Would you turn back to Acts chapter
10? Tonight we're going to observe
the Lord's table together. So important, this do in remembrance
of me. And also I'm going to be preaching
on Ephesians chapter 6 beginning in verse 10 on the armor that
the believer is called upon to put on. And we're actually going
to do a series out of that. I want to begin just with an
overall view of the armor. And then next week, Lord willing,
I'd like to just consider why we're to put it on. And then
we're going to look at each individual piece of armor, one sermon at
a time. I'm very excited about that.
I've never done that before. Also, this Saturday morning,
we're going to have the preacher's class. And our Bible conference
is in two months, first weekend in May. And the conference costs
$8,000 to $10,000 to put on. And I hope everyone can give
to make this. This is a very special time and
it's a blessing to our church. And so everyone give, every family
give according as the Lord enables you so we can host this conference. Back to Acts chapter 10. Verse 44, while Peter yet spake these words,
the words that are found in Acts chapter 10, these previous verses,
the gospel, While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost."
Now, that's the third person of the Trinity. God is one God. We only know this from the scripture.
God is one God revealed in three distinct persons. God the Father,
the God of election, God the Son, the God of redemption, God
the Holy Spirit, the God of regeneration, the living God, the one God revealed
in three distinct persons. Now at this time, while the gospel
was being preached, we read that the Holy Ghost, the Holy Spirit
fell upon those who heard the word. And verse 45, in day of
the circumcision, the Jewish people which believed were astonished,
as many as were come with Peter, because that on the Gentiles
also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost." They were
shocked that this was taking place. And I say what I said
last week, this was a watershed event in the New Testament. They didn't know that the gospel
was for the Gentiles as well. They thought it was just for
the Jews. And then we read in verse 46,
where they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. These people who believed were
enabled to speak in other languages. Now that's what tongues is. It's
not some kind of heavenly gibberish that you speak and you don't
know what you're saying and God hears it and somehow you worship
and feel God's presence, although you don't know what's being said.
That's foolishness. That's all that is, is foolishness.
It's the ability to speak in other languages. That's what
the gift of tongues is. I could go into Russia or Spain
or whatever country and preach the gospel infallibly in that
language. That's the gift of tongues. And
notice what it said they did, they magnified God. Now in true
preaching, that's what takes place. the magnification, the
making glorious. Not that we can make him glorious.
He is glorious. We acknowledge his glorious,
his hugeness. Now, most preaching, you have
preaching that makes God smaller than he is and makes man bigger
than he is. But that's not gospel preaching.
Gospel preaching always magnifies God. For they heard them speak with
tongues and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any
forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received
the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized
in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to Terry
certain days. Now look at verse 44 again. While Peter yet spake these words. What words? Look at Acts chapter
11, beginning in verse 10. Peter, in this next chapter,
and we're going to consider this next week, he's giving the account
of what took place in verse 10. And this was done three times
and all were drawn up again into heaven. That sheep being let
down with unclean creatures. That's what he's talking about.
What the Bible called unclean. You were forbidden to eat them.
unclean creatures, that sheet was let down, opened up, and
the Lord said to Peter, rise, Peter, kill and eat. Now, these
are people or creatures that the Old Testament said don't
eat. He says, kill them and eat them. And that's when Peter said,
not so, Lord. I've never done anything like
that. And it was repeated three times, what God has cleansed,
don't you dare call uncommon. Now, verse 11. While this took
place, as soon as it was finished, and behold, immediately there
were three men already coming to the house where I was, sent
from Caesarea unto me, and the Spirit bade me go with them,
nothing doubting. Moreover, these six brethren
accompanied me, and we entered into this man's house, speaking
of Cornelius, And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his
house, which stood and said unto them, 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." Now, this is what
he was hearing. Words that God would use, whereby
he and all of his house would be saved. Now let's go over real
briefly what took place in chapter 10. This man Cornelius, verse 3,
he saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day
an angel of God coming into him and singing to him, Cornelius.
Remember he was a Roman centurion of the Italian band. He was a
Gentile, and he converted to Judaism. He was not saved at
this time, but he had converted unto Judaism. He had been with
a religion of the Roman gods, pantheistic, many gods, and now
he believes the one God of Israel. Since he's been there, God sent
him there, and that's what he believes. He saw in a vision,
evidently about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming
in to him and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked
on him, he was afraid. and 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 men to Joppa and call
for one Simon, whose surname is Peter. He lodges with Simon
at Tanner, whose house is by the seaside. He shall tell thee
what thou oughtest to do. That's very important. He's going
to tell you what you ought to do. Verse 7, and when the angel
which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his
household servants a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually.
