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.
Sermon Q&A
What Did Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Teach About the Uniqueness of Christ for Salvation?
Based on Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' sermon on Acts 4:11-12, here are key questions and answers that highlight his teaching on the uniqueness of Christ for salvation.
What is the historical context of Acts 4:11-12 according to Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Acts 4:11-12 describes the first persecution suffered by the Christian church. Peter and John were put on trial before the Sanhedrin after healing a lame man at the temple gate. The religious authorities were trying to silence the apostles and essentially exterminate Christianity in its early stages. This situation parallels modern times when Christianity faces opposition and skepticism.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say there's "nothing new about unbelief"?
Lloyd-Jones points out that many modern skeptics think rejecting Christianity is something new or progressive, but unbelief is as old as belief itself. He reminds listeners that Jesus himself was crucified in the first century by those who rejected him. The same opposition that tried to silence the early church is still present today, just in different forms. Unbelief is not a modern invention but an ancient response to God's truth.
What interesting pattern does Lloyd-Jones observe about those who oppose Christianity?
Lloyd-Jones observes that unbelief has "a most extraordinary power of uniting opposites." In the biblical account, the Pharisees and Sadducees—who fundamentally disagreed with each other on many theological points—united in their opposition to Christ and His followers. Similarly today, people from vastly different intellectual, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds unite in their rejection of Christianity despite having little else in common.
What does Lloyd-Jones identify as the root cause of unbelief?
According to Lloyd-Jones, unbelief is fundamentally rooted in pride rather than intellectual reasoning. He points to the Sanhedrin's contemptuous attitude toward the apostles ("You, by what power or by what name have you done this?"), noting their derision toward simple fishermen. This same prideful attitude characterizes modern unbelief, which often sneers at Christian faith rather than engaging with it fairly.
What does it mean that Jesus is the "only savior" according to the sermon?
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes Peter's declaration that "there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." This means:
- No second name can be added to Christ's
- We cannot add our own works to Christ's saving work
- We cannot add the church, priests, or sacraments as essential to salvation
- We cannot even add saints or Mary as mediators
- Christ alone has completely finished the work of salvation
This exclusivity of Christ for salvation is not arrogance but truth based on His unique ability to address humanity's greatest needs.
Why is Christ uniquely qualified to be the only savior?
Lloyd-Jones explains that Christ is uniquely qualified to be our only savior because:
- Only Christ can give us true knowledge of God ("No man cometh unto the Father but by me")
- Only Christ can deal with our sins by bearing them "in his own body on the tree"
- Only Christ is strong enough to defeat Satan and help us against temptation
- Only Christ has conquered death through His resurrection
No other religious figure, philosophy, or human effort can accomplish these essential things.
What challenge does Lloyd-Jones say Christians should issue to the unbelieving world?
Lloyd-Jones calls for Christians to challenge the "arrogant world" by asking "Where is the building?"—meaning, what has the world's wisdom produced? Those who rejected God and promised to build a perfect world through education, culture, and politics have instead produced wars, moral breakdown, and chaos. The world rejects "the one thing that could put it right" while embracing self-appointed philosophers and cults that lead nowhere.
What final warning does Lloyd-Jones give to those who reject Christ?
Lloyd-Jones warns that those who reject Christ cannot ultimately escape Him. The stone (Christ) that the builders (religious leaders) rejected has become the cornerstone of God's plan. Those who think they can dismiss Christ will one day face Him as judge. He states: "To reject this gospel is to pit your pygmy self against the everlasting and eternal God." However, he concludes with the hopeful message that the "door and gate of grace are still open" to those who will turn to Christ.
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.