No Distinction

“...and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith” (Acts 15:9).

At the heart of the struggle in Acts 15 was the Jew-Gentile divide in the early church. As the gospel spread into the far reaches of the Roman empire, the Jewish converts found it increasingly difficult to accept Gentiles into fellowship on equal terms.  After all, they had spent centuries keeping their distance from the nations so it was difficult for many to think differently under the new covenant of Christ.

The response of some Jewish Christians was to say: “Gentile converts must put their faith in Christ AND keep the law of Moses (Acts 15:5). That would be one way to get rid of distinctions but it would be the wrong way. “Become like us and there will be no difference between us!” This way of removing distinctions really ends up perpetuating them. 

The council in Jerusalem was firmly against requiring Gentile converts to keep the law of Moses as a condition of salvation.  In his part of the discussion, Peter highlights how God handles the “distinction” thing.  God cleanses the hearts of all who turn to Him in faith.  That makes God an “equal opportunity” Father, if you will.  He welcomes all to His family on the same terms and we don’t get to change the terms.

Perhaps Paul was thinking back to the Jerusalem council when he wrote these words to the believers in Rome: “But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus…” (Romans 3:21-24).

Thank you Lord for accepting ALL sinners on the same terms -- faith. We are humbled to stand at the foot of the cross on equal ground.

 

God loves you!

Mike