As Many As The Lord Our God Shall Call To Himself Part II

Introduction

Well, I’m sure you too detected the theme of Scott’s singing tonight in regard to responding to God’s call. And that had something to do with our lesson this morning and again this evening. I’ve got to tell you, though, I’ve been feeling a little left out, and so I’m going to do something different. I’m going to do a reveal tonight. We’ve had so many reveals lately in regard to the gender of children. I’m going to reveal tonight, but I’m not going to use a shotgun of all things. I’m going to use the sword of the Spirit. And I’ll go ahead and tell you, it’s going to be a male. Like them. Another male. Well, this morning we were looking at Acts the second chapter. And this great day in history, no day like it, certainly, before or after it, when the conclusion of that sermon was repent and be baptized, those who had sinned on their account, repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Not something to be afraid of, that last phrase, but everything that is involved in the Old Testament promises of what was coming through the Messiah. You’ll receive that gift by embracing this message. And 3,000 Jews. And their identity as Jews are important, or is important as we continue on in our study tonight, because what follows that statement, as we asked the question this morning, have you embraced the promise? Because what follows that statement is that the promise is for you and for your children. And for all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to himself. And so tonight I really want to focus on this phrase, who are afar off. And in regard to the reveal, here’s the male I was speaking of.

Cornelius, a Gentile, one who was afar off, was the first of those who were afar off to embrace the promise. And the account of his conversion is told in Acts chapter 10. And what was anticipated in Acts chapter 2 was, as we saw in Isaiah 2, that people from all nations would flow into the kingdom. And of course, that happens beginning in Acts chapter 10 with the first non-Jew convert to Christianity. But before we get to this text in Acts chapter 10 and make some observations about that, I want to look with you to Ephesians chapter 2, because Paul speaks about this in length, as he does in Romans, as we talked in our Bible class this morning in the auditorium. But he says in Ephesians 2 and verse 11, remember that formerly you, and he’s talking about the church that is now in Ephesus.

He says, You formerly, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by the so-called circumcision, which is performed in the flesh by human hands. Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenant of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now, things have changed. But now in Christ Jesus, you who were formerly far off, have been brought near by the blood of Christ. And he says, we both have access in verse 18 to one speech in one spirit, to the Father, and that they’re all saints of God’s household in verse 19, and growing into a holy temple in the Lord. So Paul talks about this in great detail in Ephesians 2 after this first Gentile in Acts chapter 10 is brought to the Lord.

1. A Great Choice as the First Gentile

Now, the first thing I want to do in this context is to look at this character, Corneas. And his admirable, imitable qualities. He was a great choice as the first Gentile to be called by the gospel. And of course, Peter, who would be the spokesman on this occasion, receives a dream, a vision, an inspired vision, about going to help him who was considered by the Jews to be unclean. I don’t have time to read all of that, but that’s found in Acts chapter 10 after we’re introduced to this person, Corneus. And I want to start in Acts chapter 10 and verse 2. And we’ll try to read a good portion of this tonight in Acts chapter 10 and Acts chapter 11. He was a centurion. He was a man of some rank in the Italian cohort, but he was a devout man, and one who feared God with all his household.

2. Households Baptized: Assuming What They Cannot Prove

Now, I’ve got to go on an excursion there. So hold that thought with the household. And gave many alms to the Jewish people, and he prayed to God continually. Now, the word household is used several times in the book of Acts in regards to these conversion stories. Previously, in regard to the conversion of, or actually later, in regard to the conversion of Lydia in Acts chapter 16. In Acts chapter 16, it says in verse 15, after the Lord opens Lydia’s heart, which is an interesting expression in Acts 16 and verse 14, and when she and her household had been baptized. And so we find out that not only Lydia responds to the call, repents and is baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of her sins, but also her household did as well.

And that has caused many to suggest that infants were baptized, and this becomes their justification for baptizing infants or young children. And I just want to ask one brief question about that here in Acts chapter 16 is how old were the children that were being talked about? Who were in Lydia’s house? Or who were all the members of Lydia’s household and what ages were they? You’re all going like this. It doesn’t say anything else about them. It’s just members of her household. And then when you come to the later account of the Philippian jailer in Acts 16, in Acts 16, after the events involving the jail and the door being swung open and the audience that now gives Paul to the jailer, it says he baptized him immediately in Acts 16 and verse 33, he and all his household.

