Thursday Devo
Scripture:
Acts 4
12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
Commentary:
4:12 Peter’s statement that there was salvation in no other name was an implicit invitation to the Sanhedrin to place their faith in Jesus. It was Jesus’ name that brought physical deliverance to the lame man (3:1–10)—the same powerful and exclusive name that brings eternal salvation to all who call upon him. Peter emphasizes this by saying that it is the only name under heaven (that is, throughout the whole earth) by which a person can be saved. Further, there is no other name among men (that is, in all of human society) that saves. On Christ as the exclusive way of salvation, see also Matt. 11:27; John 3:18; 14:6; 1 John 5:12. This verse also suggests that salvation comes only through conscious faith in Jesus.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2088.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2088.
Questions:
- Scripture alone, grace alone, faith alone... and now Solus CHRISTUS, or CHRIST alone. In other words, the reformers clearly defined for us that, according to Scripture, we are saved by grace alone through faith in Christ alone... PERIOD. Jesus ALONE is the way, the truth and the life. This was to, in part, correct the Roman Catholic's exaltation of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explicitly describes how they believe Mary not only somehow participated in Jesus' act of redemption, but that she was "preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death." They had elevated Mary to some sort of deity and were encouraged to pray to her. But the Bible over and over again explicitly condemns praying to or communicating with the dead. Mary died. She was just an ordinary and faithful woman whom God chose to use in an extraordinary way. Many of us either grew up Catholic or have loved ones that are. How can we gently and lovingly encourage them to confront these issues with the Catholic faith and teachings? Have you ever had these kinds of conversations, and if so, how did they go?
- If we truly believe that Jesus is the ONLY way to get to God, the ONLY way to heaven, that means that EVERY other religion or belief system that says anything else is a lie. Many Christians want to try to be inclusive of other people's belief systems and don't want to sound judgmental or exclusionary, so they err on the side of not sharing truth. This is where we need a balanced dose of grace and truth, just like Jesus did. How can we love people who believe differently while at the same time not watering down the truth of what we believe? How can you share the truth in love with someone today?
Pray:
- That God would give you opportunities to share the truth of Jesus with those that believe differently.
- That He would give you the boldness to speak the truth in love.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
3. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? Since “all have sinned” and the “wages of sin is death,” Jesus had to die on the cross to pay the fine for my sin so I could be right with God.
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
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