“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”—Acts 4:12
Of all the truths for the skeptical and unbelieving world to grasp, this seems the most offensive. In the world’s view, we may be in error to believe the Bible’s inerrancy or Jesus’ resurrection, but those doctrines may seem harmless. But the exclusivity of the gospel is a serious matter. We are labeled intolerant for believing that Jesus is the only way to heaven.
Peter points out that there is no other name whereby we may be saved. He is not speaking of a mystical truth, that you may simply invoke the name of Jesus, as in some kind of superstitious spell. Instead, Jesus is pointing out that Jesus, the person, and all that He identifies Himself as is the only way to heaven. The Jesus revealed in the Bible, who is the Son of God, that’s the Jesus who saves.
Millions of Christians today, especially in America, have mixed the world’s lie with their own version of Christian truth. They’ve come to believe that Jesus is their Savior, but that others may still go to heaven some other way. It’s the “my truth” and “your truth” syndrome. Peter was blatantly pointing out that there is only one truth and that is that Jesus alone saves.
You may love the name of Jesus. You may claim it as your own in identifying yourself as a Christian, but is Jesus really your Savior? Have you transferred your total trust from self to Jesus? Have you repented, turning from your sins to Jesus? He alone saves, and He saves all who come to Him by faith!
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