A Yoke Too Heavy: How Acts 15 Condemns Faith-Plus-Works Religions

The Roman Catholic Church often boasts:

“We gave you the Bible.”

It’s a common claim, repeated in debate and tradition. But is it true?

No. This assertion not only misrepresents history but also betrays a deeper agenda: to claim ownership of God’s Word and control over salvation. Yet when you investigate both the origin of Scripture and the doctrine of salvation, it becomes clear: Rome did not give us the Bible, and its gospel of faith plus works is not the gospel of Jesus Christ given to the Church, the Apostle Paul.

We must rightly divide the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15) and recognize that the gospel Jesus preached during His earthly ministry was not the gospel of salvation by grace through faith in His death, burial, and resurrection. Instead, Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom to the house of Israel, not to Gentiles, with the urgent call:

“Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17, KJV).

“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.” (Matthew 9:35, KJV)

Take careful note: Jesus taught in their synagogues — not in churches.

And who has synagogues? The Jews.

This reinforces that Christ’s earthly ministry was directed exclusively to Israel, not the Gentile world. He preached the gospel of the kingdom — a prophetic message announcing the arrival of their long-expected Messianic Kingdom (Matthew 10:5–7; 15:24). This message did not include the cross, because even His closest disciples did not yet understand or expect His death and resurrection (Luke 18:31–34; Matthew 16:21–22).

The gospel we preach today — the one by which we are saved — was later revealed through the Apostle Paul and centers on the finished work of Christ:

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel… how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:1–4).

This is a dispensational transition in God’s program — from the offer of the kingdom to Israel, to the preaching of the cross for the salvation of all. There are deeper implications to this doctrinal divide between the Gospel of the Kingdom and the Gospel of the Grace of God, which I will explore in a future article.

Did the Catholic Church Compile the Bible?

Roman Catholics argue that Church councils “defined” the canon, particularly at Hippo (393 AD) and Carthage (397 AD), yet they also claim the canon developed gradually over time. This is inconsistent, as those same councils did not create the canon but rather affirmed books that were already recognized as Scripture by early Christians.

But the truth is simpler and far more divine:

• The Old Testament was already settled among the Jews before Christ (Luke 24:44).

  
  

• The New Testament books were recognized, copied, and circulated by believers, not by Rome. Paul’s epistles were already being exchanged (Col. 4:16), and Peter acknowledged Paul’s writings as Scripture (2 Pet. 3:15–16).

  
  

• The early Church received the Word of God — they did not determine it. The Holy Spirit bore witness to its authority (John 16:13), and faithful believers preserved it (Psalm 12:6–7).

If Rome truly gave us the Bible, one must ask: why has the Roman Magisterium only infallibly interpreted 5–7 verses in 2,000 years? Now, I will submit, the exact number is debated amongst scholars that have been explicitly defined in the context of doctrinal declarations or in response to heresies.

Here are some passages that the Roman Catholic Church has definitively interpreted:

1. Romans 5:12 – “By one man sin entered into this world…”

   
   

   Interpreted to affirm the doctrine of original sin.

   
   

2. 1 Corinthians 4:7 – “What hast thou that thou hast not received?”

   
   

   Used to emphasize that divine grace is a gift from God.

   
   

3. Isaiah 7:14 – “Behold, a virgin shall conceive…”

   
   

   Affirmed as a prophecy of the virgin birth of the Messiah.

   
   

4. John 3:5 – “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit…”

   
   

   Interpreted to refer to the necessity of baptism for salvation.

   
   

5. Luke 22:19 – “This is my body, which is given for you…”

   
   

   Used to support the doctrine of the Real Presence in the Eucharist.

   
   

6. John 20:22–23 – “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive…”

   
   

   Cited in support of the sacrament of Confession.

   
   

7. James 5:14–15 – “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders…”

   
   

   Interpreted as the basis for the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.

These interpretations are often linked to the Roman Catholic Church’s doctrinal teachings and have been defined in the context of ecumenical councils or papal declarations.

What about the remaining 99.99% of Scripture left undefined?

A self-proclaimed “infallible” authority that refuses to clarify the vast majority of God’s Word exposes its own irrelevance — and proves that the Bible stands complete and authoritative apart from any man-made religious system.

Acts 15: The First Heresy — Faith Plus Works

This brings us to a critical moment in Church history: Acts 15.

The first major doctrinal controversy wasn’t about Christ's deity or the resurrection. It was about salvation and whether faith in Jesus alone was sufficient.

“But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” (Acts 15:5, KJV)

These Pharisees believed in Jesus yet demanded that Gentiles be circumcised and obey the law to be saved. This was faith plus works. This same false gospel is the foundation of the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and other works-based sects today.

Peter’s Rebuke Applies Today

The Apostle Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, delivers a timeless rebuke:

“Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?” (Acts 15:10, KJV)

“But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.” (Acts 15:11, KJV)

This yoke of legalism, rituals, and law-keeping was too heavy for Israel, and it’s still too heavy today. Peter declares salvation is by grace, not ceremony.

Not circumcision.

Not law.

Not works.

That rebuke strikes at the heart of Roman Catholic and Orthodox theology. These systems teach that salvation begins with infant baptism, continues through sacraments, and is maintained by penance, confession, and good works.

But Acts 15 declares, "None of these things can save."

Paul’s Anathema for Another Gospel

The Apostle Paul doubles down on this rebuke in his letter to the Galatians:

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8, KJV)

That includes:

• Baptismal regeneration

• Confession to a priest

• Purgatory

• The Eucharist as a perpetual sacrifice

• Sacramental salvation

• Earning or maintaining grace
  

These are not “denominational differences” — they are another gospel. And Paul warns that such teachings bring a curse, not salvation.

The True Gospel: Grace Alone

The Bible is clear:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9, KJV)

God saves the sinner by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, without works, rituals, or sacraments.

Any Church, movement, or individual that adds anything to faith for salvation is under the same apostolic rebuke Peter gave in Acts 15 and the anathema Paul gave in Galatians 1.

Allow me to further elaborate on the point of adding anything to scripture.

The Bible clearly warns that adding to, subtracting from, or altering God’s Word brings a curse. This principle is established throughout Scripture and is first demonstrated in the account of Eve in Genesis 3, where she subtly misquoted God’s command — adding to His Word by saying, “neither shall ye touch it” (Genesis 3:3), which God never said (cf. Genesis 2:17). This opened the door to deception.

“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it…” (Deuteronomy 4:2)

“Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” (Proverbs 30:6)

“…If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away…” (Revelation 22:18–19)

From Genesis to Revelation, God preserves His Word and defends it from corruption — and warns that those who tamper with it bring judgment upon themselves.

Conclusion: A Yoke Too Heavy

The Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church claim apostolic succession — but they’ve inherited the spirit of the believing Pharisees in Acts 15, not the gospel of grace preached by Paul.

They’ve added a yoke.

A burden.

A system of works disguised as tradition.

But the gospel is simple:

Christ did all the work.

To add to His finished work is to deny it.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1, KJV)

The early Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church didn’t compile the Bible — God did.

The early Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church didn’t create the gospel — God revealed it.

And no Church, ancient or modern, has the right to change it.