Saved by Grace

There are many church denominations that exist for many reasons. They have their own belief systems that are sometimes slightly different than other denominations, and sometimes very different. This division has created competition, and has led to something Paul warned the early members of the church against.

In the book of Acts there was a very important battle over whether or not new followers of Christ needed to be circumcised. I know this seems off topic, but stay with me. Paul and Barnabas were adamant that salvation was through grace, but others believed there needed to be additional qualifications. There was a major church council, and James, the brother of Jesus and the head of the church, sides with Paul. He said in Acts 15:19:

“It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the gentiles who are turning to God.”

Paul won that battle, and it is the reason the church rose from a sect of Judaism to a worldwide movement. Unfortunately, the debate did not stop there. The church again started putting additional yokes, and that’s why Martin Luther started the protestant reformation. Today, 2000 years after Paul’s victory, those who believe still try to insist upon some additional yoke.

Some say you need to be baptized to be saved. Some say you need to confess your sins to a man, and pay some defined penalty for them. Some say you can never dance, drink, or read a version of the Bible that isn’t KJV. Some say you must witness to a certain number of people, or speak in tongues. It’s said a saved person must tithe, or must take part in communion.

Most of these things aren’t bad on their own. Baptism, communion, tithing, and witnessing are all great things. Just because they’re great does not mean they should have ever been used as something to bar the gates before potential believers. Through such beliefs we have made baptism, communion, and other good things into circumcision. In our attempts to give them a higher place of honor we have instead corrupted them by tainting them with legalism. We have put additional yokes around the necks of people who would have been ready to be saved if we didn’t make them jump through our hoops. By doing so we have hurt the church, for many who would be saved turn away because of these additional yokes.

I am saved through the grace of Jesus Christ. He forgave my sins by dying for me on the cross, and defeated death by rising again. My belief in this is what saves me. Nothing else. I was baptized, and am proud of it. I love communion, and believe tithing is a very important part of our walk with Christ. You may like some other things, but don’t twist them. They are not what saves us. Jesus saves. Salvation is through acceptance of the grace of Jesus Christ, and nothing else is required to be saved than a belief in the truth.