Oh, and we have that again. Lydia and her household earlier in the chapter. Now we have the jailer in his household. And again, people argue that had to involve young children and infants. Again, now, what were the ages of the people in Corneas’ house? How many were there? How old were they? The text doesn’t tell us that. And I emphasize that to suggest people are assuming what they cannot prove. When they use these passages to justify the baptizing of infants and children.

After he and his household were baptized in verse 33, it says they rejoice greatly having believed in God. Now, whoever is involved in the jailer’s household who have been baptized, they rejoice greatly having believed in God. Okay, so we’re not talking about little children, but talking about those who can actually respond in faith to the message of the gospel. So when we come back to Acts chapter 10, and we have the household of Corneas that also fears God, he says in verse 33, and I sent to you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here, present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord. So whoever’s involved in Cornea’s household has all been assembled to hear the commandment of the Lord.

And a few verses later, they’re all going to speak in tongues. Or at least some of them are. And so, again, are we talking about infants and children? Or are we talking about what the New Testament routinely reveals? Is that the subjects of baptism, the subjects of conversion to the Lord, were sinners who were adults who realized they had sin on their account, and they responded penitently, like Acts 2.38, repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. You see, it goes against the grain of the entire New Testament and what it says about conversion of the Lord to use Acts chapter 10 or Acts chapter 16 to try to teach a subject like infant baptism. Now, I had to cover that. That’s a little excursion.

3. Cornelius's Attributes That We Can Imitate

Let’s come back to this point about Corneas and his attributes that we can imitate. I want you to notice some things about this man. It says that he feared God. And we might just pass over that. Well, that’s obviously a good thing. The conclusion when all has been heard is fear God and keep his commandments, right? That’s Ecclesiastes 12, 13, we’ve heard that a few times, right? And so that’s a good thing. But I want you to notice that in Romans 3, one of the characteristics of those sold under sin is that they have no fear of God before their eyes. And I wonder how many people, even today, think about the prospect of judgment that is to come. Like Felix was confronted with in Acts chapter 24, when it says he trembled over the message that Paul spoke in regard to the judgment to come and righteousness and self-control, which possessing those qualities what the judgment’s going to be all about.

And it says he trembled and he didn’t respond. He said, Go your way when I have a convenient season, I’ll call for you. But there was some fear. Felix understood his situation presently was not in keeping with the instruction that he was receiving, and he trembled. I don’t know how many people tremble anymore. It seems it’s more there is no fear of God before their eyes, and people just disregard the Bible as insignificant in their lives and don’t have any realization of where all of this is going, and that one day they’re going to stand before God to give an account of their lives. This man reverence God. And I know the term means the idea of respect and reverence, but it also involves a healthy respect of who he is as the one who will determine our ultimate destiny.

I want you to notice also, not only did this man fear God, he was a giving person who cared about the less fortunate, those who were in circumstances that caused them to struggle to be able to support themselves. You know, there weren’t government programs in the first century that people could turn to who were down and out or who had some kind of physical handicap. You ever wonder why we read those stories, and all those people with physical handicaps were lying at the same place? They were looking to receive alms. And then when the miracle workers came along, they wanted to be healed. Not only so that they could enjoy health in their lives, but they could actually provide for themselves and actually get a job and work.

There were no assistance programs for the needy of the first century. They were dependent upon the generosity of others. And Coronaus was such a man, and not just to his own kind. Did you notice that in the text in verse 2? Not just to other Gentiles. We might expect that. But he gave alms to the Jews. And I left out a word. Intentionally to draw your attention to it. The text says he gave many alms. He was extremely generous in his giving to others. And then this. He was a devout man who prayed continually. Here was a man who recognized his God dependence. Now he did not yet understand what this new covenant, this new gospel was going to call him to be to sign on to serve the Lord.

But he’s about to find out about that. And just such a man is going to be ready to embrace this message. And as we already looked in verse 33 of the text, actually, you could go back to verse 25. And when Peter comes in, you remember what it says that he did? Look in your text there. He bowed down to worship him. Of course, that was born out of his lack of understanding. We see John trying to worship an angel in the book of Revelation. He’s so overwhelmed by the visions that he’s seeing. I mean, he sees an angel as greater than himself, and I think I would too. And he sees an angel, and he’s going to bow down and worship the angel, and the angel says, What?

