Good Works Aren’t Enough
Scripture:
"Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually." - Acts 10:1-2
"About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, 'Cornelius!' And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, 'What is it, Lord?' And he said to him, 'Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter.'" - Acts 10:3-5
Cowboy Wisdom:
Cornelius was about as good as they come—devout, generous, prayerful, well-respected. If getting to heaven was like earning your way onto a ranch crew, Cornelius would've been foreman material. But here's the hard truth: even the best resume won't get you into God's family. You can't work your way into the kingdom any more than a horse can pull itself up by its own reins.
Cornelius needed what every person needs—a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Good character opens doors in this life, but only Christ opens the door to eternal life. God honored Cornelius's seeking heart by sending him the Gospel through Peter. Notice that God didn't say, "You're a good man, Cornelius, so you're fine." Instead, He sent a messenger who could tell him how to be saved. All of Cornelius's prayers and alms had ascended to God like smoke signals from a distant ridge—God saw them, He valued them, but they weren't enough. Cornelius still needed to hear about Jesus and place his faith in Him alone. If this righteous, God-fearing man couldn't earn salvation by his good works, then neither can we.
"You can break the wildest bronc, mend every fence on the property, and never miss a day's work—but none of that will save your soul. Only Jesus can do that."
Questions for Reflection:
Have you ever relied on your own goodness to feel acceptable to God?
Do you know anyone like Cornelius—moral and religious but without a personal relationship with Christ?
How can you share with others that salvation is a gift, not a wage earned?
Prayer Focus:
Thank God that salvation doesn't depend on your performance but on Christ's finished work. Pray for those you know who are trusting in their own goodness rather than in Jesus alone.
