Saved by Grace!

Acts 15:5 – 11 (NIV) Key scripture 8 – 11

"Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses."  The apostles and elders met to consider this question. After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

1. God knows the heart of all men and women.
   
   1. He accepts everyone no matter what they look like.
      
   2. He gives the Holy Spirit to every believer.
      
   3. He gives all who trust in him a clean slate.
      
2. If God knows the heart of every man, we should not force someone to prove their faith by doing things that may be hard to do.
   
   1. We show our lack of faith by making others prove theirs.
      
3. We are saved by God's grace when we put our faith in Jesus.
   
   1. We do not have to prove that our salvation to anyone because when we accept Jesus, It will show in our lives.