Just One Thing

Q: What does the Bible say about the one thing needful?

The Bible teaches that the one thing needful is Jesus Christ, who provides spiritual life and reconciliation with God. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus states that 'one thing is needful' (Luke 10:42), emphasizing that amidst many distractions, the essential requirement for spiritual life is a relationship with Him. Just as Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear His word, believers are called to prioritize Christ in their lives. Salvation is found in Christ alone, who delivers sinners from their sins and reconciles them to God, hence making Him the one thing truly needful.

Q: How do we know salvation is found in Christ alone?

Salvation is found in Christ alone, as He is the only one who bears our sins and reconciles us to God. The Bible clearly states that our salvation hinges on Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection, as seen in texts like Ephesians 1:7, which declares that we have redemption through His blood. Moreover, 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains that Jesus became sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. This underscores that our justification and acceptance before God are exclusively through faith in Christ, not by our works, affirming that salvation is a gift from God through His grace alone.

Q: Why is knowing Christ essential for Christians?

Knowing Christ is essential for Christians because He is the source of eternal life and spiritual fulfillment. According to John 17:3, eternal life is defined as knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent. This relationship with Christ is not just a supplemental aspect of the Christian faith; it is the very essence of our spiritual existence. As believers, we are called to prioritize knowing Christ above all else, as everything we need for life and godliness is found in Him. Our pursuit of Christ should resemble that of Mary, who exemplified a devoted heart that recognized Christ as the source of life and wisdom.

Q: What does it mean that Christ is the good part?

Christ is the good part, meaning He is the essence of what we need for spiritual life and relationship with God. The phrase 'the good part' as used in Luke 10:42 indicates that Mary chose the best thing above all distractions—her relationship with Jesus. This relationship is lasting and cannot be taken away from her. The good part represents the essential truth that Christ is our only source of righteousness, life, and hope. Believers are called to prioritize Him as the center of their lives, emphasizing that everything else pales in comparison to the fulfillment and security found in Him.

Have you ever said to someone, just one thing? Like, just one thing before I go, or I know in preaching, you've heard me say more than once, just one more thing before I close or quit, and it usually winds up being much more than one more thing. This signals a final thought that you don't want to forget. We've all said, just one thing before I forget. We've all said that. It's a last instruction, request, or reminder, a closing statement on something important. Before we wrap this up, just one thing. But in the Scriptures, just one thing points to the realization that there is one supreme necessity above everything else. And that one thing is Jesus Christ. Turn with me to the Gospel of Luke chapter 10, and we'll begin in verse 38. Luke chapter 10, verse 38. You know this story well, very familiar passage of Scripture. Luke 10, verse 38.

Now it came to pass as they, that being the Lord and His disciples, went, that He, Christ Jesus, entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving and came to him and said, Lord, does thou not care that my sister had left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things."

Many things. Look at verse 42, but one thing, just one thing, is needful. And Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her. Martha here represents the condition of man, man by nature. She was careful. She was troubled. She was busy with many things. Sound familiar?

The Gospel reveals that as sinners, you and I are consumed with many distractions. Boy, there's a lot of things in this life and in this world that distract us. Self, for one. The world itself, religion. Religion. I know a lot of folks in religion, and religion keeps you busy. Cares and worries, that would have to be one of the things. Imagine morality, and the list just goes on. But one thing is needful.

And Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." That verse is just full of gospel. We're going to look at it, Lord willing. Now here, Mary illustrates true faith. Martha illustrates man by nature, but Mary illustrates true faith. She displays the right posture of the soul. She sat at Christ's feet. She knew that He had the words to eternal life. Just like Peter, remember we looked at that a few weeks ago? Many of the disciples, the Lord's disciples, left Him and followed Him no more. The Lord said to His disciples, will you leave Me also? And Peter said, where else would we go?

Thou hast the words to eternal life. Mary knew that too. All God's people know that. God's revealed it to them. Where else would we go? You've got the words to eternal life. Now, these two sisters live in the same house. They have the same parents. But their actions provide great contrast. Martha was concerned about many things. Mary was concerned about one thing that was needful. Martha was being distracted. Mary was being devoted. Martha had full hands, but an empty heart. And Mary had empty hands, but a full heart.

