God Is No Respecter of Persons

Acts 10:1-48

When God created man, he made him in his image to reflect his wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. He placed him into a garden to tend it and to commune with him. But man sinned and God threw him out. An angel flashed a flaming sword back and forth so no unholy and unclean person could enter God’s presence. This was taught at Solomon’s temple. A series of barriers were erected to shout “keep out!” A veil separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place. Only the High Priest could enter once a year, after being made clean by a sin offering. The temple itself was sealed by 2 big cedar doors decorated with cherubim, flowers, and palm trees. It was a reminder - no one can come into God’s Garden. Only the priests could after offering a sacrifice and washing from the bronze laver. And only Jews - born or made Jews by circumcision - were allowed in the inner court to offer sacrifice. A 5 foot high wall - called the middle wall of partition - kept non-Jews out. Signs were placed to warn Gentiles from crossing it. The doorkeepers guarded the temple zealously, waving their swords to warn off any unclean person. Only those made clean could go in. And Jesus Christ makes sinners clean!

That’s why when he died, the veil split in half. Anyone made clean could enter God’s presence. Christ is the door of the sheep - all may enter by him, into God’s garden. Jews and Gentiles. But the Jews weren’t quite ready. You see, it wasn’t just a physical wall - it was a mental block. The Jews rejected the Gentiles for this uncleanness. So God showed them he was about to tear down the wall. What God makes clean, we shan’t call unclean.

There are 3 lessons in this chapter. Firstly, God works in the hearts of his people to accept one another. Secondly, God helps his people to break barriers and take the first step. Thirdly, God’s people are made righteous by faith in Christ.

Firstly, God works in the hearts of his people to accept one another. We see here how God prepared an unclean Gentile to receive salvation. Verse 1 opens with Cornelius - a god-fearing Gentile - “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band.” Caesarea Maritima was the Roman capital of Judea. Cornelius was an army captain. As such, he was feared and hated. He also belonged to the Italian division - an elite company. Interesting, isn’t it? The Jews thought they were clean; the Romans thought they were elite. Both saw themselves as better. But Cornelius was a God-fearer, verse 2 - him and his whole family. So despite being a Gentile oppressor, he feared God and gave to his people. But he wasn’t circumcised. While Jews saw uncircumcision as monstrous, Romans saw circumcision as monstrous. Interesting, isn’t it? Both saw each other as unclean.

Now, Cornelius feared God, but was not yet saved. As he prayed in verses 3-4, at 3 pm, he had a vision. An angel appeared and said God approved of his prayers and gifts. But they weren’t enough. So he instructed him to send for Peter. Because he needed to hear the Gospel. Acts 11:14 says that Peter would tell him words he needed to hear to be saved - him and his household. And immediately, he commanded 2 servants and a believing soldier, to go and get Peter. Cornelius was willing to ask help from a Jewish fisherman. A conqueror was willing to stoop to ask the conquered for help. Interesting, isn’t it?

But we also see how God prepared a stubborn Jew to extend salvation. Peter had been prepared progressively. First, he had to accept Saul, who’d be an apostle to the Gentiles. Then he dealt with death and uncleanness in raising Tabitha. Now, he was staying with Simon the Tanner - with death and decay all around. But he still needed more preparation. Just as unclean Cornelius received a vision, stubborn Peter also received his vision. Verse 9 says that as the 3 men were nearing the house, Peter went up to pray. It was noon. Verse 10 says he got hungry but before he could eat, God gave him a vision. He saw a big vessel coming down from heaven - like a picnic mat bunched up at four corners. Just imagine a half open bakzhang or nasi bunkus. Verses 11-13 say it contained clean and unclean animals - four footed beasts, reptiles, insects, and birds. A voice told him to rise up from praying, to kill and eat. Just as he told Aeneas to rise up, and said to the dead woman, Tabitha cumi; he was now instructed.

And while this command would be very agreeable to us - because we like roast pork or chili crab or barbecue bacon double cheeseburger, this was hard for Peter. In verse 14 he said NO! to Christ. Saul said YES! to Christ. Ananias said YES! Barnabas said YES! But Peter said NO! He grew up learning to say NO! He knew about the wall. Leviticus 11 gives the rules - only animals with cloven hoofs that chewed cud or fish with scales could be eaten. That’s why pigs - which had cloven hoofs, but don’t chew cud; and stingray - a fish with no scales - cannot be eaten. It’s not because they were unhygienic. Beef can also give you disease. But these ceremonial laws demonstrated a spiritual principle - what God calls unclean is unclean. And what he calls clean can’t be called unclean. What God makes whole - like Aeneas is whole; whom God makes alive is alive. But Peter needed pushing. God had to instruct him 3 times, verse 16. After this, the bakzhang returned to heaven from whence it came. This showed Peter that these so-called unclean things came from heaven. So how could they be unclean? But stubborn Peter still doubted in his heart, verse 17. He needed a further impetus to take that step.

