阅读经文 

神在继续扩张祂的国度，此时氛围却越来越紧张。有风声说，外邦人信了基督，然后犹太的一些领袖开始教导说，除非人们按照摩西的律法受割礼，否则就不能在基督里得救。

实际上，这些领袖对信仰持“我们和他们”的分门别类的态度，他们想要明确标记谁是自己人，谁是外人。但是神却另有安排。

令人感恩的是，冷静的头脑终究占了上风，教会领袖们看到了一个真理：所有信徒都因信耶稣而得救，割礼不再是必需的条件。得救进入神的国重在心灵。

当圣灵的工作（每一个相信基督的人都领受了圣灵的印记）在我们里面结出果子的时候，我们就逐渐有了基督的品格和行为。圣灵在我们里面工作，改变我们的心。外在的标记并不能改变我们的内心，只有神的灵才能在我们内心工作。

福音直击我们的心灵，主藉着祂的灵在我们里面大能的工作，使我们的生命变得美丽。

Tension was building as God continued to expand his kingdom. Reports were coming in that Gentiles were becoming believers in Christ, and then some leaders from Judea began teaching that people could not be saved in Christ unless they were circumcised according to the law of Moses.

Actually, those leaders had an “us and them” attitude about faith, and they wanted clear markers to show who was included and who was not. But God had other plans.

Thankfully, cooler minds prevailed, and the church’s leaders saw the truth that all believers are saved by grace through faith in Jesus, and that circumcision is no longer required. Salvation into God’s kingdom is a matter of the heart.

As the work of the Spirit (by which every believer in Christ is sealed) produces fruit in us, we gradually take on the character and behavior of Christ. The Spirit works in us and changes our hearts. Having an outward mark does not change our hearts. Only the Spirit of God can do that.

The gospel cuts to the heart of who we are, and by his power at work inside of us the Lord makes something beautiful out of our lives.