God’s grace and salvation are offered to all people without exception

Acts 10:34-36 says: Peter opened his mouth and said, “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ — He is Lord of all.” NKJV.

I remember singing songs as a child in Sunday school and Vacation Bible school. One that is simple yet profound is, “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.”

While eating at Zacchaeus’ house, Jesus said, “The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” There are no exceptions. All of us fall into the category of the lost, as Romans 3:23 reminds us, until we are found and saved by Jesus. There are also no exceptions to the invitation to come to Him and enter a saving relationship. Acts 2:21 says, “And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” NKJV.

Peter learned this lesson when the Holy Spirit sent him to the house of Cornelius. Peter and the other apostles had to understand that Gentiles also were invited to believe in and follow Jesus. We must lay aside our own biases and prejudices and recognize that God’s grace is for whoever will hear, believe, repent and follow Jesus, as Romans 10:8-11 teaches.

The second verse of “Jesus Loves the Little Children” speaks clearly to this truth: “Jesus died for all the children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus died for all the children of the world.”

Second Peter 3:9 expresses this message well: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” NKJV.

Pastor Ray Martin Southside Church of God, Alliance