International Gospel Hour

Guest (Male): Concerning Jesus Christ our Savior, listen friends, there is salvation in none other. Therein we stand, and our study within. Coming up from the International Gospel Hour, please stay with us.

Jay Webb: Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, Churches of Christ have proclaimed God's word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archey of International Gospel Hour. Let's begin.

Jeff Archey: Thank you to our Jay Webb. Greetings and hello everyone. Great having you with us once again for our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. We've been on the air since 1934. Can you imagine? How grateful we are that we remain on the air because of individuals just like yourselves who are seeking truth and who want to learn more every day.

Let's begin with Acts chapter four. I am going to read the first 12 verses. What a wonderful account. If you recall, back in chapter three, the lame man at the gate was healed. Now as Peter and John are speaking to the people, verse one, the priest, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

And they laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. However, many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to be about 5,000. It came to pass on the next day that their rulers, elders, scribes, as well as Annas, the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

When they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel, if we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man stands here before you whole.

This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Friends, talk about a powerful text. When they could not deny the man was healed, he was leaping and walking, praising God, as we see back in chapter three. They could not argue the man was healed. They even asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?"

Then Peter just simply said, "By the name of Jesus, whom you crucified," which they did. Look at the lineup that was there back in verses five and six, those that had a part in the crucifixion of Christ. They knew what they did. They also knew his tomb was empty. Remember, they paid people to say that they came by night and stole the body. Whom God raised from the dead, by him this man stands here before you whole. Then they proclaimed there is salvation in no other name.

Friends, I want us to talk today about the salvation that is subject to Christ. I want us to think about that in a moment. We're going to be looking at Hebrews two as well as Ephesians five. Before we do that, friends, we are greatly encouraged here at International Gospel Hour to share a number of tools with you. One tool that we find of great help is to do what we call Bible time. That is where each day the family will get together and they will do what we call Bible time to teach Bible lessons and for children to learn about the Bible. We've got an excellent tract. I will just defer to our Jay Webb and let him tell you about it and how you can receive it.

Jay Webb: "You Can Do Bible Time" is an excellent tract to help your family take time each day with the Bible. Some practical ideas and Bible lessons are available. To receive this free tract, please call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name and address or your email and just say, "Bible Time." We will mail it or email it, whichever you prefer. Again, 855-444-6988 and leave your name and address or your email and just say, "Bible Time," and we will get it to you soon.

Jeff Archey: With salvation in no other name, then friends, let our salvation be subject unto Christ. Hebrews chapter 2:14-15 says, "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared in the same, that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death, that is the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."

It is through the death of Christ that people are released. Our salvation must be subject unto Christ. Let's keep this thought when we go to Ephesians five. In verse 32, Paul gives the summary here that I speak concerning Christ and the church. He is speaking concerning salvation and being in Christ through this text. Go back up to verse 15 of Ephesians five. He says at verse 17, "Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

Friends, if our salvation is to be subject to Christ, if our salvation is of Christ and none other, then we need to understand the will of the Lord. What does he want me to do? In verse 25 of Ephesians five, this is where Paul uses the marriage of man and woman to teach concerning Christ and the church. Verse 25: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her, that he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that he might present her to himself, a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish."

When one is saved, the salvation is subject unto Christ. Not only is one sanctified and cleansed with the washing of water by the word as we see there in verse 26, but also the Lord wants to present her to himself, a glorious church. He wants people to walk with faithful lives, the sin that is washed away that continues to be addressed through the blood of Jesus Christ, First John 1:7 and following, no spots nor wrinkle or any such thing, but be holy and without blemish, set apart for his will and his way.

Now we come to verse 24. "Therefore just as the church is subject to Christ," there it is. The church is comprised of the saved, Acts 2:47. What we obeyed, we continue to stand therein. What saved us, we stand in it. Paul said the same thing to the Corinthians in First Corinthians 15:1-4, the obedience to the gospel of Christ. As we think about that word subject, that is primarily a military term. We've talked about this on other broadcasts. It means to rank or line up under.

When you dig into the Greek, it means under or to arrange. We arrange our lives under Christ of whom we are subject. What he did for us to obey, we continue to walk faithful for him. Also it means to yield to one's admonition or advice, to lovingly defer. I am going to yield my thinking to the thinking of Christ. I am going to lovingly defer to him because he is going to help me live a better life than I can do for myself.

Friends, when you think about salvation as subject to Christ, how beautiful and wonderful a thought. Think about it for a moment. Should our hearing and learning be subject to Christ as far as salvation goes? Absolutely. We need to, as Jesus said in Matthew 15, hear and understand. We need to also hear so that we will know. The eunuch in the chariot said, "How can I understand except some man should guide me," Acts chapter eight. We need to hear and understand, and we see that clear.

Should our faith be subject to Christ? Yes. Jesus commanded it in John 8:24. Hebrews 11 verse six says for without faith it is impossible to please him. Should our repentance be subject to Christ? Absolutely. He is the one that commanded it, Luke 13:3-5, as well as Luke 24:44-47. That is why it was preached on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2:38. That is why Peter said that those should repent in Second Peter 3 and verse nine.

Should our confessing of Christ be in subject under him? Of course. As our faith is brought forth, with the heart man believes unto righteousness, with the mouth confession is made unto salvation, Romans 10:10. Friends, then I would submit to you that our salvation and our baptism be subject under Christ. He commanded it upon faith, Mark 16:16, he that believes and is baptized shall be saved. Our faithful walk should be subject under Christ, just like we noted in Ephesians five, as well as Revelation 2 and verse 10, to be faithful unto death and he will grant a crown of life.

Friends, our salvation must be subject under Christ. Think about your salvation. Is it? Before we depart today, friends, we want to help you toward that end. We want to send you a free study material, a free study booklet. Here is our Jay Webb with the details about how you can receive "God and Man."

Jay Webb: "God and Man: How to Be Saved from Sin" is another free study available. It's yours for the asking. Call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, "God and Man." Or you can go to our website at InternationalGospelHour.com, click on the contact tab, and leave us the same information: name, address, and type "God and Man" in the message box. We will send it soon.

Jeff Archey: And friends, indeed we will. We will send it to you very soon because our salvation is subject to Christ. Let's do it right. Thanks for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour. I am Jeff Archey, and friends, keep listening.

Jay Webb: Thank you for listening to our broadcast today, and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God's word. Please join us next time and visit our website at InternationalGospelHour.com.