I’m fronting this blog and have many concerns I plan to address. For starters as stated on the other blog, the Church of Christ look past the fact that Cornelius was accepted of God prior to being baptized. I want be able to comment during day hours, but will do so as time permits nightly and weekends.

If you rather not reply I fully understand, given the circumstances of the other blogs. This one is me using my real ID…if that means anything.

Randy

Was Cornelius an unregenerate sinner, while he spoke in tongues and praised God?

Unregenerate men in a state of sin do not fear God at all (Romans 3:18 compared to 3:9-18). True or False?

God does not accept the sacrifices of the wicked, no matter what they do (Prov 15:8; 21:4,27). True or False?

Cornelius gave alms before he met Peter. This proves he had eternal life already. The Holy Spirit testified that Cornelius gave alms – gifts to the poor – to the people (Acts 10:2) God not only acknowledged the alms: He also accepted and approved them (Acts 10:4,31,35).

God hears the prayer of the righteous, but not the prayers of the wicked (Pr 15:8,29; John 9:31). The Lord sees and hears the righteous, but His face is against evildoers (Ps 34:11-18; I Pet 3:12). True or False?

Cornelius prayed always before he met Peter. The Holy Spirit Himself testified that Cornelius indeed prayed to God always (Acts 10:2). God acknowledged that the prayers were accepted and approved before Him (Acts 10:4,31,35).

The Lord sees and hears the righteous, but His face is against evildoers (Ps 34:11-18; I Pet 3:12). Unregenerate men in sin do not seek after God, yet Cornelius did (Ps 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Rom 3:11). Unregenerate men do not have any desire or time for God, but Cornelius did (Ps 10:4; Gen 6:5).

Based upon the clear scriptures above, I contend that Cornelius was NOT unregenerate prior to baptism.

Did Balaam give alms, pray to God, and seek God? No, he was wicked. Cornelius was a right-standing man before God. There is no middle ground between being alive and being dead. Unregenerate men are not just sick, handicapped, or impaired but dead. You're comparing oranges to apples.

You may use all human persuasion possible, but you cannot give spiritual life where death reigns. God alone, by a creative act, can bring life out of death. Spiritual arguments to an unregenerate man are only warm clothes to a corpse. Thus Cornelius was NOT dead before being baptized.

Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil(Jer. 13:23). The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom. 8:6-8). Without the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit applied to a man’s heart, no one would ever believe in Christ and repent. Genuine repentance is the fruit of a regenerate heart. “They glorified God, saying, ‘Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life’” (Acts 11:18). Peter himself said it was the same on Cornelius as on them in "the beginning" was Peter not saved in the beginning?

There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God” (Rom. 3:11). The idea that unregenerate men are objectively examining different philosophies and religions in search of the truth is totally false. Yet, Cornelius did. How? Because he was alive, not dead...BEFORE BAPTISM.

You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears!” (Acts 7:51). “Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart or uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter My sanctuary’” (Ezek. 44:9). “Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh” (Ezek. 11:19). “I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezek. 36:26). An uncircumcised heart is a heart still enslaved to the filth and pollution of the flesh. A heart of stone is totally unresponsive to spiritual truth. An unregenerate man will no more respond to the gospel than will a rock. You have Cornelius being in a dead state doing things that the bible says he cannot. Thus you are wrong regarding your position here. He was generate before being baptized, otherwise the scriptures lie about mans state in sin before God. Take care friend.