Almost Saved means Totally Lost
21. For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
22. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
23. That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
24. And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou are beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
25. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
26. For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
27. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
28. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
Almost Saved means Totally Lost!
Acts 26:21-28
It is my belief, it is my understanding, according to my knowledge, everybody in the church ain’t saved. I am by no means trying to lay claim that there are no saved people either. For I believe that when we become so wicked that nobody is saved, God will do us like He did Sodom and Gomorrah. Yeah, I believe that there are some saved people right here tonight.
But just as there are some that are saved, there are some that are not saved. Then there are some that wants to believe that they are saved, but they are not really sure. They are the ones that are almost saved.
If you asked them to raise their hands if they are saved, many of them will reluctantly raise their hands. They want to be saved on Sunday, and be shaky the rest of the time. I need to inform you though, we’ve got folks now that is bold enough to come to church raise holy havoc. They will sing in the choir, they will pray in the devotion, and they will preach in the pulpit. It really don’t matter what position they hold, just so they got a say so in the church. They will tear up the church just to have their way.
They really don’t mean anybody else any harm, they just don’t mean themselves any good. You have seen them haven’t you? They will join the choir, but they won’t sang until choir day. When choir day come, they want their name on the program. They want to be on the Deacon Ministry, but they don’t want any responsibility.
They want to join the Ushers, but they don’t want to Usher when they have gone to Cato’s or McRae’s and got them a new outfit. They will come to church decked out, in their new stuff. Weave hanging all down their back, and they will swear that they didn’t know it was their Sunday to Usher. Really ain’t nothing wrong with them but they are Almost Saved.
Some folks will come to Sunday School. They will attend Bible Class, but they won’t try to do any better in their relationship with God. They are still carrying on the same old mess they always did. They are still spreading rumors like they always have, never really knowing the real truth. If it doesn’t sound good enough, they will add a little bit to it.
They will come to church and they will say “amen” as long as they think the preacher is talking about somebody that they don’t really like, but when the preacher began to witness or talk about Jesus, you won’t hear them say a word. They are not mean, they are just Almost Saved.
Since we are talking about being SAVED, let’s get a good understanding of what it takes to be saved. If you search all through the New Testament, you will find that it only commands us to believe. Repent and believe.
The word “believe” is what confuses us. Yeah, we’ve got to believe that Jesus is God’s Son. That He died, and He rose again. A lot of us don’t have a problem with that, but to believe goes much deeper than that. To believe goes deep enough that you must totally trust in Him. You must totally rely on Him. You must surrender your will to His will.
What are you saying Preacher, I’m so glad you asked! Even though the doctor said he can’t do you no good, you’ve got to BELIEVE that God can. Even though the banker said he can’t let you have a loan, you’ve got to BELIEVE that God will make a way for you. Even though you don’t have food on your table, you don’t know where you next meal is coming from, you’ve got to BELIEVE that God is bread in a starving land.
So many folks believe that we are suppose to be sick, they believe that we are suppose to be in poverty, but the Bible says, “brethren, above all things, I wish that you would prosper and be in good health”. You’ve got to BELIEVE that God wants you healthy. God don’t want you running about broke all the time. He came that you might have life, and have it more abundantly.
Don’t get me wrong, there is going to be some sick days, there might be some broke days, but it shouldn’t be always. Somewhere down the line, you ought to get passed living from paycheck to paycheck.
Do you believe that God is rich, He’s got silver and gold, houses and land. The cattle of a thousand hills belongs to Him? He is your Father, and you’re His child. And you mean to tell me that your own Father won’t share His richness with you? The real problem is not God, the problem is us, you really don’t believe, most of us is Almost Saved.
You’ve got to BELIEVE that God has already forgiven you of your sins. IN Isaiah 1:18, He said, “Come now, let us reason together, though your sins be as scarlet, I’ll wash them white as snow, though they be red like crimson, I’ll make them as wool”.
You’ve got to have faith that no matter how bad you’ve been, God is able to make you clean. Even though I sometimes sin, Christ has already paid for my sins. They have already been taken care of. Now, this is not a license to sin, God forbid, but it just gives me the assurance of knowing that I am Saved.
The Bible say, in Hebrews 11:6, “but without faith it is impossible to please God”. We walk by faith and not by sight. So how do I know that God has already forgiven me, because I believe it. I trust Him, to get me to heaven. I can’t do it on my own, I must rely on Him. If you don’t believe that tonight, then you are lost.