So let's first talk about what the gospel declares to be essential. The one thing that we should concern ourselves with has to do with need. N-E-E-D, need. Need means to require something essential. Now if a man is hungry, a man is starving, he needs food. If a man is homeless, he needs shelter. If a man is sick, he needs a physician, he needs help. If a man is dead, he needs life.

And there's only one way a man can have life, spiritual life, eternal life. Christ is the one thing made for. The Bible clearly tells us that all men and women are spiritually dead in sin. That's our condition apart from God. We're dead. I have a friend that likes to put it this way, graveyard dead. Been in the grave for a long time, like those dry bones in Ezekiel. But the scripture says, and you have he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sin, and who were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Paul went on to say in Colossians 2, and you being dead in your sins, had he quickened together with him, having forgiven all your trespasses.

This is dealing with a need. A spiritual need. A need of deliverance from our sin. Wherefore, as by one man's sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Romans 5, 12. So this includes all of us. There's no one excluded from this. All of us have the same need.

We're helpless. We're separated. We're lost. And regardless of education, I know some brilliant people lost, separated from God. Regardless of riches or wealth, I know some wealthy people that are lost without God and without hope in this world, regardless of strength. I know people that have great strength, yet don't see they have no strength. We all have the same fundamental need. What is it? Salvation! Life, eternal life in Christ.

And to try to define salvation, well, I'll give a stab at it. Salvation is God's deliverance of sinners from sin. Salvation is deliverance from sin's consequences, which is death. Salvation is God bringing sinners into a restored relationship with Him. That's salvation. Salvation is a rescue from sin and judgment. Salvation is deliverance from sin's penalty and power. Salvation is deliverance from sin's presence. Salvation is forgiveness and justification before God. Salvation is being declared righteous before God. Not because are due to your works, but because of Christ alone. Jesus Christ is the one thing needful. We are justified freely by His grace.

Don't you like that word freely? You know, when commercials come on TV and talk about, you know, you get this free, that free. But, you know, most of the time that's not the case. You know, there's a catch somewhere. But here we have something that is truly free. We're justified, made holy and perfect and righteous, freely by His grace. Redemption comes through Christ's sacrifice. Christ is the ransom who redeems sinners from bondage. And that's what we're in, bondage. Our people talk about their free will. Listen, our will is in bondage to our sin. Christ is the one in whom we have redemption through His blood. You see, it took a death.

It took His death. to redeem us from our sin, Ephesians 1.7. Salvation restores what sin broke, that being fellowship with God.

There's no scripture any clearer than this one, but your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid His face from you that He will not hear. That's pretty plain, isn't it? Isaiah 59 too. Yes, our sin is the cause of our separation from God. God is holy and sin is not compatible with His presence. No sin can stand in the presence of one who is perfectly holy and righteous. Why do you be concerned? Our iniquities have separated us. Sin is not our friend. This exposes the impossibility of self-repair, self-improvement. No, God must act or we'll be forever lost. And God did act, and the fulfillment of His action is in Jesus Christ.

Christ bears His people's sin, 2 Corinthians 5.21. For He was made to be sin for us. He that knew no sin was made to be sin, that we might be made what? The righteousness of God in Him. Christ reconciles the separated.

Romans 5.10. Christ brings those far off. Those that were far off. How far are we from God? They're close to God. You're not far from God. You're far off. By nature, you're far off.

Christ brings those that are far off near, Ephesians 2.13.

God delivers chosen sinners through Christ alone. He justifies them in Christ. He makes them new creatures in Christ. He reconciles them to Himself in Christ. He preserves them forever in Christ. How are we kept? By the power of God. It sounds to me like salvations of the Lord. Just one thing in gospel terms means Christ is not one priority among many. It means that Christ is the priority over all things. Knowing Christ is not optional. Knowing Christ is essential.

Everything else is secondary. There's only one thing truly needful. There's only one thing truly essential. You know what essential means? I know you do. Absolutely necessary. That's what I mean. Christ is the one thing needful, essential for life. Now these bodies are all going to go back to the dust that they came from. But this is talking about the real you. The you that lives forever. your soul, your spirit. And Christ is that one thing needful for life.

