Search the Scriptures Daily Program #0106d Transcript follows:
UNDERSTANDING THE SCRIPTURES
And we resume our excursion through the Book of Acts. Here again are Dave and Tom:
Tom:
This is our Understanding the Scriptures segment and, again folks, the name of the program is Search the Scriptures Daily and whether it be this segment or the other segments, we encourage each and every one to search the Scriptures daily, what Dave says, what I say, you need to come to your own conclusions from the word of God. And, that’s our encouragement. But, it’s also our privilege to go through books of the Bible, and we’re currently in Acts 10. Dave, we left off last week with, I think we got through verse 14, but as is our way, I’m going to back up a little bit so people understand the context. Going back to Verse 10, speaking about Peter, he was up on the house top to pray, and he became very hungry and would have eaten, but while they made ready he fell into a trance, 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: Wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him. Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean. Peter, even in a trance, is giving the Lord a hard time here.
Dave:
Well, he knows what the law says, and he’s been obeying it.
Tom:
Testing this spirit or this voice, rather.
Dave:
Right, and the voice, Verse 15, “And the voice spake unto him again the second time. What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” Now, he’s getting a little lesson here, because he’s going to be called to go to the home of some Gentiles, and he wouldn’t enter there ordinarily. So, God is teaching him something. This was done thrice, and the vessel was received up again into heaven. So, three times Peter says, Not so, Lord, I’ve never eaten anything that isn’t clean.
Tom:
Well, Dave, when the Verse 15 says, What God hath cleansed, when did this take place? If the Jews were instructed not to eat of these things, when did the cleansing come about?
Dave:
Tom, I don’t think the cleansing of these unclean animals has taken place, in my opinion. Probably you would be better off to eat a kosher diet, okay. It’s not a law anymore, I mean, not for Gentiles, it’s not a law for a Christian. So, the scripture says, don’t judge someone in meat or drink or holy day. If this is your conscience before God, then keep it. It tells us, don’t stumble someone. You think you can eat anything, and then you’ve got someone who comes into your home, and he doesn’t have that freedom of conscience, well then, Don’t stumble him, you know. This has nothing to do with salvation. Tom, I could go back in my mind and think of a few young men that we’ve led to the Lord, or have come to the Lord, in meetings in our home, who were vegetarians, and they ate their first meat at our dining room table. I wasn’t trying to lead them astray, but suddenly they realized, you know, they had been under bondage. I’m not saying that meat is that good, we’re not saying whether you should be a vegetarian or a meat eater for health’s sake, but not for religious reasons, okay. So, but I don’t know that that is what it is saying here. God is saying, Look, Peter, if I tell you to eat this, then obviously, you are okay. You are not violating my law when I tell you, Peter, you can eat this. And Peter is not convinced, and three times, and he’s still not convinced, apparently. And then, while he’s doubting in himself, Verse 17, what this vision which he had seen should mean---you see, he stuck to his guns, he’s not going to be led astray, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius, which we read about in previous weeks,---this is Cornelius, who was a God-fearing, God-seeking, Roman Centurion, and he’s in prayer, and seeking the Lord, and an angel comes and tells him, You send your servants to Joppa to the house of Simon the tanner, and there’s a guy living with him, also named Simon, and you send for him. So, here they come, the men which were sent from Cornelius have made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate, and called and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. O, so there’s a connection here, Peter. Now, they’ve got three guys at the door, and they have come for you. Arise therefore, get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. So you can see the connection between this vision. Rise, Peter; kill and eat. O, I don’t eat unclean things. Well, Peter, I’m telling you to do it.
Tom:
Right, and Dave, it’s interesting. In Verse 17, which you just read, Now while Peter doubted in himself, yet the voice says, getting right on it, it says, Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
Dave:
Yeah, so he’s going to learn something on this trip.
Tom:
Verse 21, “Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye week: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by a holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at hi feet, and worshipped him.” This was a seeking and eager after God, even though he does something not quite right here.
