WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:09.500 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:15.280 redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:22.620 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:22.620 --> 00:00:35.160 Today's scripture reading is from the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 10, verses 1-17 and 34-48. 00:00:37.719 --> 00:00:43.320 At Caesarea, there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:46.159 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing. 00:00:46.680 --> 00:00:49.520 He gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 00:00:49.520 --> 00:00:53.060 One day, at about three in the afternoon, he had a vision. 00:00:53.780 --> 00:00:57.760 He distinctly saw an angel of God who came to him and said, Cornelius. 00:00:58.660 --> 00:01:00.060 Cornelius stared at him in fear. 00:01:00.660 --> 00:01:01.940 What is it, Lord? he asked. 00:01:02.480 --> 00:01:07.359 The angel answered, Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 00:01:08.219 --> 00:01:12.659 Now send man to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon, who is called Peter. 00:01:13.520 --> 00:01:16.300 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea. 00:01:16.299 --> 00:01:23.200 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 00:01:23.700 --> 00:01:26.539 He told them everything that happened and sent them to Joppa. 00:01:27.420 --> 00:01:32.739 About noon the following day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 00:01:33.379 --> 00:01:35.519 He became hungry and wanted something to eat. 00:01:35.900 --> 00:01:38.280 And while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:43.719 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 00:01:44.219 --> 00:01:48.540 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals as well as reptiles and birds. 00:01:49.519 --> 00:01:52.659 Then a voice told him, Get up, Peter. Kill and eat. 00:01:53.400 --> 00:01:57.780 Surely not, Lord, Peter replied. I have never eaten anything impure or unclean. 00:01:58.379 --> 00:02:00.060 The voice spoke to him a second time. 00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:03.020 Do not call anything impure that God has made clean. 00:02:03.700 --> 00:02:07.120 This happened three times and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. 00:02:07.120 --> 00:02:14.420 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the man sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. 00:02:16.740 --> 00:02:18.319 Then Peter began to speak. 00:02:18.759 --> 00:02:25.800 I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 00:02:26.580 --> 00:02:32.580 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 00:02:32.580 --> 00:02:38.420 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached. 00:02:38.820 --> 00:02:47.520 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil because God was with him. 00:02:48.280 --> 00:02:52.120 We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. 00:02:52.880 --> 00:02:58.720 They killed him by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:06.719 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen, by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 00:03:07.460 --> 00:03:13.780 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. 00:03:14.599 --> 00:03:20.060 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. 00:03:21.060 --> 00:03:25.020 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 00:03:25.020 --> 00:03:31.860 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles, 00:03:32.140 --> 00:03:34.760 for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. 00:03:35.640 --> 00:03:40.300 Then Peter said, Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. 00:03:40.820 --> 00:03:43.080 They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have. 00:03:44.060 --> 00:03:47.260 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:03:47.740 --> 00:03:50.100 Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days. 00:03:50.680 --> 00:03:51.900 This is the word of the Lord. 00:03:51.900 --> 00:03:53.900 Thanks be to God. 00:03:55.020 --> 00:04:02.180 Good morning, Christ Church. 00:04:02.420 --> 00:04:04.820 Nothing like the smell of kimchi on a Sunday morning. 00:04:06.379 --> 00:04:08.180 Who is happy that it's summertime? 00:04:09.560 --> 00:04:10.719 Yay, we made it. 00:04:10.800 --> 00:04:11.800 We made it to summer. 00:04:12.140 --> 00:04:17.900 And I'm working on some summer projects of some deferred personal maintenance. 00:04:18.340 --> 00:04:22.180 I went the other day to Sight for Sore Eyes to get my eye exam. 00:04:22.180 --> 00:04:25.319 And I got a new prescription after seven years. 00:04:26.160 --> 00:04:27.060 Has this ever happened to you? 00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:29.920 You kind of wish, like, man, I should have gone before. 00:04:30.040 --> 00:04:34.139 I could have been seeing, like, why was that not a higher priority on my to-do list? 00:04:34.240 --> 00:04:36.680 Immediately improved vision. 00:04:37.240 --> 00:04:39.060 But anyway, I finally went. 00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:45.079 And I concentrated very hard on this eye exam because, you know, you don't want to fail that one. 00:04:45.079 --> 00:04:48.539 And come out with some huge Coke bottle lenses. 00:04:48.740 --> 00:04:51.919 And so I focused very hard on this eye exam. 00:04:52.099 --> 00:04:55.259 And the doctor prescribed progressive lenses for me. 00:04:55.259 --> 00:05:00.439 Which is basically a nice way of saying you're old and you need trifocals. 00:05:01.579 --> 00:05:05.800 So this word progressive is used in so many interesting ways, I think. 00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:13.539 I think progressive is a way to try to make me feel that I'm enlightened, advanced in some way, on the cutting edge. 00:05:13.699 --> 00:05:17.060 In reality, I have to close one eye to read now. 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:19.439 I have to, like, hold the phone on my face to see. 00:05:19.519 --> 00:05:21.240 Is this the case with anybody else? 00:05:21.240 --> 00:05:28.240 Okay, well, trifocals enable you to see three different distances depending on where you look at the lens. 00:05:28.360 --> 00:05:30.680 You know, short, medium, and far away. 00:05:30.819 --> 00:05:35.100 So it's like, okay, here's my book and there's a plane and there are the rings of Saturn, I think is what. 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:37.280 Isn't that how trifocals work? 00:05:38.680 --> 00:05:42.680 So anyway, you might see me with some new eyewear later this summer. 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:44.699 Very exciting, something to look forward to. 00:05:45.439 --> 00:05:49.840 But my job as a pastor is to help the church with her vision. 00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:54.379 To examine what it is that we can see and not see. 00:05:55.319 --> 00:05:59.419 To think about where are we clear and where are we fuzzy. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:06.459 And then to give us corrective lenses, the corrective lenses of scripture to help us focus our vision on God. 00:06:06.979 --> 00:06:08.879 And on the mission of God in the world. 