The Lutheran Hour
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"From Every Nation"
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Text: Acts 10:34-38
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Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! No matter what else you might know; no matter what else you might believe; those words of the resurrection angel need to be of paramount importance in your life. God’s great announcement of grace tells us that the penalty for sin has been paid; Satan’s shackles have been burst asunder and death’s rule has been defeated. With all your heart, the Lord wants you to believe this: in Jesus there is forgiveness, hope and salvation.
Have you ever believed something, only to find out that it wasn’t true? Let me tell you about a country church which was having an old-fashioned mission festival. It was, in the life of the congregation, a big deal. For a year, men and women of the parish had been planning, working, cooking, cleaning for the expected influx of visitors. Missionaries were brought in to recount their stories of global witnessing; speakers were imported to enthuse, encourage, and inspire. Everything had gone according to plan. Even the weather seemed to cooperate with sunny skies and the temperatures neither too hot, nor too cold. Everything was perfect, except for one fellow who hung around on the outskirts of the festivities. His clothing was torn and tattered, his appearance, grimy and grubby. His face sported a week’s worth of stubble. No, this was not the fashionable, unshaved look of the men’s clothing catalogues, this guy was just grungy. Those who wandered near him were able to share, and they meant it quite literally, “that guy stinks.” In short, the common consensus was, the man was “not one of them.”
Now, I wouldn’t have you think, not for a moment, that the fellow who was “not one of them,” was in the least bit intrusive. He wasn’t. He didn’t panhandle. He didn’t look longingly when the plates of food were handed out. He didn’t bother the children or the women. He was just there. Without any apparent purpose, he stuck around. Never participating. Never getting involved. He was just there. Of course, most of the time the outsider was forgotten. The speakers were stupendous; the music was magnificent. Everything was moving just as it had been planned, toward the festival’s crescendo, a climax which was to take place on the last day of the festival.
When that day came, the gathered souls sang with a greater gusto than anyone could remember; the celebrated choir was dynamic in its praises of the Divine. Then came the moment they had all been waiting for: the message of mission. That was when, from the back of the gathering wandered the fellow who was “not one of them.” People exchanged looks of shock. Wives whispered to their husbands, “Somebody ought to stop him.” Husbands nodded, but nobody moved. Not when he reached the front of the congregation. Not when he stepped into the pulpit. Not even when he began to speak.
The man, who was “not one of them,” quoted the words of Peter, “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.” (Acts 10:34-35) Then he continued, “This week, I was physically among you, but I was never, as so many of you have been saying, ‘not one of you.’ You made my exclusion painfully obvious. Nobody included me or invited me to the activities. No one shared a meal. Yes, one person did give me a dollar bill, and two people asked if I wanted to read a brochure about the church. But that was all. Most of you averted your eyes and made me invisible.” And then, the pastor who, along with not being “one of them,” was also not what he seemed, preached a wonderful sermon about how the Lord Jesus came to seek and save sinners, all sinners.
Have you ever believed something, only to find out that it wasn’t true? You may, for example, believe that story I’ve just told you isn’t true. If so, let me tell you about Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi is considered to be the father of his country, India. He has been revered for his doctrine of nonviolence to achieve political and social progress. Still, Gandhi relates in his autobiography that there was a time when he was truly interested in the Bible. Deeply touched by the Gospels, he seriously considered becoming a Christian. He felt Christianity offered a real solution to the caste system that divided the people of India. One Sunday Gandhi went to a nearby church to attend services. He wanted to see the minister and ask for instruction in the way of salvation, as well as other doctrines. When he entered the sanctuary, the ushers decided he was “not one of them.” They refused to give him a seat and suggested that he go and worship with his own people. Gandhi left. He never came back. He concluded, “If Christians have caste differences also, I might as well remain a Hindu.” Gandhi should not have judged the Master by His servants. He should have listened to Peter, who said, “God doesn’t show favoritism, but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.”
