Acts 15:6–11

There is a line drawn between Law and Grace, the person of Jesus Christ. If man could have been saved by the Law His sacrifice would not have been required.

By faith in the salvation of Jesus Christ we live. He did what no law could do. There is no other way to the Father except through Him. We can choose to be under the Law or we can choose the gift of Grace that He offers in Jesus. 

Only Faith pleases God…faith in His ability to do what we cannot. Our lives reflect the love we have for HIm. Holy Spirit will change us, precept by precept. 

To God be all glory!

Let’s be clear: to do a good thing is a good thing. To do good to be seen is not. In fact, to do good to be seen is a serious offense.

Matthew 6:1 warns, “Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding” (The Message).

Hypocrisy turns people against God. So God has a no-tolerance policy. Do good things. Just don’t do them to be noticed. You can be too good for your own good, you know. Max Lucado

Acts 15:6–11

6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” The New King James Version

grace (Gk. charis) (15:11; Rom. 3:24; 5:15; Eph. 2:5; Titus 2:11) Strong’s #5485: The Greek word for grace is probably equivalent to the Hebrew word chesed meaning “lovingkindness,” a word frequently used by the psalmists to describe God’s character. In the NT, the word charis usually means divine favor or goodwill, but it also means “that which gives joy” and “that which is a free gift.” This is a noteworthy occurrence of the word grace, because while it was one of Paul’s favorite words for God’s free gift of salvation, here we see Peter using it in the same way.

Luke (the narrator) stresses that the ruling of the Jerusalem Council will represent the Church’s official verdict on the matter. Peter cites his own experience with the Gentile Cornelius and his vision about clean and pure food, which he has already explained to the church leadership in Jerusalem. Peter reasons that since God is working among both Jews and Gentiles that to demand that the Gentiles become Jews is to doubt what God has declared. This point seems to be based on Peter’s vision. Peter reminds the audience that no Jew was able to satisfy the law. 

Deuteronomy 30:1–6 testifies that Israel would not be able to keep the law. They experienced God’s curse against them according to the covenant. God promised to return Israel to their land and circumcise their hearts, transforming His people to allow them to obey. Faithlife Study Bible

It was from the mouth of Peter that Cornelius and his Gentile friends heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Yoke here refers to the law. “We shall be saved in the same manner as they” are the last words of Peter in the Book of Acts. He leaves us with the eternal truth that we are saved through faith by grace alone. The emphasis in the Book of Acts now moves from Peter to Paul, from the presentation of the gospel message among the Jews to its presentation to the Gentiles. The NKJV Study Bible

We see from the words “purifying their hearts by faith,” and the address of St. Peter, that justification by faith, and sanctification by the Holy Ghost, cannot be separated; and that both are the gift of God. 

We have great cause to bless God that we have heard the gospel. May we have that faith which the great Searcher of hearts approves, and attests by the seal of the Holy Spirit. Then our hearts and consciences will be purified from the guilt of sin, and we shall be freed from the burdens some try to lay upon the disciples of Christ. 

Paul and Barnabas showed by plain matters of fact, that God owned the preaching of the pure gospel to the Gentiles without the law of Moses; therefore to press that law upon them, was to undo what God had done. The opinion of James was, that the Gentile converts ought not to be troubled about Jewish rites, but that they should abstain from meats offered to idols, so that they might show their hatred of idolatry. Also, that they should be cautioned against fornication, which was not abhorred by the Gentiles as it should be, and even formed a part of some of their rites. They were counselled to abstain from things strangled, and from eating blood; this was forbidden by the law of Moses, and also here, from reverence to the blood of the sacrifices, which being then still offered, it would needlessly grieve the Jewish converts, and further prejudice the unconverted Jews. 

But as the reason has long ceased, we are left free in this, as in the like matters. Let converts be warned to avoid all appearances of the evils which they formerly practised, or are likely to be tempted to; and caution them to use Christian liberty with moderation and prudence. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Acts 10:28 Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.

Acts 10:43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

Acts 10:44 | While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.

Acts 10:47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”