Gospel Preaching In The First Century - Peter In The Home Of Cornelius

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                "GOSPEL PREACHING IN THE FIRST CENTURY"

                     Peter In The Home Of Cornelius

INTRODUCTION

1. Thus far we have considered four examples of gospel preaching in the
   first century...
   a. Peter on the day of Pentecost    c. Philip in the city of Samaria
   b. Peter at Solomon’s porch         d. Philip in the Gaza desert

2. The gospel preaching in each case followed a similar pattern...
   a. Proclaiming the death, burial, resurrection and lordship of Jesus
      Christ
   b. Calling for a response involving faith, repentance and baptism

[Till now, the gospel was shared only to Jews or those closely related
(Samaritans).  Jesus intended His gospel to be proclaimed to all nations
(Mt 28:19; Mk 16:15), and now we consider the example of the first
Gentile (non-Jew) who was given the gospel message...]

I. THE SETTING

   A. CORNELIUS HAS A VISION...
      1. Cornelius, a centurion, is introduced as very religious - Ac
         10:1-2
      2. In a vision an angel appears to him - Ac 10:3-6
         a. With an announcement that his prayers and alms have been
            noticed by God
         b. With instructions to send for Peter; please note:
            1) The angel said, "He will tell you what you must do." - Ac
               10:6
            2) As Peter recounts it, "...who will tell you words by
               which you and all your household will be saved." - Ac
               11:14
      3. Cornelius then sends two servants and a devout soldier to Peter
         - Ac 10:7-8

   B. PETER HAS A VISION...
      1. While the three men are traveling toward Peter, he has a vision
         - Ac 10:9-16; 11:4-10
         a. A sheet descending from heaven, containing all sorts of
            creatures
         b. A voice tells Peter to "kill and eat"
         c. Peter objects, for he has never eaten anything common or
            unclean
         d. He is told, "What God has cleansed you must not call
            common."
      2. Three times the vision is repeated

   C. THE SPIRIT INSTRUCTS PETER...
      1. The men from Cornelius arrive as Peter contemplates the vision
         - Ac 10:17-18; 11:11
      2. The Spirit tells Peter to go, "doubting nothing, for I have
         sent them" - Ac 10:19-20; 11:12
      3. Peter receives the men and takes six with him as they go to
         Cornelius - Ac 10:21-23; 11:12

   D. PETER ARRIVES AT CORNELIUS’ HOUSE...
      1. Cornelius has gathered his family and close friends - Ac 10:24
      2. Peter deflects attempts by Cornelius to worship him - Ac
         10:25-26
      3. Peter explains his presence a violation of Jewish custom, but
         now understands "I should not call any man common or unclean"
         - Ac 10:27-28
      4. Asked by Peter to explain why he was called, Cornelius recounts
         the appearance and instructions of the angel - Ac 10:29-32;
         11:13-14
      5. Cornelius and his household were ready "to hear all things
         commanded you by God" - Ac 10:33

[Similar to Acts 2, miraculous events prepared both the preacher and his
audience for "things commanded...by God" (Ac 10:33) and "words by which
you...will be saved" (Ac 11:14)...]

II. THE SERMON

   A. PETER PROCLAIMS GOD...
      1. He begins with a full perception that God shows no partiality
         - Ac 10:34-35
      2. A perception started with the vision of the sheet and unclean
         beasts
      3. A perception continued with the Spirit’s instruction to go with
         the messengers
      4. A perception confirmed with the Spirit falling upon the
         Gentiles - Ac 10:44-47; 11:15-17

   B. PETER PROCLAIMS JESUS...
      1. As Lord who was anointed with the Holy Spirit and power - Ac
         10:36-38
      2. Who was killed, raised from the dead, seen by witnesses who
         knew Him well - Ac 10:39-41
      3. Who has commanded the apostles to proclaim Him as ordained by
         God to be the Judge of the living and dead - Ac 10:42
      4. Through Whom remission of sins is offered to those who believe
         - Ac 10:43

   C. PETER PROCLAIMS BAPTISM...
      1. After the Spirit fell upon Cornelius and his household - Ac
         10:44-46
      2. The purpose of which was to show Peter and his fellow Jews that
         Gentiles could be recipients of the gospel and saved in the
         same way - cf. Ac 10:45; 11:17-18; 15:7-11
      3. How then could anyone forbid water to those who had received
         the Spirit just as the apostles did? - Ac 10:47; 2:1-4
      4. So Cornelius and his household were commanded to be baptized in
         the name of the Lord - Ac 10:48; 2:38

CONCLUSION

1. Once again, preaching the gospel followed the pattern seen before...
   a. Proclaiming the death, burial, resurrection, and lordship of Jesus
      Christ
   b. Calling for a response involving faith and baptism

2. Of course, other important observations can be made...
   a. Religious people need to be saved (it is Jesus’ blood that saves,
      not religion per se!)
   b. The gospel is for everyone, for God desires all men to be saved
      - cf. 1Ti 2:3-6; 2Pe 3:9
   c. The gospel requires of all the same response:  faith and baptism
      - cf. Mk 16:16; Ac 15:11

How about you?  You may be a good moral person, religious, even like
Cornelius; but without Jesus there is no hope of salvation (cf. Jn 8:24;
14:6).

Have you received the remission of sins through an obedient faith in
Jesus Christ?  Are you ready to stand before the One ordained to be the
Judge of the living and the dead (Ac 10:42)...?
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