If you have your Bibles this
morning, please turn to the 24th chapter of the book of Luke. This is not going to be your
text this morning. But it goes very well with our
text. The Scripture talks here about
the crucifixion, the death, the life, and the burial of our Lord
and Savior in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was getting
close to sundown on Friday afternoon, and the Sabbath began to sundown.
And they took the body of Jesus off the cross. They took Him
to the tomb. And the women, they didn't have
time to anoint the body and put the spices on it. But they closed
the tomb up and they was planning on coming back on Sunday morning
to anoint the body with spices and oils. And this piece of scripture
right here, as I said, it's not our text. but it goes very well
with our text. Beginning in the first verse,
chapter 24, it says, Now upon the first day of the week, very
early in the morning, they came unto Decepticon, bringing the
spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
And they found a stone rolled away from Decepticon. And they
entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it
come to pass, as they were much preflexed, whereabout, behold,
two men stood by them in shining garments. And as they were afraid
and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them,
Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but
is risen, remembering how he spoke unto you when he was yet
in Galilee, saying, The Son of Man must be delivered unto the
hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words
in return from Decepticon, and told all these things unto the
eleven, and all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna,
and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with
them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their
words seemed to be them as idle tales, and they believed them
not. Then arose Peter, and ran unto
the sceptical, and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid
by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that
which was come to pass. Scripture here talks about the
crucifixion, the terrible death Christ had to go through, the
burial and the resurrection of Christ. It's in chapter 23 and
24 here. And as I said, it was close to
sundown, and they didn't have time to prepare their body. So
they took him to a borrowed tomb and put him in the tomb, and
they were going to come back on Sunday morning to anoint the
body and to put spices on the body. And if you would now, I
would like for you to turn to our text, which is going to be
Acts chapter 12. beginning in verse 7. I told you wrong, Acts 4.7. I'm
sorry. Acts 4.7. Peter and John, after the resurrection
of Jesus, They had been given special powers by Jesus to raise
the dead, to heal the sick, to take care of the poor. And the
Sanhedrin and the religious people of that day, they didn't like
anything that he had to say. And they didn't like Jesus, and
they were trying to find ways of putting him to death. And
it says here in the 7th verse of chapter 4, And when they had
set them up in the midst, they asked, by what power or by what
name have you done this? What they'd done, they had healed
a lame man. And they'd made him well. And they had done it in
the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And that's what they didn't like
about it. And then Peter, filled with the
Holy Ghost, he said unto them, you rulers of the people and
elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed
done to the impotent man by what means he is made whole, listen
to this, be it known unto you all and to all the people of
Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you
crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him does this
man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set
at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner."
And verse 12, "'Neither is there salvation in any other, for there
is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must
be saved." As I said, he had given the apostles special powers. People don't have those powers
today. Some of them think that they do, but they don't. There
were only 12 apostles, and he gave them special powers to heal
the sick, And all the days of Jesus's life, when he was here
before, and even up to today, there's always controversy about
who this is. And what we want to look at today,
we want to see what God's Word says about this God-man, Jesus
Christ. In Matthew 28, 18, God's word
said, and Jesus coming, he's spoken to his disciples, and
listen to this, Jesus himself said, all power is given unto
me in heaven and earth. That covers a lot of territory,
don't it? But he said, all power is given to me in heaven and
earth. We must realize that God is sovereign in creation. He's
sovereign in providence. He's sovereign in salvation.
And there's nothing that happens without the permissive or the
directive will of God, regardless of what it is in this world and
the way that man may look at it. It's all for the glory of
God and for the good of his people. We'll look at verse 7 again,
and it says, "...and when they had set them up in the midst,
they asked, By what name have you done this? And Peter filled
with the Holy Ghost said unto them, You rulers of people and
elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed
done to the impotent man, by what means he was made whole,
listen to this, be it an honor to you and to all the people
of Israel, but by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom
he says, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead,
even by him does this man stand here for you whole. Isaiah 53
says, Who hath believed our report? And who is the arm of the Lord
revealed? If you would take a minute, hold
your place and turn to John 10. And we're going to look at what
the Word of God says about our Lord Jesus Christ. Beginning in verse 10. Or chapter
10, verse 14, he says, I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep,
and am known of mine. He's talking about the elect
of God, those that God placed in Him before the foundation
of the world. As the father knoweth me, even
so I put the father, and I lay down my life for the sheep. No
one took his life, he laid it down. And every sheep I have,
which are not of this foe, and that's me and you folks, that's
the Gentiles, them also I must bring, and they shall hear my
voice, and there shall be one foe and one shepherd. Wherefore
doeth my father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might
take it again. Listen to this, no man taketh
it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay
it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment
have I received of my Father. One of the miracles of the gospel
is that God was manifested in the flesh. Paul said in Ephesians
6, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit,
and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication
for all saints, and for me that the utterance may be given unto
me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of
the gospel. What is one of the mysteries
of the Gospel? If you would, look at Matthew
1. And we're talking about Jesus of
the Bible, what God says about Him, beginning in verse 20. While
Joseph was thinking on these things, an angel of the Lord
came unto him. It says here in verse 20, But while he thought
on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto
him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to
take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in
her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son,
and thou shalt call his name Jesus. For what shall he do? He shall save his people from
their sins. He don't save the whole world.
