Proclaiming Peace To The World Series

To the Ends of the Earth, Part 15

Proclaiming Peace to the World

Acts 10:34-43

Introduction

- Welcome to Seasons Church & 2024 sermon series, “To the Ends of the Earth”

-- In 2023 we unpacked the beginning of all history (Creation/Fall/Promise)

-- And we looked ahead, anticipated the coming & victory of Jesus (Revelation)

-- But, in order to get to the end, we have to be busy doing the work now (Acts)

- Last time we saw Peter and Cornelius and the beginning of their interaction

-- RE: The Jews, like all other people, had developed their own laws and customs

-- These created unrealistic, and fixed prejudices between them and all people

-- Gentiles were especially rejected, if only for being non-Jewish by heritage

• Understanding damage prejudices was a highlighted topic

• But also, Cornelius receives a vision to seek out Simon Peter

• Peter receives vision from God about what is clean & to go see Cornelius

- Today we’ll explore the sermon that Peter gives to Cornelius’ household

-- It is important to note that all of this is a result of obedience to God’s calling

- Read Acts 10:34-43 / Pray

- TR: Two things for us to see today, beginning with …

Point 1 – The truth about humanity to God

- We’ve studied creation, and we know about God’s feelings for creation

-- So much so, that He called it: “Very good” (Ref Gen 1:31)

- BIG FACT: God has no favorites – He “is no respecter of persons” (v34)

-- Greek: ouk; not

-- Greek: prosópolémptés; an accepter of a face, a respecter of persons

-- This has to also mean that He also has NO prejudices against anyone

-- Regardless of who you are, what you do, what you have – we are equal to Him

- So what makes a person acceptable to God? Peter covers both: (v35)

• Fearing God – one who willingly follows (accepting Christ)

• Working righteousness – to be right and to do right (actively obeying)

- The truth is, God sent His word into Israel; and He sent Jesus to preach peace

-- Through Jesus, God sent us an example of how we can, and should, live

-- However, the word of God was not meant JUST for Israel (PTL!!)

- Jesus did not come only to rescue the Jews; but for all to hear God’s Word

-- Thought: If it were for only the Jews, that would be prejudicial, right?

- Peter instructs those listening (v36): (Jesus) He is Lord of all!

-- Every nation, every nationality, every living creature, and every non-believer

-- It is why there is such definitive response (salvation) in responding to Jesus

-- Romans 10:9, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

- BIG: Peter declared that the Word reflects the one who it describes: Jesus!

-- He even tells Cornelius that this is not new information, not even to him!

-- He summarizes it, telling him that he’s heard it before! Re-read verses 37-38

- On the heels of John the Baptist’s ministry, Jesus began preaching in Galilee

-- Then, He went from town to town, teaching, healing, declaring, and offering

-- And because of this, even he and his house had no excuse to say they didn’t hear

-- 1 Corinthians 1:9, “God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

- TR: Consider it: Cornelius would have heard about who Jesus is!

-- This would’ve been fast-paced, widely shared, breaking news in the region!!

-- So, why does Peter begin with this? To set the stage for the application …

Point 2 – The truth about Jesus to humanity

- Peter’s declaration of who Jesus is, truly, is emphatic (100% without doubt)

-- APP: Jesus is God’s anointed savior – His name Christ means Messiah (v38)

-- He was anointed with the power of the Holy Spirit – no one else had this

-- RE: Already talked about charlatan (Simon) who held people captive (Acts 8)

- Only Jesus was anointed with a miraculous authority – a result of the Holy Spirit

-- RE: When He was baptized, the Spirit descended upon like a dove (Matthew 3)

-- FACT: His anointing is what gave him power, Luke 4:18-19, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

- We receive the Holy Spirit so that we can have the power to witness to the world