02/08/2026
Worship Celebration with Rev. Erle V. Rios
"SINCERITY WITHOUT CHRIST IS NOT ENOUGH"
ACTS 10:1–8 (KJV)
1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.
3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
THEME:
Good works cannot save us. Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ.
BIG IDEA:
A sincere life without Christ is still a lost life. Only faith in Jesus brings salvation.
INTRODUCTION:
Many people believe that if they are sincere, kind, generous, and religious, God will surely accept them. They think that heaven is earned by doing more good than bad.
Cornelius was exactly that kind of man. If anyone could have been saved by character alone, it was Cornelius. Yet God sent an angel—not to tell him he was already saved—but to tell him to send for Peter, who would preach the gospel to him.
This passage teaches us that good works are evidence of a seeking heart, but they are never the basis of salvation.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
Acts 10 marks a turning point in the book of Acts.
For the first time, the gospel officially reaches the Gentiles.
Cornelius was a Roman centurion stationed in Caesarea. Although he was a Gentile, he feared God and worshiped the God of Israel. Yet he still needed to hear about Jesus Christ.
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