Did Cornelius Learn the Mystery?
By Justin Johnson
A common mistake is to make Cornelius the pattern for the mystery of Christ since he was a Gentile. Yet, Cornelius was neither a result of Paul’s ministry nor the mystery message of Christ.
Cornelius was GIVEN THE ONE AND ONLY gospel that saves.
Acts 10:22 The men replied, "We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house
so that he could hear what you have to say."
Acts 11:14
He will convey to you
a message by which you and all your household will be saved.'
The Lord revealed the mystery of Christ first to Paul (1 Tim 1:16). Paul was saved in Acts 9. The story of Cornelius is in Acts 10, but Peter is the minister not Paul.
Peter goes to him after a vision from the Lord and ministers to him the gospel of the kingdom. Peter did not teach the mystery of Christ. Cornelius and his house became a sign to Israel that the Spirit was receiving repentant Gentiles into Peter’s remnant group.
This man that you choose to teach you is wrong. Peter gave Cornelius the one and only message that saves. Cornelius received the Holy Spirit and was saved.
Cornelius was not a pagan Gentile. He was one who walked in obedience to the God of Israel:
“A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.” – Acts 10:2
That is false. Peter says to Cornelius that he knows it is against the LAW for him to be there in Cornelius' house.
Cornelius was a righteous man but did not follow the old law as is required to be a clean person.
He was probably not circumcised.
Acts 10:28 He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.
It was because of his obedience and faithfulness to God’s instructions that he received the vision.
“Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.” – Acts 10:4
That is about doing right but he did not obey the old law and atone for his sins with the various baths and sacrifice of animals.
Cornelius would know that Israel was God’s people and were the chosen mediation between God and Gentiles. When Peter reluctantly arrived at this Gentile’s house, Cornelius quickly honored him knowing that he was a Jew. This was in accordance with
Genesis 12:3.
“And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.” – Acts 10:25
Today, prayers and alms are not prequisites of Gentiles who are freely offered salvation through the direct mediation of Christ. What was hidden in time past was revealed in the mystery of Christ. Cornelius did not understand the mystery.
People are not automatically saved just because they believe. Even Paul fasted and prayed and repented of his sins before he was saved.
Paul taught to JEWS and GENTILES to repent of sins and have faith in Jesus.
Acts 26:20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds
Peter’s Law Message
Peter did not teach the mystery of Christ to Cornelius. In Acts 10 Peter is still observing the law of commandments that Jesus bid him observe in
Mat 23:1.
“Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation;” – Acts 10:28
Peter taught the same gospel as Paul.
The mystery of Christ teaches we are no longer under the law. Peter did not have a clue. He was told that he should not call any man unclean. A Gentile’s faith and righteous works were acceptable to God.
God does not respect persons as was explained by the law and the prophets (Deut 16:19, Prov 28:21).
God told Peter that Gentiles who worked righteousness could be accepted into the believing kingdom group.
That is to whom even PAUL says the gospel is given to.
Acts 10:35 but that in every nation those who fear Him and live good lives are acceptable to Him.
Acts 13:26 "Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.
Cont.