2014.06.08 Acts 10:1-23
Salvation comes to the Gentiles
Called and Justified by the Lord Jesus
Christ
As we open the Word of God this morning….. Jesus Christ
has sent His Spirit to live and dwell in His church…..
That happened on the Day
of Pentecost…… Today we celebrate that great day….. The birth of the church…
We studied that event in the 2nd chapter of Acts weeks
ago….. The Spirit of God came……. Just as
Jesus had promised the disciples….. The church was born…… and then from Acts 2
through 10 where we come today….. the church has been exploding….. People have
been coming to Christ….. People heard
the proclamation of the Gospel….. They believed the truth and repented of their
sins…. They were radically transformed by the Holy Spirit……
Beginning in Jerusalem….. The Good News of the Gospel
began to spread….. The disciples were scattered by the persecution of the
church….. Everywhere these radically saved and transformed Christians went….
They shared the Good News…..
The church reached
out to half-breed Samaritans, half Jew, half Gentile…… They heard the Gospel
and they believed……. They were placed by the Spirit of God into the church……
Today as we come to the 10th chapter of Acts….. The Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed to the
Gentiles…. Here in Acts chapter 10….. We
will witness the salvation of the first group of Gentiles….
As we read this chapter…. Peter is going to preach to a group of Gentiles….. They will repent and
believe the Gospel….. God will by His Holy Spirit transform them…. and add them
to the church…..…
The church is beginning to fulfill Jesus great
commission, "Go into all the world
and preach the Gospel."
Peter was used by
the LORD Minister to the Samaritans and slowly the Lord is helping Peter to
understand God´s great plan…… He is an active part of it…… The Lord has helped
Peter to accept the ½ gentile Samaritans….
But there's a still a difficult problem…. and that's the separation
between the Jews and the Gentiles…. in the new covenant…. the design of God is
to take of two and make one new man…… And this is Paul's great message when he
defines the church in Ephesians 2….. please
turn to Ephesians 2:11…
Ephesians
2: 11-13 NKJV
11
Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called
Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—
12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no
hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were
far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2: 11-13 Sch 2000
11 Darum gedenkt daran, daß ihr, die ihr einst Heiden5 im
Fleisch wart und Unbeschnittene genannt wurdet von der sogenannten
Beschneidung, die am Fleisch mit der Hand geschieht
12 — daß ihr in jener Zeit ohne Christus wart,
ausgeschlossen von der Bürgerschaft Israels und fremd den Bündnissen der
Verheißung; ihr hattet keine Hoffnung und wart ohne Gott in der Welt.
13 Jetzt aber, in Christus Jesus, seid ihr, die ihr einst
fern wart, nahe gebracht worden durch das Blut des Christus.
He says…. You were lost….. You were cut off from God because of your sin
and rebellion…. Now in Christ you and believing gentiles are one….
Awesome truth but very hard for the chosen people to
grasp…. God is using circumstances to work on Peter….. God prepares us…. He
prepares us to hear and believe the Gospel….. and He also prepares someone to
go and proclaim the Gospel to us….
First He prepares Cornelius….. and then He prepares Peter…….
He gives each one a special vision…..
As the church is beginning…. God is using Peter to boldly
proclaim the Good News of the Gospel…. Peter knows the scriptures….. He knows
that Salvation is by grace through faith in the LORD Jesus Christ….. But
although he was not a Pharisee…. He was very aware of the law and tried to
follow it…. He thought of the law as part of what made them the chosen people….
Peter had been radically transformed…. but he still was very Jewish in the way
he related to God…. The law and the traditions of the Jewish people were deeply
ingrained…. Peter is learning…. He has been living with a normally despised
Tanner in Joppa for 2 or 3 years now…. God is going to break down the conflict
in Peter´s mind about gentiles even more with a vision…. Peter knew the
scriptures but his tradition and pride of being one of the Children of Israel
got in the way… It had always been God´s plan to redeem the gentiles….. Peter
knew it but he didn´t understand it completely…. Turn to Isaiah 45…. It´s about
the future conversion of the gentiles….. They will see theoir sin and rebellion
and be ashamed…. They will seek the Lord …. They will repent and be converted….
It´s good News…. Is 45…v22…
Isaiah
45:22-24 NLT
22
Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other.
23 I
have sworn by my own name; I have spoken the truth, and I will never go back on
my word Every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess allegiance to
me.[d]”
24
The people will declare,“The Lord is the source of all my righteousness and
strength.” And all who were angry with him will come to him and be ashamed.
