Amen. The Lord commands us to sing psalms and it kind of breaks us out of the ordinary, even though the tunes are familiar. Think about the words. Of course, in English they are adapted just a little bit in order to make the rhyming work. It's a beautiful thing to sing psalms. This may come as a surprise to you, but this is one of my favorite times of the year. And one of the things that I love about this time of year is Reformation Day. We had that just two days ago. There have been times that I've taken a special sermon and addressed that. I'm not necessarily doing that. But there is something about today's text that is in alignment. Because in the Reformation, the Reformers were recovering the Gospel. And we stand today on their shoulders and and central to reformed theology. Someone says, what's the what's the central focus of reformed theology? Well, I'll tell you, friend, it is the person and work of Jesus Christ. One dictionary says it this way, Solus Christus, that is Christ alone, indicates that salvation is accomplished by the sacrifice and mediation of Christ alone and therefore that Christ is the only foundation of the church. Christ alone. And where did the reformers get this? Well, they got it from this sacred book and from texts like we're going to address today in Acts chapter four. I hope that you're turning there. One commentator says this of all the great mottos of the Reformation, the most outstanding and important is Solus Christus. What more does a pastor have than to stand before his people and to give them the precious doctrine of Christ? And this we will consider at least in part today from Acts chapter four, verses five through 12. We're just continually we're continuing expositionally. The sermon title is simply this Solus Christus, Solus Christus, Acts chapter four. Would you stand with me as we pick up where we left off two weeks ago, beginning in verse five? I'll refresh you on the context in just a moment. On the next day, The rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem with Annas, the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high priestly family. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, By what power or by what name did you do this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and elders, We're being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man. By what means this man has been healed? Let it be known to all of you, 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, this Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 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." Father, help me. In one sense, stay out of the way. Let the text just breathe. Let the text just preach. Let the text permeate this room and descend upon the hearers and upon our hearts. Lord, there are some here who need to be refreshed and encouraged. It's you who began a good work in them. It's all about Christ from beginning to end. They need to be comforted and encouraged. Some need to be convicted and challenged and converted. All of us, Lord, need to be more zealous for proclaiming this one name under heaven given among men to the nations, to our neighbors, to the nations, to the uttermost parts of the earth. Lord, I need your help. I need your help every week. I need your help. I need your help today. Please, Holy Spirit, would you help us? Lord, help this preacher. Help the listeners. Give grace, grace, grace. Help us to know what this text means and how it should apply. Do it for the glory of Jesus. We pray in His name. Amen. You may be seated. So just to remind us of the narrative. So if you remember, it's been a couple of weeks now, but Peter and John have been preaching and laboring among the people. God healed a lame man, a crippled man, the text says today, from among the people. And then we talked about a couple of weeks ago how people are believing the gospel and they're being saved. Now, Peter and John, they've been confronted by the religious leaders. They've been placed into custody. And we learn that being placed into custody has been overnight because now we're on the next day. And there is a trial of sorts, and they're asked here in verse 7, when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, by what power or by what name did you do this? And here, if I could offer just an application, is where a lot of Christians mess up. Peter and John are here before the council, and they're being challenged on authority. Probably there's a bit of jealousy, certainly, in this. The idea is who gives you the right? Okay, so everybody, there's not an argument about was this guy healed or not. Sometimes in the New Testament, there's questions. Well, was this really the guy that was healed or whatever? Well, that's not up for debate. Everybody knows this guy was healed. And the question, you know, what it should be is praise God for his power and his work and how that points us to Christ. But instead, the question is, who do you think you are that you're doing this? Who gives you the right to do what you have done? This is what the leaders are asking. So a bit of jealousy. Now, here's the trap. The trap is that you can just get into a back and forth argument over who is right sort of thing. OK, but I just want you to hear again what Peter does. Pick up in verse 8, hear what Peter does. So they're asked a question, now hear what Peter does. