WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.200 The psalm that we just sung together in some ways picks up the theme of this section, 00:00:07.299 --> 00:00:13.720 the idea that God had always promised that he would bring together as his people 00:00:13.720 --> 00:00:16.600 those from a variety of nations. 00:00:16.600 --> 00:00:22.960 And so what we're thinking about today is the unifying power of the gospel. 00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:28.080 There's something about the good news of Jesus that breaks down barriers. 00:00:29.079 --> 00:00:35.039 But connected to that, there's something about the gospel that at the same time then confronts 00:00:35.039 --> 00:00:44.920 our cultural or social prejudices, perhaps those blind spots we have towards the way that we treat other people. 00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:52.039 And so at a recent conference in the States, Together for the Gospel Conference, 00:00:52.039 --> 00:01:01.000 two leading pastors both found themselves confessing a blind spot in their lives. 00:01:01.000 --> 00:01:14.980 They were blind to the reality of the racism around them, whether that be in the context of the theological training colleges 00:01:14.980 --> 00:01:22.159 or whether it's a failure to strive for ethnic diversity and leadership in a very diverse church. 00:01:22.359 --> 00:01:31.900 Both of them confessed that they never saw the problem of racism around them. 00:01:33.480 --> 00:01:44.120 Now for ourselves, psychologists will tell us that our brains are wired to make snap judgments on the people around us. 00:01:44.120 --> 00:01:49.480 Within a very short period of time, we will look at someone and we will have all kinds of categories and labels 00:01:49.480 --> 00:01:54.840 that we will place on them, perhaps based on race or gender or class or appearance. 00:01:55.439 --> 00:01:58.439 We instinctively do that. 00:01:59.460 --> 00:02:03.500 Now that was certainly true for a first century Jew. 00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:09.300 They were brought up to know that there were certain people who they would regard as clean 00:02:09.300 --> 00:02:12.260 and others who would be unclean. 00:02:12.660 --> 00:02:17.880 Those who they would choose to associate with and those who they would tend to avoid. 00:02:18.600 --> 00:02:24.180 And Gentiles, non-Jewish people, would certainly be unclean. 00:02:24.760 --> 00:02:30.000 Mixing with them was one of the great taboos of the day. 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:39.120 And that leads us into the second part of this story of Peter and Cornelius and God bringing them together. 00:02:39.780 --> 00:02:43.460 And just as we saw last week, God was at work in these visions. 00:02:44.159 --> 00:02:52.199 So we see God is at work in the power of the gospel, tearing down barriers and creating unity. 00:02:52.199 --> 00:02:58.939 And so a quick recap, because this is one of those really big, important stories in the book of Acts. 00:02:59.019 --> 00:03:00.159 It takes up a lot of space. 00:03:00.859 --> 00:03:09.659 Last week, we discovered God sending through his angel a vision to Cornelius to go and send for a man called Peter. 00:03:10.280 --> 00:03:15.979 And then at the same time, or slightly after that, we had Peter having a vision where from heaven, 00:03:16.060 --> 00:03:20.620 there was a sheep came down with clean and unclean animals and he was told to kill and eat. 00:03:20.620 --> 00:03:23.060 And he said, no, that's against the law. 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:27.780 And the voice from heaven saying, don't call anything unclean that God has made clean. 00:03:28.599 --> 00:03:31.840 And so then messengers arrive from Cornelius. 00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:34.900 The spirit comes to Peter and says, go with these men. 00:03:35.719 --> 00:03:40.920 And so Peter now arrives at Cornelius's house, directed by the spirit of God. 00:03:41.719 --> 00:03:45.520 And he begins with a question, why have you sent for me? 00:03:45.580 --> 00:03:48.300 So here is what happens next. 00:03:48.300 --> 00:03:51.840 And I want us to continue to see that God is at work. 00:03:52.280 --> 00:03:56.640 First of all, in the fact that Cornelius is ready to hear the gospel. 00:03:57.439 --> 00:04:02.300 So we said this last week that Cornelius was in an elite regiment. 00:04:02.460 --> 00:04:06.920 He is in the equivalent of the special forces of his day. 00:04:07.240 --> 00:04:11.500 So again, he is a surprising convert to the Christian faith. 00:04:11.500 --> 00:04:17.120 But we see that when Peter arrives at his house, he is ready. 00:04:17.560 --> 00:04:21.759 He's even desperate, we could say, to hear good news from Peter. 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:23.480 Why can we say that? 00:04:24.220 --> 00:04:25.779 Well, look at verse 24. 00:04:27.480 --> 00:04:30.279 The following day, it says, Peter arrived in Caesarea. 00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:38.060 Cornelius was expecting Peter and his friends and the messengers and had called together his relatives and close friends. 00:04:38.060 --> 00:04:43.819 So he's thinking of everybody that matters to him, everybody who is important in his life. 00:04:44.120 --> 00:04:49.139 He wants them all to hear this message of God that's going to come through Peter. 00:04:50.519 --> 00:04:52.980 And then we see his attitude. 00:04:53.840 --> 00:04:56.660 As Peter entered the house, this is verse 25. 00:04:57.199 --> 00:05:02.379 Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 00:05:02.379 --> 00:05:07.259 Now, we see this sometimes when people met with Jesus. 