No Other Name

Introduction: Communion Sunday.

Acts 4:10 ‘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’.

[By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth] This was a very bold declaration in the presence of such an assembly; but he felt he stood on good ground. The cure of the lame man the day before was notorious; his long infirmity was well known; his person could be easily identified; and he was now standing before them whole and sound: they themselves therefore could judge whether the miracle was true or false. But the reality of it was not questioned, nor was there any difficulty about the instruments that were employed; the only question is, How have ye done this? and in whose name? Peter immediately answers, We have done it in the name of Jesus of Nazareth whom ye crucified, and whom God hath raised from the dead.

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Strong’s concordance tells us that the name “Jesus” is derived from the Hebrew name “Jeshua” or “Yeshuwa.” This name is found in Ezra, Nehemiah, and elsewhere in the Old Testament, not as a reference to the coming Messiah, but to other people.

Jesus has been given many names: Counsellor, Son of Man, Son of God, Immanuel, Rabbi, and more. “The word “Christ” means anointed.  It comes from the Greek Cristos, and is a translation of the Hebrew word for Messiah, meshiyach, which means “anointed” or “chosen one.”

While other titles suggest elements of Jesus’ character (great teacher and spiritual leader), the name and title, Jesus Christ, embodies them all.

1. Extraordinary Person behind the ordinary name.
   
   
2. Jesus was a very common name in first-century Israel. The only thing that sets apart the name of Jesus of Nazareth is the Person it belongs to and what He did for us. In Christ “all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9).
3. Jesus is “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being” (Hebrews 1:3).
4. But where there is no faith, no relationship, or no submission to His lordship, the name Jesus is nothing but a word.

• Any power attributed to the name of Jesus originates in the Person of Jesus. When we “believe in Jesus’ name,” we are trusting in the finished work of the risen Christ on the cross (1 John 5:13).

• Jesus is not a magic word. There is nothing special about the arrangement of the letters in His name. Had Jesus not been God in the flesh who lived a perfect life, died for the sins of all who would believe, and rose again, we wouldn’t even be talking about His name. Any power that Christians access in Jesus’ name comes from true faith in who Jesus is and what He does for sinners.

1. The Foundation of all Power and Blessing

Acts 19:15 ‘And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” (NKJ)

“What I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (Acts 3:6)

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Acts 4:11 ‘This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner’.

• [This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders] By your rejection and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, you have fulfilled one of your own, prophecies, Ps 118:22; and, as one part of this prophecy is now so literally fulfilled, ye may rest assured, so shall the other; and this rejected stone shall speedily become the head stone of the corner. See the note at Matt 21:42.

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

Matthew 9:5-6 “For which is easier, to say,`Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say,`Arise and walk ‘? ⁶ “But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins “– then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” (NKJ)

1. Author and Finisher of all Faith

Acts 4:12 ‘Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved’.

[Neither is there salvation in any other] No kind of healing, whether for body or soul, can come through any but him who is called Jesus. The spirit of health resides in him; and from him alone its influences must be received.

[For there is none other name] Not only no other person, but no name except that divinely appointed one, Matt 1:21, by which salvation from sin can be expected-none given under heaven-no other means ever devised by God himself for the salvation of a lost world. All other means were only subordinate, and referred to him, and had their efficacy from him alone. He was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world; and no man ever came, or can come, to the Father but by him.

Saved = sozo {sode’-zo}

Meaning:  1) to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction 1a) one (from injury or peril) 1a1) to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health 1b1) to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue 1b) to save in the technical biblical sense 1b1) negatively 1b1a) to deliver from the penalties of the Messianic judgment 1b1b) to save from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance

Conclusion: The saving, healing, protecting, justifying, redeeming power of God resides in the Person of Christ, and Jesus is His name.

Question: And how did the omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent Creator of the universe choose to wield His power? Through His Son, born in humble circumstances—a baby with all the power of the King (Luke 2:11–12). Jesus laid down His life to save sinners, and He exercised His authority to raise it up again (John 10:18) so that any who call on His name in faith can receive forgiveness of sins and salvation for all eternity (Romans 10:13). That is the resurrection power of the Savior—He alone is the force behind His name.

• There is no other option.
• There is no other hope.
• There is no other possibility.

Philippians 2:10-14, ‘And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. ⁹ Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father’.