The All-Sufficient Christ: A Sermon on Colossians 1:24

Colossians 1: 24:  “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions.”  (NASB).

Of all the verses used against the all-sufficiency of Christ’s appeasing, atoning and satisfying sacrifice, it is this single verse.  There is a view out in this depraved world that says the Lord Christ’s atonement is insufficient.  As Reformed believers we rightly say that the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ is all-sufficient, complete in all respects.  It is common nowadays for people to reject the all-sufficient atonement of the Lamb of God.  These spiritual beasts see divine Scripture with corrupted sight, and minds seared with a hot iron.  We understand that God Himself is all-sufficient.  We know that He is all-sufficient because of the clear testimony of divine Scripture.  Similarly we know that we do not need to turn to heavenly saints in glory, because our God is all-sufficient.  Those who turn to saints in glory, in practice believe their God as not sufficient enough to meet their daily troubles, trails, tribulation and requests.  In all respects our God is all-sufficient, and therefore, we do not need to turn to glorified saints in glory.  As Christ is the all-sufficient Savior and Redeemer, so too, is God all-sufficient in our daily prayer lives.  We do not errantly suppose that intercessory prayer is the same as praying to saints, or asking saints in glory for prayer.  We know the truth of divine Scripture, and we submit to it with all our heart, mind and strength. 

Let us look at what divine Scripture says about sufferings, and how it relates to the verse in consideration:

Acts 1:3, To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.

2 Corinthians 1:5, For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:7, and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.

Philippians 3:10, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

2 Thessalonians 1:5, This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.

2 Timothy 1:8, Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,

Hebrews 2:9, But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

Hebrews 2:10, For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.

1 Peter 1:11, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

We are to participate in the sufferings of Christ but we do not add or contribute to the atonement of Christ.  The life of the Christian involves sufferings.  Let us consideration what Christ said about the despisement of Christ.

John 15 records in verse 18 and 19:

 18"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.

 19"If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.

We see in John 17:

John 17:14, "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world…”

Here we see in Matthew 5 suffering in terms of persecution:

10"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11"Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

12"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

But we see that the atonement of Christ is what makes Christianity what it is.  We might even get persecuted because of it.  As Christians we shall suffer but it does add to the atonement of Christ.  How could my sinful appeasement of God avail?  How does it compare to Christ?  Wasn’t Christ the sinless One who fully appeased the Father’s wrath?  Christianity, as Luther said, is the Theology of the Cross.  It is central, fundamental and essential to biblical, orthodox Christianity.  Without it there is no redemption, satisfaction, ransom, propitiation, expiation or divine imputed righteousness.  Without the cross we are left spiritually naked, and vulnerable to the just and holy wrath of God the Father.  We are left helpless to purse practical righteousness, and we are people who are most miserable.  We desperately need the all-sufficient righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We need it as a basis for holiness, and our sins need to imputed to our divine Savior.  He freely offered Himself to atone, and appease the Father in our behalf.  That is, Christ Jesus our Lord and Redeemer died in behalf of elect sinners.  He died according to the predetermined plan of God.  God sovereignly knew His chosen, and Christ died particularly for His own.  We need to understand that Christ would not supply to His people an insufficient atonement.  His atonement would not be devoid of all-sufficient mercy, grace and truth.  We would know that Christ would not offer to His people an inadequate sacrifice.  That is, Scripture tells us that Christ paid the debt His people could not pay in full, in completion, and in perfection.  We read in Hebrews 10:

1For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

2For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

3But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

5Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

6In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

7Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

 8Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

 9Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

 11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

 13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

15Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

16This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

 17And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

18Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

As the cross of Christ is all-sufficient, so too, is the grace of Christ.  The grace of Christ is all-sufficient.  It is the characteristic of His plan of salvation.  We see people today adding to the gospel of grace and peace.  We see people adding to the cross of Christ.  Why? To satisfy their worldly desires; to exalt their traditions above Scripture; to preach doctrines of demons and foreign doctrines alien to His divine, infallible, inerrant Word.  The all-sufficient cross of Christ is based, founded, rooted in His divine Word.  We ought to exalt God by proclaiming His doctrine of the sufficiency of the Lord Jesus Christ.  People want to exalt unbiblical traditions to find a way to make room for their deceptive doctrines.  We need to be firmly planted in the Word of God by the Spirit of God so we will not fade away into false doctrines.  We need to love truth more then we love this world.  We need to be committed to truth above the false doctrines of men.  Do you see the truth that God has given His people?  Do see that it is more precious then fine silver, gold and all the riches of this world?  Do see you have a greater treasure then what the world offers, and that nothing compares to it?  Do you not see that the truth of the all-sufficient Cross is far greater then the pleasures of the world, flesh and Satan?  You possess a great treasure; an eternal treasure unlike anything on earth.  The God-man, Jesus Christ, gave His life for His people.  Do you see His righteousness upon you?  How it is unlike anything on earth!  Do you see that without it you would not be able to stand?  Do you see that His divine righteousness is greater then all the “merit” of saints, and that of Rome?  I suggest to you that that all the merit of the saints in and of themselves cannot compare with the divine righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.  I suggest to you that the divine righteousness of Christ is far more superior then the purification of purgatory.  How awesome, radiant, bright!  How pure, holy, just!  1 Peter says,

18knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,

 19but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

20For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you

21who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Here we see the precious blood of Christ:  Have you not seen how “Protestants” have left their professed faith and joined Rome?   Have they not left the heavenly treasure of His divine righteousness and chosen the jewels of Rome?  When people add to the righteousness of Christ they nullify grace.  I was in a Romanists church when I was unconverted.  This was years ago, but I remember the deacon who gave the sermon, disputed the fact of the sufficiency of the Cross.  He said we do not believe as the Protestants that the Cross alone is sufficient.  That is, they add to it.  Now I think to myself, what a miserable place!  What a place full of dread, misery, confusion!  How does denying His sufficiency exalt, honor, praise Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior?  Does it honor God when it denies the most fundamental truth of Christianity?  Is it not essential and central to the gospel of Jesus Christ?  How daring of mere men to muddle His Cross as to get people to believe it is insufficient.  When we see such muddling and confusion we cannot help but to have compassion on them.  Our hearts cannot help to burn within us in the fire of devotion to Christ to proclaim the gospel to them.  What a sinner man is; he adds to that which saves, and nullifies God’s grace and peace!  Such people are condemned and under divine judgment.  But there is room at the Cross; yes, there is room!  Proclaim this room at the Cross, and if God’s Spirit is at work, mighty things will happen!  Oh, yes!  Come divine Spirit work a mighty work in the hearts of men! 

These days not only the sufficiency of the Cross is denied but the sufficiency of the divine Spirit.  People believe in baptismal regeneration, but here we see a great historical and theological error.  We profess, based on Scripture, that the Spirit is all-sufficient to bring about the change of the heart through the power of the Word of God.  Do you not know that the Word of Christ, that is, the Word of God is all-sufficient?  Nowadays as in the past in church history people deny the sufficiency of God’s Word.  They use oral tradition to overthrow Scripture.  This error was committed by the religious leadership of the day of the Lord Jesus.  But we, dearly beloved, need to remain consistent, and faithful to the Word of God.  We do not see the Lord Jesus using traditions of men to overthrow Scripture, but, rather, we see Christ submitting to Scripture, and exalt the God of Scripture.  Once they add oral tradition to their system they muddle the message of the God of divine Scripture.  We must be committed to divine Scripture alone as the sole infallible authority for life, faith and morals.  We dare not forget that divine Scripture is a divine artifact of history; it is indeed a heavenly artifact (not from heaven itself) but surely God-breathed from heaven through holy men of old. 

Haven’t Evangelicals lost their commitment to the divine Word of God?  I suggest to that when people convict to Rome and others support it who claim to be “Evangelical” there is a real crisis of faith in our day.  We live in a time of post-evangelicalism; where the Word is replaced with subjective feeling, and the Spirit is replaced with tradition of men.  How shall we survive in these troubling times?  Shall we recant like the rest and be worshippers of the way of Rome?  Shall we commit ourselves to the way of tolerance, and “respect” the “other” faith?  Why do people consider Rome another denomination?  Is it just another way to express thee Christian faith?  Is it consistent with the divine Scriptures?  Is it not incompatible with Scripture?  But we see people embracing Rome and what it teaches.  People are committed to their teachings, and it is far from the truth of Scripture.  But in the face of people abandoning the Christian faith, we must remain stedfast, devoted, dedicated to the love of the truth.  The seduction of error and wrongdoing is quite compelling to depraved sinners.  The seduction of external forms and idolatry seems to break the wall of human defense, and people commit themselves to error.  But if they would only know the brightness; the sweetness; the pureness of Christ, they would not embrace idols made with man’s hands.  Their idols can neither walk, talk nor hear yet they serve them, and even pray unto them.  I suggest to you that we must have an eternal level of devotion and passion for truth otherwise we will be swept away with the idolatry of Rome. 