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, now listen to what he says, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well. But guess what? He's not done. This Jesus, this one, is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 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. Peter is respectful. Peter points out the obvious. This man is healed. It's undeniable. The sky is blue, right? But then he turns immediately to what? Not arguments back and forth, but what? Immediately to the gospel. This is not saying that Christians can't argue. Of course, we live in a world today that I think we need to do a better job of making biblical and logical arguments for all sorts of things. We need to confront lies with the truth. But hear me for just a second. A lot of Christians mess up by arguing. True things. And never getting to the gospel. You understand, so if you're saying homosexuality is wrong, abortion is wrong, the Democratic Party has turned completely antichrist. We need reform in our public education system. We need reform in our prison systems and all the other things that you could say today that are right and they are true. And I believe that we should be making arguments for. But if you are doing these things and there's no gospel, you've fallen into the trap. You haven't given Christ. So let's take a lesson here as we begin from Peter on addressing this question head on and getting directly to the gospel. And I thought this is interesting. Verse five, I thought was interesting. I'm like, Luke, duh, we know, but just think about something in verse five. On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem. It's obvious. Where else would they be? They've been at the temple. We know they're in Jerusalem. But I think that Luke is doing something here. He's subtly reminding his readers about something. I won't go back and read it right now, but we can later. He's on a different sermon. He's reminding his readers of Acts 1.8. Where is the gospel witness going to begin? Jesus promises, you will be my witnesses where? In Jerusalem. So as we're reading this, you need to keep in mind what Jesus has promised and the reality that what Peter and John are doing here is carrying out what Jesus has promised and they are being witnesses in Jerusalem. But note something very, very important because of what Peter does. They are not witnesses in Jerusalem just because this man is healed. They're not witnesses in Jerusalem just because they keep their cool with the authorities. They are witnesses in Jerusalem because they preach the gospel. And this is what happens. And so, sometimes there's little subtle things we may catch as we consider the text. Something else to note is in verse 8. It says that Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit. This doesn't mean that the Holy Spirit comes and goes upon the believers. That's not Luke's theology. It simply means that Peter's argument is Holy Spirit empowered, that the Holy Spirit is operative in the life of the believer. And remember that he is always ready to do this one great thing, namely make much of Christ. You want to know where the Holy Spirit's working? We have addressed this before. Where is the Holy Spirit working? Well, it's not where you see all these strange things. Where the Holy Spirit is working is where the gospel is being boldly proclaimed. That's what we have here. Peter is not looking for an opportunity to weasel his way out of jail so much as he is looking by the Holy Spirit's working in his life to preach Christ. Something else to address. When we read Acts, or maybe y'all don't get this, I get it. I've gotten this before in my younger days. When we read Acts, sometimes we desire, maybe a more theologically robust gospel presentation. But I want to make an argument here, as I've studied and read, and I love this. My argument is that we do have a robust gospel presentation. It's just in more summary form. And now, why would that be? Well, first of all, notice this. Remember these guys. Remember these names. These names should stick out to you, right? On the next day, I'm reading verse five. Their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem with Annas, the high priest and Caiaphas. Those names should stick out to you. Why? They were present at whose trial, whose crucifixion? They were present at Jesus' crucifixion. You don't have to tell these guys who Jesus claimed to be. Why? They know they were there. They heard it from the lips of Jesus Himself. They know exactly what happened to Jesus. And then in verse 11, look at what Peter does. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. If you're reading that and you're like, well, that sounds kind of poetic. I mean, that's interesting. that we sing the Psalms here? One reason, and I know that they're not explicit in naming the name of Jesus, but the Psalms are about Jesus too, right? And Peter shows us here. This Psalm is about Jesus, and these leaders are familiar with it. And he's showing them once again that Jesus Christ is this promised one. He is the Messiah. They know exactly what Peter is referring to. You may not, but they did. And if we study, we would too. So my argument is that This is a full-orbed gospel presentation to these leaders. Jesus Christ has been crucified at the hands of lawless men. Again, the boldness of Peter, you crucified him, but God has raised him up on the third day, and the very one that you've rejected is the very one promised of old. Not just in Psalm 118, but they would know the entire Old Testament, the one to crush the serpent's head, the one to sit on the throne of David, the one to build his kingdom, which is the church. He brings salvation. How? They would understand the Old Testament. He brings salvation by His righteous life. By His death under the judgment of God as our sin bearer. And by God raising Him from the dead on the third day. This is the Gospel of the Apostles because it is the Gospel of the Old Testament because it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And Peter does not leave it here as bare facts. But he even gives an exhortation to the leaders that it is necessary for them to believe on Christ. And there is salvation, verse 12, and no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. You will receive the promised blessings of salvation in Christ. Alone. OK. This verse. is one of the more popular verses, maybe the most popular verse in the book of Acts. It's one we should know. And so we're going to spend our summer today breaking it down. Solus Christus, Christ alone. First, I want us to notice here, number one, a glorious reality. Number one, a glorious reality. And there is salvation and no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Now, the Greek kind of comes a little clunky. It has three different negations. I'm just going to point out two right here. So the first part of this verse reads sort of like this. If you just kind of came it over, made it clunky, it say something like this. And there is not in another one, no salvation because it's making an emphasis there. It's being emphatic. The point by Peter is this is all Jesus. There is not in another one no salvation. Jesus Christ alone is our only suitable and all sufficient Savior. Solus Christus. No one else but Christ. Nothing else but Christ. But there is a glorious reality here. Particularly we see it and this is right. These are faithful translations, but it comes out in the way It's translated in the ESV and also the LSB this glorious reality So just feast your eyes on the text for a minute and let me just show you it's a glorious reality and the glorious reality is this verse 12 and there is Salvation We are undoubtedly in just a moment going to get to Jesus and explain this more. But would you just pause with me in this first point as we anticipate all that and just reflect on this astounding truth. First of all, there is salvation. Full stop. There is salvation. You have a village that raids a king's home. And that village ransacks the king's home and does all sorts of heinous things, destroys his crops, kills his son, steals his stuff, and then they run back to their village. Well, a few weeks later, here comes the king. And he's with his vast army. And the king sends his courier to the village gates. And you know what's coming, right? Oh, man, it's going to be the black flag he's fixing to proclaim death. He's fixing to proclaim rage and destruction and judgment. But instead, the courier makes a proclamation of peace that the king offers terms of peace upon this wicked and heinous village. What is this? There is salvation. Now, we haven't gotten to the terms yet, and we will get to the terms. But just for a moment, bask in the glorious reality of the text that there is salvation. Imagine being on death row. Guilty as charged. And at the final moment, before execution, the governor comes and says, there's a way out! Would you not listen? Well, listen, there is a way out. Now I need to address maybe certain people in this room. You know who you are. God knows who you are. You may be saying this morning, I'll just always be this way. This is just how it is. I can't stop. I can't stop. drinking so much alcohol. I can't stop watching the pornography. I can't stop the selfishness. I can't stop the party scene. I'm a wicked person. And this is just how it's going to be. Or maybe even some of you are saying, I'm a wicked person and I like it this way. But I am saying what the text is saying. There is salvation. In this word here. Salvation. There's so much contained regeneration and forgiveness, imputed righteousness, justification, pardon from every sin, adoption, sanctification. The point I'm making to you is this. There's salvation. There's a way out. God has made mankind, not for sin, not for destruction, but to enjoy Him and glorify Him forever. There is a way out of sin's death grip and into the favor of God. There is a way out of your rebellion and into hope. But you want to know what mankind is like? Mankind is like the prisoners in their cells. And every day the jailer comes around and says, The door is open. You may leave, but the prisoners love their cells. They don't want to step out of their cells. They don't want to step into the king's land. They want to stay in their little home that they've built with all of their disobedience. But I'm telling you this morning, the door is open. There is salvation. I'm talking to every person here. drunkenness, lies, thieving, murder, adultery, idolatry, sexual immorality, gluttony, gossip, self-righteousness. There is salvation. There is a door. Let the church