Pulpit Speech II                                                KL Paulson
Preacher Silcox                                                  4-20-1999

Peter, the Disciplemaker

TEXT: Acts 10:34-48

INTRODUCTION:

   Note: The context of this passage of Scripture starts way back at the beginning of Chapter 10.

   -- Up to this time in the history of the church, most of those who believed were JEWISH.

   -- Jesus & His disciples were JEWS.

   -- The disciples were thus now taking it for granted that the gospel was mainly for JEWS.

   -- The time had now come for God to make it very clear that the gospel was for GENTILE as well as Jew.

   -- PETER was the logical one to whom God would give such instruction.

I. JESUS & THE WAY OF SALVATION (34-43)
    See Acts 11:13b-14 

  A. Peter OPENED HIS MOUTH
     [He had something imporant to say.]
     
     1. Verse 34. 
        "God is no respecter of persons:"
        God is NOT biased.
   
        The Jew & the Gentile are on the SAME level.  
        Both come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)  
        Both REQUIRE redemption (Ephesians 1:7) 
                
  B. FRUITS of God's children - Born-again Christians

     1. Verse 35.
        They "fear" [respect] God - worship in spirit & truth 
        Their works are righteous.
        They are able to please God.

     2. Verse 36.  
        God sent forth [commissioned] His church to go to the children of 
        Israel 1st. 

        They were to "preach" the GOSPEL of "peace".
        (Isaiah 57:19; Luke 2:14; Ephesians 2:17; Colossians 1:20-21)

        The LORD Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace.

     3. Verse 37.  
        The GOSPEL is then to be continued to be PREACHED "unto the uttermost 
        part of the earth" (Act 1:8) 
        
        REPENTANCE toward God, & FAITH toward our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 
        3:19; 11:18b,21; 20:21) 

  C. God Is a TRINITY:

     1. Verse 38.
        a. "God" the Father
           "anointed Jesus of Nazareth" - the coming Messiah
           "with the Holy Ghost"

        b. Christ is God with us as EVIDENCED by
           Fulfilling the Law
           Healing the Afflicted

  D. Peter TESTIFIED 

     1. Verse 39.
        Peter was a first-hand WITNESS of all that Jesus accomplished even His 
        crowing achievement - Shedding the atoning BLOOD on the Cross (Hebrews 
        9:22b; I John 1:7b; Revelation 1:5b) 

     3. Verse 40a.
        Peter PREACHED the GOSPEL here (I Corinthians 15:1-4,5)
        a. the Death = "they slew and hanged on a tree"
        b. Burial
        c. Bodily Resurrection the 3rd day

     4. Verse 40b-41.
        Peter was a privileged post-resurrection viewer of the God-man.
        He ate & drank with Him after he rose the dead.
        
        A spirit has not flesh & blood.

     5. Verse 42.
        Christ COMMANDED Peter & the rest of the Twelve [the local church] to 
        preach unto the people - LOST & dieing world. 
        
        Jesus is to be the righteous JUDGE whether at the future 
     
          a. Great White Throne Judgment - LOST (Revelation 20:11-15) or 
          b. The Judgment Seat of Christ - SAVED () 

     6. Verse 43.
        All that was encompassed in the name JESUS was witnessed to by the 
        PROPHETS of old, whether by type, symbol, etc. 
        (Isaiah 53; Ezekiel 36:26-27)

        Now, in the dispensation of Grace "whosoever believeth in 
        him shall receive remission of sins." 

        FORGIVENESS is FREE to All FOREVER (Romans 3:24) 
        Our PARDON has been PAID in FULL.

II. "the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word." (44-46a)
   See Acts 11:15-18 

  A. Verse 44.
     As Peter PREACHES [1st step in the Great Commission] the HOLY GHOST 
     Teaches & CONVICTS the hearts of those unlearned & who have not believed. 

     "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."  
     (Romans 10:17) 
     
  B. Verse 45.
     The Jewish believers [circumcized of the flesh] are "astonished" that 
     even Gentile(s) with Cornelius receive "the gift of the Holy Ghost." 
        
     These Gentiles personally TURNED from their sins & BELIEVED on the Lord 
     Jesus Christ.
III. "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized...?" (46b-48)
   See Acts 11:11-12 
  A. Verse 46b-48a.
     PETER the DISCIPLEMAKER then is obedient to the 2nd step of the Great 
     Commission - BAPTIZING BELIEVERS. 
      
     He gets PERMISSION from the quorum of 6 with him to Scripturally 
     BAPTIZE. 
     He accomplishes this by complete IMMERSION in WATER in the Trinity's 
     name -- remember Verse 38. 

  B. Verse 48b.  
     The baptized convert(s) are then INSTRUCTED further certain days by 
     Peter -- thus TRAINING is provided for [the 3rd step of the Great 
     Commission].

CONCLUSION: 

  -- Are you SAVED?

  -- IF so, have you been SCRIPTURALLY BAPTIZED?
     
  -- IF so, are you SOUL-WINNING [witnessing]?
     
     [Peter experienced all three of these in his lifetime on earth?
      What about you?]