Begin reading at verse 1. As
they spake, that is, Peter and John, unto the people, the priest
and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,
being grieved that they taught the people and preached through
Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on
them and put them in hold until the next day, for it was now
eventide. Howbeit, many of them which heard
the word believed, and the number of the men was about five thousand.
And it came to pass on the morrow that their rulers, and elders,
and scribes, and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John,
and Alexander, and as many were of the kindred of the high priest,
were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in
the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name have you
done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy
Ghost, said unto them, Ye 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, be it known unto you all
and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ,
whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth
this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which
was set at naught of you builders which has become the head of
the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other for there
is none other name given under heaven among men whereby we must
be saved. This is actually a continuation. of what begins in chapter 3 of
Acts. And we should read a few verses
there. Look at verse 1 of Acts chapter 3. Peter and John went up together
into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour,
three o'clock in the afternoon. And a certain man, laying from
his mother's womb, was carried. whom they laid daily at the gate
of the temple, which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them
that entered into the temple. Who seeing Peter and John about
to go into the temple, asked an alms. And Peter, fastening
his eyes upon him with John, said, look on us. And he gave
heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then
Peter said, silver and gold have I none. but such as I have give
I thee in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up. And immediately
his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood
and walked and entered with them into the temple walking and leaping
and praising God. And all the people saw him walking
and praising God. Peter and John used that occasion
healing of this crippled man, this beggar, and all the crowd
being gathered around because they knew this man. He was a
familiar sight at the gate of the temple. But they took advantage
of that occasion to preach Jesus Christ to them. It's for this
reason that they were arrested. This man was a cripple. He was born that way. And in
addition to that, he was also a beggar. But in reading the
account of this miracle, we find that he went from being impotent
to being made whole. He went from being lame to being
made perfectly, or rather receiving a perfect soundness. And Peter
tells them why. They demand an answer. These
powers that be. My soul, we read verse 6, what
a, what a, crowd of people, what religious hierarchy we have represented
here. But they demand from Peter and
John, you tell us by what authority you do this. What name gives
you the right to do this? And Peter more than gladly tells
them. In verse 12 he says, neither
is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name
under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. None other name. Look again,
if you will, at verse 7. First, let's consider this question.
Let's consider this question. And when they had set them in
the midst, that is, Peter and John and the lame man, they asked,
by what power or by what means have you done this? Look at verse 12 of chapter 3.
When the crowd comes together and Peter saw it, he answered
the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this, or why
look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power of holiness
we made this man whole? Peter was careful that they not
pay rent to the wrong landlord. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto
us, as the psalmist wrote, and as the Word of God declares concerning
the salvation of sinners. The answer is always the same,
whether it be prophet or apostle. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto
us, but unto thy name give glory for thy mercy and for thy truth's
sake. As you're aware, this man, this
beggar, is a picture of what every sinner is by nature. what every sinner born into this
world is. He's helpless, he's impotent,
he's without strength. Paul tells us in Ephesians 2,
by nature, the way we're born into this world, that we're dead
in trespasses and sins. A perfect picture of helplessness. If this poor man, if this poor
cripple is made to arise and walk, and if sinners are lifted
up from the dunghill, in which they're found from the dunghill
of fallen humanity and are made to sit in heavenly places, who
does it? Who does it? Who's responsible? Who gives grace to sinners? That's the question. If I want
mercy, if I want If I wanted to experience God's great salvation,
to whom do I go? Who's responsible? Who gives
grace to sinners? Not simply offers grace to sinners,
but actually, in reality, bestows grace to sinners. You notice
Peter said to this man, if you'll take the first step, no, no,
he didn't say that, did he? He said, arise up and walk. Who does that? Who makes sinners
heirs of heaven? Who has the power? the ability
to make them new creatures in Christ Jesus. Paul said, if any
man be in Christ, in 2 Corinthians 5, he's a new creation. A new creation. Who resurrects
sinners to eternal life? Who makes them to differ from
another? Forever. Forever. Oh yes, the change that takes
place in a sinner's heart is a change that continues forever. It's a good work that's begun
in us when God calls us by His grace, but it continues forever,
even to the throne of the Lord Jesus Christ. Who pronounces
their sins forgiven? Who does that? Who has that authority? Who has that power? Who can work
such a miracle as that? Salvation is a miracle. Salvation requires the grace
of God Almighty. And who is able to present sinners,
redeem sinners? Who can present them without
fault? I have to pause every time I
quote that verse. John said he saw them. He saw
them in Revelation 15, that multitude, and they were without fault before
the throne of God. Who's responsible for that? Peter
said it wasn't him. It wasn't him or John. They could
not give grace. The Jewish historian Josephus
said that this gate, this gate called beautiful, that this beggar
was carried to and sat at every day as people passed by, that
it was made of gold. It was huge. It took 20 men. Think about that. It took 20
men to close it. And you know in reading the Gospels,
even the apostles at one time, oh, they were so proud of their
temple, weren't they? But you know what it was? At
this time, it was simply an empty shell. He had, that is our Lord
Jesus Christ, fulfilled already every sacrifice that was offered
there. They should have ceased to have
been offered, though they weren't. The blood of bullocks and of
goats, we're told, can never take away sin. Again, notice
verse 1 of chapter 3. And Peter and John went up together
into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. Three o'clock in the afternoon.
