Forgiveness For ALL
The Gospel That Breaks Barriers
SCRIPTURE:
Acts 10:42-43 NLT - And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all--the living and the dead. He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name."
OBSERVATION:
Acts chapter 10 marks the beginning of the Good News being preached to the Gentiles. Many in that day were God-fearing—those who recognized the one true God, worshiped Him, loved others, and gave to the poor—yet had not converted to Judaism. Because they were uncircumcised, the Jews did not accept them and called them God-fearers.
God chose to use a man who was neither a Jew by birth nor by conversion to show that the Good News was for all people. He also chose to use a Jew known for his tendency to tell God “no”—Peter. True to form, Peter initially resisted the Lord’s command upon seeing a vision of a sheet filled with unclean animals.
Acts 10:14-15 NLT - "No, Lord," Peter declared. "I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean." But the voice spoke again: "Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean."
Peter didn’t understand the vision at first, but soon a Gentile stood at his door—a divine appointment that would change everything.
Acts 10:42-43 NLT - And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all--the living and the dead. He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name."
OBSERVATION:
Acts chapter 10 marks the beginning of the Good News being preached to the Gentiles. Many in that day were God-fearing—those who recognized the one true God, worshiped Him, loved others, and gave to the poor—yet had not converted to Judaism. Because they were uncircumcised, the Jews did not accept them and called them God-fearers.
God chose to use a man who was neither a Jew by birth nor by conversion to show that the Good News was for all people. He also chose to use a Jew known for his tendency to tell God “no”—Peter. True to form, Peter initially resisted the Lord’s command upon seeing a vision of a sheet filled with unclean animals.
Acts 10:14-15 NLT - "No, Lord," Peter declared. "I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean." But the voice spoke again: "Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean."
Peter didn’t understand the vision at first, but soon a Gentile stood at his door—a divine appointment that would change everything.
A Gentile—worse yet, an officer in the Roman army—wanted to hear the gospel from Peter. Peter never did anything like this before! How will he respond? — David Guzik
Peter went at Jesus' command. His “no” became a “yes, Lord.”
Acts 10:28-29 NLT - Peter told them, "You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me."
APPLICATION:
This is where many of us struggle—“that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.”
We may find it hard to believe that certain people could truly be saved. They don’t look the part, act the part, or live the part.
Acts 10:28-29 NLT - Peter told them, "You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me."
APPLICATION:
This is where many of us struggle—“that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.”
We may find it hard to believe that certain people could truly be saved. They don’t look the part, act the part, or live the part.
Shake yourself up a little, my brother. If you are too precise, may the Lord set you on fire and consume your bonds of red tape! If you have become so improperly proper that you cannot commit” a proper impropriety, then pray God to help you be less proper, for there are many who will never be saved by your instrumentality while you study propriety. – Charles Spurgeon
Has our “properness” or self-righteousness kept us from sharing the Good News—or from rejoicing when others receive it?
Who do you secretly think is undeserving? If your first thought isn’t you, you might, like Peter, have a “no” problem.
Acts 10:34-36 NLT - Then Peter replied, "I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel--that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
Peter finally got it—will we?
Acts 10:47-48 NLT - "Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?" So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ…”
PRAYER:
Jesus, help me with my “no” problem. Remind me that You came to save the lost—of whom I was one. I had no claim, no lineage, no righteousness of my own—only the grace of a loving God who chose to forgive me, a wretched sinner.
Who do you secretly think is undeserving? If your first thought isn’t you, you might, like Peter, have a “no” problem.
Acts 10:34-36 NLT - Then Peter replied, "I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel--that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
Peter finally got it—will we?
Acts 10:47-48 NLT - "Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?" So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ…”
PRAYER:
Jesus, help me with my “no” problem. Remind me that You came to save the lost—of whom I was one. I had no claim, no lineage, no righteousness of my own—only the grace of a loving God who chose to forgive me, a wretched sinner.
The gospel of Jesus shows no favoritism—grace is for everyone, everywhere.
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