never apologize for preaching this glorious reality. Now, do we preach condemnation? Well, we certainly do that all mankind stands condemned before a holy God. and is deserving of the terrible and swift judgment that is to come when Christ returns. But the whole reason that we preach condemnation, the whole reason that we warn, the whole reason that we stand and proclaim is so that we can rightly preach salvation. That is, the law comes to the prisoner's door and slams it shut and says, die there. But the gospel comes and says the door is open for sinners who will go through it by faith. If you die, it is because you've loved sin and self in the face of the very grace that was proclaimed to you in the midst of your rebellious ways. There is salvation. So first point, a glorious reality. Secondly. Number one, a glorious reality, number two, a gracious exclusivity. 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. Yeah, the door is open, but the entirety of our salvation is comprehended in Christ alone. The word given here. It's passive. And there's salvation in no one else, for there's no other name under heaven given. Given. It's passive. That is, humanity didn't come up with a way of salvation. A way of salvation was given to us in Christ alone. If I were a crazy person about Christmas, this would remind me of Isaiah 9 6. Unto us a child is born. A son is given. A way of salvation has been given in Christ. And salvation, because it is given and not earned, is all and solely by the grace of God alone. Again, the prisoner on death row who knows his guilt. And the governor comes to him and says, there's a way out. There's a way out! The man does not look at the governor and say, well, why are there not two ways out? Why are there not five ways out? Who are you to just come and give me one way out? Why are there not a hundred ways out? No, friend, the person who knows his guilt and his condemnation and comes and he says, there's a way out. There's a way out of my sin and misery and condemnation. All I've done. How can this be? And so, too, this is the truth of our text with a sinner who understands his condition, because the awesome fact is this. Despite the fact that mankind has been despicable and dirty and depraved and destitute and rebellious and idolatrous and godless, despite all of these things and what we owe to God. Some people say God doesn't owe us anything. Yes, he does. Yes, he does. His justice demands Our eradication, if you will, is justice demands wrath. That's what God owes for. The gospel comes in and says, in spite of all these things, God has given one way of salvation. And by the way, don't forget our context, verse nine, if we're being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed. I've said in multiple sermons so far in Acts three and four that this man's physical healing is pointing us to a bigger truth. We see that today in the text. It's explicit. This man was made physically well by the power of King Jesus, but it is just really, you think, this is the great thing. Wow! What's the great thing of Acts 3 and 4? That God healed a crippled man. And he used to have all sorts of ministries that would go around and say, you want to know what's amazing? That God would heal crippled people and disabled people. This is amazing! Now, I'm not denying that it's amazing that God healed this man. But you know what's most amazing? You know what's more amazing than the fact that God healed a crippled man? That God would clean a dirty, wretched, sinner's soul in the blood of His Son! That God would forgive sinners. That's the glory of the gospel. Not that God healed this man. God's healing this man was getting us to something bigger. And that is not only does Jesus heal this man physically, but he's healed his soul and he can heal your soul too. That's what Peter's preaching. Peter's saying it's only Jesus. It's only Jesus who made this man walk again. It's not us. We've already said that in Acts 3. And it's only Jesus who can save sinners. That's why the word alone matters so much. There's no plus sign here. It's not Jesus plus. It's not you and Jesus. It's not the bag of trash that you try to bring in and say, yeah, no. It's not anything or anything, anything or anyone else. It's Jesus alone. Let me just put it to you this way. This may come across harsh. That's OK. Understand the context of what I'm saying. Christianity is intolerant. What do I mean by that? I mean that Christianity does not look at a world of ruined sinners and say, you know, you worship your God, you worship your God, you worship the right God in the wrong way or the wrong God in the wrong way. You just worship God. But guess what? Just be sincere. You be sincere about it. As long as you're sincere, then it's OK. And I'm just going to tell you, there are people in liberal mainline denomination that are doing this kind of junk. This is not biblical Christianity. Can you imagine? Can you imagine, just for a moment, Peter standing here preaching and saying, you know what, or Paul later, when he's in Athens, he's grieved by all the false gods. Can you imagine him standing up and just saying, you know, you've got all these false gods, I'm just here to tell you, I don't want to judge, I don't want to make you uncomfortable, I just want to say, hey, make sure you're worshipping whatever