Why Jesus Is Enough: Finding Rest in Christ Alone
Have you ever wondered if Jesus is truly enough for your salvation? Many of us struggle with this question, even if we don’t admit it openly. We might say we believe in Jesus alone, but deep down, we often slip into thinking we need Jesus plus something else.
This struggle isn’t new. The early Christians in Colossae faced the same challenge when false teachers infiltrated their church, claiming they needed Jesus plus additional requirements to be truly saved.
In Colossians 2:16-23, the Apostle Paul dismantles these arguments and provides three powerful reasons why Jesus is completely sufficient for our salvation.
Why Do We Question If Jesus Is Enough?
Throughout history, people have created spiritual paths that combine faith in Jesus with additional requirements. Like travelers on the Camino in Spain who participate in superstitious rituals hoping to find spiritual freedom, we too can fall into the trap of thinking we need Jesus plus something else:
- Jesus plus perfect spiritual disciplines
- Jesus plus mountaintop spiritual experiences
- Jesus plus harsh treatment of our bodies
But Paul’s message to the Colossians is clear: If anyone tries to convince you that Christ isn’t enough, don’t listen.
Rules Won’t Save You: Jesus Is Enough
The first lie Paul addresses is that we need Jesus plus rule-keeping. In Colossians 2:16-17, he writes:
“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.”
The false teachers were telling believers they needed to follow Old Testament food laws and observe Jewish festivals to be truly saved. But Paul reminds them that these practices were merely shadows pointing to the reality found in Christ.
Working From Approval, Not For Approval
As Christians, we don’t work for God’s approval because in Christ we already have it. We work from approval, not for approval.
Think about it this way: If a soldier carries pictures of his family while deployed, it makes sense that he might look at or even kiss those pictures when missing his loved ones. But it would be absurd if, upon returning home, he ignored his actual family to continue kissing their pictures instead.
Similarly, the Old Testament laws were shadows pointing to Christ. Now that Christ has come, why would we cling to the shadows when we have the real thing?
When Good Practices Become Idols
We do the same thing when we take good spiritual practices like Bible reading, prayer, and church attendance and make them the main thing instead of Jesus. Over time, our faith becomes about rules and routines rather than relationship.
Do you ever feel like God only accepts you when you’ve had a “good week” spiritually? Do you feel like you’ve fallen out of God’s grace the moment you sin? If so, you’re buying the same lie the Colossians were being fed.
Experiences Won’t Save You: Jesus Is Enough
The second lie Paul addresses is that we need Jesus plus special spiritual experiences. In verses 18-19, he writes:
“Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head…”
The false teachers claimed believers needed special spiritual experiences like angel worship and visions to be truly saved. Paul dismisses these claims, saying these teachers are “puffed up without reason” – they have nothing worth saying.
The Pressure of Spiritual Experiences
This same pressure exists today. Have you ever felt less spiritual because you haven’t had certain experiences others claim to have? Perhaps you’ve been in settings where people frequently say “God told me” something specific, leaving you wondering why you haven’t heard God’s voice in the same way.
Paul reminds us that our standing before God isn’t based on whether we’ve had certain religious experiences. It’s based on one thing: Do you know Christ? Have you received Him as your Lord and Savior?
Connected to the Head
Paul emphasizes that these false teachers are “not holding fast to the Head” – Christ – from whom the whole body grows. The point of our faith isn’t having private spiritual experiences; it’s about coming together as a body to worship Jesus.
Self-Denial Won’t Save You: Jesus Is Enough
The third lie Paul addresses is that we need Jesus plus extreme self-denial. In verses 20-23, he writes:
“If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—’Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch’…These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.”
The false teachers were imposing harsh restrictions and promoting extreme ascetic practices like severe fasting and bodily punishment. They claimed these practices made people more spiritual.
The Appearance of Wisdom
Paul acknowledges these practices have “an appearance of wisdom” – they look super spiritual and impressive. But he declares they have “no value” in actually addressing our real problem: sin.
While Jesus does call us to deny ourselves, He’s talking about waging war against our sin, not against our bodies. No matter how disciplined we are, we can never make ourselves righteous before God through our own efforts.
Martin Luther’s Journey
Martin Luther’s story illustrates this perfectly. Before understanding the gospel, Luther was an extreme monk who tortured himself with harsh practices, hoping to earn God’s favor. He would spend hours confessing sins, deprive himself of sleep and warmth, and even whip himself to atone for his sins.
But when Luther finally understood Romans and the heart of the gospel, he realized that the righteousness of God isn’t just the standard we fall short of – it’s also the gift God gives to all who believe. This revelation sparked the Protestant Reformation and restored the biblical teaching that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
Life Application
So what are you trusting in? Or better yet, who are you trusting in?
If you’re not a Christian, you’re being lied to by the world and your own heart. You don’t need Jesus plus your efforts, experiences, or self-denial. You don’t need to get your act together before Jesus will accept you. The gospel is simple: it’s a free gift. What are you waiting for? Repent of your sins and trust in Christ.
If you’re already a Christian, remember that Christ is enough. Don’t be tempted to add to Jesus. It’s easy to profess “Jesus alone” with our mouths, but how are you living day to day? Why do you engage in spiritual activities? Are you doing them to find approval, or from the approval you’ve already received in Christ?
When we add anything to Jesus, we miss out on the real rest He offers us.
Ask yourself these questions this week:
- In what areas of my life am I trying to earn God’s approval rather than resting in Christ’s finished work?
- What “Jesus plus” lies am I believing that rob me of the freedom Christ offers?
- How would my daily spiritual practices change if I truly believed Jesus is enough?
Remember the words of the hymn: “I need no other argument, I need no other plea. It is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me.”
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