THE CHURCH’S OUTREACH – THE WORLD
ACTS 10:1-43
THIS IS A VERY UNUSUAL TYPE OF MESSAGE FOR ME TODAY. I DO HAVE THREE POINTS TO IT, BUT MY FIRST POINT IS ABOUT 20 MINUTES, AND MY SECOND AND THIRD MAY BE FIVE MINUTES FOR BOTH. MOST OF THE MEAT OF THE PASSAGE IS FOUND IN THE FIRST 20 VERSES AND THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO DEAL WITH, SO PLEASE BEAR WITH ME.
ZENO, ONE OF THE EARLY GREEK PHILOSOPHERS, CAME UP WITH THE IDEA THAT THE ONLY CONSTANT IN THE WORLD IS CHANGE. HE BELIEVED THE ONLY THING THAT STAYED THE SAME WAS THE IDEA OF THE IMAGE YOU WERE LOOKING AT. HE WOULD SAY THAT YOU ARE NOT THE SAME PERSON YOU WERE WHEN YOU CAME INTO THE CHURCH BUILDING TODAY. YOU GOT OLDER. CELLS IN YOUR BODY DIED, WHILE OTHERS WERE GENERATED.
THERE IS SOME TRUTH TO THIS. THINK OF TWO PEOPLE. WE’LL PUT THIS IN A TIME FRAME OF TEN YEARS. ONE PERSON YOU SEE EVERY DAY, THE OTHER YOU DON’T SEE AT ALL OVER THE TEN YEAR PERIOD. WHO WILL YOU NOTICE THE MOST CHANGES IN? IN MOST CASES IT WILL BE THE PERSON YOU HAVEN’T SEEN FOR TEN YEARS BECAUSE THEY WILL CHANGE SO MUCH IN THEIR LOOKS.
THE IDEA OF THE PERSON, OR THE IMAGE OF THE PERSON HE HAVE IN OUR MINDS, CHANGES VERY LITTLE IN EVERY DAY LIFE. IT IS ONLY AS WE THINK ABOUT THEM OVER THE LONG TERM THAT WE NOTICE BIG CHANGES. IF WE HAVEN’T SEEN THE PESON FOR A LONG TIME, WE HAVE IN OUR MIND A PICTURE OF WHAT THEY LOOKED LIKE THEN, NOT WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE NOW.
THE ONLY EXCEPTION TO ZENO’S THOUGHT IS GOD. GOD NEVER CHANGES, AND WE HAVE HIS WORD ON THAT.
MALACHI 3:6: “I THE LORD DO NOT CHANGE. SO YOU DESCENDANTS OF JACOB HAVE NOT BEEN DESTROYED.
JAMES 1:17: EVERY GOOD ACTION AND EVERY PERFECT GIFT IS FROM GOD. THESE GOOD GIFTS COME DOWN FROM THE CREATOR OF THE SUN, MOON, AND STARS, WHO DOES NOT CHANGE LIKE THEIR SHIFTING SHADOWS.
HEBREWS 13:8: 8 JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER.
GOD’S STABILITY AND CHANGELESSNESS, IS ONE OF THE MANY THINGS ABOUT GOD, THAT WE CAN FIND COMFORTING WHEN WE PUR OUR FAITH IN HIM.
GOD DOES NOT CHANGE, BUT WE DO, AND CHANGE FOR US IS BOTH A BLESSING AND CURSE. CHANGE IS A BLESSING AS WE WATCH CHILDREN AND GRAND-CHILDREN DISCOVER FOOD FOR THE FIRST TIME, OR TAKE THE FIRST FEW STEPS. CHANGE IS EXCITING WHEN WE CONSIDER HOME RENOVATIONS, PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS NEW OR RENEWED, AND A HOST OF OTHER THINGS.
CHANGE IS ALSO VERY DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH AT TIMES. I REMEMBER WHEN MY SISTER GOT HER FIRST GREY HAIR. IT INVOVLED A FIVE DAY MOURNING PERIOD AND HAVING LADY CLAIROL ON SPEED DIAL. ANY HOW MANY GUYS GO TO THE GYM IMPRESSED BY THEIR EVER INCREASING SPARE TIRE. THE SEVEN MOST DANGEROUS WORDS IN THE CHURCH ARE NOT “I PROMISE THAT I’LL KEEP IT SHORT” FROM THE PASTOR, IT’S “WE’VE NEVER DONE IT THAT WAY BEFORE.”
