The Almost Christian” — John Wesley (1741) Full Public-Domain Sermon Text Text: Acts 26:28 — “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Introduction And so says every one who is under the convincing power of the Spirit, but has not yet yielded to the full influence of it.
He is almost persuaded , but not altogether. And seeing the infinite importance of being altogether a Christian, I shall show: What it is to be almost a Christian. What it is to be altogether a Christian.
I. What It Is to Be Almost a Christian 1. A person may have much knowledge and yet be almost a Christian. Agrippa knew the law and the prophets. Many now know: the truths of Scripture, the doctrines of Christianity, the history of Christ, the nature of salvation, and yet remain unconverted.
2. A person may live a moral life and yet be almost a Christian. He may be: honest, upright, just, charitable, temperate, and still be only almost a Christian. 3. A person may attend the ordinances of God and yet be almost a Christian.
He may: pray, read Scripture, hear sermons, receive the sacrament, and still be almost, not altogether, a Christian. 4. A person may have the outward form of godliness and yet be almost a Christian. He may: join the church, speak the language of Canaan, profess faith, reform his life, and still not be born again.
II. What It Is to Be Altogether a Christian 1. An altogether Christian loves God. He loves God with: all his heart, all his soul, all his mind, all his strength. This love is: the source of obedience, the spring of good works, the root of holiness.
2. An altogether Christian loves his neighbor. He loves: every man, rich and poor, friend and enemy, good and evil. He loves as himself. He does good to all. He forgives injuries. He seeks the salvation of all.
3. An altogether Christian has the mind of Christ. He walks as Christ walked. He is humble, meek, gentle. He is holy in all conversation. He strives to do the will of God. He keeps himself unspotted from the world.
4. An altogether Christian trusts in Christ alone. He does not trust: in his own righteousness, in his own works, in his own religion. He knows: that he is justified by faith, that Christ is his righteousness, that by grace he is saved.
III. The Difference Between the Almost and the Altogether Christian It is the difference: between light and darkness , between death and life , between condemnation and salvation , between hell and heaven .
The almost Christian is still in his sins. The altogether Christian is forgiven. The almost Christian is still unholy. The altogether Christian is renewed. The almost Christian is almost saved but wholly lost.
IV. Why Many Are Only Almost Christians Because: 1. They fear the cross. They are afraid to give up sin. They are afraid to bear reproach. 2. They love the world. Its pleasures, honors, riches hold them back.
3. They rest in outward religion. They think form is enough without power. 4. They refuse full surrender to Christ. They will not yield their all. V. Exhortation O that you would not stop at being almost a Christian!
Think what it means: to lose heaven, to lose Christ, to lose your soul, after coming so near! Do not be content with almost. Be altogether a Christian. **Give God your heart. Give Him your life. Give Him your all.
Seek: the love of God, the power of the Spirit, the righteousness of Christ, the holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. Conclusion Let every hearer of these words examine himself. Are you almost—or altogether—a Christian?
Cry out with the psalmist: “Search me, O God, and know my heart. ” And with Agrippa’s judge, may you say not merely, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian,” but, with full determination: “Lord, I give myself entirely to Thee.
” Amen.