Salvation Is Jesus

Acts 11

More Gentiles Believe in Jesus Christ

In Acts Chapter 11, Peter goes back to Jerusalem and explains what happened in Caesarea at the house of Cornelius. Peter retells the entire story and concludes with the following…

Verses 15-18:

“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?”

When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”

We can see here three important conclusions:

1. Salvation through Jesus is available to everyone, no matter what their heritage, race, or background.
2. Salvation is is dependent upon belief in the Lord Jesus…
3. through repentance unto life

Just having a head knowledge and believing the fact that Jesus offers salvation does not save a person. It takes a willingness to let Jesus take control of our life (be Lord of our life), which results in repentance from our past sinful habits. This does not mean that we will never sin again, but that the sinful desires of our hearts are turned over to Christ, in order that he may begin to transform our life to line up with of the Father. The theological term for this lifelong process of repentance is known as “progressive sanctification”.

More Gentiles Accept Jesus Christ as Their Lord and Savior

Verses 19-24:

Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

What started in the house of Cornelius now spreads to the city of Antioch. Gentiles are believing in the good news about the Lord Jesus and their lives are being transformed through God’s grace. Barnabas is sent to Antioch to confirm the reports of more Gentile believers. Then Barnabas goes to Tarsus fetch Saul (Paul) so the two of them can return to Antioch and teach the first Gentile church.