Acts 15: 11 March 13, 2014

Gloria Eberhart              

Acts 15: 11            

March 13, 2014

No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are. (NIV)

When a dispute arose in the early church concerning Gentile believers, Paul and Barnabas traveled to Jerusalem to discuss a resolution with the leaders there. The preceding passage was one of the responses from the Jerusalem Council affirming that we are all saved by grace and not by laws. 

Even from its earliest beginnings, humans have tried to bend church’s teachings to their will sometimes forgetting the wonderful, freely given grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus taught that mere humans cannot attain heaven by our own actions; i.e., adhering to the law as given to us in the Old Testament. That does not mean that we should ignore the life lessons and moral teaching of the law. Jesus didn’t say to put aside all those teachings. He did say that He brings a new commandment that we love one another as He loves us.  

As controversy arises in the church today, we would be well advised to cling to the God-given grace assured by Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection, remembering that “we believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved . . . “

Prayer:  Thank you, Jesus, for loving us just as we are and help us in our striving to do your will.  Amen.