GOD, WHICH KNOWETH THE HEARTS

The previous chapters have charted the gracious movement of God towards the Gentile world. The gift of the Spirit to those in the house of Cornelius demonstrated beyond doubt the direction of God’s gracious purposes, Acts 11.15. Subsequently, through Paul and Barnabas, the gospel spread to Asia Minor.

Now ‘certain men’ had begun to teach that salvation depended not simply on faith in Christ but was conditional on submission to circumcision, in accordance with the law of Moses, Acts 15. 1, 5. This required an urgent, unequivocal, and robust response; the very basis of the gospel of grace was at stake. At the Jerusalem council, Peter describes the salvation experienced by Cornelius and his household. He testifies that God saw the sincerity of penitent Gentile hearts, and immediately sent His Spirit as the seal of their salvation, Acts 15. 8. This was quite apart from any rites such as circumcision or even the ordinance of baptism. F. F. Bruce writes: ‘God could read the heart of the Gentiles and see true faith. Since God had accepted them, why place additional requirements on them? - obligations which plainly God did not require’.

Salvation does not come from assent to historical facts but involves ‘heart’ belief: ‘purifying their hearts by faith’, Acts 15. 9; ‘with the heart man believeth unto righteousness’, Rom. 10. 9,10.

It is comforting to know that God reads our hearts. David was restrained from building the temple, yet God commended him for the fact that it was in his heart, 1 Kgs. 8.18. Conversely, it should solemnize us to remember that God knows the hearts of all, Heb. 4.13.

Further, let us fearlessly guard the pure gospel of grace. To this day millions think they must supplement faith in Christ by keeping the moral law to earn eternal life. Consequently, they reject as presumption the possibility of present assurance of salvation. Yet God wants the believer to enjoy precisely that assurance even now: ‘being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him’, Rom. 5. 9. He wants us to know that we have eternal life, 1 John 5. 13.