Are you trusting in the name of Jesus? There’s no other way. If you choose another way, your life will crumble, for Jesus is our Chief Cornerstone. When we choose Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. He fills us. He empowers us to speak truth. We are united in Jesus because we’re saved in Jesus’ name. The name of Jesus … no other way.

I recently gave a meditation to women of Calvary Chapel Beaumont. Below is an adaptation of that meditation. If you would like to view the video, scroll down to click on the link. May the Lord richly bless you and fill you to overflowing with the Holy Spirit.

The Name of Jesus …
No Other Way

“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”
(1 John 5:11-13, NKJV)

As I was studying Acts 4:1-12, I wondered how Peter’s remarks about salvation related to the lame man’s healing in Acts 3, the audiences in chapters 3 and 4, and the Old Testament passage in Psalm 118 referring to Christ as the chief cornerstone.

Ourselves in Acts 4

Lame Man

I saw parts of  myself in Acts 4:1-12. I saw myself as the lame man? God has worked miracles in my life.

Has God worked miracles in your life?  If you look back at your life, I’ll venture to say that you will recognize God working miracles in and through you.

New Believer

I saw myself as one of the people who received Jesus as her Savior after hearing Peter’s explanation of the healing in chapter 3. Convicted of my rejection of Jesus as the Messiah. Now understanding and turning toward Jesus.

Rulers, Elders, and Scribes

I’ve been skeptical at times like the rulers, elders, and scribes. It’s okay to admit it. God used uneducated men from Galilee to work miracles in His name. That didn’t fit with the Sanhedrin’s understanding of Scriptures. But they acknowledged a miracle happened. After all, the man had been born lame.

You might ask yourself, “How does what happened fit with what I understand the Scriptures say about the Messiah?  Maybe you’ve read a certain Scripture many times, but this time, the Holy Spirit opens your eyes to its deeper meaning, and you see that you were wrong in thinking a certain way. Have you been there? I have.

Peter and John

Like Peter and John, I’ve been judged for doing good in the name of Jesus. I worried about the outcome. What about you?

But have there also been times when you were filled with power from the Holy Spirit to speak truth like Peter? Maybe at work? Maybe with your nonbelieving family or friends?

We’re in each one of those characters, aren’t we?

I then asked myself what I learned about the three persons of the Godhead, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit from Acts 4:1-12.

Good Deed in Name of Jesus

Peter healed the lame man in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The man leaped up and walked into the temple praising God.

The people were astonished, and Peter proclaimed in Acts 3:16 “And His name, [Jesus’ name] through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”

Peter told the people to repent and turn to God for the forgiveness of their sins. About 2,000 men became believers.

But the Sanhedrin worried. Peter and John ended up in prison that night.  For doing a good deed and explaining how they did it—through the name of Jesus.

Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin

“And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.” (Acts 4:5-12, NKJV)

The men in the Sanhedrin were the same men who tried Jesus. The Sanhedrin was made up of rulers, elders of the Jewish tribes, and scribes. The Sadducees were the priestly group who didn’t believe in the resurrection. They were “sad you see.”

The Pharisees were focused on their authority in leading the people in keeping the Law. The scribes were teachers of the Law.

Here was Peter who had denied Jesus three times while Jesus was standing before these men during His illegal trial.

The Boldness Process

Explanation

The Holy Spirit filled Peter with boldness a little at a time. The process began when Peter explained the filling of the Holy Spirit in believers during Pentecost. God added 3,000 believers that day.

Healing and Explanation

The second time Peter proclaimed the power of the name of Jesus occurred after the lame man was healed in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. God added 2,000 to the church that day.

Courage Under Fire

Peter now shares the Good News with the Sanhedrin.

And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. (Acts 4:7-10)

The name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth healed the lame man.

“This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:11-12)

Wow! Where’s that timid Peter who denied Jesus?

How does Peter have the courage to talk to the Sanhedrin like he did?

