Why did Cornelius receive the Holy Spirit before Water Baptism?

QUESTION:

Explain how Cornelius and the Gentiles had received the remission of sins by believing in Him as Peter said and received the Holy Ghost BEFORE water baptism.

I still say Peter did not preach another gospel as that gospel of the kingdom is the same gospel of grace as the gospel of the kingdom was never going to happen until after His death, resurrection and ascension as Jesus said to Nicodemus and again in John 6th chapter.

REPLY:

There are many types and shadows in the Bible. The life of Joseph has about 40 similarities to the life of Jesus. Abraham’s almost sacrifice of Isaac was a shadow of the crucifixion, etc, etc. God confirms His Word with events or happenings that depict Christ or that announces his will.

Before I get to Cornelius, consider what happened in the beginning of Paul’s ministry to herald the blinding of the Jews and a new dispensation of grace to the Gentiles without the need for Israel. Read Acts 13:6-12 and consider the blinding of Barjesus (who represented Israel, being blinded for a season).

More ignorance of rightly dividing the Word

QUESTION:

Paul contradicts himself saying even dead in sin your saved by grace then he says after knowing the truth if you sin there is no longer a sacrifice for sin. Why can't Bible thumpers see Paul's lies?

ANSWER:

You draw attention to this supposed contradiction because you appear to be unaware of rightly dividing the Word of truth. There are two parts to God’s redemption plan. Prophetic (Israel’s doctrine) and Mystery (Paul’s doctrine). These two parts (doctrines) are unique and distinct, and they cannot be merged (or blended) together, as you clearly are doing in your question. On the other hand, if you keep the two doctrines apart, everything falls into place.

The Faith OF Christ in the Gospel of Grace

The Faith OF Christ in the Gospel of Grace

STATEMENT:

In connection with our salvation, our works regarding obedience to Christ must reflect that which is dealt with in James. So, while we put faith in Christ’s work on the cross, that faith is meaningless without good works. Literally your faith is dead. Dead faith is of no value whatsoever and will not, and cannot, be used to meet the condition to receive grace.

RESPONSE:

I’m glad that you raise this very interesting point as it is a crucial, yet a very overlooked detail in the scriptures. I do want to respond on what you say about faith. Have a careful look at these three scriptures:

The Fundamentals of the REAL Gospel

When we share the grace gospel today, we must be careful how we present it. It is important to note that the grace gospel is not only the truth that the Lord died and rose again, but far more importantly, it is that the Lord died FOR OUR SINS and that his resurrection was FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION. This detail is of great importance, as the basis of our faith should rest specifically in the underlined statements above.

Gospels and Raptures (Grace - Part 29) Summary

The Gospels and their Raptures (Grace - Part 29)

Summary

Below is a summary of the details discussed in the preceding lesson parts of this gospel (the gospel of Grace), as well as additional points that highlight its unique standing in relation to the other gospels in this study. The table will also be a useful means to run comparisons with the other gospels to really get a grasp on the differences and transitions that occurred within each.

Gospels and Raptures (Grace - Part 28): Additional

The Gospels and their Raptures (Grace - Part 28)

Additional

The end part of the probational period, that ±40 years of Israel under testing, Acts 28:28, brought about the official suspension of the Kingdom program for the next 2000-years. Israel under the promise of Abraham had fallen through the cracks, the Jews were dispersed and the temple was in ruins. 

This also marked the beginning of the 'undiluted' grace church, the Body of Christ, where there was no more wall of separation, no more distinguishing between the nations, no more preeminence of the Jew. Paul's writings to the far hence Gentiles was now the only valid doctrine of the day and provided all humanity with a new hope and salvation where once there was no hope and no salvation apart from Israel. It was during this time that the Word of God was unfettered, even though the messenger had been in chains for those last few years,

2 Timothy 2:9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

Gospels and Raptures (Grace - Part 27): Destination

The Gospels and their Raptures (Grace - Part 27)

Destination

As with all the saints that continued in Paul's ministry to receive the gospel of Christ; who make up the fledgling 'body of Christ', so it would be with those 'far hence' Gentiles who are saved by the gospel of grace. They too are added to the Body of Christ and would have their destination to be in the heavens, meeting the Lord in that place of light, either through death or by the pre-tribulation rapture of the body of Christ.

I'll keep this post short and not repeat content already discussed. The point is that the gospel of Christ and the gospel of grace are the same gospel with the same result; membership into the Body of Christ and a destiny fulfilled in the heavens. The only difference is that the two gospels identify two different people groups; (1) those Jews and Greeks who believed the message of Christ through the cross, proved from scripture, and (2) those Gentiles who were unassociated with Israel and without hope —but for the grace gospel which saved them without the instrumentality of Israel and by utter grace alone, unsearchable in the scriptures.

Eph.3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

Gospels and Raptures (Grace - Part 26): Participants

The Gospels and their Raptures (Grace - Part 26)

Participants

Although the participants of this grace gospel were 'all people', ie: both Jew and Gentile,

Ephesians 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

1 Timothy 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Gospels and Raptures (Grace - Part 25): Conditions

The Gospels and their Raptures (Grace - Part 25)

Conditions

Was blessing the Jews necessary in this gospel? Was keeping certain ordinances and laws necessary to keep the peace and to continue to bless the Jews? Was works still a requirement for one's salvation?

When Paul entered a city, we know that he presented the gospel of God to those present in the synagogues. To those who believed and had faith to 'continue in the grace of God' (Acts 13:43), Paul would teach that there was no laws or ordinances,

Gospels and Raptures (Grace - Part 24): Message

The Gospels and their Raptures (Grace - Part 24)

Message

The message of the gospel of grace is the same as the message of the gospel of Christ; the fact that Christ's death and burial was for the forgiveness of sins and His resurrection was the justifying result of that cross-work. Faith in the cross alone was sufficient enough to save. The primary difference was the audience and a few smaller details that distinguish it. Paul preached the gospel of Christ to Jews and Gentiles who came out of the synagogues, having believed the gospel of God. This message of salvation, which Paul called, "MY gospel", was hid in the prophetic scriptures, as confirmed by the following verses,

Gospels and Raptures (Grace - Part 23): Origin

The Gospels and their Raptures (Grace - Part 23)

Origin

As we have already documented, the gospel of Christ and the gospel of the grace of God are essentially the same gospel. They both place emphasis on faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as the only aspect of salvation. There is no works associated with these gospels as the work was completely accomplished by the cross-work of Christ. The only different between these two gospels is not so much in the message of the gospel as it is in the recipient the gospel.