It was the inclusion of the gentiles within the church that gave rise to the first Christian Council.  It was called to deal with the question of these new gentile believers.   Did they have to be circumcised and follow the rituals and traditions of Moses?   The debate and ultimate decision of that Council forever stamped upon the church its true Christlike character.   People were not received into the church on the basis of obedience to certain customs and rituals.   The decision was that the gentiles had been purified by faith.  They had become followers of Christ in the same way the early Jewish Christians had.   They had been saved by faith.   They believed in their hearts in the person of Jesus Christ.  They believed he had died and rose from the dead.   God had granted the gentiles repentance unto life because they believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Scriptures teach that God is no respecter of persons.  His love is extended to every nation.  It is wonderful to read in the book of Revelation of a great company of people worshiping God.   They are described as people from every race, tribe and tongue.   The gospel was and is intended for every individual.   The church’s mandate is to bring the gospel of redeeming grace to all.   It does not matter what the background is.  We may be rich or poor.   We may be learned or unschooled.  We may be of different languages.  The color of our skin may vary.  Yet, the living God is rich in grace and love towards all who call on him.

This is the story of the conversion of that Roman soldier, Cornelius.   It announced that Christ died for every person.   It proclaimed that all barriers to God’s love have be torn down.   John the beloved disciple summed it up in these words: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through him.”

Rev. Ronald Osmond is a pastor with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Nfld.  Some of the places he pastored are Corner Brook and  St John's, Newfoundland as well as Vancover, British Columbia.  He is a pastor and teacher as well as a radio speaker. Ronald and his wife Betty have five children all of whom are ministering with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada and the Assemblies of God,U.S.A.  They are now retired and live in St.John's, NL.  They may be reached at Ronosmond@aol.com