Featured Cornelius’ Conversion

Cornelius’ Conversion - Acts Chapter 10:

Before His Conversion:

“Now there was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and made many charitable contributions to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!” And he looked at him intently and became terrified, and said, “What is it, lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and charitable gifts have ascended as a memorial offering before God.” (verses 1-4)

“They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you” (verse 22)

“Cornelius said, “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 clothing, and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your charitable gifts have been remembered before God” (verses 30-31)

“So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him. As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ -He is Lord of all” (verses 34-36)

“And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the one appointed by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His Name.” (Verses 42-43)

After His Conversion:

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message.All the Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the Gift of the Holy Spirit had also been poured out on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter responded, “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days” (verses 44-48)

“And he reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, ‘Send some men to Joppa and have Simon, who is also called Peter, brought here; and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ Therefore, if God gave them the same gift as He also gave to us after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has also granted to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”” (Acts 11:13-18)

It is very clear from the Bible, that the salvation of sinners, is not based on any “good works”, that they may do.

“But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, since otherwise grace is no longer grace” (Romans 11:6)

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

“He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5)

It is also clear from the passage in Acts 10, on the conversion of Cornelius and his house-hold, that his “many charitable contributions”, somehow were “acceptable” to the Lord, Who sent Peter to preach the Gospel Message, so that could repent and believe, and become saved Christians. We are also told, that those who “fear God” and “does what is right”, is “acceptable” to the Lord. It is also clear, that the sinner needs to believe in the Message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and repent of their sins, for them to receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit, which saves them.

This is not my personal “theology”, but presenting what the Infallible Word of God is saying.

 

but no sinner can, in and of themselves, EVER seek the Lord! As Romans 3:11 says, "No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God". It does not say, "some or many do", but NONE! NIL, ZERO!

 

Can you deal with the facts of Scripture, where it clearly says that his "good works" were acceptable to the Lord, Who sent Peter to preach the Gospel to him, so that he and his house-hold could get saved?

 

Ok, I see that you cannot respond, dealing directly with the OP. Typical of the Reformed/calvinist!

 

It says in Acts 10:35 but in every nation he that feareth him, and WORKS righteousness, is acceptable to him.

 

So these works are acceptable to the Lord before a sinner is saved?

 

What about the GOOD WORKS that are acceptable to the Lord before salvation?