A Tale of Two Conversions (Part 2)
Acts (To Be Continued...) • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Please turn to Acts chapter 11. Acts chapter 11.
One of the principles of Bible reading is this: It’s hard to read and understand the Bible—amen?
but here is the 2nd: If the Bible repeats somethings—it’s important. Pay attention. The Bible doesn’t waste words...
That’s exactly what happens here. Here in chapter 11—we have a REPEAT of what happened in chapter 10.
the Holy Spirit is getting our attention—what is happening here is MAJORLY important!
The Good news of Jesus Christ-the Gospel is going forth from Jerusalem where it started to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
I called this sermon “A Tale of Two Conversions...” we saw in chapter 10, an entire household converted—a man named Cornelius, a Roman captain in the army....converted to faith in Jesus Christ.
and now, we see another type of conversion—we will look at the early church and see how they needed to change.
it’s awesome!
but now we see a struggle the early church had—especially those Christians who had a Jewish background. What were they to make of Gentiles being Christians?
Let me read.
Acts 11:1–18 (NIV)
1 The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him
3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
so they are saying, “Peter—you have a Jewish background. how could you go into a Gentile house—and risk being unclean. acc. to the OT law” (more on that later)
4 Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story:
5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was.
6 I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds.
7 Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’
8 “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ (talking about the OT law)
9 “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’
10 This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.
11 “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying.
12 The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house.
13 He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter.
14 He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’
15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them (the Gentiles) as he had come on us (the Jews) at the beginning.
16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John (John the Baptist) baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
17 So if God gave them the same gift (the Holy Spirit) he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”
18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
look a verse 3 again: to see the criticism...
3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
this is the criticism Peter gets...
now before we look down on the circumcised group—
we have to be careful we don’t have what CS Lewis calls “chronological snobbery...” Do you know what a snob is?
arrogant…thinking “I know best...” “they look down on others...”
We do this with history…we read about what our ancestors or people did—and think “How could THEY do THAT…if I were living then, I would have made such a better decision...”
my response—bologna!
We probably would have thought, said, and done the same thing!
but here we see in this tale of two conversions as we focus on the early church struggling with the Gentiles…we see they needed to be converted or changed in 3 ways:
The Early Church and Change:
Their understanding of circumcision (Gen. 17:10-14)
how do I know—go back to the first book of the Bible—God gave our forefather Abraham—circumcision as a sign of His relationship—a covenant his commitment
10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.
12 For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring.
13 Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant.
14 Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
this was a big deal for the Jewish Israelite people in the OT. every male must undergo this—it was a sign they belonged to God. they are were set apart for God.
so for Peter and fellow Jewish believers who were circumcised to go into a Gentile house of people who were uncircumcised—that mattered to them.
the early church needed to understand that circumcision was not meant just to be a physical marker. It was meant to symbolize a spirituality reality.
6 The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.
a spiritual reality!
the Apostle Paul in the NT—says it like this: Galatians 5:6
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
so the physical act of circumcision no longer matters—it some ways it didn’t matter even in the old covenant—it just pointed to a greater spiritual reality...
that was the first thing—their identity is not in this physical marker but in Christ
the 2nd thing that needed to change...
their understanding of the OT Mosaic law (Exodus 19 - Deuteronomy)
by Mosaic…I am referring to the character Moses. this is the law found in Exodus 19 and on. the book of Leviticus, and Deuteronomy.
it contained laws like the 10 commandments — thou shall not murder or steal
but also about 613 laws—of all sorts—circumcision, of the animal sacrifices, of holy days, the Sabbath, even what to eat or not eat. the clean and unclean laws.
