ACTS 10, 34-38
Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout 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.
If I asked you your birthdate, you would rattle it off just like that wouldn’t you? But, if we needed to verify our date of birth, most of us have access to our Birth Certificate, the legal document that will prove that we were born on that specific day. And, sure enough, it’s right there! On that special day which is your birthday, the world welcomed this unique, one of a kind baby into this world, and said, “Welcome to the world, little baby!” And the world was made a better place because of your birth.
But do you know what else is on your birth certificate? Right next to the first and middle names your parents thought would be nice to give you, is your family name. Not only were you born into this world. On that day you were also born into a family. Good or bad! You became part of that family! Your first name! Your middle name! Your family name! Proof that you are a member of this family! Not only did the world welcome you on your birthday, but also this family also said, WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY!
But there’s another birthdate we Christians also celebrate. The date of our Baptism! Our rebirth! The date we were brought into God’s family. On that day, next to our earthly name, God stamped His name right behind it. We bear God’s name! At our Baptism God says, “WELCOME TO MY FAMILY!
And that was the dilemma that confronted Peter in these words before us. He was asked to visit some Gentiles to share God’s Word with them, so they too could be welcomed into God’s family! But Peter wasn’t sure about that. He was convinced that Gentiles did not deserve to be part of God’s family, and should not be welcomed into God’s family. But God had already brought these Gentiles into His family. God has already told them, WELCOME TO THE FAMIY! Now God must change Peter’s mind so he can say the same thing!
I
Like all God-fearing Jews, Peter was prejudice against Gentiles. For good reason! God told His people not to intermarry with the Gentiles, and not to associate with them, and to keep away from them. So, Peter thought he was justified in refusing to preach the gospel to the Gentiles because that is what God wants!
But God had caused a Gentile named Cornelius and his family to believe in the true God, and brought that Gentile family in God’s family. Now he tells Cornelius to go to a man named Peter and ask him to come and tell Cornelius and his family more about Jesus.
So, as Cornelius is sending servants to Peter’s house, God prepares Peter to accept them. Peter is up on the roof of the house praying and waiting for lunch to be served, when he sees a vision. A huge sheet drops down from heaven with all sorts of food in it. But it was unclean food, food that Jews were forbidden to eat! A voice said, “Kill and eat!” Peter replied, “Lord, I have never eaten unclean food in my life, and I’m not about to start now.” And the voice said, “What I have called ‘clean,’ don’t you dare call ‘unclean’!” This happened three times. As Peter is trying to figure that out, here comes the servants of Cornelius who tell Peter that God has sent them to bring him back to their house so he can teach them about Jesus.
Peter went with them, entered the Gentile’s house, and saw a good size group of Gentiles who trusted in God, even though they were not Jews, even though they didn’t live according to the laws and regulations of the Jews. He heard how God has blessed these people, and brought them to faith, even though they were Gentiles. That’s when it hit Peter. Like a ton of bricks whacking him in the head and knocking some sense into him. “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.” Literally it says, “God is not a ‘face receiver.’” Someone who looks at the person’s face, or the person’s outward appearance before He determines how He will treat them. God does not reject a person, just because he’s a Gentile! Or because he has a malady like being blind or deaf, or lame. Rather, God “accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.” Every nation! Every language! Every skin color! The outward appearance makes absolutely no difference to God!
What makes the difference is what is on the inside. “He accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.” Peter is not saying that God accepts people simply because they do nice things, and are kind to animals, and generous to those in need. Literally it says, “he accepts men from every nation who fear God and work righteousness.” God looks beyond the outward façade of a person and sees what is on the inside. And what God sees and accepts are those who have the Holy Spirit living in them. They have the righteousness that Jesus purchased for them on the cross. They believe in Jesus, and because of that, they do righteous things. Not the outward appearance! The faith that lives inside. That is what makes a person acceptable to God.
God is not a “face receiver,” who looks at the outward appearance before He decides what to do with Him. God is a “heart knower,” who sees what is inside, and accepts people based on the faith God gave him.
And Peter finally understood that. Peter joined God in saying to these Gentiles, WELCOME TO GOD’S FAMILY! The outward differences are of no consequence. The only thing that makes the difference is the faith inside, the faith God placed there.
I often look at my Baptism Certificate, like I look at my legal Birth Certificate. It proves to me that I am part of God’s family! I bear God’s name! God has welcomed me into His family. Not just because I have a piece of paper. But because that certificate is a reminder of what baptism is! It’s a reminder of what God did for me through that process of baptism. Through that simple water, attached to God’s Word and God’s promise, God reached into our heart and planted faith or strengthened faith that was already there. Through that little act, that many people consider useless and powerless, the very power of God, came over you, and filled your heart with faith in Jesus, and made you a child of God. Through your baptism, God can say, “You bear My Name! You belong to Me! WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!”
II
Now that we are part of God’s family, God tells us, “There are things you need to understand. There are things God’s family stands for! There are things God’s family does!” God says, you are My Child! So, live like the child of God I made you. Live your life so other people can know you belong to God! “Fear God, and work righteousness” with your life.
Even today we need to learn the same lesson Peter had to learn. God is not a “face receiver,” so neither should we! What we see on the outside of people, that’s not all that important. What matters is what’s on the inside. Wealthy, or a homeless beggar! Someone who has six PHD’s in nuclear science, or someone who got through 8th grade, and then had to leave school to help the family! A doctor, or the janitor! Old or young! A person dressed for success, or someone who has more tattoos and piercings that you’ve ever seen in your life. Different skin color. Speaking a different language. None of that makes a difference in God’s kingdom. Nor should it make a difference in the way we look at people. Every person is a unique soul created by God, a soul whom God wants in Heaven, a soul who may know God, or a soul who is presently lost. They all need to hear about Jesus and what He has done for them.
And how well are we doing what God wants us to do? How well do we fulfill our duty as being part of God’s family and showing it? How many works of righteousness have I done this week? Have I been a positive role model of Christian faith and love? Or have I failed miserably in my attempts?
You know what? All these things don’t matter either. God is not a “face receiver.” He doesn’t look at all the outward things we’ve done, to determine how He’s going to react to us! He doesn’t decide how much He’s going to bless you next week, based on your performance! It could be that we have done a bunch of righteous acts, that we aren’t even aware of! But again, all that doesn’t matter. Jesus is not a “face receiver.”
Jesus is a “heart knower.” He knows what is in your heart! The hurts and pains! The secret sufferings you are enduring that you can’t even share with your best friend. He knows your faith! He knows your weaknesses! And yes, He knows your sins! But especially He knows “your fear of God, and your workings of righteousness.” He knows your faith, because He’s the one who put it there, and He’s the one who is making it grow, and He is the one who is giving you opportunities to put that faith into practice, even when we can’t see it. We are part of God’s family! My Baptism is evidence of it. My Baptism Certificate is my constant reminder of that fact. My faith in Jesus is evidence of it. And weak as my faith may be, God sees what’s inside me. And God can proudly say of us, just like he said of Jesus. “This is my Son! This is My Daughter! Whom I love! With them I am well pleased.” All because at my baptism, God stamped His name right behind mine, and claims us as His own, and tells each one of us, WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!
