Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 49

April 14;   Acts 15:11;   104/260(VI);   ‘Grace Not the Law’

Acts 15:11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

Paul and Barnabas were in Jerusalem reporting to the Church all that the Lord had done through their ministry to the gentiles.  Some religious leaders and Pharisees contended that unless the gentiles were circumcised and kept the Law they could not be saved.  Peter stood and refuted what these religious leaders said.  Peter said they should not put ‘a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear (v10).’  In essence, Peter was saying, how can we ask the gentiles to keep the Law which none of us can keep.  Peter understood that the Law, the Ten Commandments, was given to clearly teach us that we were sinners.  This was done not to condemn us, but rather to show us that we needed help to regain a relationship with the Lord.  He went on to say that everyone is saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.  In other words, only the Lord Jesus kept the Law and then He took the punishment for our sins upon Himself on the cross.  Salvation is based on our believing Jesus is God’s Son, that He never sinned and so deserved all of the blessings the Law gives to whoever keeps it.  Rather than take the blessings, Jesus took the curse Adam brought upon this earth, upon Himself.  The blessings He deserved, He gave us.  Salvation is given when we believe this is what happened and ask Jesus to be our Lord and Savior.  Think of the genius of God the Father.  Everything in the Law pointed to Jesus.  For all eternity we will be with our Lord and Savior.  The ‘Star’ of the most important Book of All time, the Bible.  Amazing grace.