IT has been often very truly said, The work of the Spirit IN us produces distress; the work of Christ FOR US gives peace.
The tenth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles is a Marvelous chapter in unfolding the gospel as the power of God unto salvation to the believing sinner—God’s full deliverance. It begins with a soul convicted of sin, in soul trouble crying to God, and saying, “What shall I do?” it ends with that very soul praising and magnifying God. How wonderful to read of God, the Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit, an angel of God, the servant Peter, a heavenly vision, all engaged in the conversion of a far-off Gentile sinner.
Two men are earnestly praying to God in the chapter. Cornelius for himself, Peter for others. We are not told what they so earnestly prayed for, but the immediate answers to their prayers tell us. The answer to Cornelius was, “Send for Peter, he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do:” clearly then, his prayer was, “What shall I do?” Ah, this is the prayer, this is the cry of every divinely sin-convicted soul. This is what it is to be born again, born of the Spirit. This is the first great movement produced by the Holy Ghost in the soul This was the cry of the Philippian jailor in Acts 16. And that greatly-used evangelist John Bunyan, in his “Pilgrim’s Progress” describing an anxious soul, describing himself, says: “I saw a man clothed with rags in a certain place, with his face from his own house, a book in his hand, and a great burden upon his back. I looked and saw him open the book and read therein, and as he read he wept and trembled, and not being able longer to contain, he broke out with a lamentable cry, saying, ‘What shall I do?’”
Ah! bless God, this cry is always heard. “Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will answer thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” “Before they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking I will hear.”
Cornelius immediately sent therefore to Joppa for Peter, and called together likewise his kinsmen and near friends, that they all might hear those words whereby they should be saved.
We have said before, the answer to Peter’s prayer tells us also what he was praying for. Not like Cornelius, for himself, but for others he prayed. He was saved, he had peace with God, he had been turned to God from this evil world, to serve the living and the true God; he was praying for God’s work—that others might be saved, and that God would work and graciously use and direct him in His blessed work and service; where to go and to whom to preach. “And the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down and go with them, doubting nothing, for I have sent them.”
“PEACE BY JESUS CHRIST.”
These were the words that Peter spoke and dwelt upon. Marvelous words to troubled souls, just what they needed. Four words expressed the deep soul-trouble of Cornelius— “What shall I do?” four blessed words expressed what could fully meet it “Peace by Jesus Christ,” and these blessed words are all sufficient to give peace to every troubled, sin burdened, anxious soul. A sin-hating God, and a sin-bearing, holy, spotless, divine Substitute at the cross, once and forever settled the question of sin. Blessed truth The blessed Lord and Saviour made peace by the blood of His cross—by His atoning death—by His finished work. “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” “He was delivered for our offenses, and raised again for our justification: therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
It was God’s work from first to last. He gave His servant the word and blessed it to Cornelius and all present with him. They received forgiveness of sins, peace with God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost; and spake with tongues, magnifying God.
Peter at once bids them to be baptized in the name of the Lord, bringing before them that, not only had the Lord Jesus Christ died FOR them, to save them from their sins and the judgment due to them, but as the truth of baptism sets forth, they had died WITH HIM; they were buried WITH HIM; they were risen WITH HIM, which delivers them from the dominion of sin. What is sin and the world to one dead and buried? even so baptism teaches the believer to reckon himself dead, and alive unto God in Christ Jesus—henceforth to live to God, and to walk in newness of life. ({vi 28070-28081}Rom. 6:1-12; Col. 2:12.)
“Unto Thy death baptized,
We own with Thee we died:
With Thee, our Life, we’re risen, —
And shall be glorified.
From sin, the world, and Satan,
We’re ransomed by Thy blood,
And here would walk as strangers,
Alive with Thee to God.”
Well may they triumphantly sing as saved through God’s salvation: —
“Lord, while our souls in faith repose
Upon Thy precious blood,
Peace like an even river flows,
And mercy like a flood.”
W. F.