Sola Scriptura-14

Most pastors and people believe that the only clean laws related solely to food and that they are no longer valid. Who decides when the Laws of God can be ignored? Did God not consider what needed to change as our societies change? With all the evil going on around the world, is the problem with God’s Laws or our disobedience to the Laws. God created Laws and boundaries for us to protect us and to provide for us. Also, He created them to be obeyed. All of them.

We will once again begin with the most obvious clean law and the passage which most pastors believe invalidates the Law. It begins with Peter.

Acts 10:1  Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, 10:2  a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. 10:3  About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, "Cornelius!" 

This passage also reminds us that Gentiles could believe in God as well as Jews. He was devout, feared God, gave generously, and prayed continually. An example to us as well.

10:4  And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 

10:5  "Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; 10:6  he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea." 

This could not be more specific. Interesting that Peter was staying with a tanner, whose occupation would render him unclean on a daily basis.

10:7  When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants, 10:8  and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. 

Cornelius did not hesitate when confronted by the angel. He obeyed. Not a question, not an argument, and no delay.

10:9  On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10:10  But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; 10:11  and he *saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 10:12  and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. 10:13  A voice came to him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!" 10:14  But Peter said, "By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean." 10:15  Again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy." 10:16  This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.

This is where most pastors end their teaching. They confidently state that now all food is clean. Is this what God was trying to teach Peter? God would then have a problem. He lied at creation that all was good. But, now God would have to recreate all those animals to make them clean. Maybe this was not God’s message.

10:17  Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon's house, appeared at the gate; 10:18  and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there. 

10:19  While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you. 10:20  "But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself." 

10:21  Peter went down to the men and said, "Behold, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?" 

10:22  They said, "Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you." 10:23  So he invited them in and gave them lodging. And on the next day he got up and went away with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 

No mention of food. Peter, who was the only one given this vision, was perplexed. Immediately upon awakening, Peter was told of three visitors right at the door! He invited the Gentiles into the house and provided for them, all against the law of the Pharisees.

10:24  On the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 10:25  When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. 

10:26  But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am just a man." 10:27  As he talked with him, he entered and *found many people assembled. 

Everyone was waiting for Peter. Cornelius invited all of his relatives and close friends to hear what Peter would tell them. How many of us would have done this?

10:28  And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. 

Not food, but men and women made in God’s image.

10:29  "That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me." 10:30  Cornelius said, "Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments,  10:31  and he *said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 10:32  'Therefore send to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.' 10:33  "So I sent for 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." 

10:34  Opening his mouth, Peter said: "I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, 

10:35  but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. 

Jewish man-made laws did not permit meeting with Gentiles. That sense of separation still exists in some countries today. God does not play with favorites. Even in the Exodus, there was a ‘mixed’ multitude. God allowed both Rahab, the harlot, and Ruth, a Moabite, to be included in the lineage of Christ.

This is the real message of Acts 10, 11,and Galatians 2:11-14. These passages reveal just how hard it is to turn from false doctrines and sinful traditions.

Are there any people in your area of influence that you have a hard time sharing time with or avoid being with? Who could be considered unclean to you?

More next Saturday.