People sometimes wonder about those in
cultures and places who have never heard the Gospel. How can they believe in
Jesus and be saved unless they know about Him?
I’ve realized that such doubt actually expresses
the idea that God is powerless. Is He not able to save those that He wants to
save? I know He can do whatever He pleases.
In Jesus’ day, His disciples were
Israelites. This was also true in the early church. However, before long it pleased
God to call and save a devout Gentile.
“At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, ‘Cornelius.’ And he stared at him in terror and said, ‘What is it, Lord?’ And he said to him, ‘Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter.’” (Acts 10:1–5)
Cornelius did what the angel said. In the
meantime, God had to convince Peter that he must go to the house of a Gentile,
which the Jews considered would make them unclean. Yet God prevailed and Peter
went. After he arrived, Cornelius invited him to speak what God had put on his
heart.
“So Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him’” (Acts 10:34–35) then he shared with this man what Jesus had done and what it means to follow Him.
After Cornelius heard the gospel, he
believed. His faith was obvious, as was the transformation in his life by the
Holy Spirit. Peter baptized him and the other Gentiles who believed — and
changed the course of history.
This story shows that God is able to reveal
Himself to anyone He pleases. Not only that, He is also able to send His
disciples to do the telling, even the most reluctant of them.
Later, Peter wrote how God is also able to
keep His disciples so that each of us can live a godly life. Putting the story
of Cornelius alongside this encouraging passage builds my faith. Nothing is too
hard for God!
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” (2 Peter 1:3–10)
^^^^^^^^^^^
Jesus, You are the author and the finisher
of my faith, and for all who put their trust in You. You save people from every
culture, every part of the world. No one is beyond the reach of Your grace. I
love You and I am grateful for Your mighty power and Your ability to save
sinners, myself included!
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