Acts 15:1-11 (ESV): But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.’ 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. 3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. 5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, ‘It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.’ 6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, ‘Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.
In Acts 15, we witness a pivotal moment in the early Christian church, where the debate over the necessity of adherence to the Law for salvation unfolds. This timeless discussion, often framed as Law versus Grace, continues to shape Christian theology. By delving into Acts 15:1-11 and drawing from numerous New Testament passages, we’ll explore the profound truth that salvation is solely by grace.
The Conflict: Law versus Grace
Acts 15 begins with a dispute concerning circumcision and the adherence to the Mosaic Law for salvation. Some argued for the necessity of these practices, while Paul and Barnabas championed the primacy of grace in salvation.
Ephesians 2:8-9 reinforces this truth: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Salvation, Paul asserts, is a gift of God’s grace, not earned through works of the Law.
Peter’s Testimony: Grace for All
Peter rises to address the assembly in Acts 15, recounting God’s inclusion of Gentiles in the Gospel. He emphasizes that both Jews and Gentiles receive the Holy Spirit through faith, without distinction (Acts 15:7-9).
Jesus Himself proclaims in John 14:6: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus underscores that salvation is exclusively through Him, emphasizing the centrality of grace and faith.
The Burden of the Law: A Yoke Unbearable
In Acts 15:10-11, Peter challenges the proponents of legalism, questioning why they burden believers with a yoke they themselves couldn’t bear. He affirms salvation through the grace of Jesus Christ, not through the Law.
Galatians 2:16 echoes this sentiment: “yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” Salvation, Paul reiterates, is not through the Law but through faith in Christ alone.
The Sufficiency of Grace: A Universal Truth
Romans 3:23-24 further confirms the sufficiency of God’s grace: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Here, Paul emphasizes that all are justified by God’s grace, irrespective of adherence to the Law.
Titus 3:5 adds, “he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” Salvation is not based on human effort but on God’s mercy and grace.
The Call to Faith: Responding to God’s Grace
Hebrews 11:6 emphasizes the necessity of faith: “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Faith, the response to God’s grace, is essential for salvation.
Acts 15:1-11 clarifies the timeless truth that salvation is solely by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. As we navigate theological debates, may we uphold the biblical teaching that salvation is a gift of grace, received by faith alone, to the glory of God alone. B
