Acts 10:1-8
1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what
was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and
God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God
regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He
distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.
The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up
as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back
a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the
tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his
servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told
them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa. NIV
1.People who _____ God and live __________ lives _____ others from
every ethnicity and people group without __________.
Acts 10:34-44, 47-48
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does
not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him
and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of
Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is
Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of
Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how
he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of
the devil, because God was with him.
39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and
in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised
him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was
not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already
chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the
one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the
prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives
forgiveness of sins through his name.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all
who heard the message…
Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being
baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”
48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then
they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days. NIV
2. Baptism represents the _________ most ___________ event in the
________ of the world.
3. Baptism also represents the _________ ___________ in a
____________ life.
James 2:19
19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe
that—and shudder. NIV
James 1:22-27
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it
says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like
someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself,
goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever
looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—
not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in
what they do.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight
rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look
after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being
polluted by the world. NIV
Acts 2:37-39
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter
and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said
to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the
Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all
who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And
with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them,
saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who
received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about
three thousand souls. NIV
- People who fear God and live righteous lives draw others from every ethnicity and people group without prejudice.
- Baptism represents the greatest most miraculous event in the history of the world.
- Baptism also represents the greatest commitment in a Christian’s life.
