Putting God to the Test
August 22, 2025
“Putting God to the Test”
Blessings folk!
Paul, Barnabas and entourage were in Jerusalem.
The apostles and elders were now discussing the issue - must one be a Jew first before being saved?
Act 15:6-12
The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.
And after there had been 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.
And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them,
by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us,
and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.
Now, therefore, 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?
But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
And 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.
ESV
There was much debate…discussion…disputing.
Peter arose to speak.
He reminded them of what God had done in the early days.
God chose Peter to bring the gospel to the gentiles.
The gentiles believed.
God knew the heart of the gentiles, and upon belief, He poured His Holy Spirit upon them.
There is not distinction between Jew/Gentile.
The hearts of the gentiles was cleansed, just as the Jews’ were.
Why were they to put God to the test by requiring what He does not?
God does not require obedience to the Law.
They had been unable to bear under the burden of the Law for centuries.
Why require the gentiles to do what they had not been able to do?
The Jews were saved by the grace of God through belief.
The same for the gentiles.
The response of the people.
Silence