Acts 14-15

"A yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear..."

Law or grace? Which do you find yourself swinging towards more often? The folly of the law is legalism, the perversion of grace is licentiousness. If we are not careful our faith is tainted by the imbalance of these two.

Even from the early days of the church, this question had to be dealt with. Some early Jewish converts began teaching that one must be circumcised "according to the custom of Moses" in order to be saved.

But Peter took a stand and rightly begins to communicate the intent of the law and the source of salvation. He challenged the Jews, "[W]hy do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?"

Can't you just see it? As the Jewish converts hear these words, they have flashbacks of the failures of their nation's history. Israel time and time again throughout the Old Testament had tried and tried, but were never able to perfectly live the Law of God. Over and over they were disciplined for their failures and sent deliverers and prophets to realign their ways.

Peter had begun to see well that which Paul would pen in the book of Galatians, "the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith." (Gal 3:24) They had failed to live the law. Peter knew he was "saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as [Gentiles] also are."

I guess I love that first line from Peter so much because of his humility and transparency. So often when we come to Christ we want to fit Christ into our worldview rather that allow Him to shatter it and begin anew. The Jews had sought righteousness through works; they had even added to the Law to keep them from breaking it. But one reason the law came was so that sin would increase. (Rom 5:20) No flesh was ever to be justified by it. (Rom 3:19-20)

Peter had a new understanding of God's ways and he permitted God to shape his theology. He was humble enough to admit his own need for a Savior and was willing to point others to see the same.

Salvation has never been achieved by man on the basis of works, even from the beginning of time. Salvation comes by grace through faith.

Yet, did Peter say that they could do whatever they pleased? No, just as the Law was fulfilled in Christ, so as we walk in faith the law ought to be fulfilled in our experience. So they still give them direction (Acts 15:29). It does not reek of legalism or licentiousness. It is what James would call the perfect law of liberty.

Where are you today? Do you have unreasonable expectations of others that even you fall short of? Seek the balance. Seek grace. Seek Jesus.