Seeking Truth in a Maelstrom of Uncertainty
One of the challenges facing people today is the sifting through the information presented to us in the media in…
Solus Christus
12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:5-12)
Only a few days after the miraculous pouring out of the Spirit at Pentecost, Peter and John were walking to the temple in the afternoon and they came across a beggar who had been lame since birth. And instead of providing him with money as he asks, they provide him with something greater- they healed him. And leaping up, he stood up and began leaping and praising God.
This caused quite the stir for he was well known in the area. Peter then boldly stood up and began to preach the gospel to the crowds. But as he was speaking, we are told in 4:1 that the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
So they arrested Peter and John. The next day the supreme court of Jerusalem is assembled- the rulers, the elders, and priests, the high priest, and the whole priestly family. But this is not a court meant to weigh the truth of what the apostles were teaching it was an inquisition. They ask one particular question:
By what power or by what name did you do this?”
And Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, takes advantage of another opportunity to share the gospel. And he is very direct- 10 let it be known to all of you 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—by him this man is standing before you well. … 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Here we have Peter preaching the doctrine of Solus Christus- there is no other name by which we must be saved.
The reason that salvation is exclusively found in Christ is bound up in the word “salvation.” This highlights the main problem- Why do we need to be saved? Saved from what?
The famous reformed preacher RC Sproul explained that he came to saving faith partly in response to this question. As a college student he was walking through campus when a recently converted young man approached him rather brashly and asked, “Are you saved?”
Sproul was taken aback by the intrusion and responded with the first words that came into his mind: “Saved from what?”
This is the essential question of Christianity.
In other words, the essence of Christianity is bound up in the answer to this question.
What is it that we need to be saved from?
Why did Christ become man and die?
Was it to save us from hell?
Was it to save us from sin?
Was it to save us from suffering?
Was it to provide a good example?
Was it to demonstrate his love?
Why is it that salvation is found in no one else?
Why is it that Christ alone can save us?
- Problem- Sin and Wrath
Our great problem is that we are sinners and therefore God is infinitely angry at us.
Romans 1:18 says, "The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness."
In a sermon on Romans 5 John Piper pointed out- God's anger at our ungodliness is our main problem in life. If God is resolved to pour out his wrath on us we are in a terrifying position. Imagine the power of God behind his wrath! When you look up into the sky on a clear night you can see what is called the Milky Way, the name of our galaxy. It has about 200 billion stars in it, they say. You can see maybe a 40-millionth of them on a good night. The disk of the Milky Way is about 100,000 light years across (about six hundred thousand trillion miles) and 2,000 light years thick. Our sun will take about 200,000 years to make a circuit. And besides our galaxy there are, some estimate, 50 million other galaxies. Now, the God we are talking about here simply spoke and all the galaxies came into being. And he holds them in being by the word of his power. if such a great God is angry at us, and has such indescribable power to back up his anger, then we are in the worst of all possible conditions. Nothing could be worse than to be opposed by the wrath of infinite power. (John Piper)
Why is God so angry?
What have we done?
We have sinned against him. We are unrighteous and we suppress the truth in our unrighteousness. We want to live how we want not how he wants. We want to be God instead of him. We want to call the shots, we want to be in charge. So not only is God angry- we can’t keep ourselves from angering him.
“None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.” (Rom 3:10-12)
Why bring up this issue of sin and wrath?
It’s like airing out our dirty laundry in public. I don’t like talking about sin and wrath any more than I enjoy giving my students poor grades on their assignments. I don’t like doing it, but I wouldn’t be a good teacher I didn’t point out their errors. I have to talk about our great problem- or else I would be a complete failure as preacher of God’s word.
The reason for this is clearly illustrated in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18.
Our salvation is completely dependent upon our understanding that our sin is our great problem.
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)
The reason he was justified is because he understood the problem- God be merciful to me a sinner.
Having seen his problem he could be directed to the solution. The only solution.
Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17)
If you understand that sin is the problem there can only be one solution to the problem- Christ alone.
If the problem is poverty- people can give more.
If the problem is political we can pursue political activism.
If the problem is health we can invest money into research and pursue a career as physicians.
