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From the Pastors at Joy

Acts 10-14: A Gospel for All People

"What God has made clean, do not call common."  -Acts 10:15

"I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth."  -Acts 13:47

Jesus told the disciples that they would be His witnesses "...in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  God had made clear throughout the Old Testament that though He had chosen Israel, He intended for them to be a blessing to all nations.  As much as those truths were known and apparent to the apostles, the people of Jewish faith continued to be the prime targets of gospel proclamation in the early church.  But in Acts 10, God shows Peter that the gospel of Jesus Christ is not just for the Jews, but for all nations!  Isn't that the proclamation of the angels when Jesus is born?  "Good news of a great joy that will be for all the people!" 

We see in chapters 10-14 the spread of the gospel, not only among Jewish folks who believe, but to the ends of the earth among the Gentiles.  Peter is called to bring the gospel to the household of Cornelius, and the entire church rejoices together "...to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life" (11:18).  The gospel is proclaimed in many towns and nations because of the persecution that arose after Stephen's stoning, Barnabas and Saul are sent out by the Holy Spirit to bring the gospel as far they can take it, the ends of the known earth at the time.  And many of the heathen Gentiles believed in Jesus Christ wherever the went!  In spite of persecution and opposition from rulers and from those who claimed to be friends of God, the gospel continued to go forward, bearing fruit that the apostles probably considered "impossible" not too long before. 

It is amazing to see this heart in ourselves.  While we would be quick to give testimony and praise to God for saving us while we were His enemies, being chief among sinners, we far too easily forget the estate He found us in.  We can quickly fall into the mindset that the message of Christ is good for the "church" people, good for the "good" people.  But there's no way the gospel is power unto salvation for "that person" or "those people."  Believers, our God is mighty to save whomever He desires, He will do so through the proclamation of the gospel, and there is no one or no group of people beyond the bounds of His saving ability!  Who have you deemed unworthy or unsavable?  Surely a look within your own heart, a reminder of your own condition apart from Christ will teach you anew that the gospel of Jesus Christ is a powerful, saving gospel!  Do not close the doors on anyone, but be all the more eager to bring the good news because our God has people in every corner of this earth!  Quite possibly the ones you'd least expect.  Aren't you a testimony to that?