00:05:08.040 --> 00:05:15.540 Roman soldiers, sometimes when they met with Jesus, would take that position of humility, would bow at the feet of Jesus. 00:05:16.379 --> 00:05:21.659 It seems surprising, given his prominent status, that he will adopt that low position. 00:05:21.759 --> 00:05:22.399 But he does. 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:24.379 He reveres Peter. 00:05:24.860 --> 00:05:29.819 Indeed, that posture is like the way many people welcomed a visitor from heaven. 00:05:29.819 --> 00:05:34.180 An angel would come with a message from God and people would fall at their feet. 00:05:34.719 --> 00:05:41.139 So he is ready and he reveres and is humble before Peter, the servant of God. 00:05:41.300 --> 00:05:45.639 Of course, Peter, it discourages him in verse 26, tells him to get up. 00:05:46.219 --> 00:05:47.120 He's only a man. 00:05:47.219 --> 00:05:49.719 What's important is his message. 00:05:50.300 --> 00:05:52.360 Peter is not the important one. 00:05:53.259 --> 00:05:57.199 And then one other thing that we notice in verse 33. 00:05:57.199 --> 00:06:03.699 So in verse 29, Peter asks Cornelius, may I ask why you sent me? 00:06:03.979 --> 00:06:10.800 And he begins and he explains about the vision that he saw, telling him to go and send for Peter. 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:12.519 Verse 33. 00:06:13.099 --> 00:06:17.439 So I sent for you immediately and it was good of you to come. 00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:27.480 Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us. 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:34.639 This is a preacher or a Bible teacher's dream audience. 00:06:35.720 --> 00:06:42.279 Here is Cornelius saying, I understand that I stand with you in the presence of God. 00:06:42.279 --> 00:06:52.179 He understands that Peter, as an apostle, is going to speak the word of God to all the people gathered in his household. 00:06:52.619 --> 00:06:58.659 And he and they are both ready and eager to listen and learn. 00:06:59.339 --> 00:07:01.819 God has been preparing him. 00:07:02.279 --> 00:07:07.579 And so he's got this sense of humility and sense of privilege. 00:07:07.899 --> 00:07:09.459 It's really obvious as we read it. 00:07:09.459 --> 00:07:20.279 I really love getting the Bible Society newsletter because almost in every issue you get these wonderful stories of, 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:23.659 it doesn't matter which community it is around the world, 00:07:23.759 --> 00:07:30.159 but you'll get these stories of people coming with Bibles to hand out to people who can't afford them. 00:07:30.259 --> 00:07:37.019 And you'll hear stories of people trekking for miles, spending days coming to receive the word of God. 00:07:37.019 --> 00:07:46.879 Stories where the Bible is clearly so precious to them, where Jesus matters so much that they will do anything to have the chance to hear. 00:07:48.039 --> 00:07:54.459 It's a wonderful thing when people suddenly find themselves, maybe you've had this, a friend or a family member, 00:07:54.599 --> 00:07:56.599 suddenly they want to read the Bible. 00:07:56.719 --> 00:07:58.699 They are asking you questions about Jesus. 00:07:58.879 --> 00:08:00.839 It's a wonderful thing. 00:08:00.839 --> 00:08:05.899 And it's a sign that Cornelius is ready to hear the gospel. 00:08:06.399 --> 00:08:08.060 And again, that's not from himself. 00:08:08.279 --> 00:08:09.699 This is a God thing. 00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:15.599 God is doing something in his heart and in his life to make him realize his need of God 00:08:15.599 --> 00:08:18.939 and give him this desire to hear the good news of Jesus. 00:08:20.339 --> 00:08:21.919 And that's a great thing. 00:08:21.920 --> 00:08:25.939 And praise God if we've seen that in our own experience in the lives of others. 00:08:25.980 --> 00:08:31.400 And let's keep praying that we would see that among the people around us. 00:08:31.780 --> 00:08:35.500 So Cornelius is ready to hear the gospel and that shows us God is at work. 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:41.159 But we also see that God is at work as Peter preaches the gospel. 00:08:41.800 --> 00:08:45.019 We see that God uses his words to great effect. 00:08:45.019 --> 00:08:55.539 From verse 34 all the way to verse 43, Peter presents the good news of Jesus to Cornelius for the very first time. 00:08:56.799 --> 00:09:00.480 It's really interesting how full his gospel message is. 00:09:00.539 --> 00:09:05.120 It's very similar to the same themes that we find in Acts chapter 2. 00:09:05.919 --> 00:09:12.039 He presents a lot of information and all centers on the person and work of Jesus. 00:09:12.039 --> 00:09:19.419 But as he begins in verse 34, there is something that Peter has come to understand. 00:09:20.719 --> 00:09:29.360 So verse 34, I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism. 00:09:29.779 --> 00:09:34.759 So he'd been brought up in a system where you were to think of some people as clean if they were Jewish 00:09:34.759 --> 00:09:38.779 and other people to be unclean and outsiders if they were not Jewish. 00:09:39.019 --> 00:09:40.860 And now that's being broken down. 00:09:40.860 --> 00:09:44.320 Something about the coming of Jesus has brought a change. 00:09:44.779 --> 00:09:47.460 So he can say to Cornelius, I now understand. 00:09:47.680 --> 00:09:49.180 God doesn't show favoritism. 00:09:49.759 --> 00:09:55.480 There is no partiality based on what race a person belongs to or what they look like 00:09:55.480 --> 00:09:59.340 or what class they're in or what gender they belong to. 00:10:00.419 --> 00:10:01.360 Why not? 00:10:02.259 --> 00:10:07.560 Because the gospel, the good news of Jesus is all about grace. 