THE CORNELIUS AFFAIR!


The World, the Word & You! Broadcast
Commentary by Dennis L. Finnan

SAY FRIEND, IS IT POSSIBLE TO LEAD A GOOD MORAL LIFE, BE A GIVING PERSON, HAVE A PRAYER LIFE, BELIEVE IN GOD AND PERISH IN HELL? THE ANSWER SURPRISINGLY IS ¾ YES!

I'm Dennis Finnan speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we'll look at such a person in the Bible and learn more about it…

… When we talk about Christianity, perhaps the greatest subject within its ranks is its ability to CHANCE LIVES! Especially, the facts that it has the power to change the spiritual course and dimension of all that embrace its dynamic truths. Yes my friend, the greatest change anyone can ever experience is an inward spiritual change. With reference to that, I want to take you to the tenth chapter of the Book of Acts, where we will find some men who experienced this "great spiritual change." In the Book of Acts chapter 10, we come across two people: One a businessman who was a fisherman, and the other a powerful Roman army officer. One man's name was SIMON PETER, the apostle, and the other man's name was CORNELIUS, a Roman Centurion. Now to be a Roman centurion was a high honor. It was only given to men of great courage and strength! A Centurion was an army officer that was in charge of a cohort of soldiers. History records about 100 men were under his leadership. As we come to the Bible we find that God begins to describe this man CORNELIUS. In Acts 10:1-2,

Acts 10:1-2 (NIV) "At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly."

Here we are told that in the city of Caesarea there lived a man named Cornelius. He was a Gentile Army Captain. However, instead of the Bible saying bad things about this Gentile soldier, God has nothing but good things, to say about him. For instance, the Spirit of God says Cornelius the Centurion's life was characterized by four marvelous things. First of all the bible says,

1. Cornelius was a "devout man". This term meant he was devoted to religious feelings and duties. He was not an atheist, nor a secular humanist who lived only for himself. No, Cornelius was a good and devout religious man. But, don't be too quick to say he must have been a great man of God. Far from it, for as yet, the Bible clearly tells us for all his devout religious duties and feelings, he was an unsaved man. The second thing we are told about him is,

2. "HE FEARED GOD WITH ALL HIS HOUSE!" What a statement from God's Word! The Spirit of the Lord writes to tell all the world, that Cornelius the Gentile army officer, was a man who sought after the true God, and gave Him place in His life as much as he could. So much so, that other family members and servants and even some co-workers, were led to also fear the God Cornelius worshipped. However, as yet the Bible wants us to know Cornelius was still an unsaved man! This brings us to the third thing we learn about Cornelius.

We are told by God, Cornelius was a man who didn't wear his faith on his shirtsleeve. In Acts 10:2 says,

3. "HE GAVE GENEROUSLY TO THOSE IN NEED". Cornelius the Roman army officer was not stingy, or cheap, nor selfish. No, he shared his provisions with those who didn't have much means and had need. You see unlike most of his day, he didn't make money his god, nor did he ignore the less fortunate. The bible reveals Cornelius fed the poor, gave to the church, perhaps even supported a little KOREAN boy out of the abundance of his heart. Yet God wants us to know that, Cornelius the Gentile army officer was, of all things still unsaved and still out of God's place of rest and peace. Now, we can see the fourth thing we are told in Acts 10:2 about him,

4. CORNELIUS WAS A MAN WHO PRAYED REGULARLY TO GOD ¾ Cornelius found out that he couldn't handle life alone. His own strength and resources were not enough. "Oh what good is life the way it is," I'm sure he often thought. There had to be something more. Cornelius wanted so badly, to reach out and touch God's hand.

So, Day by day, and year by year, he saw that futility of life without God, and as the pagan Roman world lived ¾ it was really futile and senseless! He saw the godless immorality around him, the meaningless perverse entertainment and purposeless pleasure cults taking people nowhere. He wanted more out of life, and knew there must be a God out there who cares. Cornelius looked everywhere, and saw in all of the religions of life, that in Judaism, the morality and ethics of the Old Testament proved to be of best valuable for a worthwhile life. So Cornelius adopted Judaism for his own, and hid his family and inner circles of friends, there.

Yet, my friend God clearly wants us to know, this great man, this religious man, this giving man, this sacrificing and honest praying, God-believing man, was still as yet ¾ unsaved, and in his sins. And, if he died in this state, he would have gone to a Christless Hell and eternity!

