In Chris Alone (yes that is an intentional typo).
In Christ Alone.
My favorite hymn, of which we sang this most recent Sunday morning (July 21). Here is my post and question for anyone reading this today: Is Christ Enough?
The premise of the song and statement we make is that “Indeed, Christ alone is enough for me.”
Is He though? If this is a true statement many of the problems we face as Christians may actually fade away. We would no longer have to worry about our reputations, because Christ. We would find ourselves actively seeking ways to love more, because Christ. We would be inclusive, kind, hopeful, united, submissive, and joyful in all circumstances (just like the Bible says), because Christ. Blessing would no longer be translated as “stuff” but rather “belonging in His Kingdom”, because Christ.
Much would change.
Sin would no longer have a hold on us because our vices would not need to sustain us. Temptation would be shrugged off without a second glance because we have Christ. Churches wouldn’t be declining in attendance… people would be flocking to get a hold of this all-sustaining Christ.
I rely on Chris alone most of the time. My strengths; My abilities; My knowledge; My history. And because of this fact, I have to fight with sin, temptation, pride, jealousy, anger, etc… etc… I sing the song, no, I LOVE the song. The problem arises when I forget to translate it into my life.
How shameful to have forgotten the Creator of our universe? How forgetful we have become to eliminate the discernment and direct connection to God with the Holy Spirit? How lame we make ourselves by trying to carry our burdens alone without the power of the One who already did all the carrying for us at Calvary?
Is Christ Alone enough? Judging by His history and abilities – yes. Yes He is and always will be.
Judging by our own long, long history of divisiveness and self-reliance…….
Colossians 3: 15 – 23a 15Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. 17He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.18Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. 19For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 20and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
21This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.22Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
23But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. (NLT)