Reply to April Article on Cornelius
You are incorrect concerning Cornelius and water baptism. The HAD (past tense) as you quoted received the Holy Spirit. This means they were saved before they submitted to baptism. This verse proves my point Rom 8:9-10 But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. (NASU) Three theological implications are found in this passage.
- Peter could not argue with at what had happened, 11:17.
- Cornelius and his household, though uncircumcised (11:3) were baptized because they HAD believed in Christ, as evidenced by their receiving the Holy Spirit. The order of these events as in the whole book of Acts was believing in Christ their salvation , receiving the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13 this happened the very moment they believed), speaking in tongues (Not needed for today. Tongues have ended), and being water baptized (Only after they were saved by faith alone in Christ and).
- The reality of Cornelius’ conversion was confirmed by Peter’s staying with him several days, probably to instruct him more fully in his newfound faith.
This event with Cornelius proves that water baptism is not needed for salvation.
Answer
Keith Sharp
Thanks for your thought provoking reply concerning baptism and the household of Cornelius. The general truth is the Spirit of God is given to those who are saved (Romans 8:9-10), but there are exceptions. Because of King Saul’s disobedience to God (1 Samuel chapter 15), the Lord took His Spirit away from Saul and sent an evil spirit to trouble him (1 Samuel 16:14). But when Saul sent messengers to arrest David, “the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied” (1 Samuel 19:20). This happened three times (verse 21). Finally Saul himself went, and the Spirit of God came upon him and he prophesied (verses 22-24). Neither Saul nor his messengers were saved.
The normal order is the Spirit is given to those who obey the Lord (Acts 5:32) by repenting and being baptized (Acts 2:38).
But the reception of the Holy Spirit by the household of Cornelius is a unique event. Yes, it was miraculous as evidenced by their speaking in tongues (Acts 10:44-46). And at the time they received the Holy Spirit, they were not even believers in Christ, for the Holy Spirit fell upon them as Peter began to preach (Acts 11:15), and Peter’s sermon is what led them to faith in Christ (Acts 15:7; Romans 10:17). Furthermore, they were not yet saved, since they were saved by Peter’s words (Acts 11:14), which he was just beginning to speak when they received the Holy Spirit. Rather, the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentile household of Cornelius for the benefit of Jewish disciples, to prove to them God accepts uncircumcised Gentiles on the same basis as Jews (Acts 10:44-48; 11:17; 15:7-9). The miracle accomplished its purpose and never needs to be repeated (Acts 10:44-48; 11:18).
At the time Cornelius and his household received the Holy Spirit, they were not yet believers, not yet baptized, and not yet saved. They were saved the same way all people are in this age. They heard Peter preach the gospel (Acts 10:36-43; 11:14), believed the gospel he preached (Acts 15:7-9), repented of their sins (Acts 2:38), and were baptized for (in order to) the remission of sins (Acts 10:47-48; 2:38).
More on Cornelius, the Holy Spirit, and Salvation (this from India)
I believe if we are humble and pliable, then the Holy Spirit can lead us into all (Jn 16:13) the truth (absolute). In Mt. 13:11, the disciples of Lord Jesus raised a query, but see how the Lord answered it “It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, for them (some jews) its not given”. In John chapter 6 if you read, it was very difficult for Jews to understand about the flesh and blood of Lord Jesus in verse 60 (hard saying) in verse 66 (many disciples of Lord Jesus left following Him). Our Lord Jesus used metaphors, Similes, parables, for example, bread = flesh of Lord Jesus, wine = blood of Lord Jesus, seed=word of God, good seed = children of His Kingdom, tares=children of the wicked one (Mt.13:38), mustard seed = Kingdom of Heaven (Mt. 13:31), Salt = Believers, Light = Believers (Mt. 5:13, 14). These metaphors, similes and parables were used to drive a particular point home, but for jewish believers it was a stumbling block as written in Mt. 13:13-17 for the scripture to be fulfilled.
In conclusion we can say with a fair degree of certainty that an unbeliever comes to Lord Jesus only if its given to him/her to understand the mysteries of God. In Jn 6:44 Father draws and gives to Son. In Jn 14:21 “He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves Me, and he that loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will MANIFEST Myself to him”. In Acts 10:34-35 “Of truth I perceive that God is no respecter of person, but in every nation he that fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him”. I’am sure there were many gentiles in Ceasarea other than Cornelius, but only God almighty was happy with Cornelius (chosen) and MANIFESTED Himself to him.
Answer
Keith Sharp
Yes, the Holy Spirit leads us (Romans 8:14), but He does so through “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:2), His Word (Psalm 119:105). The Holy Spirit revealed the Word of God to the Lord’s holy apostles and prophets, they wrote it down for us (Ephesians 3:1-7), and that Word is the instrument the Holy Spirit employs to guide us (Psalm 119:105).
Indeed, it was and is the condition of the hearer’s heart that determines whether he believes or disbelieves the word of Christ (Matthew 13:3-23). We must be careful to maintain “an honest and good heart” (Luke 8:15, English Standard Version).
Cornelius had such an heart before He received the Holy Spirit. When Peter came to his house, Cornelius informed him, “Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God” (Acts 10:33). The Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and his household afterward (Acts 10:44-48).
Truly, God does not show partiality (Acts 10:34-35). Cornelius was a man who feared God and worked righteousness before He received the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:1-2,22,44-48), and God approves those from every nation who fear Him and work righteousness (Acts 10:34-35).
If the Lord arbitrarily chose to send the Holy Spirit to Cornelius to open his heart to receive the gospel, and would not do so for other Gentiles, then the Lord is indeed partial. But He is not partial (Acts 10:34-35). The Holy Spirit did not directly, supernaturally open Cornelius’ heart. Rather, the Holy Spirit miraculously fell on the household of Cornelius to prove to Jewish disciples that uncircumcised Gentiles could be saved as well as Jews (Acts 10:44-48; 11:15-18; 15:7-9).
The Lord draws us by teaching us (John 6:44-45), not by a direct, supernatural work of His Spirit.
