WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.439 Amen. I think I'm on. I think I'm good. Amen. Well, good morning. Good morning. I know it's 00:00:10.439 --> 00:00:17.059 cold. Good morning. Good morning. Amen. Amen. It is a joy and a privilege to be in the house of 00:00:17.059 --> 00:00:22.539 the Lord again on this windy Sunday morning. I don't know what the windshield is outside, 00:00:22.820 --> 00:00:29.780 but I know I had a tear that fell and froze right on my eye when I was coming in. So it's a little 00:00:29.780 --> 00:00:35.920 chilly out, but we're thankful for an opportunity to be gathered again. This morning, as Greg already 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:39.920 mentioned, we're going to be continuing in our study of the book of Acts. And so I ask that if 00:00:39.920 --> 00:00:48.620 you have your Bibles, we're going to be looking at Acts chapter 10 and the first 18 verses of chapter 00:00:48.620 --> 00:00:55.540 11. If you have your pew Bibles, it's on page 918. That's page 918 of the pew Bibles. What I'm going 00:00:55.539 --> 00:01:02.259 to do, since this is such a large passage of scripture, I'm going to read for our hearing 00:01:02.259 --> 00:01:10.219 the section in Acts 11. So I'm going to read for our hearing Acts chapter 11 verses 1 through 18. 00:01:10.859 --> 00:01:16.400 And as we're going to come to see, a lot of this, most of this is repetition, right? Acts chapter 10 00:01:16.400 --> 00:01:23.739 is recounting the details of a vision that Cornelius and Peter have, and then a coming together, 00:01:23.739 --> 00:01:29.899 and then an experience. And then in Acts chapter 11, Peter has to recount all of those details to 00:01:29.899 --> 00:01:36.359 his Jewish brothers who are wondering what in the world he was doing engaging with the Gentile. And 00:01:36.359 --> 00:01:43.299 so I'm going to read for our hearing Acts chapter 11 verses 1 to 18, and then we'll walk through this 00:01:43.299 --> 00:01:48.899 passage and see what the Lord would have us to know. Acts chapter 11, when you have it, say amen. 00:01:48.900 --> 00:01:54.500 Need a minute? Say wait a minute. Nobody ever says that. Acts chapter 11, 00:01:55.700 --> 00:02:03.340 beginning at the first verse, and it reads thusly. Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout 00:02:03.340 --> 00:02:09.120 Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, 00:02:09.240 --> 00:02:15.420 the circumcision party criticized him, saying, you went to uncircumcised men and ate with them. 00:02:15.419 --> 00:02:22.079 But Peter began and explained it to them in order. I was in the city of Joppa praying, 00:02:22.679 --> 00:02:28.879 and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:35.979 by its four corners, and it came down to me. Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey 00:02:35.979 --> 00:02:42.419 and reptiles and birds of the air. And I heard a voice saying to me, rise, Peter, kill and eat. 00:02:42.419 --> 00:02:48.179 But I said, by no means, Lord, for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth. 00:02:48.979 --> 00:02:55.039 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, what God has made clean, do not call common. 00:02:56.019 --> 00:03:01.479 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. And behold, at that very moment, 00:03:01.579 --> 00:03:07.259 three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. And the Spirit told me to go with 00:03:07.259 --> 00:03:12.560 them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. 00:03:12.599 --> 00:03:18.019 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, send to Joppa and bring Simon, 00:03:18.099 --> 00:03:23.280 who is called Peter. He will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all 00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:29.280 your household. As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as, just as on us at the 00:03:29.280 --> 00:03:33.139 beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, John baptized with water, 00:03:33.139 --> 00:03:39.959 but you will baptize with the Holy Spirit. If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us, 00:03:39.979 --> 00:03:44.779 when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way? 00:03:45.459 --> 00:03:50.399 When they heard these things, they fell silent and they glorified God saying, then to the Gentiles 00:03:50.399 --> 00:03:58.039 also, God has granted repentance that leads to life. Such is the reading of the word of God. Let me 00:03:58.039 --> 00:04:03.739 offer a word of prayer once again. Father, we thank you for the privilege and the opportunity to come 00:04:03.739 --> 00:04:08.379 before your word. And now, Father, we ask that by the power of your spirit, you would illuminate this 00:04:08.379 --> 00:04:13.180 passage, enlighten our hearts. Father, that we might understand and know what it is that you would have 00:04:13.180 --> 00:04:18.719 us to learn about you and about your gospel and about us. We ask that you would do this for your glory 00:04:18.719 --> 00:04:26.300 and for our temporal and eternal good. In Christ's name, amen. For the time that we have to share, 00:04:26.300 --> 00:04:35.520 I would like to lift from this text, this thought, a message of reconciliation that actually reconciles. 00:04:36.180 --> 00:04:46.639 A message of reconciliation that actually reconciles. There was once this exclusive group of people 00:04:46.639 --> 00:04:53.259 and they were just blatant about their exclusivity. They were boasting about it. They were proud of it. 00:04:53.259 --> 00:05:00.759 They were ferocious about maintaining their exclusivity. It was a sight to see how bold they were and how 00:05:00.759 --> 00:05:04.219 serious and committed they were to their own exclusive group. 00:05:06.599 --> 00:05:11.740 We were introduced to this particular group of people as the Little Rascals. 00:05:11.740 --> 00:05:24.220 A 1994 movie based on an early 20th century series, but these little rascals, you know, Alfalfa, Spanky, 00:05:25.220 --> 00:05:32.139 Buckwheat, these individuals who were a part of this community that was literally called the He-Man 00:05:32.139 --> 00:05:41.600 Woman Hater Club. That's W-O-M-U-N Hater Club. It was an exclusive group. They know, 00:05:41.600 --> 00:05:50.160 no females, no women allowed. Girls, yuck, right? But a problem was one of them, namely Alfalfa, 00:05:50.220 --> 00:05:57.580 actually ended up liking a girl. That he was transgressing the bounds of their exclusive group. 00:05:57.720 --> 00:06:02.420 And the whole movie is about Alfalfa coming to terms with the fact that he now likes girls. 00:06:02.520 --> 00:06:07.879 And the group that is He-Man Woman Haters Club coming to terms with the fact that Alfalfa likes girls. 00:06:07.879 --> 00:06:13.959 And this whole story kind of runs on. And at the end of the movie now, you see that their exclusivity 00:06:13.959 --> 00:06:21.240 has been blown up. Friendships have been rekindled, amended, and that group that was once exclusive, 00:06:21.459 --> 00:06:26.719 that was once no women allowed, now actually has girls inside. Really good movie. 00:06:26.720 --> 00:06:37.580 And we can obviously laugh at something like that, those benign, as it were, things that perhaps 00:06:37.580 --> 00:06:43.540 would come up in every child's life as they come to understand differences between them and other 00:06:43.540 --> 00:06:52.820 people. But there are more serious tensions, aren't there? More enduring tensions, tensions that are more 00:06:52.819 --> 00:07:01.879 deep-rooted. Those that would characterize the history of this country that orient around race and ethnicity. 00:07:02.980 --> 00:07:08.920 And then even the more complicated fact of Christianity's own complicity in a lot of that tension. 