00:10:07.559 --> 00:10:11.859 It comes to us as a gift that we do not deserve. 00:10:12.379 --> 00:10:17.779 Therefore, it is impossible for any type of person to say, this belongs to me. 00:10:18.919 --> 00:10:22.479 It's loving kindness to the undeserving. 00:10:22.619 --> 00:10:27.199 That means that the good news of Jesus is open to all. 00:10:27.879 --> 00:10:33.339 It's wonderfully inclusive, draws people in. 00:10:33.340 --> 00:10:41.899 And Peter will go on to say that God accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 00:10:41.980 --> 00:10:48.720 So we sang in Psalm 87, this list of foreign nations who would make up the register of God's people. 00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:55.019 And now Peter in the New Testament is saying that God accepts people from every nation, 00:10:55.620 --> 00:11:00.000 fulfilling this promise that God gave to Abraham way back in Genesis 12. 00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:07.240 That God was calling Abraham as one man to be a blessing to the nations of the world. 00:11:07.620 --> 00:11:11.379 That through one of Abraham's descendants, through Jesus, 00:11:12.620 --> 00:11:16.740 the good news of God would spread through the whole world. 00:11:16.740 --> 00:11:24.379 And that good news and that acceptance from God is for everybody who responds to God in the right way. 00:11:24.779 --> 00:11:29.460 Here it's described as those who fear him, those who worship and honor him, 00:11:29.940 --> 00:11:35.080 those who do what is right, those who respond with faith and obedience 00:11:35.080 --> 00:11:40.700 as children to a father in the family of God. 00:11:40.700 --> 00:11:45.980 God will accept people regardless of their background. 00:11:46.740 --> 00:11:54.379 And then after that introduction, Peter moves on to the content of the gospel message. 00:11:54.500 --> 00:11:57.700 What is the good news that he's been sent to bring? 00:11:58.419 --> 00:12:04.220 And we see he goes through the life and the death and the resurrection of Jesus. 00:12:04.360 --> 00:12:06.820 That's the center of our good news. 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:09.960 That's the distinctive of Christianity. 00:12:10.200 --> 00:12:11.480 We're not about morality. 00:12:11.480 --> 00:12:16.480 We're about being saved through what Jesus has come to do for us. 00:12:16.519 --> 00:12:18.899 So he begins with the life of Jesus. 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:20.519 In verse 37, 00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:45.319 So he begins with the ministry of John. 00:12:45.320 --> 00:12:48.740 And we know that Jesus was baptized by John. 00:12:49.040 --> 00:12:56.720 And as Jesus was being baptized, the spirit came on him in power in the form of a dove. 00:12:57.280 --> 00:12:59.660 And there was a voice from heaven saying, 00:12:59.920 --> 00:13:02.760 This is my son who I love. 00:13:02.920 --> 00:13:05.660 So from the beginning of his public life, 00:13:06.040 --> 00:13:11.960 Jesus was marked out as the son of God and this perfectly spirit filled man. 00:13:11.960 --> 00:13:17.440 And what Peter says about Jesus is that he went around doing good. 00:13:18.220 --> 00:13:21.019 And as we read the gospels, isn't that what we discover? 00:13:21.180 --> 00:13:23.400 Here is a man who cared for the poor. 00:13:24.040 --> 00:13:26.139 Here is somebody who had time for the outsiders, 00:13:26.300 --> 00:13:29.720 who gave dignity to whoever he came across. 00:13:31.060 --> 00:13:35.340 Peter focuses attention on the healing ministry of Jesus. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:40.240 An emphasis on the power of God over against the power of the devil. 00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:45.220 That Jesus' miracles are a sign of God's kingdom breaking in, 00:13:45.259 --> 00:13:50.080 of the power of God being greater than the power of the devil. 00:13:50.460 --> 00:13:53.000 And so as blind people were able to see, 00:13:53.180 --> 00:13:57.159 and as people with leprosy were able to be made clean, 00:13:57.519 --> 00:13:59.879 as those who were dead were given life, 00:14:00.419 --> 00:14:01.259 it was a sign. 00:14:01.419 --> 00:14:02.980 Here is God's kingdom. 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:05.419 Here is God's king. 00:14:05.419 --> 00:14:15.740 And so the message of the church includes the wonderful and the perfect life of Jesus. 00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:18.959 Sometimes we hurry on to the cross, 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:21.360 and we understand the cross is so vital, 00:14:21.839 --> 00:14:27.219 but the life of Jesus is so important because we see there his perfection. 00:14:27.959 --> 00:14:30.559 We see what it means to be truly human, 00:14:30.559 --> 00:14:33.839 to be truly obedient to God. 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:40.219 There is something wonderfully compelling about his love and his power and his words. 00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:45.239 I was speaking with a non-Christian this week, 00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:47.019 and they were saying to me exactly that. 00:14:47.099 --> 00:14:49.879 One of the reasons why they began to be interested in faith, 00:14:49.939 --> 00:14:51.259 having been brought up in it, 00:14:51.579 --> 00:14:53.819 and then leaving it behind for a number of years, 00:14:53.820 --> 00:14:55.760 was the life of Jesus, 00:14:55.860 --> 00:14:58.080 the quality of his life. 00:14:58.700 --> 00:15:00.280 And so we celebrate, 00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:05.040 and we want to represent that to the people around us. 00:15:06.640 --> 00:15:09.020 And having spoken about his life, 00:15:09.820 --> 00:15:14.640 Peter makes clear that he is an eyewitness of everything. 