DISCOURSE: 1748
SALVATION BY CHRIST ALONE
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.
FROM the account given us of the miracles wrought by our blessed Lord, we should be led, not only to acknowledge him as the true Messiah, but to consider what we ourselves may expect at his hands. His Apostles, Peter and John, had healed a man who had been lame from his birth. The spectators, filled with astonishment, were ready to ascribe the honour of this miracle to them: but they told them by whom it had been effected, even by Jesus, whom they had rejected; but who, notwithstanding their contempt of him, was, and by this miracle had proved himself to be, “the head-stone of the corner [Note: ver. 11.].” They then directed the attention of their auditors to their own eternal interests, and assured them, that as Jesus alone restored the cripple to the use of his limbs, so Jesus alone could save them from everlasting perdition [Note: It is evident that the text refers, not to bodily healing, but to a salvation which the Apostles themselves, and all their hearers, stood in need of.].
In discoursing upon the words before us, it will be proper to notice,
I. What is implied—
Nothing can be more clearly implied than that there is salvation for us in Christ. It may be thought that it is unnecessary to insist upon so plain and obvious a truth, more especially among those who call themselves Christians: but this truth is far from being universally known; and the grounds on which it stands are very little considered: and, if it were as well understood as we are apt to imagine, still there would be a necessity for dwelling frequently upon it, on account of its vast importance, and of “determining with St. Paul to know nothing among our people but Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”
In confirmation of it, we shall appeal,
1. To the typical representations of Christ—
[There were a great variety of sacrifices under the law, which typified the Lord Jesus Christ. The lamb that was offered every morning and evening, foreshewed “the Lamb of God that should take away the sin of the world:” and the scape-goat, which bore the iniquities of all Israel into an uninhabited wilderness, exhibited in yet more striking colours the removal of our guilt by a transfer of it to the head of Jesus. To dwell on all the ceremonies that were appointed on different occasions for the expiation of sin, is needless: suffice it to observe, that “the blood of bulls and of goats could not take away sin;” and that if those offerings had not respect to Christ, they were altogether unworthy, either to be prescribed to man, or to be accepted for him. But the efficacy of those sacrifices for the ends for which they were instituted, proves, beyond a doubt, the infinitely greater efficacy of that sacrifice which Christ in due time offered on the cross [Note: Hebrews 9:13-14.]
2. To the positive declarations concerning him—
[Nothing can be conceived more clear and strong than the Scripture declarations of Christ’s sufficiency to save. How forcibly has the prophet marked the extent [Note: Isaiah 45:22.], the fulness [Note: Isaiah 1:18.], and the freeness [Note: Isaiah 55:1-2.] of his salvation! He invites “all the ends of the earth,” even persons defiled “with crimson sins,” to accept all the benefits of the Gospel, “without money and without price.” In the New Testament the same things are spoken with all the energy that language can afford. All, without exception, are exhorted to come to Christ [Note: Matthew 11:28; John 6:37.], with all assurance that he will cleanse them from all sin [Note: 1 John 1:7 Acts 13:39.], and bestow upon them freely all the blessings of grace and glory [Note: John 4:10; John 7:37; John 7:28.]. Is all this a mere mockery and delusion? It surely is so, if Christ be not “able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him [Note: Hebrews 7:25.].”]
3. To matter of fact—
[We can draw aside the veil of heaven, and point to some before the throne of God, who are such monuments of grace as leave no doubt respecting the sufficiency of Christ to save any others whatsoever. Behold that man, a murderer; a murderer of no common stamp: he was not satisfied with shedding the blood of a few of his fellow-creatures, or of those who were deserving of death; but he “made the very streets of Jerusalem to run down with blood, and that with the blood of innocents.” Moreover, this was but a small part of the guilt he had contracted; so various and so enormous were his crimes. Yet is he, even Manasseh, a chosen vessel, in whom God is, and for ever will be, glorified.
Seest thou that woman also? We know not the particulars of her conduct; but she was so vile and notorious a sinner, that it was a disgrace to notice her, yea, our Lord’s condescending to notice her was made a ground of doubting his divine mission: nevertheless she also, though once possessed by seven devils, is now in glory. She received, while yet upon earth, an assured testimony, from our Lord himself, that her sins, numerous as they were, were all forgiven [Note: Luke 7:47-48.]: and now is she singing the triumphs of redeeming love, as loud as any in heaven.
We could easily refer to a multitude of others, whose enormities were beyond all measure great, who nevertheless were “washed, justified, and sanctified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God [Note: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.].” But enough has been said to put out of all question the blessed truth we are insisting on, namely, that Jesus is a Saviour, and a great one, and able to deliver all who trust in him [Note: Isaiah 19:20.]
Let us now turn our attention to,
II.
What is expressed—
What solemn asseverations are these in the text! One would have supposed that the former of them would have been quite sufficient: but the Apostle thought no repetitions superfluous, nor any accumulation of words too strong, on such a subject as this. Indeed, it is of infinite importance to every one of us to know, that, as there is salvation for us in Christ, so “there is no salvation in any other.”
