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Tuesday, August 16, 2011

The Process of Accomplishment

Our topic last evening was "The Process of Accomplishment."  We studied the conversion of Cornelius in Acts 10 and noted the steps he took in this story.  In our lives, we need to take certain steps in order to be in the right relationship with God.  Believing in God, praying to Him and showing through our actions that we believe in Him are some of the crucial steps in this process.  After we learn the basics, we need to grow in our faith and knowledge, as we learn more about God and how we can enjoy the salvation He offers all mankind.  

The notes of our discussion are below.



August 15, 2011
The Process of Accomplishment
Opening Question: What is something that you have achieved or accomplished recently and what has it been the steps or the process in which it took place?
In order to complete a project or a task, there is a specific process, with chronological steps that should take place.  These steps need to be in the right order and should be taken one after the other for the project or the task to be accomplished.
Today we are going to look at a story from the Bible and talk about a few steps in the process of accomplishing salvation in our lives.
First of all, it is important to note that God offers us salvation as a gift.  In Ephesians 2:8-9 we read that: 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.  However, there are certain steps that need to be followed in order to receive this grace of God.
In Acts 10, we read the story of how Cornelius became a Christian.  In verse 2, we read that Cornelius had been doing several things in his life.
What were these things?
Cornelius was devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.
What do these things mean?  What do they show us about Cornelius?
Cornelius had taken the first steps in getting to know God and building a relationship with Him.  He was God-fearing, meaning respectful of God’s person and His commandments, he was generous (showing through his acts his beliefs) and he communicated, he talked to God regularly through prayer.
The story continues in verses 3-8: 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”  4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.  The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.  5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.  6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”  7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants.  8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
Cornelius had certain preconditions (which we just mentioned) in his life, which made for God to send an angel and to talk to him directly.  In the Old Testament and the New Testament times, God used visions and direct interventions of angels to give people His message.  This was a time when there was no writing of the New Testament.  The stories that we read about today were happening or had just happened, like the accounts we read in the Gospels.
However, today, God does not intervene anymore in this way.  We have the Bible that teaches us about what we need to do.  In fact, this story that we are reading comes from the Bible.  Cornelius had to listen from Peter explanations about those things he did not know or understand and about the things he needed to do.  Today, we can read about the same message that Peter spoke to Cornelius in the words of the Bible, recording for us and for all the people in the world.
In verses 36-38, we read that besides Cornelius being a good, generous men, who prayed to God, he also had certain understanding about God and about Jesus.  We read in these verses that word that Peter says to Cornelius:  36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.  37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
It was important for Cornelius to have a basic understanding of what God had done and who Jesus was, in order for Peter to continue teaching him more advanced truths of the Word of God.  Like in other areas of our life, our research, we have to follow certain steps in order to advance in our knowledge and to achieve the wanted results.  In order to know God, we need to start at some point, at the beginning, with the basic truths and facts and then move to more in-depth studies and understanding.
Furthermore, Peter instructs Cornelius in those things we did not know.  In verses 39-43, we read his words: 39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.   41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.  42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.  43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
Peter explains to Cornelius how Jesus died and was raised on the third day.  More importantly, Peter says in verse 43 that everyone who believes in Jesus, receive forgiveness of his sins through His name.  Forgiveness of one’s sins allows for us to have a true relationship with God again.
Finally, after Cornelius had learned everything that it was necessary for Peter to teach him, in verse 48, we read that Cornelius is baptized: 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
We will study more about baptism in our next lessons, but for now it is important to mention that baptism is always a crucial step in the process of being saved by the grace of God.
Conclusions
In order for us to be in a good relationship with God, we need to follow a few steps in our life.  Believing in God, praying to Him and showing through our actions that we believe in Him and are trying to live good lives are preconditions to moving forward in our faith.  Learning the basics about God and the Bible is essential, before we can move along with more advanced teachings.  And finally, baptism is a crucial step in the plan of salvation created by God for all mankind.

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