Sermon Prepared by James McCullen
Email Preach Him with Dr. Jim
THERE "IS" SALVATION
Acts 4:12 NASU
THERE "IS" SALVATION
Acts 4:12 NASU
Introduction
What does that mean? Peter speaks of salvation. The word "salvation"
all too soon becomes simply a word instead of a wonder in our heart. Sadly,
today the word "salvation" is drained of its priceless and precious meaning
and significance. The word "salvation" is literally "to be delivered from
the greatest evil and to be brought unto the highest good." That is what
it means to he saved --to be taken out of the greatest evil and to be given
to enjoy the greatest or highest good.
1. There "IS" the . . Existence of Salvation. v 12 a
Intro:
At a forum in Harvard, Ravi Zacharias responded to some critics by
using the law of non-contradiction. This law of logic simply states that
no statement can be true and false at the same time and in the same relationship.
Zacharias said this law must apply to religion and reality. If Jesus said
he was God, he either is or he isn't. You cannot have it both ways. The
same law applies to every other religion. They are ultimately true, or
they are not. When he made this argument, the audience went silent for
several minutes. That the laws of logic apply to reality floors people,
even though they use logic to attack Christian truths.
Here's the rub: the average non-religious person will believe something
WITHOUT thinking it through. They will believe many things and never investigate
if they are rational. But this same non-religious person will disbelieve
things on the basis that they are not logical. So they will attack Christian
assumptions using principles of logic that they don't even apply to themselves.
Hollwick #3443
A. The Existence of Salvation IS . . Possible.
vs 10 c & 12 a
10 c ". . . whom God raised
from the dead - - by this name this man stands here before you in good
health. . . . . 12 "And there is salvation
1. Possible
because of the . . Resurrection...
2. Possible
because of the . . Redeemer.
B. The Existence of Salvation IS . . Profitable.
1. Heaven
Here. John 10:10
2. Heaven
Hereafter. John 14:3
Illustration
I asked a waitress the other day about her Gold Cross Necklace. I asked
why she was wearing it. She said "well I believe in God". So I asked her
if she had made a commitment of her life to Christ and she said "yes".
I asked where and she told me over in Summersville. I then asked if she
really knew she was saved and she said "yes".
Tuesday Night my oldest grandson and I went to get Christa and the kids some ice cream. The car hop came out and I noticed she was wearing a cross so I asked her why and she said "because He is in my life". I then asked "are you telling me you have made a commitment of your life to Jesus"? She said "yes" and I asked "has He changed your life" and she replied "Oh yes"!
Application
Do you believe there is the existence of salvation? Do you believe it
could be a reality for you?
2. There "IS " the . . Exclusiveness of Salvation. v 12 b
Introduction: Spurgeon Archive Sermon #209
First, then, A NEGATIVE FACT. "Neither is there salvation in
any other." Did you ever notice the intolerance of God's religion? In olden
times the heathen, who had different gods, all of them respected the gods
of their neighbors. For instance, the king of Egypt would confess that
the gods of Nineveh were true and real gods, and the prince of Babylon
would acknowledge that the gods of the Philistines were true and real gods.
But Jehovah, the God of Israel, put this as one of his first Commandments, "Thou shalt have none other gods besides me;" and he would not allow them to pay the slightest possible respect to the gods of any other nation: "Thou shalt hew them in pieces, thou shalt break down their temples, and cut down their groves." All other nations were tolerant the one to the other, but the Jew could not be so.
SPURGEON A thousand errors may live in peace with one another, but truth
is the hammer
that breaks them all in pieces. A hundred lying religions may sleep
peaceably in one bed, but wherever the Christian religion goes as the truth,
it is like a fire- brand, . . . . " Sermon from Acts 4:12 #209
Math 2+2=2 2 x 2 = 4 It is intolerant.
Falsehood can tolerate falsehood. But truth can never tolerate falsehood. Two lies can live in the same house and never quarrel. But truth cannot live with the lie.
A. Exclusive In the Proclamation. v 10
10 let it be known to all
of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ
the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead -- by this
name this man stands here before you in good health.
1. This
is a proclamation about this mans healing but the principal is the same.
