Acts 15-16

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2015-16&version=ESV


In Acts chapter 15, we come to one of the most important events in the early Church, the Jerusalem Council.

At this council, some of the believers said that the Gentiles needed to be circumcised in order to be saved.

Now, we in the 21st Century Church, for the most part know that we are saved by grace through faith, but in the early church they were still fleshing this out.

Peter addresses the council, with a memorable speech where he says:

..."Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you,^U)"> that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear^V)"> the word of^W)"> the gospel and believe. ⁸And God,^X)"> who knows the heart,^Y)"> bore witness to them,^Z)">by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, ⁹and^AA)"> he made no distinction between us and them,^AB)"> having cleansed their hearts^AC)"> by faith. ¹⁰Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test^AE)"> by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples^AF)"> that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? ¹¹But we believe that we will be saved through^AI)"> the grace of the Lord Jesus,^AJ)"> just as they will."
(Acts 15:7-11)

So, the Jews and Gentiles recognized each others status as being saved on the basis on the grace of God, and not on circumcision, works", etc...

As we move to chapter 16, we see this evidenced when the Philippian jailer asks Paul what he must do to be save, and Paul replies:

..."Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you^EH)"> and your household." (Acts 16:31)

By God's grace we are born again to place our faith in Christ. By God's grace we have the gift of believing in him.

Thank God to day for the grace he has bestowed upon you and your life.

"⁸For^Q)"> by grace you have been saved^R)"> through faith. And this is not your own doing;^T)"> it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8)

Soli Deo Gloria.

Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.