Christ Is All

Q: What does the Bible say about Christ being all?

The Bible emphasizes that in the Kingdom of God, Christ is all and everything revolves around Him. In Colossians 3:11, the Apostle Paul declares that in Christ, there is neither Greek nor Jew, nor any societal distinctions, as Christ encompasses all. This foundational truth portrays that true significance and identity come solely through Jesus Christ; He is central to our salvation, purpose, and existence. The emphasis that 'Christ is all' encapsulates the essence of our faith and relationship with God, affirming that all spiritual blessings and our understanding of God are found solely in Him. Believers are called to recognize that knowing Christ intimately is the heart of true Christianity.

Q: How do we know Christ is all true?

Christ being all is a central tenet of Scripture, revealed through God's plan of redemption. The truth that Christ is all is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative and the redemptive work of God. From Ephesians 1:4-5, we learn that believers were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, affirming that redemption was always centered in Him. The Scriptures witness to Christ's comprehensive role in our salvation, teaching that apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5). Every aspect of salvation—from wisdom and righteousness to sanctification and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30)—is fully realized in Christ alone. Thus, the theological foundation for this doctrine is not merely theoretical but woven into the fabric of God’s revelation.

Q: Why is knowing Christ important for Christians?

Knowing Christ is essential for eternal life and true worship. In John 17:3, Jesus states that eternal life is to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. This highlights that the essence of salvation and eternal life lies in an intimate relationship with Christ, rather than merely possessing doctrinal knowledge. A genuine understanding and experience of Christ fundamentally shapes a believer's life, faith, and worship, moving beyond external practices and rituals to a heart-transforming encounter with Him. True worship centers on recognizing Him as Lord and Savior, which is paramount for spiritual growth and communion with God.

Q: What does it mean that Christ is all in the context of salvation?

It means that all aspects of salvation are fulfilled in Christ alone. The phrase 'Christ is all' conveys that every facet of salvation, including redemption, justification, and sanctification, is fully encompassed in the person and work of Jesus Christ. According to Romans 6:11 and 1 Corinthians 1:30, believers are encouraged to reckon themselves dead to sin and alive in Christ, reinforcing the transformative power of being in Him. Without Christ, there is no hope for salvation; therefore, understanding that He is all is crucial for Christians as it emphasizes dependence on Him for every spiritual blessing and aspect of life. This doctrine underlines the necessity of Christ in our journey towards holiness and eternal life.

The Church and Kingdom of God, the Apostle here tells us, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bond or free. That is, none of those things make any difference. In the Kingdom of God, doesn't matter whether you're Jew or Gentile, doesn't matter whether you're bond or free, Doesn't matter whether you're educated or uneducated, doesn't matter whether you're black or white, doesn't matter whether you're male or female, doesn't matter whether you're rich or poor, for Christ is all. He's in. Christ is all.

I've preached so many times in this text of scripture, I can't begin to keep up with how many messages I've preached to you and other places from this text. But with your indulgence, I'm going to try one more time to talk to you about the most important thing I've ever learned, as it's revealed in these three words, Christ is all. I make no apology for returning to this subject and to this text. As a matter of fact, if you want to, after I'm dead and buried, if you want to write something under my name on my grave marker, if I had one, that would sum up everything I believe, everything I've experienced, all my hope, all my doctrine, all that I've preached to you these past 15 years, you could do me no greater honor than to inscribe these three words on my marker, Christ is all. That's the sum of the message. That's the sum of the ministry in this place. There are some people to whom Jesus Christ means absolutely nothing at all.

I'm aware of that. His name to them is nothing more than a byword, a cuss word, something they use just with which to swear or to joke or to speak profanely. If they mention the name of Christ, it is only to profane his name. I hope none of you are numbered among them, but it's likely some here. Some here, sitting right here listening to me right now, to you, Jesus Christ is nothing. He means nothing to you. The only time you mention his name is in jest or in profanity.

But then there are some to whom Christ is something. He's a little, but not much. They respect him as a good teacher, a good man, a teacher of morality, a wise prophet, an example of love and of self-denial. They write poems about his life, and poems about his gentleness, and poems about his character. They quote his words, and they even make plays and skits about him, but they don't know it. He's a little, but he's not much, insofar as they're concerned.

