[Marc]

Hello,

The conversion of Cornelius clearly shows that water baptism is not necessary for salvation. There are two good reasons that we know that he was saved before he was water baptized.

1. Before he was water baptized he already "received" the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:47). In view of this, there are three passages that demonstrate that he was saved. They are Romans 8:9; Galatians 4:6 and 1 John 4:13.

a. Romans 8:9 - If one has the Holy Spirit they "belong" to Christ. To belong to Christ does not describe an unbeliever but a believer - such was the case of Cornelius before he was water baptized.

b. Galatians 4:6 - Because he was already a "son" God sent the Holy Spirit into his heart whereby he can now rightly refer to God as "Abba! Father!" This would only describe a condition of one who is a believer.

c. 1 John 4:13 - Because he had the Holy Spirit Cornelius abided in God and God abided in him. To abide in God and to have God abide in you does not describe an unbeliever but a believer - such was the case of Cornelius before he was water baptized.

2. Before he was water baptized he spoke in the New Testament gift of tongues (Acts 10:46). This New Testament gift is for those "in" not "out of" the church (1 Corintians 12:28) which is Christ's body (Colossians 1:24). Therefore, by having this New Testament gift Cornelius was already "in" the body of Christ and that before he was water baptized.

Marc