Dave:
He doesn’t understand, but obviously, there is a fear of God. And the angel said, send for this man. Now, this man must be someone really special, and we are all here, we want to hear what he has to say. So he falls down and worships him, and Peter, of course, won’t allow that. He takes him by his hand, and says, Stand up; I myself also am a man, and don’t worship me. And we are not to worship angels.
Tom:
Right, but Dave, it’s interesting, here’s a centurion, brings all of his friends, kinsmen, into this, yet humbles himself before this, who he know to be, a man of God. He goes a little too far, but still, he humbled himself.
Dave:
Now Peter is going to explain a few things. Verse 28, all related to this vision that he has seen, and Peter says unto them, You know that it’s unlawful for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or to come unto one of another nation; but God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. So here, we get the---he doubted what this meant, he understands it now. Therefore, came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
Tom:
Dave, can I ask you a question? The Jews never proselytized anyone, yet people converted to Judaism, how do you explain that? I mean, if they are the people of God, and they are hearing the oracles of God, why wouldn’t they proselytize? Yet, we have throughout scripture those from other nations, Gentiles, converting to Judaism.
Dave:
It was not the purpose of God to convert everybody on this earth and make Jews out of everyone. The Jews were a special, chosen people. The purpose of Israel was to occupy a land, and to be a demonstration of the relationship God wanted to have with nations, and they are to bring the Messiah, and so forth. They were not told, Go into all the world and preach the gospel, but that’s what the Christian is supposed to do, Jews or Gentiles, who become Christians, we go into all the world and preach the gospel, so, the gospel was for everybody. Israel was a special people, as a demonstration of the relationship God wanted to have with all mankind. So, no, they were not out proselytizing, and they still don’t do it today.
Gary:
Dave and Tom will resume their discussion on the topic of salvation next week, we hope you can tune in. This is Search the Scriptures Daily, a radio ministry of The Berean Call. And now, to tell you more about our ministry, here’s TBC Executive Director Tom McMahon.
Tom:
The name, The Berean Call, is taken from the Book of Acts, Chapter 17, Verses 10 and 11, where we find the apostle Paul entering the synagogue in the Greek city of Berean after he had just come from Thessalonica. To these Bereans he preached that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah sent from God. They were commended for being noble, or fair minded, not only for their willingness to hear what Paul had to say about the matter, but more specifically, because they searched the scriptures daily to find out whether or not what the apostle was saying was found in God’s Word. That’s what we hope to encourage through this ministry. Our prayer is that we can be used of God to stimulate Christians to look to the Bible alone as their rule of faith, authority and practice in living lives pleasing to our Lord and Savior. Gary.
Gary
Would you like to expand your knowledge of God’s Word? We offer a wide variety of items that you will greatly assist you, from books and tracts to audio and video recordings, CD-ROM, our internet website and much more. For a complete list of materials, or to get a copy of today’s broadcast, write to us at POB 7019, Bend, Oregon 97708. Call us at our toll free order number, 877-882-4253, that’s 877-88Bible, or visit our website at www.thebereancall.org. If you would like a copy of this broadcast, ask for Program #0106, and be sure to mention the call letters of this station. Get a pen or pencil ready, we’ll repeat our contact information in just a moment.
Next week, we’ll continue our series of programs based on Dave Hunt’s latest book, Judgment Day, and, “What is the promise of restoration?” In Religion in the News, “Public Schools vs Parent’s Rights.” We’ll take a look at that story and address the question: “When will Armegeddon take place?” We hope you can join us. If you have questions or comments about this program we urge you to contact our offices. Search the Scriptures Daily Radio Ministry is made possible by God’s grace, your prayers and your financial support. I’m Gary Carmichael, and for Dave, Tom and everyone here at The Berean Call, I would like to thank you for tuning in and invite you to join us again next week. Until then, if you desire to know God’s truth, search the scriptures daily.
For more information about The Berean Call, write to us at POB 7019, Bend, Oregon 97708. Call us toll free at our order #877-882-4253, that’s 877-88Bible, or visit our website at www.thebereancall.org.
