The Gospel Tears Down Walls

The Gospel Tears Down Walls

Acts: Church on the Move
Text: Acts 11:1–18

Introduction

On June 12, 1987, at the Brandenburg Gate, U.S. President Ronald Reagan delivered a speech remembered for one defining phrase: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” The Berlin Wall had divided East and West Germany since 1961. Though it took over two years for the wall to fall and three more for full reconciliation, this moment marked a turning point toward reunification. One nation again. The wall had fallen.

Forty years later, our reality is not defined primarily by physical walls. Many of us do not even have fences. Yet walls of division dominate our culture, and they can creep into the church.

Whether fueled by social media or the spirit of the age, the temperature has risen. There is little room left for “agreeing to disagree.” You must choose a side. Polarization, conflict, violence, and vitriol surround us, both in our nation and around the world. Ukraine and Russia. The Middle East. Myanmar. Sudan. Syria. Nigeria. Division is not merely political or cultural, it is a human problem.

Main Idea: The gospel alone can tear down walls.

These walls may be internal, how we see ourselves and others, or external: conflict, estrangement, hostility. The gospel transforms relationships. Jesus Christ, through the Spirit of God, fosters unity in the body of Christ and unleashes forgiveness, reconciliation, forbearance, and love... even toward enemies.

Ultimately, the greatest wall the gospel tears down is the wall between sinners and a holy God.

Acts 11 shows the early church wrestling with its own walls—and how the gospel demolishes them.

Three walls in particular:

1. The wall of sin and separation between us and God

2. The wall of self-righteousness (legalism and spiritual pride)

3. The wall of superiority (partiality and discrimination)

Scripture Reading

Acts 11:1–18 (ESV)

Context

Acts 11 follows the events of Acts 10:

• Cornelius, a devout Roman centurion

• Peter’s vision in Joppa

• Peter travels to Caesarea

• The gospel is proclaimed to Gentiles

• The Holy Spirit falls on them just as at Pentecost

This fulfills Acts 1:8—the gospel advancing to the ends of the earth.

I. The Gospel Tears Down the Wall of Sin and Separation 

The gospel is for all people and has the power to save.

Romans 1:16; John 3:16

The greatest wall of division is the wall of sin separating humanity from a holy God. Only the gospel can tear this wall down. Salvation comes through grace alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone.

This passage is clear about the nature of salvation and how this wall falls.

Salvation Comes Through the Word of Christ

• Acts 11:1 – “received the word of God”

• Acts 11:14 – “declare to you a message by which you will be saved”

• Acts 11:15 – “as I began to speak”

The gospel contains words—words about Jesus (Romans 10).
The Holy Spirit follows the preaching and reception of the Word.

Faith comes through hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17).

Salvation Comes Through Faith

• Acts 11:1 – “received the word of God”

• Acts 11:17 – “when we believed”

Jesus has done everything necessary to reconcile us to God. We must receive His free gift—trust, believe, accept. Faith alone.

Salvation Comes Through Repentance

• Acts 11:18 – “repentance that leads to life”

Repentance is turning from sin to God—bowing to the lordship of Christ.

Acts 10:36; Acts 11:21

Eternal life is found in no other name but Jesus
(John 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:5; Acts 4:12)

Only the gospel of Jesus Christ can tear down the wall of sin and separation from God.

The ground is level at the foot of the cross.

II. The Gospel Tears Down the Wall of Self-Righteousness

Definition of Self-Righteousness: “We are better than you.”

Acts 11:2–3

The “circumcision party” believed that Gentiles must first adopt Jewish ceremonial law in order to follow Jesus. They criticized Peter for associating with uncircumcised men.

This was a massive moment in redemptive history. The gospel was being separated from the Old Covenant ceremonial law.

Legalism misunderstands the gospel.
It says, “Fix your life first, then God will save you.”

Galatians 5:6

Self-righteousness is antithetical to the gospel.

Acts 11:9; Mark 7:18–23

In the Old Covenant, God used physical symbols to communicate holiness and separation. In Christ, those shadows have passed away. Through the Spirit, believers now experience the reality those signs pointed toward.

Ephesians 2:13–15

The gospel tears down the wall of self-righteousness and abolishes legalism.

We may not struggle with dietary laws or circumcision, but we still erect gospel barriers:

• “They don’t deserve it.”

• “They’re too far gone.”

• “Let them get their life together first.”

Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11

“And such were some of you.”

III. The Gospel Tears Down the Wall of Superiority

The idea that the gospel is reserved for certain people is an offense to the cross.

This wall can be subtle:

• Believing God is more likely to save people “like me”

Biblical Foundation

• Acts 11:12 – “making no distinction”

• Acts 11:18 – God grants repentance to Gentiles

• Acts 10:34–35 – God shows no partiality

Ethnic and cultural superiority have existed since Babel (Genesis 11).
Acts repeatedly shows God tearing down these barriers.

Cornelius was a Roman centurion—clearly a Gentile. God calling all nations to repentance should not have been surprising...

See Acts 1:8 and Matthew 28:18–20
πάντα τὰ ἔθνη — every ethnicity

Romans 1:16; Revelation 4–5; 1 Corinthians 12:13

Jesus's will has always been to redeem a people from every tribe, tongue, and nation.

What the Wall of Superiority Looks Like

• Exclusivity – “God won’t save them”

• Passivity – “I don’t care if God saves them”

• Pessimism – “It’s unlikely God would save them”

Galatians 3:26–29

Unity does not mean uniformity.
It means there are no second-class citizens in the kingdom of God.

The gospel is centered on a Savior who humbled Himself, took the form of a servant, and calls His people to do the same. This is the opposite of superiority. 

Philippians 2:3

The ground is level at the foot of the cross.
The gospel is the great equalizer.

Conclusion

What walls do you need to allow the gospel to tear down in your life?

• Sin

• Self-righteousness

• Superiority

Communion reminds us that unity flows from a continual, aggressive pursuit of the gospel.