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| Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. |
Acts 10:1-11:18 Important Lessons from Cornelius the Gentile Centurion
Asking questions is a wonderful way to learn. It simulates thinking, and demands for credible answers – a process so necessary to learn the Scriptures and know its truth.
1. Descriptions of Cornelius BEFORE he ever met apostle Peter or heard the gospel:
- Acts 10:2 "A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway."
- Acts 10:4 "Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God."
- Acts 10:22 " Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee."
- Acts 10:31 "Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God."
- Acts 10:33 "Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God."
Are these descriptions of an un-regenerated or a regenerated man?
- Compare these descriptions with the description of ALL natural man in Romans 3:10-18.
- Dr Luke gives an extensive account of the CONVERSION of this Gentile centurion.
2. Was Cornelius a regenerated man when an angel of God spoke to him?
a. If he was, how did this regeneration come about?
- Was it by something done to him, like preaching the gospel to him?
- Was it by something done by him, like hearing and believing the gospel, reading the Scriptures, etc?
- Was it directly by the Holy Spirit working directly upon him?
b. If he was, what kind of life was birthed in him? Is it spiritual and eternal life?
c. If he wasn't how would you explain the descriptions of Cornelius before he met Peter to hear the gospel for the first time?
d. Can an un-regenerated man, a man without eternal life born in him by the Holy Spirit, believe the gospel?
3. Acts 11:13-14 ‘… call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved..’
a. Was Cornelius 'saved' in any way before he ever heard the gospel from Peter?
- If yes, in what sense?
- Can a man whom God has not saved behaves like Cornelius had been?
- In what sense is the preaching of the gospel necessary for a person to be saved - to be saved from what?
b. The Scriptures speaks of salvation in several aspects: Only those who…
- HAVE BEEN SAVED (effectually called out of the state of sin and death to grace and eternal life) are among those who
- ARE BEING SAVED (through the ministry of the gospel from the consequences of sins in this life here and now), and
- SHALL BE SAVED (through the glorification at the second coming of Christ.)
c. Some examples of temporal salvation:
- When you are exhorted to work out your own salvation (Phi 2:12), what salvation is spoken of?
- What kind of salvation are God's regenerated people to work out in their lives? Eternal salvation? Or temporal salvation to those who HAVE BEEN SAVED by the grace of God?
- When apostle Paul told Timothy these words, "Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you,' what salvation is spoken of? Eternal salvation? Or the temporal salvation to those who HAVE BEEN SAVED, i.e. those bestowed with eternal salvation at effectual call
- A faithful ministry will save the pastor and his believing hearers from the great evils of ignorance and darkness, false doctrines and false practices (with all the evil consequences) in this life.
- Could a preacher save (temporal deliverances though the ministry of the word) himself and his believing hearers unless they HAVE BEEN SAVED eternally by the finished work of Christ applied to them at regeneration?
- When apostle Paul said these words, 'Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control' (1Ti 2:15), what salvation is spoken of? Eternal salvation? Or temporal salvation to those who HAVE BEEN SAVED, when believing women obey the gospel commands and play their biblical roles and save themselves from all sorts of miseries... and enjoy the blessings of God?
4. Acts 10:34-35: "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him."
a. When Peter was inspired to utter those momentous words, what glorious truths dawned upon him?
- In what sense God is no respecter of persons?
b. On what basis does God accept a man?
- On the basis of his hearing and believing the gospel?
- Or on the basis of the fear of God and the works of righteousness ?
- Or on the basis completely outside of the man?
c. What explains the fear of God and works of righteousness in a man who have not heard the gospel?
d. 'Whoever fears God and works righteousness' found in every nation who are nonetheless accepted (past tense) by God - have they heard the gospel?
- What is the explanation that there are men like Cornelius in every nation who fear God (simple present tense) and work righteousness (simple present tense) BUT who have not had the gospel brought to them?
5. Acts 11:18 “…When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.."
a. 'Repentance to life' is a grace worked by the Spirit of God in the heart of a child of God. [‘Repentance to life’ is not the same as repentance leading to eternal life. Eternal life must precede repentance. ]
- The Jews, who had always believed that 'repentance to life' was granted solely to them only, were constrained to acknowledge that the same gift HAS ALSO been granted by God to the Gentiles.
b. Repenting and believing is the CONSEQUENCE, RESULT of the granting of the grace of 'repentance to life.' The grace of repentance and faith are bestowed to the elect at the regeneration unto eternal life.
- With the grace of repentance to life, those who hear the outward gospel call will respond in repentance and faith. There is spiritual life to animate the spiritual activity of repentance and faith.
c. Repentance indeed comes through the hearing of God's words... but repentance is IMPOSSIBLE without the PRIOR working of the grace of repentance and faith to in the heart by the Holy Spirit.
