Sermon Cloud

Acts 10:1-11:18

As unforgetable as the dismantling of the Berlin Wall was for Germany and the world in the 1980's, there was an even more monumental event over two thousand years ago that involved the tearing down of a different kind of wall. It was during the period of Acts that God tore down the spiritual barrier that had existed between the Jews and Gentiles since the time of Genesis 12.

In Acts 9, we saw how God began to open the door of faith to the Gentiles through Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus. Then, in Acts 10, we see how He continued to open that door as Peter is summoned to share the gospel with Cornelius and his family in Caesarea. Luke continues in the rest of chapter 10 through Acts 11:18 by giving an account of Peter's explanation of the mystery of the inclusion of the Gentiles in the church.

In today's message, Pastor Ramey uses the passages from Acts 10-11 to outline five stages of inclusion that mark God's method for introducing the Gentiles into the body of Christ. The 5 Stages of Inclusion are marked by:

1. Coinciding Revelations (vv. 1-22)
2. Corresponding Explanations (vv. 23-33)
3. A Compelling Proclamation (v. 34)
4. The Confirming Manifestation (vv. 44-48)
5. The Convincing Justification (Ch. 11, v. 1-18)

As we study these verses, we (as Gentiles), should be ever greatful to God that we have been included in His glorious plan of salvation. As such, we have been granted the privilege of sharing the hope of salvation with all the gentiles of the world who have yet to be saved. We need to share the gospel freely with all men because God shows no partiality among us.  May none of us stand in God's way when it comes to those who the Lord wants to save!