Grafted Into the True Vine

Acts 10:1–16

“At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa. About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.”

Here the twigs of redemption for all humanity has begun to grow from the branches, Gentiles are now being “grafted in” (Rom 11:17) being God’s chosen people. Christ came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10) and the redemption He offers to humanity is for all humanity now regardless of race, gender, age, and whatever differences in our identity, we are one with respect to the amazing grace of God! We are all favoured children of God through faith in Christ Jesus being baptised into Christ have clothed ourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise (Gal 3:26–29). Cornelius is called to seek the Apostle Peter who is already being prepared by the Holy Spirit with a vision of inclusion, a blanket no less (v. 11). Parts of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans is informative on how redemption through Abraham and Israel and now only through Christ had opened the way for all humanity to come to God. Many schools of thought offer a compartmentalised view of the world. Islam divides the world into two, Dar-al-Harb (struggle) and Dar-al-Islam (peace), Communists divide us into the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, many of our secular humanists (neo-marxists) today favour division as well among oppressor and oppressed classes of people where an assymetry in moral values and duties follow logically, in the case of Israel, it was the Jews, the chosen people of God against all others, the Gentiles, but Christ reinstates God’s kingdom where we are all one in rebellion (Rom 3:23) and redemption (John 3:16) in God. It has been said there is only one race, the human race and everyone, because of Christ has equal access to a voluntary loving response to God. Yes, Israel had transgressed and salvation been shared with the world at large, but St. Paul reminds us, make no mistake, “By no means!” he exclaims, that God did reject His people”, he continues, “I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew,” God had kept a remnant faithful to Himself, He corrected the prophet Elijah, "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal." So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace (Rom 11:1–6).” The Father, keeper of the vineyard (John 15:1), has grafted us into the True Vine, His Son, our LORD Jesus Christ, that we may also gain the sustenance of eternal life together as one with the remnant of His originally chosen people, everyone is welcome in the Church, the body of Christ and in Him we find redemption, true peace, perfect justice, true riches, hope, and love!