Do not do that. Worship God. And so he sees Peter, and he’s so overwhelmed at the opportunity that’s being presented to him. This is an apostle coming to a Gentile. A Jew coming to a Gentile. And they have this discussion about Jews and Gentiles and their association. And here’s a Jew who is willing to come to a Gentile and to share this message. He’s overwhelmed by that. And he bows down to worship him. And Peter says, Don’t do that. I am just a man. And that is truth. He is not an object worthy of worship. But what we learn is, while he still had a lot to learn, and may I suggest that when we come to the Lord, there are still things that we’re going to have to learn.

We may discover that some of the things that we were initially taught are not exactly in keeping with New Testament teaching. We may have further change to undergo. And I know sometimes that comes as a shock or a surprise to us when we embrace the gospel message that we think we understood enough to obey the gospel. But there’s still more things to learn. And so we see the heart of a man who can do that. Who is lowly in mind, not full of himself. And he’s ready to hear the word of the Lord. So that’s Corneas’s attributes that we’re introduced to as to why he’s a wonderful subject to be the first Gentile who is going to receive this promise, the gift of the Holy Spirit.

4. Peace Through Jesus Christ, Lord of All

All that God had promised. And for years, for hundreds of years, for several millennia, has worked to bring about. He’s going to be able to embrace the promise of this new covenant. It is for you, Peter said, and for your children, and for all who are afar off, including the likes of us. And like I said just very recently, I think pretty much we’re all Gentiles. You may have some Jew in your ancestry, I’m not sure, but pretty much most of us here are likely Gentiles. We are part of that far off. And so the proclamation is made of peace through Jesus’ great name. And I want to look at this very abbreviated sermon. As it says in verse 34 and opening his mouth, and some of the sermons in Acts, even Acts 2, as it says, many other words, he testified to them.

I mean, this, we’re probably given in most of these sermons that are recorded a very abbreviated overall theme of this sermon. And he starts by saying, I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality. But in every nation, the man who fears him and does what is right, is welcome to him. The word which he sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ, he is Lord of all. You yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee after the baptism which John proclaims. You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.

For God was with him. And we are witnesses, Peter says, of all the things he did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And like the sermon in Acts 2, and they also put him to death by hanging him on a cross. God raised him up on the third day and granted that he should become visible, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God. That is to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the one who has been appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead of him. All the prophets bear witness that through his name, on the basis of the fact that he is, as he proclaimed earlier in this sermon, he is Lord of all, that he is the Christ, that he was raised from the dead, and now sits at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

On the basis of his name, which is above every name, Paul says in Philippians 2 and verse 9. Everyone who believes in him receives the forgiveness of sins. Now, the first thing I want you to notice about that statement, again, that verse is totally misused by people to say only a simple belief in Jesus is necessary to be saved. This passage is suggesting a kind of belief that has confidence in him completely. And there are several clues in this text, and what’s going to follow, that’s the case. It’s not just, oh, I believe Jesus is the Savior, and that’s all there is to it. It means signing on to serve him and to be his disciple because of who he is, because he has a name that is above every name.

5. The Holy Spirit Fell Upon Them as a Sign

But then this in verse 44. Peter’s preaching the sermon about who Jesus is and how that he’s Lord of all, and Cornelius needs to respond to him in faith, and then this.

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. Wow. Corneas and his household received the Holy Spirit. They were saved by Holy Spirit baptism, some people teach. Well, the text doesn’t say that. Yes, the Holy Spirit fell upon them. But the question is, what does that mean? And did that mean at that point that he and his household were saved? And if so, then Cornelius was saved in a unique way. That is not every believer’s experience in terms of how they became saved. In Acts chapter 8. In regard to the Ethiopian nobleman. When Philip preached Jesus to him, he said, What? Here is water. What hinders me from being, or what prevents me from being baptized?

If you believe with all your heart, you may. You see, he has to respond in belief to this message. And he says, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And Philip went down with the eunuch into the water, and he baptized him, implying this was more than just sprinkle a little water on him. He went down into the water and he baptized him or submerged him, and he came up out of the water, and the eunuch went on his way rejoicing. You know what’s not mentioned in that passage? And Philip is snatched away miraculously, just as he had arrived miraculously to be the preacher on this occasion. You know what’s not mentioned at all in the eunuch’s conversion? The Holy Spirit acting upon the eunuch.