He saves his people. God has a particular people.
They're called the bride of Christ that he chose for the foundation
of the world. And it says, and now all this
was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord,
by the prophet Sam. Behold, a virgin shall be with
child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his
name Immanuel, which being interpreted, is God with us." We thank the
Lord for that. We go back to our text in Acts
4. It says here in John 17, 3, it says, and this
is eternal, but they might know thee the only true God in Jesus
Christ whom thou have crucified. And then, if you will, look at
Philippians 2. This is God the Father speaking
of his Son in Philippians 2. And this brings peace to our
hearts, knowing who our Savior is. He is God manifested in the
flesh. But in Acts 2, verses 6 through
11, you say, sure of Jesus, who being in the form of God, thought
it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation,
and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the
likeness of man. And being found in fashion as
a man, he humbled himself, What did he do? He became obedient
unto the cross. His perfect obedience is our
righteousness, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God hath
highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every
name, and that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of
things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the
earth. And that every time shall confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord to the glory of God the Father. If you will, let's look
at Ephesians 2, verses 13 through 20. It says,
but now in Christ Jesus, He is such a blessing to us. But now
in Christ Jesus, ye who were sometime afar off are made nigh.
How are we made nigh? Only by the blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, who hath made both one and hath broken
down the middle wall of partition between us, having abolished
dust in his flesh, the enmity, even the law of commandments,
contained in ordinance, for to make in himself of twain one
new man, so make him peace. and that he might reconcile both
unto God into one body by the cross, having slain the enmity
whereby, and come and preach peace to you that were far off
and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have
access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore we are
no longer, we are no more strangers and foreigners, but we are fellow
citizens with the saints and of the household of God. And
as we look at the building, let's look at who the chief cornerstone
is. And he says, and are built upon the foundation of the apostles
and the prophets, but Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. We'll go back to our text. You know, why is there salvation
in no other name under heaven among men? There is salvation
in no other among men because God requires perfection. And
you know, we've been looking at Jesus Christ and how God manifested
in the flesh and how He is perfect in all of His ways. We're going
to look a little bit about what God says about man in Romans
3. It says, as it is written, there
is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that understandeth.
There is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of
the way. They are all together become
unprofitable. There is none that doeth good.
No, not one." You know, a person may say, well, you know, I'm
not that bad. I'm pretty good, you know. But usually he's comparing
himself with another man. I know we're turning a lot, but
we need to. Let's look at Mark 7 and see what God says about man. Mark 7, verse 20. And there's not a person that
has been chosen by God that is one of God's elect that does
not know that he is filled with sin. He says here, and he said
in verse 20, that which cometh out of the man, that defiles
the man. For from within, out of the heart
of man proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fortification, murders,
thieves, covenants, wickedness, Deceit, lasciviousness, an evil
eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness, and all of these evil things
come from within, and they defile the man. Isaiah 64, 6 says, but
we are all as an unclean thing in all of our righteousness.
or his filthy rags. Then they whom through he saves,
the Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and he will not
at all acquit the wicked." So we have to ask ourselves, what
happens to a man when he sins against a sovereign, holy, righteous
God? Let's look at James 1 verse 13. James 1 verse 13. We like to
make up excuses, but there is no excuse. And the reason there
is no excuse, it says right here, let no man say that when he is
tempted that I am tempted of God. For God cannot be tempted
with evil, neither tempteth He any man. But every man is tempted
when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. And when
lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin, and sin, when it is
finished, it bringeth forth death. So how can a holy God How can
holy God deal with man in justice and in mercy at the same time? If you will, look at Romans 3. This is the Word of God, the
absolute truth of God. Look at Romans 3, verse 19. and listen to it carefully. And
this is speaking of Jesus Christ our Lord. It says, Now we know
that things whatsoever the law saith, but it said to them who
are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and that
all the world may become guilty before God. Listen to this, therefore by
the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight. Salvation is by grace alone,
and by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness
of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and
the prophets. Even the righteousness of God,
which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all, that all
them that believe, for there is no different. For all have
sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified
freely, how? By His grace through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation
through faith in his blood, a mercy seat, to declare his righteousness
for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance
of God, to declare, I say, at this time, his righteousness,
that he might be just and justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. God's law has to be honored.
