Recently I posted a thread showing that God does not save anyone without the human element. I proved that was true from the scriptures. This is 180 degrees opposite than the Calvinists teaching about salvation. The conversion of Cornelius, the first gentile to be saved in the history of the world, refutes a number of the errors of Reformed doctrines. Here is a man who is not saved, does not hate God while he is in his natural state, a man who seeks God, and a man whom God himself told him there was something that he ought to do to be saved. Calvinists will deny everything about this conversion experience and the opening up of the door of faith to gentiles through Cornelius because they do not believe the words of scripture.
First of all, I will prove to all, who will believe the words, that Cornelius was not saved until Acts 10:44. This means that all that transpired between God, the angel whom God sent to him, and Cornelius in verses 1 through 43 took place while Cornelius was unsaved.
I will quote some verses that will prove without a doubt that Peter and those with him thought Cornelius got saved in Acts 10:44.
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
3 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.
5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. 33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
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A few days later Paul is called to Jerusalem to give account of why he went to gentiles. Here is what he said about Acts 10:44.
13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
Time out a minute. If Cornelius and his household were already saved before this, Like I have been told by many Calvinists, then someone is lying here. Why would God send a preacher to a man to get him saved who was already saved? Why would Peter report something that was not true?
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Now you have salvation defined
17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ is what it takes to be saved according to Peter, because when a man believes on the Lord Jesus Christ God gives him the gift of the Holy Spirit to indwell him. This is what Peter told Cornelius he ought to do. And Cornelius did it.
The baptism was the pouring out of the gift of the Spirit in such abundance on the gentiles that all may drink him in by faith in Christ and be saved. This is a beginning for gentiles and it is referred to in passages like this.
2 Thess 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel (the Jewish gospel), to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
What I have bolded in V 13 is exactly what Peter preached to Cornelius in the beginning of gentile salvation.
I am calling on Calvinists to prayerfully consider this salvation story and to believe the words. (even if you must adjust your theology to do so)
First of all, I will prove to all, who will believe the words, that Cornelius was not saved until Acts 10:44. This means that all that transpired between God, the angel whom God sent to him, and Cornelius in verses 1 through 43 took place while Cornelius was unsaved.
I will quote some verses that will prove without a doubt that Peter and those with him thought Cornelius got saved in Acts 10:44.
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
3 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.
5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. 33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
_________________________________________________________
A few days later Paul is called to Jerusalem to give account of why he went to gentiles. Here is what he said about Acts 10:44.
13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
Time out a minute. If Cornelius and his household were already saved before this, Like I have been told by many Calvinists, then someone is lying here. Why would God send a preacher to a man to get him saved who was already saved? Why would Peter report something that was not true?
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Now you have salvation defined
17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ is what it takes to be saved according to Peter, because when a man believes on the Lord Jesus Christ God gives him the gift of the Holy Spirit to indwell him. This is what Peter told Cornelius he ought to do. And Cornelius did it.
The baptism was the pouring out of the gift of the Spirit in such abundance on the gentiles that all may drink him in by faith in Christ and be saved. This is a beginning for gentiles and it is referred to in passages like this.
2 Thess 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel (the Jewish gospel), to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
What I have bolded in V 13 is exactly what Peter preached to Cornelius in the beginning of gentile salvation.
I am calling on Calvinists to prayerfully consider this salvation story and to believe the words. (even if you must adjust your theology to do so)
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