8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 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? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they (Acts 15:8-11).
This exchange concerns the desire by some in the early church to make gentile believers become circumcised, and therefore make circumcision a condition for salvation. Paul and Barnabas were so concerned that some were teaching this doctrine that they returned to Jerusalem and met with the leaders of the church. The leaders decided that it was contrary to the Gospel to add the requirement for circumcision. The plain teaching of scripture is that salvation is a gift of God through the work of Christ, and that gift in this world is the Holy Spirit. The conditions to receive the gift too are clear. In essence the conditions are through faith to repent and surrender to Christ as Lord. Ultimately the conditions therefore are met based on the work of God not Man.
This exchange concerns the desire by some in the early church to make gentile believers become circumcised, and therefore make circumcision a condition for salvation. Paul and Barnabas were so concerned that some were teaching this doctrine that they returned to Jerusalem and met with the leaders of the church. The leaders decided that it was contrary to the Gospel to add the requirement for circumcision. The plain teaching of scripture is that salvation is a gift of God through the work of Christ, and that gift in this world is the Holy Spirit. The conditions to receive the gift too are clear. In essence the conditions are through faith to repent and surrender to Christ as Lord. Ultimately the conditions therefore are met based on the work of God not Man.
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