Through Grace

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

THROUGH GRACE

Acts 15:5-11

5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses."

6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

NIV

There it is, the confession the law could not be kept to perfection. Paul, although he has said that he is a Hebrew of Hebrews, in regard to the law, from the tribe of Benjamin, circumcised on the eighth day, a Pharisees as for zeal, he was not in favor of Gentiles having to be circumcised. So, the question was presented to the apostles and elders. Peter is the one who makes the case for the Gentiles not having to meet those requirements. It is interesting how he points out that God made no distinction between the Jews and the Gentiles. Anyone can have their heart purified by faith in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Once again, we see that God does not show favoritism. This should clear up any issue about being chosen, or about being among a special group of people. John made that just as clear when he said that God so loved the world, which was no a specific group of people, such as the Jews, but the whole of his creation, all mankind is loved by God so much that he sent his Son to be the sacrifice for all our sins, to redeem us and thus anyone can have their heart purified through faith in Jesus. It is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved. There is no salvation in the law, in traditions of men, or through denominational requirements. Salvation is due only to the gracious act of God, yet while we were still sinners, Christ died to free us from the penalty of that sin. How can we ever be good enough? Peter knew not one Jews was able to perfectly keep the law, so why should that law be placed on other men? We should learn this lesson and not put requirements upon others that we are most likely not able to keep. Oh, some have their lists of do’s and don’ts and make every effort to be a good Christian, which is a strange sort of title. It seems like a double positive. What makes a good Christian? Can one be saved by grace better than another? Can abiding by a certain number of do’s make us good? Can abstaining from certain don’ts make us good? It seems to us the only name we can go by is, Christian, as we are followers of Christ. Of course, we are going to go through a transformation as we walk with the Lord. Yes, we will change certain behaviors and even attitudes as we try to live in accordance with the truth. But the fact is that we are never going to be good enough. We are saved by grace, and we live by faith. That is all any of us can do, so let us not place a burden of rules and regulations on anyone.