S.O.A.P.

February 8: Leviticus 7-9; Acts 15

The sufficiency of the Sacrifice!

Scripture: Acts (NIV) 15: 9 He (GOD) made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.
10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

Observation: Peter was speaking to the leaders of the church on behalf of the Gentiles who have been recently saved. Some in the church wanted the Gentiles to become Jews and keep the Jewish law. I hear Peter saying two things: First, the Jews have not been able to live up to the law, how can they expect the non-Jews to do it. And second: both the Jews and the non-Jews are saved by God’s grace, not on the basis of how well they kept the law. Everyone is accepted into the church on the basis of God’s grace.

Application: How wonderful is grace! It is the personal expression of God’s love to me! I am accepted not on the basis of how perfectly I have lived my life, but on the basis of the sufficiency of the sacrifice on the cross. And now in response, I live my life only for His glory!

Prayer: Lord, May my thankfulness be seen in all I do! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!