Winning the lost at any cost pt. 2

Winning the lost at any cost: giving the information.

23 So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 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. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me."30 And Cornelius said, "Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.'

24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

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.

29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me."30 And Cornelius said, "Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.'

33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord."

Let us pray...

God’s timing is always perfect, and the three men from Caesarea arrived at the door just as Peter was pondering the meaning of the vision. I want you to notice something here the very Spirit of God is speaking to Peter’s heart and mind to erase all rebellion and reluctant toward what the vision requires of him.

Look at verses 20-22, “ Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.”

The Spirit of God commanded Peter to go with these men without any hesitation. This phrase ‘without hesitation’ means “ without making any distinctions” the Spirit is saying to trust them Peter, trust these men even though you have been taught not to trust the Gentiles.

Trust them Peter because you trust in me and I have sent them to you. Don’t doubt but believe, believe, understand, and accept my conclusion concerning these Gentiles. Understand that there is no longer any distinctions between Jews and the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, we are now one in Christ Jesus.

Accepting God’s conclusion.

A major step in accepting this new concept and accepting God’s conclusion is clearly seen in the fact that the Spirit of God tells Peter to go with them without hesitation, but beyond this we see a great movement in an act of Christian hospitality.

Look at verse 23, “So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.” You see the fact that Peter allowed the Gentiles to lodge with him is yet a clear indication that he was trusting the Spirit of God and that the walls of separation in his mind and in his heart were coming down.

The word Gentile is an English translation of the Hebrew word goyim (“people, nations”) and the Greek word ethne (“nations, people groups, people”). And this word was then carried over into English as “Gentile.” The term refers to a person who is not a Jew.

From the Jewish perspective, Gentiles were often seen as pagans who did not know the true God. During Jesus’ time, many Jews took such pride in their cultural and religious heritage that they considered Gentiles “unclean,” calling them “dogs” and “the uncircumcision.” Gentiles and the half-Gentile Samaritans were viewed as enemies to be shunned.

Jesus came to offer salvation to all people, Jew and Gentile. The prophet Isaiah predicted the Messiah’s worldwide ministry, saying He “will bring forth justice to the Gentiles” and would be “a light to the Gentiles” (, , NKJV). In the book of Mark, Jesus helps a Gentile woman who had asked for her daughter’s freedom from a demon.

Look at , “And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." 28 But she answered him, "Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." 29 And he said to her, "For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter."

25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." 28 But she answered him, "Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." 29 And he said to her, "For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter."

30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.”

The response of Jesus here seems is offsetting and offensive at first; he offers three comparisons or crucial symbols here. Bread which represents His message of the Gospel, Children which represents the Jews which was came to reach out to first and accepted Him, and then dogs which represents those are unbelievers in this case and were is a state of rejection. This colorful statement was meant to test the faith of this Gentile woman; this is seen clearly by the response it elicits from her which confirms her faith. When that faith is confirmed we see Jesus heal her daughter. The Gospel was always meant for Jew and Gentile, by was given first to the Jew, for Israel was God’s firstborn son.

When writing to the (mostly Gentile) church in Rome, Paul communicated his goal: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (). Paul realized that the coming of Jesus provided the opportunity for salvation to whoever would believe in Christ’s name.

Gentiles were long seen as enemies of the Jewish people, yet Christ provided good news for both Jews and non-Jews.

Peter understood the prohibition against Jews entertaining those in their homes or going into the homes of people of another nation. But now he realized that these people were not longer strangers and aliens but fellow citizens in Christ Jesus our Lord. Peter realized that the two had become one, Peter realized that Christ Jesus was their peace and had broken down the wall of hostility between them. Peter realized that these men were fellow saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him we are also being built together into a dwelling place for God by His Spirit.

The text tells us that Peter on the next day asked some brothers from Joppa to go with him to the home of Cornelius. Peter selected six Jewish believers to go along as witness, though the Spirit of God was the only witness Peter needed. He knew that the Jewish council would required more; so he took three times the official number needed. He only need two witnesses and Peter took six so that there would be no doubt. So Peter assemblies his posse with a purpose and they are off the Caesarea.

