Proclaiming the Gospel...
Walking through the Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted
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Proclaiming the Gospel
Proclaiming the Gospel
Winning the lost at any cost pt. 3
, “So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
“So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all
who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Let us pray…
Do you remember the last time you really hear so good news?
In a world filled with drama, chaos, murder, envy, exploitation, and exasperation. In a world where children must be raised and protected, bills and taxes must be paid, a living must be earned, and your health must be maintained. Really, when is the last time you hear some good news.
Well here is some good news; Jesus Christ is the source—the only source—of meaning in life. Jesus provides the only satisfactory explanation for why we’re here and where we’re going. Because of this good news, our final heartbeat as a Christian will not be the mysterious conclusion to a meaningless existence. Rather, it will be the grand beginning to a life that will never end. The same Lord is waiting to embrace and forgive anyone who comes to Him in humility and repentance. Jesus is calling your name, just as He called the names of all our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. His promise of eternal life offers the only hope for humanity. If you have never met this Jesus, I suggest that you seek listen to the proclamation of the Gospel, listen so you might learn to fear God met Jesus. Listen that you me come to know who Jesus is, and listen that you might realize what Jesus has done. These are the elements that we find in Peter’s Gospel driven sermon to the Gentiles gathered in Cornelius’ home.
In contrast to his indicting sermons on the Day of Pentecost or at Solomon’s portico, or his bold defenses before the Sanhedrin.
We see Peter here being led by the Spirit of God to give a simple gospel presentation. Some situations called for a more detailed apologetic, some situations called for a more historic presentation, and some situations called for the pure signs and wonders of God’s healing power before the hearers could understand the message of the gospel of Christ Jesus. But in a situation where you are dealing with divinely plowed hearts, hearts which the fallow ground of disbelief has been dug up, and hearts where a fresh planting of faith has recently, been seeded, water, and nurtured, now through the simple truths of the gospel; God brings the increase. In hearts like these is where the fear of God has been planted, , teaches us that “The fear of God is he beginning of wisdom, all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
, “My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.”
, Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; ‘let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
First, we must proclaim the Gospel…
To those who fear God and need Jesus
, “So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”
This phrase “So Peter opened his mouth… is a colloquial Greek expression, a way of saying the words which follow are very important. Looking around at Peter’s improbable audience, it is surely an understatement; there were Gentiles and God-fearers, and Jews all waiting to hear what was being proclaimed.
Peter starts by shattering what was remaining of a racial and social man-made barrier that had separated both Jews and Gentiles.
He offers a historic and spiritual understood truth, to a human and secular and sudo-spiritual audience as a new and fresh insight. Look at what Peter shares with them, “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”
With this statement Peter, cuts to the very heart of the issue and grabs everyone’s attention. What is Peter trying to convey here?
(1) When Peter says, I now understand, here we have an admission, without an apology, that proves to be a new understanding for him. This was the true moment of enlighten for him, in this moment he really understood that from the beginning, that the church was to include everyone whom Jesus called without partiality. , “You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God’s. And the case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.” , “For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.” Here we see that Israel’s heart needs correction because God is the awesome God. Our God is not partial, what He as done for others, He will surely do for us! The election of Israel, the election of the Gentiles does not mean God will cut moral corners in showing special favors He is a just God. Our God is Holy and we must be Holy, we shall not be partial in our judgments. Impartiality is a prerequisite for good judgment as well as a characteristic of God himself.
(2) But in every nation anyone who fears him, here we see the words of , come alive, “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” The meaning of the vision God gave to Peter was clear, actually because it was not entirely a new truth Peter and his Jewish companions, but one thay should have already known that God is not one to show partiality. , “ Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God. Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! What by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! This you have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment.” Isaiah defines the only two responses to the servant of the Lord has: (A) Fear the Lord by obeying the voice of his servant, trusting him even in the darkness of this life.
Or (2) Kindle the false light of one’s own wisdom, (which means to place your trust in the light of your own understanding, if you make this unfortunate choice you will ) but then lie down in torment forever. Then look at
Behold, you were angry, and we sinned; in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved?
We have all become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities. But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Be not so terribly angry, O LORD, and remember not iniquity forever.
We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls upon your name,
, “You meet him who joyfully works righteousness, those who remember you in your ways.Behold, you were angry, and we sinned; in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved? We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities. But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Be not so terribly angry, O LORD, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all your people.”
who rouses himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities. But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand. Be not so terribly angry, O LORD, and remember not iniquity forever.
Behold, please look, we are all your people.”
(3) “…And does what is right is acceptable to him.” Now Peter expands his thought, explaining that righteousness is important to God. So many have misunderstood this verse to teach universalism, that God accepts all who are sincere on the basis of their works. This is totally incorrect and inconsistent with the biblical teachings of the Bible. Peter was only at Cornelius home because he was not saved, not him or his relatives or friends. Now there is no denying that some work has been done and some work still needs to be done, the righteous work that happens here comes from Christ alone, it is because of His work righteousness that anyone is saved. Because the text clearly states that salvation comes to those who fear God, it is God the Holy Spirit that has initiated this pre-salvation work in the very hearts of these people in attendance. , “And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” This work of the Holy Spirit takes away our partiality and places us on a path of righteousness.
The work produces in the person who fears God to do what is right and to be welcome into God’s family and become acceptable. The word acceptable is the word “dektos” in Greek and it means, “marked by a favorable manifestation of the divine pleasure. As in , “For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” , “Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue. Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you. But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.”
