GRACE AND THE LAW Our reading today moves to Acts 15-16. These chapters show the early church’s initial struggles to preserve the purity of the gospel against early form of legalism or moralism. This early form of legalism viewed the law as a means to salvation. The early church, led by its leaders stood against it, passionately, relentlessly. They insisted that sinners are saved by grace alone, freely, not with human aid. Salvation from first to last is by grace - nothing more, nothing less. Salvation is not by the law, neither is it by grace + the law. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, by Christ alone. Reading these chapters warns us about compromising this truth. In Acts 15, we read that some Christians, with Jewish background, demanded that Gentiles who have turned to Christ should keep the law, particularly, circumcision as a prerequisite to membership in the church. Peter opposed these requirements arguing that no one, including themselves have succeeded in keeping these commands. To require it to Gentile believers would then be very wrong. He then points out how the Gentiles received the Holy Spirit as a gift, just as they received the gift. This proves God’s acceptance of the Gentiles - God receives them by his grace, apart from he law. The apostle says the same thing here. Although he sounds more mellow, compared to his scathing and damming remarks in Galatians, he speaks clearly. Legalism has no place in the gospel. Legalism is not the gospel. It denies the gospel. Legalism is opposed to the gospel. In Acts 16, however we read something different. Paul personally circumcised Timothy, a Gentile believer, so he could be part of his team serving the gospel to people. Here we see how the gospel really works. When the law is demanded to be obeyed as a prerequisite to salvation, Paul and Peter stood fiercely opposing such attempts. However when circumcision became a stumbling block for ministry, he willingly embraced it. He knew he was not bound by this law. He knew it had nothing to do with his salvation, or his gospel of salvation. But when it was needed to help in the preaching of the gospel, when the salvation of others is on the line, when the praise of God is at stake, he gladly complied. Let us lived balanced lives dear ones. You will love the gospel. You will rejoice in it. You will gladly obey it to please the Lord Jesus.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 03:27:52 +0000
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