August 17, 2014 Swift Church Keith Cardwell Acts 10 If Cornelius lived today, I don’t know if we would share the gospel with him. We wouldn’t invite him to church. In fact, I’d bet we’d just leave him alone. Here’s why I think that. 1) Cornelius is a Roman. In his day that means he’s not Jewish. In fact, he’s a member of the occupation forces. For us today that would translate something like this: he’s not “from around here”, he’s not “one of us.” And I think if truth be told we really only want people like us to worship with us. If we can pick and choose with whom we worship they will have the same skin color, the same political beliefs, the same theological understanding, the same economic background, the same education, the same. In fact, they would pretty much be our clones. We’re comfortable with similarity. We’re comfortable in a setting where what we say will not bring disagreement. Where life is merry and jolly and lollipop-land. That’s the way we would want our congregation, our denomination and the Christian faith to be—the same. So, with that, we would not invite Cornelius to worship at Swift. That’s pretty much Peter’s attitude until his dream. When Peter heard these words: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” He didn’t fully understand, not until he ministered to Cornelius. Then he proclaimed, the great affirmation “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism”. Have you shared with someone different from you that God’s saving grace is for all people because God shows no partiality? If not, it’s a good thing God sent Peter and not you to visit Cornelius. Another reason why I think if Cornelius lived today we wouldn’t share the gospel with him--Cornelius is a centurion. That means he was an army officer in charge of a large military force. A centurion has a very noble character. You have to be disciplined. You have to be efficient. You have to be dependable. Centurions are a dedicated, hardworking lot. Cornelius, a Centurion, even donates money to the poor. He is a great guy—a good man. He donates to charitable causes; he tries to live a good, clean life. He’s interested in religion, he prays, probably reads his Bible. We’re even told Cornelius is God-fearing and devout. That’s why we’d never share the gospel with him. We would ask ourselves, what does Christ offer that Cornelius doesn’t already have? He’s living a better life than many Christians. You see, no matter how much we talk about God’s grace, saved by grace, grace alone, we still tend to believe that we earn our way into God’s kingdom. And by all indications, Cornelius has earned that. He’s a good man. Just leave him alone. But God says to Peter; go to Cornelius and to his family. Something was missing in Cornelius’ life, and that something was more important than all the good works in the world. Cornelius had heard of Jesus. Cornelius knew how Jesus died. He knew that people were saying good things about him. But he didn’t understand Jesus as Savior. Peter puts it all together: “You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.” “You know what has happened… how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power…” Peter goes on to describe how Jesus took away the sins of the world by dying on the cross and then rising from the dead. “he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” I’m sure this blew Cornelius away. It may blow your mind also. Cornelius, and maybe you, thought that being a good person, helping the poor, praying – that’s how you please God and enter the kingdom. But Cornelius finds out that no matter how good you are, you are never good enough. He finds out that Jesus Christ, someone he had heard about, is the Savior. He finds out that Jesus has taken away his sins, that God loves him, and forgives him. Who do you know that’s spiritual but not religious? Always ready to help the needy. She lives a good, clean life. He has heard of Jesus Christ. Who do you know believes that being a good person is enough? Who in your circle of friends and acquaintances fits the description of Cornelius, a thoroughly good man? Have you shared with him/her why you are a Christian? Have you spoken of how God through Jesus has taken all your faults, all your shortcomings, all your sins, and freed you? Have you said that no matter how good you are you can never be good enough? Have you, in your own words and from your heart, shared that the good you do is not to earn God’s pleasure, but is to thank God for undeserved love? Have you shared with your good and charitable friend that God’s saving love is a gift available for all people because God shows no partiality? Have you? If not, it’s a good thing God sent Peter and not you to visit Cornelius.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 11:28:15 +0000