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##### Christ’s Ability

{Proof That the Heavenly Trade is the Best Trade

The Person with Whom Heavenly Traders Deal

Christ’s Ability}

Some people have excellent natures but limited abilities; they are willing to do good beyond their power, but cannot. But it is not so with the saint’s Friend. He has all power in Heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18),206 and can do whatever He pleases. He has all creatures at His command and controls all the treasures of Heaven. He is infinitely rich and has all of the good that souls might need or desire. He has goods of all kinds with which to supply His customers. It is not so with people; no merchant can furnish his traders with everything they need, but one sells this ware, another that. Here, people sail to one country for one commodity and to another country for other wares. They ransack nature’s treasures by sea and land. From every nation, they get goods that have special excellent qualities particular to that nation so as to make up their full inventory and meet their needs as they desire. But the Lord Jesus has everything you need in Himself and at His command. He can supply all your needs because all fullness dwells in Him (Philippians 4:19).207 He has in Himself all that your souls need and the command of what you need for your bodies also. He can give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).208 “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV). Here are no less than five alls that flow from the ability of Christ to believers: All grace abounds in them and all sufficiency in all things is enjoyed by them at all times for every good work. If people would just believe in the all-sufficiency of Christ, they would not so perplex their spirits when in need. They would not be anxious about food, clothing, or how to get this or that other mercy they desire because all is offered to wisdom’s merchants freely. This is because godliness has attached to it209 promises for this life and for that which is to come, and these promises are in the hand of Jesus for the benefit of all who go to God through Him. “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him” (Matthew 11:27 NKJV). The Lord Jesus is not only able to give you all that you ask according to His will—all things have been delivered to Him for that purpose—but He can preserve it for you and your use. “Which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me” (2 Timothy 1:12 ESV). This all-sufficiency of Christ is argument enough for all those in the New Covenant for a calm and quiet dependence on Him and holy walking before Him (Genesis 17:1).210

206“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth’” (Matthew 28:18 NKJV). Note: the word translated power in the KJV is ἐξουσια [ex-oo-see´-ah], meaning, in this context, authority. A better verse to bring home Ashwood’s point might be: “Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you” (Jeremiah 32:17 ESV).

207“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NASB).

208“Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4 NKJV).

209No amount of godliness earns God’s promises. Rather, the same gift of faith that justifies also causes good works and that same gift of faith comes with many other gifts besides.

210“When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless’” (Genesis 17:1 ESV).

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