Beyond the Gospel: Acts

Today’s Scripture: Acts 15:1-21
[Click the reference above to read The Message version online.]

The controversy we see in these verses is over religion.

Religion is a set of rules to help us get to God. But in Jesus, God tore down the curtain, abolished the rules, and opened a way to Himself through His Son’s sacrifice.

Nothing else is needed. It is finished. Done. For those who truly, whole-heartedly, trust in Christ for salvation through His work on the cross there is nothing more to do but love Him and worship Him. But even if we are faithless, He is faithful.

Many of the divisions in the Church today revolve around religion — rules and tradition.

It’s sad really. It’s one of the means the enemy uses to disarm the Church. And many of us don’t even see it.

There is one thing that is needed to be a member of the one Church. Faith in Jesus. A willingness to accept His grace and the truth that there’s not one thing He needs us to do to earn our way in…

Maybe we need to consider the question: