Dealing with Theological Aberrations - Pt. 1: The Culprits
- Baptist Daily Devotional
- Aug 16
- 2 min read
Rev Osei Kwabena Nkrahene | August 16 2025 | Acts 15:1-5
KEY VERSE: “But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.’” Acts 15:1 (ESV)
MESSAGE:
Every genuine work of God faces opposition. In Acts 15, we meet the culprits—men from Judea who insisted that Gentile believers must be circumcised to be saved. Their words carried confidence, but not truth.
This boldness reminds us of the serpent in Eden, who dared to contradict God with the lie: “You will not surely die.” In the same way, these teachers distorted what God had already established.
These men were not outsiders. They came from within the wider believing community, yet they promoted what God had not commanded. That made them dangerous. They added conditions to salvation, unsettled the faith of others, and spoke without true authority. Verse 24 later confirms that they operated without mandate or integrity.
Notice how Acts 15 begins: “But some men…” That small word “But” points us back to Acts 14:26-27, where Paul and Barnabas reported the great work God had done among the Gentiles. Their mission had been under God’s clear direction, filled with His grace, and crowned with fruit. Salvation was already evident. To insert human requirements into God’s work was to rob Him of glory.
The lesson is clear: salvation is God’s work from start to finish. Christ has completed it through His blood, and nothing needs to be added.
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
Salvation is by faith in Christ alone. Yet even today, culprits arise—whether through traditions, cultural expectations, or teachings that shift attention away from the cross. These unsettle faith and distract from the finished work of Jesus. Stay anchored in Him.
PRAYER:
Lord, keep my heart anchored in the true gospel. Guard me from every false teaching and help me to live daily in the freedom of salvation through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 228: 2 Chronicles 1–4 — Solomon’s Wisdom and Temple Begins
DAILY word study: SOME MEN
The phrase “some men” in Acts 15:1 is from the Greek τινες ἄνδρες (tines andres). The word tines means “certain ones,” and andres means “men,” often carrying a sense of authority. Luke intentionally leaves them unnamed. They were known in the community, yet their teaching was not from God.
These men added requirements to salvation, teaching that circumcision was necessary. Their anonymity in the text shows that the error does not deserve honour or a platform. What matters is the truth of the gospel.
Reflect on This:
Sometimes false voices rise from within the church. They may sound important, but if their message does not align with Christ, we must hold firmly to the truth of His finished work.
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