"To Be Almost Saved is to Be Totally Lost"
Acts 26:19-32
INTRODUCTION: Ever since the coming of Christ into the world there have been people who were "almost persuaded to be a Christian; but to be almost saved is to be totally lost.
Today’s scripture focuses on Paul’s defense of the gospel before Festus and King Agrippa. For a little bit of background, Paul, a Roman citizen, had charges brought against him for preaching the gospel. Many were upset because he preached the resurrection of Jesus. Although the Pharisees believed in the resurrection, the Saducees didn’t. There were charges made against Paul that could not be substantiated. Some wanted to see Paul put to death or at least imprisoned. Paul, a Roman citizen, requested to go to Rome; but first he came before Festus for a preliminary hearing. Festus was out of his league because he didn’t know what to put in the report that was to be sent with Paul. He found a way out of this difficulty when he invited King Agrippa to sit in on the hearing and help him to formulate the report. King Agrippa was known to be an expert on all matters relating to the Jewish religion and professed this himself, however, he aligned himself with the Saducees when he appointed high priests and was likely to reject both the resurrection and also the resurrection of Jesus. Apparently King Agrippa had some interest in the gospel that Paul preached because he immediately agreed to be present. He said in an earlier verse, "I would like to hear this man myself" (Acts 25:22).
Paul began to state his case with no reluctance to say exactly how he felt. He told them how fortunate he was to have the opportunity to make the message known to such a distinguished audience and especially to Agrippa who was well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. He described his conversion experience and told how God had called him to preach Christ to his own people as well as to the Gentiles. His call said, "I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me" (v. 18).
Today’s scripture begins with Paul saying, "So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven." Paul wanted more than anything else for people to hear and accept the gospel message, but people reacted in a variety of ways sometimes very negatively just as we find today. Festus interrupted Paul by saying, "Your great learning is driving you insane." Agrippa said, "You are almost persuading me to be a Christian."
How does this scripture from A.D. 59 apply to us today? Three things are evident in this scripture:
1. Almost is not Enough: At this point neither Festus nor Agrippa received the message of Christ that Paul preached. Festus seemed far from the truth, and even though Agrippa was more knowledgeable in the Jewish religion, when Paul confronted him, he took it lightly and evaded the question. Different translations of the scripture put it a little differently. The KJV says, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." Yet other versions show that he probably was not really all that sincere about making this very important decision. Paul asked him, "Do you believe the prophets?" and then continued with, "I know you do." Paul knew that if he believed the prophets that he would come to agree with Paul’s conclusion about Jesus. Agrippa evaded his question by asking another question. "Do you think you can make me a Christian so quickly?"
The Message translation puts it this way, "Keep things up much longer and you’ll make a Christian out of me."
The Amplified Bible suggests that Agrippa didn’t really take Paul’s message all that seriously. "You think it is a small task to make a Christian of me just off hand to induce me with little ado and persuasion at very short notice."
Why was he almost but not totally willing to become a Christian? And why do people today show SOME interest--maybe they are almost convinced but still so far from receiving? Maybe you are like this too. It could be a variety of reasons.
Paul’s appeal to Agrippa put this man in a real dilemma. He had his reputation at stake and even though he had followed Paul’s talk with interest, he did not want to even APPEAR to commit himself in agreement with Paul and lose face with Festus and the others. On the other hand, he did not want to forfeit favor with the Jews either by appearing not to believe the prophets. So he shrugged it off.
ILLUSTRATION: Have you ever been in a group of friends who had very opposite views on things and you didn’t want them to know exactly HOW YOU FELT on the issue? To avoid conflict you just tried to stay on neutral ground by making a joke or laughing it off with some kind of evasive answer. You say if I became a Christian my husband would divorce me. Or my wife would object. My friends would laugh at me. I couldn’t get ahead in my career. People would think I was really weird. This is exactly what King Agrippa did.
Almost was not enough. It is not enough for us either to treat such an important matter as our eternal salvation so lightly.
STORY: A history teacher would regularly tell his class, "You can take this class one of two ways--SERIOUSLY or OVER."
We need to take our life and our decision for Christ seriously. We don’t get to take it over.
Scripture tells us that "each of us will give an account of himself to God" (Romans 14:12). Almost is not enough. John Wesley preached about the ALMOST Christian and the ALTOGETHER Christian.
2. Each Person Must Decide: Although Paul was a persuasive preacher, he realized that he could not force people to accept the message. In verse 29 when he answered Agrippa’s remark he said, "short time or long--I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am--[a Christian] except for these chains. He desired to see people set free from the slavery of sin but he couldn’t decided for them or force them to receive Christ.
STORY: The story is told about Bill, a young man, who was hitchhiking. A farmer who was driving an old beat up pickup truck stopped to give him a ride into town. As they rode along, they talked about the local Moonshine whiskey. The young man said he didn’t drink very much and thought that moonshine would be way to strong for him.
"Nonsense," the farmer said. "You gotta try some" and he reached around behind him and pulled out a jug.
"Here, Take a Drink," he insisted.
"Oh, no thanks," Bill said. "I really don’t care for any."
"No, I insist," pressed the farmer. "Have some."
"No thanks, really."
The farmer wasn’t going to take no for an answer. He stopped his truck and grabbed his shotgun from the rack in back. He pointed the gun at Bill and said, "I said, take a drink!"
"OK, OK, I’ve changed my mind. I guess I will have some after all."
Bill took a few swallows before he realized how powerful the stuff was. His eyes watered, his throat burned, and he made a choking sound.
"What do you think of it?" asked the farmer. "Good stuff ain’t it?"
"Yeah," gasped Bill. "It sure is!"
Then the farmer handed Bill the shotgun and grinned, "Here! Now you hold the gun on me and make me take a drink!"(source unknown)
3. Where Do You Need God’s Transforming Grace in Your Life?:
We all need the transforming grace that Paul talks about in verse 18. He talks of having our eyes opened. Sometimes we are at the ALMOST Christian stage because we really don’t see our need. We don’t realize that we are lost spiritually. Jesus said that "no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him...(John 6:44). That is the beginning of His transforming grace to open our hearts to our need. King Agrippa and Festus probably didn’t think they even had a need.
Once the Holy Spirit convinces us of our need, He doesn’t leave us at that stage. We begin to see our need to turn from the darkness of sin to light.
STORY: A desert nomad awakened in the middle of the night and began eating dates from a bowl beside his bed.
He took a bite from one and saw a worm in it so he threw it out of the tent. He picked up a second date and took a bite out of it and found another worm. He threw that one out too.
He was very hungry and realized that pretty soon he wouldn’t have any dates left to eat if he continued throwing them out.
So he blew out the candle and very quickly ate the rest of the dates.(source unknown)
Many of us are like that. We prefer darkness and denial to the light of reality.
Jesus said, "I AM the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). Let’s not prefer darkness to light.
When we think we can’t shake off the temptations and the power of Satan in our life, Paul speaks in Romans 8:1, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:1).
The transforming grace of God--His unmerited favor toward us--is evident in each of these phases. Peter preached, "Repent then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord" (Acts 3:19).
We all need this refreshing.
CONCLUSION: Festus, King Agrippa and his sister Bernice all walked out of the room.
There is no indication that they received the gospel. The chapter closes with them stating that there was no reason for Paul to deserve death or imprisonment. Although he had preached clearly, they remained ALMOST Christians.
1. Almost is not enough. For to be almost saved is to be totally lost.
2. Each person must make his/her own decision.
3. In what ways do you need His transforming grace in your life today?
Let us pray:
