Acts 15:1-21

 Acts 15:1-21

We love rules, at least the ones that we are good at keeping. Rules are comforting, and rules make us feel good when we keep them. Rules make us feel that we are pretty good people because we have done or not done something. It is important for us to advocate for the rules we keep and believe in, so that others can know that we are the good people. Almost as important as feeling good about ourselves is having others, especially those we like, feel good about us. The church has always had to be wary of falling into rule-keeping as the main objective. Law has its place; namely, it shows us that we are all lawbreakers, and as such we are lost and need a Savior. Law can never save us. Nevertheless, there are always those in the church who want to revert back to, or create new, lawkeeping. There is a direct correlation between how pride-filled, carnal, and worldly a Christian is and how much they will appeal to keeping rules as a means to prove or obtain justification. 

Theologically, this may be the most important chapter in the book of Acts. This watershed event sets the position of the church firmly on salvation by grace, not rule-keeping, and purity of heart by faith, not by ritual. Teaching the false gospel of salvation by deeds condemns any group, church, or teacher that does so as apostate. Interestingly, the council does give three general prohibitions about idols, fornication, and issues of blood. These restrictions are in regard to specific links to the demonic and merit special warnings. Which brings us to the place of holy living for a disciple. Righteous living will never save us from our past sins. But willful participation in sin or with the powers of darkness may lead us to the point of repudiating our Savior. We are not lost by our sins, but the sin nature wants to lead us to reject the One who can save us. So then love God with our whole being and out of that love live a life of good deeds as a thanks to God.

“Help me Lord, to never trust in keeping rules to save me.  Rather, help me live holy as an expression of love and thanks to You. AMEN”