Faith Comes By Hearing
“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And [the believing Jews] were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost…Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?” ~ Acts 10:44-47
You know what’s missing in this passage?
- No one first walked an aisle
- No one first prayed a prayer
- No one first became a member of a “local church”
The people in Cornelius’ home heard the word and believed while Peter was still speaking! They were born again the moment they believed! That is, they were convinced and persuaded that what Peter was saying was true and wanted what was being offered to them.
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” ~ Romans 10:17
“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!’ ” ~ Romans 10:14-15
Evangelism is not the job of the “local church”. Evangelism is an individual mandate. Every believer is an ambassador of reconciliation!
“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation…and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
~ Andy
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
I once asked my Calvinist friend at which date and place she got saved. She never answered me.
The false preacher MacArthur also does not have a date or place, etc.: Whizzers, does THAT surprise me? No, it doesn’t. Not one bit. Yes, these Calvinists and the like proclaim a different “Jesus” and a different “gospel,” no matter how much they whine and deny that they’re not.
And what is so unbelievable is that there is instant justification too the minute one is born again; it’s not some mystical, weird, hit-and-miss process of maybes and doubts.
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You know, I have thought a lot about proselytes like Cornelius and Lydia. Non Jews. They were both seeking truth. They converted to Judaism seeking truth about God. Then I think of Pilate who said, “what is truth” as in who can know it? I find this same scenerio today with many people. Some seeking truth and some thinking it is not really attainable, some thinking they have found it with a cruel god. May we always be seeking a more clear understanding of Truth.
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