00:15:14.780 --> 00:15:15.440 Verse 39, 00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:21.440 we are witnesses of everything Jesus did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:24.400 And this is a thing that we see in the book of Acts, 00:15:24.600 --> 00:15:30.320 that they're very clear that they are presenting eyewitness evidence of historical facts. 00:15:30.560 --> 00:15:35.440 Our faith rests on the facts of history and on the historical Jesus. 00:15:36.340 --> 00:15:38.620 And we'll see that again as he continues to speak. 00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:40.560 So he speaks of his life, 00:15:40.920 --> 00:15:42.860 and then at the end of verse 39, 00:15:43.180 --> 00:15:46.540 he turns his attention to the death of Jesus. 00:15:47.920 --> 00:15:49.820 Last sentence of verse 39, 00:15:49.820 --> 00:15:54.660 they killed him by hanging him on a tree. 00:15:55.920 --> 00:15:58.220 Now the choice of language there is significant, 00:15:58.360 --> 00:15:59.060 not a cross, 00:15:59.500 --> 00:16:00.120 but the tree. 00:16:00.580 --> 00:16:01.660 In the Old Testament, 00:16:01.820 --> 00:16:03.900 if a person was hung on a tree, 00:16:04.520 --> 00:16:05.440 it was a symbol, 00:16:05.540 --> 00:16:09.280 a sign that they were under the curse of God. 00:16:09.960 --> 00:16:14.200 And so here is Peter making a deliberate theological point 00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:20.840 as he speaks about Jesus hanging on a cross to say that Jesus dies under the curse of God. 00:16:22.040 --> 00:16:27.879 Jesus dies facing the curse that you and I as lawbreakers should face 00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:31.980 so that the curse can be lifted from us. 00:16:32.420 --> 00:16:39.280 That Jesus on the cross is regarded as the worst sinner who ever lived 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:42.439 so that we might be forgiven. 00:16:42.439 --> 00:16:47.480 He takes all of our sin and he bears it on the cross 00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:49.919 and so goes under the curse of God 00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:55.120 so that we might be welcomed and accepted by God. 00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:59.139 There's this wonderful truth in the gospel 00:16:59.139 --> 00:17:03.100 that God sees us at our worst. 00:17:03.620 --> 00:17:07.339 That Jesus takes the worst of our lives. 00:17:07.400 --> 00:17:09.700 The stuff that we try and keep secret 00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:12.960 and if other people knew about we'd be so deeply ashamed of. 00:17:13.339 --> 00:17:15.599 Jesus goes to the cross willingly 00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:18.220 to be punished on our behalf 00:17:18.220 --> 00:17:19.619 for those sins 00:17:19.619 --> 00:17:22.359 so that we might go free. 00:17:22.359 --> 00:17:26.199 And then having spoken of his death 00:17:26.199 --> 00:17:30.059 he then moves on to his resurrection. 00:17:30.619 --> 00:17:33.919 So the gospel speaks of the life and the death 00:17:33.919 --> 00:17:35.459 and the resurrection of Jesus. 00:17:35.619 --> 00:17:36.740 Look at verse 40. 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:39.659 They killed him by hanging him on a tree 00:17:39.659 --> 00:17:43.939 but God raised him from the dead on the third day 00:17:43.939 --> 00:17:46.819 and caused him to be seen. 00:17:47.899 --> 00:17:49.939 He was not seen by all the people 00:17:49.940 --> 00:17:54.160 but by witnesses whom God had already chosen 00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:56.740 by us who ate and drank with him 00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:58.200 after he rose from the dead. 00:17:58.740 --> 00:18:01.140 Here is a reminder with that but God 00:18:01.140 --> 00:18:04.940 that behind the human actions to kill Jesus 00:18:04.940 --> 00:18:08.320 lay the eternal plan of God's salvation. 00:18:08.820 --> 00:18:12.840 Just as he said to the crowds in Acts chapter 2 00:18:12.840 --> 00:18:16.120 he said to a crowd of Jews 00:18:16.120 --> 00:18:18.700 you with the help of wicked men put Jesus to death 00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:21.220 but it was all part of the plan of God 00:18:21.220 --> 00:18:23.779 the eternal plan to save people 00:18:23.779 --> 00:18:26.600 and the sign of that is the resurrection 00:18:26.600 --> 00:18:30.920 that God accepted the son's sacrifice 00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:35.059 that he is raised in victory. 00:18:36.420 --> 00:18:39.259 And it's a sign for us that by faith 00:18:39.259 --> 00:18:43.819 we too can enjoy new life from God 00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:45.700 through faith in him. 00:18:45.700 --> 00:18:50.880 And again notice how Peter deliberately highlights 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:53.220 historical reliability. 00:18:53.600 --> 00:18:54.279 There's dating. 00:18:54.860 --> 00:18:55.860 When did this happen? 00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:57.580 Happened on the third day. 00:18:58.180 --> 00:18:58.840 There's eyewitness. 