Tag: grace alone
Saved by grace alone, through faith alone!
Scripture reading for February 13th: Acts 15, Psalm 31, Proverbs 31
Acts 15:5-11 “But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.” The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the Word of the Gospel and believe. And God, Who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did to us, and He made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.””
The religious people who love rules and control often cause trouble in the church. They have their rules that seem right, but are not really God’s rules. In this chapter of Acts, a dispute arose among Jewish believers about application of circumcision and keeping the law of Moses. The question was debated by the apostles and elders. Peter, once a devout Jew, gave his observations as did Paul, a former Pharisee, who ministered to the Gentiles and God worked miracles through him to draw many to salvation. These pillars of the early church came to a unified decision: All men, Jew or Gentile, are saved by the grace of God through simply believing the Gospel and responding with repentance. This dispute was settled peacefully through seeking the mind of God and the confirmation of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Psalm 31:19-20 “Oh, how abundant is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You and worked for those who take refuge in You, in the sight of the children of mankind! In the cover of Your presence You hide them from the plots of men; you store them in Your shelter from the strife of tongues.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You that You pray for all believers and are for us when we need to work out our salvation. Your abundant goodness is displayed to all Your called-out people, Jew or Gentile. Your simple plan to give grace to all who by faith believe the Gospel of Your Son has been passed down for generations. Use me to continue this process for my kids and those in my generation.
Proverbs 31:8-9 “Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
Crucified and Risen with Christ!
Scripture reading for November 30th: Galatians 1-6
I hate legalism! Some people, calling themselves Christians, make rules for how we must live and judge others by how they do or do not keep their rules. Some think that they are right to condemn others for the length of their hair, wearing make-up, or certain clothes. Some judge others for having tattoos or body piercing . Others are thrown out if they don’t believe in eternal security or baptism in the name of Jesus only. The religious police are always out enforcing their version of “true” Christianity!
The Apostle Paul dealt with some people who tried to add the Old Testament Law to faith in Christ. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul taught that any addition to the Gospel of salvation by grace through faith was no Gospel at all! (Galatians 1:6-7) Paul warned these believers that anyone, even an angel from heaven, who preached another Gospel should be eternally condemned! (Galatians 1:8-9) It was serious business because it affected eternal salvation!
This mixing of law and grace even affected Peter and Barnabas some 14 years after Paul’s conversion. Paul found Peter withdrawing from the Gentiles and eating only with the Jewish believers who were teaching that circumcision was needed as well as faith. (Galatians 2:11-16) Paul rebuked Peter in front of them all for their hypocrisy! They had given in to peer pressure and false teaching and moved away from the Gospel given them by Christ. If it could happen to Peter the Apostle and Barnabas, it could happen to us!
Paul made a declaration of faith as he tried to counter these false teachers. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing.” (Galatians 2:20-21)
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not earthly things. for you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-3