Now some of you will say, "You mean this man who perhaps reflects the best of humanity, a devoted to God-fearing man, who sacrificially helped his fellow man was not a believer, in good standing with God???" Surely this man does not need to be born again?

The answer according to the Bible friend is "Yes," that is exactly what I am saying because, God Himself says it! You see in Acts chapter 10, the Spirit of God reveals to us God did not reject this man; Rather, God was going to lead this man to the place where he could be truly saved, and be rightly called a true believer!

Today, so many people are like CORNELIUS. They are good and kind. They are religious and even pray often. They go to church, they sacrificially give of their time and their treasures to help others. They live morally clean lives. Yet, because of this they think they are saved. By their own goodness and self-righteousness, their special gifts, they one day believe God will accept them ¾ "If" they DO these things! You know friend there are only two religions in the world? The "DO" religion that encompasses multitudes of faith and followers, and the "DONE" religion, which along characterizes Christianity. Cornelius was in the "DO" religious group and needed to come out of it to be saved….

That my friend is a picture of many today who need to know about the CORNELIUS AFFAIR! The story begins by telling us that while Cornelius was praying one day, behold an angel of the Lord appeared unto him. The angel said, "God has heard your prayers, and observed your heart." You see, God knew Cornelius was looking for the true God, and the Bible affirms, all who truly seek shall find Him, if they seek Him with all their heart." (Jer. 29:13) Cornelius truly did this, and so God keeping His Word contacts Peter the apostle. For in order to save Cornelius, God has to send Peter the Apostle to him, to show him how he could be rightly related to God, and, how he could have the assurance when he would die, that he would assuredly go to Heaven. Friend, today I want to share Cornelius' story with you.

Well from the text we find that an angel spoke to him, and instructed Cornelius where to find the man of God, named Peter the apostle. He was to bring him to his house and listen to His teachings and words. So Cornelius obeyed the vision, and did this.

He sent some soldiers who were following his righteous life, and they brought Simon Peter to Cornelius' house. Now, please note. Cornelius didn't delay when he heard the Revelation from God's Word. So many today say, "I'11 hear God later." "Right now, I'm too busy with my business, my pleasures, my goals in life." No, Cornelius put all aside, to hear God's Word and way to heaven.

Now soon Peter arrives at Cornelius' house, only to find not only Cornelius there, but his whole family, his household and multitudes of Roman Gentile friends. Yes dear listener there are many hungry people who inhabit dead religious groups who are hungering for the Word of God. Cornelius speaks and says these words:

Acts 10:33 (NIV) "So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.""

Would to God, every preacher had such a willing audience! People genuinely gathered together to simply hear God's Word! " ON WITH THE SERVICE! Cornelius says. WE'RE HERE TO HEAR FROM GOD!

How sad these days, so many pulpits across the land have no word from God. Preachers… no that's a "no, no" word, teachers, talk about politics, good works, the weather, why from my own personal experience, I once attended a huge supposedly successful church service. I went to see what made it so popular. Upon observing and hearing the program and speaker, all I learned that Sunday morning was, are you ready? - How Chinchillas bathe! No fooling, imagine that? Yes, I came away from that Sunday service, learning that thing alone.

Oh, how important and marvelous is this fact. Thanks be to God, Cornelius called a Spirit filled preacher to his service, one who would only give them the WORD OF GOD!

Now the Cornelius Affair tells us that Peter did not begin his sermon by eulogizing Cornelius, he did not compliment him on his good works and generosity! Nor did he exhort his audience to be good, kind and prayerful! No, Peter the Preacher, presented only the Words of life, the Gospel message that alone can save souls! Peter spoke of Christ, His birth, His life, His death and His resurrection unto life. Peter then began to tell Cornelius and the others, that if they would believe in Christ as the promised LORD and Savior, come to redeem men, God in heaven would SAVE THEIR SOULS!

Now here's the good part ¾ while these words were in Peter's mouth, his sermon yet unfinished, the Bible tells us Cornelius and the others, began to glow with excitement and change, and all of a sudden, outwardly they began rejoicing in a language, foreign to this Gentile. Peter knowing, that such an outburst of speaking an unknown ethnic language was God's foundational test of authenticity of faith. Peter was truly astonished that God was now saving the Gentiles! Imagine that, simply preaching God's Word without apology, proclaiming the message of the Cross, and with no altar call, no decision card to sign, no emotion drawing organ being played... just hearing the Word of God, and believing it in the heart - God saves this man and all the others with him!

