The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 4:5, 7-12, “And it came about on the next day, that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem… 7 And when they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people,
9 if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well,
10 let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead– by this name this man stands here before you in good health.
11 “He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the very corner stone.
12 “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.”

Have you ever heard of a surgeon being sued for performing a successful surgery? That would be
absurd! But that’s the equivalent to the accusation of these religious leaders were bringing against Peter and John. The crippled man had been healed, and all these religious leaders were concerned only with how the healing took place. Some today parallel this stupidity by majoring on the minor details instead of rejoicing over the benefit.

Notice that Peter did not speak to their argument; instead, he relied on the Holy Spirit’s guidance. His words were bold and Spirit-directed. When we trust Jesus Christ as our LORD and Savior, the Holy Spirit takes residency within us. He does not come and go; rather, He is permanently within us. And He speaks through us as we relinquish our minds to Him. Thus, it is the Spirit indwelling Peter who boldly proclaims the Name of Jesus as the “spiritual surgeon.” It is He who healed the crippled man. And it is the Holy Spirit who charges the religious leaders with having crucified Jesus and credits God the Father with having raised Jesus from the dead.

Many strange things occur in all of our lives –things we often credit to “good fortune” or “good luck.” Yet, the Spirit, speaking through Peter, avows that salvation in no one, but Jesus. It is He alone, “by whom we must be saved.” It’s not how righteously we live or what church we attend or how much money we give to the needs of others –none of these things accrue to our credit before Almighty God. Only faith in the LORD Jesus Christ, who died as the Father’s Sacrifice for our sins, and arose to life again—only Jesus assures our salvation. Those who have trusted Him, stand by the Spirit’s words through Peter: There is no other way.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom