In Context, Dear Watson

And no, this blog post has nothing to do with Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson. Can you tell I'm running out of ideas for interesting titles? But in truth, when we delve into Scripture, we should have at least part of our mind in detective mode, wot, wot?

Getting on with it...this morning I read Acts 15 and 16. Acts 15 talks about the issue when Jews came to Antioch saying that the Gentiles had to be circumcised and obey the law of Moses if they wanted to be saved. When news of this reaches the Apostles in Jerusalem, Peter gives a very wise speech, the end of which is as follows:

"Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are." (Acts 15:10-11)

Peter understood that it's by God's grace, and not ultimately by works, that we are saved. But I fear some Christians may take this verse out of context and go so far as to say, "Well see, this means we shouldn't try to change people's ways and/or tell them that what they are doing is wrong!"

But everything needs to be taken in context. Right after Peter's speech, James gets up and says some words of his own, closing with:

"It is my judgement, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood..." (Acts 15:19-20)

I think the real heart of the matter is what Jesus told the adulterous woman after he saved her from stoning. "Your sins are forgiven, go and sin no more."

We can't just say "your sins are forgiven", because our faith is manifested in the "go and sin no more" part! We need to let people know that God takes them as they are, but he loves them way too much to leave them that way!!

~~~

"I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: 'Do not close your ears to my cry for relief'. You came near when I called you, and you said, 'Do not fear'. O Lord, you took up my case; you redeemed my life." ~ Lamentations 3:55-58

In Christ,
Ellie

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