One Lord

"One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism" (Eph. 4:5)

This is the second trilogy of the seven "ones" that Paul describes as constituting the basis of our unity in the Church. The first three focused on the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and these focus on the ministry of Jesus Christ.

As Peter stood on the day of Pentecost and delivered the first evangelistic message in Acts 2, he said, "Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." (v. 36). The Bible tells us that one day every knee will bow and declare that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. The Word of God says, "There is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved."

Some suggest that it is absurd to think that there is only one way to gain eternal life as Christians claim. I heard David Jeremiah say, "The last time I check there is only one way to get into this world. If there is only one way to gain physical life, why are we surprised that there is only one way to gain eternal."

Maybe we should be less arrogant in the way we behave as Christians. Maybe we should be more loving. Maybe when we are acting in the unity of the Spirit. But the message of God is Good News for all peoples, and we do not need to be ashamed to declare there is "One Lord, One faith, and One baptism."