Barriers Removed Between Jews & Gentiles

Transcript

GR 1604
05/15/2011
Barriers Removed Between Jews and Gentiles
Acts 10:1-43
Gil Rugh

Turn to the book of Acts in your bibles and the tenth chapter. The church has experienced great blessings during these first years of its existence. There has been growth, there have been numbers of people saved, thousands of people have been saved. There has been persecution, there has been opposition. There has already been one who has given his life in testimony for Jesus Christ. Stephen was stoned to death in chapter seven. The persecution led by Saul and the Jews has eased off. With the conversion of Saul, something of the driving energy in the persecution of believers has been removed, and so the church is enjoying a time of peace. Now in Acts chapter one when Jesus met with the disciples before His ascension to heaven, He told them that they “would receive power, after the Holy Spirit comes upon them and they would be His witnesses.” And that indeed is what has happened. And their witness and the power of the Spirit has brought about the salvation of thousands in these early days of the church’s history.

It started out in Acts chapter two, on the day of Pentecost when Peter preached to the multitude of Jews there and three thousand were converted and baptized. Then, in Acts chapter eight as a result of persecution, the believers are driven out of the region of Jerusalem and Judea and they carry the gospel to Samaria. And that’s what Jesus said would happen in Acts 1:8. That after the Holy Spirit came upon them, they would receive power and they would be His witnesses. In Jerusalem and Judea which would be the region around Jerusalem. And then to Samaria, and that’s happened. But we’re not done with carrying the gospel to Samaria. “And then to the utter most parts of the earth.”

And when we come to Acts chapter ten, we have a movement in that direction to the uttermost parts of the earth. Because we’re going to carry the gospel to the Gentiles for the first time. Amazing the sovereign work of God. In chapter nine, God sovereignly intervened into Paul’s (or Saul as he is known then to us) life. He’s converted on the Damascus road. He’s going to be the one who will be the prime leader in carrying the gospel to the Gentiles. So we have Paul converted in chapter nine.

Now in chapter ten we’re going to have the record of the salvation of the Gentiles. The gospel carried to Gentiles for the first time. And a record of their conversion. Interestingly, it’s not through the Apostle Paul. You might think, well since God saved Paul in chapter nine, and he’s going to be known as the Apostle to the Gentiles, He was saving him in chapter nine in anticipation of using him to reach the Gentiles, but that’s not the case. The key person again is going to be Peter.

Peter has been the key person in all these major expansion points. In chapter two of course, he was the preacher on the day of Pentecost. In chapter eight, he was not the one who brought the gospel to the Samaritans. But you remember the Samaritans did not receive the Holy Spirit until Peter and John came, laid hands on them, and then they received the Holy Spirit. So Peter becomes the key figure there.

Now when we come to Acts chapter ten, the gospel is going to be presented to the Gentiles as Gentiles, for the first time. And again it will be Peter who is the key individual. And you can see the plan of God here. In keeping the early church united under apostolic authority, and who is the key figure among the Apostles? It is Peter. He is in effect, if you will, their leader, their spokesman. Remember in Matthew chapter sixteen, Jesus has said that, “you are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom.”

You know sometimes we as Protestants are a little reluctant to say too much about Peter’s prominence because Roman Catholicism has made something out of Peter that the scripture does not. But he is the dominate figure in this early period of the church’s history. Through the first eleven chapters, really twelve chapters, Peter is the dominate figure. He’ll continue to play a key role. But in the book of Acts, the history of the church will move to Paul.

When we get to chapter thirteen and the missionary journeys, chapter nine verse 31, said “so the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up going on in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.”
So great days in the Church. But now we’re ready for expansion. We’ve got Jerusalem and Judea and that region, Galilee, all part of the territory of Israel. Samaria and reaching out beyond, but the Samaritans remember are mixed blood Jews. So in one sense for the Jews this looks like some of these from particularly the northern tribes, who had become mixed but now at least they’re mixed blood Jews. They’ve heard the gospel, but God’s intention is to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. And this is just then a foretaste of what is going to happen under the Apostle Paul’s ministry. We ought to be clear that the Jews have no concept, even up to Acts chapter 10, that the gospel would be presented to Gentiles. That God’s plan would be to draw Jews and Gentiles together into one body. So they had been proclaiming the gospel, people had been getting saved, but they had no understanding of the breadth of of God’s plan, in encompassing the Gentiles.