And when he declared all these things unto them, he sent them
to Joppa after Peter. Now, as you go on reading in
this passage of scripture, this is where Peter went up onto the
roof of the house of Simon the Tanner to pray. And the Lord
gave him this vision. The sheep let down from heaven.
And when it was opened up, there were all kinds of animals and
creeping things, which the Lord forbade anybody to eat. It was
called unclean. And then the Lord said to Peter,
rise, Peter, kill these things and eat them. You know, that
lets us know right off the bat that the Levitical law is over. Eat these things. And Peter,
as only Peter would do, said, not so, Lord. I'm not going to
do something like that. I'm not going to defile myself.
Nothing unclean has ever touched my lips. And God said, what God
has cleansed, don't you call common. And this vision took
place three times. And then it went back up into
heaven. And Peter, at this time, did not really know what it meant.
Look in verse 19. While Peter thought on the vision,
not really understanding it, what is being taught here, the
spirit said unto him, behold, three men seek. Arise therefore
and get thee down and go with them, doubting nothing, for I
have sent them. Look down in verse 25. This is
when Peter's coming to Cornelius' house. And as Peter was coming
in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped
him. But Peter took him, saying, stand up. You're not supposed
to worship me. I myself also am a man. I'm a
man just like you are, a sinful man. And as he talked with him,
he went in and found many that were come together. And he said
unto them, you know how that is an unlawful thing for a man
that is a Jew to keep company or come into one of another nation.
But God has showed me, he now understands what the vision means. God has showed me that I should
call, not call any man common or unclean. Therefore came I
unto you without gainsaying as soon as I was sent for. I asked,
therefore, what 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. It was an angel. And said, Cornelius,
thy prayer is heard. Thine alms are had in remembrance
and the sight of God. Send, therefore, to Joppa and
call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter. He's lodged in the
house of one Simon of Tanner by the seaside, who when he comes,
he shall speak unto thee. You're gonna hear these words
by which you're gonna be saved. 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 the things that
are commanded thee of God. I love that verse. We're here
to hear. I pray that God gives every one
of us that spirit. Hear. to hear. And notice he says, hear the
things commanded thee of God. Now understand this, in gospel
preaching, it's not God offering. It's not God inviting. It's God
commanding. It's not God telling us what
he will do if we do. It's a declaration of what God
has done in his son, and we are commanded to believe. Now look
at these next words. Here's what Peter, how he responds,
and I love this. Then Peter opened his mouth and
said of a truth, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. The respect of persons. There
is not a human being alive that is free from this sin. The respect
of persons. In James chapter 2 verse 9, but
if you have respect of persons, you commit sin and are convinced
of the law as transgressors. The respect of persons. Now what
is the respect of persons? It means to show favoritism.
because of a fleshly distinction. Because of a, it's to judge someone
with a different standard. Either more harsh or more lenient
because of some fleshly distinction. Here's something that I think
we can all recognize. Who would you rather deal with?
An attractive person? or someone that you don't find
attractive. Now, if you would rather deal with an attractive
person, you know what that means? You're a respecter of persons. That's exactly what that is.
And I think we all know something about that, a respecter of persons. Now, there's only one person
who does not have the respect of persons, the living God. He does not have the respect
of persons. As a matter of fact, our Lord
tells us in Luke 16, 13, that that which is highly esteemed
among men, what men have great respect for and great desire
for, that which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in
the sight of God. The most poignant demonstration
of this is the cross. He spared not his own son. Now if there was ever a time
when respective persons could have come into play, it was the
cross. This is his son. But he showed no favoritism to
his only begotten and well-beloved son, When the Lord Jesus Christ
took my sins as his own, as my substitute, and became guilty,
being made sin, the Father dealt with him in pure justice. No respect of persons. He killed
his only begotten and well-beloved son. Now, this is a true story. I've given it before. I Googled
it to make sure it was true, and lo and behold, it is. There
was a mayor in a certain town that was well beloved of the
people of that town. Now, at this time, the mayor
was the judge and everything else. I mean, he was the top
dog, and people loved him dearly. And this man's son committed
a murder. And the people loved him so dearly,
they said, we're not going to punish his son. We're not going
to put him through that. And the next day, the town was
awakened to the ringing of a bell. And they came out and saw that
man's son hanging by the neck, dead. And the mayor said, with
tears in his eye, Nobody is above the law. Now that happens so much more
powerfully in the Lord Jesus Christ. When Christ was made
sin, my sin became his sin. Let that sink in. My sin, the
sin that I have personally committed against God became his sin so
that he personally became guilty of the commission of it. Did the father cease to love
him at that time? Oh, no. but he is no respecter of persons. And when he sees sin in his only
begotten and well-beloved son, his own justice declares, put
him to death. The soul that sinneth shall surely
die. When sin was found on his only
begotten and well-beloved son, He killed him. God is no respecter
of persons. He shows no favoritism because
of fleshly distinctions. This is who he is. Now there
