But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
God shows no favoritism by nationality, but in every nation whoever reverences Him and lives righteously is accepted with Him. This has always been true in every age, depending on inward heart religion and not on outward standing, privilege, position or disadvantage. Such acceptance begins with living faithfully up to the light given, yet it is only complete in Christ and must grow by uniting faith with works and gladly receiving further light as God gives it. So Jew and Gentile stand on equal terms, sharing the blessings of the gospel and the gift of the Holy Spirit without distinction, with the barrier broken down in Christ. Therefore God knows every honest seeker by name and guides him into connection with a human teacher, and His impartial love forbids despising any by rank, color or condition but calls all to value character and lift every fellow man.
Words and Setting
Peter spoke the words to Cornelius and to the relatives, friends and household gathered with him to hear all things commanded of God, after Cornelius had related his experience and the words of the angel visitation. He said it because God had shown him that he should not call any man common or unclean, setting aside the Jewish custom that held it unlawful for a Jew to keep company with or come to one of another nation as involving ceremonial defilement, so that he came without gainsaying when sent for.
The sermon with the verse proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ who is Lord of all, a message published from Galilee after the baptism of John. It set forth Jesus of Nazareth anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power going about doing good and healing all oppressed of the devil, slain on a tree and raised the third day and shown openly to chosen witnesses who ate and drank with Him, ordained of God to be Judge of the living and the dead, through whose name all the prophets witness that whoever believes receives remission of sins. Under that preaching the Holy Ghost fell on all who heard.
The vision of the sheet taught about the standing of people, not permission to eat animals formerly declared unclean, showing that Gentiles were not to be regarded as unclean or excluded from the promises but through Christ share equally in the blessings and privileges given to the Jews. The tongues and power in the home of Cornelius corroborated the promised blessing, proving that present experience matches the experience of the early apostles as recorded in the Word when the promised power came and believers spoke in other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance. God dealt with Peter before sending him to the Gentiles to correct and prepare him for his work, an example of visions correcting one departing from Bible truth rather than giving a new rule of faith. Peter held a distinct pioneer part among the twelve in breaking through the barriers of ages to teach the heathen world, for which Christ foresaw the work and taught and prepared him, and his sending to the Roman centurion illustrates how God sends men as His representatives among those who need divine help and guidance.
God Accepts All Nations
God is no respecter of persons and shows no favoritism on the ground of nationality, but in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him. Gentiles who seek God are not to be treated as common or unclean, but are to be welcomed to hear the gospel and receive the Holy Spirit, as Cornelius and his household show. Peter declared this to Cornelius and to all assembled with him to hear what God had commanded, as the opening of his witness that the message of peace through Jesus Christ who is Lord of all was published from Galilee after John's baptism, that Jesus of Nazareth anointed with the Holy Ghost and power went about doing good and healing those oppressed of the devil, was slain on a tree and raised the third day and shown openly to chosen witnesses who ate and drank with Him, was ordained of God to be Judge of the living and dead, and that through His name all the prophets witness that whoever believes in Him receives remission of sins, a preaching under which the Holy Ghost fell on all who heard. Cornelius pleased God by sincere devotion, prayers, almsgiving, and faithful use of the light he had received, even though he did not yet fully know Jesus Christ, and God wrought for him by sending an angel and directing Peter to him to give further instruction, which Cornelius accepted, after which he joined the church and became a useful worker. Peter was to recognize Cornelius and other Gentiles as fellow seekers of God who could serve Him acceptably rather than treating them as unclean, and nationality and religious privilege do not make anyone more esteemed by God.
This acceptance has been true everywhere and in all ages and generations, for the Old and New Testament Scriptures do not contradict each other and true religion was the same under both. Its requirements under the former dispensation were just as essential, thorough and full as under the gospel dispensation when Christ became minister of the better covenant, so acceptance depends on inward heart religion rather than outward Jewish standing. God accepts in every generation those who fear Him and do what is right, without favoritism by status or group. Those who have received light but reject God's requirements through unbelief, complaint and rebellion cannot expect the favor and blessings promised to those who love and follow the truth, but will lose that favor and find blessings turned to curses and mercies to judgments.
No outward privilege or position can secure the spiritual blessings of God's covenant with Abraham, and no outward disability, appearance or disadvantage can shut anyone out from those blessings if he meets the conditions of fearing God and living righteously. This has been true everywhere and in all ages, because name and position are of no real value with God, who reads hearts and knows works, and all the riches of the world do not raise a soul's value in His sight. His favor is not gained by lofty structures and great Babylons but by faithful stewardship that returns to the Lord the fruit of the vineyard in tithes and offerings so those who do not know God may be benefited. Living the law of God displays His goodness, mercy, justice and love and sets those who love, fear and serve Him above every other people, and the fruit of that obedience appears in the union of Jews and Gentiles in which in and through Christ Jew and Gentile are brought into one spiritual fold, fulfilling the covenant promise to Abraham that in him all families and nations of the earth shall be blessed.
