Salvation cannot be contained

Acts 11:19-30,13:1-3

          It seems ever so interesting to me that when the Good News was being spread, they spoke the word to no one except Jews. Apparently the Good News could not and cannot be contained to this very day. Those who think they are the special or only ones valid to receive the Word are sadly mistaken. It is no surprise that there was quite a 'discussion'  in the early church about these new, non Jewish converts. Just as today, there are admonitions and judgements as to who is acceptable material for salvation.

          If you are in the LBGTQ community you know that there are a great many of the major Christian demoninations that feel salvation is predicated on how you act. Specifically, guidelines are set forth on the way they want you to act or not act, how you love or not love. I fiind it amazing that in the guise of Godliness they feel free and justified to mete out rules as if they are given to then by God. Further. they are willing to bastardize Holy Scripture in an effort to justify their position. 

          If the worthiness of salvation could ever be contained by anyone, it certainly woul not be any group of self righteous liars who fail to see love with their myopic rules and logic.

         You may have to search to find an accepting community but know in your soul that you ARE worthy of salvation and the Word is for you as much as it is for anyone else.

         Praise God, salvation is yours!

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord.News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they associated with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians’.

At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign of Claudius. The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea; this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the ruler, and Saul. While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.