“NO OTHER NAME!”

 Acts 4:5-12                            (ESV)

“[5] On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, [6] with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. [7] And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” [8] Then Peter, filled with the HOLY SPIRIT, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, [9] if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, [10] 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. [11] 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.””

NO OTHER NAME BUT THE NAME OF JESUS is the name of a song written many years ago that comes to mind when I read this passage of Scripture.  The Apostle Peter was speaking to “Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family”, so intimidation might have been an issue for some, but not when Peter KNEW WHO JESUS was!  THE CREATOR ALWAYS HAS BEEN, but HE was made “incarnate” to provide for us an example, but chiefly to pay a price for the sins of THE CHOSEN ones of mankind to spend eternity worshiping HIM!

“Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family” weren’t bumbling fools!  They were perceived as the elite of the Jewish faith.  But their eyes were yet to be opened to recognize THE CHRIST, something that can only happen when the FATHER IN HEAVEN has predestined to be selected!  We who are in this select few aren’t CHOSEN because of our merit, we are CHOSEN because of HIS GRACE!

ALMIGHTY GOD already has HIS CHOSEN selected.  Are you a part of HIS FAMILY yet?  If you continue to “reject” HIM, one day you will hear “”I NEVER KNEW YOU”; depart from ME, you workers of lawlessness.’” All of our wealth, our accolades, everything we have done or collected will burn as it will be “rubbish” to our CREATOR!

There is “NO OTHER NAME” under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved!  There won’t be any excuse/reason at the JUDGEMENT SEAT other than to claim the MERCY of JESUS CHRIST!  The older I get the more evident HIS GRACE is to me, for even days that I “do my best” are but “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) to HIM!  It should be IMPERATIVE that we exemplify that HIS GRACE is our ONLY HOPE, and there is “NO OTHER NAME” or method by which we can be saved!!!