No matter what the age, race, sex, or social standing, when the heart hungers for God and for righteousness, it is the welcome time for salvation. Cornelius responded to the work of God in his soul, never thinking he did it on his own, it is the gift of God so that no one can boast. The truth is that no one, whether, Gentiles or Jew comes to Christ on their own, it is God that draws them. And when they hear the saving truth of the gospel, they responded. Why, because they had learned to fear God and had become acceptable.
Next, we must proclaim the Gospel to those who need to know
Who Jesus is?
, “As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.”
Peter introduced his message by assuring them that salvation was available to the prepared, acceptable heart that feared God.
Yet, it was not enough for them merely to know if its availability; they needed to know how to appropriate the forgiveness of the Son and deliverance from God’s coming judgment. They needed to know who Jesus is. Peter turns then, to the main theme of the gospel, namely that salvation comes through Jesus Christ to anyone of any nation. In the words of the hymn, “ The Church’s One Foundation, “ the church is elect from ev’ry nation, yet one over all the earth. The word of God contains the only message of true salvation, which came first to the sons of Israel. It was and is a glorious message of peace and life through Jesus Christ our Lord. All people are fallen, all people are enemies of God, and all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. It is the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ that has the power to end the hostility that exists between God and man and men towards other men. Jesus Christ is our peace; He brought peace by paying the penalty and the price for sin. He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God. Christ Jesus has made peace for us through the blood of His cross. Salvation is offered to all because Jesus is not just the Savior of the Jews but also the Savior to all that believe, He is Lord of all. In Romans Paul writes, “ Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.
As already noted, Caesarea was the seat of the Romans government in Judea. Consequently, Peter can affirm to Cornelius and the others that you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning with all Judea, from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed. The baptism, which John proclaimed, was a baptism signifying an attitude of repentance and longing for the reign of righteousness. It prepared the nation for the Messiah, who was Jesus of Nazareth. As He began His ministry, God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power,
, “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Peter describes that ministry as going about doing good, and then he lists as an example, His healing of all who were oppressed by the devil. That phrase encompasses the whole gamut of human ailments, from direct demon oppression to disease and to spiritual darkness. “The Son of God, “ wrote the apostle John, “appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil,
, “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”
Jesus Christ’s complete overpowering of Satan and his demons left no doubt that God was with Him.
All they had heard about Jesus’ ministry was true, Peter affirms, He adds the apostolic corroboration that we are witnesses of all the things and who He is. The things that Jesus did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, and then Peter comes quickly to the significant event saying, and they also put Him to death by hanging Him of a cross. But God raised Him up on the third day, and granted that he should become visible, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us, who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
That religious men would lead the effort to put to death the One who went about doing good and overruling the work of Satan illustrated the depths of human depravity—even when it is masked with false religion. God, however, overturned the world and hell, vindication Jesus by raising Him up on the third day. The significance of Peter’s statement that Jesus became visible should not be overlooked. Countless heretics, from apostolic times to the present, have denied the truth of Christ’s physical resurrection. That is central to Christian faith. Paul points out the evidence of the resurrection in
, “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.”
Then in verse 12-19 Paul gives us the serious consequences of denying the resurrection.
, “Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.”
Lastly, in this passage, Paul reminds us of our victory in Christ Jesus. , “I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
Not everyone had the privilege of witnessing the resurrected Christ, however, Christ has appeared and Christ has risen! Peter declares to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is to us, who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead offers further proof of His bodily resurrection, since Jewish though spirit beings were incapable of such actions. Lastly, let’s gain an understanding that come from proclaiming the Gospel to those who need to know
What Jesus has done?
, “And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
As verse 42 relates the warning that was essential to the apostolic witness through the prophets. They were command to preach the word, in season and out of season, preach the word, when they want to hear it and when they did not want to hear it. Preach the word, when the word brings comfort and preach the word when the word brings conviction. Preach the word when it cuts to the heart and preach the word when it calms the heart. Just preach the word! Peter is saying that because of Jesus, we are to always testify that Jesus is the one and the only one appointed by God the Father to be the judge of the living and the dead.
, “For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.
21For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. [Jesus states here that the Son also gives life to whomever he wills is another claim to deity, showing that Jesus does what only God can do, for the OT makes clear that raising the dead and giving life are the sole prerogatives of God (cf. ; ; ). This “life” is both the new “life” now given to believers (; ; ) and the resurrection of the body at Christ’s second coming]
22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, [Jesus’ assertion that the Father … has given all judgment to the Son is yet another claim to deity, since judgment is the exclusive prerogative of God 23 That all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
23 That all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
[The statement that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father in effect establishes Jesus’ right to be worshiped and also amounts to a claim to deity. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him shows that religions such as Judaism and Islam that consider Jesus merely a great prophet do not represent the truth about God, because they fail to worship and honor Jesus.]
24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. [
25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.
27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28-29, Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”
28-29, Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”
Verse 43 of our text teaches that all the prophets bore witness that everyone who believed in Jesus Christ would receive forgiveness for their sins. , “Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.” , “And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
,“On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.”
All that fear God are made acceptable to Jesus and come to know who Jesus is and all that Jesus has done. This is the culmination of the divine promise made centuries earlier. Whoever believes in Jesus will received the grace of God, will saving grace, if you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame. They will receive the forgiveness of their sins. This is the good news of the Gospel of Christ Jesus, when is the last time you really hear some good news.