And then there are some to whom Christ is much, but not everything. They observe his birth, his incarnation, his coming into the world every Christmas day. They observe his resurrection every year at Easter time. They have pictures of him hanging in their houses. They have bumper stickers about him on their cars. They even pray in his name, but they don't know him. There are a lot of folks who pray in his name and who exercise religion in his name who simply don't know him.

In the day of judgment, they'll say, Lord, haven't we prophesied in your name? Haven't we cast out demons in your name? Haven't we done marvelous, wonderful works in your name? And the Savior will say, depart from me, you cursed city. I never knew you.

But then there are some, some sitting here, some who've been in this world in days gone by and are now with Christ in glory, to whom Jesus Christ is all. And I'm honored to number myself among you. I take my place with you, Simeon, My eyes are beheld by salvation. I take my place with Mary at his feet to hear his word. I hope you'll take that place today. I take my place with Thomas and fall down before him and worship saying, my Lord and my God is everything. I take my place with Paul.

I'm determined to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified. Now I have no other object in mind this morning. except to persuade you, to convince you, to make you see and understand that Jesus Christ is all. Oh, wouldn't you God, I could get your ears and get your hearts to hear this message. Jesus Christ is all.

Now, this is something we must learn. We must learn. I pray that God the Holy Spirit will teach you and teach me this, so that in this matter of religion, in this matter of salvation, in this matter of worship, if it's genuine, it must be comprised of this one thing, Christ is all. This is life eternal, our Lord said.

This is it. Not an experience, not a church, not a denomination, not something you do. This is life eternal. that they should know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." That's what salvation is. It's knowing Christ. It's knowing Christ.

It's not knowing his doctrine. It's not knowing his history. It's not knowing his proper manner of life. It's not knowing about him and being associated in the right church. It's knowing Christ. If you know him, you have life. If you don't know it, you don't have life.

In this day and age in which we live, in the church of God, now listen to me, I'm talking about the professed church of God, in the religious society in which we live, the most irrelevant, insignificant thing there is, is Christ. In the religious world in which we live, The most irrelevant, the most insignificant thing there is, is Christ and the preaching of Christ. But in the Church of God, the true Church of God, in true Christianity, in true spirituality, the only relevant, the only important thing is Jesus Christ the Lord. In churches today, there's room for everything except Christ and the preaching of Christ.

In the preaching that's being heard, you turn on the radio and listen to it. When you get in your car on the way home, turn on the radio and find a preacher. Find one talking about the gospel of Christ. Find me one. Talk about everything under the shining sun but Christ. Talk about prophecy, talk about raising children, talk about being a good husband, being a good wife, talk about social problems, social woes, political conservatism, political liberalism, everything except Jesus Christ. Everything.

You listen to the songs that are sung. I appreciate you men leading singing here, you folks who sing specials. We sing concerning the person and work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. But in most churches, the singing's just as bad or worse than the preaching. They sing constantly about themselves and what they do and what they feel and what they want and what they experience and what they desire. But nothing about Christ. In the programs, nothing about Christ.

We kind of joked a little bit before services this morning. Saw the ads in the paper this past Friday. I always look at them, see what's going on. And it's so sad. You joke about it. I do, but it's pathetic. Down here in town, go down Main Street Saturday at five o'clock. The Episcopal church down there is going to have a pet blessing service. You can take all your dogs down there, Bobby, and get them blessed.

What nonsense. What utter foolishness. One of the churches down there where Sammy and Ruth live, having a skit tonight on the gates of heaven and the flames of hell. Going to try to entice you to flee from the flames of hell and enter into the gates of by entertaining you on your way to hell. What nonsense! What utter foolishness!

Where is Christ in the religious world around us? Where is the preaching of Christ? Where is the gospel of Christ? It's nowhere to be found. Would to God I could get the ear of this generation. I'd tell them Christ is all. He who longs to know the living God. Are you interested in that? Do you want to know God? I mean, really, do you want to know God? He who longs to know the living God will make no progress in the quest of his soul until he understands without a doubt that Christ is all.

Lord, show us the Father, Philip said. And we say the same thing. Show us God, show us God. Churches all around the country, big businesses, they're making big business out of this thing of folks having died, going to heaven, come back and tell you all about it. Show us God. Show us God. Show us about God. The Lord Jesus says, he that has seen me has seen the Father. You want to know God?

