Acts 4:12
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Every couple years, there's a study that comes out called the State of Theology. These studies are, overall, they end up being pretty disheartening. But the most disheartening part is to learn what self-proclaimed evangelicals believe about Jesus. Here's a couple stats. The Bible, like all sacred writings, contains helpful accounts of ancient myths, but is not literally true. 26% of evangelicals agree.
Jesus was a great teacher, but he was not God. 43% of evangelicals agree. And the last one, and the one I want to draw most attention to, is this one. God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. 56% of evangelicals agree with that statement. What is going on in evangelicalism today that people have forgotten what the Bible actually teaches about Jesus?
Is it a fear of offending our Muslim neighbors? Is it biblical illiteracy? Is it a fear of losing our jobs? I don't know what the answer is. But I do know what the Bible says about it. And this evening, we're going to look at what God's word says about that. So turn with me in your Bibles, if you will, to the book of Acts. Acts, chapter 4, verse 12. Acts 4, verse 12.
Let's read. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Our main idea for tonight is this. Your salvation is found in no one else, so boldly proclaim the name of Jesus. Your salvation is found in no one else, so boldly proclaim the name of Jesus.
Two points to the sermon. Point number one, your salvation is found in no one else. Your salvation is found in no one else. And point number two, so boldly proclaim the name of Jesus. So point number one, your salvation is found in no one else. In verse 12 of chapter 4, it's actually the end of a legal defense that the apostle Peter has made before the entire Jewish leadership. The rulers, the elders, the scribes are present.
Even Annas and Caiaphas, the former high priest and current high priest. It's in total, it's almost 30 people that are present. And the Jewish leaders, they've gathered because they've heard the preaching of Peter at Pentecost. Then at Solomon's portico. And now a man who has been obviously lame from birth is walking and leaping and praising God. So, the Jewish leadership has gathered together and set Peter and John in their midst and gathering for the purpose of asking this one question.
By what power or what name did you do this? The question isn't as loaded as it sounds. Basically, they want to know on whose authorization the apostles are working under. They're trying to catch them on a technicality. They can't deny that a miracle has been done. A man who's obviously lame from birth is up and walking around, and you can't really say that's not real. He's going into the temple, he's leaping, he's praising God.
And so they can't blow this off as a scam or as not true. Everyone sees it's authentic. So Peter now basically shrugs his shoulders and almost like saying, well, you asked for it. And so if the Sanhedrin want a name, they're going to get a name. And instead of a legal defense, Peter preaches to them. And I wonder if Peter remembers the promise of Jesus in Luke chapter 12, 11, where he says, And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, don't be anxious about how you should defend yourselves and what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.
Jesus is faithful to keep his promises. He empowers Peter through his Holy Spirit to boldly bear witness. And this promise of Jesus is coming true before his very eyes. So what does he say? Well, I mean, he lets them have it. He switched from being the defendant to being the prosecutor. And there in verse 10, he says, Let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him is this man standing before you well. And then he quotes Psalm 118.22 as the scriptural proof for his defense. You, builders, leaders of the Jewish nation, you rejected the very stone upon which God's people are built, and this Jesus has become the cornerstone.
All of Peter's sermons thus far have ended with some kind of appeal to do something. In chapter 2, at the end of his sermon at Pentecost, he says to repent and be baptized. In chapter 3, at the end of his sermon at Solomon's portico, he says, repent therefore and turn back that your sins may be blotted out. Here in chapter 4, the appeal is implicit, and arguably it's clearer than he's ever said before. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which you must be saved.
And you can't make it much clearer than that. Jesus Christ alone is the one and only way to salvation. I was born and raised Roman Catholic. I remember in high school having a desire to be made right with God. And I don't think I would have said it like that looking back. I don't know if I wanted to be made right with God because I wanted to be a good person or maybe I knew I wasn't a good person.
So I began to do what every good Catholic would do, which is to pray the rosary. Every day I'd go through it. I mean, every bead on the rosary, you know, a different or another Hail Mary. The five center beads being meditations on the Gospels. And then you end with a prayer called the Hail Holy Queen. And then you close with this dialogue. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. So I would go on thinking that I'd earned some favor with God or some merit would have been added to me because I would do this continuous work.
