Time to Share
Notes
Transcript
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 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 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.’ 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.”
So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 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. 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, but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 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. 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. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
We’re picking up where we left off in the interaction between Peter and Cornelius. We stopped last week just after that pivotal verse 28, “[Peter] said to them: ‘You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.’” That echoed back to Peter’s vision, verses 10 through 16, when a voice told him, “‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’”
Let’s be sure to catch that. In looking at spiritual cleansing, being washed with God’s word and Spirit, being forgiven, it’s not just our humanity regardless of race or ethnicity that makes us clean, but God must make us clean. The truth that Peter had been confronted with is that God doesn’t just save Jewish believers; he saves all who believe in him. That doesn’t have implications only for the life to come, but it impacts how we as humans live and treat each other. Jesus came for believers of all nations, and they and we are to be one. So, we’ve heard what Peter told them that God had revealed by way of the vision, and then he asked in verse 29 why he was invited here.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, one of the most undesirable situations we might find ourselves in is being put on the spot to say something. Many of us are perfectly fine talking one-on-one or in a small group. No matter where the conversation goes, in those settings we can usually give some thought or opinion or share an experience. But when we’re asked to give a speech or lead a session or even just share a few words before a larger group or a crowd, we’d prefer to have some notice. We’d like time to think, to calm down, to come up with something.
We don’t just want notice, though. We usually also want direction. It can be an honor to be asked to share, but what subject or topic am I supposed to share about? Who is the audience? How long am I supposed to talk for? We’ve been picked for a reason; so, we’re likely trusted and perhaps considered knowledgeable. But we want our presentation to be beneficial, to meet peoples’ expectations or to encourage or teach or persuade them about certain things.
I mentioned before how having arrived in front of these people who were waiting for him, Peter asked, “Why have you sent for me?” It’s like he was saying, “I’m glad to be here, but why am I here?” Cornelius, the host, spoke up, “Well, this is what happened a few days ago. Thanks for coming. We are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” It doesn’t get much more on the spot than that. Cornelius trusted God had given him some message, something they needed to hear. “Take it away, Peter, the floor is yours.”
When it was time for Peter to share, what God laid on his heart and put in his mouth was nothing short of the truth of salvation. He began that truth with the inclusiveness of God’s love. Some things are exclusive, they do not include everything or everyone. I have NHL TV so I can watch Chicago Blackhawks games, but it excludes games which are either nationally televised or because of our proximity to the Cities, games against the Minnesota Wild. In Reformed theology, think back to the doctrine of particular atonement, from creation God knew exactly who Jesus’ redeeming love would apply to. He knew who will be saved and spend eternity with him, but that’s not everyone. Salvation is in some ways exclusive.
While that’s true, we also understand God’s love and salvation is in other aspects inclusive. It includes all. We’re hearing this clear message, no nation, ethnicity, skin color, or language should prohibit a person from having the gospel shared with them. There is also no different gospel that one group of people needs to hear and can be saved by, but a different group of people needs a different gospel treatment. No, all of us need to hear and can only find salvation in Jesus Christ.
All of this goes back to what Peter said in verses 34 and 35, “‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men [and we may also add women] from every nation who fear him and do what is right...’” Peter, who had for his entire life, had this understanding that a person must be like him if they’re going to be saved, God was now breaking that away. He was coming to understand that God doesn’t favor or love those like him because they’re like him. No, how a person is saved comes with their fearing and obeying God.
Last time, I had in mind the dominant racial differences that we have in our country, in our state, and yes, in our town. Those claiming to be part of Christ’s church have not always had the love of God for all our neighbors. Whether someone is black, brown, white, and any shade of those should not be an exclusion for who we’re willing and able to share the gospel with. We shouldn’t allow cultural differences to create fear or necessarily assume they don’t want to be with us, or we wouldn’t be welcomed by them.
But this also applies globally. There are countries where other religions, especially Islam, dominate. There are countries that on a political level, our country, which we may feel a great love for, has animosity with. If you’ve been following the news, there’s ongoing tensions with Iran, over the last 20 years with Afghanistan and Iraq, going farther back Russia, North Korea and other tense relationships. Perhaps we hear the Middle East or Muslims or about these countries, and very quickly, even unconsciously, we have resentment.
Distrust entangles our faith and thoughts about mission and ministry. Maybe the thought goes through our minds, “The gospel can go out to all the world, but maybe not there or to them.” Peter’s message from God applies to them as well. Our majority race—white Americans—are not favored by God above all other people. Even when false gods, when the devil, has led people to worship other gods, and people have done horrible things in the names of them, it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. It doesn’t mean they can’t be converted to know and love him and be forgiven. God’s love is inclusive in that all can hear it, and all need it.
Having established that, Peter goes on to what must be accepted and believed. In order to understand salvation, what is applied to you, what you’re hoping in, what you’re receiving, one must know what had to be done and who did it? We’re looking at this chunk from verses 36 to 43, and we find in the first and last of those verses summaries. Peter’s about to tell them, “‘the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all,’” and what is this peace? “‘Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’” Our second point this morning is: Jesus has come for the forgiveness of sins. That is his purpose, and that is our hope.
Again, what had to be done and who did it? Peter tells them about Jesus’ ministry, which he had been right there with him. Peter knew where Jesus had gone, what he’d done, what he had shared with his disciples about what it all meant. “God anointed Jesus…with the Holy Spirit and power…he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him…[The Jews] killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen…by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.”
There is no other name by which you may be saved. There is no other person or action or path, if you want to be saved from your sins, you need Jesus, because he has atoned for you through these things. That was God’s message for Cornelius and his people as well as for all people. Peter sets it up in a way that says, “You know these events—you’ve heard of the man Jesus—you know who I’m talking about, you’ve heard parts of his life, but don’t just know about—believe in him.
Brothers and sisters, we, people in general, often make eternity about heaven and hell. We want to be saved from the horrible anguish that hell will involve, whether it’s fiery punishment or the absence of God. We don’t want to end up there; we want to end up in the good place, the perfect place—heaven. And yet we must remember that what really matters, what eternity is ultimately about is not where we want to end up and not end up. Eternity is about our standing before God and with his Son Jesus. What is going to bring you peace for eternity is not the setting of heaven, is not how nice another part of God’s creation is—though it will be wonderful, don’t get me wrong. What’s going to give you peace, though, is if your sins have been forgiven, if you’re right with God having received the obedience of Jesus, if you can testify that you are in him. That’s what the saving work, the forgiveness of sins work that Jesus does, is all about.
The account of this passage ends and so we head to our last point this morning, seeing how these matters of faith go from simply sharing and informing to putting this into practice. If you’ve been washed by Jesus and have the Holy Spirit, you should bear the sign of being washed. We’re told in verses 44 and 46, “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message…For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, ‘Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.’”
Peter saw the fruit of evangelism. It wasn’t that he planted a seed and hoped it might sprout in a few of them, or even just one of them, in the future. No, he witnessed this before his very eyes. God was confirming for him that his plan of salvation did include the Gentiles. These men and assumedly women too had genuinely believed in God, through Jesus, and the Holy Spirit was dwelling in them. The apostle and his fellow Jews had experience with this. They couldn’t doubt their faith, and so the only sensible action in their minds was baptism.
In our tradition, baptism is a sacrament. The Heidelberg Catechism, one of our confessions, Question and Answer 66 has this to say about sacraments: “[They] are visible, holy signs and seals. They were instituted by God so that by our use of them he might make us understand more clearly the promise of the gospel, and seal that promise.” Baptism, whether by sprinkling or immersion, is not some silly superstition. Nor is it some magic trick. It’s normal water out of a tap or a hose or a body of water. During a baptism, a sign is being performed of what God has done for believers. It’s a seal that with faith and the Holy Spirit, we know God has done it for us. Peter wanted these believers to know they weren’t just being told they shared in the faith. No, they were also worthy of the same unique and important practice just as circumcision had marked those who claimed to be set aside in the Old Testament. It’s significant!
But what are we dealing with here, hearing about Spirit and water? Let’s get a reminder from answer 70, “To be washed with Christ’s Spirit means that the Holy Spirit has renewed and sanctified us to be members of Christ, so that more and more we become dead to sin and live holy and blameless lives.” The Spirit baptism in the New Testament often shows with speaking in tongues. How we can understand that, if we’ve never spoken in tongues, is that gift could only genuinely be present if the Holy Spirit was renewing and sanctifying; but it’s not a necessary gift.
Two more questions and answers that I invite you to join me in reading responsively, 71 and 73: Where does Christ promise that we are washed with his blood and Spirit as surely as we are washed with the water of baptism? In the institution of baptism, where he says: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” “The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned.” This promise is repeated when Scripture calls baptism “the water of rebirth” and the washing away of sins. Why does the Holy Spirit call baptism the water of rebirth and washing away of sins [if only Jesus Christ’s blood and the Holy Spirit cleanse us from all sins]? ...To begin with, God wants to teach us that the blood and Spirit of Christ take away our sins just as water removes dirt from the body. But more important, God wants to assure us, by this divine pledge and sign, that we are as truly washed of our sins spiritually as our bodies are washed with water physically.
If you have been or will be baptized in the future, whether you remember the event or not, those of us who are baptized are to know and to trust what it means for us. If you genuinely believe, there is a greater cleansing that has happened to you, one we can’t see. If you have been or will be baptized, you are to be mindful of this as a precious and significant practice, one that you share with all who truly believe. Baptism is not a prerequisite exercise on the checklist of salvation; if you miss you it, you’ll be excluded from heaven. No, but it reminds you and me of what was had to be done to give us salvation, that Jesus had to die on the cross; he had to shed his blood to free you from death, to purify you from all unrighteousness.
All of this is part of the truth and the hope given to us by our wonderful God for our salvation. Paul writes this in Galatians 3:26-28, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” When it was time to share the good news of Jesus Christ for the peace that comes through the forgiveness of sins, there was no other message that Peter could give. May each of us share the same truth, this is who Jesus is and what he did, though you don’t deserve it, he did it for you. Repent and believe, be baptized and remember that you’ve been washed in the blood of Jesus. Amen.