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<v Speaker 1>during my little sermon.

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<v Speaker 1>Thank you, guys, and you know what you can leave right now.

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<v Speaker 1>You don't have to listen to me again.

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<v Speaker 1>You can be dismissed to go down to our children's church, hear a great Bible story.

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<v Speaker 1>Just go out in the foyer, our teacher will lead you down there and we will continue our sermon series in the Acts of the Apostles.

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<v Speaker 1>If you'd like a sermon outline or borrow one of our Bibles, just raise your hand or ushers would be happy to help you out with that.

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<v Speaker 1>We are in Acts, chapter 10, looking at the conversion of Cornelius.

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<v Speaker 1>When Christianity first took off at Pentecost, it was not just about a set of teachings, doctrines, creeds, practices that you take up.

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<v Speaker 1>It wasn't about that at all.

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<v Speaker 1>Sermons, creeds, practices that you take up wasn't about that at all.

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<v Speaker 1>It was about the converting power of the holy spirit who enters your life and takes you up when you believe the gospel of jesus.

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<v Speaker 1>And so far in the book of acts, luke has shown us thousands of people who were converted to christ.

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<v Speaker 1>And when he comes to acts, chapter 8, when we we come there, he slows it way down.

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<v Speaker 1>I've said this before.

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<v Speaker 1>He slows it way down and starts to look at individuals who were converted to help us understand what this conversion to Christ is all about.

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<v Speaker 1>And when we come to chapter 10, we're seeing how Cornelius the first Gentile was converted, and we're going to continue his story.

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<v Speaker 1>Today I'm going to just read a portion of this account again In Acts, chapter 10, beginning in verse 30.

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<v Speaker 1>Cornelius, peter had just arrived after Cornelius had sent him, and Cornelius said to Peter Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments and he said Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.

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<v Speaker 1>Therefore, send to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you.

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<v Speaker 1>He's staying at the house of Simon the Tanner by the sea.

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<v Speaker 1>So, peter, I sent for you immediately and you have been kind enough to come Now.

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<v Speaker 1>Then we're all here, present before God, to hear all that you've been commanded by the Lord.

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<v Speaker 1>Opening his mouth, peter said I most certainly understand now that God has not one to show partiality, but in every nation, the man who fears him and does what is right is welcome to him.

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<v Speaker 1>The word which he sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ.

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<v Speaker 1>He is Lord of all.

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<v Speaker 1>You yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee and after the baptism which John proclaimed.

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<v Speaker 1>You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit, with power, and how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

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<v Speaker 1>We are witnesses of all the things he did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem.

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<v Speaker 1>And then they also put him to death by hanging him on a cross.

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<v Speaker 1>But God raised him up on the third day and granted that he become visible, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us, who ate and drank with him after he arose from the dead.

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<v Speaker 1>And he ordered us to preach to the people and solemnly testify that this is the one.

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<v Speaker 1>This is the one who has been appointed by God as the judge of the living and the dead.

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<v Speaker 1>Of him, all the prophets bear witness that through his name, everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins.

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<v Speaker 1>I'd like to look at three main points about Cornelius' conversion today.

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<v Speaker 1>That's really true for everyone who's converted to Christ.

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<v Speaker 1>First, god draws the person in.

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<v Speaker 1>Second, the person must hear the gospel.

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<v Speaker 1>And third, finally, the person must believe in Jesus.

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<v Speaker 1>Common to every single conversion to Christ beginning with God draws the person in.

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<v Speaker 1>Last time we took off on that by saying that in every conversion, god is involved in all of them.

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<v Speaker 1>God heard the prayers of Cornelius, a Gentile Roman centurion, and then providentially orchestrated the events to send Peter to share the gospel with him.

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<v Speaker 1>Even though he was 30 miles away, god was moved to send him a witness to share the gospel.

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<v Speaker 1>Real conversion comes through God's initiative.

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<v Speaker 1>Peter asked Cornelius, why did you send for me?

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<v Speaker 1>Cornelius said an angel of God told me to.

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<v Speaker 1>In other words, peter, I sent for you because God told me he wants me to.

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<v Speaker 1>In other words, peter, I sent for you because God told me he wants me to meet you.

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<v Speaker 1>Cornelius would have never have sent for Peter apart from God's intervention Never.

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<v Speaker 1>Peter probably wouldn't have dared to go meet with the Gentile Cornelius in his house, forbidden by Jews.

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<v Speaker 1>Now, keep in mind, seeing visions and angels, of course, is not common to all conversions.

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<v Speaker 1>What is true of all conversions, in all places, in all times, is that the person realizes they were not so much searching for God as it was God searching for them.

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<v Speaker 1>Jesus even said I came to seek and save the lost.

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<v Speaker 1>He even said to his disciples once you didn't choose me, I chose you.

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<v Speaker 1>You may not see it right away, you may not see it until much later, and you look back like I can look back and see all of these very interesting phenomena that were happening to lead me to hear the gospel of Jesus Right to the gospel.

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<v Speaker 1>Cs Lewis describes this principle in his spiritual autobiography.

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<v Speaker 1>Listen to what he said.

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<v Speaker 1>He said and amiable agnostics will talk cheerfully about man's search for God.

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<v Speaker 1>To me they might as well talk about the mouse's search for the cat.

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<v Speaker 1>That's true.

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<v Speaker 1>Somehow God does something or sends somebody to point us toward himself, and that leads us to the second thing.

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<v Speaker 1>That's true of all conversions.

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<v Speaker 1>A person must first hear and understand the gospel for them to know God, to receive forgiveness of sins, eternal life.

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<v Speaker 1>Peter explains the gospel of Jesus to Cornelius, and the first thing a person needs to hear about the gospel is who Jesus is, who we claim to be, and Peter makes it clear he's the Christ, he's the Messiah that God sent to Israel to bring us peace.

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<v Speaker 1>And then, as a side note, he said Jesus Christ is Lord of all.

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<v Speaker 1>That's who he is and the prophet he mentions.

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<v Speaker 1>The prophet John the Baptist, was the first to testify that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ, the promised Messiah who was anointed with the Holy Spirit from God.

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<v Speaker 1>To understand the gospel, then a person must know and understand that Jesus was more than a peasant carpenter, more than a great teacher, more than a great leader, more than a wonderful healer.

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<v Speaker 1>He is the Messiah sent from God, anointed by the Holy Spirit and is Lord of all.

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<v Speaker 1>Second to understand the gospel, not just knowing who Jesus is but what Jesus did Gospel has to be communicated.

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<v Speaker 1>Jesus was anointed by God and Peter says he did many good works healing, spiritual deliverance.

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<v Speaker 1>God was with him and Peter said they're witnesses of all of that.

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<v Speaker 1>But most importantly, they are witnesses to the fact that Jesus died on a cross and was raised by God from the dead.

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<v Speaker 1>Peter says they put Jesus to death by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him from the dead on the third day.

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<v Speaker 1>He became visible in the body.

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<v Speaker 1>Peter and the apostles are witnesses, peter says, who were chosen by God in order to testify that Jesus' resurrection is a fact in history.

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<v Speaker 1>We saw him.

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<v Speaker 1>We ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

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<v Speaker 1>So who Jesus is?

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<v Speaker 1>There's the gospel.

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<v Speaker 1>Who Jesus is, what Jesus did and Peter, interestingly, as this third thing, or hints at it, to really understand the gospel, peter explains who the resurrected Jesus is now.

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<v Speaker 1>He's alive.

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<v Speaker 1>He's exalted to God's throne.

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<v Speaker 1>God's appointed him as judge of all everyone.

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<v Speaker 1>Jesus is the one, the Messiah, to whom all the prophets pointed to.

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<v Speaker 1>Peter said the gospel is the good news that God sent the Lord Jesus Christ to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins and be raised again to life, to give us eternal life.

