God's Grace

Introduction

A. Old habits die hard. Changing routines is difficult. We get used to eating at certain times, going to bed and getting up at certain times, brushing our teeth in a certain way, taking the same route each day to work, we have a certain way in which we read the newspaper, chairs to sit in at the house, and nightly routines to prepare for the end of the day or to prepare for the next. We are people of routine. Our routines are not necessarily better than another’s. Our routines may not be as efficient as others, but they are our routines and we are not apt to change them unless forced to do so.

B. So it is even with ideas. In a dark era of our country’s history, slavery was conceived and perceived as a viable way to conduct business. From the selling of human beings to their mistreatment, laws guided the process and business of slavery. Even after the Civil War of 150 years ago did not change perceptions and beliefs. The Civil Rights movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s did not change perceptions although laws changed. I went to Lipscomb College now University in the late 1970’s. Laws had changed the way students were to be admitted, but some ideas didn’t change with the laws. In the basement of what was then the Administration building was a bathroom door which simply said “Men.” But if a person took a step back and allowed the sun to shine over your shoulder you could read the remnants of a word which had longed been scrapped off “Colored.” The name had been changed, but the shadow was a reminder of a dark past. And if the truth be told all of our Christian colleges had to deal with the racial divide.

C. Many of us grew up at times in which our world was being turned upside down. We watched nightly newscasts as riots, demonstrations, and brutality filled our screens. An internal war was being fought in America in the late 1960’s. It was a war of ideologies and philosophies. But it was a war which found its expression on college campuses and cities across our nation. Too often this expression turned violent, but the result was that our country would never be the same because of the political upheaval taking place. And it was not just politics which had to deal with racial issues, so did churches. And churches still have to deal with racial issues. Old habits die hard. But in order for them to give way to new ways of thinking something has to happen.

i. A broken right wrist will make you learn to brush your teeth differently.

ii. A job change may affect the time you go to bed and get up.

iii. And when God enters the picture in clear ways, we have to change our thinking as well. Such is the case in Acts 10. When God entered into the picture, Peter had to change the way he thought about Gentiles. Racial issues have existed for a long time. Old habits die hard.

One God, Two Races

A. He was a soldier known for his coolness under pressure and applauded for his ability to lead. He was more prone to collected determination than for seeking a fight. But make no mistake he was a leader. He knew how to give orders and how to get the most out of his men. But there was something different about this hardened soldier. He had a soft heart. He hated seeing poverty and did what he could to alleviate it. And he had turned his back on worshiping multiple gods. He had dedicated himself to one god — the God of those who had a history of believing in one God. He prayed regularly. He wanted to know what God wanted from him. For his life only found real meaning when he lived to please his God.

B. Not far away was another man. A man who had been hand picked to lead. This man spoke his mind directly and forcefully. He rarely walked away from a fight. The last time resulted in denying friendship with a dying man. He would never make that mistake again. People called him “Rock” not because of his rugged handsome looks but because he didn’t back down easily. He was a pillar of strength, determination, and loyalty. And like his counterpart in another city, this man’s life only found real meaning when he lived to please God. And God wanted these men to meet.

C. One day Cornelius, our soft-hearted soldier, is praying and an angel from God appears to him. He tells him to send for “Rock”. No explanation. Just send for him. Soldiers are used to orders. So three men are dispatched. A day later “Rock”, Peter is kneeling on a rooftop waiting for lunch. God appears to Peter and offers him some barbeque for lunch. The smell of pork is offensive to Peter. And Peter quotes Leviticus 11 — “You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud…The pig, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you.” God takes that offering away and then brings to him some more unclean food. Peter quotes Leviticus again. A third time God offers Peter something to eat and Peter refuses because it is unclean food. And God says, “If I say it is clean, don’t call it unclean.”

D. The three men arrive and Peter is commanded by the Spirit to go with these men to visit Cornelius. So Peter goes to Caesarea. He arrives at Cornelius’ house. Although verse 29 says he came without any objection and that is true, verse 28 is a way of saying this is new territory. Jews and Gentiles do not get together. Peter preaches to the people and they become Christians and God ushers in Gentiles into his kingdom.

Purpose

A. It is obvious with the amount of space that Luke gives to this story, here in chapter 10, again in 11:1-18, and then in 15:7-11, that it is pivotal for the point that Luke is wanting to make. God does not show favoritism. Jews and Gentiles alike are welcome into God’s family. For a staunch loyal Jewish follower such as Peter, God opening the door to Cornelius turned his world upside down. While he referred to this experience in Acts 15 to persuade the Jewish world to accept another race into God’s family, according to Galatians 2 some habits die hard. When Jewish folks came to Galatia, Peter withdrew from eating with the Gentiles. Old habits die hard.

B. The makeup of this congregation reaches across racial and cultural lines. God is using this congregation to be a beacon of love and unity. In a city in which racial lines are drawn by the values of properties and the quality of services available, we must continue and seek greater ways to demonstrate that God does not show favoritism. How do we as a congregation demonstrate that God does not show favoritism? How do we pursue racial and cultural harmony in our divided world? Luke is definitely using the Cornelius story to make the point that as God opens his arms to all, so his people will open our arms to all. When we sing “Jesus, loves the little children. Red, yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight,” did we think that once they become adults that something changes? May God help us to open our arms to all.

C. Jesus brings Jew and Gentile together. Peter preaches Jesus and when he does the door is opened for Cornelius. Peter and Cornelius were different racially; they were different culturally; they were different in so many ways, but it was their acceptance by faith that Jesus was the only means by which a person could be saved that allowed them to share in God’s family. Cornelius’ goodness and devoutness was not sufficient to bring him into God’s family. What was required was his naming Jesus as Lord and expressing that faith in baptism. And that is still the case today. Invitation.

Follow Jesus

If you’d like to respond to this message or learn more about following Jesus, please reach out.