00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:03.940 He says that the disciples were chosen by Jesus 00:19:03.940 --> 00:19:06.400 to be eyewitnesses 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:10.720 and notice that his eyewitness is to a physical Jesus. 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:15.380 He talks about Jesus eating and drinking. 00:19:16.360 --> 00:19:20.279 Jesus was resurrected to a perfect physical body. 00:19:20.920 --> 00:19:24.799 A reminder that our future as Christians 00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:30.740 will be to have perfect physical resurrection bodies. 00:19:32.140 --> 00:19:34.299 And having stated the facts 00:19:34.299 --> 00:19:39.740 Peter then begins to draw towards the significance 00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:42.960 of the facts of Jesus. 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:44.279 Verse 42 00:19:44.279 --> 00:19:46.339 He commanded us 00:19:46.339 --> 00:19:48.899 Jesus commanded us to preach to the people 00:19:48.899 --> 00:19:50.779 and to testify 00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:54.339 that he is the one whom God appointed 00:19:54.339 --> 00:19:58.919 as judge of the living and the dead. 00:19:58.920 --> 00:20:03.340 This risen Lord Jesus 00:20:03.340 --> 00:20:05.759 who Peter is speaking about 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:09.360 is the one who sits in heaven as king 00:20:09.360 --> 00:20:12.279 the one who will return from glory 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:14.880 to be the judge of all. 00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:18.340 So he draws Cornelius' attention 00:20:18.340 --> 00:20:20.200 to the second coming 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:24.420 to the fact that there is a life beyond this one 00:20:24.420 --> 00:20:27.519 that Jesus will come back as judge 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:29.039 to make everything new 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:31.620 and all of the people who are trusting in him 00:20:31.620 --> 00:20:33.140 will go to be with him 00:20:33.140 --> 00:20:36.060 to live in this perfect world forever. 00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:39.539 And because that's true 00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:41.440 because Jesus is the judge 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:44.960 we need to respond in time. 00:20:45.560 --> 00:20:47.300 Just as Cornelius we will see 00:20:47.300 --> 00:20:49.620 responds in time to the message 00:20:49.620 --> 00:20:53.000 so we too need to respond in time 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:55.579 so that the judgment that we receive 00:20:55.579 --> 00:20:57.420 might be well done 00:20:57.420 --> 00:20:58.740 good and faithful servant. 00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:02.420 Come and enjoy the master's happiness. 00:21:03.380 --> 00:21:05.259 And then in verse 43 00:21:05.259 --> 00:21:08.500 we read Peter saying 00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:11.599 all the prophets testify about him. 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:12.799 So you can read the Old Testament 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:14.059 and it speaks of this 00:21:14.059 --> 00:21:17.279 that everyone who believes in Jesus 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:20.279 receives forgiveness of sins 00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:22.480 through his name. 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:25.799 Jesus has authority 00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:28.720 to forgive sins 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:31.920 and everyone who believes 00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:33.160 is forgiven. 00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:35.859 Again a reminder that this is inclusive 00:21:35.859 --> 00:21:37.859 this is open to all 00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:41.380 just as the prophets had always said. 00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:45.880 So that's Peter's remarkable message 00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:47.640 that he brings to Cornelius 00:21:47.640 --> 00:21:49.420 and it's all about Jesus. 00:21:49.420 --> 00:21:51.000 And what we see is that 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:53.259 the message that he brought to the Jews 00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:55.240 is now the same message 00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:57.820 that he brings to this non-Jewish person 00:21:57.820 --> 00:21:59.259 to this Gentile 00:21:59.259 --> 00:22:01.160 that the only way to know God 00:22:01.160 --> 00:22:03.740 the only way to be reconciled to him 00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:05.580 is through God's grace 00:22:05.580 --> 00:22:08.980 in sending his son Jesus. 00:22:08.980 --> 00:22:13.440 I was reading some snippets 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:15.380 from a book called 00:22:15.380 --> 00:22:16.940 Overcoming Katrina. 00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:20.559 It was a collection of writings 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:23.140 by a variety of African Americans 00:22:23.140 --> 00:22:24.740 writing about New Orleans 00:22:24.740 --> 00:22:26.400 around the time of the hurricane 00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:29.460 in was it 2005 or 2006. 