In this episode Pastor Shine Thomas will be taking us through Acts 4:1-12.
Salvation In Jesus’ Name | Acts 4:1-12
Important points to keep in mind:
The context for this chapter is seen in Acts 3. Peter and John had gone to the temple to pray. They come in contact with a crippled man. This crippled man is healed in the name of Jesus. Peter then goes on to preach to those who were watching what was happening.
Acts 4:1-7 - Peter and John are confronted by by the temple authorities.
Why were they confronted by the temple authorities?
The reason is because they preached the resurrection of Jesus (Acts 4:2)
The Jewish religious leaders and sects during this time consisted of the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots.
The Pharisees talked and believed in the resurrection.
The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection (Acts 23:8, Mark 12:18).
The Pharisees and the Sadducees disagreed on the resurrection.
The Temple authorities were afraid that they would lose their influence and authority over religious matters (Temple administration).
Acts 4:3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.
But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand (Acts 4:4).
Peter and John are then questioned by the religious leaders (which included the High Priest as well).
Peter's response is seen in Acts 4:8-12.
Peter boldly proclaims that it is in the name of Jesus Christ that the crippled man was healed. He also says that the religious leaders had crucified Jesus but God rose Jesus from the dead.
Acts 4:11 - Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ (also seen in Psalm 118:22, Jesus also quotes this in Luke 20:17).
The real cornerstone on which the real temple of God is going to be built was not the temple establishment. It is the stone that the builders themselves rejected, Jesus of Nazareth. It is incidental that Golgotha the mountain Jesus was crucified on was a stone quarry. There were a lot of rejected stones there. Jesus was also the rejected stone which became the cornerstone.
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.”
Salvation in the name of Jesus:
Joel 2:32 - Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Acts 2:21 - Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
When we reach out to others and share about Jesus we do not do so out of a position of superiority. We do not look down upon others. We were saved totally by grace and that is what God offers for others as well. So, when we reach out to people, we reach out to people as those who are broken but are welcomed by God. We have found something wonderful that we want to share with other people because we care about them.
Remember:
* Christ is the Cornerstone
* Salvation is found in Jesus’ name.
* We are saved by Grace.
* We need to be ready to pay the price for following Jesus (the disciples and those who followed Jesus faced persecution and rejection from the Jewish people as well as the religious authorities).
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 man who was lame and are being 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, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 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.” ~ Acts 4:8-12
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