Whoever believes

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:  but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.  The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)  that word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judæa, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;  how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.  And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:  him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;  not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.  And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.  To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. – Acts 10.34-44

That through His name whoever believes will receive remission of sins. That makes it pretty clear as to the scope of salvation. Salvation is not for any particular race or tribe or colour or nation of people. It is for whoever believes, whoever.

The scope of salvation also means that there is no one around us who is beyond the reach of the gospel. That famous leader, that popular star, that amazing athlete, that powerful ruler, that mega-millionaire, that office worker or teacher or business man or builder or cleaner or jobless person, that person we admire and that person we despise are all part of whoever will believe – if they believe.

But it order to believe they must hear, and if they are going to hear there must be someone to tell them.

That’s where you and I come in. There needs to be someone to tell them so that they can know what to believe. Whoever may be our family member or coworker or neighbour or friend or acquaintance or that person we see all the time at our local shop or volunteer with or coach with or any number of folks that we see.

If they are going to join the ‘whoever will’ we must tell them and back up our words with our lives. Are we willing to reach out the the whoevers around us?