god you want, sincerely. This is not hopeful. In fact, it's worse. It's damning. It's the opposite of hope. Christianity comes in and says this unapologetically, Christ alone, there is no other way. There is one true God, Triune, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And this one God has promised salvation in one way. This is gracious exclusivity. Again, if you were diagnosed with some terrible disease, and the doctor came to you and said, hey, don't worry, there's a cure. You would not say, but are there two cures? No, you say, there's a cure? have been diagnosed with a terrible disease, you'd be overwhelmed with the fact that there's a cure at all. And so it is with our sin and rebellion. There's a cure. There's an antidote, if you will. There is a way, but it is only the way that is to the exclusion of every other way. One door, one road, one hope, one gate. That way is Christ alone. Solus Christus. Jesus alone. How come? Because Jesus alone, hear very carefully what I'm about to say. Jesus alone is truly God and truly man. Jesus alone is born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus alone. In his humanity fulfilled all righteousness. Jesus alone is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. Jesus alone suffered under God's just wrath. Jesus alone bore our sins in his body on the tree. Jesus alone rose again from the dead in victory over death, hell and the grave. Jesus alone ascended into heaven and sat upon the throne of David. Jesus alone is the name above all names and the name by which we must be saved. This is what it means to preach Christ. Jesus will make your life better. Why don't you try Him out? Hey, I'll make a deal with you. I'll give you a hundred dollars if you try out Jesus for three months and say, that's not what it is. It's Christ alone. All of our salvation is comprehended in the person and in the work of Jesus Christ, Solus Christus. And so, the jailer, he does go to the cells, the prisoner's cells, and he says this, the door is open. The door is open. You may go free, but that door, you need to hear me, it's a very narrow door. It's so narrow, you can't pull anything through that door with you. Your sin, It just won't fit your works. It won't fit. Open up your hands and receive Christ. Go to Christ alone. Don't show him your good deeds. Don't show him that you're better. Don't you love this? Well, I'm no Adolf Hitler. It's like I'm not a cartel drug dealer. We use like the silliest examples to make ourselves better. But, you know, also in your heart of hearts that at times that you have said, well, I'm better than my neighbor down the road. I'm better than that chump I went to school with. You better not show these things to Jesus. It's not Jesus and the law. It's not Jesus and confession to a priest. Sam, it's not Jesus and baptism. It's not Jesus and the Lord's Supper. It's certainly not Jesus and the Mosaic feast, Jesus and Torah observance. It's not Jesus and I'll just keep one foot in this cell. I'll have the world and I'll have Jesus together. I'll marry somehow sin and the Savior. It's certainly not I'll live the best I can through whatever man-made religion I adhere to. I'll just be a good Buddhist. I'll be a good Muslim. I'll be a good Mormon. I'll be a good Roman Catholic. I'll blend Christianity and Judaism. I'll make a I'll make up my own sort of way in the wilderness and abandon the church altogether. It's none of those things. To all this and more. Do you hear me? It's nothing else. To all this and more. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. A thousand times no. It's only Christ. Everything is comprehended in Christ alone. The sinner has one hope. One hope. Not how far you can jump. One hope. Everything that Jesus did. That is your one hope. All that He is and all that He has accomplished. And you can't drag anything with you as you receive this hope. Yeah, but I'm going to take Jesus and no, no, no, no, no. It's all Christ. So the sinner is called to turn from all he is and all he has done and all he can do and trust in Christ alone as his only suitable and all sufficient Savior to repent and believe the gospel. 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. Friends, this includes every person in this room. Let me bring it home for a second, just so you know. You don't get points with God for sitting in a reformed Baptist church. Well, at least our church is small or our church talks about the solas or our church has the confession of faith. Our church sings Psalms. You know how many points that earns with God, all of that's important, by the way. But you know how many points that earns you with God in terms of your right standing before Him? Zero. In fact, it's worse than zero. Because how could you be in such a place that gets the gospel so right, proclaims it every week, sings it, prays it, lives out its implications? How could you be in a place like that and continue to reject Christ? No points. No points. No points for knowing what it is you should do. You know what I need to do. What I need to do is I need to repent of my sins and put my faith in Christ and join this church. I know I need to do it. You get no points for that. There's only one way of salvation given to mankind and that way is through the bloody cross and victorious resurrection of King Jesus. You can't