The New Holy

Fully Devoted: A Study in Acts  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Introduction

Acts 10:1-3
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.
Caesarea was a military town along the coast of the Mediterranean and the capital of the Roman occupation in Israel
Jews hated Caesarea - called it the ‘daughter of Edom’ - symbolic name for Rome
Cornelius was a centurion - part of Italian cohort - cohort = 600 men - centurion oversaw 100 men and would have been paid as much as five times as much as an ordinary soldier.
Cornelius was a ‘devout’ man - not a full convert, but a heart sensitive for God - since he gave alms generously and prayed to God (not gods)
About the ninth hour of the day (3pm) he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.”
10 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
>> Angel tells Cornelius God recognizes and accepts his worship
>> tells him to send men to Joppa to bring Peter back Caesarea
>> sends two servants and a soldier who also worshipped God
Now the
Acts 10:9-16
The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour (noon) to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
Some of you - this describes your church experience on a Sunday morning as we get close to the end of the service. Pray - hungry - fall into trance - have a vision of bacon
Just like with the story of Saul and Ananias, God uses a dual vision to bring together the two key players for the advancement of the gospel.
Peter’s praying — dreaming of food - one pastor calls this the first ‘pig in a blanket’
What Peter sees — sheet being lowered with animals, reptiles and birds
Voice says to eat the animals
14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
“What God has made clean, do not call common.”
What had been considered unclean, dirty, sinful for more than 1400 years was now, by an act of God, made clean.
(although some believe Jesus declared all foods clean in )
This section will shows us the first two lessons:

1) God, through Jesus, makes the unclean clean. 

Notice two things: What happened and How it happened
What had been considered unclean, dirty, sinful for more than 1400 years was now, by an act of God, made clean.
What I mean: 1) rules were changed 2) there is a power that changed them.
(although some believe Jesus declared all foods clean in )
a. Rules were changed.
- Israelites were given a very specific list of animals they were allowed to eat and a list of those they were not.
The ‘unclean’ animals were labeled as ‘detestable.’
There is debate as to why God chose certain animals - some saying these animals were unhealthy given the lack of refrigeration or that God knew which animals were healthier to eat.
Main point of laws - to mark out God’s people through a physical difference in everyday life.
What had been considered unclean, dirty, sinful for more than 1400 years was now, by an act of God, made clean.
(although some believe Jesus declared all foods clean in )
This was a significant change!
One pastor likened this story to a Baptist receiving a vision with a pack of smokes and a bottle of Scotch being lowered from heaven.
b. There is a power that changed the rules.
Peter lived his whole life in that 1400-year rule, and now one day, when he is hungry during a prayer, the rules completely change.
Surely before this he had been tempted by a BLT
Surely before this he had been made fun of by non-Jews regarding their dietary rules.
Had Peter eaten one of these foods then he would have been unclean, but now it was ok?
But the rules were not changed then though they are now. Why? God made the rules so only God is the one who can change the rules.
This is the greatest miracle of the gospel.
Isaiah 1:18 ESV
18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Only God has the power to make the unclean clean.
This is the greatest miracle of the gospel.
ILLUST - have you ever worked with dirty hands? In the garage I would get my hands very dirty and inevitably I would get my clothes dirty. I would never meet my wife right after work for a nice dinner without changing my clothes first.
Sin is like that. We get our hands dirty when we mess with sin. and it doesn’t matter how hard to try to avoid it, sin will stain you. Just like I would never show up to a nice dinner in my oil-stained work clothes, you cannot stand before God with your sin-stained self.
Isaiah - Though your sins. . .
Isaiah 1:18 ESV
18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
In what way was the common made clean? It does NOT mean that God has made everyone righteous. That cleansing only comes through faith in Jesus.
We see here that only God has the power to make the unclean clean - satisfy the rules through Jesus.
* Jesus has made you clean. You are clean. No matter what others say, no matter what your past shows, no matter what the Enemy says, Jesus makes you clean.