Have you ever believed something, only to find out that it wasn’t true? God’s inspired Word tells us that when it comes to the Lord, wrong belief can be an embarrassing thing, a dangerous thing, even a damnable thing. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve believed that God, in forbidding them to eat from a special tree, was keeping something from them. They believed wrongly, ate from the tree, and with that action, brought sin and death into the world. (Gen. 3:3ff) King Saul believed that God wasn’t serious when he was told to destroy the Amalekites. Saul believed wrongly, spared some from the slaughter, and lost the Lord’s favor, along with his kingdom. (1 Samuel 15) King David believed that God’s law about marriage didn’t apply to him. He believed wrongly, committed adultery and was punished by the loss of their child. (2 Samuel 12:14)
Have you ever believed something, only to find out it wasn’t true? That was certainly the case for two men that are talked about in the New Testament book of Acts. Two men, both of whom believed they knew God. Two men who found out what they believed wasn’t entirely true. The first was a Roman Centurion in Caesarea, by the name of Cornelius. Cornelius, for want of a better way of putting it, was a “good guy.” Scripture describes him as being devout, faithful in devotion, God-fearing, and generous with his financial support of the poor. Cornelius had tried to the best of his ability to lead an upstanding life. Like so many people today who equate sincerity with salvation, he thought God couldn’t ask for anything more than that he try hard. That was what Cornelius believed. Cornelius believed wrongly. Without Jesus Christ and the salvation which comes through faith in the Savior, people always fall short of what God’s perfection and justice demand. Cornelius had yet to learn that we are saved by God’s grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, and not by our own works. (Ephesians 2:8) It was a lesson Cornelius needed, every person needs. The Lord, in a vision, told Cornelius to send to Joppa for a man by the name of Peter.
Which takes us to the second man who thought he had God figured out. To meet him we have to go to Joppa, to the house of Simon the tanner. This is the house where Simon Peter is staying. Yes, that’s right, this is Peter, Jesus’ disciple. This is the disciple who walked on water and sank; the disciple who promised to stand by Jesus’ side and ran away. But this is also Peter the forgiven apostle, who empowered by the Holy Spirit, had become to a large extent, the Savior’s spokesman. Since that day when the Lord had transformed his fear into faith and his cowardice into courage, Peter had seen some miraculous things. After the Spirit came upon Jesus’ disciples on Pentecost, Peter had watched as thousands were converted to the salvation that Jesus won for sinful humanity upon the cross of Calvary. But sharing the Savior, and the forgiveness the Christ had purchased at the cost of His own life, was exhausting, exhilarating work. That was why, as lunch was being prepared for him, a very hungry Peter went off by himself for some private devotion time.
Falling into a trance, Peter saw as clear as day, heaven open and a sheet being let down by its four corners. The amazing sight was made even more so, when Peter saw standing on that sheet, all kinds of animals, reptiles and birds. Then a voice, in effect said to him, “Peter, are you hungry? Help yourself.” Peter had seen and heard some surprising stuff, but this command was shocking. Peter was a good Jewish boy. As a good Jewish boy, he knew, long ago, that God had told His people that there were things, unclean things, that they should never, under any circumstances, ever eat. It would be roughly the equivalent of me serving you slug soup, or leech linguini. It kind of gives you a shiver, doesn’t it? Well, that was Peter’s reaction, but more so. The Lord brushed aside Peter’s objections and in a sort of loose paraphrase, replied, “Peter, if I say it’s clean, it’s clean.” You see, Peter thought he had God figured out. But he was wrong. To make sure the point wasn’t being lost, the same thing happened two more times. Each time Peter was told: If I say it’s OK, it’s OK.
Are you still with me? Let me summarize. The centurion Cornelius, needed to know more. He needed to know about Jesus and His sacrifice that He made so that all who believe on Him might be saved. Peter, on the other hand, needed to know less. He needed to know that when Jesus frees a person from the old ceremonial laws, that person is really, truly free to lead a forgiven life of thanks and praise to the Savior. (John 8:36)
It was at that moment while Peter was still confused and considering, that there came a knock at the door. Representatives from Cornelius, the Caesarean centurion, asked to visit with Peter. The next day Peter, with some companions, complied. Thinking they were going to visit with one man, they may well have been surprised to find the centurion had invited his family and his friends to the meeting. The gathering began with a couple of confessions. Peter confessed, “You know, by rights, as a good Jewish boy, I shouldn’t be associating with people like you folks. Nevertheless, God has made it pretty clear that I’m supposed to be here. So, what can I do to help?” In turn, Cornelius confessed, “You know, God remembered my prayers and my kindness to the poor, and said I was supposed to listen to you. I don’t know what you’ve got to say, but I know I, and these other folks, are supposed to listen to everything the Lord wants you to tell us.”
