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Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

Contemporary Testimony: In a world estranged from God, where happiness and peace are offered in many names and millions face confusing choices, we witness-with respect for followers of other ways-to the only one in whose name salvation is found: Jesus Christ. In Jesus, God reconciles the world to himself. God loves all creation; his compassion knows no bounds (42).

What do you think our text means? Here it is again, Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. What is being said here?

My first thought was this: the only way to get sins forgiven and to get into heaven is through faith in Jesus Christ. I suspect that many of you had similar thoughts.

But then I wondered if this is correct, so I read the context. Acts 3 & 4 is one narrative, which begins with the delightful story of Peter and John healing a lame man. Thus, we sing that wonderful ditty, \u201che went walking and leaping and praising God.\u201d

Peter went on to tell the gathering crowd about Jesus Christ. He called on them to repent of their sins trusting that, as promised, God was going to restore all things. For this Peter and John were arrested. The next day they were brought before the Jewish leadership body, who wanted to know by what power they had healed the man? Our text is part of their defense.

Peter understands this healing as a demonstration of the salvation that Jesus is bringing to this world. Certainly, forgiveness of sins and entrance into heaven are part of it; yet, in the Bible salvation always seems to be more. Its wholistic. It\u2019s the whole universe, \u2018all things\u2019 are restored within God\u2019s salvation.

With the environment and democracy unravelling somewhat before our eyes, we need this reminder. A narrow understanding of salvation allows us to be uninvolved in society. It says that this world doesn\u2019t really matter. But this is simply not true. As the Testimony says so succinctly, \u201cIn Jesus, God reconciles the world to himself.\u201d

This echoes Colossians 1, \u201cFor God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in [Jesus], and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross\u201d (19, 20). If God cares for all things, so must we. Our proclamation of salvation must be as broad and far reaching as God\u2019s reconciliation.

Belligerent and angry are two adjectives often associated with Christian evangelists. On many occasions, we have not been nice people and our strategies of evangelism have done more harm than good. The Testimony offers us a better way forward. It says, \u201cGod loves all creation, and his compassion knows no bounds.\u201d Surely this allows us to respect people of other faiths, rather than tearing them down and seeing them as the enemy. The manner and attitude in which we proclaim salvation matters.

Peter says, \u201cSalvation is found in no one else\u201d? Do we believe this? 2000 years after Christ\u2019s ascension and in light of the mess the church has often caused, its not so easy to believe. But this is the heart of our faith: God is reconciling all things through Christ. If we believe this to be true, then we can engage in our society and with winsome tones tell the story of our Redeemer.