Grace and Graciousness
Dear Pastor, Preacher, or Bible Teacher –
Here’s a brief thought from Acts 15. In verse one, we read
Certain men came down from Judea
and taught the brethren,
“Unless you are circumcised
according to the custom of Moses,
you cannot be saved.”
Some Jewish Christians came to the congregation in Antioch and taught that Gentiles could become Christians, but only after first becoming Jews, and submitting to all Jewish rituals, including circumcision.
Through Acts 15 there is a brilliant defense of the important truth that we are saved by the grace of Jesus and His grace alone – not by a combination of grace and obedience. The troublemakers who started all this trouble in the church at Antioch were corrected, and all came to agreement.
Here’s the thought: Acts 15 never mentions the names of these troublemakers. In verse 1 they are “certain men.” In verse 2 they are “them.” In verse 5 they are “some of the sect of the Pharisees.” In verse 24 they are “some who went out from us.”
The apostles battled for grace, and they were gracious to those in the wrong.
Of course, there is a time and place for calling people out by name; Paul did it on several occasions. But regarding these ones who were wrong and then corrected in Acts 15, God spared their names recorded for all eternity in His everlasting word.
As you battle for grace, never forget the principle of graciousness.
Blessings to you in Jesus’ Name – David Guzik
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We and They, Saved the Same Way
Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they. (Acts 15:10-11)
The apostles and leading men of the church gathered at Jerusalem to decide a controversial issue. Many Gentiles were coming to faith in Jesus, but some insisted that these Gentiles had to become Jews first, and then they could become followers of Jesus.
Peter, Paul, and other apostles argued strongly against this. Peter said they would test God if they brought the Gentiles under the law of Moses. It would be putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither their Jewish ancestors nor the Jewish people of his day were able to bear.
This is demonstrated by a survey of Israel’s history. At the birth of the nation at Mount Sinai, they broke the law by worshipping the golden calf. At the end of Old Testament history, they also broke the law by disregarding the Sabbath and marrying pagan women (Nehemiah 13). From beginning to end, Israel could not bear the yoke of the law.
This controversy was with some from the sect of the Pharisees who believed (Acts 15:5), and they made a critical mistake. They looked at Israel’s history under the law with eyes of nostalgia, not truth. If they had carefully and truthfully considered Israel’s failure under the law, they would not have been so quick to also put Gentiles under the law.
Paul made the same argument in Galatians 3:2-3. If the law does not save us, why would we return to it as the principle by which we live? Considering the finished work of Jesus, it offends God to go back to the law. So, Peter asked, “why do you test God?”
Peter concluded with the observation that it is through grace that all are saved – both Jew and Gentile – and not by obedience to the law. If we are made right with God by grace, then we are not saved by grace and law-keeping. In this, Peter also insisted there is only one way of salvation: We [Jews] shall be saved in the same manner as they [Gentiles]. Jewish Christians were not saved, even in part, by their law-keeping; they were made right with God the same way Gentiles were: Through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We would think that Peter would have said it the opposite way – that the Gentiles could find salvation just like the Jewish people. Yet Peter turned it around and noted that all are saved by grace alone through faith alone, Gentiles and Jews. Peter realized that the good news of salvation in Jesus – and not in ourselves and our obedience – is good news for everyone. We and they are saved the same way.
Have you received and trusted in this good news?
