October 14, 2026 - Acts 15

Acts 15 and the Jerusalem Council!  A fascinating episode in the life of the early church.  What will be required from the new Gentile converts?  Certainly not the keeping of all the Mosaic legislation.  Not circumcision.  Not all that stuff that made an Old Testament Jew an Old Testament Jew, just keep from idolatry and live moral lives.  The gospel, and all that flows from it, is really quite simple.  Saved by grace and by the righteousness of Christ (not our own), we are now to live as children of God rather than children of the world.

Wonderful grace of Jesus, greater than all my sin-

how shall my tongue describe it?

Where shall His praise begin?

Taking away my burden, setting my spirit free;

for the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

Wonderful grace of Jesus, reaching to all the lost-

by it I have been pardoned, saved to the uttermost.

Chains have been torn asunder, giving me liberty;

for the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

Wonderful grace of Jesus, reaching the most defiled-

by its transforming power

making us God's dear child.

Purchasing peace and heaven for all eternity;

and the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.   -- Haldor Lillenas (1918)