Experiencing God Within: Discover Where You Stand With the True and Living God!

By Mark J. Rich

Experiencing God in your life is not just a blessing, and it's not just a privilege — it's the only way to know if you're truly a Christian, a genuine child of God! Each and every follower of the Lord Jesus Christ has the Spirit of God living within them. And because of this truth, believers experience a variety of divine manifestations within. To one degree or another, they experience communion with God, divine inward guidance, a sense of God's love, the Spirit's inner witness, a personal knowledge of God, and a heart-felt love for Jesus. These are just a few of the inward marks of a genuine Christian explored in this book. Have you ever experienced them within? And if not, would you like to? Then join in the journey of Experiencing God Within. Discover where you stand with the true and living God!

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jun 20, 2016
• ISBN: 9781483575469

Book preview

Copyright © 2016 by Mark J. Rich

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015920640

ISBN for softcover: 978-1-48356-292-6

ISBN for e-format: 978-1-48357-546-9

Published by BookBaby™

7905 North Route 130, Pennsauken, NJ 08110

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, audio recording, computer storage devices, and any other form of electronic information system, without the prior permission of the author or publisher, except in the case of brief quotations as provided by USA copyright law.

DEAR READER ...

May the heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ be lifted up and exalted as you read through this book! And may your spiritual life be enriched deep within as the Word of God touches your soul!

It’s a delight to give thanks to my dear wife, Julie, for all of her prayers and encouragement while I was writing this book. And to my brother, Eric, who first pointed me to the Savior, the Son of the living God! Special thanks too, to Julie and Eric, for helping me proofread this book.

And now …

To Him who sits on the throne, and to the

Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory

and dominion forever and ever!

Revelation 5:13

THE BIBLE VERSIONS USED IN THIS BOOK

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations in this book are from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. The Lockman Foundation also granted me permission, when quoting the Old Testament, to restore God’s name (Yahweh) to the text where the NASB substituted the LORD for His Hebrew name. When quoting other versions of the Bible, I have used the following abbreviations to identify them.

GLT – The Literal Translation of the Holy Bible. Translated by Jay P. Green, Sr. Copyright © 1987, 1992, 1993 by Jay P. Green Sr.

KJV – King James Version. The 1769 Authorized Version of the Holy Bible. Public Domain.

NIV – The Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society.

NKJV – New King James Version. The Holy Bible. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

NLT – Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Copyright © 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

NRSV – New Revised Standard Version Bible. Copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

TKV – The King’s Version. Prepared solely for verses marked TKV in this book. See endnote 1 for details.

HOW NON-BIBLICAL QUOTATIONS ARE CREDITED

Whenever you come across a non-biblical quotation in this book, you’ll find a credit code immediately following it. The code identifies or credits the source of the quotation. A sample looks like this: (AB/97) The codes are easy to understand and are explained in the Bibliography and Credit Codes section at the end of this book. The same section explains the various ways I’ve added emphasis or clarity to some of the quotations.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Click on a line below to jump to that section

