There are so many name brand products that you know—you hear and read a lot about them. For most name brand products (medicines, foods, beverages, paper goods, etc., etc.) there are generic brands that are similar to their name brand counterparts, but you don’t generally see or hear the generics advertised. The greatest appeal of generic brands is that they do not cost as much. While the generics may be similar to the name brand, they are not identical, and the careful consumer can distinguish easily between “the real thing” and the imitations.
While the following falls short of being perfectly parallel with the above illustration, the point is the same. There is the “name brand” which is “the real thing” and then there are the imitations, and they are certainly not the same.
After being arrested for healing a lame man and preaching the gospel, Peter and John were asked on trial before the Jewish council, “…By what name have you done this?” (Acts 4:7). Peter had already answered this question at least twice before they were arrested. To the lame man at the gate of the temple he had said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” (3:6). Later, when they were preaching on Solomon’s porch, Peter had proclaimed, “And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know” (3:16). So, when the Sanhedrin asked, “By what name,” the answer had already been given, but Peter was not ashamed to announce it again—“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” (4:10). Notice that Peter did not offer some generic response of a power or name that was similar to “the real thing.” He didn’t point to some imitation that was pretty close.
Then, Peter concluded his remarks with this definitive statement, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (4:12). In that one affirmation of divine truth, the Scripture condemns all religious groups, “churches” and doctrines that do not conform to the name, authority and pattern of Christ.
Would you trust your soul’s salvation to some imitation or generic brand? Or is Christ your only authority?