What God has made Clean, do not call Common.
Notes
Transcript
What God has made Clean, do not call Common.
What God has made Clean, do not call Common.
1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 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. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. 9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven. 17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 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.” 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.
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Early on in my life as a Christian, I had a fascination with the book of Acts. There is so much to wonder about when we read through the pages of the stories of how God built his church in those early days. For quite a long time I saw Acts as simply a book of miraculous things that God did, and spent a good many years involved in the kind of churches that spent most of their time praying for God to do these same things again in our day.
Well, what’s wrong with that?
Well it is not that there is something so wrong with that, but rather that it makes little sense when you really start to understand the book of Acts, and the whole Bible for that matter.
Here is what I mean...
The text we have before us today is the longest conversion story that Luke narrates in the while book of Acts. It is full of visions, angels, and Jewish rules. We must understand a little something about the details that are given in order to see the while picture. There is 1 main point to this story but there are lots of little things that make it so rich. And Yes there is a sense of supernatural means by which God is doing something here… But I would submit to you that we should spend less time praying for God to give us visions like Peter had, and more time asking God to help us preach the truth he preached. When we understand what is really happening, the visions and messages given by angels fade into the back ground and something huge emerges from the text… Let’s look at it together.
1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort,
Stop… We need to know where this is and who this is talking about.
First we have this city of Caesarea. This was a seaport on the Mediterranean Sea, located about 65 miles NW of Jerusalem and 30 miles north of Joppa, where Peter was. This city was important for the Romans as they governed the region of Judea from this place.
Next we have this Character Cornelius. He was a Centurion of the Italian Cohort. What does that mean? Well first of all, he was not a Jew. Cornelius is a Roman, which means that he is here as part of an occupying force that is governing the Jewish people. Someone who is not a Jew is called a Gentile. If you remember, we talked about how the early church was first made up of Jewish people and there was much issues when the Gospel started to spread out to those Jews who were different.
There was the Hellenist, and then the Samaritans or half bloods, as they called them. There was one Gentile so far… A gentile was someone who was not Jewish at all. We are all Gentiles as far as Jews are concerned. Now that one Gentile was not a big deal because he continued on back to his home, he did not live among the rest of these Jewish people who had been Converted to Christ.
But right here we have a Gentile who lives among the Jews. He is not only a Gentile but he is a Roman Centurion, which is a name for a soldier who has 100 other soldiers under his command. A little history here will teach us, that in each Roman legion of soldiers there were 6000 men, divided into 10 Cohorts of 600 men each. that means that there was 60 centurions in each legion. These men were known for being the best of the best. They were known for being able to keep their cool in the heat of battle, they made tough decisions that affected a lot of others.
If the Jews of that time hated the Roman soldiers, they would’ve hated the centurions even more.
This whole story starts with a little information that we would simply read right over and think nothing of… But for the early church this is like reading a story full of tension. It would be like reading this...
During a time of Social unrest, in one of the most powerful military cities, there once was an important military officer who worked for the evil enemy government that was oppressing God’s chosen people...
Now if we could read the story this way, it would cause us to lean in more and want to know what happens next. Lets keep that in mind and read this story with fresh eyes.
1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.
Acts10.1-
Now when we add in that second line, all that tension I mentioned seems more confusing...
Why on earth would someone who worked for the evil empire that was oppressing God’s people be devout and fear God? Can that be? Can you be a God fearer and work for the enemy? And not only him but his whole family too? He gives money generously to people and prays continually.
This man is what we would call a God fearer. Someone who wanted to be able to worship God but could not because of circumstances beyond his control. What were those circumstances for Cornelius?
He would never be accepted by the Jews because he was A.) a Gentile, B.) a Roman, C.) a Centurion. The law would not allow someone like this to worship with other Jews, and if he did convert he would have to renounce all this and be circumcised, and still he would not be allowed to worship with the rest of the Jews.