00:07:11.159 --> 00:07:18.180 What this text is tailored to teach us this morning is that the nature of God and the gospel reality 00:07:18.180 --> 00:07:23.620 that he has brought in and through the person of his son, Jesus Christ, by means of the Holy Spirit, 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:34.620 has no room for the inequitable regarding of people groups. As such, this God and his gospel are to be 00:07:34.620 --> 00:07:43.000 commended to anybody, everybody. It was always his plan to extend salvation to the nations. 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:49.680 Several Old Testament passages that we could turn to. But interestingly and ironically, Israel was not 00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:55.740 chosen instead of the other nations, but rather for the sake of the other nations. 00:07:57.279 --> 00:08:04.579 In other words, God is an equal opportunity redeemer. No one, no people group is to be considered 00:08:04.579 --> 00:08:10.839 more qualified, more fit for the kingdom message. And here is why. 00:08:10.839 --> 00:08:22.339 The Bible teaches that we are all as jacked up as everybody else. But ironically, at the same time, 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:30.000 it also teaches that we are all as precious as everybody else. Simultaneously jacked up and 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:35.559 simultaneously precious. Luther said it another way, simultaneously justified and simultaneously 00:08:35.559 --> 00:08:43.219 sinners. So something, something indeed, if you're a Christian in here today, if you're not a Christian 00:08:43.219 --> 00:08:49.899 in here today, the truth that we all profess and understand that something indeed terrible has gone 00:08:49.899 --> 00:08:59.259 wrong with all of us. And yet something is terribly wonderful about each of us as well. So let's look at 00:08:59.259 --> 00:09:06.120 this particular passage from the vantage point of Cornelius first, who is the Gentile, and then from 00:09:06.120 --> 00:09:12.559 the vantage point of Peter. And then we'll see what happens when these two are brought together. 00:09:12.700 --> 00:09:18.460 Coming off of the sermon that Greg preached last week, talking about obscure individuals who are in 00:09:18.460 --> 00:09:26.679 least or less recognizable places. Now we are brought before Cornelius, who is an important individual. 00:09:26.679 --> 00:09:32.879 He's at a particularly important city. And certain things are said about Cornelius. I'm going to be jumping 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:38.500 between chapters 10 and 11. So if you would flip back to chapter 10, picking up there in those first few 00:09:38.500 --> 00:09:45.419 verses, we are told that Cornelius is at Caesarea. We're told that he is a centurion. We're told that this 00:09:45.419 --> 00:09:53.179 particular cohort that he is over is known by or known as the Italian cohort, probably several hundred men 00:09:53.179 --> 00:10:00.159 under his authority. But certain particular things are told about his character, particularly his spiritual 00:10:00.159 --> 00:10:11.319 character. The Bible tells us that Cornelius is devout man. Tells us that Cornelius fears God. Tells us that he 00:10:11.319 --> 00:10:22.559 even gives alms. And tells us that he prays continually. His prayers and his alms giving has been highly 00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:29.239 regarded. Look at chapter 10, verse 4. After this voice and this vision comes to Cornelius, this angel 00:10:29.239 --> 00:10:38.059 rather, says that your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. His prayers and his 00:10:38.059 --> 00:10:46.459 alms giving has been highly regarded. And now this angel tells him that he is to send men to go retrieve 00:10:46.460 --> 00:10:56.160 Peter from Joppa. It's interesting to think about perhaps what the content of Cornelius's prayers. 00:10:56.940 --> 00:11:02.820 It seems as if the text makes the connection between Cornelius's prayers and then that instruction to go 00:11:02.820 --> 00:11:11.200 and send for Peter, doesn't it? That and now can almost be translated as and so. In other words, God has heard 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:19.780 your prayers, Cornelius. God has seen your faithfulness. He has heard your prayers. And now, and so, send men to go 00:11:19.780 --> 00:11:30.720 and get Peter. Why? What perhaps could Cornelius have been praying? He is a God-fearer. He is devout. But as we'll 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:37.879 come to understand, there is something lacking, something significant that is lacking. If you turn, flip for a second to 00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:47.320 chapter 11, look at verse 14 of chapter 11, look at what Peter says. He gives us more information about what Cornelius 00:11:47.320 --> 00:11:59.779 has learned in his particular visitation with the angel. He will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and 00:11:59.779 --> 00:12:07.360 your household. Cornelius is devout. He fears God. He gives alms. He prays continually. But Cornelius is not saved. 00:12:07.879 --> 00:12:15.659 Isn't that interesting? The text is clear that this is future tense. As Peter is recounting from 00:12:15.659 --> 00:12:21.580 Cornelius what Cornelius experienced with the angel, the angel told Cornelius to go and get Peter. Peter 00:12:21.580 --> 00:12:34.860 would tell you a message by which you will be saved. He fears God. He's devout. He gives alms. He prays 00:12:34.860 --> 00:12:43.340 continually. But he has not yet been sealed by the Holy Spirit because he has not yet heard, believed, 00:12:43.500 --> 00:12:49.560 repented this gospel message about Jesus Christ. He has not had that experience. And we know from 00:12:49.560 --> 00:12:55.820 Ephesians 1 verses 13 to 14 that the Holy Spirit is the official seal. It is the guarantor, the down 00:12:55.820 --> 00:13:02.200 payment of our inheritance. Cornelius doesn't have a down payment. If he goes to the Salvation Bank, he has 00:13:02.200 --> 00:13:13.860 nothing in the account but debts. And so God, who has heard Cornelius' prayers, who has responded to his 00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:21.840 psalm giving, responded to his devoutness, says, I see that, I respect that, I honor that. I hear you, 00:13:21.899 --> 00:13:26.860 Cornelius, you want more of me. You want to honor me. There's something that you are missing. You need 00:13:26.860 --> 00:13:33.480 Jesus. Tell your man to go get Simon Peter. He will come and tell you a message by which you 00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:43.220 will be saved. Let's look at Peter for a second. Now, Peter is obviously the Jew in this particular 00:13:43.220 --> 00:13:47.700 tale. And Peter has just been blowing it up all throughout the book of Acts. I mean, he's got it 00:13:47.700 --> 00:13:56.019 going on. Peter is that boy. You know, Peter's healing people. He's rebuking people. I mean, Peter's 00:13:56.019 --> 00:14:02.539 just, he's grown up. But if you think back, Peter's, Peter's record is less than stellar, isn't it? 00:14:03.480 --> 00:14:09.600 I mean, you have that moment in Matthew chapter 6 where Jesus calls his disciples to himself and 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:15.199 Jesus asks them, you know, who do men say that I am? In Matthew chapter 16 and in verse 16 of chapter 00:14:15.199 --> 00:14:22.059 16 of Matthew, Peter gives that crucial response. You are the Christ, the son of the living God. And 00:14:22.059 --> 00:14:26.000 Jesus says, that's right answer. You didn't get that from yourself. My father revealed that to you. 00:14:26.019 --> 00:14:33.620 And in verse 21 of Matthew 16, Jesus starts to tell his disciples about what it means to be the 00:14:33.620 --> 00:14:40.159 Messiah. That you've got the answer, right, Peter? But now let me tell you what the role is, the 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:44.639 function is. I'm going to go and I'm going to be rejected by the chief priests and scribes. I'm 00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:49.299 going to be killed. I'm going to be buried. I'm going to be resurrected after three days. And Peter, 00:14:50.039 --> 00:14:55.379 in Peter fashion, says, far be it from you, Lord. This will never happen to you. 00:14:56.019 --> 00:15:07.519 No, Peter. No. Just no. Just stop talking. Jesus says what? Get behind me, Satan. That regard for my 00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:13.340 person and my work is actually satanic. It is against the will of God for my life. That was Peter's, 00:15:13.579 --> 00:15:22.120 right? That's in his memory. And then six days later, just six days later in Matthew 17, 00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:27.899 when Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on the Mount of Transfiguration. Jesus is 00:15:27.899 --> 00:15:34.679 transfigured before him, face shining, Moses and Elijah. Peter pulls a Peter moment again. 