June 29-July 5

A MOMENTOUS UNDERSTANDING
Bob Nossaman
St. Louis, Missouri

What kind of opposition have you faced because of your faith? What were some of the expected "extra-biblical" rules you were supposed to follow as you became a Christian?

In these chapters in Acts, Luke records an exciting time to be a Christian!! Even in the face of persecution, new converts were being added to the church. Tragically, the Apostle James was killed by King Herod. Emboldened, Herod then imprisoned Peter, whose miraculous escape greatly encouraged the Jerusalem Christians.

But all was not harmonious. Some of the Jewish Christians believed that the new Gentile converts should follow Jewish traditions, specifically the practice of circumcision. The controversy prompted what scholars call the Jerusalem Conference. The Apostles and church elders listened as Paul and Barnabas reported what had happened on their journey, especially that the Gentiles had become Christians. After much discussion, they agreed that all believers in Christ are saved only by the grace of God, not by adhering to rituals of obedience.

Later, Paul wrote what is the single most profound, central truth about the Gospel:

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the prophets testify. This righteousness (being made right with God) comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference (between Jew and Gentile) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:21-24.

The Apostles and church leaders came to this momentous understanding. Note: I first titled this essay A Momentous Decision. But, NO...God had long ago made this decision--that believers are saved by His grace. The early Christians were now understanding this truth.

Let us love God and obey Him out of gratitude that we are saved by His grace, not by our performance.

[Bob Nossaman, and his wife Betty, have attended McKnight Road Church of Christ since 1981. He served for several years as a Deacon and teaches Bible classes. Bob taught science in High Schools for seven years and taught Biology at York College, in York, Nebraska, for twelve years. He then was a Quality Assurance Manager for Protein Technologies International for 20 years and is now retired. He and Betty have four sons and ten grandchildren.]