Luke tells us when our Lord hung upon the cross from the 6th hour,
12 o'clock till the 9th hour, 3 in the afternoon, there was
darkness over the whole land. It was the time of the evening
sacrifice. And it was at that same time,
about that same time, That he who by himself purged our sins
exclaimed, it is finished. It is finished. That great work
of being made sin. That great work of bringing in
an everlasting righteousness, that great work of carrying the
sins of all of his people away, that work of being made sin,
that one exclaimed concerning that work, it's done. It's done. It's finished. And only the Lord Jesus Christ
can make that statement. What a contrast this is. Think
about that for a moment. Here lies this beggar, this cripple,
lying there at this gate of gold, lying there before the temple,
the temple with all its splendor, with all of its riches, but it
was simply a mockery to this poor beggar, wasn't it? And that
to me is a picture of worldly religion. Christless religion. Christless religion. It only
mocks the souls of men. It has wealth and it has glitter. It has entertainment. It has
ritual. It has ceremony. It's a big attraction,
isn't it? Really big show. It deals with
every issue except the one issue. It attempts to answer every question
but that question which is the most important one to a poor,
blind, helpless sinner. An impotent cripple. Answer this
question. Lord, this is what I must know.
Tell me this. Other issues are insignificant.
Answer this. Can you tell me this, preacher?
Can you answer this question? How can I, how can I, a guilty
sinner, how can I be just with God? Who can reconcile me to
God? Where is that one that has that
authority, that possesses that virtue, that has such a merit
that God hears him? Who is that one that is the only
mediator between my guilty soul and a holy God that can reconcile
me to him? Tell me who he is. Who has that
authority? Answer this question. What must
I do to be saved? Is there anything more important
than that, Mike? Is there anything more important
than that? What must I do to be saved? I'm soon, soon. When a few more
days have come and gone, and how swiftly they come and go,
but when just a few more days have come and gone, I'm going
to stand before God Almighty, and you are too. Every one of
us are. In the light of that fact, what
other issue My, how sad, how sad that today's religion only
mocks the souls of men. It doesn't answer that question. It gives them entertainment.
It offers everything, contemporary service, traditional service,
whatever you want. Whatever keeps the crowds coming,
we'll give it. We've got special services for
the young people, for the teenagers, for the married, for the unmarried,
for the old folks. Oh, but it doesn't answer this
question. What must I do? What must this
sinner do to be reconciled to God? Who can give me peace with
God? Who can pronounce forgiveness
of all my sins? That's what I want to know. That's
what I want to know all my life long. This is what one hymn writer
wrote. All my life long I had panted
for a draft from some clear spring that I hoped would quench the
burning of the thirst I felt within, feeding on the husk around
me till my strength was almost gone, longed my soul for something
better, only still the hunger on. Thirsty, thirsty, and thirsty
again. For I was and sought for riches,
something that would satisfy. But the dust I gathered round
me only mocked my soul's sad cry. Indeed, who? Who can make
sinners whole? Again, John saw that multitude
that none can number. What does grace accomplish? Is
the grace of God effectual? Is it enough? Can it keep redeemed
sinners? John answers that question when
he tells us, I saw a multitude. Where were they, John? They were
before the throne of God. They were standing before the
throne of God. And they weren't perfect. They
weren't welcome. They weren't cast off. They were
told to enter into the joy. It was all prepared for them
before the foundation of the world. This was all deliberate.