I was wrong, though. I was not being made worthy of the promises of Christ. If anything, I was piling on more wrath for myself. And so let me be clear that by no prayer or good work will you be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Only by the finished work of Christ alone on the cross. And I think this is what Peter's getting at in verse 12. Notice how the whole time he's been accusatory.
Let it be known to you. You crucified Jesus. You rejected him. The chief cornerstone. But then Peter turns and he offers the gospel to these very people. There's no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Peter come full circle. Not only does Peter's authority come from Jesus and his salvation comes from Jesus, but also you, Sanhedrin, leaders of Israel, can have salvation by his name.
And if you're here tonight and you are a Christian, which I hope is the majority of you, this is your story too. Somewhere along the line, someone cared enough to talk to you about the reality of your sin and rebellion against God. And regardless of anything you had done, told you that you could be saved from God's wrath against your sin by placing your faith in Christ.
And if the result of that conversation was that God caused you to be born again, well, how does your life continuously reflect that reality? I mean, you've been brought from death to life. Whether it was five days ago or 50 years ago, you've been raised from the dead. So, Christian, your life should be a constant reflection of that reality. So, where in your life is it a poor reflection of that reality?
What could you change to rightly reflect what God has done for you? Point number two, so boldly proclaim the name of Jesus. Peter had boldly shared the exclusivity of Jesus Christ with these people. He had stood before the people who crucified Christ and had the power to do the same thing to him. And all because the Holy Spirit had given him the boldness to stand firm.
We today as Christians, as members of Third Avenue Baptist Church, we're standing face to face with a culture that hates Jesus. And we have two options. We can either be cowards before the culture and give up on the exclusivity of Jesus Christ. Or we can look the world straight in the face and boldly proclaim that salvation is not found in Buddha. It's not found in Muhammad, in Confucius, in Hinduism, in Joseph Smith, Mary Baker Eddy, the Pope, and the Roman Catholic Church.
Not even in Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, or Aaron. But in the name of Jesus Christ alone. For it is at this name, at the name of Jesus, that every knee will bow in heaven and on earth. And every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. So, how does boldness for Christ look like in your life?
For some of you, maybe boldness looks like finally inviting that friend or co-worker out to coffee or a meal, you know, to talk about the gospel. You've gotten to know them, you're friends with them, you've built a good relationship. but you haven't talked to them about Jesus. It's great to have good relationships, but there's no eternal significance if you befriend them and you don't share the truth that lies in God's word. For others, maybe being bold isn't the problem.
You're bold. Maybe it's learning to be bold without being a jerk. It might come easy to you, but the gospel is offensive enough and you don't have to be. Maybe you think you're too old and evangelism is for the young people. To you, I say, one, you're wrong. And two, the young people, me included, need your wisdom and your example as a template for how we can be faithful.
Maybe you're not bold in your evangelism because you just, you don't think about it. Day in and day out, constantly flooded with the responsibilities of work, responsibilities of motherhood, of school. You never actually stop to think about the people that you interact with and their need to know Christ. So slow down a bit. You're not that busy to consider the eternality of people's lives and those whom you interact with.
You just have to prioritize it a little more. I think there's a bunch of more reasons that we can come up with. But it doesn't change the fact that this is the message of salvation. And it is the message of salvation for you today if you're not a Christian. Jesus Christ took upon himself the condemnation that you deserve because of your rebellion against a holy God. He died and rose again accomplishing this work of salvation. And the righteousness that belongs to Christ inherently can be credited to you by repenting of your sins and believing in this great name.
God is a merciful God. And as one proof of that, just look at who Peter's talking to. I mean, these are the people who crucified Jesus Christ. They were responsible for the unjust murder of the Son of God. And it is to these people that Peter says, repent and be saved. You can be saved, so turn to Christ. And we, as members of Third Avenue Baptist Church, we have the ability to go before the whole world and preach faith in Christ alone because God has sealed His people with His promised Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. And none can come to the Father but by Him. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for who you are and all that you have done for us in Christ. You have caused us to be born again. That you have plucked us out of the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of your beloved Son. I pray, God, that you would, by your Holy Spirit, increase us in boldness to proclaim your truth and your reality, not the world's truth.
That salvation is by faith in Christ alone. And it is in this great name that we pray. Amen.