/
RSS Feed
The conversion of Cornelius tells us that Religion Can’t Save, that God Takes the Initiative, that We Must Invite All, and that Racism is Sin.
[powerpress]
Gentiles Cleansed By Faith
Acts 10:1 – 11:18
- 16:19. Peter used keys of kingdom ch.2 – opened doors to Jews, Ch 10 – to Gentiles.
- This story very important: Luke tells it 3x – ch.10,11,15.
- Huge Chunk of Scripture: Won’t examine every nuance in detail, but survey 4 major themes that surface from it.
1. The Inability Of Man:
- Caesarea: 10:1. Seaport city named after Caesar Augustus. 33 miles north of Joppa. Roman capitol of Judea. Headquarters for Roman occupation forces in case needed to deal with Jews.
- Centurion: Roman Army – Centuries (100 men), Cohorts (6 centuries), Legions (10 cohorts). Must have been disciplined, submissive to authority, reliable, and courageous.
- Devout: 10:2-3. Devotion portrayed in 3 ways:
1) Feared God w/ household: Rejected many Roman gods & feared 1 true God of Israel. Knew He possessed Almighty Power & Authority. Would be judged by Him. Whole family followed. Shows strong leadership character. God-Fearer: Gentile who attached self to Judaism, attended synagogue, but hadn’t been circumcised.
2) Gave Alms to Jews: Very generous, like Good Samaritan.
3) Prayed to God Continually: the God of Israel, not occasionally but continually
- Prayers Ascended as Memorial: 10:4. God noticed. Like incense.
- Righteous: 10:22. Not justified, but seeking to obey Law.
- Well Spoken of by Nation: Though not proselyte, Jews respected & admired. Says much, since was leader of hated Romans who subjugated Israel.
- Still Needed to Be Saved: 11:14. How? Works? No – grace (15:11)
Application:
- Religion Can’t Save! Was model non-Christian. Puts Christians to shame. Very religious. Church 3x week, feeds homeless, prays night & day. Great neighbor. Everyone loves him. But lost & on way to hell. Best of best & still lost.
- Door to Door: talked to hundreds. Pattern emerged. Believe 1 God, they sinned, afterlife of heaven & hell. Believe or hope they go to heaven, cuz Good Person. Point at themselves as reason for heaven. Salv. Nothing to do with how good I am. Rather how good He is. Not what I did, but what He did.
- Religion will never save. Also makes harder for person to get saved: Why? Cuz self-righteous. Trusting in themselves. Until repudiate everything they have done as ground of salv., surrender to Christ and trust in Him alone, can never be saved. Are self-deceived, self-righteous and have much harder time seeing Truth than non-religious, guilty old Joe. As we share gospel, must shatter person’s self-righteousness.
2. The Initiative Of God:
- God Sends Angel to Cornelius: 10:3-6; 11:14. Side Note: why didn’t have angel preach gospel to Cornelius? Easier yet, God could have told Cornelius the gospel. Our responsibility & privilege.
- God Gives Peter Vision: 10:9-20. Peter hungry & God gives him vision of food. God speaks to where Peter is at. Interesting that God was speaking on both ends. If someone says “I have a prophecy for you”, tell them if so God will confirm to me. Peter didn’t understand at first, but starting to get it by 10:28. Message about people, not food. God accepts all who believe, including Gentiles.
- God Granted Repentance Unto Life: 11:18. Today people think repenting & believing are our contribution. No – gifts of grace.
Application:
- God Is Sovereign In Salvation: Of all Gentiles on earth, God chose to save Cornelius & household. Went to great lengths. But wasn’t God responding to Cornelius’ prayers? No. Rom.3:11. No one seeks unless God is seeking them. Jn.6:44. God stirring him to seek Him cuz elect.
- Saw same in Eunuch & Saul:
- God Always First, Initiator: Can never beat God to salvation. Never come unless He has worked in you. Can’t believe unless changes heart & gives life. Author and Perfector of faith (Heb.12:2). He who began good work will perfect it (Phil.1:6).
- He is worthy of All Glory! Deserves all adoration. Boast in the Lord!
