Lesson 20: The Sinner's Prayer
John P. Back: Lower East Kentucky Brigade Chaplain

This message came to me after a recent discussion with my daughter. It all began when she came home from work and told me of a conversation she had with a friend. She had been discussing religion with her friend when her friend remarked that God did not hear a sinner's prayer. "Dad" she said " Is that true?" I thought over the question carefully, and then like a light bulb illuminating the darkness, the answer came to me.

I opened my Bible to Acts Chapter 10 and read her the story of Cornelius the Centurion and the Apostle Peter. Although the Bible does not tell how Cornelius first learned of the life and teachings of Jesus. It does tell us that Cornelius listened intently and took to heart what he learned and spread the word to his family and friends. In Acts 10:2 we learn that Cornelius was " A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always."

God heard Cornelius’s prayer and sent an angel to instruct him. Now we need to remember at this point that while Cornelius was a devout man he was also a sinner and a Gentile. In Matthew 15:24 we are made aware that Jesus was not sent to the Gentiles when he tells the woman who sought help for her daughter "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." However the woman's faith is so strong that Jesus is impressed by her faith and heals her daughter. The first recorded example of God's love for the gentile.

One can only speculate that Cornelius heard this story and was both awed and impressed by the compassion of Jesus toward the Gentiles. The Roman culture of Cornelius’s time was a culture of many Gods, but this man even though a sinner and a gentile, grasped the reality that there was but one true God. He then sought God in prayer and was rewarded when God heard his prayers.

The story then goes on to tell us how Cornelius was instructed to seek Peter who would instruct him. Peter came to Cornelius and his friends and family which were gathered together in Cornelius’s home. The bible tells us that Peter then preached Jesus to them. Acts 10:44 says: "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. "In Acts 10:47 Peter says " Can any man forbid water, that these should be Baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" Peter said in Acts 10:34 " Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons."

Today, as in the time of Peter and Cornelius, Jesus still hears the prayers of lost men and women as they seek divine forgiveness for their sins. Jesus demands only they acknowledge him as the son of the One True God to be able to partake in the same Baptism that Cornelius sought. God is still no respecter of persons and is always glad to hear the prayers of the sinner who earnestly seeks forgiveness. If you are lost in your sins today then I would beg you to earnestly pray for God to forgive you of your sins for as you can see he is always listening.

Deo Vindice John Back Chaplain East Ky. Brigade SCV and 5th Ky Infantry CSA Co D&F