ESOCS Devotional 19 October 2021
TEXT: ACTS 15: 1-21
MEMORY VERSE: “But that we should write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood” (Acts 15:20. KJV).
In Titus 2:11, we are taught that the grace of God which brings salvation has been made available to all people of the world. However, there remains a standing instruction that believers should turn from every life of ungodliness and sinful pleasures. To this effect, Christians should rather live in this world of sin and evil with wisdom, righteousness, and with humble devotion to the only true God.
Unfortunately, some Jewish teachers in Judea, who lacked clear knowledge of the nature of grace, considered God’s grace as a licence to live in sin (vs. 1). They rather promoted the teaching that, ‘except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved’ (vs. 1b KJV). By this, these teachers were casting heavy burden on the Gentile Christians, insisting that they must legally keep the Old Testament law of circumcision, in order to be saved (Gal. 3:1; 5:1-4; Col. 2:8, 11-12).
In truth, God’s grace, as taught by Jesus, had set aside most of the burdens of traditional religious legal obligations.
As true believers, our faith in Christ’s death has justified us. And we are qualified to receive the Holy Spirit, our assurance of eternal life. Thus, there remains every need for us to sustain our holy status by divorcing the Old Man of Sin (Rom. 7: 1-7); and put on the New Man of Holiness and Righteousness (Eph. 4:24), Jesus Christ the Righteous (1 John 2:1).
- Christ has died and taken all sins away, we can live as we like. Do you agree?
- Lord God of Grace, please I need your grace to remain grateful, by shunning sin totally.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Proverbs 6: 6-19; Hab. 1: 5-14; Matt. 19: 1-15.
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ESOCS Devotional 19 October 2021