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<v Speaker 1>So to be converted, we must, like Cornelius.

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<v Speaker 1>What happened to Cornelius?

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<v Speaker 1>He must hear the good news of the gospel that Jesus, the Messiah, died and rose again and is alive, exalted to God's throne.

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<v Speaker 1>That brings us to the third thing all conversions have in common it's not enough just to hear the gospel and understand it.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, I know who Jesus is and what he did.

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<v Speaker 1>A person must believe that's the absolute core of salvation of the heart of the gospel.

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<v Speaker 1>That is what a person needs to do.

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<v Speaker 1>Believe in Jesus as the heart of the gospel.

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<v Speaker 1>That is what a person needs to do.

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<v Speaker 1>Believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Savior, through whom we've received forgiveness of sin and the gift of eternal life.

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<v Speaker 1>Listen to what Peter said.

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<v Speaker 1>I think Peter is just overwhelmed with what's happening here.

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<v Speaker 1>He starts off by saying you know what I realize?

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<v Speaker 1>God's not showing any partiality.

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<v Speaker 1>Anybody, anybody, from any nation, anywhere, can hear the gospel and believe and be saved.

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<v Speaker 1>And he said in Acts 10, 42 and 43, Peter says he ordered us to preach to the people.

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<v Speaker 1>Peter says he ordered us to preach to the people.

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<v Speaker 1>Proclaim, announce, insist, persuade and solemnly testify that this is the one who has been appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.

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<v Speaker 1>Of him, all the prophets bear witness that through his name, jesus Christ, everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins.

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<v Speaker 1>That's just an amazing, profound statement.

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<v Speaker 1>This is the core of all conversions.

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<v Speaker 1>This is a sine qua non.

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<v Speaker 1>This is the heart of the gospel.

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<v Speaker 1>Believing in him, who he is, what he did for you.

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<v Speaker 1>Believing in him who he is, what he did for you.

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<v Speaker 1>Notice Peter doesn't say everyone who believes in him for the forgiveness of sins.

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<v Speaker 1>He doesn't say that Sometimes we think that's what it means.

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<v Speaker 1>No, no, no.

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<v Speaker 1>He says everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins.

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<v Speaker 1>That's an important thing.

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<v Speaker 1>Real conversion happens when we believe in Jesus and receive.

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<v Speaker 1>Receive implies gift, grace, not something we earn, deserve or merit.

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<v Speaker 1>That's the gospel.

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<v Speaker 1>It's sheer grace.

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<v Speaker 1>Believe and you'll receive.

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<v Speaker 1>This is really a struggle for a lot of people.

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<v Speaker 1>It's too good to be true.

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<v Speaker 1>No, it's good and it is true.

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<v Speaker 1>We receive the grace of God's forgiveness because of who Jesus is and what he did for us To really understand the gospel that we need to believe.

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<v Speaker 1>Cornelius is here, as well as others.

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<v Speaker 1>I think Luke chooses him for the reason I'm going to mention next.

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<v Speaker 1>So get this in your heart, don't miss it, because a lot of people don't get this regarding how a person is saved, how do we get to heaven?

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<v Speaker 1>How do we receive eternal life?

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<v Speaker 1>It's counterintuitive, but listen to what happens to Cornelius.

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<v Speaker 1>Let's go back a bit.

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<v Speaker 1>Cornelius was in his house and he's praying, praying to God, the God of Israel.

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<v Speaker 1>An angel appears to him, says you know what?

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<v Speaker 1>God has heard your prayers, he's remembered your generosity.

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<v Speaker 1>Well done, well done, therefore.

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<v Speaker 1>Therefore, what Notice?

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<v Speaker 1>A striking statement here, how striking it really is.

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<v Speaker 1>He's saying Cornelius, we've been up in heaven and we've been looking over the human race and you're one of the best, top of the line.

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<v Speaker 1>You pray to the true God.