Faith Joined to Works
God kindly regards and accepts the sincere service of those in every nation who fear Him and live faithfully up to the light they have, as Cornelius pleased Him by sincere devotion, prayers, almsgiving, and faithful use of the light received, with his prayers and alms acceptable as far as his knowledge went. That acceptance is only a beginning and not completeness, requiring an advance in faith and a new experience to do God's work intelligently. God therefore sent Peter with further instruction and directed him to bring further light to Cornelius, who accepted it, joined the church, and became a useful worker walking in keeping with all the light received.
Even sincere faith and righteousness remain incomplete and cannot be perfect or complete without knowledge of Christ, in whom all fullness dwells and in whom alone all can be complete. Neither prayer nor almsgiving can take the place of Christ, and one who believed God's Word promising a Messiah must have opportunity to receive its fulfillment. Peter pointed Cornelius and his household to Jesus as the sinner's only hope, and they received the Holy Spirit and were baptized.
Acceptance does not mean what is believed is of no consequence so long as works are good, nor that good works alone suffice. Nor does faith alone save apart from works, for faith must unite with works, and works strengthen, perfect, and make complete faith, while to claim faith alone will save is to trust to a rope of sand.
All who are accepted must advance with the light given them for the further development of righteous character, because truth is onward and upward. When God brings them into connection with His servants who have received new truth and further light through the Word, they should gladly receive it with joy as substantiated by the Word of God.
In every nation whoever believes with all the heart in the Lord Jesus is accepted of God. Those accepted believers founded on Christ the Rock are the true church, the same Christ who gave Peter his name because Peter faithfully confessed Him, and it is that church of believers in Christ out of which no one can be saved, not continuance in the Roman church, so acceptance and belonging do not depend on remaining within that institution and the claim that salvation is found only there is false.
Jews and Gentiles Equal
Jew and Gentile are alike precious to God, with no favoritism by nationality and no inferiority of the uncircumcised to the circumcised. Through Christ the Gentiles share the blessings and privileges of the gospel on equal terms with Jewish believers, made fellow heirs with Israel rather than unclean people excluded from the promises. They do not need to be circumcised to share in those blessings, for acceptance depends on fearing God and doing what is right, not on Jewish standing. Christ's death broke down prejudice and exclusion and revealed the worldwide scope of God's plan, enlightening even those who love and fear Him though they do not yet know all the truth.
The equal gift of the Holy Spirit to uncircumcised Gentiles just as to Jewish believers confirms that God made no distinction between them. Repentance unto life was granted to Cornelius and his household, showing they were not to be rejected or treated as unclean because they were Gentiles. Faith in Christ purifies the heart, and His blood can cleanse all from uncleanness. The vision taught Peter not to treat Gentiles as unclean, and human prejudice was to give way to God's acceptance of people from every nation.
Cornelius's conversion was the first major conversion among the Gentiles and the opening of the gospel beyond the chosen people, so that salvation is no longer restricted to the Jews. It marks an entirely new phase of the work in which the door that Jewish converts had closed against the Gentiles is thrown open. Through Christ the barrier that had excluded Gentiles from the privileges of the gospel was broken down, and they stand on perfect equality with Jewish disciples without circumcision. The vision of the sheet concerned the standing of people, not permission to eat animals formerly declared unclean. God works in every nation to enlighten all who love and fear Him, sending heavenly messengers to bring many Gentiles to the truth, and every true believer must stand ready to be taught, yield personal ideas, have prejudice broken down, and walk in the ways of the Lord, for those unwilling to yield cannot be used and will be passed by for those who are willing.
In and through Christ Jew and Gentile are brought into one spiritual fold. This fulfills the covenant promise to Abraham that in him all families and nations of the earth would be blessed. No outward privilege or position can secure the spiritual blessings of that covenant, and no outward disability, appearance, or disadvantage can shut anyone out who meets the conditions of fearing God and living righteously by obeying His law. This has been true everywhere and in all ages, because name and position are of no real value with God, who reads hearts and knows works. His favor is gained not by lofty structures but by faithful stewardship returning tithes and offerings so those who do not know God may be benefited, and living His law displays His goodness, mercy, justice, and love and sets those who love, fear, and serve Him above every other people.
God Guides Honest Seekers
The Lord knows every person by name, just where each one lives, the spirit possessed and every act of life, as He knew Cornelius and knew just where Peter lodged with Simon the tanner. Prayers and alms given in sincere fear of God come up before Him as a memorial, and He remembers them in every nation without regard to nationality. Acceptance on those terms does not depend on nationality but opens the way for chosen messengers to bring further gospel light to Gentiles as well as Jews.
God works by setting in operation a train of circumstances and sending angels to bring an honest inquiring soul into connection with a human teacher who can best reach individual needs. Heaven and earth are united in that work, with Peter on the housetop in prayer appointed as the human instrument and Cornelius commanded to send men to Joppa with all particulars given. The angel does not preach the gospel itself, but heaven brings seeker and messenger together in gospel missionary work so the man of influence in connection with believers can accomplish a great work.
That is God's way of bringing people into close connection with Himself, by having the light He has given to one person be given by that person to another. His church must connect together and impart light to one another, with the truth already imparted to Peter to be imparted by Peter to Cornelius and all his family. Those so accepted must unify, love one another, and deal honestly, justly, truly, gently and righteously with one another without false weights and measures, giving God room instead of tearing down others and building up self.
Peter undertook the duty laid on him by divine command with reluctance at every step, defending it not on general principles but as an exception done because of divine revelation. The result surprised him when the truth was learned and the household believed. The conversion of Cornelius and his household was only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world, and from that home in a heathen city a widespread work of grace was carried on.
In every age God works in this same way, with the agencies of heaven ever ready to cooperate with human agencies by simple plans. He guides His servants to make personal efforts for those walking in all the light they have received, bringing honest-hearted people into connection with those servants who can best reach their individual needs. Some children have special knowledge adapted to help one class of inquirers and others trained differently are best fitted to help another class, and those who seek truth should be approached with patient, loving efforts so they can be led into full light as precious jewels.
There are many in the world today like Cornelius who are much nearer the kingdom than is supposed, walking in keeping with all the light received and reaching out for more light. God-fearing people who fear Him and do what is right may be found even in fallen churches, in high positions needing personal effort to help them take their stand, in every line of work acting on principles He approves, in high responsibility and in the investigation of true science as pure examples and shining lights. Earnest, devoted, determined efforts are to be made for associations like the W.C.T.U. where souls as honest as Cornelius are seeking light, that they may be gathered out, and God will lead such seekers into clearer and still clearer light by guiding His messengers to them as instrumentalities to minister to souls fainting for the bread of life, preparing the way for these true standard-bearers to take the place of those who were given Bible truth but disappointed Christ.
Such seekers will gain a knowledge of God as Cornelius did through angelic visitation from heaven, while God also places them in connection with men of superior knowledge of His Word so they may receive advanced light. Men like Cornelius of Caesarea may be stewards in trust in positions of responsibility with sympathies toward believers, yet held by threads binding them to the world and lacking moral courage to take position with the lowly ones. They need special care and more determined effort to reach them, but when converted they give strength and solidity to the cause, staying true to pure holy principles amid hard battle and fearful odds and testifying by purity and nobility of character.
Impartial Love in Practice
God shows no prejudice, partiality, or caste, and His mercy and love are not limited to one people, nationality, rank, creed, color, wealth, education, birth, or worldly honor but are offered to all. In every nation those who fear Him and live righteously and do what is right are accepted with Him, rich or poor, white or black, learned or ignorant, free or bond, Jew or Gentile. All are equal in His sight and joined in a common brotherhood by creation and by redemption, purchased by Christ, who receives rich or poor, white or black alike with gracious condescension. Through His strength and the Spirit people can grow and live lives rich in good works, and Christ offers mercy and forgiveness to every person. Jesus revealed this same impartial acceptance in graciously receiving all who came to Him.
God does not judge by caste, color, rank, wealth, position, or worldly honor and shows no partiality to the wealthy over the poor, but character decides worth with Him. In His sight men are simply men, either good or bad, and He values men and women according to beauty of character and purity of motives and purpose, not according to financial standing or the amount of wealth possessed. Goodness alone is true greatness, and in the day of final reckoning position, rank, or wealth will not alter any person's case, for all will be judged for what they are worth in purity, integrity, nobility of character, and love for Christ. He notices the poor and oppressed who are trampled upon, and the religion of the Bible recognizes no caste or color. Therefore none should be intimidated by wealth or position or shrink into cringing time-servers, and none should be cold and unsympathetic especially to the poorer classes, but courtesy, tender solicitude, genuine sympathy, and loving compassion should be shown to all, rich and poor alike, preserving dignity at all times, because partiality to the wealthy brings displeasure and slights Jesus in the person of His poor saints, for which there will be judgment.
Having a colored skin is no sin against God and is no barrier to acceptance with Him. In every nation, white and black alike, those who fear Him and work righteousness are accepted, for He does not favor the most favored and does not leave the needy without help. Converted colored men and women who love God and try to do His will belong to Him and are of as much value in His sight as white people, however educated and talented the whites may be and although the whites have not endured the same embarrassments, privation, and slavery. Black people who fear God and work righteousness can have a pure, righteous character as sons and daughters, and will have a reward in the heavenly courts equal to the reward of any white man. Whether they will be white or black in heaven is not revealed; they will be just what God wants them to be.
By creation and by redemption all share common relationship to Him, and the deliverance of the colored race from slavery gives them right to the privileges of freedom, while the cross makes distinctions of society fade away. All people of whatever nationality are amenable to the same law, will be judged according to their deeds, and have the same offer of salvation and promise of the same heaven on the same terms. If He accepts and forgives sinners from the white race and holds out to them assurance of the higher life and hope of a place in the redeemed family when He comes in the clouds of heaven and the righteous dead rise to meet Him, He accepts and forgives sinners from the black race and holds out to them the same hope, receiving believers and raising them from ignorance and degradation. So they must not be passed by but helped, educated, taught to be self-supporting, and led to faith in Jesus.
