Zephaniah 1:12 Almost Christian Is Fully Lukewarm
John Wesley was raised in a large Christian family, the second son of nineteen children, went to Christian schools. In March 1726 graduated from his studies and was ordained as pastor, also a professor at Oxford. Even as pastor of God’s word John felt like he had no relationship with the Lord he preached about, he felt like the words he preached were vain. In May 1738 Pentecost Sunday, Wesley experienced what he called his evangelical conversions, “strangely warmed” during his personal study of reading Martin Luther’s Commentary of Romans. This is the statement John wrote in his journal John felt he had to say, “ In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading [Martin] Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”. These are the scripture led John to dedicate himself to the Lord; Psalm 130, Acts 2:1 –21, Romans 5:1 –11, 2 Peter 1:4, Matthew 9:27 –30, and Mark 12:28 –34. Instead of his walk with the Lord feeling meaningless, and on July 25, 1741 at Oxford, delivery a sermon titles, “Almost Christian, “ In the beginning of his sermon, almost Christian is basically is good person, a church attending person, good at praying, loves the community, serves the Lord and keep ten commandments. Then John told the congregation he was almost Christian not long ago, but wasn’t a real Christian in his past. Now John said a real Christian has a real love for God deep inside the heart and soul. A real Christian has a love for his neighbor even those far beyond his personal community. A full Christian, faith begins with full repentance and produces good works (fruits). An almost Christian has 100% confidence that their sins are forgiven and will have place in the kingdom of heaven. Then John asks the congregation if you are a full Christian, is the love of God in your heart, John Wesley is saying an almost Christian has outward appearance, but a full Christian as inward appearance and doesn’t seek a reward for themselves but serves the Lord all for the glory of God. Majority of the church didn’t like to be told they were almost Christian, so John Wesley was forced to leave and never preach again at that church. I know in my walk with God, I feel like an almost Christian, I hear people tell me I am a great man of God, but I don’t feel like it. I have my faults and don’t feel worthy to be called great or a man of God. Thank you all, for the likes my blogs receive and the Amen I read, but I do all for God’s glory, not for myself. God bless you all, the Lord loves you all and so do I. Samuel J Head.
