Peter's Sermon: A Message of Forgiveness

Scripture Reading

Opening Prayer

Introduction

I don’t know why you are here today.

You are a Christian and want to worship

You are not and a curious

Someone dragged you here or invited you

You say you are a Christian and you feel like you have to be here

Sermon

This one

Peter’s

Today, we will talk about this passage that we have read and try to understand its message for us today.

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.

Peter begins this talk by addressing a possible issue

Peter was a Jew

Christianity is the Jewish religion

Jews were exclusivists

I. God loves all of His children equally, regardless of differences

Let’s break down that statement a little

First, we are talking about God

Who is God?

We are also talking about His children

Who are His children?

The text says, those who fear Him and who does what is right

What does it mean to fear God? (revere)

What does it mean to “do right?”

The opening part of that statement is about God Loving, what does that mean

well in these verses, it says that God finds them acceptable

what is this acceptance? Let’s find out as we go on.

Acts 10:36 ESV

36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),

God gave the Gospel not just to Israel but through Israel

Jesus is “Lord of all”

Faith vs. works?

Exposition 2

Acts 10:37–38 ESV

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.

II. Jesus’ life made clear that He was sent and empowered by God

Exposition 3

Acts 10:39–40 ESV

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,

III. Jesus’ resurrection proves that Jesus was more than a mere prophet but that He was who he claimed to be.

Jesus was the Son of God

Exposition 4

vs.40 …Jesus appeared…

Acts 10:41 ESV

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.

Jesus’ ressurection was a physical one

Acts 10:42–43 ESV

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.”

IV. Jesus’ people are to proclaim the Good News that leads others to receive the forgiveness of sins

So what was the result of Peter’s sermon?

They believed!

vs. 44 says...

Acts 10:44 ESV

44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.