The Greatest Gift (Are You A Cornelius? Part 2)

   If you haven't read my last post " Are You A Cornelius?", go do it now! Otherwise, this post won't make complete sense.  This is the part 2 that I promised to write.

   They were not saved UNTIL THEY WERE BAPTIZED. In Acts 11, when Peter was telling those in Jerusalem what had happened leading up to Cornelius' conversion, it says, in 11:13-14 that the angel had told Cornelius, ....."and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved."

   Salvation comes, first and foremost, through God's grace.  It also comes by obeying His commands, ALL of them.  God's plan of salvation is simple (much simpler than we think!), and if we love him as much as we claim to, we will do all that He says without questioning Him.
   (1) First, we have to hear the Gospel taught.  We have to know what God's Word says before we can obey it. Romans 10:17 says, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.")
Also, Hebrews 11:6, John 6:45, and Revelation 2:7.
   (2) Second, we must believe that God's Word is truth, and that Jesus is the Son of God.  John 8:24b - "For if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." Also look at Heb.11:6, Mark 16:16, and Acts 16:31.
   (3) Third, we must repent of our sins.  To repent means not just to be sorry for our sins, but to turn away from our sins.  We can't become a Christian, and then immediately start willfully sinning.  We have to guard our hearts and our minds every day; it can be a battle, but not an impossible one to win.  God promises us, no temptation will be more than we can handle! We can win the battle! Look at Acts 2:38; 17:30, and Luke 13:3.
   (4) Next, we must confess our faith in God.  Romans 10:10b, "with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Other Scriptures - Matthew 10:32-33; 16:16, Acts 8:37-38.
   (5) We must  be baptized.  Full immersion, not sprinkling or pouring.  1 Peter 3:21, " There is also an antitype which now saves us - baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ."  Other Scriptures- Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 22:16.
   (6)  And lastly, we must be faithful unto death.  Becoming a Christian is not a lifetime vaccination against sin.  Yes, we will fall.  But if we repent and ask God for forgiveness, He will help us up, dust us off, and give us strength.  It is a race (2 Timothy 4:7-8), a race we can win.

   At the beginning of Acts 10, it seems that Cornelius had done everything commanded by God, except for the act of baptism. When he and his family were told by Peter what they needed to do, they did it and were added to the Lord's church.

   I don't write all of this to condemn you or put you down for what you believe.  I'm sharing it in the hopes that you will read it, meditate on it, and act on it.  I'm not trying to force my beliefs on you; I just want to share what God's written Word says.  2 Timothy 3:16 says that ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and Titus 1:2 says that God CANNOT lie.
   God's Word can change anyone's heart.  Just look at Paul the apostle!  Before he became a Christian, he was doing all he could to destroy Christianity (Just read Acts 7:54-8:3!).  He had Christians put in prison, he had them tortured, and even some were put to death.  And yet, God had a bigger and better plan for his life.  In fact, almost half of the New Testament was written by him!  A man who once had Christians put to death for their beliefs was now willing to die himself for the cause of Christ.  Don't for a second believe that you can't become a child of God.  His invitation is open to anyone who is willing to choose Him over the world.  Please, choose to obey the Gospel while you still have opportunity.  I would love to be able to call you my brother/sister in Christ!   Much love, Rosalea

P.S. - There are also many wonderful lessons on this website - http://www.nschristians.org. - I happen to attend there!  I would love to see you!

Are You A Cornelius? (Part 1)

As you read this, please keep your Bible open to Acts 10.❤
In Acts 10:1-2, we're told that Cornelius was a devout and upright man. He was generous, he prayed to God always, and he and his family feared (respected) the Lord. If you were to pass Cornelius on the street, you would probably say, "He is such a good man."
How many men and women, young or older, do you know that could be classified as "good" people? Those in the world who seem to be doing what is right; the ones that are kind, generous, respectful, and seem to have a close relationship with God? They sound VERY MUCH like Cornelius, don't they?
But Cornelius had not done everything God wanted him to do. He had not fully obeyed the Gospel.
In verse 6, Cornelius was told by an angel of God to send for Peter, who would tell Cornelius what he must do.
In verse 24, Peter makes it to Caesarea, along with some brethren from Joppa, where Peter had been staying. Cornelius was waiting for Peter, and had even called together his family and close friends. He was eager to obey the Lord, and he wanted his loved ones to do the same!
In verses 34-43, Peter proceeds to preach to all who were gathered there. He told them that God shows no partiality; any who fear(respect)Him and work righteousness are accepted by Him. Anyone who loves God enough to fully obey Him, will be accepted by Him!
In verse 44, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the Word, but they were still not saved. There was a reason the Spirit came upon them, however. Until that time, the Gospel could only be preached to the Jews. Cornelius and his family were Gentiles. The Spirit came upon the Jews in Acts 2, when the Gospel was first taught. In this instance, the Spirit came upon the Gentiles as a sign to Peter and the other Jews that God had now allowed the Gospel to be preached to the Gentiles.
In verse 47, Peter says, "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord."
They were not saved until they were baptized! In Acts 11, when Peter was telling those in Jerusalem what had happened leading up to Cornelius' conversion, it says in verses 13-14, that the angel had told Cornelius, ..."and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved."

(To be continued...)