Views: 2<\/p>
[Note:\u00a0 <\/strong>This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles 1<\/strong>\u00a0 page.]<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In the house of the Gentile, Cornelius, the apostle Peter arrived at a dramatic conclusion for a biased Jew: \u201cGod is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness is acceptable to him\u201d(Acts 10:34\u201335). He then did the unthinkable for a Jew, offering salvation to this Gentile through the Gospel (vv. 42\u201343). 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.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Peter learned here that \u201cno man is common\u201d to God (v. 28). In this fact lies the loftiest view of man. Mankind is not \u201ccommon\u201d because of several factors:<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We are made in God\u2019s image <\/strong>(Gen. 1:26\u201327). <\/strong>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.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jesus died for every human being: <\/strong>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\u2019s \u201climited atonement\u201d only for the \u201celect\u201d 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.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Everyone is a potential servant of God. <\/strong>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\u201323). We are to take His saving Gospel to \u201cthe whole creation\u201d in \u201call the world\u201d so that those who choose to believe it and are baptized may be saved (Mark 16: 15\u201316). Everyone has spiritual potential. No man is common.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Everyone can go to Heaven. <\/strong>Not all will<\/strong> be in Heaven at last (Mat. 7:13\u201314), but all could<\/strong>\/can<\/strong> be there. Because He is longsuffering with his creation, God\u2019s ideal will is that none<\/strong> \u201cshould perish\u201d (2 Pet. 3:9). He \u201cwould have all men<\/strong> to be saved\u201d (1 Tim. 2:4). Through God\u2019s grace and mercy, based on the shed blood of Christ, He offers Heaven to all who will obey Him (Mat. 7:21\u201323; 11:28\u201330; Tit. 2:11\u201312; 3:5; Rom. 5:9; Heb. 5:9). No man is common.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n [Note:<\/strong> This article was written for and published in the Denton Record-Chronicle, <\/em>Denton, TX, May 30, 2014.]<\/span><\/p>\n Attribution:<\/strong> From thescripturecache.com<\/em>; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 2[Note:\u00a0 This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles 1\u00a0 page.] \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In the house of the Gentile, Cornelius, the apostle Peter arrived at a dramatic conclusion for a biased Jew: \u201cGod is no respecter of persons, but in every nation…<\/p>\n