In Acts 4 the religious leaders had Peter and John arrested because they were preaching the resurrection of Jesus, calling people to repentance and faith in Him as the Messiah and Savior.  The religious leaders severely threatened them, commanding them that from that point forward they were not to speak to anyone in the name of Jesus or preach about Him.  The Jewish leaders could accept ordinary and familiar talk of God, but any reference to Jesus, God in the flesh, the crucified and risen Savior from sin, would not be tolerated.

 In response Peter and John said this, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than God, you judge . . . There is salvation is none other (than Jesus), for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."  To fail to preach in the name of Jesus would be to deny God and the truth of salvation.

 In many ways, we are faced today with a similar threat.  To be sure, no one is demanding that we stop using the name of Jesus (though people do seem to be much more comfortable with generic "God" talk than with God-in-the-flesh Jesus talk).  But there is one thing that our society won't tolerate, and that is the statement of Peter above, namely, that there is salvation in no one else but Jesus, and that all other ways and religions, therefore, lead away from salvation to damnation.  Such a belief is considered arrogant and intolerant.  We are supposed to be inclusive and tolerant of all beliefs, they say.

 But how can we be tolerant of what is spiritually dangerous and untrue?  How is it caring to tell our neighbor that his rejection of the Savior is OK?  A god by any other name is not the true God.  Jesus Himself said "He who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me." (Luke 10:16)

 If we believe these words, then we will unashamedly and boldly speak the name of Jesus to our neighbor–that though we deserve death and hell because of our rebellion against God in thought, word, and deed, Jesus suffered death and hell for us on the cross, shedding His divine blood to make full payment for our sins and rising on the third day to conquer death and all evil.  Through faith in Jesus we receive life with the Father as a free gift.  Baptized in Jesus' name, our names are written in heaven.  Truly, "there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."