The Scriptures
Acts 10:34-43 - Christ for All
Key Verses: (NCV)
- 34-35: “I really understand now that to God every person is the same. 35In every country God accepts anyone who worships Him and does what is right.” - This sermon from Peter is in the home of the Roman Cornelius following dreams by both Peter and Cornelius. These dreams had made it clear that the good news of Christ is for everyone. There should be no barriers due to language, culture, race, prejudice, geography, economic class, or education.
- 36: “You know the message that God has sent to the people of Israel is the Good News that peace has come through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Lord of all people!” - The message of Christ is that He is the Son of God and through our faith in Him peace in the world is attainable.
- 38: “You know about Jesus from Nazareth, that God gave Him the Holy Spirit and power. You know how Jesus went everywhere doing good and healing those who were ruled by the devil, because God was with Him.” - Jesus’ message had spread throughout the region because of the healing and actions of good that He performed. He was able to do this work because God filled Him with the power of the Holy Spirit.
- 39: “We saw what Jesus did…but the Jews in Jerusalem killed Him by hanging Him on a cross.” - Peter and the disciples had an opportunity to serve the world as witnesses to the works and to the death of Christ.
- 40: “Yet, on the third day, God raised Jesus to life and caused Him to be seen.” - Victory over the world of sin, over death, and over the power of Satan had been secured.
- 42-43: “He told us to preach to the people and to tell them that He is the one whom God chose to be the judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets say it is true that all who believe in Jesus will be forgiven of their sins through Jesus' name.” - After the resurrection, while the selected few ate and dined with their risen Lord, they were instructed to teach and to spread the good news of the Messiah to all the people. That everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness for their sins.
Points to Contemplate:
Peter had learned through His encounter with Cornelius that the message of Christ must be made available to all people in the world. What prejudices do you have that are keeping you from sharing with others how Christ has changed your life? Do you pick and choose to whom you discuss Jesus with based on appearances or other superficial criteria? How are people to find God without someone there to point the way? Is God asking you to show someone the way to Him? Better yet, are you praying that God will provide you with more of these opportunities in your daily life?
Are you a peacemaker? If the gospel is available to those of every nation who fear God and do what is right, why do we continue to experience wars and strife between countries? Shouldn’t the good news of Christ breakdown these barriers? Shouldn’t His model of “doing good” and preaching peace have a greater impact? Are we truly following His example, doing what He would do, when we involve ourselves in war and conflict? Are there conflicts in your life that need the peace of Christ?
What are you being called to do today in the kingdom of heaven? What actions of good await you? Are you a healer? How are you being called to alleviate suffering and oppression? Where can you fight evil? To whom can you share a message of hope? Where are you able to reach out into the world and be a light in the darkness? As a Christian, a witness to His glory, is this not the type of day you are being called to have? Do you recognize that as a believer, not only have your sins been forgiven and forgotten, but you are also called into the world to be His witness, testifying to the life-saving love that is available through Christ?
Promises of the Gospel:
“The implication of what Peter is preaching is that the best evidence of the resurrection of the living and the life-giving Lord is to be found in our daily witness to Jesus Christ. This says to us that the resurrection means that God, not only desires to give eternal life to us; God also desires to give the gift of eternal life through us! The Risen Lord actually lives, is alive, and is present today in our witness and in our testimony of his Gospel.”1
1Mysterious Joy, CARL HOEFLER, C.S.S. Publishing Company, 1988, 1-55673-059-4.
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