CHANGES FROM CHOIRS TO PRIASE TEAMS, IN TYPES OF MUSIC USED, TYPES OF SERVICES ARE ALL VERY DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT, BUT IS THE DIRECTION OF THE CHURCH IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
THE HARDEST CHANGE BY FAR TO ACCEPT ARE CHANGES TO WHAT WE BELIEVE. I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT ESSENTIALS TO THE FAITH, FOR THEY DO NOT CHANGE. WHAT I’M SPEAKING ABOUT ARE THINGS THAT WE EITHER BELIEVED IN OR DIDN’T BELIEVE IN AT ONE TIME, BUT AS WE MATURED IN THE FAITH, FOUND OUT THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE OUR STANCE ON THESE THINGS.
AS CHRISTIANS WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE LEARNING, AND IF ALWAYS LEARNING, THEN WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE READY TO CHANGE OUR VIEWPOINT IF WARRANTED. THIS IS WHY SUNDAY SCHOOL AND BIBLE STUDY ARE SO IMPORTANT AND WHY YOU SHOULD BE THERE.
PETER IS FACING A CHANGE IN HIS PERSONAL BELIEFS IN THIS PASSAGE TODAY. I ASK YOU, IF THE APOSTLE PETER CAN BE IN THIS POSITION OF CHANGE, WHY WOULD YOU THINK THAT YOU AND I COULD NOT FIND OURSELVES THERE AS WELL?
WE CAN BREAK THE PASSAGE INTO THREE SECTIONS AS WE CONSIDER IT:
1. PREPARATION (VV. 1-23)
2. PRESENTATION (VV. 23-33)
3. PROCLAMATION (VV.33-43)
POINT ONE: PREPARATION (VV.1-23)
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE JEWS AND GENTILES AT CAESAREA WERE VERY STRAINED, AND HE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO PREPARE CORNELIUS TO RECEIVE THE GOSPEL, AND ALSO PETER TO PRESENT THE GOSPEL. HE WOULD USE A VISION AND A TRANCE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS.
HE BEGINS HIS PREPARATION WITH CORNELIUS.
WE ARE TOLD THAT CORNELIUS IS A CENTURION WITH THE ITALIAN REGIMENT OR CO-HORT. THE RANK OF CENTURIAN IS EQUIVILENT TO A MODERN-DAY CAPTAIN OR COMPANY COMMANDER. HE WOULD HAVE 60 – 100 MEN UNDER HIS COMMAND. CENTURIONS ALWAYS APPEAR IN A FAVORABLE LIGHT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.
POLYBIUS STATES OF THE CENTURIONS:
“THEY WISH CENTURIONS NOT SO MUCH TO BE VENTURESOME AND DAREDEVIL, AS NATURAL LEADERS, OF A STEADY AND SEDATE SPIRIT. THEY DO NOT DESIRE THEM SO MUCH TO BE MEN WHO WILL INITIATE ATTACKS AND OPEN THE BATTLE, BUT MEN WHO WILL HOLD THEIR GROUND WHEN WORSTED AND HARD-PRESSED, AND TO BE READY TO DIE AT THEIR POSTS.”
THE ITALIAN COHORT HAD 10 CENTURIONS AND WAS THE EQUIVILENT OF A MODERN DAY BATTALION. IT WAS MADE UP OF A FEW REGULAR SOLDIERS, BUT WAS MOSTLY AN AUXILLARY UNIT, NOT MADE BY A REGULAR ROMAN LEGION. IT OCCUPIED PALESTINE IN 69 A.D.
CORNELIUS DID EXHIBIT ALL THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD CENTURION. HE WAS A GENTILE WHO WORSHIPPED GOD AND SUPPORTED THE JEWISH COMMUNITY BY GIVING ALMS.
