Print

ACTS 10:34-43

"PEACE BY JESUS CHRIST"

Intro:  Peter has been directed by the Holy Spirit to share the gospel with Gentiles. "Call
        thou not unclean...?"

I. "GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS."
        A. The Jews had always enjoyed the favored nation status.
                1. The reason being that God was bringing the Messiah through them.
                2. They thought it was because of themselves.
                3. God loves the Jew and gentile alike.
        B. My position,  wealth, education matter not to God.
                1. If I am president, I make no special appeal to Him, or unemployed.
                2. Rich or poor.
                3. Moral or immoral.
                4. College grad or 6th grade drop-out.
                5. Male or female.
        C. God is not impressed by me.

II. "HE THAT FEARETH HIM AND WORKETH RIGHTEOUSNESS IS ACCEPTED  UNTO HIM."
        A. Description of Cornelius in vs. 2.
        B. What does it mean to fear the Lord?
                1. Reverence, awe, respect. 
                2. "To fear the Lord is to hate evil."
                3. "by the fear of the Lord, men depart from evil."
                        a. My inward attitude hates evil.
                        b. My outward actions to depart.
                        c. Pure in heart and conduct.
                        d. If I say, "I fear the Lord" and "I love evil, I am a liar and 
                           the..."
                        e. If a man say, "I fear the Lord" and continues to walk in sin, he
                           deceives himself."
        C. And works righteousness.
                        a. Does the right thing.
                        b. Hates and departs from the wrong things, loves and practices  the
                           right thing.
        D. How many of us can now qualify to be accepted by God? 
                        a. Just when I thought barriers down, my race, sex, position no 
                           barrier.
                        b. New barrier erected that closes me out.
        E. I am at war with God.

III. "THE WORD WHICH GOD SENT TO ISRAEL."
        A. "Preaching peace by Jesus Christ."
                1. "Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of  the 
                   devil."
                        a. Thus He was accepted by God.
                2. "They slew Him and hung Him on a tree." 
                3. "God raised Him up the third day."
                4. God has ordained Him to be the judge of the alive and dead. 
                5. God spoke of Him by the prophets.
        B. One greater barrier to peace with God.
                1. Sin.
                        a. No rest for the wicked.
                2. Jesus has removed that barrier so:  "that through His name
                        whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins."
                        a. The whosoever includes all ranks and classes.
 b. The whosoever includes me.