Disciple of Jesus Christ set apart to make known the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Jan 2, 2016

Is Jesus Christ Sufficient?

Dr. David Platt’s sermon at Urbana 15

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you fail to meet the test! (2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV)

The question remains, “Is Jesus Christ sufficient?”

In theory, “yes!”

But when everything I have ever treasured is taken away — Everything — my friends, intellect, health, smile, sight, fight, family, clothes, dreams, art, code will joy in Christ spring forth?

When I acknowledge that Christ is my Lord and I his slave, will he be worth my full-fledged passionate adoration? Like Paul, can I say, “I have determined to know nothing except Christ and Him crucified? Can I beat my chest shouting at the top of my lungs, “I have counted everything as loss for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ my Lord”? Can I look into the eyes of a sworn persecutor and say, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me. For His sake I will suffer the loss of all things”?

Is Christ my all?

Have I fallen in fear and awe at the scandal of Grace — that the holy creator of the universe would send His son, God in the flesh, to bear the wrath for my sinful rebellion to reconcile me to God? Am I honoring the blood that was shed to rescue a violent sinner like me from drinking the full cup of God’s fury in Hell?

Have I trembled at His incomprehensible perfection? Am I living my life in holiness, knowing that He who has started this good work in me will bring it to completion? Am I honoring Him as holy in my suffering? Do the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart rise as a sweet-smelling aroma to my Father in heaven?

Does Christ wholly satisfy me? Am I spending time in His word? Are they sweeter than honey as I take them upon my lips? Do I love His law? Am I setting my hope fully on the grace that would be brought to me at the revelation of Jesus Christ? Will I gladly suffer the plundering of my property knowing I have a better and abiding one? Is my life radically given up to make His name glorified throughout the ends of the earth?

Have I counted the cost of a sacrificial, selfless, satisfying devotion to Jesus Christ?