GRACE

Okay. Let’s say you’re invited to a fancy banquet in England by the Queen herself. You are seated at a table filled with the best, most expensive foods. Every effort is made to give you a most enjoyable evening. At the end of a lovely visit, the Queen stands at the front door to bid you goodbye.

What do you do?

As you leave, do you grab your wallet, pull out a dollar, slip it in her handbag and say, “Thank you very much for your kindness. I have enjoyed the evening very much. I realize it probably cost you a lot of money, and I want to help you pay for the meal.”

Is that the proper response to her kindness?

No! It’s a rude and insulting gesture. So it would be with God’s grace. To seek to earn, merit, or purchase salvation is to insult the Giver.

Problem is, some well-meaning Christians today (and in every generation since) believe there’s something they must do (or a list of things they must do) to receive grace to warrant grace. Thing is: it doesn’t work like that. That’s not what grace is. You can’t deserve grace.

Grace is “God acting in our life to bring about, and to enable us to do, what we cannot do on our own.”

We need grace. Without grace, we would never find peace or hope or forgiveness. Never.

Grace is essential.

The Gentile mission, that is, the good news taken to the Gentile people has started and it has been successful. There are many, many Gentiles who have been saved by the grace of God. And this has caused no small ruckus among the Jewish people.

Some among the Jewish population have heard about Gentiles coming to faith and it bothered them. They thought, “Nah…don’t like that…let’s go see them and teach them how to actually get saved. They need to hear about the law of Moses and we need to make sure they get circumcised. It’s our job to let them know.”

And so they traveled from Judea to Antioch and taught the believers just that: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” To put it another way: “Unless you do this and that, you cannot be saved.”

This, of course, was in stark contrast to the Good News that was announced to them, the Good News that Peter brings up and clarifies. In what is the central point of this chapter, Peter says:

Acts 15:11 NIV

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

Peter says this in response to the traveling preachers who were teaching a different gospel—a Jesus+law+circumcision gospel.

This is a problem. A major problem. Jesus’ people can’t stand for this; it’s a perversion of the gospel. It’s an assault on GRACE. Ultimately, that’s what this chapter is about: grace. It’s about grace and all the various attitudes and responses to it.

Let’s look at the first few verses of Acts 15. Here we will see this issue shaping up:

Acts 15:1–4 NIV

1 Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “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 believers 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.

Grace Disputed and Debated (vv. 1-4)

Word had come to Jerusalem and Judea about the successful ministry efforts of Paul and Barnabas among the Gentiles in Antioch, Cyprus, Pisidia, Galatia and their various cities.

When word came to them of the Gentile mission and the take-off of the gospel to the non-Jewish believers, there was concern.

The Antioch church had reached out to many Gentiles and God had given Paul and Barnabas great success on their mission.

Here’s the problem from a Jewish perspective: there was no report that these Gentiles had been circumcised or required to live by all the Mosaic law.

These were reported, because these are not conditions for salvation. The Holy Spirit came to the Gentiles apart from circumcision or following the law of Moses.

Gentiles heard, they believed, they were purified by faith, and were accepted by God. They were saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

But the lack of circumcision and obedience to Jewish ceremonial laws concerned a group of Judean (Jewish) Christians. “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”

Did you catch that? Conditions on salvation. That sentence, that statement, that sentiment from religious people should make us sick. It should really, really, bother us if we care at all about grace and what the Bible teaches.

As it should, this teaching upset Paul and Barnabas. This teaching brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them.

I don’t know about you, but I was raised not to fight. If I fought, I was told, it would only serve to get me into trouble and, they added, “there’s almost always some other way to handle a problem.”

When I was in Junior High, I really wanted to punch a kid, but I remembered what my parents told me and I refrained.

I’ve made it 37 years without hitting anyone, and for that, I’m pretty proud; there have certainly been some occasions where I really wanted to deck someone.

I was raised not to fight. But I will, with my very life, fight for the truth of the gospel. I will give my last breath for the sake of the gospel. I will not stand idly by while there are men and women, books and podcasts, radio and television shows preaching a different and false gospel.

Paul and Barnabas could not stand, would not stand for this errant teaching. They disagreed wholeheartedly and debated vigorously, I’m sure. The two of them, with some others, were appointed to go to Jerusalem and discuss this one issue:

Salvation: Is it By Grace or Works?

As they traveled on their way to defend the true gospel, through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. They preached grace all the way to Jerusalem.

Despite the disputing and debating, Paul and Barnabas couldn’t help but tell people about the grace of God given to the Gentiles. You can dispute and debate all you want, but there’s no denying the evidence and effects of grace.