VERSE 2 TELLS US THAT HE AND ALL HIS FAMILY WERE DEVOUT AND GOD-FEARING. HIS FAMILY WOULD INCLUDE ALL WHO LIVED UNDER HIS HOUSE, HOUSEHOLD SERVANTS MILITARY ORDERLIES, AND THEIR FAMILIES. AT NO PLACE THOUGH DOES IT SAY THAT CORNELIUS IS SAVED.
CORNELIUS IS NOT A CHRISTIAN, EVEN THOUGH HE DID DO MANY GOOD THINGS FOR OTHERS. CORNELIUS KNEW HE WASN’T SAVED. HE WAS A GENUINE SEEKER OF GOD AND GENUINE IN HIS WORSHIP.
CORNELIUS WAS PART OF A CLASS OF MONOTHEISTIC GENTILES WHO WORSHIPED THE GOD OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. THEY KEPT THE OLD TESTAMENT ETHICAL CODE, ATTENDED SYNAGOGUE, OBSERVED THE SABBATH, AS WELL AS GAVE ALMS AND PRAYER. BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO BECOME JEWISH PROSELYTES, JEWS STILL REGARDED THEM AS RITUALLY UNCLEAN.
I FIND IT INTERESTING TO SEE HOW RELIGIOUS A PERSON CAN BE, AND SO CLOSE TO SALVATION, AND STILL NOT BE SAVED. CORNELIUS WAS IN EVERY WAY A MODEL OF RELIGIOUS RESPECTABILITY, YET BY HIS OWN ADMISSION WAS NOT A CHRISTIAN.
THE GREAT EVANGELIST JOHN WESLEY WALKED THE SAME ROAD AS CHRISTIANS.
WESLEY WAS THE SON OF A MINISTER, A RELIGIOUS MAN HIMSELF, AND A CHURCH MEMBER. HE BELONGED TO A RELIGIOS CLUB AT OXFORD, THE PURPOSE OF WHICH WAS THE PERFECTING OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. HE SERVED AS A FOREIGN MISSIONARY, BUT EVEN AS HE PREACHED TO OTHERS, HE HAD NO ASSURANCE OF HIS OWN PERSONAL SALVATION.
ON MAY 24, 1738, WESLEY RELUCTANTLY ATTENDED A SMALL MEETING IN LONDON WHERE SOMEONE WAS READING FROM MARTIN LUTHER’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.
“ABOUT A QUARTER BEFORE NINE,” WESLEY WOULD WRITE IN HIS JOURNAL, “WHILE HE WAS DESCRIBING THE CHANGE WHICH GOD WORKS IN THE HEART THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST, I FOUND MY HEART STRANGLY WARMED, I FELT I DID TRUST IN CHRIST, CHRIST ALONE FOR SALVATION, AND AN ASSURANCE WAS GIVEN ME THAT HE HAD TAKEN AWAY MY SINS, EVEN MINE, AND SAVED ME FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH.
THE RESULT WAS THE GREAT WESLEYAN REVIVAL THAT NOT ONLY SWEPT MANY INTO THE KINGDOM, BUT ALSO TRANSFORMED BRITISH SOCIETY THROUGH CHRISTIAN SOCIAL ACTION.
PERHAPS YOU ARE WALKING DOWN THAT SAME ROAD TODAY. YOU’VE ATTENDED CHURCH FOR YEARS, BEEN BAPTIZED, KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF SALVATION, BUT ALSO KNOW THAT SALVATION HAS ESCAPED YOU, AND THAT IF YOU WERE TO DIE IN YOUR PRESENT STATE, YOU WOULD BE ETERNALLY SEPARATED FROM GOD IN HELL.
CORNELIUS WORSHIPPED GOD TO THE BEST OF HIS ABILITY WITH THE KNOWLEDGE HE HAD. HE COULD NOT PRESENT SACRIFICE, BECAUSE HE WAS NOT A PROSOLYTE, SO HIS PRAYERS WERE HIS SACRIFICE.
WHAT WE SEE UNFOLDING AT THIS POINT IS THE BASIC OUTLINE OF THE “MORE LIGHT” PRINCIPLE OF GOD’S REDEMPTIVE MERCY.
LUKE 8:18: SO BE CAREFUL HOW YOU LISTEN. THOSE WHO HAVE UNDERSTANDING WILL BE GIVEN MORE. BUT THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE UNDERSTANDING, EVEN WHAT THEY THINK THEY HAVE WILL BE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM.”