Isaiah 45:22-24
Neues Leben
22 Wendet euch auf der ganzen Welt von überall her mir zu
und lasst euch retten. Denn ich bin Gott; es gibt keinen anderen.
23 Ich habe bei mir selbst geschworen, aus meinem Mund
ging Gerechtigkeit hervor und ich werde mein Wort nicht zurücknehmen: Jedes
Knie wird sich vor mir beugen und jeder Mund wird mich bekennen.«
24 Die Menschen werden sagen: »Nur im Herrn finden sich
Gerechtigkeit und Stärke.« Und alle, die gegen ihn aufgebracht waren, werden
beschämt zu ihm kommen.
He begins with a vision here in the first eight verses to
Cornelius…… and then beginning in verse 9…. He gives a vision to Peter…….. This
is the beginning of the Gentile inclusion in the church….. By the time we get
to chapter 11….. the Gospel's gone to Antioch and many Gentiles are getting
saved....
It
is estimated that there are 2.18 billion Christians in the world today….. and
they comprise roughly a third of the world's population…. Two thirds of the
world's Christians live in Europe and the Americas…. and the other third are
spread throughout the rest of the world….. 99.999% of all believers are
gentiles….. And it all begins here in chapter 10…. This morning we have a lot
of text to read…… But I want to focus on 2 big ideas…. God predestines…. And God Justifies….. God calls us to himself…..
and God himself makes us righteous….Let´s look at Cornelius´ vision…. Acts
10…v1…
Acts
10: 1-8
NKJV
1There
was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called
the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his
household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. 3
About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God
coming in and saying to him,“Cornelius!”
4
And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?”So he
said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before
God. 5 Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. 6 He
is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you
what you must do.” 7 And when the angel who spoke to him had departed,
Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among
those who waited on him continually. 8 So when he had explained all these
things to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Acts 10: 1- 8 Sch 2000
1 In Cäsarea lebte aber ein Mann namens Kornelius, ein
Hauptmann der Schar, die man »die Italische« nennt;
2 der war fromm und gottesfürchtig mit seinem ganzen Haus
und gab dem Volk viele Almosen und betete ohne Unterlaß zu Gott.
3 Der sah um die neunte Stunde des Tages in einem Gesicht
deutlich einen Engel Gottes zu ihm hereinkommen, der zu ihm sprach: Kornelius!
4 Er aber blickte ihn an, erschrak und sprach: Was ist,
Herr? Er sprach zu ihm: Deine Gebete und deine Almosen sind hinaufgekommen vor
Gott, so daß er ihrer gedacht hat!
5 Und nun sende Männer nach Joppe und laß Simon holen mit
dem Beinamen Petrus.
6 Dieser ist zu Gast bei einem Gerber Simon, dessen Haus
am Meer liegt; der wird dir sagen, was du tun sollst!
7 Als nun der Engel, der mit Kornelius redete,
hinweggegangen war, rief er zwei seiner Hausknechte und einen gottesfürchtigen
Kriegsknecht von denen, die stets um ihn waren,
8 und erzählte ihnen alles und sandte sie nach Joppe.
verse 1….. Cornelius is the first one who's going to hear
about Christ and get saved…… He's going to be the first Gentile convert…… The
first thing we learn is God chooses the receiver….. God chose this man…. Here in this event we
have the Good News of God´s sovereign Election…. Do you remember what Jesus
said to the disciples in John 15….. turn there and look at verse 16…
John
15:16,17
NKJV Sch 2000
16
You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and
bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father
in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one
another.
16 Nicht ihr habt mich erwählt, sondern ich habe euch
erwählt und euch dazu bestimmt, daß ihr hingeht und Frucht bringt und eure
Frucht bleibt, damit der Vater euch gibt, was auch immer ihr ihn bitten werdet
in meinem Namen.17 Das gebiete ich euch, daß ihr einander liebt.
Dear friends…. It is good news that the LORD chose us……
He Himself took out our hearts of stone…. He opened our eyes….. He said live……
He gave a heart of flesh….. He saved us…. All for His great names sake…. It´s
His doing….. He makes us want to love and obey him…. He began the work….. and
as Paul tells us in Philippians 2….v 13… He
will finish the work that he has began in us….
Back to Acts 10…. Jesus had selected this one centurion
by the name of Cornelius, and this was His man….. Look at verse 2…..
Acts
10: 2 NKJV Sch 2000
2 a
devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms
generously to the people, and prayed to God always.
