“Therefore, let it be known to you, brothers and sisters, that through this man forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you.
Everyone who believes is justified through him from everything that you could not be justified from through the law of Moses…”
After the synagogue had been dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and urging them to continue in the grace of God. (Acts 13:38-39, 43)
“Continue in the grace of God.”
“Abide in the grace of God.”
For a lot of Christians, they seem to think that their relationship with God is based around their efforts to please him.
That’s how many Jews thought, and that’s why they tried so hard to keep God’s law.
But they were never able to keep it perfectly. They kept falling short. And with that came feelings of guilt, of not measuring up, of having to do better to be accepted by God.
Does any of this sound familiar? Do those thoughts ever go through your head?
But the message Paul and Barnabas gave was, “If you put your faith in Jesus, God considers you righteous in his sight. Not based on your efforts. Not based on your faithfulness to him. But based on what Jesus did for you on the cross and his faithfulness to you.”
That’s our hope.
Though we are often unfaithful to God, he is always faithful to us.
And his faithfulness is our shield that extinguishes the arrows that Satan shoots at us saying, “You’re not good enough. You don’t measure up.”
Paul and Barnabas didn’t tell the new believers, “Work harder if you want God to accept you.”
They told them, “You’ve already received God’s grace. Abide in it. Rest in it. And in that grace, keep moving forward with Jesus.”
Perhaps they even quoted the words of Jesus.
Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 