Why was Cornelius saved

[RichardBurger]

Question: was Cornelius saved under the "kingdom gospel (Abrahamic Covenant)" or the "gospel of the grace of God" as taught by Paul?

Cornelius was a blessing to Israel (Acts 10:2,22), and because of this God rewarded him with the hearing of the Word through Peter and receiving salvation. This is EXACTLY the way it was revealed to Abram in Genesis 12:3, "I will bless them [Gentiles] that bless thee" (Abram and his seed]. This is what James knew and so he quoted from Amos (Acts 15:12-19). Cornelius was saved through a saved Jew.

The Gentiles receiving salvation according to the Abrahamic Covenant under the preaching of the 12 were accepted as Jewish proselytes just as they always were under the Jewish law except this time the Gentiles were shown to be accepted "the same way that the Jews were in that they received the Holy Spirit when they believed in Jesus. This program will also be in effect at the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ as Israel's Messiah and the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple for the millennial reign of Christ. James knew accurately the program of God for Israel and the Gentile nations through the Jews. This is how we are to understand this passage in Acts 15:13-17. But the Jews, as a nation, rejected God's reign through Jesus and that reign has, temporarily, been set aside.

It does not refer to the Body of Christ and the Mystery revealed to Paul. Today we are not saved "through the Jews" since they have been blinded until the time of the Gentiles has been fulfilled. Today, all are saved by the grace of God only. The Acts 2 interpretation, that it refers to the Church, the Body of Christ, is wrong. This whole incident is based on God's Kingdom program for Israel. Cornelius had become a proselyte under the Jewish law when Peter "commanded" him, and his household, to be water baptized; a Jewish custom under the law.

A Dissertation Concerning the Baptism of Jewish Proselytes Of the Various Sorts of Proselytes Among the Jews

http://www.pbministries.org/books/gill/ ... ok5_01.htm

 

[savedbygrace57]

Corneilus was born again before He heard the gospel, because scripture said that He feared God acts 10:

2A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

And when comparing scripture with scripture, no one by nature fears God romans 3:

18There is no fear of God before their eyes.

So consequently, cornelius was a new creation already, and thats why God sent him the gospel of His salvation..

 

[Vince]

I have wondered if Cornelius were not already saved before he heard from Peter. Peter did tell him that he already knew about Jesus.

Acts 10:36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ --- He is Lord of all ---
37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:

The previous two verses suggest that Cornelius was already saved:

Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.
35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

The point of the story is that Gentile Christians are equal to Jewish Christians.

 

[savedbygrace57]

I have wondered if Cornelius were not already saved before he heard from Peter. Peter did tell him that he already knew about Jesus.

Acts 10:36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ --- He is Lord of all ---
37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:

The previous two verses suggest that Cornelius was already saved:

Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.
35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

The point of the story is that Gentile Christians are equal to Jewish Christians.

Good observation..

 

[Adullam]

Cornelius was a righteous man before God and men. Notice that he was not called to repent before receiving the Holy Spirit. Jesus did not come to call the righteous to repentance, but onward to relationship in the Spirit.

This whole pre-occupation with personal salvation is a wrong spin on scripture. We who follow the Lord are not doing so for personal gain. I wish that "believers" could grasp that. :yes

 

[GodspromisesRyes]

Question: was Cornelius saved under the "kingdom gospel (Abrahamic Covenant)" or the "gospel of the grace of God" as taught by Paul?

Cornelius was a blessing to Israel (Acts 10:2,22), and because of this God rewarded him with the hearing of the Word through Peter and receiving salvation. This is EXACTLY the way it was revealed to Abram in Genesis 12:3, "I will bless them [Gentiles] that bless thee" (Abram and his seed]. This is what James knew and so he quoted from Amos (Acts 15:12-19). Cornelius was saved through a saved Jew.

The Gentiles receiving salvation according to the Abrahamic Covenant under the preaching of the 12 were accepted as Jewish proselytes just as they always were under the Jewish law except this time the Gentiles were shown to be accepted "the same way that the Jews were in that they received the Holy Spirit when they believed in Jesus. This program will also be in effect at the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ as Israel's Messiah and the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple for the millennial reign of Christ. James knew accurately the program of God for Israel and the Gentile nations through the Jews. This is how we are to understand this passage in Acts 15:13-17. But the Jews, as a nation, rejected God's reign through Jesus and that reign has, temporarily, been set aside.

It does not refer to the Body of Christ and the Mystery revealed to Paul. Today we are not saved "through the Jews" since they have been blinded until the time of the Gentiles has been fulfilled. Today, all are saved by the grace of God only. The Acts 2 interpretation, that it refers to the Church, the Body of Christ, is wrong. This whole incident is based on God's Kingdom program for Israel. Cornelius had become a proselyte under the Jewish law when Peter "commanded" him, and his household, to be water baptized; a Jewish custom under the law.