00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:41.320 This is fantastic. I'm going to go build three tents and we can just hang out up here. 00:15:41.320 --> 00:15:49.920 Peter. No, Peter. No. Just stop. Stop talking. God says no. The voice from heaven says, no, this is my 00:15:49.920 --> 00:15:58.180 beloved son. Listen to him, Peter. And then, of course, that moment in the garden where Jesus is 00:15:58.180 --> 00:16:05.460 actually going to be taken. Peter says, surely this is my moment to step up. He pulls out the sword. 00:16:05.460 --> 00:16:12.759 He slices the man in. No, no, Peter. No, Peter. No, put the sword away. Those who live by the sword 00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:19.900 shall die by the sword. And then if that wasn't enough, the three denials are still coming up, 00:16:19.920 --> 00:16:27.820 right? Peter is, he has all of that background and he is in Joppa at Simon the Tanner's house. 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:33.120 Interesting. He's at Joppa, which is the same place that Jonah will flee to, 00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:40.700 to catch the boat away from Nineveh. Peter is at Joppa, also going to be given a challenge, 00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:47.799 a charge rather to preach to Gentiles. He's up on the rooftop praying and he falls into a trance. 00:16:47.860 --> 00:16:53.240 What does it say? I mean, back in chapter 10, look at verse 9. He's on the rooftop. He's praying. 00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:58.980 He's in a trance. He becomes hungry. They are preparing something for him to eat inside the house. 00:16:58.980 --> 00:17:06.839 He's up on the roof. The heavens open up and something like a great sheet descend and all of 00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:14.400 these animals are laying out on it. And the voice says, rise up and eat. Peter's like, okay, 00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:21.319 I've already been called Satan. I wanted to build three tents. That was wrong. 00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:29.480 So, slice somebody's ear off. I said I was sorry. Surely I'm going to get this one right. 00:17:30.980 --> 00:17:34.639 I will never eat such a thing like, no, Peter, no. 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:41.519 What does the voice say? Verse 14 of chapter 10. 00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:47.400 Or rather, verse 15 of chapter 10. The voice came to him again a second time. 00:17:47.539 --> 00:17:52.180 What God has made clean, do not call common. 00:17:53.379 --> 00:17:57.819 This happened three times and the thing was taken up at once to him. 00:17:57.900 --> 00:18:06.579 So, now Peter is brought before this new reality that his positioning before the Old Testament law, 00:18:06.579 --> 00:18:12.779 the food laws are to be changing and the social implications that were attached to those food laws 00:18:12.779 --> 00:18:18.839 are going to change because of what Christ has done. And now Peter is going to be given a charge, 00:18:18.919 --> 00:18:26.019 going to be given instructions. No, I do not think that the fact that there were three people who showed 00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:31.960 up from Cornelius' house was a coincidence. I think that this helped Peter process through. 00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:36.940 If you look at verse 17, Peter is inwardly perplexed. He's wondering what this is. 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:42.539 And then three individuals are waiting on him. This voice told him three times, 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:48.640 do not regard, do not regard as unclean or common what I've made clean. 00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:55.380 Three times he's told that and then he has these three Gentiles show up at the door. 00:18:55.380 --> 00:19:05.380 Imagine the difficulty here. I want us to feel the weight. Feel the weight of the difficulty. Look at 00:19:05.380 --> 00:19:12.880 what the Spirit says. Verse 19, behold, three men are looking for you. Rise, go down, accompany them 00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:22.560 without hesitation. The text literally says they're without distinction. I want you to feel that. This is 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:29.200 this is someone who's had a history of regarding a particular group of people a certain way. 00:19:29.399 --> 00:19:33.919 And then at the drop of a dime, the Spirit says, okay, go with them. Now, I don't want you to hesitate. 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:38.899 Like, don't do like the little stutter step. And I don't know if you do that because I'm watching. 00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:43.179 Go with them without hesitation. 00:19:43.180 --> 00:19:49.120 You know how the Jews thought about Gentiles? 00:19:49.960 --> 00:19:58.140 Not just unclean, but some even regarded them as dogs, less than human because they were not of the people of God, 00:19:58.240 --> 00:20:00.480 because they did not have the oracles of God. 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:04.000 All the things that Paul would walk through in Romans 1, 2, and 3. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:12.759 Even in the scribal tradition, it was understood that even if you went into a Gentile territory, 00:20:12.920 --> 00:20:16.420 you got Gentile dust on your feet, that's not good. 00:20:18.859 --> 00:20:22.940 And as I was researching and rehearsing this, I went back through the Gospels, 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:30.400 and there's even a moment in John 18 when the high priests are taking Jesus from place to place, 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:37.900 seeking to get a charge pinned on him, and they go to the governor's house, who's a Gentile, with Jesus, 00:20:38.180 --> 00:20:41.180 and they don't even step inside the governor's house. 00:20:42.100 --> 00:20:45.600 They're bringing Jesus to the governor's house to get charged, but they're like, yeah, 00:20:45.860 --> 00:20:49.220 governor, can you come out? We can't bring him in because you're unclean. 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:51.080 But we would like to talk to you. 00:20:54.420 --> 00:20:58.980 That's how much they despise the Gentiles, 00:20:58.980 --> 00:21:04.319 and now the Spirit tells him, go with them, make no distinction. 