Mercy + Grace > religion

Acts 15:7-11 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”

There was one huge argument in the early growing church over the circumcision of the Gentile believers; was it a requirement of faith? In other words, were they incomplete and lacking a religious requirement to enter into heaven? We must realize that the Jewish society was bound by religious law for centuries, that is what they knew and change is hard to accept. This was a transition period in history of the beginning to understand Grace. God had pointed them to their need for a Savior with the Law, Jesus had fulfilled the Law, and grace had given all of us a way to fulfill the law through Jesus. Sadly over two thousand years later we still find many sects of religions based on a list of requirements to enter heaven. All of the things we must do, the things we must not do, and our balance sheets that hold the key to paradise or punishment. If you say that you believe in Jesus, how do you explain what you must do to gain heaven that he could not? What is in your power that is not in his? At it’s simplest form, any religion that you earn your way by good works is not based on the grace found at the cross. Works is an outward expression of your faith, but you are not saved by them. Works lets the world know that you have been saved by grace, and that it is available to everyone. Religion kills and grace saves.

I grew up in religion; feeling my ticket to heaven was found in my church attendance record and how I would eventually live my life. I had plans to improve my lifestyle before I died so that I would go to heaven and tell God I was sorry for those “early years.” I was going to have my fun and then settle into Christianity and it’s rules for life. How wrong I was, and how thankful I am that God rescued me from religion and showed me grace and mercy for my mistake. Our nation is spinning out of control in rebellion against God and in dire need of leadership to preach repentance, mercy, and His grace that abounds. Have you by faith come to understand God’s grace and mercy? Do you see the need to live out your faith where God has placed you today? You can draw glory to God every day of your life. Your good works for the day are the proof of your faith. James 2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. Let those around you today see your faith; let them see you live what you say that you believe. What if they thought they could not keep the rules of religion like you thought not so long ago? Explain to them grace, share with them hope, and let Him use you to grant them eternity found in the Gospel.