That's why Paul could say, yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things. And do count them done, that I may win Christ. Now listen, Paul was an influential man. No doubt a wealthy man. I have some pastor friends that believe that Paul could have very well been that rich, young ruler that went before the Lord Jesus saying, what good thing must I do to be saved? Now, I don't know that. Maybe in glory, somebody will reveal that to us, or the Lord will reveal that to us. I don't know. But he was somebody.

And he says, I gave it all up for the excellency of Christ. And all that I gave up is done. manure, of no value. Secondly, the gospel reveals that this one thing needful has to do with a choice. What did you say? It's God's choice. You thought I'd done chain sides, did you? No, sir. Mary has chosen that good part. Now let me remind you again that Mary's choice of Christ came only because of Christ's choice for her. We just sung it a few minutes ago. And I tell you, I'd be ashamed to sing it if it didn't end the way it did.

Oh, how I love Jesus. Listen, my love for Jesus ain't what it ought to be. Oh, how I love Jesus. Oh, how I love Jesus. because He first loved me. That's the only reason that I love Him at all. That's the only reason that I love Him. The way I do is because He first loved me.

Mary chose the good part because the good part chose her. Our Lord said in John 15, 16, You've not chosen me, but I've chosen you and ordained you. Ordained you to what? A fruitful life. He goes on to say that you should go and bring forth fruit. You're the branches. I'm the vine. The Lord said, without me, you can do nothing. Listen, you separate a tree branch from the tree, and what does it do? It dies. It shrivels up and it dries up. What's it good for? Burning in the fire. That's it.

Scripture repeatedly shows that people come to Christ because God first reveals Christ to them. We come to God for life and then we realize that God has already given us life or we wouldn't even be able to come for life. Our choosing is the result of God's prior work. God had from the beginning chosen you to salvation. All things are delivered unto me of my Father, our Lord said.

And no man knoweth the Son, but the Father knoweth any man the Father, save or except the Son. And to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him." Are folks not reading the Bible? It's so plain and so simple. The Lord Jesus said, no man can come to Me except... What's the exception? that the Father would send me, draw him, and I'll raise him up at the last day. No man can come. No man has the ability to come.

In Matthew 16, 17, the Lord told Peter, upon his confession of who Christ was, He said, Simon, Barjona, you're a blessed man. You're a blessed man. Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto you. but my Father which is in heaven."

I think about Lydia. Lydia believed the Lord opened her heart. And He did. That's the only reason she believed. And the only reason you believe, and the only reason I believe, is that the Lord opened our heart and gave us life. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshiped God, heard us, whose heart the Lord opened. that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. Are you attending to the things of Christ this morning? It's only because the Lord opened your heart. Faith is God's gift. We read Ephesians 2, 8, and 9, for you're saved by grace through faith. It's not of yourselves. It's a gift of God. Don't read over that quickly. It's a gift of God. It's not by works, lest any man should boast.

It's a free gift. I've often said it, probably tired of me saying it, but if somebody gives you a gift and then hands you the receipt, and then tells you, okay, pay up, you're thinking, well, that's no gift. But this gift is free. It don't cost you anything. It costs God, His Son.

There's just one thing that matters. There's just one thing that's needful. There's just one thing that is essential. And the gospel reveals the good part. Know what I'm saying? Mary chosen the good part. The gospel reveals the good part as Jesus Christ, His perfect righteousness, His finished work, His words of promise, Himself as our portion. Jesus Christ is the good part. He's the good part.

And behold, one came and said unto him, good master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, the Lord Jesus said unto this man, why callest thou me good? There's none good, but one, that is God. Now this rich young ruler called Christ good master as a polite title, not as a confession of faith. He didn't understand what he said or what he asked. Our Lord pressed upon him the definition of good. Good? You call me good master? You know what good is?

Good in the Scriptures is perfect. There's none good but one, that is God. There's none perfect but God. Jesus Christ was God, but this man didn't know that. He gave him an endearing title, good master, good teacher. He was all about being good, wasn't he? Not who was the only good part. That's the issue. Who is the good part? Good master. What good thing must I do? That revealed it right there. It revealed where he was at. You're good. I'm good. Man is basically good. Have you ever heard anybody say that? I've heard a lot of preachers say that. Well, you know, man is basically good.

