Lesson 370

(Lesson 370)(08-19-12) Acts 11:1-17, "And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven. And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. And the spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house: And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?"

This lesson is Peter's recall of the events that took place at the home of Cornelius as he reported it to the other Apostles and those Christian Jews in the Church at Jerusalem.

We should note that, in this account, Peter uses the term "saved" in reference to what was to be accomplished by those who were gathered at the home of Cornelius. The salvation of those present was the primary purpose, and the fact that the gospel had also been given to the Gentiles, was secondary for the mission. Peter's mission was to provide knowledge whereby those gathered could be "saved. "Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved."

It is very clear, that through the learning, and acceptance of the words Peter taught, (The gospel of Jesus Christ, in essence, His sacrificial ordeal), those people were "saved". There is NO instruction, in this text, that required those present to undergo water baptism as a necessary part of accomplishing eternal salvation. To the contrary, they were only offered water baptism AFTER they were saved and had received the Holy Ghost.
NOTE: My reasoning for continually stressing this point is that there are literally millions of very sincere, devoted people who go to Church, sometimes as much as three times a week, who have, for whatever reason, mistakenly placed their faith in water baptism as a requisite means of gaining forgiveness of sin, and not placing TOTAL faith in the only one true remitter of sin, that being, the acceptance of, and TOTAL faith in, the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 10:43, "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever BELIEVETH in him shall receive remission of sins".~