2) God’s Word is the final word on holiness.

“Holiness” = to be separate from the common
Throughout Scripture the word “holiness” is used in several different ways:
To describe God set apart in his being - God is separate from all the rest of creation in that there is no being like him.
To describe those set apart for relationship with God - only those who are holy - separate from sin common to all mankind can truly be in relationship with God
To describe things and people set apart for the purposes of God - God had chosen the nation of Israel by choosing Abraham that he might set Israel apart from the nations so that through Abraham (and the nation of Israel) all the nations of the earth would be blessed.
They were to be a ‘holy people’ to God
Leviticus 11:44 ESV
44 For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground.
One way that Israel showed she was holy - set apart - was by living differently than the surrounding nations because of the Law.
God had spoken the Law to Moses, giving the boundaries which made Israel separate and holy. Now God was speaking again, moving the boundaries.
— I wonder what Peter was thinking? Was this a trick question? Nice, try, God. I may not have been the sharpest disciple, but I know the answer to this one!
God’s word comes to Peter and he says “By no means, for I have never. . .”
Peter’s rationale was that his tradition dictated his actions.
It was not that God’s people were no longer called to be distinct and called to holiness.
That call has not changed. When Peter writes his first letter to the New Testament church he will quote
1 Peter 1:16 ESV
16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
 It is rather that the lines of holiness were being redrawn. 
God’s Word was redefining Peter’s understanding of holy living.
— we cannot let the world or tradition or our own ideas define distinct and holy living. 
Two very obvious implications flow from this truth:
God’s people must be distinct in how they live in comparison with the rest of the world.
That distinction, that holiness, is defined by God’s Word alone.
Romans 12:2 ESV
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Phillips Message paraphrases it, “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within ...”
- “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind [there’s that concept again!] that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Phillips paraphrases it, “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within ...”
Whereas the rest of the world is chasing the best job with the most money an attempt to find happiness, the Christian is praying about the right job that brings God the most glory because joy is found in nothing this world can offer.
world - hates its enemies; God’s Word says to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
world - sex outside the bonds of marriage is ok; God’s Word says the gift of sex is to be enjoyed in the covenant union of marriage between one man and one woman.
world - ok to say certain things, swear, gossip; God’s Word says you are to speak only that which builds others up.
world - ok to tell little white lies; God’s Word says you are to have integrity and be truthful in every way.
If there is NOT a noticeable difference in the way you think, talk, and act from those around you, you are either still in church or you have become just like the world.
You cannot make a difference IN the world if you are not different FROM the world.
Leonard Ravenhill has written (source unknown), “The greatest miracle that God can do today is to take an unholy man out of an unholy world, and make that man holy and put him back into that unholy world and keep him holy in it.”
If any of this has struck a nerve I refer you back to point one - God, through Jesus, can make the unclean clean.
Are we really willing to allow the Word of God to change the way you live? (really think about this - when was the last time you changed something in your life because of the Word of God?)
If not, then what’s the point?
Peter’s rationale was that his tradition dictated his actions.
It was an ungospel tradition
Two things happening. Lines of separation are being dissolved and new lines of holiness are being drawn. 
— rules make a religion - Jesus makes a people. 
Acts 10:23b-28
The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .
Peter filled in the blanks and saw that God was doing a new thing. God wasn’t just redrawing the lines around the Law he was redrawing the lines around the people of God.
>> Cornelius describes his vision
, 42-43
34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), (not just of the Jews) 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea . . . 42 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. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
How many of you are 100% Jewish?
If not, then you are here because of what happened here.
The gospel has been shared with non-Jews before, but here is where we find that Gentiles are included as a part o the church - the people of God - without needing to be circumcised and follow all the Jewish law and traditions.

3) The gospel prevents racism and promotes reconciliation. 

