There is a lie that has plagued the church throughout its history: Jesus may be good (and all) but He is not absolutely sufficient. The (Satanic) half-truth is that we need something more (or else) in addition to the Lord Jesus Christ!
You need Christ—but you also need human wisdom and worldly philosophy.
You need Christ—but you also need a special knowledge or new revelation that other Christians don't possess.
The Apostle Paul wrote the book of Colossians to confront this kind of thinking.
His message is remarkably simple, but profoundly important:
We don't need something more or something else. Christ is sufficient! All we have and all we need is found in Thee!
That message was desperately needed then and now.
A Small but Healthy Church Facing False Teaching
The book of Colossians was written to believers in the city of Colossae, a city in the Lycus Valley of Asia Minor. The church appears to have been established through the ministry of Epaphras, who had come to faith and apparently brought the gospel back to his hometown.
Paul himself had apparently never visited Colossae. It was a town that history has long forgotten and was not a notable place. Yet the caring Christ-like shepherd, Paul, cared deeply about these believers.
While imprisoned, Paul received information about the church and about some of the teachings that were beginning to threaten their understanding of Christ.
The problem was not simply that the Colossians were being tempted to abandon Christianity altogether.
The danger was subtler.
They were being tempted to believe that Christ was not sufficient. They needed Christ, but perhaps they also needed something else. Something more.
And that is one of Satan's favorite strategies.
He doesn't always tell people to reject Christ.
Sometimes he simply convinces them that Christ isn't enough.
The Danger of Adding to Christ
False teaching often begins with something that sounds reasonable.
“Of course you need Jesus.”
But then comes the addition:
“You also need this.”
You need Christ plus human philosophy.
Christ plus religious ritual (ascetism) .
Christ plus mystical experiences and special knowledge (mysticism).
Christ plus human rules and/or regulations (legalism/moralism).
Christ plus something that supposedly makes your faith complete.
But the moment we add something to Christ as necessary for our spiritual standing before God, we have undermined the sufficiency of Christ.
Paul's answer to the Colossians is not to give them a list of additional spiritual experiences.
His answer is to give them more Christ.
Again and again throughout this letter, Paul directs our attention to the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Why?
Because when we understand who Christ is, we realize that we don't need something more.
We need to know Him better.
Paul Begins and Ends With Christ
Paul begins his letter in a very ordinary way:
“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.”
Even in these opening verses, Paul establishes something fundamental. His authority and ministry calling comes from God. In principle this is true of pastors today as well (though shepherd-leaders today are not first century Apostles).
His readers are identified as “saints and faithful brethren in Christ.”
That little phrase—“in Christ”—is one of the most important descriptions of a Christian in the entire New Testament.
A Christian is someone who is in Christ.
Our identity is not ultimately found in our occupation.
It isn't found in our accomplishments.
It isn't found in our social standing.
It isn't found in our possessions.
It isn't even found in our failures.
For the believer, our defining identity is that we belong to Jesus Christ.
We are in Him.
That changes everything.
What Does It Mean to Be “In Christ”?
To be “in Christ” means that we have been united to Him through faith.
His righteousness becomes the basis of our acceptance before God (His robes for mine, what wonderful exchange).
His death is the payment and atonement for our sin.
His resurrection is the guarantee of life everlasting.
His victory becomes our victory.
The Christian doesn't come before God saying, “Look at what I have accomplished.”
The Christian comes saying, “Look at Christ.”
That is why Christ is sufficient.
Our salvation does not depend upon our ability to add something to what Jesus has already accomplished.
Jesus Christ accomplished redemption completely.
This is why the gospel is such good news!
Christ Is Sufficient for Our Greatest Problem
Every human being has a fundamental problem: sin has separated us from a holy God.
We don't need a better self-help program.
We don't need improved human wisdom.
We don't need a flurry of religious activity.
We need reconciliation with God.
And Christ provides exactly that (see also 2 Corinthians 5).
Paul's message throughout Colossians is that Jesus Christ is supreme over creation, supreme over the church, supreme over salvation, and supreme over everything that exists.
