You went into the house of the uncircumcised and ate with them.

 

You went into the house of the uncircumcised

and ate with them.

 

Acts 11:1-4 Now the apostles and the brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received (Edensanto) the word (ton logon) of God. But when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised ones began to denounce him, saying, "You went into the house of the uncircumcised and ate with them." So Peter explained (Legon) this to them one by one, saying,

Ton Logon (τὸν λόγον) is the Word, Christ. Edensanto (ἐδέξαντο) means to receive. There is a difference between receiving and receiving. To receive simply means to hear the Word, but to receive means to believe in ho Logos and receive it in one’s heart. The gospel is precisely to receive ho Logos.

The circumcised people of Jerusalem believed in Jesus, but they were still unable to escape from legalism. When they learned that Peter had entered a house with Gentiles who were uncircumcised and eaten and drank, they criticized him. The conversion of Cornelius, a Gentile, and the events that took place in his house were incomprehensible to the Jews. They had already become fixed in their own traditions and customs, so their strong sense of superiority and prejudice could not possibly understand why Peter had eaten and drank with uncircumcised people.

Peter went to the church in Jerusalem that was criticizing him and explained that everything that had happened in Caesarea was from God’s command (λέγων legon: testimony). Peter was a Jew who obeyed God’s word. Therefore, it would not have been easy for him to follow the command to eat the unclean things he saw in the vision, even though it was God’s command. Therefore, Peter could not obey right away even though it was God’s command. Soon after, he realized God’s will and went to Cornelius to baptize him.

Previously, Peter lived a life of legalism like the Jews. However, the Lord shook his values ​​and beliefs in an instant. It was the gospel being preached to the Gentiles. This was the beginning of an era in which the Lord's salvation history was directed to all people of the world.

Regarding Peter, the part that best expresses his faith is the scene where he walked on water. Matthew 14:28-32 『Peter answered and said, 'Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.' He said, 'Come.' So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and began to sink. But he cried out, 'Lord, save me!' Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, saying, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?' And they climbed into the boat together, and the wind died down.』

Jesus told his disciples to get in the boat and go across to the other side, and he went up on the mountain to pray. At that time, Jesus caused a storm to come down on the disciples who were going in the boat. The wind symbolizes the Holy Spirit. The boat symbolizes Christ. The beginning of the boat is Noah's ark. The ark is a symbol of salvation, so it symbolizes Jesus Christ. Here, the sea symbolizes the law. Therefore, in order not to fall from the law, we are on the boat of Christ. Falling into the water means falling into the law. When Jesus was walking on the water, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, but when a storm arose, he fell into the water. That's why Jesus saved him.

The reason the Bible wants to tell this story is that even though Peter (a Jew) relies on Jesus, the law is tormenting him. So it is a warning that he will fall back into the law. In the end, we find Peter relying on his own strength. By looking at the law again, Peter sees himself fearful in the law.

If you look to Jesus, you will be completely free from the law, and you will start to rely on your own strength. This is the same story as Peter denying Jesus three times before he was crucified. If you do not look to Jesus and are not united with Jesus, you will end up relying on yourself.

Peter ate the five loaves and two fish that day. And when he saw the Lord standing on the water, he said, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you." He said, "Lord," but he added the condition, "If it is you." Faith must first deny itself and enter into Jesus Christ. Jesus saved Peter from drowning and said, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

The saints must have faith that is united with Jesus Christ. Because faith comes from Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:22-23 “But the Scripture has confined all under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept until the faith that would be revealed.”

The promise through faith in Jesus Christ (ἐπαγγελία ἐκ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ) is incorrectly translated. It is a promise that comes from faith in Jesus Christ. Faith is Jesus Christ. Faith is given to those who enter into Jesus Christ. That faith is the faith that receives the death of the cross and the resurrection life that follows. It is believing that we died on the cross with Jesus and were resurrected with the resurrected Jesus. This is baptism (Romans 6:3-5) and the new covenant.

If it is not faith that comes from Jesus Christ, then everyone is just a faith that they believe in themselves. This is a faith that comes from the law. The faith that one believes in is like Peter who denied Jesus before the cross. However, the saint who believes that he died with Jesus and was resurrected with him has the faith of Jesus Christ.

The gospel is the message of faith from Jesus Christ and the promise through that faith. Therefore, the gospel is the death of the cross and the resurrection life. It is not the previous law, but the promise through faith in Jesus Christ alone. The ultimate promise that God gives is to obtain the resurrection life and establish the kingdom of God while living on this earth. It does not matter whether you are a Jew or a Gentile.