Character Studies - ElectronicGospel

. all we can do today is to pray earnestly and commit our cause to Christ, trusting that hiswill must be done and it will be the best solution to our concernE. Anyone Is A Candidate For Redemption1. the scene at the cross is a disturbing one, for the Jews had assembled to watch three criminalsbeing executed ahead of their Passover feast, which should have reminded all of them that they were butsinners before an even higher Judge2. but as Jesus yields up his spirit and the veil of the temple tears and the earth shakes, a centurionis heard to remark, “Truly this was the son of God … a righteous man”3. one might have thought that the Jews who revered the temple curtain and anticipated theMessiah would be most likely to change their thinking about Christ at this moment, but instead it is anunlikely candidate–a Gentile with little apparent religious background at all4. the Bible is filled with unlikely converts (First Timothy 1:14-17)a. the gospel is God’s power to salvation and it can change alcoholics, prostitutes,homosexuals, idolaters and adulterers into disciples if given a chanceb. instead of taking disdain or apathy into conversations with such people, take Scripture andexhibit hope; maybe the results will be better (First Corinthians 6:9-11)F. Salvation Follows Obedient Faith, Not a Sinner’s Prayer1. we know that before a preacher arrives on the doorstep of Cornelius that he is a devout manwho fears God, gives alms generously to the people and prays to God always (cf. Acts 10:2)2. we know that God heard his prayer of faith, but we also know that he was not saved by virtueof any of this–simple belief in God, good works or a sinner’s prayer3. we know this because an angel told him that Peter would tell him what he yet needed to do tobe saved (cf. 10:6, 11:14)a. he still needed to be taught to obey the gospel (Romans 10:14-17)b. even as Peter began to speak (cf. 11:15), the Holy Spirit fell upon him and his household toprove to Peter that God approved of his being there and making converts from Gentilesc. this deviation from the usual order still left them in need of being baptized, and they were,for he who believes and is baptized will be saved (cf. Mark 16:16)G. Worship God1. while Peter was in the house of Cornelius, the centurion sincerely erred very grievously (Acts10:21-26)2. Peter, whom the Bible never refers to as Pope or Holy Father, because he was neither, reactedin a way that modern Popes do not; they present their toes and rings for adoration and demand titles ofprominence that were prohibited by Jesus (cf. Matthew 23)3. Peter was quick to disclaim the mistaken ideas and actions of Cornelius, so that all men mightworship God and him aloneH. War Question1. when you think about the teaching of Christ, it can be very hard to reconcile things like turningthe other cheek and loving your neighbor with the job of soldiering and yet here are all these centurions,some of whom become Christians2. in fact, soldiers were never commanded to quit their jobs to be justified (Luke 3:12-14)3. the so-called war question is answered by John the immerser, by Christ the healer and by Peterthe preacher4. soldiering is part of God-ordained human governments (cf. Romans 13:1-7)ConclusionWe can learn much from these centurions and how they discharged their duties and treated Christ, hisapostles and his authority.Character Studies! 97