Jesus plus.
Perhaps that is the best summary of the modern church—Jesus plus something.
Our modern day is filled with a lot of Jesus plus somethings …
- Jesus plus success
- Jesus plus money
- Jesus plus accomplishment or accolades
- Jesus plus …
But not all of the “somethings” are bad in and of themselves. For example, Jesus plus end times … or Jesus plus a certain theological bent. Those things may be good but it is still a “plus.”
Plus. A preposition meaning “in addition to.”
Isn’t it interesting that in the church we try to add something to Jesus rather than embrace the “simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3).
Why isn’t Jesus sufficient?
Paul makes a grand and bold statement in Colossians 3:4. He writes, “When Christ, who is our life, is manifested, then you also will be manifested with Him in glory.”
It is Christ alone who is our life. It is Christ and Him crucified that is our message (see 1 Corinthians 1:23, 2:2). Again, as Paul warned the Corinthians, “But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be corrupted from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). Paul was concerned that the Corinthians would be drawn away from the simplicity (the idea of “singularity of focus” or “all-consuming focus and desire”) and purity of devotion to Jesus.
We want Jesus to be our life … but we also want to be “distracted” by a myriad of other things too, albeit, maybe even good things … but any addition (Jesus plus) is still a distraction from the single thing that should be our all-consuming focus and passion—Jesus Himself … and Him alone.
T. Austin-Sparks said it this way:
If we ask what is the very essence and heart of Christianity and the Christian life, the answer is that God has summed up and centered all things in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. This means that Christianity is not a number of things as in themselves, such as beliefs, doctrines, dogmas, practices, forms, rites, orders, or virtues. It is not salvation, regeneration, sanctification, power, life, joy, peace, etc, as things; it is just Himself, and Himself as resident within those who have received Him as Who and What He is. He is the total of all that is necessary for God’s glory and satisfaction, for which we were created. Nothing can be had or known as an “it”, apart from the Person. If we have Him and live by Him, we have all. (1)
Jesus alone.
There should be no such thing as “Jesus plus” in our lives. We are called to a singularity of focus—an all-consuming passion—because Christianity is about one singular things: Jesus. The CHRISTian LIFE is all about the life of Christ.
What about you? Is the summary of your life a “Jesus plus” or a “Jesus period”?
FOOTNOTES
(1) T. Austin-Sparks, Christ Our Life; First published in “A Witness and A Testimony” magazine, Sep-Oct 1940 Vol. 18-5.
Photo Credit: NRJohnson, May 16, 2025
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, deeperChristian will receive an affiliate commission (with no additional cost to you). It is a great way to support the work and ministry of deeperChristian. Regardless, we only recommend products or services we use personally and believe will add value to our readers. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”