COPC VER. Acts 11:1-18 Saved by Grace and Not of Works

Congregational Prayer

LET US PRAY

Congregational Prayer

Grant, Almighty God, that since you daily exhort us,

and though you see us often turning aside from the the right path,

You are kind Father because you do not cease to stretch forth your hand to us,

and you also continue to wake us up by many reproofs,

that we may repent—

Father grant that we may not be permitted

to reject your Word with perverseness;

But rule us by your Spirit,

That we may meekly and obediently submit to you,

Help us to be teachable, so that if we have not been willing to submit to your correction,

That we may not continue in our sins.

Father help us to heed your spirits correction.

Heal our diseases so that we may truly repent,

Help us to be so wholly given to obey you,

as never to attempt anything beyond the rule of your Word,

and help us to heed the wisdom which you have revealed to us,

not only by Moses and your prophets,

but also by your only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

father we pray for the congregation

We Praise you God that Richard Chelvan has finished his radiation treatment and prayer for continued healing and cancer-free results. Saving faith for Ramonas brother-in-law Daniel, who has expressed interest in church. Comfort and safety for Sveta Smith's family in Ukraine, as well as peace between the two nations.

Praise for Brandon and Tessa Serrano's unborn baby and prayers for a healthy pregnancy.

pray that Bethany’s inducement will go well tomorrow

we pray for the unborn baby of Hannah and David.

and we ask for all these things in the powerful, glorious, majestic, and wonderful name of Jesus Christ Amen.

OFFERINGS

We now have the opportunity to give unto the Lord in our Tithes and Offerings.

The Deacons will now take up the offerings

We Prepare to Hear God Speak through the Bible

Let Us Rise for the Sining of Gods Word

Turn in your Trinity Psalter Hymnals to Psalm 67B

*Song of Preparation: Psalm 67B O God, Show Mercy to Us

PLEASE BE SEATED

Turn in your Bibles to Acts 11:1-18

It can be found on Page 919 in your Pew Bible

The Sermon Title today is Sermon: "Saved by Grace and Not of Works:

Pay attention because you will see this theme

Of Works being put before the grace of God in the text.

HEAR NOW THE VERY WORD OF GOD

Acts 11:1-18

Acts 11:1–18 ESV

Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” But Peter began and explained it to them in order: “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. Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. 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. 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; he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 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?” 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.”

The Grass withers the Flower Fades But the Word of Our God Will Stand Forever.

Sermon: "Saved by Grace and Not of Works:

Vs 1-3 What God has Commanded we must do and nothing else.

If we recall from chapter 10 of Acts this is the very thing Peter didn’t understand and had trouble with.

That gentiles were coming to faith and receiving the same gifts Israel recieved.

And this is troubling to the Circumcision party.

We remember that Peter didn’t understand this principle that God shows know partiality.

Peter thought of the people of Israel as a Nation as God’s special people. Who were set apart for the Glory of God.

And many in the church and outside the church don’t understand this concept of God not showing partiality.

But this is the problem the circumcision party in our text today was struggling with.

Because even though their was a nation called Israel.

And even though they were set aside for the worship and glory of God.

Not all Israel was Israel even in the Old Testament.

Their was always Issacs and Ismaels

Their was always Jews And Gentiles

There was Ruth who was a Moabite who came to faith in the true and living God in the Old Testament.

So not only did Peter get taught a lesson in chapter 10.

But now he will have to explain it to the apostles and brothers in Judea according to verse 1 who are hearing about God showing his favor to the gentiles.

And he will have some confrontations with the circumcision party over the gentiles coming to faith in God.

So who was the circumcision party?

Was circumcision commanded by God?

YES

Where do we find it?

In Genesis 17:1-27 17 

I want us to look at verses 1-7

And 12-14

And 23-27

Which will illustrate how serious God was about the mark of the Covenant which was circumcision in the Old Testament.