If the problem is your spouse you can get a divorce.
But if you recognize that the problem is your sin- there is only one solution to that.
None of these solutions will save you- because they will not solve your real problem. As long as people believe that the problem is something out there- rather than in their hearts- Christ will be nothing more than a cheerleader or good example. People need to know that their problem is sin and God’s wrath against it.
Over a half-century ago, Donald Grey Barnhouse, pastor of Philadelphia's Tenth Presbyterian Church, gave his CBS radio audience a picture of what it would look like if Satan took control of a town in America.
He said that all of the bars and pool halls would be closed, pornography banished, pristine streets and sidewalks would be occupied by tidy pedestrians who smiled at each other. There would be no swearing. The kids would answer "Yes, sir," "No, ma'am," and the churches would be full on Sunday ... where Christ is not preached.
Satan doesn’t want us to consider sin and its consequences- because that is exactly what will drive us to Christ.
Remember that first lie- “Ýou will not surely die”
Only Christ can save you from your sin and that is why he came.
15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. (1 Tim 1:15)
- Principle- There is salvation in no one else
12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Jesus said in John 14:6- “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
John 3:36 also says, 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:36)
The reason salvation can be found in no one else is because of the nature of our problem.
We are sinners but God is holy.
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23)
God is also just. He must punish all sin- he can’t just forgive it willy-nilly- a price needs to be paid. We have no means of paying for our own sin. The Bible says that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Blood needed to be shed to satisfy God’s justice. Somebody needed to pay the ultimate price. Only a perfect person could be offered up as a satisfactory sacrifice. One who had kept the whole law and never sinned. This is exactly what Jesus did. And he suffered the punishment we deserved on our behalf.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all. (IS 53:6)
Christ had to die on our behalf, because that was the only way we could be reconciled to a holy God. But because Christ the God-man did die- our sins are completely covered. Nothing more needs to be done. We simply need to take hold of his provision by faith. There is (present tense) salvation in no one else.
Jesus not only saved us from the wrath of God though- he saved us from our slavery to sin.
This is Paul’s argument in Romans 6.
you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God. (Rom 6:22)
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (1 Pet 2:24)
Many people teach that Christ is necessary for salvation, but having been saved by his work people are free to then live as they like- pursuing happiness in this world and trying to make the world a better place.
This is the essence of universalism and liberalism:
In a homily given by Pope Francis, May 22, 2013 he said the following: “On the contrary, the Lord has created us in His image and likeness, and has given us this commandment in our heart: Do good and do not do evil. The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! ‘Father, what about the atheists?’ Even the atheists. Everyone! And this Blood makes us first class children of God! We are created children in the likeness of God and the Blood of Christ has redeemed us all! And we all have a duty to do good. And this commandment for everyone to do good, I think, is a beautiful path towards peace. If we, with everyone doing his own part; if we do good to others, if we meet there, doing good, and we go slowly, gently, little by little, we will make that culture of meeting: we need that so much. We must meet one another doing good. ‘But I don’t believe, Father, I am an atheist!’ But do good! We shall meet there.” (Pope Francis, May 22, 2013)
This sounds good, but it is pure evil. Because he doesn’t recognize what the problem really is. If he thinks atheists who reject Christ are saved- those who currently live in sin and rebellion- then sin is clearly not the problem- because the problem clearly isn’t solved.
Those who are saved from the wrath of God know it because they have been set free from their slavery to sin.
Liberal theologians assert that because Christ has already paid for all of our sin our aim needs to be alleviating pain and suffering.
In 1923 Albert Schweitzer wrote in his book Civilization and Ethics that ethics was synonymous with reverence for life: "Reverence for Life affords me my fundamental principle of morality, namely, that good consists in maintaining, assisting and enhancing life, and to destroy, to harm or to hinder life is evil."
That’s all well and good but it doesn’t deal with the greatest problem. The greatest threat.
It’s nice of the lawyer who provides food and purchases a new suit for his client whose life is on trial. But if he does nothing to plead his case before the jury while in the courtroom, his conduct is hardly loving.
