The Old Paths Monthly

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1 The Old Paths Monthly Ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein; And ye shall find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16 Alan Jones, Editor June, 2014 The Message Goes to a God-Fearing Gentile So far in our study of the message that changed the world we have seen it presented to Jews, to Samaritans (part Jews), and to a Gentile from Ethiopia who was a proselyte. The message had never been presented to a Gentile who was not a proselyte. It took a miracle to convince the Jews that Gentiles could have a relationship with God without first becoming a Jew. The Jews wouldn t eat with the Gentiles or travel with them for they considered them unclean. God decided that the first Gentile who would hear the gospel was Cornelius. Cornelius was a Roman centurion who was devout. Unlike most Gentiles who were worshippers of pagan idols, he had reverence for God as did his whole family. He gave money to the needy and prayed constantly. His prayers caught God s attention and continually reminded Him of this good man. Though he was a Gentile, he had a good reputation among the Jewish nation (Acts 10:1-2, 4, 22). This good man was warned by an angel in a vision to send for Peter so that he could hear words by which he and his family would be saved (Acts 10:3-6, 22; 11:14). Cornelius was lost! Perhaps you, too, are God-fearing, but lost. Consider further Luke s account of the conversion of Cornelius to see why you are lost and how you can be saved

2 God Shows No Partiality The reason that Cornelius was lost was that he was a sinner, just like all men (Rom 3:23). Neither Cornelius, nor anyone one else can be good enough to be saved. The centurion stood in need of forgiveness just as much as Saul, the persecutor of Christians mentioned in the previous chapter (Acts 9). However, because of his devotion to God, Cornelius was privileged to be the first Gentile to be offered salvation in Jesus. God was ready to show the Jewish Christians that the Gentiles were acceptable to Him on the same basis as the Jews. This was a difficult lesson for them to learn, for up to this time they would not even eat with a Gentile (Acts 11:3). To reveal this truth to the Jewish Christians, God first sent a vision to Peter. The apostle saw a sheet descending from heaven filled with different kinds of animals and birds. He heard a voice telling him to kill and eat. Even though he was hungry, Peter refused to eat because the animals on the sheet were all unclean for the Jews to eat according to the teaching of the Law of Moses. The instruction was repeated twice more, but Peter refused each time (Acts 10: 9-16). Each time the voice responded that one should not call unclean that which God now calls clean (Acts 10:15). While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, Cornelius servants arrived. The Holy Spirit told Peter to go with these men. He obeyed and went with these unclean men that normally he would not have traveled with. When he arrived at Cornelius house, Peter finally understood the meaning of the vision and the instruction of the Holy Spirit. He told those assembled that God had showed him not to call any man common or unclean. (Acts 10:17-19) After hearing from Cornelius himself about the vision that he had, Peter concluded that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the one who fears him and does what is right is welcome to Him. (Acts 10:34-35) While God s impartiality means that all are held accountable and guilty for their sins, it also means that possibility of forgiveness is available to all!...

3 Forbid the Water? The audience that assembled in Cornelius house was eager to listen and anxious to do all that God wanted them to do. Cornelius expressed their feelings when he said, Now therefore we are all here pre-sent in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded you by the Lord. (Acts 10:33) After Peter realized that God shows no partiality, he began preaching to these open ears the same story that God sent to the Jews. He told of the miracles Jesus did by the power of God who was with Him. He then described how Jesus was murdered on a cross by the very Jews who had witnessed these miracles. However, God raised Jesus from death three days later, Peter testified. He recalled how the risen Jesus commanded the apostles to preach that God has appointed Jesus to be the Judge of all men. Finally, Peter showed that Jesus had fulfilled the predictions of the Old Testament prophets and therefore all who trusted in Him would receive the forgiveness of their sins. (Acts 10:36-43) While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came upon the Gentiles. The Jewish Christians who had come with Peter were amazed that the same baptism of the Holy Spirit that came on the Jews (Acts 2) was now coming on the Gentiles! (Acts 11:15-16) The Gentiles spoke in various languages and glorified God, just as the Jewish apostles had done on Pentecost. This was the ultimate proof, both to the Jews who witnessed this event and the Jews who heard about it that to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance unto life. (Acts 10:48) Since God had given to the Gentiles the same gift that He had given to the Jews (Acts 11:17), Peter asked his fellow Jewish brethren, No one can forbid the water, can they, that these should not be baptized? (Acts 10:47) Peter commanded the Gentiles to be baptized and they received the word of God. (Acts 10:48; 11:1) Cornelius and his family had been good moral people, but still sinners. They, as Saul the persecutor, had to arise and be baptized to wash away their sins. (Acts 22:16)

4 Baptized? Most of you who are reading this are good people or you would have thrown away this bulletin already. You probably are good to your family, your employer, your neighbor, and your country. You have respect for God and may even pray to Him regularly and attend church services. However, you must realize that, as good as you may be, you are not perfect. Just one sin will cause you to fall short of the glory of a totally righteous and holy God, placing you in need of His grace and mercy. This grace and mercy has been extended to allboth Jew and Gentile- in the sacrifice of His Son, from the time of Cornelius until now. Won t you, as Cornelius, see that your goodness is not good enough? No longer trust in yourself and in your own self-goodness, but rather place your trust in God. Trusting in God means relying on His direction, doing what He tells you to do, including obeying His command to be baptized. Good people will not go to heavenonly forgiven people! Have you been baptized? Are you saved or are you lost? FOR FAITH TO LEAD YOU FROM LOST TO SAVED We would like to offer to you free of charge this 10 lesson study course: 1#1: What is Faith? #2: Our God, He is Alive #3: Why is Man Moral? #4: Unity of the Bible #5: Fulfilled Prophecy #6: Is the Bible Accurate? #7: Can We Trust Our Bible? #8: Jesus Character & Works #9: Jesus Fulfilled Prophecy #10: Jesus Resurrection To request the course, write or call using the contact information below: South Marion church of Christ 3629 South Washington Street Marion, IN Sunday Bible Study Worship Schedule of Services: Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 PM 9:30 AM 10:30 AM & 5:00 PM Elders: David Huber Alan Jones Evangelist: Alan Jones ajones1959@hotmail.com A Warm Welcome Awaits You!

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