To treat a person with contempt, despising, depressing, and trampling them down because of black skin is to despise the workmanship of God and to reproach God, for God gave the color and the person is not responsible for it and cannot change it. Race does not make one person more acceptable to Him than another, and His love makes no distinction between white and black. He loves all His creatures and has special tenderness and tender pity for those who bear greater burdens. Those who love God must not hold black minds in slavery but must help lift them up and educate them to have clean, pure souls, and white people who look past skin color must show gratitude to God and restore to them as far as possible what was lost through years of privation and slavery. Those who love Him and trust Christ as Redeemer and believe in Him can meet trials with a cheerful spirit, knowing that He sees them and will make up for what the world fails to give.
God's eye is upon all people, white or black alike, and He does not forget any of His workers, giving people in different places wisdom and skill for useful work. He wants Black students to make everything they do a means of gaining an education that will enable them to present the truth to their own people. The Spirit of Christ is to be recognized in whomever it is revealed, whether a white man or a black man, and no one need be ashamed to speak with an honest black man in any place or to shake him by the hand even though it is black. He who lives in the atmosphere in which Christ lives will be taught of God to put His estimate on men.
The verse teaches the way God works on human minds to bring light to one who fears His name, breaking the power of oppression and tyranny and dispelling the dark clouds of ignorance and superstition, as He wrought for Cornelius, a devout man who feared God, prayed always and gave alms, by sending an angel and directing Peter to him. It is instruction to be read and prayed over, with the tenth chapter of Acts, until understanding is opened. Then workers are to begin earnestly to work for souls in the home field and to arouse to duties for missions at home, warning that unless they do they will be found wanting in the day of God. Heaven is much nearer to the Christian engaged in soul-saving than many suppose, for the conversion of Cornelius and his company came through ministration of heavenly angels, and every person should treat his fellow man as one of the Lord's instrumentalities for accomplishing His work in the earth.
The Lord is not partial but accepts in every nation those who fear Him and do what is right. His impartiality is misrepresented when His work is hindered in distant parts of the world and resources are concentrated in some places at the expense of others.
Righteous Life Described
To fear God and work righteousness is to obey the precious Bible truth He has opened, which tests trust and sanctifies through obedience. That reverence is shown by strict obedience to every precept of the moral law, with allegiance proved by keeping the Sabbath of the fourth commandment in remembrance of the living Creator, both by precept and example, upholding it in its moral power. It requires bringing business under divine restriction and arranging business to meet God's great standard of righteousness, instead of molding the Sabbath to temporal arrangements. It means emptying the soul of jealousy, distrust, envy, petulance, faction, independence, discouragement and stubbornness, laboring disinterestedly for eternity with God's Spirit while looking continually to Jesus. It means cleansing the inner temple from defilement and seizing eternal life, remaining connected with God for strength and fortitude nothing can shake, and proving devotion to His cause by works done in humbleness, meekness and lowliness of mind wherever placed, under His blessing or curse.
It includes reform of appetite and habits and keeping the body strong and under discipline, because such discipline supports virtuous effort and makes practical service to God and fellow people possible. Indulgence of appetite and debasing habits must be turned from, because such indulgence fosters selfishness, rebellion against God, lack of love for the souls of men, and nine-tenths of evil propensities and temptations to depart from God. That God has said the one who fears Him and works righteousness will be accepted is enough to surrender wholly to Him without first knowing the results of obedience, seeing the way, or knowing what the future will be. It calls for walking day by day before the Lord in humility and contrition, because present happiness and future destiny and well-being depend on personal choice and course of action. In fearfully trying times those who fear the Lord and work righteousness need not despond but can trust in the living God, who will be to them as a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day, with the most precious blessings and most exalted privileges prepared for and promised to those who love the truth and obey it in the love of it.
Such character is found in men of experience in religious things who love the truth, and such cautious men give confidence for connection with God's institutions, because they will not involve the work in debt, give it a wrong mold, or rush improvements without prospect of funds, and God looks with favor on His work under their care. His favor is not gained by lofty structures and great Babylons, for all the riches of the world do not raise a soul's value in His sight, but by faithful stewardship that returns to the Lord the fruit of the vineyard in tithes and offerings so those who do not know God may be benefited. Living the law of God displays His goodness, mercy, justice and love and sets those who love, fear and serve Him above every other people. Those who have received light but disregard God's requirements through unbelief, complaint and rebellion cannot expect the favor and blessings promised to those who love the truth and live by it, but will lose that favor and find blessings turned to curses and mercies to judgments.
The verse sets the character teachers and students are to become in words and character, men and women that fear God and work righteousness. Teachers must be this themselves first, being acquainted with the way, so they can train youth to walk in it. That training goes beyond educating youth in the sciences to training them to have moral independence, to work for Jesus, and to take up burdens in His cause. Lifelong profession does not make true men sanctified and ennobled through the truth, and Cornelius remains the kind of man taught by God whom God still calls for. Those who have lost spiritual discernment and are wise in their own eyes are in peril, building their house on sand that will be swept away in the tempest, while those accepted with God build on the solid rock.
