Sufficiency of Christ

2 Corinthians 3:5 “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God”

What does a person need to be sufficient? If receiving all that is needed is to have a sufficient amount of water and food, it would mean that the basics are all we need, but that would leave out so much that people find necessary to life.

When it comes to the Word of Truth, the Bible takes the depth of meaning another step forward in application.

The term ‘sufficient’ is from the root word Hikanos and its application can be found in the Word of God.

Matthew 3:11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy(Hikanos) to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

The sufficiency of Christ is found in His worthiness, or in other words, He is the only One worthy of filling up peoples insufficiencies. The value of knowing and walking in Christ is worth more than gold and that has immeasurable value.

If Christ is the sufficiency then how do people understand the need?

Our Insufficiency

What makes people insufficient? What is it that people are lacking that must be filled?

Colossians 1:24 “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,”

*When God’s people suffer for righteousness, they do so for Christ.

Many new believers simply have not walked with the Lord long enough to grow in maturity while not understanding that maturity comes by way of affliction. Paul was describing to the church that it was by his afflictions the gospel was presented to them. He was doing the work and suffering that they might benefit.

What does this say to us?

• We must not avoid the trials—but learn to grow through them.
• There is a refining that takes place in the life of a believer—it isn’t easy but is necessary.
• When we come through the trials, we find the sufficiency of Christ filling up in us all that we need.

1 Peter 1:6-9 “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.”

*Jesus’ death and resurrection was sufficient for our salvation.

Without the work of Christ, we lack all that is needed for life.

Trials turned to Gold

A common misperception is linking trials to temptation. How can we know whether a trial is from God?

The Lord does not lead His people into temptation, He delivers from temptation. If you place yourself in a position of temptation you can be assured that it wasn’t the Lord who brought you there, but He is still faithful to deliver us from the snare.

James 1:13-14 “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”

*The product of trials is growth and maturity while the nature of temptation is sin and rebellion.

Through the process of trials we see the sufficiency of Christ in sustaining His people and leading them through the storm.

Trials can look like storms that seem to come out of nowhere but also dissipate as quickly as they came. Walking through a trial can appear long and lonely, often seemingly with no end, either way, they aren’t pleasant at the moment.

Proverbs 10:25 “When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.”

Remember…the storms of trial will pass.

Storms of life

The times of trial often occur when we lose someone or something we love, the sadness turns to grieving and the loss can be difficult to endure. If a person is nominal in their faith they might give up, never to return. We can either cast ourselves upon the Lord and remember His precepts of love or demand answers for the pain and focus on ourselves.

Storms of Change—A change of careers is a time of moving from one chapter of life to another, a change of people or friends, and sometimes location. Those times of change can make you feel as if you’re starting over. The progression of life remains consistent for the one who trusts in the Lord. He never changes and whatever He is leading you into is part of His plan. If we consider all that we have grown through and apply it to all we know, we begin to see the building blocks of faith working on our behalf for every situation.

Storms of Confinement—There are times we find ourselves in a place that feels boxed in with nowhere to turn, a seemingly dead-end job, debt that seems impossible to overcome, or being incarcerated and kept in confinement because of previous poor decisions. Bad relationships can make you feel enclosed while the repetition of routine can go on for years. It doesn’t necessarily take a miracle to escape a situation, but if our focus is towards the hope we have in Christ our hope remains steadfast. No matter how the Lord leads, it’s possible He is bringing about consistency in life to show you something you couldn’t see before?

If we react in fear or only consider what our escape plan might be, we will miss the growth that God is desiring to do in the moment. Trust is hard to develop when everything is going well, it grows exponentially when the Lord proves Himself faithful through the trials.

Storms of Consequence—There are also storms that arise from foolish decisions made in life. If we understand sin, we know the difference from right and wrong and yet people still offend God because they have allowed their consciences to be seared through years of neglect. If we forsake God’s law, our sinful desires define our decisions and place our own sense of morality in place of God’s perfection.

God’s pattern of righteousness leads to life, hope, and peace. If we live by our standard of righteousness, we find a foundation that will ultimately be corrupted and lead to pain, heartache, and disappointment.

Recognizing the storm we are in, brings the wisdom for how we should walk through it.

Whether we wait upon the Lord in confinement, trust in the Lord through grief, seek the Lord during times of change, or repent and turn to the Lord during times of difficult consequences—-the way we react will determine how we grow through those times.

Proverbs 12:3 “A man is not established by wickedness, But the root of the righteous cannot be moved.”

Christ is sufficient because His love has been proven. He is the root of righteousness and He is the One that keeps His people grounded. The Lord holds within His hands all that we need or desire. Whatever your circumstances, allow Him to enter into your life and He will bring the wisdom of His Word into view… then He will fill up all that is lacking in life.