TGP: Welcomed by the Gospel
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Intro Option 1: Common Ground
Students have two minutes to find three things that they all have in common.
Common ground = not hard
Focus on differences
God challenged this (Jews and Gentiles)
Main Point: The Holy Spirit unites all believers.
God accepts all people who believe the Gospel.
Acts 10:34–43 (ESV)
34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Peter’s realization = crucial
“… God does not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnic background, looking up to some and down on others.”
Shares simple Gospel
Peter’s full acceptance
Q. What is the difference between accepting people and excusing sin?
Misconception: acceptance = condoning
Acceptance = Seeing people as God sees them
God DOES discriminate between acceptable and unacceptable attitudes/behaviors
Love despite differences
Want them to know Jesus
Doesn’t mean affirm lifestyle
God accepts us, Holy Spirit changes us
Q. How does Peter say all people can be forgiven? Why is this important?
V. 43: through belief
Other ways fail
Important to remember for walk and sharing
Transition Statement: God’s acceptance is a shared acceptance
Main Point: The Holy Spirit unites all believers.
God accepts all people who believe the Gospel.
The Spirit’s presence unites people who believe the Gospel
Acts 10:44–48 (ESV)
44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
Peter’s sermon interrupted
God knew hearts
Holy Spirit fell, uniting Jews and Gentiles
Peter and Jews both realized this
Sometimes called “The Pentecost of the Gentile World.”
Q. What did Christ’s death and resurrection do to the boundary lines people had put in place between Gentiles and Jews?
“Us” vs. “them” mentality
Christ’s sacrifice demolished line
New way:
Him alone
All have access
Q. What other requirements besides believing in Christ do we sometimes place on people before we accept them into our faith family?
Gentiles didn’t aide by Jewish customs
Peter’s realization
Adding to Gospel = dangerous
Playing the role of God
God welcomes, HS sanctifies
Transition Statement: Acceptance and unification lead to celebration.
Main Point: The Holy Spirit unites all believers.
God accepts all people who believe the Gospel
The Spirit’s presence unites people who believe the Gospel
The church celebrates when people believe the Gospel
1 Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, 3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
Criticism
Strongest group = conservative Jewish Christians
More concerned with practices than salvation
Understandable
But eventually they understood
Q. What attitude do you see in verses 2-3? How does this attitude show up in the church today?
Criticism, arrogance and condescension.
“You hung out with those people?’
Still affects us today
Drawing boundaries
Q. What sometimes keeps us from celebrating when someone accepts Christ?
Jealously and pride
Jealous of attention
Pride: hard time believing they will change
Elitist attitude (like Sadducees and Pharisees)
“Opposition to Gentile baptism is opposing to God.”
Christ: Even one sinner worth celebrating (Luke 15:10)
Christ Connection:
Peter learned that God does not show favoritism but calls His people to proclaim the message of Jesus’s death and resurrection to all people, to celebrate His work in their lives, and to welcome believers into His family, regardless of their ethnicity.
Head: Do you have a superior mentality toward other cultures or ethnicities that you need to repent of? Explain.
Disciples: strong opinions about Gentiles
Jewish culture
Working old ideas out of them
True for us as well
Lord reveals areas that need cleaning up
More like Him in thoughts towards others
No divisions
Racism and elitism = unacceptable
All sinners, one family
Heart: Faith in Christ is the only way to experience forgiveness. How have you added to the Gospel and tried to earn forgiveness by other means?
Skewed view of forgiveness
Working for forgiveness
Same for relationship with God
Behavior modification
But He forgives freely
Overflow: changed life
Hands: Peter’s obedience led to the salvation of Cornelius and everyone present in his home. Where do you need to be obedient?
Revolutionary shift
Peter didn’t know why
Sometimes we can’t see why either
Obedience = bigger part of story
A privilege
The Bottom Line: Accept others, be united, and celebrate.