are two things that strike me about this. God sparing not his
own son. And here's the first thing. The
absolute justice of God. God is absolutely just. No sin will go unpunished. Shall not the judge of the earth
do right? I love the parable of the workers
in the vineyard. When the ones who didn't work
all day are called the master of the vineyard says, whatsoever
is right, I'll give you. And even when those one-hour
workers were paid, they were given whatsoever is right. You
see, God always gives that which is right. He's absolutely just. He's no respecter of persons
the way you and I are. You know, that's such a disgusting
sin. But God's not that way. Absolutely just. But let me tell
you what I see as well as the absolute justice of God, the
love of God. Herein is love, not that we love
God. Did you hear that? Herein is
love, not that we love God. but that he loved us and sent
his son to be the propitiation, the sin removing sacrifice for
our sins. Let's go on reading verse 35. Peter opens his mouth. These
are the words by which they're saved. These are the words that
Peter was preaching when the Holy Spirit fell upon them and
blessed them. Then Peter opened his mouth and
said of the truth, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons,
but in every nation, he that feareth him and worketh righteousness
is accepted with him. Now, I want us to consider that
verse in light of there is none righteous. no not one, and there
is none that feareth God. That's what the Bible says. There
is none righteous, no not one, and there's no fear of God before
their eyes. And yet Peter is speaking here
of In any nation, Jew or Gentile, anybody that worketh righteousness
and feareth him is accepted of God. Jew or Gentile, you see,
God is no respecter of persons. Anybody that has this resume,
they work righteousness and they fear God, they're all accepted
of him because God's no respecter of persons. He's always going
to reward righteousness. He's always going to punish wickedness.
That is who God is. Now, who is this person who worketh
righteousness and fears God? Well, this working of righteousness
is what justification is. You see, justification is not
some paper that says you're justified, not guilty, even though you really
are. No justification. makes it to where you're somebody
who has never sinned. Your history is that of nothing
but working righteousness. Don't look at justification as
anything other than that. Justification says, if God's
justified me, that means God says regarding Todd Norbert,
he's never sinned. He's kept the law perfectly.
His life has been a life of continual working righteousness. just like
the life of the Lord Jesus Christ. And what is this fear of God?
This is regeneration. The fear of God is being afraid
to look anywhere but Christ alone. Isn't that what regeneration
is? You're afraid to look anywhere
but Christ alone as all your salvation. That's the working
of righteousness and that's the fear of God and anyone who works
righteousness and fears God, because God's no respecter of
persons, they're going to be rewarded accordingly. There's
no advantage to being a Jew in that sense. God is no respecter
of persons. Absolute, impartial, justice
for all. Aren't you glad it's that way?
If you're condemned, if I'm condemned, He's giving us exactly what we
deserve. The punishment's not more severe
than the crime. You know, I got a letter this
week from somebody trying to say that they didn't believe
hell was eternal, that it was just annihilation. And I wrote
this individual back and I said, if hell is eternal, would you
say God is not just? to do something like that. Whatever
God does is just. I might not understand it. I
don't think there's anything more terrible than to think of
somebody suffering internally in hell. I don't even like to
think about it. But I know God's just. And I
know, shall not the judge of the earth do right? Whatever
he does is right. and he rewards everyone exactly
what they deserve, and if I'm brought into heaven, it's because
I deserve to be brought into heaven because God has justified
me. My sin is gone. I don't have
any sin. Now, every nation, he that feareth
him and worketh righteousness is accepted, well-pleasing with
him. Verse 36, the word which God sent under the children
of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ. He is Lord of all. That word, I say, you know it
was published throughout all Judea and began from Galilee
after the baptism which John preached. How God anointed Jesus
of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, who went about
doing good and healing all that were oppressed with the devil,
for God was with him. And we are 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, not to all the people, but unto
witnesses chosen before of God, even to us who did eat and drink
with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to
preach unto the people and to testify that it's he which was
ordained of God to be the judge of the quick, the living and
the dead. To him give all the prophets witness that through
his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission
of sins." Now, this is the message. Six things Peter said that is
involved in gospel preaching. Six things. He spoke of the person
of Christ, the life of Christ, the death of Christ, the resurrection
of Christ, Christ the Judge and Christ the Savior. Now, real
briefly, let's consider these six things regarding the person
of the Lord Jesus Christ. The first thing he said in verse
36 is this is the word God sent, peace by Jesus Christ. He is Lord of all. Now, I want you to understand
this. I want to understand this. is by Jesus Christ. He's the
author of it. He's the cause of it. He's the
subject of it. Peace is by Jesus Christ. Now what does that mean? When he said, it is finished,
God was at complete peace with me. He could ask for no more. He was perfectly satisfied with
what his son did. He's not looking for something
else out of me to make him feel peace toward me. Peace was accomplished
by what the Lord Jesus Christ did. He made peace, Colossians
1.20, by the blood of his cross. He made peace. Peace by Jesus
Christ. He is my peace before God. And I love what Peter said next.
