In a large hospital lay a young Irish boy of about 15 years of age, but who looked less than 12. His body was undersized, and emaciated, and his small, pinched face was white and sad. Small wonder that he excited the sympathy of a 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.
As he began to realize 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.
Visiting again one day, the missionary found his face shining with new-found joy. When she asked the reason, he replied with assurance born of faith in the Word of God: "Oh, missis! I always knew that Jesus was necessary, but I never knew till yesterday that He was enough!"
Jesus is enough! It is believed by most people that Jesus is necessary; the whole fabric of Christianity 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 Christian’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.