Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

Free Grace Media

Of Princeton, New Jersey

 

AuthorClay Curtis
TitleChrist Is Enough
Bible TextGenesis 45:25-28
Synopsis Christ sends his messengers preaching the gospel of peace through which Christ himself speaks in power, calling his people unto himself. Listen.
Date10-Jan-2016
Series Popular Bible Stories
Article Type Sermon Notes
PDF Format pdf
Word Format doc
Audio HI-FI Listen: Christ Is Enough (32 kbps)
Audio CD Quality Listen: Christ Is Enough (128 kbps)
Length 38 min.
 

 

CHRIST IS ENOUGH!
Genesis 45: 25-28

 

Genesis 45: 25: And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father,…

 

These were Joseph’s brethren; these were those Joseph revealed himself unto; these were those Joseph sent with the word of good news with full provision; these were those Joseph would use to call his father and his brethren out of the land of famine to himself in the land full of bread.

 

The elect, chosen of God, given to Christ are those Christ reveals himself unto; they are those Christ sends with the good news of the gospel and full provision of grace; they are those Christ uses, through his gospel, to call out our spiritual fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, sisters, and brothers.

 

1 Corinthians 1: 21: For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

 

Romans 10: 13: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14: How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15: And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

 

Christ said, “Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.” (Is 52: 6)  Christ sends his messengers preaching the gospel of peace through which Christ himself speaks in power, calling his people unto himself.

 

THE MESSAGE

 

The message Christ sends us to preach is that Christ is risen and reigning. Joseph’s brethren came to Jacob—“And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt…” (Gen 45: 26)

 

We rejoice that Christ laid down his life for his people.  “Now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Heb 9: 26) But our confidence that Christ really did put away the sin of all his people is this: Christ is yet alive.  His being raised again from the dead declares that God is satisfied toward all his people in Christ, “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” (Rom 4: 25)

 

God is so satisfied with Christ’s finished work of redeeming all his people from our sins, God the Father raised the GodMan to be the Governor, not only over Egypt, but over heaven and earth, as Head over all things to the church, which is Christ’s body and fullness.

 

Isaiah 9: 6:…the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7: Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

 

Brethren, because Christ lives, we live!  Have you ever taken out the chapter division between Ephesians 1 and 2 so as to make this connection?

 

Ephesians 1: 20…he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21: Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23: Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. 2: 1: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

 

This is our gospel. Christ yet Lives! He is the Governor over All! And because Christ lives all his people are, and shall, be quickened to life in and by him.

 

Therefore, we preach all, and only, the words Christ commands us to preach—“And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them:…” (Gen 45: 27)

 

As the righteous servant of God, Christ spoke the doctrine God the Father sent him to preach because he sought to glorify God who sent him. He said, “My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me…He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. (Jn 7: 16, 18)

 

Now, likewise, Christ’s ambassador preaches Christ who sent him and seeks to give Christ all the glory! We do not preach our own word—our thoughts because Christ commands us, “Teach them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:” (Mt 28: 20)

 

THE EFFECT

 

By the power of the Holy Spirit, the gospel is always in those Christ calls.

 

It is not of our power or will that the gospel is effectual. In our natural heart, we do not have strength because we believe not—“…And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed them not.” (Gen 45: 26)

 

Jacob heard this news of Joseph. His heart fainted. Perhaps for a time, Jacob lost his bodily composure in some great way. But the point is, he had no strength in his heart. Why?

 

One, it was because “he believed them not.” These were the sons that told Jacob his son had died in vain.  These were the very sons who took vengeance into their own hands toward those who raped their sister. These boys were sinners.  God converts just these kinds of sinners and uses us to preach Christ. Some use the excuse that they do not believe the gospel we preach because they know the preacher is a sinner just like them.  But God uses nobodies to preach Christ so that the power that gives sinners life and faith is manifest to be of God and not of us.

 

Two, “Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed…not.” Jacob had no strength in his heart because he did not believe in his heart.  The reason we have no strength in our natural hearts is because we do not believe on Christ in our natural hearts. We cannot not. “The natural man receiveth not the things of God for they are foolishness to him, neither can he know them because they are spiritual discerned.” (1 Cor 2: 14) So what does the natural man do? When the natural man hears the gospel preached his heart faints. He is without strength to grasp the truth because he believes not the gospel of Christ. Christ is the strength of the believer. But he is the strength of the regenerated heart. It is only when Christ is formed within us that we have a new heart and strength in our hearts to believe on Christ. Then through faith Christ continues to strengthen our hearts to believe on him more and more.