CORNELIUS HAS RESPONDED IN FAITH AND OBEDIENCE TO THE “LIGHT” HE HAS RECEIVED AS EVIDENCED BY HIS PIETY. HE FEARS THE ONE TRUE GOD. HIS OBEDIENCE THOUGH IS NOT A “WORKS RIGHTEOUSNESS”. GOD DOES NOT DECLARE CORNELIUS SAVED. GOD’S RESPONSE IS EMBODIED IN A COMMAND TO SEND FOR THE MESSENGER WHO CARRIES THE GOSPEL, THE ESSENTIAL “MORE LIGHT”.
ACTS 4:12: 12 JESUS IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SAVE PEOPLE. NO ONE ELSE IN THE WORLD IS ABLE TO SAVE US.”
ROMANS 10:14-15:
14 BUT BEFORE PEOPLE CAN ASK THE LORD FOR HELP, THEY MUST BELIEVE IN HIM; AND BEFORE THEY CAN BELIEVE IN HIM, THEY MUST HEAR ABOUT HIM; AND FOR THEM TO HEAR ABOUT THE LORD, SOMEONE MUST TELL THEM; 15 AND BEFORE SOMEONE CAN GO AND TELL THEM, THAT PERSON MUST BE SENT. IT IS WRITTEN, “HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THE PERSON WHO COMES TO BRING GOOD NEWS.”
LUKE 24:47: 47 AND THAT A CHANGE OF HEARTS AND LIVES AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS WOULD BE PREACHED IN HIS NAME TO ALL NATIONS, STARTING AT JERUSALEM.
CORNELIUS IS THEN COMMANDED TO SEND TO JOPPA FOR PETER. PETER WILL BE THE MESSENGER WITH “MORE LIGHT.”
CORNELIUS LIVED IN CAESAREA, WHICH WAS THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL AND PLACE OF RESIDENCE OF THE ROMAN GOVERNOR.. THERE WAS A SUBSTANCIAL JEWISH COMMUNITY THERE AND CONSIDERABLE FRICTION BETWEEN THE JEWS AND LARGER GENTILE COMMUNITY.
PETER WAS LOCATED IN JOPPA, AT THE HOUSE OF SIMON THE TANNER. THIS WAS A RELAXATION OF THE JEWISH LAW ON PETER’S PART AS TANNERS WERE ALMOST ALWAYS CEREMONIALLY “UNCLEAN” AS THEY WORKED WITH DEAD ANIMALS. THERE HOMES HAD TO BE 50 YARDS OUTSIDE THE CITY GATES, FOR THIS REASON. THEY WERE NOT TO GO TO THE TEMPLE FOR THIS REASON.
JOPPA WAS ABOUT 30 MILES FROM CAESAREA AND THIS IS IMPORTANT TO INDICATE THE DIVINE NATURE OF THEIR COMING TOGETHER. PHILIP WHO HAD WITNESSED THE SALVATION OT THE ETHIOPIAN EUNACH AND BAPTIZED HIM, WAS ALREADY IN CAESAREA, AND COULD HAVE EASILY HELPED CORNELIUS.
WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT? IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO REALIZE THAT BOTH PETER AND CORNELIUS WERE READY FOR WHAT GOD HAD PLANNED. GOD HAS A MINISTRY FOR EACH OF US TO DO, AND HE PREPARES US EACH DAY FOR THAT MINISTRY, WHETHER WE REALIZE IT OR NOT.
THE SAME IS TRUE FOR EVANGELISM. GOD PREPARES EACH HEART TO ACCEPT THE GOOD NEWS AND UNTIL THAT HEART IS PREPARED, EVEN THOUGH THE GOSPEL IS SHARED IT WILL NOT BEAR FRUIT. TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON, AND THIS IS TRUE IN EVANGELISM AS WELL.
GOD HAD ORDAINED PETER TO BE THE ONE TO HELP. PETER FIRST NEEDED TO LEARN THE GOSPEL WAS FOR EVERYONE, AND CORNELIUS NEEDED THE GOSPEL. NEITHER OF THE MEN INITIATED THE MEETING, SO WE KNOW IT CAME FROM GOD.
