THE GOSPEL CHANGES YOU

 

Acts 9:32-43

Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12. While Jesus limited His earthly ministry mostly to Israel, His followers would take His message across the entire globe.. The "greater works" refer to the worldwide spread of the gospel and the conversion of souls enabled and awaken by the Holy Spirit.

 

The gospel is so powerful it completely changes you

constantly every day, until you reach glory in Heaven.

 

The gospel continually gives us freedom from the past… The message of Christ frees us from old regrets, mistakes, and shame. The gospel continually gives the power for the present… Daily grace gives us the strength to face unexpected challenges, and love others well without relying on our own exhausted performance. The gospel continually gives us hope for the future…. God remains completely constant and loving, even when tomorrow feels uncertain or unstable. The gospel changes our attitude towards others, as we begin to see people, sinners, lost sinners, through the lenses of Christ. While life changes constantly, the unchanging truth of the gospel provides a steady anchor through every disruption. It’s relying completely on the Spirit, to produce lasting fruit; rather than human techniques, business models, or personal charisma.

 

The one glorious truth is the gospel is more powerful than our perceptions

and philosophy of life and ministry.

 

What is before us would have been hard for Peter to do to some extent, because the vast majority of those who believed in Christ were Jewish men and woman. Six years after the cross the Christian movement remained distinctly Jewish. The acceptance of believers, meaning non-Jewish, through the ministry of Phillip, was something that required growth in order to accept. In Leviticus 20:26 we read, "You are to be holy to Me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be My own." In Deuteronomy 7:3–4, Israelites were told not to intermarry with neighboring nations, "for they would turn away your sons from following Me, to serve other gods." In the Old Testament, the Israelites were frequently warned against adopting the practices of the heathen nations surrounding them. To keep the community holy and faithful to God, the Torah commanded physical and spiritual separation from surrounding pagan nations. But when the gospel of Christ came, He opened the door for sinners out of this world to come to Him, through His perfect plan of redemption.

 

The Apostle Paul, known as the "Apostle to the Gentiles," emphasizes the breaking down of the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles through Christ's work. “Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.” Eph 2:11-16

 

The early church grappled, struggled with the inclusion of Gentiles, as seen in the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15). “Unless your circumcised to the customs of Moses, “you cannot be saved” And, it’s here God stretches Peter to go and fulfill the gospel mandate towards all people, and not just the Jewish nation. See, Peter, was a devote man, as Jesus said to him, “Go, feed my sheep” and maybe at that time Peter was only thinking for his kinsmen only. Not Gentiles or non-Jewish descents; Peter needed to be challenged, stretched, and shaped to be a useful minister of the gospel. Peter was heir to a strong tradition or prejudice that went clear back to Abraham, and was exemplified in men like Jonah. Men who resisted bearing witness to the Gentiles, and becoming angry with God when they genuinely repented. “But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” And the LORD said, “Do you do well to be angry?” Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. Now the LORD God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” And the LORD said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?” Jonah 4:1-11

 

I am not saying…. Peter was like Jonah, but Peter was a Jewish man, and to some extent he saw others outside the camp as enemies of God. Peter in the early stages had good intentions, but self-sufficient beliefs. “Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.” Luke 22:33-34. It was here that Peter plunged into despair when he denied his Lord three times, the night before His crucifixion. This was needed, because Peter learned firsthand the emptiness of his fleshy dependence and the absolute necessity, and sufficiency, of being lead and filled by the Spirit. Like you, and like me, Peter wasn’t perfect, and we all need to grow in areas of extending grace, and love, to those God has called into His kingdom. But one of Peter’s imperfections was his attitude toward Gentiles, and that is why we see these two miracles recorded in Scripture. Historically during Peter’s time, Jewish midwives were forbidden to aid a Gentile woman in childbirth, for they would be thereby help propagate Gentile scum.

 

The tradition-minded Hebrew called Gentiles “the nations” and spat that word out with intense contempt. This attitude even saturated the Hebrew-Christian community; this attitude would greatly reflect the gospel if they were not careful to see others as in need of Christ. Remember the commission Jesus gave to the apostles. Jesus said. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matt 28:18-20

 

One wonders, when they heard this, that it meant go into the whole world where the Jews were, and preach the gospel to them only. But we know that’s not true by what we read throughout the Scriptures. Because Jesus said before He ascended. “So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:6-8. See, they were still Israel focused, maybe missing the point or the bigger picture, because they couldn’t see outside their camp. But Jesus was globally focused to send His church into the world to proclaim the glorious gospel for sinners to hear, and to enter in, through the Holy Spirit.

The gospel changes lives, but it also changes the believer, as we walk in His grace and obey His commands. Especially what is before us with these three saints that Peter is told to go and visit. Aeneas, Dorcas, Simon the tanner. Don’t think I am destroying the character of Peter, because he was a man who loved and was devoted to Christ. But he still needed more stretching, he needed to humbled, if he ever was to fulfill his ministry that God called him to.

Let’s be real for a moment! It’s really hard to love certain people groups, or a person: who mock, hurt, kill, and try to destroy the very fabric of Biblical Christianity, is not easy to minster to. People, who try so desperately to destroy your biblical worldview with insults, and mob mentality; makes me not to want to share the gospel with them. But does that make us any different than the devout Jew who followed Jesus during this time? See, as a Jewish believer it would be hard to see outside your traditions and history, and it’s here we need God to break us, and mold us, into the example he wants this world to know and hear. Remember Paul rebuked, called out, Peter, for his hypocrisy and hard to get rid of traditions. “But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?” Gal 2:11-14. What is before us here are three examples that God used to prepare Peter for a greater ministry, a ministry he never would have thought possible. Three very positive ministry experiences that helped turn his attitude around to do greater things.

