Badenoch Free Church

 

Acts 11v1-18

• ·         Intro and accusation: v1-3

• ·         Peter gives an account of his actions: v4-17

• ·         Conclusion: v18

 

Last week we saw the great beginning of the fulfilment of the promise given to Abraham Gen12v3, that every nation on earth would be blessed through him.

Cornelius and his household were the first to experience the fullness of that blessing when the Holy Spirit was poured out on them, just as He had be on the day of Pentecost.

This week we see that this amazing event is not wholeheartedly accepted to begin with.

 

Intro:

Peter returns to Jerusalem and has to face criticism over his actions v1-3!

But he explains himself and all that has happened, v4-17.

So in the end there is great rejoicing at the work of God v18.

 

What can we learn from all this today? What is the point of the passage?

The point is the Glory of God. V18 is the key, the end result is God is praised.

But how did they get there. An issue had to be dealt with.

 

1) criticism v2:

Peter was criticised over his actions.

The Jewish believers contended with him over his actions.

They knew the Gentiles had received the Word but they didn’t like the way Peter had brought the word to them. So they debated with him about it!

App

Open debate is often looked on as unhealthy in the church.

Contending for issues as we have been doing in the assembly this past week can be very discouraging and upsetting, it can lead to division even!

The reason for that is that issues that pertain to the faith are important.

If in the church we are not dealing with real and important issues then we might as well not bother. We are to be dealing with spiritual issues that are of eternal value.

• ·         But the manner in which we deal with issues is all important.

What can we learn from this early church point of criticism?

a. the issue is brought right out into the open and to Peter directly.

There is not background complaining. The issue is simply brought to Peter to defend v3.

Often it is not the issues themselves that cause the problems but the circus of rumours and politics that goes on round about them.

b. then there is listening as the defence is made. V4-17.

This shows an open rational approach. There is no irrational dogmatism here.

So much of our belief is held onto irrationally – that is we believe, because we believe, or because we have to!

It is not thought through, not prayed over, not considered that we might just be wrong!

This shows there must have been a real humility about in those days.

c. but most importantly there was a seeking after the Glory of God in all this. The issue only mattered because Gods glory was at stake.

 

2) response to criticism! V4-17

Peter very carefully runs through the event as it happened.

He is honest and open about it all, even about his own initial resistance to God.

• ·         That there is a recounting of the event just right after it happened shows how vital this stage of the early church was. The whole rest of the gospel mission depended the right outcome at this moment!

Note to the role of the Spirit that is to the fore in all of this

V12, the Spirit tells Peter to go

V15, the Spirit falls on the Gentiles

V16 Peter remembers the Lords words (remembering is the work of the Spirit John 14v26)

V17 the same gift to both Jew and Gentile

Thus Peter is utterly convinced that this new departure is from the Lord not man.

App

a. In the Kingdom of God Honesty is to mark all debate.

But how do we stay honest?

Witnesses are the way. Or to put it another way, accountability.

Peter did not simply think that because he said it everyone should accept it.

Others witnessed and were able to testify to the truth of the matter.

A faithful brother or sister who keeps us straight is a gift to be cherished.

b. for there to be glory given to Christ we must rely on the work of the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit convicts and leads and guides in all of our debating, if we are willing to be so led. It is to the Spirit that we must look for all the help that we need.

 

3) the outcome of the criticism v18.

In the end God is glorified and there is great rejoicing.

Those who brought the problem to Peter had nothing left to say to him.

All they had left to do was praise God.

App

In all our debating, in all our living, our aim should be to praise God.

No matter who is in the right or in the wrong, all motivations should be for God’s praise.

And why? Because He has given us repentance unto life!

He has enabled us to turn from the folly of our ways and turn to him for eternal life.

We should never lose the wonder of that!

Those early Jewish believers were astonished that the Gentiles were saved just as they!

This salvation to life is a wonder, we are on holy ground, and we are there by grace alone. Remember that in all our living!

 

 

Col 1v21-23.

 

Last week we saw the great conclusion to the hymn of praise to Christ.

