FRIENDS AND ENEMIES SIN, BUT NEITHER IS IRREDEEMABLE
As the series “Between Two Mountains” continues in the New Testament’s book of Acts, Pastor Harry provided us with a handout lesson entitled “The reason we are.” Harry juxtaposed two seminal biblical figures, Simon Peter and Saul Paul, whom I’ll refer to as Peter and Paul, to try to limit my own confusion. Paul, before his conversion on the road to Damascus, had been a fierce persecutor of Jesus’ followers. He was hostile and enraged to the point that he would drag believers from their homes, flog them until they denounced Jesus, and vote to have them killed. Everyone who followed Jesus was a blasphemer and his enemy. Peter was part of Jesus’ inner circle, an apostle, and one of the first leaders of the early Christian Church. He was devout, keeping Jewish dietary laws, and didn’t associate or visit Gentile homes. Peter viewed Gentiles as common and unclean, not his people. These two men were diametrically opposed at one point in time, both arrogant and self-righteous, viewing others as beneath them or unworthy.
This hit home for me. Try as I may not to qualify or judge, it is a sin that comes too easily. This world almost beats it into us. The terms “us” and “them”, “ours” and “theirs”, remind us constantly of our division. Trying to make ourselves feel better because someone else has a lower station or is less deserving than us, or it’s their fault. We are all more alike than different, but 6 or 7 views can sort us into categories that serve as systematic opposition. Paul’s conversion, Acts 9:1-9, teaches us that even the most hostile enemy of the gospel can be made into the most faithful instrument. Peter’s vision, as described in Acts 10:9-15, illustrates how Jesus transforms and reshapes hearts and minds from within, enabling people to see one another differently.
As Harry preached about “The Reason We Are”, Acts 10:34-36 landed hard on my heart, “34 Then Peter began to speak: “Now I really understand that God doesn’t show favoritism,35 but in every nation anyone who fears Him and does righteousness is acceptable to Him.36 He sent the message to the Israelites, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all),” We can consider no one as irredeemable, regardless of how they acted ignorantly out of unbelief. We must open our hearts and minds to those we deem as common and unclean because, through Christ, they are made acceptable to God. Friend or enemy, all can experience the Lord’s grace and mercy through faith and love that are Christ Jesus.