Acts 4:12, commentary and pictures

There is salvation in no one else but Jesus Christ of Nazareth, crucified by the leaders and raised from the dead by God, for no other name under heaven has been given among men by which we must be saved. Peter spoke this filled with the Holy Ghost before priests, elders and rulers, joining it to the healing of the cripple in Jesus' name and to Christ as the stone rejected by the builders become the head of the corner and foundation of the church. He is the sole foundation and only hope offered to humanity, and access to God rests on His sacrifice, merits and righteousness alone, not on human goodness, works or merit. No person, priest, church, human or angelic mediator can free from guilt, and no obedience, good works, penance, absolution, descent, or other means can save, for His merits are received through faith that lays hold of Christ and brings repentance, forgiveness and obedience.

Peter's Bold Witness Context

The disciples witnessed boldly to Jesus under the power of the Holy Spirit, testifying to His resurrection with great grace upon them. Peter spoke filled with the Holy Ghost, respectfully yet boldly before priests, elders and rulers, after once denying Jesus, and his fearless witness was approved and blessed by Jesus and accompanied by the Spirit. The rulers were trying to avoid mention of the crucifixion and resurrection but were forced to ask by what power the impotent man was healed.

Peter joined to the declaration of salvation in no other but Jesus Christ of Nazareth the facts that Jesus, crucified by the Jewish leaders and church authorities, was raised from the dead by God, that the cripple stood whole before them by Him, and that He is the stone set at naught by the builders become the head of the corner and foundation-stone of the church. The healed man standing whole through Jesus whom the authorities crucified and God raised illustrates His power, connecting salvation with the risen Christ's power. The words bore the seal of Christ and Peter's face was illuminated by the Holy Spirit, while the healed man stood beside him as a convincing living witness adding weight to the testimony.

So priests, rulers and people were silent, had no power to refute it, and had to hear of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and His power in heaven to do miracles on earth through His apostles. The healing of the cripple in Jesus' name shows the power and authority of that name. The apostles' proclamation of the completeness of the risen Saviour led people who had rejected Him to become His disciples, and Paul's conversion shows this same power at work when the tongue that had blasphemed Christ became eloquent in praise for being called from darkness to light.

Peter had been impetuous, hasty and self-confident, often appearing to greater disadvantage and being oftener reproved, yet grace transformed him into a faithful witness of service and sacrifice whom others should imitate in bearing patiently with the faulty. The apostles declared that Jesus had risen and fearlessly charged the people with rejecting and killing Him whom God raised. They used this truth as firm, bold testimony that Jesus, whom people had rejected and killed, was raised from the dead and is the Son of God, the cornerstone and source of salvation.

Salvation in Christ Alone

There is no salvation in any other but Jesus Christ of Nazareth, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which people must be saved. This was declared in answer to rulers who sought to avoid mention of the crucifixion and resurrection yet were forced to ask by what power the impotent man was healed, affirming that Jesus whom they crucified God raised from the dead and that the cripple stood whole before them by Him. He is the stone set at naught by the builders that has become the head of the corner, and the truth bore the seal of Christ with the healed man standing beside as a convincing living witness that priests, rulers and people could not refute but were compelled to hear and left silent. Forgiveness comes through His merits alone, so that no person or group can free anyone from guilt, and though the church may proclaim forgiveness in His name it cannot itself remove sin. Access to God rests on His sacrifice and merits, not on human goodness or works.

Christ is the sole foundation, the solid rock and sure foundation, the Rock of ages, and the only hope offered to humanity in the gospel. Building character that will endure and striving for immortal life requires digging deep, removing all rubbish, and resting fully on Him as the sure, immovable foundation. He is the Word and the revelation of God’s character, law, love and life, so receiving His word means receiving Christ, and building on Him requires obeying His word and doing the Father’s will rather than merely professing faith or enjoying the idea of righteousness. Righteous action is the fruit of receiving God’s undeserved gift of love, not a way to earn His favor.

All blessings of the covenant of grace rest on Christ’s sacrifice, merits and righteousness alone, and nothing but His righteousness can entitle anyone to them. Our own merits cannot save, and nothing can be done to make ourselves worthy of these blessings, so the sinner is saved through faith in Christ and reliance wholly on His merits. No human or angelic mediator can save the sinner, and reliance on human or angelic mediation is vain, for Christ alone is the sinner’s mediator and saving hope. The way forward is to look away from self and believe that Jesus is an all-sufficient Saviour.

