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...)