just hear the gospel. Some of you, you may have assured yourself because you're like, I'm hearing the gospel every week. No, no, no, no. You can't just hear the gospel. You must believe. You must believe. You must receive. You must look. You must trust. There's no other name. There's no other way. It's Jesus Christ. Hear the text. There is salvation and no one else. Not your pastors. For there is no other name. Not the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession. Given among men by which we must be saved. There's nothing. Strip it all the way. Stand bare and naked before God and understand you've got nothing to offer, but God offers you everything in Christ. It's all Him. Jesus Christ has bled for every sinner who will trust Him. Listen to me, children. You need to listen to me. The Father has accepted His sacrifice in your place. Now, this would not be just, but it's an illustration, children. Children, just lock in for a minute. Imagine you got in trouble and you're going to get a spanking. and your sibling steps in and says, don't spank me, don't spank them, spank me instead. And so your parents spank them, and now you have been set free. Now that analogy falls apart in so many ways. That would not be just. Parents, not a good idea. That's not right. But do you not understand, children? Do you not understand that this is the Gospel? That the punishment we deserve because of our sin, Jesus Christ has taken that upon Himself? that He has stood in your stead, that He has stood in the gap, that He says, instead of punishing this little one, or that little one, or this man, or this woman, I am going to take that wrath on myself, because Isaiah says, their names are graven on my hands, their names are written on my heart. The church, I'm going to go, and I'm going to bleed, and I'm going to take all the wrath to the fullest, down to the last drop, so that they can say, when they trust Me, that there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ. This is the way. Children, avail yourself of Christ. Trust Him, I'm saying. Repent. Believe the gospel. Believe. Don't just hear about the gospel. Look to Christ. Would there be another here to avail themselves of Christ? To go through the door today, to trust Him today, to receive the fullness of salvation right here and now. You know, a consistent testimony we hear is a testimony like that of Brother Sam's. Someone says, well, I accepted Christ at a young age because we have such an easy believism and we trick children. And I know not by everybody, it's not intentional. There are some who are definitely going to be held accountable on the day of judgment because they just want to pad their Instagram altar photos. They just want to pad their salvation and baptism statistics. Woe to them when they stand before God. But there are some that I understand, it's just they don't know what to do. And so they trick children, but it's maybe not intentional to trick them. Like, hey, just pray this, and you pray this, and write this date down in your Bible, and it's okay. You're fine. You're good. You're saved. And so what happens here when you have a church like Providence, and not because of us, it's all because of God's grace, but you keep preaching the gospel, preaching, preaching, preaching, preaching. You have people that say things like, I think I need to be rededicated. I think I need to be rebaptized. But you know what God is actually doing is, God's actually regenerating those people. They don't need to be rededicated. God's brought them to life by His grace. They don't need to be re-baptized because they weren't baptized in the first place. They were just dunked while a sinner, and they rose up a sinner. They were unconverted the whole time. But God in His grace has poured out the riches of His grace in Christ and brought people to Himself in spite of your rebellion and the false things that you were taught. And I'm just saying maybe that's going to happen again today. Come to Christ. It's not a prayer. It's not walking in an aisle. It is surrendering all that you are to all that He is, putting your faith in the finished work of Jesus as the ground of all your hope before a holy and righteous God. You cannot cry your way into heaven. You cannot reform your way into heaven. You certainly cannot negotiate your way into heaven. It is all in Christ. We believe. 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. Now you say, well, what do you got for the church? This is like an evangelistic message. Well, no, I got a lot for the church, by the way. The gospel is always for the church. But I also got this, Christian, you might take a moment here and consider if you have a plus in your life. Just think about it. Why are you reconciled to God? There ain't no plus. Not because you're white. Not because your grandparents. Not because you live in this town. I understand God uses means. Amen. But listen to me. There's one reason you're saved, believer. One reason. And that reason has a name. Jesus Christ of Nazareth. This takes us away on one hand from all arrogance. We're going to come. Boast about who can jump closest to the moon. We got nothing. Also, though, this encourages us. When we're downcast. You need to remember that it is not ever, it never has been your doing that brought you to God. And it's not your doing that