Week of 4/28-5/4: New - The Grace Shaped Family of God

Day One: Acts 15:1-5 Some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom prescribed by Moses, you cannot be saved!” But after Paul and Barnabas had engaged them in serious argument and debate, the church arranged for Paul and Barnabas and some others of them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this controversy. When they had been sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, explaining in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they created great joy among all the brothers. When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. But some of the believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses!”

A TOTAL OF 36,000 SADHUS (Hindu holy men) were part of the estimated crowd of 40 million attending the two-month “Kumbh Mela” festival in India last spring. People came from all over to bathe in a specific river as a religious practice. These people believed that mangling and punishing them would gain them approval from a god they didn’t know. As ridiculous as this seems, Christians look as equally pitiful when we think we can add anything to the salvation offered in Jesus Christ.

It’s very dangerous for Christians to view their works as part of their redemption. Problems arise when we believe that how we live dictates how God should move. Here are a few indicators that you may rely on your works more than you realize:

1. You feel like God doesn’t love you when you sin.

2. You feel more approved by God when you do good things.

3. You expect God to fulfill your desires because you’re a “good person.”

When these are true in our life, we take our act of obedience and worship and make it a bargaining chip with God. “God, I’ve done this, so you should do respond the way I want you to…” You may not be bathing in an Indian river, but if you think you can win God’s approval by doing moral works, your mindset is very similar.

Rest today in the completed work of Jesus on the cross for your sin. Worship Him because you have been rescued. Serve others because He has served you.Realize that you can do nothing to change Jesus’ love for outlive in the freedom that the Gospel gives.

PAUSE AND REFLECT

▷▷Why is it dangerous to feel like God doesn’t love you as much when you sin?

▷▷Have you ever expected God to respond to your requests because of how you live for Him? Why?

▷▷Why is it freeing to know that our salvation has nothing to do with our works?