Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.’ And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders.”
NL Daily Devotion for Sunday, May 2, 2021
by Dr. Kimberly Leetch, Clergy Stuff
Main Idea: We are cleansed and saved by God’s grace, not our own ability (inability) to follow God’s laws.
Until Jesus’ death and resurrection, the race and religion of the Jews was one and the same. They followed the laws of God and were identified by their DNA and their faith.
In the early Christian church, they were venturing into new territory. No longer was culture and religion the same. Now, Gentiles (non-Jews) were joining the church, and questions arose about how the Jews were to incorporate non-Jews into their communities.
In this case, the question arose concerning circumcision and other deep commitments made by Jews. Was it necessary for Gentiles to adhere to Jewish laws? If so, how would they go about enforcing those laws? Were they to circumcise fully grown adults? Were they to change their eating and grooming habits? To change how they interacted with those in their community?
After much debate, it was determined that requiring such adherence would be a barrier to keeping the faith. Also, requiring following such stringent laws went against the freedom and salvation Jesus offered in his death and resurrection. God’s Holy Spirit cleansed the community. Why should the community shackle its members to laws that could make them unclean when broken?
This debate brought to the surface the concept of grace. It would no longer be adherence to the laws that would save them. It would be a gift from God—no strings attached. The community would have to learn a new way of being—one that relied on God’s gift of grace rather than people’s ability (inability) to follow the laws. A new creation was being born.
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