All In The Family
All in the Family, was a groundbreaking tv sitcom. At the epicenter of the show was Archie Bunker. Each week Archie Bunker would be confronted by some attack on his construct of what societal norms should be. He literally had a “bunker” mentality from which he fought any change to his beliefs and perceptions of anyone who was different from him. But each week, little by little, he would be dragged (oftentimes kicking and screaming) by those around him, into a greater realization that we’re truly all in the same family. In Acts 10:34-47, Peter sees that the purpose and the power of the Gospel story is intended to transcend any worldly imposed boundaries that would keep us apart and separated from the family of God. I pray that God would embolden and empower you this week, to tell the story of His love and His sacrifice to someone/anyone who needs to hear it. Amen
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. (Acts 10:34-38) Just prior to this point in Acts, Peter was led to the home of Cornelius, a Roman military leader. Going to the home of a gentile, not to mention one who was a Roman military leader, would have been a violation of everything Peter or anyone of Jewish background believed in. Except that God had prepared Peter before sending him to Cornelius, by speaking to Peter while he was in a trance. God’s message to Peter was that He did not make any unclean thing. And therefore what God assigned to him, he was not to reject. That included him accepting that God had given him the assignment of preaching the gospel message to a Roman military leader and his gentile household. We have been privileged with the assignment to tell the gospel story…to whomever God sends us to!
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. (Acts 10:39-43) Peter told Cornelius and his household about Jesus - what Jesus did, how He died and how God raised Him from the dead. Then Peter testified that he along with other witnesses, not only saw the risen Jesus, but ate and drank with Him (evidence that this was not merely a vision, but a real bodily resurrection) . Peter further explained that he and others received a commandment from Jesus to preach and testify to people that Jesus has received the authority from the Father to judge everyone, whether living or dead. In the context of that coming judgment, Peter assured them that everyone who believes in Jesus will receive forgiveness of their sins through Jesus. The Good News - Anyone who puts their faith in Jesus will be forgiven and saved from the penalty of sin when the Judgment comes!
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.” (Acts 10:44-47) The power of the Holy Spirit began working even as Peter was still talking. As Peter was speaking, Cornelius and his household received the Holy Spirit and were converted. Peter preached the same message to these gentiles that he had previously preached to Jews…and it had the same effect! The Jewish christians (circumcised believers) who had come with Peter to Cornelius’ house were “astonished” because they had never conceived that it was possible for gentiles, who they looked down upon as desecrated, to receive the Holy Spirit. Scripture makes it clear that all peoples, regardless of nation, of color and of background are invited by God to be saved and to come into His family…regardless of our preconceived notions about whether they are worthy.
From the beginning, God made His intention clear in scripture, He wanted to bless all nations through Abraham. And throughout scripture we see God continue to reach out to all people no matter their station or status. Whether they were kings or they were among the least, the last, the lost and the left out. It’s unfortunate that we, too often, continue to segregate, separate and shut out others who God intended to unite as His family. The Acts story of Peter and Cornelius reminds us that the Lord has commanded us to go into all the world to share the universal message and power of the gospel of salvation. So, regardless of the prejudices, frailties and concerns we have about people who are different from us, our God is no respecter of persons…and He wants us all “in the family”!
Blessings,
Rev. Glenn
