November 2003 New Horizons

No Other Name

by Larry Wilson

"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 4:12). People need salvation. This passage of Scripture speaks of salvation . It insists that "we must be saved ." Do you really believe that? Does the human need for salvation evoke any sense of urgency in you? In the book Saved from What? (Crossway, 2002), R. C. Sproul explains that because we're guilty of sin, what we ultimately need salvation from is God himself! The Bible declares that almighty God hates those who fall short of his righteousness; he hates them with a justly deserved hatred (Pss. 5:5; 11:5; Prov. 16:5). God will punish unsaved sinners with "the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name [is] not found written in the book of life, he [will be] thrown into the lake of fire" (Rev. 20:14-15). "And the smoke of their torment [will go] up forever and ever, and they [will] have no rest, day or night" (Rev. 14:11). Do you believe ... Read more

Only One Name

by Douglas Clawson

We are resourceful people. The things that we want and cannot get by one means, we'll get by another means. If we can't buy what we want in the local store, we can order it by mail or purchase it from a website. If the usual route we take is under construction, we choose from a number of others. We have choices in doctors for our care, hospitals for our surgery, banks for our loans, and modes of transportation for our travel. No matter what we are concerned about—quality, service, speed, cost, or convenience—we have choices for everything, and we have the creativity to achieve our goal, even if someone else thinks that it isn't possible. No Other Options Perhaps that's what is so startling about Peter's words to the rulers and elders of Jerusalem in Acts 4. Peter wasn't trying to make room for Jesus' teaching within the then-current boundaries of Judaism. Peter was excluding all options for access to God, life, and salvation, except the one through Jesus Christ: "There is salvation in no ... Read more

Only One Way

by Richard Gerber

"Let it be known to all of you 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—by him this man is standing before you well.... 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 4:10, 12). No salvation in anyone except Jesus Christ of Nazareth—how very exclusive that sounds! What about the sincere and faithful adherents of other religions, many of whom have never been told about Jesus? According to the Bible, their sincerity and their religion will not help them. Without faith in Christ, they are headed for destruction. A Wall There is a wall that keeps people out of heaven and sends them to hell. Did God build this wall? In other words, did God condemn the world by sending Jesus into the world? The Bible assures us, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved ... Read more

Taking the Swagger out of Christian Cultural Influence

by John Piper

The fact that Christians are exiles on the earth (1 Pet. 2:11) does not mean that they don't care what becomes of culture. But it does mean that they exert their influence as very happy, brokenhearted outsiders. We are exiles. "Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil. 3:20). "Here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come" (Heb. 13:14). But we are very happy sojourners, because we have been commanded by our bloody Champion to rejoice in exile miseries. "Blessed are you when others ... persecute you ... on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven" (Matt. 5:11-12). We are happy because the apostle Paul showed us that "the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Rom. 8:18). We are happy because there are merciful foretastes everywhere in this fallen world, and God is glad for us to enjoy them (1 Tim. 4:3; 6:17). And we are happy because we know that ... Read more