2014.06.22 Acts
10:43-end
Cornelius is baptized
As we read in our Bible Acts 10 last week…. Peter went
and proclaimed the Gospel to Cornelius and his friends and family…. He is with them in their house…. Something that a Faithful Jew
would not normally do….. "I'm happy to tell you….. Salvation is available
to all who repent and believe the gospel…… That was Good News to the se
Gentiles…. I have Good News for you today…. Forgiveness and mercy and grace is
available to each of you right now…. Then he told Cornelius and his friends….. Salvation
is only in The LORD Jesus Christ....... in verse 42….. he said….. Christ is your Savior or He
is your Judge….. So he presents Christ as the way to peace with
Go…… the only way for us to be forgiven of our sins…..
Then he concludes with a powerful invitation to come to
Christ….. He said you need forgiveness and mercy from God…. You need a
redeemer…. A Savoir….. It´s Jesus! He is
the Messiah….. Even though you are heathens…… Jesus will forgive you He will
redeem you….. Repent and believe the Good News…. in verse 43. "To Him give all the prophets witness "That through His name," "whosoever believeth in Him shall receive
forgiveness of sins."
Salvation
is available…… Salvation is in Christ…… Salvation is by faith…… Peter
simply says, "Cornelius, you can have it….. Here's what it is….. Here's
how to get it…… That's all anyone needs to know, isn't it?
Sovereign call and submissive will……. Peter gets up and says, "Salvation's available…..
It's in Christ….. and It's by faith…… Immediately…… they all believe the Gospel…..
and God pours out his Holy Spirit on them…..
let´s pickup the text at verse 43…. Acts 10 v43…
Acts
10: 43- 48 NKJV
43
To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him
will receive remission of sins.”
44
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those
who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were
astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had
been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues
and magnify God.
Then
Peter answered, 47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized
who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to
be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
Acts
10: 43- 48 Sch
2000
43 Von diesem legen alle Propheten Zeugnis ab, daß jeder,
der an ihn glaubt, durch seinen Namen Vergebung der Sünden empfängt.
44 Während Petrus noch diese Worte redete, fiel der
Heilige Geist auf alle, die das Wort hörten.
45 Und alle Gläubigen aus der Beschneidung5, die mit
Petrus gekommen waren, gerieten außer sich vor Staunen, daß die Gabe6 des
Heiligen Geistes auch über die Heiden ausgegossen wurde.
46 Denn sie hörten sie in Sprachen reden und Gott hoch
preisen. Da ergriff Petrus das Wort:
47 Kann auch jemand diesen das Wasser verwehren, daß sie
nicht getauft werden sollten, die den Heiligen Geist empfangen haben gleichwie
wir?
48 Und er befahl, daß sie getauft würden im Namen des
Herrn. Da baten sie ihn, etliche Tage zu bleiben.
What a thrill to preach the Gospel and have everybody in
the crowd get saved….. Awesome…. What an exciting event….. His message was
suddenly interrupted while he was speaking….. Peter was just getting started….
Some time later when Peter goes back to report to the leaders in Jerusalem….. He
tells them that the Holy Spirit fell on them…… Just like on us at the beginning……
Peter gave his
message…. and the Holy Spirit fell on them… Peter had already told them enough to repent
and believe the Gospel…. and as they
were converted… God poured out His Holy Spirit upon them.….. God had prepared
not only Cornelius but all of those who were there….
As soon as Peter said….. Salvation
is available to everyone…. It is in Christ….. And It is received by faith….
they believed the Good News and were converted…
God gave
them the Holy Spirit…… The Holy Spirit is yours at salvation…...
This
is the immediate result of saving faith….. The Spirit indwells the believer
instantly…..
Let´s look at what Jesus said about the Holy Spirit in John 14…v15…
John
14: 15-18
NKJV
15
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He
will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit
of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows
Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not
leave you orphans; I will come to you.
John 14: 15-18 Sch 2000
15 Liebt ihr mich, so haltet meine Gebote!
16 Und ich will den Vater bitten, und er wird euch einen
anderen Beistand1 geben, daß er bei euch bleibt in Ewigkeit,
17 den Geist der Wahrheit, den die Welt nicht empfangen
kann, denn sie beachtet ihn nicht und erkennt ihn nicht; ihr aber erkennt ihn,
denn er bleibt bei euch und wird in euch sein.