00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:08.920 And for those of us who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, 00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:12.740 understand this is what he certainly calls us to do. 00:21:14.660 --> 00:21:18.740 We ought not be people who make distinctions like that. 00:21:20.099 --> 00:21:24.019 Surely those of us who have been brought near again, 00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:27.059 redeemed back to the Father by means of the Spirit, 00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:28.779 because of the work of the Son. 00:21:29.379 --> 00:21:35.919 Surely we understand that there are to be no kind of regard for people in this way. 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:37.500 Make no distinction. 00:21:41.099 --> 00:21:43.599 Whether there are people or people groups 00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:47.940 that maybe the Spirit is bringing to your mind right now 00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:50.860 that you have regarded as less than godly, 00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:57.140 that you have regarded as less than image bearers, 00:21:57.380 --> 00:21:58.519 to put it better, 00:21:59.660 --> 00:22:02.920 this moment the Spirit is reminding us, 00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:07.320 make no distinction because of what Christ has done, 00:22:07.400 --> 00:22:09.000 because of who he is. 00:22:09.559 --> 00:22:11.200 Make no distinction. 00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:17.039 I want to make a couple observations from the initial reaction right there, 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:19.039 beginning at verse 24. 00:22:19.460 --> 00:22:20.880 Look at verse 24 of chapter 10. 00:22:20.980 --> 00:22:22.960 On the following day, they entered Caesarea. 00:22:23.140 --> 00:22:27.080 So Peter now, after the group from Cornelius' place, 00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:28.100 stays with him a day. 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:31.360 The next day they get up to leave, to go back to Caesarea. 00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:33.640 They go to Caesarea, verse 24. 00:22:34.039 --> 00:22:35.539 Following day, they enter Caesarea. 00:22:35.539 --> 00:22:37.980 Cornelius was expecting them. 00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:38.700 Look at this. 00:22:39.220 --> 00:22:43.159 And had called together his relatives and close friends. 00:22:43.319 --> 00:22:44.240 Observation number one. 00:22:44.619 --> 00:22:47.259 Cornelius has already put together an evangelistic event, 00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:48.259 and he's not even saved. 00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:53.980 He doesn't even, he doesn't know the message. 00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:56.859 I'm sure he knows it's going to be good. 00:22:57.799 --> 00:22:58.980 Something's good is going to come of it, 00:22:59.039 --> 00:23:02.159 but he's already in, like, got Peter's coming. 00:23:02.359 --> 00:23:03.079 What is he going to say? 00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:04.019 I have no idea. 00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:11.659 Observation number two. 00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:18.859 Peter understands that the messenger is not to be confused 00:23:18.859 --> 00:23:21.859 with the object of the message. 00:23:22.879 --> 00:23:25.879 When Peter enters, Cornelius seeks to worship him, 00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:29.579 and Peter understands that the message that he brings, 00:23:29.579 --> 00:23:31.680 namely the object of the message, 00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:33.920 he's not to be equated with that. 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:36.920 And oftentimes, just a footnote here, 00:23:37.420 --> 00:23:42.320 what prevents us from seeking to share the good news 00:23:42.320 --> 00:23:45.980 is, I think, because we have too high of a regard 00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:47.580 for our own selves, 00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:51.539 when literally the role that we're playing 00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:52.980 is a mere messenger. 00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:57.440 Our responsibility is to get the message right. 00:23:57.440 --> 00:24:00.220 Everything else is left up to God, 00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:03.920 as we're going to see in this particular instance. 00:24:04.400 --> 00:24:06.360 Our responsibility is to be faithful 00:24:06.360 --> 00:24:08.960 and trust God with the fruit. 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:12.700 Peter doesn't want Cornelius to make that mistake. 00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:14.320 No, no, no, don't worship me. 00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:15.960 I'm just a messenger. 00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:19.420 And with that being said, 00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:20.779 the third observation that I made, 00:24:20.840 --> 00:24:22.140 look at verses 28 and 29. 00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:23.559 Those are just awkward to me. 00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:26.539 Look at how they read. 00:24:26.659 --> 00:24:28.079 And Peter comes in. 00:24:28.399 --> 00:24:30.460 He tells him, don't worship me. 00:24:30.579 --> 00:24:32.539 I, too, am just a man. 00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:35.460 Look at the Spirit's work in Peter's life, 00:24:37.179 --> 00:24:41.779 attributing full manhood to Gentile Cornelius now, 00:24:41.859 --> 00:24:43.159 especially given that history. 00:24:43.700 --> 00:24:46.299 That's what the power of God does in your life. 00:24:47.819 --> 00:24:49.079 But look at verse 28 and 29. 00:24:49.220 --> 00:24:51.220 I consider that these are just Peter moments. 00:24:51.220 --> 00:24:53.039 I don't know what else to do with them. 00:24:53.160 --> 00:24:53.799 And he said to them, 00:24:54.039 --> 00:24:58.180 you yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew 00:24:58.180 --> 00:25:01.700 to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation. 00:25:02.299 --> 00:25:04.460 But God has shown me that I should not call 00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:06.620 any person common or unclean. 00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:09.839 And the reason why that probably doesn't feel 00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:13.100 uncomfortable to us is because we're a bit familiar 00:25:13.100 --> 00:25:14.779 with the Jew-Gentile tension. 00:25:15.220 --> 00:25:18.620 We understand that Peter has had this divine experience 00:25:18.619 --> 00:25:21.000 and he's just recounting what he's heard. 00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:22.619 But think about that for a second. 00:25:23.719 --> 00:25:28.199 You show up to a person's house who's of a people group 00:25:28.199 --> 00:25:31.019 that you have had a very low regard for, 00:25:31.439 --> 00:25:34.559 less than human, and you show up and say, 00:25:34.679 --> 00:25:35.859 okay, before we get started, 00:25:35.959 --> 00:25:37.699 just know that I really shouldn't be here. 00:25:37.700 --> 00:25:42.559 But God has taught me something. 00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:42.960 What? 00:25:45.120 --> 00:25:47.900 It just comes off as offensive, right? 00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:49.480 But it's just a Peter moment. 00:25:50.319 --> 00:25:52.580 But we're getting a rehearsal again 00:25:52.580 --> 00:25:55.180 of that fundamental truth, aren't we? 00:25:56.080 --> 00:25:58.440 That God has done this in Peter's life. 00:25:59.240 --> 00:26:01.240 There was this history of tension. 