Level Ground

“God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.” Acts 15:8-9

In the church of Antioch there arose serious debate regarding the Gentiles’ standing in Christ since they were not circumcised. The debate centered around the belief on the part of some Jewish leaders that for the ‘unclean’ to receive grace and salvation they must be circumcised. Paul and Barnabas came upon the scene to correct this erroneous requirement. ‘There is serious deliberation and honest debate, but at the end of the day the message is clear. Nothing can, or should, be added to the finished work of Christ on the cross. So it was in the first century and so it is now. We are saved by grace and grace alone.’ Women of Faith Study Bible, p. 1819.

Since the first century, some believer’s have treated new converts to Christ with this same spiritual elitism. New believers come to Christ with a new found passion to serve Him, only to be discouraged many times by people of faith as they set impossible expectations for these new believers. Man-made requirements and prerequisites set up standards for grace that were never intended. The work on the cross was enough for each of us and all of us…no matter what we come to the cross dragging behind us. That is grace.

As Christians we must not place our own standards of Christianity onto others, but recognize that the ground is level at the base of the cross. ‘We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.’ 2 Co 6:3.