~
The “Jesus Is All I Need” Myth ~
Introduction ~ It
is easy to quickly assume that all I need is Jesus Christ. This concept may sound good and imply that we
are only concerned about the essentials.
In reality this is not what the Word of God teaches.
The
Trinity ~ First, recognize that Jesus Christ is one
member of the Triune God. The Holy
Spirit and God the Father are critical aspects of salvation and the Christian
life. While John the Baptist and the Holy Spirit point us to Jesus Christ, Jesus points us to our Father in heaven. For example, “‘In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would
have told you. I go to prepare a place
for you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the
way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him
and have seen Him. … But that
the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me
commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go
from here’” (John 14:2, 6-7, 31). “And
Jesus said to them, ‘Why did you seek Me? Did you
not know that I must be about My Father's business?’” (Luke 2:49).
The
Church ~ Second, Jesus Christ established His Church
for many reasons. One very important
element of the Church is to build up each member in the faith. Christianity is different from religions in
that it is about a relationship with the risen Christ. It also includes living in community with
other believers. “But now indeed there
are many members, yet one body. … And if
one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Corinthians
12:20, 26). “And let us consider one
another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of
some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day
approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Creation ~ Third,
creation itself rebukes this concept. Early
in the Bible we see during the creation that God understands that man cannot
live effectively isolated from other human contact and that it is good to have
relationships. “And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone;
I will make him a helper comparable to him.
… Therefore, a man shall leave
his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one
flesh’” (Genesis 2:18, 24).
Christ’s
Teachings ~ Finally, it is significant that in all the
recorded teachings of Jesus Christ He never taught or hinted that He was all we
need—rather He repeatedly emphasized the community of believers.
NOTES:
(1) The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very
bottom of this home page.
(2) There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by
scrolling down the left column.
(3) You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own
blog or website.
(4) You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by
prominently displaying the following statement: Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free
blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid
Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/
.