He just made a few little mistakes. No, sir. No, sir. Not so. This man said, what must I add to my goodness in order to be saved? Well, you say, well, my Bible didn't say that. Well, it does. The Lord went on to tell him that he lacked one thing. And he had it all wrong. He said, all these things, these good things I've done, what like I? What yet do I lack? He lacked the one thing. He lacked the one person. He lacked the good part that he needed most. A lot of folks do. A lot of folks do. They missed the most important part, the good part. Jesus Christ, the one thing needful.

And this was the very One that stood before Him. I remember one time somebody told me, and it embarrassed me, they said, I see Jesus in you. And I'm like, men didn't see Jesus in Jesus, did they? They wouldn't have taken and crucified Him if they had. The very One that stood before Him was God. the good, holy, righteous God.

He didn't even know it. And he went away sorrowful. Do you ever think about why he went away sorrowful? I mean, we read it, we know why he left, because he had great position, the Lord told him to give it all, to help the poor, and come and follow Him. But the bottom line is, he could not do what the Lord required him to do.

We can't either. That's the issue. God requires perfection, we can't provide it. That's the stated condition of every man and woman, and only Christ can do for us what God requires of us. We say it all the time. One of the best definitions of substitution there is. God doing for me what I cannot do. Jesus Christ is the good part. Fourthly, the gospel gives an eternal possession. The one thing, the one thing needful, the good part is the one thing that lasts forever. Mary had chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her. Everything in this world can be lost. Wealth, reputation, even life.

I was thinking the other day, and been in this church with Teresa and I for nearly 35 years. Our children were raised in this church. And other than the five and a half years that we were in Texas, we've been back 14 years, hard to believe. But there's a lot of folks that we all have known and loved that are now gone to be with the Lord. We could name, it would take more than two hands for us to count the ones just in the last 10 years. But I'll tell you what, when they left this world, they got much more than they left behind. And it can't ever be taken away from them.

Oh, there's just one thing needful, and that's Christ. There was only one thing that the rich young ruler lacked, and that was Christ. There's only one thing that David desired. In Psalm 27, 4, David wrote, one thing I have desired of the Lord. What was it? He said that I might dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. and behold His beauty." Are you beholding the beauty of the Lord Jesus this morning? David desired one thing, God Himself. Do you? God's presence. Do you? God's counsel. He said that I may inquire in His temple. Divine guidance. I need divine guidance. I need, Lord, help me. Don't let me have my way. My way seemeth right.

But the end thereof is the way of death. David desired God's glory. And all these things David desired. You know where they were found? In the one thing needful. The Lord Jesus Christ. The good part. He's the good part. That's the language of salvation. God's people don't just want gifts. Now, there are religious people that do. God's people want God Himself. God's people want Christ Himself. There's only one thing that Paul pursued. He said, this one thing I do.

What was it? Forget those things that are behind me and press on to what? Knowledge of Christ. growing in grace and the knowledge of Him. That's it. If you have one goal this morning, make that your goal. Forget the things behind you and press on to the things that are before you. That you may grow in the grace and the knowledge of Christ, who is the one thing needful. The Gospel produces one pursuit, one direction, one goal.

What is it? Christ fully known and Christ fully owned. The one thing was defined by the Lord Himself. Do you remember what He said in John 17, verse 3? That they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom they've sent. Now there's a good goal for you. But you can't reach that goal unless God divinely gives you that gift. And Steve, it's free. And it's needful. And it's the good part. And God's gotta make you want it. God's gotta make you choose it. Thou shalt be willing when in the day of His power. Eternal life, the one thing needful is knowing God through Jesus Christ.

So, just one more thing before we go. Just a final thought of essential importance. Just a closing statement of urgency. Just one thing that really matters. Let's put it all together quickly. May God be pleased to burn it in our hearts. There's one thing needful. Christ. With many, there's one thing lacking. Jesus Christ. With the believer, there's only one thing desired. Christ. With the seeking sinner, there's only one thing pursued. Christ alone. To obtain salvation, there is one thing to find. The Lord defined it.

Knowing God and His Son whom He sent. So the Bible is not controversial. Anybody ever told you that? Well, you know the Bible's controversial. It was written by men. It contradicts itself all the time. Oh no, there's no controversy here. No, no controversy. The Bible is not controversial or complicated. Mankind is the one that's confused and controversial.

