THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED

Proclamation:

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”  Acts 4:12 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by Luke, the physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God. 

While they were still in the temple, after having healed the forty year old man who was lame from birth, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, the Sadducees, the rulers, and the teachers of the law, came upon Peter and John and had them arrested for preaching and teaching proclaiming Jesus, The Christ, and the resurrection of the dead. (Acts 4:1-3)  When they were brought before the Sanhedrin council, they were questioned and asked, “By what power or what name did you do this?”  Peter answered them saying, “… 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.” (Acts 4:7-10)  He then quotes the scriptures to them saying that Jesus is “the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.” (Psalm 118:22 which is repeated in Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, and Luke 20:17)  Then he boldly told them, “Salvation is found in no one else …”  After conferring among themselves, the Sanhedrin council “commanded” them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. (Acts 4:13-22)

Application:

There is power in the name of Jesus, The Christ.  There is no other name, person, or thing which has that kind of power.  Whatever we ask in His name will be done, if it is for the glory of God.  All who call on His name, believing, will be saved.  Whoever is saved must be saved by Him for there is no other way to salvation. (Romans 1:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:9 and 2 Timothy 3:15)  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto The Father, but by Me.” (John 14:6)  “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of The Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, The Father, through Him.” (Colossians 3:17)  Believe and call upon His name, for it is through Him that we live, move, and have our very being. (Acts 17:28)  Only through Him are we saved from the penalty of our sins. (Romans 6:23)

WE ARE SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD

Proclamation:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith; and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the Apostle Paul under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Paul wanted them to know that they used to live in sin, following the thoughts and desires of the flesh, (Ephesians 2:1-3) but now they were saved because of God’s great love. (Ephesians 2:4-5)  It was by the grace of God that they were saved.  It was God’s gift to them, it was not something that they earned or deserved. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  They were created to do good works, but the good works did not earn them salvation. (Ephesians 2:10)  For the remainder of the chapter Paul states that both Jews and Gentiles were reconciled through the blood of Christ.

Application:

We all were lost in sin in the past.  Now we are saved by the grace of God.  In the future we will reside in heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:4-7)  The Lord God has given us this gift, it is now up to us to show our appreciation by performing the good works which we were created to do. (Ephesians 2:10)  We are to do good works so that men may see them and give glory to God. (Matthew 5:16)  The Lord God will reward us for our good works (Matthew 16:27) but they have nothing to do with our salvation.

JESUS THE CHRIST IS THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE

Proclamation:

“Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where You are going, so how can we know the way?’  Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to The Father except through Me.’”  John 14:5-6 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were recorded by the Apostle John under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this chapter, John records what Jesus, The Christ, said to comfort His disciples after telling them that He was going away. (John 14:1-31)  He said that He was going to prepare a place for them so that they could be with Him. (John 14:2-3)  Then He said, “You know the way to the place where I am going.”  It was this statement which prompted Thomas to ask his question, and the reply which Jesus gave him. (John 14:5-6)  Jesus later tells them that He will ask The Father to send The Holy Spirit to abide with them. (John 14:16-18)  The Holy Spirit will teach them and remind them of all of the things that He had said to them. (John 14:26)

Application:

When Jesus, The Christ, said, “I am the way …” He was not merely referring to Himself as the leader, or one who points out the right direction to them.  He was not pointing to His doctrine of salvation but to Himself as the way to salvation.  Not only is what He says true, but He is truth itself.  He is also the giver of life, natural, spiritual, and eternal life.  The only way that we can get to God, The Father, and the kingdom of heaven is through our belief in Jesus, The Christ, The Son of God. (John 3:16)  For The Father, The Word, and The Holy Spirit are one. (1 John 5:7)  The Word is Christ Jesus who became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14)

IF YOU TRULY BELIEVE IN CHRIST YOU WILL BE SAVED

Proclamation:

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”  Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the believers in Rome.  Here Paul said that the essence of the gospel is that whoever believes in Christ and confesses Him will be saved.

Application:

We are saved by our faith by what we believe and not by what we do. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  Salvation is not something that we work for or earn, it is a gift from The Lord God to those who believe.  It is not for those who give Him lip service, it is for those who sincerely and truly believe.  God can see our heart. (Luke 16:15)