Christ is all. You're not going to find God listening to these folks who talk about dying and coming back. You're not going to find God listening to these folks talk about angels coming and sitting on their bedposts. You're not going to find God listening to these folks talk about miracles and signs and wonders. Christ is God Almighty.

If you know God, you better know Him. You better know Him. No man knoweth the Father save the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal Him. In him, that is, in Jesus Christ, the scripture says, dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Here he is, a man in a body like mine, and all the fullness of the infinite God resides in him forever. No man who seeks salvation. Oh, I hope you seek that. Are you interested in the pardon of sin? Forgiveness? justification, redemption, sanctification, regeneration, eternal life? Are you interested in those things? Interested in everlasting glory?

If you seek salvation, you will make no progress toward that goal until you know without a question that Christ is all. He said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father but by me. Turn to that text of scripture I quote so often, 1 Corinthians chapter 1. 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 30.

God's determined that no flesh should glory in his presence. God's not going to let you pop your suspenders in his face. God's not going to let you stutter out and claim any honor for yourself. Not in heaven's glory. Oh no. He says no flesh should glory in his presence.

Look at verse 30 now. But of him, of God, by God's decree, by God's design, by God's power, by God's grace, are you in Christ Jesus? That's where salvation is. In Christ. Not in this church or any other. Not in my family or the next fellow's family. In Christ.

You understand that? Of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Bill, that's everything God requires. Everything. That's everything there is to salvation. Wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. That according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

He who would live for God and live with God in the glorious liberty of the sons of God. Oh, I won't I want that for you. I want you to live for God. Live for him. Live for him. But he who would live for God in this thing called salvation, in this thing called Christianity, in this glorious liberty of the sons of God, in righteousness, freedom, and peace, will make no progress in that regard until he understands that Christ is all. Turn to Romans chapter 3, or Romans chapter 6 rather, for just a minute. I want you to look at this. Romans chapter 6.

I get calls and letters almost every day from folks who hear me on the radio around the country who pick up our tapes or read books or bulletins, whatever, that are written in there. They'll say, we need some direction now, or we want to know how to give other folks direction, and that's usually what you want. We want to know how to tell other folks how to live. What do you recommend? Here it is, Romans 6, verse 11.

Likewise, reckon ye also yourselves to be dead in deed and to sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Now, the whole preceding chapter, the apostle was telling us that we're dead with Christ. We've been crucified with Christ. We're dead to sin because Christ died for us. Christ satisfied the law of God for us. He said, God reckons you dead to sin. God reckons you dead to sin. Now then, you want to live for God, reckon yourself to be dead to sin. Reckon that what Christ did, he did.

Reckon that in Christ, sin no longer has dominion and power over you. Reckon that in Christ, the law no longer condemns you. In Christ, we fulfilled the law. In Christ, we died to the law. In Christ, we are free from the law. In Christ, and for Christ's sake, being motivated by Christ, we live unto righteousness.

And that reckoning forbids two things. It forbids legalism and it forbids licentiousness. so that we're not motivated by law, we're not governed by law, we're not under the rule of law, and we're not licentious. God's people reckoning themselves dead in the sand, reckoning themselves alive under God to serve him in righteousness.

He who would live forever in the everlasting kingdom and glory of God will enjoy that blessed estate only in Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ has taken possession of heaven for us as a forerunner. That's Hebrews chapter 6 verse 12. The Lord Jesus Christ alone makes us worthy of heaven's glory. Turn over to Colossians chapter 1. Colossians 1 verse 12.

Look at this. The apostles talking to us about God's grace to us in Christ. Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us, get it now, Do you see this? He hath made, it's already done. It's already done. He hath made us meet. The word meet means worthy. It means equal to. He hath made us worthy to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in life.

If you get to glory, if I get to glory, We will enter in only because we're worthy of entering in. Only because it's right for us to enter in. Only because we enter in with pure hands and a clean heart as men and women who've never lifted up their souls unto vanity. Well how on earth can that be? We're nothing but sinners. Only in Christ the Lord we're made What are they? To be partakers of the inheritance of God's saints. In Christ Jesus, we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. Now this is what I'm saying.

He who would know the Lord God, he who would know the Word of God, he would understand the meaning and message of Holy Scripture. will make no progress at all in his quest to know the scriptures, to know this book, until he learns this fact, Christ is all.

