believe or do, but by what Jesus Christ did for you.
  6. There is only one man standing between you and eternity in the Lake of Fire, and you cannot help.
  7. This opposes every other doctrine of conditional eternal life by faith, truth, sacraments, or works.
  8. With this thought in mind, and our hearts rightly prepared, we come to His Table to remember Him.
  1. Not dependent on faith! The Deliverer came and saved elect Israel (Rom 11:26-29).
  2. Not dependent on truth! The Galatians only fell from grace in doctrine (Gal 5:1-4).
  3. Not dependent on works! Election to Christ’s work is without our works (Ro 11:5-6).
  4. Redemption is finished! Jesus said so before giving up the spirit (Jn 19:30; Heb 9:12).
  5. One Man’s obedience did it! Adam condemned us; Jesus saved us (Romans 5:12-19).
  6. He did it by Himself! Jesus sat down after purging us from our sins (Heb 1:3; 10:12).
  7. Only one Mediator! The Man Jesus Christ stands between God and men (I Tim 2:5).
  8. No other name under heaven! Jesus alone, no other man, saves sinners (Acts 4:12).
  9. God chose a mighty one! Like David, Jesus was a mighty one to save elect (Ps 89:19).
  10. The elect are perfect! There is nothing left to do for them in a legal sense (Heb 10:14).
  11. By means of death! Jesus died to activate the covenant without our help (He 9:15-18).
  12. The prophecy is done! Jesus ended sin, reconciled, and made righteous (Dan 9:24-27).
  13. The book of life is the Lamb’s! God’s integrity guarantees names in it (Re 13:8; 17:8).
  14. He saves to uttermost! Jesus died, but He lives to ensure it (Ro 5:10; 8:34; Heb 7:25).
  15. He guaranteed no loss! Jesus said He would not lose even one elect (John 6:37-39).
  16. He guaranteed all saved! Jesus said he would save all the elect (Jn 10:26-29; 17:1-4).
  17. All charges are dropped! The elect are justified from every single charge (Rom 8:33).
  18. His death was once for all! He died for all sins, all saints, and all time (Heb 10:10).
  19. His blood is for all sin! The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth away all sin (I John 1:7).
  20. God cannot remember sins! The covenant purged God’s memory (Heb 8:12; 10:17).
  21. We are complete in Him! Jesus is the fullness of the Godhead for us (Col 2:8-10).
  22. Death is abolished! The wages of sin are removed – death is now sleep (II Tim 1:10).
  23. God was satisfied by Christ! God saw and accepted the travail of His death (Is 53:11).
  24. Only one way to the Father! Jesus Christ alone is the Way, Truth, and Life (Jn 14:6).
  25. He triumphed over Satan! Jesus openly spoiled him (Col 2:15; Lu 11:22; He 2:14-18).
  26. He was worthy for the book! Jesus alone could open the book (Revelation 5:1-5,9-10).

Conclusion:

  1. Faith is not a co-Saviour with Jesus Christ; any faith involved in redemption is His faith, not ours.
  2. Samuel Richardson (1647), in Justification By Christ Alone, wrote, “That they may not ascribe that which is proper to Christ’s priestly office, to their believing.”
  3. We call heretics what they should be called, heretics; but we do not intend their eternal destiny, for the amount of truth or correctness of truth, or faith, or works does not determine anyone’s destiny.
  4. The Lord Jesus Christ in His life, His death, and His life at the right of God is altogether sufficient.

For Further Study:

  1. Sermon Outline: Jesus Paid It All.
  2. Sermon Outline: Unconditional Salvation.