Our Sufficiency in Christ

by John F. MacArthur Jr.

Book Overview

Christ's divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness. --2 Peter 1:3Pure Christianity needs no embellishment whatsoever. We find complete sufficiency in Christ and His... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 084990840X
• ISBN13: 9780849908408
• Release Date: January 1991
• Publisher: W Publishing Group
• Length: 282 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.2" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Our Sufficiency in Christ

What the fictitious Screwtape feared the most was `mere Christianity.' To it he wanted to contaminate with his concoction of `Christianity And.' As long as believers are convinced that `The Same Old Thing' was insufficient for true satisfaction, they would look for supplementary idols to fill their vacuum that only Christ can legitimately fill. And so the search is on. Instead of looking where the answers lie, Christians choose to look elsewhere for alternatives. But the alternates, by their very nature, are inadequate substitutes. MacArthur's thesis is that by denying the absolute sufficiency in all things spiritual that we have in Christ, we have embraced misleading, unsatisfactory, counterfeit and ultimately spiritually harmful surrogates. (pp. 15ff) We have embraced the modern promotion of psychology, even in its evil step-daughter Christian psychology. We have sought after `how-to' philosophies of pragmatism; mysticism's Deeper Life and Charismatic offshoots; materialistic hedonism's siren of "have the best of both worlds"; legalism's do-it-yourself sanctification; asceticism's deny-every-creature-comfort to become spiritual; Quietism's passivity; Pietism's strenuous activity among other feeble attempts to add to our salvation that which only Jesus can provide. In contrast, MacArthur reminds us of the beautiful balance (Phil 2:12,13) we have in the Divine/Human cooperative of His sovereignty and our responsibility in the area of our progressive sanctification. MacArthur's position is that Christ's power and person has provided perfect sufficiency for everything pertaining to life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3; Col 2:8,9). In addition, His Scripture is totally sufficient to equip us thoroughly in the areas secular and Christian psychologies have attempted to usurp (2 Tim 3:16,17). Good Book, Thomas Hamilton

El Shaddai "The All Suffient One"

Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God, (2 Corinthians 3:5 RSV) John MacArthur argues that many local churches and God's followers do not trust in the sufficiency in Christ. The minister believes in the authority of God's word; They believe in salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ and as a guide for righteous living. They lose patience in the word and start thinking something else is needed to bring others to Christ. Neither do they trust God's word in their daily lives: seeking other sources to help themselves and others when misfortune and difficulties come in their lives. Something other then God and His written word is sought. Christian ministers have sought the use of secular psychology to help their flock deal with the daily grind. Accepting "the notion scripture does not contain all we need in these complex and sophisticated modern times." pg. 117 It does not end here, but many local bodies seek resources though secular business, the government, politics and entertainment. (.... traditional counseling from the bible is widely viewed as unsophisticated, naive, and even fatuous.") pg.30 In addition John MacArthur asks the question: "Does God need a psychiatrist"? pg. 55 He replies with a strong no. Psychiatry is part of the world's philosophy and not of God. He further argues that `Christian psychology' is little more then using bits of scripture in secular psychology. Him we proclaim, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man mature in Christ. (Colossians 1:28 RSV) See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8 RSV) The Bible talks about Christian struggle because of his belief, temptation, and the frailty of the earthly body. God has always used suffering to perfect and purify His people. How else can he demonstrate the sufficiency of His Grace. Jesus came into the world to live as man, to suffer the daily indignities of a man, to be tempted as all other men, and to suffer like a sinner. How are you as a Christian to be Christ like if the believer does not use the same tools used in His daily walk? A symbiosis exists between the believer and God. God is at work in the believer through the Holy Spirit and the believer most strive through his daily life to be holy. The Holy Spirit is your comforter while you as a Christian walk on this earth. And we desire each one of you to show the sameearnestness in realizing the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Hebrews 6:11-12 RSV)Suffering conforms our sonship And have you forgotten the exhortation which addresses you as sons? --"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage w

MacArthur exposes dangerous philosophies within the church.

Part of renewing our minds (Romans 12:1,2) includes purging the world's way of thinking and philosophy from our lives and embracing a biblical world view. Our Sufficiency in Christ does an incredible job at identifying three dangerous worldly mentalities (psychology, pragmaticism, and philosophy) and exposing their anti-biblical content.

It got me back on the right path

I have been studying the psychology of religion and a webpage in my search referred me to this book. My pastor had it in his collection, so I borrowed it and it is great! I started to read it over as soon as I was finished. I am here looking for more books by Mr. MacArthur. Thanks

Complete In Christ

John MacArthur once again illustrates for us why he is one of the best bible teachers in Christendom today. This book gets to the core of the false teachings out their and gives a strong case why so many Christians go seeking for something extra when Christ has made them complete already. Buy it you wont be disappointed.