When God Changes a Bigot’s Heart
Acts Series
Chuck Sligh
August 9, 2015
NOTE: A PowerPoint presentation of this sermon is available upon request by emailing me at chucksligh@hotmail.com.
TEXT: Speaking of the saints and angels around the throne of God in heaven, Revelation 5:9-10 says, “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”
(Now please turn in your Bibles to Acts 10.)
INTRODUCTION
God’s design for salvation always included much more than just the Jewish nation.
• Jesus had said that God sent Jesus to die for the WHOLE WORLD (John 3:16).
• When giving the Great Commission to His disciples, Jesus spoke of teaching, baptizing and discipling to “ALL nations.”
• A few days later, Jesus said to His disciples to be witnesses not only in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, but also to the “uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
However, up to this time in Acts the only believers were Jews, and though they’d heard the Great Commission, they still thought of salvation as being a strictly Jewish phenomenon. But in Acts 10, God is about to change all this.
In chapter 8, you’ll recall, the Gospel had already gone to the Samaritans, an ethnic group that was the result of intermarriage between Jews and Gentiles, and whom the Jews traditionally had despised as half-breeds. When Peter and his Jewish companions saw the Samaritans receive the Holy Spirit in Acts 8, they were astonished. Reluctant though they were, they DID make it across that barrier to the Samaritans.
That was a first step to a worldwide witness, but to reach out to Gentiles was unfathomable! To understand this, you have to grasp the extreme bigotry that existed in that day:
• For example, a strict Jew would not allow himself to be a guest in a Gentile house.
• Nor would he invite a Gentile his own house.
• A scribal law said that the dwelling places of Gentiles were ceremonially unclean.
• Even the dirt from a Gentile country was considered unclean. – So whenever Jewish travelers left a Gentile country, they would always shake the dust off their feet so they wouldn’t bring Gentile pollution into Israel.
There were many other evidences of this bigotry:
• For instance, milk drawn from a cow by Gentile hands was not allowed to be consumed by Jews.
• Bread and oil prepared by a Gentile could be sold to a stranger, but could never be consumed by a Jew.
• No Jew would ever eat with a Gentile, and if cooking utensils were brought from a Gentile, they had to be purified by fire and water.
The Old Testament neither taught nor encouraged any of this. These were all what Jesus referred to as “the commandments of men” and Jesus never had anything good to say about the commandments of men.
Now, to be fair, you should realize that Gentiles were just as prejudiced as the Jews: They scorned the Jews. Circumcision, the Sabbath day rest, worship of an invisible God, abstinence from certain foods, and all the other aspects of Jewish life, culture and religion were points of derision among the Gentiles.
So this was the social climate that Peter and his companions and co-workers lived in.
This is also the social context that a Roman soldier by the name of Cornelius was a part of.
So in order to break down the Jewish prejudice and bigotry and racially-centered perspective, God had to do something big to fulfil His ultimate plan.
That’s what Acts 10 is all about.
This morning, note three points with me, and then let’s consider two applications.
I. FIRST NOTICE WITH ME GOD’S PREPARATION IN VERSES 1-16
When God does something big, He always prepares the way.
We see God’s preparation in two ways in our text:
• First note with me the preparation of THE GENTILE.
In verses 1-2 we see that God took note of an honest seeker named Cornelius – “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.”
Verse 1 says that Cornelius was a centurion—a soldier in charge of 100 men, which would be roughly equivalent of an Army captain today.
Note particularly his character: Verse 2 tells us much about Cornelius’s character: We are told that he was a devout man (that is, he was religious). He also feared God, probably meaning he worshiped the one true God of Israel, but had not yet become a Jewish proselyte. He was also an unselfish, giving man, because we’re told that he “gave much alms to the people.” Finally, he “prayed to God alway”—he was a man of prayer.
Further down, in Verse 22 we learn even more about him. – When the men sent by Cornelius met Peter, verse 22 tells us: “And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.”