Like we see in Acts chapter 2, those cloven tongues of fire that set upon the apostles. And in the case of Cornelius and his family, that’s not mentioned anywhere in Acts. Oh, and then you’ve got to look at Acts 19. This is not every believer’s experience. Look at Acts 19. This is really clear. In fact, you might want to cross-reference this with Acts 19. Paul in his preaching journey runs across some people who have been baptized, but they have been baptized into John’s baptism. They have been baptized with an understanding of the kind of baptism that John was doing. And John baptized with the baptism of repentance, Paul said, telling the people to believe in him who was coming after him, that is Jesus, verse 4.

And so their baptism wasn’t sufficient. Here are people who have been immersed, but that immersion was not sufficient because it was a baptism for the wrong or an insufficient purpose, not a wrong purpose, but an insufficient purpose.

And so it says, and when they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Well, was it water baptism? Or Holy Spirit baptism. Look at verse 6. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them. And they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. Their reception of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous way followed. Their being baptized in the name of Jesus and did not occur directly from heaven, as we see in Acts 2 and Acts 10, but occurred as Paul laid his, an apostle laid his hands upon them. And the Holy Spirit was imparted to them. So what’s going on in the Cornelius story? I would suggest to you, somebody said, so what you’re saying is the Holy Spirit fell upon people who were sinners.

Now, here’s something to think about. On the day of Pentecost, when it fell on the apostles, had they been baptized at that point in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins? Is it not possible, since the Bible does not mention their baptism specifically, that they were among the 3,000 who were baptized after that first sermon was preached? I think the implication is most likely yes. And so the Holy Spirit fell upon them before they were in Christ or baptized into his name. And so if somebody said, Well, you believe that the Holy Spirit fell on them before they were baptized into Christ, I would say, absolutely yes. And why is there a problem with that? The Lord knows what’s going to occur with both the apostles and Cornelius and his family.

But what is this all about? When Paul later recounts this story to his Jewish brethren, a little bit concerned about these Gentiles coming in to the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as he did upon us at the beginning. You know what that suggests. This is unique. This wasn’t happening everywhere Peter was going to preach. This is a unique occurrence, similar to what happened to them on the day of Pentecost. And so, well, why? Look at verse 45 of Acts chapter 10. The Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message, and all the circumcised believers, now that’s the Jews, the circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed. Because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the Gentiles also, for they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God.

Why does the Holy Spirit fall upon Corneas and his family? As a sign. The Holy Spirit fell upon them as it did upon us in the beginning. And what did Paul say as a result of that? Who were we? Who are we that we could stand in God’s way? In Acts 11 and verse 17. The Holy Spirit falling upon Corneas and his family was a sign. This was not for the cleansing of their sins. And we know that how? Because in verse 48, it says, and he ordered them. Well, actually go back to verse 47. Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he? And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ in Acts chapter 10 and verse 48.

In Acts 11 and verse 14, again, as he’s recounting this story later, he speaks of how God has instructed him to go to Corneas, and he says, He shall speak words to you to Corneas. He shall speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household. You see, it’s the message that he hears that’s going to lead to his redemption. And go back to what he said in the very beginning. He who fears God and does what is right, is accepted of him. And then this, I think this is fascinating in Acts 11, tying it back into Acts chapter 2. Now, when they heard this, those Jewish Christians who are being told of how these Gentiles have obeyed the gospel, the Holy Spirit fell on them.

Who are we to stand in God’s way? And when they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, Well, then God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life. And this is the first mention of repentance in either Acts 10 or Acts 11. Notice the message on the day of Pentecost was repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. And when they’re summarizing what Cornelius has done in his Gentile family has done to receive the message of salvation, they inject the word repentance. Repentance was a part of Cornelius’ conversion story. It’s implied by the statement that they make. It’s implied by Acts chapter 2. It’s implied by Acts 3 and verse 19, where Peter said, repent and be converted, in order that your sins may be blotted out, and times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.

I like how we’re given this further insight in the involvement of repentance in salvation. A turning from a certain way of life and a turning unto the Lord. As we see those in Antioch did in Acts 11 and verse 21. So that’s how we have Holy Spirit baptism and water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Tied together in the story of Cornelius. Well, I hope you find that profitable because in discussions with people in the religious world, these are the passages that will come up in that discussion. Here’s what I want to end with tonight. Be assured of the results of this response. We asked this morning, have you embraced the promise? I suggested to you tonight that Cornelius embraced the promise.

