Faith in Jesus

THE SETTING OF OUR KEY Verse is the healing of a lame man, one of the first post-Pentecostal miracles. This healing is made all the more dramatic by the knowledge that the man had been disabled since his birth. He was not an accomplice previously planted in the crowd to stage a healing. This miracle was genuine. In his exuberant joy the healed man went about leaping, praising God, and clinging to Peter and John in deep gratitude.—Acts 3:1-8

The crowds of people, who had known the lame man all his life, began to gather around Peter and John. These men were wonderful miracle workers, imbued with supernatural power. Peter immediately gave credit to God, as he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus. … But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and … put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.”—vss. 12-15, NASB

With these words, and continuing in our Key Verse, Peter testified in truth that it was through Jesus that this man was healed. Faith in Jesus’ name was the critical element in this miracle, in order that he might be established as our great High Priest, Author of our faith, and Savior of mankind. Thus Jesus was put forward to the people, as the newly formed Christian Church would be founded upon him, and no other. “No man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”—I Cor. 3:11, NASB

The Scriptures state: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” (Acts 4:12; Gal. 3:26) Indeed, faith in Jesus is essential, yet not all people have accepted the name of Jesus as their Savior in the present life. What will become of them?

Peter, continuing with his sermon, spoke of the time when Jesus would return and begin the work of restoring the whole human family. “And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”—Acts 3:20,21

It is then that three mighty Biblical doctrines will be displayed in full power—Ransom, Resurrection, and Restitution. Jesus’ ransom will provide for the resurrection of every human being that has ever lived, and the opportunity for full restitution to life. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:9-11) We look forward to that time when all will have faith in Jesus, and confess his name.