The Light of Christ Journey

Encouraging people on their journey with Christ

Freedom with a Purpose

Paula K. Graves

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September 11, 2026

Paul wanted the Galatian churches to know that through the mercy and grace of Jesus, we have freedom with a purpose. Paul had risked his life to preach the Gospel and plant these churches, and now false teachers were leading them astray. These people wanted the Gentiles in these churches to follow the Jewish laws in addition to believing in Jesus.

Paul knew that when one tried to live under the law, one must depend on one’s own efforts. In contrast, when you live under Jesus’ grace, you can depend on Him for salvation. Galatians 5:1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.[1] To turn back to the law to try to earn what Christ has already given mocks His sacrifice.

New Freedom Through the Holy Spirit

These false teachers feared that people might use their newfound freedom from the law as a license to sin. They didn’t understand that the law cannot force people to get along. Our sinful nature will rule us unless we allow the Holy Spirit to fill us. Our freedom from the law is not doing whatever we want; it is becoming who God created us to be.

Galatians 5:13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love… 16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.[2]

Love in our hearts is God’s substitute for laws and threats. It is the love of Christ that enables us to love others. This kind of love will not allow one to steal, lie, envy, or try to hurt others because that is not loving. It is not law on the outside but love on the inside of us that makes the difference. This kind of love is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Fruit of the Spirit

We know that fruit grows from a living entity. It takes time to grow and requires care and cultivation. Galatians 5:22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! [3]

Notice that even though Paul lists nine different characteristics, he also classifies them as a singular fruit. Love is listed first because all the others proceed from it. The Spirit produces the fruit, and it is our job to get in step with the Spirit.

“Because God who sent the law also sent the Spirit, the by-products of the Spirit-filled life harmonize perfectly with the intent of God’s law. A person who exhibits the fruit of the Spirit fulfills the law far better than a person who observes the rituals but has little love in his or her heart.”[4] The grace of Jesus gives us freedom with a purpose through the power of the Holy Spirit. No longer do we need the external force of the law to keep us in God’s will. Now we have the internal leading of the Holy Spirit. To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-gospel-of-grace-alone

[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.

[4] Barton, B. B. (1994). Galatians (p. 189). Tyndale House.

Adopted and Accepted

Paula K. Graves

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September 10, 2026

We are adopted and accepted as children of God through the power of the Trinity. God had given the law many years before Jesus was born. This law wasn’t God’s final revelation, but it was preparation for the revelation and redemption of Christ. All the law could do was reveal our desperate need for restoration.

Galatians 4: 4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.[1]

The Trinity’s Restoration

From Paul’s letter to the Galatian churches, we can see that God the Father had a plan. He arranged for Jesus’ coming to earth at just the right time. We may not understand the timing, but be assured that the Father knew what was best.

Jesus was both God and human. He was God’s Son, yet willing to become human like us. He kept the law perfectly, which made it possible for Him to become our substitute. He paid the blood price for our sin that we could never pay. He has redeemed or bought us back from the slavery of sin.

Because of Jesus’ work on the cross and His resurrection, the Spirit can now reside in our hearts. It is impossible to have a relationship with laws or rituals. But the Spirit imparts restoration by imparting God’s nature to us. This is something that the law could never do. Because of Jesus, we are now His children. We can call out “Abba, Father” which is the English equivalent of “Daddy.” That demonstrates a familial relationship. As members of God’s family, we have the promise of an inheritance: eternal life.

From a Slave to Family

During Paul’s time, if a Roman man did not have a son to pass along his wealth, he could adopt a slave as a son. When this happened, the boy’s life would change dramatically. Instead of being a servant with an uncertain future, the boy was now part of a family with an inheritance.

Now the boy would obey out of love instead of out of fear. He had done nothing to earn the inheritance, but it would come as a gift.

Paul was trying to use an example that the people of the Galatian churches could understand. They could never earn their salvation through following the law. The Judaizers were essentially like a traveling salesman trying to sell someone what they already had. Many Christians still live as spiritual servants, fearing rejection and striving to prove themselves. But God has adopted and accepted us through the work of Jesus and invites us into a relationship with Him. Are you relating to God through fear or through relationship?

To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-gospel-of-grace-alone

[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ga 4:4–7). Tyndale House Publishers.

God’s Children Through Faith

Tom Graves

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September 9, 2026

We are God’s children through faith, a wonderful blessing that Paul discusses in Galatians Chapter 3. He opens the chapter by taking his readers back to Abraham. Long before laws, rituals, or religious performance, Abraham was declared righteous because he trusted God. God’s promise rested on faith, not on human achievement.