When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 8 And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”9 And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, 13 both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”Isaac’s Birth Promised15 And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” 17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” 19 God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.”22 When he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. 23 Then Abraham took Ishmael his son and all those born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised. 27 And all the men of his house, those born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

What was this Circumcision to point too?

It was to point to people being a part of the visible church which was Israel in the Old Testament.

What has replaced it?

Baptism has replaced it.

Baptism is the mark of the New covenant.

But these men of the circumcision party are upset because Peter was eating with these uncircumcised gentiles.

God said he would cut off his people if they didn’t take the mark of the covenant.

Not that we can’t eat and drink with those that are not circumcised.

They thought because these gentiles weren’t circumcised that they were breaking the law of God.

And technically under the Old Covenant they should have been circumsized.

But how is Peter sining by eating with them?

Were they as Jews commanded not to eat with unbelievers?

Are we as New Testament believers not able to eat with those who have obvious outward public sins?

Or can we break bread with them and Share the good news of the Gospel.

And say to them you don’t have to be a slave to these sins.

Christ provided not only forgiveness from these sins

But he provided freedom from the bondage of sin.

Was it wrong to eat with Gentiles?

Was this ever commanded in God’s law that Jews could not eat with Gentiles?

No

in fact these men are breaking God’s law.

According to Deuteronomy 4:2 “You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.”

They were adding to the commandments of God weren’t they.

They were saying the tradition of the Fathers of Israel.

Is we don’t eat with those unclean gentiles.

What should we learn from this.

If Israel then, or the church today adds to the commandments of God or takes away from the commandments of God they are sinning.

And How many Commandments did God give moses on Mount Siani?

10 Commandments

You Shall have no other God’s before me.

Well those of the circumcision party were doing just this.

The fathers in the faith say this.

But God has not said this.

Therefore they are setting the fathers in the place of God.

They are setting themselves in the place of God.

So Brothers and sisters learn from the circumcision Party of what not to do.

Never make rules for your family that God has not commanded

And claim that it is Commanded by God’s Word.

Or look down upon those in the church for things God has not commanded.

What are some instance of this in the church today.

Drinking Wine is one thing?

Did you know that their are those in church's that have said if you have wine in communion it is a sin?

You probably have.

But maybe you haven't

They would deny that Jesus’s first miracle turned the water into wine that had alcohol in it.

Not sure how that was possible in Christs day since Welch’s which was formed in 1956 wasn’t a company yet that made the grape juice.

People and church's and denominations would try to bind men and women's consciouses if they did drink wine.

Well those believers and church's that do so are like those in the circumcision party.

They are setting restrictions on God’s people in which God never set.

You can’t eat with those Gentiles, they are not clean enough.

You can’t Drink wine, you are sinning if you do so.

How about cults that say we must worship on Saturday like the seventh Day adventist.

According to John 20:19

“On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.””

and the apostles continued meeting on the first day of the week according to

Acts 20:7 “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.”

These are only 2 of 8 verses that demonstrate in varying degrees that the Lords day is the Christian Sabbath and is on the First day of the week.

But there are church's today that do not recognize that the Lord Jesus changed the christian Sabbath by devine example to the First day of the week.

They are like the cicumcision party.

Setting up the traditions of men over the commandments of God.

Because what happens when we as mear men try to do this.

Usually we hurt and divide the church.

You see these men of the circumcison party thought they were keeping the church pure by not having a meal with these Gentiles.

But what were they actually doing?

They were polluting the church with their false doctrine.

You see the truth of the Word of God unites and fuels and builds the church.

But lies and false doctrine confuses and clouds men and women's minds.

It sets obstacles between you and God that God has not put there.

And it is sinful when individuals or church’s or clergy do so.

So we must do what God has commanded and nothing else.

Becasue not only will we offend a thrice Holy God.

Not only will we grieve the Holy Spirit.

But we are placing Works in front of Grace.

God’s Law is gracious because it shows men how Christ lived and How they ought to live in this life.

God’s Law also exposes our need for a Savior because we cannot Keep his law perfectly.

