7/18/2021 - Transformed Lives - Acts 15-16

What is required for salvation? This isn’t a new question. Very early within the Christian movement there was something present that had the potential to make it like all other religions. All other religions at this time, before and since have you working to please God. There is some burden that is placed on you. What’s missing is grace. Jesus spoke to this directly when addressing the religious leaders of his day.

And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers." -Luke 11:46

The gospel of Jesus is not burdensome and yet some were teaching falsely, “Gentiles, you must carry this burden of circumcision in order to be saved.” So what is the proper response to this? Peter makes it clear.

But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will. -Acts 15:11

In other words, there is no fear of living up to standards, no fear of worrying if you’ve done the right things or if you’ve done enough right things. The burden of expectations is gone. You’re not defined by what others think of you. You’re not defined by your job. You’re not defined by what you have. You’re not defined by relationships. Those things will crush you in an endless pursuit. Place everything on Jesus including your own efforts. Christianity is freedom in every way. You know what happens when a church loses sight of grace? It becomes legalistic. Legalism creates prideful people. It seems Christians are always surrendering their freedoms in the wrong way. 

In Acts chapter 16, two remarkable women serve as examples of what grace looks like. Both women experience Jesus in a very different way. One in a luxurious home with a polite conversation around a charcuterie board. The other, on the streets with a confrontation of the power of Jesus' name. The message is clear. No matter who we are, what we do, no matter our past or present, we need the grace of Jesus and nothing else.