If Christ is who Paul says He is, then there is no deficiency in Him.
The deficiency is in us.
We don't need something added to Christ.
We need Christ.
Christ Is Sufficient for the Christian Life
But Paul's message doesn't stop at conversion.
Christ is not merely sufficient to save us.
Christ is sufficient to sustain us.
The Christian life is not:
“Jesus saved me, and now I have to figure out the rest.”
No.
The same Christ who saves us also sanctifies us.
The same Christ who begins the work carries it forward.
This is why Paul's message in Colossians will continually point believers back to Christ.
We are not called to move beyond Christ.
We are called to grow deeper in Christ.
Paul later says:
“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him…”
The Christian life is about continuing in the Christ we received.
We don't graduate from Christ.
We grow in Christ.
Unbiblical Theology Demands a Biblical Response
One of the first lessons we should learn from Colossians is that unbiblical theology demands a biblical response.
Paul did not ignore the false teaching threatening the church.
He confronted it.
Why?
Because what we believe about Christ matters.
Doctrine matters.
Truth matters.
The church cannot simply say, “Everyone has his own opinion.”
When the identity, person, or work of Jesus Christ is distorted, the church must respond with Scripture.
The answer to false teaching is not human cleverness.
It is biblical truth.
And the best defense against a counterfeit Christ is a clear understanding of the real Christ.
Radical Commitment Marks Christ's Disciples
A second lesson is that genuine Christianity produces radical commitment.
Paul identifies the Colossians as “saints and faithful brethren in Christ.”
Being a Christian isn't merely agreeing with certain facts about Jesus.
It is belonging to Jesus.
If Christ is truly sufficient, then He deserves our complete allegiance.
Christ doesn't ask to be one part of our lives. He is Lord. That means He has authority over our relationships, our finances, our work, our entertainment, our ambitions, our families, our time, and our future. The Lordship of Christ is a profoundly practical reality!
We don't add Jesus to an already established life. Jesus changes us (from the inside out).
True Followers of Christ Live Differently
Finally, Colossians reminds us that those who belong to Christ are called to a new manner of living.
Paul will spend the first portion of this letter explaining the greatness of Christ and the believer's position in Him.
Then he will spend considerable time explaining how that truth should transform the way we live.
That's important.
Christianity is never merely information.
Truth produces transformation.
Because Christ is sufficient, we can put away the old manner of life.
Because Christ is sufficient, we can pursue holiness.
Because Christ is sufficient, we can forgive others.
Because Christ is sufficient, we can love sacrificially.
Because Christ is sufficient, we can endure suffering.
Because Christ is sufficient, we can live differently from the world around us.
Our behavior doesn't earn our salvation.
Rather, our behavior should demonstrate that Christ has saved us.
We Don't Need Something More or Something Else
As we begin our journey through Colossians, I want us to keep one truth before us:
We don't need something more or something else. Christ is sufficient!
Are you struggling with guilt?
Look to Christ.
Are you struggling with temptation?
Look to Christ.
Are you struggling with fear?
Look to Christ.
Are you searching for meaning?
Look to Christ.
Are you confused by the competing philosophies of this world?
Look to Christ.
Are you wondering whether God's grace is sufficient for you?
Look to Christ.
The answer isn't found in moving beyond Jesus.
The answer is found in knowing Jesus more deeply.
Colossians will take us into the depths of Christ's person and work.
We will see His supremacy.
We will see His sufficiency.
We will see His authority.
We will see His glory.
And as we do, we will discover that Paul was right.
Christ is enough.
We don't need something more.
We don't need something else.
We need to know, love, trust, obey, and treasure the Christ we already have.
As Paul will remind us later in this letter:
“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.”
That is the Christian life.
Christ is sufficient.
And He will always be sufficient.
A Note for the Reader
As we begin studying Colossians, perhaps the most important question isn't, “What else do I need?”
Perhaps it is:
“Do I truly understand who Christ is?”
Because when we see Christ clearly, the things we thought we needed begin to fade into their proper place.
He is not merely part of the Christian life.
He is the center of it. He is all and in all and ought to be our all in all.
Jesus truly is enough!
