Subject: what is baptism |
Bible Note: 1. So while miraculous events surrounded the conversion of "Cornelius And His Household", their salvation was no different from what we have already seen... a. They heard the gospel of Jesus Christ b. They were taught to believe and be baptized -- Thus they were saved "in the same manner" as all those previously 2. As Peter said at the council, it is "through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ" that both Gentiles and Jews are saved - cf. Ac 15:11 a. We are saved by grace, not works - cf. Ep 2:5,8; Ti 3:4-5 b. For it is not enough to be religious... 1) Who could be more religious than Cornelius? 2) Or even the 3000 at Pentecost, or the Ethiopian eunuch? 3. The grace of God which saves does require a response, however... a. A response of faith - Ac 10:43 b. A faith in Jesus that comes by hearing the gospel - Ac 10:42 c. A faith which expresses itself in obedience - cf. He 5:9 1) E.g., repentance and baptism - cf. Ac 2:38; 3:19; 10:48 2) 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) |