[11] And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: [12] Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. [13] And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; Kill, and eat. [14] But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean. [15] And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God has cleansed, that call not thou common [16] This was done thrice: (3 times) and the vessel was received up again into heaven. [17] Now Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, This doesn't mean that Peter didn't believe the vision, he merely could not comprehend, there was no understanding pertaining to these things. [19] While Peter thought on the vision, the spirit said to him, Behold, three men seek thee, Arise therefore and get thee down and go with them, doubting nothing for I have sent them.
Peter goes down to them as commanded and as you read the following versus for yourself (KJV) you will discover that he and his companions (all Jews) go with these men to the house of Cornelius. You will also come to find that the vision of the sheet, and the beasts was for Peter to understand that salvation is not only for the Jew but for (Acts2:21) "whomsoever shall call on the name of the Lord". Even though Peter, This same Peter that preached this very message, at the first Church sermon on the day of Pentecost. Even though the Lord Jesus told the apostles repentance and remission of sins would be preached first at Jerusalem and then go to the Gentiles (as that is what is happening here). You must understand that Peter and all Jews alike, regardless of the message of this new birth experience. These men had absolutely nothing to do with anyone who was not a Jew. If you were not a Jew you were considered unclean, filthy, vile even. You were not of the circumcision. The Lord tells him in this vision, do not call unclean that which I (Jesus) have made clean. i.e. The Lord will make these men that are not Jew, clean. How does this happen.To understand this, you must first understand the circumcision.
The Circumcision
Circumcision was a covenant that God made with Abraham. (for him and all of his kindred), for ALL generations forever. The circumcision in itself entails a cutting off of the filth of the flesh. If you were a male child and your foreskin was not severed, you were not considered a Jew and your soul would be cut off from God (you were unclean). This in turn is why Jews had nothing to do with anyone who was not circumcised. Now when God makes a covenant and says it is for ALL generations (foerever) it means just that.
Christ came to fulfill the law, not abandon/abolish it. So, we must identify with this circumcision. If God says forever, for all generations he means just that. ALL=100%, NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE.
So what are we going to do with that.
- Christ came to this earth
- Lived a perfect life
- Bore the sins of the world on his shoulder, for me
- Was crucified for these/my sins
It's like this. The circumcision of the old covenant (Old Testament) is a type of cutting off of the filth of the flesh. Whereas the covenant of the New Testament, is a cutting off of the sins of the flesh. There is no longer a need to be physically cut (circumcised). We must however be spiritually circumcised. (i.e. The circumcision that is made without hands Col. 2:11-13).
How Are We Spiritually Circumcised.
You must identify with the burial of Christ Jesus. Get this, you've identified with his death as through repentance. This puts you at notch 1.
You must now identify with his burial, we accomplish this feet by going down in His Name. We're buried with him in baptism, Jesus Name Water Baptism. When you go down in that water in his name, you rise up out of that water a different person (spiritually). You're sins lie dead in that watery grave. ( You've left your sin with him, just as you did at the altar of repentance). They (your sins) are cut off from you as far as the east is from the west, never to be remembered NO MORE! This is an essential, and all to overlooked part of the new birth experience. i.e. You are now circumcised and considered by God one of his, you are now spiritually a Jew. This is a requirement, remember if you're not a Jew, you're considered by God unclean, and YOU WILL be cut off. (Now you need the Holy Ghost. Then again some people get the Holy Ghost before they are baptized, I did. A lot of people get it as they rise up out of that water. As I've mentioned in earlier passages, the baptism of the Holy Ghost is something altogether different, and will not be discussed all that much in this particular study. That is however also an essential part of the new birth experience. Remember the command that Peter gave in Acts2:38 The message doesn't change).
Peter arrives at the house of Cornelius with the men that he traveled with and he is greeted by Cornelius. He is glad that they have come. [33] Now therefore are we all present here before God, to hear all the things that are commanded thee of God. [34-42] Speaks of the things Peter himself saw pertaining to Jesus and all that he began to teach. (I encourage you to read this for yourself [KJV).
[43] To him give all the prophets witness (talking about Jesus) that through his name (Jesus), whosoever shall believe on him shall receive remission of sins. We see here it says whosover shall believe on him (his name). This is the same as mentioned in Acts2:21 Whosoever shall call on his name.
There must however be an action that justifies this calling, or belief. How did they receive remission of sins (Through his name, Jesus Name Baptism). If you are still having a problem with this go back and read Acts 2:38, it clearly states, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of Holy Ghost".
[44] While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Ghost fell on them which heard the words, (Cornelius and those men that were not of the circumcision/ the Gentiles). [45] And they of the circumcision (the Jews with Peter) which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost [46]"For they heard them speak with other tongues" and magnify God. (this is how they knew that they received the Holy Ghost, they heard them speak with other tongues. They would have never excepted those Gentiles otherwise. This is the initial evidence of receiving the Holy Ghost, just as they did on the day of Pentecost) . [47] Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?( i.e. as well as we = they heard them speak with other tongues/evidence) And he commanded them to be baptized. ( Check this. Peter didn't ask them if they wanted to be baptized, HE COMMANDED THEM, to be baptized. He didn't set up a date for next week or next month, year etc. It was immediate. If you believe on Jesus and repent, you are baptized in that same name of Jesus, in the self same hour! [48] And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord, then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
O.k Peter COMMANDED them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord! Who's the Lord? "JESUS" would be the correct response to that question! Are you starting to see a trend here, are you starting to see how this thing pans out. It doesn't change, They only had ONE MESSAGE.
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Obey Acts 2:38