Easter
Easter. Acts 10:34-43
Today’s lesson from Acts 10:34-43 tells us of a Roman Soldier, Cornelius , a man outside of the covenant of Israel yet one “ who feared God with all his house” and in this account we read of the drama of Easter played out for the whole world. For Cornelius is the beginning of how God’s plan to save humanity was not limited to a certain race or creed but is for all men & women who trust in the living God .
So today while we celebrate Easter as these truths illuminate our minds and hearts, we a present application to our own lives as well :
1. The means of salvation- to him (Christ) bear all the prophets witness, that through his name every one that believes on him shall receive remission of sins 10:43
2. The universality of salvation- “ to every one that believes”
3. Nature of salvation- “ remission of sins” which gives us life eternal. (outline from The Acts by Charles R. Erdman)
The Means of salvation is believing in him. Who? In Jesus . Jesus who was hanged on a tree . God raised Him up the third day and showed Him openly to chosen witnesses .Luke 24:43 –Jesus appears to the disciples and showed them his hands and feet. He also showed them he was real by eating fish before them. 10:42 reminds us that He will be the Judge of the living and the dead.
I like what Lloyd Ogilivie wrote in his prayer blog for Easter yesterday:
“ I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior. He died on the cross for my sins to set me free of guilt and condemnation. I know that I am loved and forgiven. Old memories of failures and mistakes have been healed forever. I believe in Christ as my Lord. He rose from the dead and reigns as my victorious conqueror over death. He liberates me from the fear of death and all lesser fears that have kept me from living life with freedom and joy. I don’t have to take life alone.”
Secondly , salvation is for all who believe. “ God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that fears him , and works righteousness, is accepted with him.” 10:35 Cornelius is our example for that. It is not limited to just a certain class or race of people. Imagine a meeting between a roman Centurion and Peter the apostle. I like what Erdman says in his little book on Acts:
“…what effort is each making to secure for some messenger of Christ such an audience as Cornelius prepared for Peter? Cannot each calculate with exactness some time and place where the gospel is to be preached, and is it not possible to bring thither one’s relatives and friends?..”
The opposite of this truth also should be remembered. Just because we inherited a good Christian family we should not presume we are believers without believing. A good name will not transfer. John 1:13 “ but as many as received Him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
But today is a day to celebrate the open universal application of the offer of Christ to all who will believe. People in all places and nationalities, religions or personal problems that will not go away are accepted by Him to be His followers .
Lastly, the gospel , i.e. believing in Christ our Resurrected Lord, gives us remission, that is forgiveness of our sins. We do not need to fear our mistakes and past failures. They are gone and taken away in the liberating love of Jesus forgiveness. No one is turned away. This is all too clear in the Gospels when we see all kinds of people responding and being received into the kingdom. Even the one who was crucified next to Him was included. “ Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43
Perhaps we can summarize today well when we re-look that ancient statement of Christian faith,” The Apostles’ Creed”
“ I believe ….in Jesus Christ , my Lord, who was crucified, dead and buried. He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead…I believe in the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.”
Today’s lesson from Acts 10:34-43 tells us of a Roman Soldier, Cornelius , a man outside of the covenant of Israel yet one “ who feared God with all his house” and in this account we read of the drama of Easter played out for the whole world. For Cornelius is the beginning of how God’s plan to save humanity was not limited to a certain race or creed but is for all men & women who trust in the living God .
So today while we celebrate Easter as these truths illuminate our minds and hearts, we a present application to our own lives as well :
1. The means of salvation- to him (Christ) bear all the prophets witness, that through his name every one that believes on him shall receive remission of sins 10:43
2. The universality of salvation- “ to every one that believes”
3. Nature of salvation- “ remission of sins” which gives us life eternal. (outline from The Acts by Charles R. Erdman)
The Means of salvation is believing in him. Who? In Jesus . Jesus who was hanged on a tree . God raised Him up the third day and showed Him openly to chosen witnesses .Luke 24:43 –Jesus appears to the disciples and showed them his hands and feet. He also showed them he was real by eating fish before them. 10:42 reminds us that He will be the Judge of the living and the dead.
I like what Lloyd Ogilivie wrote in his prayer blog for Easter yesterday:
“ I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior. He died on the cross for my sins to set me free of guilt and condemnation. I know that I am loved and forgiven. Old memories of failures and mistakes have been healed forever. I believe in Christ as my Lord. He rose from the dead and reigns as my victorious conqueror over death. He liberates me from the fear of death and all lesser fears that have kept me from living life with freedom and joy. I don’t have to take life alone.”
Secondly , salvation is for all who believe. “ God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that fears him , and works righteousness, is accepted with him.” 10:35 Cornelius is our example for that. It is not limited to just a certain class or race of people. Imagine a meeting between a roman Centurion and Peter the apostle. I like what Erdman says in his little book on Acts:
“…what effort is each making to secure for some messenger of Christ such an audience as Cornelius prepared for Peter? Cannot each calculate with exactness some time and place where the gospel is to be preached, and is it not possible to bring thither one’s relatives and friends?..”
The opposite of this truth also should be remembered. Just because we inherited a good Christian family we should not presume we are believers without believing. A good name will not transfer. John 1:13 “ but as many as received Him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
But today is a day to celebrate the open universal application of the offer of Christ to all who will believe. People in all places and nationalities, religions or personal problems that will not go away are accepted by Him to be His followers .
Lastly, the gospel , i.e. believing in Christ our Resurrected Lord, gives us remission, that is forgiveness of our sins. We do not need to fear our mistakes and past failures. They are gone and taken away in the liberating love of Jesus forgiveness. No one is turned away. This is all too clear in the Gospels when we see all kinds of people responding and being received into the kingdom. Even the one who was crucified next to Him was included. “ Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43
Perhaps we can summarize today well when we re-look that ancient statement of Christian faith,” The Apostles’ Creed”
“ I believe ….in Jesus Christ , my Lord, who was crucified, dead and buried. He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead…I believe in the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.”
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