Saved-By-Grace
Well-Known Member
In Acts chapter 10 we read of the conversion of the Gentile, Cornelius, by the testimony of the Apostle Peter, who was commissioned by God to take the Gospel of his salvation, to his home. Reading Peter's words, we come across something very interesting:
"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" (verses 34-35)
These are not the words of mere man, but that of Almighty God, spoken through His servant, Peter. Cornelius, we are told, was "a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God" (verse 2). The conversion of Cornelius and his household, was the Pentecost of the Gentiles, like chapter 2 of Acts, was that of the Jews.
How do people understand the words of Peter in verses 34 and 35? It seems very clear that "WORKS" (does what is right), somehow is "acceptable" to God. However, we know that no person can ever "earn" their place in heaven, through any "good deeds" that they do, by themselves, as there is no "self-merit" in ones salvation, as it is from start to finish, "of the Lord". Because of his "good deeds", which was seen by the Lord, He arranged for the Apostle Peter to preach the Gospel for their salvation, upon hearing this, Good News, Cornelius and his household accepted the Message and gave their lives to Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. The fact that "fearing God" and doing "what is right and acceptable to Him", did indeed play a role in his and his families salvation, cannot be undermined in any way.
I do not use this passage to espouse a "works salvation", as I do not believe that this is any way taught in the entire Holy Bible.
In the Book of Jonah we read, that after the people of Nineveh heard the Gospel Message from Jonah, that the kings "arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way (repent) and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” (3:6-9)
We then read of God's response:
"And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way (repented); and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not" (verse 10)
It is very clear from this passage, that the "repenting" and "sorrow" of their sins, was "acceptable" to God, and when He "saw their work", not something they had "done to earn" their salvation, but their "repenting", and accepting what God had told them through Jonah, that caused God to save them!
"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" (verses 34-35)
These are not the words of mere man, but that of Almighty God, spoken through His servant, Peter. Cornelius, we are told, was "a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God" (verse 2). The conversion of Cornelius and his household, was the Pentecost of the Gentiles, like chapter 2 of Acts, was that of the Jews.
How do people understand the words of Peter in verses 34 and 35? It seems very clear that "WORKS" (does what is right), somehow is "acceptable" to God. However, we know that no person can ever "earn" their place in heaven, through any "good deeds" that they do, by themselves, as there is no "self-merit" in ones salvation, as it is from start to finish, "of the Lord". Because of his "good deeds", which was seen by the Lord, He arranged for the Apostle Peter to preach the Gospel for their salvation, upon hearing this, Good News, Cornelius and his household accepted the Message and gave their lives to Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. The fact that "fearing God" and doing "what is right and acceptable to Him", did indeed play a role in his and his families salvation, cannot be undermined in any way.
I do not use this passage to espouse a "works salvation", as I do not believe that this is any way taught in the entire Holy Bible.
In the Book of Jonah we read, that after the people of Nineveh heard the Gospel Message from Jonah, that the kings "arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way (repent) and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” (3:6-9)
We then read of God's response:
"And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way (repented); and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not" (verse 10)
It is very clear from this passage, that the "repenting" and "sorrow" of their sins, was "acceptable" to God, and when He "saw their work", not something they had "done to earn" their salvation, but their "repenting", and accepting what God had told them through Jonah, that caused God to save them!
