The Jesus Message for The Good
Acts 10
Introduction
After the resurrection of Jesus, the news of new life began to spread. In Matthew 28, Jesus characterized it as a Message for the Globe. In Acts 2, a confrontation of those who had crucified Christ, a Message for the Guilty. In Acts 10: the Jesus message for the Good.
What do we mean when we say “Good”? It’s a relative term?
Romans 3:10 “There is none righteous, not even one…”
Jesus said there was no one good except the Father. (Mk 10:18)
In the sense of righteousness, no one is good. We all sin, we are all in need of grace.
But there are people whose lives are lived closer to God’s calling than others. One of those is found in Acts 10 - and he was not a faithful Jew. Instead, he was a Gentile named Cornelius.
1. Good News for a Good Man
Acts 10:1-2 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.
Caesarea was the capital of the Roman occupation of Israel. Cornelius is a captain of the occupying Roman army. As a centurion, he would have commanded about a hundred Roman soldiers.
He not only fears Israel’s God (10:2, 22) but also observes key Jewish activities: he fasts, as Jews do; he prays to God at three in the afternoon, the standard Jewish time of prayer; he provides gifts to the poor, a typical mark of Jewish piety. Cornelius seems to be a better Jew than many Jews! N. B. Hardeman had a sermon called
“Cornelius Shames Us” in which he pointed out that even before Cornelius became a Christian, he was better than many of us.
Five traits of Cornelius: (Roper)
-He was a devout disciple. He feared God.
-He was a faithful father. He had evidently taught all of his household.
-He was a generous Gentile. He gave many alms to the poor.
-He was a praying prospect.
-He was a respected Roman. Surprising since the Romans were hated.
Sounds like a good person, but there was something missing. Even his goodness was not enough to save him. God sent Peter to come and teach him the Gospel.
Peter was qualified to do this job.
-He was an apostle of Jesus.
-He was the spirit-filled evangelist that preached on Pentecost, resulting in 3000 baptisms.
-He was someone who had experience with repentance.
-He was also a faithful Jew - and that was problematic for him coming to Cornelius’ house.
God sent him a vision while he was praying (vs. 9-16). The vision looked like a sheet coming down and in it were
creatures that were considered “unclean” - and a voice that said, “Rise up and eat”. Peter objected to this. “I have never eaten anything defiled and unclean.” The voice clarified: What God has cleansed, no longer consider defiled.”
To make it clear, this happened three times. Then a knock at the door - men from Cornelius’ household were there to get Peter to come. The Spirit told Peter to go with them into the Gentile’s house and bring Good News to a Good Man.
2. A Good Man Who Needed Good News
When Peter entered Cornelius’ house, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him (10:25), but Peter said, “Stand up; I too am just a man.” Cornelius had assembled his family and many people were there for this momentous occasion. (Acts 10:28-29) Peter can scarcely ask for a more receptive audience. ‘We are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us’. Peter’s Sermon recounts the same themes from his Pentecost sermon. (Acts 10:34-43) Just like Pentecost - the Holy Spirit fell upon them. Peter: “Can anyone refuse water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for a few days. (10:47-48)
3. Every Good Person Needs The Good News
The Gospel is Good News To All People. No Barriers: Economic, Racial, Educational, Religion, Abilities.
Ephesians 2:12-13 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Galatians 3:26-27 “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
“The ground is indeed level at the foot of the cross. What a comfort to all the racially and culturally despised in our day, who thirst for the dignity that comes from spiritual equality in the ‘Christ identity.’ What a challenge to the church to live out, through acceptance across racial, class, ethnic and gender lines, our profession that we serve an impartial God who has sent us a universal Lord and Savior.” (Larkin)
4. The Gospel is Good News Because of Jesus
Acts 10: 48a “So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ”
Everybody needs Jesus, and Jesus is available to Everybody! Cornelius was a good man, but he was not saved by his good life! He was saved by Jesus when he responded to the gospel
Conclusion
The Jesus Message is for The Globe, the Guilty, and the Good. Cornelius was a good man who needed good news, just like we all do.
Cornelius and his household were an ideal audience (10:33). It takes good listeners as well as a good speaker to make a good sermon! (Roper)
“We are all here” - I wish that were true of every assembly - that each one would be present. You are here today! God bless you!
“Present Before God”- We are in God’s presence and He examines our hearts and minds.
“To hear” - we are here to hear a word from the Lord - communication only happens when we listen!
“All that you have been commanded by the Lord” - our purpose is to hear what God wants from us - and to be moved to act upon that information.
These are four great goals for every Sunday:
- Be here
- In the presence of God
- Listening to His Word
- Ready to obey His commands
Jesus is that good news!
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Resources
Larkin, William J. Jr. The IVP Commentary Series: Acts. InterVarsity Press, 1995
Merida, Tony. Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Acts. B&H, 2017.
Roper, David. Truth For Today: Acts 1-14. Resource Publications, Searcy, 2001.
