Columbus Baptist Church's Podcast Christopher Freeman

Title: The Same Story

Text: Acts 10:44-48

FCF: We often struggle with assuring ourselves of our and others’ faith.

Prop: Because all true believers share a common conversion experience, we must observe these in all whom we give assurance and receive into fellowship.



Scripture Intro:

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 10. In a moment we’ll be reading from the LSB starting in verse 44. You can follow along in the pew bible on page 1243 or in whatever version you prefer.



Today we will conclude the episode of Cornelius, saving the epilogue of chapter 11 for next week.



God’s hand has been prevalent in this entire episode. Giving two visions, speaking through the Spirit directly to Peter, leading him to the home of a Gentile, finding many gathered there. And after Peter gives a focused explanation of the gospel that Jesus is Lord of all, now we’ll see the dramatic conclusion.



And although there are few doctrinal issues that arise here in which Christians disagree, even amid those differences we will highlight the common and uniform experience of conversion for all who are truly united to Christ by faith.



So, stand with me out of respect for and to focus on the reading of the Word of God.



Invocation:

O Christ, we have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation and believed in you. May your Spirit meet with us today, and guarantee our inheritance in you, to the praise of your glory. In your name we pray. Amen.



Transition:

[Slide 2] If something has fur, a tail and barks. You would probably call it a dog. If something has feathers, a bill, and quacks – a duck. Grey skin, very large, with a trunk… you got it - elephant. Isn’t it funny that I can list out three characteristics of an animal and invariably you can guess what it was. Why is that? Well, we come to expect certain characteristics and attributes to be the same across certain animals. Even though no two elephants are exactly the same. Generally speaking they share certain characteristics. Today, Peter will conclude without doubt that the Gentiles before him are genuine members of the body of Christ. He does not conclude this on a whim. Instead, he isolates key characteristics that prove it to be true. Let’s see if we can arrive where Peter does.



I.) All true believers share a common conversion experience, so we must look for these commonalities for the assurance of salvation. (44-46a)

a. [Slide 3] 44 – While Peter was still speaking these things,

i. Peter’s message was not yet concluded.

ii. Most likely Peter intended to carry on preaching like he did at Pentecost to implore Cornelius and his friends and family to repent and believe in the name of Jesus.

iii. However, Peter was interrupted. And he was interrupted by the Third Person of the Godhead, God the Holy Spirit.

b. [Slide 4] The Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the word.

i. Because we will need to gather all the evidence from this text to do so, we will not comment on the specific meaning of the words “fell upon” here. Nor will we unpack exactly what the Spirit’s work is at this point. We’ll reserve that for the end.

ii. Let’s unpack everything else though.

iii. First, although we aren’t looking at the specific nature of the work, we can generally conclude by context that the Spirit’s activity here is indicative of the work of salvation coming to Cornelius, his family, and his friends.

iv. Secondly, we should see t

Title: Lord of All

Text: Acts 10:34-43

FCF: We often struggle humbly trusting and loyally submitting to Christ in faith.

Prop: Because Jesus is Lord of All, we must believe in Him through His name.



Scripture Intro:

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 10. In a moment we will read from the LSB starting in verse 34. You can follow along in the pew bible on page 1243 or in whatever version you prefer.



We are more than halfway through the episode now. Cornelius’ vision has come to pass. He and his family sit poised to hear the message from Peter. Peter’s understanding of the vision he received is expanding to its fullest meaning. As the immediate effect of that… Peter will preach the message Corenlius and his family need.



Let’s waste no time.



Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the reading of the Word of God.



Invocation:

O risen Christ, there is salvation in no one else; there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Let your saving presence be upon us today that we might glory in your abundant love and rightly proclaim your good news of redemption. We pray this in the name of our Lord Jesus. Amen.



Transition:

[Slide 2] There is a saying we have. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. It is this truism that motivated our forefathers to seek out a government that put power in the hands of the many rather in the hands of the few. As power is consolidated, it is more easily and readily used to corrupt and abuse those who are governed. To us the idea of one ruler holding all power is a fearful thing to consider. Peter’s gospel presentation to Cornelius and his friends and family… is all about what happens when the RIGHT MAN holds absolute power. Let’s look.