Jesus’ resurrection opened the way of salvation for humanity, so that whoever chooses to walk in that way may be saved. His sacrifice on the cross is the one sacrifice that can secure God’s favor for sinful people, for offerings cannot atone for sin when they do not express faith in Christ. Without Christ justice would separate humanity from God and cut people off from temporal and spiritual blessings, but He bore God’s wrath for humanity and His wounds bring healing. His name is therefore to be exalted as King and Redeemer.

There is no other way for men and women to be exalted except through Jesus Christ. Accepting Jesus Christ is not a humiliation but the first step toward true exaltation. Taking hold of Christ is taking hold of a golden cord that links finite man with the infinite God, lifting people up and fitting them for the society of pure and heavenly angels in the kingdom of glory. He is the only means to attain the purity and holiness of life that fits people for that heavenly society.

Hopes That Cannot Save

Salvation is found in no other but Jesus, for no other name under heaven has been given among men by which people must be saved, and no person, group, priest, church leader, human mediator or angel can free anyone from guilt or save the sinner. Reliance on human or angelic mediation is vain, for Christ alone is the sinner's mediator, righteousness, and saving hope, and salvation rests wholly on Jesus' merits through faith in Christ. The church may proclaim forgiveness in Jesus' name and, under inspired rules, censure or remove censure and assure a repentant sinner of the Saviour's mercy and forgiveness, but such action does not itself erase sin. It cannot itself remove sin, cleanse anyone, remove its stain, forgive sins or remove their guilt, nor can it wield God's judgment or empower anyone to impose His wrath, for forgiveness belongs to Christ, who alone saves and will execute judgment against the impenitent.

No one can be saved through obedience to the law, good works, personal improvement, penance, indulgences, absolution by a priest, human merit, being saved in sin, or any other means. Christ is the complete and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the world, and those who believe in Him as God has appointed receive pardon, for He saves people from their sins through repentance toward God for breaking His law and faith in Jesus for pardon and grace to live obediently. No good work or personal improvement can earn God's favor, since human sinfulness and weakness leave people unable to stand before God except clothed in Christ's spotless righteousness, so sinners are called to rely on Christ alone, asking forgiveness and trusting Him for help rather than their own merit. He took human nature and bore the responsibility and penalty of sinners, so that those who trust in Him may be saved, forgiven, and accepted by God through His righteousness, and faith in Christ produces love, gratitude, and obedience to God's commandments. Jesus honored the law and bore its curse, and His name remains effective during the sinner's probation to impute His righteous character to those who repent toward God, trust in His blood, and obey God's law, yet His blood does not atone for sin that remains unrepented and unconfessed, and offerings cannot atone when they do not express faith in Christ, for without Christ justice would separate humanity from God.

Salvation does not come through Abraham or descent from him, through the Virgin Mary, or through any human method or other person. Sin separated earth from heaven and finite man from the infinite God like an island separated from a continent, leaving people with no way and no hope, and Jesus bridged that gulf as the only way for sinful people to come to God and be saved. The rich man's appeal to Abraham brings no help, while the thief's appeal to Christ is answered, for Christ alone gives repentance and forgiveness of sins. Human pride seeks salvation in some other way than God devised, unwilling to be counted as nothing and to recognize Christ as the only One who can save to the uttermost. Men have sold themselves to the enemy of righteousness, cannot redeem themselves from the enemy's power or do any good thing of themselves, but Christ offered Himself as substitute and surety to open a way for the guilty to return to loyalty, taking humanity and passing over the ground where Adam fell and meeting human temptations without swerving from allegiance.

Only by accepting Christ as a personal Saviour can human beings be uplifted from sin and degradation to a higher and righteous life. Nearly every false religion rests on the opposite principle of dependence on human effort, claiming humanity needs development rather than redemption and can refine, elevate, and regenerate itself to the divine standard independent of the atonement, as shown by Cain, who tried to secure divine favor by an offering without the blood of a sacrifice. That claim fails because humanity has no power to regenerate itself, and apart from Christ it does not tend upward toward God but downward toward Satan. Every theory that points to another source or denies the atonement made for sin and the Holy Spirit's work in the heart is powerless to save and must be rejected. It is the same pride to which Satan appealed in Eden when he promised exaltation and life in disobedience, while Christ, the only One able to save fully, lived an unpolluted life to reveal the power of His grace, which is given to everyone who accepts Him.

Receiving Salvation by Faith

Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ, and it is received by grace through faith in His merits. Faith itself earns nothing and has no merit as a savior; it is simply the means by which a person lays hold of Christ and receives God's grace. That faith, when genuine, produces love and gratitude and obedience to God's commandments.

