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| Whosoever will - Acts 10: 1-48 | |
Scripture
For God so loved the world that He gave Hisone and onlySon, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal Life. For Goddid not sendHis Son into the world to condemn but to savethe world through Him (John 3:16,17 NIV.)
Devotional
The Christian faithis God’s message for all people. Christianity is a world faith. It cannot be confined to one people, one race or one culture. It embraces the world. It speaks to the person in the great metropolis or the child dying in abject poverty in the Sudan. It is good news for the whole world. It brings light and hope in our world of pain and strife. The Christian faith is the message of Jesus Christ. Its banner is; "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him might not perish but have everlasting life.”
The first followers of Jesus were Jewish men and women. For many years the gospel was confined to the Jewish nation. If this continued the church faced the possibility of being just another Jewish sect. The command of Christ was that the gospel be taken to the gentiles - to the world at large. Yet, the barriers between Jew and gentile seemed to prevent this from happening. Then came the Cornelius' experience which forever changed the character and destiny of the church. The Gospel was brought to the Gentile World. Acts chapter ten give the account of the conversion of a Roman centurion named Cornelius. This would mark the beginning of a new day for the Christian faith. The era of world evangelization was about to begin. The story of Acts recounts how a devout gentile name Cornelius had a vision from God. He was told in the vision to summon a man name Simon who is called Peter. He would be found in the nearby city of Joppa. This man would show Cornelius how to find the way of salvation.
The record in Acts ten tells us that at the same time, Peter also received a vision. It was rather strange. He saw something like a sheet coming down from heaven. It contained all kinds of animals, even reptiles and birds. Peter was commanded to get up, kill and eat what was on the sheet. He refused. Some of these animals were considered unclean by the Jews. Peter would not violate the Jewish laws concerning unclean food. But he is told three times to arise and eat. It was at this moment that men arrive from the house of Cornelius to ask Peter to come to the home of Cornelius. Ordinarily, Peter would not do this. Jews did not enter the homes of gentiles. But the vision of the unclean food changed all this. Peter learned his lesson. God had shown him that he should call no person impure or unclean.
Peter came to the house of Cornelius and he brought with him the message of the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. Now for the first time the Gospel would be preached among gentiles. The Scripture would be fulfilled which declared that Christ was a light to the gentiles - the peoples of the world. The gospel had moved from being merely the faith of the people of Israel. It was for all people. It could now be said that in Christ Jesus there is neither Jew nor gentile. The faith of Christ removes all barriers and unites people of different races and various cultures into a new people - the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The story of the conversion of Cornelius brought the gentile world into inclusion in the church of Christ. Thank God, the Gospel cannot be confined to one group or culture. It is for all people. The message of Christ’s redemptive love is extended to all the world. You and I are included. The Gospel of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ comes to us. No matter what our background might be. We all can know the redeeming power of the cross. We can all become a part of a new creation in Christ.
Prayer
Heavenly Father thank you for loving us so much that you would send your Son to save us and give us Eternal Life. Forgive me to day of all my sin against you and make me your child .Help me to spread the message of your wonderful salvation to my neighbour. Amen
Meet the Author.
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Rev. Ronald Osmond is a pastor with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Nfld.Some of theplaces he pastoredare Corner Brook and St John's, Newfoundlandas well as Vancover, British Columbia. He is a pastor and teacher as well as a radio speaker. Ronald and his wife Betty have five children all of whom are ministering with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada and the Assemblies of God,U.S.A. They are now retired and live in St.John's, NL. They may be reached at Ronosmond@aol.com |
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Lost
Luke 15:4-7
What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Luke 15:11-32
And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
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