1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron,
2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat:
3 You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof and that chews the cud.
7 And the pig, though it has a divided hoof, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you.
most of us violated this this morning when we ate sausage at the student bfast. (did we violate this law this morning—…no…b/c Scripture tells us we are no longer the old covenant law that God gave Moses but under the new covenant…)
We sometimes look down on God’s law in the OT-b/c it seems strange, but Scripture tells us that God’s law is good!
it is holy!
it represents God—it teaches us who God is!
it taught the Israelites how to be a distinct, set apart nation for God—to show the Gentiles who God is and they belong to God. it was for their good--
even what they ate was to remind them of God and set them apart—and if they ate the wrong thing, they would be unclean.
so to go into a Gentile’s house—and eat unclean food---that was a big deal!
so before we point the finger—be empathetic towards those Christians of a Jewish background…
however…
there is a PROBLEM with their statement.
look at verse 3 again:
3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
notice—one scholar says this: “Their criticism did not really address whether the Gentiles actually experienced salvation…instead…they criticize Peter for:
interacting socially with Gentiles
and violating the Jewish clean and unclean food laws.
the thought of Peter having table fellowship with them—was UNTHINKABLE to them. how could Peter, a leader of the church, do such a thing? Peter’s action was confirming that the believed that the Gentile Christians were on the same footing or playing field as Jewish Christians.
so those Christians with a Jewish background—you can understand…
but the problem was that they took these unclean and clean food laws…and applied them to thinking of PEOPLE as clean and unclean.
look at Acts 11:9
9 “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’
they took these laws TOO FAR…past God’s intention for them. These laws were to make Israel distinct—and not to get involved in idols and other gods—they were never meant to make them feel like snobs.
so Peter tells the vision and story again—how God is behind all of this… John Stott says:
God sent a divine vision to Peter
God gave a divine command to “go” (and Peter obeyed)
God prepared Cornelius with an angel
God sent the Holy Spirit---the same Spirit that fell on the Jews in Acts 2 on the Day of Pentecost—now falls here. the Same Spirit that fell on the Samaritans in Acts 8—now falls here.
This has been called the Gentile Pentecost.
there is one, unified church—not a Jewish Church, not a Samaritan Church, not a Gentile church-BUT ONE CHURCH IN CHRIST—EQUAL WITH ONE ANOTHER. mic drop...
so one of the issues the early church would still need to keep working out—was how were they to understand the OT law—now—in Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy—how were Christians now to understand—were and are Christians obligated to follow that law, or part of it, in any way now that Jesus has come—they haven’t worked out all the details—but we will see in Acts 15 more of that how they were working it out. Does a Gentile who accepts Christ have to follow the OT law—basically does a Gentile have to be Jewish to really be a Christian?
and the answer is basically “NO!” WHY? because Jesus has come—and issued a new covenant. We are no longer under that OT law covenant.
Jesus eluded to this in his ministry
17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable.
18 “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them?
19 For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)
so we are no longer under that Old Covenant law…but the law of Christ—summarized by Jesus Himself--Love God and love others.
the book of Hebrews is ALL ABOUT THIS…no longer do we have to follow the sacrificial system of animals—praise god. no longer do you need a temple to go to…praise God. no longer do you need a priest to go into God’s presence—b/c Jesus is our priest, temple, and sacrifice.
now we still read the OT law—and glean so much from it—about God, his character, timeless principles—but since Jesus has come—it’s changed so much!
but this was difficult—tale of 2 conversions...
the last area of change they needed...
3. Their attitude towards the “uncircumcised” Gentiles.
and this is where it starts to get more personal for us...
it’s worth asking the question…who are the uncircumcised people we look down upon in our area?
(Be honest about the “uncircumcised” people we look down upon in our area.)
what are the “circumcision” vs. “uncircumcision” groups in our areas that we make distinctions between—even though God would not want that? (turn to your neighbor?)
