First Steps – May 11, 2020

Acts 15 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible.  If you are not familiar with this chapter, I hope you will stop now and read it.  In this chapter, representatives from different faith communities gathered for the First Church Council and reaffirmed sola fide, only faith as the requirement for salvation.  This had, and has today, lasting consequences for believers.  Because of this theological bedrock, those who believe in Jesus are given salvation, freedom in Christ.

However, this always brings up an interesting question, “If I only need faith for salvation, then what about my actions?”  Isn’t there an ethical code of Christianity?  The short answer is “yes” your actions matter, but they are not a requirement for salvation.  We have freedom in Christ, but how we use our freedom is dependent upon the people whom are around us.  We use our freedom for their benefit in hopes that our use of freedom leads to the spread of the gospel.  We are responsible to others, just not responsible for them.  We want to be instruments to help another person believe.  It is our desire, not just a prerequisite for salvation.  

I highlight this chapter because I hope you will reclaim your freedom in Christ.  Because of God’s grace, you have been given the gift of salvation.  You grasp that gift via faith.  This is all that is needed.  At the same time, reclaim your freedom in Christ and use it for the benefit of others because you are part of a larger mission of The Gospel.