Why is it that we see Rome advocating dogmas like the Assumption of Mary?  Why it is that they worship a piece of bread they claim is Christ?  It is because of their spiritual corruption.  The characteristic of the Roman Church is spiritual irrationality and insanity.  We see this in her adherence to grossly false doctrine, and their embrace and proclamation of these spurious dogmas is a providential indication of her departure from the truth of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We see them rejecting the Reformed doctrine of the all-sufficiency of Jesus Christ on the Cross.  But we see them adhering to the blasphemies of “Sacred Tradition” that has led their church to the inspiration of falsehood.  I suggest to you that Rome rejects the all-sufficient Christ because of their blinding bondage in thorough depravity, and gross and willful ignorance of divine Scripture.  God has given them over to themselves to practice their spurious traditions that do not save the soul but place the soul in spiritual bondage.  Her doctrinal tyranny over her people is clearly seen in the anathemas of the people of God who reject their foundationless, Scriptureless, irrational proclamations. One can only wonder and stand in bewilderment about her declarations.  You would think the alleged church of Peter and Paul would proclaim the faith once and for all delivered to the saints.  But she is far removed from Scriptural integrity, and rational basis.  But the all-sufficient Christ was the doctrine of Peter and Paul, but the Marian dogmas—they knew nothing of.  What a departure we see, then, in the Roman Church.  There is an eternal gulf that exists between the divine Scriptures and the Church of Rome.  Like the gulf that existed in the story of Jesus about the rich man and the poor man in the afterlife, so too, is there a gulf to that extent between the holy Scriptures and the Church of Rome. 

People should flock to the biblical Christ.  He is indeed the all-attracting Christ of divine Scripture.  But we see people serving another Jesus and a different Jesus.  We see people worshipping a Jesus that is not of divine Scripture.  How has this happened?  It rests on the issue of authority.  What is the ultimate authority for doctrine and teaching?  Is it not the divine Scriptures that Old Testament saints, Christ Himself and His apostles proclaimed?  People embrace subjective feelings and teachings; speculative theology; and theological foolishness.  As a Reformed Baptist, I teach man is radically corrupt (or better known as total depravity).  We can easily account for the depravity of man because we know Scripture teaches it clearly and plainly.  When we see a departure from the true Christian faith we see the depravity of man in sin at work in excess.  I suggest to you that internal reasoning is flawed because of their bondage in sin.  Sin effects every department of man—his will, emotion, mind and body.  The divine remedy for sin is Christ in faithful repentance.  My message to the Church of Rome is plain and simple:  repent and believe in the gospel.  Dogmas that exalt men are not true dogma.  We must submit to the testimony of divine Scripture.  Holy Scripture plainly teaches the gospel of grace; the gospel of God; the gospel of Christ; the gospel of peace.  We must submit to the divine Scripture and exalt, honor, and praise our Lord Jesus Christ.  We honor Him by what we teach from Scripture, but we dishonor Him when we teach unbiblical traditions.  We exalt Him when we proclaim divine Scripture, but we desecrate Him when we teach doctrines that tickle our ears.  We praise Him by worshipping and adoring Him, but we commit idolatry when we venerate idols made with human hands. 

Let us fly unto the all-sufficient Christ.  Let us cling to Him with empty hands of faith before it is too late.  Let us commit ourselves by grace to Him who was dead and now lives forevermore.  Why do men teach man-made doctrines?  To take glory away from Him who sufficiency atoned for sin, and who provided eternal redemption for His own.  I suggest to you that if Christ Himself was on earth the Church of Rome would crucify Him afresh.  Not only Him, but they would murder the apostles, especially Peter and Paul.  They may not realize it but they would destroy the Prince of Life if He came and proclaimed the message of the Reformed faith.  He would proclaim the biblical message of divine Scripture (as Reformed theology teaches).  The all-sufficient One is reduced to daily sacrifices that perfect no one; the all-sufficient One is said have opened heaven, but His divine righteousness lurks in the dust of Rome, where saints and Mary have excess merit that help poor sinners on their way to purgatory.  The all-sufficient One is replaced with the purification of treasury of merit and purgatory.  What desecration, violation and sin!  What blasphemes abound, and how God is utterly dishonored!  As it was said that purgatory was invented because of the corrupt lives of Popes, but I suggest to you that purgatory purifies no one but leaves a tomb of the unsaved, unconverted and unredeemed.  Far be it from them; they wish to exalt God with their doctrine of folly, and they offer peace that surpasses the sleep of the deadest corpse that will reside in the pit of hell. 