 

The First one… (v32-v35) “Aeneas” His Greek name suggests he may have been a Hellenistic Jew or a Gentile more than likely, living in the region. Aeneas was most likely a believer, since, (V32) says that Peter had come to Lydda to visit those who followed Jesus. By recognizing that Jesus wanted to heal this non-traditional Jew or possibly a Gentile. As a law-keeping Jew, Peter had difficulty accepting that God’s salvation was for everyone, Greeks and Hellenized Jews included. But Peter, goes as the Lord directed him. This man was paralyzed for eight years, and Peter says, “rise and make your bed” (v34) For the very first time this man is able to make his bed without the help of others. For the first time this man is being made whole. Peter declares who is doing this, “Jesus the Christ heals you”, you could translate this “Jesus at this moment is making you holy. God is not finished with you yet. Peter makes it very clear that physical and spiritual healing come from Jesus Christ alone, not from human merit. But this also teaches us by using this man’s name in Luke’s account reveals as one author wrote about this encounter. “God used Aeneas to demonstrate His power to people who did not know Him. The miraculous healing Aeneas experienced also validated for the townspeople Peter’s claim to be an apostle in 2 Cor 12:12. Aeneas’s story reminds us that no one is too insignificant to be used in a mighty way by God. Aeneas may have lain on his mat for eight years believing he could do nothing for the Lord. But God chose him to be the catalyst for bringing his whole region to faith in Christ. If God could use a paralyzed man like Aeneas to accomplish much, He can use each of us, too.”

 

The second one… (v36-v42) A woman named Tabitha, who was not a preacher, theologian or eloquent writer. She did not make her mark on the church with brave deeds or major financial gifts. But she did win converts and touch lives, and probably influenced more people than anyone else in Joppa. (v39) She took care of people, she made tunics and knitted afghans, baked cookies, held hands and visited people. She listened to the heartbreaks and joys, toils, and triumphs of the people in the church in Joppa. The bible knows her as “Dorcas” derived from the Greek word meaning gazelle or deer. It is the Greek equivalent of the Aramaic name Tabitha. (What a beautiful name) The gazelle represents grace, beauty, and gentleness; which describes this woman, but unfortunately, she passed away and hearts were shattered over it. And many were greatly sorrowful because she was exactly that a “gazelle” Tabitha, a disciple known for her charity and good works, dies in Joppa. Peter sends everyone out, kneels, prays, and tells Tabitha to get up by the authority of Christ. (v40). She wakes up, and many people in Joppa believe in the Lord, because all glory belongs to God alone, not Peter or any other man.

 

The Gospel exposes our inability to God’s

might power to save the lost and the raise the dead.

 

Both of these examples reveal its all about Christ and not about what I want or what Peter wants, it’s about a great God who came to redeem fallen men and women. Now you might read this and get a little upset, or envious. “Why them and not someone I know close to me?”

We read these stories of the early church and wonder, “Why couldn’t God be here for someone I love, or know, in today’s church age.” In reality God, is here! He has never left your side Christian; we forget God is here, as He feeds us His word to find joy, and strength, in whatever is before us. We may not get the physical healing as we read here, but God is raising sinners from the dead to believe and follow Him by faith…which is the greatest miracle or cure our world needs. Here we witness the grace of God and the people responding towards both miracles with gospel confession. Here is where Peter witnesses the grace of God for himself, towards people outside of Jerusalem, outside of his tradition. All of this taken together, had a wonderfully softening effect on Peter’s prejudice.

The third one….. (v43) As Peter stayed in Joppa for many days with another believer, Simon, a tanner. (v43) Staying at the tanner’s home would be breaking all the rules, because a tanner’s place of business was an anathema to a meticulous Jew.  A tanner is a leather-maker who treats animal hides using water, salt, and various organic materials to turn them into leather. A Tanner was ostracized and had to live fifty cubits, seventy-five feet outside of town. Rabbinical law stated that if a betrothed woman discovered that her fiancé was involved in tanning, she could break the engagement. In ancient Jewish society, the trade of a tanner was viewed with low social standing and considered ceremonially unclean, because it required constant contact with dead animals and carcasses. Peter was growing as he was doing Christ’s work away from Jerusalem, in the midst of the defiling grit of Gentile culture. What we see with Peter, staying with Simon, is a prime example of true gospel ministry. Peter went to places and to people, that nobody else wanted to touch.

These encounters reminds me of how the church is to act with the gospel towards our community and our country, as we read in the Book of Hebrews. “So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” Heb 13:12-15

 

Peter, the Church…God is calling you to do great things outside the camp; so, go into the streets, the by-ways, highways, and cities, for the sake of the gospel message. Why? This is where Christ died to save us from our sins. Believers are called to leave behind worldly security, cultural approval, and rigid religious routines Just as Jesus suffered "outside the gate" of Jerusalem, Christians are urged to identify with Him publicly and share in His rejection by the world. John Piper wrote, “Moving "outside the camp" means walking toward human need and marginalization, rather than seeking comfort or a paradise on earth.” Peter, met individuals saved by grace who loved Jesus, and was willing to associate with them; God was working in Peter, the old biases were wearing thin. Like Peter, the gospel takes you out of your comfort zone into a ministry that involves the world. The gospel not only changes sinners’ lives, to a life in Christ; but it is changing you, and I, every day. Our identity is being renewed every day to be formed into the image of the Son. See, our new identity moves a sinner from feeling lost to becoming a new creation with a secure purpose in Christ. This identity gives us the ability and teaches people to love neighbors and enemies without keeping score. This identity is the only true healing for a community; this inner shift helps heal broken family bonds and unite communities through the gospel of Christ. What we learn from Peter, and these faithful saints, is that when we are faithful to the ordinary, God is faithful to do the extraordinary.

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The Gospel truly changes you!