Peter learned that God has no favorites as He declared the Gentiles clean. Previously, based on the Old Testament Law, the Jews professed the Gentiles as unclean. As the message of the Gospel moved outward from Jerusalem, God planned to reach Gentiles with the Good News of Jesus. For Jews to evangelize Gentiles, the Lord must change their hearts.
To do this, God had given Peter a vision that would change what he thought was unclean. When Peter questioned the Lord, the Holy Spirit said, “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.”[1] At this time, the Jews thought you had to be Jewish and then become a believer in Jesus, but God was showing Peter that was incorrect. Jesus was for everyone.
As people, we dislike the word favoritism. We resent those picked as favorites at school, work, or elsewhere. I believe we do that because, in our hearts, we know that favoritism is unfair. God’s word teaches us that the Lord is impartial and shows no favoritism. Romans 2:11For God does not show favoritism.”[2]
The Gentiles Heard the Good News
A Roman soldier named Cornelius had a vision where an angel told him to send for Peter, who was staying with a tanner who lives near the seashore in Joppa. Cornelius sent some of his men to Joppa, and a few days later, Peter, with some fellow brothers, arrived at his home.
Cornelius explained the summons to Peter. Acts 10:33So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.” [3] Peter was now beginning to understand why the Lord told him the Gentiles were not unclean because he wanted them to become believers.
Acts 10:34 Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. 35 In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. 36 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.[4]Peter’s words would mark a turning point in the early church. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus that changed Jewish people was now for everyone.
God Assures Us He Has No Favorites
Sometimes, our earthly parents have favorites, but our heavenly Father has no favorite child. He loves everyone with the same love, no matter who you are. When you come to know Jesus as your Savior, you are born into the family of God with the same redemption. Yes, some believers have different gifts than others, but everyone born into God’s family enjoys the same redemption. As a child of God, Jesus has redeemed us with His blood of Jesus, and we have eternal life.
To learn how God has no favorites, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-gentile-pentecost
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.