This was all purposed by our great wonder working God. And
John said, I saw them, a multitude, different tongues, different
people, different tribes, but all standing before the throne
of God. Imagine that. And they were all
dressed in white robes. What does that mean? What does
that represent? Oh, the perfect righteousness
of the Lord Jesus Christ. And they all sang the same song. Worthy is the lamb unto him that
loved us and hath washed us white by his own blood. To him be the glory. And the elder asked John, Who
are these? Who are these, John? Where did
they come from? Just like these leaders asked
John and Peter, who's responsible for this? Who did this? And Peter gives the answer. Let's
consider that now. There's only one answer. This
is not a multiple choice. This is only one answer, and
Peter tells them in verse 10, be it known unto you all. You've
asked me, I'm glad you asked, Peter said, and I'm more than
happy to tell you. 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, from whom God raised from the
dead, even by him, by him that this man stand before you whole. Oh, by that name which is above
all names. Look at verse 6 again. Peter
told this cripple in the name, by his authority, his power,
in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. Again, verse 6. 16 of chapter
3, and his name, through faith in his name, have made this man
strong whom ye see and know. Yea, the faith which is by him
hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. This
is not a preacher's name, or a priest's name, or a church's
name. No, it's that name, that power,
that one glorious person. That one individual by whom alone
God grants grace. He himself said, you can't come
to God. You can't come to God except
through me. He alone is that one whom God
raised from the dead, Peter said, and set him at his own right
hand in the heavenly places. That one who has grace greater
than all my sin. That's good news. That's good
news. Grace greater than all my sin. Grace that cleanses from all
sin. Grace that reaches. Grace that
reaches deeper than the stain has gone. Not grace that offers. not grace that says to me, you
do your part and then I'll do your part. Oh no, grace that
comes to me and reaches down to the pit and picks this sinner
up and lifts him up into the very presence of grace personified
the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Grace, rich, free and flowing. It flows from only one fountain.
And Peter tells us who it is. Anyone interested in that? Anyone
want to know where can I find this grace? Where is that grace
that can present me without thought before the throne of God? Where
is that grace? Who possesses that powerful grace
that can speak peace to my troubled heart? that can cleanse me from
all my sin, that can keep me, that that good work it's begun
in me will continue it on until the day of Jesus Christ. Who is that person? Who has such
grace as that? That's what I need. That's who
I want. And Peter says it's Jesus Christ
by Him. Does this man stand here before
you whole? Call his name Jesus, Savior,
the salvation of God. Call his name Jesus for he shall. Do you hear that? Do you hear
that, weary pilgrim? He shall. There's no question
about it. There's no doubt about it. He
shall save His people, all of His people, from all of their
sin. Hallelujah. What a Savior. In John 10, He said, I am the
door. I am the door. By me, if any
man enter in, He shall be saved, saved to the very uttermost. Every sinner that comes to Christ
seeking mercy finds mercy. Every beggar, every cripple that
falls before Him pleading for His grace finds it. All that
the Father giveth me, He said, shall come to me. And all that
come to me, Every sinner that comes to me, I'll in no wise
cast out. Oh, thank God that there is a
fountain. There is a fountain filled with
blood drawn from who? Emmanuel's veins. Emmanuel's
veins. And every sinner, every sinner,
that's ever been plunged beneath that flood, they arise without
any guilty stains. They're without fault before
the throne of God. In answer to the question, who
saves sinners? Who possesses the power to open
blind eyes? Who raises up spiritually crippled
souls to walk in newness of life? Who can forgive sins and give
them peace? Real peace? Peace with God? Well, I know this. I know this. That with men, it's impossible. I know that. With men, it's impossible. My condition requires a miracle. I need a new heart. I need a
new heart. I need life. I need grace. Who has that? Who can give me
that? Where's the preacher that can
perform that miracle, that can perform that operation, that
can give me a new heart? Where's that individual that
can make me willing in the day of God's power? Where is that
one that can bring me to God? Where is that one that can truly
give me peace with God? Where is that one that can say,
all thy sins, Larry, are forgiven thee, and it becomes so? Who
can do that? Peter says, the Lord Jesus Christ. By Him, does this man stand before
you whole? The last verse of that hymn that
we quoted a moment ago says this, well of water ever springing,
bread of life so rich and free, untold wealth that never faileth,
my Redeemer is to me. Hallelujah. I have found him
that my soul so long has craved. Jesus satisfies my longings through
his blood. I now am saved. Hallelujah! I have found him. Found that one who spoke peace
to my weary soul. found that one who lifted me
up, found that one who gave me grace, found that one who loved
me with an everlasting love, found that one who gave himself
for me, found that one who said I shall be with him one day forever. Oh yes, hallelujah, I have found
him. And look what Peter goes on to
say in answer to their question, by whose name have you done this?
