Forever Mine

Psalm 29 / Acts 10:34–43

Song of Solomon 6:3 “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine...”

No Partiality - v34

Peter’s proclamation is in the house of Cornelius, a Gentile & Roman Centurion

1 Samuel 16:7 “7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.””

Of course, God also saw that David would be an adulterer and a murderer in the future

John 4:9-10 “9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.””

Remember the great multitude of Revelation 7:9 . They were made up of people from every corner of the globe!

Galatians 3:28 “28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

James 2:1 “1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.”

James 2:8-9 “8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”

The reason that partiality, regardless what type, is sin is because partiality is directly opposed to God’s valuation of each precious life that He grants. Every person is a precious soul; a specific gift of life, an image bearer of God, and all equally in need of a savior.

Yet a Distinction - v35,39-41

Psalm 29:11 “11 May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!”

Is this then a step towards universalism?

Does our text (or any other) bear that out?

v35: Anyone who fears him and does what is right (obedience)

v39: we are witnesses (experience, and sharing)

41: NOT to all people, but to us (elect / chosen)

It is clear in this text, as well as the rest of scripture that while God shows no partiality to any classification or delineation that societies so often do, yet He clearly knows who are truly His, and indeed does not treat them the same as those who are not.

Psalm 1:6 “for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

Exodus 15:1 “Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying, “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.”

Hebrews 7:25 “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

Christ Jesus IS the distinction! - v36-38, 42-43

Jesus IS that distinction!

Jesus’ public ministry began at His Baptism

This is Jesus identifying with us!

This is the pentecostal attestation! (ch11:15)

This is the profession of faith and pledge of obedience!

Believers, especially baptized believers are called to be active witnesses, to proclaim the gospel, to do the work of the ministry

Unbelievers are not qualified to be witnesses

Peter baptized them when convinced they were saved

Peter then (ch11) reported to the church

The audience is in no way limited; everyone who believes!

Acts 10:43 “43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.””

Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament, 28th Edition Chapter 10

πάντα τὸν πιστεύοντα

John 3:16 “16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament, 28th Edition Chapter 3

πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων

The totality of believers (those believing) receives forgiveness of sins / will not perish, but have eternal life!

You will be his, and He will be yours forever.

God knows today if you have believed in Jesus and are resting in His finished work at Calvary and Third Day Resurrection. If so, why not make it known? Be baptized like Jesus, be known as one of His! Tell everyone about Jesus, and be confident that there is no one who cannot be saved!