I.) Jesus is Lord of Jew and Gentile, so we must believe in Him through His name. (34-36)

a. [Slide 3] 34 – And opening his mouth, Peter said:

i. And just like that, something clicks in Peter’s mind.

ii. The full weight of the vision and all its implications are now falling on Peter.

iii. Regarding the message that Cornelius has several times alluded to. The message that the servants he sent alluded to. The message that Cornelius has said was ordered by the Lord. We have yet to read in Acts what that message might be.

iv. God in speaking to Peter never gives him a message to deliver.

v. Certainly, as Peter hears this for the second time now, he might have been wondering up to that point what message God would have him give to these gentiles.

vi. But taking the vision and the Spirit’s instruction into account, and seeing the events that have unfolded more clearly… Peter knows now exactly what message he is to deliver to Cornelius and his house.

vii. It isn’t a message for the Jews to consider their ceremonial laws fulfilled – although this is true.

viii. It isn’t a message for the Jews to abandon their scruples about meeting with gentiles – although this is also true.

b. [Slide 4] “I most truly comprehend now that God is not one to show partiality.

i. The message… is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

ii. We see Peter make the declaration. God is not one to show partiality.

iii. What does this mean?

Title: Not to Us, LORD, Not to Us

Text: Acts 10:23b-33

FCF: We often struggle giving reverence and honor to God’s agents rather than God alone.

Prop: Because God alone deserves praise for building His church, we must follow Christ alone.



Scripture Intro:

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 10. In a moment we will be reading starting from verse 23 from the NIV but you can follow along in the pew bible starting on page 1242 or in whatever version you prefer.



As we find our way back to Acts chapter 10, let us review again, just this episode and all that has transpired.



Cornelius, a God-Fearer, not a proselyte, receives a vision from an angel informing him that his prayers and alms have been received as an offering to God. The angel also instructs him to send for Peter who is in Joppa so that Peter can bring a message to him.



Less than a day later Peter receives a perplexing vision which challenges his understanding of the Ceremonial laws regarding clean and unclean animals.



The men Cornelius sent arrive and Peter is informed by the Spirit to go with them and not to hesitate or to raise any objections out of his Jewish sensibilities. Peter hosts them in the home by the sea and intends to go out with them.



In the episode so far, and in the book of Acts so far, we have seen the Lord superintend in the expansion, growth, preservation, and purity of His church. This theme will continue today. But perhaps we will see it from a slightly different angle.



Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the reading of the Word of God.



Invocation:

O Lord, the psalmist says, “when I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? (Psalm 8:3-4)”



As we approach the text of scripture you have for us today, let us remember that You have created us to glorify you and enjoy your presence. Be mindful of us now, O Lord, and be present with us, that we might lift up your name and your mighty works for your glory. “Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. (Psalm 115:1)”



In Jesus name we pray, Amen.



Transition:

[Slide 2] In every single false faith and religion, whether they are heresies of Christianity or paganism and its relatives, the human agent is always seen as a near divine figure. To question the authority, the morality, or the veracity of Muhammed is to give a great insult upon the religion of Islam. Yet Muhammed never claims to be divine in any way. The Budda, Joseph Smith, Charles Taze Russel, from monks to shaman, priests to prophets, false faiths have at least one thing in common. They worship, honor, and venerate their human leaders to the point that to denigrate them, would be to commit a great sin. But is Christianity the same? Let’s look.



I.) God’s messengers are not worthy of worship or reverence, so we must follow Christ alone. (23b-26)

a. [Slide 3] 23b – The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along.

i. Here we see two things.

ii. First, we see that Peter had absolutely no intention of allowing his prejudices and Jewish sensibilities to override the Spirit’s clear instruction.

iii. Although we might have been tempted to think that providing lodging for the men was to bide his time or to think it over more – we see that Peter did not hesitate. His hospitality was merely an act of kindness extended to weary travelers.

iv. Second, we see that Peter did not go alone. While the Spirit did tell Peter to go without reservation,

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to I Corinthians chapter 15. In a moment we will read from the King James Version starting in verse 12. You can follow along in the pew bible starting on page 1297 or in whatever version you prefer.

Today, I’ll preach a sermon originally delivered by the Prince of Preachers, Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

[Slide 2] Who is Charles Spurgeon?

Born: June 19, 1834

It was clear from an early age that he was a prodigy.

But In spite of his boyhood preaching and reading of theology books, his true conversion did not come until he was 15 years old.

Although raised in a congregationalist church that baptized infants, he never believed the scriptures taught this and became a Credobaptist.

In 1852 at the age of 17 he became the main preacher of the Baptist Church of Waterbeach. It grew from 40 congregants to 400 in the two years he preached there.

In 1854 at the age of 19 he was called to take the pastorate of New Park Street Chapel of Southwark (Sutherk). This was a rather prestigious church which was formerly pastored by Benjamin Keach and John Gill. If those names mean nothing to you… you should go check them out.

The church desired to give him the title of reverend which he rejected because he did not find any such title in the scriptures.

Aside from his preaching Spurgeon had a magazine called the Sword and the Trowel. In these publications he spoke outwardly and boldly concerning the state of Christendom of his time. He used this venue to criticize the East India Trade Company’s treatment of the Indian people, as well as the US Southerners for their acceptance of slavery. He called them kidnappers and even had a former slave speak in his church.

In 1856 he established his “Pastor’s College” where he endeavored to train Pastors. He did not run the college himself, but did frequently teach the students. Those lectures have been compiled into a book called “Lectures to My Students” which can still be purchased and read today.

Spurgeon also opened several orphanages in London to care for street children.

By 1861 the church had grown so much they needed to build a new building to accommodate 5000 attenders. The church was renamed the Metropolitan Tabernacle, which still exists today.

Because of all of this, he was often ill. He would spend many winters in France to recover strength.

One final contributing factor to his poor health came in 1859 when Charles Darwin published his Origin of Species. Although not directly eliminating God from creation, it paved the way for textual criticism and liberalism to emerge within the church.

From 1859 on, churches and pastors began questioning the miracles of the scriptures, taking a more allegorical approach to the creation account, and questioning key doctrines such as the sinfulness of man, the truth of the resurrection, the inspiration of the bible, and the substitutionary atonement of Christ’s death on the cross.

All of this came to a head in 1887 in something called the Downgrade controversy. Spurgeon and his church were part of a collection of Baptist Churches called the Baptist Union. Although the Union was quite broad in their doctrine, Spurgeon began to criticize openly the inclusion of churches within the Union that were espousing the aforementioned liberal teachings.

In 1887, Spurgeon published several articles in his Sword and the Trowel magazine arguing for the establishment of the traditional doctrines of plenary inspiration, the truth of the resurrection, the reality of hell and that many men will be punished there forever, and the substitutionary atonement of Christ as necessary doctrines that must be confessed to be a member of the Baptist Union.

By the end of 1887, when it became apparent that the Baptist Union had no intention of adopting these doctrinal standards, Spurgeon removed himself and his church from membership.

Since Spurgeon’s church was easily the largest and most prestigious, this angered the other mem

Title: He Goes Before Us

Text: Acts 10:17-23a

FCF: We often struggle sharing our faith with others.

Prop: Because God’s sovereign hand guides the expansion of His church, we must trust and obey Him.



Scripture Intro:

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 10. In a moment we will read from the Legacy standard bible starting in verse 17. You can follow along in the pew bible on page 1242 or in whatever version you prefer.



Although we had a week break from our study of the book of Acts, and although we will take a break next week again from the study, I hope that by breaking in the middle of a narrative episode that it will enable you to remember what we’ve been studying since we are essentially pausing the episode to come back to later.



But let me review a bit just to make sure you are with me. It is difficult to know where this story truly begins. So let’s be safe and start with chapter 9.



In the first scene we saw the miraculous conversion of Saul the bloodthirsty hunter of the church. Jesus knocked him off his feet, blinded him, rebuked him, and then commanded him to get up and go to Damasus and wait until he was healed.



In the second scene we see Saul begin his life of evangelism in Damascus, Arabia, and Jerusalem where he was approved of the Apostles. He then went to Tarsus to await being sent of God to the Gentiles.



The third scene consists of Peter using the peace established by Saul’s conversion to begin an itinerate ministry in Northern Judea and Samaria. He miraculously heals Aeneas of being lame. He raises Tabitha from the dead. In each scene it is clear that God is going before them to prepare the way for the gospel to expand and the church to grow.



The fourth scene begins another episode within the narrative where a gentile God-Fearer is approached in a vision by an angel of God and told that he could come to Christ without first becoming a Jew. He was commanded to send for Peter in Joppa.



The fifth scene is where Peter is put in a trace and receives a vision. This is where we left it last time.