2 der war fromm und gottesfürchtig mit seinem ganzen Haus
und gab dem Volk viele Almosen und betete ohne Unterlaß zu Gott.
Here we see that God responds to the seeking heart….. God
responds to the open heart….. Cornelius was sovereignly chosen by God….. but he also had a searching heart….. God reached
down and gave Cornelius the desire to seek God….. even when he was dead in
trespasses and sins….. He said to those dead bones…. Live….. It is the same
with us….. The Bible says that no one seeks after God…. Romans 3…v 10…
This is a very interesting passage in Romans…. Paul is
quoting the OT….. Psalms and Isaiah and Ecclesiastes….. In this chapter Paul is
pointing to God´s calling and God´s plan of justifying sinners like you and
me…. Great place for your quiet times…. Romans … back to Acts 10….v 2…
Acts
10: 2 NKJV Sch 2000
2 a
devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms
generously to the people, and prayed to God always.
2 der war fromm und gottesfürchtig mit seinem ganzen Haus
und gab dem Volk viele Almosen und betete ohne Unterlaß zu Gott.
Here's Cornelius….. He fears God…... He is seeking the
LORD with his whole heart…… he's living up to the light that he has…. and God
moves in and shows him the light of the world…. Jesus Christ……
If anybody really wants to do know God…. If he or she
comes seeking the LORD…. God will give him sufficient light to believe the
Truth…. In Jeremiah 29:13, it simply
says…
Jeremiah 29: 13
NKJV Sch 2000
13
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
13 ja, ihr werdet mich suchen und finden, wenn ihr von
ganzem Herzen nach mir verlangen werdet;
God never withholds His light from the one who seeks it…..
so don't worry about the heathen…. God
is just, too just to ever make a mistake…. He is patient and loving…. God always gives the light of the Gospel to
the one who lives up to the light that he has…… And seeks the Lord with all of
His heart….
Cornelius was a God fearer…. He had come to believe that
the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob was the one true God….. And he dedicated
himself to seeking and knowing God…. but he had never been circumcised….. He
was not a full convert to Judaism…. He had not been circumcised and baptized….
But he did believe that God was truly God….
Verse 3…..
Acts
10: 3,4 NKJV Sch 2000
3
About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God
coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”4 And when he observed him, he was
afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your
alms have come up for a memorial before God.
3 Der sah um die neunte Stunde des Tages in einem Gesicht
deutlich einen Engel Gottes zu ihm hereinkommen, der zu ihm sprach: Kornelius!
4 Er aber blickte ihn an, erschrak und sprach: Was ist,
Herr? Er sprach zu ihm: Deine Gebete und deine Almosen sind hinaufgekommen vor
Gott, so daß er ihrer gedacht hat!
Verse
4…..
soldiers aren't supposed to be afraid of anything, but he was afraid….. God
sees and reads the heart of every single individual….. Cornelius set his heart to seek and obey the
Lord…. God sent an Angel to him to tell him what he needed to do next….. It is
time for him to hear the Good News….Verse 5…..
Acts
10: 5,6 NKJV Sch 2000
5
Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. 6 He is
lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what
you must do.”
5 Und nun sende Männer nach Joppe und laß Simon holen mit
dem Beinamen Petrus.
6 Dieser ist zu Gast bei einem Gerber Simon, dessen Haus
am Meer liegt; der wird dir sagen, was du tun sollst!
The angel says, "You go to Joppa."
find Simon Peter! And Listen to him because he will tell you what you must do….. In
English Must has to do with Pflicht…..
No choice…. You want to know God…. Do what Peter says… Listen includes the idea
of obey….. gehörsam zu sein….
God expects our faith to bring about willing obedience…..
because that's what the Christian life is all about…… Jesus is our LORD…. Oder ?
God is giving Cornelius something to do…. Jesus said…. Why do you call me Lord and
not do what I say….
God expects us to obey…. It´s connected to our saving faith… Romans 10: 9,10 tells us to believe and Confess with our mouths the LORD
Jesus…..
Mark
16: 16 says Believe and be baptized….. Does that mean that confessing with our mouth
or being baptized saves us? No…. Not at all…. But since he is our LORD and Savior….. We love and obey Him….
So He gives Cornelius the opportunity to be obedient…… Praise the Lord, he was obedient…… He believed
and he was obedient….. verse7...
