FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF VILLA RICA, PCA

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TWO RELATED VISIONS

May 4, 2003 Villa Rica

Acts 10:1-23

            Under the Jewish Dispensation inaugurated by Moses certain dietary regulations were imposed. A Jew could not eat pork in any form. He could not eat rabbit, camel or horse meat. They could eat fish but only fish with fins and scales. They could not eat any flesh of any animal that went on four paws, nor any flying, creeping creature. If they even touched one of these animals or creatures he was unclean until the evening. He had to wash himself according to regulations and then he was clean again.

The Jews were set apart by the Lord to be a special people unto himself and they could not intermarry with

Gentiles or even eat with them. To understand this strict code you must realize that before the coming of Christ the whole world was given over to lust and sin and idolatry. God impressed upon his people the absolute necessity for them to be a separated people unto himself. They had a special priesthood and sacrificial system. Gentiles were not permitted to even step inside the sacred enclosure. There was a penalty of death for violation of this law.

You will not appreciate the significance of the vision given to Peter in the 10th chapter of Acts unless you remember that these restrictions were taught to all Jews from earliest childhood. Even yet today the orthodox Jew will not eat with a Gentile. They have liberalized these ancient laws considerably in Reformed Jewry, but in Peter's day it was still an unthinkable thing for a Jew to eat with a Gentile. Even the Gentiles knew of this feature of Judaism. No Gentile could live around the Jews and not know of it.

     I remember being on a television program in Savannah some years ago with a Jewish Rabbi who was orthodox. We were served some refreshments at the studio and the rabbi refused to eat with me. He was simply observing the Mosaic Law that forbids a Jew to eat with a Gentile.

I.   Cornelius And The Apostle Peter Were Given Visions That Were Related.

That is to say, they both were given visions which could only be understood as the two of them came together and compared notes. Peter was a Christian, an apostle of God, and as were all of the apostles he was Jewish. Cornelius was a Roman centurion, a soldier with considerable rank in the Roman army, what would approximate to a full bird Colonel in our own army, just one rank below a one star general. But Cornelius is also a worshipper of God. He is trying to live a good moral life. He is trying to practice true religion. He is a charitable man. He helps the poor. But something is yet lacking in his religion. He must have the preaching of the gospel to be made whole. God arranged a meeting between these two men. An angel of God came to him and called him by name, Cornelius! 4And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5“Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; 6he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea.” (Acts 10: 4-6) NASB

A. Notice that Cornelius was not given an explanation about what Peter would tell him but he was advised that

it was because he had found favor with God that he was to send for Peter.

We know of course why Peter was to come. And I won't go into Peter's gospel message of salvation that he delivered to Cornelius at this time. But I think of the verse of Scripture that reads, ¹⁴How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” Rom. 10:14 -15

B. Please notice that Cornelius complied with the instructions immediately. He did not hesitate or procrastinate. When God sends you a personal message and you know that he has spoken to you, then do not miss the good God intends for you by ignoring the message.

II.   Peter's Vision Was Timed To Coincide With The Arrival Of The Three Men (2 servants and 1 soldier) From The Household Of Cornelius

A. You will recall that Peter had gone to Joppa in the providence of God.  Two men had brought him there in order that he might raise from the dead one Tabitha or Dorcas. Now again in the providence of God the servants of Cornelius seek him.

Christians are to constantly be on the lookout for messengers of providence. God will guide your steps if you will but ask him. And even when we do not walk in the way he has chosen he will send messengers of correction to direct us back into his paths. But the yielded servant of God should watch and pray for God's daily direction to be made clear.

B. Peter's Vision took place about noontime. He was on the roof of Simon's house waiting for dinner to be prepared and served. He was hungry. He fell into a trance and he saw heaven opened.

1. Heaven is not far away. It is close at hand, but we cannot see it unless it is opened to us. A sheet-like vessel or container was 'let down to the earth. Inside the sheet were creatures of every description. There were wild beasts, birds, even reptiles. A voice came to Peter saying, "Arise, Peter, kill and eat!" But Peter said, "By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean." And again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy." And this happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky. (Acts. 10:13-16 NASB). '

2. Please note that the vision did not immediately make sense to Peter. (see vv 17, 19) Peter was perplexed. Just at that moment, as he was musing about the vision, the three servants of Cornelius appear at the gate. How perfectly God times everything. He is never ahead of time and never late; he is always right on time. The Holy Spirit Himself told him so -- Behold three men are looking for you. But arise, go down stairs, and accompany them without misgivings; for I have sent them Myself. (Acts. '10:19, 20 NASB)

III. The Solution To The Visions Is Obvious To Peter When He Gets To The House Of Cornelius.

A. Cornelius at first thought he was supposed to worship Peter. How uninstructed he was. Peter is careful not to allow his misconception to stand for even for a moment. Peter raised him up, saying, Stand up; I too am just a man.

B. Peter then explains that even though it was unlawful for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him that God had shown him that he should not call any man unholy or unclean.

1 The apostle Paul went further than Peter was willing to go at this point. In 1 Corinthians 10:25

he bid believers to eat whatever was sold in the meat market. Under the Priesthood of Christ we are not obligated to the Mosaic dietary regulations of that dispensation.

C. God is no respecter of persons, that is, God does not show partiality to those who fear him and desire to please him. In every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him. vs. 35

The apostle does not teach here that our works of righteousness saves us but that God has opened the Kingdom of Righteousness to all men everywhere. Peter then proceeded to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to them and they all were saved.

1. The gospel is to the Jew first but also to the Gentile.

2. Consider this episode in the light of the oft heard question, "What will happen to the heathen who have never heard the gospel?" My answer has always been that all men have sufficient light about God to know that he is and to seek him and worship him.

Here was a man who was a product of the Roman culture and army. He had no doubt been around drinking and carousing and cursing all his life. He had not been sheltered from the rough ways of men. Yet he had decided to turn to God and live a clean, moral life.

He quit doing the things that he felt were sinful.

            He began to pray and live a God fearing life. Now this did not save him, but it apparently affected heaven. His prayer and charity brought to him an angel to tell him that his prayers and benevolences have been noted and that he should send for a certain man to learn the plan of salvation.

I say that to impress on your mind that here is a specific case recorded in the Bible of a man acting on the little light he had, who was blessed by God with salvation light.

Now as a Bible student I would recognize that God had blessed Cornelius with gracious influences of the Holy Spirit long before Peter came to him. God operates ordinarily within the simple formula of light acted on begets more light. The person with a sincere desire to know God will receive light. As he acts on that light to the best of his ability he will be given more light.

But light rejected cuts off further light.

The first thing a man may hear from God is the law.

If a man takes heed to himself and begins to try and amend his life so as to please God, if he truly fears God and wants God's favor and help, God will meet him seeking him with additional light. The ultimate light that brings the gift of salvation is the Gospel. Men must hear the Gospel to be saved. And God is no respecter of persons. Whosoever believes in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of sinners and desires to live the Christian life to the best of his ability will be certain to experience the salvation of God.