Paul and Barnabas had some great stories, no doubt—personal accounts of people’s lives who had been changed by Christ, stories of conversion and transformation; accounts of grace undeservedly shown.

We’re told this news made all the believers very glad—the church and apostles and elders were filled with joy upon hearing the report about everything God had done through them.

The news gladdened the believers, but not everyone rejoiced to hear the Gentiles had believed in Jesus.

Acts 15:5–18 NIV

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 keep 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 did not discriminate 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 Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors 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.” 12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13 When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. 14 Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written: 16 “ ‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, 17 that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things’— 18 things known from long ago.

Grace Corrupted and Considered (vv. 5-18)

Can’t you almost hear those from the party of the Pharisees say what they say? You know it was spoken loudly, if not yelled. It was likely accompanied by furrowed brows and angry fists: “The Gentiles MUST be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”

This is, very simply, a corruption of grace. It’s an effort to shackle grace to effort, to fetter grace to law; it’s an attempt to bind grace and make it entirely ineffective. It’s an absolute shame.

Not everyone rejoiced to hear the Gentiles had believed in Jesus. Not everyone today rejoices when people are saved, either.

Some people second-guess. They think, “Well, it’s not that easy…they don’t just get to believe in Jesus and be okay. They have a lot to make right first.”

And others believe that they themselves must do more than just put their faith in Jesus. “I’ve done too much. I’m too messed up. It can’t be that easy; there has to be more to it than grace.”

And so people contrive for others or start to believe for themselves a “Jesus+” form of gospel. They start to believe that it’s 2 cups Jesus, a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and a pinch of salt.

“I need Jesus and a certain amount of good deeds; Jesus plus church attendance, Jesus plus baptism, Jesus plus 10%, Jesus plus _______.”

The truth is Jesus + Nothing = Everything

The gospel + circumcision + the law is just plain wrong. It’s wrong, its math that does not and will not add up. It’s a damnable lie that says anyone needs anything but God’s grace in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It’s why we sing, and loudly: “In Christ alone, my hope is found; He is my light, my strength, my song.”

A corruption of grace demands discussion and correction. And so the apostles and elders met to consider this question.

After much discussion, guess who gets up and speaks? You got it! Our old friend, Peter, is the first one to open his mouth. But I’m thankful he did.

Peter speaks truth to the gathering. He speaks from personal experience. He speaks as one who struggled with taking the gospel to the Gentiles, but here he makes known that God made a choice…that the Gentiles might hear from [his] lips the message of the gospel and believe.

Peter speaks the truth that God has shown His grace, as is His choice, to the Gentiles. God accepted the Gentiles. God gave to the Gentiles the Holy Spirit, just as He did to [the Jews].

Peter points out that God does not discriminate—an incredibly important lesson. God purified the hearts of the Gentiles by faith.

Peter knows how truly foolish it is to believe that anyone could begin to keep the law of Moses. He says the Pharisees are putting an impossibly heavy burden on the Gentiles, a yoke no one could bear. No one (save Jesus)—not Peter or Paul or James or John, not Abraham or David, not even Moses himself could keep the law that had been given through him—and yet the Pharisees think the Gentiles must keep the law and be circumcised in order to be saved?!?!?

What kind of jacked-up logic is that?

And so, Peter comes to them with one of the most beautiful statements of all time:

Acts 15:11 NIV

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

Boom. Mic-drop. Pete, out!

Peter couldn’t make it any clearer if he tried.

God chose to show grace to the Gentiles. The Gentiles heard, believed, were purified by faith, and accepted by God.

It’s impossible for anyone to do what the Pharisees are asking the Gentiles to do. But Jesus’ yoke is easy and His burden is light. Jesus bids them come and find rest.

Everyone—Jew or Gentile—is saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus. Period. Only one means of salvation exists for both Jew and Gentile: God’s grace in Jesus Christ.

It’s grace—from beginning to end, grace. May we never forget.

After Peter takes them all to church, Barnabas and Paul confirm the grace of God to the Gentiles—everything God had done among the Gentiles through their ministry, every life-change they witnessed.

I bet you can testify to grace—not only in your life, but in the lives of others. I’d be surprised if you couldn’t. I have seen evidence of grace in the lives of people who gather here. It’s a wonderful reminder that all of us have at least one common trait: through the grace of our Lord Jesus we are saved.

Peter speaks about God showing Grace, Paul and Barnabas confirm God’s grace, and James, the brother of Jesus, speaks about God’s promise of grace to the Gentiles.

After Peter and the other apostles left Jerusalem, Jesus’ brother James assumed a prominent role. James was highly devout and respected in the church.