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:04.759 Peter readily acknowledges that. 00:26:04.759 --> 00:26:08.740 So why do you have me here? 00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:11.160 Cornelius is going to go on to recount 00:26:11.160 --> 00:26:14.799 his experience again, as it were. 00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:18.160 I'm going to jump for a second to Peter's message, 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:20.720 beginning at verse 34 of chapter 10. 00:26:24.039 --> 00:26:25.460 Peter opened his mouth and said, 00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:29.440 truly I understand that God shows no partiality. 00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:33.400 But in every nation, anyone who fears him 00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:36.040 and does what is right is acceptable. 00:26:37.320 --> 00:26:39.880 These things are laced all throughout this message, 00:26:40.220 --> 00:26:41.220 no partiality. 00:26:41.660 --> 00:26:45.120 Every nation, he is Lord of all. 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:46.860 Look at that statement in verse 36. 00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:52.660 Peter has now understood now that the truth 00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:55.720 that he has just learned is integrated 00:26:55.720 --> 00:26:57.280 into the gospel, isn't it? 00:26:57.540 --> 00:26:59.580 It's an implication of the gospel message. 00:26:59.579 --> 00:27:01.000 They're tied together. 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:04.379 That the gospel as he's understood it 00:27:04.379 --> 00:27:10.079 now has this wonderful truth that hovers over it. 00:27:11.799 --> 00:27:14.559 That Jesus is, he's Lord of all. 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:18.579 So it would rightly make sense that the gospel 00:27:18.579 --> 00:27:20.379 ought to be commended to all. 00:27:20.380 --> 00:27:26.860 And he gives them this wonderful gospel review. 00:27:26.860 --> 00:27:30.500 And friend, if you're not a Christian in here this morning, 00:27:30.620 --> 00:27:35.100 this particular section is very much so tailored for you 00:27:35.100 --> 00:27:37.860 that there is one true and living God. 00:27:37.859 --> 00:27:41.379 And he has created all that exists 00:27:41.379 --> 00:27:43.240 out of the overflow of his perfections. 00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:46.359 His crown of his creation, humanity, 00:27:46.699 --> 00:27:49.519 he created us all in his image, 00:27:49.559 --> 00:27:52.319 that we literally bear the divine image. 00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:57.219 But we understand that even though God has created us all 00:27:57.219 --> 00:28:00.240 with no partiality, that God has, as it were, 00:28:00.379 --> 00:28:02.879 created all the individuals of all the nations, 00:28:03.079 --> 00:28:05.199 something has gone terribly wrong. 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:10.220 Verse 43 recognizes that in the way that Peter's message ends, 00:28:10.380 --> 00:28:14.059 something has gone wrong, namely this issue of sins. 00:28:15.100 --> 00:28:19.200 We have literally lived as though we were spiritual orphans 00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:22.360 when we really had a father who loves us 00:28:22.360 --> 00:28:25.519 and who desires us to obey him and live for his glory. 00:28:28.120 --> 00:28:30.779 But even though we were created in the image of God, 00:28:30.860 --> 00:28:33.740 that image has been marred and tainted, we have fallen. 00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:36.220 We continually fall short of his glory. 00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:39.980 And because of that, God would be right and just 00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:42.859 in condemning us because of his holiness, 00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:45.220 because of his goodness, because of his justice, 00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:49.099 demands a response, a dealing with our sins. 00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:53.599 But in his great grace, he sent Jesus. 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:56.640 Look at what Peter says about Jesus, beginning at verse 37. 00:28:56.740 --> 00:28:58.839 You yourself know what happened throughout all Judea, 00:28:59.099 --> 00:29:01.500 beginning from Galilee, after the baptism that John proclaimed, 00:29:01.500 --> 00:29:06.519 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. 00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:10.819 He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, 00:29:10.940 --> 00:29:13.119 for God was with him. 00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:15.619 And we are witnesses of all that he did, 00:29:15.779 --> 00:29:17.720 both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. 00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:21.920 They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. 00:29:21.920 --> 00:29:24.880 Yes, they did. 00:29:26.300 --> 00:29:29.880 That on the cross, the father treated the son, 00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:32.640 to put it personally, as if he lived my life. 00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:36.800 And by placing your faith in the son, 00:29:37.140 --> 00:29:41.480 the father turns around and treats you as if you lived Jesus's life. 00:29:42.600 --> 00:29:45.360 He credits his life to your account. 00:29:45.359 --> 00:29:49.459 This is very much so a righteousness issue, 00:29:49.459 --> 00:29:51.559 because we all have sin. 00:29:51.679 --> 00:29:53.799 The question is, is our sin forgiven? 00:29:53.919 --> 00:29:57.179 Is it covered under the personal work of Christ? 00:29:58.459 --> 00:30:01.000 If you're not a believer in here this morning, 00:30:01.139 --> 00:30:03.279 I commend Christ to you today. 00:30:04.519 --> 00:30:09.699 What an appropriate passage that blows any human distinctions out of the water. 00:30:09.799 --> 00:30:12.979 I don't care who you are, where you come from, what you've done. 00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:19.079 But the gospel of grace can reach down to even you. 00:30:21.400 --> 00:30:24.360 This is what all of us who profess Christ in here believe. 00:30:24.539 --> 00:30:27.319 If you're not a Christian, I encourage you to talk to one of us 00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:31.339 about what it means to follow Jesus before you leave this morning. 00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:36.940 So Peter got this new revelation, 00:30:38.140 --> 00:30:41.079 shows up, preaches this gospel message, 00:30:41.079 --> 00:30:44.139 and as he is talking, what happens? 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:46.139 The spirit just falls. 00:30:47.399 --> 00:30:49.119 That's what every preacher in here would want to happen. 00:30:50.259 --> 00:30:51.439 That's what Greg wants to happen. 00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:52.339 That's what I want to happen. 00:30:53.399 --> 00:30:55.500 As he's preaching, spirit falls. 00:30:56.059 --> 00:30:57.099 He can't even finish. 00:30:58.079 --> 00:30:59.039 Tongues going everywhere. 00:30:59.199 --> 00:31:01.619 We wouldn't necessarily know what to do with that, but let them roll. 00:31:04.559 --> 00:31:05.919 Cornelius gets saved. 00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:07.640 Cornelius gets saved. 00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:09.880 Can you imagine Peter now at this point like, 00:31:09.980 --> 00:31:12.060 ugh, great. 00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:15.600 I knew something like this was going to happen. 00:31:17.620 --> 00:31:19.380 Cornelius gets saved. 