I've entitled the message for
tonight, The Message of the Prophets. Of all the characters in the
Old Testament, there were 14 men and 2 women. mentioned in Hebrews chapter
11 as examples of faith, by faith, by faith, by faith. And then
the last person he mentions or people that he mentions are the
prophets, the prophets. A prophet has this message. Thus saith the Lord." A prophet
is one who speaks for God. Thus saith the Lord. Now Christ is the great prophet
and I love to think of this. He never said thus saith the
Lord. He said I say unto you as equal
with the Father. He spake the very words of God.
But the prophets he is speaking of, I feel quite sure, are the
prophets from Isaiah through Malachi. The 16 prophets who
said, thus saith the Lord. They had a 350 year history beginning
somewhere around 750 BC down to 400 BC. And after that, there
was 400 years without a prophetic word. but the prophets. Now, I realize Abraham was a
prophet. God said he was in Genesis chapter 20. Moses was certainly
a prophet. And when we think of Elijah and
Elisha, we certainly think of the prophets. And they were miracle-working
prophets. And I think it's interesting,
when Elijah left, Elijah said, give me a double portion of the
spirit that Elijah had. And do you know that Elisha did
twice more miracles than Elijah did? But as I said, I believe
that these are a reference to the prophets Isaiah through Malachi,
their writings, the verbally inspired words written by these
16 different prophets. I think it's interesting. in
the first recorded sermon after the resurrection of Christ at
the very beginning of the sermon, Peter quotes Joel, the prophet. You know, that's all these New
Testament men had was the Old Testament scriptures. And that's
what they preached the gospel from. Would you turn with me for a
moment to Luke chapter 24 before we look at our text and Acts
10, Luke 24, I love these verses of scripture. Verse 25. Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to
believe, all that the prophets have spoken. Ought not Christ,
was it not necessary for Christ to have suffered these things
and to enter into his glory? Of course it was. He's a lambsling
from the foundation of the world. There was a divine necessity
to this. And beginning at Moses and all
the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures, the
things concerning himself. Look in verse 44. And he said,
and then these are the words which I spake unto you while
I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which
were written in the law of Moses and in the prophets and in the
Psalms concerning me. Now would you turn back to Acts
chapter 10. Verse 43, to him, not to their denominational brand,
to him, give all the prophets witness that through his name. Now his name is who he is. His
name is his attributes. through his name. Turn back to Acts chapter four
for a moment. Acts chapter four. And when they had set them in
the midst, they asked, by what power or by what name have you
done this? Speaking of that man that was
healed, he'd been a cripple from his womb and Peter, told him
to get up, and he did. And they said, by what power,
by what name have you done this? Then Peter filled with the Holy
Ghost said unto them, ye rulers of the people and elders of Israel,
if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent
man, and by what means he is made whole, be it known unto
you all and to all the people of Israel that by the name of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised
from the dead. Even by him did this man stand
here before you whole. This is the stone which was set
at naught of you builders, which has become the head of the corner.
Neither is there salvation in any other, for there's none other
name." Remember through his name? This is just not talking about
his name articulated verbally. This is talking about who he
is through his name, through every one of his attributes,
through his name. This man stands here before you
hold. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders,
which has become the head of the corner. Neither is there
salvation in any other, for there's none other name under heaven
given among men whereby we must be saved. It's necessary that
we be saved. It's God's purpose and God's
purpose must come to pass. Christ is successful. His salvation
is not an offer. It's not an attempt. Successful. We must be saved. And I love when they perceived
that they were, they saw the boldness of Peter and John and
perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men. They took knowledge
of them, that they had been with Jesus. Back to Acts chapter 10. To him, give all the prophets
witness that through his name, whosoever believeth in him shall
receive remission of sins. Now this was Peter's conclusion
to this great message. Let's look at Acts chapter 10
together, why Peter made this statement. Now, this story actually
begins in verse 43 of chapter 9, and it came to pass that he
tarried many days, speaking of Peter in Joppa, with one Simon,
a tanner. He was a leather worker. He was
constantly in contact with death. To the average Jew, he had the
most unclean job anybody could possibly have. You know how when
you came into contact with death, you had to have a sacrifice?
