Today, we’re going to focus particularly on the person Cornelius. He is a man we are introduced to in verse 1. What happens with him is a key event in the book of Acts. These events are repeated three times in chapters 10 & 11 because of how important they are.
This issue is how could a man like Cornelius, who is not a Jewish person, be a part of the people of God? We might answer that question a number of ways: We might look at the description of him in Acts 10:2, and say, “Well, he was a good man. That’s why he was acceptable to God.” But the narrative that Luke records for us shows that that is not the whole story. In fact, that not the right answer at all.
We need to see both in the vision what Cornelius sees and the vision Peter sees, a different answer to how Cornelius can be one of God’s people, to how we can be a part of God’s people too.
We need to see three things about Cornelius, and ask one question about ourselves:
- What He Was: A Good Man
- What He Wasn’t: Saved
- What He Became: Believing
- Who Are You?
Sunday 9th December 2018
Review questions:
- Cornelius was d__________, he ___________ God, he was g_________, & he ________ (v2)
- Are we basically good (Psalm 51:5, Romans 3:10)? Yes/No
- Are people as bad as could be? Yes/No
- Why aren’t our good actions good (Rom 14:23)?
- What did Cornelius need (v43, 11:14)?
- What did Peter see (v9-13)?
- How did the animals become clean (v15)?
- What did the vision mean (v28)?
- Summarize what Peter told Cornelius (v38-43):
- Am I a Peter or a Cornelius?
- A question I have:
- A truth to share:
- Something to pray about:
- How I should live:
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