Verse 12, neither is there salvation in any other for there's none
other name, none other name, only his. Neither is there salvation
in any other. God teaches us in that. Our Lord
said in John 6, all that have learned of the Father comes to
me. And they learn that this great
salvation is not in themselves, is not in the preacher. Who can
wash away my sin? That's not easy. That's not easy. What can make me whole again? That's not easy. And the answer
is this. Nothing. Nothing. It's not the
labor of my hands that can fulfill the law's demands. Can't do it. Nothing but. Nothing but. Nothing but the blood of Jesus. The blood of Jesus Christ God's
Son cleanses us from all sin. Oh, precious, precious is the
flow that makes me white as snow. Christ has lost none of his power
to save. None at all. Look again at verse
7. of chapter 3, and he took him
by the right hand and lifted him up. Can you picture this? This man had never walked. He
was born a cripple. He was over 40 years old. He
was a beggar. And he, Peter took him by the
right hand and lifted him up and immediately, I like that
word, don't you? Immediately, Immediately, God's
grace immediately pronounces forgiveness. God's grace immediately
makes us new creatures in Christ. God's grace immediately reconciles
us to God. Immediately, when the vitest
offender truly believes, immediately, immediately from Jesus, he receives
a full, free, everlasting pardon of all of his sins. Immediately. His feet and ankle bones received
strength and he leaped up. He leaped up, he stood. A monument,
a trophy of the Lord Jesus Christ. He stands there and Peter said,
he's made whole. This infinite man is given perfect
soundness by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And he's the
same. Oh, thank God that the Lord Jesus
Christ is the same yesterday and today. and forever. Christ on the cross put away
our sins by himself. At that ninth hour, that ninth
hour, he cries. He cries. He proclaims what the
high priest never could. Every year that high priest went
into the most holy place. Once a year. Once a year. And he never did come out and
say, well that's done, that's finished, won't ever have to
do that again. He would go in again every year. Oh, but our
high priest Our Joshua, our mediator, he cried after offering himself
without spot to God, he cried, and I declare I believe the wonderful
proclamation of those words are still echoing through the halls
of eternity, and angels wonder at it, and adore, and sinners
cast down their crowns before him, crying worthy is the Lamb,
because he cried. He proclaimed what only he could. After offering himself without
spot to God, he said, it is finished. It's done. Hallelujah. All the sin of all my people
are put away forever. Forever. What a Savior. Christ on the cross puts away
sin and Christ on his throne saves from sin. He is able, Hebrews
7 verse 25, wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost
that come unto God by him. Oh, therefore, therefore, let
us sing with that multitude in glory. If you've experienced
his grace, Let us sing together thou art worthy to take the book
and to loose the seals thereof for thou will slain and has redeemed
us, has redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred
and tongue and people and nation and has made us unto our God
kings and priests and we shall reign on the earth. Arise, another hymn writer wrote,
redeem the sinner. Forgiven sinner, reconciled sinner,
arise, my soul, arise. Shake off thy guilty fears. The
bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears. Before the throne my
surety stands. My name is written on his hands. My God is reconciled. His pardoning
voice I hear. He owns me for his child I can
no longer fear. With confidence, I now draw nigh,
and Father Abba, Father, cry." Last of all, notice again in
verse 6 of chapter 3, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
rise up and walk. Love lifted me. I was sinking deep in sin, oh,
but love lifted me. He raised up the poor out of
the dust and lifted up the beggar from the dunghill to set them
among princes. Oh, such is the rich supply of
his mighty grace. Psalm 113, listen to these words. who is likened to thee, who is
likened to the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, who humbleth
himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the
earth. He raises up the poor out of
the dust. A child of the king. A child
of the king. He raises up the poor out of
the dust. and lifted up the needy out of
the dunghill that he might set him with princes, even the princes
of his people." Oh yes, he lifted us up. Peter said in verse 16
that he gave this cripple perfect soundness. Perfect soundness. Imagine that. Listen to what
We read in the Galatians. Galatians, we'll turn there with
me. Galatians chapter 1. We have
perfect soundness before the throat of God. Galatians 1 verse
21. This is what grace has done.
And you that were sometimes alienated, the enemies in your mind by the
wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his
flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and
unreprovable in his sight." Perfect soundness. Peter said, by him,
that is the Lord Jesus Christ, does this man stand here before
you? And every sinner, every saint
sinner can say the same thing. By Him, by Jesus Christ, I stand
before God whole. Whole. He's met all God's requirements. In Jesus Christ, this sinner
is whole. Complete. Completely holy. Completely righteous. Completely accepted. Neither is there salvation in
any other for there's none other name under heaven given among
men whereby we must be saved. Remember what Paul said to that
jailer when he asked him, sirs, what must I do to be saved? Paul
said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ and thou shalt be saved. Thank God for his grace in his
darling son. God bless you. Thank you for
your attention.