In Acts 10, we read the account of the conversion of Cornelius and his household to Christ. In Acts 10:34-35, we find that Cornelius had been working righteousness and yet he was not saved until he believed in Acts 10:43-44 (see Acts 11:17). He was working righteousness as a lost man. Lost men can:

• Be Devout 10:2 — comp Acts 22:12, where Ananias was devout according to the law — so, a lost man can be devoted to religion or absorbed in religious exercises
• Fear God 10:2 — 2 Chr 20:29; typically non-Christians don’t fear God Rom 3:18. However, when I was a lost Catholic I had a fear of God; I feared his judgment but I didn’t have his grace to keep me
• Give Money 10:2, 4 — this is very typical of the lost because it’s easier to write a check than to humble yourself Ps 51:16-17, or to obey 1 Sam 15:22
• Pray Always 10:2, 4 — Lk 18:11; typically non-Christians "say" prayers, but some actually pray
• Obey God 10:5-8 — Laban and Abimelech did, Gen 31:24, 29; 20:3-7, 14
• Be Just 10:22 — Prov 20:7, as in the case of a man of integrity and honesty
• Have a good report 10:22 — like the centurion in Lk 7:1-5
• Desire to hear the word 10:22 — like the men in the parable of the sower and the seed who heard but didn’t get saved, Matt 13:20-21
• Fast 10:30 — like the Pharisee who was not justified, Lk 18:12
• Know what the word says about Jesus — 10:36-37, like King Agrippa, Acts 26:2-3, 23, 26-28

So often we find people like this and think, well surely they must be saved. However, such is not the case, most of the time. Cornelius had to believe before he could be saved (Acts 11:17)!! So, don’t be deceived by religion. Religion can’t save you or your loved ones. Salvation is in a man, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim 2:3-6).