Subject: Identifying the born again moment |
Bible Note: Dear Dalprad, In my last post I quoted some Bible teaching on how we can identify the moment that God cleanses us. I understand how there could be confusion over the issue of Cornelius. Peter was struggling with idea of taking the gospel to the Gentiles. He was given a vision by God illustrating that it was God's plan for him to teach Gentiles the gospel. So Peter along with some other Jewish believer went to teach Cornelius. Cornelius was a God fearing man who was searching for the truth. He needed to hear the gospel and Peter preached it to him. While Peter was still preaching a miraculous event occured. The Holy Spirit came upon those listening to the message just as the Holy Spirit had come upon the Apostles on the day of Pentecost. The listeners began to speak in tongues. This was more evidence for Peter and the other Jewish believers(Acts 10:45) that the Gentiles were to be recipients of the gospel. Peter ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and we know from other scriptures what the purpose of baptism is. I also reject the teaching that a person cannot praise God, search for Him, or be devout and God fearing before they have been cleansed of their sins. Cornelius himself is proof of that. The Bible teaches that one must not only believe the gospel, but confess, repent, and be baptized. Some believe and are afraid to confess. Some believe but are unwilling to repent. Some will confess, and are willing to repent, but fall short of following God's instruction to be baptized. As I stated in my last post, salvation is by faith through God's grace and is not earned by works. It is a gift given by God to those who repent and follow Him. |