Christ is ALL You Need

It sounds simplistic, it sounds naive, it may even cliche or black preacher Sunday morning speak but Christ is all you need. HE is enough. HE is enough to save you. HE is enough to develop you. HE is enough to sustain you. HE is enough to keep you. Not only is Christ enough but really HE is everything so if you have Christ you are complete.

I am studying with my Southern Baptist Convention friends and churches this year during their 2014 January Bible Study where we are going through the book of Colossians and the title for the book Lifeway produced for this series is Christ is all you need.

When we study Paul's epistles we see that each has a dominant theme. In Romans, it is justification by faith. In Ephesians, it is the mystery of Christ and his Church. In Philippians, it is the joy which Christ brings. In Colossians, it is the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ as the Head of all creation and of the Church. There is no book in the New Testament, including John's Gospel, which presents such a comprehensive picture of the fullness of Christ. Accordingly, there is no writing better-equipped to draw us upward than the book of Colossians.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. (Col. 3:1)

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him. (Col. 2:6)
 

There are so many experiences that seem to scream out to us "NOT ENOUGH".

Divorce: Your Love is NOT ENOUGH
Job Termination: Your work quality/production is NOT ENOUGH
Bankruptcy: Your Income/assets are NOT ENOUGH
Illness: Your health/body is NOT ENOUGH
Doubt/Confusion: Your wisdom/knowledge is NOT ENOUGH
Friends Complaints: you don't call/text/ communicate....NOT ENOUGH

While in an airport waiting for my plane to be called, I was approached by a young man who wanted to sell me a book. One look at the garish cover told me that the book was filled with Oriental myths and philosophies.

"I have a book here that meets all my needs," I told the young man, and I reached into my briefcase and took out my Bible.

"Oh, we aren't against the Bible!" he assured me. "It's just that we have something more, and it makes our faith even better."

"Nobody can give me more than Jesus Christ has already given me," I replied. I turned to Colossians 2, but by that time the young man was hurrying down the corridor.

Sad to say, there are many Christians who actually believe that some person, religious system, or discipline can add something to their spiritual experience. But they already have everything they ever will need in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Paul's description of our Christ in Colossians 1:15-20 gives 6 tangible reason why Christ is all you will ever need:

JESUS IS GOD 1:15,19
JESUS IS CREATOR 1:16
JESUS IS RULER 1:17A
JESUS IS SUSTAINER 1:17B
JESUS IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH 1:18A
JESUS IS THE SAVIOR 1:20

The church today desperately needs the message of Colossians. We live in a day when religious toleration is interpreted to mean "one religion is just as good as another." Some people try to take the best from various religious systems and manufacture their own private religion. To many people, Jesus Christ is only one of several great religious teachers, with no more authority than they. He may be prominent, but He is definitely not preeminent.

This is an age of "syncretism." People are trying to harmonize and unite many different schools of thought and come up with a superior religion. Our evangelical churches are in danger of diluting the faith in their loving attempt to understand the beliefs of others. Mysticism, legalism, Eastern religions, asceticism, and man-made philosophies are secretly creeping into churches. They are not denying Christ, but they are dethroning Him and robbing Him of His rightful place of preeminence.

As we study this exciting letter, we must heed Paul's warnings: "Lest any man should beguile you" (Col. 2:4), "Lest any man spoil you" (Col. 2:8), "Let no man therefore judge you!" (Col. 2:16)

Looking forward to this January Bible Study