Both repentance and forgiveness come from Christ through the working of the Spirit. Sinners are saved through repentance toward God for breaking His law and through faith in Jesus for pardon and for grace to live obediently. Those who believe in Him as God has appointed receive pardon, for He is the complete and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the world and saves people from their sins, not in them. Jesus honored the law and bore its curse, and He imputes His righteous character to those who repent toward God, trust in His blood, and obey God's law, but His blood does not atone for sin that remains unrepented and unconfessed.

No one is lifted from sin and degradation except by accepting Christ as a personal Saviour. Belief in His name must be genuine faith that makes Him a personal Saviour, not merely another theory or human way devised by pride. Those who seek everlasting life must also strive lawfully to win its crown. Merely believing the fact that Jesus is not an impostor and that Bible religion is true is not enough. Believing the theory of truth, professing Christianity, and having a name on the church roll do not save unless a person through faith makes Jesus a personal Saviour. Genuine faith lets truth govern mind, affections, and conduct, brings transformation of character, is revealed by deeds and by keeping His commandments with Christ revealed in works of righteousness, and puts on the robe of Christ's righteousness; without repentance, trust in Christ, and overcoming of wrongdoing, profession leaves a person without that robe, like the guest without a wedding garment at the gospel feast.

Christ is able to save to the uttermost and to help the tempted because He became like His human brothers and sisters, suffered temptation, took human nature and bore the responsibility and penalty of sinners, and serves as a merciful and faithful High Priest who makes reconciliation for sin. He lived an unpolluted life to reveal the power of His grace, which is given to everyone who accepts Him. In Him is life, and that life is the light of humanity; receiving His life is essential to the new birth with its new heart, desires, purposes, and motives that lead to a new life. His sacrifice was necessary to free humanity from sin's defiling power, restore communion with holy beings, and make spiritual life possible, so there is no escape from sin or hope of higher life except through submission to Christ.

He poured out His precious blood on the cross as an atonement for sin and by obedience unto death brought in everlasting righteousness, and He is now at the Father's right hand as Prince of life and Saviour. He saves not because those who trust Him are perfect but because they need Him and trust Him in their imperfection, which gives reason for joy and makes even dying days fragrant with assurance. His sacrifice on the cross is the one complete sacrifice that can secure God's favor for sinful people; offerings cannot atone when they do not express faith in Christ, and without Him justice would separate humanity from God. Salvation cannot be earned or purchased by penance or good works. God does not forgive by setting aside justice, holiness, or truth, but He will pardon any sin when people repent, ask forgiveness, and rely on Christ's merits.

Salvation Through the Ages

Salvation in Christ alone has been true in every age. Adam and all who lived before His coming, including patriarchs, prophets and martyrs, looked forward in faith to the coming Saviour. They expressed that faith through offerings and animal sacrifices that pointed ahead to His death. Fallen humanity, separated from God by sin, has no other hope, for God provided salvation through the offering of His Son. Those who accept Christ as their only Saviour in humble repentance and faith are brought back into favor with God through the merits of His Son.

At the crucifixion Christ fulfilled what those sacrifices prefigured. There sacrifice and symbol met, and the symbolic sacrificial system ceased. The moral law was not abolished, though its violation is what had made that system necessary.

Cain's offering was rejected because it put man's substitute in place of the sacrifice God had ordained, attempting to secure divine favor by an offering without blood. Yet the choice was still left with Cain. If he would trust the merits of the promised Saviour and obey God's requirements, he would be accepted and enjoy God's favor; if he persisted in unbelief and transgression he would remain rejected with no ground for complaint. His course illustrates the principle underlying nearly every false religion, that people can depend on their own efforts and need development rather than redemption, refining, elevating and regenerating themselves to the divine standard apart from the atonement. That claim fails because humanity has no power to regenerate itself, and apart from Christ tends not upward toward God but downward toward Satan.

The Jewish nation refused Christ and turned away from the only source of salvation. Those who have rejected Him have refused salvation and remain unsaved. God's people are pilgrims and strangers in this world traveling a path beset with danger from such rejecters. To seek influence with worldlings by conforming to the world brings spiritual ruin, so believers must guard against every subtle influence and flattering inducement from them and not swerve from allegiance to God.

This same exclusiveness applies to the three angels' messages. As the disciples faithfully proclaimed that there is salvation in no other name, so God's servants must warn those who accept only part of the truths connected with the third message. They must gladly receive all the messages God has given — first, second and third as God gave them — or have no part in them.

Life Founded on Christ

Enduring character can only be built by resting fully on Christ as the immovable rock and sure foundation, digging deep and clearing away all rubbish while striving for immortal life. Christ is the Word and the revelation of God's character, law, love and life, so receiving His word is receiving Christ Himself. Building on Him means obeying His word and doing the Father's will and making Him the foundation of life, not merely professing faith or enjoying the idea of righteousness.

