Day 361

Day 361

Pray (ACts)

Read - Acts 10v30-48

Message - Scott Woodburn
The barriers have been removed and now Peter stands in the house of a Gentile named Cornelius. The centurion thanks Peter for coming (v33) but wishes now to hear everything that the Lord has commanded Peter to say (v33b).

Peter wasted no time, beginning with his new found understanding that "God shows no partiality" (v34) The Gospel is for all who will believe in every nation upon the earth (v35). And what is the Gospel? It is the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus came to Israel preaching good news of peace (v36). At Christ's baptism the Father declared "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3v17) and God the Holy Spirit descended upon Christ like a dove (v38a). Jesus ministered by doing good, by healing and by destroying the works of the devil (v38b). Yet this same Jesus was put to death by being hung upon a tree (v39).

Thankfully Christ did not stay long in the grave for God raised him on the third day (v40) and he appeared to a multitude of witnesses, not least His Apostles with whom He ate and drank after His resurrection (v41). Jesus is the One pointed to by the prophets (v43) and preached by the Apostles (v42). He is the One who will return to judge the living and the dead (v42b) and everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ will have forgiveness of sins through His name (v43b).

Amazingly Peter hadn't even finished his sermon when the Holy Spirit fell upon those gathered (v44). We have witnessed the day of Pentecost. We have seen the Spirit coming upon the Samaritans and now the Spirit comes to the Gentile world. The event was amazing for those who had come from a Jewish background (v45). The saved Gentiles were praising God and speaking in foreign languages (v46) and so Peter urged them to be baptized (v48).

In these current days much is said about the blight of racism. Last week many were in uproar over Megan Markle's claims that she experienced racism at the hands of the Royal family and the British media. There is no unity around her claims. Many have rushed to support her and many have rushed to denounce her. I have no interest in the Royal family but if it is true that the skin color of Harry and Megan's son was seen as a problem...then shame on those involved.

What every single family on earth needs is the Gospel. It doesn't matter if you're from a Jewish background or a Gentile one. It is unimportant if you are Japanese or have arthritic knees. It is irrelevant if you are a famous Windsor or a little known whinger. Every family on earth needs Jesus and, thanks be to God, the free offer of the Gospel is open to all who will believe.

Jesus was a Jew who came to the Jews, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God (John 1v11-12). "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." (Isaiah 1v18)

Pray (acTS)

Sing

WSC 
Q15 What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created? The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created, was their eating the forbidden fruit.
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