| Devotional Hours with the Bible |
Chapter 12 |
Page 4 |
Peter’s conversion from the narrowness of Judaism to the wideness of Christianity was very remarkable. In his words to Cornelius he makes it very clear that the gospel is for all men. God loves the world, and not merely a little handful of people in the world. He desires all to be saved, and the gates of the gospel are opened to men of every nation. “In every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him.” The way of salvation is just as open for the lowest heathen as for one of the “four hundred” of the metropolis. Yet the way is not open to anyone until he gives up his sins and turns his heart to seek God. The only condition of salvation is the acceptance of the divine way.
Peter made plain to Cornelius the way of salvation by Jesus Christ; he told of “the word, which he sent unto the children of Israel, preaching good tidings of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all).” This was the gospel, which had come to the Jews, and the same gospel Peter was now bringing to the Gentiles. He recounts briefly the story of the life of Jesus Christ. He then declares that “every one that believeth on him shall receive remission of sins.” Cornelius, good man though he was, prayerful, obedient, upright, needed Christ and must accept Him as his personal Saviour. There is no place to bring our sins for pardon and cleansing but to the cross.
As on the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit fell upon the disciples, so now upon these Gentile disciples the same Spirit fell. Thus the promise of Christ was fulfilled to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews. At once those who believed were baptized, and thus the Church began among the Gentiles.
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