Just as we are

Acts 15:1-11 (TNIV) -

1 Certain individuals came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad.

4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.

5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”
6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question.7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.9 He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear?

11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

My thoughts -

Sometimes we get so bent about theology. My brother, a budding theologian, might argue that it is for good reason. Bad theology can be quite harmful. And I agree. But I'm also just the guitar player here, I like to keep things pretty simple. Verse 11 here boils this theological discussion down to something even the guitar player can understand.

It is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved.

It's not because I've been circumcised. It's not because I had water sprinkled on me. It wouldn't have been because the water was poured or I was immersed, either. It's not because I read the Bible. It's not because I pray. It's not because I go to church. It's nothing that I've done or can do. Where I was powerless to save myself Jesus saved me.

And Jesus saved you, too.