No Other Name — Michael Durham

It's indeed a privilege to return to Philokalia. I want to thank you for your invitation and your kind hospitality today. Let's pray. Our Father and our God, we come to you in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

He is our only merit. And only because of Him can we come to you even now. Lord, you have given me this opportunity and task. I confess to you and to these dear friends that I am not sufficient. And unless you help me, Lord, there will be no help for anyone here today.

But because of Jesus, you have given me your Holy Spirit.

He who worketh mightily in us.

Work mightily in me and in my hearers. Glorify Him, I pray.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

You may be seated. The text I pray the Lord be pleased to speak to us from is the Acts of the Apostle, chapter 4, verse 12. I want to speak to you today on the theme, No Other Name. Acts 4, verse 12. Nor is there salvation in any other.

For there is no other name under heaven given among men. And by which we must be saved. Oh, the name of Jesus. Sweeter sounds have never come upon the human ear than the name of our Lord. Sweeter than the sound of your own name, isn't it?

And oh, the renown and the fame of the name of Christ. There are some names that strike fear in the hearts of men. Remember in the Old Testament, the name of Goliath struck fear in the men of Israel. Even King Saul's heart trembled when he heard the name Goliath.

But who's Goliath compared to the name of our God? Who is the King of Glory? The Lord, strong and mighty. The Lord, mighty in battle. There are names of men who move our hearts with awe. It seems everywhere I go, at least in the Moldova region, I hear Stefan the Great.

Or your own Mihai Eminescu.

Or our national poet Mihai Eminescu.

Or we hear names like Moses, David, or Paul.

And when we pronounce them, it's as if we have respect in our voice.

The Exalted Name of Jesus Christ

But all of these names pale in comparison to the one name. That name which has been given to him. That name which is above every name. That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow. Of things in heaven and things on earth.

And things under the earth. And at the name of Jesus, every tongue shall confess. That he is Lord of Lords. As we ponder this name, by which is given only to save. I want us to examine the severity of sin.

First, how serious is the sin from which we are saved.

And then, secondly, the saviourhood of Jesus. And then lastly, the salvation of his people. What would cause God, the Father, to send his only begotten Son into the world? What would motivate the heart of the Son of God to come into this world?

To become a human fetus in the womb of a woman? What could be so wrong that the God of all joy would become a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief? And what would be so drastic that would demand of him to be nailed to a cross?

And why should he cry, hanging on that cross, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why should he die the death of the curse? Why should he receive the red, hot wrath of God? What could be so wrong that God would go to such sweeping measures?

What could be so wrong that God would go to such sweeping measures?

And the answer is sin.

This is the problem of the human race.

But modern man doesn't seem to think so anymore. The popular thinking today, in our cultures, that man's problem is many other things, but it certainly isn't sin. And we've minimized sin. The reason we have minimized it is because we really don't understand it.

We blame our problems on everything else but sin. We blame it on our finances. If I just had more income, my life would be completely different. If I had more buying power, I could solve many of my problems.

Some of us blame our problems on our spouse. If you had to live with him or her,.

You'd know why I'm the way I am.

We blame it on our children, or the person we have to work for. We blame our issues on everything else, other than what it really is. We blame it even on our health. I am what I am because I'm in this condition.

And even if you should recognize that you are your own worst problem, you still refuse to call it sin. You say, my life would have been completely different if I'd had a better education, or if I was just smarter.

I'm just a bad-tempered person. That's my problem. I've got a short fuse. Or I'm given to depression. That's why my life hasn't turned out the way I had hoped. And we come up with all these syndromes to try to explain our human conditions.

We're even more concerned about these physical bodies than we are spiritual.

And let's be honest, we are often more concerned about the physical body than we are about spiritual things. And we minimize sin. In fact, we come to a point where we don't even know what sin really is.

I asked a young lady recently, how would you define sin? And she said, I think sin is when you think negatively, not positively.

You see how we've minimized it? Sin is no more or no less than just thinking negative thoughts. The reason we have minimized sin is because we have minimized God.

That's the issue.

The problem of this generation.

And these times is due to one fact and one fact only.

We have no right concept of God.

We do not know him nor do we care to know him. How does the Bible define sin?

Sin Defined by the Glory and Holiness of God

One of the things that the Scriptures do that we don't do in our modern era, one of the problems of modern evangelism, if you please, is that we want to start with man's problems.

