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As a busy pastor and radio broadcaster, I find my greatest moments of joy, in reading the Scriptures. Yes, the Word of God brings me a special peace and joy as I plumb the depths of God's revelation to mankind, and find freshly discovered truths and teachings that carry me through my days and life. However, in reading the Bible I am at times "arrested," by certain Scriptures that cause me to pause and think of the great truths behind them. Truths that affect every human being who has ever lived. Such a verse of Scripture I came across in my time in the Word, which I want to share with you today. So whether you are a Christian or not, listen to what I have to say, for a right understanding of it can bring you the greatest happiness and joy, not only in this life but the life to come.
In the Bible, in the New Testament, there is a verse of Scripture that might be called one of the great verses of the Bible. It is found in the book of Acts in chapter four. Let me read it to you in the context in which it is found. We read,
Acts 4:1-22 (NIV) "The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand. 5 The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?" 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them … It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 He is "'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.' 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." 13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 "What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name." 18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." 21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old."
Now this account of the preaching of Peter and John, the Lord's apostles, is wonderfully preserved for us. However, what's most amazing is the message they declared almost 20 centuries ago. It was a new and radically different message. A message that frankly has never changed during these long centuries that since have passed. Yet, millions of people today who need to hear this message do not hear it. What's worse they hear other messages contrary to this startling teaching, which sadly results in the senseless loss of life in eternity for those who have not heard and believed its unparalleled truth. What is this message? Let me read the verse that arrested me. We read in,
Acts 4:12 (NIV) "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.""
Now I don't know how you think, but we live in an age of pluralism. That is, many have come to believe that truth is relative and has many roads to follow to find it. However, the Bible unlike any other religious system and teachings, affords no such hope for those who want to find the one true God. And., it is for this reason that true, historic, classic Christianity, the kind that produced the first century church, has never been lovingly accepted by humanity at large. Let's dissect this verse of Scripture and find out, as I've entitled my message today - THERE IS NONE!, that indeed there is no other means by which all humanity can be reconciled to God. You see, it's through this call and command that Peter and John declared long ago, that all men can rightly receive God's loving forgiveness. In Acts 4:12, we find the beginning of this verse says,
Acts 4:12 (NIV) "Salvation is found in no one else, …"
The first thing we must define is the opening word - salvation. What does it mean? Well Biblically this is a term that speaks of a person being redeemed or rescued from something evil, bad and or perilous to come. Now in the Bible, we are told that God is the Redeemer and His goal is to redeem all humanity from a just condemnation that awaits all life. So from God's perspective, salvation includes the total work of God in bringing people from such condemnation to justification, from such death to eternal life, and from a total alienation to a fully restored fellowship. Therefore salvation is an important fact to understand, for our future good rests upon it. Now why would God want to save sinners, as Scripture identifies all mankind?
The answer from God's Word is threefold. (1) First, and foremost we are told God wants to redeem or save mankind because He loves us. That's not to hard to understand is it? What we love and cherish we do not want to lose. Well God loves this lost world of humanity, and He will do anything to save us. In fact my friend, God has done everything to accomplish this, even by sacrificing Himself on a cross so that all humanity might be freed from the penalty of sin that awaits us. We find this truth told to us in,
Rom 5:8 (NIV) "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
John 3:16 (NIV) ""For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Yes, Christ's death on a cross almost 2000 years ago was the greatest demonstration of God's love the world could ever witness! For as we look around our world we see God's gifts in nature and His providential care, but none of them are even measurable compared to His great love and sacrifice on the cross of Calvary, to save us from the penalty of our sins. You see the Bible says in,
Ezek 18:4 (NIV) "For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son--both alike belong to me. [but] The soul who sins is the one who will die."
That is God's decree for any and all of His creatures living in His universe. The terms for continued existence is to be sinless, that is completely obedient to all of God's commands and wishes. Yet, we all know we have failed. In thought, word and deed none of us have lived up to God's righteous demands as revealed in God's Word. So therefore we are "sinners," and under the judgment gavel of God's holy and perfect law.
Now the second reason why God has chosen to redeem His fallen race of men, is (2) salvation gives God a an opportunity to display of His grace throughout eternity. Paul the apostle writes that God has provided salvation for all mankind,
Eph 2:7 (NIV) "in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus."
