Saved by Grace Through Faith: When We Add to the Gospel

 “Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.’ . . . But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”

Acts 15:1 & 11

Dear Friends,

As we live our lives, it is easy to veer away from things we know are right or true. Just as a little distraction while driving can put us over the center line, laziness, forgetfulness, and even other people’s opinions can cause us to drift from our beliefs. Often these changes occur imperceptibly. Little by little, we depart from what we know until one day we wake up and find ourselves way off base. This is especially crucial when it comes to spiritual things, particularly the truth that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Many years ago, I took a quilting class where I learned the pitfalls of being sloppy. If you get a little off track when following a pattern, the whole project can get messed up. Small deviations get bigger and bigger as you continue. Sometimes you have to scrap the whole project and start over. While frustrating, a ruined sewing project isn’t a devastating problem. But when it comes to spiritual things, deviating from the truth has far greater consequences.

When False Teaching Threatened the Gospel

That is why Paul and Barnabas took it seriously when some men from Judea began teaching a different gospel from the one they proclaimed. These false teachers insisted that a person needed to be circumcised in order to be saved. This was an affront to God’s gospel and created pressure on Gentile believers to adopt this Jewish practice.

This errant teaching caused great dissension and debate. Paul and Barnabas strongly defended the truth—that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus, with no need for additional religious practices to earn salvation. But others disagreed. The conflict became so serious that the brethren finally determined that Paul and Barnabas, along with a few other men, should go to Jerusalem to meet with the apostles and elders to settle the issue.

So the men set out for Jerusalem, stopping along the way to describe in detail God’s amazing work among the Gentiles. Upon their arrival, the apostles and elders welcomed these Antioch emissaries. They carefully listened to reports of all God had done among the Gentiles—saving them by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and giving them the gift of His Holy Spirit.

Some rejoiced at God’s amazing grace, but others who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees argued that it was necessary for these Gentiles to be circumcised and observe the Law of Moses.

The Jerusalem Council Defends Salvation by Grace Through Faith

The apostles and elders met together in what has become known as the Jerusalem Council to look into the matter.

Peter stood up and reminded the brothers how God had first used him to speak the gospel to the Gentiles and how they had believed. God testified to the reality of their faith by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He had given Him to Jewish believers. There was no distinction between the two groups—all had their hearts cleansed by faith.

Peter then posed the question:

“Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.” (Acts 15:10–11)

Everyone remained silent as Paul and Barnabas related all the signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

Finally, James, a leader of the Jerusalem church, stood and spoke. He pointed to the Old Testament Scriptures, showing that, according to the Prophets, all of mankind—Jew and Gentile—might seek the LORD.

“After these things I will return,
And I will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen,
And I will rebuild its ruins,
So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD,
And all the Gentiles who are called by My name.”

Acts 15:16–17 (quoting Amos 9:11–12)

James judged that they should not trouble those who were turning to God from among the Gentiles by requiring them to adopt Jewish customs for salvation. Instead, he suggested a few instructions that would help them live in holiness and unity with one another. These were not additional requirements for earning salvation.

Everyone agreed with this judgment, and the immediate crisis was averted. But sadly, throughout the years, other disagreements have arisen concerning God’s plan of salvation.

Are We Adding Requirements to Salvation?

Today, we don’t usually argue that circumcision is necessary to be saved, but there are plenty of other ways the truth of the gospel can become tainted. Imperceptibly, additional requirements have crept into the teaching of some churches and groups of believers.

Good works are one example. Many think that belief and identification with Christ are not enough. They believe they must also do good works to be assured of heaven. Yet good works are the fruit of salvation, not the means by which we obtain it. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by our own efforts.

Other religious practices can also cause us to veer away from the truth when we make them requirements for salvation. Baptism, communion, and church attendance, while good and important things, do not earn us salvation. God’s Word clearly says that we are saved by grace through faith, not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8–9).

The truth that we are saved by grace through faith, confirmed at the Jerusalem Council, is comforting. As sinners, we can never be good enough on our own. We all fall short of God’s standards. It is only by faith and trust in what Christ has done that we receive peace with God and eternal life. No amount of additional actions or traditions can add to His finished work.

Returning to the Truth of God’s Word

Just as it’s easy to get off track when driving or sewing, it’s easy to veer away from spiritual truth. That’s why we must keep watch over what we believe and teach. Like the early apostles, we must continually return to the standard of God’s Word.

In it, we find the unchanging truth—that people from every nation are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone!

Love,

Mama

A question for you: Are you resting in what Jesus has done for your salvation, or are you trying to add something of your own? Take time to reflect on Ephesians 2:8–9, and share this message with someone who needs the comforting reminder that Jesus is enough.

This reflection is part of my Walking Through the Book of Acts devotional series, where we explore the early church, the work of the Holy Spirit, and what it means to follow God with courage and faith.