Secondly, God helps his people to break barriers and take the first step. As Peter hesitated, the men came from Cornelius. He sent them - in obedience to God. He took that step. We read in verses 32-33 how he heard from God and immediately sent men to Peter. So these men now stood outside the gate. They knew no Jew would let them in. They asked for Peter, which meant Simon probably greeted them. What a shock to him - 3 Gentiles, one was a solider! And at that moment, God told Peter that 3 men were seeking him, verse 19. And the Spirit told him not to doubt or hesitate,“for I have sent them.” So Peter asked them - who’re you? Why are you here? That’s when he heard that God told Cornelius to send for him. This first step would’ve struck Peter in several ways. God spoke to a Gentile. The Gentile obeyed. God wanted Peter to preach the gospel to him. Peter also heard the same thing from the Spirit. It was beginning to line up. Saul’s conversion, decomposing Tabitha, blood and urine, and sky bakzhang. God makes whole and clean; God can save anyone - even this unclean Gentile can be made clean.

Now, God was doing something significant in tearing down this wall. And this wasn’t the first time. The concept of clean and unclean was seen in Noah’s time. In Genesis 7, God told Noah to bring clean and unclean animals into the ark. Before the flood, the world was very wicked. It had to be cleansed with a flood. Noah and his family escaped in the ark. After the cleansing, God now told Noah that every living animal could be eaten. Before the flood, unclean things; after the flood, all things clean. When the nations spread across the world, they grew in wickedness again. Before Christ came, there was great darkness. But after God poured out the flood of his wrath on Christ, those who find refuge in him would be saved and made clean. The flood was a significant point in history. But the cross was even more. The first cleansed the world from all unclean people. The other would cleanse unclean people from worldliness. Peter then realized that what God has cleansed, we shouldn’t call unclean. It wasn’t unclean to associate with them. If animals were made clean, these people could also be made clean. It’s not what man eats that makes him unclean, but what comes from the heart that makes him unclean. But Jesus makes hearts clean.

After they took that first step, as a result, Peter received them in obedience. Verse 23 - “Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.” These Gentiles traveled overnight and it was lunch time. Peter was also hungry. So with a prepared heart, he took the step to receive them - from outside to inside, from beyond the gate and wall, to inside the gate, wall, and house. He fed them. He had a fuller understanding that God so loved the world, not just the Jews. The next day, Peter went with them to Caesarea. Acts 11:12 records 6 brethren accompanied him. And they arrived to this - Cornelius, his family, and close friends were waiting for them, verse 24. They wanted them to hear the gospel. Now, it was Peter’s turn to go in - not 3 people entering a Jewish home with 2 Jews, but 7 Jews entering a Gentile home with a mob inside. Very overwhelming! But God had prepared! In the 2 days of travel, Peter would’ve told the 6 about his vision, and they’d have interacted with the 3 Gentiles.

So Peter entered and Cornelius bowed. He bowed to an occupied subject! But Peter did something just as remarkable. Verse 26 -“he took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.” He touched this unclean colonial master; and this colonial master let a subject touch him. Peter said - I’m also a man. I’m no better than you! So where once, as verse 28 says, it was illegal for a Jew to associate with a Gentile, God had removed the barriers. And they were to be a whole lot closer. They wouldn’t be split by race, language, ceremonial cleanness, or political association - they’d be united by faith in Christ.

Thirdly, God’s true people are made righteous by faith in Christ. When Peter asked Cornelius why he sent for him, he said that they came together to hear God’s command. Wow! This was remarkable! Peter marveled in verses 34-35 - “Of a truth (or truly!) I perceive that God is no respecter of persons!” Anyone who fears him and does what is right is accepted by him! Anyone! And this was good news. He’s the Lord not of Israel, but of all kinds of people. God accepts those who are not outwardly righteous but inwardly righteous. Wow! Peter could’ve thought - it’s not about outward circumcision! It’s about inward cutting away of sin. And it’s not just for Jews, but Gentiles. But Peter should’ve known this was not something new. It’s all over the Bible. Rahab the Canaanite, Ruth the Moabitess, and Uriah the Hittite all believed. God even extended mercy to the Ninevites when they repented. The blessing of Abraham was to all the world. God is no respecter of persons - anyone who fears God is accepted. Now, admittedly, verse 35 is tricky - “But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” What does it mean? To be sure, Peter wasn’t teaching salvation by works. Peter’s point was this - those who truly fear God, will do what is right in his eyes. And here, Peter was about to tell them the gospel. This was the message of peace that Jesus also preached in Judea and Galilee. And this was the message that would be preached to them. Dearly beloved, we talk much about John 3:16. This is John 3:16 here! For God so loved the world - not just the Jews - that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life. In the parable of the tenants, the master would send his servants to collect rent from the tenants. But every time, they’d despise the master and kill the servants. Finally he sent his son. Surely, they’ll receive him! But instead, they killed him. If they truly feared him, they’d have done what was right. So Peter’s point was this - if anyone fears God and does what is right by receiving Christ, that person is accepted by God.

