Acts 15:1-35.
It’s all about grace! Try to stay in the middle…
There are two extremes and one middle ground.
Legalism – characteristics: bound by law, dos and don’ts, strict
License – characteristics: abuse of grace, entitlement and selfishness, no boundaries
Liberty – FREEDOM! – living in the middle ground; no extremes
2 Corinthians 3:4-6 (ESV) —Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Gal. 2:20-21 — I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who livesin me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness[c] were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
Applications:
• Grace stands alone – Eph. 2:8 — For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God
• In Christ there is freedom – Gal 5:13 —For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
• Holiness is the goal – Live a life that pleases God. Heb 12:14 — Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holinesswithout which no one will see the Lord