The Story Of Cornelius Shows The Simplicity Of Salvation

Acts 10:1-4, “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.”

I love the story of Cornelius in the Bible. Cornelius was a good man—a religious man—who feared God, prayed, fasted and gave alms to the poor; yet, he was a lost man without Jesus Christ. This is a very important lesson to learn. You can be a devout religious person all your life, yet still go to Hell to burn when you die, to suffer forever for your sins. Sin must be paid for (Romans 6:23; 5:12). Jesus warned that in the future, many religious people will not be allowed into Heaven. Matthew 7:22-23, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” They followed Jesus as their sovereign Master, even calling Him “Lord, Lord.” This is the error of the proponents of Lordship Salvation today, who believe that salvation requires full surrender to Christ's Lordship. Yet, Jesus will one day say to them the horrifying words, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

In Matthew 7:20-21 we read what they did wrong to miss Heaven, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” The will of the Father is to submit to His righteousness, through faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 10:2-4, “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” The Old Testament LAW shows humanity our sinfulness and need for redemption, and then brings us to CHRIST to be saved by God's grace (Galatians 3:24-26). 

Let's read about Cornelius' conversion:

Acts 10:39-44, “And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.”

When a person gets saved, God's Holy Spirit comes inside their body to indwell them (1st Corinthians 3:16-17; Romans 8:9; 1st John 3:24). That is why we just read that the Holy Spirit fell upon them that heard the Gospel Peter preached, because they BELIEVED it! This is why the apostle Paul asked in Galatians 3:2, “This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” Paul had been informed that a religious cult infiltrated the church at Galatia, teaching another gospel of keeping the deeds of the law for salvation (Galatians 1:6-9; 3:1-3). So Paul writes to them, asking them how they got the Holy Spirit. Was it by works, or by the hearing of faith? I love that phrase... THE HEARING OF FAITH. This shows the simplicity of salvation. 

If you read the beautiful story of Cornelius, you'll find that the apostle Peter never tells them to do anything to be saved, He simply told the GOOD NEWS of Jesus who died on the cross, was buried, and physically resurrected.

Carefully notice that:

• Peter didn't tell Cornelius to follow Jesus.
• Peter didn't tell Cornelius to surrender all to God.
• Peter didn't tell Cornelius to get water baptized.
• Peter didn't tell Cornelius to make Jesus his Lord.
• Peter didn't tell Cornelius to join a church.
• Peter didn't tell Cornelius to get religion.
• Peter didn't tell Cornelius to publicly confess Christ as his Savior.
• Peter didn't tell Cornelius to invite Jesus into his heart.
• Peter didn't tell Cornelius to start a relationship with Jesus.
• Peter didn't tell Cornelius to change his life.
• Peter didn't tell Cornelius to turn away from his sins.
• Peter didn't tell Cornelius to forsake the world.

In fact, Peter DIDN'T TELL CORNELIUS TO DO ANYTHING!!! Peter simply told the story of Jesus of Nazareth, Who went about doing good and healing the sick, but the unbelieving Jews had Him crucified on a cross for our sins. Jesus bled and DIED on the cross. He was BURIED. And then Christ miraculously RESURRECTED bodily from the dead three days later. This is “the Gospel” [i.e., Good News] according to the Holy Scriptures:

1st Corinthians 15:1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”

In Acts 10:30-45 Peter said that anyone who believes on the name of Jesus, Who died on the cross for our sins and raised up the third day, shall receive a pardon for their sins. That was the simple Gospel message, which Cornelius simply and quietly BELIEVED and was immediately saved. Amen!!! Whew, that's good stuff! Peter never told Cornelius to do anything to be saved, he simply preached the Gospel of Christ's death on the cross for our sins, His burial, and bodily resurrection the third day. The very moment that Cornelius believed, he was forever born-again and saved. The hardest part about salvation for people to understand is that you get it by DOING NOTHING!!! You simply REST COMPLETELY in the finished work of Jesus Christ, and then God does the saving... ALL OF IT!!!

The only “work” that we can do to be saved is to run to Jesus as our Savior. We do this by believing that Jesus is Who He claimed to be... THE CHRIST! John 20:31, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” Believe the Good News of Christ crucified and risen! John 6:28-29, “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” There is absolutely nothing that we can do to save ourselves, or even help save ourselves. We are all dirty, filthy, sinners, in need of the Savior. Jesus paid our debt of sin. Christ paid a debt that He did not owe, because we owed a debt that we could not pay. Praise God, JESUS PAID IT ALL!!! If you receive the Gospel as full-payment for your sins, you are saved.

This is such a beautiful passage of Scripture in Acts 10:30-45. The Apostle Peter never told Cornelius to do one thing to be saved. Peter never told Cornelius to “turn away from sins” (a popular heresy taught in today's apostate churches). In fact, Peter never mentioned the word “repent” to Cornelius. You won't find even one mention of the words “repent” or “repentance” in Acts chapter 10. Could the Bible be any clearer that the man who believes has repented? I think not. Peter just shared the 'Good News' of Christ crucified and risen the third day; Cornelius believed and was saved. It's that simple to be saved. For many of you, this truth has no doubt opened your eyes to the level of doctrinal corruption in today's churches. Anytime you hear someone telling you all the different things you must do to be saved, you know they are deceived by Satan! Just believe and the work is done!