18 Ich lasse euch nicht als Waisen zurück; ich komme zu
euch.
Jesus says…. You know Him…. He is with you and He will be
in you…… I will come to you!
The
promise of God is the giving of the Spirit to live in us….. The Holy Spirit
also places us into the body of Christ….
turn to 1 Cor 12… v13…
1
Corinthians 12: 13
NKJV Sch 2000
13
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks,
whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
13 Denn wir sind ja alle durch einen Geist in einen Leib
hinein getauft worden, ob wir Juden sind oder Griechen, Knechte oder Freie, und
wir sind alle getränkt worden zu einem Geist.
Here in our text they believed….. and God gave them the
Holy Spirit….. You might say that this was the Pentecost of the Gentiles…… God gave them the Holy Spirit as soon as they
believed…..
As I said…. The Holy Spirit is given to you at the moment
you believe…. That is absolutely clear in Scripture….. please turn with me to
Ezekiel 36 v26…
Ezekiel
36: 26,27 NKJV
Sch 2000
26 I
will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the
heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27
I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you
will keep My judgments and do them.
26 Und ich will euch ein neues Herz geben und einen neuen
Geist in euer Inneres legen; ich will das steinerne Herz aus eurem Fleisch
wegnehmen und euch ein fleischernes Herz geben;
27 ja, ich will meinen Geist in euer Inneres legen und
werde bewirken, daß ihr in meinen Satzungen wandelt und meine
Rechtsbestimmungen befolgt und tut.
What a promise…. "A new heart also will I give you." We need a new heart……
because the old one is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked…… God
in His sovereignty gives us a new heart…. That's salvation……. At the same time…. He also gives us a new Spirit…. Salvation and the Holy Spirit Spirit are
connected at the same moment….. "I'll take away the stony heart of your
flesh, and give you a heart of flesh." V 27….
27 I
will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you
will keep My judgments and do them.
If we didn't have the Holy Spirit….. We couldn't obey God
at all…..
back to Acts 10.......
Verse 44…
Acts 10: 44
NKJV Sch 2000
44
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those
who heard the word.
44 Während Petrus noch diese Worte redete, fiel der
Heilige Geist auf alle, die das Wort hörten.
Now we understand why God poured out His Holy Spirit on
them….. Because they believed…… They were saved…. Because they were saved…. God gave them the
Holy Spirit….
Cornelius and all of his gathered friends and family… heard
the Word with hearts of faith…… and when
they heard it with faith…. and they believed….. God immediately poured out the
Holy Spirit on them…. They were very glad and very thankful….. They were
radically transformed.....
What a wonderful day….. They heard the Words of Life……
They believed and were genuinely converted…. God Poured out the Holy Spirit on
them and they were baptized.... What a happy day….. All their sins were washed
away when they repented and believed… Just like on the day of Pentecost…. turn
with me to Acts 2...v40.....
Acts
2:40- 42 NKJV
40
And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved
from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were
baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And
they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the
breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:40- 42 Sch 2000
40 Und noch mit vielen anderen Worten gab er Zeugnis und
ermahnte und sprach: Laßt euch retten aus diesem verkehrten Geschlecht!
41 Diejenigen, die nun bereitwillig sein Wort annahmen,
ließen sich taufen, und es wurden an jenem Tag etwa 3 000 Seelen hinzugetan.
42 Und sie blieben beständig in der Lehre der Apostel und
in der Gemeinschaft und im Brotbrechen und in den Gebeten.
They were Glad…. And they were baptized…. And they continued
steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread,
and in prayers…. Back to Acts 10….v45…
Acts
10: 45- 48 NKJV
45
And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came
with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the
Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.
Then
Peter answered, 47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized
who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to
be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
Acts
10: 45- 48 Sch 2000
45 Und alle Gläubigen aus der Beschneidung, die mit
Petrus gekommen waren, gerieten außer sich vor Staunen, daß die Gabe6 des
Heiligen Geistes auch über die Heiden ausgegossen wurde.
