Wednesday: Peter’s Vision
As we saw yesterday, by the time Peter made contact with Cornelius, he had a change in attitude regarding the Gentiles that other Jewish believers hadn’t yet understood (see Acts 10:44-45). What happened that changed Peter?
Read Acts 10:9-22 and Acts 11:1-10. What do the passages say about how entrenched Peter’s wrong attitudes were that it took something like this to open his mind?
Cornelius’s conversion and Peter’s role in the
Image © Pacific Press from GoodSalt.com
witnessing task were so important for the mission of the church that God communicated in a supernatural way with both the missionary and the missionary’s eventual host: while an angel visited Cornelius, Peter was given a vision.
Also, Peter stayed in Joppa with a tanner (Acts 9:43; Acts 10:6, Acts 10:32), a detail that we don’t want to miss. Tanning and tanners were repulsive to the Jews since they handled dead bodies and used excreta in their processes. Tanneries were not allowed in towns; note that Simon’s was located by the sea side
(Acts 10:6).
Peter’s stay with a tanner indicated that already, before his vision, he realized that some of his previous attitudes were at cross-purposes with the gospel. Both Peter and the family of Cornelius needed to shed some cultural baggage. All people, represented by all kinds of . . . animals
(NKJV) in Peter’s vision, are God’s children.
Peter’s call to witness to Cornelius implied that, although all people are acceptable to God, not all religions are equally acceptable. Cornelius was already a religious
man, like nearly everyone else in ancient society. As a soldier he would be acquainted with the worship of Mithra, and as an officer he would have taken part in emperor worship. But these were not acceptable to God.
There is a lesson here today for those who approach non-Christian religions on the basis of equality with Christianity. Although sometimes it is done in a spirit of political correctness, such an attitude leads to a watering-down of the biblical claims of Christian uniqueness and finality.
How do we show respect for people whose faith we believe is wrong without giving the impression that we respect those beliefs ourselves? What is the difference between respecting people as opposed to respecting their beliefs?
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People are to be respected, as well as their right to their own opinion. They have a right to hold a hateful opinion if they wish. However when unrighteous opinions which oppose God’s word are brought before God’s people they ought not to regard it or make it equal to scripture.
The notion that all beliefs, ideas or opinions are equal is a worldly concept and is related to the thought that all may do as they please. For those who are not surrendered to Jehovah this may be fine; for none should impose on the conscience of another. For true Christians their opinion is subordinate to what the Bible says.
The idea that all opinions need to be respected is often repeated and sounds positive, including in the church. However scripture does not support this. All opinions are not equal in God’s reckoning. His word is above every other and only ideas in line with God’s gets His endorsement. Jesus never respected the ungodly opinions and hypocritical ideas of His society and He spoke with authority against such (Matthew 15:3-9).
The faithful may not start out with right opinions but they pray that their thinking be brought into line with the way of the Holy Spirit and are willing to follow His leading.
When studying I was reminded about the love of Christ. Christ stepped out of His comfort zone. Stepped into a dangerous zone to seek and save the lost. A love that has no barriers. A love that saves to the uttermost. Amazing grace! Peter experienced that love in the court yard. He ran to the garden and fell down with tears filling his eyes crying for forgiveness. The plan of redemption was established to restore this family. And Paul clarify this. Eph 2v19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the households of God. And when Paul describes his own feelings towards the Thessalonian family of God, he expresses the relationship that is to be experienced In the family of God: 1 Thess2v8 NIV: We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not the gospel of God but our lives as well,because you became so dear to us. Love is the foundation of God's Kingdom, and Peter reached out with love to Cornelius. We need to be obedient to God's word and act in love. So when we teach God's word in love it becomes as sweet fragrance to the listeners. We praise God for His love. John 3v16.
Jesus is not just another way to worship a Supreme Being, He is the only Way, He is the Truth and the only source of Life.
To me the most amazing character trait of the LORD is that because He loves everyone He meets people where they are and talks to them in the language of their past and then lovingly takes them by the hand and leads them into the light of the truth about His glorious character.
Peter was still scratching his head wondering what the vision meant when the men appeared at Simon's doorstep inquiring of him. He had not even understand meaning of the vision when he when he obeyed the Holy Ghost to follow the men to Cornelius' house. What is clear is that somewhere between his act of obedience, and his opening his mouth to declare to Cornelius the events of the vision, the Holy Spirit gave Peter revelation as to the meaning of the vision. The lesson to me here is that I needn't wait until everything is clear in my mind before I open up my mouth to speak on God's behalf. "The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach "Rom 10:8. "I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say." Exodus 3:4. God simply wants an obedient heart. He'll do the rest!
We can share our view with those who believe on something or someone with out becoming confrontational when Chris is the center of the conversation other my become uncomfortable, yet he is the center of the gospel message.
Without the power of the Holy Spirit in ones life how can he share what
God has done.
It is with respect to God and the love that he has for us that we can share in the gospel message to those who are non-Christian.
I, we must share with the intent not to convert but to convict and have them question their belief.
God just needs an obedient heart, and He will do the rest. Hmmmm. When we give our hearts to Christ two things happen simultaneously, 1. Christ forgives our sins. 2. The Holy Spirit puts in our hearts the desire to obey. I would say we appropriate His merits when we lay our hand on Him. The cool thing about Gods Love is that it is unconditional. He died for the good and the bad. Now even if we are good does not mean that we are not sinners, all haved sined and fallen short of the the Glory of God.