$ is one category—or socio-economics. sometimes our church can be known as being middle class or upper middle class (even if you don’t feel like you are) and the “uncircumised” are the poor or those from a lower socio-economic class. I remember one dear believer told me our church is the “hoity-toity” church—that’s from the Greek — “hoity-toitos...” but that if you don’t have a certain income, you don’t feel like you fit in. how can we change that?
last names—are another category. family names. that you have to have a certain name to fit in here not just in church but Berne or a small town. so the “uncircumcised” would be those who move in—who are not from here. how can they feel embraced, equally a part of the church family?
race and ethnicity—those who are from another country, speak a different language, have another culture—perhaps even our Amish brothers and sisters—how easy it is to label them as “the uncircumcised” that we look down upon and prop ourselves up
external issues like dress—like what people wear…or tattoos, or smoking…the “uncircumcised” are those who dress differently than us....are those who have lots of tattoos (some of you do by the way—kudos to you…), are those who smoke or have an addiction of some kind that they are trying to get over. the “uncircumcised” are those who treat the Sabbath day differently than I would.....
we can look at very superficial, external things—as what makes someone a real “circumcised” Christians vs. an “uncircumcised” Christian.
life circumstances and backgrounds is another category. those from a rough background, not a church background or rough family life are the “uncircumcised Gentiles” that we can look down upon.
sports teams—the other team can be the “uncircumcised”....we talked about this on Sports Sunday with Coach Moser and Coach Mosser from SA and AC...
what are some other categories that we make distinctions between?
but God reminds us—that all are made in the image of God. all deserve a chance to hear the good news of Jesus.
9 “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’
last chapter
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism
35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.
my guess is all of us have someone or some category we view as “the uncircumcised...” categories I didn’t even talk about yet…and if you think you don’t…you are just fooling yourself.
Even Peter though he experienced this—would struggle with it later.
Galatians 2:11–13 (NIV)
11 When Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.
13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
see what Peter is doing? showing favoritism…re-creating these separate boundaries that no longer existed because of Jesus
it took him a while to truly change—and I am guessing that if took Peter a while, it will take us a while.
Final application:
Be honest about your prejudice
don’t look at other people in this room and say “Boy I am glad they are hearing this Pastor Rick. they really need to hear this—and elbow them...” no, elbow yourself. We all need this.
so own it, confess it to God, come clean…repent of it. I dare you to even tell someone else so they can hold you accountable to watch your favoritism and discrimination.
Remember that everyone has access to God through Jesus and has the same Holy Spirit. (Acts 11:15-17) (Galatians 3:26-29)
Let me show you Acts 11:15-17
15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning.
16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
17 So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”
those words in verse 16—Jesus had said at the beginning of Acts
4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.
5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus originally said that to the Jews…in Jerusalem...
and now those same words apply equally to the Gentiles.
Praise God!
look with me
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
that’s the Jerusalem Pentecost
14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria.
15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
that’s the Samaritan Pentecost.
and now Acts 11—the Gentile Pentecost.
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.
45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles.
46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said,
the book of Acts — is all about ONE CHURCH UNDER JESUS CHRIST.
26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,
27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
that’s beautiful!
what would it look like at First Miss if we really believed this?
Look to Jesus if you are struggling with this...
this is why as Christians…we need the Gospel of Jesus just as much as non-believers. we need it all the time. We have to regularly apply it to ourselves.
I can tell you until you are blue but let the Gospel—the good news of what God has done to save sinners to Himself through the life, death on the cross, and resurrection of Jesus.
when Peter messed up in Galatians—Paul had to confront him and say this:
14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?
not acting in line with the truth of the Gospel—how profound—Peter, you forgot the good news of Jesus…think of Jesus...
Think of Jesus - He ministered to the unclean
40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”
42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.
he cared deeply about people that society had cast off...
He knows what it is like to be unclean -
and for people to view him that way.
his own family rejected him.
3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do.
4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”
5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
he knows what it is like to be denied—by Peter, rejected by Judas, killed—by his own people. and viewed suspiciously…if you feel like people look at you this way—Jesus gets it...
He became unclean on the cross for us
on the cross—Jesus who knew no sin—became sin for us—he became unclean on the cross, taking our sin, shame, guilt, and punishment in our place, so that if we receive Him—we will be restored.
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”
where would I be if Jesus had not become unclean for me so I could be clean?
15 “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles
Galatians 2:16 (NIV)
16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law (or last names, or money, or race) no one will be justified.
therefore, may we not look down upon anyone for a perceived difference, may we all have level ground at the foot of the cross, may we all preach the Gospel to our hearts, so that we become one church