January 11, 2023 -- Acts 4:11-12 -- The Acts of the Apostles: Jesus the Only Name by which men are saved

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 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.”
Acts 4:11-12 ESV

Peter and John were at the temple and were confronted by a man lame from birth. In the Name of Jesus and by the power of the Spirit they healed him. They were arrested for this act. The Jewish leaders wanted to know by what name or power this was done. So Peter and John testified to the Mighty Name of Jesus.

Then, and now, it is the Name of Jesus which is a stumbling stone for the people around us. It is okay if Jesus is a great teacher, but to claim Him alone as the path of salvation is to provoke scorn and anger. To say Jesus is the only way to the Father is to incur fury from the people around you. So it was for Peter and John as they faced the Jewish leaders then. Those leaders were angry with Peter and John. They made threats to imprison them and punish them further. They had the authority to do so as well. Those were not empty threats. Peter and John kept on preaching and telling others about Jesus. They faced dire consequences for this.

Consider this. Would you be okay backing down from this claim about Jesus and letting the person before you spend eternity in hell? Just so you can have some compromised peace with that person now? No! It’d be far better to have someone angry enough to think and be provoked enough to consider the claim of Jesus. Then the person you are speaking to might repent and submit to Jesus and be at peace with you for all eternity.

O God, for as much as our strength is in You, mercifully grant that Your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts, through Jesus Christ our Lord—Amen.

Prayer from 492 A.D.

https://youtu.be/Pr2RG-xR2lA

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