Acts 11:18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
Peter had entered the house of Gentiles, an act punishable by excommunication from the Jewish religion. But he explained the steps leading up to that in a set of sequential, methodical steps such that his doing so was hardly an act of rebellion or blatant breach of Mosaic (and then-cultural) law. On the contrary, he was obeying a clear leading of the Holy Spirit. And when he did so, the outcome was one his listeners knew very well, the people were filled with that same Spirit and gave utterance.
The statement above is a profound declaration. It had always been the design of the Most High to bring Gentile nations to faith in the God of Israel. Much of the Law of Moses warned against being drawn AWAY into faith in the brutal gods of the nations around Israel, because that presented real temptation. But this was different. Repentance – metanoia (turning) – had been granted to those very nations.
Now that repentance was not something reserved for Gentile believers, the Jewish followers of Jesus knew it well in their own journeys from law to grace. But what was now understood (well, the understanding completes in Acts 15) was that following Jesus was not to be just another Jewish sect, but a whole new – and exciting – inclusion of all humankind. And it was not done by circumcising and hypocritically trying to earn salvation by a perfect life. That perfect life had already been lived by Jesus.
The turning, then, was aligning one’s life with grace. If good works were to be done, they would be done in response, not to get a response or earn a crown. That Gentiles were part of the movement, specifically targeted for blessing by the Holy Spirit, tore down a dividing wall and opened doors of ministry and loving acceptance that continue to this day. No one has sinned so badly or been part of anything that would disqualify that person to receive God’s love. God makes his enemies into his friends.
Peter had entered the house of Gentiles, an act punishable by excommunication from the Jewish religion. But he explained the steps leading up to that in a set of sequential, methodical steps such that his doing so was hardly an act of rebellion or blatant breach of Mosaic (and then-cultural) law. On the contrary, he was obeying a clear leading of the Holy Spirit. And when he did so, the outcome was one his listeners knew very well, the people were filled with that same Spirit and gave utterance.
The statement above is a profound declaration. It had always been the design of the Most High to bring Gentile nations to faith in the God of Israel. Much of the Law of Moses warned against being drawn AWAY into faith in the brutal gods of the nations around Israel, because that presented real temptation. But this was different. Repentance – metanoia (turning) – had been granted to those very nations.
Now that repentance was not something reserved for Gentile believers, the Jewish followers of Jesus knew it well in their own journeys from law to grace. But what was now understood (well, the understanding completes in Acts 15) was that following Jesus was not to be just another Jewish sect, but a whole new – and exciting – inclusion of all humankind. And it was not done by circumcising and hypocritically trying to earn salvation by a perfect life. That perfect life had already been lived by Jesus.
The turning, then, was aligning one’s life with grace. If good works were to be done, they would be done in response, not to get a response or earn a crown. That Gentiles were part of the movement, specifically targeted for blessing by the Holy Spirit, tore down a dividing wall and opened doors of ministry and loving acceptance that continue to this day. No one has sinned so badly or been part of anything that would disqualify that person to receive God’s love. God makes his enemies into his friends.