PETER HAD TWO OBSTACLES HE HAD TO OVERCOME TO PRESENT THE GOSPEL TO THE ENTIRE WORLD.
1. FIRST, W2AS THE QUESTION OF WHETHER GENTILES HAD TO BECOME JEWS IN ORDER TO BECOME CHRISTIAN. SHOULD THEY BE CIRCUMCISED?
2. THE SECOND ISSUE INVLOVED THE QUESTION OF TABLE FELLOWSHIP BETWEEN JEWISH AND GENTILE CHRISTIANS. JEWISH CHRISTIANS LIKE PETER WERE EXPOSED TO A REAL POSITION OF COMPROMISE WHEN THEY ASSOCIAATED WITH GENTILES, BECAUSE THE GENTILES DID NOT FOLLOW KOSHER PRACTICES.
GOD CHOOSES TO DEAL WITH THE SECOND ISSUE BY WAY OF A TRANCE. ABOUT NOON, THE HOTTEST PART OF THE DAY, PETER CLIMBS THE OUTSIDE STAIRCASE OF THE HOUSE TO THE ROOF.
ROOFS AT THAT TIME WERE NEARLY FLAT IN CONSTRUCTION. PEOPLE OFTEN WOULD PUT AWNINGS ON THEM TO PROVIDE SHADE. PEOPLE WOULD GO UP THERE FOR PRIVACY. PETER WAS GOING THERE TO PRAY.
WHILE HE IS PRAYING HE BECOMES VERY HUNGRY. THE ORDER OF MEALS WOULD BE A LIGHTER ONE IN THE MORNING AND A HEAVIER SUPPER, SO THIS MEAL FOR PETER WAS A BIT OUT OF THE ORDINARY. AS HE IS WAITING FOR HIS FOOD HE FALLS INTO A TRANCE, OR MORE ACCURATELY, A “STATE OF EXTACY”, WHICH MAKES THIS EXPERIENCE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN A VISION.
COMPARE IT TO SITTING IN A ROOM NEAR THE KITCHEN ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON, WHERE SOMEONE IS PREPARING HOME-MADE BEANS, BROWNBREAD AND ROLLS. SUPPER IS AT FIVE O’CLOCK BUT THE NEXT TWO HOURS ARE AGONY. THE AROMA COMING FROM THE KITCHEN IS INTOXICATING. YOU CAN TASTE THE FINAL PRODUCT EVEN BEFORE IT GOES INTO THE OVEN. IT’S SO GOOD YOU JUST CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE. THAT’S WHERE PETER WAS IN THIS PASSAGE.
PETER SAW SOMETHING LIKE A LARGE SHEET, THE GREEK TEXT SAYS IT WAS LIKE THE SAIL OF A SHIP. IT WAS BEING LET DOWN FROM HEAVEN BY CORDS ATTACHED TO THE FOUR CORNERS. A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR THIS IS THAT PETER CAN APPLY WHAT HE IS ABOUT TO LEARN ON A WORLD-WIDE BASIS.
CLEAN AND UNCLEAN ANIMALS ARE ON THE SHEET. NOT ALL ANIMALS ARE THERE, BUT THE COLLECTION WAS ENOUGH TO TEACH THE LESSON PETER NEEDED TO LEARN.
THREE TIMES PETER IS FACED WITH THE COMMAND TO KILL AND EAT FROM THE ANIMALS ON THE SHEET. ALL THREE TIMES HE REFUSED. HIS REFUSAL WAS VERY POLITE. TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK HE SAID “I NEVER DID ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE AND I SHALL NOT DO IT NOW.”
PETER HAD BEEN RAISED FROM CHILDHOOD TO MAKE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN CLEAN AND UNCLEAN FOOD, AND THIS PROPOSAL, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS FROM THE LORD, AS THE SHEET WAS SENT DOWN FROM HEAVEN, WENT AGAINST ALL OF HIS PREVIOUS TRAINING. HE DID NOT RECOGNIZE THAT SOME OF GOD’S PLANS FOR THE JEWS COULD BE ONLY TEMPORARY.
