No Second Name
A Sermon on Acts 4:11-12
Scripture
11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Sermon Description
In this sermon on Acts 4:11–12 titled “No Second Name,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones looks at the first persecution of Christianity and how the apostles both answered the charge brought against them and withstood the fight to continue preaching. The rejection of the gospel is as old as the belief of the gospel itself. Dr. Lloyd-Jones speaks about the differences that divided the Pharisees and Sadducees, and how in the face of Christ these two opposing groups united together. Unbelief is always due to pride. Christians should never apologize for their faith. Christians must address the world as they are filled with the Holy Ghost. They cannot fight an unbelieving world with the message of the world. The church must preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified to this unbelieving world. They must not be doubtful about Christ—this is a travesty to the Christian faith. The teachings of Christ alone will condemn everyone, but He did not leave it at that. All are sinners and have rejected the cornerstone, but there is hope. Humanity killed Christ, God raised Him, and His people most certainly will meet Him again.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon is based on Acts 4:11-12 which describes the first persecution of the early church.
- The sermon examines the nature of unbelief and opposition to the Gospel. There is nothing new about unbelief - it has existed since the beginning.
- Unbelief has the power to unite opposites. The Pharisees and Sadducees were opposed to each other but united against the Gospel.
- Unbelief is characterized by pride, blindness, and pettiness. The leaders were more concerned with the apostles' authority than the miracle.
- To address unbelief, preach Jesus Christ - His person, His resurrection, and His role as the only Savior.
- Jesus is the only one who can give knowledge of God, forgive sins, give strength, and conquer death. No one else can do this.
- The world needs to be challenged for its unbelief and asked where the results are of its claims. The world produces chaos, not solutions.
- The world rejected the stone (Jesus) but He has become the cornerstone. You cannot get rid of Him.
- To reject the Gospel is to pit yourself against God. The world will face judgment.
- The door of grace is still open. Turn to Christ, the only hope for sinners. Look forward to His return.
Itinerant Preaching
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.