will undo what Christ has done. Have you considered the glory of the Gospel that the Son of God became man? He was born of the Virgin, that He lived a righteous life. 33 years, never sinning one time. I'd sin the first day with the apostles, right? With the disciples. But he wasn't able. He was a completely righteous and perfect man in every way. Never sinned one time. Goes to the cross. The nails driven in his hand. The nails driven in his feet. After spinning up all night the night before, sweating drops of blood. And there on Calvary, the dam was unleashed and the wrath of God fell upon the Son in our place. And then he died, laid in the tomb. On the third day, he rose again from the dead. Let me ask you something, Christian. Are you able to undo all of that? You overestimate your ability. Our Lord Jesus Christ has lived, died, bled, rose again for you. Let this comfort you, it's Christ alone. Do you need repentance? Do you need joy? Do you need solace? Do you need peace? Do you need comfort? Then, dear brother or sister, go to Christ alone. Go. Go. Go in faith again. He truly is our salvation. There is salvation in no one else. For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Christian, He is your salvation. Now, before moving on, I need to address something else. For some of you, this is beyond what you maybe even care about, but these are some things that are happening in our world today, and I need to address them. God, in his wise and holy sovereignty, has preserved the name that we must be saved by in Koine Greek. Jesus Christus. And there is verse 10. Let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christus, Jesus Christ. It's transliterated, of course, into English as Jesus Christ. So in the English language, that's the name we call upon. This is the name we trust. We trust in Jesus Christ. Stephanie can attest to this. I don't remember how long ago I wrote down that it was the other day, but I think it was probably like a couple of months ago. But we pull up to Harps a couple of months ago and there's a Hebrew word on the back of a car. Now, I'm not a Hebrew expert, so don't take this the wrong way, but I can read Hebrew. And so I read it. express frustration, but it said Yahshua. Now, Yahshua is the Hebrew name for Jesus. Now, I'm not saying that we can't ever have a discussion about the name Yahshua. Yahshua is simply the Hebrew word for Jesus, not denying that. OK, not denying that. But you need to understand that there is a movement, actually, I might say multiple movements. of people using the Hebrew name Yeshua as though they've cracked some code and have some sort of linguistic superiority. Like the Hebrew term, which is never used not one single time ever in the New Testament, is somehow superior. OK, most of the time what happens is underneath that service surface level of Yeshua, well, that seems harmless, right? A lot of times, though, there is a whole list of anti gospel beliefs. So when I hear someone say Yeshua or they're wearing a T-shirt that says Yeshua or a hat that says Yeshua or a bumper sticker that says Yeshua, whatever I am, red flags immediately. I'm immediately suspicious because often what happens is they're dragging the church back under Moses or Texas playing. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Had God just considered this, had God wanted to preserve Yeshua, He could have. I'm actually inclined to think that it's His great and wonderful wisdom that He's not done it that way. Why? Because even though He hasn't done it that way, you still got people trying to drag the church back under Moses. He chose not to do it this way. So if someone says they're more spiritual, more correct, closer to God, they have the right way because they use the name Yeshua instead of Jesus. They're wrong. And if they preach in English and over, and I'm not saying if we have a study sometime and Pastor Jacob or myself talk about the Hebrew word Yeshua. No, no, no. I'm talking about someone just constantly uses and overemphasizes the name Yeshua instead of Jesus in the English language. They are either a ignorant. I say that in the plight term like they don't know what they're doing or be more likely they're opening the doorway to all sorts of false teaching that will lead sinners to hell. It usually involves abandoning the New Testament church and being involved in mosaic ceremony. Some of you, you're like, well, why did we need it? It's closer to home than you think. The name of Jesus is not about a secret set of syllables. You say it in Hebrew, and that's closer to God. His name, 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. His name is about what He has accomplished. His name is not to be recited in some sort of ritualistic incantation as though it's a magical potion. His name represents his power and his authority and the salvation that he has secured. Trusting in his name is trusting in his person. This is the truth. trusting in His finished work. You go around and you spout the name Yeshua or Jesus or whatever. You do it like fictitiously or presumptuously or ritualistically, whatever the case. To do it that way, you're actually violating the third commandment. You're not helping anybody. You're using His name in vain. You're being a false teacher. Stop. One final thing. And then our third point. The exclusivity of