THE 1^ST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

Acts 10: 34-48

Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, ³⁵but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.  Acts 10:34-35

 

Peter’s declaration came not very long after experiencing the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus.  By that time disciples had built up enough courage to continue Jesus’ ministry and teaching, although most times it had to be done in secret or hiding, depending on in which territory they were.

The disciples were facing persecution from both sides; on one side as recorded in the previous chapters of Acts, they were hunted, persecution and killed at the hands of the Jewish religion, championed by Saul, whose name was changed to Paul after his conversion.  On the other side, there were persecuted by the Romans, who saw them as trouble makers turning the people’s loyalty away from total obedience to Caesar to obedience this Jesus.

The remaining disciples of Jesus were also not yet of the opinion or understanding that non-Jews are to be included in this new movement of Jesus.  For as much as they did not strictly observe the Jewish religious teachings, they held unto their Jewish up brining and understanding as to whom or what was clean or unclean.  In their opinion the non-Jews had no part in God’s plan of salvation.

 

It was in this context that we find Cornelius, a Roman centurion of the Italian Cohort.  Despite being a non-Jew, because of his experience of the crucified Jesus, he became a devout man who feared God with his entire household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God.  We are told that an angel of God appeared to him with the instructions that he is to send messengers to Simon Peter.

 

The next day at noon Simon went to his roof top to pray and there he became hungry.  We are told that while something was being prepared for him to eat he hell into a trance and have a vision.  The heavens were opened and a large sheet came down with all kinds of animals on it and a voice said to him, get up kill and eat.  Being the Jew that he was, his reply was clear, ‘By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean.’  The voice said to him again, a second time, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’

 

It was while Peter was still pondering the meaning of this vision, that Cornelius’s messengers arrived at his door and Peter went with them.  On meeting Cornelius and those gathered at his house and on entering into conversation with them Peter had this to say: ‘You yourselves know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or to visit a Gentile; but God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean.

 

Peter assumed that the Gentiles were unclean, difficult and unreceptive toward God’s truth – he could not have been farther from the truth. Often people assume that people will be unresponsive and so they hesitate to share the truth of the gospel with others.  He had to get over his feelings of partiality as he learned that God is no respecter of persons. God sees all people as equally needing His truth and His grace. Often our assumptions about reality are different from God’s divine ideals.

 

It is easy to assume that we should relate to people according to their race, religion, socio-economic class, their educational level or their rank and status in society. Peter had to realize that his hierarchical assumptions were faulty and needed to be replaced with a God’s – impartial -  view of humanity.

Simon Peter had to get over his feelings of pride, self-righteousness and traditionalism that kept him from reaching out to those who needed Christ. He was proud of his Jewish background, identity and heritage. However, Peter’s pride stood in the way of God’s will for His life.

Peter and the other Jews of his day, wrongly thought God did play favourites. They thought that God, like a parent or a teacher who wrongly favours one child over another, favoured Israel over all the other nations of the earth. The message of the early prophets had been forgotten. These prophets maintained that God's choice of Israel was an act of grace, not an act of partiality or favouritism because there was something about Israel that God liked!

This experience was the turning point in Peter’s life and ministry.  It was now clear to him that the Kingdom of God was not for Jews only, but was open to all and that no one is excluded based on race, class, culture or religion. ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, ³⁵but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 

 

This revelation to Peter is very much relevant to us today.  We live in a world where we allow human differences to set up barriers between us, as to who is or isn’t acceptable. We have permitted walls to develop between ourselves and others, simply because of pre-conceived ideas that we have picked over the years. Walls based on Racial, religious, economic, political, moral and or denominational differences.  We have even built up walls against those with health issues such as HIV/AIDS.  But the words of Peter are clear, God shows no partiality, God has no favourites.

Regardless of our appearance, our education, where we live, our occupation or profession we all belong to Him. He sent His Son to die for all who would accept Him as their own personal Lord and Saviour. 

 

God sees worth and potential in each one of us. He calls us to follow Him just as He called Peter to follow Him. He accepts us as we are with no strings attached. We do not need to work our way into Heaven because that is not possible. There is only one way. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

 

We cannot work our way into heaven. In other words, God will not look at all the time and effort we spent on worldly endeavours, but He will look at our heart to see if it is a repentant heart and a heart that has accepted His Son as its personal Lord and Saviour.

Those, who consistently seek to do God’s will, can expect to receive glory, honour, and immortality. Those people who leave God out of their life can expect wrath and anger from God. Race, colour, or creed will make no difference to God. The position held in society will not influence God’s judgment. The amount of wealth accumulated will not sway God’s judgment. God does not and will show favouritism or partiality to anyone.  God is looking for a fully committed life. It is fine to do good deeds in life, but the good deeds will not earn God’s grace. When we do the will of God, He will extend His mercy and grace upon us.

 

Christ is the great equalizing factor among us, and as He calls on us to recognise the united oneness of his kingdom, he sets out the requirement for acceptance, all those who fear him and do what is right is acceptable to Him.  It means therefore that you and I must not only accept others as brothers and sisters in Christ who seek His grace and glory, but that we must seek to be rooted and grounded in Him.  Have a relationship with him that leads us to honour Him and worship Him and to become involved in the work and ministry and mission of His church.  Because God’s work is the church’s work and God’s mission is the church’s mission.

 

We must not only grow to see and accept others, despite whatever differences that may exist between us, but we must make every effort, and use every opportunity given by the church, to grow in the love and knowledge of God and to mature spiritually in His presence.