Now, it wouldn’t be foreign to them that Gentiles could be saved. The Old Testament talked about that. But in their thinking, Gentiles would be saved by converting to Judaism. But God’s plan is much bigger than that. In Chapter 11 of Acts, verse one. “Now the apostles and the brethren who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those who were circumcised took issue with him, saying you went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” He’s going to have to give an account and that will be contained in the first eighteen verses of chapter eleven. What were you doing going with Gentiles? Why would you be in a house of a Gentile? Eating with Gentiles? They have no concept of what God’s plan is going to be at this stage. But it’s going to be unfolded first to Peter.

So chapter ten is going to open up here by introducing us to Cornelius. “Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, a devout man, and one who feared God with all his household, he gave many alms to the Jewish people, and prayed to God continually.”

So we’re introduced here to an Italian, a Roman. Not a Jew not a Samaritan, not a mixed blood Jew. But he’s part of what was called the Italian cohort. This would have been the group of Roman solders comprised of those recruited from Italy, and he leads the group. Main division in the Roman armies, was the legion. A legion was six thousand men. Then the legion was divided into ten cohorts. Each cohort had six hundred men. Then the cohorts were divided into groups of one hundred, and a centurion led one of those groups. They were the backbone of the army, these groups of one hundred, because you get down to here now to the organization of who’s going to do the fighting. So you have the Roman legions, six thousand men, that’s a large number. They would have their command structure, but this group of one hundred, becomes the backbone of the Roman army.

So Cornelius is a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort. He’s in charge of one hundred Roman soldiers, and his particular group, perhaps we’re told that here, to identify their nationality, the Italian cohort. Which would give us an understanding of his own background. He’s in Caesarea. Now Caesarea is 65 miles northwest of Jerusalem, so if we are on the coast of the Mediterranean, imagine our group that’s in Israel right now, will get to be at Caesarea. It was given to Harrod placed under Harrods control by Caesar Augustus in 30 BC.

So Harrod the Great was a wise person, great builder. He rebuilt the city. It used to be known as Stratus Tower. He took 12 years making a major harbor there and building the city with significant buildings and it became a major commercial center. Then he renamed it in honor of Caesar, Caesarea. And it becomes a major seaport, ships coming in from the Mediterranean. This is the Roman capitol of the province that encompasses Palestine. This is where they administered this area and over saw it. Romans were headquartered here, and would have easy access but would be outside of the Jewish center of Jerusalem and so on, but close enough to maintain authority.

Cornelius is identified as a devout man, interesting here, defined as a leading Roman soldier, a gentile. He’s a devout man, one who feared God with all his household. He gave alms to the Jewish people, and prayed to God continually. He’s a gentile, evidently a Roman, an Italian who worships the God of Israel. Interestingly, he’s not a full convert to Judiasm but he is one who recognizes the God of Israel as the true living God and he recognizes the Jews as the people of God so he gives alms to the Jewish people. So he recognizes them and the special plan He has for them. So the praise to the God of Israel continually so he is a God fearing man as he would be identified.

There were many of these among the Gentiles who did not want to become full converts to Judiasm which required circumcision for the men and the complete conversion so they became partial converts if you will, incomplete converts. They adhere to many Jewish principles and practices without being accepted into the Jewish community as converts.

“About the 9th hour of the day,” verse 3, “he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, Cornelius.” God takes the initiative and what we have in the book of Acts we will see is God’s initiative consistently that is directing, guiding and so on. Men are instruments, He’s using the proclamation of the gospel but He is sovereign in it all just like on the Damascus road the salvation of Saul, God’s direct intervention into his life. So here, the 9th hour of the day, Cornelius is up to pray. Jewish day ran from 6 to 6 instead of like we do from 12 to 12 so 9th hour of the day would be about 3 in the afternoon. He is having prayers.

And God appears to him in a vision, the angel of the Lord. Sent from God an angel of the Lord appears to him a vision so Cornelius sees him just coming to him and calls him by name, Cornelius. “And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed he says what is it Lord.” He recognizes there is something supernatural here. He is a Roman soldier, he is not a timid man. But he recognizes something of authority in this person so he addresses him, “what is it Lord? He said to him, your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God.” As a memorial, as a remembrance. In other words, this act of worship has been accepted by God and heard by God. And I’m here in response to your prayers.

Now we don’t know what he prayed. Not told the content. Would be nice to know he was praying for this or that. We are not told. But the prayers would be accepted before the throne of God. God heard them, honoring them, an act of worship and sent to the angel in response. So he is going to tell them what he needs to do. “Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon who is also called Peter. He is staying with a man tanner named Simon.” Maybe that is why he gave his alternative name also. Because Simon is staying with Simon. So you want to talk to Simon who is also called Peter. That wasn’t two names for him, we often refer to him as Simon Peter but he was Simon who is called Peter. But he is staying at the house of Peter who is called Simon and his house is by the sea. So that is the instruction, here is what you need to do.

So what Cornelius does when the angel was speaking to him and left, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants. Two of his servants and one devout soldier. And these three are going to go to Joppa. Tell Simon who is called Peter to come to Assyria which is a trip of about 30 miles that they will be taking.

There again you see the centurion who is used to doing what he is told and he does it and sends for him. Interestingly, the angel didn’t tell Cornelius he should go, he told him to send for Peter. That is what is going to happen. Rather than Cornelius going and one or two with him. He is going to bring him back where you will have a houseful of Gentiles to hear the Gospel and experience God’s salvation.

So on the next day they were on their way and approaching the city. Peter, we experience what is going on with Peter as these men approached Joppa where Peter was staying. Peter went up on the housetop about the 6th hour to pray. We still see these homes in the mid-east that have a stairway up the outside and a rooftop that would be a private place. You could retire there for something like prayer which is what Peter is going to do. It is about noon, the 6th hour. He became hungry and was desiring to eat. So he is going up there for prayers and they are going to prepare lunch. While they are making preparations, he fell into a trance.

You see the sovereignty of God here. God sends an angel to address Cornelius. Now he is going to give revelation to Peter while he is in the trance. “He saw the sky open and an object like a great sheet coming down lowered by four corners to the ground. They lower this sheet down to the ground and it is found filled with all kinds of animals. There were all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures and birds of the air. A voice came to him, get up Peter, kill and eat.” Do you see the connection? He is up there on the roof where they are preparing but he is hungry. So God uses this, the sheet lowered, he is given instruction to kill some of the animals and eat.

I know we are used to prepared food, but this wouldn’t be so unusual for Peter. For in those days, of course, you pick out one of the prime animals and you can have something to eat. Peter’s response is simple. “Peter said by no means Lord for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.” Unholy and unclean; this refers to the Jewish regulations.

Come back to Leviticus 11, we are not going to read Leviticus 11 but we are going to come to Leviticus and you will know where to read about the clean and unclean animals. Instructions as the chapter opens up, God’s telling them these are the animals speaking to Moses and Aaron and giving them instruction, “these are the animals you can eat,” verse 2. These are the creatures you can eat of all the animals and gives instruction on those. Then they are also told which ones they can eat. That are unclean, verse 4, “nevertheless, you are not to eat of these.” He tells them about those and goes on to birds and so on. Down in verse 13, we have fish and we come to birds.

Come over to chapter 20 of Leviticus. You will see the point of this. Leviticus 20:22 “You are to keep all my statutes, all my ordinances and do them so that the land of which I am bringing you to live will not spew you out.” In other words, if they don’t obey him, they will be removed from the land. That happens with the Assyrian and Babylon importations because of their disobedience. “Moreover you should not follow the customs of the nations which I will drive out before you. For they did all these things, therefore, I have abhorred them. Inside I have said to you are to possess their land and I myself shall give to you the land flowing with milk and honey. I am the Lord your God who has separated you from the peoples.” That becomes key – that statement there. I am the Lord your God – I have separated you from the people. They are holy – they have been set apart by God and for himself. “You are therefore to make a distinction between the clean and the unclean. Between the clean bird and the unclean. You shall not make yourself detestable by the unclean animal, bird or anything that creeps on the ground for which I have separated for you as unclean.” You see these laws on food were to help separate Israel from the other nations. Mark them off, keep them separated from them.

