Welcoming Others in Christ

Introduction:

How should we treat others?

Our culture wants to ground our treatment of others in how we were created:

Declaration of Independence

Every one is equal, so treat them that way.

But that’s before the resurrection. Thomas Jefferson didn’t believe in the resurrection. How does Easter change the way we view each other?

Peter’s Vision - Acts 11:1-10

This seems like it fits with our culture’s view: God made everyone clean, so don’t treat anyone like they’re unclean.

But there are two terms at play here: unclean and impure.

Impure is an added category: technically good, but not good enough.

This was added by the Jews.

This is the problem with grounding out treatment of individuals on creation: we start to add shades of gray.

There are levels of equality and tolerance that we are comfortable with, but all of us hit a limit to our comfort zone eventually.

They may be equal, but they made those choices, or they have those values, or they are on that side.

We end up saying, “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.”

God’s response: if I make it clean, do not call it unclean!

Follow my lead!

Because he lives: we WELCOME people the way JESUS DOES. (Acts 11:1-17; 2:32-39)

Cornelius’s House - Acts 11:11-17

Key phrase here is, “the way he came on us in the beginning” (v. 15) and “the same gift he gave us” (v. 17)

What is he referring to?

Acts 2:32–39 NIV

God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.… Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

For Peter, the important thing here is that Jesus is alive, and giving the spirit is the sign that he has chosen someone.

If Jesus is alive, then his choice makes all the difference.

Acts 11:17 NIV

So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”

This perspective makes all the difference.

The reason creation isn’t a good enough foundation for equality is that it isn’t how value works.

Look at this penny.

This penny is faulty. All pennies are equal, but this penny is less equal than others.

How much is it worth?

$126,500

Do you think it’s worth $126,500? No? Well, too bad. Because that’s how much it sold for.

The worth of this penny is not determined by what’s printed on it—it’s determined by how much someone will pay for it.

Value doesn’t come from how you are MADE, or what you’ve MADE of yourself—it comes from the PRICE JESUS PAID. (Galatians 2:20)

It begins with how you see yourself.

Paul knew he had been made well

Philippians 3:4–6 “though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.”

He had made a mess of himself

1 Timothy 1:13–16 “Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.”

Galatians 2:20 NIV

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Accept YOURSELF the way Jesus accepts YOU. (Galatians 3:26-29)

This is how I talk to my kids if they hit themselves: That’s my daughter/son!

If my wife feels low self-esteem: you are worth the commitment I made!

But then we have to extend that to others—starting with our brothers and sisters.

Acts 11:17 NIV

So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”

Romans 14:15 NIV

If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.

Romans 15:7 NIV

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Accept FELLOW CHRISTIANS the way Jesus accepts YOU. (Romans 14:15, 15:7)

This is really important—one of the most important things you will choose is who you consider “us” and who you consider “them.”

When we introduce conditions/shades of grey, we make “us” something different from the Kingdom of Heaven.

Ethnic: Christian isn’t good enough—you have to be white.

Income: Christian isn’t good enough—you have to be wealthy.

Theology: Christian isn’t good enough—you have to be Evangelical.

Nationality: Christian isn’t good enough—you have to be American.

Politics: Christian isn’t good enough—you have to be conservative.

Jesus said, you cannot serve two masters—in the end you will choose one over the other.

Jesus said, you have to choose him over even your own family.

That sounds harsh, but keep this in mind: when we make Christianity our “us,” we are giving God control of that definition.

Then we look at what he’s doing in the world and we see who he has placed in our “us.”

Then we look at how he views “them.”

1 Timothy 2:1–6 NIV

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, — that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. — This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.

Accept THE WORLD the way God accepts YOU. (1 Timothy 2:1-6)

The Christian “us” is the only “us” that forces you to view everyone as equal, because it has nothing to do with how they were made, or what they made of themselves. It has to do with how much Jesus was willing to pay for them.

Response

Do you need to be accepted by Christ?

Do you need to change the way you see yourself?

Do you need to change the way you see your brothers and sisters? How you define “us?”

Do you need to change the way you see others?

Online Notes

Because he lives: we WELCOME people the way JESUS DOES. (Acts 11:1-17; 2:32-39)

Value doesn’t come from how you are MADE, or what you’ve MADE of yourself—it comes from the PRICE JESUS PAID. (Galatians 2:20)

Accept YOURSELF the way Jesus accepts YOU. (Galatians 3:26-29)

Accept FELLOW CHRISTIANS the way Jesus accepts YOU. (Romans 14:15, 15:7)

Accept THE WORLD the way God accepts YOU. (1 Timothy 2:1-6)