“No Respecter of Persons”... the Wayfarer 8/30//13

“No Respecter of Persons”
8/30//13

“Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh in righteousness, is accepted with him,”

(Acts 10:34 &35)

Today we go to the book of Acts, and to the important realization by Peter, that rock that Jesus chose to build his church, came to, regarding the fact that the sacrifice made by Jesus was for all mankind and not just the Jewish people.

This lesson was given Peter in a unique way, despite his initial resistance to being more inclusive of the Gentile.

It is a lesson needed to be relearned, yet again today, by all who still insist that denomination take precedence over the great commission given us by Christ. I continue to stress the words spoken by Jesus that will thunder across all ages until the final trumpet is sounded!

“For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son , that WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting Life.”

(John 3:16)

Numerous times through the gospels, we are told that WHOSOEVER will may come and partake of the kingdom if they simply meet the requirement of repentance and belief in our Savior.

At this particular point in time, Peter had not yet fully accepted his mission of teaching all nations, but was solidly ensconced in an attempt to reach only the Jews. He and the other disciples had been approached by Paul, and were, naturally, cautious about his agenda, and the full reality of his conversion. The need to give the gospel to all was not yet established in his heart.

This changed! Let’s backtrack just a bit and see what brought on this change.

“There was a certain man in Caesarea, called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band.

A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And  he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

He lodgeth  with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

And when the angel spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;

And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour.

And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance.

And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

Wherein were all manner of four footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou uncommon.

This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.”

(Acts 10:1-16)

Two separate incidences, of two far different men, being contacted by our God to change the way things were being done, and to reinstitute a universal path to the Kingdom of God through His Son, happened during this short time span!

The first man, a Roman Centurion, charged with enforcing Roman law in a foreign country, among a foreign people, had found the need to draw closer to our God, and needed to hear the message of redemption through repentance  for all mankind.

The second, a stubborn man, though pious, though as righteous as he was capable of being in his human form, was given the means to fill that need!

“Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate.

And called and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

While  Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold three men seek thee.

Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

Then went Peter down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?

And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by and holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

Then called he them in, and lodged them, And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea, And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet and worshipped him.

 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up, I myself also am aman.

And as he talked with him, he went in and found many that were come together,

And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for; I ASK THEREFORE FOR WHAT INTENT,YE HAVE SENT FOR ME?

And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in rememberance in the sight of God.

Send therefore  to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter: he is lodged in the house of one Simon, a tanner by the sea side: who when he cometh, shall  speak unto thee.

Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.”

(Acts 10:17-33)

Again I remind the reader of these two very different men, each chosen by God to spread the gospel of the coming kingdom, and the means to attain it!

Cornelius didn’t question why he needed to hear Peter, he accepted that that need was there!

Peter, for his part, finally accepted the need to give the gospel to all nations as Christ demanded! Through the virtue of having a vision, Peter finally understood that there is no such thing as a “common” or unclean man that is unacceptable to God or Christ if they meet the requirements of redemption through repentance and belief in HIM!

Too many “common” people walk among those wearing the long white robes that the Pharisees loved so well!  Too often they themselves feel unworthy, because of the actions of those around them who see them as unworthy.

Worthiness only comes from God Himself, and no amount of righteousness can make any one worthy for that kingdom!

Peter finally accepted that fact, and submitted to the will of Christ, beginning to give hope to more than just a few Jews whose hope was rooted in false hope of their own righteousness!

“Then Peter opened  his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons;

But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is the Lord of all)

That word I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

How god anointed  Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

Not to all people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

To him give all prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”

(Acts 10:34-43)

Peter knew the sincerity of Cornelius, and his entire assembled household, and near friends. Cornelius wanted to share the enlightenment that he knew would come from Peter, and the Holy Spirit.

It was this sincerity that brought Peter to the realization that redemption is available to all, not just those with whom he normally associated. Again, this is a lesson for today, not yesterday alone, a lesson for us as well as Peter.

Peter knowingly violated the laws of the religious who would have confined all association to Jewry alone.

He accepted the need to proclaim the gospel of our risen Lord to the remainder of the world as well.

It is now our turn to proclaim that same gospel, in expectation of the same gifts given those assembled that day. It is our turn to turn our backs on the teachings of men that would deny redemption to any, based  solely on creed color, denomination or other division placed on us by the societies in which we live. 

It is now our responsibility to proclaim the same message of love taught by or Savior, and to issue the same warning to others issued by Him throughout his ministry that is still pertinent to all who truly seek His kingdom.

“Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”

I close once again, as always with the love given me by my Savior to all willing to accept that love, in the confident knowledge that this simple sinner has been saved by the grace of my God through the faith in that Savior, still an unworthy but willing soldier in His service because HE makes me worthy through His blood!

2 Timothy 1:12 ¹²For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen.
the Wayfarer