It would take them two days to cover the distance of the thirty miles between Joppa and Caesarea; Peter was about to start giving the information to all those willing to hear, which is that God had accepted the Gentiles and it was God’s conclusion that the Gentiles were no longer common or unclean.”

This general conclusion led to a specific inclusion of the Gentiles into the body of Christ. Peter now deals face to face with such an inclusion.

Inclusion of the Gentiles that God has accepted.

24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 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.29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me."

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.

29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me."

When Peter arrived, he discovered that Cornelius had gathered relatives and friends to hear the message of life, the life that only can be found in Christ Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life.

What did it Jesus mean when He said, 'I am the way and the truth and the life' ()?"

Answer: “I am the way and the truth and the life” is one of the seven

“I Am” statements of Jesus. On the last night before His betrayal and death, Jesus was preparing His disciples for the days ahead. For over three years, these men had been following Jesus and learning from His teaching and example. They had placed their hopes in Him as the Messiah, they had placed their hopes in Him as the promised deliverer, yet they still didn’t understand how They placed there hope in Him and they did not understand how He was going to accomplish their deliverance. After the Last Supper, Jesus began speaking about His departure, which led to questions from His disciples. In , Jesus said, “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.” This prompted Peter to ask where He was going (verse 36). Peter and the others did not understand that Jesus was speaking of His death and ascension to heaven. Jesus’ response was, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” Peter was still misunderstanding and declared that he would follow Jesus anywhere and even lay down His life if necessary. As Jesus patiently continued to teach His disciples, He began speaking more plainly about heaven, describing the place He was going to prepare for them,

, "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going." Then Jesus said, “You know the way to the place where I am going” (verse 4). Speaking for himself and the others, Thomas said they did not know where He was going, so how could they know how to follow Him there? It was in answer to this question that Jesus uttered one of the seven famous “I am” statements. I am the way, the truth, and the life, No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going." Then Jesus said, “You know the way to the place where I am going” (verse 4). Speaking for himself and the others, Thomas said they did not know where He was going, so how could they know how to follow Him there? It was in answer to this question that Jesus uttered one of the seven famous “I am” statements. I am the way, the truth, and the life, No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

I am – In the Greek language, “I am” is a very intense way of referring to oneself. It would be comparable to saying, “I myself, and only I, am.”

These words reflect the very name of God in Hebrew, Yahweh, which means, “to be” or “the self-existing one.” It is the name of power and authority, and Jesus claimed it as His own.

The way – Jesus used the definite article to distinguish Himself as “the only way.” A way is a path or route, and the disciples had expressed their confusion about where He was going and how they could follow.

As He had told them from the beginning, Jesus was again telling them (and us) “follow me.” There is no other path to heaven, no other way to the Father. Peter reiterated this same truth years later to the rulers in Jerusalem, saying about Jesus, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (). The exclusive nature of the only path to salvation is expressed in the words “I am the way.”

The truth – Again Jesus used the definite article to emphasize Himself as “the only truth.” says, “Your law is the truth.” In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reminded His listeners of several points of the Law, then said, “But I say unto you . . .” (, , , , , ), thereby equating Himself with the Law of God as the authoritative standard of righteousness. In fact, Jesus said that He came to fulfill the Law and the prophets (). Jesus, as the incarnate Word of God () is the source of all truth. If you now and understand the truth you can live and be free, who the Son sets free is free indeed. You must understand the truth is all things so that you might understand the rules of the game. If you don’t understand the rules of the game you can never win, if you don’t understand the rules of the game you will be played instead of ever playing the game.

Don’t ever be confused; remember the first rule of the street, game knows game.

The life – Jesus had just been telling His disciples about His impending death, and now He was claiming to be the source of all life. In , Jesus declared that He was going to lay down His life for His sheep, and then take it back again. He spoke of His authority over life and death as being granted to Him by the Father. In , He gave the promise that “because I live, you also will live.”

The deliverance He was about to provide was not a political or social deliverance (which most of the Jews were seeking), but a true deliverance from a life of bondage to sin and death to a life of freedom in eternity.

