7/13 All of Jesus for All the World

Sermon on Acts #55

Date: 7/13/2025

Title: All of Jesus for All the World

Scripture: Acts 10:23-38

We are back in the book of Acts.

Peter, who was staying at the house of Simon the tanner, heard the Lord's voice in a vision. The conclusion of that voice appears in verse 15.

[Acts 10:15] And the voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."

Through this command from the Lord—to eat foods that were culturally and legally disgusting for a Jew—the ceremonial laws, food laws, and social laws that separated Jews and Gentiles were now abolished.

It was a declaration that the era of believing one could be saved only by meticulously keeping all the laws and festivals, and by offering flawless Sabbaths and sacrifices, had ended.

Right at the moment Peter was deeply thinking about this meaning, the men sent by Cornelius arrived.

And the voice of God was heard one more time.

[Acts 10:20] "So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them."

Aren't there times when we really wish God would give us specific, step-by-step instructions like this?

However, for Peter, this command was actually to do something he dreaded.

For things that we are already trained and prepared to do, a small stirring in our hearts is enough to guide us. But now, at this important moment when a new era was opening, the Lord showed Peter a vision three times and gave him a very specific vocal command to make him obey immediately.

And so, Peter showed his obedience by going to meet not just a Gentile, which was unbearable enough, but a Roman centurion—an enemy soldier who had killed Jesus. This was even harder for him to endure than staying with Simon, the smelly tanner.

Since I became a preacher, the most burdensome act of obedience is to deliver messages that command the congregation to be rebuked and corrected.

Aren't we all beings who want to receive praise and love?

Of course, I want to be loved too. I would like to mostly say things that are pleasant to hear, things that warm the heart, provide comfort, and make people feel loved. If I did that, people would probably like me more.

However, if I do that, it means I am leaving a large covering over the parts of our church, including myself, that are still affected by sin, and I would not be honest before the Lord.

That's why when the Lord gives me such words, I am more careful and proclaim them with even more love.

During our mission trip, my most surprising personal experience happened on Wednesday's Revival Night…

I didn't have a sermon manuscript.

I am not trying to say that impromptu sermons are always better. The process of preparing a sermon every week, though difficult, is a very important time when I grow to love the church more and learn holiness before the Lord.

That time when the Lord and I complete the message that will be delivered to this church is a privilege for a pastor.

Of course, due to my own limits and shortcomings, my expression and delivery can be rough or dull, but I preach here on Sundays because I am confident that the message belongs to the Lord.

But on that Wednesday night in South Dakota, I just cried out the words the Lord was pouring into me.

Thinking about it later, there was a reason the Lord did it that way.

It was because, until then, I had wanted to be as polite as possible to the church members there. No matter how well I knew them for 18 years or how many times I had visited (16 times), I was always extremely cautious when speaking about their pain, like a temporary visitor passing through.

But the Lord, who loved those people so much, had a message He desperately wanted to shout to them, along with an affirmation of His love.

[2 Timothy 4:2] Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

So I shouted.

"If you want the lives of these children to be different, if you want them to dream with limitless potential, to love, and to live happily... then the adults here must change first. Our mission team cannot do that for you. The adults here must make the right choices every day. Especially the Christians worshiping here right now! If you are Jesus' followers, don't just believe in Him, follow Jesus' life! Follow Jesus now!"

I, too, was in shock, watching and hearing the Lord shout through me.

And, for the first time, they raised their hands, asking to receive a prayer of blessing from a younger Korean pastor.

That was the gospel they desperately needed, and I was standing in that place for that reason.

What is the gospel?

In today's passage, verse 34 says that God does not show favoritism based on outward appearance. This is not talking about what we commonly call a handsome or pretty face.

What Peter said was an expression to distinguish between Jews and Gentiles.

Paul also said something very important using the same standard.

[Romans 2:11-15]

11 For God does not show favoritism.

12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.

13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law.

15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)

This passage in Romans is a verse that troubles theologians who try to simplify and organize God's providence.

As we saw earlier, the law Paul is talking about here is not the ceremonial, food, or social laws, but the basic spirit of the law: to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself.

However, if you look at verse 14, it says that a different standard applies to Gentiles who have not learned the law.

It says their conscience will be the standard!

This is in line with Jesus' warning about judgment in Luke, where He said that not everyone is judged by the same standard, but that God will demand much from the one who has been given much.

[Luke 12:47-48]

47 "The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows.

48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."