A Dissertation Concerning the Baptism of Jewish Proselytes Of the Various Sorts of Proselytes Among the Jews

http://www.pbministries.org/books/gill/ ... ok5_01.htm

There is only one way and gospel of salvation this is nonsence.

 

[toddm]

Cornelius was saved for the same reason anyone else is saved - because God chose to have compassion on him and call him out of darkness and ultimately bring glory to Himself.

 

[RichardBurger]

Question: was Cornelius saved under the "kingdom gospel (Abrahamic Covenant)" or the "gospel of the grace of God" as taught by Paul?

Cornelius was a blessing to Israel (Acts 10:2,22), and because of this God rewarded him with the hearing of the Word through Peter and receiving salvation. This is EXACTLY the way it was revealed to Abram in Genesis 12:3, "I will bless them [Gentiles] that bless thee" (Abram and his seed]. This is what James knew and so he quoted from Amos (Acts 15:12-19). Cornelius was saved through a saved Jew.

The Gentiles receiving salvation according to the Abrahamic Covenant under the preaching of the 12 were accepted as Jewish proselytes just as they always were under the Jewish law except this time the Gentiles were shown to be accepted "the same way that the Jews were in that they received the Holy Spirit when they believed in Jesus. This program will also be in effect at the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ as Israel's Messiah and the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple for the millennial reign of Christ. James knew accurately the program of God for Israel and the Gentile nations through the Jews. This is how we are to understand this passage in Acts 15:13-17. But the Jews, as a nation, rejected God's reign through Jesus and that reign has, temporarily, been set aside.

It does not refer to the Body of Christ and the Mystery revealed to Paul. Today we are not saved "through the Jews" since they have been blinded until the time of the Gentiles has been fulfilled. Today, all are saved by the grace of God only. The Acts 2 interpretation, that it refers to the Church, the Body of Christ, is wrong. This whole incident is based on God's Kingdom program for Israel. Cornelius had become a proselyte under the Jewish law when Peter "commanded" him, and his household, to be water baptized; a Jewish custom under the law.

A Dissertation Concerning the Baptism of Jewish Proselytes Of the Various Sorts of Proselytes Among the Jews

http://www.pbministries.org/books/gill/ ... ok5_01.htm

There is only one way and gospel of salvation this is nonsence.

1 Corinthians 1:17-25
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
Christ the Power and Wisdom of God (cf. Isaiah 29:14) 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent."
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;
23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,
24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
NKJV

1 Corinthians 2:13-14
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
NKJV

1 Corinthians 3:18-23
18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness";
20 and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."
21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours:
22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come — all are yours.
23 And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
NKJV

 

[Vic C.]

Cornelius was saved for the same reason anyone else is saved - because God chose to have compassion on him and call him out of darkness and ultimately bring glory to Himself.

People, you see how easy that was? No over-complicating it and no scriptural hopscotch. :amen Thanks Todd. :yes

This whole pre-occupation with personal salvation is a wrong spin on scripture. We who follow the Lord are not doing so for personal gain. I wish that "believers" could grasp that.

LOL, that reminds me of the saying, "there is no selfless act."

I believe I know what you are saying but I don't believe God is saving anyone on a corporate level, so, personal salvation is all we got. But as Todd said, it ultimately brings glory to God.

 

[savedbygrace57]

ad says:

Cornelius was a righteous man before God and men.

Yes, thats because He had the imputed righteousness of Christ on His account, thats the only way any man will be righteous before God..

 

[Drew]

ad says:

Cornelius was a righteous man before God and men.

Yes, thats because He had the imputed righteousness of Christ on His account, thats the only way any man will be righteous before God..

I do not believe that the Scriptures actually teach that believers are imputed the righteousness of Christ. I believe that there is truth to the assertion that we are “imputed†righteousness. However, righteousness that we "get" is the righteousness of the acquitted defendent in the lawcourt, not the righteousness of God (specifically Jesus). Remembering that Jesus is the judge in the lawcourt scenario (see Romans 2 and elsewhere), we are not being ascribed His righteousness, which, as per Biblical precedent consists in:

1. Doing what's right, in accordance with the Law
2. Being impartial
3. Protecting weak and the disenfranchised
4. Punishing evil

Remember - Jesus is the judge. Since Christ is indeed the judge, to "impute" or "ascribe" such righteousness to us is to say that we have done the things in this list. And, of course, we have not. Instead the righteous status we get is simply the declaration that we are "in the right".