Well, he was constantly in contact with death. And this would have
been the most infamous job in Israel. And this is the guy Peter
hangs out with. He stays in Joppa with one named
Simon, a tanner. Now let's go on reading chapter
10, verse one. There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius,
a centurion of the band called the Italian Band. He was a devout man, one that
feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people
and prayed to God always. Does this mean that that man
was saved? Well, if you can be saved without
faith in Christ, it means that. But can you be saved without
faith in Christ? No. As a matter of fact, this passage
lets us know that this man was a religious convert to Judaism.
At this time, he was not saved. He was somebody God was going
to save. But look what the angel says to Cornelius in verse six. He lodges. When you sin for Peter,
he lodgeth with Simon a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.
He shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. Here's what you
need to do. You're not doing it. This is
what you ought to do. Look at Acts chapter 11, verse
14. Peter's recounting what took
place. Well, let's start in verse 12. And the Spirit made me go
with him, nothing doubting. Moreover, these six brethren
accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house. And he
showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood
and said to him, send men to Joppa and call for Simon, whose
surname is Peter, who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all
thy house shall be saved. But that answers that question,
doesn't it? They weren't saved yet. They would be by the grace
of God. But you're not saved apart from
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It was the Lord who said, he
that believeth not shall be what? Damned. If you believe not that
I am he, you shall die in your sins. There is no salvation apart
from faith in Christ. But this man was a Gentile that
was a Jewish proselyte. Verse three. And this man saw in a vision,
evidently about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming
in unto him and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked
upon him, he was afraid. And he said, what is it, Lord?
And he said unto him, thy prayers and thine alms are come up for
a memorial before God. Now send to Joppa and call for
one Simon, whose surname is Peter. He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner,
whose house is by the seaside. He shall tell thee what thou
oughtest to do. He's going to tell you what you
need to do. And when the angel which spake
unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household
servants and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually.
And when he declared all these things unto them, he sent them
to Joppa. Now in the morrow, As they went on their journey
and drew nigh into the city, Peter went up upon the housetop
to pray about the six hours, about noon. And he became very
hungry and would have eaten, but while they made ready, he
fell into a trance. And he saw this vision during
this trance. He saw heaven opened and a certain
vessel descending unto him as it had been a great sheet knit
at the four corners and led down to the earth, wherein were all
manner of forfeited beasts of the earth and wild beasts and
creeping things and fowls of the air, animals that the law
said, don't eat. They're unclean. And there came a voice to him,
rise, Peter, kill and eat. But Peter said, not so Lord,
for I've never eaten anything that's common. or unclean. Here,
Peter makes some pretty ridiculous statements, doesn't he? The Lord
tells him to rise and kill and eat. Not so, Lord, that wouldn't
be right. I've never eaten anything unclean. And the voice spake unto him
again the second time, what God hath cleansed, that call not
thou common. This was done three times. And
the vessel was received up again into heaven. Now, while Peter doubted in himself
what the vision which he'd seen should mean, he didn't know what
he was supposed to learn from this. He was trying to figure
it out. He didn't know. While Peter doubted
in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold,
The men which sent from Cornelius made inquiry for Simon's house,
and stood before him at the gate, and called and asked whether
Simon, which was surnamed Peter, was lodged there. While Peter thought on the vision,
the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three
men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee
down, and go with them, doubting nothing. For I have sent them.
Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius,
Gentiles, and he said, Behold, I am he whom you seek. What is
the cause wherewith you are come? And they said, Cornelius the
centurion, a just man, one that feareth God, and of good report
among all the nations of the Jews, was worn from God by an
holy angel to send for thee into his house. and to hear words
of thee." I think it's interesting that the angel could have preached
the gospel to him, but he sent a man to him for him to hear
the gospel. Verse 23, then called he them
in and lodged them. And on the morrow, Peter went
away with them and certain brethren from Joppa accompanying And the
morrow after they entered into Caesarea and Cornelius waited
for them and then called together his kinsmen and near friends.