Even today Jews try to observe these by being separated. They want to have cultural foods and so on, the restrictions. They mark them off. They don’t follow these generally as Jews. Some of the Jews may attempt to. “Thus you must be holy to me for I the Lord am holy. I have set you apart from the people to be mine.” This becomes a key point in the issue over the animals and Peter eating them and not eating them.

Come back to Acts 10:14 – “Peter said to the Lord, I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.” Here he is at this stage in his life and he has never eaten any of the animals that have been marked off as unclean. That is why the Jews couldn’t go eat with the Gentiles. They didn’t go into the Gentile homes because they would be defiled.

Going to one of the places we went to in Israel a few years ago, you had to go and eat in a separate room that had its own separate kitchen. You couldn’t use the same utensils, you wouldn’t eat using the same dishes, eat in the same room. They were all separated out trying to mark that off.

So Peter is saying Lord I can’t eat this that would be defiling and that is true from what we just read in Leviticus. But note then, verse 15, “a voice came to him a second time ‘What God has cleansed no longer consider unholy.’” What made those animals unholy, unclean? God said they were. Who has authority now to declare them clean? God does. That is what he is doing. And what this is preparing is the way for the Gentiles, no longer unclean.

So to separation, the wall of separation as Paul will give further clarity to it. For example in the book of Ephesians 2, that wall of separation. Verse 16, this happened three times. This was reinforced to Peter so he gets the point. Because this is a major major change for him. You can eat unclean animals. So three times, this is repeated. Christ had prepared the way for this.

Come back to Mark 7:14, “After he called to him, he began saying, ‘Listen to me all of you and understand, there is nothing outside the man that can defile him if it goes into him, but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man.’” Verse 17, “when he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples questioned him about the parable. He said to them, ‘are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him.’” Because it does not go into his heart, that is the key.

We still have people confused and trying to tell Christians what you can and cannot eat on the basis that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and you do not want to defile your body by putting that into it. I am not saying there are some things you are better off not eating, I am saying that you shouldn’t be trying to give a Biblical reason for that because what you put into your mouth does not defile you. So if you are going to have a chocolate fudge sundae, there may be a discussion whether that is the healthiest thing for you. But it doesn’t defile you spiritually. When we get done here, do as you please. It doesn’t go into his heart; that is the key.

Now note the end of verse 19, “Thus he declared all foods clean.” So you see, he is preparing the way here. Now Peter and the others don’t understand at this point. He was saying, that “what proceeds out of the man that is what defiles the man. It is out of the heart that proceeds fornication, thefts, adultery, all these evil things proceed from within and defile the man. That what goes in from the outside is what defiles that that comes out from the inside.” That is defiling. But here he has declared all foods clean. The actual implication of that and the understanding of that by his intimate followers like Peter and the other apostles. In chapter 10 of Acts, they still don’t understand where God is going with this, but the foundation for it was settled there.

Come back to Acts 10:17, “while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what vision in which he had seen might be.” So what is the point of this? Now we ought to have a pork sandwich instead of what I was going to have or something like that? So he says what the point is here. “Behold the men that have been sent by Cornelius having asked directions to Simon’s house appeared at the gate. And calling out, they were asking whether Simon was also called Peter who was also staying there. And while Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him.” See the direct intervention of God again? Peter is not left to figure this out. The spirit of God says to him. The vision has been revealed to him by God, now the Spirit of God tells him what to do. “The spirit says, behold, three men are looking for you. Get up and go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings. Don’t have any doubts about it, it is the right thing to do. For I have sent them myself.” Remarkable. Spirit of God has sent them.

You put what God has said to Cornelius now together with what he is saying to Peter. I have sent them myself. Peter went down to the men and said behold, I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for which you have come? “They said Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous God fearing man, well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews was divinely directed by a Holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you. So he invited them in, gave them lodging so that the next day they can leave and go there.” Remarkable how the Lord works. It is being unfolded to Peter in pieces. “The Spirit of God told him that the three men here have been sent by God and you accompany them without any doubts. Now Peter still doesn’t know the purpose of the mission. He has to ask these men, I’m Peter, now he knows they are from God, God sent them. He asked them again in Verse 21, what are you looking for me for? He doesn’t know. They tell him that God has directed them by an angel, thru Cornelius to get Peter to come to his house. Well now that much of it accounts together. It is becoming clear to Peter what is going on by this time. As he will make clear in a moment. They stay the night. The next day he got up and went away with them and some other brethren from Joppa accompanied him. Some of the Jews that were with Peter, because he wasn’t associating with Gentiles at this point. So these Jews go along.