This truth cuts across a tendency that still shapes many lives today. People often carry a performance mindset into their relationship with God: If I pray enough, serve enough, succeed enough, then God will accept me. We can approach God as though we are employees earning wages rather than children receiving love.

The Gospel announces something different. Grace is not earned; it is received. Faith is simply the open hand that receives what God freely gives. God does not wait for us to become impressive before welcoming us. He does not set impossible standards and then ask us to climb toward Him.

Instead, He comes toward us in Christ. The weight of seeking God’s approval is burdensome because it was never meant for us to bear. Jesus took on what we could not. By faith, God gives us what effort alone cannot attain: acceptance, forgiveness, and belonging. Faith does not generate God’s love; it simply accepts it.

Living “In Christ Jesus”

Galatians 3:26For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.[1] The phrase “in Christ” stands at the heart of Christian life. Before Christ, people lived under the law’s supervision, aware of the distance between themselves and God. But “in Christ” describes a new relationship of closeness and family.

Being “in Christ” means Christ’s righteousness stands in our place before the Father, and God sees the perfect obedience and sacrifice of His Son when He looks at us. Paul also says that Christ lives in us. These truths are not opposites but two aspects of the same relationship: “In Christ” describes our standing, while Christ “in us” describes our daily experience.

This living relationship is what makes the Christian life more than a system of rules. We are not servants standing at a distance, wondering whether we qualify for entrance into God’s presence. We are sons and daughters welcomed into the Father’s house. We belong because of Christ.

Children Who Already Belong

Paul’s teaching moves from theology to application. If we are children of God, then we are family. We share one heavenly Father and become heirs with Christ. What an astonishing privilege. Children inherit not because they earned a reward but because they belong to the family.

Many believers still live as though they stand outside the door, trying to gain entry. They work harder, strive more, and fear that a single failure might remove them from God’s love. Yet Paul reminds us that God does not call us servants trying to qualify; He calls us children who already belong. We are God’s children through faith, to learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-gospel-of-grace-alone

[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ga 3:26). Tyndale House Publishers.

Living by Faith

Tom Graves

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September 8, 2026

Living by faith is part of a believer’s faith journey, though it is not easy and marks a major transformation in a person’s life. Identity is one of the deepest questions every person faces: Who am I? Many people answer that question by looking to accomplishments, reputation, status, success, failure, or others’ approval.

Paul once did the same. Paul’s identity had been built on religious performance. He was a Pharisee, a defender of tradition, and someone who worked tirelessly to earn righteousness through obedience to the law. But Paul discovered something life-changing that is a wonderful lesson for all of us. Through Christ, he realized that his old life had come to an end.

Galatians 2:20a My old self has been crucified with Christ.[1] Paul used language that points to a completed act with continuing effects. Something happened in the past, yet its reality continued into the present. When Christ died, Paul’s old identity died with Him. The self-righteous, striving, approval-seeking Paul no longer defined who he was. He no longer had to fear that he had somehow failed God after years of trying to earn His favor. Christ had perfectly fulfilled the law and completely paid sin’s penalty. This is true for believers today.

Christ Lives Within Us

Paul then says something astonishing. Galatians 2:20b “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”[2] Christianity is not simply behavior modification or self-improvement. It is spiritual transformation. Paul was still alive physically, but the center of his life had changed. His ambitions, purpose, and identity were no longer rooted in himself. Christ had taken residence in him.

Union with Christ is more than church attendance. Believers share in Christ’s death and resurrection; the old self dies, and a new life begins. Achievements, rules, and striving can’t fill the emptiness: only Christ can. This truth transforms our lives. We stop exhausting ourselves seeking worth or approval. Instead, we live knowing we are already accepted through Christ.

Living Daily by Faith

Paul concluded with how he lives in this transformation. Galatians 2:20cSo I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.[3] Faith is a continuous journey, not a single moment.

While believers remain in bodies prone to sin, they now live by Christ’s strength. Each day involves trusting Christ’s love, His grace, and His power within us. Because of His love and sacrifice, we can wholly surrender to Him. Living by faith means believing that Christ’s acceptance is enough. What old identity, label, or burden do you need to surrender to Christ today?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You that my identity is no longer found in my performance, accomplishments, or failures. Thank You that my old life was crucified with You and that You now live within me. Help me live each day by faith, trusting Your love and resting in Your acceptance. Amen.

