JOTS FROM OLD JAKE
CORNELIUS THE ITALIAN:
Saturday, Mar. 03, 2007 - 10:47 p.m.
Here was a man who had not heard the gospel of Jesus who was a good man, kind, just, and a generous man. He believed in God but was not saved. None-the-less he was sincere and persistent in praying to God. God heard his prayers and saw his goodness and sent an angel to minister to him. The angel told him who to talk to so that he could find out what he had to do to be saved. That someone was Peter.
When Peter led him and his household to the saving grace of the Lord. The Cornelius, and company, were filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking in other tongues and praising the Lord. The Peter and his assistants baptized the group in water.
There is much more to this narrative. The point I am trying to make is: No prayer goes unheard by God and the sincere prayer will bring forth results from God.
Cornelius already worshiped God, he already was a good and just man, he gave to the poor, and to the works of God. But even with all his piety he still had to ask Jesus to be Lord of his life.
I have had people tell me that they were saved because they went to church, were good people, gave to the church, gave to the poor, and that they were baptized as babies unto the Lord. That is not salvation� Salvation requires a person to make their relationship a one to one relationship. Starting by accepting Him as their Lord and Savior, then by allowing Him to become Lord of their life. Faith, and being drawn by the Holy Spirit accomplish all this. None of it is done by you/me� except the believing part, which is made possible by the Holy Spirit.
Bless y�all
Be ye filled with the Holy Spirit to overflowing!
Reference: (NRSV)
Acts 10:1 In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort, as it was called. 2 He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God. 3 One afternoon � he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius." 4 He stared at him in terror and said, "What is it, Lord?" He answered, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.
5Now send men to � for � Peter; � 7 When the angel who spoke to him had left, he called two of his slaves and a devout soldier from the ranks of those who served him, and after telling them everything, he sent them� 24 The following day they came to Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
33 Therefore I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. So now all of us are here in the presence of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded you to say." 34 Then Peter began to speak to them: �36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
44 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, 46 for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, 47 "Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" 48 So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.
