Day 12
Read: Acts 14-15
Introduction: “What’s the catch?” This is a phrase often said when something seems too good to be true. It could be an item advertised as free or an offer with such a discounted price that it must be fake. Unfortunately, these deals that are too good to be true are just that—too good to be true. While looking online the other day, I came across an all-inclusive vacation to Mexico that was listed at a ridiculously low price! When I first saw it, it made me jump with excitement, but before too long, it left me asking the question, “What’s the catch?” As you can guess, there was a catch. I needed to be at least 30 years old and have lots of money. It was an attempt to get me to buy a timeshare. Sometimes we approach the gospel in a similar manner, asking “What’s the catch?” The grace of God seems too good to be true. When someone begins to believe it is too good to be true, that is when grace and good works start to surface. Even in Acts 15, some believers thought God’s grace looked too good to be true so they started to believe it was by grace and good works that they were saved.
Acts 15:6-11
The Apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our father nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
Think about it: Peter takes a bold stand on grace alone. No one has been able to earn their salvation through good works and no one will ever be able to earn it. Oftentimes, our desire is to work things out for ourselves, just try a little harder. But have you ever tried to live just one day without sinning? That day will not come on this side of heaven. We can be so thankful for the grace of God. The gospel is cheapened and undermined when we add anything to it. God’s grace seems too good to be true, but it is true and that’s what makes the gospel so beautiful.
Take away: God’s grace is all you need.