Why isn't Jesus' earthly ministry alone enough for salvation?
Jesus' earthly ministry alone is not enough because there is no salvation in merely understanding it. Salvation requires going beyond His earthly life to the cross and the resurrection. Only by knowing Christ after the resurrection, not Christ after the flesh, can a person be saved; otherwise He is known for nothing.
Les explains that Paul's statement “henceforth we know no man after the flesh” includes Christ. Paul had known Christ after the flesh—he knew who Jesus was, what He was doing, and where He came from—but that knowledge did not save him. Les says preaching Jesus' earthly ministry is well and good as far as it goes, but there is no salvation in simply understanding His earthly ministry. The believer must go to the cross and the resurrection, and beyond, knowing Him as the Christ after the resurrection. Otherwise, as Paul says, we know Him for nothing.
More Questions
Why is it not enough to just know about Jesus' earthly ministry?
Although preaching Jesus in his earthly ministry is fine as far as it goes, there is no salvation in simply understanding his earthly ministry; you must go to the cross and the resurrection.