We should never let anything or anyone, for that matter, take our attention away from Jesus, because He is the only hope we have to please God and fulfill His purpose for us. Jesus is everything we need for life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3 NIV). This is why the Father says of Him, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt 3:17). Nothing outside Jesus pleases God. This is why it is worthless to attempt to meet God’s requirement of acceptance, apart from Jesus: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved”” (Acts 4:12). There is no salvation in any other person, but Jesus.
“Salvation”, as used above, is the English translation of the Greek word “soteria.” This word means the following, among other things: rescue, deliverance, and safety. We can safely say that it is the summary of the benefits God offers us through His redemptive names. Just in case you do not know them, they are the following, in no particular order: Jehovah-Shamma, Jehovah-Shalom, Jehovah-Ra-ah, Jehovah-Jireh, Jehovah-Nissi, Jehovah-Tsidkenu and Jehovah-Rapha. The respective meaning of these redemptive names of God is beyond the scope of this article. Suffice it to say, however, that their collective meaning captures the Biblical concept of salvation (soteria). The name “Jesus” is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew name “Joshua” which means, “God saves.” So in Jesus, we have the salvation of God in its perfection.
As the perfect sacrifice for our sins, Jesus is the only mediator between God and humanity: “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,” (1Tim 2:5). This is why “…there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved”” (Acts 4:12). Jesus is the only way to the Father (Jn 14:6). We have no access to the Father without Him. Jesus is God’s perfect and timeless solution to every human problem. Hence, the Bible says, “And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.” (Lk 6:19). It is important to remember that the age, gender, ethnic, and intellectual composition of the multitude in question must have been as varied as representative of any motley crowd. Yet, in spite of the naturally peculiar and even unique problems of the people, who made up that crowd, Jesus HEALED THEM ALL. No one’s problem was beyond God’s solution for him or her through Christ Jesus, hallelujah!
Therefore, in the words of Paul the apostle, we should seek to “be found in Him, not having my [our] own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith” (Philip 3:9). It is your faith in Jesus that impresses God and not your attempt please Him in any other way. Shalom.
