SUNDAY May 7, 2023
The Work of the Holy Spirit
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.
Acts 10:1-2
When the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost, Jesus’ disciples were empowered to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem. In Caesarea, a beautiful, ancient Mediterranean Sea port with blue seas and sandy beaches, about 54 miles away from Jerusalem, Cornelius was seeking God. Peter would be the one chosen, sent by God to him to explain the way of salvation.
Through the work of the Holy Spirit, a person is convicted of sin (John 16:8). The only way an individual can truly be saved is through the conviction of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s conviction leads them to the Cross, to Christ, so their sins can be forgiven. They can make a choice to either receive or reject Christ.
When a person resists the conviction of the Holy Spirit, God will honor their decision. Yet God is gracious; He continues to give them opportunity after opportunity to accept Jesus. He loves them and does not want them to perish: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Jesus calls sinners to repentance. This is His message of hope:
Then He [Jesus] said to them [His disciples], “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46-47).
The Gospel of Salvation is for everyone, but not everyone accepts Jesus as Savior––sad.
Salvation is all of the grace of God. Damnation is all of the will of man.
~C.H. Spurgeon~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
