Writing about life, leadership, faith, and anything else I find interesting.

Acts 15 - Grace Alone

 

Acts 15 is such a powerful chapter pressing heavy into the critical message of Grace Alone!

“Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” -‭‭Acts‬ ‭15:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This passage tells us that certain people were preaching and teaching you needed Jesus and something else. That grace was good, but not complete. This is a lie, and it must be eradicated. Jesus Christ is enough, and His Grace covers all. 

Peter had enough and pressed into this lie, and this is something we need to comprehend. I am not aware of any current Christ follower that is stuck on circumcision. However, don’t get stuck on that, think about other things that we as Christ-followers can get hung up on...all the non-essential beliefs. Worship style, alcohol consumption, tattoos, language, skin color, religion, acts of service, and so on and so forth. The list would be a mile long of things that we often want to add to the Grace of Jesus to be saved. Check out Peter’s response. 

“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. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between them and us, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” - ‭‭Acts‬ ‭15:7-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

On my, I love them and us language that Peter used to break down walls. Whenever you find yourself in them, and us discussion remember this, God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. This removes the barrier, the segregation of the great wall of division. There is no them and us; there is we because of the Grace of Jesus Christ. 

Grace abounds, and Jesus is enough. Grace alone! 



 
thoughtsTerry Storch