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<v Speaker 1>You give generously, you are successful, you are powerful.

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<v Speaker 1>You are successful, you are powerful, you are wealthy.

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<v Speaker 1>You achieved all your goals in life.

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<v Speaker 1>You are a man of virtue.

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<v Speaker 1>Therefore, therefore, therefore, what does the angel say?

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<v Speaker 1>Therefore, because you're so good, we just want you to know, cornelius, keep on doing what you're doing and we're sure you'll make it to heaven.

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<v Speaker 1>No, he doesn't say that.

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<v Speaker 1>He says therefore, cornelius, you're one of the good ones.

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<v Speaker 1>Therefore, therefore, now you need to be converted to Christ.

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<v Speaker 1>Go get Peter, he'll tell you all about it.

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<v Speaker 1>Don't miss this.

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<v Speaker 1>You need to hear and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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<v Speaker 1>You're a good person, but you need to be converted.

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<v Speaker 1>It's striking, stunning, if you remember that's.

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<v Speaker 1>The same thing happened with Nicodemus in John 3, when Jesus met with him.

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<v Speaker 1>Nicodemus, like Cornelius, was a successful, wealthy, religious man.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, he was a Pharisee.

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<v Speaker 1>He was in a position of power, serving on the Jewish Sanhedrin, the ruling council in all of Israel.

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<v Speaker 1>Right, he was a man of virtue, impeccable credentials, a man who wasn't proud or self-righteous.

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<v Speaker 1>He's a virtuous man, a good man.

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<v Speaker 1>And Nicodemus even said to Jesus Master, we know you're sent from God.

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<v Speaker 1>You know what Jesus said to him, nick, you know what You're a great person.

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<v Speaker 1>You know the Bible really well.

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<v Speaker 1>You keep the Sabbath.

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<v Speaker 1>You're very moral and religious.

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<v Speaker 1>Just keep it up and you'll be all right.

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<v Speaker 1>He doesn't say that.

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<v Speaker 1>Nobody says to him you must be born again, which is converted.

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<v Speaker 1>Jesus didn't tell him he's pretty good, he isn't a murderer or thief.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, did all those bad things, so he must be okay.

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<v Speaker 1>Jesus is saying you must start over completely over spiritually.

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<v Speaker 1>You have to start from scratch.

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<v Speaker 1>It's like being born all over spiritually.

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<v Speaker 1>You have to start from scratch.

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<v Speaker 1>It's like being born all over again as a little baby.

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<v Speaker 1>You need to be radically converted.

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<v Speaker 1>This is not the way people think.

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<v Speaker 1>You know that right.

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<v Speaker 1>Real conversion challenges religion.

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<v Speaker 1>Religious thinking like if I'm just good enough, I'll be in heaven.

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<v Speaker 1>I hear it so often.

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<v Speaker 1>It's not even funny.

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<v Speaker 1>You see, we can understand being born again and conversion.

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<v Speaker 1>For people whose lives are a mess train wrecks oh yeah, they got born again.

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<v Speaker 1>But not for a moral, righteous, religious person.

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<v Speaker 1>How do we understand that Cornelius and Nicodemus were as good as you could ask people to be and he said you're a good guy.

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<v Speaker 1>But you need to be converted, you need to be born again Both of them.

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<v Speaker 1>Jesus said whoever you are, religious or otherwise, you must be born again to enter the kingdom of God.

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<v Speaker 1>There's no other way you can.

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<v Speaker 1>The problem is for most people, when they hear you must be born again, they automatically think it's a call I need to become more moral and righteous.

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<v Speaker 1>No, no, righteous, no, that can't be what it is.

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<v Speaker 1>Look at Cornelius, look at Nicodem.

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<v Speaker 1>Good, it's great that you are, but there's one piece missing the Messiah.

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<v Speaker 1>Christian conversion is a challenge to religion, challenge to moral behavior as the basis for salvation.