Each person who is saved by Christ will become a special trophy of His grace forever. If you're saved today, it is because God loved you and redeemed you to be by His side as a testimony of His matchless grace toward sinners such as you and I. But there's more. The third reason or motive for God to save sinners is (3) God wants to display before a sinning world, a changed people who would do good works in this life, purely to glorify God and give the lost world a glimpse, albeit imperfect, of God who Himself is all goodness and grace. We read in,
Eph 2:10 (NIV) "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
So here is a portrait of what salvation Peter and John were talking about. It is God's plan of saving and restoring fallen humanity to a place of perfect fellowship and standing with the holy God of eternity.
Now most importantly, how can anyone obtain this salvation? Well the world has hundreds of answers, but the only answer that God gives is what God's Word say -- not man's, human traditions, or popular opinion. Peter cries out to the people around him - "Salvation is found in no one else…" (Acts 4:12) So the message of historic Christianity must continue to preach, is there is no other philosophy, or religion that can bring man to God and free him from his sins and the just penalty coming, other than the faith and teachings of Christianity! Now I realize this is very hard for millions to swallow. Why? Well simply because we have thousands of religious faiths all across the world that teach, if a follower obeys and fulfills the requirements of their teachings, in some manner they will be rightly related to God. A great preacher of past days, Dr. Harry Ironside used to say, " There are really only two religions in the world.. The "do" religions and the "done" religion.. The latter is the only one God approves, and can be found in no one else other than Jesus Christ." How insightful his words and analogy are. For that is precisely true, and backs up what Peter the apostle declared,
Acts 4:12 (NIV) "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must [all] be saved.""
So friends, we see that salvation is then the total work of God performed to redeem a lost world, to save us all from sin's penalty of eternal death, and fully restore us to full communion and fellowship with a holy God who created and loves us.
Now note the second phrase in Acts 4:12. It reads "for there is no other name under heaven given to men…" That my friend is the name of Jesus! Not Mohammed, not Buddha, not Sun Mien Moon, nor any other supposed savior. Only Jesus Christ! That of course separates all religions of the world including many of our pseudo-Christian religions through which many people are dying under. Yes, in our great nation of America more than any other nation for the past 200 years, we have had false faiths grow and deceive millions of people. What is a false religion or faith? Well, a false faith is one that says we are saved by what we "do," rather than by simply resting in, and trusting and relying upon what Jesus has "done" for us.
Say, what kind of religion are you following? Is it a faith that teaches that by religious works or rites you can be saved? Perhaps it's performance of things like being baptized, tithing, doing good works, obeying and believing certain teachings a group promotes, or maybe you are your -- own religion? You have set a standard of goodness you believe God will accept in eternity. So you proceed to live a good life according to it. You pay your taxes, you send money to charity, you even give your time serving in help ministries, soup kitchens, and other worthwhile humanitarian things - all of course, in the hopes that if God is real and you will stand before Him, He will look at the sacrifices and things you've done and say " thank you, enter into the heaven and eternal life you have surely earned." Now if any of these things represents your thinking, then Peter is truly speaking to you. He warns, "neither is there salvation in any one else." Which includes you and me too, friend. THERE IS NONE! So, church asceticism, rule keeping, good works -- all these things are really "our righteousness," which God says bluntly,
Isa 64:6 (NASB) "For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away."
Oh friend take heed, there is only one Savior and it can never be any of us or any righteous system of things man would devise. Only God can save us. In fact, that is what God declares to the Old Testament saints. We read again,
Isa 44:6 (NIV) ""This is what the LORD says-- Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God."
Isa 45:22 (NKJV) ""Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other."
Yes, there is none other, no other redeemer or way back to God other than through Jesus Christ! This is why the Lord made this startling statement.
John 10:1, 7-10 (NIV) ""I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber." … 7 "Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
There is none! There is no other way! All the good works, religious observances and rites, human traditions and programs can never save and reconcile a lost world to its Creator God, save believing in Jesus Christ. And so God pleads with all dying humanity,
John 14:6 (NIV) "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Mat 11:28 (NIV) ""Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
My friend have you believed and obeyed this arresting truth God gives us in Peter's astounding statement? Now I'm not asking you if you go to church, or if you are a member. Even if you are a member of a good faithful and true Christian church, "what have you done with Jesus?" Have you believe on Him. Jesus asks,
Luke 6:46 (NIV) ""Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?"
