Acts 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the Gift of the Holy Spirit.
When Peter and the six Jews traveling with him, arrived at the home of Cornelius, something happened that had never happened before in all of history. Peter shared the Gospel of Christ with Cornelius and his family and friends and by faith, every one of these Gentiles believed, were Saved, and filled with the Holy Spirit. This was a turning point in history because never before had a Gentile ever been accepted into the Family of God. The New Covenant was in effect due to the Sacrifice made by Jesus on the Cross of Calvary where He shed His Blood for the remission of all sin for all of mankind.
Even though the Jews that traveled with Peter were Christians themselves, they still did not believe that Gentiles could be accepted by God. This had to do with their previous teaching of the Old Covenant which had been in effect for hundreds of years. It was all they knew. Peter, however, knew otherwise because of the Vision and Message given to him by the Holy Spirit while he was praying on the rooftop of his friend. (Acts 10:9-16)
The Old Covenant was totally based on the Law and works. To remain in right standing with God, one had to keep all the Laws and do everything prescribed therein including making daily sacrifices at the Temple. Gentiles had no part in this at all and therefore had no part in God and were considered heathens and peons.
The Good News of the Gospel of Christ is that Jesus fulfilled the Law and opened the Family of God to all people who choose to believe in Him. When Peter shared the Gospel of Christ with Cornelius and his household that day, they believed his Words to be true. They were in desperate need of a Savior (as are all people) and they accepted what Peter shared with them. Upon their acceptance of the Word spoken by Peter, they were all Saved and filled with the Holy Spirit and those traveling with Peter were shocked!
We may think this to be odd, but how many times do we see a dramatic conversion of someone and are shocked? A murderer on death row who is ministered to and totally transformed through his faith in Christ is a perfect example. The strung-out drug addict under the bridge who hears the Gospel of Christ preached on the street and gets dramatically saved. Within a relatively short period of time, they are a completely different person; a new creation in Christ Jesus. The die-hard Muslim who receives a Vision of Jesus and turns from the hatred of Islam and becomes a loving Christian. These are just a few examples of what the Gospel of Christ does when people hear it, believe it, and place their faith in it.
It doesn’t matter about a person’s past. Jesus died for their past just like He died for my past and your past. Everyone has a past and Jesus died for us all. Believing this will totally transform anyone.
Jesus went to the Cross to……….turn the tide……..in the life of whosoever believes.
Transformed! Doreen
www.bettsministries.org
