SALVATION IS FOUND IN NO OTHER NAME BUT JESUS CHRIST

Acts 4:1-22

Key verse 4:12

# Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven
given to men by which we must be saved."

Opening Prayer Dear Heavenly Father, In the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ, we thank you
Father for seeing us successfully through the year 2017, thank you for the Word you
have given us this morning, Father as we continue in the study of the Acts of the
Apostles, revive us, cause the much grace that was with the Acts church to be upon us
as well, Holy Spirit fill us afresh with your power and grace to understand your Word,
Open our Spiritual ears and eyes and let the will of the Almighty Father be done in our
midst daily. In Jesus’ Mighty Name I pray. Amen.

Praise King Jesus dear brethren, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. By the grace of
God we are at the verge of entering the New Year 2018, We Praise the Living God for the
gift of life, we thank Him for His grace and Mercy that has preserved us all. Today’s
message is a continuation of the events that transpired through last Sunday’s message
taken from #Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I
give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." #The crippled at the gate
beautiful leaped up and walked. This event sparked off a revival in Jerusalem as
multitudes gathered around the apostles to find out the secret behind their working of
this notable miracle.

To this the Apostles took the God given opportunity to share and evangelize to the
bewildered and lost crowds, many souls were saved and ushered into the Kingdom of the
living God.

We too as we prepare for the new year, God has given us this message to rekindle and
revive our Spiritual favor especially in the area of winning souls for Christ, we are to
enter the new year with a new commitment and zeal to preach the good news of our
Lord Jesus Christ to every creature and thus fulfill the great commission. Amen

Look at vs1 # Acts 4:1 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. #Peter
and John had a mini-crusade as people in Jerusalem and those who had gone up for
prayer gathered around the crippled man that had been healed. Here the apostles took
every opportunity to share the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ. However the Priests,
the captain of the temple and Sadducees # “Came upon them_NKJV”, they were angry
and offended by the apostles ministry of evangelism to the people. Why? Look at vs2
#Acts 4:2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people
and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. Jesus’ resurrection was the main

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event at the time, this was opposed by the Sadducees who taught that there was no
resurrection, the chief priest and the elders too devised means to oppose Jesus
resurrection. Matthew writes in Matt 28:12-15 saying #12 When the chief priests had
met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13
telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away
while we were asleep.' 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep
you out of trouble." 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed.
And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day. The apostles
were fulfilling the great commission, despite their service to God the Spiritual leaders of
the time opposed their ministry. We shouldn’t at one point in time be against God’s work
whoever opposes God’s word is against God Himself as recorded by Mark in #Mark 9:39-
40 39 "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the
next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us.
Amen

What did they do to them? Look at vs 3-4 #Acts 4:3-4 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. #They laid
hands on them meaning they “seized them with anger and bitterness”, however many
Believed and accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, The preached or
shared Word of God is a powerful seed, it has power to penetrate souls and convict man
of sin, We shouldn’t keep God’s word within us quietly but we must go out by faith and
share it with the dying World if we are to see its impact in men’s lives. Let’s read #Rom
10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they
believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without
someone preaching to them? We must speak the Word of God to the dying World. And
let God do the rest. Amen

Look at vs 5-7 #Acts 4:5-7 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?" #The
entire linage of the High Priestly family meet together to interrogate the apostles, they
questioned the apostle’s legal right to carry out Priestly duties by teaching the
congregation Spiritual matters. What Name, refers to what authenticating body or
authority, many were under the ruler ship of Rome by that time and many religious
leaders served under the name of the emperor of Rome.

How did the apostles respond? Let’s read vs 8-10 together, let’s go #Acts 4:8-10 8 Then
Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we
are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked
how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name
of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead,

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that this man stands before you healed. Peter received divine and Super Natural
enablement of the Holy Spirit that filled him with Courage and Boldness to firmly answer
the counsel of the religious leaders and the Temple captains fearlessly that it was by the
Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth that the crippled had been healed, Jesus said the Holy
Spirit will fill us with power and courage to carry out His work according to #Acts 1:8 But
you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses
in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Amen

Let’s read vs11-12 together let’s go #Acts 4:11-12 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." Israel
had rejected Jesus Christ as their Messiah and put Him on the cross particularly the
Spiritual leaders. They even lured the Israelite community to deny Jesus and call upon
Jesus blood upon their heads and children as recorded in #Matt 27:25 which says “25 All
the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!" However Jesus Christ
is the Only Name given to men by which we must be saved, He is the only mediator
between man and God according to #(1 Tim 2:5-6).

We have had of other great names, e.g. Prophet Mohammed or Buda the great teacher
or Gandi, or the great philosophers of our time, etc. All these people had profound
influence on world religions. But they were all mortal men. They lived and died in their
time. None of them had the power to forgive and take away the sin of the world. Only
Jesus Christ, the son of the living God, took away our sins. Jesus Christ was without sin –
that’s why the bible calls him the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world
#(John 1:29).

I personally had an opportunity to hear the gospel preached at an early stage of my life,
during my study in Primary level in Jinja at a town school known as main street primary
school, many gospel preachers came into our playground due to its central location in
town. At these meetings I gave my life to Christ Jesus and prayed to receive Jesus Christ
as my Lord and my Savior. Amen.

Look at vs 13-15 #Acts 4:13-15 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. God had
performed a noble miracle of healing the crippled man, Jesus Christ said #some people
would not believe until they see miracles. {John 4:48 "Unless you people see miraculous
signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."}. When we pray in faith,
Christ Jesus works miracles in our midst for His glory. Amen.
What was the council’s resolution and response to the apostle’s defense? Look at vs 16-
18 # Acts 4:16-18 16 "What are we going to do with these men?" they asked.

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"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.

The Sanhendrin resolved to burn the Name of Jesus Christ from being preached after
discovering that it was through Jesus’ Mighty Name that the crippled had been healed.
They said # “We must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name” being
Spiritual leaders and authorities in Israel, they sided with satan who fights God’s work by
stopping the advancement of the gospel and the fulfillment of the great commission. We
must be careful not to oppose God’s work but to always support the advancement of the
gospel. Amen

How did the disciples respond? Look at #Vs 19-22 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. The apostles responded it is expedient for them to obey God rather
than men. They were in effect, obeying Jesus’ great commission command, Go into the
whole world and make disciples of all nations. This doesn’t mean the apostles were
rebellious towards authorities however when it comes to Spiritual matters, God’s Word
must take first precedence in our Lives. We shouldn’t obey men and disown or deny
God’s Word; rather in all we do, God must take first precedence in our lives.

And when we stand in God’s Word, His divine protection is always with us, Look at vs 21
again #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. #The apostles
were finally set free and were let go. Amen.

In conclusion, salvation is found in no one else, but in the name of Jesus Christ. Let us
carry the name of Jesus wherever we go, to everyone who needs to get saved. We can
do this work of God with the help of Holy Spirit who gives us power. Amen

Let’s remind ourselves of today’s key verse again, “Key verse Acts 4:12 # Salvation is
found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we
must be saved."

Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father thank You so much for your love and mercy towards us,
thank you for giving us your word and teaching us the need and secret of divine
empowerment in our Christian’s life, Heavenly Father, empower us to serve you
assignment of World evangelism. In Jesus’ mighty Name I pray. Amen