GOSPEL NUGGET # 276

Cornelius: A Truly Pious Man Who Still Needed To Be Saved

In the book of Acts, chapter 10, we can read of a man, Cornelius by name, who towered in piety, and yet, he still was a man who needed to be saved.

He is described as a "devout man", "one who feared God", "who gave alms generously", who "prayed to God always" and one who had even seen "a vision of an angel of God" coming to him.

And yet with all these sterling credentials, he was a man who was not saved. He was instructed by the angel to "Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved" (See Acts 11:13-14)

This means that his piety did not at all save him. His alms-giving, his prayers, his vision of an angel from God could not guarantee him a place in heaven where he could be with God and enjoy Him forever.

He needed to hear words by which he will be saved. When the apostle Peter came, he told him about the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior. Where else could anyone find salvation except in the Savior, right? Not in your piety, not in your alms-giving or prayers but in the Savior. Peter then told him a promise from God:

"To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes (or trusts) in Him will receive remission of sins." (Ac 10:43)

And Cornelius believed, trusted, relied, depended in the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross for salvation. And there, right that very moment, he found forgiveness of sins and salvation.

A man should be devout, he should fear God, he should give alms to the needy and should pray to God always and a vision of an angel is fine and good, but his salvation does not find its foundation on these things.

He can only find salvation in trusting in the Savior and what He did on the cross for salvation. Trust in Him now!