Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Monday after Whit-Sunday

Posted on May 21, 2018 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: Acts 10:42-48a (NKJV)

10:42 “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. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

Then Peter answered, 47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.

Devotion

We see in the conversion of Cornelius just how effective the Word of God is. We are told that while St. Peter “was still speaking” the Holy Ghost fell upon all those who heard the Word of God. What this means is that the Holy Ghost was working through the preaching of St. Peter while he was speaking. Before he even finished what he was saying, the hearts of those who heard what our Lord Jesus Christ had done were granted faith to cling to Him for forgiveness and salvation.

Consider especially that this outpouring of the Holy Ghost occurs when St. Peter is talking about the remission of sins. The Law had already done its work of convicting them of their sins. They knew there was no salvation in the keeping of the Law, for they, like we, could not keep the Law perfectly. There was always one more sin to confess, one more transgression that they could not prevent.

So, the Lord in a dream to Cornelius tells him to call upon Peter. Likewise, St. Peter also is told in a dream to go to Cornelius. Therefore, the Lord makes His desire known, that the promise of salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus was for all mankind, and not just the Jews. He even confirms this further by having the Holy Ghost fill the hearers before St. Peter is finished with his sermon, or before they were baptized. This is how effective the Word of God is.

We pray: O God, who taught the hearts of Thy faithful people by sending to them the light of Thy Holy Spirit, bring us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort; through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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