Agreed~and we will add, He
does not need
any means whatsoever,
outside of Himself, including you or myself,
even his written word, as so many vainly believe and teach that he does. Knowing this first, all that are
in the flesh are at enmity against him not to mention, in bondage to sin and Satan, needing to be set free
by a power greater than Satan.
Tom, I agree in the sense in which those saints on the day of Pentecost were baptised by the Spirit of God. Let us consider a few things from Acts two.
But, before we start, let us see if Cornelius
was a child of God with
very little biblical knowledge of Jesus Christ
before he ever met Peter and heard words whereby he could be saved, with
a more perfect knowledge of the truth.
Read again Acts 10~which I know you know well the surface words on this section of God's word.
Following context, we know that the Holy Spirit is using the word
spiritually~so, we should seek the true purpose as to why God included this in his word for our learning of coming to the knowledge of the truth.
Tom, Cornelius feared God
before he met Peter. This proves he had eternal life already. The
Holy Spirit testified, not me, that Cornelius indeed feared God (
Acts 10:2 compared to 10:35).
Tom, unregenerate men living in the flesh do not fear God at
all (
Romans 3:18 compared to 3:9-18) ~
impossible. You cannot prove that they do, or even can.
All men
by nature are fools, and they do not fear God or seek God (
Ps 14:1-3;
53:1-3;
Titus 3:3)~this is God's testimony of man by nature, not mine.
Wicked men sin without regard for offending God, proving their lack of fear (
Ps 36:1;
Lu 23:40). God must totally change a man’s heart before he will fear God (
Psalm 10:4;
55:19;
65:4;
110:3). Surely you do not disagree with God's testimony of man by nature.
God’s covenant, which is the basis of salvation, is with those that fear him (
Ps 25:14;
Luke 1:50). This is God's testimony, not mine. There more concerning Cornelius that we must observe.
Tom, Cornelius
gave alms before he met Peter. This proves he had eternal life already. The Holy Spirit testified that Cornelius gave alms – gifts to the poor ~ to the people (
Acts 10:2) But, what is important is: God not only acknowledged the alms:
God also accepted and approved them (
Acts 10:4,
31,
35).
You should agree that God does not accept the sacrifices of the wicked,
no matter what they do (
Proverbs 15:8;
21:4,
27). It is an undefiled man with pure religion that gives
godly alms to the people (
James 1:27;
Ps 41:1). Desiring nothing in return. The righteous are contrasted from the wicked by their consideration of the poor (
Prov 19:7). Giving alms from a pure heart is the act of a man whose righteousness is forever (
Psalm 112:9-10; 2nd
Cor. 9:9).
Tom, Cornelius prayed
always before he met Peter. This is the evidence one has eternal life. The
Holy Spirit Himself testified that Cornelius indeed prayed to God always (
Acts 10:2). But, what we must notice is this: God acknowledged that the prayers
were accepted and approved before Him (
Acts 10:4,
31,
35). Tom, God hears the prayer of the righteous, but not the prayers of the wicked (
Pr 15:8,
29;
John 9:31). The Lord sees and hears the righteous, but His face is against evildoers (
Ps 34:11-18;
I Pet 3:12). Unregenerate men in sin do not seek after God, yet Cornelius did (
Ps 14:1-3;
53:1-3;
Rom 3:11). Unregenerate men do not have any desire or time for God, but Cornelius did (
Ps 10:4;
Gen 6:5). The manmade idea of a “sinners’ prayer” (as seen on SLB~Jimmy Swaggart's program) as the request of a lost soul for regeneration is totally ludicrous, for no unregenerate man can or would pray sincerely, and God would not hear him!
Tom, Cornelius did righteousness before he met Peter. This proves he had eternal life. Fearing God, giving approved alms, and praying always are all parts of working righteousness. Peter
perceived and acknowledged this when he first encountered Cornelius (
Acts 10:34-35).
There is
no natural man that is righteous or good, no, not one (
Ps 14:1-3;
53:1-3;
Romans 3:10). As we said already above~ A man doing righteousness is a born again, righteous man (
Ist John 2:29;
3:7,
10; 3rd
John 1:11).
Good works are the certain evidence of eternal life (
Matthew 7:21;
Eph 2:10;
James 2:14-26). Tom, It is an absurd proposal that a man approved by the Holy Spirit as fearing God and working righteousness
was still in desperate need to be saved from sin and condemnation.
Cornelius was accepted by God before meeting Peter. He already had eternal life! Tom, Peter perceived and acknowledged that Cornelius was already accepted with God [perfect tense, passive voice], by virtue of his present actions of fearing and working (
Acts 10:34-35).
Now, please address these point using the word of God if you disagree.
