Does Almost Count?

 

        Does almost count? There are a good amount of people that would think so. If you have ever had employees that you have managed, you would be familiar with this idea first hand. Over the years, I had many employees that were almost on time. Perhaps the most telling was a young man who worked for me whom we will call Pete. Pete was one of my line cooks who was scheduled quite often to open. I enjoyed working with Pete, he was a hard worker, and fun to be around. When it came to opening, the company policy was that there must be at least two employees present to enter the building. Pete would not show up on time, but was consistently 5-10 minutes late. He would even at times say, “I almost made it on time.” I tried all sorts of approaches to getting him to show up on time, but he rarely was there at 8, if ever. Our conversations usually ended with “sure boss, I’ll try.” I suppose he was almost persuaded. However, does almost count?

Why do so many people who sit by and hear the Good News remain almost persuaded? When we consider the words of Acts 26:24-28, we will understand the gravity of such a circumstance and learn more about man’s obligations concerning obeying the Gospel. 

Luke records,

“And as he thus made his defence, Festus saith with a loud voice, Paul, thou art mad; thy much learning is turning thee mad.  But Paul saith, I am not mad, most excellent Festus; but speak forth words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things, unto whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him; for this hath not been done in a corner.  King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. And Agrippa said unto Paul, With but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian”. 

I particularly like the KJV rendering of Agrippa’s words in verse 28, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Let’s break down those remarkable words by an almost persuaded man bit by bit. 

Almost

Can someone almost be a Christian? Can someone almost be in the Olympics? Why yes they could. Many amateur athletes begin training years and years in advance. Many fail to qualify because they did not achieve what was required to make the team. The expectations were laid out, but the ones that almost made it, did not. There is sorrow and heartbreak that corresponds with that defeat. Almost does not count for Olmypians or for Christians. 

Paul pleaded with Agrippa expressing the fact that he (Agrippa) knew the things he was saying were true. Paul appealed to the prophets whom he knew Agrippa believed. Yet Agrippa was almost persuaded. This teaches us yet another truth that belief (faith) alone does not save. Agrippa, who knew something to be true and believed the prophets, would not obey the Gospel. 

Thou

It took a preacher to attempt to persuade Agrippa. When the message of the Gospel is proclaimed, it is done so by the means of preaching. A man was sent in the case of the Ethiopian eunuch, Cornelius and his house, and even in the case of Saul of Tarsus himself. A man is not saved by the direct operation of the Holy Spirit and forced into salvation, a man receives faith that comes by hearing the word of Christ preached (cf. Rom 10:14-17). Agrippa reasoned the preacher brought the message, and yet he would not obey the Gospel. 

Persuadest Me

The Gospel is about persuading men to follow Christ. It is not the other way around. I do not persuade Christ or His church to follow, accept, or ally itself with man’s sin. I do not persuade Christ to save me (for by grace you have been saved). Agrippa needed to be persuaded to obey the Gospel and that is exactly what Paul endeavored to do. The preaching of the Gospel is the persuasion of men to seek life. It is written, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God, and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences” (2 Cor 5:11). Agrippa recognized the tactic of preaching with persuasion, but he would not obey the Gospel. 

To Be a Christian 

What was Paul’s aim? It was to persuade King Agrippa to forsake the life of sin that he was in and obey the Gospel of Christ. If Agrippa was to do so, the only thing he would have become was a Christian. He would not become a Roman Catholic because that religion was not invented for another 300 years, and the New Testament does not teach what one must do to become a Roman Catholic. He would not become a Protestant, because the Protestants were protesting the religion of the Romanists nearly 1500 years after the birth of the New Testament church. The Bible does not teach what one must do to become a Protestant. Even Agrrippa knew that he had to be persuaded and act upon it, thus refuting the false doctrine of faith alone. 

Agrippa could not be persuaded to become a Calvinist, in fact, by his own statement he refuted unconditional election and irresistible grace. Agrippa could not possibly become a community church member, a Latter Day Saint, or any other religion that was founded in any other place than Jerusalem on Pentecost after our Lord ascended. Agrippa knew that Paul taught the Gospel, which converts a lost man to a Christian only, the Divinely given name (Isa. 62:2, Acts 11:26, 1 Pet. 4:16). Yet Paul preached the Gospel that yields Christians, the saved; Agrippa would not obey the Gospel. 

It is unfortunate that Agrippa was almost persuaded. I hate the fact that many individuals sit in pews around the brotherhood and are almost persuaded. Some have convinced themselves that they are already saved (they attend the assembly after-all). Some have convinced themselves that they are saved because their grandma is faithful. Some have convinced themselves that the preacher’s message is too restrictive, there has to be some leeway. Each of these remain almost persuaded, they remain almost a Christian, and thus they remain fully lost. Do not be like King Agrippa and remain almost persuaded. Do not be like Pete. As the old saying goes, almost only counts in horseshoes and hand-grenades.

Grace and Peace, 

R.D. Beavers