Filled With the Holy Spirit

Filled with the Holy Spirit, we can boldly proclaim that our faith in the name—the character and will of Jesus. The name of Jesus has the power to give us courage to proclaim Jesus amid an attack even when we are doing good.

Let’s revisit Acts 4:8-12 verse by verse.

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:

Peter is  filled with the Holy Spirit. He denied Jesus by the fire in the courtyard outside where the Sanhedrin was judging Jesus during an illegal trial. Now, Peter is standing in front of the Sanhedrin powerfully addressing the ones who sent Jesus to the cross.

He’s no longer Peter, scared by what could happen to him. He’s a new creation.

A New Creation

2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

This is a new Peter, a bold Peter. Peter who is filled with the Holy Spirit and proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Jesus had promised the disciples not to worry about what they would say before the authorities.

“Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” (Luke 12:11-12 NKJV)

This is fulfillment of His promise. Don’t worry. Depend on the Holy Spirit empowering you. Peter had been with Jesus for over three years. He walked with Jesus, talked with Him, ate with Him, prayed with Him, heard teaching upon teaching, and saw miracle upon miracle. This fisherman was now speaking before the same Jewish authorities who had condemned Jesus. Peter was empowered by the Holy Spirit and speaking what the Holy Spirit was revealing to him.

Judged For a Good Deed

9 “If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,”

The Sanhedrin  judged Peter and John because they healed the lame man through the name of Jesus—a good deed.

Doing good is what Jesus did, and doing good is what we Christians do. As we grow in the Lord, the Holy Spirit teaches us. As we meditate on God’s Word, we’ll become empowered to do good. Good that is not possible within our own power. Think of it, the man had been born lame. No hope of standing and walking, much less leaping for joy.  Until uneducated and untrained Peter and John were empowered by the Holy Spirit to heal the man in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Filled with faith in the name of Jesus, they spoke the truth.

Empowered to Speak Truth

10 “let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,”

A good deed done in the name of Jesus. Jesus of Nazareth found guilty and crucified. Jesus Christ of Nazareth who God Almighty rose from the dead. Our Savior who walked among the people for 40 days.

This is the third time Peter has explained the Holy Spirit’s power by referring to Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, from Nazareth.

“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Was Nathaniel’s question in John 1:46. The people of Nazareth didn’t have a good reputation.

Whom You Crucified

“…. Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified,“

Peter makes it clear. This is the third time he says, “whom you crucified.” The religious leaders, rulers, and teachers of God’s Law, the people who knew the prophecies concerning the Messiah didn’t recognize the Messiah when He came. They sent Him to the cross. Jesus took their sins upon Himself as He hung from the cross.

“Whom you crucified.” My sins and your sins were laid upon Jesus on the cross. We crucified Jesus—our sins were laid upon Jesus. Jesus paid the price that we owed for our sins—death, separation from God.

He prayed, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)  Jesus prayed for the people who took the nails and pounded them into His hands and feet. “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” 

Whom God Raised From the Dead

Jesus gave up His spirit and died. They laid Jesus in a tomb. But on the third day … still in verse 10:

“… whom God raised from the dead,”

Jesus paid the price for our sins, and He conquered death because God raised Him from the dead.

“by Him this man stands here before you whole.”

By Jesus, the lame man stood before them … whole … leaping … joyous. Jesus went about doing good and healing people. Why would this not continue through the followers of Jesus? He’s the foundation of our lives. Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone. The Chief Cornerstone unites His church.

Rejected Stone

11 “This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders,”

Tradition tells us that during the building of Solomon’s temple, the construction crew at the temple mount searched and searched for the cornerstone for the temple.

They sent a message to the quarry asking where the cornerstone was. “We sent it to you months ago,” was the reply.

Then, one of the men remembered that there was a stone that didn’t fit so they rolled it into the Valley of Gehenna where trash was burned and where babies had been sacrificed during the reign of Ahaz. The rejected cornerstone. (Adapted from Jon Courson’s comments)

11 “This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’

Cornerstone Binds

The cornerstone was a large stone near the bottom of a structure that held two walls together and served as the foundation.