But that's not the origin of our problems.

Man is not the origin of the problem. The origin of the problem is we don't understand God. Because it's by God you define sin. You really don't know the severity of your sin until you've been confronted with the holiness of God.

And this is the problem not just of our cultures. This is the problem of our churches.

We don't know how holy God is.

Because we seldom experience that holiness. When was the last time that you felt the weight of his glory? You were in the presence of God. And you were brought low.

Think about that. When was the last time? If you're struggling to remember, there's our problem.

You see? We ought to walk with an awareness of his glory, of his greatness. That should be the consuming thought and the guiding principle of our life. It's him that we have to deal with.

It's him that we have our being. Do you know God? Or do you just know things about God? How do we define sin?

The apostle Paul tells us it's this. All have sinned.

How have they sinned? He defines it. And have come short of the glory of God. It's like saying, a man has committed a crime.

What's his crime? He robbed a bank. He murdered someone.

All of us have committed a crime.

We've sinned. You have. I have. How have we sinned?

We've come short of the glory of God.

In order to understand sin, I've got to know what God's glory is. Why is God so glorious? It's because.

His character is altogether good. He is righteous in all of his ways. And he is by nature holy. Another way to say it is this. His glory is his perfection. God's perfection is self-derived. It comes from himself.

There's not one creature that God has made that can say that. Not even the holy angels. Their glory is derived from God.

Their holiness, I should say.

They don't have holiness because of their own nature. And it generates it.

It is a derived holiness. Only God can say this. And because we do not know just how holy he is,.

We really don't know the severity of our sin. If you could come under the vision of the glory of God as Isaiah, you would have the very same reaction. You say, but I'm a Christian. I'm saved. That has no bearing on the subject.

If God's glory filled this building as it did the temple, when Isaiah was ministering unto the Lord, as we have ministered unto him through song and prayer, some of you would find that door and run immediately.

The rest of us would get on our faces. We would get as low as we possibly could. I remember the day when God saved me. I was kneeling on a hard wood.

Floor in prayer that morning.

You see, I was a religious person before I was truly converted. I prayed prayers. I read my Bible. But on this morning, God showed up. And the holiness of God.

Was so fit in the room,.

I tell you the truth, no lie. No embellishment. I began to claw at the cracks.

Between the hard wood flooring in order to hide. I began to hide. If we were aware of his presence more in our lives,.

The fear of God would return to our hearts and we would walk circumspectly, carefully because we would be so afraid of sin. Because we would be so fearful of our God. But our eyes can't see him. He's invisible.

God is spirit. And so in order for God to help us understand his glory, he's given us commandments. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. What does that commandment tell us about God? God is supreme.

There's nothing greater than God. Nothing is to compete with God in your heart. And that's why.

Nothing is to compete with God in your heart. Because this tells you that God alone is worthy of your worship.

Which means he alone is worthy of your service and your obedience. Do you know what worship really is? It's not singing these songs.

That we sang this morning.

We can sing these songs and worship? Yes.

But it's much, much more than that. Worship.

Is seeing God so worthy, so valuable that he alone is worth building your life on. And he alone is worthy of your service. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Means that he is altogether sufficient for all you'll ever need.

And therefore we don't need anything. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. And then there's the command, thou shalt not steal.

What does that tell us about God?

God is faithful to give us all that we need. And God is so good that he will not let you lack your daily requirements to survive. And then there's the commandment, thou shalt not covet. What would that tell us about God?

Something very similar. If you have God, you'll have everything you'll ever need. The writer of Hebrews said, do not covet. Why? And then he follows. Because he promised to never leave you, never forsake you.

When you covet, when you strongly desire something, because you don't believe you can be happy or satisfied or content without it, then you are either accusing Christ of not keeping his promise and leaving you, or you never saw how worthy and glorious he was in the first place.

God gave us these commandments not to impinge.

And refrain us from joy, but to show us that he is our joy and our greatest pleasure. But once again, because we don't know the glory of God, we minimize sin and we make sin only a matter or issue of our behavior.

So here we are in this Lord's Day.

And several of you have had this experience this morning already. I don't feel like I can pray this morning because I haven't been too good of a Christian this week. I haven't performed as I ought to.

I haven't read my Bible like I should, I haven't been praying like I should, or I sinned this week. Who am I to lead out in prayer? Or even to sing these songs, I don't feel worthy. That's because you minimize sin to be only what you do or don't do.

