Conversions in The Book of Acts - Vb

Conversions In The Book Of Acts
Cornelius And His Household (10:1-48;11:1-18) Part Two

Having looked at the events surrounding this conversion we have found that they are certainly remarkable. They evidently were intended to convey important truths. As we endeavor to glean what those truths were, here are some observations. First, religious people need to be saved. Many people believe that if you are religious, you will be saved. They believe that if you go to church, do good, etc., you have a hope of heaven. They believe that you will have earned the right to enter heaven. Yet, though Cornelius was a man who was a devout man that feared God with his whole family, gave alms generously and prayed to God always he still needed to be told "words by which you and all your household will be saved". Clearly, being religious isn’t what saves you (it’s the blood of Christ!).

The second observation is that the gospel is for all. Peter perceived that God is no respecter of persons - Ac 10:34-35 "Peter then said: Now I am certain that God treats all people alike. God is pleased with everyone who worships him and does right, no matter what nation they come from.". Indeed, God desires that ALL men be saved - cf. Jn 3:16; 1 Ti 2:3-6; 2 Pe 3:9. Therefore He has not predestined some to be saved and others lost!

A Third observation is that some presume that the purpose of the presence and decent of the Holy Spirit was to save Cornelius and his family. Some believe that therefore they were saved before obeying the command to be baptized. But the Spirit came upon them as Peter "began to speak", before they could hear words by which they could be saved! - Ac 11:14-15 "Then Peter would tell him how he and everyone in his house could be saved. After I started speaking, the Holy Spirit was given to them, just as the Spirit had been given to us at the beginning." The purpose of the Spirit can be gleaned from the following:
The effect it had on the Jewish brethren who were present, and Peter’s response - Ac 10:45-47 "Some Jewish followers of the Lord had come with Peter, and they were surprised that the Holy Spirit had been given to Gentiles. Now they were hearing Gentiles speaking unknown languages and praising God. Peter said, "These Gentiles have been given the Holy Spirit, just as we have! I am certain that no one would dare stop us from baptizing them."’
The reaction of the Jewish brethren in Jerusalem when Peter told them what happened - Ac 11:17-18 "God gave those Gentiles the same gift that he gave us when we put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. So how could I have gone against God? When they heard Peter say this, they stopped arguing and started praising God. They said, "God has now let Gentiles turn to him, and he has given life to them!"’

Futher note Peter’s explanation at the council held later in Jerusalem concerning the Gentile churches - Ac 15:7-11 "They had talked it over for a long time, when Peter got up and said: My friends, you know that God decided long ago to let me be the one from your group to preach the good news to the Gentiles. God did this so that they would hear and obey him. He knows what is in everyone's heart. And he showed that he had chosen the Gentiles, when he gave them the Holy Spirit, just as he had given his Spirit to us. God treated them in the same way that he treated us. They put their faith in him, and he made their hearts pure. Now why are you trying to make God angry by placing a heavy burden on these followers? This burden was too heavy for us or our ancestors. But our Lord Jesus was kind to us, and we are saved by faith in him, just as the Gentiles are." The purpose of the Spirit falling on them was therefore to show Jewish brethren that God was no respecter of persons - Ac 10:34-35. That God was willing to grant them opportunity to repent and have life - Ac 11:18. That Gentiles could be saved in the same way as Jews, by faith, repentance, and baptism - Ac 15:9,11; see also. 2:38 with 10:48. Faith comes through hearing the word of God - Ro 10:17.

It is very important to note the point at which Cornelius and his household was saved in that some believe their salvation occurred when the Holy Spirit fell upon them. Remember that Cornelius was told to send for Peter, who would tell him:
"what you must do." - Ac 10:6
"words by which you...shall be saved." - Ac 11:14.
From this, and from what we have already seen in other conversions Cornelius was not saved until he heard the "words" (after the sermon). Cornelius was not saved until he obeyed what he was told to do. What were the words he was told to do? Certainly they were told to believe, as implied in Ac 10:43 "Every one of the prophets has said that all who have faith in Jesus will have their sins forgiven in his name." Clearly they were told to be baptized, as commanded in Ac 10:48 "Peter ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and they asked him to stay on for a few days." Thus Cornelius and his household were not saved until they "believed and were baptized"! See Mk 16:16; Ac 8:12,13.

So while miraculous events surrounded the conversion of "Cornelius And His Household", their salvation was no different from what we have already seen. They heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. They were taught to believe and be baptized -- Thus they were saved "in the same manner" as all those previously. As Peter said at the council, it is "through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ" that both Gentiles and Jews are saved - see Ac 15:11. We are saved by grace, not works - see Ep 2:5,8; Ti 3:4-5. For it is not enough to be religious. Who could be more religious than Cornelius? Or even the 3000 at Pentecost, or the Ethiopian eunuch? The grace of God which saves does require a response, however. A response of faith - Ac 10:43. A faith in Jesus that comes by hearing the gospel - Ac 10:42. A faith which expresses itself in obedience - see He 5:9 For example, repentance and baptism - Ac 2:38; 3:19; 10:48. Not as works of merit, but as acts of faith by which one receives God’s grace. Those of us who are not descended from Israel can rejoice in what God revealed with the conversion of "Cornelius And His Household". As properly concluded by the Jewish brethren in Jerusalem:
"...God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life." (Ac 11:16)

Have you taken advantage of this wonderful gift, by responding to the gospel of Jesus Christ?
If you have not responded to the gospel message as we have just examined the conversion of Cornelius and his household and would like to do so, by all means please contact me directly at jimnewy@classicnet.net

This study is from The Executable Outlines Series, a collection of sermon outlines and Bible study lessons by Mark A. Copeland . These outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style. To God be the glory!
The Executable Outlines Series, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2001