The Gospel For All People (part 2)

Acts 10:34-48

Last week, we reviewed how God has been using Peter to be His witness in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Acts 10, specifically, is focusing on the end of the earth with an introduction of the gospel to the Gentiles.

Through the example of both Cornelius and the Apostle Peter, we see how God’s hand is directly involved in the preparation process.

God Prepares The Sinner To Hear

Acts 10:1-8

Truth in Scripture: God works to bring people to Himself

John 6:44 (ESV)

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.

John 16:8 (ESV)

And when [the Helper] comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.

Cornelius was a God fearing gentile, who stopped just short of being a full on proselyte.

God was drawing Cornelius to Himself

The fact: everyone has an initial exposure to God

Romans 1:18-23

God has shown His existence to all men

All men respond in either belief, or unbelief

Cornelius responded in belief.

God honored that belief

In a unique way (through an angel), God prepared Cornelius to hear the Gospel message by having him send for Peter, who was in Joppa.

Notice: no initiative on Cornelius’ part

God directed him to send for Peter

Salvation is a work of God as He prepares the hearer to receive the gospel.

God Prepares The Believer To Share

Acts 10:9-16

The Apostle Peter comes with some baggage

Bit of a temper (ex. Gethsemane w/ sword)

A little untrustworthy (ex. denying Christ)

As a lifelong Jew, he was not ready to share the gospel with everyone.

Acts 8 - Philip preached to Samaritans

Peter and John had to see for themselves if the gospel truly went to the Samaritans

Acts 10, God has to prepare Peter for it to go to the Gentiles

Confusing vision with sheet full of unclean animals

Peter refused to eat

What God has made clean, do not call common [unclean]

Peter was raised to have extreme prejudices toward people

God had to work in his heart to change that

Salvation is a work of God as He prepares the believer to share the gospel.

God Sets The Appointment

Acts 10:17-33

Peter was still sorting things out when Gentiles come to get him

Peter was told by God to go with them because he would not, otherwise

Peter, a Jew, would not have any dealings with Gentiles (i.e. “dogs”)

God directed him to go with Cornelius’ men

Salvation is a work of God as He appoints the time for the hearer and sharer to come together.

The Believer Shares The Gospel

Acts 10:34-43

Peter preaches a concise sermon on the gospel.

v. 34-35: God shows no partiality

He honors people in every nation who fear Him and live in obedience.

True of those who left Egypt with the Israelites (Ex. 12:38)

True of Caleb the spy (Num. 32:12, he was a Kenizzite, Gen 15:19)

True of Rahab (Joshua 2)

True of Ruth

True of Naaman (2 Kings 5)

True of the people of Nineveh (Jonah 3)

True of Cornelius (Acts 10)

Micah 6:8 (ESV)

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

This expectation is not just for the Jews… it is for all people.

v. 36-37: the word sent to Israel

In Romans 3, the Apostle Paul mentions that the Jews had an advantage because they were entrusted with the prophets and prophecies of God.

They also had the advantage because Jesus the Christ was sent to Israel and they were the first to receive the gospel.

Romans 1:16 (ESV)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

v. 38-39a: Jesus of Nazareth, God’s chosen one

Jesus, who is God in the flesh, was enabled by the Holy Spirit to preach and perform miracles.

But if He is God in the flesh, why would He need to be empowered?

Philippians 2:5-8

He willingly emptied Himself of His power to take on human flesh

It was at His baptism that we see the Holy Spirit specifically enter the picture.

Matthew 3:16–17 “And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.””

v. 39b-40: put to death and raised on the third day

After His death and resurrection, Jesus appeared to particular people:

Mary Magdalene and various other women

two disciples on the road to Emmaus

Peter and the rest of the eleven

more than 500 disciples

Paul on the road to Damascus

It is from these eyewitness accounts that people through the years have heard the gospel and been saved.

v. 41-42: witnesses chosen to preach judgment to come

The most important concept for people to understand is NOT that God loves them and has a wonderful plan for their life.

It is that there is a day where they will stand before Jesus in judgment of their sins.

Jesus warned that the justice is so thorough that the weight of eternal wrath will come upon them and will scatter them like dust. (Matthew 21:43)

Romans 2:9–10 (ESV)

There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.

v. 43: those who believe will be forgiven

The Father has highly exalted the Son, and it is in His name that salvation is offered.

Philippians 2:9-11

The Sinner Responds To The Gospel

Acts 10:44-48

Similar to the experience at Pentecost (Acts 2), the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Gentiles and they began speaking in tongues.

Tongues are not an evidence of salvation, despite what some churches like to proclaim

Tongues are a sign to the Jews (and particularly the Apostles) that the message of the gospel has indeed been given to and received by a particular group.

Not only did they speak in tongues, they were baptized.

At the time of conversion, the first act of faith is to be baptized.

Baptism does not save anyone, despite what some churches like to proclaim

Baptism is an external sign of an internal change

It is a public proclamation that you are in agreement with, and are committing your life to following, the teachings of a rabbi (particularly here, Jesus)

Baptism is to the Church what circumcision was to Israel: a sign of the covenant

CONCLUSION

Ladies and Gentlemen,

God has called us as His followers to make disciples of all nations.

And He has given a Gospel For All People.

So let’s not allow our prejudice to get in the way of the salvation of someone’s soul.

Like Peter, we all have baggage.

But God can work in the life of a submitted follower to bring them out of that bondage, in order to reach people for His glory.