46 Denn sie hörten sie in Sprachen reden und Gott hoch
preisen. Da ergriff Petrus das Wort:
47 Kann auch jemand diesen das Wasser verwehren, daß sie
nicht getauft werden sollten, die den Heiligen Geist empfangen haben gleichwie
wir?
48 Und er befahl, daß sie getauft würden im Namen des
Herrn. Da baten sie ihn, etliche Tage zu bleiben.
Here in Acts 10…. For the first time…. The Holy Spirit
was poured out on these Gentiles….. They were shocked….. How can this be?
You see…. Although they already knew it was a gift….. not
something you earn…… But they still they couldn't believe that the Gentiles received
the same gift of the Holy Spirit.....
verse
46, "When they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God."
They heard them speak in languages just as in the
beginning… Total equality with the Jewish people….. God himself is declaring that He is no respecter of persons….. He
is saying these are also mine….. I have cleansed them…. All who repent and
believe the Gospel are placed into the Church…. The Body of Christ…
Look
at verse 46…… "Then answered Peter, "All right, Can anybody forbid
water?
Notice how important baptism is? If you have been saved
but not been baptized…. you're not obeying the Lord´s command……
Baptism
is our public confession of faith in the LORD Jesus….. He has saved us from our sins and given us
new life….. We are saying to everyone…… I
belong to Jesus…. He has saved me….
It symbolizes the death and burial and resurrection of
Christ as you're identified with Him…… It's so important….. Peter says,
"Hey since they have believed….. It´s right to baptize them….
Look at verse 48…..
"He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Lord Jesus."
I think that's a sign of genuine salvation when
somebody's willing to be baptized and confess Christ….. That's part of it……
verse
48, "Then asked they him to tarry certain days."
Sweet fellowship….. These new believers were hungry for
the Word of God …. Just like a new born baby…. Have
you ever known a baby that didn't want to eat? They want food and love…… A sense of belonging…. That's exactly what a new baby in Christ calls
for…… Feed me…. love me…. hold me….. Take care of me… Peter had some new
converts…… They asked him to stay with them a while…. "Peter, feed us, love us, teach us."
You know, I really believe that a person who genuinely comes
to the Lord Jesus Christ…… honestly desires the fellowship of other Christians…..
And I think he desires to know the Word of God…..
to be fed….. Here in our text today…. They wanted fellowship…. They wanted Peter to
minister to them and help them grow….
We teach through the Bible verse by verse…. but really what we're doing is taking
Scripture and using it to feed and equip
believers to become genuine disciples…. You see you are the ones who are
called to do the work of the ministry….. My job is just to help prepare you by
teaching you the Word…. It
is the Word of God that the Holy Spirit uses to feed new believers and to prepare
all of us to do the work of the ministry….. 2 Tim 3…..
Close
Let´s spend a few minutes looking at our life in the Lord
Jesus Christ….. Col 2…v11…
Col
2:11- 14
NLT
11
When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical
procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your
sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And
with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of
God, who raised Christ from the dead.
13
You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet
cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14
He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it
to the cross.
Col 2:11- 14 Neues Leben
11 Durch eure Zugehörigkeit zu Christus wurdet ihr
beschnitten, aber nicht durch einen äußerlichen Eingriff. Eure Beschneidung kam
durch Christus, und damit wurdet ihr von eurem alten Wesen abgetrennt.
12 Denn als ihr getauft wurdet, wurdet ihr mit Christus
begraben. Und ihr wurdet mit ihm zu neuem Leben auferweckt, weil ihr auf die
mächtige Kraft Gottes vertraut habt, der Christus von den Toten auferweckt hat.
13 Denn vorher wart ihr tot aufgrund eurer Schuld und
weil euer altes Ich euch bestimmt hat. Doch Gott hat euch mit Christus lebendig
gemacht. Er hat uns alle unsere Schuld vergeben.
14 Er hat die Liste der Anklagen gegen uns gelöscht; er
hat die Anklageschrift genommen und vernichtet, indem er sie ans Kreuz genagelt
hat.
What joy to know that we are forgiven….. We see a great
picture of the symbolism of baptism here… We are saved by grace through faith….
