Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Saved by Grace, Not by Law

Bible Reading:   Acts 15:1-11
Key verse: “…we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” (Acts 15: 11)


DEVOTION

Among the Biblical narrations, Acts 15 is noted as the record of the earliest Christian council, widely recognized as the Jerusalem Council. It records a conflict that included both theological and identity concerns in the early Church: Must Gentile believers follow the Law of Moses to be saved?. Some insisted on circumcision which is a covenant marker of Jewish identity. Historically, circumcision symbolized belonging to God’s people since Abraham (Genesis 17:10). For Jewish Christians, abandoning this sign could mean discarding holiness as circumcision was a non-negotiable sign of covenant identity for them. For Gentiles, adopting it meant erasing their cultural identity.
The debate in Acts 15 includes Peter’s declaration, “We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are” (v.11). This emphasized that Grace is the basis of salvation and not ritual, ethnicity, or cultural markers. This decision marked Christianity’s decisive break from being a Jewish sect into a universal faith.
The council’s ruling dismantled the cultural barrier, creating a new community where unity came through Christ. Philosopher Soren Kierkegaard wrote, “Grace is not opposed to effort; it is opposed to earning.” The law was never a ladder to earn God’s favor. It was a mirror revealing the need for grace. Salvation is not an achievement; it is a gift. Peter’s words remind us that, the gospel frees us from performance-based faith.
The decision in Acts 15 shaped later Christian theology. When the Reformers declared sola gratia (salvation by grace alone) they echoed Peter’s declaration at Jerusalem. Just as the council refused to burden Gentiles with extra requirements, the Reformers rejected legalism and works-righteousness. Both moments reaffirm the gospel’s core: grace is the starting point, not human effort. Our identity is not rooted in external marks or traditions but in Christ’s work on the cross. Grace creates a community that transcends cultural boundaries by creating a family united in faith, not uniformity.
 

PRAYER
Lord, thank You for saving me by grace. Teach me to live in that freedom and extend it to others without adding conditions. Amen.  

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

"We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone."


Akkamma Anu Cherian
Epiphany Marthoma Church

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