[VictorKachi]

The event of the Holy Spirit being received by Cornelius’s household is truly a distinctive instance of the convictive power of the Holy Spirit.
From this story, some fascinating facts can be ascertained.
1. This proves that salvation starts with conviction:
The point at which someone experiences salvation is not strictly when they lift their hand or step forward during an evangelistic invitation. It is more accurately at the instant they yield to God and genuinely place their trust in Jesus from their hearts.
For one to be saved, he must first believe in his heart (Rom 10:10), and this happens as a result of the prompting by the Holy Spirit. To “believe in your heart” transcends mere intellectual agreement; it encompasses a profound, personal reliance and dedication. This conviction is not shallow but life-changing, influencing every aspect of a person’s existence and conduct. The heart, regarded as the foundation of faith, highlights the genuineness and depth necessary for a true Christian journey.

2. This proves that the Conviction of the Holy Spirit is divinely orchestrated and it isn’t one-sided:
God isn’t partial, He reaches out to unbelievers (Jews and Gentiles) alike.
It is interesting to note that at the time Cornelius and his household received the Holy Spirit, they were not yet believers, not yet baptized, and not yet saved. Cornelius was not a Christian in the sense that he was not yet regenerated or born again, yet in this case God heard his prayers and remembered his generosity to others
Just as God communicated with Cornelius, He also reached out to Peter himself.
“Two men are separated by thirty miles. They need to be united. In the midst of Joppa’s bustling trade and Caesarea’s significant shipping activities, completely unaware of the unfolding events, God, watching over His own from the shadows, sends an angel to Caesarea and induces an ecstatic trance in Joppa. In this manner, they were brought together.

3. The Holy Spirit doesn’t condemn, it convicts by honouring the finished work of Christ:
He points us to the already finished work of Christ. The message Peter preached was clear. Peter’s point was not to imply that men like Cornelius were already right with God and don’t need to become Christians. Instead, the point is that they need not feel excluded from God because of their national background.
Peter’s sermon was a wonderful (brief and perhaps condensed by Luke) explanation of the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth:

*Jesus was baptized in identification with humanity.
*Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power. Jesus went about doing good and healing, delivering those oppressed by the devil. Jesus did this with the power of God, for God was with Him.(vs 38)

*Jesus did these things in the presence of eyewitnesses. Jesus was crucified. He was raised from the dead, resurrected in view of many witnesses. (vs 40)

*Jesus commanded His followers to preach the message of who He is and what He did.
He is ordained by God to be Judge of the entire world. And He is the one foretold by the prophets. (vs 41-43).
Peter permitted the Holy Spirit to intervene during his message. The Holy Spirit was achieving a more significant transformation in the hearts of the listeners, and Peter chose to follow that lead. He paused and invited them to be baptized

In conclusion, God, despite his sovereignty gave room to our will and decisions. The Holy Spirit convicts us but our decisions are needed. The Holy Spirit did not directly, supernaturally open Cornelius’ heart. Rather, the Holy Spirit miraculously fell on the household of Cornelius afterwards. Thus, giving credence to the truth that believing in our Heart and confession with our mouth, are needed to complete our spirit’s transformation ignited by the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

[VictorKachi]

Introduction
When God created humans, He gave us the important gift of free will, knowing that every choice we make will have a consequence. The impact of these choices was significant from the start. Adam’s decision to follow or defy God set off a chain reaction that would affect future generations. It could be said that Adam, by choosing to sin, served as the initial leader of all humanity, passing on the consequences of his actions to all those yet to be born.
In the context of this study, let us look at three significant changes caused by the Fall of man;
1. Separation from God:
God created us in His image to have abundant life and fellowship with Him, the image was marred and the fellowship was shattered.
Genesis 3:24. Not only were Adam and Eve and their progeny separated from God and removed from dwelling with Him in the Garden of Eden, they were also separated from the source of life, the Tree of Life! The tragic results are evident for anyone to see.
The entire human race transitioned from a state of innocence to sinfulness all at once (Isaiah 59:2)
Adam was not a sinner when he was first created, but he fell from that state of purity and from the close relationship he once had with God.

2. Physical death: (Rom 6:23)
This is the consequence of Adam’s disobedience to God’s command, as foretold by God himself (Genesis 3:19; 2:17). Paul described the progression of the issue in four key phases: “Sin came in… Death followed… Death extended… Death ruled” (Romans 5:12-14, NKJV). Adam’s disobedience led to not only his own physical death but also to the death of his descendants (Romans 5:12). The first human death occurred when Cain killed Abel, but death did not end there as it affected all people. People became naturally inclined towards sin (Ephesians 2:1-3). It was like a spiritual infection inserted into the genetic makeup of mankind for eternity

3. Clothing
Following their disobedience towards God, Adam and Eve gained awareness of their nakedness as their “eyes were opened.” They attempted to conceal themselves by stitching fig leaves together, yet this proved to be unsuccessful. Consequently, God personally provided clothing for them as they could no longer stand before Him in a state of innocence.
The act of God dressing Adam and Eve serves as a symbol that our redemption is not achieved through our actions but through God’s mercy when He covers us with His righteousness Phil 3:9, 2cor 5:21.

