The Simple Gospel (Acts Pt. 23)
The Book of Acts shows us what can happen when normal people walk with a supernatural God.
To venerate the apostles as superhuman saints is to miss the invitation. God calls the weak, the broken, the foolish, the dejected and the rejected… He makes them new, He fills them with His spirit, and He sends them into the world as witnesses of grace. As believers, Acts is our family history, our legacy. And it is our on-going invitation… to join Jesus in His work of salvation.
Last week, we began the fascinating and supernatural story of an Italian general named Cornelius. We looked at how his heart for the Lord made him a target for heaven’s partnership. This is a special chapter of Scripture that pulls back the curtain and gives us a window into the interaction between heaven and earth. Angelic encounters, open visions, and the Holy Spirit clearly speaking to and directing people. But this was all happening to men who had made a habit out of CARVING OUT SPACE TO SEEK THE LORD. Cornelius had cultivated a life of devotion to the Lord, reverence for the Lord, mercy toward others, and continual prayer.
We are called to be “doers of the word and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.” This story isn’t in the bible just to WOW us; it is here to encourage and instruct us! Let’s lean in and believe for this type of lifestyle.
2 Chronicles 16:8-9 // Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the Lord, he gave them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.
Ask Yourself…
How can I develop a heart that moves heaven?
What can I do to prioritize seeking God in my life?
Ask God… Is there something new you want to do in my life this fall? How can I partner with you in your purpose for my life?
Acts 10:23-43
23 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. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”
30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying (fasting) in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”
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), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 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.”
1. A Life of Expectation
Prosdokaō - To look for, to wait for, to anticipate
Cornelius had so much expectation for what God was going to do, that he gathered his entire family to wait for it! His leadership led to the salvation of his relatives & close friends! This is what healthy spiritual leadership looks like.
He cultivated his own heart to attract heaven.
He invited his friends & family to wait for (anticipate) the arrival of Peter.
His faith led to an encounter for his entire family. To the men and especially the fathers listening to this message: Our own personal expectation of what God can do will mark our family members and friends. Sadly, the opposite is also true. Our lack of faith impacts them as well.
2. God’s Heart for Every Nation
(v. 34-37) 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)...”
“HIM” = YHWH, The God of Israel. We are watching Peter realize God’s heart for all people, not just the chosen Jewish nation.
“ANYONE who fears Him and does what is right”
Fearing God and doing what is right. There is a strong connection in scripture between righteousness (doing what is right) and those who truly respect, fear and know the Lord. The Lord LOVES righteousness (Psalm 33:5, Hebrews 1:8-9). Those who love and fear the Lord will learn to love righteousness as well. Rebellion and unrighteousness are tell-tale signs of someone who does not respect God.
To be clear, this is where we all begin. Rebellion. Slaves to unrighteousness because of the fall (Romans 6:15-19). The “good news” of the Gospel is good because it saves us from the terrible news of our sinful condition and the judgment of God! More on this in a minute…
Cornelius was a Gentile who respected the God of Israel and was seeking to honor Him. This made him acceptable to God. He hadn’t even heard the Gospel yet! But heaven made sure he would.
The Jews had a unique place in God’s redemptive plan, BUT “EVERY NATION” was always the goal in God’s heart.
Genesis 12:1-3 // Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Luke 2:28-32 // He took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
3. The Simple Gospel
His Life - anointed with the Holy Spirit, powerful, good works, “healing ALL who were oppressed by the devil”
His Death - Crucifixion
His Resurrection (and Appearance)
His Commission - Preach & Testify that Jesus is “THE ONE”
His Message - “EVERYONE who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins”
BELIEVE - 222X in the NT; 84X in John’s Gospel; 39X in Acts; 18X in Romans. It is the CENTRAL INVITATION of the New Testament.
John 1:10-13 // He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Romans 3:21-25 // But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.
Acts 16:30-31 // Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
What happens when you believe?
1 Peter 1:3 // Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
John 3:3-6 // Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
Our Response
Have you been born again?
Do you lead your life (and family) with faith and expectation?
Have you hidden the message of Jesus in your heart so that you’re ready to share it at any moment?