To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-gospel-of-grace-alone

[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.

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No Other Gospel

Tom Graves

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September 7, 2026

Paul clearly states in the first chapter of Galatians that there is no other Gospel. He does this with authority and urgency. He reminds believers that Jesus Christ commissioned him. His message wasn’t created by people, shaped by culture, or passed down by tradition. It came directly from God.

Paul then speaks words of grace and peace. Galatians 1: 3 May God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.[1] We don’t find true peace in circumstances; we find it in a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Paul immediately pointed to the heart of the Gospel. Galatians 1: 4 Jesus gave his life for our sins.[2]

Every rescue begins with recognizing the problem. God’s plan begins with four truths: we live in an evil age hostile to God; sin enslaves us; we willingly participate in sin and can’t save ourselves; and our loving Father offers salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. From the beginning, God’s plan was salvation through Christ’s death and resurrection. Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice, taking upon Himself the penalty humanity deserved. The Gospel begins with God’s action, not ours.

The Danger of Another Gospel

 You can hear the passion in Paul’s heart as he continues. Galatians 1:6I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News 7 but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ. 8 Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you.[3]

Paul usually opened his letters with thanksgiving, but instead, he expressed astonishment. The Galatians had begun turning toward a different gospel. Paul could hardly believe how quickly they were drifting away from the truth of grace.

Zealous Jewish believer spread a different gospel. They claimed faith in Jesus wasn’t enough, insisting believers follow Old Testament laws like circumcision and dietary rules. Their message shifted trust from Christ to human effort. Paul’s response was clear: there is no other Gospel.

The Marks of the True Gospel

Paul wanted believers to recognize truth from error. The true Gospel always points back to God as its source. It teaches that life comes through death; Christ died so that we might die to sin and live for Him. It explains that every believer receives the Holy Spirit through faith, not through works of the law.

The true Gospel declares that salvation cannot be earned. It proclaims that all believers are one in Christ. It announces freedom from the grip of sin and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. Faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the only way we receive forgiveness and salvation. There is no other Gospel. To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-gospel-of-grace-alone

[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.

Freedom in Christ

Tom Graves

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September 6, 2026

Freedom in Christ is the reason Paul wrote the book of Galatians, because the people in the churches of Galatia were going backward in their faith.Galatians 5:1So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.[1] Scholars have called the letter to the Galatians the “charter of Christian freedom.”[2] It was born out of a crisis.

Paul had brought the Gospel to the churches in Galatia and watched men and women experience the life-changing freedom that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Yet after Paul left, false teachers called Judaizers entered the churches with a different message. They insisted that faith in Christ alone was not enough. The Judaizers taught that Gentile believers also had to obey Jewish laws and traditions to be truly saved and accepted by God.

The Freedom Paul Discovered

Paul knew this teaching was dangerous because it threatened the very heart of the Gospel. He understood what was at stake because he had experienced slavery firsthand. Before Paul met Jesus, he was a slave, though not in the traditional sense. Religious zeal, legalism, and the belief that righteousness could be earned through performance enslaved Paul. He lived under the pressure to prove himself worthy before God.

Many people today know that kind of slavery. Destructive habits such as drugs or alcohol trap some in slavery. Or guilt, fear, bitterness, anger, pride, or a constant need for approval trap others. Some live under the exhausting pressure to be “good enough” for God. The truth is that slavery takes many forms, yet every form carries the same burden; it controls, confines, and robs us of freedom.

Everything changed for Paul on the road to Damascus, where he would be freed from the slavery of religion. There he encountered Jesus Christ, his Liberator. Paul discovered that works, rules, or religious effort did not earn salvation. It was received by grace through faith. For the first time, Paul experienced true freedom, not freedom to do whatever he wanted, but freedom from sin, guilt, and the impossible burden of trying to save himself. After meeting Christ, Paul devoted his life to sharing that message of freedom with others. He wanted people to know that Jesus came not merely to improve lives but to rescue them.

The Warning Paul Could Not Ignore

What troubled Paul was seeing believers who had already experienced freedom being pressured back into bondage. They were trading grace for rules and relationship for religion. Paul’s message was direct and urgent: Jesus did not die to free us only to place us under another form of slavery. Christ came to set us free completely.

The question for us is, “Am I relying on God’s grace, or am I trying to earn what Christ has already given?” Freedom in Christ remains God’s invitation today. We do not live to earn acceptance; we live because we are already accepted through Christ. To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-gospel-of-grace-alone

[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ga 5:1). Tyndale House Publishers.

