"Jesus, God's Only Son" Acts 4:8-12 Pastor Allan Wooters, D.Min.
Ask someone to define what it means to be a Christian and you could hear any number of responses. Some of these responses might be complimentary and some not so complimentary. How would you define what it means to be a Christian? Albert Mohler helps us with a definition:
Christians are defined by one primary mark: we believe in and are disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Whatever beliefs may separate churches and denominations, a true Christian is someone who has repented of his or her sin and embraced Christ as the only Lord and Savior. We are a people of Christ. 1
Stripped of other matters, Dr. Mohler is on-target. It may seem like a narrow definition, but it reflects the emphasis of the Apostles’ Creed. The Creed says: I believe… in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord…. But more importantly, Mohler’s understanding highlights the Bible’s own definition. One key text of note is Acts 4:8 – 12. The setting is that the apostles Peter, and John, have healed a man in Jesus’ name. They were arrested and now must defend their action and their preaching of Jesus. Scripture reads:
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people, if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead – by this name this man stands here before you in good health….And there is 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.”
What Peter says is astonishing. It is also offensive to many in our pluralistic culture. But here it is. You cannot dismiss these words as that of a mere man. The Bible notes that Peter was filled with the Spirit of God meaning what he said was being directed by God Himself. You are welcome to reject these words but before you do, I beg you to hear me out. Let’s make sure you know what you are rejecting. But on the flip side, if you claim you are a Christian you need to know exactly what you are saying. So, let me break it down giving three statements concerning the nature of Jesus that any true Christian must believe. The first is this:
Jesus Possesses Unique Power as God’s Anointed
In Scripture, to anoint a person was to set him apart for God’s service. Old Testament priests, when they were appointed to their office, had oil placed on their head to signify their being given authority to function as a priest. Just so, Jesus is God’s anointed. This fact comes out in the title Christ. Please note that the word “Christ” is not a name. It is not that Jesus is the son of Joseph and Mary Christ. The word Christ means “anointed” or Messiah. In the Old Testament the Messiah was a king who Jews understood would come in the last days to save them from evil, regather the scattered tribes, renew God’s covenant, establish justice, and rescue them from pagan oppressors. Jesus has that role and others and so He bears the title Christ.
Now here’s the thing; no one else has this title. Many have claimed it, but the undeniable testimony of Scripture is that Jesus alone is the Christ. Not Moses, not Muhammad, not Joseph Smith, no one but Jesus is God’s anointed. That is what Scripture teaches and this is what a Christian believes.
Right now, you may be thinking, “This is all fine, but all this theology stuff gives me a headache. Can’t we simply have Jesus and move on?” Well, two things. First, I understand that theology can be challenging but great truths usually are. Second, you can’t avoid making theological statements when it comes to God or Jesus. The word theology itself means “a word about God.” Last week I mentioned astronomer Carl Sagan and his atheistic view of the universe. I’m not picking on Dr. Sagan indeed, in many ways I’m a fan of his. But in a Q & A session of his I watched recently he was asked if he had any belief in God at all. His quick yet respectful response was to ask the questioner what he meant by the word “God.” Sagan went on to say that God can be defined in many, many ways. And he is right. If you tell me who you think God is, you are engaging in theology. It’s the same with Jesus. Whatever you say about Jesus immerses you in theology. Even Jesus’ name is theological because it means, “God saves!” So, theology or doctrine is inescapable. You just want the right doctrine. By it you know who God is, what He is doing, what He requires and promises. You know you have wisdom for living and that you are living your life in a vital relationship with God.
As God’s anointed, Jesus has been set apart by the Father to accomplish what God wanted namely to live among us, die for our sins, and be raised for our justification. Jesus was anointed to make it possible for us to have a relationship with God which is eternal life itself. But I must move on to the second affirmation:
Jesus Possesses a Unique Relationship to the Father
The Creed puts it correctly that Jesus is God’s “only Son.” Peter’s statement implies Jesus’ unique relationship when he says, “God raised [Him] from the dead” (v.10) and that “He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone” (v.11).
