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In the house of the Gentile, Cornelius, the apostle Peter arrived at a dramatic conclusion for a biased Jew: “God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness is acceptable to him”(Acts 10:34–35). He then did the unthinkable for a Jew, offering salvation to this Gentile through the Gospel (vv. 42–43). Peter at last realized that Jesus was concerned for all mankind, not just for Jews, as he had believed all of his life. He learned that Gentiles were equally acceptable to God as were Jews.
Peter learned here that “no man is common” to God (v. 28). In this fact lies the loftiest view of man. Mankind is not “common” because of several factors:
We are made in God’s image (Gen. 1:26–27). This is true of every human being, regardless of how low one may have sunk. God has not only given men physical life, but He has made us rational, conscience-possessing beings with an immortal spirit/soul that will survive death and continue in eternity, either with or apart from our Creator. A condescending attitude is inappropriate and ungodly. No man is common.
Jesus died for every human being: He did not die for only a few, for many, or even for most men, but for all mankind (1 Tim. 2:6; Heb. 2:9; 1 John 2:2). Calvinism’s “limited atonement” only for the “elect” is a fatal error. This error was basic-ally that under which so many first century believing Jews la-bored. Peter learned better in the events relating to Cornelius. That Christ died for all means that no man is common.
Everyone is a potential servant of God. Matthew was a despised tax collector. What spiritual potential did uneducated anglers have? Saul was a radical persecutor of Christians. No one has the right to decide for any other whether he/she will hear the Gospel or serve the Savior. We are to sow the seed of the kingdom so that it may produce good fruit where it is received (Mat. 13:18–23). We are to take His saving Gospel to “the whole creation” in “all the world” so that those who choose to believe it and are baptized may be saved (Mark 16: 15–16). Everyone has spiritual potential. No man is common.
Everyone can go to Heaven. Not all will be in Heaven at last (Mat. 7:13–14), but all could/can be there. Because He is longsuffering with his creation, God’s ideal will is that none “should perish” (2 Pet. 3:9). He “would have all men to be saved” (1 Tim. 2:4). Through God’s grace and mercy, based on the shed blood of Christ, He offers Heaven to all who will obey Him (Mat. 7:21–23; 11:28–30; Tit. 2:11–12; 3:5; Rom. 5:9; Heb. 5:9). No man is common.
[Note: This article was written for and published in the Denton Record-Chronicle, Denton, TX, May 30, 2014.]
Attribution: From thescripturecache.com; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.
