Grace plus nothing.

Acts 15:6-11 NIV
 ⁶ The apostles and elders met to consider this question.⁷ 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. ⁸God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. ⁹ He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. ¹⁰ Now 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? ¹¹ No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

This took place during the council at Jerusalem.  The "Church" was still very young and let's face it they were human and had their own opinions.  The Gentiles were entering the Church.  Jews and Gentiles just did not associate with one another and now they're of the same faith.  Some were insisting the Gentiles be circumcised. Others were insisting that Gentiles fulfill the whole law.

Peter asked the question in verse 10 "...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?"  He goes on to say Gentiles are saved through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So now the question come to me.  Why do I put an extra burden on myself?  Why do I try and live by my own version of the Law.  I need to live each day by Grace.  I loved the way Dr Stanley put it this morning.

"Too often believers rely on Christ for their salvation but then try to go solo. If God’s grace was needed to save us, then logic says we would also need it for the rest of our days. Only through a continuous infusion of His sustaining power can we live a victorious Christian life."

God Bless.