Jesus has transformed us…. We do not need to be circumcised…. Jesus has
circumcised our hearts…. Look at v12… you were buried with Christ when you were
baptized……. And with him you were raised to new life….. because you trusted the
mighty power of God….. who raised Christ from the dead…… v13…Then God raised
us from the dead…. we are alive with Christ…. We are made alive in Him…. He is
our righteousness…. He is our life… We see the symbols… in water baptism…. In
Romans 6…. Paul is rejoicing with the believers in the Wonderful grace of
God….. We are saved by grace through faith….. He uses to symbolism of Baptism
to teach them about grace and our new life….…. Turn with me to Romans 6…v 1…
Romans
6: 1- 14 NKJV
Sch 2000
1 Well
then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his
wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we
continue to live in it? 3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with
Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were
buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by
the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
5
Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life
as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so
that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7
For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And
since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9 We are sure of
this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again.
Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once to break
the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So
you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to
God through Christ Jesus.
12
Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. 13
Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin.
Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have
new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the
glory of God. 14 Sin is no longer your master, for you
no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the
freedom of God’s grace.
Romans 6:1 -14 Neues Leben
1 Heißt das, dass wir weiter sündigen sollen, damit Gott
Gelegenheit hat, uns noch mehr Gnade zu schenken?
2 Natürlich nicht! Wenn wir für die Sünde tot sind, wie
können wir da weiter in ihr leben?
3 Oder wisst ihr nicht, dass wir mit Jesus Christus
gestorben sind, als wir auf seinen Namen getauft wurden?
4 Denn durch die Taufe sind wir mit Christus gestorben
und begraben. Und genauso wie Christus durch die herrliche Macht des Vaters von
den Toten auferstanden ist, so können auch wir jetzt ein neues Leben führen.
5 Da wir in seinem Tod mit ihm verbunden sind, werden wir
auch in der Auferstehung mit ihm verbunden sein.
6 Unser früheres Leben wurde mit Christus gekreuzigt,
damit die Sünde in unserem Leben ihre Macht verliert. Nun sind wir keine
Sklaven der Sünde mehr.
7 Denn als wir mit Christus starben, wurden wir von der
Macht der Sünde befreit.
8 Und weil wir mit Christus gestorben sind, vertrauen wir
darauf, dass wir auch mit ihm leben werden.
9 Wir wissen, dass Christus von den Toten auferstand und
nie wieder sterben wird. Der Tod hat keine Macht mehr über ihn.
10 Er starb ein für alle Mal, um die Sünde zu besiegen,
und nun lebt er für Gott.
11 Deshalb haltet daran fest: Ihr seid für die Sünde tot
und lebt nun durch Christus Jesus für Gott!
12 Lasst nicht die Sünde euer Leben beherrschen;2 gebt
ihrem Drängen nicht nach.
13 Lasst keinen Teil eures Körpers zu einem Werkzeug für
das Böse3 werden, um mit ihm zu sündigen. Stellt euch stattdessen ganz Gott zur
Verfügung, denn es ist euch ein neues Leben geschenkt worden. Euer Körper soll
ein Werkzeug zur Ehre Gottes sein, so dass ihr tut, was gerecht ist!
14 Die Sünde hat die Macht über euch verloren, denn ihr
steht nicht mehr unter dem Gesetz, sondern seid durch Gottes Gnade frei
geworden.
Paul is rejoicing in the wonderful grace and mercy of God
here…. But he is also telling the believers to stop sinning….. We are set free
from the power of sin…… we are in the Lord Jesus Christ now…. We can live for
Him…..
The Lord did not save us so that we could hang out
together and feel blessed in our little island of Christianity…… He has a
mission for each and every one of His children…..
This morning we see salvation coming to the Gentiles….. A
new life in Christ symbolized by their receiving of the Holy Spirit…. Pictured
in baptism… What a glorious passage… Salvation is available…. It is in Christ
alone…. It is received by faith……. God has spoken …. He has commanded all men everywhere
to repent and be baptized….. Acts 2:38….
What grace… What mercy…. What joy….
I
have Good News for you this morning…. God is no respecter of
persons….. today is the Day….. Do not harden your
hearts…. Repent and cry out to Him today…. He will forgive you…. Let´s pray…
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