A True Gospel Message

Scriptures:
“34 Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. 35 In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. 36 This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. 38 And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
39 “And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, 41 not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. 43 He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”
Acts 10:34-43 (NLT)
Observation:
Peter’s 10-point gospel message:
1. God shows no favoritism, he accepts everyone who fears him and does what is right.
2. There is a peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
3. God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power.
4. Jesus went around doing good, healing everyone oppressed by the devil because God was with him.
5. The Apostles were witnesses to all that Jesus did.
6. Jesus was killed on a Roman cross and God raised him to life on the third day.
7. Jesus did not appear to the general public after his resurrection, but rather only to his disciples who were chosen in advance by God to be his witnesses.
8. The disciples ate and drank with Jesus after he had risen.
9. Jesus ordered the disciples to preach everywhere that Jesus was anointed by God and Lord of all, the living and the dead.
10. Jesus was the one whom the prophets had testified about when they said that everyone who believes in him will be forgiven all their sins through his name.
The result of the acceptance of Peter’s gospel message was that all who heard it had the Holy Spirit poured out on them and they were baptized in the name of Jesus. This is the conclusion of the initial giving of the Holy Spirit. It had now been poured out on the Jews, the Samaritans, and the gentiles. The Church although still developing was inclusive of all who feared God and did right.
Application:
When we preach the gospel today what are the points that we emphasize? Do we preach a gospel that is line with what the Apostles taught, or do we preach a different gospel? Do we preach a gospel that is inclusive of all who fear God and do right or do we set up other stipulations for who can be and is acceptable to God? I fear that many in the Church today add more to the gospel message, thus preaching a different gospel than the one given by the Apostles.
Prayer:
Lord, let my witness and testimony line up with that of the Apostles. If I preach a different gospel at any point Lord please show me where I error that I may preach only that which you have commanded. Amen…