I mean, I'm sure he was excited. The Lord had told him, you're
going to hear words whereby you're going to be saved. And so he
tells all his friends, his relatives, come to my house. We're going
to hear a message. Verse 25, and as Peter was coming
in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped
him. I think that lets you know at
this time, he doesn't know the Lord. He falls down at the feet
of a man and worships him. But Peter took him up. saying,
stand up, I myself also am a man. Man in his best state is altogether
vanity, I'm a man, you're a man. And as he talked with him, he
went in and found many that were come together and he said unto
them, you know that it's an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew
to keep company or come unto one of another nation. Now, Peter, Didn't like Gentiles. As a matter of fact, he had a
problem all of his life with his attitude toward Gentiles. Look in Acts chapter 11 for just
a moment. He says in verse 15, as I began
to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of
the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water, but
you should be baptized with the Holy Ghost for as much then as
God gave them the light gift as he did to us, who believed
on the Lord Jesus Christ. What was that I, that I could
withstand God? I would have prevented this if I could, but I couldn't
do it. This is God doing this. When they heard these things,
they held their peace and glorified God saying, then have God also
to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. What a blessed gift. Peter said, I didn't want it
to happen, but God did. Thank the Lord for that. Now
go back to Acts chapter 10. But God hath showed me, verse
28, that I should not call any man, Jew or Gentile, unclean
or common. Therefore came I unto you without
game, saying, As soon as I was sent for, I asked therefore,
For what intent have you sent me? And Cornelius said four days
ago, I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour I
prayed in my house, and behold a man, stood before me in bright
clothing. And he said, Cornelius, thy prayer
is heard and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of
God. Send therefore to Joppa and call hither Simon, whose
surname is Peter. He's lodged in the house of Simon,
a tanner by the seaside, who when he cometh, he shall speak
unto thee. Immediately, therefore, I sent to thee, and thou hast
well done that thou art come. Now, therefore, are we all here
present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee
of God." We're here to hear. Would to God, that would be my
attitude and your attitude every time we hear the gospel. We're here. to hear all the things
that God has commanded you. We're not here to analyze. We're
not here to criticize. We're here to hear. May God give me that attitude. Speak, Lord, thy servant heareth. Faith cometh by hearing. I hope that makes every one of
our ears prick up to listen. Faith cometh by hearing. He said
we're here to hear all the things that God hath commanded thee. Then Peter, verse 34, opened
his mouth and said of a truth I perceive for the first time
that God is no respecter of persons, Now he thought God respected
persons, the Jews. He had a special respect, a special
regard for the Jews that he did not have for the Gentiles. That's
all he could see. And he says, I perceive that
is not so. God is no respecter of persons. God does not show favoritism
toward one group of people over another. He's no respecter of
persons. Now, he is the only one who has
not been a respecter of persons. You and I have. You and I have. We all hold others to a higher
standard than we hold ourselves to. Isn't that so? It's called
hypocrisy. Every one of us have been guilty
of that, the myriad prejudice and discriminations we've all
been guilty of. To have some preference to a
certain type of people over Another, the prejudice of racism, the
prejudice of religion, the prejudice of different economic classes,
the prejudice of ethnicities. Isn't it glorious that there
is one who has absolutely no respect of persons? You see,
the reason we have respect of persons is because we think somehow
it's going to advantage us. Somehow it's going to make things
better for us in this world. What can anybody do to make things
better for God? He has no need to have respect
of persons. And let me tell you where this
is most clearly seen that God has no respect of persons, the
cross. When sin was found in Christ, you say, how was sin
found in Christ? He never committed sin. He never
committed sin, even when he was made sin, he never committed
a sin, but he bore the sins of God's elect in his own body on
the tree. And he became guilty of the commission
of those sins to the point that he felt the shame of them. Looking
unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy
that was set before him, the joy of doing his father's will,
the joy of saving his elect, he endured the cross, despising,
counting nothing the shame. You know what it is to feel ashamed
of your sin before God? He felt that shame much more
acutely than you or I ever will when he was made And when he
was made sin, if there was ever a time when God could have turned
his head and not done anything about it, that would have been
then. But even his own blessed son, when he has sin, God pours
his wrath upon him because God is no respecter of persons. Aren't you thankful for that?
