Sermons About Cornelius
Acts 11 : Breaking Barriers - All People Everywhere Can Be Clean
It is in the book of Acts that we read of non-Jews coming to faith in Jesus. This was not totally unusual even during the OT times (Rahab, Ruth). But such cases were sort of an “exception”. The Jewish Church leaders probably viewed the conversion of the Samaritans and the Ethiopian as exceptions as well. BUT no one in the early Jewish Church was prepared for the flood of Gentiles that would soon make up a majority of the Church. See, an old barrier existed between Jews and Gentiles – a legal barrier which did not allow a Jew to step foot into the home of a Gentile – God-fearer or not! This barrier seemed destined to remain for eternity. Luke tells us that it was Peter who crossed over that barrier and declared it had been made obsolete by the cross. Jewish Christians should not see Jesus as the savior of Jews alone, but see Jesus as an international savior, one who came to bleed and die for Gentiles of many languages and colors.
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Send and Receive
Last week we looked at the incredible story of the welcoming of Cornelius and his household into the family of God. The continued advancement of the Gospel at this time was unheard of. The culture was fragmented and separated by numerous factors working to split up and segregate various groups. Historians tell us that until Christianity, religion always divided people. Religions were always geared towards a particular region, race, or socio-economic class.
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Transformissional Conversion Part II
We've been looking at the story of Paul's conversion and early ministry, how an enemy of God who was spiritually an orphan was welcomed in to become a child of the Father. Luke, however, abruptly shifts from Paul's life to Peter's life and the two miracles mentioned at the end of chapter 9.
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