Almost Persuaded
TEXT: Acts 26:1-32
In the early 1870’s, Philip Paul Bliss was listening to a sermon by Rev. Brundage, a friend of his, in a little church in the east. The preacher closed his appeal with, "He who is almost persuaded is almost saved. But, to be almost saved is to be eternally lost!" These words impressed Bliss so deeply that it led him to write the great invitation hymn “Almost Persuaded.”
P. P. Bliss wrote, “One of the most impressive occasions on which this hymn was sung was in the Agricultural Hall in London, in 1874 where D. L. Moody was preaching. At the close of his sermon Mr. Moody asked the congregation to bow their heads, while I sang ‘Almost Persuaded.’ The stillness of death prevailed throughout the audience of over 15,000 as souls were making their decisions for Christ.”
“Almost persuaded” now to believe;
“Almost persuaded” Christ to receive;
Seems now some soul to say, “Go, Spirit, go Thy way,
Some more convenient day – On Thee I’ll call.”
“Almost persuaded,” come, come today;
“Almost persuaded,” turn not away;
Jesus invites you here, Angels are lingering near
Prayers rise from hearts so dear; O wanderer, come!
“Almost persuaded,” harvest is past!
“Almost persuaded,” doom comes at last!
“Almost” cannot avail; “Almost” is but to fail!
Sad, sad, that bitter wail— “Almost,” but lost!
Missed opportunities often return to haunt us with regrets…
The greatest regret of all, will be for those who stand before Christ and hear him say, “Depart from me ye workers of iniquity for I never knew you,” and to know that they were “almost persuaded;” they almost accepted Christ. The eternal regret of being “almost persuaded” will be devastating!
#1. Many have heard The Gospel, but have only been Almost Persuaded.
King Aggrippa heard the truth about Paul’s past, and how God saved and changed him, but he was only “Almost persuaded.”
He is not unlike many today! I am one, among many, who believe our churches are filled with many who have, “a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof:” 2 Timothy 3:5
There is an additional eternal consequence for those who have once heard the Gospel, but did not accept it.
2 Peter 2:21 “For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from [it]…”
One of the most tragic stories in Scripture is found in Luke 16. In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man, in hell, begged for relief; but he was told, “Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.”
#2. Why are so many Almost Persuaded, but in The End are Eternally Lost?
The Moral & Spiritual Depravity of Man.
Charles Finney wrote, “The great difficulty with sinners is that they take a selfish view of the whole subject [of Salvation]. Having fully committed themselves to their own interests, all considerations are viewed in a selfish light. They regard nothing, save as it addresses either their hopes or their fears… In fact, when you get at the bottom of the case, you find they are desperately depraved. Their depravity is so deep, so radical, it bids defiance to all your motives for persuasion.
Sometimes the sense of being greatly obliged, breaks down a really hard heart. But even this consideration many sinners can resist. The sense of being loved and pitied of God, makes some impression on their hearts, but often fails to move them much. So dead are they to the attractions of the morally beautiful and true, that much of the most glorious truth concerning God, seems to fall powerless upon their hearts. They seem incapable of being moved by anything save it be some hope of greater selfish good.”
There are probably as many different reasons for rejecting Christ as there are people who will reject him, but these four serve as general categories…
• Many people do not think that they need a savior. These people consider themselves to be “basically good” and do not realize that they, like all people, are sinners.
• The fear of social rejection or harassment deters some people from accepting Christ. In John 12:42-43 ome would not confess Christ because they were more concerned with their status among their peers than doing God’s will: “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God..”
• For some people, this present world is more appealing than eternal things. You can read the story of the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-23. This man was not willing to lose his earthly possessions in order to gain an eternal relationship with Jesus.
• Many people are resisting the Holy Spirit’s attempts to convert them to Christ. Stephen, a leader in the early church, told those who were about to murder him, “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.” (Acts 7:51).
#3. What Is Necessary For True Salvation To Take Place? You must admit and acknowledge that…
• You are a lost and condemned sinner (Romans 3:10, 23). Ecclesiastes 7:20 “There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.”
• You deserve eternal separation from God in Hell because of your sin. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death.”
• God is offering you a priceless, yet free gift. Romans 6:23 “But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
• You must believe and receive God’s gift on His terms. John 1:11-13 “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood [heritage], nor of the will of the flesh [works], nor of the will of man [ritual], but of God.”
• Repentance is a necessary part of Salvation. Acts 3:19 “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;”
John the Baptist’s preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2).
In Jesus’ preaching is seen the truth that repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin:
1) By repentance, a person turns away from sin and toward God.
2) By faith, the same person turns toward God from sin and accepts Jesus Christ as Savior.
After Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, His disciples continued His message of repentance and faith (Acts 3:19; 20:21).
Acts 26:19-20 “Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.”
It is at the point of “Repentance” that so many stop short or turn away from Salvation. This was King Agrippa’s failure.
• Some think they are okay if they only believe.
James 2:19 “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
“True Repentance” is turning away from a life of sin as you turn to God.
“True Repentance” results in a “godly sorrow” over sin.
2 Corinthians 7:10-11 “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort,…
• What carefulness it wrought in you [repentance brings a concern for spiritual matters]
• Yea, what clearing of yourselves [repentance results in change of heart]
• Yea, what indignation [repentance creates a hatred for sinful things]
• Yea, what fear [repentance nurtures a holy reverence for God]
• Yea, what vehement desire [repentance stirs up compassion & love]
• Yea, what zeal [repentance promotes service for the Savior]
• Yea, what revenge [Ekdikesis = retribution, punishment]!
In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”
“True repentance” is doing an “about face” in our life and leads to a funda-mental change in a person’s actions and relationship to God.
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Repentance results in turning from wickedness and dead works.
Peter told Simon, “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness,…” Acts 8:22
Paul spoke of “The foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,” Hebrews 6:1
CONCLUSION: If you choose to put off salvation and you die in your sins, you will go to hell remembering that you refused the opportunity you had today to be born again.
Jeremiah 8:20 “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”
