In a large hospital lay a' little Irish lad of about 15 years of age but who looked less than 12.
His body was emaciated and undersized. His small, pinched face was white and sad. Small wonder that he immediately excited the sympathy of a lady missionary visiting the ward! Winning his confidence with some flowers and fruit, she soon found him willing, even eager, to hear the story of the sinner's Savior.
When he was awakened to some sense of his own lost condition, he began seriously to consider how he might be saved. He spoke of penance and the confessional, of sacraments and church—yet never wholly leaving out Christ and His atoning work.
Calling again one day, the lady found his face aglow with new-found joy. When she inquired the reason, he replied with assurance born of faith in the Word of God: "O miss is! I always knew that Jesus was necessary; but I never knew till yesterday that He was enough."
It was a blessed discovery. Mark it well, dear reader: Jesus is enough! It is believed by most people that Jesus is necessary; the whole fabric of Christendom is built upon that. But how few realize that He is enough!
It is not Christ and good works, not Christ and the Church that save. It is not through Christ and baptism, or Christ and the confessional that we receive forgiveness of our sins. It is not Christ and doing our best, or Christ and the Lord's supper that will give us new life. It is Christ alone.
"Christ and—" is a perverted gospel which is not the Gospel. Christ, without the and is the sinner's hope and the saint's confidence. Through trusting Him and Him alone, eternal life and forgiveness of sins are yours.
The saved soul is exhorted to maintain good works, and thus reflect the life of Christ. But for salvation itself, Jesus is not only necessary—He is enough.