THE ONLY NAME
Acts 4:12
The world is full of names, some are significant while others are worthless. The importance we attach to any
name depends on the character of the person bearing the name or the characteristics of the thing bearing the
name. The names Rome, New York, California, London conjure different images to different people but
they are the names of significant cities in the world whether because of historical, political, economic, social
importance etc.
The names of people like Abraham Lincoln, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Julius Caesar, Martin Luther,
John Wesley, Florence Nightingale, etc. are significant because of one achievement or the other.
However there is a name above EVERY NAME: the name of Jesus. His name is greater than EVERY
NAME whether of things (e.g. cities) or beings (e.g. men or angels), whether in heaven, on earth or
underneath the earth (Matthew 12:6,41,42; Hebrews 1:4). The greatest thing that any man can desire is
salvation and this is only possible through the name of Jesus. JESUS IS THE ONLY NAME THROUGH
WHICH THE SALVATION OF MAN IS POSSIBLE. There is no alternative. There is no other name.
THREE-FOLD GREATNESS OF CHRIST’S NAME
Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:31; 24:46,47; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:4; Isaiah 9:6; John 14:13; 15:16;
16:23,26; 20:31; Acts 3:6,16; 4:10; 16:18; Ephesians 5:20.
Christ has an excellent name – better and greater than those of Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Abraham, Noah, Abel,
Enoch, Elijah, Elisha, Samson, Samuel, Solomon, David, Angels, etc.
His name is the incomparable one. It is a name that is ABOVE EVERY NAME (Philippians 2:9).
Looking at the name of Jesus, we can consider the EXCELLENCIES of the name, EFFECTIVENESS of the
name and EXPLOITS through the name.
Some men are born great, others achieve greatness and others have greatness thrust upon them.
JESUS WAS ALL THE THREE! He was born great (Matthew 1:21), He achieved greatness (Philippians
2:5-11) and greatness was thrust on Him by inheritance (Hebrews 1:4).
That name Jesus has a three-fold effectiveness as well – in heaven, on earth and underneath the earth. This
covers every realm! EVERY KNEE bows to that name. EVERY TONGUE shall confess the greatness of
that name (Philippians 2:10).
The greatest exploit through that name is the salvation of lost mankind (Matthew 1:21; Luke 24:46,47; Acts
4:12; John 20:31; 14:6). There are other exploits that are possible through the name of Jesus (Mark 16:17;
John 14:13; 15:16; 16:23,26; Acts 3:6,16; 4:10; 16:18; Ephesians 5:20).
THRICE-HOLY GOD AND OUR CORRUPT NATURE
Isaiah 6:3,5; 64:6; Habakkuk 1:13; Deuteronomy 25:16; 2 Samuel 11:27; Psalm 5:4; 11:5; Proverbs 6:16-19;
Zechariah 8:17; Ephesians 5:5,6; Galatians 5:19-21.
God is holy and He wants man to be holy (1 Peter 1:15,16; Leviticus 11:45; Exodus 15:11; 1 Samuel 6:20;
Psalm 99:9; Luke 1:74,75; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14; 2 Peter 3:11; Matthew 5:8).
Christ was God manifest in the flesh and He was pure and holy (John 14:30; Hebrews 7:26,27; 4:14,15).
The angels of God are busy crying “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of His
glory” (Isaiah 6:3).
He is the thrice-holy God who is too pure to behold iniquity (Habakkuk 1:13; Deuteronomy 25:16; 2 Samuel
11:27; Psalm 5:4; 11:5; Proverbs 6:16-19; Zechariah 8:17; Ephesians 5:5,6; Galatians 5:19-21).
Prophet Isaiah can only cry “Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I
dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah
6:5).
If a saved Isaiah can cry like this, what must be the lamentation of the unsaved? If we can only see ourselves
in the light of God’s holiness, how filthy and corrupt must be the best of our righteousness. They must at
best be like filthy rags before God (Isaiah 64:6).
If we can only hear the angels’ contrasting refrain “Sinful, sinful, sinful, is fallen man: the whole earth is
full of his filthiness, iniquity, corruption, bestiality, immorality, unrighteousness, sin”.
God’s holiness contrasts very sharply with man’s unrighteousness and corrupt nature. Because of this, we
cannot walk with God (Amos 3:3). Man has been reduced to nothing, headed for doom and destruction.
TRANSFORMING GRACE THROUGH CHRIST’S NAME
Acts 4:12; Luke 24:46,47; John 14:6; 8:24; 20:31; 6:68; 1:17; 4:42; Ephesians 2:1-10; 1 Corinthians 3:11.
God does not want the death of the sinner (Ezekiel 33:11). God delights in fellowshipping with man (John
14:23; Revelation 3:20). However there is the barrier of sin. Sin has created an impediment and alienated us
from fellowshipping with God (Isaiah 59:1,2; Ephesians 4:18; 2:11,12; Colossians 1:21).
However we can experience transforming grace through the name of Jesus. We can pray in the name of
Jesus to receive salvation. We can call on the name of the Lord and be saved. Access to the Father is through
Christ and His name. We cannot come in any other name.
Consider the following scriptures together with their implications:
(1) “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE
FATHER, BUT BY ME” (John 14:6)
Irrespective of race, gender, education, social position, economic status, political condition, colour, age, etc.
“NO MAN cometh unto the Father BUT BY ME”. To reject coming to God through Christ is to be lost
forever. To neglect heeding this truth is to perish eternally.
(2) “NEITHER IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER: FOR THERE IS NONE OTHER NAME
under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12)
There is no salvation IN ANY OTHER no matter how sublime the religious philosophy they put across, no
matter how reasonable and supposedly universal and tolerant the creed.
(3) “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead
the third day: AND THAT REPENTANCE AND REMISSION OF SINS SHOULD BE PREACHED
IN HIS NAME AMONG ALL NATIONS, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46,47)
Repentance and remission of sins should be preached IN HIS NAME AMONG ALL NATIONS! Christ is
not only for the Jews, He is the Saviour of the WHOLE WORLD! (John 4:42). This breaks down all cultural
and national barriers. It is Christ FOR ALL NATIONS!
(4) “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that
believing YE MIGHT HAVE LIFE THROUGH HIS NAME” (John 20:31)
He alone has the saving message (John 6:68) and He alone has the life-giving name (John 20:31). To reject
Him is to abide in death and eternal damnation (John 8:24).