Acts 2:37-47
Jesus confounded the Pharisees and temple elite with his actions. Jesus consorted with prostitutes, sinners, tax collectors, women, Samaritans and more. None of which were to be called or received by God if you asked the Pharisees. If Jesus were here today, who is it that He would consort with? Who are the so called outcasts of our time? And yet, Jesus called them, spoke to them, broke bread with them, loved them and wept for them.
In this passage Paul speaks of everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him. Who is it that God calls? Who are we to say who is called and who is not? The religious experts of Jesus' time were confounded by whom Jesus called. I am sure the religious experts of our own time would be equally confounded. The temple elite of today would be able to give you sure fire arguments why they are right and would quote scripture chapter and verse to support their point. But that's just it, it is their judgements and not God's.
Paul was well versed in the ironies of God's choices. For one, Paul himself would seem to be the last one chosen to spread the Gospel. Paul was a persecutor of the early church. Further, the early church only preached to the Jews. Wasn't Jesus message only to the Jews? But Paul argued successfully that the message was for all, even the most unlikely. To those that argue we should have a smaller but purer church, this contradicts the tenets that Jesus lived.
No one should feel unworthy. Firstly, God's love is limitless and for all. Secondly, how could God love one creation more than another? God created each of us just the way he wanted us to be, unique, special, a gift to the world. Welcome his love. Know you are loved. Know that you are called to a life of Holiness. But also know that does not mean what others necessarily call a life of holiness. Any constraints put on who will be saved and how the saved are to behave are man made rules and rubrics.
You are called by name. You are loved.
Jesus confounded the Pharisees and temple elite with his actions. Jesus consorted with prostitutes, sinners, tax collectors, women, Samaritans and more. None of which were to be called or received by God if you asked the Pharisees. If Jesus were here today, who is it that He would consort with? Who are the so called outcasts of our time? And yet, Jesus called them, spoke to them, broke bread with them, loved them and wept for them.
In this passage Paul speaks of everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him. Who is it that God calls? Who are we to say who is called and who is not? The religious experts of Jesus' time were confounded by whom Jesus called. I am sure the religious experts of our own time would be equally confounded. The temple elite of today would be able to give you sure fire arguments why they are right and would quote scripture chapter and verse to support their point. But that's just it, it is their judgements and not God's.
Paul was well versed in the ironies of God's choices. For one, Paul himself would seem to be the last one chosen to spread the Gospel. Paul was a persecutor of the early church. Further, the early church only preached to the Jews. Wasn't Jesus message only to the Jews? But Paul argued successfully that the message was for all, even the most unlikely. To those that argue we should have a smaller but purer church, this contradicts the tenets that Jesus lived.
No one should feel unworthy. Firstly, God's love is limitless and for all. Secondly, how could God love one creation more than another? God created each of us just the way he wanted us to be, unique, special, a gift to the world. Welcome his love. Know you are loved. Know that you are called to a life of Holiness. But also know that does not mean what others necessarily call a life of holiness. Any constraints put on who will be saved and how the saved are to behave are man made rules and rubrics.
You are called by name. You are loved.
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.’ And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
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