Featured Acts 10 - Cornelius - Question

1 Cor 1:14-15 I give God thanks, that I baptized none of you but Crispus and Caius: 15 Lest any should say that you were baptized in my name.

My Comment: If Paul didn’t believe in Baptism he wouldn’t have even Baptized Gaius and Crispus. The baptized were forming schisms around which minister baptized them. Paul was saying they were all baptized in the NAME OF CHRIST and not in the name of a particular minister. This is implied in 1 Cor 1:13,15. Paul was saying you were not baptized in Paul’s name but Christ’s Name (implied in 1 Cor 1:13).

 

It suppose it is an antiquated way of saying that Christ sent the apostles to first preach (Mark 3:14), and that was their main task, but also to Baptize (Matt 28:19). Their main vocation was first to preach. It’s not either preaching or baptism but both. It’s not an either/or situation but a both/and one. Paul concentrates on preaching and leaves Baptism to the other ministers. Evangelizing is teaching (teach = Matt 28:19) but Baptism follows.

 

Good question. Actually the Catholic Church accepts water Baptism as legitimate in any denomination as long as the correct Form and Matter is used.

 

That’s probably a middle of the road answer. You may be interested when I put my main post out soon.

 

My Comment: OK. I think you are saying he was already regenerated before Acts 10. You say the evidence was his righteous acts. I say you can’t assume anything by someone’s righteous acts when you are talking about whether a man is regenerated or not. It’s too subjective. He could be doing all these good works but committing many terrible sins at the same time! Don’t think this doesn’t happen. What about the Pharisees? (Luke 18:10-11, Matt 23). Then you say Cornelius came in the same way we do today, that is, like in Acts 4:12, in the Name of Jesus. It couldn’t have been in the Name of Jesus before Peter preached Christ to him. He may have known about Christ but he didn’t know Christ. What does it mean to be saved in Christ’s NAME. Does it mean “Accepting Christ as Lord and Savior”? If you have to accept Him it has to be ALL the time and not just one time. I think all of this plays into understanding when Cornelius was regenerated.

My Comment: Ps 9:11 (KJV Ps 9:10, Ps 91:14) brings that out. I think I see what you see in these verses. Cornelius was acting on the graces he had been given even though he didn’t really know Christ. Christ rewarded him for this (had mercy) by bringing him in touch with Peter to hear about Christ. We would describe these graces as Actual Graces. I will explain that more when I put my main post on this thread.

My Comment: I agree that Baptism places us in the New Covenant by the washing of water and the word. The “Washing” and “Word” are present at Water Baptism (Eph 5:26). I was really inspired one day and found this. If you concentrate on Ex 2:1-6 and read the other verses I mention around it you’ll see it:
1 Pet 3:21 - This verse connects the “Ark” with “Baptism”.
Ex 2:1-6 - In these verses, you see the story of Moses as a baby escaping death by being put in a basket and floating down the river.
Notice:
Verses 3 & 5 the “Basket” is referred to as the “Ark”.
Verse 5 -Bulrushes - L scirpeam = Papyrus
Strongs #1572 - G Gome = Papyrus
Papyrus was used to write scripture (Word).
The “Water” was used to float the basket
Eph 5:26 - The “Water” and the “Word”
1 Pet 3:20 - The “Ark” is connected to “Water” - Same as Ex 2
THE BOTTOM LINE: Moses was saved by the “Water” and the “Word” - Baptism (Eph 5:26)

It’s so easy to tie everything to Water Baptism. There are so many proofs in scripture that Baptismal regeneration occurs with Water Baptism.

My Comment: This is a great question! Also it says the same thing in 2 Peter 2:13. This is speaking about heretics. You can fall away from the Faith. It’s a great question because it reminds me of a misunderstanding Protestants have with our understanding of justification. Many, many Protestants forget and think that Catholics believe they are saved “once and for all” by Water Baptism. Absolutely not true! We believe salvation is a process. Baptism is our “initial justification” (signed or sealed with the Holy Ghost). This is how we come into the family and receive the pledge of our inheritance (down payment)(Eph 1:13-14) but we can lose our inheritance (Eph 5:5). We must, therefore, remain “in Christ” (John 15:4-7, Rom 8:1). We believe in an “ongoing justification”. Confessing and repenting of sin is part of Perseverance. Trent called the Sacrament of Confession “a Second Plank after the shipwreck of lost grace” [Denziger’s, #807 (DS 1542)] The “Plank” was probably based on Acts 27:44. We are judged at the END of our life.

My Comment: True but it is through Water Baptism that initially happens. To get in the Ark you have to pass through the Water! (1 Pet 3:20) Even Martin Luther believed in Baptismal Regeneration through Water Baptism.

 

I agree. We are water baptized with that same authority. We are baptized “In the NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”. So it’s in God’s Name.

 

Ok. This is a middle of the road view. You may want to read my main post I will put on after I answer some more questions. Thanks for your post!

 

My Comment: There is no such thing as “Saving Faith”. The term doesn’t exist. There is a “dead Faith” (James 2:19-20, 26). You could say there is a living Faith or a Working Faith, that is, a Faith that works in Charity (Gal 5:6), but not a “Saving Faith”. Faith Alone really doesn’t do anything by itself. You could use that term if you didn’t mean “Faith Alone”. As I’ve pointed out, the devils believed and had faith and trembled (James 2:19). Baptism IS stated. It is front and center. Acts 11:17 is referring back to Acts 10:47 which points directly to Baptism. In Acts 11:17, Peter repeats the same meaning that he said in Acts 10:47, “who was I, that could withstand God?” Acts 10:47 says “Then Peter answered: Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Ghost, as well as we? These two phrases mean the same thing. You have to have Faith to be Baptized but Baptism is where the regeneration takes place. The power of Baptism comes from the side of Christ while He was on the cross (John 19:34). Water flowed from His side.

 

I agree regeneration is a gift. There is nothing we can do to get it. Again, this is why we baptize infants. But there is a time and place we receive it and how we receive it. Col 2:13 is a cross reference to Eph 2:5 which is baptism. Quickened comes from Baptism (Col 2:13). Sins are blotted out. Col 2:11 describes Baptism and Col 2:12 IS Baptism. I’m only criticizing to bring out some points.