Christ is not valued, nor His grace appreciated until men have genuine knowledge of their misery, helplessness, and lost condition because of sin. When sin is SIN indeed, then grace is GRACE indeed, and Christ is CHRIST indeed. If men have a superficial sense of sin, they have a superficial faith in Christ.

Thomas Manton

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).

Religion is to know biblical facts; life is to know God (I John 5:20). Religion is to know what I believe; life is to know Whom I believe (2 Timothy 1:12). Religion is to be baptized into the church; Life is to be baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3). Religion is to be reformed; life is to be regenerated (John 3:3). Religion is to be a new convert; life is to be a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). A man was asked, “And what is your religious persuasion?” He replied, “I am persuaded that nothing can separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

Pastor Henry Mahan

CHRIST ALONE IS SUFFICIENT

“And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make. And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing. For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.” (Ex. 36:5-7)

When Israel took up an offering of materials that would be used to build the tabernacle, the people generously gave more than enough to build the tabernacle which would be a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ. Moses had to restrain the people from giving more because “the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work”. This is a clear picture of the sufficiency of the Savior. Christ alone is enough. Christ alone is sufficient to save any sinner. The gospel preacher must restrain sinners from bringing anything other than Christ. Christ alone is sufficient to save. Christ alone is sufficient to make righteous. Christ alone is sufficient to justify. Christ alone is sufficient to sanctify. Christ alone is sufficient to preserve and to ultimately present us to the Father. So sinner, you are restrained from bringing any of your good works. Come to Christ as an empty sinner begging for mercy. Christ alone is sufficient to save even you.

The whole scheme of works salvation is totally dependent upon man and looks inward for all hope, happiness, help, and holiness. Making man the principle object of worship, preeminence and glory. But, the whole scheme of God’s salvation is dependent upon Jesus Christ, the appointed Mediator and Substitute for sinners. This scheme of salvation looks Godward for all hope, happiness, help, and holiness -making Jesus Christ the principle object of all worship, preeminence and glory. “God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.” The grand design of God’s salvation is the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 17:4-5).