"The Almost Christian"
George Whitefield
“Almost thou persuadest me to be a christian.” — Acts 26:28.
THESE words contain the ingenuous confession of King Agrippa which, having some reference to the preceding verses, it may not be improper to relate the substance of them.
The chapter out of which the text is taken contains an admirable account which the great St. Paul gave of his wonderful conversion from Judaism to Christianity, when he was called to make his defence before Festus, a Gentile governor, and King Agrippa. Our blessed Lord had long since foretold that when the Son of Man should be lifted up, “His disciples would be brought before kings and rulers, for His name’s sake, for a testimony unto them”. And very good was the design of Infinite Wisdom in thus ordaining it. For Christianity being from the beginning a doctrine of the cross, the princes and rulers of the earth thought themselves too high to be instructed by such mean teachers, or too happy to be disturbed by such unwelcome truths; and therefore would have always continued strangers to Jesus Christ and Him crucified, had not the apostles, by being arraigned before them, gained opportunities of preaching to them “Jesus and the resurrection”.
St. Paul knew full well that this was the main reason why his blessed Master permitted his enemies at this time to arraign him in a public court; and therefore, in compliance with the divine will, thought it not sufficient barely to make his defence, but endeavoured at the same time to convert his judges. And this he did with such demonstration of the Spirit and of power that Festus, unwilling to be convinced by the strongest evidence, cried out with a loud voice, “Paul, much learning doth make thee mad”. To which the brave apostle (like a true follower of the holy Jesus) meekly replied, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.”
In all probability, seeing King Agrippa more affected with his discourse, and observing in him an inclination to know the truth, he applied himself more particularly to him. “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.” And then, that if possible he might complete his wished-for conversion, he, with an inimitable strain of oratory, addressed himself still more closely, “King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest them”. At which the passions of the king began to work so strongly, that he was obliged in open court to own himself affected by the prisoner’s preaching, and ingenuously to cry out, “Paul, almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian”.
These words, taken with the context, afford us a lively representation of the different reception which the doctrine of Christ’s ministers, who come in the power and spirit of Paul, meets with nowadays in the minds of men. For notwithstanding they, like this great apostle, “speak forth the words of truth and soberness”, and with such energy and power that all their adversaries cannot justly gainsay or resist; yet, too many, with the noble Festus before mentioned, being, like him, either too proud to be taught, or too sensual, too careless, or too worldly-minded to live up to the doctrine, in order to excuse themselves, cry out that “much learning (much study, or, what is more unaccountable, much piety) hath made them mad”. And though, blessed be God! all do not thus disbelieve our report, yet amongst those who gladly receive the Word, and confess that we speak the words of truth and soberness, there are so few who arrive at any higher degree of piety than that of Agrippa, or are any farther persuaded than to be almost Christians, that I cannot but think it highly necessary to warn them of the danger of such a state. And therefore, from the words of the text, shall endeavour to show three things...
To finish reading this article go to www.the-highway.com/articleJan03.html
George Whitefield
“Almost thou persuadest me to be a christian.” — Acts 26:28.
THESE words contain the ingenuous confession of King Agrippa which, having some reference to the preceding verses, it may not be improper to relate the substance of them.
The chapter out of which the text is taken contains an admirable account which the great St. Paul gave of his wonderful conversion from Judaism to Christianity, when he was called to make his defence before Festus, a Gentile governor, and King Agrippa. Our blessed Lord had long since foretold that when the Son of Man should be lifted up, “His disciples would be brought before kings and rulers, for His name’s sake, for a testimony unto them”. And very good was the design of Infinite Wisdom in thus ordaining it. For Christianity being from the beginning a doctrine of the cross, the princes and rulers of the earth thought themselves too high to be instructed by such mean teachers, or too happy to be disturbed by such unwelcome truths; and therefore would have always continued strangers to Jesus Christ and Him crucified, had not the apostles, by being arraigned before them, gained opportunities of preaching to them “Jesus and the resurrection”.
St. Paul knew full well that this was the main reason why his blessed Master permitted his enemies at this time to arraign him in a public court; and therefore, in compliance with the divine will, thought it not sufficient barely to make his defence, but endeavoured at the same time to convert his judges. And this he did with such demonstration of the Spirit and of power that Festus, unwilling to be convinced by the strongest evidence, cried out with a loud voice, “Paul, much learning doth make thee mad”. To which the brave apostle (like a true follower of the holy Jesus) meekly replied, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.”
In all probability, seeing King Agrippa more affected with his discourse, and observing in him an inclination to know the truth, he applied himself more particularly to him. “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.” And then, that if possible he might complete his wished-for conversion, he, with an inimitable strain of oratory, addressed himself still more closely, “King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest them”. At which the passions of the king began to work so strongly, that he was obliged in open court to own himself affected by the prisoner’s preaching, and ingenuously to cry out, “Paul, almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian”.
These words, taken with the context, afford us a lively representation of the different reception which the doctrine of Christ’s ministers, who come in the power and spirit of Paul, meets with nowadays in the minds of men. For notwithstanding they, like this great apostle, “speak forth the words of truth and soberness”, and with such energy and power that all their adversaries cannot justly gainsay or resist; yet, too many, with the noble Festus before mentioned, being, like him, either too proud to be taught, or too sensual, too careless, or too worldly-minded to live up to the doctrine, in order to excuse themselves, cry out that “much learning (much study, or, what is more unaccountable, much piety) hath made them mad”. And though, blessed be God! all do not thus disbelieve our report, yet amongst those who gladly receive the Word, and confess that we speak the words of truth and soberness, there are so few who arrive at any higher degree of piety than that of Agrippa, or are any farther persuaded than to be almost Christians, that I cannot but think it highly necessary to warn them of the danger of such a state. And therefore, from the words of the text, shall endeavour to show three things...
To finish reading this article go to www.the-highway.com/articleJan03.html
Comments
http://www.the-highway.com/Decisional_Regeneration.html
It's very interesting and true!
God bless you and your blog man,
Jonathan
http://dtfdisciples.blogspot.com/