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ACTS lO:34-43

"ACCEPTED BY GOD"

I. "GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS."
        A. Quite an admission for Peter.
                1. The Jews had thought the Gentiles unclean, outside the
                        covenants of God.
                2. God said to Peter, "What I have cIeansed, call not common."
        B. This opens the door to all men.
                1. God does not grant special favors to the rich or poor.
                2. Being a good moral man does not make me special to Him,
                        neither does being a great sinner.
                3. God does not recognize my dress weather it be a robe with
                        religious trappings or rags.
                        a. He is not interested in the clothes, but the man who
                                wears the clothes.
                4. God does not care what nationality you are.
 5. He cares not for your rank or station.

                        a. He would just as soon save you as the president,  or
                                governor.
                        b. We sometimes look at one who possesses special talents
                                as more desirable candidate for salvation.
        C. How encouraging,  the door is open to all alike.

II. "IN EVERY NATION, HE WHO FEARS HIM AND WORKS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS  ACCEPTED BY HIM."
        A. "What does it mean to fear the Lord?"
                1. "To fear the Lord is to hate evil."
                2. "To fear the Lord is to depart from evil."
                        a. The fear of the Lord is manifested inwardly by my hating evil
                           which is expressed outwardly by my departing from evil.
                3. I must confess to you, I do not always hate evil.
                        a. I sometimes desire evil.
                                1. It is evil to desire revenge.
                4. There are other evil things I hate that I have not totally
                        parted from.
                        a. I hate losing my temper.
                        b. I hate getting angry.
        B. He that feareth Him and worketh righteousness.
                1. He who hates evil and does the right thing, is accepted by
                        Him.
        C. God is no respecter of persons, the gate seems to be open wide.
                1. As I start to rush in, I am stopped by the flaming sword of
                        the Cherubim. '"He who hates evil and has always done
                        the right thing is accepted by Him."
                2. The door is slammed in my face.

III. "THE WORD WHICH GOD SENT TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL." 
        A. Who is that Word?
                1. "In the beginning was the Word..."
                2. Verse 38, Jesus of Nazareth.
                        a. Anointed by Spirit went about doing good.
                                1. He never did an evil thing, He hated evil.
                                2. He always did the right thing.
                                3. He alone qualifies for acceptance.
                        b. He was slain, hung on a tree.
                                1. The evil in man could not abide such righteousness.
                                2. The light was too bright, it exposed their evil, they
                                   sought  to put it out.
                        c. But God raised Him the third day.
                                1. God triumphed over evil.
                        d. God has ordained Him to be the judge.
                        e. Through believing in Him, there is remission of sins.
        B. "Preaching peace by Jesus Christ."
                1. You can have peace with God today.
                2. You can have the peace of God today.
                3. "Jesus is Lord of all."
                        a. Submit yourself to His Lordship.