1. There is not—
[In whom else can we find the requisites of a Saviour? In whom can we find a sufficiency, either of merit to justify, or of power to renew, a sinner? If we should apply to the highest angel in heaven to give us of his merit, he would tell us that “he himself is only an unprofitable servant; for that he does no more than is his duty to do [Note: Luke 17:10.].” If we should entreat him to change our hearts, he would confess his utter inability to effect so great a work. Shall we then look to ourselves? We are full of sin. Our merit is found—where? not in heaven truly, but in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone [Note: Romans 3:19.]. “Nor have we in ourselves a sufficiency even to think a good thought [Note: 2 Corinthians 3:5.];” much less to renew ourselves after the Divine image. None but Jesus could atone for sin: none but Jesus could yield such an obedience to the law as should be capable of being imputed to others: none but Jesus can send down the Holy Spirit into the souls of men, or say to them, “My grace is sufficient for you [Note: 2 Corinthians 12:9.]:” and therefore “there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we can be saved.”
If there were any other Saviour, the most eminent of God’s servants would have had some intimation of it. Abraham, the friend of God, and the father of the faithful, would probably have heard of him: but he knew of none other; for he sought acceptance through Christ alone, and was justified solely through faith in him [Note: Romans 4:3-5.]. David too, the man after God’s own heart, who was inspired to write so much respecting Christ, would probably have been acquainted with such an important fact in order to his own salvation; but he sought refuge in none but Christ; “Purge me with hyssop,” says he, “and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow [Note: Psalms 51:7.].” We might hope at least that some information of this kind would have been given to the Apostle Paul, who was more fully instructed in the mind and will of God than any other person: yet he knew of no other name but that of Jesus; he renounced all hope “in his own righteousness, that he might be found in Christ [Note: Philippians 3:9.];” and “he determined to insist on nothing, in all his ministrations, but Jesus Christ, and him crucified [Note: 1 Corinthians 2:2.].”
Whether therefore we consider the insufficiency of all the creatures to stand in the place of a Saviour to us, or the utter ignorance of all the Prophets and Apostles respecting the appointment of any creature to sustain that office, we may be sure that there is none other than the Person mentioned in the text, who is a man indeed, but is, at the same time, “God over all blessed for evermore.”]
2. There cannot be—
[We presume not to be wise above what is written; or to say what God might have done if he had pleased: but we are fully warranted by the Scriptures to say, that, consistently with God’s honour, as the Moral Governor of the universe, man could not have been saved without a Mediator: nor could any mediator besides Jesus have been found to execute all that was necessary for our salvation. It was necessary that the justice of God should be satisfied for the violations of his law; that his holiness should be displayed in a marked abhorrence of sin; that his truth should be kept inviolate by the execution of his threatenings; and that his law should be honoured, as well by an obedience to its precepts, as by an enduring of its penalties. Now none but Jesus, who was God as well as man, could effect all these things, and therefore none but he could save us.
But there is yet another ground on which we may deny that any other could save us; namely, that if we were indebted to any other, either for righteousness or strength, we could not join in the songs of the redeemed in heaven, but must separate from the heavenly choir [Note: Revelation 7:9-10.], and ascribe to ourselves, or to some other, (inasmuch as we were indebted to ourselves or them,) the honour of our salvation. And how would this comport with the dignity of Jehovah, who has determined “that no flesh should glory in his presence?” It is in vain to say that the glory would ultimately accrue to him: for if we be saved by, or for, any thing of our own, we may, and must, so far take the glory to ourselves [Note: Romans 4:2.]: and that would create discord in heaven, and be irreconcileable with the honour of the Divine Majesty.]
Address—
1.
The careless—
[Wherefore are men so indifferent about their spiritual concerns? Is it that they are in no danger of perishing? If that were the case, why is so much said respecting salvation? and why are we cautioned so strongly against relying on any but Jesus Christ? Surely the very circumstance of Christ being sent down from heaven to die for us, is enough to alarm all our fears, and to convince us, that, if the salvation offered us could be procured by none but him, the danger of those who are not interested in him must be inexpressibly great. Let the careless then consider this; and flee for refuge to the hope that is set before them.]
2. The self-righteous—
[It is difficult to convince those who are looking to Christ in part, that they are really renouncing Christ altogether. But the Scriptures are so plain on this point, that there cannot be the smallest doubt respecting it. Salvation is “of faith, on purpose that it may be by grace [Note: Romans 4:16.]:” and if it be, whether in whole or in part, by our own works, it ceases to be of grace: it must be wholly of grace, or wholly of works [Note: Romans 11:6.]: it must exclude boasting altogether, or else admit it. But boasting must be excluded wholly [Note: Romans 3:27.]: and therefore all dependence whatsoever on our own works must be wholly and for ever renounced [Note: Romans 3:8.]. If we will not accept salvation on these terms, “Christ shall profit us nothing [Note: Galatians 5:2; Galatians 5:4.].”]
3. The desponding—
[The person healed by Peter and John was a very fit emblem of our state by nature and practice. “We are transgressors from the womb.” But, desperate as in appearance our condition is, there is in Jesus a sufficiency of power and grace to make us whole: “his name, through faith in his name, shall give us a perfect soundness in the presence” of God and man [Note: Acts 3:16; Acts 4:10.]. Let none complain as though they were beyond the reach of mercy: for there is nothing impossible with Jesus: “with him there is mercy; with him is plenteous redemption; and he shall redeem Israel from all his sins [Note: Psalms 130:7-8.].”]