God shows no favoritism by nationality, but in every nation whoever reverences Him and lives righteously is accepted with Him. This has always been true in every age, depending on inward heart religion and not on outward standing, privilege, position or disadvantage. Such acceptance begins with living faithfully up to the light given, yet it is only complete in Christ and must grow by uniting faith with works and gladly receiving further light as God gives it. So Jew and Gentile stand on equal terms, sharing the blessings of the gospel and the gift of the Holy Spirit without distinction, with the barrier broken down in Christ. Therefore God knows every honest seeker by name and guides him into connection with a human teacher, and His impartial love forbids despising any by rank, color or condition but calls all to value character and lift every fellow man.
Words and Setting
Peter spoke the words to Cornelius and to the relatives, friends and household gathered with him to hear all things commanded of God, after Cornelius had related his experience and the words of the angel visitation. He said it because God had shown him that he should not call any man common or unclean, setting aside the Jewish custom that held it unlawful for a Jew to keep company with or come to one of another nation as involving ceremonial defilement, so that he came without gainsaying when sent for.
The sermon with the verse proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ who is Lord of all, a message published from Galilee after the baptism of John. It set forth Jesus of Nazareth anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power going about doing good and healing all oppressed of the devil, slain on a tree and raised the third day and shown openly to chosen witnesses who ate and drank with Him, ordained of God to be Judge of the living and the dead, through whose name all the prophets witness that whoever believes receives remission of sins. Under that preaching the Holy Ghost fell on all who heard.
The vision of the sheet taught about the standing of people, not permission to eat animals formerly declared unclean, showing that Gentiles were not to be regarded as unclean or excluded from the promises but through Christ share equally in the blessings and privileges given to the Jews. The tongues and power in the home of Cornelius corroborated the promised blessing, proving that present experience matches the experience of the early apostles as recorded in the Word when the promised power came and believers spoke in other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance. God dealt with Peter before sending him to the Gentiles to correct and prepare him for his work, an example of visions correcting one departing from Bible truth rather than giving a new rule of faith. Peter held a distinct pioneer part among the twelve in breaking through the barriers of ages to teach the heathen world, for which Christ foresaw the work and taught and prepared him, and his sending to the Roman centurion illustrates how God sends men as His representatives among those who need divine help and guidance.
God Accepts All Nations
God is no respecter of persons and shows no favoritism on the ground of nationality, but in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him. Gentiles who seek God are not to be treated as common or unclean, but are to be welcomed to hear the gospel and receive the Holy Spirit, as Cornelius and his household show. Peter declared this to Cornelius and to all assembled with him to hear what God had commanded, as the opening of his witness that the message of peace through Jesus Christ who is Lord of all was published from Galilee after John's baptism, that Jesus of Nazareth anointed with the Holy Ghost and power went about doing good and healing those oppressed of the devil, was slain on a tree and raised the third day and shown openly to chosen witnesses who ate and drank with Him, was ordained of God to be Judge of the living and dead, and that through His name all the prophets witness that whoever believes in Him receives remission of sins, a preaching under which the Holy Ghost fell on all who heard. Cornelius pleased God by sincere devotion, prayers, almsgiving, and faithful use of the light he had received, even though he did not yet fully know Jesus Christ, and God wrought for him by sending an angel and directing Peter to him to give further instruction, which Cornelius accepted, after which he joined the church and became a useful worker. Peter was to recognize Cornelius and other Gentiles as fellow seekers of God who could serve Him acceptably rather than treating them as unclean, and nationality and religious privilege do not make anyone more esteemed by God.
This acceptance has been true everywhere and in all ages and generations, for the Old and New Testament Scriptures do not contradict each other and true religion was the same under both. Its requirements under the former dispensation were just as essential, thorough and full as under the gospel dispensation when Christ became minister of the better covenant, so acceptance depends on inward heart religion rather than outward Jewish standing. God accepts in every generation those who fear Him and do what is right, without favoritism by status or group. Those who have received light but reject God's requirements through unbelief, complaint and rebellion cannot expect the favor and blessings promised to those who love and follow the truth, but will lose that favor and find blessings turned to curses and mercies to judgments.
No outward privilege or position can secure the spiritual blessings of God's covenant with Abraham, and no outward disability, appearance or disadvantage can shut anyone out from those blessings if he meets the conditions of fearing God and living righteously. This has been true everywhere and in all ages, because name and position are of no real value with God, who reads hearts and knows works, and all the riches of the world do not raise a soul's value in His sight. His favor is not gained by lofty structures and great Babylons but by faithful stewardship that returns to the Lord the fruit of the vineyard in tithes and offerings so those who do not know God may be benefited. Living the law of God displays His goodness, mercy, justice and love and sets those who love, fear and serve Him above every other people, and the fruit of that obedience appears in the union of Jews and Gentiles in which in and through Christ Jew and Gentile are brought into one spiritual fold, fulfilling the covenant promise to Abraham that in him all families and nations of the earth shall be blessed.