Acts
10: 7,8 NKJV Sch 2000
7
And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his
household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him
continually. 8 So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them
to Joppa.
7 Als nun der Engel, der mit Kornelius redete,
hinweggegangen war, rief er zwei seiner Hausknechte und einen gottesfürchtigen
Kriegsknecht von denen, die stets um ihn waren, 8 und erzählte ihnen alles und
sandte sie nach Joppe.
I love this immediate obedience…… here was a man of true
faith…… and God gave him the opportunity to prove his genuine faith by
obedience…. God is always doing that for us …. I hope you're learning that in your life....
Don´t be impatient with God when He's trying to teach you to be
obedient….. Cornelius is ready to hear and obey the Gospel…. Now God prepares Peter´s heart to be willing
to proclaim the Good News to a Gentile….. A Roman Soldier no less….Verse 9…
Acts
10: 9,10 NKJV
9
The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went
up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10 Then he became very hungry
and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance
Acts 10: 9,10 Sch 2000
9 Am folgenden Tag aber, als jene auf dem Weg waren und
sich der Stadt näherten, stieg Petrus auf das Dach, um zu beten, etwa um die
sechste Stunde1.
10 Da wurde er sehr hungrig und wollte essen. Während man
aber etwas zubereitete, kam eine Verzückung über ihn.
Now comes the
second vision in our text this morning…. this is exciting….. God uses human instruments to proclaim the
GOOD News….…. That´s why we are still here….. So that we can testify to the Goodness and mercy and grace of god in
our lives…… God wanted to use Peter…..
He will open the door to the Gentiles…… He called Peter for this
purpose…..
God chooses His messengers…… The Spirit of the Lord moves
upon people and leads them…. Jesus said
go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel… He could have saved us and sent
us directly to heaven….. He has kept us here for a reason…… He is right now
preparing hearts for you to reach out and proclaim the Good News to…
God is in the business of calling men and women to
himself….. He saves us….. He calls us to himself…. He sends us out….. He uses
us to proclaim the Good news to the lost and dying world that is all around
us…. Back to Acts 10…. Look at verse 11…
Acts
10: 11- 23
NKJV
11
and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four
corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12 In it were all kinds
of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of
the air. 13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
14
But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or
unclean.”
15
And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must
not call common.” 16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up
into heaven again.
17
Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen
meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for
Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. 18 And they called and asked whether
Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.
19
While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three
men are seeking you. 20 Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting
nothing; for I have sent them.”
21
Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and
said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”
22
And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has
a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by
a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.” 23 Then
he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them,
and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
Acts 10: 11- 23 Sch 2000
11 Und er sah den Himmel geöffnet und ein Gefäß zu ihm
herabkommen, wie ein großes, leinenes Tuch, das an vier Enden gebunden war und
auf die Erde niedergelassen wurde;
12 darin waren all die vierfüßigen Tiere der Erde und die
Raubtiere und die kriechenden Tiere und die Vögel des Himmels.
13 Und eine Stimme sprach zu ihm: Steh auf, Petrus,
schlachte und iß!
14 Petrus aber sprach: Keineswegs, Herr! denn ich habe
noch nie etwas Gemeines oder Unreines3 gegessen!
15 Und eine Stimme [sprach] wiederum, zum zweitenmal, zu
ihm: Was Gott gereinigt hat, das halte du nicht für gemein!
16 Dies geschah dreimal, und dann wurde das Gefäß wieder
in den Himmel hinaufgezogen.
17 Als aber Petrus bei sich selbst ganz ungewiß war, was
das Gesicht bedeuten solle, das er gesehen hatte, siehe, da standen die von
Kornelius abgesandten Männer, die das Haus Simons erfragt hatten, am
Toreingang;
18 und sie riefen und erkundigten sich, ob Simon mit dem
Beinamen Petrus hier zu Gast sei.
19 Während nun Petrus über das Gesicht nachdachte, sprach
der Geist zu ihm: Siehe, drei Männer suchen dich!
20 Darum steh auf, steige hinab und ziehe ohne Bedenken
mit ihnen, denn ich habe sie gesandt!
21 Da ging Petrus zu den Männern hinab, die von Kornelius
zu ihm gesandt worden waren, und sprach: Siehe, ich bin der, den ihr sucht. Was
ist der Grund für euer Kommen?
22 Sie aber sprachen: Kornelius, der Hauptmann, ein
gerechter und gottesfürchtiger Mann, der ein gutes Zeugnis hat bei dem ganzen
Volk der Juden, hat von einem heiligen Engel die Weisung erhalten, dich in sein
Haus holen zu lassen, um Worte von dir zu hören.