And yet here he is, giving and praying and leading his family to fear God. It is clear that he was seeking God and was willing to submit to his laws in order to be right with him. This in no way means he contributed to his salvation but rather that God was working in his heart before he even knew the truth of the Gospel.
So we have a story full of tension that seems confusing for a moment because this guy is not what most people think he is.
All this makes what happens next even more extraordinary than it already is.
3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 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. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
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The first big thing that happens here is that God speaks directly to Cornelius through a vision of an angel. This is dramatic and not really something that is repeatable that we should be seeking the same things to happen now.
Now as I say that I will also acknowledge that God can do anything and if he wants to speak to people through visions, then he certainly can do that. Yet, I think we need to see how extreme of a circumstance this is. Up until this ;point the gospel that is being preached is only being recieved by Jews, and it is not until persecution breaks out in Jerusalem that they even take the gospel to Jews they don’t like. This is an extreme need and God meets this need miraculously, because he is God and can do anything.
Impossible circumstances are nothing for God
Impossible circumstances are nothing for God
God can do things that we cannot even imagine… and that is what is happening here. It is no secret that this man will hear the gospel preached to him and be saved by it, sorry for the spoiler… But we need to see just how amazing our God is to move in ways that people couldn’t have imagined and honestly wouldn’t have wanted him, yet he does it to accomplish his will for his Glory.
It was impossible for this man to really worship with Jews and being where he is located, no one would ever come to him, if it weren’t for the intervention of the God of the universe.
This should comfort us to see how far God will move things to save people. We are currently facing uncertain times with anxieties and fears trying to paralyze our hearts, and yet God is in control and he can do anything he needs to do to accomplish his will.
So an angel tells Cornelius what he needs to do, and he calls more soldiers to go at once. I love his obedience here. And did you notice that one of his soldiers was also a devout man? It seems as though the Lord was working on hearts long before the religious leaders in this newly established church would even realize it.
And this brings us to the next part of this story. But not before I point out another little detail that we cannot read right over...
Where is Peter? Well it says that he is at Simon the tanner house… So what??? Whats the big deal about that?
Well It would be a big problem for a Jew like Peter to visit a gentiles house. Well how do we know that Simon the tanner is not a Jew? Because he is a tanner. Jews were not allowed to handle dead animals, it would’ve made them ceremonially unclean. So what is Peter doing staying at the house of a gentile, and one who deals with dead animals at that? It seems as though the Lord is softening Peters heart towards those who need the Gospel. After going to Samaria to see the work that Phillip did and now staying in Joppa with a tanner after the raising of Dorcas from the dead… God is working in mysterious ways and Peter is trying to be open to it. But there is no doubt lots of tension for him to be where he is at… Let’s keep reading.
9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance
Acts10.9
Now imagine it, Peter is already uncomfortable being at this tanners house and it is time to eat. He wasn’t able top eat in the house where the business is being ran, so he goes upstairs to the roof to pray while they make preparations for the meal. Peter is hungry and he can’t be around all that is happening so he naturally thinks he will spend some time in prayer.
That is the set up for what happens next...
11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.
10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.
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Now Peter is hungry and God is showing him a vision of all kinds of animals… The plot thickens… what is happening here?
Lets keep reading...
13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
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First of all this is one of many places in the NT where we see that the issue of Jewish regulation and culture is no longer in effect. And as big of a deal as that is , I want to redirect your attention to something else.
Now again, I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but there is a little detail here that we need to take note of. This happened three times? Why?
Whenever we read in scripture that something is said three times it means that what was said is fixed, it is emphatic and certain. And Peter is not new to this. Remember when he denied Jesus? He did it three times and it underlined his denial. But not only then… Remember that Jesus reinstated him in , when he asked Peter, “Do you love me? Then feed my sheep”. Peter was recommissioned by Christ and it was fixed and certain, that he was forgiven and called to preach the gospel.
Well here we have a vision that happens three times and it is meant to ensure Peter that God really means what he is saying, even though Peter would’ve been horrified by it as a Jew.