00:06:09.339 --> 00:06:14.539 To give us 20-20 vision about the primary task of the church. 00:06:14.620 --> 00:06:16.639 And what is the primary task of the church? 00:06:16.639 --> 00:06:20.219 The primary task of the church is evangelism. 00:06:21.039 --> 00:06:22.120 It's sharing the gospel. 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:24.899 It's spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. 00:06:25.019 --> 00:06:30.939 And we're looking at this book, The Acts of the Apostles, which could also be called The Acts of the Holy Spirit. 00:06:31.099 --> 00:06:34.399 The Acts of Jesus through the Holy Spirit among the apostles. 00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:40.079 And what we've seen so far is that beginning in Jerusalem, the gospel began to spread. 00:06:40.259 --> 00:06:43.799 And it spread out to unlikely people like the Samaritans. 00:06:44.339 --> 00:06:47.779 And then beyond that, it went to this Ethiopian financier. 00:06:47.919 --> 00:06:51.359 And it went to the ends of the earth, all the way to Africa, through that man. 00:06:51.360 --> 00:07:00.000 Last week we saw that the gospel went to even Saul of Tarsus, this vile persecutor of the Messianic community. 00:07:00.420 --> 00:07:06.480 Who's now become God's chosen instrument to take the gospel throughout the Roman Empire. 00:07:07.100 --> 00:07:10.540 And so the question for us today is where does the gospel go next? 00:07:10.620 --> 00:07:14.259 And what we see today is the gospel goes to the Greco-Romans. 00:07:14.259 --> 00:07:20.779 It goes to a guy like Cornelius, who's a person of high rank and status in the Roman army. 00:07:20.899 --> 00:07:26.639 And if you read all the way to the end of this book, the gospel goes all the way to Rome itself. 00:07:26.779 --> 00:07:29.779 To the nerve center of the culture. 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:34.959 And from there, it's just one short step to everywhere else in the world. 00:07:35.060 --> 00:07:36.839 To Spain and Britain in the west. 00:07:37.060 --> 00:07:40.060 To Iraq, Iran and India in the east. 00:07:40.120 --> 00:07:42.959 That's where the gospel spread out from these places. 00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:47.620 And what I want us to see today, as we bore down into Acts chapter 10, 00:07:48.379 --> 00:07:53.839 is that Reformed Christians share the gospel and celebrate the Spirit. 00:07:54.539 --> 00:07:56.000 That's my message for you today. 00:07:56.120 --> 00:08:00.279 That Reformed Christians share the gospel and celebrate the Spirit. 00:08:00.379 --> 00:08:02.759 And what do I mean by Reformed Christians? 00:08:03.099 --> 00:08:07.759 Well, Peter receives a revelation from the Lord himself. 00:08:08.060 --> 00:08:10.139 And how does he respond in verse 14? 00:08:10.139 --> 00:08:11.379 He says, 00:08:11.560 --> 00:08:12.099 No, Lord. 00:08:13.159 --> 00:08:14.519 Certainly not, Lord. 00:08:14.599 --> 00:08:15.680 By no means, Lord. 00:08:15.759 --> 00:08:16.740 Never, Lord. 00:08:16.939 --> 00:08:18.599 Anybody ever respond to God like that? 00:08:19.459 --> 00:08:23.519 Peter is a Christian, but he's a Christian who needs to be reformed. 00:08:24.060 --> 00:08:28.599 He's brash enough to contradict Jesus on at least four occasions. 00:08:28.719 --> 00:08:30.839 The first of which, Jesus says, 00:08:30.919 --> 00:08:33.740 You know, the Messiah must suffer and be killed. 00:08:33.860 --> 00:08:34.460 And Peter says, 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:35.840 No, Lord, never. 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:39.139 Because Peter wants a Christianity without the cross. 00:08:39.980 --> 00:08:42.519 On the second occasion, Jesus says, 00:08:42.740 --> 00:08:43.940 I need to wash your feet. 00:08:44.340 --> 00:08:45.259 And Peter says, 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:46.120 No, Lord, never. 00:08:46.200 --> 00:08:48.860 Because Peter wants a Christianity without cleansing. 00:08:49.580 --> 00:08:52.980 And without the conversion that leads to the cleansing from sin. 00:08:53.700 --> 00:08:54.960 On the third occasion, 00:08:54.960 --> 00:08:56.639 Jesus says, 00:08:56.639 --> 00:09:00.940 All of you disciples are going to abandon me in my hour of greatest need. 00:09:01.060 --> 00:09:01.680 And Peter says, 00:09:01.780 --> 00:09:02.620 No, Lord, never. 00:09:03.220 --> 00:09:04.740 Even if all fall away, 00:09:05.040 --> 00:09:07.200 I will never fall away on account of you. 00:09:07.240 --> 00:09:09.660 In fact, I'll go with you to prison and to death. 00:09:09.740 --> 00:09:10.300 And Jesus says, 00:09:10.379 --> 00:09:11.200 Well, actually, Peter, 00:09:11.560 --> 00:09:12.620 before the night's over, 00:09:12.700 --> 00:09:14.860 you're going to disown me three times. 00:09:15.840 --> 00:09:20.500 Because Peter wanted a Christianity without the cost of discipleship. 00:09:20.500 --> 00:09:24.200 And here on this fourth occasion in Acts chapter 10, 00:09:24.320 --> 00:09:28.799 Jesus gives this revelation three times about food. 00:09:29.539 --> 00:09:33.919 And about the people who eat that food whom Peter considers unclean. 00:09:35.519 --> 00:09:38.980 Namely, non-Jewish, uncircumcised Gentiles. 00:09:39.480 --> 00:09:44.120 And this vision is meant to say that God wants to accept and include these people. 00:09:44.259 --> 00:09:45.860 And three times Peter says, 00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:47.519 No, Lord, never. 00:09:47.519 --> 00:09:51.519 Because this guy who wants a Christianity without the cross, 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:53.819 and a Christianity without cleansing and conversion, 00:09:54.519 --> 00:09:57.000 and a Christianity without the cost of discipleship, 00:09:57.059 --> 00:10:01.500 he also wants a Christianity without the inconveniences of mission. 00:10:02.079 --> 00:10:03.259 Without outreach. 00:10:03.319 --> 00:10:08.840 He wants to keep the faith to his own race and his own nation. 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:11.539 You ever find yourself saying, 00:10:11.799 --> 00:10:13.059 No, Lord, never. 00:10:13.059 --> 00:10:18.279 Maybe you don't reject Christianity as a whole, 00:10:18.419 --> 00:10:20.579 but you edit Christianity down. 00:10:21.459 --> 00:10:25.619 Ever want to eliminate some of those elements of Christianity that irritate and annoy you? 00:10:26.179 --> 00:10:31.059 Or remove those ingredients that you find distasteful and unpalatable? 00:10:31.779 --> 00:10:35.500 Many 21st century people like Peter 00:10:35.500 --> 00:10:38.899 want to redefine Christianity in their own terms 00:10:38.899 --> 00:10:42.959 and create alternatives and deviations from Jesus' gospel. 00:10:43.740 --> 00:10:45.899 For example, postmodern people say, 00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:49.959 No, Lord, I want a Christianity without doctrinal truth or orthodoxy. 00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:52.899 I want a Christianity without ethics and moral imperatives 00:10:53.539 --> 00:10:56.799 and holiness and obedience to Jesus as my Lord. 00:10:56.799 --> 00:11:02.799 I want a Christianity without the hassle of, you know, 00:11:02.899 --> 00:11:05.000 belonging to and loving a church. 00:11:05.620 --> 00:11:08.879 I want a Christianity without the bother of all these people. 