For review this month, Our Sufficiency in Christ by a familiar author in Elim’s library, Dr. John MacArthur. Instead of a complete overview, I feel that there are several paragraphs that represent the jist of the book. These paragraphs are taken from the fourth chapter. I quote the author…
It is significant that one of the biblical names of Christ is Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6). He is the highest and ultimate One to whom we turn for counsel, and His Word is the well from which we may draw divine wisdom. What could be more wonderful than that? In fact, one of the most glorious aspects of Christ’s perfect sufficiency is the wonderful counsel and wisdom He supplies in our times of despair, confusion, fear, anxiety,and sorrow. He is the quintessential Counselor.
Now that is not to denigrate the importance of Christians counseling each other. There certainly is a crucial need for biblically sound counseling ministries within the body of Christ. I would not for a moment dispute the important role of those who are spiritually gifted to offer encouragement, discernment, comfort, advice, compassion, and help to others. In fact, one of the very problems that has led to the current plague of bad counsel is that churches have not done we well as they could in enabling people with those kinds of spiritual gifts to minister excellently. The complexities of this modern age make it more difficult than ever to take the time necessary to listen well, serve others through compassionate personal involvement, and otherwise provide the close fellowship necessary for the church body to enjoy health and vitality.
Churches have looked to professionals to fill the gap, but it isn’t going to work. Professional psychologists are no substitute for spiritually gifted people, and the counsel psychology offers cannot replace biblical wisdom and divine power. Moreover, psychology tends to make people depend on a therapist, whereas those exercising true spiritual gifts always turn people back to an all-sufficient Savior and His all-sufficient Word.
Briefly stated, other topics include hedonism, philosophy, legalism, mysticism, asceticism and spiritual warfare. Dr. MacArthur closes with five subtitles of Sufficient Grace:
- Grace Upon Grace
- Super-Abounding Grace
- All-Sufficient Grace
- The Lessons of Grace
- Grace Amid Trials
In the epilogue, Dr. MacArthur quotes the Apostle Paul: Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light (Colossians 1:10-12).
Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God (2 Corinthians 3:5).
Posted on May 1st, 2008 by Janet
Filed under: Elim Refresher Newsletter, From the Church Library
