Judge of Reconciliation

Throughout the Old Testament, God is often portrayed as an impartial judge (Deut 10:17; 2 Chron 19:7), and Peter carries this image into his witness to Cornelius, a part of the larger mission to the Gentiles.

But, how is this? What is being judged? Doesn't God offer reconciliation? How is that like a judge who determines harsh sentences?

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ³⁵ but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. ³⁶ You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. ³⁷ You know what has happened throughout the province of 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.

³⁹ “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, ⁴⁰ but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. ⁴¹ He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10:34-43)

First, it's important to remember the unique place of Peter's witness. The Jewish Christians are going to the Gentiles who have long been considered 'unclean' in the context of the Law. The first verse exemplifies his unique position as he explains that "God does not show favoritism".

In fact, that verse continues with the 'judge' theme, because the original text actually reads as an idiomatic expression which means 'to receive the face'. Apparently, when greeting a social superior in that time and context, you would 'lower your face' and lower yourself to the earth. If the person you greeted raised your face up, it was a sign of favor. While this was indeed flattering for the greeter, it's not a characteristic you'd want to find in a judge.

Furthermore, God 'accepts from every nation'. And this 'every nation' is not just the different nation-states, but 'ethnos' refers to any racial, cultural or ethnic grouping by which humans distinguish themselves.

To prove this, Peter gives the example of how Jesus, after anointed by the Holy Spirit, 'went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil because God was in him' (v.38). Jesus was associating with and even helping all people... even those traditionally considered unclean.

However, Peter is very careful not to portray a pluralistic view of acceptance. Instead, he goes back to the image of the Lord as judge of the living and the dead. The Gentiles must 'believe', leaving their idols and false Gods, in order to 'receive forgiveness of sins through His name' (v. 43).

So what God is judging is our belief and faith in Him. And it is not the measure of our faith. In fact, the man talking to Jesus said it well, "I do believe; help me to overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24). God knows the heart; he knows our desires as we thirst for Him. God is judge of whether we are genuinely seeking only Him as Lord of our lives.

Then He can let go of the 'sentence' as the forgiving Father the psalmist sang of:

If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins,

O Lord, who could stand?

But with you there is forgiveness;

therefore you are feared. (Psalm 130:3-4)

It may be easy to see ourselves only as the 'Peter' in this account. And certainly, we should be like Him, sharing our testimony with others. However, I think we should also put ourselves in the place of Cornelius, and the other Gentiles. In what ways have we let other things (schoolwork, sports, work, money) get ahead in our priority list. Are we seeking Christ only as the Lord of our lives every day?

My Lord and friend, in the quietness of this hour, reconcile my contrary motives and conflicting desires. Give me a singleness of purpose that I may be an ambassador of reconciliation to those whom I meet this day. (Upper Room Guided Prayer)