Clean or unclean

The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”
And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again. – Acts 10.9-16

God had already directed an answer to Cornelius’ seeking. Peter was on his way to the city when God sent him a vision. In the vision Peter saw a sheet being let down from heaven with all sorts of animals on it. These animals were a mixed lot. To a Jew’s eyes there were clean and unclean animals on the tarp.

The a voice called out ‘get up Peter, kill and eat.’

The ever reactionary Peter responded like he did when he told Jesus that He would never wash his feet and when he told Jesus that he would never betray Jesus. He said ‘No way Lord! I have never eaten anything common or unclean.’

The voice responded ‘Peter you can’t call anything unclean that God has cleansed.’

The Jews had always held to the Law and seen themselves as God’s chosen people. Those who were not Jews were unclean and dirty and should not be associated with. God was pronouncing here that no one was inherently unclean just because of what or who they are. God’s creation was all his creation and it was all good and the gospel freed people up to enjoy their liberty in Christ.

Though this is an illustration it is a clear picture of a new key principle. Just like there are no clean or unclean animals, there are no real differences in people.