Philip said to Andrews, that I found him of whom Moses and the law did write. Our Lord said, search the scriptures. And then you think you have eternal life? These are they which testify of me. They're talking about me. Our Lord told the disciples on the road to Emmaus that the law and the prophets and the books of the Psalms were all talking about him. And he opened their understanding to understand things concerning himself written in the scriptures. This book's all about Christ. Let me see if I can state this so you understand exactly what I'm saying.

Sometimes we become overawed listening to men recite Scripture and quote Scripture. And we presume that because a man is familiar with the text of Scripture, because a man knows the words of Scripture, because he knows the facts of Scripture, that he knows Scripture.

But nothing could be further from the truth. You can recite the Scriptures from cover to cover and never miss a semicolon. You can recite the Scriptures word for word and not know a thing about what the Scriptures teach. You can know all the facts and all the data and all the information concerning Scripture, systematize all the doctrines of Scripture, work out all the timetables of Scripture, and not know beans about the Scriptures.

Knowing the Scripture is knowing Christ. He's the message of Scripture. He's the message of Scripture. I have a very dear friend who's with the Lord in glory now. He couldn't hardly read. Just had less than a second grade education. But he knew the Scriptures. He knew the Scriptures. Knew them well. He knew Jesus Christ is the message of Scripture. You understand what I'm saying? You don't learn the message of scripture like you learn a text on biology or like you learn a text on mathematics.

Just, oh, now let's get this figured out and memorize it. We'll get done. Hold up. Hold up. The only way you'll ever know the meaning of this book is if God opens your understanding and gives you eyes to see Jesus Christ is all. That shuts us up to God's revelation. It sure does. That means that, that means this thing can't be, can't be grasped. It can't be understood. It can't be, it can't be gotten hold of by human ingenuity and human power and human wisdom.

You heard what I said. This thing comes by revelation. This thing comes by God. entering into your heart, giving you eyes to see and ears to hear and faith to understand, heart to believe that Jesus Christ is all. Secondly, insofar as the triune God is concerned, Christ is all. Now I want you to listen carefully to what I'm about to say. It's very important. We are Trinitarians. We are Trinitarians.

We worship one God. Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. But we worship that one God in the Trinity, or the tri-unity of his sacred persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There are three that by record in heaven, John said, 1 John 5, 7. The Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. We worship one God in the triunity of his sacred persons.

But the triune God has given Christ such prominence and such preeminence that in the revelation and knowledge of the triune God, Christ is all. What are you saying, pastor? I'm saying the only way you'll ever know God the Father is in Christ. The only way you'll ever know God the Son is in Christ. The only way you'll ever know God the Holy Spirit is in Christ.

When the Holy Spirit speaks, he speaks of and glorifies Jesus Christ. Turn over to John chapter 16. John chapter 16. In this day of charismatic mania, in this day when everybody's talking about speaking in tongues, and everybody's talking about the Holy Spirit, The age of the Holy Spirit, the work of the Holy Spirit, the power of the Holy Spirit. And folks talk about the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit. But when the Holy Spirit speaks, he doesn't talk about himself. No, when the Holy Spirit speaks, he doesn't point you to him and say, look at the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit speaks, he doesn't say, seek the Holy Spirit. No, sir. Never. Not one time in this book. No, sir. Well, what's he say?

Look in John chapter 14, John chapter 16, rather, verse 8. When he, the Holy Spirit has come, he will reprove the world, convince, convict the world, God's elect throughout the world of sin, their sin. Of righteousness, God's righteousness, of judgment, of the judgment of sin in Jesus Christ the Lord and judgment to come. Of sin, because they believe not on me. Of righteousness, because I go to my father and you see me no more.

Righteousness has been accomplished, otherwise he wouldn't have gone. Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. He said, I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. And he said, now is the prince of this world cast out. Now then, look at verse 13. Albeit, when he, the spirit of truth has come, he will guide you into all truth. Look at these next words, will you? Underscore, for he shall not speak of himself. He shall not speak of himself.

So anytime you hear a preacher get up and talk to you about the Holy Spirit and speak of seeking the Holy Spirit and speak of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. You've got to have the gift of tongues from the Spirit. You've got to be slain in the Spirit. And you've got to have this.

That preacher's not talking about the Spirit of God. He's talking about another spirit. For when the Spirit of God speaks, he speaks not in himself. But whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak, and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine and shall show it unto you. So the Holy Spirit comes to show you the things of Christ. That's the purpose and work of God the Holy Spirit. God the Father has given all honor, all preeminence, all power, all glory, all dominion to his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Father loveth the Son. And they've given all things into his hand. Turn over to John chapter 5. John 5. I could show you a number of passages in this regard, but let's look at this one. John chapter 5, verse 20.

The Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth. And he will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them, even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son, that all men should honor the Son, even as they honoreth the Father, that he that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death into life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself, so he hath given to the Son. to have life in himself and hath given him authority. I'll tell you what I mean.

There was a time when this universe had no meaning except in the mind of God. I know we live in a foolish depraved, atheistic society where men and women are taught and learned in the time that they're preschoolers listening to Barney on, what is that silly puppet show, the Sesame Street program. From the very beginning, they learn early in their, in the constant barrage of heresy that matter is eternal. These things just always have been and evolved into what they are now. I know that's what folks are taught. but it's all a lie, it's all blasphemy, it's all designed by men and women who hate God. Those who suggest the eternality of matter, who suggest that somehow this world just sort of evolved out of what was already here, that you sort of just evolved out of a matter that was already in the universe, they are attempting to deny the very existence and being of God.

There was a time when this world didn't exist except in the mind of God. He's the only one who is eternal and the only thing who's eternal. This world, the heavens and the earth, the angels were not yet created. Man had not yet been formed by the hand of God. If Christ was all, where was he then? W.A. Criswell.

I told a story when he was pastoring in Kentucky here a long, long time ago. He's nearly 90 years old now, I reckon. He said he drove by one Sunday afternoon, one of the black churches out in the country here, and there was a crowd gathered around. Folks were standing outside on the lawn, and they were standing around the windows, and he thought, well, I'm a little curious to see what's going on. So he just stopped, and he gathered up as close as he could to those folks, They were having one of those all-day services, and this preacher was preaching. And you know how those folks do, they talk back to the preacher.

He'd say, where was the Lord before he made the sun? And they'd say, where was he, preacher? And he went on. He said, where was the Lord before he made the angels heaven? And they said, where was he, preacher? And after a while, he said, he was in his glory. That's where he was. Criswell said, I wish I'd have said that. Oh, I wish I'd have said that. That's where he was.

He was in His glory. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit dwelling together in the blessedness of the Holy Trinity. Jesus Christ was in His glory so that He says to the Father, now the hour has come. Restore unto me the glory that I had with Thee before the world was.

Turn back to Proverbs chapter 8. I'll show you where he was. Proverbs chapter 8. We are creatures so limited by time that we sometimes foolishly imagine that God experiences the limitations of time, but it's not so. Proverbs 8, verse 23. The Lord Jesus' wisdom is speaking. He's speaking as our representative, our surety, our covenant head, our savior. Obviously, he's not talking about his eternal Godhead. He's talking about his eternal surety.

I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, wherever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth. When there were no fountains abounding with water, before the mountains were settled, before the hills were brought forth, while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there. When he set a compass upon the face of the when he established the clouds above, when he strengthened the fountains of the deep, when he gave to the sea his decree that the water should not pass his commandment, when he appointed the foundations of the earth. Then was I by him, as one brought up with him, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him, rejoicing in the habitable part of the earth, and my delights were with the sons of men. There was a time when God did create the heavens and the earth in their present form.

Just a few weeks, I'll be going down to North Carolina, being in those majestic, majestic, majestic mountains. Down there in Cherokee, North Carolina. Oh, the splendor of God's the splendorous trees, and California, this summer when I was out there at the Mission Springs Conference, the chapel building had, it was all glass, and right behind me were those huge, beautiful redwood trees, just a forest full of them. God made that. God made that. The fragrant flowers, the beast of the field, the animals, the birds, and man in his image and after his likeness. God made them all.

If Christ is all, where was he then? Turn to John chapter one. Let's look. John chapter one. In the beginning was the Word. Jesus Christ, he's the Word. And the Word was with God. In the beginning. And the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made. Paul said he's the beginning of the creation of God. He's the firstborn of every creature, that is, he is the one from whom all things began.

And then there was a time when man failed. Our father Adam sinned against God and we in him. Sin, darkness, depravity, sickness, sorrow, and death entered into God's creation. If Christ is all, where was his end? What's happened? Has the world gotten out of kilter? Has God's plan been thwarted? Has God's purpose been overturned? Has God now got to come up with an emergency remedy?

