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INTRODUCTION 1.
Ever wondered about the choices the HS made in telling the
story of redemption? 2.
WHY are some events recorded and not
others? 3.
HS inspired men to write, but certainly MORE
happened than is recorded 4.
Especially true of the book of Acts - Acts
is the central BOOK of the entire Bible 5.
Acts reveals establishment of church AND means of ENTRY
into it 6.
Everything BEFORE
Acts reveals God’s plan for getting
saved (lineage of Christ) 7.
Everything AFTER
Acts reveals the plan for staying
saved (epistles, instruction) 8.
In early pages of ACTS we are SELECTIVELY
provided 5 stories of salvation 9.
Why did HS choose these select
stories from 1000’s that could have been told? LET ME SUGGEST ONE POSSIBILITY 10.
In Gen 12:1-3 a
Promise is made to ALL 11.
The Promise is repeated in Acts
2:17, 21 NOW NOTE AN INTERESTING
STATEMENT 12.
IN Acts 2:39
--The promise, we are told is for ALL
WHO ARE AFAR OFF 13.
That verse gives clue
why HS chose to reveal the 5
salvation stories of Acts 14.
Thousands of conversion stories in early days of church
--HS chose 5 to tell because they CONFIRM THE PROMISE IS TO ALL
– EVEN THOSE AFAR OFF I. CONVERSION #1 - The Jews of Pentecost (Acts
2:22-38) A.
Ever been in trouble? Done something bad and you are about
to be caught? B.
Remember how desperate and shaky you felt? Terrible sinking
feeling? C.
Now imagine having had a hand in KILLING the Son of God! D.
You don’t get any further
from God than that -- these people AFAR
OFF E.
Yet through baptism even they were redeemed! F.
HS chose this event so we’d know God can save those
guilty of the worst of sin! II. CONVERSION #2 - The Samaritans (Acts
8:9-24) A.
John 4:9
-- Jews have no dealings with Samaritans – bypassed Samaria when
traveling B.
This was worst kind of discrimination - viewed as DOGS,
scum of the earth C.
Why? 2 Kings
17:23-24 -the Jews remaining in Israel intermarried foreigners D.
They were half-breeds, impure stock, good only for ridicule and scorn E.
The Samaritans were AFAR
OFF in the minds of the Jews – deemed unworthy F.
But through baptism the men and women of Samaria were
redeemed! G.
HS chose this story so we’d know even outcasts
from society can be
saved! H.
And no surprise! Jesus had already in his ministry proved
ALL can be saved 1.
Jesus did NOT bypass Samaria – Jn
4:4 “passed through Samaria” 2.
It was in Samaria He gave hope to the Samaritan woman at
the well (Jn
4) 3.
When Jesus saw a Samaritan He did not see a dog, he did not
see an outcast 4.
In all his dealings Jesus never saw a murderer, an
adulterer, a thief, a dog I.
STORY: One
day, in order to get a class discussion going, a religion
professor asked his students what some of the world's great
religious leaders might say to an adulterer. The discussion
was lively and intense. He was setting up the class to make
a point, and when he felt that the time was ripe, he asked what
seemed to be the crucial question, "What do you suppose Jesus
would have said to an adulterer?"
He was all primed to point out to
the class the compassion and understanding which Jesus had for the
fallen. He was all set to do his best to make Jesus look
greater than all the great religious leaders put together.
Once again he asked, "What do you think Jesus would have said
to an adulterer?" One of his students answered,
"Jesus never met an adulterer." The
professor jumped at the opening. He would show this
guy a thing or two about Jesus and about the New Testament.
"Yes he did," he responded. "I'll show
you in my Bible where...." The young man interrupted him.
"You didn't hear me Doctor. I said Jesus never
met an adulterer." Once again the professor protested.
Once again he reached for his New Testament. He started to
leaf through its pages turning to the passages, which showed Jesus
forgiving the woman taken in adultery. As he turned he also
thought about the Samaritan woman at the well.
But before he could get to the
verses, the student, spoke out again, this time with a touch of
anger in his voice. "You’re not listening to
what I’m saying. I’m saying Jesus never met an adulterer. Do you think when he looked
at the woman caught in adultery he saw an adulterer? Do you
think he saw an adulterer when he spoke to the woman at the well?
Doctor, listen to me! Jesus
never met an adulterer!” The professor fell silent. He
was being corrected by a student who, in some ways, perhaps
understood Jesus better than those who had studied the Bible all
their lives. This story reminds us that one of the most notable characteristics of Jesus was that he paid special attention to the outcasts of society. He identified someone not by their sin or their disease, but by their need. III. CONVERSION #3 - A Foreigner (Acts
8:26-39) A.
This Ethiopian eunuch was very likely a convert to Judiasm
-- not born a Jew B.
I’m amazed at his dedication
to the Lord - he traveled 1,000+ miles to worship C.
He was literally AFAR
OFF -- geographically
far removed from Jerusalem D.
Jesus with Samaritan woman at well - John
4:19-24 – no longer Jerusalem E.
This story is provided to show anyone
ANYWHERE can be
saved F.
Except to visit, Eunuch likely NEVER returned to Jerusalem. G.
World would be safer place if people realized Jerusalem no
longer a holy city. IV. CONVERSION #4 - A Persecutor (Acts
9:1-18) A.
We noted Jews who crucified Christ were amongst those
FURTHEST from GOD B.
What about one who attempted to MURDER the bride
of Christ? C.
Jesus did not get married, but the Bible speaks of his
bride - the church Rev 21 D.
You don’t get much further than trying to murder
Christ’s church E.
HS chose story - even worst,
most despicable can be
saved Ax 22:12-16 F.
Paul realized he was AFAR OFF V. CONVERSION #5 - A Gentile (Acts
10:24-48) A.
All of the previous conversions were Jews - God’s chosen
people B.
Many of them, by their actions had gotten FAR from God --
they were AFAR off C.
Finally we come to a man who is GOOD! He comes with best
recommendation D.
But still considered outcast by Jews AND Roman soldier –
the enemy! E.
Peter says he shouldn’t associate with him F.
Not only an outcast, but AFAR OFF - a sinner despite his
good deeds G.
HS chose this story so we would see no matter how good we
are, we are LOST! H.
We are afar off because of SIN – even good people are
sinners and separated from God (Isa.
59:2 “Your inquities have made a separation between you and
your God.” CONCLUSION 1.
Where are you this morning? AFAR OFF? 2.
That’s what SIN does!
It distances us from God – it separates us from Him 3.
Do you think you are too bad to serve God – not good
enough 4.
The beautiful story of Acts tells us NO MATTER how far we
have gotten from God we are NOT so far we cannot be saved 5.
God keeps his promises – the promise of salvation of for
ALL – even you! 6.
All you need do is come to Him, believe, repent, confess,
be baptized as everyone of these did
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
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