The Message to the Gentiles - Acts 10

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ³⁵ but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. ³⁶ You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. ³⁷ You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

³⁹ “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, ⁴⁰ but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.⁴¹ He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Peter says in the beginning here that he has figured out the vision he had been given and his purpose for being there.  God does not show favoritism but accepts those who fear Him and serve Him.  For Peter to say that, he has overcome everything he has been taught, aside from his time with Jesus, and is willing to continue to follow the Spirit above the world.  This is the essence of growing in the Spirit.  Following wherever He leads and re-learning priorities.  We must abandon the traditions of the world and the teaching of the world regarding who is important and what is valuable.  Peter has learned that all people are important and God values them enough to pass His message to them.

But consider the thought that God does not show favoritism.  Do we really believe that?  This tells us that God considers every single person as equally deserving of a chance to know Jesus and be saved.  Every single one.  The Pope, Billy Graham, Mary the mother of Jesus, Peter himself, Paul, Stephen, David, my mother, my brother, my sons, my wife, myself - all equal?  Yes.  Without God, all people are lost and God does not favor any particular person.  He might call them and have a great work for Him to do through them once they choose Him, but if any decide not to choose Him or answer that call, then God will call another. Everyone gets the same choice and no one is favored when they must personally decide if Jesus is real and if He is the Gift of God that came, died, and was resurrected.

A few aspects of his message:

1. We are witnesses.  Are you a witness for what Jesus has done in your life?  Do you have a testimony of God in your life?  
2. Jesus was resurrected.  There isn’t a single gospel message in Acts that omits this fact. This has been foretold.  
3. The prophets all testify about Him.  This is a plan of God for people. 
4. Everyone who believes receives forgiveness through Jesus.  This is the Good News to all people.

It’s a simple message format that we can replicate.  Jesus physically lived.  He died.  He has risen.  Whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins. …  That’s it. 

The Holy Spirit came to Cornelius and all who heard the message.  All of his family and close friends all receive the Spirit.  Peter and the other believers are astonished that God has poured Himself into these Gentiles.  But, Peter is quick to acknowledge that they should not stand in the way of their baptism. 

This conversion is about a man following God very closely and overcoming traditions and teachings to pass along the gospel to people he had been told his whole life not to associate with.  It is also about God ‘s clear intention to reach out to everyone who will believe that He is the only God and Jesus is the Way.  The Message is for all people of all time in all places. 

Because of the great barrier between the Jews and the Gentiles, this is going to be really hard for the Jews to accept.  They are not going to believe the Message is for the Gentiles even though Jesus told them that it was.  

Do you believe that the Message is for everyone?  What about the homeless person?  What about the person who is against you at work?  What about the bi-, tri-, pan-, or who knows what else sexually confused person?  What about the person in prison?  Is the Good News of Christ for them too?  If any part of you has doubt, then you need to pray earnestly for God to clean your heart and mind so you can follow Him correctly.