But friends, sin is a whole lot more than just what you do. Sin also is ingrained.

In our nature, who we are. This is how severe the problem is.

You can actually perform good and do righteous things, but not do them to the glory of God. And therefore all your religious activity becomes filthy rags in His sight. In the light of God's presence. How much of what you've done this week could survive the piercing light of His glory?

Did you do what you did because you loved Him and you wanted to honor Him and magnify Him?

Did you do what you did because you loved Him and you wanted to exalt Him?

Every prayer you prayed that did not have that as its heart was wickedness.

Before God. You say, I don't agree, it's too harsh. But friend,.

You're not dealing with a deity that's just a little better than you or me.

This is God who's altogether different than us.

This is the God you will stand before in His righteousness.

And one day you will stand and see Him in all His glory. And this book says to the Christians,.

There are some among you who are weak and sickly, even some who have fallen asleep. Why? Why? Because you've not judged yourselves. Why? Because you've not judged yourselves. Because you've not judged yourselves in comparison to this glorious Holy God.

You've taken your salvation for granted.

Sin is much deeper than your behavior. And the remedy that we need here this morning I need it every day is to become consciously aware of God.

So that I will think rightly about sin and that's why we sing with joy about Jesus. Let's look at this the Saviorhood of Jesus. I've been dealing with this text unbeknownst probably to most of you. I've been dealing with this text unbeknownst to most of you.

I was sure I could hear somebody's thinking. I was sure I could hear somebody's thinking.

Why won't he deal with the text? It has nothing to do with that text he read. Yes it does. There is no salvation in any other. Why is there the need of salvation? Because of the severity of our sin.

Because of the severity of our sin. The foundation of this text.

We've got a problem and a problem we cannot solve. This statement of Peter's was given to the Sanhedrin Answer to the miracle of the healing of the lame man at the Gate Beautiful Peter and John and said How did you do this?

Peter said in verse 10 of the same chapter Let it be known to you all and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom you crucified whom God raised from the dead.

Whom God raised from the dead.

By him this man stands here before you whole. Notice again the name of Jesus Christ. Remember in the actual miracle taking place in the third chapter Peter looked at the lame man and said these words Silver and gold I do not have but what I do have I give you.

Then what did he say? In the name of Jesus. Rise up and walk and immediately legs he had never used before became strong. Our condition is exactly the same. We are guilty before God and there is absolutely nothing we can do to resolve that.

Being a member of a Christian church does not resolve that. Being immersed in water does not solve that.

Being a preacher.

Does not resolve that. We are as lame spiritually as this man was physically. You don't walk up to a lame man and say Rise up and walk. It's ridiculous. If he could walk, he would. Nor do you say to the man Let's give you some stretches to do and we'll actuate some therapy.

You smile, you giggle. Rightly so. Why? It's nonsensical.

It's insane. There was nothing this man could do. My friend, there's nothing you can do.

To change your state of condemnation before God. But thank God.

That when the fullness of time had come God sent forth His Son made of a woman made under the law. Why is there only one name given among men.

Whereby we may be saved? Because only this one has the power.

To raise you up out of your sin.

And save you.

The God-Man and Exclusive Salvation

We need someone to come to our aid. Your sin is just not your behavior, remember?

You are a sinner. It's ingrained. It takes everything about you.

It has corrupted your intellect and your emotions.

Your will is polluted because of sin. And even these bodies.

Are corrupted. What can I do to change who I am? Can the leopard remove his spots? No, it cannot. We need someone outside of ourselves.

Who has a power greater than our own.

Today, modern Christianity is accused as being too exclusive.

You claim it's only in Christ is there salvation.

That's totally contrary to the political correctness.

Of this time All religions lead to the same place we say.

But Peter's statement here says no to the contrary. Here's why Christianity is exclusive and it must be. Because we need more than just a man. We needed a man to come and save us.

Why? Because as men we have sinned against the God.

And for someone to come in between God and man.

In order to represent us he must be a man as we are. He needs to understand to be sympathetic to our condition. But not any man will do. Mohammed will not do Buddha will not do Confucius will not work.

Why? Because they are men also in the same condition.

Asking somebody to self-improve through your religious therapy is not sufficient.

It would be to tell this man to get up and walk on his own power.

You see you need somebody who's just not a man. You need somebody who is also.

Divine. Why? Because only someone divine.

