Devotion for Saturday, 1st Week of Trinity, 2011 Anno Domini

Devotion for Saturday, 1st Week of Trinity, 2011 Anno Domini

“34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) 37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 39And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.” (Acts 10:34-48)

Here follows the full realization of Peter’s vision. God being no respecter of persons, He is no discriminator among the nations and tribes either. “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one .” (Acts 17:26-27) It was never the intention of God that certain nations and tribes should be excluded. The Old Testament Church in the Wilderness (Acts 7:38) was to be the rallying ensign for faith of all. God especially anointed Israel to be the flag-ship of His people. The law was given them as a school teacher. In keeping it, they failed utterly and realized their need for a Savior. The Jew and Gentile alike must come to the Father through the Son.
“Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” This was the complete vision of the diverse beasts Peter saw in his vision being let down from heaven in a sheet. Not that he should actually eat these beasts, but that he should receive the Gentiles.
Peter must acknowledge the fact. “The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)” All who believe upon this Lord are children of Abraham truly and not by genetic descent but by way of adoption so that no separation exist for the people of God. I am repulsed at the popular preaching that the Church so looks forward to the Jews rebuilding their Temple in Jerusalem and renewing the altar sacrifices. Will God be pleased that the blood of His Son is not considered sufficient, but rather the blood of lowly oxen and lambs be again counted for forgiveness of sin. Will we turn to the shadow and not the authentic Person being foreshadowed in Christ Jesus?
“That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” Yes, Christ went about doing only good and healing all into whose presence He came regardless of race or tribe. These men and women of Caesarea had already learned the Word. They needed a preacher, and they had surely found one in Peter!
“And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:” Yes, Peter was certainly a witness – from a distance. But now he is imbued with power from on high. He has the Holy Spirit as his Guide and Comfort. “Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.” Peter’s memory is rich with that last meal on the Galilean shores where he was asked thrice “Lovest thou me more than these?” His heart was pierced to the lowest chamber to hear these words from Christ, but then also to know the unmatchable Grace that forgave and restored him there by the Sea. Yes, Peter did, indeed, eat and drink with Christ after He rose from the dead. An apparition cannot eat and drink – this was the Risen Lord to whom Peter makes reference! God elects His ministers long before they chose to be elected. In His providence, He decides what witnesses are necessary and what preachers must carry the message – even to Gentile nations.
“And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.” Peter here gives the testimony of his calling in Christ to preach the Gospel. If a man has no testimony, he cannot preach. Christ is truly the judge of the quick (alive in Christ) and the dead (dead in trespasses and sins).
“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” Faith in Christ is not an exclusive privilege of the New Testament, but of both those people of the New AND the Old Testament period. The prophets all foretold His Coming and the necessity of it. Even our Father Abraham had the Gospel preached unto him: “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.” (Gal 3:8-9). Was Abraham ignorant of Christ? Not at all. His faith was based upon that promise: “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.” (John 8:56) In another amazing bit of prophecy, Abraham himself gave evidence t=of his knowledge of Christ. When Isaac and Abraham came to the base of the mount of sacrifice, Isaac asked his father, “And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering.” (Gen 22:7-8) God will provide what as a lamb for the offering? HIMSELF! Not the wording of the NIV (per)version : “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering.” (Gen 22:8) Is that really what God said? Did He simply say that He would provide a lamb, or did He say He would provide HIMSELF a Lamb? And did He? Yes, in Jesus Christ, His only Begotten Son! Do not be fooled by the deviation from truth of these new copyrighted, made-for-profit Bibles. The ESV is just as bad and maybe worse than the NIV!
“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.” These people did believe! Peter had just said, “…through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” So, the Holy Ghost fell upon these good people. If Pentecost was the beginning of the Church in Jerusalem, here we see the beginning of the Church of the Gentiles in Caesarea! The Jews who had accompanied Peter was astonished to see that God so richly poured out the Holy Ghost upon the Gentiles!
“For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God..” They heard them speak with the same kind of tongues (glossa, or language) that they had witnessed at Pentecost in Acts 2. They spoke in languages that they perhaps did not understand of the Grace and Beauty of God. This was clearly understood by those standing about. “Then answered Peter:”
“Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.” Are any here more worthy of baptism than these? This is an establishment of an ecclesia, or assembly of Christians, for they have been baptized in the Church of Christ. They pleaded with Peter to remain with them for a time. They loved the man who brought them the glorious message of the Gospel. Do we, too, long to hear the clear Word of God preached; or are we timekeepers with a constant eye on the clock desiring the conclusion of the same? Do we give evidence in our lives of the knowledge of our baptism and into the life of blessed bliss in Christ? To neglect to do so imperils our election in God.
Peter apparently did spend time with these brethren since word had already gotten back to Jerusalem of the events at Caesarea on Peter’s return there.