00:11:09.379 --> 00:11:12.979 I want a Christianity where I can practice mercy and justice, 00:11:13.219 --> 00:11:15.839 but only with the people with whom I happen to agree. 00:11:17.139 --> 00:11:19.859 Well, if you're a no, Lord, never Christian, 00:11:20.379 --> 00:11:21.819 like me, like Peter, 00:11:22.419 --> 00:11:25.039 how is it that we can be reformed? 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:29.740 And the answer is through divine intervention, divine revelation. 00:11:30.980 --> 00:11:34.980 Cornelius and Peter are praying about 32 miles apart, 00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:36.659 about 21 miles apart, 00:11:36.659 --> 00:11:40.719 and through prayer, God perfectly synchronizes their lives. 00:11:40.759 --> 00:11:41.779 And he says to Cornelius, 00:11:41.899 --> 00:11:42.559 Send for Peter. 00:11:43.339 --> 00:11:44.279 And he says to Peter, 00:11:44.919 --> 00:11:47.399 See this picnic blanket with all these foods 00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:49.579 that represent the Gentile peoples. 00:11:49.580 --> 00:11:55.040 I want you to stop thinking about them as unclean pagans. 00:11:56.020 --> 00:11:59.800 I want you to stop thinking about them as impure idolaters of false gods, 00:11:59.860 --> 00:12:03.460 and I want you to start reaching out to them with the gospel. 00:12:04.620 --> 00:12:10.160 And God has to hit Peter over the head with this like three times to get it through. 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:15.719 And I don't have all the time to go through the deep biblical theology that's behind the story, 00:12:15.819 --> 00:12:21.899 but basically Peter's problem that the Lord is wanting to reform is that he's lost sight of, 00:12:22.379 --> 00:12:29.000 and he's become blurry in his vision about the wider horizons of the mission of God's people 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:31.659 to be a light to the nations. 00:12:31.659 --> 00:12:38.059 He's twisted this doctrine of being chosen by God into a doctrine of being the favorites of God. 00:12:38.899 --> 00:12:43.059 And so it fills him with racial pride, with national pride, 00:12:43.059 --> 00:12:47.919 that causes him to look down upon Gentiles as somehow beneath him, 00:12:48.079 --> 00:12:49.860 as people to be despised. 00:12:50.439 --> 00:12:51.980 And he doesn't share his home with them. 00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:53.779 He doesn't share his table with them. 00:12:54.179 --> 00:12:57.959 And that is, of course, a massive barrier to the gospel going out. 00:12:57.960 --> 00:13:04.759 It's a massive barrier to building a multinational, multiracial, multicultural church. 00:13:06.259 --> 00:13:11.440 And so how does this no-Lord-never-Christian come to be reformed? 00:13:12.040 --> 00:13:13.920 Well, it takes divine revelation. 00:13:15.060 --> 00:13:21.139 Three times Peter hears the voice of the resurrected Lord Jesus speaking through the Holy Spirit 00:13:21.139 --> 00:13:23.060 these words in verse 15, 00:13:23.059 --> 00:13:28.279 Do not call anything impure that God has made clean. 00:13:29.419 --> 00:13:35.199 And Peter becomes a Christian who's reformed according to the word of God. 00:13:36.059 --> 00:13:41.119 We didn't read this verse, but in verse 28, Peter says, 00:13:41.259 --> 00:13:46.859 God has now shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:49.279 And then we did read verse 34 where he says, 00:13:49.379 --> 00:13:53.200 I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, 00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:56.560 but accepts people from every nation. 00:13:56.659 --> 00:14:01.840 And therefore, he forbids me to judge on the basis of external appearances. 00:14:03.100 --> 00:14:05.580 Now, Peter is the lead apostle of the church. 00:14:05.899 --> 00:14:09.080 And this is the watershed moment of Gentile outreach, 00:14:09.220 --> 00:14:11.820 the turning point of Gentile inclusion. 00:14:11.820 --> 00:14:17.640 And so the Lord uses extraordinary means to reveal himself and his purposes. 00:14:18.580 --> 00:14:21.120 He reveals his will in a vision, right? 00:14:21.160 --> 00:14:24.760 He reveals his voice, his word in a voice. 00:14:24.920 --> 00:14:28.820 And even still, Peter is reluctant and resistant. 00:14:30.100 --> 00:14:34.640 And then God reveals his way by bringing representatives from Cornelius 00:14:34.640 --> 00:14:40.740 at the exact moment that Peter is puzzling out the meaning of this vision and this voice. 00:14:40.740 --> 00:14:46.139 And so what we see here is that Peter's reformation comes through revelation. 00:14:47.320 --> 00:14:49.480 And so what are the ordinary means? 00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:57.399 The non-extraordinary means that God wants to use to get through to ordinary people like us today, 00:14:57.820 --> 00:14:59.620 put simply, it's the Bible. 00:15:00.659 --> 00:15:02.639 It's the written word of God. 00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:06.700 It's the prophets of the Old Testament, the apostles of the New Testament. 00:15:06.700 --> 00:15:14.340 Our reformation comes through the revelation of God's inspired, authoritative scriptures. 00:15:14.520 --> 00:15:20.060 And it's through that firm word of the scriptures that we get fresh words from the Spirit. 00:15:21.100 --> 00:15:27.960 And this is how God reforms us, changes us, shapes us, and molds us who are no Lord, never Christians. 00:15:27.960 --> 00:15:37.320 This is how God intervenes to cure us of our nationalism and our racism like Peter. 00:15:38.040 --> 00:15:45.879 It's how God deals with the ugly sin of discrimination and favoritism that keeps creeping its way into the church 00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:50.120 in all these ugly forms where we judge people on the basis of externals. 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:59.059 Skin color, culture of origin, biological sex, educational status, wealth, class, social position. 00:15:59.899 --> 00:16:02.220 It's how God deals with tribalism in Africa. 00:16:02.360 --> 00:16:04.279 It's how God deals with casteism in India. 00:16:04.419 --> 00:16:08.939 It's how God deals with apartheid in South Africa and in the United States. 00:16:08.940 --> 00:16:16.720 All such discrimination and favoritism on the basis of externals and appearances is inexcusable 00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:21.980 in the Christian community, not because that's a fashionable ideology today, 00:16:22.560 --> 00:16:25.360 and not because that's trending in the zeitgeist, 00:16:25.460 --> 00:16:30.220 but precisely because it's the truth of God revealed in his word. 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:36.400 Peter wanted to shape Christianity according to his cultural preferences and prejudices, 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:42.519 but Peter himself needed to be shaped according to the Lord's prerogatives and purposes. 00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:48.639 If you're a Christian, if you believe that Jesus is risen from the dead, 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:53.340 we have no right to disagree with him. 00:16:53.620 --> 00:16:56.120 We have no right to contradict him, 00:16:56.679 --> 00:17:01.199 and we need to fall as Christians down before him every morning of every day 00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:06.519 and repent of our no, Lord, never attitudes and outlooks. 00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:09.960 And instead of saying no, Lord, never, we need to say, 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:11.799 yes, Lord, whatever. 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:14.920 Whatever is in your mind is true. 00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:18.920 Whatever is of your will is good. 00:17:19.640 --> 00:17:21.559 Whatever is written for us in your word, 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:24.120 I will believe and I will do. 00:17:24.119 --> 00:17:28.319 That's what it means to be a reformed Christian, 00:17:28.439 --> 00:17:31.279 reformed according to the word of God. 00:17:32.659 --> 00:17:35.079 And reformed Christians, we see in this text, 00:17:35.219 --> 00:17:38.079 reformed Christians go and share the gospel. 00:17:38.899 --> 00:17:40.979 Reformed Christians share the gospel. 00:17:41.159 --> 00:17:43.039 Peter is reformed by the word of God, 00:17:43.099 --> 00:17:46.279 and what we didn't read is that as a result of that, 00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:51.639 he goes out and he invites these Gentiles into his home and to his table. 00:17:51.640 --> 00:17:55.740 And then the next day, he gets up and he goes and he enters their homes 00:17:55.740 --> 00:17:58.160 and he eats at the table of Cornelius, 00:17:58.259 --> 00:18:01.740 which is the first time Peter's ever done this in his whole life. 00:18:02.860 --> 00:18:10.660 And what does he offer to this large household of about 50, 75, 100 relatives and friends, 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:17.700 these non-Jewish, Gentile, Italian, spiritually receptive and seeking people? 00:18:17.700 --> 00:18:26.420 We read in verse 36 that Peter gave to them the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, 00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:28.460 who is Lord of all. 00:18:29.319 --> 00:18:34.220 He gave them the gospel of Jesus who brings peace and reconciliation with God. 00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:38.220 My heart broke a little bit last summer when I heard the question, 00:18:38.940 --> 00:18:40.519 what is the gospel really? 00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:43.039 Not because that's not a great question, 00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:47.460 but because it came from someone who'd been a member of Christ Church for a very long time. 00:18:48.180 --> 00:18:52.960 And somehow we had not done a good job of bringing clarity to that person's mind 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:56.240 and conviction to their heart about the answer to that question, 00:18:56.379 --> 00:18:57.220 what is the gospel? 00:18:58.279 --> 00:19:00.180 And so I want to remedy that here today 00:19:00.180 --> 00:19:05.539 by looking at Peter's gospel summary in verses 38 to 43, 00:19:06.299 --> 00:19:10.039 which is just a beautiful expression of apostolic Christianity. 00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:13.180 And it centers on the historical Jesus, 00:19:13.420 --> 00:19:17.460 and it unfolds the successive stages of his saving career, right? 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:22.220 His life, his substitutionary death, his bodily resurrection, 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:24.759 his exaltation as the king. 00:19:24.859 --> 00:19:27.159 And basically the gospel is the good news 00:19:27.159 --> 00:19:31.899 that this Jesus, the crucified yet risen one, 00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:34.879 is the Lord of the whole world. 00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:36.519 That's the gospel. 00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:40.839 And this living Jesus, having conquered over sin and death, 00:19:40.900 --> 00:19:45.779 he went and he spent those next 40 days with Peter and with the disciples, 00:19:45.940 --> 00:19:47.920 and he was teaching them his gospel. 00:19:48.579 --> 00:19:52.379 He was teaching them all the details and the content of his gospel 00:19:52.379 --> 00:19:54.259 that he wanted them to take out and share 00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:57.240 so that what we hear from the lips of Peter 00:19:57.240 --> 00:20:00.879 is directly from the lips of Jesus himself. 00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:05.340 And I want to focus in today on that one part of Jesus' gospel 00:20:05.340 --> 00:20:07.100 that we're probably most prone to say, 00:20:07.320 --> 00:20:09.180 no, Lord, never to. 00:20:09.840 --> 00:20:11.300 And that's in verse 42, 00:20:12.020 --> 00:20:13.280 where it says, 00:20:15.040 --> 00:20:17.600 He, Jesus, commanded us to preach to the people 00:20:17.600 --> 00:20:20.200 and to testify that he is the one 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:24.040 whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:26.220 Jesus talked about judgment 00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:28.200 more than anybody else in the whole Bible, 00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:30.580 and he said over and over 00:20:30.580 --> 00:20:32.559 that God the Father has appointed me 00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:35.180 as the judge of human beings at the end of time 00:20:35.180 --> 00:20:37.100 so that the destiny of all people 00:20:37.100 --> 00:20:39.380 is in my hands. 00:20:40.299 --> 00:20:43.259 This is an example of Jesus' teaching from Matthew 13. 00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:43.819 He says, 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:46.720 The Son of Man will send out his angels 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:48.259 and they will weed out of his kingdom 00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:50.900 everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 00:20:51.819 --> 00:20:53.759 They will throw them into the blazing furnace 00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:56.360 where there will be whitting and gnashing of teeth. 00:20:56.359 --> 00:20:58.319 And you're like, whoa, yikes, where's the Jesus 00:20:58.319 --> 00:20:59.299 that I really like? 00:20:59.979 --> 00:21:02.479 You know, that seems like a harsh and brutal Jesus. 00:21:02.659 --> 00:21:04.899 How in the world is that good news? 00:21:05.859 --> 00:21:08.099 Well, I want to provide a counterpoint here, 00:21:08.579 --> 00:21:10.859 and that is from Czesław Miloš, 00:21:10.899 --> 00:21:13.299 who was a Polish Nobel laureate, 00:21:13.879 --> 00:21:15.819 and he was a professor at UC Berkeley, 00:21:15.899 --> 00:21:17.679 and he wrote an essay called 00:21:17.679 --> 00:21:19.859 The Discreet Charm of Nihilism. 00:21:19.859 --> 00:21:22.219 And in that essay, he wrote, 00:21:23.219 --> 00:21:25.639 Religion used to be the opium of the people. 00:21:26.599 --> 00:21:30.079 To those suffering humiliation, pain, illness, and serfdom, 00:21:30.179 --> 00:21:32.439 religion promised the reward of an afterlife. 