Could have borne the wrath of God against us. A perfect man. A simple man Although perfect would still not suffice. Why? Because not a single human being could endure what Christ endured.

It took someone divine.

It took someone divine in order to endure divine wrath.

It took someone of infinite value in order to sustain infinite wrath. That's why there is no other salvation in any other name.

Only Christ could have borne our grief Only He could carry our sorrow Only He could be smitten of God and survive. And dearly beloved.

He has He's been bruised for your iniquities.

He's been wounded for your transgressions. We like sheep have gone astray. We've turned everyone to his own way.

But the Lord has laid the iniquity of us all upon Him Him Him only.

Could bear the weight and load of all.

That sin.

Because He's more than just a man.

He's the God-man. For there is one God.

And one mediator.

Complete Salvation in Jesus Christ

Between God and man. The man Christ Jesus Who gave Himself a ransom for all. Lastly Let's look at the salvation that He's given to His people. It's a complete salvation. As that man was healed as a illustration of God's saving grace He did not walk away from that miracle.

What does the Bible say? He jumped. He danced and rejoiced and jumped. And in this way He led the poor man to God. Complete 100

The power of His name was able to do all that that man needed. And dear sir I say to you today It's all He's all you need To be able to stand in the holy presence of God.

Without condemnation. You need no other name. No other power.

No other blood But His. Remember what The angel said to Joseph when he contemplated putting away Mary. And she shall bring forth her firstborn son And you shall call His name Jesus And He will save His people.

From their sin. Not just forgiveness.

But deliverance from sin. No, I'm not here to tell you that when you get saved you're perfected. But I am telling you this That if you are His And He's forgiven you of your sins He is not finished in saving you.

There's still sin remaining in us. And He is a Savior that is complete in what He does From start to finish Everything in between. He shall save His people from their sin. How do you know you're one of His.

You can. God has begun a good work in you.

And He will complete it. The question is Has He begun that good work.

Or did you begin a religious venture. Did you get baptized and changed your lifestyle. And now you believe. That's why you're a Christian. You're not sufficient. Sin is more than what you do or don't do.

It's also about who you are. How do you know. You need to know. You need to be sure you know.

Hearing the Shepherd's Voice

Jesus said in John 10 I lay down my life for my sheep.

And then Within a few minutes He spoke to the religious people that were attacking Him. But you do not believe. Why. Because you are not my sheep I said my sheep hear my voice And I know them And I know them And they follow me.

How can you be sure. Because you've had a life changing encounter with God. The ear The auditory.

Sense of this body Does not have to be activated. To hear His voice But the heart can hear it.

And when the heart hears the voice of God calling.

He or her He or she. It's like a tracking beam It's like a magnet Like a tracking wave. When God speaks to you It's no other sweet sound Than His calling But the sound of His voice Will make you feel the severity of your sin.

The burden Of sin That weighs your back down. Have you experienced The weightiness of your sin. Have you come to know That your sin is too grievous.

And too great.

For self-reformation Is something Drawing you To yonder's wooden cross. Perhaps even now His voice is being heard.

Come unto me. All you who are.

Laden and heavy burdened. Anybody burdened here with your sin.

Is talking to you. Because it's nature To minimize our sin.

And not feel its weight. If you're Feeling the weight of your sin This is a divine moment.

God, I'm talking to you.

Come And I will give you rest. I'll take your burden. I've worn it on the cross. You don't have to carry it any longer Nor do you have to pay the penalty Of its weightiness. How do you know. Because you hear And you follow.

As many as received him To them gave he power To become the sons Of God. Will you come. There's no other name No other power will do Not all your tears Not all your sighs.

Not what your hands Can bear this awful load.

Only the son of man. And the work that he has done. Silver and gold have I none.

Such as I have In the name of Jesus. Rise up And walk. Amen. Let's pray.

Prayer for Salvation and Spiritual Hearing

Our father We come again in the name of the Lord We recognize That even this prayer If it's done in my own power.

Is filthy rags. We claim The name of Jesus.

He's the only reason We have access to you And we can stand In your presence Unafraid. Please I ask father For the glory of Jesus Save The sinners here Glorify yourself May You see it wise to do this I pray.

Open deaf ears Of the heart Please open The ears.

Of the death of the soul. Please open your ears So that your voice can be heard. Speak Lord.

And Lazarus will come to life.

We ask this In the name of your son Jesus Christ Amen.