IN THE WORD DAILY
with Brother Rick
Acts 4 : 12, 13
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved.
V- 13 Now when they saw the
boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant
men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with
Jesus.
As we go through the book of
Acts, we must keep in mind that there are things taking place during this
transition period and birth of the church, that the people had never seen. The
apostles were afforded the privilege of possessing supernatural gifts that
would authenticate the message that they preached. We see in this text that not
only were they given the ability to speak in other languages, heal the sick,
raise the dead and work the works of God,
they were given the ability to understand the word of truth, and it was
sealed to their hearts and well as their minds. Friend, it is one thing to know
about Jesus, It is quite another to know
him and to be known of him. It is one thing to know the gospel of Christ, It is
quite another to trust the gospel unto salvation. It is one thing to know the
scriptures, it is quite another to live according to the scriptures. It is one
thing to have a head knowledge of the new birth, It is quite another to be born
again. 2 Corinthians 4: 6 says, “For God, who commanded the light to
shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in the face Jesus Christ.”
We see in the text that Peter
finishes his sermon with a message that was offensive to the religious crowd.
It was offensive to most of the Jews. It was offensive to the Bible scholars of
that day, and we find today that it is still offensive, even in 2014. The
message that Peter preached is in verse 12. There is no salvation outside of
Jesus Christ. There is no fellowship with God the Father outside of his Son
Jesus. There is only one way to heaven, and it is not in the Jewish religion,
it is not in the law, and it is not in the priesthood. It is in Jesus. They
could not accept this. They refused to have Jesus as Savior. Luke 19: 14 says, “But
his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have
this man to reign over us.” If only the world would allow Jesus to
reign.
Our text tells us that the
scholars, priests and religious leaders perceived that Peter and the other
apostles were unlearned and ignorant men. They were not pillars of society.
They were not looked upon as Bible scholars and godly men. They were not asked
to join the synagogues and teach the people. But there was something about them
that made them stand out above the rest. There was something about them that
could not be denied. The Bible says in Acts 4: 13, “they marvelled; and
they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus”. Despite
their lack of education, they were witnesses for the Lord Jesus. Despite their
knowledge of the law, they carried the torch for Christ. Despite their
inability to conform to the traditions of men, it was obvious that they had
been with Jesus.
What good is a degree in
Bible Theology if the world around you cannot see that you have been with
Jesus? What good is having your name on the church role, if the world cannot
see that you have been with Jesus? What good is the ability to sing in the
choir and belt out the special songs on the Lord's Day, if you show no evidence
that you have been with Jesus? What good does it do to teach the classes and
preach the sermons if those around you see no evidence that you have been with
Jesus?
Peter and the apostles were
different. Peter and the apostles were transformed into a vessel fit for God's
use. There was no denying that these men had been with Jesus. Can the world say
that about you? Do your coworkers know that you have been with Jesus? Does you
family know that you have been with Jesus? When Christ rules and reigns in the
heart, there will be a change.
Everything in this life
becomes secondary when you have been with Jesus.
