Almost Persuaded
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Intro:
Intro:
Good morning.
This morning I want us to turn to the book of Acts, and in chapter 26 we read of one of the saddest exchanges in all of Scripture.
It’s the account of Paul’s attempted conversion of King Agrippa, whose famous words in verse 28 key in on an important theme:
People are often “this close” to becoming a Christian, but for whatever reason ...
They don’t follow through.
“You ALMOST persuade me to become a Christian,” Agrippa says, and (assuming Agrippa remained in a state of ALMOST, and never followed through), he will forever wish in eternity that he could go back and actually become a Christian!
Have you ever wondered what held him back?
And for us, what sort of things sometimes hold US back?
That’s where I want to go this morning with our sermon title: “Almost Persuaded.”
Let’s begin by reading the text.
In Acts chapter 25, Festus had arranged for King Agrippa and Queen Bernice to hear Paul’s case about whether he deserved the death penalty or not (which the Jews wanted to happen to Paul).
Chapter 26, Paul gives his defense, and tells Agrippa how he came to be a Christian).
(Read Acts 26:1-27).
I want to pause right here and make our first point before we read the rest of the chapter.
Agrippa Evidently Had a Good Background in Scripture:
Agrippa Evidently Had a Good Background in Scripture:
What had Paul said back in verse 3?
Acts 26:3
especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.
And that would have involved what?
Knowing the O.T.!
Right?!
Notice Paul also says in verses 4-5:
Acts 26:4
“My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know.
Acts 26:5
They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
If all the Jews knew about Paul, what does that mean about Agrippa?
He probably would have known some things about Paul as well, since he was an “expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews!”
Had Agrippa already heard about Paul?
Had Agrippa secretly been hoping for a long time to get a chance to examine Paul?
If you jump back to chapter 25 for a moment, verse 22 says:
Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”
I can’t help but wonder if Agrippa is not only hearing Paul’s defense of himself in Acts 26, but listening with RAPT ATTENTION! (The context seems to be the case that he was!)
I don’t think Agrippa had just a casual interest, a mere CURIOSITY with Christianity — Again, what is the title of the sermon? “ALMOST PERSUADED!”
Agrippa was close to being convinced! Agrippa was close to acting on faith, but not close enough!
Notice back in chapter 26, verses 22 and following:
Acts 26:22
Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come—
Acts 26:23
that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”
Acts 26:24
Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”
Acts 26:25
But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason.
Acts 26:26
For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner.
What is the Scripture indicating?
It’s indicating that this King Agrippa had enough of a background in the Jewish religion that he should have been able to put two and two together and figure out that Jesus was the promised, prophesied Messiah!
And So Paul challenges Agrippa:
Acts 26:27
King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.”
Notice, by the way, that believing alone was not enough!
Now, keep reading!
Time for Agrippa to Make a Decision:
Time for Agrippa to Make a Decision:
(Read Acts 26:28-32).
So we come to one of the saddest verses in the Bible:
Acts 26:28
Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”
Why just ALMOST?!
Why not as Paul says in the next verse didn’t he ALTOGETHER become a Christian?!
And what I want us all to think about now is this …
What Was Holding Agrippa Back?
What Was Holding Agrippa Back?
And when we think about what held Agrippa back, we may need to ask ourselves what’s holding US back, too?
I would like to propose several different thoughts.
When King Agrippa said, “You ALMOST persuade me to become a Christian,” maybe what he really meant was this:
“You know, Paul, you make great points, they seem to line up with O.T. Scripture, and you almost persuade me to become a Christian, BUT ...”
“But if I become a Christian, that means I’ll have to repent.”
Was there some lingering sin that Agrippa had in his life?
Josephus wrote that it was commonly believed that Agrippa was in an incestuous marriage — Was it that that Agrippa didn’t want to let go of?
I don’t know — But it makes you wonder.
“But if I become a Christian, I’d have to be baptized in order to do that.”
Was this what kept Agrippa from going from almost to altogether?
It’s what prevents a LOT of people from becoming a Christian today, isn’t it?!
“Well, I know the Bible says this, but my preacher said that!”
Or, “Well, I’m just too embarrassed to do something like that.”
Or, “I’m afraid of water.”
Or, “Baptism is a work.”
And on and on we could go offering every excuse in the book, and so many do! :(
“If I become a Christian, then I’m going to have to put in the work to transform my life!”
This goes back to the idea of repentance.
In order to become a Christian, one has to practice the initial repentance that corresponds with baptism (Acts 2:38) ....
But then in addition to that, Romans 12:1-2 talks about the continual transformation of the Christian life!
It’s a process of continuous growth! A metamorphoo in the Greek, a metamorphosis!
Was Agrippa too complacent, too lukewarm, to lazy to embark on a journey such as that?!
On and on we could go this morning asking the question, “Why?”
Why was Agrippa unwilling to move out of ALMOST and into ALTOGETHER becoming a Christian?!
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Sadly, I don’t know the answer.
I don’t believe we ever hear from King Agrippa again after Acts chapter 26.
Did he ever have a change of mind and it just wasn’t recorded? For his sake, I hope so!
But we just don’t know!
But here’s what we CAN know — There are far too many “ALMOST CHRISTIANS” today, too!
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve known people who have set in a pew ALL THEIR LIFE, only to never actually become a Christian!
What’s holding them back?!
Like with King Agrippa, I don’t know, but it will lead to eternal regret, I assure you, if you don’t go from almost to altogether a Christian, a faithful child of God!
(Give invitation).