Becasue we sin in though Word and Deed daily

And we will continue to do so less and less throughout our Christian lives

but we will never be completely free from sin until we pass from this life.

God’s 10 Commandments are Gracious to us believers because it shows us the light of Christ and how to live our lives in gratitude.

The Goodness of God

And that God is a God of Order and not confusion.

Mens Commandments on the other hand show us a path of destruction

road blocks and pain and hurt.

But lets look at how the apostle Peter handled these men of the circumcision party.

Vs. 4-18 The Truth of God vs the Lies of Men.

English Standard Version (Chapter 11)

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.”

Peter says in verse 12

Acts 11:12 “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.”

So we see in our text that Peter answers these men of the circumcision party.

Why does he do this?

Because its not only the gentiles Peter is commanded to explain the gospel of God to.

But also these Brothers of the circumcision party who are still struggling with letting go of the old outward sign of the law

And circumcising which has now passed away.

So what does Peter say to them.

Peter says that the men of Cornelius house.

these Gentiles arrived at my house after this vision.

And what is Peters reaction.

Go away you are gentiles I can’t walk with you,

I can’t go on a trip with you,

I can’t even eat with you.

No to the contrary Peter says I made No distinction between Jew or Gentile because

God showed me what God has made these men clean

And I cannot call them common or unclean according to verse 9.

So Peter is proclaiming to the circumcision Party that these men that I eat with have been declared clean by God.

And I must do what God has commanded

We also are reminded in Acts 11:15-16 which says “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’”

Peter points out to this circumcision party that the Water Baptism of John is now confirmed as the new mark of the covenant of God with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.

If you think John was wrong to Baptize.

The Holy Spirit of God has blessed this sign in Cornelius life and your life.

But this is not the only think going on as I pointed out.

It’s also adding to the commands of God.

And we are Not add to the commandments of God saying I can’t eat with these men.

Becasue not only can I eat with them.

God commands fellowship between fellow believers.

God commands us to love our neighbor as our selves.

If I can’t eat a meal with these men how am I keeping the 2nd great commandment to Love my neighbor as my self.

And How am I obeying the First and greatest commandment to Love God with all my Heart, Soul, Strength and Mind,

Peter is calling these gentiles fellow believers.

Fellow Christians

And we can’t call them Unclean heathens

When God has converted them.

When God has cleasened them.

When God has washed them with the Blood of the precious lamb of God.

Whose blood was spilled for these Gentiles.

Who is Peter and Who are we to take the Work of God lightly in the lives of people he has called to himself.

Peter says in Verse 12

Acts 11:12 “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.”

The Spirit of God.

The Holy Spirit.

The 3rd person of the God told me to go with them and make no distinction.

And that is what I intend to do.

And not only did Peter go with them.

Peter declared the truth of God’s Word to them.

He didn’t hide it from these gentiles.

He declared the message in how these men and women in Cornelius house might be saved.

And what Christ work on the cross accomplished.

It was Christ who died in their place for the sins that were separating them from God.

It was Christ in whom Moses and the prophets were always speaking about and pointing to.

I was Christ who is the Messiah

Christ who is the Only Begotten Son of God

Christ the Only Mediator between God and men.

This is the message that was preached to Corelius’s Household.

Every man women child and infant in the room.

Heard the Word of God

The Gospel of God preached to them.

And the Holy Spirit was given to them or fell upon them according to verse 15

Acts 11:15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning.”

Peter is retelling a glorious work of God as he is proclaiming the Gospel to those of the circumcision party.

Next in Verse 16 Peter says

English Standard Version Chapter 11

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.’

He is declaring to them that Baptism is the mark of the covenant now and not circumcision.

And that the Gift of the Holy Spirit with regeneration in these Gentiles is a wonderful Work of God.

And that this is something that needs to happen in the lives of the men in this circumcision party.

And lastly we see what God does in the lives of these men through Peters testimony of what the Gospel did to these Gentiles.

