The ONE Salvation | Acts 2:14–41

Introduction:

Good Morning and Happy Easter. At the Godo Friday service we talked about the only thing good about friday is that Sunday is coming. Here we are. Since January we have been looking at God’s Faithfulness. We have seen that God contyinues to be faithful though we might not see what he is doing. There has been no greater showing of God’s faithfulness than in the death burrial and resurrection of Jesus. In the resurrection of Jesus we see that God is once and for all going to make it possible for his people to be in right relationship to him. Through the resurrection of Jesus we see what makes Jesus worhty to be the one salvation for all people. Now not everyone trusts that. That is why therre are so many different religions out there. So many people are trying to get to God. Im not going to assume that each and every one of you are trusting that Jesus is the only way to God but this text shows us what makes Jesus different than everything and everyone who tries to make us right in the eyes of God.

We must CALL on the NAME of the Lord for salvation.

Look at verse 14. Standing with the eleven. Lets stop here for a minute lets look at what is going on here. First, the disciples have seen Jesus and they saw him assencd to heaven. he tell sthem when he assends he is going to send the Holy Spirit. Here this is the day of penticost and they were in Jerusalem and there came this mighty wind. and the discples started talking in a language they didnt know and people started hearing the gosple for the first time in their language. this was amazing. THe ones standing by are like nope this is not going to happen. There is no explanation for this. They must be drunk. I mean any time you see anyone doing something that is crazy you try to explain it away. these men say they must be drunk. Peter stands up and says what its only 9 am. This is something greater this is what the prophet Joel talked about. This is the fulfilling of that scripture which says. one thing I want us to see here is that it doesnt say in the last days I will pour out my Spirit only on the preacher. and he will share the word of God. No he says he will pour it out on everyone! There are men who are set aside to preach and proclaim the gospel. but we are all called and equipped to share God’s word with people.

Sometimes I feel like im the only one that people trust to talk to their friends. Preacher please come talk to…. they dont konw Jesus. I want to say well have you told them? I understand its hard and i understand it might get awekward, but we are all called to share the Word fo God. The time is now and time is running out my loved ones and your loved might not ever come in contact with a preacher but they will you. The time is running out. look at verse 19 –20 Wonders, signs, blood , and fire, vapor of smoke the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood. this has the visual of destruction. Of the smultering after a battle. This could be the visual while Jesus was on the cross he was defeating sin and then death. But this can also mean when Jesus comes back in that great and magnificant day. Which means that there will be a battle and that battle will be a land slide and God will be the victor. The end is coming. So what are we to do?! verse 21 call upon the name of the Lord.

These people would have been like yep I call to God and HE will save me. yes but you have to come to God on his terms you cant come to him anyway you want and him save you. See thats what somany people do they try to get to God through other religions. Being better, serving people, getting over themselves and finding this place of contentment. Peter understands that these people are close but not there. see there are people all over who are close but they are not there. They need to know where salvation can be found. and its not in being better. Its not in doing more. Its not in trusting in this ritual or praying to that person. Peter elaberats on what he is talking about look at verse 22.

Jesus is the only ONE who can save.

Peter is saying without flinching and without doubt and full of confidence. Calling on the name of the Lord is calling on Jesus. He is the one who was attested to by God. remember the works he did remember the miricles remember when he healed the blind man remember when he raised Lazerus from the dead. Those were acts of God that Jesus did. he is different. he says you saw these acts you were witnesses. This is only like 50 days after the death of Jesus. SOme of these peopel where there and were some of the ones choosing Barabbas over Jesus. he says you saw this. This same Jesus that was delivered up by you the jews. but it was according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God. you crusified and killed by the hands of lawless men. Peter is telling them it was God’s plan for Jesus to be the savior of the world. but it was their fake trial and their selfishness that sent jesus to the cross. Peter as bold as he can is saying yep that Jesus, you killed he is the name that you must call on. But wait is this the same Peter that a few weeks ago is denying jesus? he denied Jesus to a guard but now he is standing up for the whole world to hear and he doesnt care what will happen. How can he do that? He knows now that there is nothign that anyone can do to him, why? because this Jesus that they killed God raised from the dead. Death could not hold him. This was predicted by David. They were thinking this was David writing about himself. but Peter says no I can say with confidence that David is still dead and His grave is still full. But there is one grave that is not full today there is one grave that is empty. There is one dead that God did not leave dead. There is one body that has not seen corruption. The one is Jesus. He is the only one that was dead and is alive today. He is the only one the dead couldnt hold. The fact that Jesus is alive today makes him the one that is worthy of us to follow. I love what Frank Turek says when asked about what makes Jesus worthy to follow. He says you show me someone else that claims to be God and dies and has been raised from the dead and Ill lsiten to them. All otehr graves are full. All other good leaders and powerful speaker are dead. ambraham, isaac, david Joshua and all before they were not worthy of us to follow. why because they are not Jesus.

This is great information. But it still falls short. The fact that Jesus is alive thats great but that still doesnt worrant Peter to stand boldy as he did, and not care. Sure he knew that since Jesus defeted death and when he places his faith in him then death has no grip on him as well. But that doenst give him strength and boldness here. then what does? veres 33 Jesus being exalted at the right hand of God, having recieved the promise of the Holy Spirit he has poured

Jesus is the only ONE who has power.

Peter has power and boldnes because Jesus has deafeted death noone can do one thing to him but send him to heaven thats awesome. But Jesus told him that he has all power and that he needs to be his witness to Jerusalme judea samaria and to the ends fo the earth. Peter knew that there were people who needed to know that Jesus was their nmeans of salvation and he was going to tell them. Jesus is the only one that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Thats what makes him worthy of us to follow.

What shall we do?

Repent and be Baptized