“And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.” -Acts 15:8–9

This statement comes during one of the most glorious episodes in the life of the early church. This is when the church begins to grow, and everyone, without racial or ethnic distinction, can hear the Gospel. The question before the Jerusalem Council was, “Can Gentiles (those not of Jewish lineage and ritual) be Christian? Did Jesus only save Jews, or is his grace and the kingdom available to all?

Peter has had a vision and preached to Gentiles, so he speaks, and this is what he declares: God bore witness to Jews' and Gentiles' ability to be in Christ. By giving them the Holy Spirit, he has removed the past distinctions. God has cleansed their hearts by faith.

There are two praise-generating items here. First, the good news is open to those we least expect. That means you! Because of this work of the Spirit, you are now invited in, and there are no classes of Christians; we are all saved by Jesus, and there is no distinction among us.

Secondly, if you believe in Jesus, if the Holy Spirit has transformed your heart and dwells in you, your heart is cleansed by faith. Your broken, sickly, worldly heart is washed and beats for something different. Fully cleansed in Christ. New. Sparkling, even!

I don't know about you, but this puts a little pep in my step. This is exciting. You are part of a kingdom where old distinctions don't hold, and your heart has been cleansed by faith!