00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:32.059 Well one story in particular 00:22:32.059 --> 00:22:34.920 was written by a lady 00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:36.819 and she was writing about 00:22:36.819 --> 00:22:38.519 the retirement complex 00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:40.759 that she found herself in 00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:43.539 at the time that the storm came. 00:22:44.100 --> 00:22:46.039 And what she was reflecting on 00:22:46.039 --> 00:22:47.900 was that as the hurricane broke 00:22:47.900 --> 00:22:48.880 on the city 00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:51.539 so all barriers of class 00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:54.420 and race began to break down. 00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:56.080 In her own words she said 00:22:56.080 --> 00:22:58.600 we were united in a crisis. 00:22:59.600 --> 00:23:02.560 And although in normal life 00:23:02.560 --> 00:23:04.180 perhaps those distinctions 00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:05.880 between black and white 00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:06.900 and rich and poor 00:23:06.900 --> 00:23:08.120 might have been really obvious 00:23:08.120 --> 00:23:08.860 in a storm 00:23:08.860 --> 00:23:10.480 they were all united together. 00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:12.000 And then she said 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:13.500 that we were rescued 00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:17.420 by a National Guard helicopter together. 00:23:18.120 --> 00:23:19.779 And in the gospel 00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:23.039 we discover this same thing to be true. 00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:24.879 that on the one hand 00:23:24.879 --> 00:23:27.279 we are all united together 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:29.420 in a great crisis. 00:23:30.079 --> 00:23:31.279 The Bible will say 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:33.180 that we are trapped by sin. 00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:35.079 That we are slaves to sin 00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:36.480 leading to death. 00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:40.000 And there is one way of rescue 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:41.440 for all. 00:23:42.359 --> 00:23:44.019 Not a rescue helicopter. 00:23:45.379 --> 00:23:47.039 Our hope of rescue 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:50.180 is through the Lord Jesus. 00:23:50.180 --> 00:23:53.940 So God is at work 00:23:53.940 --> 00:23:55.580 as Peter brings 00:23:55.580 --> 00:23:57.160 the good news of Jesus 00:23:57.160 --> 00:23:58.580 and we see that 00:23:58.580 --> 00:24:00.640 because God is working 00:24:00.640 --> 00:24:01.759 creating unity 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:03.299 through the gospel. 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:05.160 What happens next 00:24:05.160 --> 00:24:07.680 causes amazement 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:09.799 for the people who are there. 00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:11.440 So verse 44. 00:24:12.440 --> 00:24:14.560 While Peter was still speaking 00:24:14.560 --> 00:24:15.480 these words 00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:17.600 the Holy Spirit came on all 00:24:17.600 --> 00:24:18.779 who heard the message. 00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:21.059 The circumcised believers 00:24:21.059 --> 00:24:22.240 who had come with Peter 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:23.960 were astonished 00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:26.259 that the gift of the Holy Spirit 00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:27.619 had been poured out 00:24:27.619 --> 00:24:28.940 even on the Gentiles 00:24:28.940 --> 00:24:30.099 for they heard them 00:24:30.099 --> 00:24:31.180 speaking in tongues 00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:32.920 speaking in other languages 00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:34.859 and praising God. 00:24:34.940 --> 00:24:35.779 There is amazement 00:24:36.379 --> 00:24:37.839 among the Jews with Peter 00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:39.779 because this group of Gentiles 00:24:40.379 --> 00:24:40.899 have received 00:24:40.899 --> 00:24:42.559 the same Holy Spirit 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:43.859 that God's people 00:24:43.859 --> 00:24:44.440 had received 00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:46.759 back at Pentecost. 00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:48.480 They've got the same ability 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:50.259 to speak other languages 00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:51.700 that God gave 00:24:51.700 --> 00:24:52.819 to the disciples 00:24:52.819 --> 00:24:55.079 back at Pentecost. 00:24:55.559 --> 00:24:56.519 And there's this wonderfully 00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:57.900 rich symbolism. 00:24:58.539 --> 00:24:58.700 You know, 00:24:58.700 --> 00:24:59.960 why did the apostles 00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:01.379 in Acts chapter 2 00:25:01.379 --> 00:25:02.920 when they received 00:25:02.920 --> 00:25:03.420 the Holy Spirit 00:25:03.420 --> 00:25:04.099 why were they able 00:25:04.099 --> 00:25:05.140 to speak other languages? 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:06.559 So that people would get 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:07.539 to hear the good news 00:25:07.539 --> 00:25:07.980 of Jesus. 