INTRO

Conduct Your Own Spiritual Checkup

The Question Each Person Must Answer

The Valuable Role of Spiritual Vital Signs

The Warning of Christ and His Apostles

The Journey We’re About to Embark On

PART 1

We’re Called to be Temples, Not Tourists

The Peril of Being Almost a Christian

The Supernatural Birth From Above

Don’t Be Alarmed and Stop Reading

Mistaking Morality for True Christianity

Lifeless Reformation Without Regeneration

Sincerity’s No Substitute for Salvation

PART 2

The Inner Experience of Every True Christian

Beyond Noble Actions and Aspirations

Loving God After Open Heart Surgery

You Won’t Have to Guess if it’s Love

Inspired by a Priceless Perception

Captivated by the Wonder of Christ

Enthusiastic Ambassadors For Jesus

Unashamed of our Lord Jesus Christ

A Genuine Love For Your Neighbor

How to Know if You Truly Love Others

The Primacy of Knowing God’s Love

An Awareness in Every True Christian

The Treadmill of Winning God’s Favor

A True Living Faith in the Gospel

The Wonderful Surety of Genuine Faith

The Life-Changing Character of Faith

Even the Strongest Faith May Falter

A Personal Knowledge of the Living God

The Greatest Knowledge in Life

Experiencing the Reality of God

Confidence in the Goodness of God

Something We Lost a Long Time Ago

Restoring Our Trust in God’s Character

If You Struggle With Doubt in This Area

The Perception of Spiritual Truth

The Importance of Divine Revelation

The Gift of Spiritual Eyesight

Being Led by the Spirit of God

Our Need for Personal Guidance

God Promises to Lead His People

A Delicate Balance to Maintain

The Gospel of Restored Communion

Fellowship with the Father and Son

Experiencing Intimacy With God

The Inner Witness of the Holy Spirit

A Valiant Proponent of the Inner Witness

An Inspiring Testimony of the Witness

You Don’t Need Others to Tell You

The Spirit’s Diverse Activity Within

The Supernatural Character of Christianity

The Feelings of the Faithful May Fluctuate

PART 3

Why Many Don’t Sense God Dwelling Within

A Widespread Problem in Churches Today

Some Ways to Account For This Problem

An Unpopular But Plausible Explanation

A Leading Cause of This Tragic Condition

Two Inner Realities That Precede all Others

Conviction of Sin is the Place to Begin

The Horrible Trap of Self-Righteousness

A Blessing to Be Embraced Not Shunned

It’s Not Just for Well-Seasoned Sinners

The Centrality of the Cross in Christianity

Embracing the True Gospel Message

The Ultimate Expression of God’s Love

PART 4

Steps You Can Follow if Your Life Feels Hollow

Revisiting the Question We Began With

Cherishing Reality Above Reputation

Strip Thyself Naked of Self-Righteousness

Don’t Let Anyone Stop You From Seeking

Close Doesn’t Count With Salvation

A Personal Prayer of Preparation

The Privilege of All New Believers

EPILOGUE

A Message of Hope for Your Spiritual Life

INCIDENTALLY

A Word of Personal Testimony

APPENDICES

Additional Thoughts On …

A The Biblical Marks of a Genuine Christian

B The Valuable Role of Spiritual Feelings

C The Inner Witness of the Holy Spirit

D The Promise of Divine Inward Guidance

E The Narrow Beliefs of a Genuine Christian

ENDNOTES

Further Reflections to Feast On

BIBLIOGRAPHY and Credit Codes

Introduction

Conduct Your Own Spiritual Checkup

The Question Each Person Must Answer

There’s absolutely NOTHING IN LIFE more important than knowing where you stand with your Maker. The Bible reveals that the very essence and key to eternal life is knowing God and His Son, Jesus Christ. (John 17:3) But how can you tell if you truly know God? How can you know if you’re truly a Christian, a genuine child of God? (IT’S A POPULAR MYTH THAT WE’RE ALL GOD’S CHILDREN. SEE ENDNOTE 2.)

The answer is simple, but it’s not always easy. You need to ask yourself a question, then answer it with gut-level honesty. The question is this:

Am I truly experiencing

the inner spiritual realities that

are known to accompany salvation?

Or to phrase this a bit differently:

Am I truly experiencing GOD in my life?

Do I sense deep within the operation of His

Spirit in ways that I should as a Christian?

It’s a biblical fact that every true Christian is indwelled by the Spirit of God. (1 Cor. 3:16, 2 Tim. 1:14) Consequently, every true Christian is a "TEMPLE of the Holy Spirit or a TEMPLE of the living God." (1 Cor. 6:19, 2 Cor. 6:16) And because of this truth — this phenomenal truth — each and every believer experiences a variety of inner spiritual realities or manifestations of God’s presence within. To one degree or another, every true Christian experiences:

Communion With God

Divine Inward Guidance

The Spirit’s Inner Witness

An Assurance of God’s Love

Perception of Spiritual Truth

A Personal Knowledge of God

Genuine, Life-Changing Faith

Confidence in God’s Goodness

An Awareness of Christ Within

True Love for God and His Son

Compassion for Others in Need

Gratitude for the Death of Jesus

Each of these experiences or spiritual blessings is part of the normal Christian life. They’re not reserved for some spiritual elite. And though none of God’s people experience ALL of these blessings in ALL of their fullness ALL of the time, to have NEVER experienced these blessed realities is a sign you can’t afford to ignore.

The Valuable Role of Spiritual Vital Signs

In the physical world, God has provided us with a number of tangible vital signs that help us to monitor our physical condition. The presence of a pulse, of breathing, and of brain waves offers clear indication that a person is alive. On the other hand, to be lacking these critical vital signs is rather clear proof that a person is dead. In a similar way, God has given us spiritual vital signs to reveal our true spiritual condition. If we’re truly alive in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are bound to experience — to one degree or another — the inner realities that accompany salvation. But if we fail to experience these realities at all, I’m sure you can guess what that means. As the absence of physical vital signs indicates physical death, so the absence of spiritual vital signs indicates spiritual death. And what exactly is that — "spiritual death"? It’s lacking within the presence of God by means of His indwelling Spirit. It’s lacking within His life-giving grace through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.