So I am making the case that we no more get Christ's righteousness imputed to us than an acquitted defended gets the righteousness of the judge imputed to him.

 

[toddm]

People, you see how easy that was? No over-complicating it and no scriptural hopscotch. :amen Thanks Todd. :yes

I like to keep things simple. :yes

 

[Adullam]

ad says:

Cornelius was a righteous man before God and men.

Yes, thats because He had the imputed righteousness of Christ on His account, thats the only way any man will be righteous before God..

You're saying he was a calvanist like yourself? ;)

 

[toddm]

ad says:

Cornelius was a righteous man before God and men.

Yes, thats because He had the imputed righteousness of Christ on His account, thats the only way any man will be righteous before God..

You're saying he was a calvanist like yourself? ;)

I would say he's saying what the Bible says in Romans 3 - there is none righteous, no not even one...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

 

[Adullam]

Cornelius was saved for the same reason anyone else is saved - because God chose to have compassion on him and call him out of darkness and ultimately bring glory to Himself.

People, you see how easy that was? No over-complicating it and no scriptural hopscotch. :amen Thanks Todd. :yes

This whole pre-occupation with personal salvation is a wrong spin on scripture. We who follow the Lord are not doing so for personal gain. I wish that "believers" could grasp that.

LOL, that reminds me of the saying, "there is no selfless act."

I believe I know what you are saying but I don't believe God is saving anyone on a corporate level, so, personal salvation is all we got. But as Todd said, it ultimately brings glory to God.

The hopscotch, or mental gymnastics, lies in the elimination of all righteous acts outside of supernatural intervention by God Himself. Obfuscating righteousness in favour of grace is to reduce both to meaninglessness. This happens when one mistakenly tries to interpret Jesus Christ through Paul....rather than the other way around. As I have pointed out...Cornelius was not made to repent before receiving the Holy Spirit.

Of course no one is completely righteous outside of Christ. That is the meaning of the scriptural passage in this regard. The bible says no one seeks either. One must choose one's superlatives wisely. We are called to never sin...that is only possible in a supernatural walk in resurrection power.


Contrary to modern Christian doctrine, we are responsible for our own actions...and will be judged by them.

 

[Adullam]

I would say he's saying what the Bible says in Romans 3 - there is none righteous, no not even one...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

[/quote]


You misunderstand this verse and eliminate the context of the whole counsel of God.

 

[GodspromisesRyes]

ad says:

Cornelius was a righteous man before God and men.

Yes, thats because He had the imputed righteousness of Christ on His account, thats the only way any man will be righteous before God..

I do not believe that the Scriptures actually teach that believers are imputed the righteousness of Christ. I believe that there is truth to the assertion that we are “imputed†righteousness. However, righteousness that we "get" is the righteousness of the acquitted defendent in the lawcourt, not the righteousness of God (specifically Jesus). Remembering that Jesus is the judge in the lawcourt scenario (see Romans 2 and elsewhere), we are not being ascribed His righteousness, which, as per Biblical precedent consists in:

1. Doing what's right, in accordance with the Law
2. Being impartial
3. Protecting weak and the disenfranchised
4. Punishing evil

Remember - Jesus is the judge. Since Christ is indeed the judge, to "impute" or "ascribe" such righteousness to us is to say that we have done the things in this list. And, of course, we have not. Instead the righteous status we get is simply the declaration that we are "in the right".

So I am making the case that we no more get Christ's righteousness imputed to us than an acquitted defended gets the righteousness of the judge imputed to him.

well how many judges declare a person " in the right" and then say to that person here sit next to me in my judge seat and judge the world and the angels? Because that is what Jesus does. We will judge the world and the angels!

Not only that but this judge COMES AND LIVES IN US and turns us into HIS IMAGE, HIS MIND, HIS WORDS, HIS LOVE, HIS DEEDS. AMEN!!! how great is that.How can we NOT have His righteousness when it is HE that lives in us?

 

[savedbygrace57]

ad says:

Cornelius was a righteous man before God and men.

Yes, thats because He had the imputed righteousness of Christ on His account, thats the only way any man will be righteous before God..

You're saying he was a calvanist like yourself? ;)

He was part of the church which Christ gave himself for eph 5

 

[savedbygrace57]

drew says:

I do not believe that the Scriptures actually teach that believers are imputed the righteousness of Christ

.

I am sure there are many things you dont believe the bible teaches, but that in itself does not make them not true..

 

[savedbygrace57]

drew says:

Remember - Jesus is the judge. Since Christ is indeed the judge, to "impute" or "ascribe" such righteousness to us is to say that we have done the things in this list. And, of course, we have not.

Jesus christ has done all that is right for His elect people..Him doing it, is like His people doing it before God..

He is our [ the elect] righteousness..