The Lord Jesus Christ comes to the fallen pair in the garden, and he speaks plainly, gives the first gospel message, and he says to the woman that he would cause her seed to come and crush the serpent's head, and the woman's seed is Jesus Christ the Lord.

He was there. Darkness came, but Christ is light. Death came, but Christ is life. The curse was pronounced, but Christ is salvation. Man was banished from the presence of God, but even then Christ is the ways of God. With the depravity came inability and helplessness, but Christ is hope. And the Lord God gives the fallen pair hope of everlasting life through the woman's Time went on and on and on for thousands of years.

Four thousand years passed, and there came a time when religion had so degenerated that it was nothing but superstition, tradition, legalism, ritualism, form, and ceremony. Here and there, there was a man or a woman who sought the Lord, who worshipped God, looking for the Messiah, expecting the Messiah to come. But for the most part, the religion of the age was as useless and irrelevant as warps on a frog, just absolutely without significance. Just like the religion of our day, useless and insignificant.

If Christ is all, where was he then? Listen to what the scripture says. When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law to redeem them that were under the curse of the law. Christ came into the world. He said, Lo, I come in the volume of the book that is written to me. I delight to do thy will, O my God. And the Lord Jesus Christ came here according to God's purpose, according to God's plan to save God's elect and fulfill all God's requirements and God's decree from everlasting.

He came to do his Father's will. And there is a time coming when time shall be no more, when this world shall be destroyed not by water, but by fire. I guess it's all right to be environmentally conscious. I get a little reactionary to those fellows, but go ahead and recycle your stuff if you Use hairspray instead of the good stuff. Do that if you want to. But I'm going to tell you something. Whatever that ozone layer is, the sun's not going to come through and burn this place up until God puts the candle out. But there's a time appointed when God's going to put the candle out.

If Christ is all, where will he be then? He'll be on his throne right where he is now. and every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess of things in heaven, and of things in the earth, and of things under the earth, that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. He'll be on the judgment seat, for the Father hath put all judgment in the Son, and he's coming. He's coming to make all things new, so that in the design, decree, and purpose of the triune God, for the eternal redemption and salvation of a people chosen by God to be holy, to be the objects of his grace, to be the recipients of everlasting life, to populate heaven and forever and ever. The Lord Jesus Christ is all and then all.

Now, let me wrap this message up by saying one more thing. Christ is all to me. Oh, happy, blessed is that man and that woman who commit their eyes to heaven and say with honesty, Christ is all to me. He is. Let me retrace what I just said to you and add a personal touch.

There was a time when, like this world, I had no I did not exist except in the mind, purpose, and decree of God. But I was in Christ even then. He was my surety even then, back long before I was made. The Lord Jesus Christ was brought up with God as my surety. And He stood for me. And the Scripture tells me I was chosen in Him.

Chosen in Him from the foundation of the world, Ephesians 1.4. Not only was I chosen in Him, but blessed in Him. blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ before the world began. Ephesians 1, 3. And saved in Christ. Yes, saved in Christ. Insofar as the purpose and decree and covenant of grace was concerned, salvation was accomplished for God's elect in Christ before the world began.

Read 2 Timothy 1, 9. The scripture said we were accepted in the beloved. Now I've given you what those scriptures say. Read with me the first chapter of Ephesians. Ephesians chapter 1. Better that you should read what God says than hear what I say about what God says. Ephesians 1 verse 3.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath... Oh, I love those past tense verbs, don't you? That means that God blessed us with all spiritual blessings so that there's not one left out in heavenly places in Christ. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him. in love having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath, there it is again, made us accepted in the beloved from everlasting.

And then there came a time when I made my entrance into this world conceived in sin, brought forth in iniquity. I came here in my mother's womb, born from my mother's womb into my father's family because God had a plan and purpose for me. I was born on a tenant farmer's little plot of ground in Bladen County, North Carolina. Born at home. to nothings and nobodies as far as this world is concerned.

Jerked up by the hair of the head such as I am, here I am. But God said, I knew you and I sanctified you when you were in your mother's womb. Jeremiah chapter 1 verse 5. I set you apart to a prophet. That's what he said. God who separated me from my mother's womb called me into this world and called me to be born where I was born, to whom I was born. He called me to be raised in the way I was raised. He in his good, wise providence brought to pass all the affairs of my life so that he would call me by his grace in the appointed time and in the appointed place. There was a time when I walked my own way in rebellion and sin. And I would not have God. And I would not come to God. I would not bow to God. I didn't want God. Oh, I wanted to stay out of hell, but I wasn't interested in God. I wanted to live forever, but I wasn't interested in God.