00:31:20.560 --> 00:31:22.720 And the same thing that happened, 00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:24.600 and this is why God is so amazing, 00:31:24.880 --> 00:31:28.620 the same thing that happened to Peter and his boys in Acts 2 00:31:28.620 --> 00:31:30.180 happens to Cornelius. 00:31:30.180 --> 00:31:33.700 So if there's anything in Peter at this moment 00:31:33.700 --> 00:31:35.539 that's coming up to say, 00:31:35.620 --> 00:31:36.820 this can't be, 00:31:36.900 --> 00:31:38.500 the same thing happened. 00:31:39.140 --> 00:31:43.560 So Peter's having flashbacks of his proclamation of Joel 2, right? 00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:44.680 And on that day, 00:31:44.740 --> 00:31:46.779 the spirit of the Lord shall fall upon all flesh. 00:31:46.820 --> 00:31:48.299 He's like, oh, this is all flesh. 00:31:53.240 --> 00:31:54.620 Cornelius gets saved. 00:31:54.619 --> 00:32:00.739 The same manifestation of the spirit took place, 00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:04.579 and because of the miraculous and evident nature 00:32:04.579 --> 00:32:06.799 of God saving Cornelius, 00:32:08.039 --> 00:32:10.239 baptism is what ought follow. 00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:15.399 The same reasoning that we saw in Greg's sermon 00:32:15.399 --> 00:32:17.719 from chapter 8 with the Ethiopian eunuch. 00:32:17.839 --> 00:32:19.519 Well, after that takes place, 00:32:19.739 --> 00:32:21.639 why would you deny them baptism? 00:32:21.819 --> 00:32:22.899 It just follows. 00:32:22.900 --> 00:32:26.900 It's the outward expression of the inward reality 00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:28.680 that has taken place. 00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:31.300 Verse 48, 00:32:31.380 --> 00:32:33.720 he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, 00:32:34.640 --> 00:32:37.640 and they asked Peter to remain for some days. 00:32:38.620 --> 00:32:39.360 And he does. 00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:41.300 I think the text is suggesting that. 00:32:41.360 --> 00:32:41.880 He does. 00:32:42.780 --> 00:32:44.940 One who has regarded Gentiles previously 00:32:44.940 --> 00:32:47.340 as less than human, perhaps dogs, 00:32:47.900 --> 00:32:49.620 now staying with them, 00:32:49.619 --> 00:32:52.959 rubbing shoulders with them. 00:32:54.439 --> 00:32:56.819 And Peter did this before, 00:32:56.899 --> 00:32:59.479 even as his presence at the Tanner's house, right, 00:32:59.959 --> 00:33:00.759 makes clear. 00:33:01.939 --> 00:33:04.659 Greg walked through how horrible of an experience 00:33:04.659 --> 00:33:05.819 that would have been. 00:33:05.819 --> 00:33:12.200 So now Peter has to go back to his boys, 00:33:13.740 --> 00:33:15.099 according to the flesh, 00:33:15.159 --> 00:33:16.639 to his fellow Jewish brothers. 00:33:17.639 --> 00:33:20.240 And of course, criticism awaits, doesn't it? 00:33:21.200 --> 00:33:22.379 When Peter went up to Jerusalem, 00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:23.720 the circumcision party, 00:33:24.359 --> 00:33:25.659 circumcision party, 00:33:25.740 --> 00:33:26.559 isn't that a phrase? 00:33:26.559 --> 00:33:30.399 That just conjures up all kinds of unhelpful things 00:33:30.399 --> 00:33:32.139 in our contemporary culture. 00:33:32.259 --> 00:33:33.339 A circumcision party. 00:33:35.559 --> 00:33:36.559 Criticized him, saying, 00:33:36.759 --> 00:33:40.019 you went to uncircumcised men and ate with them. 00:33:41.419 --> 00:33:43.460 Peter's having nothing of it, is he? 00:33:44.460 --> 00:33:45.759 He walks through again. 00:33:45.940 --> 00:33:48.059 He walks through and recounts what took place. 00:33:48.599 --> 00:33:50.099 And literally, this is where he lands. 00:33:50.159 --> 00:33:51.460 If you have a problem with it, 00:33:51.519 --> 00:33:52.179 take it up with God. 00:33:54.099 --> 00:33:56.200 God is the one who has done this. 00:33:56.200 --> 00:33:57.720 God is the one who saves. 00:33:58.779 --> 00:34:00.640 And that certainly is the truth, isn't it? 00:34:01.380 --> 00:34:02.980 God is the one who initiates, 00:34:03.080 --> 00:34:05.019 re-respond to what God has done. 00:34:05.279 --> 00:34:06.819 God has done this, Peter says. 00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:07.779 Take it up with God. 00:34:13.420 --> 00:34:14.679 A few final thoughts 00:34:14.679 --> 00:34:16.420 that I think tie some things up. 00:34:18.019 --> 00:34:18.760 Number one, 00:34:20.360 --> 00:34:22.599 the conversion of Cornelius 00:34:22.599 --> 00:34:25.619 is more than a mere turning point 00:34:25.619 --> 00:34:26.480 in the book of Acts. 00:34:28.359 --> 00:34:31.079 We understand this as a hinge passage 00:34:31.079 --> 00:34:34.599 where Gentile evangelism, 00:34:34.839 --> 00:34:37.519 Paul's ministry is going to pick up soon after. 00:34:37.880 --> 00:34:39.539 We understand this as a turning point. 00:34:40.420 --> 00:34:43.139 But it's also a very important precedent. 00:34:43.139 --> 00:34:46.299 And ought to be an encouraging one 00:34:46.299 --> 00:34:49.099 for those of us who profess Christ in here today, 00:34:49.199 --> 00:34:51.719 those of us who are ourselves Gentiles. 00:34:52.639 --> 00:34:54.480 That Cornelius' conversion, 00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:58.420 in addition to all of the other New Testament passages 00:34:58.420 --> 00:35:00.599 that affirm this reality, 00:35:02.359 --> 00:35:03.139 Romans 1, 00:35:03.299 --> 00:35:05.339 that not ashamed of the gospel, 00:35:05.519 --> 00:35:07.420 for it is the power of salvation to the Jew first 00:35:07.420 --> 00:35:07.920 and also the Greek. 00:35:07.920 --> 00:35:09.420 All those other passages, 00:35:09.619 --> 00:35:11.159 in addition now to this, 00:35:11.960 --> 00:35:13.760 gives weight and legitimacy 00:35:13.760 --> 00:35:15.700 to our salvation experience, doesn't it? 00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:20.059 If there's ever a moment where you're doubting, 00:35:20.740 --> 00:35:24.119 wait, is God really doing this? 00:35:24.240 --> 00:35:26.200 Is this really for me? 00:35:26.420 --> 00:35:28.260 Can I really receive this? 00:35:29.139 --> 00:35:30.260 This text speaks and says, 00:35:30.340 --> 00:35:32.380 God sent Peter to Cornelius. 00:35:32.380 --> 00:35:36.220 Remember that God sent Peter to Cornelius. 00:35:37.940 --> 00:35:40.559 Not just for those of us who profess and are alive, 00:35:40.660 --> 00:35:42.260 but loved ones who have passed on. 00:35:42.800 --> 00:35:46.599 Be encouraged by the fact that God sent Peter to Cornelius. 00:35:49.980 --> 00:35:50.619 Number two, 00:35:50.680 --> 00:35:52.740 our country is in a whirlwind right now 00:35:52.740 --> 00:35:55.059 over issues of race and ethnicity. 00:35:56.440 --> 00:35:58.900 Reconciliation has become like a buzzword, 00:35:59.019 --> 00:36:00.180 and I hate buzzwords. 00:36:00.179 --> 00:36:04.539 I've even been asked by several online entities 00:36:04.539 --> 00:36:06.839 to write articles about the gospel 00:36:06.839 --> 00:36:08.159 and racial reconciliation, 00:36:08.559 --> 00:36:09.559 and I really don't want to. 00:36:11.419 --> 00:36:13.000 Not because it's not important, 00:36:13.119 --> 00:36:15.039 but because so much has already been written. 00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:19.359 So much has already been said. 00:36:20.319 --> 00:36:21.319 Some things terrible, 00:36:21.480 --> 00:36:23.319 but some really good stuff has been said too. 00:36:24.679 --> 00:36:26.339 And there comes a certain point 00:36:26.339 --> 00:36:28.539 that after you write and say, 00:36:28.539 --> 00:36:30.539 and after even you protest, 00:36:31.360 --> 00:36:33.259 and those things are all good. 00:36:35.539 --> 00:36:36.779 But at the end of the day, 00:36:36.860 --> 00:36:38.259 the question falls back on you. 00:36:38.519 --> 00:36:42.559 Are you going to be reconciled to people 00:36:42.559 --> 00:36:44.739 as you are reconciled to God? 00:36:48.699 --> 00:36:50.279 This isn't a message calling you 00:36:50.279 --> 00:36:51.679 to cross the Atlantic. 