In a hospital ward a Christian woman found an undersized and undeveloped little Irish boy, whose white, wizened face and frail little form excited her deepest sympathy. Perhaps he was about fifteen years of age; he scarcely looked to be twelve. Winning the lad's confidence by gifts of flowers and fruit, she soon found him very willing, and even eager, to listen to the story of the sinner's Savior. At first his interest seemed to be of an impersonal character, but gradually he began to be more concerned about himself. His own soul's need was put before him, and he was aroused to some sense of his lost condition. He began to consider seriously how he might be saved.
One morning the woman came in to see him and found his face aglow with joy. Asking the reason, she was told, "Oh, missis, I always knew that Jesus was necessary; but I never knew till yesterday that He was enough!”
It was a blessed discovery, and I would that every reader of these pages had made it. Mark it well: Jesus is enough! It is believed by most people that Jesus is necessary. The whole fabric of Christendom is built upon that. But alas, how few realize that He is enough! You see, it is not Christ and good works, nor Christ and the Church, that save. It is not through Christ and baptism, or Christ and the confessional, that we may obtain the 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. Trusting Him, eternal life and forgiveness are yours. Then, and not till then, good works and obedience to all that is written in the Word for the guidance of Christians, falls into place. The saved soul is exhorted to maintain good works, and thus to manifest his love for Christ. But for salvation itself, Jesus is not only necessary, but He is enough.