Because Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life, we can be assured of our witness to others, even when we are not yet completely in the faith because our witness is securely found in the person and message of Jesus Christ. That is what is happening when Peter, arrived at the home of Cornelius there were relatives and friends all there to hear Peter tell them about Jesus. Cornelius has persuaded them to come and here the words of life that were drawing his hearts as well. When Peter enters the home, Cornelius falls down at this feet in an act of worship, but Peter lifts him up and tells him to stand up, because he is just a man as he is.

How easy it would have been for Peter to accept honor and use the situation to promote himself; but Peter was a servant, not a celebrity.

, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,

9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

When Peter announced that now because of the vision given to Him from God that he longer considered the Gentiles unclean or common, this must have amazed the Gentiles and there hearts must have rejoiced. For centuries the Jews, on the basis of the Old Testament Law, had declared the Gentiles to be unclean and some Jews even referred to the Gentiles as “dog.” But must always remember, just because someone calls you a cow does not make you a cow. Our worth is found in how God see us not as man sees us; notice here the Gentiles had not changed one bit outwardly but only inwardly which only God can see.

So there value to God was intrinsic and not interpretive. We are all made in the image of God, there are many nations, many cultures, and many colors but only one race the Hue-man race, many hues, which is a distinction without a difference.

In verses 28-29, we see Peter as he reminds those gathered of the reason for the risk he has taken in coming. “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. So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”

Didn’t Peter know that he had been summoned there to preach the Gospel? Didn’t remember the instructions of , “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Didn’t Peter know that God was fulfilling the promise of His church, of every tongue, language, people and nation? Peter had taken witnesses from Joppa to verify all that happen, which would be needed as the Jewish council challenged him.

, “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. 4 “But Peter began and explained it to them in order: 5 "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. 6 Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.' 8 But I said, 'By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' 9 ‘But the voice answered a second time from heaven, 'What God has made clean, do not call common.' 10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. 11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea.12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. 13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; 14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.' 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."

5 "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. 6 Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air.

7 And I heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.'

8 But I said, 'By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' 9 ‘But the voice answered a second time from heaven, 'What God has made clean, do not call common.'

10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven.

11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea.12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. 13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; 14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.'

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."

You see inclusion into the body of Christ would require acceptance to what and whom God had accepted in the body. Unfortunately, we still suffer with this problem in the body of Christ, we still see distinctions when God sees no difference, and we still build walls where God had torn down walls. We still hinder and hamstring those, which God has made hallowed and holy.

As Christian we must always be exclusive when it comes to our Savior and Lord, inclusive when it comes to all He has called and accepting to those He has accepted.

Confirm the vision and teach the Gospel.

30 And Cornelius said, "Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.' 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord."

Cornelius relives and rehashes this experience with the angel and the vision to confirming what the men had told Peter in Joppa. The relatives and friends of Cornelius had not gathered in his home to just hear a lecture on Jewish religion, but they recognized that they were lost sinners in search of a Holy God. They are hungry people begging for bread, lost sinners begging for the bread of life and hungry to be told how they could be saved. Verse 33b, starting to give us some insight to what is going to happen next in the next section of this passage that we will deal with next Sunday. But before we leave this passage, there are some important truths that must be emphasized.

First, the idea that “one religion is a good as another” is a completely false assertion. Those who tell us that we should worship “ the God of many names” and not “change or challenge other people’s religions” are going contrary Scripture.

What does Scripture clearly say, “Salvation is of the Jews” (), and there can be so salvation apart from faith in Jesus Christ, who was born a Jew. Cornelius had piety, Cornelius had morality, Cornelius had a giving heart, but Cornelius did not have Jesus. Some might say just “leave Cornelius alone! His religion is part of his culture, and it’s a shame to change his culture! God does not see it that way my friends. Apart from hearing the message of the Gospel and trusting in Christ, Cornelius had no hope and neither do any of us.

Secondly, the seeking Savior, the Savior that , says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save this lost.” That is the Savior who will find the seeking sinner of You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. - , Where there is a seeking heart, give to an individual by God, God will respond with the Gospel. This is why it is essential that we as God’s children obey His will and share His Word. You never know when your witness for Christ is exactly what somebody has been waiting and praying for.

And lastly, Peter certainly was privileged to minister to a model congregation. They were all present, they wanted to hear the Word, and they listen, believed and obeyed. What more could any preacher ask?