00:36:52.960 --> 00:36:54.239 To give a footnote there, 00:36:54.500 --> 00:36:56.639 perhaps God is calling some of you 00:36:56.639 --> 00:36:57.599 to cross the Atlantic. 00:36:58.559 --> 00:37:00.460 And he uses messages like these 00:37:00.460 --> 00:37:02.259 for the people of God to stir up 00:37:02.259 --> 00:37:04.879 appetites, giftings, 00:37:05.239 --> 00:37:08.339 that perhaps maybe he is preparing you 00:37:08.339 --> 00:37:11.000 to be a Peter for a Cornelius 00:37:11.000 --> 00:37:12.460 somewhere else. 00:37:14.119 --> 00:37:15.900 This isn't a message calling you 00:37:15.900 --> 00:37:19.019 particularly to cross the Atlantic, 00:37:19.460 --> 00:37:21.980 but it is calling you to cross the street. 00:37:21.980 --> 00:37:28.840 It is calling you to peek over the cubicle at work 00:37:28.840 --> 00:37:32.179 to the individual who works with you 00:37:32.179 --> 00:37:34.280 but does not look like you 00:37:34.280 --> 00:37:36.579 or doesn't share the same background. 00:37:37.599 --> 00:37:38.639 It is calling you to, 00:37:39.320 --> 00:37:40.119 in the classroom, 00:37:40.300 --> 00:37:41.840 turn to the one sitting next to you 00:37:41.840 --> 00:37:45.179 who perhaps doesn't have the language of origin 00:37:45.179 --> 00:37:45.940 that you do, 00:37:46.980 --> 00:37:49.159 perhaps doesn't share the same worldview 00:37:49.159 --> 00:37:50.019 that you do. 00:37:50.019 --> 00:37:51.519 This message is calling you 00:37:51.519 --> 00:37:54.380 to enter their narrative, 00:37:55.400 --> 00:37:57.219 to get to know them, 00:37:58.039 --> 00:38:01.659 to hear their stories, 00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:04.019 and to share your story. 00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:07.440 And then perhaps God would open a door 00:38:07.440 --> 00:38:10.440 for you to share a metanarrative 00:38:10.440 --> 00:38:13.199 that attaches to all of our narratives. 00:38:15.739 --> 00:38:18.139 And understand that this is risky work, 00:38:18.139 --> 00:38:18.579 isn't it? 00:38:19.799 --> 00:38:21.139 This is hard work. 00:38:21.980 --> 00:38:24.679 And hard work is typically heart work. 00:38:26.219 --> 00:38:28.259 All of us have our preferences 00:38:28.259 --> 00:38:30.440 and things that we like, 00:38:30.539 --> 00:38:32.619 and it is so easy and tempting 00:38:32.619 --> 00:38:35.719 to think that becoming a Christian 00:38:35.719 --> 00:38:38.819 or God's plan of what it looks like 00:38:38.819 --> 00:38:39.759 to be a Christian 00:38:39.759 --> 00:38:41.299 is to look just like me. 00:38:41.300 --> 00:38:44.900 That's the easy temptation, right? 00:38:44.960 --> 00:38:46.300 What it means to be a Christian, 00:38:46.700 --> 00:38:48.320 whatever your particular preferences are, 00:38:48.539 --> 00:38:49.920 attach those to the gospel 00:38:49.920 --> 00:38:51.840 so that I don't have to shift that much. 00:38:53.420 --> 00:38:55.180 You know, God wants all Christians to be, 00:38:55.220 --> 00:38:56.760 I don't know, gluten-free 00:38:56.760 --> 00:38:59.380 or whatever your preference is, right? 00:38:59.380 --> 00:39:04.619 And thankfully, 00:39:05.480 --> 00:39:07.760 Peter is mighty in this particular passage, 00:39:07.760 --> 00:39:09.820 but we understand that the process 00:39:09.820 --> 00:39:11.980 of sanctification doesn't just look like 00:39:11.980 --> 00:39:13.660 an upward straight line, does it? 00:39:13.680 --> 00:39:15.640 It's kind of a jagged line 00:39:15.640 --> 00:39:17.320 that proceeds progressively upward 00:39:17.320 --> 00:39:19.440 because there is this moment in Galatians 2 00:39:19.440 --> 00:39:23.500 where Peter has kind of a backslide experience. 00:39:23.500 --> 00:39:27.179 Peter, who's gotten this revelation here 00:39:27.179 --> 00:39:30.159 that expresses it confidently here 00:39:30.159 --> 00:39:31.980 in Galatians chapter 2, 00:39:32.199 --> 00:39:33.440 we're told by Paul 00:39:33.440 --> 00:39:36.079 that there was this instance after this moment 00:39:36.079 --> 00:39:39.659 where Peter is sitting down with some Gentiles, 00:39:40.199 --> 00:39:41.659 acting Gentilish, 00:39:42.760 --> 00:39:44.460 eating the Julia Bacon cheeseburger, 00:39:44.579 --> 00:39:45.559 listening to Lecrae, 00:39:46.099 --> 00:39:50.679 and he's enjoying the freedom 00:39:50.679 --> 00:39:52.119 that he has in Christ, 00:39:52.119 --> 00:39:54.819 but then some Jews walk up 00:39:54.819 --> 00:39:55.960 and then he pulls back. 00:39:57.659 --> 00:39:59.059 He puts the burger down, 00:39:59.179 --> 00:40:00.019 turns the music off, 00:40:00.579 --> 00:40:02.779 and he acts like, 00:40:02.859 --> 00:40:04.079 he plays the hypocrite 00:40:04.079 --> 00:40:05.219 and acts like, 00:40:06.279 --> 00:40:07.779 no, the right way to be saved 00:40:07.779 --> 00:40:10.679 is to actually become like the Jew. 00:40:10.920 --> 00:40:12.639 That's the better way to be saved. 00:40:12.739 --> 00:40:13.739 And Paul says, 00:40:13.859 --> 00:40:16.099 I would stood Peter face to face. 00:40:17.799 --> 00:40:18.380 Paul says, 00:40:18.420 --> 00:40:19.940 I had to deal with that right there on the spot. 00:40:20.039 --> 00:40:20.980 Peter, can you get up for a second? 00:40:20.980 --> 00:40:22.219 Everybody look at Peter. 00:40:25.719 --> 00:40:27.179 Paul confronts him right there. 00:40:27.260 --> 00:40:28.000 He says, wait, wait, 00:40:28.039 --> 00:40:29.019 first, wait, wait, wait. 00:40:30.480 --> 00:40:31.920 Peter, we've already been here. 00:40:32.760 --> 00:40:33.320 He says, 00:40:33.380 --> 00:40:37.320 your behavior is not in keeping with the gospel, 00:40:37.980 --> 00:40:40.920 that you are walking in a manner contrary to the gospel. 00:40:40.980 --> 00:40:42.199 And he confronts him right there. 00:40:42.300 --> 00:40:44.900 Peter has even his backsliding moment. 00:40:44.900 --> 00:40:47.440 And I want us to hear that 00:40:47.440 --> 00:40:49.800 because as we take the risk 00:40:49.800 --> 00:40:52.039 to invite people in our homes 00:40:52.039 --> 00:40:52.900 who don't look like us, 00:40:52.980 --> 00:40:54.000 to go to lunch with people 00:40:54.000 --> 00:40:55.320 who don't look like us, 00:40:55.320 --> 00:40:56.760 who don't share the same background, 00:40:56.920 --> 00:40:57.720 it's risky. 00:40:58.860 --> 00:41:01.039 You're probably going to say something stupid. 00:41:01.039 --> 00:41:04.719 Think back to what Peter said. 00:41:04.820 --> 00:41:05.559 Well, as you know, 00:41:05.679 --> 00:41:06.800 I'm not supposed to be here, 00:41:06.900 --> 00:41:09.300 but God has shared with me. 00:41:10.719 --> 00:41:11.639 Something's going to happen 00:41:11.639 --> 00:41:12.940 and it's going to be uncomfortable, 00:41:12.940 --> 00:41:16.099 but if we are going to truly be the people of God, 00:41:16.380 --> 00:41:17.980 transformed by the gospel, 00:41:18.179 --> 00:41:19.079 we have to go here. 00:41:21.219 --> 00:41:22.880 You have to go there. 00:41:23.659 --> 00:41:26.099 And whatever your sphere of influence looks like, 00:41:26.099 --> 00:41:28.259 you can't come to a passage like this 00:41:28.259 --> 00:41:30.279 and leave out of here the same way. 00:41:33.019 --> 00:41:35.079 I'm convinced and convicted that 00:41:35.079 --> 00:41:40.839 if you are wrestling with issues like these 00:41:40.839 --> 00:41:43.259 in relation to a particular person, 00:41:43.259 --> 00:41:44.519 particular people group, 00:41:45.980 --> 00:41:49.019 understand that God's grace gives power 00:41:49.019 --> 00:41:50.920 to overcome that. 00:41:51.079 --> 00:41:52.059 And know this, 00:41:52.199 --> 00:41:55.079 that you yourself, 00:41:56.099 --> 00:41:59.159 cannot become all that God has called you to be 00:41:59.159 --> 00:42:00.960 without overcoming that. 00:42:02.619 --> 00:42:05.299 And that's where even my heart is often tempted. 