The Law or Grace

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

THE LAW OR 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

We find it interesting that there were believers who still ascribed to the Pharisees' party. Without going into extreme depth of all their religious beliefs, the Pharisees adhered to the Torah as well as oral traditions. They did believe in the resurrection and an afterlife, and they practiced ritual purity and dietary laws. It is difficult to see how someone who became a follower of Jesus, a believer, could still ascribe to the Pharisaical ideas of Jewish life. Yet, they were the ones who insisted the Gentiles should be circumcised and obey the law of Moses, in essence, become a Jew. How can a believer feel that others should follow the law when they cannot follow it perfectly? Peter, one who is filled with the Spirit, made it clear that God does not show favoritism and considers all men, Jews and Gentiles, equal. God makes no distinction between all his creation, as he pours out his Spirit on all people. Of course, the Gentiles chose to accept the word of God, turn from their idols to the One True God, accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. It is by grace and grace alone that they were saved, and that applies to our lives as well. Once we have been freed from the yoke of bondage, we should not put another yoke or burden of slavery on ourselves by trying to live under some kind of law, rules, or regulations we think make us holy or righteous. We should take upon the yoke of Jesus and learn from him, for he is gentle and humble of heart. Let us live within the grace of God, loving and learning from Jesus. There is nothing that we can do that would make us more holy or more righteous than the grace of God has already done. Because by faith we are saved and not by work lest any of us can boast. Why do some still want the works to define their lives? Why do some want to boast about how holy or righteous they are? Are we not all sinners who are saved by grace? Sure, we want to live to please the Lord. Sure, we want to do the right things and abstain from evil. But some have almost gone the way of the Pharisees, believing in a set of laws we must abide by to be a "Good Christian." Let us not burden ourselves with the yoke of the law, but let us live as followers of Jesus. It is either the law or grace, not both.