Sola Christus - In Christ Alone Series

Solus Christus - Christ Alone

Acts 4:12

Pastor Jefferson M. Williams

Chenoa Baptist Church

10-27-19

Christ Alone

This morning we continue our series, Foundations of the Faith, by looking at the fourth “Sola” - Solus Christus - Christ Alone.

As Protestants, we believe that the Bible alone (Sola Scriptura) is our foundation and norm for Christian faith and practice. In the pages of this inspired, sufficient, inerrant, infallible, immutable, invincible Word of Almighty God, we learned that it is by grace alone (sola gratis) through faith alone (sola fide) we are saved.

All three main branches of Christianity, Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant, agree that Jesus is central to our salvation. But what separates us from the others is that little Latin word, “Sola” - Alone.

Catholics would say that our salvation is in Christ “et” (and) baptism, sacraments, confession, attendance at mass, penance, and other good works.

As Protestants, we affirm that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

As we said last week, Jesus + nothing = everything.

If you would turn in your Bibles to Acts chapter 4, starting in verse 7.

Prayer

Peter’s Proclamation

In Acts three, Peter and John were going up to the Temple at the time of prayer - three in the afternoon. There was a man who had been lame from birth that begged at the gate called Beautiful. When we asked Peter and John for money, they responded in a way that changed his life:

“Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.  When all the people saw him walking and praising God,  they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.” (Acts 3:6-11)

All the people were astounded and rushed to Solomon’s colonnade. Peter began to explain the Gospel to them. Members of the ruling council were there and became highly agitated. They had Peter and John arrested and held in jail over night.

The next day, they were brought before the religious rulers and asked, “By what power or what name did you do this?” (Acts 4:7)

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said:

 “Rulers and elders of the people!  If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed,  then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.  Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:7-12)

Peter doesn’t hold back and tells them that it is in the name of Jesus, whom you crucified but God raised from the dead, that this man was healed.

He then quotes Psalm 118:22 affirming that “the stone you builders rejected, has become the cornerstone.”

But it is last words of this mini-sermon that we will focus on today:

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

I’m thankful to Dr. Steven Lawson and Matthew Barrett for help with the outline this week.

We are going to look at the priority of salvation, the exclusivity of salvation, and the necessity of salvation.

The Priority of Salvation

Peter, an uneducated fisherman, stands fearlessly in front of the most important religious leaders of his day and says that salvation is the greatest need of their soul.

It’s no different today. Our greatest need is not more self-esteem or more money or more popularity. Our greatest need is salvation.

I hope the last few weeks are coming together for you.

Two weeks ago, we studied Ephesians 2 and learned we were dead in our sins, we were defiant in our souls, and we were doomed to hell.

Last week, we began by looking at Romans 3 and discovered that there is “no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

Because of our sin, we were separated from God and were hopeless and helpless to save ourselves. No amount of good works could repair the breach in our relationship with God.