Hear, Accept, and Believe

This morning I read in Acts about belief. I was brought to chapter 15 where the apostles and elders of the church were gathered. They were discussing the finer points of what it took to be saved.

“⁵But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, ‘It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.’” – Acts 15:5 (ESV)

The law of Moses was a “powerful” thing. In order to be considered for salvation, one was to uphold the law to the utmost. Even the smallest of deviations from the law created great turmoil for those that deviated. If you were not circumcised, then you could not be considered a believer, for that would be a deviation from the law of Moses.

“⁷And after there had bee much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, ‘Brothers, you know that in the early days, God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.’” – Acts 15:7 (ESV)

What a statement by Peter to remind those in attendance that just hearing the word of the Gospel was enough to believe and be saved.

“¹⁰Now, therefor, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? ¹¹But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” – Acts 15:10-11 (ESV)

And he continues to speak that the law of Moses does not apply any longer as a “requirement” to be saved. It is “the grace of the Lord Jesus” that gives us salvation and our acceptance of His grace.

“¹²And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.” – Acts 15:12 (ESV)

The disciples continued to speak of all the blessings that they were able to deliver to the Gentiles. There was no requirement for them to receive those blessings other than to hear, accept, and believe. Look at the first six words of the verse, “And all the assembly fell silent”. If that does not tell the story of the power of God’s Word, I don’t know what does.

Do you fall into the legalistic, law following crowd of what it takes to believe? Are you a believer by faith and the grace of God? What would it take for you to simply hear, accept, and believe?