We have to Deal With It - Notes on Acts

Sermon Notes for April 17, 2011

And Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Ruler and elders of the people!....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. He is "the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone." Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:8, 10-12)

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

The whole notion that these verses are God's Truth is problematic for many people. Most people, actually.

Have you ever noticed that when a public Christian is being interviewed on TV, the climax question is -- 'Do you really believe that those who don't believe the way you believe are going to hell?' (What they are saying is ...'You can't be serious'....'who are you to be such a bigot'..'nobody believes that any more....')

Actually, never have most people believed it! Jesus had just been beaten, scorned, and crucified, a couple of months before, by masses of people who did not believe He was the way to God, who was His Father.

Here in Acts, Peter is talked to the religious leaders, who rejected the whole mission of Jesus!

Let's Talk About Jesus

--In a world of pluralistic toleration

In the Roman Empire at that time all religions were tolerated -- remember the shrines "To the Unknown God" in case they left one out? An environment much like ours today.

Modern culture wants us to lay down our doctrine and embrace all others. Everyone is included in pluralism, except those of us who are not pluralistic!

--In a world of non-specific vagueness

(I love this phrase!) Bro Mike's illustration was about AA - originally organized as a Christian answer to the problem of alcoholism -- but now the only term they use for God is "Higher Power" -- Star Wars - "May the Force be with you!"

-- In a world of Christian discrimination
All around us our culture is rejecting Christian truth and morality. Prime time TV is a good example. Christians are pictured as unintelligent, judgmental, and self-righteous.
.

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name given to men by which they must be saved.

Salvation is found in no one else - we cannot save ourselves. Salvation is not in me. It's in Another. When we stand before God, we will need a Savior.

No other name - The name "above all names." "The way, the truth."

Given - What a gift. God pursues us through sermons, music, words of others, the physical world around us. He lays it all out for us.

Must - It is a command. We like "suggestions," not commands. His Word is authoritative.

When we mention something about Jesus, don't we often sense the people around us getting tense? They shift position. Look another way. Perhaps gather into a smaller group and turn away from us? Earlier in Acts 4 we read that the leaders were "greatly disturbed." Same thing today.

Peter's speech resulted from an act of loving kindness -- a crippled man was healed -- our speech should be motivated by loving kindness also. Let love fill the room.