“To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins” (vs43).
It doesn't matter who you are, where you're from, or what type of bondage you've been in. Whoever believes in Jesus Christ, entrusting yourself to Him, shall be saved.
Belief is the reliance upon (fully) and the committal of myself (fully) to the Son of God. It is RELYING upon Him as my righteousness and trusting in Him as the reason that I'm accepted by God (vs43). It is believing what He says in the Scriptures, that He is Lord over all, He went about doing good – the perfect Man – and He is God's unique Son, the only begotten, whom He raised from the dead. We read, “The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ – He is Lord of all... how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him... Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly” (vs36-40). Faith is trusting Christ as a sinner to make me righteous by faith alone.
Faith is actually following the Son, believing that what He says is true, and regarding it such in my life. It is practicing what He says. He says, “And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead” (vs42).
Faith is doing good because you believe that God is for you, loves you, forgives you, and will judge everyone according to their works, impartially. He says, “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: In truth I perceive that God shows now partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (vs34-35). Faith is a reliance upon the Son to make me able to do the Son's will, and everyone who believes with this saving faith, the instant we believe, we are saved. We DO receive remission of sins. We are right with God.
Peter preached this message and Cornelius believed it. We read, “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word... Then Peter answered, Can anyone forbid water, that these would not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days” (vs44-48). Like these Gentiles, God opens the privileges to us by faith, so that everyone who believes on Him, everyone who confesses Him Lord (absolutely) and Savior (absolutely) is saved. Does this speak of you? Are you one who believes?
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