HEREIN LIES THE LESSON FOR BROTHER PETER. IT IS NOT JUST A QUESTION OF “CLEAN” OR “UNCLEAN” FOOD, IT IS A QUESTION OF “CLEAN” OR “UNCLEAN” PEOPLE. IT IS A QUESTION OF LORDSHIP IN HIS LIFE REGARDING THIS ISSUE. DOES HE FOLLOW WHAT HE WAS TRAINED AS A CHILD TO BELIEVE, OR DOES HE ATTEMPT TO MAKE SENSE OF THE LESSON GOD IS TEACHING HIM?
IT WAS ALLRIGHT FOR PETER TO KILL AND EAT ANY ANIMAL ON THE SHEET. THIS MEANT THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE IN THEM NOW. THE LESSON THAT GOD WAS TEACHING PETER IS THAT NOW THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JEW OR GENTILE. CIRCUMCISION WAS NOT A NECESSITY NOW TO BE SAVED.
WHAT DOES THIS SAY TO OUR CHURCH TODAY? ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES WE REGARDED AS PERMANENT IN REALITY ONLY OF A TEMPORARY NATURE? WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE TOOK THE ANIMALS OFF THE SAIL AND INSTEAD PUT ON IT THE ENGLISH AND FRENCH, PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT COLORS OF SKIN, MEN AND WOMEN WITH REGARDS TO THEIR ROLES IN THE CHURCH. HOW WOULD GOD LEAD US IN THIS?
THREE TIMES PETER POLITELY REFUSED TO CHANGE. SO SET WAS HE IN HIS WAYS THAT HE DIDN’T REALIZE HE WAS SAYING NO TO GOD. HERE IS A STRIKING ILLUSTRATION OF THE OBSTINANCY ON THE PART OF ONE WHO ACKNOWLEDGES THE VOICE OF GOD TO HIM WHEN THE COMMAND OF THE LORD THAT CROSSES ONES PREFERENCES AND PREJUDICES GOES UNHEEDED. IN HIS DEFIANCE, PETER WAS ACTUALLY SAYING NO TO THE LORD.
HOW EASY IT IS TO POINT AN ACCUSING FINGER AT PETER AND SHOUT FOR SHAME! HOW DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH THE THREE FINGERS THAT ARE POINTING BACK AT US AND SAYING GUILTY.
THE LAW OF MOSES WAS A WALL BETWEEN THE JEWS AND GENTILES, AND THIS WALL WAS BROKEN DOWN BY THE CROSS.
EZEKIEL 2:14-18:
CHRIST HIMSELF IS OUR PEACE. HE MADE BOTH JEWISH PEOPLE AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT JEWS ONE PEOPLE. THEY WERE SEPARATED AS IF THERE WERE A WALL BETWEEN THEM, BUT CHRIST BROKE DOWN THAT WALL OF HATE BY GIVING HIS OWN BODY. 15 THE JEWISH LAW HAD MANY COMMANDS AND RULES, BUT CHRIST ENDED THAT LAW. HIS PURPOSE WAS TO MAKE THE TWO GROUPS OF PEOPLE BECOME ONE NEW PEOPLE IN HIM AND IN THIS WAY MAKE PEACE. 16 IT WAS ALSO CHRIST’S PURPOSE TO END THE HATRED BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS, TO MAKE THEM INTO ONE BODY, AND TO BRING THEM BACK TO GOD. CHRIST DID ALL THIS WITH HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS. 17 CHRIST CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY FROM GOD, AND TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR TO GOD. 18 YES, IT IS THROUGH CHRIST WE ALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO COME TO THE FATHER IN ONE SPIRIT.
GOD HAD NOW DECLARED THAT THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN THEIR CONDEMNATION OR IN THEIR SALVATION.