So as you read through this book, why not conduct your own spiritual checkup? By comparing your life with the vital signs we’ll be looking at, you’ll be able to discern if you’re truly a Christian. If your checkup reveals that you’re alive in the Savior, you have nothing to do but rejoice and give thanks. On the other hand, if a serious problem is revealed through your checkup, you’ll be able to address it as you read through this book. (FOR A GLIMPSE AT HOW READERS MIGHT REACT TO THIS BOOK, SEE ENDNOTE 3.)

Unfortunately, many people avoid looking at their spiritual condition for the same reason people avoid going to a doctor. They’re afraid of what they might find. But avoiding the truth is seldom productive. The first step in solving any problem in life is deciding to get honest. It is far better to look squarely at your condition right now — when you’re in a position to do something about it — than to wait until death or the great Day of Judgment.

The Warning of Christ and His Apostles

When we seek to assess our true spiritual condition, one of the first things we must realize is that being religious or even zealous for God is not a sure sign that we’re saved. Striving to please God isn’t proof of salvation. It’s possible to be fervent in our attempt to please God, but to go about it the wrong way. Do you remember these words of the apostle Paul? He wrote them concerning his Jewish brethren.

My heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. (Romans 10:1-2)

It’s entirely possible to be spiritual, even busy for God, without knowing the God we’re striving to serve. (Isaiah 1:12-15) Jesus warned that many who think they’re exemplary servants, and many who confidently address Him as Lord, will one day discover they were never really His. (Matt. 7:21-23) He even said that one of the early churches, though "having a reputation of being alive," was actually spiritually dead! (Rev. 3:1 NIV) No wonder the Bible exhorts us:

EXAMINE yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. TEST yourselves. (2 Cor. 13:5 NIV)

Paul offered this advice to church-going people. He wasn’t writing to folks who were indifferent to Christ. He knew that even spiritual people can be deceived about their standing with God. (FOR MORE ON THIS DECEPTION, SEE NOTE 4.) So he encouraged his readers to examine and test themselves to see if they were truly in the faith. And he wasn’t alone in this matter. The apostle Peter shared his concern and issued a similar warning.

Brothers, BE DILIGENT to MAKE SURE of your calling and election.⁵ (2 Peter 1:10 GLT)

Can you see from the teachings of Christ and His apostles the importance of conducting a spiritual checkup? It’s not a waste of time. Neither is it a venture into harmful introspection. As Peter described it, there is nothing more important than being "SURE of your calling and election" — of being CERTAIN you’re a child of God.

The Journey We’re About To Embark On

In order to conduct a sound spiritual checkup, we’re about to embark on a fascinating journey. In Part 1 of this book, we’ll be establishing a truth that’s foundational to all that follows. We’ll be learning that outward behavior, no matter how exemplary, and inward aspirations, no matter how spiritual, are not sufficient — by themselves — to prove one a genuine Christian. One must possess something more conclusive in their life; something not attributable to mere noble intentions or to the preliminary work of God in one’s soul as He cultivates a hunger for salvation.

In Part 2, we’ll be coming to the very HEART and LIFE of this book. We’ll be exploring some of the inner realities that accompany salvation. We’ll be looking at the spiritual vital signs that only God can produce in a life by means of His indwelling presence. (THIS BOOK FOCUSES ON THE INWARD RATHER THAN OUTWARD MARKS OF SALVATION. NOTE 6 EXPLAINS WHY.)

Part 3 will examine why it is that so many in churches today are devoid of these inner realities and why millions of professing Christians are unsure of their salvation.

Part 4 will provide direction and encouragement to anyone interested in making a radical transition in life, from being hungry for God and hungry for salvation to actually experiencing these realities.

Immediately following Part 4, an Epilogue has been included for anyone who might have read through this book, sought to implement its biblical recommendations, yet still lacks a sense of God’s presence within. The epilogue is based on a timeless story and provides a surprising source of hope!

And lastly, two bonus sections have been included: An APPENDICES section that allows the reader to look further into some of the subjects covered in the main text, and an ENDNOTES section that offers further reflections to feast on. In my opinion, these concluding sections contain some of THE RICHEST and MOST EXCITING reflections in the entire book. I hope you’ll find opportunity to enjoy them!

