Title: Only Jesus (August 2, 2009)
Contents
Word: Acts 4:8-12
Subject: Only Jesus
8. And Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said, "You rulers and elders of the people,
9. If we ask today how this man was saved for the good deeds he did to the sick,
10. Know you and all the people of Israel, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead, this man is made well and stands before you.
11. This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders, and has become the cornerstone of the house.
12. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
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Acts 4 records the jealousy and jealousy of the Jews and leaders over the incident where Peter and John healed the lame in Jerusalem. To any event, the reaction to that event is divided into two categories: positive and negative. The case of fixing the crippled man is a good thing for anyone to see. But there were also those who reacted negatively to this and imprisoned, interrogated, quarreled, and tormented Peter and John. There are several reasons why they reacted in surprise to the cripple incident.
The first reason was that the crippled man, who had never walked in 40 years, walked and jumped and praised God.
At the time, this would never have been possible for medical science at the time. Jesus healed such a person. Even now, there are many diseases that cannot be cured by modern medicine. But please believe that our God has transcendent power.
Second, it was because the person who healed him was humble.
They were fishermen from the Sea of Galilee who had neither graduated from the law school nor had any education. The Jewish religious leaders, those on the other side of Jesus, only saw them on the outside, so they couldn't help but be more amazed at what they did.
Third, because he performed miracles in the name of Jesus.
It was not done in the name of a priest, not in the name of a governor or emperor. Heal the lame in the name of Jesus, whom they hated so much. We must believe that such a thing can be done only in the name of Jesus Christ.
One of the reasons why Korean churches receive so much criticism and attack is that the behavior of Korean Christians has changed. As Christians, we must invariably play the role of salt. Another is that the power of the church has grown. When the church grows in power, things that are not right can happen in the church. The church is not politics. Realize that as a child of God, you must lead a right life of faith. Another is because of intentional and systematic attacks. There is a systematic attack by people who want the church to disappear from the earth. One of them is heresy activity. We must not fall for their temptations and receive proper spiritual guidance.
Let's look for the testimony of Peter's exclamation in the text.
First, 'this is a good thing'.
Healing the disease was definitely a good thing. We should always praise, encourage, and give thanks for all the good and good things that happen in the church.
Second, 'Jesus alone'
Only Jesus can save the 40-year-old lame, raise the dead, and save sinners. No other name can save souls and gain salvation. Let us believe in this truth and praise Jesus.