Essential Baptist Principles_™
As taught in the Holy Scriptures
March 1, 2014

Selected Comments

New Testament Patterns
Preaching to other people

Acts chapter 10 records the experiences of the Apostle Peter when requested to preach to people of another nation (Gentiles). Peter and the Apostles were still observing the Jewish custom of not going into nor fellowshipping with the Gentile people. One very important point about this event is that Peter and the Apostles had already been instructed by Jesus as to what the world calls the Great Commission. It seems to me that Peter did not understand the Lord to mean what the world now claims He meant but Peter was cautious and required evidence of God's Grace before going to Cornelius's home. Peter received strong evidence but was still cautious and I believe he would not have gone without the evidence. Peter became convinced after he spoke to Cornelius and his household and witnessed the Holy Ghost fall on the gentiles as it had done before on the Apostles.

The preaching I heard as a young man about this experience of Peter's was that it was a pattern for us to follow when requested to preach for other people. Peter heeded the vision he had along with the testimony of those sent to get him but was still cautious, carrying several brethren with him which I believe is part of the pattern. As a young man I witnessed this pattern used on one or two occasions by Primitive Baptist. When God is in the matter there will always be evidence on both ends of the situation just as in this case with Peter. A new set of men, desirous of spreading the Gospel to the world, have departed from the patterns we find in the Scriptures.

There is no evidence that the Apostles joyously believed the Lord had given them authority to go into all the world and spread the Gospel but were as peter in that they required the evidence that God was in the matter first. This is set forth in Chapter 11 of Acts following the persecution that arose after the stoning of Stephen in which many were scattered as far as Antioch. They preached , not to the Gentiles or everyone they met on the corner as I heard one liberal Primitive Baptist say, but they only preached to the Jews.

After the ears of the Church at Jerusalem heard of these things, they sent Barnabus: “Who when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.” Acts 11:23 Notice he was glad after he seen the evidence of God's Grace was in the matter and not before which rejects the notion that they had authority to go everywhere preaching the Gospel without exception. The Apostles went only as they were led by the Spirit and down through the centuries his followers have followed that pattern. When they break from that pattern it causes division among the Churches. Elder Claude McKee

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