"Reception of Holy Spirt" by Gorder Wise, Gurukul

Text: Acts 10: 44 ff

The reading from Acts relates the Gentiles’ reception of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues after Peter’s preaching in the home of the Roman centurion Cornelius. It illustrates not only the action of the Holy Spirit in spreading the Christian mission to “the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8) but also the theme of equal footing for all who receive baptism. The Gentiles, baptized by the Holy Spirit as were the Jewish Christians at Pentecost, are in no way eminent from those initial believers who were sharing secret knowledge to God’s revelation to Israel.

The significance of the event is not exhausted on the Jewish believers who went with Peter. They were "surprised", because the Spirit came on the Gentiles in exactly the same way as He had come on the apostles at Pentecost; they "heard them speaking in tongues and praising God", (2:11). The phrase "praising God" literally means "magnifying God", which probably support with the description given on the day of Pentecost, "speaking.... the mighty acts of God." The Spirit's coming on the Gentiles in exactly the same way as on the apostles, removes any doubt that the doors of the kingdom are now open for Gentiles as well as Jews. In fact, this sign further proof the presence of the kingdom.  Again, we are unsure what "speaking in tongues" was like. Clearly there is language content to the experience, in that the onlookers heard them "glorifying God". In fact, the experience probably paralleled Pentecost where "each one heard them speaking in their own language."

Now, the Holy Spirit comes, as a “gift” on all present, “even on the Gentiles”: to the surprise of the Jewish Christians “who had come with Peter”. “Speaking in tongues” is a sign of the presence of the Spirit. The pouring out of the Spirit and baptism are closely associated in Acts; here baptism follows the coming of the Spirit. Peter’s question amounts to: we Jewish Christians received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in Acts 2: 14; now these Gentiles have received it, so surely they can be baptized. During his stay, Peter presumably ate with these non-Jews. God has given the Gentiles “the same gift that he gave us when we believed” so who was I to stand in God’s way? As we see in Jesus’ discourse with Nicodemus, Jesus tells him that ‘… the wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit”. The Holy Spirit is poured on whom God wishes. It is not a human effort to receive Holy Spirit. It is a free gift of God for to bring glory to God. Jesus explained that we cannot control the work of the Holy Spirit. He works in ways we cannot predict or understand.

What makes this biblical account noteworthy in the studies of Baptism and Salvation is that neither Cornelius, nor his household have been baptized; yet, they are guaranteed their heavenly inheritance by, and have received gifts of, the Holy Spirit. We know they have not been baptized from Acts 10:47-48,

- - " Can anyone forbid water that these, who have received the Holy Ghost as well as we, should not be baptized? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord."

Acts 10, Cornelius & his household, and Luke 23, the crucified thief, disprove the assertions, and teachings, of some Churches & Denominations, that to be saved you must be baptized.

Although salvation is not obtained through baptism, the Bible clearly teaches, that in the normal course of events, if you are saved, you are required to be baptized as a matter of obedience to Our Lord & Savior Jesus, Christ. Amen.

  [ W.Gorder Wise, the preacher of this sermon is a third year BD student in Gurukul Lutheran Theological College ans Research Institute, Chennai, India.]

Inclusive Gospel- by Philipose John

Text: Acts of Apostles 10:44-47

"Naam onnalle Nammal Onnalle

Namukkudayonum ee Manninudayonum Daivamalle"

This Malayalam folk song says that all are one in the sight of God. God came to this world not to save some selected peoples, but to save all people without any color, race, cast, culture etc. Luke gospel and Acts of the Apostles mainly focused on the mission to the gentiles. In chapter 10:1f and 11:18 we can see that Luke has narrated the story of the conversion of Cornelius with considerable details.  The passage explains about Holy Spirit comes upon the gentiles and they are filled with Holy Spirit. Caesarea was dominated by gentile population. It was the head quarters of a unit of roman army with 100 soldiers headed by a roman officer holding the title of centurion, whose name was Cornelius. The meeting of apostle peter and Cornelius in Cornelius home was gods plan.

This event can be interpreted as the repetition of the Pentecost day on which the apostles and other disciples were empowered with the power of Holy Spirit. But these recipients were not those believers, who considered themselves as chosen people but those who were always considered outside the frame of Gods plan of salvation.

This is the only incident recorded in NT that Holy Spirit fell on non baptized peoples. This incident reveals baptism is not only for Jewish Christians but also for the uncircumcised gentiles. On the Pentecost day Jews filled with Holy Spirit likewise here gentiles received the gospel and at the same time they baptized with the Holy Spirit.

 ‘The wind blows were it wills, so also is the spirit’. As in the case of Cornelius those who open there hearts to Gods word will be filled with Gods spirit. Here the gift of Holy Spirit is connected to the hearing of Gods word. In v 47 “can anyone withhold the water for baptizing this people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have” here peter raises this question to himself as well as to those believers who were with him. The answer was quite clear. They were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

Then peter and his companions were staying some more days with them is the further proof of breaking the social barriers. This demonstrates a new Jewish gentile solidarity which Christ envisioned.

Here Cornelius is a welcome example of Gods willingness to use extraordinary means to reach those who desire to know Him or Her. God does not play favorites and God does not hide from those who want to find Him or Her. The coming of Holy Spirit even to the gentiles shows that they are also part of gods plan and all are equal in front of God. There fore the mission of god is for all.

 This event teaches us that the gospel is beyond the practice of purity and impurity. God select and give vision for everyone by breaking the human made social boundaries. This can be visible in the life of Jesus Christ also. Christ is a true revolutionary who destroys all types of isolation, who protests against the evil orders and who restores the isolated one in to the social life.

How can the present days Christians avoid the mistake which peter made before he met Cornelius, by seeing one part of Gods creation as holy and another part as unholy. God united all through the gift of Holy Spirit. But today we are making separate churches in the name of cast and color. And still alienation and isolation exist among us. Here what bold theological vision we have? “Conversion is not just turning to God from sin. Turning from narrow God concepts to God who is the lord of all humans is a real spiritual conversion”.

May the god almighty help us to become the true ministers of God who can treat everyone as equals.   Amen

[Philippose John, the preacher of this sermon, is a final year BD student of Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute, Chennai, India.]