Joel M Bradshaw

9“He [God] did not discriminate between us [Jewish] and them [Gentile], for he purified their [Gentile believers’] hearts by faith. 10Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”–Acts 15

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:26-29)

1. God responds to faith by purifying hearts.
2. That faith trusts in Jesus alone for salvation.
3. A person’s heritage or background absolutely does not factor into this.
4. God gives grace to whom He chooses. It is not a matter of Jewish or Gentile.
5. God has chosen people for salvation, but His choice centers around Jesus and not Abraham.
6. Faith in Jesus thus brings unity where there was once division.
7. The early disciples came to realize this. How do you see this in your life?–JMB