”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)
The name of Jesus is a powerful one. There are many that have different reactions to the name of Jesus today. His name and person both unites and divides. Who is He? What was His purpose? What did He come to do? Was He just a good teacher? The name of Jesus brings both love and devotion but also one of disbelief and division.
The name “Jesus” means “the Lord saves.” Jesus came to save us from our sin and to save us for a new life of serving and worshipping Him. The Biblical record never gives us the option to believe that Jesus was simply a good teacher or just another religious leader. He makes exclusive claims and challenges us to follow Him and no other. Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me.” (John 14:6) He also said, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). So, no one has access to God the Father, except through Jesus. If we truly want to be called followers of Jesus, we must deny ourselves and our worldly pleasures, be willing to endure suffering if need be, and then follow Him.
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15) The kingdom of God is His reign and rule among His people. Jesus commands us to admit that we have sinned, turn away from it, and believe the good news. This good news is that Jesus came to live a perfect life without sin and be an example of a humble servant. His suffering and eventual death on that cruel Roman cross was the final sacrifice for the sins of mankind. He rose from the dead on the third day in victory over sin and death.
The Bible says that “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10)
Our confession and belief that Jesus is Lord and our belief that God raised Jesus from the dead brings a right standing with God and salvation. Jesus is the only one in whom we can possibly be saved to eternal life. Again, “Salvation is found in no one else…” There is no religious rite or act, no good deed that we’ve done. There is no performance scale that will be good enough, because “God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT) It is only by His grace and our faith in His sacrificial death on the cross.
When Jesus was before the high priest, he questioned Him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One? ” “I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What is your decision? ” They all condemned Him as deserving death. (Mark 14:61-64) They condemned Jesus because He claimed to be equal with God. Our conclusion that we make of Jesus is either He was who He said He was: God in human flesh, perfect in every way, who was our perfect sacrifice to take our sin and rise to victory, seated in a position of power above all—or He was some crazy man or liar. We cannot claim He was just a good, moral example or teacher.
“Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11) Someday, in the end, all of us will acknowledge the powerful name of Jesus for who He is: Lord. Some will acknowledge Jesus in sorrow because they didn’t repent and believe upon Him. Some will acknowledge Jesus with joy because they will be with Him forever in heaven. Will you trust and believe in the one name under heaven, the name of Jesus, who is the only one able to save us from our sin and give us eternal hope?
The name of Jesus is a powerful one. There are many that have different reactions to the name of Jesus today. His name and person both unites and divides. Who is He? What was His purpose? What did He come to do? Was He just a good teacher? The name of Jesus brings both love and devotion but also one of disbelief and division.
The name “Jesus” means “the Lord saves.” Jesus came to save us from our sin and to save us for a new life of serving and worshipping Him. The Biblical record never gives us the option to believe that Jesus was simply a good teacher or just another religious leader. He makes exclusive claims and challenges us to follow Him and no other. Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me.” (John 14:6) He also said, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). So, no one has access to God the Father, except through Jesus. If we truly want to be called followers of Jesus, we must deny ourselves and our worldly pleasures, be willing to endure suffering if need be, and then follow Him.
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15) The kingdom of God is His reign and rule among His people. Jesus commands us to admit that we have sinned, turn away from it, and believe the good news. This good news is that Jesus came to live a perfect life without sin and be an example of a humble servant. His suffering and eventual death on that cruel Roman cross was the final sacrifice for the sins of mankind. He rose from the dead on the third day in victory over sin and death.
The Bible says that “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10)
Our confession and belief that Jesus is Lord and our belief that God raised Jesus from the dead brings a right standing with God and salvation. Jesus is the only one in whom we can possibly be saved to eternal life. Again, “Salvation is found in no one else…” There is no religious rite or act, no good deed that we’ve done. There is no performance scale that will be good enough, because “God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT) It is only by His grace and our faith in His sacrificial death on the cross.
When Jesus was before the high priest, he questioned Him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One? ” “I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What is your decision? ” They all condemned Him as deserving death. (Mark 14:61-64) They condemned Jesus because He claimed to be equal with God. Our conclusion that we make of Jesus is either He was who He said He was: God in human flesh, perfect in every way, who was our perfect sacrifice to take our sin and rise to victory, seated in a position of power above all—or He was some crazy man or liar. We cannot claim He was just a good, moral example or teacher.
“Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11) Someday, in the end, all of us will acknowledge the powerful name of Jesus for who He is: Lord. Some will acknowledge Jesus in sorrow because they didn’t repent and believe upon Him. Some will acknowledge Jesus with joy because they will be with Him forever in heaven. Will you trust and believe in the one name under heaven, the name of Jesus, who is the only one able to save us from our sin and give us eternal hope?
Posted in Pastor Mark
Mark Anderson
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