So far in this narrative we continue to see the hand of God paving the way for the gospel to go forward. Today, we will continue on to the next scene in this episode. And again we will see the work of God in the expansion of the gospel, but also the responsibility of men within that work.



Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the Word of God.



Transition:

[Slide 2] Although God does not always speak clearly He certainly speaks loudly. At least loud enough for us to hear Him. I think of Elijah who was depressed because after the victory at Carmel the entire nation did not turn to Yahweh and Jezabel desired to kill him. God approached him in a storm and tumult but spoke to him in the calm. Elijah knew God wanted to speak to Him for sure… but the whisper is where he heard him clearly. Peter has just received an amazing but perplexing vision from God. One that he is not readily able to understand. But the same God who puzzled him with a grand vision will now speak clearly as a whisper in His ear. In each case, the Lord moves, the Lord prepares, the Lord leads, the Lord goes before, and we must often run to keep up. Let’s see if Peter keeps up.



I.) God’s sovereign hand guides the expansion of His church, so we must trust Him. (17-20)

a. [Slide 3] 17 – Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be,

i. Last time in the book of Acts we spent a good deal of time trying to understand the vision that Peter was given.

ii. We have the luxury of a completed New Testament, in written form, in a language we can all understand, bound together in one book along with the Old Testament, with 2000 years of the Holy Spirit illuminating, revealing, a

Title: What is Baptism?

Text: Various; Eph 4:1-6

FCF: We often struggle to appreciate the significance of the sacrament of baptism.

Prop: Because Baptism is full of significance and meaning for a believer, we must submit to the sacrament of baptism after we believe.



Scripture Intro:

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Ephesians chapter 4. In a moment I’ll begin reading in verse 1 from the New English Translation which you can follow along in the pew bible on page 1319 or in whatever version you prefer.



No, you didn’t have a stroke. I am up here fairly early. As was mentioned in the announcements our normal liturgy for the service is interrupted today because we have some wonderful things happening this morning. Three people are coming to be baptized in obedience to Christ. The Elders after examining these three candidates have determined that their confession of faith is credible and the fruit of their faith is observable. Therefore we see no reason to prevent them from being baptized.



In preparation for that, I have decided to teach a short topical lesson on baptism. I call it a lesson because it is not a true sermon. The application of the lesson will be in baptizing the three who have come. Another application would be for all who claim faith in Christ to consider the command of Christ to be baptized and to understand the significance of this sign.



Please stand with me out of respect for and to focus on the reading of the Word of God.



Transition:

My goal is to teach two lessons this morning. The first being baptism, the second church membership. But in reality they are essentially one message. Where one leaves off the other picks up. For baptism and all its meaning and significance ties in directly to the concept of church membership. This is one of the reasons the Elders have decided going forward that any who desire to be baptized in this church should also be ready to also join the church in membership. I hope that by the end of today, the reasons for that are abundantly clear. So let us endeavor to answer the question, What is baptism? Let’s start first with the history of baptism.



I.) [Slide 2] What the history of baptism?

a. Baptism had been practiced for some time in Israel to indicate that someone was leaving one way of life and entering into another.

b. There are at least 9 baptisms in the bible, but as we read in Ephesians 4, there is only one Baptism in the bible. How is this possible?

i. That one baptism is the baptism into the name of Jesus Christ. And by relation of Christ’s union to the trinity, it is also baptism into the name of the entire Godhead.

ii. We will look more closely at what that means in a minute. But this establishes for us that baptism has been practiced in the church since the beginning and was not an unknown concept even before the church.

c. Pedobaptism or Credobaptism? Why?

i. Pedobaptism refers to the practice of baptizing infants. The vast majority of Christendom baptizes infants, but for different reasons.

1. The Roman Catholic church baptizes infants as a way of washing away original sin.

a. The line between Christ and His church is intentionally blurred in Roman Catholicism, so when a baby is baptized into the church, they are baptized into Christ.

b. We would see this exactly opposite. When someone is baptized into Christ they are also then baptized into the church.

c. In Roman Catholicism, baptism is regenerative. Meaning that once baptized the baby is going to heaven.

2. The Orthodox church (Eastern, Greek, Russian etc.) is similar in that it is regenerative although they do not believe in original sin.

3. Presbyterians, Lutherans, Episcopalians, believe that ba