— To uplift, inform and challenge —

Dear believer,

An historic “virtue” of American culture is an attitude of self sufficiency as exemplified by the banners: “I did it my way” and, “I am captain of my ship and master of my fate” (although, in recent decades, that’s giving way to an entitlement mindset as the nation spirals downward).

Following suit, churchdom flaunts its own sufficiency with bigger, better buildings, bustling with bodies, books and Starbucks.  Armed with PhDs, fundraisers, demographics, computers and paraphrased Bibles, it competes ... often measuring success in numbers.

However, the tragic reality is that, of ourselves, we are  pathetic, impoverished beggars in desperate need of Christ’s sufficiency.  Let us look to Him alone.

Sufficiency of Christ

Only in Him can we find adequacy.

"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God." — 2 Corinthians 3:5

A cardinal tenet of Christianity is the claim that Jesus Christ (alone) is completely sufficient for all matters of life and godliness.  Scripture tells us: "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness" (2Pet 1:3).

Christ is sufficient as Creator: "For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together" (Col 1:16,17).  He is sufficient as Savior: "And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.  But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God" (Heb10:10-12).  Christ is sufficient as the Church’s Sanctifier: "to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless" (Eph 5:26,27).

He’s sufficient as our Glorifier: "And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified" (Rom 8:30).  Christ is so pure that there is no blemish, stain, spot, defilement, deception, lying, corruption, imperfection or error: "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefather  but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.  He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake" (1Pet 1:18-20).

So perfect and complete is Christ’s sufficiency, there is no other God: "I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.  I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me" (Is 45:5).  Jesus is the only begotten Son: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth ... No-one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known" (Jn 1:14,18).  All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ (Col 2:3).  In fact, all that God is, has been manifest in the person of Jesus Christ: "For in Christ all the fulness of the Deity lives in bodily form" (Col 2:9).

He is the firstborn of all creation: "the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation" (Col 1:15).  Perfectly like God: "the exact representation of his being" (Heb 1:3a).  Heir of all things: "he "has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things" (He 1:2a).  He’s our Inheritance: "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ" (Rom 8:16,17a).  "For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith" (Ro 4:13). "That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life"  (Ti 3:7).

Jesus is the only Mediator between God and man; He is the Sun that enlightens; the Physician that heals; the Wall of Fire that defends; the Friend Who comforts; the Pearl that enriches; the Ark that saves and the Rock Who supports us under life’s burdens.  Jesus is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty on high: "he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven ... We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven" (Heb 1:3c;8:b).  He is better than: angels (Heb 1:4-14) Melchizedek, Moses, Aaron, Joshua and all the prophets.  He is also greater than Satan (Lk 4:1-12) and stronger than death: "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" (1Cor 15:55).

Christ is eternal: "I am the First and the Last.  I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!" (Rev 1:17b, 18a).  Jesus is the spotless Lamb of God: "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (Jn 1:29b,36b). Jesus is our Peace: "For he himself is our peace" (Eph 2:14a).  He is our Hope: "God our Saviour and of Christ Jesus our hope" (1Tim 1:1b).  Jesus is our Life: "When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory" (Col 3:4).  Jesus is the living and true Way: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me" (Jn 14:6).  Jesus is our Strength: "... for my strength is made perfect in weakness ..." (2Cor 12:9).

Christ is the Root and Offspring of David; bright and Morning Star: "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star" (Rev 22:16). Jesus is Faithful and True: "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True" (Rev 19:11a); the Author and Finisher of our faith (Heb 12:1,2); the Captain of our Salvation (Heb 2:10).  He is the Champion and Elect One (Is 42:1).  Christ is also the Apostle and High Priest of our confession (Heb 3:1) and the Righteous Servant (Is 53:11).

Jesus Christ is the Lord of Hosts,  Redeemer; the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth (Is 54:5).  He’s the Man of Sorrows (Is 53:3); the Light and Son of Man (Mt 20:28).  Christ is the Vine; the Bread of Life and the Door.  Jesus is a Prophet, Priest, King (Heb 1:1-3) and our Sabbath rest: "There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God" (Heb 4:9).  Jesus is our righteousness: "This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness" (Jer 23:6b).  Christ is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father; He is the Lion of Judah, the Prince of Peace (Is 9:6).  Jesus is the Chief Shepherd (1Pet 5:4) and Lord God of Hosts.  He is Lord of the nations; He is the Lion of Judah; the Living Word; the Rock of Salvation; the Eternal Spirit; Jesus is the Ancient of Days; Creator and Comforter; Messiah; and He is the great I AM: "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" (Jn 8:58).  Jesus Christ (alone) is the all sufficient Lord of all, all the time. He is very God and is now preparing to again deliver His true disciples.

Where’s your sufficiency?

If you’re a Muslim, it’s in the Quran and Mohammed.  If from India, it’s likely in Hinduism with its millions of gods.  If you are a LDS, it’s the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith.  If a Seventh Day Adventist, it’s in the Bible, PLUS the writings of Ellen White; Jehovah’s Witness, it’s in the Bible, PLUS the Watchtower.  If you’re with Unity, it’s in the Bible, PLUS Fillmore; if a “Christian” Scientist, the Bible PLUS Mary Baker Eddy.  If you are a Jew it’s in the Bible’s Old Testament, PLUS the Talmud, etc., etc.

HOWEVER, if you follow Christ, you are a “Christian”... period, and your total sufficiency is in Christ alone.  Plus nothing or nobody! A mature Christian will NOT exalt any other source above the Word of God and will realize all others are the works of man ... however meritorious.

God’s complete will and purpose for our lives is recorded in Scripture and modeled in the person of His Son, Jesus — our Redeemer, Savior, Lord, very God and ALL Sufficient One.  There is no deeper or higher source of wisdom than God Himself, Who, mercifully, graciously and lovingly BECAME our Savior and sufficiency in Jesus Christ.  PTL!

ABOUT US:  Founded in 1993, Hallelujah Living Ministries is a donation-based, non-denominational Christian outreach to uplift, inform and challenge followers of Jesus Christ.  For more information or a copy of our always-free print newsletter, please include a  postal mail address along with your comments and prayer requests. Thank you for visiting  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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