1. Life is filled with memorable events.
a. National and International:
• 1972 Summer Olympics were overshadowed by the “Munich Massacre” in which 11 Israeli athletes, coaches, and officials were held hostage and eventually killed.
• 1980 Winter Olympics – USA Hockey Team defeated USSR
• End of the Vietnam War April 30, 1975 (Fall of Saigon)
• Challenger Shuttle disaster – January 28, 1986 . . . .911; OKC Bombing;
• The show Game of Thrones ended, and apparently people are so distraught that they are calling in sick to work the day after. They can't handle working. Not only that, some places are setting up counseling centers for people who are upset with the ending.
b. Personal – birth of children; first steps; graduation; weddings; birth of grandchildren; baptisms
2. We will look at a memorable event with a memorable man – Acts 10:1-48
I. A Memorable Character (10.1-8)
A. The Centurion, Cornelius
1. Centurions in NT – favorable
2. Gentile
3. Caesarea Maritima
B. His Qualities
1. Devout (Pious, godly, dutiful)
2. Feared God
a. A Gentile who attached himself to Judaism but chose not to undergo formal conversion, which included circumcision and public immersion
b. They were attracted to the nobility of Jewish worship and to the truth of the one God who had revealed himself in the Bible, but for various reasons did not become Jews. “Proselytes at the gate.”
3. Gave Alms to the People – as Ruth 1:16 “Your people shall be my people.” Although Cornelius did not officially join the Jewish people, he cared for them as his own.
4. Prayerful – Ruth 1:16 “And your God shall be my God.” He prayed to the God of Israel.
5. Faith in Action Galatians 5:6 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
6. Practice of Pure Religion – James 1:27; Micah 6:8
II. A Memorable Conclusion (10.28, 34-35)
10.28 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.
10.34-35 – 34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
A. Based on Divine revelation to Peter as in Matthew 16 at Caesarea Philippi
1. Equal Opportunity Salvation
2. No Second Class Christians
In his autobiography, Mahatma Ghandi said that - during his student days - he was interested in the Bible. He especially touched by what he read in the gospels, he seriously considered becoming a Christian.
So, one Sunday he went to a church to see the minister and ask for instruction on the way of salvation and other Christian doctrines. But when he entered the sanctuary, the ushers refused him a seat and suggested that he go and worship with his own people. He left and never went back.
He said to himself "If Christians have caste differences also I might as well remain a Hindu."
AND THAT’S JUST WHAT HE DID!
B. Based on Faith in Jesus: While Cornelius was a good man, etc. salvation comes through faith in Jesus
II. A Memorable Conversion (10.42-48)
A. Through the Preaching of the Gospel (42-43)
42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
1. Through the Presence of the HS (44-46)
44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God.
2. Confirming the Word (Mark 16.20)
3. HS convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment
B. Through the Practice of Faith Seen in His Baptism Acts 10:47-48a
Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
1. Even though a devout man
2. Even though the HS was present
3. Baptism and the Holy Spirit are part of God’s terms of pardon and forgiveness. (Acts 2.38) and Identification (Galatians 3:26-27)
1. Acts 10:48b Then they asked him to remain for some days. – Why did they want him to stay?
a. Celebration
b. Wanted More about Jesus
c. Discipleship doesn’t end with baptism – it’s only just begun with it.
2. John Newton said, “When I get to heaven I shall see three wonders there. The first wonder will be, to see many people there whom I did not expect to see—the second wonder will be, to miss many people whom I did expect to see; and the third and greatest wonder of all, will be to find myself there.”
