Accepted

DEVOTION

THE BOOK OF ACTS

ACCEPTED

Acts 10:34-38

34 Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

NIV

Now Peter speaks, and the first thing he tells them is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. That is a wonderful fact that he does not show favoritism, but the truth here is that God accepts men from every nation, which of course includes us. Peter saw that God was not only the God of the Jews but he was also the God of all mankind. If a person fears him, or holds him in reverence or awe, and does what is right, God will accept him. This would indicate that first God does the accepting, and thus not the choosing, as well as it requires a man to fear God first before he is accepted it also requires that a man does what is right before God will accept him. Now since we know what it means to fear God, what does it mean to do what is right? Although we are not finished with Peters response we will see he tells them whoever believes in him will have his sins forgiven. In essence, this is the only thing we can do that is right for no human deeds can earn the acceptance of God. We cannot earn salvation or the forgiveness of sin by any deed whatsoever, so then we are left to the only right thing which is to believe or trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior. If we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son, the one and only Son of God who came into this world to die for our sins, to be our replacement for the penalty of our sin, than God will accept our faith and forgive our sin. He requires that we do that right thing along with fearing or have reverence for him. It is one thing fear God, but the true right thing to do is accept him Son. That is the truth of it all. We must do the right thing, then God accepts us. If we fail to accept Jesus Christ, God does not accept us. Praise the Lord for he does not show favoritism so that we who have done what is right are accepted.