What A Person Might Be And Yet Still Be Lost
Acts 10
Cornelius was the most revered deacon of his church, and chairman of most of his church’s committees. Each Sunday he was found in his church, and each weekday he lived a life worthy of much respect. He was of noblest generosity. He was a target for every needy organization. He was a man of integrity; he was an important member of the town council He was a very desirable friend. He was known and regarded by the highest officials in the nation, and his name was often mentioned in the society columns of the newspapers. He was certain of election to the senate.
Wait a minute, let me apologize. My mistake is inexcusable, my verb tenses have been confused. I should have said that Cornelius would have become such a man if he had belonged to our generation.
As we look at our text, we see this model citizen. He is a good man! He is a God-fearing man! He is a gracious man! But He is still a lost man!
His name is Cornelius. He is a Roman Centurion, one who has charge of 100 men. He was of the Italian Band, a regiment of the Roman army made up of from four hundred to six hundred soldiers, composed mostly of men from Italy. I read this week that the great strengths of the Roman army lay in its officers. Centurions were subjected to many searching test before they were given command of soldiers, and the two critical tests that were used concerned their character.
Centurions had to be patient, slow to anger, slow to get involved in fights. They also were required to be men of great courage and endurance who would rather die than face defeat or quit the field.
Cornelius possessed some traits that all of us who believe ought to possess, yet He was lost!
Can a man be all the things mentioned in verse 2 and yet be lost?
Yes, Jesus said in John 3:3, 5 "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
I. Cornelius was good; but he still was lost.
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius a
devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always " (Acts 10: 1).
Cornelius was a Roman soldier who served under Herod Agrippa. He was a centurion, which means that he had one hundred men under his command.
Cornelius was a man who regularly studied the Scriptures and daily presided at morning and evening family prayers. His sincerity was indisputable, and his influence extended throughout the town. He had few equals: yet in the sight of God he was unsaved. He was certainly good according to moral standards, but he was not a Christian.
When his servants were informing Simon Peter of the reason why they came, they affirmed that their master had been warned by God to send to Peter for help. And when, later, Peter explains his conduct to the apostles, he stated that God had declared, "Peter shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved " (I I : 14).
Good works plus a sincere religious belief are not sufficient to guarantee a man’s salvation.
I want to look at three things about this very fine person named Cornelius
A. Notice his fear (verse 1, 22)
Though he did not know God as his personal Saviour, there was a fear of God in his heart.
Cornelius was a deeply religious man. H knew there was a God; however, to take hold of this God he knew not how.
Because he feared God I would like to suggest to you based on Psalm 19:9 that he was clean morally. “The fear of the Lord is clean.”
B. Notice his family (“feared God with all his house”)
Though he was not saved, he had instructed his family to fear God. Cornelius is a good example to us fathers. He is teaching respect for God to his family.
C. Notice his fervor (“gave much alms to the people and prayed to God always.”)
Cornelius was generous in his acts of charity towards the poor and needy. Cornelius was a generous man. He was not stingy.
He also had a disciplined devotional life ans manifested in his regular praying to the God he did not know. Cornelius was a model of religious respectability, and yet he was lost. His prayer life wold put most of us to shame.
Cornelius is typical of thousands in our land, for as we read the narrative we discover that he was religious, moral, God fearing and praying regularly; but for all that he was not a Christian.
There are many people like this around us who are good living and God fearing, but they have never exercised personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and accepted His gift of eternal life.
There will be more religious people in Hell than people who are not religious.
A good man needs to be saved just as much as a bad man. It is quite evident from Acts 10:2, that Cornelius was a good man, but he still needed to be saved.
It is amazing how religious man can be and yet still not be saved.
See verse 22.
He was a Military Man - “centurion”
He was a Moral Man - “a just man, and one who feareth God”
He was a Model Man - “of good reputation among all the nation of the Jews”
He was a good man, but he still needed to be saved.
1. He was religious, but this was not satisfactorily....
2. He was sincere, but this was not salvation ...
3. He was charitable, but this was not sufficient...
II. Cornelius was wise; so He did not argue (22)
There are many people in this world who are the exact replica of Cornelius, except for one important detail. Whereas Cornelius listened quietly to the suggestions of God’s Spirit, his modern counterparts love to argue. Humility is the child of sincerity, and Cornelius was never seen to better advantage than when he bowed before God and His servant to hear the way of salvation.