00:42:05.420 --> 00:42:07.159 Well, I can just mature in faith 00:42:07.159 --> 00:42:07.880 and I'll, you know, 00:42:08.659 --> 00:42:10.179 I'll deal with that at glorification. 00:42:11.579 --> 00:42:13.960 No, you will not be sanctified 00:42:13.960 --> 00:42:16.659 in the way that God wants you to be sanctified 00:42:16.659 --> 00:42:18.139 unless you go here. 00:42:18.360 --> 00:42:19.739 Meaning, let's bring it down 00:42:19.739 --> 00:42:22.019 to even more particular way 00:42:22.019 --> 00:42:25.039 that until you form that relationship, 00:42:25.039 --> 00:42:27.239 with another brother or sister, 00:42:27.320 --> 00:42:29.460 whether they be a brother or sister in Christ or not, 00:42:29.519 --> 00:42:30.860 until you go there, 00:42:30.960 --> 00:42:32.500 you have not yet learned 00:42:32.500 --> 00:42:34.539 all that God has called you to learn. 00:42:35.599 --> 00:42:36.840 Until you go there, 00:42:36.900 --> 00:42:38.279 you certainly cannot claim 00:42:38.279 --> 00:42:40.679 to have been conformed to the image of Christ 00:42:40.679 --> 00:42:42.099 to the degree that he wants you to be conformed. 00:42:44.159 --> 00:42:45.920 Your spiritual maturity 00:42:45.920 --> 00:42:48.320 hangs in the balance 00:42:48.320 --> 00:42:51.640 and perhaps someone else's salvation 00:42:51.640 --> 00:42:54.720 hangs in the balance. 00:42:55.940 --> 00:42:57.539 The church has the message 00:42:57.539 --> 00:43:01.580 that not only reconciles man to man, 00:43:02.320 --> 00:43:04.600 but the church has been entrusted 00:43:04.600 --> 00:43:05.460 with the message 00:43:05.460 --> 00:43:08.220 that reconciles God to man, 00:43:08.559 --> 00:43:10.300 which is the prerequisite 00:43:10.300 --> 00:43:13.320 for man truly being reconciled to man. 00:43:13.320 --> 00:43:15.600 This is something that 00:43:15.600 --> 00:43:17.300 you're not going to get from the world. 00:43:17.420 --> 00:43:19.120 This is a truth that the church 00:43:19.120 --> 00:43:20.680 has been entrusted with, 00:43:21.620 --> 00:43:25.000 that all breaks in relationships 00:43:25.000 --> 00:43:27.340 are stemmed from our break with God. 00:43:27.600 --> 00:43:30.340 And until that relationship is restored, 00:43:30.740 --> 00:43:32.820 every other relationship on this level 00:43:32.820 --> 00:43:35.120 is going to be pseudo at best. 00:43:35.119 --> 00:43:40.339 So share, promiscuously share. 00:43:40.440 --> 00:43:41.559 I love redeeming that word. 00:43:41.920 --> 00:43:43.380 Share promiscuously. 00:43:45.719 --> 00:43:47.880 Show no partiality. 00:43:49.900 --> 00:43:52.440 Understand that we're all image bearers, 00:43:52.539 --> 00:43:53.980 but God in his grace 00:43:53.980 --> 00:43:56.579 has reconciled a people. 00:43:56.759 --> 00:43:59.219 Look at back at verse 35 of chapter 10 00:43:59.219 --> 00:44:00.139 and we'll end on this point. 00:44:00.239 --> 00:44:01.500 God has reconciled a people 00:44:01.500 --> 00:44:03.719 in every nation. 00:44:03.719 --> 00:44:06.059 In other words, 00:44:06.139 --> 00:44:07.839 there are people like Cornelius 00:44:07.839 --> 00:44:09.619 in every nation. 00:44:13.739 --> 00:44:15.259 Revelation tells us that 00:44:15.259 --> 00:44:16.579 on that day, 00:44:16.679 --> 00:44:17.819 there will be around the throne 00:44:17.819 --> 00:44:19.559 people from every tongue, 00:44:19.879 --> 00:44:21.039 tribe, and nation. 00:44:22.159 --> 00:44:25.199 Far from commending anything 00:44:25.199 --> 00:44:27.119 that would suggest color blindness, 00:44:27.359 --> 00:44:29.039 God wants us to be love struck. 00:44:30.939 --> 00:44:32.319 We have this model here 00:44:32.320 --> 00:44:34.180 with Peter and Cornelius. 00:44:35.320 --> 00:44:35.980 Let's pray. 00:44:41.860 --> 00:44:43.160 Father, there is 00:44:43.160 --> 00:44:46.760 so much that you have for us 00:44:46.760 --> 00:44:48.280 in this passage. 00:44:48.280 --> 00:44:49.559 Lord, I pray that 00:44:49.559 --> 00:44:52.039 this truth that is rehearsed 00:44:52.039 --> 00:44:54.400 all throughout this section, 00:44:54.559 --> 00:44:56.180 that you are a God 00:44:56.180 --> 00:44:57.280 who shows no partiality. 00:44:57.280 --> 00:44:57.920 partiality. 00:44:57.920 --> 00:44:59.480 You are a God 00:44:59.480 --> 00:45:01.019 who has created 00:45:01.019 --> 00:45:03.000 all in your image, 00:45:03.740 --> 00:45:04.920 that you, 00:45:05.040 --> 00:45:05.820 by your grace, 00:45:05.940 --> 00:45:06.740 and because of the work 00:45:06.740 --> 00:45:07.340 of your Son 00:45:07.340 --> 00:45:08.540 and the power of the Spirit, 00:45:10.160 --> 00:45:11.300 redeemed people 00:45:11.300 --> 00:45:13.060 from every nation. 00:45:14.680 --> 00:45:15.380 So, Father, 00:45:15.460 --> 00:45:17.300 we are thankful this morning 00:45:17.300 --> 00:45:19.660 that because of the gospel 00:45:19.660 --> 00:45:20.519 of grace, 00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:23.519 distinctions like 00:45:23.519 --> 00:45:26.559 the Jew-Gentile distinction, 00:45:26.739 --> 00:45:27.900 the wall of separation 00:45:27.900 --> 00:45:29.119 has been torn down 00:45:29.119 --> 00:45:30.619 so that both Jews 00:45:30.619 --> 00:45:31.539 and Gentiles 00:45:31.539 --> 00:45:32.920 are now a part of 00:45:32.920 --> 00:45:34.539 this one new man 00:45:34.539 --> 00:45:36.280 that you are forming. 00:45:37.980 --> 00:45:38.579 Father, thank you 00:45:38.579 --> 00:45:39.559 for reminding us 00:45:39.559 --> 00:45:40.360 of that this morning. 00:45:40.519 --> 00:45:40.699 And, Father, 00:45:40.759 --> 00:45:41.539 I pray that 00:45:41.539 --> 00:45:43.539 we do not simply hear 00:45:43.539 --> 00:45:44.840 a message like this 00:45:44.840 --> 00:45:47.880 and disregard it 00:45:47.880 --> 00:45:49.019 and walk away 00:45:49.019 --> 00:45:49.719 from your word 00:45:49.719 --> 00:45:51.219 forgetting what we saw. 00:45:51.219 --> 00:45:52.579 But, Father, 00:45:52.619 --> 00:45:53.480 I pray that we are 00:45:53.480 --> 00:45:55.359 hearers and doers, 00:45:56.639 --> 00:45:56.939 that you would 00:45:56.939 --> 00:45:58.559 embolden us to risk, 00:45:59.819 --> 00:46:00.659 that we would 00:46:00.659 --> 00:46:03.139 form friendships 00:46:03.139 --> 00:46:05.179 that perhaps we 00:46:05.179 --> 00:46:07.000 never intended 00:46:07.000 --> 00:46:08.679 or expected to form, 00:46:09.239 --> 00:46:09.839 that we would 00:46:09.839 --> 00:46:12.239 get over ourselves. 00:46:13.519 --> 00:46:14.239 And, Father, 00:46:14.339 --> 00:46:15.359 recognizing that 00:46:15.359 --> 00:46:16.959 this world 00:46:16.959 --> 00:46:17.959 is beautiful, 00:46:18.619 --> 00:46:19.719 beautifully colored. 00:46:19.719 --> 00:46:19.799 Lord. 00:46:20.719 --> 00:46:21.119 And, Father, 00:46:21.199 --> 00:46:21.799 you have, 00:46:21.879 --> 00:46:22.619 by your grace, 00:46:23.419 --> 00:46:24.259 allowed us 00:46:24.259 --> 00:46:24.980 to be in 00:46:24.980 --> 00:46:26.599 proximity to one another, 00:46:26.739 --> 00:46:27.739 to be in relationship 00:46:27.739 --> 00:46:28.419 to one another, 00:46:28.419 --> 00:46:29.379 to reflect over 00:46:29.379 --> 00:46:30.759 the glory of the gospel 00:46:30.759 --> 00:46:31.679 with one another. 00:46:32.859 --> 00:46:33.219 Father, 00:46:33.279 --> 00:46:34.139 this is what we do 00:46:34.139 --> 00:46:35.419 now as a church. 00:46:36.799 --> 00:46:37.439 And, Father, 00:46:37.519 --> 00:46:38.199 one day we will 00:46:38.199 --> 00:46:39.519 do it eternally. 00:46:40.799 --> 00:46:41.079 Father, 00:46:41.119 --> 00:46:41.719 I pray that our 00:46:41.719 --> 00:46:42.859 practice is more 00:46:42.859 --> 00:46:43.679 in line with what 00:46:43.679 --> 00:46:45.319 that day will look like. 00:46:46.419 --> 00:46:47.239 We ask all these 00:46:47.239 --> 00:46:49.079 things in Christ's name, 00:46:49.079 --> 00:46:50.400 by the power of your spirit, 00:46:50.500 --> 00:46:51.079 to the glory of you, 00:46:51.119 --> 00:46:51.539 the Father. 00:46:52.619 --> 00:46:52.900 Amen. 00:46:52.900 --> 00:46:53.059 Amen.