6. Be Assured of the Results

I want to assure you the results of embracing this promise. We can have every confidence in this because of our sovereign God who grants us this opportunity to embrace his message. I love this text in Matthew 13 and verse 11. When in regard to understanding the parables, Jesus says, To you it has been granted. He speaks to his apostles. He says, To them it has not been granted, those whose hearts were hard. In Titus 3 in verse 4, while we’re admonished in Acts 2 and verse 40 to save ourselves from this wicked and perverse generation, in Titus 3 and verse 4, it says, God saved us. Not on the basis of deeds that we have done in righteousness, not on the basis of our own merits, but because of his mercy.

By the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit. Understand this. It is true of Cornius. It is true of those 3,000 people on the day of Pentecost that it is by God’s doing, it is by his doing that we are in Christ Jesus. You know, Corneas, nor any of those 3,000, nor the apostles could say, hey, we’ve received this great promise because of what we did. Oh, there were conditions that they had to meet, but they understood it was by God’s doing, that he had granted them. That’s the grace and mercy of God. And so there is no place in his kingdom for Brother Big Shaw. That I’ve achieved some level or position because I know so much about the Bible. I’m able to teach so many important truths and to do it so well.

Everybody look at me. I’m Brother Big Shot in the kingdom. No. We’re only a part of this because God has granted us a place in his glorious kingdom. He has granted those with open hearts like Lydian to embrace the promise of salvation. May we have such hearts. A heart like Corneas had. And again, as I conclude, rest assured of the results. You know what I started thinking about preparing this material is that we have every reason to believe there’s nothing that follows Acts chapter 11 that tells us anything about Corneas and his household. That’s sort of interesting, isn’t it? If this book, and I just thought of this, if this book had been written by man, don’t you think we would have been told more about the life of Corneas thereafter?

That’s it. Acts 11, 18, Cornea’s story wrapped up, done. Gentiles are on, and other Gentiles follow. But isn’t it interesting to think about? Corneas and the presence of God. We have every reason to believe that’s where he is right now. And that’s where Peter and the other apostles are right now. There are several Proverbs that speak with certainty about the plight of the wicked and the fortunes of the righteous. And they speak with such certainty. And I want to share a couple with you, and we’ll be done tonight. Number one, Proverbs 11, and these are actually concentrated in this section of Proverbs. I noticed there’s several of them. In Proverbs chapter 11 and verse 20. The perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord, but the blameless in their walk are his delight.

I have every assurance that is so. If we would pursue blamelessness in our walk, we will be a delight to our God. Assuredly, and that’s the word I wanted you to focus in on, the evil man will not go unpunished. Don’t worry.

The descendants of the righteous will be delivered. I love the certainty of that. And then this, got to thank Sherry for this one. When the whirlwind passes, or when the tempest passes, the wicked is no more. But the righteous.

Conclusion

To what our response to God is all about. And what a glorious position we are in when we have embraced what they embraced. And we pursue this course that is going to end this way. And we are so fortunate to know what we know. There are so many people in our world who have not a clue as to these things that we have learned about today in Acts chapter 2 and Acts chapter 10 and 11. Have you embraced this glorious promise? Sometimes it doesn’t feel glorious. Sometimes we feel perhaps rather insignificant. Sometimes we experience pain. You know there is that passage that says, weep with those who weep. That implies that sometimes Christians cry. And sometimes when those circumstances unfold in our lives that are unpleasant, we begin to question.

Was this really worth it? This choice to serve the Lord? Remember the certainties. When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation. Wouldn’t it be great when you build a house that it would last forever? The house we bought was three years old when we moved into it, so now it’s eight years old. You know what happens in just eight years? It does a lot of shifting. And there are cracks. Somebody come fix the cracks at my house. And Sherry’s been saying, I think the foundation may be cracked, and maybe it is. You know when you build a house, it’s just it’s temporary. And even if the foundation’s okay, it starts to get run down after 30 or 40 years.

But when we build upon the rock, the Lord Jesus Christ, we build the firmest, most solid and sure foundation for a life. And it will withstand all the rigors of this world and take us gloriously into the next. Have you embraced the promise? Can we help you to do so while we stand and sit?