“There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:11

I was on my way home from preaching a funeral one afternoon and passed a church with a sign that read:

Pastor: Jesus Saves

I was amused thinking what a great name for a pastor, “Rev. Jesus Saves.” The message is clear. Over the years, I’ve had a few fellow Christians give their personal testimony and they would include, “Remember how you saved me?” I know that what they really meant was that I was the one to point to (and lead them through) the plan of salvation. But only Jesus saves.

Some people rely upon other people believing that the pastor or their parents saved them. Others think that their good works saved them – by doing enough good things. Still others think that a lack of extreme sins will save them: “I didn’t do anything real bad so I’m sure that I must be saved.” This is the story of so many that church attendance, baptism, membership, etc., will save them.

When the world needed deliverance from sin (to be saved), Jesus comes along; the man who knew freedom from sin and took the penalty for our sin. That is what the cross is all about. On the cross Jesus took the punishment that sinners deserved and freed us from the consequences of sin. Because Jesus accepted the sentence of death that we deserved, in Christ we are free from the penalty of sin.

And we must call upon Him for our salvation. John 3:16 says it so clearly, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth upon Him should not perish but have ever-lasting life [be saved].”

Bro. Larry