Luke the beloved physician shared when Paul, Barnabas and their companions came to Jerusalem, “a certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed” were “saying” about the Gentile believers “That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, you know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knows the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us. And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt you God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?”, and in chapter fifteen and verse eleven of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter said, “we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved” where we read:
But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
The verse begins, “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, ...” Luke began with the words, “but we believe” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover we, Jewish believers in Jesus, “trust in, rely upon, cling to and have confidence” “that through the grace” or “that by way and means of that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness and unmerited favor” “of the Lord Jesus Christ” which means “belonging to the One to whom a person or thing belongs about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah” “we shall be saved” or “we, Jewish believers, will be rescued and kept safe and sound from eternal danger and destruction”. Luke shared how “Peter” told the Jewish believers it was by God's “grace or unmerited favor” that they would be “saved” from eternal damnation.
The verse continues, “... even as they.” Luke added the word, “even” or “in the same way and manner” “as they” which means “like unto the Gentile believers”. Luke shared how “Peter” told the assembly of Jewish believers that the “Gentiles believers” would be “saved” by the same “grace” as they were.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Peter” reminded the crowd of “apostles, elders and Jewish believers” who were gathered, that they were “saved” by God's “grace”, and the “Gentile believers” were “saved” in the same way. God desires to pour out His “unmerited, unearned favor” upon people who believe and trust in His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”. No one, Jew nor Gentile, can earn God's saving “grace”, and it can only be known by yielding to Jesus. Let all who read these words understand what “Peter” declared and surrender themselves to Jesus to receive the “grace” of Almighty God.
Next time Luke shares how, “all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul” so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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