They reject the all-sufficient Christ and give their people a substitute that can not take away sin.  Has not Christ provided the all-sufficient atonement for sin?  Has He not atoned and made full satisfaction for His people?  Has He not paid the debt His people could never pay in perfection and completion?  Has He not offered the only well-pleasing sacrifice of Himself to His Holy Father?  Has He not offered Himself in our place sufficiently and perfectly?  Why do you seek another way beside His glorious atonement?  Why do you venture into spiritual madness by denying God’s Reformed doctrine about His atonement?  Why do you think the daily masses will perfect you when if you commit mortal sin, and die; will you not go to hell?  How is that an illustration of the perfect Savior?  How is that God-glorifying?  How is that honoring to God in truth and grace?  For far be it from Christ if that is true grace and peace.  Far be from Christ if that exalts Him.  Far be it from Christ if it honors Him.  Far be it if it is what divine Scripture teaches. 

We see Protestants rejecting their faith and embracing the doctrines of Rome.  They see Rome and say, “How illuminating their doctrines to the soul!”  At an appearance she appears life-transforming, and yet they provide no transformation.  How they provide grace to the soul, yet it is nothing more then emotional subjectivity.  How they provide peace and comfort to the soul, yet they prepare their loyal followers for the calamity of hell and the discomfort of eternal torment.  How they provide sound doctrine to their new comers, yet in the sight of God, and the plain testimony of Scripture it is a dishonorable foolishness of gross sin.  How they provide daily sacrifices of the “Real Presence of Christ in the Roman Eucharist,” and yet it is devoid of the true spiritual sacrifice offered once and for all on Calvary.   How they say they have the teachings of Christ and the Vicar of Christ, yet they have departed from the Faith of Christ, and the true Vicar of Christ, the Holy Spirit.  How they say their Sacred Tradition is the Word of God, yet they embrace dogmas never held by the apostles.  These conversions are converted unconverted people; saints who are unsainted; pilgrims who are journeyless; Christians who are unchristian; the faithful who are the unfaithful.  They are pilgrims headed for a place of a desolate land; a place absent from God’s mercy; a place of abounding sin and torment. 

But they cry, “No, it leads to where the Queen is.”  But we say “No, it is where the King is.”  But they cry, “No, it is where the Bodily Assumed Virgin is.”  But we say, “No, it is where the Bodily Ascended Christ is.”  But they cry, “No, it is where Christ comes down from heaven and offered in the Eucharist.”  But we cry with Augustine, “No, it is where Christ sits at the right hand of God.”  But they cry, “No, it is where we will be when we finish purgatory.”  But we cry, “No, it is where the All-sufficient Lamb of God intercedes for His beloved people.”  We see the difference and eternal contrast between the Roman Church and the divine Scriptures.  We see it is not merely on the sufficiency of Christ but on many dogmas.  We see that doctrine divides and I thank God for this, for do you wish to be united to Rome who embraces traditions of men?  Does light have fellowship with darkness?  Does Christ have partnership with Satan?  Does Christ have fellowship with traditions of men and doctrines of demons?  Does God have fellowship with an appeasing sacrifice that does not perfect people forever (e.g., by commission of mortal sin)? 

Here we see Paul using the term Savior of Christ Jesus.  Jesus is indeed the perfect Savior:

Titus 1:3, but at the proper time manifested, even His word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior,
Titus 1:4, To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
Titus 2:10, not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.
Titus 2:13, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,
Titus 3:4, But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,
Titus 3:6, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

Let us also read divine Scripture in the subject of divine redemption.  Here is what Christ Jesus did...

We have redemption through His blood.  Ephesians 1:7, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace…” 

We have forgiveness of sins.  Colossians 1:14, “in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” 

We eternal redemption through His own blood.  Hebrews 9:12, and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 

Redemption is only in Christ Jesus and in none else.  Romans 3:24, “being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus…”

We see the glorious, splendorous, magnificent Christ!  Oh the sweetest truth in the all-sufficient Christ.  Redemption is exclusively found in Christ Jesus our Lord and Redeemer.  His atonement is sufficient—

O sufficient Christ the Lord

Fully satisfied God’s justice

Eternal redemption accomplished

Christ the Redeemer and King

All-sufficient, enough and perfect

Full redemption, Purchased possession

We must remain loyal to Christ and His church.  We must remain faithful and uncompromising about His truth.  Let us live in conformity to His truth and proclaim His message of the all-sufficient Savior who came with a divine purpose to save His own to the uttermost.  Hebrews 9:14 says, “how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Amen.