He is Lord of all. The Lord is the one whose will
is done. He's Lord of all. When this universe was created,
his will was done. He willed it. He's the creator. He's the Lord of everything that
happens in Providence. I don't care what it is. You can't take
this too far. He is the cause. Whatever it might be, He is the
cause. And it's not difficult for Him.
He doesn't expend energy at this. He's Lord. And He controls every
event that takes place. That's why we can say we know
that all things work together for good. To them that love God,
to them who are the called, according to His purpose, because He is
Lord. He's most especially Lord in
salvation. That means if you're saved, it's
because He willed your salvation. That's exactly what that means.
He willed your salvation. The reason you are saved is not
because you willed it, it's because He willed it. He is Lord. I don't know of anything much
more aggravating than to hear a preacher say, won't you make
him the Lord of your life? He is the Lord of your life. I don't
believe that. He still is. He's the Lord of
the quick and the dead. He's the Lord of the living and
the dead. He's the Lord of angels. He's the Lord of demons. He's
the Lord of believers. He's the Lord of unbelievers.
He's the devil's Lord. He's Lord. He's the absolute
dictator in all things. That's who he is. Peace by Jesus
Christ, he is Lord of all. Verse 37, that word, I say you
know which was published throughout all Judea and began from Galilee
after the baptism which John preached, how 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. Now here we have a summary of
the life of Jesus Christ. He was anointed with the Spirit.
He didn't have the Spirit in a measure. He was anointed with
the Spirit of God and with power. Oh, the power of his life in
that he went about doing good. That's all he ever did. He kept
God's law perfectly. He was always well-pleasing to
his father. The father looked at him and
said, this is my beloved son in whom I'm well-pleased. Oh,
how he pleased the father by his life. And he healed all that
were oppressed of the devil. Now, what was going on here?
Well, it's what was going on when the Lord came John to be
baptized and John said I need to be baptized of thee comest
thou to me he said suffer to be so now for thus it becometh
us us to fulfill all righteousness when he went about doing good
you know who else did I did because he is my savior I am one with
him his life his perfect righteousness now you think of his life What
if all he did was live a perfect life and then go back to heaven?
What good would that do you? All it would do is condemn you.
All it would do is expose your rottenness. But that's not what
he did. We're not only talking about
his life. Oh, how thankful we are for his life. But look what
it says next. Verse 39. And we are 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. Now this is speaking of his death.
As I said, his life wouldn't do us any good if he didn't also
die. But he was slain and nailed to a cross. Now why? Why? There's only one reason
for death. Sin. This was God's purpose for him.
God created the universe so he could be nailed to a cross so
he could manifest his own glory. This is God's purpose. The lamb
slain from the foundation of the world. Why did he die? Because he's guilty. God's just. God's not going to show respect
to persons. He was guilty when my sin became his sin. He was
guilty. He took my sin and my sorrow. He made them his very own. He
bore the burden to Calvary and suffered and died alone. He died because he was guilty.
