Salvation by Grace / Acts Bible Study Chapter 15 (TV Audio #490)

Acts 15 Key Themes: Salvation by Grace: The council affirms that salvation comes through grace, not adherence to the Mosaic Law. Unity and Diversity: The early church grapples with integrating diverse cultural practices and beliefs while maintaining unity. Guidance by the Holy Spirit: Decisions are made through prayer, discussion, and reliance on the Holy Spirit’s guidance. 'Peter got up and addressed them: ‘Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles should hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are. 'The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.' (Acts 15.7-12, NIV)