Sermon - Acts 10

Acts 10
Sunday Nite series 18.4.2010

We’ve been learning about how the gospel began to spread beyond Jerusalem in the early days of the Church after Pentecost. Two of the key players were Stephen (Ch7) and Philip (Ch8). But tonight we learn how the Church’s first real breakthrough amongst the Gentiles (non-Jews) came not through either of these, not even through Saul/Paul, but through Peter, the leader amongst the original 12.

This is a very rich chapter and I only have time to pick out a few of the significant points.

1. Cornelius is out there

Look at verses 1 and 2. Christians have been told to love their enemies. Here is a man who would certainly be defined as an enemy – a military officer in the occupying army. And a gentile – that division was probably deeper than we can appreciate.

But look at the kind of man Cornelius is, the kind of lives that he and his family are living (v2). They are doing many of the things you would hope and expect Christians to be doing, but they are not yet Christians. They still need to hear about and respond to Jesus. They need Peter. AND as we shall see, Peter needs them. And we notice that it is while Cornelius is engaged in his regular practice of prayer that God’s messenger comes to him.

Just a thought. I wonder how many Corneliuses are ‘out there’ in our society, our circle of contacts. Who are they waiting for to take the good news to them? Me? You?

2. God believes in Peter

We already know from his preaching and his actions that Peter believes in God, but it is equally important to see that God believes in Peter. Notice how God’s angel tells Cornelius to send for Peter, even before God has told Peter how he wants to use him. God knows Peter inside out, he knows his fears and prejudices, all the baggage he carries as a Jew as well as a believer in Jesus.

Yet in spite of all this, God believes that Peter can cross that threshold, see his enemy differently, treat his enemy with love instead of fear or hatred. God entrusts the task to Peter and believes that Peter is up to it.

3. Peter obeys, even when it hurts

Now as we look at verses 9-23 and try to get into how challenging this situation is for Peter. This is turn-your-world-upside-down time, forget-everything-you’ve-heard-about-gentiles-before time.

Notice also how, guided by the Holy Spirit, Peter is able to be flexible beyond his worst nightmare. He is able to accept the impossible, to step right out of his comfort zone and to follow where God is leading.

4. The Gospel according to Peter

In verses 24-33 these two very different men who have been brought together by God catch up on each other’s stories. Then Peter tells the good news in his own words.
• V34-35 God does not show favouritism but accepts those from every nation who fear him and do what is right (NB who might that definition include today?)
• V36 This message of peace with God for all has been sent through the people of Israel, specifically through Jesus
• V37-39 summarise Jesus’s life as a Spirit-filled war against evil, in which Jesus continually sets people free from sickness and evil
• V39-40 shows that the crucifixion and resurrection are the culmination of this war and how the apparent victory of evil over good is turned on its head by God
• V41-43 confirms the testimony both of the prophets of old and the eyewitness apostles that salvation through Jesus is for everyone, not just for a select few.

The gospel Peter preached is the gospel the Church is called to preach today and we need to check our version against his!

5. The Spirit’s work, the Church’s baptism
The truth and power of what Peter is saying is confirmed by the amazing events of verses 44-46. To the amazement of Peter and his companions, God shows his clear acceptance of all who heard the message by pouring out the Holy Spirit on them before Peter has even finished speaking and without any preconditions. This needs to be noticed by any who think you have to go through certain steps, defined by the Church, in order to become a Christian. God’s grace will not be limited in these ways and is poured out by him far more widely and generously than we expect.

Peter responds to what has happened in the right way – even though all his preconceptions have been proved wrong. He doesn’t go defensive and shore up the barriers, he gives the sacrament of baptism as an outward sign of what God has done spiritually in these people. He responds graciously to God’s grace in the life of his enemy.

6. Reviewing our Mission Priorities

In the light of this revolutionary story of how the doors were blown off the early church to allow everyone to come in, by the grace of God, in the name of Jesus and in the power of the Spirit, we must allow our own understanding of the gospel and of our mission to be challenged.