God Shows No Favortism

Love has no Loopholes

Today’s text is a display of just how God’s love has no loopholes. The early church wasn’t without prejudice. There was much debate on how to incorporate gentiles into the community of faith.

Too often our society creates loopholes for us. Every time I watch the news today, it seems their goal isn’t just to give the news but to encourage me to be angry towards certain groups of people. Mostly towards those who don’t think, look, act or vote like me. In so doing it seemingly creates a loophole for us.

Today’s text reminds us the church how we are to respond to perceived loopholes. It reminds us that God’s love, grace and life giving Spirit extends to all. It reminds us, that like Peter we must wrestle with our own loopholes, and allow the work of the Spirit to close them. Why? Because God’s love, grace and Holy Spirit has been poured out on all flesh. God shows no favortism.

As we wrestle with this text today, may the Holy Spirit close the loopholes we have created. May we be a church that extends God’s love, grace, and life giving Spirit, without exceptions.

Peter’s Loophole

In the early days of the church there was prejudice, and even opposition on how to, or even to include gentile believers. The debate is captured in the book of Acts here in chapter 10, it comes up again in chapter 11, in chapter 15 there is a prayerful discussion to address the issue. In that discussion the disciples draft a letter addressed to gentile believers. It starts out “It seems good to the Holy Spirit, and also to us.”

Galatians chapter 2 Paul tells the church at Galatia about a confrontation he had with Peter about the issue.

This is what is going on the world of the disciples when God sends Peter to the gentile Cornelius. Gentiles by the Jews were considered unclean, and they were prohibited to enter their house or to share a meal with them. Gentiles were non-jews most of us here today fit that description.

Acts chapter 10 begins with 2 visions. 1 of Cornelius in Acts 10:1-7. The other of Peter in Acts 10:9-16. In Acts 10:28-29 we get the explanation of that vision. God, challenges Peter to close his loopholes.

God sends Peter to Cornelius despite his objection. Peter is obedient despite his strong hesitation. In going to someone who didn’t identify as a circumcised Jew, Peter obediently went to extend the love, grace and life giving Spirit to the gentiles. In so doing this Peter’s heart towards the gentiles began to change. The loopholes began to close. Peter exclaims in verse 34, “I see very clearly that God shows no favortism.” Again Peter makes a statement of inclusion of the gentiles as Cornelius was filled with the Holy Spirit. In verse 47 Peter asks “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?”

This day wasn’t just life changing for Cornelius and his family. It was life changing for Peter as well. That day God through the work of the Holy Spirit extended love, grace, salvation and his life giving Spirit to the gentiles. God also through the work of the Holy Spirit changed Peter’s heart towards gentiles. He learned that God’s love truly has no exception and no loopholes. He learned that God extends his love, grace and life giving spirit without exceptions, and so should he.

What should we do?

In light of all this how then should we live? As the people of God we are the hands, feet and voice of God. We need to be like Peter and allow the work of the Holy Spirit to close our loopholes. We need to be like Peter and when God calls us to go to someone who may not act, think, vote, talk or look like us, we must go. We are the hand of God extending love, grace and the life giving Holy Spirit to others. God’s love displayed on the cross extends to all without exception or loophole. We must love without exception.

What does this mean for those outside the church? Our modern day gentiles. Despite what you have done, or are doing, God’s love, grace and life giving Spirit are available to you. There are no exceptions or loopholes God loves you and gave himself for you, that the same life giving Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead can breathe new life into you. You like Cornelius can live new life in the Spirit.