EPHESIANS 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
ACTS 15:5-11
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.”
ACTS 15:19-21
19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols (IDOLATRY), from SEXUAL IMMORALITY, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood (PURITY). 21 For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”
1. N.T. CHURCH PROBLEM - Division
REGULATIONS VS. RELATIONSHIP
2. GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS
EPHESIANS 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
3. BIBLICAL VS. HOLY SPIRIT BIBLICAL
APPLICATION: Fighting Division
1. HOLY SPIRIT CHANGING THE HEART
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.”
2. PURIFY THE HEART THROUGH GRACE
IDOLATRY
SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP
PURITY
3. STOP TESTING GOD
4. WALK IN GRACE THROUGH FAITH
EPHESIANS 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.