Religion and Grace Don’t Mix

(Read Acts 21-22)

Beginning in this chapter until the end of the Book of Acts, we find Paul in Roman custody. Other epistles in the New Testament present Paul as a free man, but in terms of Acts, this was the end of his time as a free man. Imprisoned or free, he never ended his witness to Jesus Christ or his usefulness to God and God’s people.

After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”
Acts 21:10-11

Many people had accurately warned Paul that bad things will happen to him in Jerusalem. Through sheer wisdom, Paul did not see these prophesies as something God sent to turn him from Jerusalem and spare him, rather he accepted them as a true picture of the hardship he would be facing.

As captured in Chapters 21 and 22, Paul most certainly lived this true picture. He faced abuse, discrimination, intimidation, and torture. Despite the dark valleys ahead of him and the weight of threats above him, Paul’s approach to his detractors was a perfect example of the Christ-filled approach to sharing and teaching the Gospel. It’s an example of Christ’s calm. It’s an example we should all follow whether lifted up or pressed.

How did Paul react? What was his method that was so unique? Let’s face it, when we’re squeezed, we normally strike back. If you step on a snake, it’s going to try to bite you. Paul placed his Christ-given mission before every word he spoke, before every word he wrote, and before every step he took. Paul never struck back. He moved ahead — gracefully.

Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs. What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow.
Acts 21:20-23

This might seem controversial, but I’m going to say it anyway, religion and grace don’t mix. Paul was getting the fifth degree from the Jewish zealots who were incensed that he would say and do the things he did. How dare he not force the new Christians to observe the traditional Jewish ceremonial practices?

Apparently, several legalistic Jewish Christians spread rumors that Paul was teaching other Jewish Christians to reject some of the Mosaic laws. In truth, Paul only showed priority. Paul was a Jew culturally and until his epiphany with Christ, spiritually. He knew and respected Mosaic customs. But as a follower of Jesus, his job was to first teach the truth of the Gospel over these traditions.

Pharisees, Scribes, and all legalistic Christians today represent religion. They all profess working ways to be saved by God. It’s about sacrificing enough, abiding in every single dietary law, never missing worship, it’s about tithing the right amount. Without the life and sacrifice of a Savior, none of these by themselves will get us there. Apart from the grace of Jesus Christ we are left with rules and customs that don’t fully answer God’s request. We are climbing a ladder where the top rungs are missing. We’ll never get there.

Paul’s public discourse wasn’t going well, as the crowd didn’t like what they heard.

While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.
Acts 21:31-33

Paul was falsely accused of allowing Gentiles into the Temple. He knew better and respected the reasons why this was inappropriate. Ironically, it was a Gentile, the Roman commander Claudius Lysias, who rescued Paul from the Jewish mob in the court of the Gentiles no less.

The narrow escape of being pulled to pieces by the mob, and the taking of him into fair and legal custody by the chief captain set the stage for what Paul would do next. He would answer with grace over anger. Lysias allowed Paul to speak for himself to the people.

“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
Acts 22:3-5

Laying out his Christian experience, Paul spoke in a language that reached the crowd. If he spoke in Greek, the Romans, some Jews, and most of the Gentiles might have understood, but it would have driven the wedge further between himself and his fuming audience. It would have shown anything but grace.

Paul was careful to illustrate the common ground between them and he began telling the story of his life before his conversion with Jesus Christ. He showed his Jewish roots as a child from Jerusalem who was taught by Gamaliel, one of the most prestigious rabbis at that time. He continued to fill them in on his own hatred of others and his religiosity. He also snuck in a reference of his former pride for his works in front of the high priest and council of elders.

Essentially, he was saying, “You tried to kill me, but I killed many.” This must have been surprising to many in the crowd. Though they wanted to kill Paul, they then listened intently to his whole sermon.

If Paul wanted to counter with religion, Paul would have fought back. Not one time did he argue or debate them. Not once did he preach to them in a condemning way. The only way to show them Christ’s grace was through another approach. One of the most convincing, undebatable arguments regarding Christianity is one’s personal experience with the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace over law.

Legalistic people often have a skewed outlook holding their faith together. Their spiritual beliefs are usually based on strict adherence to traditions. Anything outside of this is to be excluded. I used to be furious with TV shows that depicted a false narrative of Christianity. Over time, it dawned on me that I needed to surrender my anger. True Christian faith stands on its own. If someone were to base their spiritual beliefs solely on a TV show, then they probably wouldn’t come to Jesus in the first place. I need to worry more about how I present my own faith than how others present theirs — fictitious or not.

“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”
The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!”
Acts 22:21-22

Oops. This statement was akin to a mic drop today. I can’t help but think of the crowd in Jerusalem when Pilot asked that angry mob what should be done with Christ. “Crucify him.”

On many separate occasions, Paul stood before different audiences and presented Christ to them. Each time, he stood alone. Each time, he addressed unbelievers, many of them hostile and threatening. Did Paul lecture them? Did he preach religion? Each time, he shared his personal testimony.

I’m a Christian — a Christ follower. That fact probably defines me as religious. But as a follower, I try to emphasize Christ’s grace within me above my religious convictions. If I place religion first, I am more concerned with fitting in, looking good, being obligated, repeating without feeling. If I put Grace first, I am more concerned with saving others, reaching out, understanding, lifting up, and worshipping to learn, grow, and repent. Basically, I’m more concerned with being Christ-like than Christ-lite.

As with other parts of the Bible, there is so much to learn. Paul’s story is not a gospel of the Law, it’s a gospel of grace and this gospel is offered to all people. If there is an angry mob around you or within you, remember this story. Remember the riots that engulfed Paul. God turned that violent spectacle in the heart of an oppressive Roman Empire into the growth of a new way based on pure light and love.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:37-39

Key Applications:

1. Where does your faith come from? Think hard about this. Does your faith come from what other people have told you? Does it come from routine(s)? Do you have a personal story you can share? It does not have to be a lightning flash experience. Most of us don’t have them. But, your story can and should have examples of how Christ’s grace has poured through you in your life. Does it?
2. Have you been offended by other religions? Have you been offended by the way other Christian denominations worship? If so, look into where the offense comes from. Are you offended because Jesus Christ’s sacrifice is not the center of their faith, or because their traditions are different. Don’t let little things become obstacles in your life.
3. Read Acts 21-22. Pray for the wisdom Paul used. Look at criticism as an opportunity to show the glory of Jesus Christ. We can’t show Jesus if people don’t see Him in us. As I’ve mentioned before, we might be the closest thing to the Bible that people will ever see.

Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.