FRIDAY November 10, 2023
Understanding the Grace of God
“What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law.”
Acts 21:22-24
The assembly would gather together to meet Paul. They wanted to hear what he had to say. They were concerned about his teachings. Was Paul teaching against the Law of Moses? Paul taught the Jews that they were no longer under the Law. Some Jews were misinformed; they still believed they had to be circumcised according to the Law to be saved. This was not true. Salvation was by faith in Christ (Galatians 2:15-16).
Paul taught the Jews that they were now free from the Law. He needed to explain to them about faith in Christ and how God’s grace was given freely to them. Yet Paul had just returned from his journey having had close associations with the Gentiles which made him unclean as far as going into the Temple. Therefore the elders asked him to go through a seven day purification in order to become a sponsor of four men who had completed their Nazarite vow.
If Paul went through the purification, he was able to pay for the haircuts of the men who were ending their vow in the Temple. This would bring peace among the assembly. They implied, “Why not show your Jewish brethren that you, accompanied by these other men keep the Law?” But Paul lived by grace! He was free from the Law. Later, we shall find out what Paul did in this situation.
Do you fully understand the grace of God? Read Ephesians 2:8-9 with me: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Grace is a gift given to us by God––period.
Grace can neither be bought, earned, or won by the creature. If it could be, it would cease to be grace.
~Arthur W. Pink~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