In verses 17-18 Its a Gift of God to both Jew and Gentile

English Standard Version (Chapter 11)

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 the Gospel had its effect on these men of the circumcision parties lives as well.

They recognized that it was God who gave the gift of His spirit to the Gentiles.

Just as he did to the Jews.

And what was the gift.

The gift of belief in the Lord Jesus Christ.

We see that it is a Work of God

In a mans heart that brings him or her to faith.

We see that is is a work of the Spirit of God that coverts a man.

People of God if you have faith in Christ it was a Work of God and that not of yourselves.

Dead men and Women can’t choose God.

But God can breath life into a dead man with the Words of the Gospel and by the Work of the Spirit.

And who are we as Peter says to Stand in the way of God.

Who are we to make or celebrate man made Holy Days.

Who are we to put restrictions on the drinking of wine.

Who are we to say you cannot eat with us we are Holy because we are of Israel and you are not.

Who are we to put stubling blocks where God has not put any.

And who are we to think we can make ourselves Holly by the Works or Deeds of our Hand and that not by the Grace of God alone

Through Faith in the Son of God Alone.

And all those the Father gave to the Son will be converted by the Work of the Spirit of God.

So if you find yourself in this predicament that these men of the Party of the circumcision found themselves in.

Your response should be the same.

because it was a wonderful response.

It was a Biblical Response.

Verse 18 We Must Repent and Glorify God

Acts 11:18

“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.””

They fell silent.

They didn’t justify themselves.

They took the Gentle rebuke of God through the mouth of Peter.

and they fell silent.

They closed their mouths.

Im sure they were stunned

Or enlightened by what God was doing.

A great miracle in the lives of Gentiles.

And then immediately as if they were pricked in their hearts because they were.

They glorified God

They praised God

They Worshiped God

For the awesome work he did in these Gentiles lives.

They Declare “God HAS granted repentance that leads to life with these gentiles as well.

These Gentiles are Christians.

These Gentiles are Israel

These Gentiles know the true and living God.

You see they repented of their sin.

They removed the stumbling Block.

And had to acknowledge that it was not circumcision that saves.

Its not our Baptism that saves

But its Christ perfect Sacrifice on the Cross that Saves.

Its the Work of the SpiriT THAT SAVES.

AND THESE MEN ARE DECLARING WHAT THE CHURCH WILL CONTINUE TO HERALD UNTIL THE LORD JESUS RETURNS.

THAT WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE AND THAT NOT OF WORKS IT IS A GIFT OF GOD LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST.

LET US Proclaim this message of the Gospel to all the ends of the earth

To all the ends of Fort Worth

To all the ends of Texas.

To all the Ends of the United States

And to all the Ends of the World.

Whether Russian, Ethiopian, Greek, Jew, African

All men everywhere can and only will be saved by the True Gospel

By the True and living God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

No one else saves. And No one will be saved by their works.

The Only Works that Save is the Cross Work of Jesus CHrist

SAVED BY GRACE AND THAT NOT OF WORKS - ROMAN CATOLICS

SAVED BY GRACE AND THAT NOT OF WORKS MORMANS.

SAVED BY GRACE AND THAT NOT OF WORKS JEHOVAH WITNESSES.

you don’t have to become one of the 144,000

SAVED OF GRACE AND THAT NOT OF WorkS CHURCH OF CHRIST.

Your Baptism doesn't save you.

SAVED OF GRACE AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES IT IT THE GIFT OF GOD.

AND LET US PRAISE GOD FOR this

AS THESE MEN DID IN THE TIME OF THE APOSTLES

Becasue God has granted Repentance that Leads to life.

To All the Lord has called to himself.

Praise God.

Amen

LET US RISE FOR OUR HYMN OF RESPONSE

Turn to Psalm 103C in your Trinity Psalter Hymnals

Hymn of Response: Psalm 103C Come, My Soul, and Bless the Lord (stanzas. 1-8)