NO OTHER NAME

Acts 4:1-22

Dr. William J. Maxwell

First Presbyterian Church, Newport, RI

August 14, 2005

It really surprised me, but I shouldn’t have been surprised. The event happened years ago, at a meeting in my former presbytery in southwestern Ohio. A minister member spoke from the pulpit and said that there are many ways, many paths to God.

An elder at that same meeting was somewhat intimidated by the educated and ordained clergyman, but he was also noticeably concerned about this and so it was that he stood up to speak. He arose to say, “What then, are we to do with the claim Jesus Himself made? ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me’?” Not to be undone by this remark, the pastor then replied rather confidently to the elder: “Oh, Jesus didn’t say that. That statement was most probably contrived by the early Church.”

This event happened a long time ago, but even today, I still remember this event vividly. I can still see that elder, quite convicted and bold in his witness, believing that Jesus is who He says He is, as “exclusive” as such a claim appears to be. In doing so, this elder was following in the footsteps of Peter, who said to the Council, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

Commenting on this, Dr. James Boice asks the question:

Why did Peter insist on this fact? He was an intelligent man. He knew he was saying these things at the risk of his life. Why would he take such a chance? He was saying it because he knew there is nobody else like Jesus Christ. There is no man who is God except Jesus, no one who could die for the sins of others. That is why Peter could proclaim him fearlessly. [i]

It indeed takes a bold witness to say this today, in a world that is almost psychotic about inclusivity, diversity, tolerance and open mindedness. Now please, don’t misunderstand me. There surely is a place for tolerance, diversity and open-mindedness, but not to the extreme, where the difference between truth and falsehood no longer matters.

Perhaps you may be wondering about yourself right now. You may believe, like that elder, that Jesus is indeed the way to salvation, the way to a reconciled relationship with God, from whom we are otherwise estranged because of our sin and disobedience. At the same time, however, you recognize how hard it is to witness, to bear testimony to the Good News of Jesus Christ in an often unreceptive world.

Well, this is precisely why this passage is so helpful, as it describes the very resources that enabled Peter to make such a bold witness. As we look at these resources, we can note that they are available as much to us as they were to Peter. They are all of equal importance, and of equal necessity, if we are to be bold witnesses for Christ. Let’s look at them.

FIRST OF ALL,

PETER WAS FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Luke tells us that as Peter and John were brought before that Council, as intimidating and threatening as it was, the Council began their interrogation with a question: “By what power or what name did you do this (miracle)?”

The name and power, of course, are to be found in Jesus, which Peter addressed quite quickly. But Luke tells us that the power of Peter’s bold witness also had its origin in God – God the Holy Spirit. “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers and elders of the people! … Know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.’”

You will recall that on Pentecost, Peter and the other believers had received the Holy Spirit. But on this particular occasion, the Holy Spirit had filled Peter and had come upon him in such a way as to fully empower and strengthen him for this witness.

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is most necessary to change our lives inwardly, conforming our character more and more into Christ’s likeness. We call this “the fruit of the Spirit,” including such qualities as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.” (Galatians 5:22,23) We cannot change ourselves, as change comes only by the Spirit working in us, as we submit to the Lordship of Jesus.

But just as importantly, we need the Holy Spirit upon us, filling us and enabling us to be Christ’s witnesses. This, after all, was our Lord’s own promise, was it not? “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” [ii]

If we could bear witness for Jesus Christ all on our own, the Holy Spirit’s coming was unnecessary. But you know as I know, that it is only by His power that we can boldly declare: “There is no other name but Jesus!”

Author Steve Brown tells a rather humorous story that speaks of our need for such power. A man went into a store with a chain saw and threw it at the owners feet. “This is a piece of junk!” he said. “You told me I could cut down forty trees a day, and I couldn’t cut down any more than three.” The owner of the store was surprised and suggested that they sharpen the teeth, which he then did.

But the man returned three days later, with a very similar complaint. “This is still a piece of junk! It’s a little better, but not much. I can cut down five trees a day, but you said I could cut down forty. I really want my money back this time!”

This left the owner mystified. “I really don’t understand this. This is a good piece of equipment. Let’s try it.” So the store owner put gas in it and started it right up. The man looked at it, surprised, and said: “What in the world is that noise?”

Brown comments on this story in saying that so many Christians are exactly like that. They have the chain saw – all the gifts and talents – but they “haven’t found out about the power.” [iii] The power of the Holy Spirit is available, but comes especially to those who know this and are dependent upon the Holy Spirit. Dear friends, we have the Good News of Jesus Christ to tell all the world, but don’t forget the power of the Holy Spirit!

SECONDLY, PETER

BELIEVED IN THE WORD OF GOD.

