The Apostle Peter preached the Gospel to Cornelius and his companions in Acts chapter 10. Peter didn't stop at any point in his sermon to give an invitation for the audience to ask to be saved. Peter didn't give an invitation for anyone to walk down an aisle to learn how to be saved. The apostle didn't tell them to pray a sinner's prayer. No, Peter simply told them about Jesus, the Christ, who was crucified on a cross for their sins, buried and then miraculously resurrected three days later. Peter said that all the Bible prophets gave witness in their preaching “that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43b). Faith in Christ produces instant forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
In Acts 10:44 we read, “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word,” signifying that they believed in their hearts to be saved. John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” When someone hears the Gospel correctly presented and BELIEVES IT, they are instantly and forever saved. Nothing more is required. Titus 3:5a, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us...”
Salvation does not include a probationary period to watch that individual's life to see if their behavior has changed. The hellbound false prophets in Matthew 7:21-23 boasted of their “many wonderful works” done in Jesus name, and by all outward indications it appeared that they were saved. Yet, to their utter horror Jesus denied knowing them as His sheep, and they went to burn in the Lake of Fire forever. Satan's greatest weapon is to con people into living the Christian life without ever being born again. Ninety-nine percent of religious people are going straight to Hell when they breathe their last breath on earth.
This beautiful passage from Acts chapter 10 will give you the sweet assurance of salvation. I was always troubled that I didn't pray right after I got saved at age 13. For several years I feared that I might not be saved, thinking perhaps I missed something when I prayed the sinner's prayer to be saved. Since I couldn't remember what I had prayed, I couldn't settle the matter of salvation. I used to cry many tears because my heart was full of worry and anxiety. I knew that saying a prayer didn't save someone, faith did, but I had been taught by every Baptist pastor and religious tract that you must pray to be saved. Boy was I lied to!
I wrote an article nine years ago based on 10:43 and 44 titled, “Peter Preaches The Simple Gospel.” I humbly think the main reason why people struggle with assurance of salvation is because instead of searching the Scripture as Jesus commanded in John 5:39, “for in them ye think ye have eternal life,” they search the teachings of men, following misguided preachers.
As we beautifully see in the biblical account of Cornelius, the Apostle Peter didn't tell his listeners to do anything to be saved, he simply preached the Gospel unto them and they BELIEVED what they heard and were born again.
This is what is meant in Hebrews 4:2, “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”
This is what is meant in Galatians 3:1, “This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
There are numerous unlearned preachers in the New Independent Fundamental Baptist (New IFB) movement today, who errantly teach that you cannot be saved without praying. Such nonsense is totally unbiblical. I and my ministry friend Onorato Diamante have been relentlessly attacked on social media by some nuts in the New IFB, because we uphold the biblical truth that you can be saved by simply believing the Gospel without praying a sinner's prayer. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
1st Thessalonians 4:14, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” If people would just SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES instead of following the teachings of men, they wouldn't be misled. Mark 7:9, “And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” Let God be true, but every man a liar (Romans 3:4).
Sadly, there is an army of fools today who adamantly follow Pastor Steven Anderson in the New IFB, idolizing his every teaching while totally disregarding the commandments of God when he goes astray. For example: Pastor Anderson recently denied that Jesus was omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent while upon the earth. Folks, that is heresy! I love Pastor Anderson, but like all preachers he sometimes strikes out when he bats.
Respectfully, Pastor Anderson is also wrong that you must call, ask and pray to be saved. In a futile attempt to justify his heresy, he cites John 4:10, “Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” But if you read the rest of chapter 4 not one mention is made of any Samaritans asking Christ to save them. The Bible says “many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did” (John 4:39). John 4:41, “And many more believed because of his own word.” No Samaritan asked Jesus to save them, the Bible says they simply BELIEVED and were instantly saved.
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