The fact that God warned this great man was truly suggestive. This was not advice; it was not merely instruction. Warning implies danger.
He was in danger of going to hell. He was warned by an angel to send for Peter.
He did not argue. He did not squabble with God.
Many are not as wise as Cornelius. God tells us what to do today and we spend time arguing with God as if we know what is best for us.
Psalm 119:128 “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right......”
A. The Bible is right about faith
Galatians 3:26 “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
B. The Bible is right about family
C. The Bible is right about finances
D. The Bible is right about friends
Arguing against God is arguing against the very power that makes you able to argue at all. - C.S. Lewis
See Acts 10:9-13 “Not so, Lord.” Unlike Cornelius who obeyed right away, Peter blurted out an objection, which actually amounted to contradiction in terms. This was a polite refusal, but it was wrong. You can say, “No,” and you can say “Lord;” but you cannot say,”No, Lord.” If he is truly our Lord, we can only say “Yes” to what He Commands.
A young believer, facing the choice of obeying the call of
God to the mission field or of continuing in a rewarding and comfortable business position, once consulted a veteran missionary. He explained how clearly God had called and yet how hard it was to make the choice to go. The missionary opened his Bible at this passage and pointed out to the young person Peter’s words, "Not so, Lord."
"You cannot say that," the wise, older man explained. "It is either ’Not so’ or it is ’Lord.’ The two words put together are a contradiction in terms. Now then," he continued, "take my Bible and take this pencil. Sit down here and pray about it. Then cross out one of the expressions. Cross out the words ’not so’ and leave the word ’Lord,’ or cross out the word ’Lord’ and leave the words ’not so.’ You cannot have it both ways."
You cannot argue with the Lord and be wise.
III. Cornelius was in danger; so he did not procrastinate.
"And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; and when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa" (10:7, 8).
Is is worthy of our consideration to note taht the angle told him to contact Peter. The angel did not tell him the way of salivation. The angel did not preach the gospel to him. This is not the privilege of angels; it is the commission reserved for men.
Verse 33 tells us “immediately” Cornelius sent for Peter. Now if a warning revealed danger, then the danger demanded action. This was a matter of importance needing urgent attention.
Other people might have decided to give the affair prolonged consideration; some might have shrugged their shoulders, dismissing this as an empty vision. Some might have even shared their thoughts with fellow men, and as a result would have been talked out, but not Cornelius.
Cornelius was a wise man. His sincere endeavors had failed to produce satisfaction. His piety had only increased his desire for improvement, and as soon as the voice of God reached his ears, he immediately took steps to obey this new commandment.
His glorious example might well serve us if we would copied it. Tomorrow is the most uncertain thing in the calendar.
We serve and amazing God. His knowledge of us is more wonderful than words can describe.
He knew name of Cornelius, knew what he had been doing, and knew what his need was.
He knew where Peter was. He knew his address. He knew that would have to deal with Peter before he sent him to Cornelius.
God knows you and I better than we know our self.
IV. Cornelius believed; and he was saved.
Peter came and preached to him the Word. When you preach the Word you preach Christ. Cornelius believed the Word about Christ and was saved.
A. Simple message (43)
“Believeth in him”
B. Scriptural message -
The Word Of God Is Prominent in the work of God (v 37). If it is the work of God, the Word of God will be proclaimed! When the Word ceases to be prominent; Christ will not be preeminent, and the Gospel will be perverted. You cannot preach the Word without preaching Christ.
Verse 43 - “To him give all the prophets witness”
C. Saving message
Cornelius found a new life that day, and was not ashamed.
1. There was now peace - “peace by Jesus Christ” (36).
There is no peace if Christ is left out.
He had position, power, wealth, family, friends, and servants, but with all this he had no peace until he believed on Jesus Christ.
2. There was now pardon “remission of sin”
There is no forgiveness of sin without Christ.
3. There was now power (44)
Conclusion
Cornelius, Paul, Nicodemas, and a host of others would corroborate the statement that we are not saved by works, lest any man should boast. Eternal life is the gift of God: but it is only given to those who know their need; to those who come humbly, seeking from Him that which could never be received in any other way.
