Knowing the Sign

"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God" (Acts 10:44-46). So how did Peter and the brethren who accompanied him to the house of Cornelius know that these gentiles had indeed received God's Spirit? Well, like the scripture plainly states; "For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God." Peter and his Jewish brethren had not been with these people long enough to be able to "know their lives," or to "see their fruits." Nobody here "confessed Jesus as Lord," or "accepted Jesus as their personal savior." Nobody here "got saved," or "repeated the sinner's prayer" either. That did not happen. Peter preached the Gospel, these thirsty souls believed the word, and the result was what Jesus said it would be: "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive" (Jn. 7:38,39).

These elders of the faith recognized the sign that they received in the beginning, and that they had come to know as the initial witness that anyone had received the holy Ghost, and that was it. These Gentiles were hungry, repented up and prayed up, and they believed wholeheartedly Peter's report of Jesus. Peter later rehearsed this experience to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem, and this is what he had to say about it: "And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith" (Acts 15:8,9). Now that my friend, is being "justified by faith" (Rom. 5:1; I Cor. 6:11). I don't know how to make it any simpler or plainer than that. Until God's furnished witness shows up with a person, they have not received the holy Ghost, and have not had their hearts purified by faith (Acts 5:32; Gal. 3:14; Tit. 3:5). That is the God ordained way, that is the Bible way, and there is no other way to be born again and have the remission of your sins (Jn. 3:5; I Cor. 12:13; II Cor. 3:17). It was that way then, and I assure you that God has not changed, and neither has he become confused. It's still that way for those who are honest and humble of heart. Period. Amen.