Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Love: The Foundation of Unity
Bible portion:Acts 15:1-11”No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” – Acts 15:11
Devotional Text
The Council of Jerusalem had a meeting to discuss the requirements for being a believer in Christ and for membership in the church. There was a controversy regarding following of the laws of Moses, especially about circumcision and diet for the Gentile Christians. Initially, the church comprised of converted Jews who were circumcised on the eighth day as per the old covenant. Circumcision was a requirement of the old covenant. Jesus is the fulfillment of the law and old covenant. The new covenant provides salvation through faith in Christ. Later on, Gentiles converted to Christianity, and they were not circumcised. The Jewish believers wanted the Gentile believers to be circumcised. Jewish Christians saw Christianity as a movement within Judaism at that point. Peter, Paul, Barnabas and James advocated for the Gentile believers. They said that the Gentiles were converted to Christianity based on their faith in Christ and not related to circumcision. They were included in God’s plan of salvation through faith in Christ like Cornelius and his household. The meeting held in Jerusalem was like an ecumenical council resulting in harmony between Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ. One doesn’t have to be a Jew to be a Christian.
Christ belongs to the whole world. All the nations of the world are blessed through Jesus, the descendant of father Abraham. Salvation is through faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross alone. There is no addition or subtraction to His work. Our salvation rests on the grace of God, not on our merits. The Council of Jerusalem decided that faith in Christ is the requirement for church membership and salvation. Additionally, Gentile believers were instructed to stay away from idol worship, fornication, and not to eat meat with blood on it. The common denominator between Jewish and Gentile believers is the love and grace of God and the faith of believers in Christ. Differences of opinions and different interpretations of matters such as baptism have led to the creation of numerous denominations over the ages. As believers, we must put our differences of opinions and race aside, and be unified in love as believers in Christ.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, enable us to be unified in love, as believers in Christ. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Thought for the Day
”He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant – not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.“ – 2 Corinthians 3:6
Saramma Chacko
Epiphany MTC, NY
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church
The Council of Jerusalem had a meeting to discuss the requirements for being a believer in Christ and for membership in the church. There was a controversy regarding following of the laws of Moses, especially about circumcision and diet for the Gentile Christians. Initially, the church comprised of converted Jews who were circumcised on the eighth day as per the old covenant. Circumcision was a requirement of the old covenant. Jesus is the fulfillment of the law and old covenant. The new covenant provides salvation through faith in Christ. Later on, Gentiles converted to Christianity, and they were not circumcised. The Jewish believers wanted the Gentile believers to be circumcised. Jewish Christians saw Christianity as a movement within Judaism at that point. Peter, Paul, Barnabas and James advocated for the Gentile believers. They said that the Gentiles were converted to Christianity based on their faith in Christ and not related to circumcision. They were included in God’s plan of salvation through faith in Christ like Cornelius and his household. The meeting held in Jerusalem was like an ecumenical council resulting in harmony between Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ. One doesn’t have to be a Jew to be a Christian.
Christ belongs to the whole world. All the nations of the world are blessed through Jesus, the descendant of father Abraham. Salvation is through faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross alone. There is no addition or subtraction to His work. Our salvation rests on the grace of God, not on our merits. The Council of Jerusalem decided that faith in Christ is the requirement for church membership and salvation. Additionally, Gentile believers were instructed to stay away from idol worship, fornication, and not to eat meat with blood on it. The common denominator between Jewish and Gentile believers is the love and grace of God and the faith of believers in Christ. Differences of opinions and different interpretations of matters such as baptism have led to the creation of numerous denominations over the ages. As believers, we must put our differences of opinions and race aside, and be unified in love as believers in Christ.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, enable us to be unified in love, as believers in Christ. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Thought for the Day
”He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant – not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.“ – 2 Corinthians 3:6
Saramma Chacko
Epiphany MTC, NY
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church