4 When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.
5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.”
6 The apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter.
7 After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.
8 “And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us;
9 and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
10 “Now therefore why 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?
11 “But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”
12 All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were relating what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.” Acts 15:1-12.
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We see the continued focus on God and what “God had done“. See above-stated Acts 15:4 and Acts 15:12. This focus and emphasis continues from the prior chapter and the prior devotion – Click here: “For Thou, O LORD, hast made me glad by what Thou hast done,” « Reformed Doctrine Blog
In comparison, the Law is all about man and all that man should do. We see that point here in the very first verse of this chapter by the teaching of some. “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” It is important to note the addition to it in verse 5. “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.” That is how those who are of the Law operate. We can easily imagine that the list of things needed for salvation would grow. “For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.” Galatians 3:10.
But, Peter recognized: “He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith”. There was no distinction or condition (such as circumcision or obedience to the Law) provided by the Jews which motivated God to elect them, and not the Gentiles, to salvation. God unconditionally elected some to salvation from both groups, Jews and Gentiles. Peter concluded: “But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.” Salvation is by grace alone.
Again in today’s Scripture, we are confronted with Galatians 3:1-5.
“1 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
4 Did you suffer so many things in vain–if indeed it was in vain?
5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?” Galatians 3:1-5.
In conclusion, then in Acts, and later in Galatians, and now today, God provides us with the Spirit and works miracles among us, not by the works of the Law, but by hearing with faith.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 