Righteous action is the fruit of receiving God's undeserved gift of love, never a means of earning His favor. Those who receive Christ exalt His name before the world by a transformed character, honoring and glorifying God by obedience to His commandments and magnifying the plan of salvation laid in mercy and love. Salvation comes by receiving the truth and showing it in character.

Ministers are to make Jesus, not themselves, the center of preaching, with nothing added to supplement Him. His name and saving work are to be exalted in every discourse as the hope of the penitent and the strength of believers. The gospel thus offered brings hope to the penitent, peace to the troubled, and grace, completeness and strength to believers.

Christ is the Mediator whose atoning sacrifice bridges the gulf made by sin and binds believers to Himself and to the Father. Prayers and petitions therefore have value only when offered in His name and through Him. His name gives access to the throne of grace and carries the pledge of abundant answer when earnest prayer is offered through the inspiration and kindling of the Holy Spirit. God does not forgive sin by setting aside justice, holiness or truth, but He will pardon any sin when people repent, ask forgiveness and rely on Christ's merits.

Vital saving power belongs to Christ's name alone, for He is the source of mercy and power. Work for souls must therefore be carried forward in His name, with every word and act fastening attention on Him and faith centered in Him. Petitions presented to the Father in His name receive answer, and baptism is given in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. His name is the watchword, badge of distinction, bond of union, authority for action and source of success, so that nothing is recognized in His kingdom that does not bear His name and superscription. That name is all-powerful and always accepted by the Father, while no other name will He honor, and through faith in it people are saved and made complete in Him.

Christ alone is the hope of the tempted and intemperate, and for every soul struggling to rise from sin to purity the great element of power is in Him. His grace and power are the only remedy for vice and sinful desires. Sin separated earth from heaven and finite man from the infinite God like an island separated from a continent, leaving no way and no hope, and Jesus bridged that gulf. No other person or human method can save, not the Virgin Mary, not penances, not indulgences, not absolution by a priest, not being saved in sin, and not being saved by human merit.

Through faith in His all-powerful name people can overcome appetite and passion. Christ began the work of redemption where ruin began, making provision to restore God-like purity to all who accept His help. Those who overcome follow His example by bringing bodily appetites and passions under the control of enlightened conscience and reason. By obedience to God's law health takes the place of infirmity and corrupting disease.

Believers depend on Jesus' power to face Satan, the vigilant and artful foe who makes desperate efforts to hinder God's work. Jesus proved that power by conquering the mighty foe in the wilderness of temptation, and in that saving name alone believers meet him. Those saved by Christ are to reveal Him in how they use entrusted goods, acting as He would through unselfish, obedient service, because salvation from sin and death comes only through Him and by no other name or means.

Dependence must be placed in the Lord Jesus Christ and in no human agency, for no mortal can be Saviour. He is to be the efficiency, and He alone can make every crooked thing straight. Everything must therefore be taken to God in prayer, with determination not to let go until Christ rules in the heart by faith, looking to Him and receiving Him rather than trusting human rulers or methods.

Rejecting the light and evidence God has given is rejecting Christ, the only Saviour, for there is no other way to be saved. Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah and the only way of salvation, and the evidence is clear so no one need remain in the darkness of error when the light of Christ is offered. Those who have rejected Him have refused salvation and remain unsaved. God's people as pilgrims and strangers travel a path beset with danger from such rejecters, so to seek influence with worldlings by conforming to the world brings spiritual ruin, and believers must guard against every subtle influence and flattering inducement and not swerve from allegiance to God.

Every soul has been purchased by the blood of God's only begotten Son and is Christ's property. Even the soul of one who opposes truth, misinterprets it and treats it slightingly to the ruin of his own soul, is as valuable to God as our own souls. Indignation at seeing Christ insulted and truth falsified must therefore not lead to reviling the revilers, but to silent prayer for souls in error, asking the Lord to touch the opposer's heart, and to wise, considerate dealing with the tenderness of Christ so the opponent may be softened, subdued and convinced.

Nothing but the righteousness of Christ can entitle anyone to one of the blessings of the covenant of grace, and human merits cannot save nor make anyone worthy. People must look away from self and believe Jesus is an all-sufficient Saviour, for life and salvation are in Him. They may receive Him into life and character and belong wholly to Him, and must look to Him and live.

The church is founded on Christ, and people in every nation who believe in the Lord Jesus with all their heart are accepted by God, with no salvation outside this true church. Forgiveness of sins is obtained through Christ alone. The sinner sees Christ as the propitiation for sin and comes to Him in humility and contrition, confessing sin and seeking forgiveness, while obedience to God's word is the condition of entrance into God's kingdom.