00:25:08.579 --> 00:25:10.539 And so here is a sign 00:25:10.539 --> 00:25:11.279 for us that 00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:13.200 as God is saving 00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:14.980 Cornelius and his household 00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:16.980 so he will use them 00:25:16.980 --> 00:25:18.579 to share the good news 00:25:18.579 --> 00:25:19.059 of Jesus 00:25:19.059 --> 00:25:20.579 in their community 00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:21.559 with the people 00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:23.339 around them. 00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:25.660 They get these languages 00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:26.740 so that more 00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:27.779 and more people 00:25:27.779 --> 00:25:29.259 can hear the good news 00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:29.740 of Jesus. 00:25:30.900 --> 00:25:32.500 Peter clearly recognizes 00:25:32.500 --> 00:25:33.380 God is at work. 00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:34.220 Verse 47, 00:25:34.360 --> 00:25:36.059 can anyone keep these people 00:25:36.059 --> 00:25:36.920 from being baptized? 00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:37.740 They've received 00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:38.599 the Holy Spirit 00:25:38.599 --> 00:25:40.380 just as we have. 00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:41.799 So they get baptism. 00:25:41.980 --> 00:25:43.079 Baptism is evidence 00:25:43.079 --> 00:25:44.559 of Jesus having 00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:45.779 washed them from sin. 00:25:46.359 --> 00:25:47.579 This sign of publicly 00:25:47.579 --> 00:25:48.960 being identified 00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:49.740 with Jesus 00:25:49.740 --> 00:25:51.559 and his church. 00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:55.419 Just as happened 00:25:55.419 --> 00:25:56.859 with the Jews 00:25:56.859 --> 00:25:58.099 at Pentecost. 00:25:58.179 --> 00:25:59.099 And then verse 48, 00:25:59.179 --> 00:25:59.859 he ordered that 00:25:59.859 --> 00:26:00.659 they be baptized. 00:26:01.419 --> 00:26:02.399 Then they asked Peter 00:26:02.399 --> 00:26:03.619 to stay with them 00:26:03.619 --> 00:26:04.799 for a few days. 00:26:04.859 --> 00:26:05.500 So here's another 00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:07.559 expression of this unity 00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:09.199 that the gospel creates. 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:10.500 Remember, 00:26:10.859 --> 00:26:12.039 Peter was brought up 00:26:12.039 --> 00:26:12.659 with the idea 00:26:12.659 --> 00:26:14.420 that Jews and Gentiles 00:26:14.420 --> 00:26:15.500 were to keep separate 00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:16.500 because the Gentiles 00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:17.299 were unclean. 00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:19.680 Well, back in chapter 10, 00:26:20.099 --> 00:26:21.279 Peter had welcomed 00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:22.000 the Gentiles 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:23.240 to share hospitality 00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:24.119 with them. 00:26:24.519 --> 00:26:25.099 And now, 00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:25.779 this time, 00:26:25.859 --> 00:26:27.180 he receives hospitality 00:26:27.180 --> 00:26:29.399 from the Gentiles. 00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:29.980 Again, 00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:31.159 a sign that barriers 00:26:31.159 --> 00:26:32.619 are being torn down 00:26:32.619 --> 00:26:35.119 by the grace of God. 00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:36.799 And that's really 00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:37.940 what chapter 11, 00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:39.220 verses 1 to 18, 00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:39.740 is about. 00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:42.099 People hear 00:26:42.099 --> 00:26:43.019 what's been happening 00:26:43.019 --> 00:26:43.779 and they're asking 00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:44.980 questions of Peter. 00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:46.299 What's going on? 00:26:46.380 --> 00:26:47.120 Why are you going 00:26:47.120 --> 00:26:47.759 into the house 00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:49.140 of uncircumcised people 00:26:49.140 --> 00:26:49.960 and eating with them? 00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.240 Why are you breaking 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:52.279 down that barrier 00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:53.059 that's existed 00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:54.539 for such a long time? 00:26:55.640 --> 00:26:57.180 And Peter acknowledges 00:26:57.180 --> 00:26:58.259 God's work 00:26:58.259 --> 00:26:59.740 in breaking down 00:26:59.740 --> 00:27:01.180 cultural and religious 00:27:01.180 --> 00:27:01.920 prejudices 00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:03.120 in order to create 00:27:03.120 --> 00:27:05.000 a united church. 