The Sufficiency of Christ

Ep 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ

• ·         Jesus is the sum of all our blessings.
• ·         The moment we start believing in and accepting Christ, we receive everything we need.. i.e., eternal life (Jn 3:16, 1 Jn 5:11,12).
• ·         All we need as per God is Jesus. Ph 4:19
• ·         And Jesus is not just a sufficient entity, but riches in Glory.

2 Cor 12:9

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

• ·         This verse is very much misunderstood at many places. God actually says NO to Paul when he pleads for healing. That emphasis is shown in the term “thrice” in the previous verse.
• ·         Grace in most cases points to our salvation (John 1:19, Ep 2:8, Titus 2:11). God expects us to pursue salvation alone and nothing else.
• ·         Many of us think that it our right to receive divine healing. But, Paul after pleading did not receive that. It is important to look for God’s will in our healing (1 John 5:14)
• ·         God says that His Grace is sufficient. And this verse does not come as a blessing, but an answer and a strict commandment too. Anything we desire beyond grace will be sin.
• ·         Perfect in weakness. God, sometimes wants us to endure weakness, incapabilities, shortcomings so that we will see the complete power of God.
• ·         Paul goes to an extent of boasting of his weaknesses in the next verse (2 Cor 12:10)

Phil 3:8 (v11 in tamil)

• “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ”.
• ·         Everything is a loss when we did not have gained Jesus.
• ·         We mistakenly think that if we give a lot to the Church or ministries, it seems that we are gaining Christ. (Is 1:12 onwards).
• ·         Mat 13:44,45 Both these verses show how important it is for us to lose everything we have just for the sake of buying Jesus.
• ·         Unless we pursue salvation and then move towards, Christlikeness… That is letting the face of God  shine upon us. (Ps 67:1).