23 Da rief er sie herein und beherbergte sie. Am
folgenden Tag aber zog Petrus mit ihnen, und etliche Brüder von Joppe gingen
mit ihm.
Peter is His chosen messenger….. He has witnessed the
grace of God to the Samaritans and now it´s time for the next step….. He´s
hungry and he goes up to pray while someone gets lunch ready……. He has a
vision… And in his vision, he saw heaven opened….. He looks up and there's
heaven….. it's full of all kinds of animals….. Some were clean and some were unclean….. in
Leviticus chapter 11, God laid down laws governing the diet of Israel…. there was a division between clean animals and
unclean animals; and no self-respecting Child of God would ever eat anything
but clean animals…. Peter never ate
anything unclean…. Why did God make
clean and unclean animals? Why did God make this difference?
God had separated the Children of Israel from all others
nations….. They were to be His….. He wanted to sanctify them….. To make them
Holy and to keep them Holy…. He did not want them to have anything to do with
the Pagan tribes that had covered the earth…..
So
He said….. Don´t eat these things…. Stay away from them… God
drew lines so that they would not be able to have a normal social relationship
with Gentile sinners….. Their society was centered around food and idol
worship… They could not party with them…. They could not eat the defiled
food….. Food that they had sacrificed to their false gods….. He made it
impossible to participate with them in sin….
God says, "I don't want you getting involved with
Gentiles…. I don't want you acting like they act and doing what they do…. You
are to be Holy unto me…. Back to Acts 10… v13…..
verse
13,14 …. Then in the vision a voice came to him, 'Rise, Peter; kill and
eat.'" . "But
Peter said, 'Not so, Lord.'"
Peter said… I have
never done that….. I have never eaten anything unclean…. He was zealous for the
standards that God had set up….. The word common means defiled…… Peter was stuck in his tradition.... Peter was
told three times…. kill and eat… What is this?
God is
setting aside the Old Testament Jewish dietary laws….. Why? Because
they were designed to separate the Jews from the pagan Gentiles…… It was time for the separation to end…
Because
Christ´s redemption unites them….. It is time for genuine believers from all
nations to sit together….. Having all been made clean by God Himself…. They were called to Salvation…. They were
Justified….. Made righteous by the Lord Jesus….
The dietary laws and circumcision were problems that kept popping up…. Sometimes the
Jews and the Gentiles who were both in the church wouldn't eat together…. The barriers had to be
removed….. because they were now one in
the LORD Jesus Christ…..
Food does not and never did defile the eater…. The real
problem has always been the heart… this is exactly what our Lord meant in ….. Mark chapter 7… turn there to verse 15….
Mark
7: 15
NKJV
15
There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the
things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.
Mark 7: 15 Sch 2000
15 Nichts, was außerhalb des Menschen ist und in ihn
hineinkommt, kann ihn verunreinigen; sondern was aus ihm herauskommt, das ist
es, was den Menschen verunreinigt.
Well, that's a shocking statement… Jesus is pointing to
the heart….. The thoughts and intentions of the heart is what defiles us….. It
has never been what we eat…. It´s our hearts…. Look down a few verses to Verse
20….
Mark
7: 20-23 NKJV
20
And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 For from within,
out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications,
murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye,
blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and
defile a man.”
Mark 7: 20-23 Sch 2000
20 Er sprach aber: Was aus dem Menschen herauskommt, das
verunreinigt den Menschen.
21 Denn von innen, aus dem Herzen des Menschen, kommen die
bösen Gedanken hervor, Ehebruch, Unzucht, Mord,
22 Diebstahl, Geiz, Bosheit, Betrug, Zügellosigkeit,
Neid, Lästerung, Hochmut, Unvernunft.
23 All dieses Böse kommt von innen heraus und
verunreinigt den Menschen.
Out of the heart….. comes Sin and rebellion and pride and
lust…. These are what defile us…. We need a heart change… we need Jesus….
Back to the vision again…. These clean and unclean
animals represent Jews and Gentiles……. The Children of Israel are represented
by the clean animals….. The Gentiles by the unclean animals….. They are all
mixed together here in this tarp..…
What's He saying? He's saying….. Jew and Gentile are going
to be mixed in the church….. The tarp is the
church….. The church is a mixture Jews
and Gentiles….. All of them have been made clean By God…. He has justified them
all…… They are all One in Christ….. We are all sinners saved by grace….
