One That Feared God
Acts 10: 1, 2
The apostle Paul declares that with all men born of Adam, "There is no fear of God before their eyes" (Rom 3: 18.) Luke says of Cornelius that he was "one that feared God with all his house." The Holy Spirit declares to us by this statement that Cornelius was a believer. Cornelius did not yet know that the Messiah had come, but he worshipped Jehovah by faith in that Messiah to come, as did all who truly worshipped God before Christ came. He reverenced God as so absolutely holy, so absolutely in control of all things, and so absolutely powerful to save according to his promise that his only concern in this world was bowing to the LORD. His preeminent concern for everyone in his household over whom he had any influence was that they know the true and living God. Because Cornelius stood in awe of God, the High and Lofty One, Cornelius was not concerned with the favor or disfavor of men. He was not afraid of telling men "no" when they interfered with him worshipping his God. He was not afraid of insisting that those in his household come with him to the place they worshipped. A God-wrought fear results in trusting God without compromise in the face of even our most intimate loved ones who oppose the free and sovereign grace of God in Christ Jesus. Where you find compromise in these areas it is due to an inordinate reverence and fear of man rather than a fear of God. Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! (Ps 31: 19.)