1) Gospel prevents racism
Gospel reminds us of our humanity - we are not separated from God because of our culture, our race, our skin color. We are separated from God because we are sinful humans.
There is a beauty and beast in that statement:
We are ALL made in God’s image - human. Problem is, when you picture God you probably picture a God like you. God is no more Asian than he is African-American. There is no race that has a claim on an image of God because EVERY race is made in his image. Every race and culture is just as valuable as the other.
The beast is we all share commonality in our sinfulness - no one race is better than another.
- Tower of Babel - people were one culture, one language, with one problem - Pride.
God confuses the language
Cultures and races split
God always intended to bring the cultures and races back together.
- God chooses Abraham and tells him he will be a blessing to all the cultures that are now scattered
- Around God’s throne there will be people from every tribe, tongue, and nation - praising God for his salvation through the gospel.
Since sin separated the races, it is the gospel which unites the races.
— God will accept anyone of any race or ethnicity that calls on him in faith 
  — this is not new - Egyptians, Ruth, Samaritan?, Roman Centurion, etc
— despite what some believed, Jews were not considered righteous before God simply because they were born ethnically a Jew or even because they followed Jewish dietary or other laws, Every Jew - and every person for that matter - is declared righteous based on their faith and belief in a God and on this side of the cross, Jesus. (Ex - Abraham)
— the Gentile / Jewish distinction was based along ethnic lines not moral ones. It was based on the ethnicity which someone was born AS not the proclivity of sin which someone was born TOWARD. 
2) Not only does the gospel prevent racism, it promotes reconciliation.
This section is not only about the ecclesiological shift of the inclusion of the Gentiles into the New Testament church (if that were the case, the angel would have evangelized Cornelius); it is about a personal shift of those inside the church to publicly recognize and display gospel reconciliation.
God didn’t have Cornelius come to Peter, he had Peter GO to Cornelius
This wasn’t a passive acceptance of racial integration in the church, it was an active pursuit to share one faith, one Lord, one baptism with people outside of our culture and comfort zone.
ILLUST - Many of us would not have a problem moving over in our pew to allow someone of a different race or culture sit next to us, but have you ever thought of how you might befriend someone of a different race or culture so that you might invite them to that open seat next to you?
Who are the people you shy away from? Look down on? (they deserve what they get?)
Maybe you need to go to Devon Oasis Vision Trip.
If we truly believe the gospel then the church should be at the forefront of all societal problems as a shining example of what works.
standing for all life (born and unborn)
addiction recovery
adoption / fostercare
helping the disabled
helping disadvantaged
racial reconciliation
(stay tuned for upcoming sermon series)
**Only Jesus can fully cure racism
A truly gospel people will not only avoid racism but seek out reconciliation of all people groups regardless of color, culture, or economic status for the gospel of Jesus.
Social structures tend shuffle people from one location to another and call it integration. Only the gospel can truly accomplish that which needs to be integrated - the human heart with its Creator.
ILLUST - In 1947, William Levitt of Levitt & Sons began building mass-produced, affordable housing for veterans returning from World War II. - first suburban community - stipulation was ‘only whites.’ Several years later, Morris Milgrom developed a mirror suburban community about ten miles away with the intended purpose to create a racially integrated community. Sounded good, and started well; however, even then racial quotas were established to ‘force’ integration and African-Americans were often vetted to make sure they would not make the white people uncomfortable. Moving people of different races into closer proximity does not complete integration, because the problem is not a location issue, it is a heart issue.
(Piggot, W. Benjamin, and W. Benjamin Pigott. "The "Problem" of the Black Middle Class: Morris Milgram's Concord Park and Residential Integration in Philadelphia's Postwar Suburbs." The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 132, no. 2 (2008): 173-90. http://www.jstor.org/stable/20093996.)
Only the gospel can truly cure racism (and will!) and gospel people should be examples of promoting that now!
Acts 10:44-45
44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

4) The internal work of the Spirit replaces the external rules of the Law.  

