In Acts 26:28, King Agrippa says, “Almost you persuade me to be a Christian.” Many people have come close to becoming Christians but stop short. However, being “almost” Christian isn’t enough in God’s eyes. It’s important to understand what it means to be “almost” Christian and what it means to be a true Christian.
Being “almost” Christian means living with good morals, honesty, and kindness, like non-Christians who follow basic moral rules. You don’t lie, steal, hurt others, or break promises. You might even go to church, pray, and act religiously. But without true faith and love for God and others, you’re still just “almost” Christian.
To be a true Christian, you must love God with all your heart and soul, and love others as yourself. True Christianity also involves faith in Jesus, which changes how you live, fills you with love, and gives you peace and joy. True faith leads you to fully trust in God and live for Him.
In short, being “almost” Christian is not enough. True Christians have love for God and others, and live by faith.
In Acts 15:39-16:10, we read about a sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabas. They couldn’t agree on whether to bring John Mark with them on another missionary journey. This led them to part ways, with Barnabas taking Mark to Cyprus and Paul choosing Silas to join him in spreading the gospel.
Though the conflict was emotional, God used it to multiply the impact of their ministry. Despite their disagreement, both teams remained focused on God’s mission.
Even today, believers may face conflicts, but we must stay focused on God’s purposes. Our unity in the gospel helps us overcome differences and continue doing Kingdom work. When we focus on His plan, God can work through even difficult situations for His glory.
Paul and Silas continued their journey, meeting Timothy in Lystra and welcoming him as a new companion. Despite initial plans to travel in a different direction, the Holy Spirit led them to Macedonia through a vision. This shows how important it is to stay sensitive to the Spirit’s leading.
We might not always understand God’s plan, but if we remain obedient and focused on His will, we can trust that He will guide us to where we need to be.
How do you stay focused on God’s purposes in your life, even in times of disagreement or uncertainty?
All the blessings we receive from God are purely from His grace and kindness. We don’t deserve any of it and can’t earn His mercy. God created man from dust, gave us life, and continues to provide for us. Everything we have comes from Him, and even the good things we do are by His help. Any righteousness we have is also a gift from God.
How then can a sinful man make up for his sins? Through his own good works? No, because even those works are from God, and many are flawed. Our hearts are sinful, and we can’t do anything to earn forgiveness. Only God can offer salvation.
If God shows us favor and continues to bless us, especially with salvation, it’s purely from His grace. Jesus died for us while we were still sinners, showing God’s love. We are saved by grace through faith. Grace is the source, and faith is the means of salvation.
To avoid missing God’s grace, it’s important to understand:
What kind of faith saves us.
What salvation through faith means.
How to respond to common objections.
The faith that saves us isn’t just believing that God exists (like some non-Christians do) or believing like the devil does, who knows God’s power but remains opposed to Him. The faith that saves is trusting in Jesus—His death and resurrection—and relying on Him completely for salvation. This faith isn’t just intellectual but involves a heart belief that leads to righteousness.
Salvation through faith is not something we wait for in the future but something we experience now. It saves us from sin—both its guilt and its power over us. We are justified (made right with God) by faith, and this faith brings peace with God, freeing us from the fear of punishment. Through faith, we are saved from the power of sin, meaning we no longer live in habitual or deliberate sin. This salvation leads to a new life where we grow in God’s grace.
Some may object, saying that preaching salvation by faith alone encourages laziness and neglect of good works. But true faith always leads to good works and holiness. It doesn’t cancel out the law but fulfills it by leading believers to live righteously, trusting in Christ and doing the good works God prepared for them.
Faith leads to a humble and holy life, not pride. Every believer must be careful to remain humble, knowing that all comes from God.
One of the most commonly quoted passages in Christian circles is 1 Corinthians 10:13, which states, “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability” (ESV). This verse is often taken out of context, leading to the popular belief that “God won’t put more on you than you can handle.” While this sounds reassuring, it misses the true message of the passage.
The actual point Paul makes in 1 Corinthians 10:13 is about facing temptation. In verse 12, he emphasizes that no one is exempt from experiencing temptation. Whether strong or weak in faith, everyone faces trials and struggles that test their ability to remain faithful to God. But here’s the good news—God, in His faithfulness, always provides an escape.
When temptations arise—whether it’s a temptation to disbelieve God, fall into sexual sin, lie, gossip, or any other struggle—God offers a way out. This escape is not based on our strength or willpower. Instead, it’s rooted in God’s promise that He will never leave us without help. Jesus Christ is our ultimate escape. Through Him, we have the strength to overcome the lure of sin.
The popular misinterpretation of this verse shifts the focus onto human ability, implying that we can handle anything thrown at us by sheer strength or resilience. But the real teaching here is the opposite: we’re not supposed to rely on ourselves. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:9, “Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” Our ability to endure trials and temptations comes from depending on God, not from trusting in our own capacity.
In moments of weakness or when temptations seem overwhelming, the reminder of 1 Corinthians 10:13 should drive us to seek God’s strength and guidance. God’s faithfulness ensures that there is always a way to avoid falling into sin, and that way is always found in Him.
It is unfortunate that some people today teach that spiritual growth means ignoring sin or pretending it doesn’t exist. This is a dangerous misunderstanding of holiness. True spiritual growth involves acknowledging sin, confessing it, and fighting against it with the help of the Holy Spirit. Ignoring sin doesn’t make us holy; it allows sin to take over our lives.
This teaching goes against the very foundation of the Gospel. Christ laid the foundation of our faith by dying for our sins and offering salvation through grace. Ignoring sin undermines that sacrifice. The true Gospel leads us to repentance and change, not complacency. Any teaching that promotes denial of sin is a false gospel, and Christians should reject it.
Instead, we need the Holy Spirit to help us understand the truths of the Gospel and to guide us away from false teachings. Christ’s work on the cross is more than enough to save us, but we must not abuse that grace by allowing sin to go unchecked. Spiritual growth comes from recognizing our sin and relying on the Spirit to lead us toward holiness.
