Need Jesus

Pete Kersker - Aug 24, 2026

Led by the Holy Spirit, Paul and Barnabas left their home church in Antioch for a mission trip. Upon their return, a teacher from Judea stirred up dissension by saying the Gentile Christians needed to be circumcised, like the Jews, in order to be saved. Paul and Barnabas disagreed with him, but did not change his mind. So, they went to Jerusalem to find out what others were teaching on the matter.

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. He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith (Acts 15:7-9 NIV).

Discussion and prayer led them to the same conclusion: Everyone is saved by grace (a gift from God). This gift is given to us through God's Son, Jesus, who is the Christ (Messiah). He added our sin to His perfect record and then died to take the penalty we deserve. We do not need to be circumcised to be saved. We need Jesus.

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? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are" (Acts 15:10-11 NIV).

Do you have things that stir up dissension at your church?
Does our need for Jesus overshadow those things that try to divide us/