The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1916-04-13

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all that call upon him.-Rom 1012
| Thus far Christianity had to do with
Jews and Jewish proselytes only. Now
Its circle begins to widen so as to in
clude the Gantiles. The central fig !
ure Of this lesson, Cornelius, was !
captain commanding one hundred men .
In the Roman army. The chasm be. |
tween blacks and whites, which so !
widely exists in America, is nothing |
compared to that which divided the
Jew and Gentle. We take the whole
story of Cornelius in todays lesson
and consider the Easter story next
week.
1. "A Prepared Convert Tvs. 1.S). ~ |
His position. Caesarea was on the
great sea and was the political capital
Of Judea. 1t was about seventy miles
from Jerusalem and thirty from Joppa.
Cornelius, who was captain Of band
of men born in Italy, was Roman
citizen, and perhaps had been connect
ed with the great Roman general
Scipio. (2) His character. He was a
man Of promptness, appreciation and
obedience, ". 33). He was also a
God-fearing man, whose piety included
his whole household. He was man
Of prayer and generosity Tvs. 81, 32),
for he gave much aims" to both Jews
and Gentiles. The result was that he
was honored greatly by all, especially
by the Jews. 1t does not seem that
Cornelius was proselyte to the Jewish
faith Tvs. 28-11:3), and he certainly
was not as yet saved man (11:13,
14. Cornelius was man Of a vision,
not of dreams or Of frances, for this
vision came in the open daylight ".
30), when an angel, looking like man,
appeared unto him. His fear was
calmed and he was informed that his
prayer, for he was Seeker after
God" had been heard. The memorial"
". A. spoken Of was that part Of the
meal offering which the priest burned
, upon the altar and which ascended un-
to the Lord as a sweet savor (See
also Nal. 3:16). Cornelius is put to
q strange test. He is to send for an
! unknown man to receive instruction.
: The angel was not to enlighten him, as
, it Is mans province to witness for
God. There is not recorded Bible
conversion without some human in
strumeptality. Cornelius, soldier that
he was, at once obeyed Instructions
and sent out two devout retainers
after Peter. Man alone could finish
the work Of the angels.
II. Tho Prepared Preacher Tvs. 9.23).
Tanning was considered an unclean
occupation, but in Simon's house was
the man God wanted to use on this
Nh hDu
preacher or unlikely the situation, if
we obey God we can preach better
than Gabriel. God laid, as it were. his
right hand on Cornelius, and his left
, upon Peter, and drew them together.
Again God uses O dream, linking the
natural and the supernatural. A hun.
cry man dreams Of food, q very com.
} mon occurrence, and God gave super
natural direction to natural dream.
God knows the right time to do the
right thing We do not need dreams
, for our guidance as we have a full and
sufficient revelation in the Word for
our guidance.
i III. The Prepared Ones Meet (vs
5 23-33). Cornelius had his whole house
, hold ready when Peter arrived ". 24)
! perhaps more people than on the day
Of the first great Pentecost. He said
Z eve are all here present in the sight
Of God to hear all the things that have
been commanded thee OF the Lord.
This is a great statement IL we con
slider its full content. Peter refused tc
J accept worship, that alone belongs tC
Christ (v. 25) and he explained how
God had thrust him outside Of the cir
Gle Of Jewish believers. He then re
hearsed what God had done and as
serted that "He Is no respecter Of per
sons" and that in response to those
in every nation who work righteous
ness God had sent forth Jesus for thu
7 salvation of men, CD That men nigh
have peace through him ". 36); e.
8 That he might be Lord over all; 6
!. That he had been anointed with tn
J. Holy Spirit and power; (D That h
j. had been crucifed Il Pet. /; 18, 10
!, 2:24); (5) That God had raised hir
~ from the dead; (6) That he is to b
!, the Judge, and CD That because @
!. what he had done-"through the nam
II Of Jesus"-all that believe shall hav
3. remission of sins" (This is a goo
g. sermon outline.) Following this wo,
derful sermon, there occurred the Ger
. tile Pentecost Tvs. 44-46).
n Practical. Cornelius had lacl
Z. and he went to God to have 1t SUI
D. piled (v. ~. Peter found his enligh
enment in prayer.
d God revealed his regard for all maj
!" kind, and that Jesus Christ can an
u will save all who come to him h
ts faith.