Faith Joined to Works
God kindly regards and accepts the sincere service of those in every nation who fear Him and live faithfully up to the light they have, as Cornelius pleased Him by sincere devotion, prayers, almsgiving, and faithful use of the light received, with his prayers and alms acceptable as far as his knowledge went. That acceptance is only a beginning and not completeness, requiring an advance in faith and a new experience to do God's work intelligently. God therefore sent Peter with further instruction and directed him to bring further light to Cornelius, who accepted it, joined the church, and became a useful worker walking in keeping with all the light received.
Even sincere faith and righteousness remain incomplete and cannot be perfect or complete without knowledge of Christ, in whom all fullness dwells and in whom alone all can be complete. Neither prayer nor almsgiving can take the place of Christ, and one who believed God's Word promising a Messiah must have opportunity to receive its fulfillment. Peter pointed Cornelius and his household to Jesus as the sinner's only hope, and they received the Holy Spirit and were baptized.
Acceptance does not mean what is believed is of no consequence so long as works are good, nor that good works alone suffice. Nor does faith alone save apart from works, for faith must unite with works, and works strengthen, perfect, and make complete faith, while to claim faith alone will save is to trust to a rope of sand.
All who are accepted must advance with the light given them for the further development of righteous character, because truth is onward and upward. When God brings them into connection with His servants who have received new truth and further light through the Word, they should gladly receive it with joy as substantiated by the Word of God.
In every nation whoever believes with all the heart in the Lord Jesus is accepted of God. Those accepted believers founded on Christ the Rock are the true church, the same Christ who gave Peter his name because Peter faithfully confessed Him, and it is that church of believers in Christ out of which no one can be saved, not continuance in the Roman church, so acceptance and belonging do not depend on remaining within that institution and the claim that salvation is found only there is false.
Jews and Gentiles Equal
Jew and Gentile are alike precious to God, with no favoritism by nationality and no inferiority of the uncircumcised to the circumcised. Through Christ the Gentiles share the blessings and privileges of the gospel on equal terms with Jewish believers, made fellow heirs with Israel rather than unclean people excluded from the promises. They do not need to be circumcised to share in those blessings, for acceptance depends on fearing God and doing what is right, not on Jewish standing. Christ's death broke down prejudice and exclusion and revealed the worldwide scope of God's plan, enlightening even those who love and fear Him though they do not yet know all the truth.
The equal gift of the Holy Spirit to uncircumcised Gentiles just as to Jewish believers confirms that God made no distinction between them. Repentance unto life was granted to Cornelius and his household, showing they were not to be rejected or treated as unclean because they were Gentiles. Faith in Christ purifies the heart, and His blood can cleanse all from uncleanness. The vision taught Peter not to treat Gentiles as unclean, and human prejudice was to give way to God's acceptance of people from every nation.
Cornelius's conversion was the first major conversion among the Gentiles and the opening of the gospel beyond the chosen people, so that salvation is no longer restricted to the Jews. It marks an entirely new phase of the work in which the door that Jewish converts had closed against the Gentiles is thrown open. Through Christ the barrier that had excluded Gentiles from the privileges of the gospel was broken down, and they stand on perfect equality with Jewish disciples without circumcision. The vision of the sheet concerned the standing of people, not permission to eat animals formerly declared unclean. God works in every nation to enlighten all who love and fear Him, sending heavenly messengers to bring many Gentiles to the truth, and every true believer must stand ready to be taught, yield personal ideas, have prejudice broken down, and walk in the ways of the Lord, for those unwilling to yield cannot be used and will be passed by for those who are willing.
In and through Christ Jew and Gentile are brought into one spiritual fold. This fulfills the covenant promise to Abraham that in him all families and nations of the earth would be blessed. No outward privilege or position can secure the spiritual blessings of that covenant, and no outward disability, appearance, or disadvantage can shut anyone out who meets the conditions of fearing God and living righteously by obeying His law. This has been true everywhere and in all ages, because name and position are of no real value with God, who reads hearts and knows works. His favor is gained not by lofty structures but by faithful stewardship returning tithes and offerings so those who do not know God may be benefited, and living His law displays His goodness, mercy, justice, and love and sets those who love, fear, and serve Him above every other people.
God Guides Honest Seekers
The Lord knows every person by name, just where each one lives, the spirit possessed and every act of life, as He knew Cornelius and knew just where Peter lodged with Simon the tanner. Prayers and alms given in sincere fear of God come up before Him as a memorial, and He remembers them in every nation without regard to nationality. Acceptance on those terms does not depend on nationality but opens the way for chosen messengers to bring further gospel light to Gentiles as well as Jews.
God works by setting in operation a train of circumstances and sending angels to bring an honest inquiring soul into connection with a human teacher who can best reach individual needs. Heaven and earth are united in that work, with Peter on the housetop in prayer appointed as the human instrument and Cornelius commanded to send men to Joppa with all particulars given. The angel does not preach the gospel itself, but heaven brings seeker and messenger together in gospel missionary work so the man of influence in connection with believers can accomplish a great work.
