OCT 1 also

Acts 10:25–28 ESV

25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.

Introduction:

In the early church, there was a deep division between Jews, and Gentiles. The Jew saw themselves as God chosen people went for centuries they believe that God's promises were primarily for them. In fact, Jesus himself sent to the lost sheep of Israel those outside of Israel may have felt like there was no hope for them with no part in God's plan.

have you ever felt like - God cared about everyone else and not about you I

But what we see through the scriptures there was a hope for the gentiles all along

gentile simply refers to anyone who is not Jewish anyone out outside of Judaism more nations outside of Israel.

Even though Israel was God chosen people, they often fell into disobedience , and did not follow God's commands

yet despite their obedience, God chose to work through them and through Israel came the promise of salvation for all nations.

In fact, God's salvation plan begin with Israel it was never intended to stay there the gospel message.

The good news of Jesus Christ was always meant to extend beyond the borders of Israel to include everyone through Jesus God salvation is able to everyone, regardless of their background, Jew or gentile.

This was a revolutionary idea in the early church, breaking down centuries of division and opening the door for all people to receive the gift of eternal.

In this is the significance of act chapter 10, because Acts chapter 10, Luke records a centurion soldier who is a gentile by the name of Cornelius.

However, He is a gentile who has reverence for God, He is a praying man, but the scripture records - He was committed.

Evidently this brother knew something about the God of Israel, but had accepted the Jesus Yet.

I. And just like that, there are those attending churches as far as the east is to the west. They know something about God, but there has not had a full out encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ.

But the bible says Cornelius an angel of GOD in a vision coming UNTO him - calling his name! and says

Acts 10:4 ESV

4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.

The angel tells Cornelius that your prayers and your acts of charity has ascended as a memorial before God. In other words what you've done has gotten God's attention

That word memorial is a reminder or a symbolic for showing ones devotion to God

I. He doesn’t have to be couched on is it the lord.

II. Nobody has to tell him to open his mouth and speak to God.

III. It was the condition of Cornelius heart that put him in position to receive a word from the lord.

An angel is a messenger of God - this angel told Cornelius to send for PETER.

Acts 10:6 KJV 1900

6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

He immediately sends his men to get peter.

Gen 22 Abraham willingness to follow Gods command (without delay) to sacrifice his only son - IN fact, he says we are going up to worship and we he shall return.

This is where we get the idiom -RAM IN THE BUSH- which literally means God will provide a solution to a difficult situation. God later promised abraham he would multiply his seed as the stars in the heaven and sand upon the shore. THEN….shall possess the gate of his enemies;

Genesis 22:17 KJV 1900

17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

When you follow the lord, your obedience to God word has the power to allow those connected to you to reap the benefits.

Cornelius was a good man, but he was still a lost man! That is why God moved Peter to take him and his family the gospel. Indeed he could not be saved without the gospel.

And one the greatest concerns in the world today to me, is not our financial system, while we need better monitory polices , its not our Healthcare system, although basic medication is hardly affordable, Even though our political, and our school systems need restructuring - I believe Good news of Jesus christ makes the world better - Paul says…

Romans 1:16 KJV 1900

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

II. YOU MUST BE WILLING TO SHARE GOOD WITHOUT PARTIALITY.

Acts 10:26–28 ESV

26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.

Cornelius’s house in Caesarea (FILLED WITH JEWS AND GENTILES)

Peter arrives in Caesarea and enters Cornelius’s house, where he finds a group of people eagerly waiting for him.

Not only is Cornelius positioned to receive the blessing (salvation) he’s spread the word that a man of GOD is coming to give us GOOD NEWS.

Salvation has no limits, and therefore your past does not disqualify you from coming to Jesus.

Galatians 3:28 ESV

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

God ultimately wants to rescue you from a world of darkness, where your past mistakes, hurt, guilt, and shame no longer have rule in your life.

What you’re wrestling with is Principalities, Powers and evil spirits that oppose God and his people.

Matthew 28:18 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Therefore, we now know that JESUS makes the difference.

Peter understands this because it is walking with christ that saved his life.

Like saul in acts chapter 9, he too has had an encounter with God. He has denied the lord, once before and not he sharing the good news of

jesus christ.

Acts 10:34–35 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.

Romans 3:23 tells us, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

The reality of sin needs to be acknowledged by all who approach the throne of God for salvation.

A sinner must acknowledge the hopelessness of his guilt before God in order for forgiveness to take place, and he must understand that the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23)

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus is both God (Colossians 2:9) and man (John 1:14).

Jesus lived the sinless life that we could never live (1 Peter 2:22) and, as such, He is the only one who could die a

Colossians 2:9 KJV 1900

9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Acts 10:38–42 ESV

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.

Acts 10: