2022.05.15 All Means All ... And You're Not Jewish

All Means All … And You’re Not Jewish

Revelation 21:1-5a • Acts 11:1-18

[Reminder about the names in the offering plate.]

Today’s message could very well be a two-parter, but the two parts are connected so very tightly, I didn’t want to risk you missing the fact that they are connected.

We began with a reading from John’s Revelation. We see a new heaven, a new earth, a new Jerusalem. He describes God living among his people, and no more death or sorrow, crying or pain. He says, “All these things are gone forever!”

Read NLT:

Revelation 21:5a (NLT)

5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!”

NASB:

Revelation 21:5a (NASB 2020)

5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”

This is a bit of an aside, but let me ask a couple of non-rhetorical questions:

Who created all things? [God]

Through whom did God create all things? [Jesus]

So, if the creation is to be restored or recreated, who would you expect to do that work? [Jesus]

WE do not renew creation. Only God can restore creation. Now … before you think I’m advocating we pay no attention to how we use natural resources let me say clearly...

This DOES NOT mean that we are permitted or suggested to use the creation carelessly.

Genesis 2:15 NLT

The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.

We are charged by the Creator with tending and caring for Creation. But if we want it restored … the best way we can restore the created order is to pray to the One who’s in charge of that!

Okay, that’s it for my little aside. Now, returning to the statement in Revelation:

How many things is Jesus making new?

Revelation 21:5a (NASB 2020)

5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”

And how much of life’s garbage will he be removing?

Revelation 21:4 (NLT)

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

And how many people have sinned and fallen short of God’s standard?

Romans 3:23 CEB

All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory,

And for how many people did Jesus die?

2 Corinthians 5:15 CEB

He died for the sake of all so that those who are alive should live not for themselves but for the one who died for them and was raised.

Who does he want to be saved?

2 Peter 3:9 NLT

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

So who is included in God’s promises? ALL? Really?

How about Gentiles? Do you know what a Gentile is? [explain]

EVERYBODY has an enemy. Everybody has a “them” they want excluded. Everybody! Who’s yours? Is it a political party? A denomination? Women? Men? Children? Purdue fans? IU fans? Other nations? Putin? Bin Laden? Ho Chi Min?Stalin? Hitler? Mao? Or maybe it’s the guy next door who blows his grass on your driveway, or the dillweed who drives like he’s the only person on the road.

Face it: We’re really good at this! So, what is the standard by which you choose to exclude other people? Who are the people who make you think, “I know Jesus died for everybody … but I’M NOT GONNA TELL THEM!”

In our reading from Acts … the members of the early church are angry with Peter because he dared to eat with Gentiles. Talk about extreme! You can’t even go in their house or eat with them?!

All Means All … And You’re Not Jewish

[David Vereen spending the night story.]

Acts 11:1–3 NLT

Soon the news reached the apostles and other believers in Judea that the Gentiles had received the word of God. But when Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, the Jewish believers criticized him. “You entered the home of Gentiles and even ate with them!” they said.

Reread the above story and put your name and the “them” in the blanks.

Acts 11:1–3 (NLT)

1 Soon the news reached the apostles and other believers in Judea that black people had received the word of God.

2 But when Chris arrived back in Louisville, the white ball players criticized him.

3 “You entered the home of a black guy and even ate with them!” they said.

Making you squirm yet?

So Peter tells them this elaborate story about a vision he had where God told him three times to eat unclean animals. Check out the language used here:

Acts 11:8–9 NLT

“ ‘No, Lord,’ I replied. ‘I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure or unclean.’ “But the voice from heaven spoke again: ‘Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.’

So … what declared the animals unclean? “our Jewish laws”

Acts 11:8 (NLT)

8 “ ‘No, Lord,’ I replied. ‘I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure or unclean.’

And what made them clean? “God”

Acts 11:9 (NLT)

9 “But the voice from heaven spoke again: ‘Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.’

And immediately after this vision, three men came and asked him to go to a Gentile’s house in Caesarea, and the Spirit told him to go.

Placing your “THEM” in this story. Who would we chastise you for being around? If God told you to go, would you still go? If I were invited to the Kremlin to meet with Vladimir Putin, what would you think if I said yes?

God is telling Peter two things:

I’ve purified the Gentiles … and you’re no longer Jewish! A new order has come, and the old ways of doing things have been replaced.

ALL are now included! And you’re no longer identified the way you used to be!

And if I had the opportunity to tell Vladimir Putin about Jesus Christ, I don’t care what you’d think of me … I’d be on the first flight I could find! Because in God’s eyes, I’m not American.

Think I’m making that up?

Philippians 3:20 NASB 2020

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

So let me leave you with 2 things today:

All Means All … And You’re Not Jewish

God is not satisfied with only some, or only the people we like, or only the people who are like us. God wants ALL to repent and be saved … and ALL MEANS ALL!

And whatever earthly group you see yourself as a part of … you’re not. Your earthly affiliations may be important on some level, but they are secondary at best. If you’re a Christian, your citizenship is in heaven, and membership in God’s family outranks any other group you may be a part of. You are no longer identified the way you used to be!

All means all … And you’re not Jewish