Acts 10
- Jesus is the exclusive yet all-inclusive Savior for all
Exclusive: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 NIV
Inclusive: “…for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers.” 1 Timothy 4:10 NLT
- The Gospel reveals our personal prejudices (Vs. 1-8)
- Cornelius- A Roman soldier, “God fearing” = A non-Jew who trusted the God of Israel
“For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.” Ephesians 2:14 NLT
“And we no longer see each other in our former state—Jew or non-Jew, rich or poor, male or female—because we’re all one through our union with Jesus Christ.” Galatians 3:28 TPT
“Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” Acts 10:15 NIV
2. The Gospel when embraced will gracefully break us from our prejudices
“He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.” Acts 10:11-16 NIV
- Peter – As a Jew it was ingrained in him that Non-Jews were unclean
“We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles…” Galatians 2:15 NIV
3. The Gospel is the only answer to prejudices (Vs. 27-48)
“Peter said to them, “You all know that it is against the Jewish laws for me to associate with or even visit the home of one who is not a Jew. Yet God has shown me that I should never view anyone as inferior or ritually unclean.” Acts 10:28 TPT
The Gospel answers….
- Racial Prejudice (Revelation 4:9-10)
- Cultural Prejudice (James 2:1-13)
- Religious/Theological Prejudice (Ephesians 4:1-6, Galatians 5:20)