2. Jesus
Alone healed the Man.
3. Salvation
is in Jesus alone.
B. Exclusive In the Promise. v 11
"He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME
THE CHIEF CORNER stone. A quote from Psa. 118:22
1. Jesus
is the promised Messiah.
2. He
is the Christ
Illustration
Karl Barth a noted theologian was asked "well didn't God reveal Himself
in some religion besides Christianity. He answered God didn't even reveal
Himself in Christianity! He revealed Himself in Christ Alone!
C. Exclusive In the Person. v 12 a
". . . in no one else;
for there is no other name under heaven "
1. Sincerity
is not enough.
a. Hitler was sincere, but wrong.
b. A nurse sincerely put acid in baby's eyes rather than
silver nitrate. Her sincerity did not
save the eyes.
2. Tolerance
is not enough.
a. Some laws are determined by society - stop lights.
b. Other laws cannot be determined by society - law of
gravity.
c. Spiritual laws are inherent, like gravity.
d. God has revealed himself to us through Jesus.
Illustration
The missionary D. T. Niles also said, "Jesus Christ is not a value
that we can negotiate, nor is he a preference that we can reject. He is
the truth, and the truth cannot be changed."
Niles was once asked, "How do you present Jesus to a Hindu?" With a smile he said, "Oh, I repeat the words of Jesus, `No man comes to the Father but by me.'" #1723
Application
Still some say "Oh, yes. Jesus saves. But it is uncharitable to say anything that may condemn another belief." I ask the question: "How is that charity?"
Is it charity to say nothing when a blind man is nearing the rocks over the cliff, ready to dash himself to death, believing that he is safe?
Is it charity to say nothing when immigrants are boarding a leaking boat, believing and trusting that this boat is able to carry them to safety when, in reality, it is going to carry them to a watery grave?
Is it charity not to cry out and to warn of danger, of putting your
trust in that which cannot save?
3. There "IS " the . . Essential of Salvation. v 11 & 12 c
A. Jesus Is the Essential because He is the . .
Corner Stone. v 11
". . . that has been given among men by which we must be saved."
1. Christ
is compared to a Rock more than 50 times. A shepherd only 20 times but
a rock 50
Psa 40:1-2 & 7 "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out
of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings."
2 "He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be
greatly moved.". . . . 7 "In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock
of my strength, and my refuge, is in God."
2. Consider
Carefully What Paul Said about the Rock:
1 Cor 10:4 "And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank
of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was
Christ."
3. THIS
ROCK HAS A NAME AND IT IS "JESUS"
a. THE PRECIOUS NAME -- SAY IT --
b. THE POWERFUL NAME
c. THE PRE-ORDAINED NAME
d. THE PRECLUDING NAME
Rom 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe
in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; NASU
B. Jesus Is the Essential because He is the . .
Considerate Son.
". . . that has been given
among men by which we must be saved."
1. Jesus
was Considerate to the Will of the Father.
Luke 22:42 saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from
Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." NASU ONLY time in scripture
2 Cor 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. NASU
2. Jesus
was Considerate to the Way of the Father.
Phil. 2:8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by
becoming obedient to the point
of death, even death on a cross. NASU
CONCLUSION
Parable of the Gate Keeper
Who Desires Entrance and by What Name and Actions
1. Humanitarian---in the Name of
Humanism -- Works of Education "Depart I never Knew you"
2. Moral Man -- in the Name of
Good Morals -- Works of Purity Depart I never knew you
3. Religious Man -- in the Name
of the Church -- Works - Good Deeds "Depart I never Knew you"
4. Born Again Christian -- in
the Name of Jesus -- Nothing in My Hand I Bring Simply to the Cross
I Cling -----Enter into the joy prepared for you.
Open Wide the Gate ! Open Wide the Gate ! Open Wide the Gate!
Song to God Be the Glory
To God be the glory, great things He hath done So loved He the World
that He gave us His son; who yielded His life and atonement for sin and
opened the life gate that all may go in.
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice, Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, let the people rejoice,
Oh come to the Father through Jesus the Son and give Him the glory great
things He hath done.