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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 3
other nations, yet if they rejected light, and did not live up to their
profession, they were no more exalted in his esteem than other na-
tions. Those among the Gentiles who, like Cornelius, feared God, and
worked righteousness, living up to what light they had, were kindly
regarded by God, and their sincere service was accepted.
But the faith and righteousness of Cornelius could not be per-
fect without a knowledge of Christ; therefore God sent that light and
knowledge to him for the farther development of his righteous char-
acter. Many refuse to receive the light which the providence of God
sends them, and, as an excuse for so doing, quote the words of Peter
to Cornelius and his friends: “But in every nation he that feareth Him,
and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” They maintain that
it is of no consequence what men believe, so long as their works are
good. Such ones are wrong; faith must unite with their works. They
should advance with the light that is given them. If God brings them
in connection with his servants who have received new truth, substan-
tiated by the Word of God, they should accept it with joy. Truth is
onward. Truth is upward. On the other hand, those who claim that
their faith alone will save them, are trusting to a rope of sand; for faith
is strengthened and made perfect by works only.
Peter preached Jesus to that company of attentive hearers; his life,
ministry, miracles, betrayal, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension,
and his work in Heaven, as man’s Representative and Advocate, to
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plead in the sinner’s behalf. As the apostle spoke, his heart glowed with
the Spirit of God’s truth which he was presenting to the people. His
hearers were charmed by the doctrine they heard, for their hearts had
been prepared to receive the truth. The apostle was interrupted by the
descent of the Holy Ghost, as was manifested on the day of Pentecost.
“And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as
many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured
out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues,
and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water,
that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost
as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name
of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.”
The descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Gentiles was not an equiv-
alent for baptism. The requisite steps in conversion, in all cases, are
faith, repentance, and baptism. Thus the true Christian church are