ACTS 4:12

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.“

In the preceding chapter, we see the familiar story of Peter healing the lame man. This man was a beggar who could not walk and every day he was carried by people and placed at the temple gate so that he could beg to those that walked in and out the temple. Peter and John came along and demanded his attention. The lame man gave them the attention because he was expecting Peter or John to give him some money.

But what happened next was nothing short of miraculous. Peter and John did not have any money to give. They had something even greater. In the name of Jesus Christ, Peter commanded that the man walk. He was instantly healed and began to jump around praising God! The people saw this and were filled with amazement and wonder.

But what Peter was sure to tell them is the same thing that we must tell people as well. Peter told them it was not because of his own goodness or power that this man was healed. But rather it was through the power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! He quickly followed that by telling the people how important it was to repent of their sin and turn to Christ alone for salvation. And this, my friends, is EXACTLY what we are supposed to be doing today. Showing people that they are firstly sinners and then telling them that there is a Savior in the person of Jesus Christ. We should be calling them to repent of their sins and trust in him alone for their salvation.

Chapter 4 opens with the religious leaders taking great offense to the teachings of Peter and John. They seized them and put them in jail for simply speaking the truth! I am reminded here of the fact that when we proclaim the exclusive message of the gospel, there will be those who will be offended and will seek to silence us. This has been happening since the day of our Lord, but it has reached new levels today. Just look on social media and see how those who proclaim the truth of Christ are censored with their accounts being shut down. Consider the horrific name calling that is being thrown at Christians today. There is no other group of people in existence today that are more persecuted in the world than those belonging to the Christian faith; those that name Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

After staying in jail overnight, Peter and John were questioned by the religious and political leaders about the healing that had taken place. Peter, once again, reiterated that it was not by his own power that he healed the man. Rather, it was the power in the name of Jesus Christ that caused this lame man to have the ability to walk. And that same powerful name is the one mentioned in verse 12. The only name that has the power to save us. The only name by which we are saved. If we could save ourselves, there would be no need for a savior. And what are we saved from? The very wrath and judgement from God that we deserve because of our sin.

So here, we again see the exclusivity of salvation through Christ alone. Not by our own works or deeds, but by the works and deeds of Christ and Christ alone. “For there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

KINGDOM DEFINITIONS