And he volunteered for this. He died. That's the gospel, how
that Christ died for our sins. according to the scripture. But
look at verse 40. Him, God raised up the third
day and showed him openly. Not only did he die, God raised
him from the dead. You see, only His death was an accomplishment. Luke 9, 31, Moses and Elijah
spake with him on the Mount of Transfiguration, and they spake
of the deceased, which he should accomplish. Now, when you look
at somebody dying, you know, they have those celebrations
of life. When you die, don't call it a
celebration of life. I would appreciate that. You're celebrating death if the
Lord saved you. I'm thankful for that. But all
death speaks of is our weakness, our sinfulness. And no matter
what we thought we accomplished in life, it was all vain. That's
what death says with regard to every one of us. But when the
Lord died, oh, he accomplished something. The complete putting
away of sin, the complete satisfaction to God's law, the complete salvation,
an accomplishment. That's what his resurrection
speaks of. He was delivered for our offenses. He was raised again
for our justification. When he was raised, all of God's
elect were completely justified. God is completely satisfied. Now, he showed him openly, this
wasn't done in a corner, not to all the people. You know,
when the Lord was raised from the dead, he didn't make himself
known to any unbeliever. I like that. I like that. Now,
many unbelievers are going to be brought to a knowledge of
him through that, but when he was raised from the dead, He showed
himself to those who believe. At one time, 500 brethren at
once. But look what it says. Not to all the people, but unto
witnesses chosen before of God, even to us who did eat and drink
with him after he rose from the dead. 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 quick and dead. Now the Lord's
the one's going to judge you. and you know that your eternal
destiny is in his hand. It's up to him as to whether
or not you'll be in heaven or whether you'll be in hell. You
don't have any control over this. How do you respond to that? It's
true. He's the judge. He's the judge
of the quick and the dead. It's him that will say, come
ye blessed of my father. Inherit the kingdom prepared
for you from the foundation of the world. And it's he that will
say, depart ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and
his angels. The Lord is the judge of the
quick and the dead. And your eternal destiny is in
his hands. Now, you can get mad at that. and say, how could that be fair?
Why can't I have any control? And you can sit in judgment on
God and criticize him for being that way. Or you can do something
far more wise. You can sue for mercy. Lord,
have mercy on me. Do you know anyone that's ever
prayed that prayer in their heart? God's had mercy on them. There's
never been anybody in the history of the universe that asked for
mercy that God passed by. It's he that is ordained by God
to judge the quick and the dead. To him, verse 43, to him give
all the prophets witness that through his name, whosoever. Beloved, y'all love that word.
You can fit yourself into that group. Whosoever. I'm a whosoever. Whosoever. believeth in him, you believe
who he is and what he did, shall receive the remission, the full
putting away of sin. This is the only message of scripture,
to him give all the prophets witness. Now understand this,
Christ is not the central message of the scripture. He's the only
message of the scripture. To him give all the prophets
witness that whosoever believeth What must we do to work the works
of God? This is the work of God that
you believe on him whom he has sent. To him give all the prophets
witness. Now he just preached the gospel
to them and look what happened. While Peter yet spake these words,
these words that we've been going over, While Peter yet spake these
words, the Holy Ghost fell on them that heard the word. Now, these words will be just
words and no more, unless God the Holy Spirit falls upon you
and causes you to hear and to believe. You see, for me to believe these
words, God the Holy Spirit's going to have to take possession
of me. And that's what happens in the
new birth. The Holy Spirit is poured upon you so that you're
enabled to hear the gospel as gospel. If you don't have a Holy
Spirit, it'll just be doctrine. It won't be really received into
your soul. It'll be doctrine. But if God
the Holy Spirit falls upon you, it'll be gospel. It'll be good
news. And the Holy Spirit never falls
upon anybody independent of the word. It's not like you're just
walking down the street and all of a sudden, boom, you're born
again. No, you hear the word. You hear the word while these
words were being preached. Now the words in and of themselves
are ineffectual, but God the Holy Spirit took the word and
caused there to be life. The Holy Spirit never acts independently
of the word. Now let me give you some scriptures.
Second Thessalonians 2.13 says we're bound. to give thanks always
to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God has
from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification
of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit falling upon you, and belief
of the truth. James 1.18, of his own will begat
he us. through the word of truth. 1 Peter 1.23, being born again,
not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible by the word
of God, which liveth and abideth forever. That's why what we're
doing right now is so important. This is the preaching of his
word. This is what God uses to beget life, and he does not act
independently of the word. Now, it's called in the scripture,
a resurrection. Ephesians 2.1, and you hath he
quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins. He gave you life. Who's
the only one who can give the dead life? God. It's called a
new creation. If any man being Christ is a
new creation, who's the only one that can create? God. Psalm 110.3, thy people shall
be made willing in the day of thy power. Who's the only one
who can make somebody willing? God. Verse 45, And they of the circumcision
which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because
that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy
Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.
Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water? That these
should not be baptized, even though they're Gentiles, which
have received the Holy Ghost as well as we, and he commanded
them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they
him to Terry certain days. Let's pray. Lord, we ask in Christ's name,
that by your spirit, you will fall upon those who hear the
word. that we might believe thy gospel. In Christ's name we pray, amen.