Interesting, isn’t it? Peter says, “I thought I knew God, but He is showing me something new.” Cornelius says, “I thought I knew God, but He apparently has something more to say.” Then, with both having made a commitment to follow God wherever He would lead them, Peter began to share. He shared the same message that God always shares. He shared how Jesus, anointed with the Spirit, had done the work of the Messiah. He told about how Jesus had fulfilled every Old Testament prophecy made about the Savior. He shared how Jesus had been Friend to those who were friendless, Hope to those who were hopeless; and had kept every law that we had broken. Peter told how Jesus had carried our sins, and had been unjustly betrayed, accused, condemned and crucified. Then Peter talked about how Jesus had, on the third day, risen from the dead, and how all who believe on Jesus as their Savior, are forgiven and free.
But there was a difference. For the first time Peter understood the truth of those words, “All who believe on Jesus as their Savior are forgiven and free.” For the first time, Peter truly understood that Jesus was not just the Messiah for the Jews, but was God’s Divinely destined and designated Redeemer for all humanity. For the first time, Cornelius understood that all his good works, his best intentions, would never be enough to win his salvation. For the first time, Cornelius could comprehend that a person is not justified, made right, by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. (Gal 2:16) How could they not have understood? Even as Peter was talking, the Holy Spirit came on those gentile believers, those who had been only moments before, unclean outcasts. It took only a few moments before Cornelius and his crew were washed of their sins in baptism.
Have you ever believed something, only to find out that it wasn’t true? Hundreds of years ago two men, with different delusions, found the Lord’s truth that says, God so loved the world that He gave His only-born Son, so that whoever believes on Him will not die, but have life everlasting. Today, I ask those of you who are believers: Is there someone whom you know, who is outside the faith, who needs to be told about Jesus? I’m not asking if they are acceptable, or “one of us.” I’m asking only, “Do they need Jesus?” If so, won’t you invite them, tell them, talk to them about how God cares for them, loves them, has sent His Son to redeem them? Let them know that God does not show favoritism, but accepts men from every nation, no matter who they are, or what they’ve done. Call them to faith, to life, to baptism, to forgiveness through the blood of Jesus.
Today, I ask those of you who have thought you could, with your sincerity, by your dedication and commitment get to heaven, to reconsider. Your goodness is not good enough. Your dedication and commitment, although admirable, will not do the job. It is only through faith in the Savior that forgiveness can be yours; it is only by the blood of the Christ that the doors to heaven are opened. It is only by God’s grace, given through Christ’s cradle and cross, that the crown of life can be yours. If you need to know more about this Jesus, we can tell you. Call Lutheran Hour Ministries. Let us come to you and share the Savior, even as Peter did those many hundreds of years ago with Cornelius.
Have you ever believed something, only to find out that it wasn’t true? It does happens, doesn’t it? Years ago, a psychologist and an engineer went on a hunting trip in Canada. A storm started to brew, and they wisely sought shelter, ending up knocking on the door of a small, isolated cabin. No one was home, but the front door was, according to custom in such remote places, unlocked. They went in. It took but a second for their eyes to fall on something strange. They both spotted a large, pot-bellied, cast-iron stove, which was hanging in the middle of the cabin. I mean hanging. The stove was held, in midair, by wires which were connected to the cabin’s ceiling beams. “Why,” they wondered. “Why would anybody do such a strange thing?” The psychologist suggested: “I’m pretty sure that this lonely trapper, isolated from civilization, has hung that stove so he can curl up underneath, and seemingly return to the warmth of his mother’s womb.” The engineer, of a more practical bent, disagreed. “It’s quite simple. The man, by elevating his stove, has discovered a way to distribute heat more evenly throughout the cabin.” While they were debating their points of view, the trapper returned. Psychologist and engineer together asked, “Why? Why is your stove suspended from the ceiling?” The trapper, being a man not used to using many words, replied, “Had plenty of wire, not much stovepipe.” Both men had believed wrongly.
