One Gospel for All
Acts 10:2
Acts 10:2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. 5 attributes of Cornelius.
1. Devout Man
Jeremiah 29:12-13 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
2. Feared God
Acts 9:31 31 Then the [a]churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified.[b] And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
3. Gave generously
1 John 4:20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, [a]how can he love God whom he has not seen?
4. Prayed to God continually
1 Thessalonians 5:18 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 5. Obeyed God's voice.
John 14:15 15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.
Matthew 28:18-20 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go [a]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [b]Amen.
Ends of the earth Taveuni island Fiji. Cornelius did not convert to Judaism He was a Roman centurion.
Acts 10:24 24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. Cornelius gathered all his relatives and friends to hear the gospel. Cornelius’ experience with God provoked him to call his relatives and close friends to come and hear the word of God from the Apostle Peter. Growing Christians, who have tasted that the Lord is gracious (1 Peter 2:3) should have sufficient zeal to do what Cornelius did. Call people around them to listen to the word of God. 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. In this way, they will be participating in evangelism as they bring sinners closer to God’s word (Romans 10:14).
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Preaching the word of God is every believers responsibility
Acts 8:4 4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. Peter preached the gospel to Cornelius household and everyone got saved.
Acts 11:14 14 who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’
They all were filled with the Holy Spirit (verse 44), and all were baptized, thus they were converted (Acts 10:48). 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
Christians may not be in a position to preach to their relatives and friends but can be in position to invite them to meeting of Christians to hear the word of God which is able to save ‘their’ souls.
James 1:21, 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and [a]overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. Rom 10:17, 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
The Cornelius method of evangelism is very practical and achievable. If everyone can bring someone to church, just one person per month, preachers will have many classes to teach, and probably more baptisms.
John 4:28 28 The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men,
The Samaritan woman went into the city and told the men to come and see a Jesus. They went out of the city and came to HIM (John 4:30). 30 Then they went out of the city and came to Him. Many who were invited by the woman to meet Jesus believed.
John 4:39-42, 39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of His own word. 42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed [a]the Christ, the Savior of the world.”
We cannot overlook the efforts of the Samaritan woman towards the salvation of the many who believed as a result of her call.
2 Corinthians 5:15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Ministry of reconciliation
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, You have been saved by the blood of Jesus what are you doing with your ability, talents, money and Time?