We have not believed in Christ nor received salvation until, we have truly surrendered our hearts fully to Him. It's only when we realize that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, and that we have in our hearts "bowed the knee," before Him, that we can rightly say we have become a Christian by believing in Christ. So my friend, that passage of Scripture is really the dividing mark of all history.
Many years ago in the year 1911, a magnificent steam ship made its maiden voyage from England to America. It was built by the finest engineers and outfitted with the most beautiful craftsmanship of design and comfort money could buy. This ship was thought to be the greatest creation of transportation man had ever devised. It was in many minds, unsinkable! Thousands of souls put their trust in its ability to get them across the icy wintry waters of the Atlantic to the other side. So the ship left its port and began its first voyage. Everyone was confident of its power and safety. Yet, history records the fateful moment when it struck an iceberg and began to sink. Thousands of lives were lost when that ship the Titanic went down to an icy grave in the Atlantic ocean. Now think! It mattered not how much they trusted the ship, it failed them. It mattered not how capable the captain was, he failed them through human error and foolish pride. It mattered not how good they were either. On board were a number of great philanthropists, who gave great sums of money to help people in this life. Yet they all perished that night at sea. What mattered was only one thing. On the office door of the Cunard lines in New York City, they posted a sign. It had two columns with a line between them. As word came to them who was rescued their names were placed on the side that simply said - "Saved!" The names of those who didn't make it were placed on the other side which just said, "lost!" That was the stark reality of that tragic event. But my friend this is a perfect analogy what will happen in a future day. Millions of souls are trusting in the great wisdom of men to get them across the sea of life to the other shore called Heaven and eternal life. Millions of souls have gotten into great and magnificent ships of life, built by man, applauded by man, and believed in by many. But the Bible says only one life ship will carry us safely to God's golden shores. It is the life ship Jesus Christ. Only those who are in this ship will make it there! So, when a person trusts in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation and eternal life, God writes their name on His list in Heaven marked "SAVED." For one day in the future to come, there is going to be a Great White Throne Judgment. At this judgment, God on His throne ,will review all the dead who have ever lived, and the only criteria to enter eternity with Christ, will be the books of God that will reveal those either saved or lost. If your name is not written in God's "book of life," you are lost regardless of what religion you followed, what good things you did in this life, and what honest mistake you made by trusting in the wrong way. For God has given us His Word, and we are responsible to hear it and believe it and obey it.
So friend, I close my thoughts with Peter's arresting words.
Acts 4:12 (NIV) "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.""
Acts 16:31 (NIV) "..Believe in the Lord Jesus [Christ] and you will be saved."
Almost a quarter century ago, I heard this very call from Scripture. Previous to that I thought I was a good Christian and going to Heaven. You see, I grew up in a religious home, went to church every Sunday, learned the 10 Commandments, was confirmed in the faith, and attended church as required, and tried to live a respectable and good life. Yet it was when I was 29 years old, I came to realize I was only trusting in religion to get me to Heaven, along with my own ability to do good works, to be accepted by God. It was then I realized my name was not on the "saved," list in Heaven, but the "lost" list to be posted over the door of Hell. Knowing what I needed to do. I simply bowed my head and prayed for God to forgive my sins, as I placed my forever trust in Jesus Christ alone for my salvation and life eternal. I tell you once I did that with a surrender of my heart and will to my God and Christ - things forever changed for me. My life was at rest, and the peace of God came upon me that has lasted to this day. I'm grateful God saved me out of religion and a life of good works, and although I am still a sinner, God's love and forgiveness will never leave me as Scripture promises. Oh, I want the same for you my listening friend. Be sure, absolutely sure -- you are saved today, and that your hope and trust is not in a church, a religious system or teachings, nor in your own ability to do good - rather alone in Jesus Christ who alone saves us from our sins. God grant this to you and all who listen for Jesus sake. Amen.
The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures.A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request.These weekly radio commentaries can be heard in selected areas around the nation. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for 16 years, and serves as General Director. These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of all messages is available upon request also.
For further information, reprints, or a listing of all topics, please write to our speaker, Dennis L. Finnan (wwyfin@sparc.isl.net)