The Sufficiency of Christ Alone

The events recorded in Acts ch. 15 reveal the issue that every succeeding generation has faced, and what every believer faces throughout his lifetime.  The sufficiency of Christ alone.  Satan attempted to call this into question in the early church, and he has and is attempting to do it now! 

The men who came from Jerusalem taught the brethren that physical circumcision was necessary for salvation.  In other words, “Christ Alone” was not enough.  Paul and Barnabas had a heated argument with those who taught this.  It was determined that they would go to the apostles in Jerusalem about this issue.  Paul was not going there to see if he was mistaken about this issue, but to demonstrate that all of the apostles were at agreement with Him. 

 

When they arrived, they gave the apostles this message.

“There rose a certain sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, that it was needful to circumcise them, and command them to keep the law of Moses.” We read of some disputing that took place before Peter stood up.  He reminded them that the Lord sent him to the Gentiles and how God put no difference between us and them.  We, the Jews, would be saved the precise same as the Gentiles would! 

 

He then presents them with a question.  Why are you putting a yoke upon the Gentile disciples’ neck which neither we nor our fathers could bear?  Our fathers nor we kept the law!  Then he gives the statement of faith of every believer.  “We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.” The grammar of “shall be saved” can just as easily be translated, “We have been saved” and “We are being saved.”   

 

However the Gentiles are saved, that is how we Jews are saved…through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ… the electing, redeeming, justifying, regenerating, preserving, glorifying grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

            “We are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”  – Philippians 3:3

 

Would not that be a great blessing of the grace of God, if we would all be enabled to worship God in the spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus and place no confidence in the flesh.  I pray that through this meeting that might take place in all of us!

 

-unknown preacher of righteousness

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