Bible Ballistics: BBs #780. No Other Name!!!  Really???

 

“And as they spake unto the people,

the priests, and the captain of the temple,

and the Sadducees,

came upon them,

2 Being grieved

that they taught the people,

and preached through Jesus

the resurrection from the dead.

3 And they laid hands on them,

and put them in hold

unto the next day:

for it was now eventide…

…..10 Be it known unto you all,

and to all the people of Israel,

that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

whom ye crucified,

whom God raised from the dead,

even by him

doth this man stand here

before you whole.

11 This is the stone which was set at nought

of you builders,

which is become

the head of the corner.

**12 Neither is there salvation in any other:**

for there is none other name under heaven

given among men,

whereby we must be saved.”   Portions of Acts 4:1-12 (Asterisks mine)

I love this simple passage.  Peter and John had gone up to the Temple to worship, and God gave them opportunity to heal a lame man, which led to this encounter with the religious leaders, and after a night in “jail” Peter makes this amazing, simple declaration of the saving power of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ—with the healed lame man as an irrefutable testament to the truth they spoke.  And I simply want to remind us all that not everyone will believe our testimony of the saving power of the cross any more than did those people who were so close to the very events that the Apostles testified to.  Yet, the name of Jesus is just as offensive to people today as it was then, and we must be willing to be as confident, bold, and courageous as Peter and John were in our service for The King!

And we must understand that not all will believe, not all will like us, not all will agree with our proclamation of truth, or even scripture itself; but our job is to speak God’s truth as we have opportunity and share Jesus truthfully!

“That we henceforth be no more children,

tossed to and fro,

and carried about

with every wind of doctrine,

by the sleight of men,

and cunning craftiness,

whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love,

may grow up into him

in all things,

which is the head,

even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body

fitly joined together

and compacted

by that which every joint supplieth,

according to the effectual working

in the measure of every part,

maketh increase of the body

unto the edifying

of itself in love.”   Ephesians 4:14-16

We are to share the Good News that Jesus saves and rely upon God’s faithful provision to add those into His family and the “body” of Christ (the church—the whole church, as well as the local church body).  And as Paul reminds us above, we are to be “speaking the truth in love” that God may be seen in us and allow the truth of the Gospel to work in the hearts and lives of those desperate enough to receive it.  What do I mean by “desperate enough”?  I simply mean that those who think they have no sin, have no need of a Savior!  Until the convicting power of the Holy Ghost/Spirit brings a person to see their own sin and their own need of a Redeemer, they will never be “desperate” enough to need Jesus to “save” them.  The Word speaks to this great miracle, for it is God as work within HIS church to do HIS work reaching those willing to hear!

“And they, continuing daily

with one accord in the temple,

and breaking bread from house to house,

did eat their meat with gladness

and singleness of heart,

47 Praising God,

and having favour with all the people.

And the Lord added to the church daily

such as should be saved.”  Acts 2:46-47

Our job is to speak truth, share grace, act in love without compromise to God’s Word, HIS standard or the consequences of sin to the unredeemed, and wait and watch for God to move; to see the work of God through the conviction of HIS HOLY SPIRIT on the hearts of people.  For without the conviction of the Holy Spirit none will ever see their sin or their need for the Redeemer, Jesus, who told us of the Holy Spirit’s work!

“Nevertheless

I tell you the truth;

It is expedient for you

that I go away:

for if I go not away,

the Comforter will not come unto you;

but if I depart,

I will send him unto you.

8 And when he is come,

he will reprove the world

of sin,

and of righteousness,

and of judgment:

9 Of sin,

because they believe not on me;

10 Of righteousness,

because I go to my Father,

and ye see me no more;

11 Of judgment,

because the prince of this world

is judged.”  John 16:7-11

Jesus is coming again for His own and to bring to pass the total fulfillment of God’s promises—for reward to His own and judgment for those who reject the Lord Jesus.  The choice is yours but choose wisely there is a test.

“And I saw a great white throne,

and him that sat on it,

from whose face the earth and the heaven

fled away;

and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead,

small and great,

stand before God;

and the books were opened:

and another book was opened,

 which is the book of life:

and the dead were judged

out of those things which were written

in the books,

 according to their works…

..and they were judged

every man

according to their works.

14 And death and hell

were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written

in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire.”                                   Portions of Revelation 20:11-15

No other name—no other way—but Jesus who said it best:

“For God sent not his Son

into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world

through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name

of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.”   John 3: 17-19

May you receive truth—and if you have it—share it for:

“for there is none other name”!

Amen and Amen!!!