Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Going to Mozambique – I could have prejudice – examples
• We may have prejudice ourselves, and not be aware of it – examples
• Simon Peter had blind spots and prejudice
  • We have been tracing his life and seeing him grow in maturity
  • Last week: bolding proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ
  • Though he could to maturity and strength – there were still things that needed to be dealt with it
    • Prejudice towards the Gentiles
    • Not just Acts 10, but Gal 2
• Overview:
  • Why this prejudice?
  • How did God convince him of his error?
  • Why convinced, did he still fall again into this error?

Why this prejudice?

• Had he not seen the works of Jesus?
  • Had he not seen the faith of the Centurion?
  • Had he not seen Jesus’ love for the Gentiles?
• Why – consider his upbringing
  • Cultural upbringing
  • Jews and Gentiles were enemies
  • Jesus’ ministry was largely confined to the Jews
  • Examples

How did God convince him of his error?

• What did God do to overcome this?
  • He preached to converted Gentiles at Pentecost
  • Acts 1:8 – preach first in Jerusalem, then Judea, then Samaria, then the end of the earth
    • They were slow to obey this – until persecution occurred
• Acts 10
  • God sends Cornelius – a God-fearing man
  • Peter has a vision – explanation
    • He is shocked – he will not eat anything unclean
    • The food laws were abolished at the cross
    • Moreover the gospel was to go out to all nations and the Gentiles were not to be considered unclean
  • The trio of men come to Peter’s house – Acts 10:22
  • Peter went to Cornelius
    • Cornelius repeats his vision
    • Peter speaks as the gospel is opened to the nations – Acts 10:34-43
    • The Holy Spirit falls on the gentiles – Acts 10:44-46
    • Peter baptises them – Acts 10:47-48
• When Peter reports back to the church in Jerusalem, they find it difficult to believe
  • They do believe – Acts 11:18
• Why did all this need to occur?
  • We all have blindspots and prejudice
  • The gospel is all for all peoples and backgrounds
    • Gal 3:28
    • Rom 3:29, 10:12-13
  • God sees our hearts
    • If you are not a believer – repent of your sin, trust in Jesus Christ and be saved
    • In heaven, all people groups will be represented
    • Do you know peace with God?
    • Do you know Jesus as friend and brother, even though He is a King?

Why convinced, did he still fall again into this error?

• Gal 2
  • Peter is sent to a mixed congregation in Antioch
  • A delegation comes from Jerusalem
    • Peter did not want to cause them offence
  • Gal 2:11 – Peter was fearful
  • Gal 2:14 – Peter was saying the Gentiles should fit in with the Jews
  • Gal 2:15-16 – Paul reminds Peter salvation is by faith only (to keep the law is to annul the work of Jesus Christ)
• Peter had a blip and Paul had to correct him
  • We must be careful to stand only on the gospel
  • We must not add traditions to the gospel (and make this the basis of unity)

Closing Remarks

• Do we have prejudices?
  • We may be mature but are there blindspots?
  • Do we react wrongly out of fear before others, or before God?
• Peter learnt much
  • May the Lord help us to learn and to love freely, fully in unconditional love