What Right did
Peter Have to Make This Claim?
“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.” Acts 4:12
Repeating - In
some sense Peter is only expressing what he had heard Jesus say. For example, in John chapter 14, verse 6,
Jesus said “I am the [only] way, and the [only] truth, and the [only] life; no
one comes to the Father except through Me.” ([only] added for emphasis and to
more closely convey the original meaning)
Quite a claim; very narrow and totally exclusive. Taken on its own it could be disputed and
regarded as dubious and highly unlikely.
But considered in the context that it was spoken by the One who gave
sight to the blind, life to the dead, bread to the hungry and peace to a stormy
world, it must be taken quite seriously.
Remember as well, this was the same One who told a lame man that his
sins were forgiven and then lifted him to his feet to prove his ability not only
the heal the physical manifestation of sin in this world, but also the ability
to forgive that sin and remove the separation between us and God.
Peter knew it was one thing to make a claim, but quite extraordinary
to back it up with acts of love, compassion and concern for the condition of
those who heard Him.
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