Not far removed from liberalism is the notion that many evangelicals have that having been saved through faith in Christ, the only thing left to do is have a good life. The assumption is that sin is no longer a threat to me because I am guaranteed to go to heaven. The main problem we have to worry about is pain. And pain is a problem, but it is not the greatest problem.
Psalm 119:71- It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
Why would he say affliction is good?
Because he understands sin is a much greater threat.
In warfare lack of supplies, harsh weather, and incompetent officers are a problem, and they can make life for a soldier miserable. But, they are not the enemy.
If this is true that sin remains our great problem and not merely the difficulties of life then what we would expect is to see in scripture is the Jesus and the apostles continue to warn believers of their sin.
This is exactly what we find.
12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. (Heb 3:10-14)
13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit (talking to Christians) you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (Rom 8:13)
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. (1 Pet 2:11)
8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (Gal 6:8)
What do you think Christ is more concerned about:
Your suffering or your sin?
Your sickness or your sin?
You success or your sin?
The beatitudes are a pronouncement of blessings of those in miserable circumstances. Jesus says the poor, the hungry and the persecuted are all blessed.
But then he says a few verses later-
29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. (Matt 5:29- 30)
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matt 10:28)
Again I emphasize the problem so much because Christ will never be precious to you until you understand the horror of your sin. For when believers recognize that their problem is sin- how precious Christ becomes.
Having been forgiven much they love much-
Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little. (Luke 7:47)
They also know that he will complete his work of sanctification in them.
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Phil 1:6)
They also know that Christ continues to intercede for them.
25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Heb 7:25)
They know Christ is their reason for hope in any of the promises .
20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. (2 Cor 1:20)
- Practice- What does it look like when we understand this doctrine?
- We continue to fight sin
Although we have been set free from sin- it is still our greatest threat and has the potential to destroy more than anything else in all creation.
This is why the puritan John Owen wrote: Do you mortify; do you make it your daily work; be always at it while you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you.
12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. (Heb 3:12)
Until you get your resurrected body you will have to fight sin.
This is why Paul said in 1 Cor 9
But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Cor 9: 27)
- Knowing that sin remain our great enemy we continue to confess our sin
In the Lord’s prayer, why does Jesus tell us to ask for forgiveness if it has been accomplished? Because we are acknowledging the real problem.
This is also why James says- Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed (James 5:16)
- We treasure Christ because he has saved us and continues to save us from our great enemy
22 If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. (1 Cor 16:22)
37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matt 10:37)
We will not love Christ more than anything else unless we understand the magnitude of the threat against us.
- We rejoice with unspeakable joy
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Pet 1:8)
- We will be humble
If we recognize the greatness of our sin and the greatness of our salvation we will be the most humble people on the face of this earth.
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. (Phil 2:1-3)
This is the posture of the tax collector (Luke 18), the sinful woman (Luke 7) and Blind Baritmaeus- “Jesus son of David have mercy on me.”
When our life is over we will not boast of our accomplishments but glory in Christ alone.
William Carey- is known as the father of modern missions, translating Bible in 44 Indian languages and dialects, and founded College in India that continues to bear his name. Yet consider his epitaph- "A wretched, poor, and helpless worm on thy kind arms I fall."
John Newton, one of the greatest hymn writers and most beloved pastor in history (my hero), at 82 summed up his remarkable life with these words, "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Saviour."
Sermon Review and Discussion Questions
- Why can there be salvation in no one else, but Christ?
- What are the main problems that Christ saves us from?
- What is the point of the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector? How does this tie into our salvation and the doctrine of Christ alone?
- Why is it hard to talk about sin and wrath? Why must we talk about it?
- Why do universalism, theological liberalism, and Roman Catholicism reject the reformed doctrine of Christ alone?
- Why should Christians continue to be concerned about sin?
- What is the connection between understanding our sin and treasuring Christ?
- What are practical ways that this doctrine of Christ alone should impact our lives?
Children’s Challenge Questions
- What problems does Christ save us from?
- List bible verses that show that salvation is found in Christ alone.
- What problem is Christ and the apostles most concerned about? (hint: it has 3 letters)
- Why is Jesus precious to believers?
- How do Christians live when they understand the doctrine of Christ alone?