The Bible is very clear about how salvation is obtained. And man don't like it. Not that man don't understand it. Man don't like it because he understands it. Salvation is plain, it's simple, it's direct. There's just one thing needful. Now, I've told you this, and I'll tell you again. It's the truth. I never was good at math. But I knew one. I had one down at an early, early age. I had to work on two, three, five, and on up. But I knew one.

And man, there's just one thing needful. Man's problem is not many sins. Man's problem is one missing Savior. Man's hope is not many solutions. Man's hope is an all-sufficient Savior. But my God shall supply all your need. Singular. Not needs, not a new house, big car, all those things. Need. Singular.

Christ. And He says that according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. That's the one thing that we need. The words from Christ, one thing needful, summarize the Gospel with remarkable clarity. The whole message of salvation can be traced through that single statement. Those three words say it all. One thing needful declares man's real problem. Our Lord didn't say many things were lacking. He said one thing is needful. Our problem is not just bad habits. Our problem is not just ignorance. Our problem is not just a lack of religion. Well, you need to go to church. The real problem man has is an absence of Christ.

He's the one thing needful. Secondly, one thing needful destroys the idea of many remedies. Straighten up and fly right. That's two things. I can't do either one of them. Turn right and go straight. Can't do it. Christ reduces those things down to just one necessity. Listen, neither is there salvation in any other. That's pretty direct, isn't it? It's pretty simple. It's one. One.

Thirdly, one thing needful shows the nature of saving faith. Our greatest need is to be still and to hear that Christ is all. That's what Mary did. Martha's up here doing this, down here doing that. Washing dishes, fixing this, fixing that. Mary said, listen.

Like the little boy that sat on the front for you like this? The preacher asked him afterwards, why are you holding your hand up like that? He said, well, my Sunday school teacher told me that if I'm going to hear from the Lord, it's going to be through you. I don't want to make sure I didn't miss it.

That's the way we ought to listen. Like Mary did. That's how this one thing is obtained. She sat at Christ's feet and heard His Word. That's what you're doing this morning. That's the good part. This is good food. We're serving up the best food here.

It's received, not achieved. It's not doing, it's a gift given. It's not many, it's just one. It can't be taken away. Isn't that good? Oh, that's a good part. It can't be taken from me. No man can take it from me, because no man can pluck me from his hand.

It all has to do with Christ, not my holding on, but His holding on to me. And this is the picture of resting in Christ, and listening to Christ, and receiving from Christ. And one thing needful, reveals what salvation truly is. Salvation is not a place, it's not a system, it's not a set of blessings. Salvation is Christ, the Person, and our portion. Christ is my portion. I get Him, I got it all. I got it all. We are complete in Him.

I've never been complete in anything that I've done. I'm never not too good at completing things. When I used to mow my own grass back all those years ago, By the time I'd get the grass mowed, and then I'd be too tired to weed-eat, and by the time I'd weed-eat, it'd be time to mow again. And Teresa said, we just need to hire somebody to do it. That's what we did.

Now it's complete. Looks good. Oh my, but I'm complete at Him. Everything needed is found in Christ. Righteousness, life, forgiveness, acceptance. And lastly, one thing, needful promises and eternal portion that shall never be taken away. I'm repeating myself on purpose. Everything else in life is temporary, but what Christ gives is forever. Eternal life cannot be lost because it's rooted in and on and through an eternal Christ.

He'll never leave us nor forsake us. What does that mean? He'll never leave us nor forsake us. Only one can promise that. I can say, I'm going to be your friend forever, Linda. I'll never leave you nor forsake you. But I'm going to die. And you are. So we can't keep that promise.

And yet while many are troubled with many, many things, their only true need is Christ Himself. Just one thing needful. Jesus Christ, the righteous. So, just one thing. What think ye of Christ? What do you think of Him? He's all that you need. And he's in love if he's all that she has.

Just One Thing

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about the one thing needful?

How do we know salvation is found in Christ alone?

Why is knowing Christ essential for Christians?

What does it mean that Christ is the good part?

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Just One Thing

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about the one thing needful?

How do we know salvation is found in Christ alone?

Why is knowing Christ essential for Christians?

What does it mean that Christ is the good part?

Sermon Transcript

About David Eddmenson

Comments

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