So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? We believe we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 15:10-11, NLT)

Have there been situations in your life where you were required to do something before you would be allowed “in”? Maybe try out for a sports team, pledge to a sorority, or take a job.  For me, before I joined the military back in 1984, I had to meet certain requirements. I needed to be physically fit, have a high school diploma, be above/below a certain height, pass a physical examination, and finally, verbally state and then sign an oath of enlistment.  If I did not or could not do any one of these things, then I was not qualified to start my career in the Air Force. I was not allowed “in.”    

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Considering this, before you were saved, or even if you haven’t said yes to Jesus yet, did you think there were/are requirements you have to meet before “officially” becoming a follower of Christ? Maybe it was to dress a certain way, or go to a pre-saved Christian class, to stop drinking, or maybe even give up some friends. But Romans reminds us that the one and only requirement to be saved is to confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, and we will be saved. For it is with our heart that we believe and are justified, and it is with our mouth that we confess and are saved (Rom. 10:9-10). And yet, just like the religious leaders of Paul and Barnabas’ day, it’s an easy trap to fall into.

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We find this event in Acts 15, taking place about 50 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus. While out on mission, a discussion was taking place between Paul and Barnabas and the Pharisees who had come from Judea on whether new believers needed to be circumcised before being allowed “in.” Essentially, what the Pharisees were saying is that the Gentiles must first be converted to Judaism and follow the laws of Moses before they could be saved and follow Christ. Paul and Barnabas on the other hand, did not agree.

But what is the real issue behind this requirement? If we look closer, what we see is that circumcision is merely an example given by the Pharisees to say that those believers, other than Jews, must follow the law given to Moses by God as a requirement to follow Christ. In other words, they were making stipulations. After not being able to resolve this issue in Antioch, and the conversation becoming so disruptive in the church, Paul and Barnabas were sent to Jerusalem for clarification from the council.    

This topic reminds me of a sermon preached by Pastor Brian one time about salvation issues. Brian asked if wearing a baseball hat in church would keep you out of heaven? Although not as extreme as the topic discussed in Acts Chapter 15, we can still understand the commonalty between the two questions. If you would have asked the new believer in me, I would have said no, I am saved by grace, and nothing can keep me from Christ. But the longer I had been saved, I may have answered this question differently. I had become accustomed to different practices inside the church. I had become aware of what “proper” Christian etiquette required. And it was causing me to subconsciously put requirements and stipulations on my salvation and the salvation of others.  

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But Paul and Barnabas got the answer to this question for all of us, Jew or Gentile, new believer or old believer, in verse 11: “We believe we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” In other words, salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Simply put, if those basic things take place, then you are saved in Christ, no strings attached. You are “in.”    

Lord, there are so many things in life that can trip us up even as we walk with you. Just like in the days of Paul and Barnabas, we seek answers. We seek guidance on what issues we face. We ask ourselves; do I see salvation of others through eyes of judgement and requirement or through forgiveness and grace? Our prayer is grace, Lord. We thank you for your underserved grace by Christ alone.  Amen.