In conclusion
Actions are connected to consequences. This connection between act and consequence is really big in scripture. Man lost his communion with God as a result of sin. He goes into hiding. Where does he hide? He hides in the bushes. Gen 3:8-9. But glory be to God, the sin problem has been resolved with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and the assurances his word reveals. Rom 8:35. Now we can boldly approach God’s throne of Grace with confidence and be partakers of his ever-generous mercy Heb 4:16, Amen!

[VictorKachi]

In order for change to occur, something necessary must either be gained, resulting in a positive change, or lost, resulting in a negative change. However, since God is flawless and lacks nothing, He is incapable of improving. Furthermore, if God were to lose something, He would cease to be perfect, thus ruling out the possibility of deterioration.
James 1:17 also emphasizes the consistency of God: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” The phrase “shadow of turning” relates to how we see the sun move and cast shadows. The sun rises and sets, appearing and disappearing daily, changing positions throughout the year. Unlike the sun, God, who is symbolically light, remains constant without any darkness or change. He is unchanging in His essence, perfections, plans, promises, and blessings. Being holy, He cannot turn to evil, and as the source of light, He cannot cause darkness. Since all good and perfect gifts come from Him, evil does not originate from Him, nor does He tempt anyone (James 1:13). The Bible affirms that God is unwavering in His character, will, and nature.

[VictorKachi]

The unchanging nature of God is connected to His omniscience. When a person changes their opinion, it is usually due to new information being revealed or a shift in circumstances requiring a different response. Because God knows everything, He cannot gain new knowledge that He was not already aware of. Therefore, when the Bible mentions God changing His mind, it signifies a change in the situation, not in God Himself. Below are some passages that affirms the doctrine of God’s immutability: He is unchanging and unchangeable.

God’s reaction over Nineveh (Jonah 3:5-10NKJV)
“Then God saw their works”, (verse 10)
the Hebrew term for “saw” being “ra’ah,” signified more than just a mere watching but a keen, perceptive understanding. The people of Nineveh avoided destruction when God saw how they humbly repented after Jonah warned them of their impending doom. This shows that God can change His plans based on human actions, proving that His nature is not completely unchanging.This does not suggest a transformation in God’s essence or identity but rather His consistent readiness to pardon and exhibit compassion. It demonstrates the intricate interplay between divine fairness and compassion, where God’s ultimate intention is to renew rather than annihilate. The calamity that God warned of was a direct consequence of Nineveh’s wicked deeds, yet His decision to avert it upon their repentance showcases His kindness and leniency.

Exodus 32:14
In this example, God decided to spare the Israelites and continue with His plan to establish a new nation under Moses, despite initially contemplating their destruction following the worshipping of the golden calf at Mount Sinai (Exodus 32:9-14).In this situation, it shows a divine shift in plan as a result of Moses’ plea. This does not suggest a change in God’s nature or His overall plan, but rather His willingness to respond to human deeds and supplications. It emphasizes the interactive bond between God and mankind, where God, in His control, permits His intentions to be impacted by the faithful requests of His followers.

Hezekiah and his death predicted (Isaiah 38:1-6)
In the tale of Hezekiah’s impending death foretold (Isaiah 38:1-6), we witness the king’s health deteriorating. Isaiah delivered the somber message to Hezekiah in verse one. The news deeply affected Hezekiah, prompting him to plead with God for mercy, citing his righteous deeds as justification. In response, God appeared to change His mind about the prophecy and granted Hezekiah an additional fifteen years of life.

1 Samuel 15:11
For God to say, “I feel sorrow that I made Saul king,” is not the same as saying, “I would not make him king if I had it to do over.” God is able to feel sorrow for an act in view of foreknown evil and pain, and yet go ahead and will to do it for wise reasons. And so later, when he looks back on the act, he can feel the sorrow for the act that was leading to the sad conditions, such as Saul’s disobedience.

In conclusion
Therefore, we hold dear the powerful verse found in Numbers 23:19 – “God is not human, that He would lie, Nor a son of man, that He would change His mind; Has He spoken, and will He not act? Or has He made a promise, and will He not fulfill it?” This verse is cherished because it shows God’s unwavering commitment to His promises, as He does not change His mind like a human would. In essence, God’s promises are secure because He can see all circumstances and knows that nothing will happen to make Him go back on His word.

[VictorKachi]

The Bible ascribes many characteristics of deity to Jesus, including being eternal, omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent. Jesus also performed works that only God can do, such as creating, upholding all things, forgiving sin, and raising the dead. 
1) John 3:16
This verse unveils the fact that God’s love was made manifest by sending his son Jesus Christ in order to save mankind from it befallen state.
The Greek term monogenes, interpreted as “his only begotten Son,” signifies something with a similar essence or composition, or “the sole of its type.” Put simply, Jesus, known as the Son of Man, shares the same divine nature as God the Father. This verse is crucial in demonstrating the biblical belief in the Trinity.
Observe clearly in verse 16, Jesus is identified as the Son of God. According to 1 Timothy 3:16, Jesus is portrayed as God in human form. Additionally, Jesus is recognized as the maker, arbiter, and rescuer, tasks that are exclusive to God.