That’s what Peter does. He preached Christ. And the inwardly righteous believe Christ and receive the Spirit. Verse 43 says, “that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” And we see what they must believe to be saved. They must believe the historicity of Christ - that he existed, did good, healed, and was of God, verse 38. They had to believe his work of atonement - verses 39-41 - that he was crucified, resurrected, and seen by many. They had to believe his coming judgment, verse 42 - he’d judge the living and the dead - as foretold by all the prophets. And if they believed in Christ, he’d forgive all their sins. Verse 43 - “that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” As Cornelius and company heard, they believed and repented. Now, how do we know that? There was no altar call or sinner’s prayer or even an invitation to believe.

We know because God gave them his Spirit. Verse 44-46 says as Peter was speaking - he hadn’t finished yet - the Spirit fell on them who heard. And this resulted in them speaking in tongues to glorify God. We deduce these Gentiles were speaking Hebrew. This is why they of the circumcision - the 6 Jewish Christians - were astonished. God had accepted these Gentiles as his people. He gave them his Spirit. This happened twice before - at Pentecost when the Jews believed; at Samaria after Philip preached. And now a third time in Gentile Caesarea. This marked the third phase of the Great Commission, which we are still in. And the evidence was so clear that Peter asked in verse 47 - who can forbid them water? Who can deny church membership to believers? Since they’ve been cleansed by the sin-burning power of the Holy Spirit, how can they not be washed with water? How can I disrespect someone accepted by God? How can keep these walls up that God has torn down? How can I not eat bakzhang with these people?

Dearly beloved, what are we to make of this? How can we apply these lessons to ourselves in our context here? Now, I don’t want to make the applications from weeks past - as if there’s only one application. But to dismiss it, is to dismiss the context. Congregation, there’s the issue of image, prejudice, and acceptance. Racism, discrimination, stereotypes, and superiority complex exist in this congregation. Why do I say that? There are cliques. When we’re not comfortable with others, we build walls. Those whose image is different, are not in our groups. But we’ve forgotten! God sent Christ to be made in the image of man, so he can stamp his image on us who believe. We’re members one of another. And therefore, this is a shameless plug for our Soul Care seminar and afternoon activities. Come and learn to care for one another and befriend one another. (Members - old/new; visitors)

But this issue of image and prejudice also extends to our scruples. And I have to be very careful as I say this. Religious people often try to make others in their image of cleanness - whether in ways of dressing, speech, or activities they engage in, etc. And I’m not talking about real sin, but scruples - what seems to me as a mark of holiness or cleanness. Sometimes these are good; other times they’re like the Pharisee laws. And we judge others by them. Remember this! A Christian’s cleanness is achieved by Christ. Laying down ceremonial laws like the Seventh Day Adventists, or advancing your own outward scruples and cleanness, does not promote the image of Christ. In fact, it’s downright destructive and ironic. All the while the Pharisees thought they were promoting God’s holiness when actually they were corrupting his image. Are you governed by any scruples that actually corrupt rather than promote Christ’s image? If Jesus were here today, would he go against your scruples? Would he be your kind of clean? Peter had to be told 3 times to eat bakzhang. It was not unclean. What kind of bakzhang must you eat? Or what must you drink? What wall have you erected that ought to come down for you to be a better image bearer?

And therefore, it is especially needful for me to remind our officers on this day of ordination and installation - the church that God has given to us is made of many different kinds of people. We must love them all. And we must know their weaknesses, their scruples, their divisions - that we may be ministers of reconciliation. To help cleansed people love one another, to break down walls, to bring Christians together.

But tearing down walls is not just tearing down your false scruples, or barriers between Christians, it has to do with the preaching of the gospel. Peter thought it was not lawful for him to associate with the Gentiles - but God commanded him. Culturally, politically, and nationally, we’re discouraged from reaching out to certain races and religions. But to be clear - in our country, we’re not prohibited. We’re just warned not to disrupt religious harmony. So why do we go beyond these laws and restrain ourselves completely? We build the walls. Why not, in a non-seditious, loving, careful, and wise way, preach the gospel to those who need to hear it? Come out of our comfort zone. We think - oh, they’ll never come and if they do, it’ll only invite trouble for the church - “Oh! They’ll shut us down!” Trouble for the church from man is far more desirable than trouble for the church from Christ - who can remove our candlestick.

God is no respecter of persons. But in every nation he that fears him, and works righteousness, is accepted with him.