00:21:33.219 --> 00:21:35.439 But now we are witnessing a transformation. 00:21:35.779 --> 00:21:37.799 A true opium of the people 00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:40.879 is the belief in nothingness after death, 00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:42.679 the huge solace, 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:44.699 the huge comfort of thinking 00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:46.440 that for our betrayals, 00:21:46.759 --> 00:21:47.700 for our greed, 00:21:47.860 --> 00:21:48.920 for our cowardice, 00:21:48.940 --> 00:21:49.680 and our murders, 00:21:50.039 --> 00:21:53.220 we are not going to be judged. 00:21:54.120 --> 00:21:55.299 And I think in that light, 00:21:55.460 --> 00:21:57.240 Jesus' gospel of justice 00:21:57.240 --> 00:22:00.180 is actually really good news, 00:22:00.279 --> 00:22:01.279 really hopeful news 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:03.299 when you think about all the wrongs of history 00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:04.860 and the wrongs of society, right? 00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:07.680 When you think about mass shootings, 00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:09.460 like all the time now. 00:22:10.120 --> 00:22:12.240 When you think about discrimination in the law, 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:13.519 when you think about inequities 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:15.740 between the rich and the poor, 00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:17.660 and unfair housing and education, 00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:20.099 and the list just goes on and on. 00:22:21.400 --> 00:22:24.579 Jesus assures us that a day of justice, 00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:26.220 a day of reckoning is coming 00:22:26.220 --> 00:22:28.859 when God is going to put the world to rights. 00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:31.599 And that satisfies us, I think, 00:22:31.620 --> 00:22:34.220 when we think that the wrongs of other people 00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:36.400 are going to come to justice, doesn't it? 00:22:37.180 --> 00:22:39.140 But it's less exciting to think 00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:40.859 that I'm going to be included in that. 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:42.859 It's less exciting to think 00:22:42.859 --> 00:22:44.079 that each of us here 00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:45.359 has an appointment 00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:47.919 to stand before this majestic figure 00:22:47.919 --> 00:22:50.639 and give an account of our lives 00:22:50.639 --> 00:22:52.179 that will not be optional, 00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:53.219 will not be voluntary. 00:22:54.099 --> 00:22:54.859 It's going to happen 00:22:54.859 --> 00:22:56.279 whether we like it or not. 00:22:57.299 --> 00:22:58.859 And so the question I want to ask today 00:22:58.859 --> 00:23:00.179 is on what basis, 00:23:00.939 --> 00:23:02.099 on what standard, 00:23:02.459 --> 00:23:04.379 will Jesus judge us? 00:23:05.079 --> 00:23:07.559 And this is so easy to misread. 00:23:07.699 --> 00:23:09.379 I want to give us some corrective lenses 00:23:09.380 --> 00:23:10.980 and clear up our vision 00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:12.720 because you could read in verse 2 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:14.440 where it says, 00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:16.000 Cornelius and all his family 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:17.380 were devout and God-fearing, 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:19.820 and he gave generously to those in need, 00:23:19.860 --> 00:23:21.060 and he prayed to God regularly. 00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:21.760 And you could think, 00:23:21.840 --> 00:23:23.220 well, if I'm like Cornelius, 00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:25.560 and I do these basic practices 00:23:25.560 --> 00:23:26.940 of prayer and fasting 00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:30.120 and giving alms generously to the poor, 00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:31.560 and I practice virtue, 00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:32.520 and I do all the things 00:23:32.520 --> 00:23:33.540 that Jesus talked about 00:23:33.540 --> 00:23:34.420 in the Sermon on the Mount, 00:23:34.420 --> 00:23:36.480 then God will judge me 00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:38.120 as good and acceptable 00:23:38.120 --> 00:23:40.080 on the basis of what I do. 00:23:41.080 --> 00:23:43.000 Or you could read in verse 34 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:45.120 where Peter says, 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:46.840 I now realize how true it is 00:23:46.840 --> 00:23:48.560 that God does not show favoritism, 00:23:48.940 --> 00:23:50.759 but accepts those from every nation 00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:51.620 who fear him 00:23:51.620 --> 00:23:52.940 and do what is right. 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:54.180 And a modern person reads that 00:23:54.180 --> 00:23:54.480 and says, 00:23:54.580 --> 00:23:54.860 Aha! 00:23:56.160 --> 00:23:58.019 Religious and theological differences 00:23:58.019 --> 00:23:59.759 are irrelevant in God's mind. 00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:03.000 And Peter is an early advocate 00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:05.079 of the view that all religions 00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:06.519 are basically the same. 00:24:06.599 --> 00:24:07.700 They all lead to God. 00:24:07.819 --> 00:24:10.879 God simply accepts us as we are. 00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:14.019 But if we read our late Western 00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:16.700 postmodern prejudices into this text, 00:24:17.480 --> 00:24:19.480 we would imagine that this whole episode 00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:21.379 about Cornelius and Peter 00:24:21.379 --> 00:24:24.240 is meant to get rid of all distinctions 00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:27.220 and to cause us to embrace 00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:29.000 this 18th century principle 00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:32.039 of laissez-faire tolerance for everyone. 00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:33.480 But the question is, 00:24:33.599 --> 00:24:35.680 is that really the gospel 00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:37.480 that Jesus gave? 00:24:38.980 --> 00:24:41.599 Is it that God runs this world 00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:42.440 like a democracy? 