The occasion that motivated Peter to speak (above) was the Divine direction given to Peter to go to the house of Cornelius. Peter, a Jew, would not have gone into the house of a Gentile had not God given him a vision. Peter was reflecting that not only Jews but people of any race are acceptable to God if they fear Him and do what is right.

Cornelius gave gifts to the poor. God did not tell Cornelius that his giving of alms was filthy rags in God's sight. Rather God was moved to bring to Cornelius the Gospel of Christ because of the righteousness that Cornelius demonstrated by giving gifts to the poor. God heard Cornelius' prayer because he was righteous.

Then there is the parable of the sower. Three kinds of ground bore no lasting fruit when the Divine Seed was planted.

The fourth kind of ground was "an honest and good heart."

But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. (Luke 8:15—NIV)

A noble (or honest) and good heart! Evangelical teaching says there is no such thing. Yet the expression was applied to the adamic nature prior to receiving the Divine Seed, Jesus Christ.

The truth is, if we do not have an honest heart, if we do not have integrity, it is almost impossible to make a success of the Christian discipleship. The demands are so great the individual who is full of guile and self-pity will not be able to press through to the self-denial that is required.

Of particular interest are the words of Christ to the sheep nations. We are of the opinion that the judgment of the sheep and goat nations is at least part of the White Throne judgment that will occur at the end of the thousand-year Kingdom Age.

You may note that at the White Throne judgment (Revelation 20:12) the dead were judged according to what they had done, that is, whether their works had been good or evil.

Now notice carefully, for these words are significant.

Then the King will say to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world." (Matthew 25:34—NIV)

On what basis did the Lord call the sheep nations blessed? On what basis did they become heirs of the Kingdom of God?

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. (Matthew 25:35,36—NIV)

On the basis of doing good to the Lord's brothers.

But there is something else that is important.

Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?" (Matthew 25:37—NIV)

To be continued.