That is God's way of bringing people into close connection with Himself, by having the light He has given to one person be given by that person to another. His church must connect together and impart light to one another, with the truth already imparted to Peter to be imparted by Peter to Cornelius and all his family. Those so accepted must unify, love one another, and deal honestly, justly, truly, gently and righteously with one another without false weights and measures, giving God room instead of tearing down others and building up self.
Peter undertook the duty laid on him by divine command with reluctance at every step, defending it not on general principles but as an exception done because of divine revelation. The result surprised him when the truth was learned and the household believed. The conversion of Cornelius and his household was only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world, and from that home in a heathen city a widespread work of grace was carried on.
In every age God works in this same way, with the agencies of heaven ever ready to cooperate with human agencies by simple plans. He guides His servants to make personal efforts for those walking in all the light they have received, bringing honest-hearted people into connection with those servants who can best reach their individual needs. Some children have special knowledge adapted to help one class of inquirers and others trained differently are best fitted to help another class, and those who seek truth should be approached with patient, loving efforts so they can be led into full light as precious jewels.
There are many in the world today like Cornelius who are much nearer the kingdom than is supposed, walking in keeping with all the light received and reaching out for more light. God-fearing people who fear Him and do what is right may be found even in fallen churches, in high positions needing personal effort to help them take their stand, in every line of work acting on principles He approves, in high responsibility and in the investigation of true science as pure examples and shining lights. Earnest, devoted, determined efforts are to be made for associations like the W.C.T.U. where souls as honest as Cornelius are seeking light, that they may be gathered out, and God will lead such seekers into clearer and still clearer light by guiding His messengers to them as instrumentalities to minister to souls fainting for the bread of life, preparing the way for these true standard-bearers to take the place of those who were given Bible truth but disappointed Christ.
Such seekers will gain a knowledge of God as Cornelius did through angelic visitation from heaven, while God also places them in connection with men of superior knowledge of His Word so they may receive advanced light. Men like Cornelius of Caesarea may be stewards in trust in positions of responsibility with sympathies toward believers, yet held by threads binding them to the world and lacking moral courage to take position with the lowly ones. They need special care and more determined effort to reach them, but when converted they give strength and solidity to the cause, staying true to pure holy principles amid hard battle and fearful odds and testifying by purity and nobility of character.
Impartial Love in Practice
God shows no prejudice, partiality, or caste, and His mercy and love are not limited to one people, nationality, rank, creed, color, wealth, education, birth, or worldly honor but are offered to all. In every nation those who fear Him and live righteously and do what is right are accepted with Him, rich or poor, white or black, learned or ignorant, free or bond, Jew or Gentile. All are equal in His sight and joined in a common brotherhood by creation and by redemption, purchased by Christ, who receives rich or poor, white or black alike with gracious condescension. Through His strength and the Spirit people can grow and live lives rich in good works, and Christ offers mercy and forgiveness to every person. Jesus revealed this same impartial acceptance in graciously receiving all who came to Him.
God does not judge by caste, color, rank, wealth, position, or worldly honor and shows no partiality to the wealthy over the poor, but character decides worth with Him. In His sight men are simply men, either good or bad, and He values men and women according to beauty of character and purity of motives and purpose, not according to financial standing or the amount of wealth possessed. Goodness alone is true greatness, and in the day of final reckoning position, rank, or wealth will not alter any person's case, for all will be judged for what they are worth in purity, integrity, nobility of character, and love for Christ. He notices the poor and oppressed who are trampled upon, and the religion of the Bible recognizes no caste or color. Therefore none should be intimidated by wealth or position or shrink into cringing time-servers, and none should be cold and unsympathetic especially to the poorer classes, but courtesy, tender solicitude, genuine sympathy, and loving compassion should be shown to all, rich and poor alike, preserving dignity at all times, because partiality to the wealthy brings displeasure and slights Jesus in the person of His poor saints, for which there will be judgment.
Having a colored skin is no sin against God and is no barrier to acceptance with Him. In every nation, white and black alike, those who fear Him and work righteousness are accepted, for He does not favor the most favored and does not leave the needy without help. Converted colored men and women who love God and try to do His will belong to Him and are of as much value in His sight as white people, however educated and talented the whites may be and although the whites have not endured the same embarrassments, privation, and slavery. Black people who fear God and work righteousness can have a pure, righteous character as sons and daughters, and will have a reward in the heavenly courts equal to the reward of any white man. Whether they will be white or black in heaven is not revealed; they will be just what God wants them to be.
By creation and by redemption all share common relationship to Him, and the deliverance of the colored race from slavery gives them right to the privileges of freedom, while the cross makes distinctions of society fade away. All people of whatever nationality are amenable to the same law, will be judged according to their deeds, and have the same offer of salvation and promise of the same heaven on the same terms. If He accepts and forgives sinners from the white race and holds out to them assurance of the higher life and hope of a place in the redeemed family when He comes in the clouds of heaven and the righteous dead rise to meet Him, He accepts and forgives sinners from the black race and holds out to them the same hope, receiving believers and raising them from ignorance and degradation. So they must not be passed by but helped, educated, taught to be self-supporting, and led to faith in Jesus.
