'Rightly Dividing the Word'
Devout Men were Saved
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Beside Jesus's disciples, who became devout Jews for they too preached repentance to the Jews, the first batch of Jews saved in Acts 2 were devout men.
Acts 2:5,36-37 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven... "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
Peter sent to the Gentiles
Acts 8:1-2 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
After the martyrdom of Stephen, His disciples were scattered from Jerusalem. God sent Peter into the home of the Centurion, which was against Judaism.
Acts 10:28 Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
Salvation for Gentiles
Acts 10:1-2 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.
Again the first Gentiles to be saved were the Centurion's family, who were all devout men for they prayed to God and gave alms.
While the gospel of Christ was preached to them, they believed the gospel and immediately the Holy Spirit of redemption was given to them. Everyone of them manifested the gift of speaking in tongues so that Peter and His disciples realized that salvation had also been given to the Gentiles.
Note: a devout man fears and worships God and also loves men by giving alms.
Acts 10:44-47 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"
God's Judgement of His Church
I Pet 4:17-18 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?"
I believe that God will use the coming WW3 to judge His people by removing the carnal, worldly and heretics, and preserve the godly for purification and transformation into His image.
Note: - For the sinful, out of His abundant grace, God only requires true repentance to bring us back into His presence again.
2 Pet 2:9-10 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,
