May 1 Daily Devotional

One Lord!

We must emphasize the fact that there is only "one Lord." This was the very essence of apostolic preaching. Peter states it unequivocally and boldly when he and John were arraigned before the authorities.

"There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). There is no other! There is no second! You cannot put anybody by His side. He is absolutely unique. He is no mere man, teacher, or prophet. He is the Son of God! He is the Lord of glory who has taken to Himself human nature!

"One Lord Jesus Christ"—and there is no other. Paul puts it thus in a memorable statement: "For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, ... but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him" (1 Corinthians 8:5, 6). He expresses the same truth again in 1 Timothy 2:5: 'There is one God, and one mediator"—and only one—"between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."

Now in this matter of Christian unity this is essential. The unity is the unity of those who believe that there is only "one Lord" and that He is so perfect, and His work so perfect, that He needs no assistance. There is no "co-redemptrix" such as the Roman Catholics claim the Virgin Mary to be. There is no assistant needed.

The Christian does not need the supereroga­tion of the saints and does not need to pray to them. There is only one Mediator, and He is enough. He is complete in and of Himself, and nothing must be added to Him and His perfect completed work.... We look to this unique Lord, and we look at no one but Him. He is the first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end; He is the all and in all ... "One Lord"!

The Basis of Christian Unity, pp. 28-9

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“Text reproduced from ‘A First Book of Daily Readings’ by Martyn Lloyd-Jones, published by Epworth Press 1970 & 1977 © Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes. Used with permission.”

Comments on D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, A First Book of Daily Readings

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