"Hearts Purified by Faith"

 

Acts 15:6-11  "And the Apostles and Elders came together for to consider of this matter, and when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago GOD made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the WORD of the Gospel, and believe. And GOD, which knows the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the HOLY GHOST, even as HE did unto us; and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye GOD, to put a yoke upon the neck of the Disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear ? But we believe that through the grace of the LORD JESUS CHRIST we shall be saved even as they."

     Today's text contains the definitive statement concerning what is necessary for a lost person to be saved, which was the central issue at the Jerusalem Conference. The focus in Acts 15 shifts to GOD's perspective of what took place when the Gospel was preached to the household of Cornelius, as we read about in Acts 10. The LORD saw within their hearts that they had truly believed and received by faith the good news of salvation through JESUS CHRIST -- the Gospel message preached by the Apostle Peter. It was Peter's responsibility to deliver the pure truth of GOD's grace; it was the hearer's opportunity to receive that message by faith; it was GOD the FATHER's obligation to save all those who believed; it was the SPIRIT's duty to indwell the believers.

     Peter recounted to the Apostles GOD's working hand when Cornelius and his house heard the clear presentation of the Gospel -- the substitutionary death and life-giving resurrection of CHRIST for man's sin. He also reiterated the sole condition for receiving the gift of salvation: "Whosoever believes in HIM shall receive remission of sins" (Acts 10:43 2nd. picture from top of post) -- they only needed to "hear the WORD of the Gospel and believe" (v.7). GOD saw their hearts and gave them the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT (v.8). It does not get any more simple or straightforward than that ! Water baptism did not wash away their sins, nor did they receive the HOLY SPIRIT in that manner, for GOD purified their hearts "by faith" (v.9). Their works or rituals were in no way a part of the miracle of the new birth. Faith and works are mutually exclusive with respect to regeneration (Romans 4:5,16 pictured above this paragraph). The hearing of the Gospel coupled with faith in JESUS CHRIST and HIS work alone results in eternal salvation (John 3:16-18, 5:24 pictured below). DWC

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

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