They said he was a just man, which means that he was fair: not capricious and cruel like most Roman soldiers. He was also a man of “good report among the people”; that is, he had a good reputation.
If ever there was a passage of Scripture that shows that a person cannot get to heaven by one’s good works and good life, this is it. Here was an exemplary man in every respect, yet he was still lost.
In verses 3-8, we see that God guides him to a person who could tell him how to be saved and know the true God.
Verse 3 – “He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.” – God spoke to him while he prayed.
Verses 4-6 – “And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: 6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.” – So God guides him to Peter.
Verses 7-8 describe how Cornelius obeyed the angel’s instruction and sent two of his servants and one of his soldiers to find Peter.
• In verses 9-16 we see God’s preparation of THE JEW:
Verses 9-16 tell how Peter went on his housetop to pray, where some unusual things occurred in which God teaches him a lesson about prejudice.
Note first that Peter had a TRANCE in verses 12-16 – “And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. [for instance, pork and other forbidden animals God forbid the Jews to eat] 15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.”
Three times Peter saw a great tarp descend from heaven upon which were all kinds of animals that were both clean and unclean—that is, animals that were both allowed and forbidden in the Old Testament Law for Jews to eat. Then God told Peter to do something unfathomable: eat the animals on the tarp.
To me, Peter’s response in verse 14 is absolutely astonishing! He had the audacity to say to God, “Not so, Lord.”
If you’ll remember, during Jesus’ earthly ministry, Peter had made a career of rebuking the Lord, and I guess old habits die hard. But Peter’s response was understandable because he simply could not comprehend God instructing him to violate the Old Testament commands against eating unclean meat.
Now let’s consider what was the PURPOSE of the trance.
You see, God wasn’t really talking about PIGS to Peter; He was talking about PEOPLE. He wasn’t really talking about HAM and SOWS; He was talking about HUMANS and SOULS!
God was trying to teach Peter that He was breaking down the wall of division between the Jews and the Gentiles.
Paul later explained this in detail in Ephesians 2:11-14 where he said – “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh…12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.”
And down in verse 18 Paul continues, “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.”
THAT’S what God was trying to teach Peter through the trance.
So verses 1-16 describe God’s PREPARATION to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles.
II. VERSES 17-33 DESCRIBE GOD’S PROVIDENCE.
The “providence of God” is defined simply as “God’s involvement in this world to accomplish His purposes.” As throughout all the Bible, God’s providence is unmistakable in our story.
• We see it very clearly in GOD’S TIMING in verses 17-20 – “Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate, 18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. 19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.”
The moment the trance ended, the men sent from Cornelius arrived. Now the mathematical probability that those men would ACCIDENTALLY knock on the door just as Peter’s vision ended is infinitesimally small. You see, God not only prepares the RECEIVER and the MESSENGER in every salvation situation, but He also ordains the perfect TIMING. That’s the providence of God in action.
Look at your own life: I bet you can see how God brought certain people and circumstances into your life at precisely a time when you were spiritually thirsty and receptive to the truth. That’s God’s providence.
• We also see God’s providence in PETER’S TESTING in verses 23-29
Verses 23-26 tell how Peter reluctantly went with the messengers, taking the precaution of bringing other brethren with him, and met Cornelius at the door.
Then in verse 27, Peter faced a test from God: Would he hold on to his long-held prejudices and not go in to Cornelius’s home lest he be defiled, or would he obey God and go in? Verse 27 says “And as he talked with him, he went in…” Peter passed the test; He went in, and when he did, he took a decisive but difficult step that has reverberated throughout history.
Though we’ll not read it today, in verses 28-33 Cornelius and Peter swap stories of the unusual set of circumstances that led to their historic meeting, and in verses 34-43, Peter shared the Gospel with Cornelius and his household. All of this happened by God’s plan, in His perfect providence.
III. FINALLY, IN VERSES 44-48 WE SEE PROOF OF GOD’S WORKING.
Proof that this was of God was absolutely necessary for these Jewish believers. This was such a colossal paradigm shift in Jewish thinking that some kind of undeniable proof was needed to verify that God was definitely in this.