If we take these words seriously, a question might arise.

Then wouldn't it be better for us not to know much?

Wouldn't it be better to be able to make the excuse on Judgment Day that we didn't know?

If so, then why must we preach the gospel? Why must we diligently read the Word?

Instead of giving a greater burden by showing the perfect standard, Jesus Christ, wouldn't it be a less burdensome life to let people live according to their own conscience?

That is why the scene of Cornelius's salvation today is so important.

Everyone, do you see how many times Acts records how the meeting between Cornelius and Peter came about? It repeats it four times.

First, the scene where an angel actually visits Cornelius and Peter. Then, the scene where the men sent by Cornelius report that event to Peter. And today, when Peter meets Cornelius, Cornelius repeats it again. And in chapter 11, when Peter goes up to Jerusalem, he explains the event again to the brothers there.

The fact that the same event is continuously recorded, taking up so much space, means that this event has a very great significance, and that we must remember it.

The first reason is,

at the time of Acts, there were many people who could not accept that a Gentile could not only believe in Jehovah God as one of many gods, but could also receive the Holy Spirit, be baptized, and formally become part of the church.

But what does it mean for us today, for whom it is no longer surprising that Gentiles are saved through the gospel?

It is shouting that everyone needs Jesus.

Not only our weak, poor, and needy neighbors, but also the rich who live in bigger houses than us.

Not only people living in miserable darkness, but also sincere and good people whose lives are full of bright but temporary, non-eternal lights...

They need Jesus.

Today's passage is shouting that we must preach the gospel even to people who are seemingly righteous and good.

It is shouting the fact that even characters more excellent than believers, like Cornelius, need Jesus.

His righteousness and goodness impressed God,

but that didn't mean he was fine as he was. Because of it, the Lord sent Peter to him.

God, who was moved by his righteousness, gave him the opportunity to hear the gospel.

It means that even such a righteous man of the world can never pay off all his sins with his own righteousness alone.

In the era when Romans was written, most of humanity did not have the opportunity to hear the gospel.

Paul is representing the fairness of God's judgment by saying that God judges those who did not have the opportunity to hear the gospel by a different standard.

However, for us,

it is to make us realize how precious the gospel is, which completely changes the meaning of that judgment,

and how blessed we are to have the opportunity to hear this gospel.

You give the same help, but some people act like it's no big deal,

while others talk about it and express their gratitude every time they see you...

But what we have received is something that is endlessly moving even if we reflect on it forever.

If we don't feel that way, our eyes are growing blind, and our senses are becoming numb.

[Luke 17:17-18] 17 Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?

18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?"

That's why we Christians must not only express thanks for small things but must actually be able to feel gratitude. The sense of grace must be alive. If not, we must cry out.

We must reduce the proportion of stimulating fakes so that we can fully feel what we ought to feel.

But if someone... looking at these Bible verses, thinks, "Wouldn't it be more advantageous not to hear the gospel? Because on Judgment Day, I can tell the Lord, 'I didn't know.'"

If they think that...

It's just proof that although they may know the concept of God,

they have not yet met God personally.

When you meet God, when you get to know Him, you find you have less and less to lose.

Like the farmer who discovered a treasure, like the merchant who found a pearl...

Nothing can compare to Him.

That is why Cornelius gathered all the people he loved and waited all day to hear this gospel.

In terms of social status, there were very few people he had to kneel before,

but he waited all day for the person God said He would send—Peter, not knowing if he would arrive at lunchtime or in the evening. As soon as he saw him, he knelt before him in overwhelming emotion.

There was no way Peter, who came from staying at a tanner's house, would have a pleasant scent.

And the appearance of Peter, living as a sojourner, would have looked like nothing more than a shabby Jewish wanderer in the eyes of a Roman centurion. Yet, Cornelius knelt and prostrated himself before him.

The warning, "The servant who knew his master's will and did not follow it will be beaten with many blows!" The real meaning of this is

the same as Jesus asking, "Do you truly love me?"

Is it to fulfill religious duties? To look devout in people's eyes?

No, it's asking, "Do you truly love me? Are you doing this out of love for me?"

What is the reason we must preach the gospel?

There is also a missional dimension, that the wholesome culture of Christianity can change families and society.

However, for the so-called righteous who live their whole lives in anxiety and fear, weighing their righteousness against the weight of their sins, the gospel changes the very purpose of living righteously.

After meeting Jesus,

you no longer bestow kindness out of a longing for salvation or a guilty conscience.