Now we are going to have some Jews there to be witnesses of what is going to take place so they can support him when he has to give an account in Jerusalem. In chapter 11, “on the following day, he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them.” They know how long the trip is, when he will be arriving. Cornelius has made this trip many times as a Roman soldier with men for Roman business. He knew that they would be there, stay the night, then come back. When they come to his house, they have his relatives and friends waiting. Wouldn’t you, if an angel of the Lord appeared to you? And we will find in Chapter 11 this angel that appeared to him had glory. And now you are going to have a meeting with the man, an angel, had come and given you a message. Cornelius has all of his relatives and close friends gather together in his home.

“When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet and worshipped him.” Now he is showing reverence and respect. I don’t think he is worshipping as God as he recognizes the God of Israel is the only God. But obviously if you had this happen to you, wouldn’t you think that this person that an angel was told to send for was a man worthy of absolute respect. You would bow down and prostrate yourself before the Roman emperor. And here is someone that the God of heaven has had you send for who must be more than just average. “Peter raised him up saying, stand up, I too am a man.” Clear, I am a man. No different than you and me in that sense. “As he talked with him, he found many people assembled. And he said to them, you yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit with him.” They couldn’t eat with him or associate with him because remember, if you touched a dead body of a Jew, you were defiled. If you touched someone who had touched a dead body or blood or these kind of things, unclean food, you just didn’t associate with them. You didn’t have anything to do with them.

“Yet God has shown me that I could not call any man holy or unclean.” Peter understands now. The animals are not unclean. The big issue here is not the animals. The big issue is the Gentiles. They are not unclean. “God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.” As verse 15 says, “what God has cleaned no longer consider unholy.” If God says it is not unholy, it is not unclean. “That is why I came without raising any objection. That is what I was sent for.” He makes clear if God hadn’t made clear to me that I should come I would have never come. I am on a divine mission. Now he says “I ask for what reason you have sent for me.” So I am here. I understand that God intends for me to be here. “Cornelius said four days ago to this hour I was praying in my house during the 9th hour. A man stood before me in shining garments. It wasn’t just an angel appeared as an average man. It was clearly an angel. He said, Cornelius your prayer has been heard your alms have been remembered before God. Therefore stay at the house of Simon of Tanner by the sea. So I send for you immediately and you have been kind enough to come. Now then we are all here, present before God.”

I like the way Cornelius puts that, we are here before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord. We’re here to hear the message from God through you. What an opportunity, what does Peter say. Well I don’t know where to begin. “Opening his mouth Peter said I mostly understand now that God is not one to show partiality. But in every nation, the man who fears him and does what is right is welcomed to him.” That’s a remarkable transformation in a very short period of time. Now there has been preparation along the way but now this is the first time it has become clear to Peter. He is able to say God’s plan includes non Jews. “I understand that now,” Verse 34, where he understands God is not one to show partiality. “It is not just for Jews but in every nation the man who fears him and does what is right is welcomed to him. The word which he sends to the sons of Israel preaching in peace through Jesus Christ. He is Lord of all.”

Now in moving into the message. You go back to the Abrahamic covenant and “all nations will be blessed” in Genesis 12. Now Peter is understanding what that means. That doesn’t mean Gentiles will be converted to Judaism. That means that through the promises given to Abraham, the provisions given in the covenant that he made with Abraham and the Messiah who tended to Abraham. Salvation blessings will come to those of every nation.

A brief history and very simple and you note how widely known the ministry of Christ is. Peter says he doesn’t have to tell them about it so he just overviews it. “The word he sent” in vs. 36 “to the sons of Israel.” That is where it came first “preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all). You yourselves know what took place throughout all Judea starting from Galilee after the baptism which John proclaimed.” So it picks up there with the ministry of Christ where his public ministry begins with the baptism of John the Baptist when the Spirit descended on him as a dove and so on. “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power. Now he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil for God was with him. We are witnesses of His of what he did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem.” So you know about Jesus of Nazareth. You have heard about Him, you have heard about what He has done and we are witnesses to tell you of the things He did. Very quickly we move to the crucifixion. His life was validated, the miracles He did, He is the one sent by God.