Today, the Lord wants you to believe rightly. Believe that only Jesus Christ in your heart can make a difference; only Jesus Christ can save. Believe rightly. God loves you. Wants to save you. Believe rightly. God does not show favoritism, but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. Believe it. It’s right. Amen
Lutheran Hour Mailbox (Questions & Answers) for January 11, 2004
Topic: Jesus: Savior Only for the West?ANNOUNCER: And we’re back with Pastor Ken Klaus. I’m Mark Eischer.
KLAUS: Hi Mark.
ANNOUNCER: Our question today comes from a college student who grew up in the Middle East where he was taught that Jesus Christ is only for Europeans and people of the west.
KLAUS: Wow. Nothing could be further from the truth. You know, in Scripture, the Lord said to Abraham, “Through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed because you obeyed me.” (Gen. 22:18) That was part of God’s covenant. The Savior would bring the blessings of life and forgiveness to all the nations of the world, not just for the nations of the west.
ANNOUNCER: Anywhere else in the Old Testament where it shows Jesus as a Savior for all people?
KLAUS: Indeed there is. Listen to the words of Isaiah, who by spirit inspired prophesy wrote, “Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense proclaiming the praise of the Lord.” (Isaiah 60:6)
ANNOUNCER: Now that sounds like the wise men who came to worship the Baby Jesus.
KLAUS: It is a prophecy about them. Wise men, who if they were truly Magi, came from countries like Iran, Iraq, from places like Babylon.
ANNOUNCER: The very countries where today, some Islamic scholars are saying Jesus is not for the people of the Middle East and Far East.
KLAUS: Ironic, isn’t it, that those non-Jewish countries whose wise men first honored the Savior in Bethlehem, are now saying the Lord Jesus isn’t for them.
ANNOUNCER: But Jesus is for them, for all people, in every time. KLAUS: In the book of Matthew, Jesus is quoted as saying, “I say to you that many will come from the east and the west and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” (8:11) With those words, Jesus was making sure there would be no misunderstanding. He had come to seek and save the lost, no matter what country they might come from. I should point out that Jesus didn’t confine himself to just saying those words, He lived those words. The Jews of Jesus’ day, quite rightly said that they were God’s children, a special nation of people. They were right in saying so because God had promised the Savior would come from their ranks. Sadly, some forgot the rest of God’s covenant, about how the Savior would be a blessing to other nations. As a result, they were pretty prejudiced against others.
ANNOUNCER: But Jesus wasn’t like that?
KLAUS: No. Although many Jews would have nothing to do with Samaritans, Jesus healed the leper who was a Samaritan; but Jesus did more. At a well in Samaria the Savior talked to a native woman who was an adulteress; changed her life. He healed the Centurion’s servant.
ANNOUNCER: A Roman?
KLAUS: In all probability. He certainly wasn’t Jewish. He also healed the daughter of a Canaanite woman. That interaction would have been forbidden in some circles of the Jews, but not with Jesus. In fact, on that occasion after a lively exchange about national prejudice, Jesus commended her for having a great faith.
ANNOUNCER: Why do people try to limit Jesus and associate Him only with western nations?
KLAUS: I would think, Mark, it comes from the fact that all too often, the Church has not confined itself to sharing the story of salvation which comes only by grace through faith in Jesus. You know Mark, when the U.S. Congress has a bill up for consideration, a good bill, one that is almost guaranteed to pass, it’s not unusual for the legislators to tack on all sorts of riders, provisions which are less popular and might not make it on their own. Often the Church has taken the pure message of our Savior and added cultural and political riders to His story of salvation.
ANNOUNCER: And what’s even worse is when so-called “evangelists” distort the pure message of God’s grace and present Jesus as just another lawgiver, or another boss.
KLAUS: That is worse. Speaking of those kinds of lawgivers, Jesus said this, “They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them …Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces.” (Matt. 23:4,13)
ANNOUNCER: But instead the Lord wants us to share His grace with everyone.
KLAUS: Which is why I love the mission statement of Lutheran Hour Ministries: “Bringing Christ to the Nations and the Nations to the Church.”
ANNOUNCER: Thank you Pastor Klaus, and that brings us to the close of our program for another week. We thank you, the listener, for making it part of your day. If you have questions or comments, you can reach us at our toll free number 1-800-876- 9880. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.