2) John 6:35
This verse represents the first “I am” statement of John’s gospel. In each of these instances, Jesus uses the phrase “I am” in reference to Himself, providing perspective on His mission and His ministry. This echoes the reference used by God Himself when speaking to Moses from the burning bush (Exodus 3:13–14).
The people have come to Jesus looking for another miracle: more free food (John 6:26). Instead, Jesus says they need to be seeking the “true bread from heaven” to obtain eternal life. Jesus has already clarified that this does not mean good works; it means belief in the One sent by God (John 6:29).
Jesus explicitly declares that He, Himself, is the One sent by God. Eternal life is found only through belief in Jesus Christ (John 3:36; 14:6; Acts 4:12).

3) John 14:7~9
A lot of people overlook the importance of this verse as well. Philip didn’t assume that Jesus was claiming to be God the Father, as he requested Jesus to reveal the Father to him. This request was more of a dare for Jesus to provide some tangible proof (show us and it will be enough) to demonstrate God to them. It was clearly stated in verse 9. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

4) John 10:30
Classical Lutheran theology uses this verse to affirm the Son’s full deity.
In this vers, Jesus’ claim to have equal power as the Father was not blasphemy, but the truth.The suggestion carried in that pair of statements is that Jesus is God. Comments along those lines have enraged Jesus’ critics in the past (John 5:18; 8:56–59).

[VictorKachi]

A relationship with God is the core foundation. This is actually the start of the Journey as it gives birth to Good works which is then seen as lights before men for the glorification of the father (Matthew 5:16).
Like you pointed out,
Any good works that do not stem from a relationship with Christ are merely acts of philanthropy, not bearing witness to Christ.

Our new identity, our recreated spirit is the bench mark for good works that magnify the Good News.
Just like a lamp isn’t put under a basket, our good works aren’t supposed to be hidden.True humility is not hiding our good works from the world, but using them to point to our King. We don’t live righteously so that we might be seen (Matthew 6:1), but so that He would be.
We are called to be spotlights, not chandeliers. Both serve the purpose of giving light, but they are different in nature. When a spotlight shines, the fixture is not gazed at, people look at the object the spotlight is fixated on. Our good works aren’t meant to illuminate us, not for our good and glory—but for our neighbors good and our Father’s glory.

[VictorKachi]

“Good works that stem out of a relationship with christ Jesus are witnesses for Jesus.”

Works is not some esoteric religious concept. We are always doing works—some good, some bad, some indifferent. Our emphasis is on Good works as a product of an intimate relationship with Christ
First, what does “works” mean?
The word “works” means things we do, our actions.
In a theological context, “ergon” can refer to both good works, which are the fruit of faith, and works of the law, which cannot justify a person before God.(Berean Strong’s Lexicon)
For example, “good works” in Matthew 5:16 is from érga kalá, which means “good deeds,” and in Ephesians 2:10 is from érga agathá, which means “well-doing, virtue, piety” (Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary, New Testament).

Clearly, we ain’t saved by good works, salvation is through grace. It is not something that can be earned through good works. Saving was all his idea. it is God’s gift from start to finish. He himself has made us who we are in christ Jesus. So none of us can boast. (Eph 2:8-10)
Are good works profitable?
According to James 2:24, good works are a natural result of saving faith, not a requirement for it.Been saved is by grace through faith.
1. Good works as a tool for effective witnessing.
The best witnessing comes from sharing what Jesus means to you. The best way to witness is to share how Jesus has changed your life and how he guides you. This aims at reaching out to the hopeless and brokenhearted, given them hope and a better future.
2. Good works bring Glory to the father:
Jesus set the example by doing good works Himself (John 10:32; Acts 10:38). And He tells us to do them as well. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
I’ve heard stories and testimonies of people who became born again as a result of an act of kindness from a brother or sister. They believed and confession was made unto salvation to the glory of God
What Good works can not do
1. Good works cannot justify us.
The good things we do cannot make up for the bad things we do. You could do a hundred, a thousand, a million good works, and they can’t pay for a single sin you have committed.
No, we can’t do any works to wipe out our sins. God demonstrates his love for us Rom 5:8
2. Good works do not get you into heaven.
If by our good works we could have a better standing in God’s sight, then christs’ death would have been in vain.
In summary, No action is good enough to provide our own salvation. No good deeds can undo the sins we have committed. Salvation is a gift only God can provide. No matter how much we desire to give salvation to another person, we cannot. Only God can offer the gift of eternal life. Instead, we are called to proclaim the gospel, live it, share it, pray for the salvation of others, and help people grow in the grace of God.

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