June 29, 2014
Morning Service

Acts 10:1-22

 

Jer_31:31  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

Heb_8:8  For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

Heb_8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

Heb_12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

            Here in the book of Acts God is revealing to all mankind that which He said He would do through Jeremiah the Prophet.  MAKE A NEW COVENANT WITH MANKIND.  We are so blessed that we have been given this understanding, and revelation. 

            We find that through the old covenant, or the law, we are tutored into the new covenant, or into belief in Jesus Christ, to be justified by faith, and not keeping the law. 

Gal 3:24-28  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  (25)  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.  (26)  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  (27)  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  (28)  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

This new covenant is revealed to mankind through the writings of the Bible.  God chose a man named Saul of Tarsus, who we have recently witnessed his miraculous conversion from Judaism to a disciple of Jesus Christ, and later became Paul the Apostle, to write 2/3 of our new testament writings.  Since we believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God, we believe what the Apostle said when he said, “if any man consider himself to be a Prophet, or spiritual let him acknowledge that the things I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.”   ICor. 14:37. 

And since we believe this we must believe what he said concerning this good news, or gospel, of the new covenant. 

Gal 1:6-9  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  (7)  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  (8)  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  (9)  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

 

Anyone teaching a gospel, or good news different than revealed to us through the writings of Paul are to be accursed.  Then does it now behoove us to study fervently his writings to present, or preach the same gospel that he preached?  This is a very serious presentation of condemnation on anyone that would preach a different gospel than that which is presented in the Bible. 

 

This morning as we look at the Scriptures Acts 10:1-22 we will see God teach Peter that He is opening the door to salvation to all men, including the gentiles.  Peter has already open the doors to salvation for the Jews in chapter two on the day of Pentecost.  In this chapter, but not today, we will see him open the doors to salvation for the gentiles. 

 

Now it is not only for those trying to keep the law of Moses, but for whosover will call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 

 

Act 10:1-22  There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,  (2)  A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. 

·         This man was a Roman, or gentile, not a Jew, but as you can see by this description of him, he was a very good man.  He feared God, did many good deeds, and prayed to God always.

(3)  He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.  (4)  And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord?

·         The ninth hour would have been 3pm for our time.

·         He, like the Apostle Paul recognizes that he is speaking with divinity, Someone from God.

And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. 

·         God hears our prayers. 

(5)  And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:  (6)  He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. 

·         The Angel could’ve said, “because you are pleasing to God you are now saved,”  but He didn’t.  He wants us to know that Peter, with his keys, or authority, must speak the good news to them.

(7)  And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;  (8)  And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.  (9)  On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 

·         This would be at noon.  This was a common practice for devout Jews, to pray 3 times a day.  Morning, noon, and night. 

(10)  And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,  (11)  And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:  (12)  Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.  (13)  And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.  (14)  But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 

·         It was taught under the law of Moses that certain animals were unclean, and not to be eaten.  Peter is telling the Lord that he has never eaten any of these animals that he is seeing.

·         You can read of this in Leviticus chapter 11

(15)  And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.  (16)  This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.  (17)  Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate,  (18)  And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.  (19)  While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.  (20)  Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.  (21)  Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?  (22)  And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

·         By the sheet of unclean animals being shown, and taken up three times, Peter realized when he saw the three unclean gentiles sent to him from Cornelius, what it meant.

·         The confirmation of the Angel telling him to go with them, not doubting.

·         The men report to Peter the vision that Cornelius had, and said he must come and tell them words they must hear.

As we will see next Sunday, Lord willing, Peter will open the doors to salvation to the gentiles.  Please read ahead, and see another glorious miracle, as Peter uses his keys of authority one more time.

Almighty God, bring alive to us Your glorious Word.