Trevor S Ferguson
March 8, 2026
Acts 2:37-39 KJV
[37] Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
[38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
[39] For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Acts 4:7-12 KJV
[7] And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
[8] Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
[9] If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
[10] Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
[11] This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
[12] Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
INTRODUCTION
Regardless of one’s religious background or philosophical position, every human being embraces a concept of right and wrong. Even those who claim no faith still argue for moral and ethical living, suggesting that deep within the human psyche, there is an acknowledgement of absolute truth. I see this as evidence that God created man with an innate, restless desire to commune with Him. We feel incomplete because we were designed to be completed by a relationship with our Creator.
Unfortunately, in the quest for meaning, many have looked everywhere but the right place. Some have created gods of gold, silver, and wood, or elevated humans and animals to the status of deities. Yet, none of these have the power to save. However, God has not left us without evidence of His existence. Psalm 19:1 tells that the heavens declare His glory, while Romans 1:20 reminds us that His eternal power is clearly seen in the works of His hands, so that man is without excuse!
But God went further than just revealing Himself through nature or the ancient prophets. He stepped into time and space in human form as our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. As we reflect on the message of the early Church, we find a singular, narrow, yet beautiful path to redemption. Based on the foundational truth of Acts 4:12, I want to share three declarations that affirm why salvation is found in only One Person, One Name, and One Way.
EXPOSITION
Declaration #1: Salvation through One Person
The Holy Scriptures teach us with absolute clarity that God is indivisibly One. From the "Shema" of Deuteronomy 6:4—“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD”—to the prophetic declarations of Isaiah, the message is consistent: there is no God beside Him, before Him, or after Him.
The "great mystery of godliness" is that this one true God, the Creator who stretched forth the heavens alone, was manifested in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16). In the beginning was the Word, and that Word—which was God—became flesh and dwelt among us as Jesus Christ (John 1:1, 14). There is no division of persons in the Godhead. Instead, we see the one true God manifesting as the Father in creation, the Son in redemption, and the Holy Ghost in regeneration. To see Jesus is to see the Father; to know Him is to know the only Saviour of the world.
Declaration #2: Salvation through One Name
If there is only one Person who can save, it follows that there is only one Name that carries the authority of salvation. When the angel spoke to Mary, the command was specific: “Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
The name "Jesus" is not merely a label; it is a declaration. It literally means "Jehovah-Saviour" or "Jehovah is Salvation." It incorporates the "I AM" of Exodus into a present-tense reality of deliverance. This is the name that is above every name, the name at which every knee must bow (Philippians 2:9-11). Whether it is the preaching of repentance, the administration of baptism, or the promise of the Holy Ghost, everything in the New Testament economy is done in the name of Jesus. It is the saving name of God.
Declaration #3: Salvation through One Way
Finally, we must look at the "how." In a world that prizes "many paths," the Bible presents a specific pattern for the New Birth. When the seekers on the Day of Pentecost were "pricked in their heart" and asked what they should do, the Apostle Peter did not offer a variety of options. He gave a definitive command:
“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38)
This wasn't a one-time suggestion; it was the consistent message of the early Church. We see this same pattern repeated in Samaria, at the house of Cornelius, and in Ephesus. It is a journey of turning from sin (repentance), being buried with Him in water (baptism in Jesus' name), and being filled with His supernatural life (the Holy Ghost).
APPLICATION & CONCLUSION
The good news today is that God is still in the saving business. He is still pouring out His Spirit upon those who call on Him with a sincere heart. If you are reading this and feel that "prick" in your heart—that sense of incompleteness or a desire for truth—know that salvation is available to you right now.
The promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are afar off. Do not let another day pass without responding to His call. Repent of your sins, accept water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, and open your heart to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
God bless you as you walk in the One Way, In Jesus Name!.
No comments:
Post a Comment