“They also put him to death by hanging him on a cross. God raised him up on the 3rd day and granted He became visible, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God. To us who ate and drank with Him after he rose from the dead.” So I am here as an eye witness. Remember that is one of the requirements of the apostles so he could come like this and tell them I saw Him, I ate with Him, drank with Him after His resurrection from the dead. “So they put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. God raised Him up.”

Remember that has been characteristic of Peter’s messages when he talks to the Jews. “You crucified Him by the hands of Godless men. God raised Him up.” They put Him to death. “God raised Him up on the 3rd day and granted He become visible.” You know God didn’t make Him visible to everyone. Select witnesses, if we only had proof, do a miracle. There are witnesses, the fact is established and we believe it. “He ordered us to preach to the people and solemnly testify that this is the one who has been appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.”

First time in the book of Acts that this emphasis is given. That Jesus Christ is the “judge of the living and the dead. Of Him all the prophets bear witness that thru his name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” The extent of this salvation is everyone. The means of it is believing. Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.

Isn’t it amazing how quickly Peter has adjusted. This is not a message for the Jews or Samaritans. But now I understand that this is open to all people of all nations and everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins. This is remarkable. A few days ago, Peter wouldn’t have thought by his own testimony. I wouldn’t have come to the house of a Gentile. Now he is here boldly and clearly telling them that you are a part of “everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” They warned them, you better, it is amazing how concisely the truth can be presented because he has warned them in Acts 10:42, “And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.” You will stand before Him, you will be judged by Him, and “everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” But if you don’t all you have is judgment and condemnation. All the prophets bear witness to this fact; that through His name salvation comes.

We will not take the time to come back to Isaiah 53, Jeremiah 34, the New Covenant. Ezekiel 36, more on the new covenant. Partially of what God promised, this isn’t something new in the plan of God. It had been revealed all the way back in Genesis 12 and “all nations will be blessed.” The unfolding of that through the prophets, the salvation for sinners. That is not new. That is why we find repeatedly why we are taken back to that as we see Romans, Galatians go back to that provision, the Abrahamic covenant. The part we understand, this is part of God’s plan from the beginning. The Jews did not understand how that would be implemented through the death and resurrection of their Messiah. And then the Gospel would be carried out beyond the bounds of Judaism to non-Jews. The fact is that the revelation had been given but the clarity of that revelation awaited further revelation. Now you realize that it is not that the Gentiles are going to be brought in and converted to Judaism. No, it is the method of salvation is going to be carried out beyond the bounds of Judaism to Gentiles.

Then God is going to join the Jews and Gentiles into one body of the church, the distinctions of the nationalities, race and so on are no longer significant in the church. They will become significant again once the church is complete and then God resumes His program with Israel.

We’ll stop there before we get to the conversion and the simple presentation of this Gospel which is going to result in conversion and again we find out what we need to be ready to do. Present the Gospel wherever we go. I mean here it is, again we have it in nice concise form. If you don’t know what to say, memorize it and practice saying it until you can say it backwards and talk it. Here’s the Gospel. Let me tell you about Jesus Christ. Time yourself, how long would it take you to tell that simple clear message. What God uses to bring about the salvation of the Gentiles for the first time. Well, I don’t know what to say, I don’t know how to say it. Well just take what Peter said. The Spirit of God gave it to Him and said let me tell you. Did you ever hear what Peter said when he was asked to tell people? Here it is, here’s the Gospel, don’t even have to do anything original. Carry on with the New Testament, let me just read to you what Peter said. And hear it is.

Let’s pray. Thank You Lord for the beauty of the Gospel, thank You for Your sovereign work, Lord You are at work in every detail, in every place we are, in everything we are doing. Lord, You are sovereign over all. Lord, we are instruments used by Your Spirit to accomplish the greatest, the most significant thing on earth in these days telling people about Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the One who was crucified, the One who was raised from the dead, the One who was judged by all men. And the One whom, if everyone believes, can have salvation. Lord may we be bold and clear in sharing that glorious message to family and friends, strangers alike. I pray in Christ’s name. Amen