The Gentiles Come to Christ

How much did the Jews despise the Gentiles! They considered them as unclean and believed that the law required them not even to eat with them.

So when God determined to save Cornelius and his household, He had to change the Apostle Peter's prejudice and discrimination against poor lost Gentiles. This God accomplished with a vision and a direct commandment to go to Cornelius.

The Angel told Cornelius that Peter would tell him what he ought to do. And sure enough, Peter proclaimed salvation to all who believe on the Lord Jesus. The Holy Ghost fell upon Cornelius at the moment he believed, proving that the Gospel was for Gentiles as well as for Jews.

This opening of the Gospel was foreseen when, a few days before Christ's sacrifice, some Greeks came seeking Him. Now is the time, Christ then said, for the Son of Man to be glorified.

So long as Christ was only a Jewish Messiah, it seemed that He had nothing for poor lost Gentiles. Yet they began to press in to the Gospel, and then it was finally time to finish the work of redemption at Calvary.

Our Lord Jesus would not answer the Greeks until He had perfected redemption for them on the cross.

This reminds us of God's promise to His servant the Son in Isaiah 49. He promised that Christ would glorify the Father, and that the Son would be glorified. But most telling is this: that the glory of Christ would not depend upon His bringing the nation of Israel unto God. Rather, it would depend upon His bringing salvation to the Gentiles! For even though the prophet foretold that Israel would reject its Messiah, nevertheless Christ would be glorified in the salvation He wrought for sinners who trust in Him!