The Gospel is for Everyone

Introduction

In His autobiography, Mahatma Gandhi shares that in his student days in England he was deeply touched by reading the Gospels and seriously considered becoming a convert to Christianity, which seemed to offer a real solution to the caste system that divided the people of India. One Sunday he attended church services and decided to ask the minster for enlightenment on salvation and other doctrines. But when Gandhi entered the sanctuary, the ushers refused to give him a seat and suggested that he go elsewhere to worship with his own people. He left and never came back. “If Christians have caste differences also,” he said to himself, “I might as well remain a Hindu!”

“tolerance and acceptance are not the same thing.”

Tolerate

to allow to be or to be done without prohibition, hindrance, or contradiction

Accept

to receive (something offered) willingly

to give admittance or approval to

Charactors...

Peter (v. 9:32-43)

Cornelius (10:1-2)

v. 1

Caesarea was the capital of the Roman occupation of Israel. It was a military town. It’s right on the coast, thirty-one miles north of Joppa. It’s important to know that the Jews hated Caesarea. They called it the daughter of Edom, a place of ungodliness, that is a symbolic name for Rome.

Cornelius is a captain of the occupying Roman army. As a centurion, he would have commanded about a hundred Roman soldiers posted in Caesarea, and he would have been paid as much as five times more than an ordinary soldier. So he’s a wealthy and influential man. Jews, however, surely resented him.

v. 2

“devout man”

“feared God with all his household”

“Made many charitable contributions”

“prayed to God continually”

1. God Spoke

God spoke to Cornelius (v. 3-6)

God spoke to Peter (v. 9b-16)

2. God Sent

Cornelius’ response (v. 5-8; 19-20)

Peter’s response (v 21-23)

3. God Saved

The people were prepared (v. 24-33)

The gospel was proclaimed (v. 34-43)

The spirit poured out (v 44-48)

Conclusion

The Gospel is for you...

The Gospel is for others...

John 13:34–35 NASB95

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”