Christ. is a wonderful ground for Christian unity. If Christ is everything, then what are we? We're nothing and he is everything. So how can a church fight or divide when we live with this kind of mentality? But you don't understand, Quatro, I wasn't put on the social committee. Stop. We're nothing. Christ is everything. What is Providence Baptist Church about? We're about Christ. Christ is everything. Christ is king. He's building his church. It's not about you. It's not about Pastor Jacob. It's not about me. It's not about anyone else. Solus Christus. We desire that his local church would be his way in all things. It's not our church. It's his. OK, finally. So we have a glorious reality. And we have a gracious exclusivity. Finally, we have a global necessity. And there is salvation and no one else, for there's no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Peter's language draws our minds to the whole earth. Well, how could I say that? Because he says under heaven, under heaven, where is that? The whole earth is under heaven. The sophisticated Europeans, the blue-collar Americans, the tribal peoples in some distant forest, they all live under the same sky. And the name of Jesus is the one name under all of heaven whereby God has provided salvation. And this name, the text says, is given among men, meaning all mankind. Out of every tribe, out of every tongue, out of every race, out of every nation, there's only one name that has been given. Jesus Christ of Nazareth. And it's by him alone that any person will find salvation. But Peter is more pointed than that, he says in the text, look there, Peter says, by which we what must. Must. Be saved in this way, the name of Jesus The work accomplished by Jesus is not a choice. It's not a buffet line of what you're going to do in your life, and maybe you'll try out Jesus. That's not what's being preached here. Jesus is a must. He is a necessity. He has accomplished a perfect salvation for His people, and the way that each one of them will be saved must be by Him alone. And anyone who is not saved, is not saved because they do not have Christ. This is true from the time of Jesus forward, and it's true from before Jesus. How is Moses, and David, and Abraham, and Isaac? How were they saved? Christ alone. Spurgeon says it like this, If thou does not find salvation in Christ, it will be because thou does not look for it, for it certainly is there. Jesus Christ is not optional. He's not a choice for you to make. He is a necessity. He's necessary and he is a global necessity. God has given Christ as the one way under all of heaven to be saved. The one way. When I say he's not a choice is the Christian gospel does not go forward and say, you know what, if you get around to it, you should choose Jesus. No, no, no. The Christian gospel doesn't invite people to Christ. It commands people to Christ. Repent, believe the gospel, trust Christ, there is no other way. So I agree with John Frame. Christ alone is the name by which we must be saved. It is vitally important to proclaim the name of Christ throughout the world so that people of all nations may believe in him. So let me say it this way, when it comes to political and national realities, I believe it's a good policy. It's right. And we should be America first. That's right. But. We are also part of another kingdom. The kingdom of Christ. And the priority of the kingdom of Christ is not America first, it is the proclamation of the name of Christ throughout the nations. to help invest in and plant local churches around the globe from Arkansas to Argentina, from Perry County to Paraguay. Because it all. Is the fruit. Of what Jesus Christ has accomplished. In his work. All places under heaven must hear the name of Christ and look to Him alone for salvation. Alone. Alone. When I think about that, I think about the fact that Jesus Christ stood alone before the Sanhedrin. In our text, Peter and John standing alone before the religious leaders. Martin Luther stood alone at the died of worms. Seems to me that not only does the church preach Christ alone, but that the history of Christianity bears out that those who preach Christ alone are often standing alone, or at least in a small number against the pluralism of the world. Nevertheless. So be it. So be it. Are you going to believe the text or not, this doctrine is vital enough to die for. But it's precious enough. To live for two. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men. By which we must be safe. What are you going to do with that? Let's pray. Father, we thank you for your word. And we pray that it would accomplish its intended purpose. It would not return void. Draw sinners to yourself, encourage the faint hearted, strengthen the weak. Bless those who need your blessing. Lord, if there's a hard-hearted man or woman or young boy or young girl here today, I pray, O God, they would know how foolish and wicked it is to deny such a salvation achieved and accomplished and provided in Christ. I pray, O God, that their heart would break, that they would not walk out of these doors on to something else. But even now, even in the time of my prayer, that they would call upon the name of the Lord. They would look to Christ. They'd be saved. If we'd be baptizing again soon, that's what I pray, oh God. In Jesus' name, amen. Let's stand.