A recent publication has
drawn attention to the way the Puritans can help us to better
understand the sufficiency of Christ. It was pointed out that
Jeremiah Burroughs, Philip Henry and Ralph Robinson (a 700 page work)
all wrote on the theme Christ all in all. Colossians 3:11 was
a favourite Puritan text. The recent reprint of Samuel Ward’s
works includes a sermon on this subject. Amongst the translated sermons of
Daniel Rowland from the 18th Century there is a sermon on this theme
too. Perhaps it is a neglected one today.
Ward calls it a
magnificent title that ‘omnifies’ Christ. It is too high for man
or angel and belongs to Jesus alone; King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
He was set above his companions by being anointed with the oil of
joy; he has the name above all names; he is at the Father’s right
hand. In Colosse, as elsewhere, people tended to divide on race,
religion, culture and social standing. People ask, who is best?
Greek, Jew; circumcised, not; Greek, Barbarian, Scythian (those held
in lowest esteem by Greeks); slave, free? But Paul asserts that what
matters is Christ. He alone is ‘All’ and is ‘In all’.
All
1. Christ provides all
the spiritual riches believers need. Robert Gromacki notes how he provides,
Salvation - no need for angelic mediation (1:14-23)
Satisfaction - no need for human philosophy (1:26-2:8)
Sanctification - no need for legalism and asceticism
(2:9-3.17)
Christ is the climax, centre, standard of reference,
fount of honour, the sum of all we acknowledge and desire, says
the 19th Century commentator Fairbairn.
2. Christ is all in
all, in everyone who believes, of whatever background. Whoever
you are, what matters is Christ. He is all in all. He is the common
life and soul of his people, the substance of all we experience and
possess (Fairbairn again).
The thought can be
expanded to include the sense of every circumstance.
Of course we are used to
superlatives being thrown around. Music collections once labelled
The best of ... are now called The best ... album ever.
Even the Bible uses them. But this is not mere rhetoric here. It
is absolutely so that Christ is all in all.
Godward. All the
Father can require for satisfaction is found in Christ. Many have
been great with God. Abraham his friend; Jacob, prince with God;
Moses who spoke to him face to face; Mary, highly favoured. But in
Christ are found all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge
(2:3).
Manward. All we
can desire or need for perfection is found in Christ. There is no
need to look anywhere else. Many things are useful in different
situations but in justification, sanctification and salvation, Christ
is all. Whether times are good, bad or indifferent, both in life and
in death Christ is all. He is sufficient.
Christ in all the
Scriptures. Ward then points out that this teaching is
everywhere in the Bible. The Tree of Life, Noah’s ark, Jacob’s
ladder are all about Christ. Adam, Joseph, David; all point to him.
Christ in all the
world. More, this is true, in one sense, of every ruler (and
priest and prophet too), however perverse. Each, more or less
remotely, points to the Prophet, Priest and King. In fact
everything in the universe does if we can only see. The sun in the
sky, the bread we eat, the water or wine we drink. All point to him.
Only one All. Ward
goes on to make the point that there can only be one ‘All’. When
Romanism sets up the Pope or Mary as it does, Christ is no longer
all. So today evolutionists make ‘Nature’ or DNA, all.
If you so adore a sportsman or an actress that they rival Christ, he
is no longer all in all. He must be first and last, Alpha and Omega.
He is All in all and he must be seen to be. For too many, pleasure,
family, country, money or religion have become their all in all
instead of Christ. This should not be. All around are those who
make these things all. Believers must not.
Ward says further: Let
Christ be all in
- All your desires. Think of the pearl merchant. Be willing to give up all to have Christ. It is worth it. It is not worth comparing what Christ has to offer with what the world offers. See Philippians 3.
- All your loves. See Matthew 10:37. Do not just hold his hand, embrace him with both arms. Think what Christ has done for you!
- All your relationships with others. Look at everyone in terms of Christ not in a worldly way (2 Corinthians 5:16). Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church, wives and workers submit as to Christ. Choose and admire friends who have something of Christ in them. Seek to help the needy for Christ’s sake. Point unbelievers to him.
- All your joys. Seek not worldly joy but rejoice in the Lord always.
- All your thinking about justification. Rest only on Christ and no other. Only his work justifies. It is sufficient to save.
- All the graces of sanctification. Otherwise knowledge becomes mere ‘heathenish science’; faith ‘ungrounded confidence’; patience ‘stoical blockishness’. There are such things as Christless sermons, prayers, etc. Look for Christ. Go always to Christ for help not to books or techniques.
- All you do. Eating, drinking, etc. Always give Christ the glory. Think of Joab, the battle won, sending for David so he would get the glory.
- All you say and think. He should never leave our minds. He used the illustrations he did (light, bread, door, etc) to make it easy. Our conversation and thought should be filled with him. We should be like the legendary St Christopher, holding up Christ for all to see. Nothing but Christ, nothing but Christ. In this new year ahead, burn up for him!
First published in Grace Magazine