God is no respecter of persons, but he says in verse 35, in every
nation, verse 35, in every nation, Jew, Gentile, France, England,
Russia, in every nation, he that feareth him and worketh righteousness
is accepted with him. Now let's stop there for a moment. That almost sounds like salvation
by works. If you fear God and if you work righteousness, you'll
be accepted by God. And you know, truer words have
never been said. If you fear God and you work righteousness,
you will be accepted of Him. The fear of God is what every
born-again believer has. No unbeliever has the fear of
God. People talk about good God-fearing people. There's no such thing.
as far as the natural man goes. There's no fear of God before
their eyes, but every believer, this is what regeneration is,
this is what the new birth is, the fear of God, that fear of
God that makes me afraid to look anywhere but Christ alone. That's
what the fear of God is. Well, what about this working
of righteousness? Now understand this, if you're justified on
judgment day, when you're judged, it's not going to be said, well,
he was A sinful man, and righteousness was imputed to him, therefore
he's saved. No, if I am justified, that means every second of my
life, I'm somebody who has worked righteousness. The absolute obedience
of Jesus Christ is mine, just as my sin became his, His righteousness
becomes mine. And it's not just some kind of
document that says he's righteous. No, I'm someone who has done
nothing but work righteousness. This is the gospel, isn't it?
The fear of God, the working of righteousness, justification
before God. In every nation, he that feareth
him and worketh righteousness. Now let me make good on this.
Hold your finger there and turn to 2 Corinthians 5. Henry Mahan used to say, if you
make a big statement, you better back it up with a big scripture.
Amen. Amen. Look at this passage of
scripture in second Corinthians chapter five, verse 10. You tell
me that that working of righteousness is actually the description of
the believer because of the justifying righteousness of Christ. In verse
10, for we must all appear before
the judgment seat of Christ. that everyone may receive the
things done in his body according to that he hath done,
whether it be good or bad. Now I'm going to receive the
things done in my body and they're either good or they're bad. In
Jesus Christ, the things done in my body are good. That's his
justifying righteousness. You know, most people, when they
think of justification, they kind of think of it as a virtual
justification. Well, if it's virtual, you know,
you have this name, you're justified. That doesn't get it. Just like
that, just as if I've never sinned. Well, if I'm just as if I've
never sinned, I've still sinned. But here is the truth. I have
never sinned. I have worked righteousness. Now that's true of every believer
in the gospel. Now turn back to our text. The word, verse 36, the word
which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by
Jesus Christ. He is Lord of all. Now there's a summary of our
preaching. There's a summary of the gospel,
peace by Jesus Christ. He accomplished
that peace, that tranquil, joyous state of soul, because God is
at peace with me through Christ. God's not mad at me. He's pleased
with me. He's satisfied with me. Everything
he requires of me, I have in Jesus Christ. Colossians 1.20
says, having made peace. That's what he did. He made my
peace with God by Him to reconcile all things to Himself. By Him,
I said, whether they be things in earth or things in heaven,
and you that sometimes were alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked
works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through
death to present you holy, unblameable, and unreprovable in His sight. You get peace from that? the joy and the peace of believing. Peace by Jesus Christ. Now, when
you look at a book and you look at the author, you'll say, by
so-and-so. Well, in the Lamb's Book of Life,
it's by Jesus Christ. He is the author. He's the author
of salvation. It's by Jesus Christ. And then
he makes this statement. Look at this statement in parentheses.
And if you don't say this, when you're talking peace by Jesus
Christ, it's meaningless if this is not so. He is Lord of all. You know, I love saying that.
Jesus is Lord of all. He's not wanting to be Lord. He's not asking you to make him
Lord. He is Lord of all. Now the Lord is the one whose
will is done. When this universe was created,
it had this one reason. It was His will. He willed this
universe into existence. Providence, everything that takes
place, is all according to His will. There's not a sparrow that falls
without your heavenly father. He is in control of everything,
even the bad things. Yep. He's the first cause of
everything. And he brings good out of evil. Trust his character. Don't say,
why did God let this happen? And why did God let that happen? God knows why. It took place. And it's all good because he's
the one who did it. He brings good out of evil. You
meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. He's Lord of Providence. Most especially, he's Lord of
salvation. And if you're saved, it's because
he willed your salvation. Not because your will, because
of His sovereign will. He is Lord of all. That word, peace by Jesus Christ,
He is Lord of all. I tell you what, that ought to
be in every message, shouldn't it? Peace by Jesus Christ. He is Lord of
all. You know, when we're preaching
the gospel, you know where we begin? Jesus is Lord of all. That's where we begin. We don't
try to explain men and try to care. We come with this proclamation.
Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God is Lord of all. He's Lord of demons. He's Lord
of angels. He's Lord of unbelievers. He's Lord of believers. He's
the Lord of the devil. The devil belongs to him. I think
of that scripture in Romans chapter 14, verse nine. For this end,
Jesus both died and rose again, that he might be Lord both of
the dead and the living. That man dead in sins, he's their
Lord. They belong to him. That man
who lives, oh, he's especially their Lord. Now that's the word
we preach. That word, I say, you know, which
was published throughout all Judea and began from Galilee
after the baptism which John preached, how that God anointed
Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, who went
about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the
devil, for God was with him. And we're witnesses of all things
which he did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem,
whom they slew and hanged on a tree. Him God raised up the
third day and showed him openly. You know, I think it's interesting,
not to all people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to
us who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
You know, he never appeared to an unbeliever. You think, well,
that would have made him believe. No, it wouldn't. He never appeared
to an unbeliever. 42, and he commanded us to preach
unto the people and to testify that it is he which was ordained
of God to be the judge of the quick and dead, the living and
the dead. To him. Now here's where he ends. You know, Peter had an understanding
of the Old Testament scriptures. You know, it's amazing the understanding
he demonstrated there in Acts chapter two. He was just divinely
taught. He understood so much more clearly, and here in one
of his early messages, and this is a watershed event in the Old
Testament. This is salvation to the Gentiles. Here, Peter's
statement to him. I love that, don't you? We're
not trying to convince somebody of our brand of church or doctrine. I could care less about that.
To him. to him, give all the prophets
witness that through his name, through his name, whosoever believeth
in him shall receive the remission of sins. Through his name, all the prophets
give witness. Isaiah. All we like sheep have
gone astray. We've turned everyone to his
own way and the Lord has laid upon him the iniquity of us all. Jeremiah says, this is the name
wherewith he shall be called the Lord, our righteousness. Ezekiel says, you were perfect
through my comeliness that was put upon you. Don't you love
that song, when I stand before thy throne, dressed in beauty,
not my own? When I see thee as thou art,
love thee with unsinning heart, then, Lord, shall I fully know,
not till then, how much I owe. Daniel, you'll remember Nebuchadnezzar,
did not we Throw three men bound in the fiery furnace, and lo,
I see four men loose and walking, and the fourth is likened to
the Son of God. Hosea, all his love for adulterous
Gomer, the Lord's love for his people. Joel, whosoever shall
call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Amos, how can
two walk together except they be agreed? We're agreed. And we walk together in the gospel
of Christ. God's in agreement with me. I'm
in agreement with him through his son. Obadiah upon Mount Zion shall
be deliverance. Jonah The sign of Jonah, three
days in, three days out, the sign of the resurrection. Micah's
prophecy, Bethlehem out of thee shall come forth to me, him that
is to be ruler in Israel, he whose goings forth have been
from old, even from everlasting. Habakkuk, the just, shall live
by faith. Zephaniah, he will joy over thee
with singing and rest in his love. Haggai, I will shake all
nations and the desire of nations shall come. Zechariah, a fountain
shall be opened in Jerusalem for sin and uncleanness. Malachi,
the messenger of the covenant. To him, I've just mentioned every
prophet, to him, give all the prophets witness. Well, what
do they witness? that through his name, his name is his attributes,
he's God. He's able to save. Through his
name, whosoever. Oh, what a blessed word that
is. Whosoever. Are you a whosoever? I'm a whosoever. I've said this so many times,
whosoever is better than if it said Todd Naubert, because there
are other Todd Nauberts. May not have been me, but I am
a whosoever. Whosoever. You know, election
and particular redemption doesn't discourage anybody from calling
upon the name of the Lord. People say it does. No, it doesn't.
No, it doesn't. Just the enemies of grace say
that. Whosoever. Whosoever believeth in him. I believe in him. I believe who
he is, I believe what he did. Shall receive the remission,
the complete and total forgiveness, the blotting out of your sins. He says with regard to all of
his people, their sins and their iniquities will I remember no
more. And there's one reason why that's so. There's nothing
there to remember. He put them away. They are not to him. Give all the prophets witness
that whosoever believeth in him shall receive the remission of
sins. Let's pray. Lord, how we thank you for the
message of the prophets. Lord, how we thank you for the
message of this book. the gospel of Jesus Christ, the
son of God, and the complete salvation that's in him. Lord,
enable us to preach peace by Jesus Christ. He is Lord of all and enable
us to believe peace. by Jesus Christ, He is Lord of
all. In Christ's name we pray, amen.