Passing the Test
Acts Chapter 15
Scripture= Acts chapter 15:8-11
8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."
Observations and Applications=
Did you ever have a class in school where the tests were so hard that nobody received a good grade? I mean even the teacher’s pet, straight A student, didn’t even make an A? Do you remember everybody saying how unfair it was? Why did we think that the teacher had to listen to us? Why did we believe that somehow our declaration about the injustice of such hard questions would really be heard? It wasn’t right that no one could ace the test or even make an A. Why would a teacher make the test so hard? What did it prove?
By not being able to make an A or even pass the test we were forced to accept that no matter how smart we thought we were; we weren’t smart enough! It didn’t matter how hard we studied and for how long we studied, no one could get all the answers right. When the grades were averaged and everyone was treated the same no one could complain about anyone else’s performance pulling down the averages because they didn’t make an A either. Nobody and I mean nobody could do it! Nobody could be good enough!
In Acts chapter 15 Peter stands up to address the Jewish leaders in the church at Jerusalem. Included in this group of leaders were the Apostles and the church elders. Peter talks to them about the new Gentile believers and reminds the leaders that none of them had been able to pass God’s test. Did you hear that? No one in all the history of Israel could ace the test or even make an A. Everyone had in fact failed and even with the help of a curve (the sacrificial system) and a pre-test (the law); everyone still had failed. Peter reminded these leaders that God had sent a student to pass the test for them; Jesus our Savior, who was the Son of God, who was God in the flesh.
This same Jesus had also passed the test for the Gentiles. How could anyone complain about the test or the grading system for Jews and Gentiles alike were both in equal need. How different the outcome would be for everyone if they allowed the one who had aced the test to be their tutor; someone who could enable everyone to ace the test. The leaders of the Church of Jerusalem concluded that no one would ever pass the test without the help of Jesus and since Jesus had declared to them (the apostles) that his yoke was easy and his burden was light (see Matthew 11:28-30), the best they could do would be to offer the yoke of Jesus to the gentiles as well. With limited restrictions, actually sound advice and wisdom; the Jewish leaders welcomed their Gentile brothers and sisters into the family of God. Together, Jews and Gentiles would accept the grace of God given through Jesus.
Are you still trying to ace the test? Have you discovered God’s grace? Take this little ‘grace test.’
1. Would you describe your walk with Jesus as easy?
2. Would you describe your walk with Jesus as something that you can never get right?
1. Is your burden to please God light?
2. Is your burden to please God something that seems impossible to bear?
1. Are you resting in what Jesus has done for you?
2. Are you constantly questioning whether you are doing enough for God?
If your answers are #2’s please read Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28-30 and if you want to talk about this ‘grace test’ send me a comment.
I think I will print this test and post it as a reminder in my home.
I am one who needs to be reminded that I have been given much grace.
God is working on my mind, but this test will be a reminder to my inability to walk in anything except Grace, love and mercy.
I can no more please God than the Jews of Acts, so I need to remember to stop depending on my actions and just depend on His love.
Thank you God for the wisdom and the walk that you have guided me on.
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