Why do we have the gospel of grace today?
We have the gospel of grace today because the apostle Paul did not give in when Jewish believers in Jerusalem insisted Gentiles must become proselytes of Judaism to be saved. Paul stood his ground, and the Jerusalem pillars recognized the grace given to him, extending fellowship for the gospel to the Gentiles.
Les explains that the Jerusalem leaders—Peter, James, and John, who seemed to be pillars—perceived the grace that was given to Paul. They gave to Paul and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, agreeing that Paul and Barnabas should go to the heathen, or Gentiles, while they would go to the circumcision. This was all decided in 51 A.D., thirteen years after Peter had gone to Cornelius. All that time, Jewish believers of Jerusalem were still maintaining that Gentiles could not be saved unless they became proselytes of Judaism. Paul just stood his ground and did not give in. Therefore, we can thank God that we have this tremendous gospel of grace today, because the apostle Paul did not give in.