STEEMCHURCH: "You almost persuaded me to be a Christian"

in #steemchurch6 years ago


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Biblical text base: Acts 25: 13-27; 26: 24-32

The adverb of quantity "by little" is very used to show the frustration of not having reached something, or also the satisfaction that something has not happened. That's why sometimes you can hear: "I almost got the job." But the issue is that he did not get it. Others say: "We almost got married." But the truth is that they did not get married. The one who looks for money without much effort, says: "I almost won the lottery". But it turns out that the number was taken from another person.

And what about those who say: "I almost had an accident." Good thing he did not have it. Some, before a certain relationship, say: "I almost ruined everything." He did well not to ruin it. And so situations are given at every moment where this adverb either saves us or ruins us.

King Agrippa said: "You almost persuaded me to be a Christian", which showed that although he was impressed, and maybe moved from his seat, in the end he did not know the Christ with whom he was confronted.

"Almost" is an incomplete quantity. In divine mathematics this amount does not count. It is not enough to be so close to salvation and in the end to lose oneself. In hell there will be many people who "almost" was saved, as in the case of the rich young man.

Although he came with many correct things, including the question for his salvation, in the end he did not accept Jesus' demands. Lot's wife narrowly escaped, but due to the influence of the evil she already possessed, she became a statue of salt.

The same thing happened with Judge Felix. He was shocked at the hearing of Christ, but postponed salvation; "Almost" was saved. Now it is Agrippa, the king who listened very closely to Paul, but this man preferred temporal joys than the eternal ones.

He was about to be persuaded to move from "death to life", so much so that Paul confronted him with his own testimony (v. 29). Therefore, do not live "for a little", decide today to live for a long time. In light of this story, let us consider what is the greatest tragedy of life.

IT IS A PENALTY FOR SOMEONE TO SEE THE PROOF OF SALVATION SO CLOSE AND DOES NOT CONVINCE

"I sent for the man." Festus must have seen many men brought to his presence to be prosecuted for his guilt. Now send to call "man." But what was the difference between this "criminal" and those who were commonly brought before these rulers? Well, as much as Festus examined Paul, as Pilate did with Jesus Christ, he found no fault in condemning him. Although the accusers brought many proofs and arguments, none of them could be proven. This governor was well informed of what the charges would be with which he could impute a prisoner, and in the case of Pablo, none of the presented ones applied. Paul's testimony was evidence that demanded a verdict. A good testimony is the most powerful proof that the gospel has power. Men can make fun of the work we do; may question the doctrine and practice of our faith; they will be able to destroy the arguments and the places where we meet, but they will never be able to deny the effectiveness of the gospel when seeing a transformed life.

"I would also like to hear that man ..." Definitely, Pablo was the subject of great interest on behalf of the authorities with whom he was related. Some had the desire to kill him, while others wanted to hear him. Or Paul was hated very much, or loved intensely. His character and testimony gave for found passions. He could be treated like a plague, but his actions said otherwise.

Now it is King Agrippa who wants to see him. But who was this man who wanted to see Pablo? How similar was it to the Felix who also examined him? His great-grandfather sought to kill Jesus at birth; his grandfather murdered Juan Bautista; his father continued the tradition of his predecessors by sending Jacob to kill and trying to do it with Pedro.

What could you expect from this man, who was also married to his sister Berenice? Observe the waste of vanity with which they presented themselves before Paul. But how did Pablo come in? He entered the scene as the Jew, the small tentmaker, with his hands chained. However from the moment he started talking, he dominated the scene. It is true that there were powerful men there, but when someone has Christ in their heart, and he directs his life, he has the secret of power. Who will you fear, then? Here is an irrefutable proof.

"Nothing worthy ... of death ... this man has done". What recognition! What verdict did the king and all the "leading men of the city" give! This recognition had already been given by Festo. Paul was "heavy in balance" and in everything he was found faithful. There is something that must be said here. If a human tribunal is capable of ruling in favor of the accused, due to the testimony where they do not find traces of guilt, how much more will it be to stand before the tribunal of Christ where he would say to him with all joy: "Well, good and faithful servant, you have little else I have been faithful, I will set you much ". What "worthy of death or imprisonment" could this man have done who has told his testimony of what he was before and what came to be afterwards? Agrippa saw a man dressed as a prisoner, but who possessed a power that none of those present, in his various possessions, had. Festo called him crazy, from what he heard; and now Agrippa admits that Paul's words almost convert him to the Lord. But what a pity that someone has been so close to salvation and go down in history with the words "you almost persuade me to be a Christian". May the word of God seduce us and we surrender to Christ. I hope every man can be like Pablo, free despite being imprisoned.

IT IS A PENALTY FOR SOMEONE TO HEAR THE CONTENT OF SALVATION AND THE LEAST

Jesus came to open the eyes of the blind. Agrippa heard Paul's testimony, but above all, he heard a full presentation of the gospel. The very substance of what the power of the gospel does is offered to us. Paul in presenting his testimony tells Agrippa that when you know Christ, he makes you see things that we have never seen before.

He had been commissioned to help men to open their eyes, full of spiritual blindness and far from the grace of God, so that the light of the gospel would shine on them; with the result that all men, including the king in the presence of who is, would turn their sight from earthly things to heavenly things.

IT IS A PENALTY THAT SOMEONE IS CONFRONTED WITH THE TRUTH AND LOSES ETERNALLY

"You almost persuaded me to be a Christian." Agrippa wanted to see Pablo, and the encounter with him could not have been more impressive. He realized that this man was not a criminal, nor deserved to be a prisoner. The way he spoke to him was very respectful. He did not insult him or send him to hell. In his testimony Paul spoke frankly. He did not adorn his testimony. He acknowledged that he did the Christians a lot of harm. But Agrippa also heard of his extraordinary change.

He saw a chained man, but free. Prisoner, but with an authority that exceeded theirs. Agrippa's impression also had to do with the message that Paul preached about the resurrection of Christ. In this firm presentation of the message, Paul appealed to the very formation that this man had as a Jew, and that he could not ignore this because the prophets had already spoken about the promised Messiah.

He knew the Old Testament, therefore rejecting the gospel had greater consequences. This king was confronted with the truth, but what a pity, he lost himself eternally after having been so close to salvation "Almost" is an incomplete quantity. It is an "almost" saved, but ultimately lost.

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In spite of how bad a person can be, if he looks for God, he can have a change.
Reesteem
DM
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STEEMCHURCH

beautiful reading, it is good to see it here.
www.steemchurch.net
DM

What a sad way to end his journey...
May i not end like him..

Deep thinking,
Wonderful idea,
And nice write up.

God is always looking for 100℅ and not even 99℅. We need to do follow up for those we are bringing to Christ and we shouldn't leave them in half way until they are saved finally.

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