The confirmation that the Gentiles would now be included as a part of the church was the fact that they had received the Holy Spirit, not that they had begun to follow the laws and regulations of the Mosaic Covenant.
(That will be important later)
Without Jesus, the Old Covenant would never have become new and we would never have been able to fully become the people of God. 
God has broken down the physical distinctions that separated the people of God from the rest of the world. The physical separation of the people of God for the advancement of Gods redemptive plan was no longer necessary. That which unites the people of God is no longer the external law but the internal spirit
In what way was the common made clean? It does NOT mean that God has made everyone righteous. That cleansing only comes through faith in Jesus.

What had been considered unclean, dirty, sinful for more than 1400 years was now, by an act of God, made clean.
This is the greatest miracle of the gospel.
Isaiah - Though your sins. . .
* Jesus has made you clean. You are clean. No matter what others say, no matter what your past shows, no matter what the Enemy says, Jesus makes you clean.
— rules make a religion - Jesus makes a people. 

God’s Word is the final word on holiness.

— we don’t let the world or tradition define distinct living. 
Are we really willing to allow the Word of God to change the way you live? (really think about this - when was the last time you changed something in your life because of the Word of God?)
God’s word comes to Peter and he says “By no means, for I have never. . .”
Peter’s rationale was that his tradition dictated his actions.
It was an ungospel tradition

— God will accept anyone of any race or ethnicity that calls on him in faith 
  — this is not new - Egyptians, Ruth, Samaritan?, Roman Centurion, etc
— despite what some believed, Jews were not considered righteous before God simply because they were born ethnically a Jew or even because they followed Jewish dietary or other laws, Every Jew - and every person for that matter - is declared righteous based I. Their faith and belief in a god and on this side of the cross, on Jesus. (Ex - Abraham)
If Granger had a block party there would be very little dancing - not because they’re Baptist but because they’re white. 
— the Gentile / Jewish distinction was based along ethnic lines not moral ones. It was based on the ethnicity which someone was born AS not the proclivity of sin which someone was born TOWARD. 
Gospel does not only prevent racism, it promotes reconciliation.
This section is not only about the ecclesiological shift of the inclusion of the Gentiles into the New Testament church (if that were the case, the angel would have evangelized Cornelius); it is about a personal shift of those inside the church to publicly recognize and display gospel reconciliation.
God didn’t have Cornelius come to Peter, he had Peter GO to Cornelius
This wasn’t a passive acceptance of racial integration in the church, it was an active pursuit to share one faith, one Lord, one baptism with people outside of our culture and comfort zone.
ILLUST - Many of us would not have a problem moving over in our pew to allow someone of a different race or culture sit next to us, but have you ever thought of how you might befriend someone of a different race or culture so that you might invite them to that open seat next to you?
If we truly believe the gospel then the church should be at the forefront of all societal problems as a shining example of what works.
standing for all life (born and unborn)
addiction recovery
adoption / fostercare
helping the disabled
helping disadvantaged
racial reconciliation
(stay tuned for upcoming sermon series)
**Only Jesus can fully cure racism
A truly gospel people will not only avoid racism but seek out reconciliation of all people groups regardless of color, culture, or economic status for the gospel of Jesus.
Social structures tend shuffle people from one location to another and call it integration. Only the gospel can truly accomplish that which needs to be integrated - the human heart with its Creator.
ILLUST - Levittown / Concord Park failed utopia of racial integration. (Nice Try Podcast)

The confirmation that the Gentiles would now be included as a part of the church was the fact that they had received the Holy Spirit, not that they had begun to follow the laws and regulations of the Mosaic Covenant.
(That will be important later)
Without Jesus, the Old Covenant would never have become new and we would never have been able to fully become the people of God. 

Conclusion

Being Fully Devoted means we are to live separate lives - not based on race, but based on holiness.
How is God calling you to separate from the world today? To become holy in an unholy world?
How is God calling you to promote racial reconciliation?
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