Trying to out-god God

““So why are you now trying to out-god God, loading these new believers down with rules that crushed our ancestors and crushed us, too? Don’t we believe that we are saved because the Master Jesus amazingly and out of sheer generosity moved to save us just as he did those from beyond our nation? So what are we arguing about?”” (Acts 15:10–11, The Message)

The account of the council at Jerusalem when the early Christians were trying to decide the issue of whether or not pagan believers needed to adhere to the law of Moses.  This sets the pattern for church councils of the future when theological issues that are not clear in the Scriptures, are clarified (Christ's nature, for instance). 

Paul is speaking to the council and The Message has him saying, so why are you now trying to out-god God?  Meaning, "God has established a way of salvation, it is through faith in Christ.  Why are you adding to God's way of salvation?"  Thus the attempt to out-god God.

Paul nicely summarizes the Christian message that will shake the whole Roman empire and within less than three centuries supplant all pagan faiths in the empire.

 

 "But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”” (Acts 15:11, ESV)

Salvation does not come by following the Mosaic Law, or by adhering to certain rules and regulations.  Salvation comes through faith in Christ, in his death for our sin, in his resurrection, thus conquering death; or as Tullian Tchavidjian so eloquently puts it: Jesus + Nothing = Everying.