Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Jesus to his disciples in Acts 1:8 and the Great Commission in Mt 28:19-20

the problem of Jewish Christians holding on to the regulations of the OC which separated them from the Gentiles

if the Great Commission was to be fulfilled the Jewish disciples had to bring the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth

for that to happen a heart change had to happen that only God could bring about

God came to Cornelius and Peter in subsequent visions

today we will consider the arrival of Cornelius’ men, Peter’s arrival at Cornelius’ house and his presentation of the gospel

he directed Cornelius to Peter and Peter to Cornelius, the Gentile to the Jew and the Jew to the Gentile

as Peter was thinking about the meaning of the vision the delegation from Cornelius arrived

God caused them to arrive at just the right time to shed some light on what was perplexing Peter! (God’s sovereignty at work!)

Peter’s Answer

“behold” = Look!

a marker used to emphasize or call attention to something

Luke is pointing out an amazing detail

in the vision to Peter God had only given a piece of his puzzle

God is about to provide another piece with the arrival of the men from Cornelius

what we learn from this:

God is sovereignly working to bring Peter and Cornelius together in order to fulfill his purpose of breaking down the dividing wall of hostility between Jews and Gentiles (Eph 2:14)

God is also sovereignly working to bring the gospel to Cornelius so that he will believe and be saved

God is also sovereignly working to bring the Jewish church to embrace the Gentiles as fellow heirs

apart from God’s sovereign work Cornelius would have remained a “god fearer” on his way to hell, Peter would have continued to maintain his separation from the Gentiles and the Jewish church would have continued to restrict access to the church to those Gentiles who adopted the ceremonial laws of the OC

“behold” = pay attention!

Spirit is about to provide the practical application of the vision!

Peter was not to ignore these Gentile men as common or unclean but instead go with them

we learn from this:

as Peter waited and prayed, the Lord began to make things clear!

God did not tell Peter all that he was doing but revealed to him a small part

this required a step of faith not knowing the outcome

God often requires us to take steps of faith and as he guides our steps and provides light or direction to our path

as we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7), letting the word of God dwell richly in us (Col 3:16), he guides our steps providing a light to our path (Ps 119:105)

Peter’s response:

the men answered Peter but note how they identified who sent them

name, profession, character and reputation

in their estimation Cornelius was worthy of God’s attention

the fact is that nothing we do is worthy of God’s favour

apart from God we all stand before him as rebellious enemies

in that state even the best things we do simply earn us more of God’s judgment!

in God’s eyes everything we do while refusing to submit to the Lordship of Christ is as filthy rags to God!

Peter obeyed the Lord by welcoming the men as his guests, even the hated Roman soldier!

the work of God in his heart had started to break his Jewish prejudice

guests: used in Heb 13:2 where it speaks of entertaining angels

Peter honoured the men, ministered to their needs, provided a safe place for them to spend the night

the bible repeatedly remind us that obedience always accompanies true faith (Mt 7:21-23; 21:28-32; Lk 9:23, 57-62; Jn 8:31-32; 14:15,21,23; 15:10,14; Acts 6:7; Rom 1:5; 16:26; James 2:14-26; 1Jn 2:3-4)

Peter welcomed the men, invited them to stay overnight and treated them as special guests

the very next day, he went with them to see Cornelius

when you are presented with the truth of scripture and it goes against what you have believed or you struggle to understand, are you quick to obey?

example of Abraham

“he believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness”

when God commanded him to sacrifice of Isaac he quickly obeyed

his faith was demonstrated in his works

Peter’s Arrival

when Peter arrived Cornelius bowed before him and worshipped him

Peter rightly rejected any kind of worship or adulation as belonging only to the Lord

example of Paul & Barnabas being called gods in Acts 14:11-15

example of John before the angel in Rev 22:8-9

worship belongs to God and to him alone

Jesus’ answer to Satan’s 2nd temptation in the wilderness

although Jesus was addressing Satan he was expressing a truth that applies to all created beings

to worship anything or anyone other than God is a sin which will damn you

a warning to those who pray to Mary and worship saints

a warning to all the world religions which take from God some or all of the worship that is due him

a warning to Christians who are easily tempted to put their favourite musicians and preachers/teachers on a pedestal

God’s own testimony

Baptist Catechism (http://www.reformedreader.org/ccc/keachcat.htm)

Q. 2. What is the chief end of man?

A. Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

(1 Cor.

10:31; Psalm 73:25-26)

God created humankind to worship and serve him alone

sin separated man from God and made him a worshipper of himself and created things

even as believers we are tempted to give to men what only belongs to God

this is part of what it means to be pressed into the world’s mould

example: Jesus said this to his disciples in Mt 23:8-12

calling me or Thomas “pastor” is a violation of this command

if we are going to use titles better to call me “brother”

Peter asked Cornelius the reason for summoning him

in v.21 Peter asked Cornelius’ men why they had come to him

had already told him in v.22

Peter asked the same question again in v.29

Cornelius responded with the same message!

(vv.30-33)

in both cases Peter was told that an angel had directed Cornelius to send for him

we learn from this that Peter was truly astonished that God would direct him through a Gentile!

reveals Peter’s deep perplexity about the fact that what had separated the Jews from the Gentiles for 1000s of years appeared to be passing away!

must not forget that the ceremonial and civil laws were literally written on his mind and heart

it was not uncommon for Jewish boys to memorize the Torah, the first 5 books of the bible, before they were twelve

much of what was written in those books was fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ in his perfect life, substitutionary atonement and resurrection

the OC had been fulfilled in a way that Israel had never be able to do

letting go was a great challenge but one that Peter was willing to face

Peter’s Affirmation

Peter finally accepted the reality that through the death and resurrection of Christ, God had removed everything that had separated the Jews from the Gentiles

before Christ only those who converted to Judaism were numbered with God’s people

when Christ died and rose again the OC was replaced with the NC

the NC was/is made with all who fear God and live to please him

Cornelius an example

this is the answer to those who believe God is unjust to condemn to hell those who have no access to the gospel

according to Rom 1:19-20 God has revealed enough of himself in creation that all persons can see and cry out to Him

God’s promise is that he will hear and answer those cries

this is what is meant when it says that God is not willing that any should perish

this does apply to every single individual but to those who are truly searching and willing to humble themselves before him