ACCEPTABLE TO GOD - FINAL PART

ACCEPTABLE TO GOD - FINAL PART

Reference: Acts 10:34-35 New Living Translation (NLT)

'So Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to Him."'

As a humble servant of God, before I form the general summary of this topic, I humbly want us to first of all, consider a thoroughly detailed rendering of the saving efficacy of Peter's preaching, which is in accordance with Acts 10:44-48:

"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who were listening to the message [confirming God's acceptance of Gentiles]. All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them talking in [unknown] tongues (languages) and exalting and magnifying and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone refuse water for these people to be baptized, since they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?" And he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay there for a few days"(AMP).

We live in a time where some people would assume that everything that happened in the above versified passage originated from a magical sense of approach. In other words, very probably, Peter didn't have to prepare for his ministration that very night he lodged Cornelius' delegates at Joppa. Was the glorious outcome really a chance occurence or serendipity?

From the beginning of Cornelius' testified vision to the very end of their extraordinary experience with God, by reason of engineered meeting with Peter, everything that took place was beyond the scope of normal human understanding. Did you know what it implied to visit and minister to souls, and instantly, or prior to concluding the Gospel message, the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Gentiles and they began to utter oracular language?

Indeed, on account of one prepared vessel (Peter), the Gentiles were immensely engulfed by an unexpected supernatural power control in reality, such that they began to speak in unknown tongues (languages), exalting, magnifying and praising God; a divine experience, too baffling or wondrous to be expressed or described in brief terms.

What does Cornelius' story teach us? It teaches us that no matter how good, generous, God-fearing, pleasing and perfect a person seems to be without Christ, he is still a lost soul. One can only become born of God (a born again Christian), as well as fulfil God's purpose on earth - in the measure of inextricable union with Christ - which is established on the basis of being saved by the redemptive power of divine grace.

So there is an ability that comes with preaching the message of reconciliation that introduces Christ as the only way, truth and Saviour of the world, and when that ability quickens a man's spirit, they will receive Christ by faith, and the person will become born of God, by the Spirit. Forthwith, the person is made new and vigorously alive to God, by being transferred from the limiting empire of darkness to the Kingdom of light.

Beloved, no matter your position in that society where you function, and regardless of who you are in this world, you must pass through the right door to be at peace with God - which is the proper way to say that someone has gained access to a house through the right entrance door. Jesus Christ Himself said, "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture"(John 10:9 NKJV).

Being good enough in your world, being spoken well of, being kind to the poor and needy, doing the right things and praying to God always, do not denote an "equal response" or equate to salvation that is only obtainable in Christ. You could be engaging in all the good works in this world and be perfectly distinguished by many people in your world, and still go to hell. So by virtue of predestination, Cornelius was granted the possibility of inheriting the Kingdom of God, through this great passage, known as the way, the truth and life.

Zero wonder, Romans 8:30 (AMP) reads, "And those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified [declared free of the guilt of sin]; and those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity]."

Right from the beginning, the only thing Cornelius and Peter had in common from their far-apart distant locations is God's voice. Now ponder the negative impact of having some hearing difficulties in relation to perceiving God's voice and the unseen heights of limitation that sort of spiritual deficiency can activate or exert in a man's life. One of the limitations is that it attenuates one's sensitive insight into "mind of God" concerning their spiritual and natural spheres, thereby conditioning them to walk in the dark concerning God's perfect plan for their glorious destiny in Christ.

Another important Question: Why didn't Cornelius and his household automatically receive or become filled with the Holy Spirit - on account of his strong sense of right living, outstanding merit, and good works? Why did God choose to involve apostle Peter, as a linkman? It was so that Cornelius would not go amiss or out of place - in receiving God's saving grace. Have you ever seen or witnessed where a minister interrogated a person who claims to be born again on "how" it happened, or how they gained their salvation experience?

Why the question? They truly want to ensure that they obtained it or came in through the right door. In John 14:6 (NIV), Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and life." Convincingly, His sheep did not enter through the wrong door, plus more than anything else, there is no alternative door or way, aside from Christ. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - John 10:16; Acts 11:17-18; Ephesians 3:8-10; Galatians 3:28.

Exuberant Declaration:

If anyone receives Christ as Lord, he has become a new creation. The old life is gone; a newness of life has begun. This saving grace is a gift from God, who purchased me as His precious and most-prized possession through Christ's atoning sacrifice, and has given me this task of reconciling people to Him. Hence, I'm grateful to God for entrusting His ministry of reconciliation into my hands, and for lodging the sacred and abounding deposit of His own glory in my spirit. Hallelujah!