00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:45.220 Is it that God validates 00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:46.859 and accepts everyone's opinion 00:24:46.859 --> 00:24:49.620 and everyone's chosen lifestyle is okay? 00:24:49.619 --> 00:24:54.139 If God accepts us the way that we are 00:24:54.139 --> 00:24:56.599 and if Cornelius' honest, 00:24:56.899 --> 00:24:59.259 pagan convictions are sufficient, 00:25:00.179 --> 00:25:01.799 why does he seek out the synagogue? 00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:03.759 Why does he fuss 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:05.559 with trying to be devout and God-fearing? 00:25:05.659 --> 00:25:06.639 And if that's enough, 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:08.339 why does he send for Peter 00:25:08.339 --> 00:25:09.399 to tell him about Jesus? 00:25:09.559 --> 00:25:13.619 Why not just stay the way Cornelius is? 00:25:14.919 --> 00:25:16.439 Because Cornelius knows 00:25:16.439 --> 00:25:18.119 what we all know in our hearts 00:25:18.119 --> 00:25:20.779 and that is that if there is a God 00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:23.199 and if he is our judge 00:25:23.199 --> 00:25:24.699 and even if he judged us 00:25:24.699 --> 00:25:27.019 only according to our own personal, 00:25:27.639 --> 00:25:29.839 internal standards of our own consciences, 00:25:30.179 --> 00:25:31.459 we would not measure up. 00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:34.559 If we have any self-awareness, 00:25:34.659 --> 00:25:36.719 we know that we've lived far 00:25:36.719 --> 00:25:37.719 from perfect lives. 00:25:39.219 --> 00:25:40.519 And what if God were to judge us 00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:42.339 not according to our own low standards, 00:25:42.339 --> 00:25:44.979 but according to his high standard of holiness, 00:25:45.159 --> 00:25:47.019 his high perfect law 00:25:47.019 --> 00:25:48.460 of self-giving love 00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:50.299 for God and other people, 00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:51.519 you're like, 00:25:51.619 --> 00:25:53.779 man, this is horrible, horrible news. 00:25:53.879 --> 00:25:55.599 How is this good news? 00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:58.339 Well, you have to understand that 00:25:58.339 --> 00:26:00.619 in order to understand verse 43 00:26:00.619 --> 00:26:02.480 where the good news comes. 00:26:04.180 --> 00:26:06.579 That all the prophets testify about Jesus 00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:09.160 that everyone who believes in him 00:26:09.160 --> 00:26:10.799 receives forgiveness of sins 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:12.059 through his name. 00:26:12.059 --> 00:26:15.819 If you put your trust in Jesus, 00:26:15.940 --> 00:26:18.139 you can look upon your judge's face 00:26:18.139 --> 00:26:20.460 and you can see your Savior there. 00:26:21.619 --> 00:26:24.759 We need not fear the certain just judgment of Jesus 00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:26.259 since he is also the gracious 00:26:26.259 --> 00:26:27.899 and merciful one 00:26:27.899 --> 00:26:29.159 who bestows forgiveness 00:26:29.159 --> 00:26:30.759 and pardon 00:26:30.759 --> 00:26:32.259 and amnesty 00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:35.119 for all the terrible self-centered lives 00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:36.039 that we've lived. 00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:39.379 We have a choice, right? 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:42.059 We can face our judge 00:26:42.059 --> 00:26:43.779 on the basis of what we've done 00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:46.139 or we can face our judge 00:26:46.139 --> 00:26:47.940 on the basis of what he has done 00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:50.079 for us on our behalf, 00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:51.019 in our place, 00:26:51.059 --> 00:26:52.059 as our substitute, 00:26:52.659 --> 00:26:53.519 and our representative, 00:26:54.059 --> 00:26:54.960 and our mediator. 00:26:55.680 --> 00:26:58.139 Because Jesus lived the righteous life 00:26:58.139 --> 00:26:59.599 of self-giving love 00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:00.579 for God and neighbor 00:27:00.579 --> 00:27:02.920 that all of us were created to live. 00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:05.920 And Jesus died that cursed death 00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:07.660 in the darkness and forsakenness 00:27:07.660 --> 00:27:10.120 that all of us should have died. 00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:13.400 And when Jesus hung on that cross, 00:27:14.080 --> 00:27:16.160 God poured out his wrath on him 00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:18.580 for every single wrong that we committed, 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:20.620 however small in our view 00:27:20.620 --> 00:27:21.759 or however heinous. 00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:24.820 The punishment was administered, 00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:26.920 the price was paid, 00:27:27.100 --> 00:27:28.920 and justice was rendered. 00:27:29.120 --> 00:27:30.120 On Good Friday, 00:27:30.119 --> 00:27:30.239 today, 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:33.899 Jesus experienced Judgment Day 00:27:33.899 --> 00:27:35.359 for us 00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:37.419 and in our place. 00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:40.079 And he made it possible there 00:27:40.079 --> 00:27:43.019 for us to be in a reconciled relationship 00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:43.639 with God. 00:27:43.779 --> 00:27:45.679 He himself is the good news 00:27:45.679 --> 00:27:48.299 of peace with God. 00:27:49.159 --> 00:27:50.859 And everyone who puts their faith 00:27:50.859 --> 00:27:51.500 in Jesus, 00:27:51.659 --> 00:27:52.759 the Lord of peace, 00:27:53.479 --> 00:27:54.939 will receive a welcome 00:27:54.939 --> 00:27:55.899 at once, 00:27:55.900 --> 00:27:57.400 at once, 00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:58.500 into this family 00:27:58.500 --> 00:28:00.600 whose home has written 00:28:00.600 --> 00:28:01.519 in bold, 00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:02.700 golden, 00:28:03.259 --> 00:28:04.440 shining letters 00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:06.120 above its home 00:28:06.120 --> 00:28:06.840 the word 00:28:06.840 --> 00:28:07.600 forgiven. 00:28:09.100 --> 00:28:10.360 And we can live 00:28:10.360 --> 00:28:11.220 from that place 00:28:11.220 --> 00:28:12.000 of being forgiven. 00:28:12.140 --> 00:28:12.740 We can live 00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:13.420 from that place 00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:14.700 of no condemnation 00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:15.980 where we've left 00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:16.960 all of our fear, 00:28:17.080 --> 00:28:17.820 all of our guilt, 00:28:17.980 --> 00:28:18.900 all of our shame 00:28:18.900 --> 00:28:20.240 at the foot 00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:21.800 of Jesus' cross 00:28:21.800 --> 00:28:22.780 of judgment. 