Featured The Reason why Calvinists and Arminians cannot agree

Again, I am not SBC either. In addition to never ever seeing them in NJ, I would never ever be able to build unity with them .....I consider them ambiguous. I also am much more comfortable with the 1689 Because it helped me to understand when no Pastor was present.

As a sidebar question to MorseOp though, what is it that you recognize as Reformed v. Particular or Old School or Primitive Baptist? You can answer this privately if you prefer.

 

You have no basis to make such a statement. The message of Scripture is that he was saved. There is nothing in the account to indicate otherwise. It is true that he did not have the indwelling Holy Spirit but this is typical of the believers under the dispensation of the Old Testament. There is no indication in the discussion that Cornelius was not saved. The primary purpose of recording this event is to show that the Gospel was for Gentiles as well as Jews.

I would also point out that there were other events in the book of Acts where those saved had not yet received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:14-17
14. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15. Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16. (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

The case of the Philippian is obviously more difficult. However, it is impossible to prove your case using this event for the simple reason that little is said about what happened.

Where in Scripture does it say that all regenerate persons are in-dwelt with the Holy Spirit. I have shown from the Scripture passage above [Acts 8:14-17] that this is not true. The Scripture account regarding Cornelius indicates that he also was saved but not in-dwelt with the Holy Spirit.

Consider the following Scripture:

Acts 2:37-39
37. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Nothing is said in the above passage about belief or faith. This simply demonstrates that yanking a verse of Scripture out of context to prove your point is not necessarily valid!

 

This discussion will have to continue on another thread if desired, as this thread is over 30 pages.