Transformed By Christ

“TRANSFORMED BY CHRIST”

ACTS 10:24-48

This Summer, we have watched the early church grow from its birth on the Day of Pentecost when 3,000 people were saved. In Acts 4, 5,000 more people come to faith in Christ as Savior as the church enjoys its fellowship together.

But, then come trouble. One of the leaders of the church, Stephen is stoned to death for his witness of Christ, and the church scatters away from the safety of Jerusalem. Saul is hot on their heels, persecuting those who claim Christ as their Savior. On his way to Damascus, Saul comes to faith in Christ. He turns from a persecutor to a proclaimer. As Paul, he preaches the gospel of Christ. In Acts 10, the church enters unchartered territory. Up to this point they focused taking the gospel the Jews. Now, they proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles. As a result, two people’s lives are transformed: Peter and Cornelius. SCRIPTURE

This past Friday, Sherry and I went to watch a friend play baseball in El Paso. Taylor plays for the Sugarland Space Cowboys, a AAA affiliate of the Houston Astros. The Space Cowboys were playing the El Paso Chihuahuas. As we entered the stadium, we were handed a plastic bag. Not thinking much of it, I placed them under our seats in Section 105.

Before the game started, a 10-year-old boy made his way to his seat in Section 104, carrying a plastic bag. For a while, he sat quietly; then he opened the plastic bag. In it was a cheap mask a professional wrestler might wear. What happened next transformed this kid. He put the mask over his head and began flexing. After awhile, he took the mask off and settled into his seat to watch the game.

A simple mask transformed a boy from a gentle child to a raging wannabe wrestler; but it was only temporary. Christ wants to transform your life, not for a moment in time, but for an eternity; not into a superhero, but into a follower of Christ. The transformation of Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10 reveals what Christ can do in us when we surrender to Him.

CORNELIUS

Cornelius, a centurion in the Roman army, is described, in verse 2, as God-fearing and devout. He was always donating money to the poor and praying to God regularly. Cornelius was living the religious life! He was a great guy, but something was wrong. He was not going to heaven. In his mind, living a good, clean is the way to heaven.

Peter, though, shares with Cornelius the true way of salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. (36)

“If you are looking for peace, Cornelius, it comes through Jesus Christ, and nowhere else.” Peter goes on to describe how Jesus took away the sins of the world by dying on the cross, then rising from the dead.

Cornelius had always thought being a good person, helping the poor, and praying is how you please God, how you go to heaven. But, Cornelius learns no matter how good you are, you can never be good enough. Peter tells Cornelius Jesus has taken all of his sins away, God loves him and forgives him because of what Jesus had done for him. Prayer and good works are not the way to heaven, only through faith in Jesus.

You may relate to Cornelius. “I always thought I could get to heaven by being a good person. I pray once in a while. I help out the needy. I try to live a good, clean life. Just be a good person.” Then, you discover no matter how good you are, you will never be good enough; you will never do enough to earn God’s favor.

Jesus has taken all your faults, all your sins, and washed them away by dying on a cross. Rising from the dead, Jesus has overcome Satan’s hold on your life. You can be set free from the burden and guilt of your sin. Stop trying to earn your way to heaven and trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior.

This good news transformed Cornelius’ life. He was transformed from being a good church-going, religious person into a follower of Christ, a child of God. The only way to heaven is through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

PETER

Not only was an outsider transformed by Christ, Peter, and insider, was transformed by Christ as well. I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. (34) Peter could not believe he was in the house of a Gentile, and God was converting Gentiles and blessing Gentiles just as God had done for the Jews.