ROMANS 3:22-23:
22 GOD MAKES PEOPLE RIGHT WITH HIMSELF THROUGH THEIR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. THIS IS TRUE FOR ALL WHO BELIEVE IN CHRIST, BECAUSE ALL PEOPLE ARE THE SAME: 23 EVERYONE HAS SINNED AND FALLEN SHORT OF GOD’S GLORIOUS STANDARD,
ROMANS 10:12-13:
12 THAT SCRIPTURE SAYS “ANYONE” BECAUSE THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE WHO ARE JEWS AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT. THE SAME LORD IS THE LORD OF ALL AND GIVES MANY BLESSINGS TO ALL WHO TRUST IN HIM, 13 AS THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, “ANYONE WHO CALLS ON THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”
PETER’S REFUSAL ALTHOUGH POLITE WAS STILL WRONG. AS DR. W. GRAHAM SEROGGIE WROTE:
“YOU CAN SAY “NO”, AND YOU CAN SAY “LORD”, BUT YOU CANNOT SAY “NO, LORD.”
POINT TWO: PRESENTATION:
CORNELIUS SENT THREE MEN TO GET PETER.
PETER WAS DEALING WITH THE ISSUE OF PRESENTING THE GOSPEL TO THE GENTILES. HE LEARNED ENOUGH FROM HIS TRANCE TO REALIZE THAT THE GOSPEL WAS FOR THE GENTILES AS WELL, AND SO HE WENT WITH SERVANTS OF CORNELIUS.
HE INVITES THE MEN TO STAY OVERNIGHT WITH HIM, RELAXING A STRICT JEWISH CUSTOM AGAINST THIS, AND SETS OUT WITH THEM THE NEXT MORNING.
AS THEY MEET AT CORNELIUS’S HOUSE, THEY ARE BOTH EXCITED AT THE WAY GOD HAS BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER. PETER NOW KNOWS THAT HE CAN SHARE THE GOSPALE WITH GENTILES AND THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO BECOME JEWS TO BE SAVED.
POINT THREE: PROCLAMATION
PETER THEN GOES ON TO PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS TO ALL THOSE IN CORNELIUS’ HOUSE.
HE SHARED WITH THEM THE LOVE STORY OF JESUS’ LIFE, DEATH AND RESURRECTION. HE MADE IT CLEAR THAT ISRAEL WAS GOD’S ORIGINAL INSTRUMENT FOR ACCOMPLISHING HIS WORK, BUT THAT JESUS IS AND ALWAYS WAS, LORD OF ALL, NOT JUST GOD OF ISRAEL.
ACTS 2:21: THEN ANYONE WHO CALLS ON THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’
CONCLUSION:
PETER’S MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE IN CORNELIUS’ HOUSE WAS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE MESSAGE THAT HE CONSISTENTLY PRESENTED IN ACTS. HE POINTS TO THE FACT NOW, THAT IT WAS NOT JUST THE JEWS WHO SENT JESUS TO THE CROSS, BUT ALL OF US.
HE REALIZED THAT ALL ON THE SHEET COMING DOWN FROM HEAVEN WERE THE SAME, AND WE ARE ALL THE SAME IN OUR NEED OF SALVATION. WE ARE ALL UNCLEAN BECAUSED OF SIN.
I’VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE AND PLEASURE OF OFFICIATING AT A NUMBER OF WEDDINGS AND THERE IS ONE THING THAT I FIND IS COMMON IN THEM ALL. THERE IS A GREAT SENSE OF ANTICIPATION OF THE BRIDE.
WE WANT TO SEE HER COLORS, HER DRESS, HER HAIR AND FLOWERS. WE WAIT, AND EVENTUALLY WE KNOW. OUR ANTICIPATION AND PATIENCE IS REWARDED WITH A FEELING OF PEACE AND SATISFACTION.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO CORNELIUS THAT DAY. ALL THAT HE KNEW AND BELIEVED IN PART, WAS MADE FULLY KNOWN TO HIM.
PERHAPS THAT IS YOUR LOT TODAY. MAYBE YOU KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT GOD, PERHAPS NOTHING. MAYBE YOU FELT YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, BUT YOU NOW KNOW SOMETYHING IS MISSING LIKE CORNELIUS.
PERHAPS THERE ARE SOME CHANGES YOU NEED TO MAKE IN WHAT YOU BELIEVE, NOT IN THE ESSENTIALS OF THE FAITH, BUT IN SOME OF THE ISSUES OF THE CHURCH TODAY? GOD IS WAITING TO HELP YOU, IF YOU’LL ONLY GIVE HIM A CHANCE.