00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:07.680 So as Neil read for us, 00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:09.120 Peter recounts 00:27:09.120 --> 00:27:09.640 for the people, 00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:10.900 there was the vision 00:27:10.900 --> 00:27:11.480 that was sent 00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:12.080 from God, 00:27:12.500 --> 00:27:13.039 teaching him 00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:14.259 not to consider 00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:15.500 other people unclean. 00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:17.700 There was the command 00:27:17.700 --> 00:27:18.960 from the Holy Spirit 00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:20.259 to go with the people 00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:22.460 to Cornelius' house. 00:27:23.460 --> 00:27:24.580 There was the clear 00:27:24.580 --> 00:27:26.240 preparation of Cornelius 00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:27.140 to hear the gospel 00:27:27.140 --> 00:27:28.360 because he had received 00:27:28.360 --> 00:27:29.360 a vision from God. 00:27:30.120 --> 00:27:31.340 And then God's action 00:27:31.340 --> 00:27:32.460 of sending the Spirit 00:27:32.460 --> 00:27:33.840 was a clear indicator 00:27:33.840 --> 00:27:34.539 to Peter 00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:36.240 that God's desire 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:36.940 was that Jews 00:27:36.940 --> 00:27:38.259 and Gentiles together 00:27:38.259 --> 00:27:41.000 be part of one church. 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:45.079 In verse 36, 00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:47.700 Peter says, 00:27:47.940 --> 00:27:48.759 in chapter 10, 00:27:49.119 --> 00:27:50.159 you know the message 00:27:50.159 --> 00:27:50.859 God sent 00:27:50.859 --> 00:27:51.899 to the people of Israel 00:27:51.899 --> 00:27:53.599 telling the good news 00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:54.480 of peace 00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:56.319 through Jesus Christ. 00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:57.519 The good news of Jesus 00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:59.019 is a message of peace, 00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:01.220 a message of reconciliation, 00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:03.180 a message that brings 00:28:03.180 --> 00:28:03.980 down barriers. 00:28:04.120 --> 00:28:04.740 First barriers 00:28:04.740 --> 00:28:05.860 between us and God, 00:28:06.160 --> 00:28:07.180 but then barriers 00:28:07.180 --> 00:28:09.519 between other people. 00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:11.900 And so this story 00:28:11.900 --> 00:28:13.700 stands right at the center 00:28:13.700 --> 00:28:15.039 of the book of Acts 00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:17.080 to teach the first church 00:28:17.080 --> 00:28:19.279 and to teach ourselves 00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:21.519 about the grace of God 00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:22.640 to remind us 00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:23.860 that we must be careful 00:28:23.860 --> 00:28:25.259 to identify 00:28:25.259 --> 00:28:28.120 and get rid of prejudices 00:28:28.120 --> 00:28:29.740 or blind spots 00:28:29.740 --> 00:28:30.880 in our own lives 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:32.500 that would put up barriers. 00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:33.960 the people 00:28:33.960 --> 00:28:34.720 that we would say 00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:36.480 they are beyond 00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:37.559 God's help. 00:28:38.920 --> 00:28:40.180 We don't want 00:28:40.180 --> 00:28:41.279 to make the gospel 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:42.960 seem less powerful 00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:44.660 or less beautiful 00:28:44.660 --> 00:28:45.700 than it is. 00:28:46.099 --> 00:28:47.480 The early church 00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:49.200 celebrated the fact 00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:49.980 that God had done 00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:51.319 this remarkable thing 00:28:51.319 --> 00:28:52.339 in bringing together 00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:53.619 former enemies 00:28:53.619 --> 00:28:56.319 into one church. 00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:57.960 God's grace 00:28:57.960 --> 00:28:59.480 does that. 00:28:59.480 --> 00:29:00.960 And so let's be 00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:02.180 praying together 00:29:02.180 --> 00:29:03.220 that we would have 00:29:03.220 --> 00:29:04.339 in our own day 00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:05.200 and in our city 00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:06.599 lots more of these 00:29:06.599 --> 00:29:08.839 Peter and Cornelius stories. 00:29:09.660 --> 00:29:10.900 Lots more examples 00:29:10.900 --> 00:29:12.680 of God's people 00:29:12.680 --> 00:29:14.279 being led by God 00:29:14.279 --> 00:29:15.500 to break down 00:29:15.500 --> 00:29:16.240 those barriers 00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:17.940 of seeing all kinds 00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:18.660 of people being 00:29:18.660 --> 00:29:19.860 gathered together 00:29:19.860 --> 00:29:22.019 in the worship of God 00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:23.660 and His Son Jesus. 00:29:23.660 --> 00:29:53.640 and His Son Jesus.