But as Gomer was loved by Hosea, even so the Son of God loved He prayed for me. Did you read it this morning in the first service? I pray for thee. I pray not for the world. John 17 verse 1. I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me. I live, Meryl, with my feast in God's face, the Son of God. He hedged up my way. He said, I'll hedge up his way so that he can't find his path. He provided for me, protected me. And he caused, in the appointed time of his grace, he caused my mirth to cease and expose my sin. Then he spoke to my heart.

There was a time, it's called in Ezekiel 16 in verse 8, the time of love. Not the time when love began, but the time when love was experienced. Not the time when love began, but the time when love was realized. Not the time when love began, but the time when love came. There was a time when he came to me, just as he came into this world.

I could not and I would not come to him. But he came to me, just like he came to Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus up in that tree and the Lord Jesus came to where he was. And he looked up and he said, Zacchaeus come back, for today I must abide at your house. Zacchaeus came skipping down the tree. He came to me just like he came to Lazarus. Lazarus is in that tomb. And the Lord Jesus came to the tomb and said, Lazarus, come forth. And Lazarus came forth.

He spread his skirt over me, the skirt of his imputed righteousness, in the time of his love. And he said, live. And Rex, I looked to him and lived. For he came to me. There's a day appointed. I know there is a day appointed. One day soon. By the means God has ordained and the moment God has ordained. Not by any other means and not at any other moment earlier or later. There is a time appointed of God when I shall die. This old tent is going to be folded up. It's beginning to fold already. I'm feeling the cracks.

If Christ is all, where will he be then? He'll be right where he is right now with me. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear thy rod and thy staff. Lo, I am with you always, he said, is I'll never leave you nor forsake you. Turn over to Deuteronomy chapter 31. Listen to this word that God spoke to Joshua by the mouth of Moses. Deuteronomy chapter 31 verse 6. I don't think Joshua or Moses, either one, would be upset if we take this for ourselves.

I believe it'd be all right. Be strong and of a good courage. Fear not, nor be afraid of them, for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee. He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. And Moses called unto him Joshua, and said unto him, In the sight of Israel, all Israel, be strong and of a good courage. For thou must go with this people unto the land which the Lord hath sworn unto their fathers to give them. And thou shalt cause them to inherit, and the Lord he it is that doth go before thee. He will be with He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee. So fear not, nor be deceived.

And after death, the judgment. Yes, judgment. Judgment, sure. It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this, the judgment. since Christ is all judgment absolute judgment but no condemnation there is therefore now no condemnation to this poor sinner for whom Jesus Christ is all earlier this week I got to thinking a good bit about a very dear friend that looks like will soon be with the Lord. And I got to thinking about God's faithfulness. And I wrote down some lines here that we'll try to sing in a week or two.

Throughout my days, my path's been marked by God, my Father's loving heart. He's ordered every step with I've met His goodness everywhere. When I was lost and knew Him not, prevenient grace marked every spot, and angels came for God's elect, though in rebellion, to protect.

Then in the time and at the place which God had purposed by His grace, the Spirit came and made me be. God caused His chosen to believe. Through all my days since first I saw that Jesus Christ is all in all, my Savior has in faithfulness sustained and kept me by His grace. When fallen, He restores my soul, forgives my sin, and still upholds. His erring child with love and grace and proves His covenant faithfulness.

When sick, my Savior makes my bed and soothes my aching, fainting head. And when I leave this world of woe, to Christ my faithful God I'll go. No more to sin, no more to sigh. The tears you see will soon be dry. When I have dropped this robe of flesh, I'll leave behind all signs of death. Immortal life awaits my soul. When I'm with Christ, I shall be whole. Conformed to him who died for me, with him at last, I shall be free. Amen.

Christ Is All

What does the Bible say about Christ being all?

How do we know Christ is all true?

Why is knowing Christ important for Christians?

What does it mean that Christ is all in the context of salvation?

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Christ Is All

What does the Bible say about Christ being all?

How do we know Christ is all true?

Why is knowing Christ important for Christians?

What does it mean that Christ is all in the context of salvation?

Sermon Transcript

About Don Fortner

Comments

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