Acts 15:1-11 Gospel of Grace and Faith

Acts 15:1-11 Gospel of Grace and Faith

1-11
1. Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved."
2. This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
3. The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad.
4. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.
5. Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses."
6. The apostles and elders met to consider this question.
7. After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.
8. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.
9. He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.
10. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
11. No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."
  
  <The miracle of life in Thai cave> All are delighted, danced and moved.
  <The preacher caught in the Spirit>, the desire of soul salvation.

   There was a conflict in the Antioch church that circumcision was necessary for salvation (1, 5).
* Why conflict occurs?

The Jerusalem Council will solve this problem. The Pharisees claimed that the Gentiles should also be circumcised (1, 5).

Peter proclaims that circumcision is not necessary in the conditions of salvation by some words.

1) Peter's experience: God already heard the gospel to the Gentiles (Cornelius and his family) and made him believe in Jesus (7).

2) God gave the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles and gave them salvation (8).
3) God made the Gentiles to believe in Jesus without discrimination (9).

* Do I live gratefully that I, the Gentile, am thus saved?

Therefore, 1) Do not test God (10).
2) Do not burden the yoke to the Gentiles(others) (10).

3) Everyone is saved by the grace of God (11).

* Do I enjoy the freedom of knowing that I have been saved by the gospel of grace?

* Do not I try to burden yoke to others?

* What should you do to avoid being yoked? Do not try to heal others, but look at Jesus. Pray to Jesus for people with problems.

Prayer/We thank Jesus for grace and saving (Ephesians 2:8) without  condition. May I also remember this grace of God, and live a life that pleases the Lord who gives life and a life that witnesses Him. Amen.