Today, many of us have come up with a different idea. We think that to reach people for Christ we must now "entertain" people so they will get saved! We try everything, even to water down the Word, disguise it, and pretend its something else, all in the hopes we can save people! But my friend, old-fashioned preaching of the Bible alone still saves souls!

Cornelius, who look for so long, and who hungered for a relationship with the true God, was now ¾ a SAVED MAN! Imagine that. Before, he went to religious meetings, he submitted to many rituals, he gave to the poor, he prayed, he lived a righteous life, but alas up to this moment, with all these things, he was a lost man, on his way to Hell. But now, praise God, he knew what God wanted, and he trusted Christ and depended upon Him alone, for heaven and life eternal.

Now this is an exciting story, but most enjoyable of all, was Cornelius was not alone. To this Gospel meeting he brought his whole family and friends with him and most delightful of all - they all were saved too!

Now, all of Peter's friends who were with him, observed that these Gentiles were truly saved, just like themselves! How did they know? Well, God gave them the temporary sign gift of supernaturally speaking in a "foreign ethnic language", all to affirm God's new direction to save Gentiles as well as Jews.

No my friend, as I'm sure some of you will ask ¾ they did not speak in some ecstatic prayer language. No, they were not talking to God. Peter said later in Acts 17:17, " they received the like gift as we did" at Pentecost. Tongues, friend is a deceased gift, that was a temporary foundational gift of the Spirit to believers, to especially affirm the messenger and the message of new revelation ¾ What was this new message?

Well, it was that now Gentiles could be saved as well as Jews, and more, that God was judging Israel for its disobedience and rejection of their Messiah (Isa. 28:11)

Isa 28:11 (NIV) "Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people,"

Now, note the first thing Cornelius and his family wanted to do after being saved! They wanted to testify to their new faith. Peter cries "CAN ANYONE FORBID BAPTISM?" (Acts 10:47). Here, water baptism was to be administered only after they were genuinely saved, never to save them! We have many folks today, who are taught erroneously, that if they "sprinkle water" on a little baby, or other person, God somehow saves them. Such is the foolishness of human religion.

The Bible teaches clearly, no man is ever saved, until he bows his heart and mind to the Lordship and Saviorhood of Jesus Christ. Then water baptism becomes a testimony of what God did for us deep within our soul. Yes, that day, a great work of God was performed, as Cornelius and his whole circle of influence. They were saved out of useless, dead religion, unto Jesus Christ!

Say friend, where does this broadcast find you ¾ in a dead faith? Going through senseless religious motions, doing righteous works, yet, having no peace within? Maybe you are like Cornelius, a good person, kind generous, religious and everyone around will say, you are a fine Christian, but your heart witnesses an emptiness, and the fact that you have no relationship with the one true God! Then my friend, like Cornelius, you need CHRIST to save you!

Well, the story is the same today, the names and places only change. Perhaps today, the CORNELIUS AFFAIR is really a story about you?. Then remember that it is the Word of God alone that gives life. It is the preaching of the Cross of Calvary that alone will save a soul. And, my friend, the old cross is still there, and the arms of a loving God are still open, to all who will believe in the atoning blood sacrifice for sins.

Jesus Christ, indeed is the God man come in the flesh, He is the One who died for you and me. Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. Have you received Him? Have you confessed Jesus Christ as your Master and Lord, and have you accepted His salvation and forgiveness of sin through His death and resurrection?

Today, don't pass by the "Cornelius Affair." For if you do, God's love and grace will have no other way to save your soul. Believe this, religion does not save. Good works do not save. Being prayerful and believing in God, does not save. Only Christ saves.

Today, my friend, I plead with you for Christ! Will you not believe in Him right now? May God so bless you…

… Jesus still calls to all who are weary and heavy laden. "Come unto Me and I will give you rest". Oh friends, let's get back to upholding real Bible faith, real Bible preaching and teaching, real Christianity that is not entertainment, not worldly amusements, not humanistic wisdom, but the old-fashioned faith, in Christ to alone save men. God grant you a heart to believe, a will to submit and mind to understand these glorious truths today.

The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures. A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request. These weekly radio commentaries are not exhaustive studies of any particular subject due to the time limit of broadcasting. Actual broadcasts can be heard in selected areas around the nation, as funding provides. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for over 18 years, and serves as General Director.

These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are actual radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of recent messages is available upon request also.

For further information, reprints, or a listing of all topics, please write to our speaker, Dennis L. Finnan(dennis@wwy.org),or visit our webpage at http://www.wwy.org/