A Devout, Lost Man

In Acts 10 we find the conversion story of Cornelius, a Roman Centurion. In the first few verses of the chapter we are introduced to Cornelius.

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.
Acts 10:1-2

Consider what we learn about Cornelius in this short passage. Cornelius was a devout man. He feared God (i.e. showed piety and reverence to God). His godly influence extended to all his household. He gave alms generously to the people. He prayed continually to God. He was clearly a man doing all that was in his power to serve God, to please God, to be acceptable to God.

There is one more vital thing we learn about Cornelius in this chapter -- he was lost. I know this because Peter was sent to preach the gospel to him. I know this because in Acts 11:14, where the events of chapter 10 are retold, the angel had told Cornelius Peter would, "declare to you a message by which you will be saved." Cornelius was lost and needed to hear the gospel.

How can this be? Here we have a man who is devout, god-fearing, generous, and constant in fervent prayer. How could such a man be lost?

When we ask such questions, I fear we have forgotten why men are lost and how they are saved. A man is lost because he has sinned, transgressed God's laws. So, although Cornelius was a devout man, he was still a sinner. A man is saved from sin when he puts his trust in Christ Jesus, accepts God's mercy on God's terms, and obeys the gospel from the heart. Despite his piety and generosity Cornelius was still lost. He was missing something -- faith in Jesus Christ.

The real test of Cornelius' character came when he heard the gospel. All too often men react pridefully to the message, "You are lost. You need to repent. You need to humble yourself and obey the gospel." It would have been so easy for a man like Cornelius to think, "But I'm a devout man. I'm just as righteous as any of those Christians I know. I'm just fine the way I am." Cornelius didn't react that way. He heard the gospel and embraced it. He was unafraid to humble himself and admit that he needed the grace of God.

Have you accepted God's grace on His terms as revealed in the New Testament?

-PG