Peter stood before the Sanhedrin, the builders. They had rejected Jesus as the foundation stone, the cornerstone of their religion.

“Now he is the bond of the building, holding Jew and Gentile in firm unity. This precious cornerstone binds God and man together in wondrous amity [peace], for he is both in one. He joins earth and heaven together, for he participates in each. He joins time and eternity together, for he was a man of few years, and yet he is the Ancient of Days. Wondrous cornerstone!” (C. H. Spurgeon)

The bond of the house of the LORD—Jesus our Savior, our Light, our Rock. He holds us together. Without Him, we crumble.

• 11 “This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’

Turn with me to Psalm 118:19

“Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, And I will praise the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD, Through which the righteous shall enter. I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation. The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.  This was the LORD’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:19-24, NKJV)

United by the Chief Cornerstone

The rejected cornerstone has become the chief cornerstone. Without Jesus as our chief cornerstone, our world falls apart. What we are building crumbles. Other cornerstones, like success at work, reputation, money, possessions, they all fade away or disappear.

Jesus is our salvation. He is the stone that the world, even the Sanhedrin—the religious and governing leaders rejected. But Jesus is our salvation. He holds the world together.

You might want to read 1 Peter 2:4-10. Peter writes that Jesus holds you and me, the church, together. We are living stones, and Jesus is the chief cornerstone. The Chief Cornerstone is building up those who have not rejected Jesus as a spiritual house. But those who have rejected Jesus, consider Him to be a rock of offense and stumble. For no other name saves us from our sin. Only the name of our Chief Cornerstone, Jesus Christ brings salvation.

Saved in Jesus’ Name

 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12, NKJV)

Saved from the penalty of our sins, from separation from God forever to live a life of freedom serving the God of the universe. There exists no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16, NKJV)

Importance of Names

Everlasting life with Jesus. Only through Jesus. No other name but Jesus. Names are important. Names were especially important in biblical times.

Remember, God changed Abram’s name to Abraham in Genesis 17. From “exalted father” to “father of a multitude.” Sarai’s name to Sarah; from “princess” to  “noblewoman.” From Jacob to Israel; from “heel catcher or supplanter” to “God prevails.”  (Genesis 32)

The name of Jesus means “Jehovah is Salvation.” Christ means “Anointed.”

So far in the first four chapters of Acts, the author has called Jesus:

Our Question

Let’s go back to the question that I asked at the beginning, “How did Peter’s remarks about salvation relate to the healed man, the audience, and the Old Testament passage referring to Christ in Psalm 118:22 as the chief cornerstone?

Could our points lead us to examine this question more fully?

• Followers of Christ become “Filled With the Holy Spirit”
• And  “Empowered to Speak Truth”
• Truth leads to believers being “United by the Chief Cornerstone”
• Because we are ” Saved in Jesus’ Name”

“How did Peter’s remarks about salvation relate to the healed man, the audience, and the Old Testament passage referring to Christ in Psalm 118:22 as the chief cornerstone?

What would be your answer? It’s worth some thought and maybe some discussion.

Are you trusting in the name of Jesus? There’s no other way. If you choose another way, your life will crumble, for Jesus is our Chief Cornerstone. When we choose Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. He fills us. He empowers us to speak truth. We are united by the Chief Cornerstone, Jesus, and we’re saved in Jesus’ name.

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There is no other way.

Points to Ponder

1. Prayerfully ask yourself how you are like the people in Acts 4:1-12. What action will you take?
2. As we study Acts, keep a list of the names and descriptions of the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Prayerfully review the list each week.
3. How did Peter’s remark about salvation relate to the healed man, the audience, and the Old Testament passage referring to Christ in Psalm 118:22 as the chief cornerstone?

Related Links

YouTube Video of Teaching

“Walking in the Holy Spirit’s Stunning Power”

“The Power-Filled Life”