[2] Barton, B. B. (1994). Galatians (pp. x – xi). Tyndale House.

Saved by Grace Through Faith

Paula K. Graves

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September 5, 2026

The apostles understood that through Jesus’ work on the cross and His resurrection, they were now saved by grace through faith. These were new times for the Jews, especially for the Pharisees, who focused on the law. Thus, the reason they were debating was whether Gentiles must first become Jews to be saved.

Peter had received Jesus’ grace on the shores of Galilee, as he was reinstated to ministry after denying Jesus. As Peter considered the history of his people, all he could see was their failure to fully follow God’s law.

Acts 15: 10 “So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? 11 We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” [1]

Paul Received Grace

Paul had persecuted believers before he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. He, like Peter, had received Jesus’ grace and forgiveness and realized the law could not save us.

Galatians 2: 15 “You and I are Jews by birth, not ‘sinners’ like the Gentiles. 16 Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”[2]

So, if we are saved by faith, why did God give the law? Paul explained that, too. Galatians 3: 23 Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed. 24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. 25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian. [3]

Jesus Did Something New

Even Jesus gave His followers a heads-up about something new in one of His parables. Luke 5: 36 Then Jesus gave them this illustration: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and uses it to patch an old garment. For then the new garment would be ruined, and the new patch wouldn’t even match the old garment.

37 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the new wine would burst the wineskins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. 38 New wine must be stored in new wineskins. 39 But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is just fine,’ they say.” [4]

Jesus’ work on the cross and His resurrection gave us a way to renew our relationship with God. This grace is like the new wine; it won’t fit into the old wineskins. Yet, Jesus knew that there would be resistance to change, and some would continue to desire the old. But that did not change the fact that we are saved by grace through faith. Thankfully, this remains true for us today. Put your faith in Jesus and be assured of your salvation.

To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/revisiting-to-encourage

[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.

Searching Scripture for Answers

Paula K. Graves

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September 4, 2026

During the debate over the need for circumcision for Gentile believers, James began searching the Scriptures for answers. “James was a brother to Jesus (Matt. 13:55; Gal. 1:19) and the writer of the Epistle of James.[1] During Jesus’ lifetime, we don’t think he believed that his half-brother was the Messiah (John 7:5). He seems to become a believer after Jesus’ resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15: 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles.[2] The Letter of James contains at least ten references to Jewish law, so he would likely have been sympathetic to Jewish hardliners.

Our Opinion or God’s?

Even though James may have been legalistic, he also knew Scripture. He looked there for guidance as he led the Jerusalem church through this dispute over circumcision. As he considered the scripture, he could see that God had a plan for all nations from the beginning.

Even 700 years prior to the birth of Jesus, God was speaking through His prophets. Isaiah 45:21b For there is no other God but me, a righteous God and Savior. There is none but me. 22 Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other. 23 I have sworn by my own name; I have spoken the truth, and I will never go back on my word: Every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to me.” [3]

Amos was a contemporary of Isaiah and also had words for the Gentiles: Amos 9: 11 “In that day I will restore the fallen house of David. I will repair its damaged walls. From the ruins I will rebuild it and restore its former glory. 12 And Israel will possess what is left of Edom and all the nations I have called to be mine.” The Lord has spoken, and he will do these things. [4]

Follow God’s Plan

James was willing to set aside his thoughts to follow God’s plan. He put the prophetic Scripture into his own words as he explained his reasoning. This allowed him to describe what he sees as God’s plan for the Gentiles.

Acts 15: 13 When they had finished, James stood and said, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Peter has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for himself. 15 And this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets predicted. As it is written: 16 ‘Afterward I will return and restore the fallen house of David. I will rebuild its ruins and restore it, 17 so that the rest of humanity might seek the Lord, including the Gentiles—    all those I have called to be mine. The Lord has spoken—18 he who made these things known so long ago.’

After James quotes the prophets, he then makes a statement: Acts 15: 19 And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.[5] This, in effect, was a rejection of the circumcision for the Gentile believers. When we are making difficult decisions, we, too, want to search the Scriptures for answers. God’s wisdom is always far better than ours. To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/revisiting-to-encourage

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 463). Victor Books.

[2-5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.

Remembering What God Has Done

Paula K. Graves

no comments

September 3, 2026

In the dispute over circumcision, Peter, Barnabas, and Paul began by remembering what God has done. Acts 10 tells the story of Peter meeting and preaching to Cornelius, a Roman centurion. The Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles just as He had on the disciples earlier.

When Peter returned to Jerusalem after this incident, hardliners had criticized him. But when they heard the story, they agreed with Peter. Acts 11: 18 When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.[1]

Now, as the debate continues over the issue of the need for Gentile believers to receive circumcision, Peter reminded them of this event. Acts 15: 7 At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe. 8 God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith.[2]

Paul and Barnabas’ Mission Trip

Part of the reason for the Jerusalem Council was that many Gentiles had become believers during Paul and Barnabas’s first mission trip. They had preached how the death and resurrection of Jesus had changed things. Through Jesus’ work on the cross, God’s long-awaited plan has been put in place, and God is building a new family without racial divisions. Anyone can find salvation through faith in Jesus.

We think Paul had just written the letter to the Galatian churches to counter hardliners who had gone to the churches of Galatia and claimed Paul hadn’t told them the whole truth. They must become Jews first before becoming believers. That meant getting circumcised and following Mosaic law. Now, at the council, the two apostles begin remembering what God has done.

Acts 15: 12 Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. [3] “The Greek word for “signs” (semeia) suggests “miracles that point to a divine truth.” “Wonders” (teras) are divine acts that produce awe. The clear implication is that these supernatural events signified God’s endorsement and blessing of their ministry to non-Jews.”[4]

Remembering God during a Conflict

Emotions may run high during conflicts, making it difficult to think clearly. But when we take time to remember God, He can give us wisdom to deal with the situation at hand. Peter, Paul, and Barnabas give us models.

When we remember what God has done in the past, we begin to consider His character. Then we will respond with worship and gratitude for what has happened in the past. Not only that, but remembering helps build faith for what God will do in the future. As we remember God’s works, we will gain a new perspective. To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/revisiting-to-encourage

[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.

[4] Barton, B. B., & Osborne, G. R. (1999). Acts (p. 255). Tyndale House.

Resolving Conflict God’s Way

Tom Graves

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September 2, 2026

Resolving conflict God’s way was instrumental when the early church faced a crisis. This can teach us much today. Acts 15:1While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers: “Unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.”[1] 

This was not a minor disagreement over preferences or traditions. The very heart of the Gospel was at stake. Acts 15 tells us that Paul and Barnabas engaged in a “sharp dispute and debate” over the matter. If mishandled, this conflict could have fractured the church and divided believers at a crucial moment in its mission.

Yet Scripture reminds us that not all conflict is destructive. Some conflict clarifies truth. Disagreements can expose confusion, reveal assumptions, and prompt us to ask, “What does God actually say?” The issue in Acts 15 brought a vital question into focus: Is salvation by God’s grace through faith, or must people earn acceptance through rules and religious requirements?

There is something of a Pharisee in each of us. Structures, customs, and practices can be helpful, but they become dangerous when they begin carrying the weight that belongs to Christ alone. The Gospel is not Jesus plus. It is Jesus alone.

Godly Resolution Seeks Wise Counsel

Paul and Barnabas could have gathered supporters and created factions. Instead, they chose another path. They brought the matter to the church leaders in Jerusalem. Rather than escalating division, they sought wisdom collectively and respectfully.

This teaches us something essential about resolving conflict God’s way. We live in a culture that often rewards quick reactions, public arguments, and personal victories. Churches today face disagreements over worship styles, traditions, ministry approaches, social issues, and theology. The temptation is to defend our position at all costs or to assume our perspective is the only faithful one.

The believers in Acts demonstrate a better way. They listened, gathered together and sought discernment under God’s authority. They neither avoided the issue nor weaponized it. Jesus modeled the same Spirit. He consistently balanced truth with grace and called His followers to reconciliation. Unity does not mean avoiding difficult conversations; it means pursuing them with humility and love. Godly conflict resolution asks, “How can we honor Christ and build up His body?”

Keep the Gospel at the Center

The church eventually affirmed that salvation comes through the grace of Jesus Christ, not through ceremonial requirements. Freedom, not legalism, prevailed. That remains an important reminder today. Make sure the Gospel brings freedom and life to those you are trying to reach. Rules and ceremonies may have their place, but they cannot replace the transforming grace of Christ.

When conflict arises, ask, “Am I protecting the Gospel, or merely protecting my preferences?” A Christ-centered resolution keeps Jesus at the center, allowing truth and love to walk together. To learn more about resolving conflict God’s way, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/revisiting-to-encourage

[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ac 15:1). Tyndale House Publishers.

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