THE SALVATION OF A GOOD MORAL MAN - LESSON 13

TAKE A QUIZ

How can you conclude that all these good people in these other ‘churches’ are not saved? Find out!

Many times in personal study with a prospect the question arises concerning the “good people in other ‘churches’.” Someone will query, “How can you conclude that all these good people in these other ‘churches’ are not saved?” Experience has helped me to devise a response to these types of questions.

I never deny that there are good people in other churches, that’s because there are. Many of them are as morally good and rich in alms deeds as any Christian. However, that is not the issue. Is the fact that they are “good” and rich in “deeds” going to save them? Certainly not! The issue is whether or not they are Christians, whether or not they have “believed” in Christ, whether or not they have believed unto the saving of the soul (Hebrews 10:39).

ROMANS 3:23

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

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COMMENTARY

We begin with this text because it is an affirmation of the universal need of mankind for the remission of sins. Verses 9-18 are a series of quotations from the Old Testament intended to prove to the Jews that God had revealed this indictment to them through their own Law. The application you should make of the text is that there is no one who can stand before God, except Jesus Christ, and proclaim his own goodness. There is no one that has been so good and moral that do not Jesus Christ.

1/9

PROVERBS 20:9

9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?

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COMMENTARY

Solomon recognized that it was impossible for a man to work enough in order to effect his own atonement. He and we are desperately dependent upon the grace and mercy of God in order to be accepted of Him.

2/9

GALATIAN S 3:10-12

10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.”

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COMMENTARY

The Law of Moses required perfect, flawless obedience in the strictest detail in order to declare a man just or righteous. For those who failed in this sinless perfection there was only the condemnation of death (Deuteronomy 27:26). Paul states the reality; no sinner is justified before God by or through the Law of Moses (illustrate by the posted speed limit on the highway and being stopped for speeding.) Paul offers the alternative of justification by faith.

3/9

EZEKIEL 18:24

24 But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.

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COMMENTARY

The prophet makes it clear in this text that our good deeds which we do while in fellowship with God do not accrue or store up for us to draw against in the day that we sin. It seems that some folks think that God is keeping a great ledger book in heaven of our good deeds and that our goal is to have a zero balance at the end of life. Rather, the truth is that our righteousness does not offset our wickedness. What we need is a Saviour.

4/9

ACTS 10:1-6

10 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

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COMMENTARY

Now let’s consider the actual conversion of a good, moral man––Cornelius, the Roman Centurion. He was (1) devout, (2) feared, that is, reverenced God (3) with his entire house, (4) gave alms to the people, (5) fasted [see: Acts 10:30] and (6) prayed (7) being obviously penitent for his sins (cf. Acts 9:9).

5/9

ACTS 11:13,14

13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; 14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’

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COMMENTARY

However, this man was in need of being saved, and in order to effect that salvation he needed to hear what Peter had to say and obey it (cf. 10:6 and Hebrews 5:8,9). If one is saved on the basis of morality or just having sincere religion surely Cornelius was saved––BUT, he was NOT.

6/9

ACTS 10:29-35

29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”

30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

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COMMENTARY

Notice that Cornelius’ prayers were not efficacious to his salvation apart from his obedience to the Gospel. He could not “pray through” at the altar. However, they were a “memorial” and a “remembrance” before God to keep His promise to the Gentiles to justify them by faith in Christ even as He had the Jews (cf. Acts 2:39; Isaiah 2:2–3). Cornelius and his guests were present to “hear” everything that God had commanded Peter. Peter affirms that God had taught him by a dream (10:9-16) that all men were accepted of God through Christ if they would “fear Him and work righteousness,” that is, believe and obey.

7/9

ACTS 10:43-48

43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

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COMMENTARY

Verse 43 is equivalent to verse 35, that is to say, “believing in Christ” is the same thing as “fearing God and working His righteousness.” This is a truth that applies to whosoever, Jew or Gentile, to “everyone that believeth” (Romans 1:16–17). Then the Holy Spirit came upon the Gentiles directly and they spoke in tongues. Seeing this sign Peter commanded that Cornelius and his house be baptized (10:48). [Note the question in verse 47, “Can any man forbid water...” To whom is that directed if not to the Jews present (10:23; cf. 11:12)? Peter’s conclusion regarding the gift of the Holy Spirit on this occasion is that to refuse to baptize uncircumcised Gentiles was tantamount to “withstanding God” (11:17).]

8/9

ACTS 15:7-11

7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

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COMMENTARY

Years later Peter used these events to quell the influence of the Judaizers in the Jerusalem Church. Notice the order (1) they heard the Gospel, (2) they believed, (3) God gave a witness that he put no difference between Jews and Gentiles, (4) their hearts were purified by faith––they were baptized (10:48), therefore (5) they were saved. The application to our lesson study is that the good, moral man is saved just like every sinner is saved. He must hear, believe and obey the Gospel––faith, repentance, confession and immersion into Christ.

9/9

Completed!

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