Highlights in Acts-Chapter 15
God made it plain that salvation is entirely His work. No human contributions are acceptable! Thank God for defeating an attempt to add human works to the finished work of Christ, as a means of being saved. When word of the council's decision reached Antioch, they were overjoyed. The letter from the council was read and that gave authority to what the delegation from Jerusalem had told them. Nevertheless, the letter declared, "For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well" (Verses 28-29). Note that these were not requirements for salvation but were necessary. What does that mean? It means that we can do nothing to merit salvation but the salvation that is freely granted to "whosoever will" has certain results that are necessary. True unmerited salvation will instill a desire to please God and will motivate the truly saved one to do good works, to develop Godly behavior, values, and attitudes. We are saved "unto good works." In other words "good works will never produce salvation but salvation will produce good works. Selah! Preaching today regarding salvation needs to call for holiness of heart and life. If God's nature has been savingly implanted in a person, he or she will willingly and lovingly obey such a call. If a truly saved person doesn't obey, God will deal with and discipline that one. Ron
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