When James spoke, people listened. Here, James endorses and confirms what Peter, Paul, and Barnabas have said, but, even more importantly, James cites Scripture—the words of the prophets.

James quotes the prophet Amos. Part of this from Amos is a prophecy of Jesus’ resurrection and exaltation (David’s fallen tent, rebuilt, restored). This will happen, says Amos, so that the Gentiles will seek the Lord.

In other words, Amos says, “Through Jesus—who is the Christ, the Son of David—Gentiles will be included in His new community.”

The Word of God promises grace to the Gentiles as well as the Jews. Paul and Barnabas and Peter are witnesses of this grace. For those who would corrupt grace, this is a much needed corrective.

James continues:

Acts 15:19–35 NIV

19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21 For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.” 22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. 23 With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings. 24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. 25 So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul—26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell. 30 So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. 31 The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. 32 Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. 33 After spending some time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them. 34 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.

Grace Given & Proclaimed (vv. 19-35)

After discussion about the grace of God shown to the Gentile believers, the church seems to have established the doctrine of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone apart from works of the law.

It’s not grace + anything. It’s the grace of God alone.

James proposes that the Church at large acknowledge the Gentiles are turning to God, by His grace, and that no one should make it difficult for them. They should not be weighed down or burdened by a heavy yoke.

What James suggests is this: that the Gentiles would avoid some practices that would probably offend Jewish believers. James’ goal is to encourage healthy fellowship between the Jews and the Gentiles.

These are NOT conditions for salvation; these are considerations for fellowship. Out of love for their brothers and sisters in Christ, the Gentiles should avoid certain practices.

This grace on display. This is a model of how to display grace toward other Christians who might be offended by particular practices.

“Can you?” Sure.

“Should you?” Maybe not, not if it’s going to offend or bother your brother or sister in Christ.

The four requirements James outlines are basically all ritual matters aimed at making fellowship possible between the two groups.

Stay away from food polluted by idols (don’t eat anything that had been sacrificed to an idol).

Stay away from sexual immorality (probably the kind associated with stuff that happened at the pagan temples)

Stay away from strangled things (probably a reference to what happened to animals eaten among the Gentiles)

Stay away from blood (Leviticus forbids eating meat with blood that hasn’t been properly drained).

The entire council in Jerusalem agreed with James. So the apostles, elders, and the whole church decided some men from Jerusalem should accompany Paul and Barnabas to Antioch to give a report.

The church selects some of their leading men to deliver the letter. The letter that’s delivered is full of grace.

It conveys their rejection of what those people were teaching, the insistence on circumcision as as condition for salvation.

I like to think they take special care to quote Peter to their brothers and sisters in Antioch: “You know, friends...Peter said it best: ‘We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that we are saved.’”

The letter also indicated the men who came to Antioch were authorized to confirm and speak about what went on.

And lastly, the letter emphasized the unanimous decision not to burden the Gentiles with any sort of condition on salvation. And it recorded the request for the Gentiles to abstain from those few practices, out of respect for Jewish customs.

When the men who were sent off with the letter arrive in Antioch, they gather the church, and deliver the letter. The Antiochean church read it and were glad for its encouraging message.

Of course they would be! It’s a rehearsing of grace. It’s an official letter from their brothers and sisters, from the apostles, from Jesus’ own brother, communicating that they—Gentiles—had been saved by grace, and grace alone! It’s good news about the Good News!

In addition to the good news the letter brought, Judas and Silas encouraged and strengthened the believers. They display grace as they had been given grace, and with peace and joy and unity, after some time, they are sent home.

Paul and Barnabas continue doing what they had been doing—preaching and teaching the word of the Lord. They took a short break to contend for the gospel, to defend grace, but then got right back to proclaiming grace and making disciples.

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We must be willing to fight for the Gospel of Grace.

Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. We hold doggedly to this, never wavering.

This is one issue worth our very lives.

Martin Luther nailed a list of grievances to the door of the Wittenberg chapel (503 years ago), because the Roman Catholic church was doing great harm to the gospel. Luther wasn’t fighting over pews or bulletins or music; he was fighting for the gospel. He was fighting for grace.

We must never bend on this truth. We don’t allow anyone to add to or take away from Jesus’ work. What Jesus did is entirely sufficient. We need to rest in His grace and proclaim it to the world.

Many people will do whatever they can to corrupt and confuse grace. A lot of people think grace is a good start or a nice thought. Grace is the last word.

There is no one beyond the reach of God’s grace and no one without need of God’s grace.

Let us receive grace with gladness and rejoice with great joy when we hear report of God saving people by His grace in Christ alone.