Salvation Reaches Out part 2
Notes
Transcript
Last week we talked about Gods Sovereign preparation of both Cornelius and Peter.
The main thing to remember about salvation is that it sovereignly planed out by God and he prepares those who will play a part in it.
Submissive Will (vv 21-33)
Submissive Will (vv 21-33)
Peter and Cornelius model the obedience God demands—both at the point of salvation and throughout the Christian life.
The Bible repeatedly teaches that obedience accompanies true faith.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
60 And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.”
62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Here was a further crack in the barrier dividing Jew and Gentile.
No self-respecting Jew would have given lodging to Gentiles—especially to a soldier of the hated Roman occupation army.
Here in verse 23 it says that Peter invited them in as his guests.
That word is from the greek word. xenizō, which means “to entertain as a guest.”
It is used in Hebrews 13:2 to speak of entertaining angels. Hebrews 13:2
2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Peter gave his unexpected guests the red carpet treatment, showing the work of God in his heart had broken down the typical Jewish prejudice.
When Peter entered, he found many people assembled.
God had not commanded Cornelius to assemble these people, yet their presence was a crucial arrangement of divine providence using the will of Cornelius.
If only Cornelius were saved, the Jerusalem church may have considered him an aberration.
If a group of Gentiles were saved, however, they would have to accept that God was including Gentiles into the church.
The soldier uses a military term, prostassō (commanded), referring to a military order.
He understood that when the Lord spoke it was a command demanding obedience.
He was ready to receive his orders from the Lord.
So Peter and Cornelius both had been sovereignly prepared by God and had responded obediently to His directions.
All was ready for Peter’s gospel presentation, which would result in the salvation of Cornelius and the others.