God is about to break down the barrier between Jews and Gentiles. The gospel is offered freely to all, regardless of genealogy or nationality or language or race. It's offered freely to males and females alike; as we learned yesterday the female believers were called disciples just like the men. As we go through Chapter 10 this week we will find the Lord showing Peter that it's alright for a devout Jew to go to a Gentile's home and share the gospel. It's alright to break bread with Gentiles and enjoy the fellowship of Christ with them. In the sight of God the Gentile believer is equal with the Jewish believer. Today we meet a Gentile man named Cornelius who is soon to have the gospel brought to him.
"At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, an centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment." (Acts 10:1) This man, because he is a Roman soldier, is probably disliked and despised by most of the Jews. In the first place they would not associate closely with him because he is a Gentile. In the second place he is a member of the occupiers. Both things things have up til now excluded him from friendship with the children of Israel, but Luke is about to tell us he has a heart for the Lord.
"He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly." (Acts 10:2) Cornelius has turned his back on the pantheon of Roman gods in favor of the one true God of Israel. He's been influenced by the Jewish culture. He's been impressed by the Scriptures about a God who wants to have a real relationship with mankind. He has forsaken all other gods. We know this man's faith is genuine because verse 2 proves to us that Cornelius loves God and loves his fellow man, the two things the Lord Jesus said were the greatest commandments. (Matthew 22:37-40)
"One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision." (Acts 10:3a) At the time of prayer the Lord sends a message to him.
"He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, 'Cornelius!'" (Acts 10:3b) This is the personal God who knows Cornelius by name. No Roman gods, had they ever existed in reality, would have known his name or called for him. The one true God has chosen Cornelius, and Cornelius has chosen Him, and they are able to commune with each other. You and I can have this same two-way communication with the living God. He knows us by name. He knows everything about us, both good and bad, and He loves us anyway. He wants to be known by us, so He calls us to be His children through the Lord Jesus Christ. The same God who instructs the characters of the Bible through the Holy Spirit is the same God who is able to instruct you and me today as we go about our lives. God is interested in building a relationship with us, not simply giving us a religion to follow.
"Cornelius stared at him in fear. 'What is it, Lord?' he asked. The angel answered, 'Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.'" (Acts 10:4-6) Cornelius performs good works because of his faith in God. He is not saved by works anymore than you and I are saved by works. If his works were able to save him there would be no need to send for Simon Peter to tell him the gospel. He possesses the type of faith of the Old Testament saints like Abraham who, because they believed God, had righteousness accredited to them. (Genesis 15:6) The Old Testament faith took God at His word that He would send a Deliverer. The sacrifices of the Old Testament pointed to the One whose sacrifice would be good enough to cleanse mankind from sin for all time. Cornelius has this type of faith already, and because of that he honors God by doing good works, but before long he is going to learn that the Deliverer has already come. Before long Cornelius is going to know and believe in the name of Jesus Christ.
"When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa." (Acts 10:7-8) Cornelius obeys the Lord immediately. He gets up from prayer and calls three reliable men to fetch Simon Peter. He has no idea who Peter is or why the Lord wants Peter to come to his house or what Peter is going to do when he gets there. But he trusts God. If God says Simon Peter should come to his house, that's all he needs to know. No wonder the Lord views Cornelius as a man who can be used by Him for His kingdom! If we practiced a simple faith like this more often, obeying God without questioning Him, I think we would see greater things happen than we've ever seen before. I think God could do more with our lives than He's ever done before. Cornelius sets a wonderful example for us concerning obedience and faith. God tells him to do something and he does it. Because of this something wonderful is going to happen.
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