Of no other religious founder can this be said. Yes, I know it sounds narrow to say this today.We live in a society that believes in many saviors, especially oneself. We are good people, at least good enough to earn God’s forgiveness. But the Bible denies the idea that we can save ourselves. Scripture says in Titus 3:5 – 6, “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.”
Some might then say, “Well yes, we’re not perfect but God is merciful and loving so I’m acceptable to God as I am and will make heaven when I die.” But if that’s the case, Jesus isn’t the Savior. His title means nothing. If we could be good enough, do enough righteous works to be acceptable to God then Jesus is unnecessary. His whole life, death, and resurrection was a waste. But we are not self-saviors! Jesus alone saves and not another. That is the testimony of Scripture and it is exactly what Peter declares here in Acts that “there is no other name… by which we must be saved.” Luther summed it up well when he wrote, “No other God I have but thee, born in a manger, died on a tree.” Jesus is unique in power and in His relationship to the Father as God’s only Son. But now one other vital fact must be stated:
Jesus Possesses Unique Authority as Lord
The entire emphasis of Peter’s courageous response to the religious leaders is that Jesus is Master over all things. He is Lord of all! Again, this isn’t politically correct either. But you know what? It wasn’t politically correct in Peter’s day either. When Peter preached Rome believed that Caesar was lord. He ruled not just politically but religiously as well. Coins of the day carried the message. One coin archaeologists have reads: “Emperor Augustus Caesar, god and lord.” It would be like today we take “In God we Trust” off our currency and replace it “In Trump we Trust.” Besides making some folks heads explode it would be totally blasphemous. Another coin Romans had reads, “Nero, the lord of the whole world.” Now, picture yourself standing on a street in downtown Rome and announcing that a Jewish man from a far province, who was put to death by a Roman governor, is King of kings, and Lord of lords! N. T. Wright says, “To come to Rome with the gospel of Jesus, to announce someone else’s accession to the world’s throne…was to put on a red coat and walk into a field with a potentially angry bull.” 2
This whole issue of Jesus being Lord isn’t anything new at this church. It is declared constantly. However, there’s a factor in this that needs addressed. It is how we recognize the relevance of Jesus for our everyday life. For many, even believers, it appears that Jesus is this ethereal figure who saves us from sin and somehow rules history but other than that, He is pretty much divorced from our everyday concerns. Jesus is with us somehow, He encourages us, but little more. When we need practical help, we turn to the psychologists, the Oprah’s of the world, the popular theorists, and others who have answers for our problems. Jesus, though He is confessed as Lord is pretty much ignored. How can Jesus help with real, everyday matters and problems?
But to call Him “Lord” holds some startling implications. If Jesus is Lord, then He possesses knowledge of ultimate reality. He knows the full truth about this world and our personal lives that no one else does. How is it possible to trust in Jesus, or anyone for that matter, who we do not believe him or her to be competent? Jesus knows what you and I don’t. To put aside our so-called common sense and seriously consider what Jesus says about what makes a good life and a good person, what He says about making a living, relating to others and more is to be truly wise. Jesus knows what we don’t!
Second, if Jesus is Lord, then He must be the smartest person who has ever lived. Since Jesus is Lord, how could He be ignorant, uninformed, some kind of dummy? Think of this: Jesus knew how to manipulate the molecular structure of water to turn it into wine. He knew how to transform the tissues of the human body to cure disease. He could suspend gravity, interrupt weather patterns, and take death by the throat and defeat it. Forget cryonics! And to do it, all He needed was a word. Dallas Willard, commenting on Jesus’ intelligence said, “Surely Jesus must be amused at what Nobel prizes are awarded for today.” 3
Jesus isn’t just nice. He is brilliant! He is at this moment supervising world history while moving all things towards the revealing of a new heaven and new earth. And so, Jesus knows how to “do life”! He knows what we need better than anyone else. He is Lord! He is God’s anointed! He is the God’s only Son. Millions believe! Do you? There is no other! We don’t deserve Him, but God sent Jesus for us, for you. So, look to Jesus for courage! Peter sure had it while standing before that hostile group of Jewish leaders. Look to Jesus for wisdom with any area of life. He is Lord! He is the Christ, God’s only Son!
For Further Reading
High King of Heaven, John MacArthur, Editor
Christ Alone, Stephen Wellum