Learning From Acts -- Part 5

This is part 5 in "Learning from Acts". For Part 1, click here.

A Love That Knows No Bounds

• In Acts 10-11:18, we learn about the conversion of Cornelius and other Gentiles after they heard the Gospel from Peter(also called Simon), a Jew.
• Cornelius was God fearing and may have had saving faith, even before he sent for Peter.
• Gentiles did not undergo circumsion like the Jewish Christians.
• The Jewish Christians (Peter's people) believed they were to not associate with the Gentiles (Cornelius' people) or they would become unclean.
• This passage in Acts, shows that the saving grace of Jesus crosses over all boundaries.
• Cornelius may have been a wealthy man, he was a centurion, which means he was paid higher than other soldiers.
• An angel appeared to him, telling him that the Lord had remembered his gifts.
• "The angel answered,'Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.'" -- vs. 10:4
• The angel also told him to send for Peter who was in Joppa at the time. Cornelius was in Caesarea about 30 miles from Joppa.
• The day after Cornelius had his vision, Peter also had a vision.
• He saw a sheet being lifted down from heaven and inside were all types of animals, both clean and unclean.
• Then, a voice told Peter to get up and kill and eat anything that he wanted. But Peter said, that he couldn't, that he had never eaten anything unclean before.
• "Then a voice told him, 'Get up, Peter, kill and eat.''Surely not, Lord.' Peter replied. 'I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.'" -- vs. 10:13-14
• The voice then called out to Peter and said to him, not to call what God has made clean, unclean.
• "The voice spoke to him a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.'" -- vs. 10:15
• Peter was perplexed by this dream and then learned there were men looking for him and he was to go back to Caesarea with them.
• The Holy Spirit told him to go back with them, without hesitation, so he did.
• "While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, 'Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.'" -- vs. 10:19-20
• When he arrived in Caesarea, he learn from Cornelius the dream he had. Cornelius was ready to listen to what Peter had to say.
• Peter said to them how they knew it was unlawful to interact with one another, but that God had shown him to not call what He made, unclean.
• "He said to them: 'You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any many impure or unclean.'" -- vs. 10:28
• Peter then preached to them, Cornelius and the other Gentiles, the Good News of Christ.
• After they had heard what Peter said, the Holy Spirit fell upon the Gentiles and they were baptized.
• "While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message." -- vs. 10:44
• "Then Peter said, 'Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.' So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ." -- vs. 10:47-48
• When Peter went to Jerusalem, the circumcised Jews criticized Peter.
• They were mad that he went among the Gentiles and interacted with them.
• "So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, 'You went into the house of the uncircumcised men and ate with them.'" -- vs. 11:3
• Peter recounted everything that had happened back to them.
• He also added that who was he or anyone else to say that the Gentiles could not be baptized?
• Peter made it clear that he saw that Christ was the Lord of all, not just the Jewish people.
• "'You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.'" -- vs. 10:36
• "'Peace, peace,to those far and near,' says the Lord. 'And I will heal them.'" -- Isaiah 57:19
• The peace He speaks of here includes Jews and Gentiles.
• Ephesians chapter 2 speaks on how Gentiles and Jews are now one in Christ.
• "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ." -- vs. 13
• "He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit." -- vs. 17-18
• "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." -- Galations 3:28

We are all born sinners in this world.

Whether we are Gentile, Jew, black, white, Asian, African, Russian, South American, Canadian, or Middle Eastern.

We are all sinners.

We have all fallen short of the glory of God because of our sin.

We all deserve death.

But, the Lord of all, came to earth as a perfect human to pay the penalty of our sin.

He rose from the grave and is alive!

Death couldn't hold Him.

He is too magnificient in power.

He gives the offer to anyone and everyone that wants to, to become followers of Him.

His blood was shed for all men and women, that whoever chooses to believe in Him, will have eternal life.

He gives us the choice. We are the ones who choose.

We choose to live freely in Him and be reconciled from sin,

or,

we choose to run away from Him.

Holding onto our sin and the thinking that we don't need Him.

Christ's love knows no boundaries.

It doesn't see race, ethnicity, how much money you have, what you do on the weekend, who you hang out with, or what music you listen to.

Christ's love is so deep and wide that it covers everything!

His love was poured out on us when He died on the cross.

His love is higher than the highest mountain and deeper than the deepest part of the ocean!

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

Ephesians 3:18-19

It doesn't matter what you did or who you were in the past.

It matters what you choose to accept and believe now.

That there is a Holy and Fearing, All-Powerful, Magnificent, Loving, Alive God, that rules over everything and He wants you to know Him.

He wants you to become a child of His.

Lord, I pray that all who have heard Your name and the truth that You are, will turn to You and choose to freely accept You.

There is nothing we can do except trust. All of our works are nothing in light of Your sacrifice on the Cross.

You only can rescue.

You only can redeem.

You only can save.