You want to live the life the Lord desires out of a heart that wants to repay, even just a little, the love of the One who knew all your sins and flaws, yet loved you first, paid the price for those sins, and waited for you for so long.

And as you live such a life, you realize.

Ah... I thought following the Lord was ministry and devotion...

but it becomes the deepest rest and the greatest joy for me as well.

The Lord said that doing the Father's will was His food.

The new life within us, is it truly of Jesus?

Because we are sons and daughters of God?

It is because the life of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who lived on earth, is within us, and that is why we are now sons and daughters of God.

If so, what does God want to do with these sons?

What does God want to do with these daughters in this world?

So now, our reason for joy,

our purpose in life, must all be the same as Jesus' and must come from Jesus.

Do you rejoice in what Jesus rejoices in?

Do you grieve over the things that break Jesus' heart?

Do you love the things the Lord loves?

Do you hate the things the Lord hates?

What the Holy Spirit cried out through me on that Wednesday night in South Dakota…

He desires to cry that out to us now as well.

We are not just people who believe that there was a great person named Jesus.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, who saved us by giving His life!

Aren't we the people who love Him the most... people who follow the Lord without holding back?

If so, the Lord will also send such sons and daughters.

[John 20:21] …As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.

We have now become people sent into this world for a short time by Jesus.

For what purpose were we sent? We were sent to become little Jesuses and to walk the path of Jesus.

While on the mission field in South Dakota, we hardly forgot for a moment that we were sent by God. We understood the purpose for which we were sent, and we did not hesitate to make many sacrifices to love the children there.

Those sacrifices were, instead, a joy. The small discomforts were like a humble offering I gave to the Lord.

In the worship service we held on Wednesday evening after three days of VBS, we experienced repentance, forgiveness, salvation, and hope.

Today's text says this in verse 38.

[Acts 10:38] how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

When Peter preached this gospel, he wasn't just recounting memories of Jesus' past deeds. Peter, who was actually sent by Jesus, was there, and through him, the Holy Spirit and power were being poured out like oil.

Despite my truly weak faith and my slow, frustrating obedience...

I experienced the anointing of the Holy Spirit and power more clearly than ever before in my entire life.

While talking with the pastors who went with me, we all agreed that even once in a lifetime, such an experience is enough to be thankful for. It was beautiful and glorious, we shared. We witnessed lost souls being saved, and we saw the captive being set free.

Shouldn't that week-long journey be a condensed version of our lives?

All of us living as people sent by Jesus.

Sometimes together as a community, and other times in our individual daily lives, we live according to the purpose for which we were sent with the Lord... and when Sunday comes, we experience repentance, forgiveness, salvation, and hope in this worship service.

Where have you been sent? Live there as a missionary.

Many missionaries are doing mission work by showing Jesus through their lives to their colleagues and neighbors in areas where they cannot preach directly. Even though they have a job and receive a salary, they do not forget that they are missionaries.

They do not lose the purpose for which they were sent there.

If you have met Jesus, it is the same for you.

Now, not when your salary increases or when you look good to your boss...

but when you live there as a missionary for Jesus! When you become a small lamp that brightens the darkness there!

You will confirm that you have been sent by the One who will lift you up to shine so that everyone, even at work, can see.

If the only purpose was to take us to heaven, why are we still here?

It is absolutely not for myself. If that's the case,

it must be because there is a place where the Lord wants to send me, and there are people who need me.

There is a praise song from our denomination that I really love.

‘All of Jesus for All the world’

How should this be translated? What does this mean?

Watch the short video sent from the denomination last week and try to find the meaning.

To fully manifest the gospel of Jesus to all the world,

All of Jesus!

It means that all people who belong to Jesus are needed.

Not a few special people, but the ones who belong to Jesus! It means everyone is needed!

To show Jesus Christ more completely to the world, all of us are needed.

Why did this mission trip feel more complete?

The team members all used the same expression. That "Better Together" is really true.

From young children to all generations were together,

and the mission team and the churches there were all together.

We needed each other.

When we, who are different, were together, a more complete image of Christ appeared.

The more that happened, the more the Holy Spirit was poured out there like oil.

A church doesn't just need people who give love.

It also needs people who must receive a lot of love.

To become a church that shows a more complete Jesus, we need each other,

all of us.

All of Jesus for all the world! Let's shout it together.

Every person in the world needs Jesus.

And to show them a more complete Jesus,

all of us are needed!

Let's pray.