You can’t be Almost Saved. Grandmamma them use to say, 99 and a half won’t do. You’ve got to be sure of your salvation. Why take a chance on going to hell, when you’ve got a free ride to heaven? Why gamble with Hell, when Heaven has been already given to you?
As I looked at the text, I could see many of the people that exist today. They are much like King Agrippa. They are almost saved, but they are totally lost. What is it preacher that makes us “Almost Saved”?
Let look at the text. Paul had already had his Damascus experience. Much of what is wrong with many of us today is that we confess to being saved, but we haven’t had a Damascus experience. We haven’t had a personal encounter with the Lord. Y’all know how we say it today, “we ain’t what we ought to be, but thank God, we are not what we use to be”. Really, we are confessing to being “Almost Saved”.
Paul now, was being persecuted for doing right. How many know that when you are doing right, persecution will come. I know that many of you know the story, Paul has been accused but there was no way of proving the charges that were brought against him.
I know you know the custom, because of Paul’s citizenship in Rome, he as able to appeal to Caesar. Festus now had to send Paul to Augustus, but he had no charge against him. IN order for Festus to send Paul to Augustus, he had to send a reason why Paul was locked up in the first place.
So now, Agrippa comes to town, and Paul is now permitted to speak before King Agrippa hoping that King Agrippa might find something to charge Paul for. Paul told Agrippa about all that he had done. He witnessed to them about his conversion.
Paul witnessed that Jesus Christ had sent him. Now this disturbed Festus, because he didn’t believe in the resurrection. That’s why he interrupted Paul and said, “Paul, you are talking like a crazy man, much learning have driven you insane”. But Paul quickly assured them of his sanity and turned his attention back to Agrippa.
I want to show you why Agrippa was almost saved.
For the King knoweth
I’m telling you tonight, in order for us to be saved, there are some things that we just ought to know. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose”. We ought to just know that no matter what is happening in our lives, God is working it out for our good.
Job said in 19:25, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth:” 1 Jn 3:2 says, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is”.
I come by to tell you today, that there are just some things that you should know. Some things other people might fool you in, but you ought to know Jesus for yourself. You ought to know what He will and will not do.
Paul here says to Agrippa, I know you know about Jesus Christ. About His crucifixion and the things that happened leading up to and during His death on the Cross. I know you know all about it, because these things were not done in a corner. They were open, and I know you know about it.
I said that to say this, Mt. Salem. I know you know about Jesus. You’ve been coming to church here Sunday after Sunday, and I know you’ve got a good Pastor that is teaching you all about the works of Jesus. It ain’t no secret what God can do. What He’s done for others, He’ll do for you.
For the King believeth
Another thing Paul said of the King, for the King believeth. IN order for us to be saved, we must believe. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him, shall not perish but have everlasting life”.
Mark 16:16 says, “He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved…” Jn 7:38 says, “He that believeth on me as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water”.
Paul said to Agrippa I know you believe what the prophets have said about Jesus. They proclaimed that He would come, that He would die and on the third day, He would rise again. I know you believe what they have said about Him.
I need to tell you this evening, it’s not enough to just confess with our mouths, but we’ve got to believe with the heart. Romans 10:10 says, “With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”.
For the King is Almost persuaded
The reason that Agrippa was almost saved, is that he confessed that he was not convinced.
I can imagine in my sanctified mind, Agrippa telling Paul that I know all about Him,
And I believe everything that the prophets spoke concerning Him,
I just not ready to surrender my life to Him.
Many of us are the same way tonight.
We are not ready to give up our good, for godliness
We are not ready to give up our habits, for holiness.
We are not ready to give up our sins, for sanctification
Conclusion
So, I come by here to tell you,
You need to get to know Jesus Christ
You need to learn how to believe on Christ Jesus.
You’ve got to believe,
First and foremost that He is God’s Son.
But do you really believe that.
See, you’ve got God the Father,
And that same person is God the Son.
He is God in the Spirit,
As well as God in the Flesh.
It was before the foundation of the world,
That both God the father and God the Son exist.
Because I heard God in the book of Genesis when He said, “Let us make man”.
You’ve got to believe that He came down through 42 generations
Took a nine month train, from heaven to earth,
Got off that train down by the city of Bethlehem.
Born in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes.
But I heard Him say, I got to be about my Father’s business.
He died.