Look what God did:
Verse 44 – “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.” – When Peter shared the Gospel, they instantly believed and the Holy Spirit fell immediately on these believers.”
Verses 45-46 – “And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.…”
When they were filled with the Spirit and spoke in tongues exactly like the Jews at Pentecost, the Jews were convinced that this was indeed God’s work. Though they could not possibly have understood the full ramifications of what was happening at the time, now they understood that this was the work of God. It signaled that salvation was not just for a restricted few, but was available for ALL people of EVERY tribe and race on earth—God’s plan all along.
APPLICATIONS
Now that we’ve examined the conversion of the first Gentiles, let’s consider some practical applications for our lives we can draw from this passage of Scripture:
• First, God prepares both the sinner and the messenger in any witnessing situation.
Illus. – Years ago my dad was at a church work day, and there was a man who just showed up who had never even been to our church before.
After getting to know him, Dad asked him, “Jack, have you ever been saved?”
Jack replied, “No, but I sure would like to be.”
Startled, my Dad said, “Uhhhh—you, you mean right, right NOW?”
And he said, “Yeah—right now, if that’s alright?”
Dad went through a few verses with him, but it really wasn’t necessary—God had already done a work in his heart.
He was fruit ready to be picked.
God always prepares the heart of sinners before they’re ready to be saved. He works through circumstances to bring them to a point of surrender to Him. Sometimes he uses problems to tenderize their hearts and cause them to cry out to God and yearn for Him. And He uses witnesses to till the ground in their hearts, to plant the seed of God’s Word, and to water and cultivate the truth in a person’s heart.
So this morning would be a good time to lift up heart and praise God for His providence in your life in bringing you to Christ.
Or could it be that God’s providence is at work in your life now. God has been working in your life to bring you to a realization of your need for God’s forgiveness and love through Jesus Christ.
I invite you to turn to Jesus who died for your sins to give you eternal life.
• My second application is this: God is no respecter of persons, so neither should we be.
God has accepted people of ALL races and people groups for salvation. As you may recall, our opening text in Revelation says that people of every kindred, tongue, people-group, and nation will be in heaven around the throne of God.
Look at verse 35 in Acts 10 – “But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”
Notice that word “accepted.” That is the exact same Greek word found in Romans 15:7, where it’s translated receive in the King James Version – “Wherefore RECEIVE ye one another, as Christ also RECEIVED us to the glory of God.” In other words, as God has accepted people of all races and people groups as eligible to be saved, so too should we.
Therefore, racism and bigotry have no place in a Christian church. For the individual believer, there’s no place for prejudice or favoring one race or ethnic group over another. There’s no place for racial jokes, derogatory slurs or racial names.
We must receive one another as God has received each of us—not on the basis of our race or color, but on the basis of God’s love for all people. We must reach out to all people to bring the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ, whether white, black or any shade in-between; whether German or American, or any other nationality or flavor of humanity.In other words, we must reach ALL people—both here and abroad.
Illus. – I recall a couple who visited the church I pastored in Wiesbaden who had come from bigoted and prejudiced families. When they looked around our church, they were a little bewildered. They had never seen a black person darken the doors of the church they grew up in, while our church at that time was about 40% black.
Don’t misunderstand me—they were otherwise good people, but they were the products of their background and upbringing. Before joining our church, they shared with me that it was going to be an adjustment for them to go to church with black people. I assured them that it would be the best experience of their lives, if they could just open their hearts and minds.
But you know, a few months later they came to me and told me that God had completely changed their hearts and that they had developed a love for people, regardless of what flavor they came in. They were going to spend eternity with people of different races and colors and nations and people groups, so they decided to start loving them now.
What a wonderful way to grow in the Lord! If you harbor prejudice and hatred towards those different from you, may God help you to repent of that sinful perspective and grow in the love of Christ.