00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:24.759 And we can live 00:28:24.759 --> 00:28:25.779 with freedom 00:28:25.779 --> 00:28:27.160 and we can live 00:28:27.160 --> 00:28:28.200 with power 00:28:28.200 --> 00:28:28.960 and we can live 00:28:28.960 --> 00:28:29.859 with confidence 00:28:29.859 --> 00:28:31.660 because we know 00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:32.399 that we have 00:28:32.399 --> 00:28:33.859 the life of God, 00:28:33.960 --> 00:28:34.980 the eternal life, 00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:36.160 the divine life, 00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:38.139 the abundant life of God 00:28:38.139 --> 00:28:40.500 dwelling in us. 00:28:41.500 --> 00:28:43.359 If you're exploring Christianity, 00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:44.200 if you're inquiring 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:46.039 about who Jesus is, 00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:48.139 whether you believe this 00:28:48.139 --> 00:28:48.460 or not, 00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:49.940 I hope that I've helped 00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:50.840 to make it clear 00:28:50.840 --> 00:28:51.779 what the gospel 00:28:51.779 --> 00:28:52.980 of Jesus is 00:28:52.980 --> 00:28:53.820 and what it means. 00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:55.920 And if you are a Christian, 00:28:56.640 --> 00:28:57.559 this is the gospel 00:28:57.559 --> 00:28:58.120 we're called 00:28:58.120 --> 00:28:59.019 to cling to, 00:28:59.140 --> 00:28:59.640 it's the gospel 00:28:59.640 --> 00:29:00.059 we're called 00:29:00.059 --> 00:29:01.120 to stake all 00:29:01.120 --> 00:29:02.299 of our confidence on 00:29:02.299 --> 00:29:03.140 and to cherish 00:29:03.140 --> 00:29:04.539 with every fiber 00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:05.740 of our being 00:29:05.740 --> 00:29:07.180 that Jesus is the judge 00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:07.640 of all 00:29:07.640 --> 00:29:08.740 and He's ready 00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:09.500 and He wants 00:29:09.500 --> 00:29:10.440 to be the forgiver 00:29:10.440 --> 00:29:11.539 and the Savior 00:29:11.539 --> 00:29:12.039 of all 00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:13.240 who will believe in Him. 00:29:14.460 --> 00:29:15.059 Christ Church, 00:29:15.140 --> 00:29:15.940 do we cherish 00:29:15.940 --> 00:29:17.059 this gospel? 00:29:18.320 --> 00:29:19.320 And do we cherish it 00:29:19.319 --> 00:29:20.179 to such a degree 00:29:20.179 --> 00:29:21.539 that we're willing 00:29:21.539 --> 00:29:22.399 to be awkward, 00:29:23.619 --> 00:29:24.819 willing to cash in 00:29:24.819 --> 00:29:26.279 some of our social capital 00:29:26.279 --> 00:29:28.659 and commend this gospel 00:29:28.659 --> 00:29:29.879 to the people 00:29:29.879 --> 00:29:31.500 like Cornelius 00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:33.259 whom God is calling us 00:29:33.259 --> 00:29:35.000 to share it with 00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:36.799 because that's what 00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:37.939 Reformed Christians do. 00:29:38.099 --> 00:29:39.279 They share the gospel. 00:29:40.379 --> 00:29:41.079 Reformed Christians 00:29:41.079 --> 00:29:41.980 share the gospel 00:29:41.980 --> 00:29:43.700 and they celebrate 00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:44.179 the Spirit. 00:29:44.299 --> 00:29:45.339 I've spent all my time 00:29:45.339 --> 00:29:45.720 talking, 00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:46.259 I'm going to land 00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:46.859 the plane now, 00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:48.359 but I just want to point out 00:29:48.359 --> 00:29:50.199 how this story ends. 00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:50.679 It's beautiful. 00:29:51.199 --> 00:29:52.039 I love what happens 00:29:52.039 --> 00:29:53.179 because Peter's talking 00:29:53.179 --> 00:29:54.519 and God just interrupts Peter 00:29:54.519 --> 00:29:55.559 with this word of forgiveness 00:29:55.559 --> 00:29:57.099 and in verse 44 00:29:57.099 --> 00:29:57.459 it says, 00:29:57.619 --> 00:29:58.399 while Peter was still 00:29:58.399 --> 00:29:59.599 speaking these words, 00:30:00.179 --> 00:30:01.240 the Holy Spirit came 00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:01.819 on all 00:30:01.819 --> 00:30:02.740 who heard 00:30:02.740 --> 00:30:03.539 the message 00:30:03.539 --> 00:30:04.479 because they not only 00:30:04.479 --> 00:30:05.059 heard it, 00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:06.519 they believed it. 00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:08.459 They assented to it. 00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:09.299 They said yes 00:30:09.299 --> 00:30:10.019 in their heart 00:30:10.019 --> 00:30:11.659 and they put their confidence 00:30:11.659 --> 00:30:12.379 in the one 00:30:12.379 --> 00:30:14.079 about whom this gospel 00:30:14.079 --> 00:30:15.240 is about. 00:30:15.319 --> 00:30:16.039 Have you done that? 00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:18.500 Because when you do that 00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:20.500 you find yourself gripped. 00:30:21.319 --> 00:30:22.920 You find yourself changed 00:30:22.920 --> 00:30:24.559 from the inside out. 00:30:24.680 --> 00:30:25.759 You find yourself aware 00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:26.759 of a new power 00:30:26.759 --> 00:30:28.019 and a new presence 00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:29.460 inside of you 00:30:29.460 --> 00:30:31.180 because Christianity 00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:33.139 is not a set of doctrines, 00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:34.180 not a set of ethics 00:30:34.180 --> 00:30:35.159 that you take up. 00:30:35.319 --> 00:30:35.879 Christianity 00:30:35.879 --> 00:30:38.039 is the converting power 00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:38.960 of the Holy Spirit 00:30:38.960 --> 00:30:40.359 that takes you up. 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:41.099 Right? 00:30:41.980 --> 00:30:43.259 And now you can see 00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:44.599 hopefully what verse 34 00:30:44.599 --> 00:30:45.419 means when it says 00:30:45.419 --> 00:30:47.619 God does not show favoritism. 00:30:47.959 --> 00:30:48.539 What that means 00:30:48.539 --> 00:30:49.919 is that there is no 00:30:49.919 --> 00:30:50.799 ethnic, 00:30:51.079 --> 00:30:51.679 geographical, 00:30:52.059 --> 00:30:52.459 cultural, 00:30:52.679 --> 00:30:53.379 moral barrier 00:30:53.379 --> 00:30:54.500 that stands in the way 00:30:54.500 --> 00:30:55.139 of anyone 00:30:55.139 --> 00:30:56.119 and everyone 00:30:56.119 --> 00:30:56.799 receiving 00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:58.279 this new life 00:30:58.279 --> 00:30:59.480 of the Holy Spirit. 00:31:00.519 --> 00:31:01.459 And can you see now 00:31:01.459 --> 00:31:02.839 what verse 35 means 00:31:02.839 --> 00:31:03.299 when it says 00:31:03.299 --> 00:31:04.639 God accepts those 00:31:04.639 --> 00:31:05.599 from every nation 00:31:05.599 --> 00:31:06.379 who fear Him 00:31:06.379 --> 00:31:07.839 and do what is right. 