God accepts both in His church….. Because He has redeemed
all who repent and come to Him… It is not
perfect obedience to the law that saves us…. It´s not being a good boy or
girl…. It´s not being religious…..It´s my heart…. I need a new heart…. This is total
transformation….. Remember Jesus had told the Disciples these things many
times…… The problem was that tradition
had blinded them….They did not understand the great truth of Justification by
grace through Faith….. Ephesians 2: 8,9,10….
Think of this….. Peter is in Joppa when the servants from
Cornelius find him…… God has prepared
him to be willing to preach the Good News to the hated gentiles……
Do you remember Jonah…… He was also in Joppa when God
called him to take the Gospel to the gentiles in Nineveh…. He refused…. He
tried to run from The LORD…… Jonah left Joppa sailing away from God´s calling……
Peter was willing to obey God´s calling….. He was ready to minister to them….. verse 17…
Acts 10: 17,18 NKJV
Sch 2000
17
Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen
meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for
Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. 18 And they called and asked whether
Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.
17 Als aber Petrus bei sich selbst ganz ungewiß war, was
das Gesicht bedeuten solle, das er gesehen hatte, siehe, da standen die von
Kornelius abgesandten Männer, die das Haus Simons erfragt hatten, am
Toreingang;
18 und sie riefen und erkundigten sich, ob Simon mit dem
Beinamen Petrus hier zu Gast sei.
While he is trying to understand the vision…. The knock
on the door comes…. God had prepared everything and the timing was perfect…..
Cornelius was ready to listen and obey….. Peter invites the gentiles in and
welcomes them as guests…. WOW…. That was
not OK…. Now Peter is beginning to
understand that God is the one who makes clean…. He is the one who saves and
redeems….. It is not totally clear…. But he is willing to go and to preach the
Good news…. God not only prepares the hearer…. He prepares the messengers…. And
He ordains the divine timing….That's how God operates….. It's exciting to be a
part of His plan…. We see him at work and He let´s us join Him in proclaiming the
miracle of the New Birth….
God has planned this whole thing….. He has called us and
He has given us the righteousness of Christ…. We were not saved by keeping the
law….. We do not stay saved by keeping the law….
Close
Galatians
2: 11-16 NLT
11 But
when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did
was very wrong. 12 When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile Christians,
who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter
wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these
people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. 13 As a result, other
Jewish Christians followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray
by their hypocrisy.
14
When I saw that they were not following the truth of the gospel message, I said
to Peter in front of all the others, “Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded
the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you now trying to make
these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions?
15
“You and I are Jews by birth, not ‘sinners’ like the Gentiles. 16 Yet we know
that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying
the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right
with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no
one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.
Galatians 2: 11- 16
Neues Leben
11 Doch als Petrus nach Antiochia kam, musste ich ihm
offen entgegentreten und ihn ernsthaft zur Rede stellen, denn was er tat, war
falsch.
12 Nach seiner Ankunft hatte er zunächst noch mit den
Gläubigen, die unbeschnitten waren, zusammen gegessen. Als jedoch einige
jüdische Freunde von Jakobus eintrafen, hatte er nicht mehr den Mut dazu, weil
er die Missbilligung der jüdischen Gläubigen3 scheute.
13 Daraufhin verhielten sich die anderen Juden genauso
heuchlerisch, und sogar Barnabas ließ sich von ihnen beeinflussen.
14 Als ich sah, dass sie sich nicht an die Wahrheit der
Botschaft Gottes hielten, sagte ich vor allen anderen zu Petrus: »Wenn du als
gebürtiger Jude die jüdischen Gesetze hinter dir gelassen hast und wie ein
Nichtjude lebst, warum verlangst du dann von diesen Nichtjuden, die jüdischen
Gesetze zu befolgen, die du aufgegeben hast?
15 Du und ich, wir sind Juden durch Geburt, keine
gottlosen Menschen wie die aus den anderen Völkern.
16 Und doch wissen wir, dass der Mensch vor Gott nicht
durch das Halten4 des Gesetzes gerecht gesprochen wird, sondern durch den
Glauben an Jesus Christus. Wir sind zum Glauben an ihn gekommen, damit wir
durch diesen Glauben von Gott angenommen werden5, und nicht etwa, weil wir dem
Gesetz gehorcht haben. Denn durch das Befolgen des Gesetzes wird niemand vor
Gott gerecht.«
