Repentance to Life

When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life."

--Acts 11:18  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 1, 2013 of Psalm 43; Acts 11:1-18; Leviticus 22-23:22.

In chapter 10 of the book of the Acts of the Apostles, Luke describes what has since become referred to by many as the Gentile Pentecost.  After receiving a vision from God and a message from an Angel of the Lord, Peter and a few other disciples traveled to Caesarea to see the centurion Cornelius.  As Peter spoke to Cornelius and those gathered with him, the Holy Spirit descended upon them.  Peter and the disciples saw the signs and witnessed to this happening, and so baptized them all.When they returned to Jerusalem, Peter was questioned by those who believed circumcision to be a necessary step for conversion.  They accused him of being with and even baptizing the uncircumcised men in Caesarea.  Peter told them the whole story, including the vision and message from God and the signs of the Holy Spirit's presence on Cornelius and those gathered with him.  Then Peter asked them how could he withstand God's will.  With this, they all understood that God meant for His salvation through belief in Jesus Christ His Son to be for all people, not just the Jews.

This marked a huge leap in the spread of Christianity and the strengthening of the early church, expanding the community of faith to include anyone who believes, Jew or Gentile.  It also saw the beginning of lessening the importance and dependency on the laws of Moses as a means to salvation, with the understanding that neither adherence to the laws nor any act on our part can ever save us.  Only by God's grace and our belief in Jesus Christ as His Son can we be redeemed.  Just as the disciples did, may we glorify God for His grace and mercy!  Amen.

God of grace and God of mercy, thank You so much for sending the Holy Spirit down upon those uncircumcised men of Caesarea and setting the precedent for all of us to be included in Jesus' community of faith.  Thank You for granting us redemption through our repentance of sins and belief in Your Son.  In the name of Jesus we glorify You and we pray.  Amen.