The Stone of Salvation
Posted By Joe on January 20, 2010
HT: Evangelical Lutheran Synod
The Bible makes many points crystal-clear. Two of them I'd like to address are in Acts 4.
Who is the Chief Corner Stone?
Peter was on trial after having been arrested for "teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead" (Acts 4:2). The chief priests asked him: "By what power, or in what name, have you done this?" Peter boldly answered them.
"Let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene." --Acts 4:10.
Peter first tells them that it was only in the name of Jesus Christ. There is power in the name of Jesus, this is why it should not be used without reverence.
He continues:
"He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone." --Acts 4:11.
Jesus is the chief corner stone. No where will you find Peter ever saying that he is the chief corner stone. No where will you even find Peter saying that he himself is the rock that Jesus intended to build His church upon. The rock that Jesus built His church on is Himself and no one else.
Who or what is the way to salvation?
"And there is no salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." --Acts 4:12.
Peter is perfectly clear on this answer: there is only one way to get to heaven and that's by Jesus. Don't believe the lie of the devil, that there are many paths to God.
There are loud voices in our day today that will also teach you that Jesus is too narrow. Probably one of the biggest media personalities has done just this! Look at what Oprah Winfrey has to say:
Friend, Jesus is the only way to the Father who is in heaven.
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." --John 14:6.
Jesus did not say that He was "a way." He said He was the way!
But this is not just a New Testament teaching. God the Father said the same thing through Isaiah:
You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "and my servant whom I have chosen, in order that you may believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me. I, even I, am the Lord, and there is no savior besides Me. It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, and there was no strange god among you; so you are My witnesses," declares the Lord, "And I am God. Even from eternity I am He, and there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?" --Isaiah 43:10-13. (Emphasis mine.)
Dear reader: if you have been caught up in the "many paths to God" blasphemy, call upon the name of Jesus and repent! There is no sin too great for Him. He has already paid the price on your behalf before His Father.
May He Increase!
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