00:31:08.719 --> 00:31:09.319 It means that 00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:09.879 Cornelius' 00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:11.740 Gentile nationality 00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:12.719 and ethnicity 00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:14.140 is acceptable to God 00:31:14.140 --> 00:31:15.339 so that he does not need 00:31:15.339 --> 00:31:16.420 to become a Jew 00:31:16.420 --> 00:31:18.819 but it does not mean 00:31:18.819 --> 00:31:19.640 that Cornelius' 00:31:19.819 --> 00:31:20.700 own righteousness 00:31:20.700 --> 00:31:21.500 is adequate 00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:23.339 so that he has no need 00:31:23.339 --> 00:31:24.400 for the justifying, 00:31:24.559 --> 00:31:25.700 regenerating power 00:31:25.700 --> 00:31:26.279 and presence 00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:27.600 of the Holy Spirit. 00:31:28.799 --> 00:31:29.980 In what way 00:31:29.980 --> 00:31:30.940 is Cornelius 00:31:30.940 --> 00:31:31.539 and his house 00:31:31.539 --> 00:31:32.559 acceptable to God? 00:31:33.660 --> 00:31:34.620 They're in an acceptable 00:31:34.620 --> 00:31:35.319 state 00:31:35.319 --> 00:31:36.600 of repentance 00:31:36.600 --> 00:31:37.640 and readiness 00:31:37.640 --> 00:31:39.480 to hear the message 00:31:39.480 --> 00:31:40.160 of salvation 00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:41.860 and have the 00:31:41.860 --> 00:31:43.060 recreating power 00:31:43.060 --> 00:31:44.440 of the Holy Spirit 00:31:44.440 --> 00:31:45.880 enter into their lives 00:31:45.880 --> 00:31:46.480 by faith. 00:31:47.660 --> 00:31:49.180 Because God invites us 00:31:49.180 --> 00:31:50.120 as we are 00:31:50.120 --> 00:31:51.759 every flavor 00:31:51.759 --> 00:31:52.580 of Gentile 00:31:52.580 --> 00:31:53.259 in this room. 00:31:53.360 --> 00:31:53.960 Maybe we have 00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:54.620 some Jewish people 00:31:54.620 --> 00:31:55.160 in here too. 00:31:55.960 --> 00:31:56.900 But He invites us 00:31:56.900 --> 00:31:57.519 as we are 00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:58.400 but He does not 00:31:58.400 --> 00:31:59.900 leave us as we are. 00:32:00.660 --> 00:32:01.640 When we respond 00:32:01.640 --> 00:32:02.580 to His invitation 00:32:02.580 --> 00:32:04.240 that involves 00:32:04.240 --> 00:32:05.019 a complete 00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:06.040 transformation 00:32:06.040 --> 00:32:06.980 that's wrought 00:32:06.980 --> 00:32:08.180 by the person 00:32:08.180 --> 00:32:09.600 of the Holy Spirit 00:32:09.600 --> 00:32:10.960 in our lives. 00:32:12.180 --> 00:32:13.180 When Cornelius, 00:32:13.320 --> 00:32:14.140 this devout, 00:32:14.840 --> 00:32:15.680 God-fearing, 00:32:15.980 --> 00:32:16.340 upright, 00:32:16.799 --> 00:32:17.400 sincere, 00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:18.519 generous, 00:32:19.060 --> 00:32:20.259 virtuous man, 00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:22.000 hears the gospel, 00:32:22.900 --> 00:32:23.840 the penny drops 00:32:23.840 --> 00:32:24.640 because He says, 00:32:24.980 --> 00:32:25.740 I am not enough 00:32:25.740 --> 00:32:26.340 for the judgment. 00:32:27.340 --> 00:32:28.140 My good works, 00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:29.560 even my best works 00:32:29.560 --> 00:32:30.860 are not going to stand up 00:32:30.860 --> 00:32:31.779 under the scrutiny 00:32:31.779 --> 00:32:32.600 and justice 00:32:32.600 --> 00:32:33.779 of this judge. 00:32:33.880 --> 00:32:34.759 I need to repent 00:32:34.759 --> 00:32:35.440 and believe 00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:36.580 what that judge 00:32:36.580 --> 00:32:37.400 has done 00:32:37.400 --> 00:32:38.220 for me 00:32:38.220 --> 00:32:39.080 and boom, 00:32:39.539 --> 00:32:40.299 at that moment, 00:32:40.460 --> 00:32:41.660 the gift of the Holy Spirit 00:32:41.660 --> 00:32:42.539 came 00:32:42.539 --> 00:32:44.860 and the regenerating power 00:32:44.860 --> 00:32:45.880 of the Holy Spirit 00:32:45.880 --> 00:32:46.700 was poured out 00:32:46.700 --> 00:32:47.340 from above 00:32:47.340 --> 00:32:48.259 and He and His 00:32:48.259 --> 00:32:48.980 whole household 00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:50.160 were born again 00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:51.620 with the new life 00:32:51.620 --> 00:32:52.680 of God. 00:32:53.640 --> 00:32:54.360 And that can happen 00:32:54.360 --> 00:32:55.240 for us as well. 00:32:55.460 --> 00:32:56.019 Has it happened 00:32:56.019 --> 00:32:56.480 for you? 00:32:58.200 --> 00:32:59.019 Do you have 00:32:59.019 --> 00:32:59.480 the person 00:32:59.480 --> 00:33:00.340 of the Holy Spirit 00:33:00.340 --> 00:33:02.180 living inside of you? 00:33:02.180 --> 00:33:04.539 If you don't, 00:33:05.360 --> 00:33:06.380 you're not in Christ 00:33:06.380 --> 00:33:07.400 and you're not a Christian. 00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:09.580 But if you do 00:33:09.580 --> 00:33:10.640 have the Holy Spirit, 00:33:11.420 --> 00:33:12.480 then you confess 00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:13.220 in the Spirit, 00:33:14.039 --> 00:33:15.539 you walk in the Spirit, 00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:17.700 you pray in the Spirit, 00:33:17.860 --> 00:33:19.900 you rejoice in the Spirit, 00:33:20.039 --> 00:33:22.100 you're led by the Spirit, 00:33:22.279 --> 00:33:23.160 you live according 00:33:23.160 --> 00:33:24.039 to the power 00:33:24.039 --> 00:33:25.320 of the Spirit, 00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:27.060 and you celebrate 00:33:27.060 --> 00:33:28.100 the ripening fruit 00:33:28.100 --> 00:33:28.759 of love 00:33:28.759 --> 00:33:30.259 and joy 00:33:30.259 --> 00:33:31.180 and patience 00:33:31.180 --> 00:33:32.960 and all the other fruit 00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:33.799 that the Holy Spirit 00:33:33.799 --> 00:33:35.019 causes to grow 00:33:35.019 --> 00:33:35.920 in us 00:33:35.920 --> 00:33:36.759 as He makes us 00:33:36.759 --> 00:33:38.099 more and more 00:33:38.099 --> 00:33:40.420 like Jesus Himself. 00:33:40.640 --> 00:33:41.720 He invites us 00:33:41.720 --> 00:33:42.259 as we are, 00:33:42.339 --> 00:33:43.259 but He does not 00:33:43.259 --> 00:33:44.460 leave us 00:33:44.460 --> 00:33:45.720 as we are. 00:33:46.740 --> 00:33:47.400 And that's what 00:33:47.400 --> 00:33:48.379 Reformed Christians do. 00:33:48.480 --> 00:33:49.740 We share the gospel 00:33:49.740 --> 00:33:51.599 and we celebrate 00:33:51.599 --> 00:33:52.440 the presence 00:33:52.440 --> 00:33:53.779 of the Holy Spirit 00:33:53.779 --> 00:33:54.500 in us 00:33:54.500 --> 00:33:55.879 and among us. 00:33:55.920 --> 00:33:56.279 And I pray 00:33:56.279 --> 00:33:57.079 that the Holy Spirit, 00:33:57.220 --> 00:33:57.960 maybe even today, 00:33:57.960 --> 00:33:59.420 would fall fresh 00:33:59.420 --> 00:34:00.039 on our hearts 00:34:00.039 --> 00:34:01.640 and in our lives. 00:34:02.500 --> 00:34:03.539 In the name of the Father, 00:34:03.680 --> 00:34:04.539 Son, and Holy Spirit, 00:34:05.299 --> 00:34:05.519 Amen.