His justice has to be honored. We'll look at Ephesians 1, Verse 3, 3-7, Blessed be the
God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who have blessed
us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. It's always in Christ. There
is no promises of God outside of Christ. There is no blessings
of God. There is no gifts of God outside
of Christ. There is no love of God outside
of Christ. It's all in Christ. That's why the Bible says that
neither is there salvation in any other. but according as he
hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and without blame before him in love, having
predestinated us into the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to
himself according to the good pleasure of his will, to the
praise of the glory of his grace. wherein he hath made us accepted
in the beloved. It's such a blessing. Ephesians
2, 8 and 9 says, For by grace are you saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves. It is a gift of God, not of works,
lest any man can boast. Not at all. It's the gift of
God, and we thank Him for that. What is the object of saving
faith? I think we all know that. It's to look to Christ. I had
an old preacher say one time, he said, yesterday I looked to
Christ, today I'm looking to Christ, tomorrow I'm looking
to Christ, and when I leave this world, I'm going to be looking
to Christ. But we need to rest in Him, trust
in Him, and He is so precious to us, and He is our all. The
salvation of our souls is the work, and we know this, the salvation
of our souls is the work of God the Son, God the Father, God
the Holy Spirit. No man can explain the Trinity,
but the Lord our God is one God. The Bible clearly declares that
there are three that bear record in heaven. And that's in 1 John,
it says, For there are three that bear record in heaven, the
Father, the Word, the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. I know
that the salvation of our soul, the redemption of our soul, is
the work of the Father who chose us, the Son who purchased us
our redemption by His blood, and the Holy Spirit who applies
that redemption in saving faith. But yet, The first immediate
object of a sinner's faith is Jesus Christ, our Lord. God's
Word says in 2 Corinthians 1.20, For all the promises of God in
him, speaking of Jesus, are yea, and in him, Amen, unto the glory
of God. First John 5, 11 and 12, it says,
and this is a record that God hath given us eternal life, and
this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life,
and he that hath not the Son hath not life. And there's another
place to say that he that hath the Son hath life, and he that
hath not the Son, the wrath of God abideth on him. But one cannot know the Father,
except he knows the Son. You know, there's so many people
in this world, they pray to the Father, but they won't accept
the Son. But the Word of God, which is absolute truth, plainly
says in John 14, 6, Jesus said unto him, I am the way, not a
way, but he said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man
cometh unto the Father, but by me. There's no other way. John
5.23, that all men should honor the Son even as they honor the
Father. He that honors not the Son honors
not the Father which sent Him. And then one cannot really go
to the throne of grace except through the Son. You can't go
to God without a priest. Well, who is our great high priest?
Hebrews 4.14-16, the Word of God. It says, seeing then that
we have a great high priest, passed into the heavens, Jesus,
the Son of God, let us hold fast to our profession. For we have
not a high priest which cannot be touched with the fillings
of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we
are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us come before
the throne of grace boldly, that we may obtain mercy and find
grace to help in time of need. Saving faith, it believes Christ.
Saving faith, it trusts in Christ. Saving faith, it looks to Christ
each and every day of our lives. We need each step of the way,
each moment of the day. When a man reveals that, whenever
a man discovers that he has nothing to offer to Christ, and we don't
have nothing. The only thing that we have is
sin. We have nothing to offer to Christ. And if God will draw
him to Him, then Christ will save him. The Bible says that God's Word
in the book of 1 Timothy, for there is one God and one mediator
between God and man. Man and God is at war, and we
need a mediator, and there's only one, and that is Jesus Christ,
our Lord. In the book of John, our Lord
Jesus said, no man can come to me except the Father draw him,
and I will raise him up at the last day. There's one last scripture
that I'd like to look at before we finish, and that is John 20. And I can't imagine, it's blessed
my heart so much, whenever one day we're going to look at Christ
in the face. But John 1.20, verse 25. John
20, verse 25. Jesus had already ascended up.
He'd come back to earth. He'd been back for a few times.
All the other disciples had seen Him, but Thomas hadn't seen Him.
Thomas told his disciples, he said, I won't believe unless
I've seen Him. In verse 25 it says here in God's Word, The
other disciples were therefore said unto him, We have seen the
Lord. But Thomas said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands
the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the
nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I am not going to believe.
And after eight days again, his disciples were within, and Thomas
with them. Then come Jesus, doors being
shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Jesus said, Peace be
unto you. Think about this right here.
Then said he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold
thy hands, and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side. And be not faithless, but believing.
And I love the answer to what Thomas said right here. And Thomas
answered and said unto him, my Lord and my God. And Jesus said
unto him, Thomas, because thou have seen me, and have believed,
blessed are they which have not seen me, and yet have believed.
And many other signs, truly, did Jesus, in the presence of
his disciples, which are not written in this book, and listen
to this, but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus
is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, you might
have life through his name. That is why neither is there
salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved. And we have so much
to be thankful for. May the Lord bless us with His
words, and may He be glorified, and may our hearts rejoice. I'm
finished.