Fellowship Within His Glorious Church Lesson 5: (Acts 10:1 – 11:18)

Fellowship Within His Glorious Church (Acts 10:1 – 11:18) Fellowship as understood in the man and life of Cornelius (10:1-8) –Lesson: One can be good & religious, but still be out of fellowship with God  Cornelius was: –a God-fearer (10:2, 22) –a father who “feared God w/ all his household” (10:2) –a kind man who “gave alms generously” (10:2, 31) –a man who “prayed to God always” (10:2, 30-31) –a “just man,” who dealt with people fairly (10:22) –a man who was well-thought by all the Jews (10:22) –a man who wanted others to hear the gospel (10:24) –a man who took religion seriously in “fasting” (10:30)  Yet, he was lost & not saved (10:5-6; 11:14)!

Fellowship Within His Glorious Church (Acts 10:1 – 11:18) Fellowship as understood in the vision that Peter saw (10:9-16) –Lesson: It is God who draws the boundaries of fellowship, not man. His principle defined here.  Peter was keeping to that which he had always followed—the old law (10:12-14).  He still did not clearly understand that the O.T. system had been nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14).  God said three times—“What God has cleansed you must not call common” (10:15-16). –All animals are now “clean”—old law is void. –Gentiles are now “clean”—gospel to go to them.  In fellowship with God—those He has cleansed. It is God who identifies who is in fellowship—those whom God has cleansed.

Fellowship Within His Glorious Church (Acts 10:1 – 11:18) Fellowship as understood in Peter’s encounter with Cornelius (10:17-48) –Lesson: God’s fellowship, while not accepted by all, IS available to ALL.  God’s fellowship is conditionally for “every nation” – “whoever fears & works” (35)—same conditions  Jesus “is Lord of all” as seen by “healing all,” even the Gentiles (36-38; Mt. 8:5-13; Mk. 7:24-30)  Jesus “commanded us to preach” (42) “to every creature” in “all nations” (42; Mk. 16:15; Mt. 28:19)  God promised “remission of sins” to “whoever believes” with an obedient faith (43,48,35; Rom. 1:5)  No one should keep them from being baptized and securing fellowship with God (47-48; Mt. 28:19) Peter pointed out that:

Fellowship Within His Glorious Church (Acts 10:1 – 11:18) Fellowship as understood in Peter’s defense before his Jewish brethren (11:1-18) –Lesson: Christians must allow God to say who is in fellowship with Him & then follow His lead.  Jewish Christians “contended with” Peter when they heard the “Gentiles had also received the word” (11:1-2; cf. 10:28).  Peter explained: –Everything that led up to it (11:4-14) –He was to tell them how to “be saved” (11:14) –As he “began to speak, the H.S. fell upon them” (15) –These events were in lock-step with God’s will (16) –He could not withstand God giving same gift (17)  Must make God’s (F) available to all by preaching to all.

Fellowship Within His Glorious Church (Acts 10:1 – 11:18) Applying It to Me –Lesson: One can be good & religious, but still be out of fellowship with God –Lesson: It is God who draws the boundaries of fellowship, not man. –Lesson: God’s fellowship, while not accepted by all, IS available to ALL. –Lesson: Christians must allow God to say who is in fellowship with Him & then follow His lead.

Fellowship Within His Glorious Church (Acts 10:1 – 11:18) Applying It to Me –Our personal fellowship with God DOES NOT come from:  Obeying the Ten Commandments.  Being good to your fellow-man.  Having a good reputation.  A direct operation of the Holy Spirit.

Fellowship Within His Glorious Church (Acts 10:1 – 11:18) Applying It to Me –Our personal fellowship with God DOES come from combining the following:  A submissive, obedient heart (10:35)  Belief in Jesus (10:43)  Repentance (11:18)  Baptism (10:47-48)

Fellowship Within His Glorious Church (Acts 10:1 – 11:18) Applying It to Me –We should never withhold our fellowship from someone with whom God has fellowship.  We “must not” think of someone as unclean, common or out of God’s favor if God, according to the specifics of His word, thinks of that someone as clean (10:15).  If God extends His fellowship to someone because of their obedience and faithful living, we are obliged to do the same.

Fellowship Within His Glorious Church (Acts 10:1 – 11:18) Applying It to Me –We should never extend our fellowship to someone with whom God does not fellowship.  Before one is accepted as “clean,” he must be “clean” and “acceptable” to God (10:15, 35).  To enter into fellowship with God, Bible-specified baptism is the “dividing line” that ushers one into God’s favor (cf. Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:3-22).  If a brother or sister fails to continue a life of obedient faith, they forfeit their fellowship with God & force us to withhold ours (cf. 1 Cor. 5:1-13; 2 Thess. 3:6-14; 2 John 9-11).