You Belong - Cornelius / Gentiles

You Belong

Acts 10:1-8

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 10

There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God. 3 About three in the afternoon he distinctly saw in a vision an angel of God who came in and said to him, “Cornelius.”

4 Staring at him in awe, he said, “What is it, Lord?”

The angel told him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa and call for Simon, who is also named Peter. 6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, who was one of those who attended him. 8 After explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

The inclusion of the Gentiles into the promises of God is a watershed moment not just in the Bible but in the history of the world.

You might think I am being dramatic but I assume I am not.

In 100 A.D. there were about 7000 Christians in the world. That was about .0035 % of the population.

There are now about 2.6 billion Christians in the world. That is about 32% of the world.

Because of Christianity there have been hospitals by thousands upon thousands.

It was our faith that drove William Wilberforce and his friends to end the slave trade in England.

It was our faith that reduced the Mongolian rage.

It was Christianity and the inclusion of non-Jewish people that turned Chief Cakobau (kakabo) of the Fiji islands away from Cannibalism to peace.

Yes, there have been many atrocities that some have wrongly commited in the name of our Lord but many more things have been done to bring Him the Glory due His name.

None of that would have ever happened if not for this moment.

Us vs Them No More

Up to this point in history, it had been hinted that the Gentiles would be included in the promises of God but it was always hints. They were on the outside looking in.

Galatians 3:28–29 (CSB)

28There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus.

29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.

God has done a new thing and it started with this moment.

God told Cornelius before He told Peter.

When we read this passage we should notice that God first calls Cornelius and then He tells Peter.

It makes me wonder, when God puts it on your heart to share your faith, share you testimony, share Gospel, share the truth of God, has He already prepared and told the person you are supposed to talk to? This passage and others like Acts 26 where Paul presents the Gospel to King Agrippa make me think yes.

God is the One Who Makes Clean

In verse 9-15 Peter has a vision of a sheet with unclean animals on it. God tells Peter to eat but Peter refuses. God says,

Acts 10:15 CSB

Again, a second time, the voice said to him, “What God has made clean, do not call impure.”

God is the one who make things clean including you, me and everyone else.

if God has called you then He made you clean and called you to eat at His table.

God Prepared the Table

Last week we had the event for Amarillo Angels and I told the team I kept getting the picture of God making the banquet in Matthew 22. God is so excited for the dinner and He wants everyone to come in. Everyone is invited.