Transformed By the Spirit

All Equal

Acts 10:23–33 (NIV)

Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”

While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”

Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

One of the fundamental truths of Scripture that shapes how we are to approach God and how we are to treat one another is that we are all equal. We are all of equal worth and value because we were all made in the image of God (Gen 1:27). We are all equally flawed. Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, they are guilty of it all. James 2:10

James 2:10 (NIV)

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

Peter recognized that God alone was worthy of exaltation by the created. But God showed Peter through his vision on the rooftop that not even the Law or ethnicity makes one man greater than another. For God is the One who assigns value and worth. It is God alone that makes one man clean and opens his eyes to the truth of Christ’s love. God reveals Himself to man not as a response to man’s goodness, but rather as a response to God’s goodness.

Our culture seeks to divide us into hierarchies, levels of deemed worth or value. We will always struggle with reconciling God’s mission to our will when we fail to see that we are all equals.

God’s Authority Above All

Acts 10:34–48 (NIV)

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 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. You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—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.

“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, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 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. 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. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Throughout Israel’s history, the Lord has set Israel apart by giving them the Law, giving them a land, giving them victories even though they were outmanned, out equipped and out trained. Israel has been the proverbial David in the continual battle against Goliath. But God’s purpose and Israel’s response have been moving in opposite direction. God’ purpose for setting Israel apart was so that the world would see Israel’s success and turn to the One responsible for their impossible success, The Lord Yahweh. Israel though responded to God’s favor by exalting themselves. So what a powerful statement Peter makes as one of the promised people. “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”

This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. For God so loved the whole world, He sent His one and only Son, so whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. This is the good news that transforms lives. God has not selected some, but He has pursued all who are far from Him longing to bring them near. Everything else is tertiary.

Nothing can stand in the way of these men receiving baptism for the Holy Spirit had befallen them. The gift of the Holy Spirit is poured out on all of the believers. God does not show favoritism. He equips those who are devoted to Him for the work that He has put in front of them.