Why do we hear about the vision and events from Acts 10 again in Acts 11? Because of our sinful nature.

Our tendency is to group with those who think like us and separate from those who do not. Our tendency is to look down on people from other tribes and cultures. The sin of bigotry, a paternalism where you always know what is best for every other family. One model of schooling presented as the only feasible option, rules about what cars you can drive, what clothes you can wear and so forth. Our tendency to bring consumer preferences into the church. A traditional service at 08:00, a contemporary service at 10:00, as if public worship is about what I like and what I enjoy as opposed to that which God commands. Our tendency to divide God’s church according to skin colour or social class.

Our sinful nature means that we will always be tempted to set up barriers to fellowship. Barriers which require people to become like us before we welcome them and receive them as part of God’s people. Barriers which are ultimately about my comfort and preferences. Barriers which proclaim that some people are better than others, more worthy of God’s grace.

Contrast that with our Lord Jesus Christ. He comes to earth, God of God, Light of Light, the second person of the Trinity, unimaginably glorious. He comes to earth and he dwells amongst sinners. He eats with them. He lives with them. He answers their questions; he sees their foolish choices; he hears their blasphemies, and sees their crimes. Yet he comes to be among them, comes to give his life for their sake. A Saviour for Jew and Gentile, both in need of God’s mercy. A King to rule over all nations. A Lord who kept God’s law perfectly on your behalf so that you can enjoy God’s favour and have a seat at his table.

Because that is ultimately where he is taking us, to a heavenly feast. A marriage supper in the presence of God, a table which includes people from all nations—everyone there only because God has granted them repentance unto life. Everyone present only because they are united to Christ through faith, baptised with the Holy Spirit. We see something of this feast when we gather together at the Lord’s Table. We express our unity as God’s people; we anticipate that future reality.

Let us be eager therefore to protect and promote true universality in God’s church. Let us beware of any attempts to separate people and create a division where it is not required. Until Christ returns, there may well be separation for linguistic reasons, for the sake of communication and understanding. We are limited by the languages that we speak. But even so we must be careful that we do not use language as an excuse to stop us from taking an interest in others so that we focus only on one people group. That is something which can easily happen if we are not careful.