3. The Invitation To All:
- Jewish Cultural Background: How did Jews view who could be saved? Only Jews or Jewish proselytes through circumcision. Saw Jews as Chosen People, Favorites. Saw Gentiles as unholy, defiled, unclean, unworthy of gospel. For 10 years preached only to Jews. Should have known better: Mt.28:18-20; Mk.16:15. Encrustation of culture for hundreds of years made very difficult to imagine taking gospel to Gentiles – any contact with them would defile them.
- 10:28 – so uncomfortable blurts out insult. Like visitor coming into your home & telling wife “I’m coming into your home even though I consider it very dirty!” No one too unclean to hear gospel. God doesn’t rule out anyone based on race, color or culture.
- 10:34-36 – every nation. Lord of all – not just Israel.
- 10:37-41 – Peter preaches gospel. Consists of Life, Death & Resurrection of Christ.
- Great Commission: Jesus either Judge or Savior. Turn or Burn. Repent or Perish. Heaven or Hell.
- 10:43 – Everyone who believes – not just Jews. 1 human condition is faith – not circumcision or baptism.
- 10:44-48 – So What Happened? Spirit interrupted by causing Gentiles to speak in tongues. Tongues was evidence gift of Spirit given (44,45,47). After vs.43, they believed, & were forgiven. How know? 15:7-9. No altar call. Peter preached, they believed, God gave Spirit.
- Why Did God Evidence Faith This Way? Nothing like this happened with Eunuch & Saul. 10:47. God gave same thing as gave Jews on Pentecost. This is the Gentile Pentecost. God incorporated Jews into Body in Acts 2; He incorporating Gentiles here. Since that so hard for Jews to believe, God helps them out. Gave supernatural sign they had been accepted. What if no supernatural sign? Jews would have reservations about accepting them with full status & privileges. God left them with no doubt – 11:17.
Application:
- Anyone Can Be Saved Through Faith Alone: Church of Christ believes Cornelius not saved until baptized. Baptism not essential to salvation. Spirit falling proof God had saved and incorporated into Body. Baptism result, not condition of salvation.
- 2 Glorious Truths: 1) Anyone under heaven can be saved if believes. 2) Only condition is faith. Rom.3:27-30.
- We are Saved by Grace Alone, Through Faith Alone, in Christ Alone! Grace – not human merit. Faith – not works. Christ – not Anyone else!
- The Iniquity Of Racism:
- Peter & Jews Found So Hard Gentiles Could be Saved Through Faith Alone: 10:14-16; 19-20; 28; 34; 47; 11:2-3. Spoke of Gentiles as “dogs”, created to fan fires of hell. Never eat or associate with Gentile. Fellowship was impossible. If touched one be unclean. Took 4 Divine Hammer Blows to destroy prejudices:
1) Hammer Blow of Divine Vision: 11:4-10
2) Hammer Blow of Divine Command: 11:11-12
3) Hammer Blow of Divine Preparation: 11:13-14
4) Hammer Blow of Divine Sign: 11:15-17
Application:
- Racism Is a Great Sin! Jesus died to break down barrier of dividing wall. To erect that wall was to defiantly oppose God!
- Still Have Today: Still have all Black or all White churches in same town & neighborhood. Otis & Kristine’s story. God doesn’t look at race or color but our hearts. If cleansed by blood all that matters.
- Romans 15: Get to choose friends, but not relatives. Church is family. Must learn to love people not like you. Are other believers you don’t fully accept? Maybe race, color, gender, past. Maybe were gay, lesbian, transvestite, sex change, drug addict, alcoholic, criminal, in prison. Must fully accept and receive cuz God has. If not, must repent of that sin! As we are sharing gospel must never regard any man as too defiled and dirty. Don’t write off anybody.
- Mahatma Gandhi: in autobiography wrote that in student days in England deeply touched by reading gospels. Seriously considered converting to Christianity, which seemed to offer solution to caste system in India. One Sunday attended church services, intending to ask minister for enlightenment on salvation. But when he entered sanctuary, ushers refused to seat him. Suggested he go elsewhere to worship with his own people. He left and never came back. He said to himself, “If Christians have caste differences also, I might as well remain a Hindu.”
______________________________
© The Bridge
Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by The Bridge.
Follow Us!