God must really emphatically be telling Peter that he must not call common what God has made clean.
But does Peter get it? Does he understand what God is saying?
Acts10.17
17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.”
I love this… While he was inwardly perplexed… Peter was completely dumbfounded, he had no clue what this meant. Peter has not fully grasped that Salvation os for the Gentiles too, he is stuck on not wanting to eat unclean animals. And as he is in deep thought about this, the Spirit speaks to him and gives him specific instructions.
Both Cornelius’ vision and Peter’s vision came with instructions. Even when God is moving in supernatural ways he gives instruction and doesn’t leave it open to interpretation. I have no idea why so many Christians believe in signs from above, but they are simply not biblical. Not only were the people of God warn and forbidden to read omens and signs, but NT Christians have the Spirit of God residing in them to lead them into all truth, why would we need to look for signs. We have the word of God and his Spirit alive in us.
And yet look at what happens to Peter. The Spirit tells him to go with these strangers. But he still isn’t connecting the dots here… So look what happens next.
21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 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.” 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.
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Here we have it… All of the sudden his vision starts to make sense. These men, who are clearly gentiles themselves, one is even a soldier with the Romans, are being sent to him from someone who would be truly hated and despised… A Centurion, who is God fearing, and spoken well of by Jews… He sent for Peter by name.
I have to imagine that at that moment the voice he heard from heaven is ringing in his head.
What God has made clean, do not call common
What God has made clean, do not call common
This is the whole point of this text.
What we think is dirty God can clean! What we think of as common can become by the power of God Holy and extraordinary!
What we see as dead God can call to life.
What people are avoiding God can use to bring Glory to himself.
When we see people who don’t look like us and talk like us, we need to remember this story. We need to remember that when there was people that these early Christians would’ve never gone to on their own, God supernaturally sent them to. He removes all barriers to having his people preach the gospel to all kinds of people.
We need to remember this when we are prone to think that God could never save someone like “that”… Every time we say God Could never do that, he says, Watch me! Oh, and by the way, Don’t you ever call common what I have made clean!
Listen to the language there… He didn’t just make us uncommon… He made us CLEAN! Clean from what? Clean from Sin!
But how?
This is what it means to live for Christ now...
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
By the Blood of Jesus all our Sins have been cleansed!
When someone has been made clean, do not call it common!
The Gospel we preach is not common. It is not work harder and do better and sin less. It is the good news that Jesus did for us what we could not do for ourselves, he bled and died for our sins to be cleansed from us.
The implications of this is extraordinary! We cannot save ourselves, just like Cornelius couldn’t save himself. He needed to hear the message of the gospel that Peter would be sent to preach to him, just as we needed to hear the message of the gospel that our parents preached to us, and our friends preached to us. Just like the one that missionaries carry to the nations to hear and be saved by!
And what is this message? Do not call common what God has called clean!
Today, we want you to know that if you are not clean, if you are aware of your sin and you are weighed down by the burden of this sin, that Jesus came to cleanse you from all your sins!
Today if you are anxious because of this world and the state of emergency around you, take heart and know that Impossible circumstances are nothing for God to work with, For he can make clean the very things that this world would look down on and despise.
In this text we finally see the Gospel come to the Gentiles, the outsiders, the rest of the world is beginning to hear the truth of the gospel in the books of Acts. And it isn ‘t all about Visions miracles, it isn’t about prayers we should be praying so we can have the same encounters with God… It is all about how God is saving this world and breaking down barriers to the gospel message.
Every time I read this I see how nothing can stand in the way of God… Nothing, not even a microscopic virus that causes the whole world to panic.
May we be like Peter and find ourselves praying as the Lord would speak to us and guide us to go tell others of the gospel that he may be glorified. May we like Peter find that God is at work in the hearts of people that many would think are far off from him, but he is intended to save.
And like Perter may we be willing to go and tell the Gospel to all who need to hear it. Let it start in us today; May we hear it and again be in awe of it.
Because of Jesus we are not common we are Clean!