Through Christ God has revealed Himself to the world and reconciled all things to himself.

Then we noted that Paul began to apply that great work of reconciliation to the Colossians.

He moves from great revelation about Christ, His Person and Work to the practical application of all that; which we will look at more fully this week.

The great practical outcome of all this is salvation for all who believe.

 

The stages of salvation:

1) stage one: you were enemies v21. (once you were)

Alienated – that is you were a stranger, you had no connection with God!

Separated from God is the most frightening human condition to be in!

Enemies – that is you hated God.

• ·         That there were enemies of the cross was most upsetting for Paul, it brought him to tears, Phil3v18.

In your minds – that is in your thinking, in your attitude. Deep below the surface, your basic default position is hatred towards God!

Evil behaviour / wicked works – this deep hatred towards God flows out from the mind into actions. You cannot hid what you are inside! The body will in some way or other betray you!

The good tree produces good fruit and the bad tree bad fruit! No mystery.

App

a. Salvation comes to us as enemies.

God does not save us because we are good, close friends!

You may think that being an enemy of God would prohibit salvation, but in fact that is the very thing that qualifies us!

Are you an enemy of God? Then you are a candidate for salvation!  

b. Christ commands us to love our enemies, that is the very thing that Christ does for us.

God loves his enemies: next point. 

 

2) stage two: but you have been reconciled, how? V22 (but now)

From having no connection with God, being his enemy you become his friend!

Reconciled – bringing two opposing parties together. From separation to union. How?

Body of flesh through death – Christ reconciled us by physically dying for us.

Reconciliation took Jesus dying for us. That’s how it happened.

Why did it have to happen physically?

Because it was as physical flesh and blood humans that we were enemies.

The punishment has to fit the crime.

That’s why the sacrifice of an animal would never really do, it was not justice!

For there to be union from separation, an appropriate just sacrifice had to be made.

The cost was not too high, God was willing to pay!

The outcome: Holy, Blameless, Above Reproach (free from accusation)!

With such a magnificent, costly sacrifice, the return is wonderful, beyond description.

Those who have been so reconciled are now presentable to God.

Our relationship with God has been overhauled, exalted, radically transformed!

The point of reconciliation is that we might have this new relationship with God.

That is the end in sight, God is Holy, we are now holy, God is blameless, we are now blameless, God is above reproach, we are now above reproach.

- all that we might now live in his presence: “present you ... in his sight”.

App

Being a Christian is magnificent!

The Sacrifice of Christ is astonishing, He is to be praised and adored and loved.

The consequence of the sacrifice is astonishing. We are now to live with God!!

That is what Christianity is all about: not about religion, but about living with God.

Life with God, full of glory and hope. Unbelievable, wonderful, life!

 

3) stage three: what is the assurance of reconciliation? V23 (if you)

All this is yours “if you...”

Salvation is often proclaimed as a simple easy thing. All you do is believe and your place in heaven is guaranteed! Sign your name on a piece of paper to mark the date you said the prayer of salvation and all will be well with your soul!

But not so.

Nowhere in the NT does getting into heaven simply depend on knowing the right answer!

The devil believes and knows all the right answers.

There is no cheap salvation.

The glory of reconciliation and the life with God depends on “if you”!

“continue in the faith” – that is stay with it, keep on with Christ.

The same word is used for Peter knocking at the door after miraculous prison break (act12v16), he kept on banging the door.

We are called to trust in Christ anew each day.

“grounded and steadfast” – and not giving up!

Grounded refers to foundations. It is the word that is used for the house built on the rock, it was grounded so the storm did not affect it.

Steadfast refers to a settled state of mind. That is the state of mind that says, Christ is my all in all! On him alone all my hope and confidence rests.

If grounded and steadfast then we will “not be moved”.

App

We have no right to claim salvation unless we are following Christ today.

Relying on past experience is not good enough.

That’s were a lack of assurance creeps in, because we can always doubt our past experiences.

The important question about salvation is: am I following Christ today, now? Then we will not need to worry about getting into heaven when we die, because we are already there as we follow Christ each day!