To treat a person with contempt, despising, depressing, and trampling them down because of black skin is to despise the workmanship of God and to reproach God, for God gave the color and the person is not responsible for it and cannot change it. Race does not make one person more acceptable to Him than another, and His love makes no distinction between white and black. He loves all His creatures and has special tenderness and tender pity for those who bear greater burdens. Those who love God must not hold black minds in slavery but must help lift them up and educate them to have clean, pure souls, and white people who look past skin color must show gratitude to God and restore to them as far as possible what was lost through years of privation and slavery. Those who love Him and trust Christ as Redeemer and believe in Him can meet trials with a cheerful spirit, knowing that He sees them and will make up for what the world fails to give.
God's eye is upon all people, white or black alike, and He does not forget any of His workers, giving people in different places wisdom and skill for useful work. He wants Black students to make everything they do a means of gaining an education that will enable them to present the truth to their own people. The Spirit of Christ is to be recognized in whomever it is revealed, whether a white man or a black man, and no one need be ashamed to speak with an honest black man in any place or to shake him by the hand even though it is black. He who lives in the atmosphere in which Christ lives will be taught of God to put His estimate on men.
The verse teaches the way God works on human minds to bring light to one who fears His name, breaking the power of oppression and tyranny and dispelling the dark clouds of ignorance and superstition, as He wrought for Cornelius, a devout man who feared God, prayed always and gave alms, by sending an angel and directing Peter to him. It is instruction to be read and prayed over, with the tenth chapter of Acts, until understanding is opened. Then workers are to begin earnestly to work for souls in the home field and to arouse to duties for missions at home, warning that unless they do they will be found wanting in the day of God. Heaven is much nearer to the Christian engaged in soul-saving than many suppose, for the conversion of Cornelius and his company came through ministration of heavenly angels, and every person should treat his fellow man as one of the Lord's instrumentalities for accomplishing His work in the earth.
The Lord is not partial but accepts in every nation those who fear Him and do what is right. His impartiality is misrepresented when His work is hindered in distant parts of the world and resources are concentrated in some places at the expense of others.
Righteous Life Described
To fear God and work righteousness is to obey the precious Bible truth He has opened, which tests trust and sanctifies through obedience. That reverence is shown by strict obedience to every precept of the moral law, with allegiance proved by keeping the Sabbath of the fourth commandment in remembrance of the living Creator, both by precept and example, upholding it in its moral power. It requires bringing business under divine restriction and arranging business to meet God's great standard of righteousness, instead of molding the Sabbath to temporal arrangements. It means emptying the soul of jealousy, distrust, envy, petulance, faction, independence, discouragement and stubbornness, laboring disinterestedly for eternity with God's Spirit while looking continually to Jesus. It means cleansing the inner temple from defilement and seizing eternal life, remaining connected with God for strength and fortitude nothing can shake, and proving devotion to His cause by works done in humbleness, meekness and lowliness of mind wherever placed, under His blessing or curse.
It includes reform of appetite and habits and keeping the body strong and under discipline, because such discipline supports virtuous effort and makes practical service to God and fellow people possible. Indulgence of appetite and debasing habits must be turned from, because such indulgence fosters selfishness, rebellion against God, lack of love for the souls of men, and nine-tenths of evil propensities and temptations to depart from God. That God has said the one who fears Him and works righteousness will be accepted is enough to surrender wholly to Him without first knowing the results of obedience, seeing the way, or knowing what the future will be. It calls for walking day by day before the Lord in humility and contrition, because present happiness and future destiny and well-being depend on personal choice and course of action. In fearfully trying times those who fear the Lord and work righteousness need not despond but can trust in the living God, who will be to them as a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day, with the most precious blessings and most exalted privileges prepared for and promised to those who love the truth and obey it in the love of it.
Such character is found in men of experience in religious things who love the truth, and such cautious men give confidence for connection with God's institutions, because they will not involve the work in debt, give it a wrong mold, or rush improvements without prospect of funds, and God looks with favor on His work under their care. His favor is not gained by lofty structures and great Babylons, for all the riches of the world do not raise a soul's value in His sight, but by faithful stewardship that returns to the Lord the fruit of the vineyard in tithes and offerings so those who do not know God may be benefited. Living the law of God displays His goodness, mercy, justice and love and sets those who love, fear and serve Him above every other people. Those who have received light but disregard God's requirements through unbelief, complaint and rebellion cannot expect the favor and blessings promised to those who love the truth and live by it, but will lose that favor and find blessings turned to curses and mercies to judgments.
The verse sets the character teachers and students are to become in words and character, men and women that fear God and work righteousness. Teachers must be this themselves first, being acquainted with the way, so they can train youth to walk in it. That training goes beyond educating youth in the sciences to training them to have moral independence, to work for Jesus, and to take up burdens in His cause. Lifelong profession does not make true men sanctified and ennobled through the truth, and Cornelius remains the kind of man taught by God whom God still calls for. Those who have lost spiritual discernment and are wise in their own eyes are in peril, building their house on sand that will be swept away in the tempest, while those accepted with God build on the solid rock.