In all the sermons and messages given by Peter, they always have the solid foundation of Scripture. This case is no different, as Peter turns to the Book of Psalms, 118:22: He is “the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.” All the prophecies and predictions of the Messiah were fulfilled in Jesus, whom they had rejected and crucified, but whom God raised from the dead.

Peter obviously believed in the complete authority of Scripture, which consequently had the result

of making his witness a very bold one. Believing in the written Word, Peter then had boldness in witnessing for Christ, of whom this Word so confidently speaks.

I find a direct correlation between belief in the Bible and witnessing for Christ, don’t you? If you question the Bible, regarding it merely as a fallible record of what people thought about God long ago, then consequently you will stand in judgment over the Bible, as you choose what is true for you. And what is true for you may not be true for others, so what message is there to proclaim?

On the other hand, if you believe in divine inspiration, that the Holy Spirit used human authors to record God’s revealed way, purpose and will, your witness to others will consequently be one of greater boldness and certainty, as you point others to Jesus Christ. There is indeed a very important correlation between our belief in the Word of God and our witness to the world.

During my sabbatical, my wife and I visited the Adams National Historical Park. When we visited the library of John Quincy Adams, we were impressed in finding 14,000 volumes, all of which he read! But we were especially impressed with what the Guide showed us, revealing to us a book very rarely seen by others. It was a Bible, a beautiful gift Bible, given to John Quincy Adams by the Mendi people.

You may recall that Adams had successfully defended their case before the Supreme Court, in what we today refer to as the Amistad Event. While the story may be familiar because a movie of the event was filmed here in Newport, what many don’t realize is that these people became Christians while in prison seeking their freedom from slavery. They became free spiritually, before they became free physically, and the Bible played a prominent part in this.

In part of the inscription found on the inside of this gift Bible for Adams, it reads:

We are about to go home to Africa. We go to Sierra Leone first, and there we reach Mendi very quick. Good missionary men will go with us. When we get to Mendi we will tell the people of your great kindness. We shall take the Bible with us. It has been a precious book to us in prison, and we love to read it now we are free.[iv]

The former slaves returned to their homeland, bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ with them, fully convinced that what the Bible says is true. This should come to us as no surprise, as the Word of God and faithful testimony always go hand in hand!

III

THIRDLY, PETER

HAD AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Luke tells us of the impression Peter and John made on the members of the Council. “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Peter and John held no “degrees,” nor any positions of religious authority. But one thing they did have: They had been with Jesus!

Now, obviously, Peter and John had unique and unrepeatable experiences. They had been with the Lord of all during all of His earthly ministry, including His teachings, miracles, death, resurrection and ascension. At the same time, however, the Lord Jesus invites us into the embrace of a living, loving, abiding relationship, one that absolutely no one can ever sever. We also, can “be with Jesus” in a most meaningful, life-transforming sense.

And the deeper the relationship we have with Him, based upon our own intentional efforts in deepening that relationship, the more we will want to share the truth about Jesus with others. We want to share with others what is truly most important to us.

When Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the great English Baptist preacher, wrote of his own faith journey in his memoirs, he thought of his parents. Both his father and mother loved Christ and wanted their children to love Him, too.

As for his mother, she often read the Bible to them and urged them to think of their salvation.

I cannot tell how much I owe of the solemn words of my good mother …I remember on one occasion her praying thus, ‘Now, Lord, if my children go on in their sins, it will not be from ignorance that they perish, and my soul must bear a swift witness against them at the day of judgment if they lay not hold of Christ.’

That thought of my mother’s bearing a swift witness against me pierced my conscience … How can I ever forget when she bowed her knee, and with her arms about my neck, prayed,

‘Oh, that my son may live before Thee!’ [v]

As for Spurgeon’s father, his father was once on his way to a church service, only to return, fearing he was neglecting his family. Finding no one on the first floor, he went upstairs. There it was that he heard the sound of prayer. Charles wrote:

He discovered that it was my mother, pleading most earnestly for the salvation of all her children, and praying especially for Charles, her first born and strong-willed son. My father felt that he might safely go about his Master’s business while his dear wife was caring so well for the spiritual interests of the boys and girls at home. [vi]

Like Charles Spurgeon’s parents, when parents come to know the deep, deep love of Jesus, they cannot help but pray for their children, and speak of Him and of His love. But this experience, of course, is not reserved for parents or grandparents or other relatives alone. Regardless of our place or station in life, the more we come to know and love the Lord Jesus, the more we will want others to know Him as well!

It was a bold witness before those who could have sought to end their lives there and then, even at a moment’s notice. But there Peter and John stood, declaring that there is no other name than the name of Jesus.

My prayer is that our witness may be just as bold, on this island, in this area, here in New England and beyond, but always in dependence upon the Holy Spirit, with the sure foundation of the Word of God, and in an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ, to whom be all the glory, now and forever! Amen.