Foreigners With Faith

This is part 2 of 2 of Lesson 6: Ethnicity and Discipleship. Click here to go back to the introduction to this lesson.

There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians–you are one in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:28 (NLT)

There are many instances in the Bible of Gentiles who display great faith.

The last section discussed the Jewish reaction to Peter’s visit to Cornelius’ household. But consider the faith of Cornelius himself. Cornelius was known as a ‘God fearer’ and a centurion. According to the study guide, ‘God fearers’ were non-Jews who nominally accepted Judaism, made gifts to synagogues, and attended Sabbath services. They did not, however, submit to proselyte baptism or adopt all the rabbinic regulations.

Cornelius’ story is found in Acts 10. It is noted that he was devout and feared God. He prayed often and gave to the poor. God rewards him for his devotion by visiting him with an angel:

…the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have not gone unnoticed by God! Now send some men down to Joppa to find a man named Simon Peter. Acts 10:4,5 (NLT)

God had a wonderful surprise in store for Cornelius. But first Cornelius needed to obey the angel and get Peter to come – which he did. The Spirit was working on both ends of this transaction and arranged for Peter to have his famous ‘unclean animals’ vision and himself be convicted to visit the house of a Gentile. The result of all of this was the ‘Gentile’ version of Pentecost. The lesson comments:

As Peter preached to Cornelius’s assembled household (Acts 10:44–46), the Holy Spirit interrupted him with the Gentile Pentecost, to the amazement of his Jewish companions.

It is interesting that God has those who are faithful to him outside of His ‘main church’ of the time which He seeks to bring into ‘the fold’. Jesus said:

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd. John 10:16 (NKJV)

There is also the account of another Roman centurion who had a very ill servant. That he was so concerned for the well-being of a servant says something of his character. This is his story:

And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.” Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. “Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. “For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick. Luke 7:2-10 (NKJV)

It is interesting to see his faith in Jesus and how he seeks Jesus’ help. Ellen White’s commentary is insightful:

The Jewish elders who recommended the centurion to Christ had shown how far they were from possessing the spirit of the gospel. They did not recognize that our great need is our only claim on God’s mercy. In their self-righteousness they commended the centurion because of the favor he had shown to “our nation.” But the centurion said of himself, “I am not worthy.” His heart had been touched by the grace of Christ. He saw his own unworthiness; yet he feared not to ask help. He trusted not to his own goodness; his argument was his great need. His faith took hold upon Christ in His true character. He did not believe in Him merely as a worker of miracles, but as the friend and Saviour of mankind.

It is thus that every sinner may come to Christ. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” Titus 3:5. When Satan tells you that you are a sinner, and cannot hope to receive blessing from God, tell him that Christ came into the world to save sinners. We have nothing to recommend us to God; but the plea that we may urge now and ever is our utterly helpless condition that makes His redeeming power a necessity. Renouncing all self-dependence, we may look to the cross of Calvary and say,– “In my hand no price I bring; Simply to Thy cross I cling.” Ellen White, Desire of Ages p316, 317.

Do we fall into the trap of thinking how lucky God is to have good people like us on his side? Maybe it’s time to remember that our righteousness is as ‘filthy rags’ (Isa 64:6).

Finally there is the story of the Canaanite woman. This story is found in Matt 15:21-28. Many people would find this story a tough one because Jesus appears to treat her unkindly at first. There were however good reasons for this. Jesus’ actions were both a test of her faith as well as an object lesson for his prejudiced disciples. However the woman showed great tenacity and faith. Don’t forget that Canaanites were full-on pagans – yet here she was with faith that Jesus was the ‘Son of David’ a messianic reference. Some excerpts from that story:

…a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”But He answered her not a word.

But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”

Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. Matt 15 (NKJV)

Once again, Ellen White gives useful context to Jesus’ actions (my emphasis added):

Christ knew this woman’s situation. He knew that she was longing to see Him, and He placed Himself in her path. By ministering to her sorrow, He could give a living representation of the lesson He designed to teach. For this He had brought His disciples into this region. …The partition wall which Jewish pride had erected, shut even the disciples from sympathy with the heathen world. But these barriers were to be broken down.

Christ did not immediately reply to the woman’s request. He received this representative of a despised race as the Jews would have done. In this He designed that His disciples should be impressed with the cold and heartless manner in which the Jews would treat such a case, as evinced by His reception of the woman, and the compassionate manner in which He would have them deal with such distress, as manifested by His subsequent granting of her petition.

When He said, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel,” He stated the truth, and in His work for the Canaanite woman He was fulfilling His commission. This woman was one of the lost sheep that Israel should have rescued. It was their appointed work, the work which they had neglected, that Christ was doing. Ellen White, Desire of Ages p400, 402.

That’s all for this week – see you all again next week.