 

Here is another effect of the gospel.  Though Jacob believed them not, Judah, and the rest of the brethren, did not cease telling him what they were commanded—“And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: (Gen 45: 27)

 

There is one thing required in the sinner who Christ makes to be a steward of the mysteries of God, “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” (1Co 4:2) God’s preachers have all the same discouragements that every other believer has. They have personal sin and personal trials, family difficulties and responsibilities. Add to that the weight of ministering to those Christ has placed under their care.  They see so many perishing with no care for their own souls, who “oppose themselves.” Some sit under their preaching for a while only to leave and find other preachers because they refuse to hear sound doctrine. What do you do?  Do you give up?  Do you change the message? What do you do? Though most do not believe, by God’s grace, God blesses his gospel to the heart of his messenger, making God’s steward faithful to keep preaching the gospel which Christ commands we preach.

 

2 Timothy 4: 1: I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4: And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5: But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry

 

Then we see the effect of God’s abundance grace given through the gospel. They kept declaring Joseph’s word and suddenly Jacob began to see all the abundant provision which Joseph sent to him—“…and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:” (Gen 45: 27)

 

Put yourself in Jacob’s shoes. He sees all those wagons, all the livestock and all the gifts. Jacob realized those things did not come of his sons. Such great abundance had to come from Joseph and from Pharaoh!

 

As we preach Christ, when we least expect it, the Spirit of God regenerates the heart so that we behold Christ and the wagons of grace God has provided in Christ his Son.  In the blood of Christ, God gives us wagons of free justification through faith in his blood, wagons of perfect righteousness before God the Father!  He makes us see that none of this could come of any sinner. God gives us delight in Christ who laid down his life for his people, the just for the unjust.  And Christ the Life continues to revive the heart of his child.

 

Then through this good news, through the Spirit’s work in the heart, Christ gives his child a new name—“And Israel said,…” (Gen 45: 28)

 

Notice, while in unbelief his name was written as “Jacob.” But when he saw the wagons, when his spirit was revived, when he believed, his name is written as “Israel.”

 

Back when Christ wrestled Jacob, Christ made Jacob prevail. Jacob did not prevail so long as he attempt to wrestle Christ in the power of Jacob’s strength.  Christ made Jacob prevail by taking all his strength away from so that all Jacob could do was look to Christ alone and beg mercy.  That is how Jacob prevailed with Christ “he wept and made supplications unto God.” That is what we have pictured here! Then Christ gave Jacob the name Israel.

 

‘God says that his people shall be called “by my name.” (2 Ch 7: 14; Is 43: 7) Israel is one of the names scripture gives to Christ. (Is 49: 3) “Israel” means “As a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” (Gen 32: 28) Christ is the Prince of peace, the Power of God; the GodMan who has power with God and with men; the one who prevailed by setting judgment in the earth for God and for his people; even in our hearts. Now, by our great Israel giving us his name, through faith in his name, we have peace with God our Father.  (Acts 3: 16; Rom 5: 1)

 

CHRIST IS ENOUGH

 

When Christ brings us to believe on him, we behold that in Christ we have all we need. The heart of faith cries out as did Israel—Genesis 45: 28: And Israel said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive.”

 

When Christ Jesus the Son of God satisfied divine justice, declaring God just and the Justifier of his people, he said, “It is finished!” And God the Father said, “It is enough! Justice is satisfied! I am glorified! My people are reconciled to me!”

 

Likewise, when the Spirit of God brings us to behold Christ yet lives, that we are seated at God’s right hand in him, that Christ is all our Righteousness God brings us to cry, “It is enough, Christ my Lord is yet alive!”

 

Is Christ enough to you? The word means “Great!” The Greek is “Rabbi. Master!” Is Christ Great to you? Is Christ your Master? When you behold that in your flesh dwells no good thing yet Christ is All then Christ will be enough! Then Christ will be Great to you! Then Christ will be your Master!

 

When Christ is enough to the believer, he gives us one desire, one hope—Genesis 45: 28…I will go and see him before I die.

 

Nothing else mattered to Joseph. In his heart he left all for his son Joseph. Remember Simeon? “It was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” When he saw Christ in the temple that day? Simeon said, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation.” (Lu 2: 26, 29)

 

May Christ bless his word today and make us cry out from a heart of faith, “Christ is enough!” May he give us this one desire, “I will go and SEE HIM before I die!”

 

Amen!