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<v Speaker 1>It's a challenge to it, direct challenge Christian conversion, conversions to Christ, as we talked about this morning and I'm going to finish it next time with Cornelius, which is an amazing end story In the book of Acts.

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<v Speaker 1>Real conversions share some common traits those who are really converted somewhere, sometime recognize how God has been instrumental in leading them to the gospel and to faith in Jesus.

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<v Speaker 1>Those who are really converted at some point really hear, really understand the gospel, who Jesus is, messiah, sent by God to take our place, what he did so we could receive forgiveness of sins.

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<v Speaker 1>And those who are really converted really believe personally in Jesus as their Savior and those who are really converted receive forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit, which we'll talk about next time as we look at the final look at Cornelius' conversion.

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<v Speaker 1>I think I've always marveled at this.

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<v Speaker 1>The Apostle Paul you know they're going to the apostles and Peter Paul, barnabas, we're going to continue.

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<v Speaker 1>They're going to have a meeting discussing the essence of salvation, the essence of the gospel, a little later, and they all agreed.

00:21:24.115 --> 00:21:27.234
<v Speaker 1>They all agreed here's what the gospel is.

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<v Speaker 1>And Apostle Paul made the conversion process clear.

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<v Speaker 1>I think One of the clearest places you have it in his letter to the Gentile believers in Ephesus, ephesians 1.13.

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<v Speaker 1>He says in him Jesus, you also listen to this.

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<v Speaker 1>After listening to the message of the truth gospel, you got it, the gospel of your salvation.

00:21:57.396 --> 00:22:09.718
<v Speaker 1>Having also believed, you were then sealed with the Holy Spirit, a promise he was given to you when you believed.

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<v Speaker 1>Jesus said that conversion, or being born again, is something everyone, everyone, needs to do in order to see the kingdom of God, rich or poor, smart or dumb, religious or lawless, successful or failure, moral or immoral.

00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:38.902
<v Speaker 1>But when we believe, we receive.

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<v Speaker 1>We receive forgiveness of sins, the gift of eternal life, the gift of the Holy Spirit and thousands, thousands and thousands of other blessings in Christ.

00:22:52.657 --> 00:22:59.436
<v Speaker 1>Today we've just looked at three simple things that are necessary to be converted.

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<v Speaker 1>Listen to Jesus' own words, as I finish, in the Gospel of John to Nicodemus, because I think Nicodemus, as he's listening to this, you must be born again.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm moral, I'm righteous, I'm good.

00:23:14.557 --> 00:23:17.280
<v Speaker 1>I need to be born again.

00:23:17.280 --> 00:23:18.430
<v Speaker 1>I'm moral, I'm righteous, I'm good, I need to be born again.

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<v Speaker 1>It's probably floating in his mind, well, how?

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<v Speaker 1>Here's what Jesus said to him John 3, 16.

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<v Speaker 1>For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have receive eternal life.

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<v Speaker 1>I don't know any other news that's more wonderful than that.

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<v Speaker 1>Let's pray, father, thank you today for the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah you sent to save us from our sins so that when we believe in him we receive forgiveness.

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<v Speaker 1>We receive so much more.

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<v Speaker 1>We receive eternal life.

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<v Speaker 1>And your spirit, who comes to live in us, empower us, comfort us, counsel, counsel us.

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<v Speaker 1>Lord, I just ask today that you would help anyone here today who's not really tasted that to begin that journey with you to come, whoever they are, rich or poor, moral or immoral, come to Jesus and open their heart to receive him as Savior and Lord in their lives.

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<v Speaker 1>Oh, I pray for that Lord and I pray for us who do know him.

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<v Speaker 1>Would you help us?

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<v Speaker 1>Help us to magnify his name when we're together and with each other, while we're talking and fellowshipping together.

00:24:55.660 --> 00:25:00.381
<v Speaker 1>Help us to magnify him, whom you sent to save us.

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<v Speaker 1>In Jesus' name, I pray, amen.