So if you’re ready to begin, let’s start our journey. We’re about to consider the most important question in life. As Bishop Nicholas Castle observed long ago:

AM I A CHRISTIAN? [THIS] IS THE QUESTION OF QUESTIONS. Not whether I am a member of the church, but [rather], Am I a Christian? This question, in [terms] of importance and personal interest, ought to [be ahead of] all others. UNTIL THIS IS SETTLED, THE SOUL IS ADRIFT UPON AN [ENDLESS] SEA OF DOUBT AND UNCERTAINTY. (BB/5)

Part 1

We’re Called to be Temples, Not Tourists

The Peril of Being Almost a Christian

According to Jesus, the only true Christian is a person who has been born again or born of the Spirit. (John 3:3, 3:6) A genuine Christian is someone who’s "alive with Christ and alive to God, but was formerly dead in their sins. (Eph. 2:5, Rom. 6:11, Eph. 2:1) And a Christian is someone who’s a temple of God, but was previously without God in the world. (1 Cor. 3:16, Eph. 2:12) Aren’t those amazing truths? And yet there’s more! Christians are people who know the only true God, but formerly dwelled in deep darkness. (John 17:3, Isa. 60:2, 9:2) They’re people who have been reconciled to God," though a barrier once kept them apart. (Rom. 5:10, Gen. 3:8, Isa. 59:2) And wonder of wonders, Christians are people who actually experience "fellowship with the Father and His Son"! (1 John 1:3)

Is this something you can relate to, dear reader? Have you experienced these wonderful changes in your life? (CAN YOU SAY YOU’RE A NEW CREATION, EVEN A NEW FORM OF HUMANITY? SEE NOTE 7.) As we noticed in the introduction of this book, there’s a huge difference between being religious and having God’s life in your soul. The classic example of this perilous condition is found in the life of John Wesley.⁸ If you’re familiar with his story, you’ll know that it’s possible not only to be religious, but exceedingly zealous for God, while still being lost in your soul. For years Wesley attempted to please God, serving as a foreign missionary and pastor, but he lacked true salvation in Christ. So when he finally experienced new birth in the Savior, he was anxious to send forth a warning. He wanted people to know that you can LOOK like a Christian and SOUND like a Christian and even THINK you’re a Christian while lacking the REALITY within.

In 1741, three years after becoming a true believer in Christ, Wesley preached a remarkable sermon. He called it "The Almost Christian." The intent of his sermon was to demonstrate that exemplary behavior, even noble aspirations and attitudes, are not sufficient to prove one a true Christian. He explained that even atheists, agnostics, and followers of non-Christian religions⁹ often live lives of exceptional character. And others, he added, who profess to be Christians, lack the real inward life that accompanies salvation (John 7:38) — they possess but an outward form of religion. (2 Tim. 3:5) Or as Jude 1:12 has put it, they’re like clouds without water and trees without fruit.¹⁰ (ON THE EMPTINESS OF OUTWARD RELIGION, SEE NOTE 11.) Thus, according to Wesley, it’s entirely possible for both NON-Christians and ALMOST-Christians to behave like TRUE Christians while lacking the reality within. Consequently, behavior and attitudes — no matter how refined — are not a sure way to know if you’re saved.

The Supernatural Birth From Above

If all of this is true, then what actually constitutes a genuine Christian? As we’ll shortly discover, the essence and indicators of this blessed condition are entirely supernatural in character. They’re not attainable by the natural man. And the reason is plain. Becoming a Christian is not a natural event. It’s a SUPRA-natural or ABOVE-natural event. Becoming a Christian involves a spiritual birth from above, not a mere birth from one’s earthly parents. It involves being born "not of natural descent, nor of human decision … but BORN OF GOD. (John 1:13 NIV) As Jesus explained: That which is born of the flesh is [merely] flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6) The flesh profits nothing," no matter how sincere it might appear. (John 6:63) It is the Spirit [alone] who gives life. (John 6:63)

Coming to terms with these humbling truths is vital to our spiritual well-being. We need to acknowledge, with Paul the apostle, that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. (Rom. 7:18) A natural man is unable to please God no matter how hard he tries. (1 Cor. 2:14, Rom. 8:8) Only if a person is born of the Spirit or born from above¹² can a person find favor with God. (John 3:6, 3:3) Indeed, only a person made new by the Spirit is a "TEMPLE of the living God." (Titus 3:5, 2 Cor. 6:16) It’s not enough to be merely interested in spiritual matters as if a tourist who delights in exploring such things. God wants human beings to be the very TEMPLE He dwells in. In fact, that’s really the best definition of a Christian there is. A Christian is a TEMPLE of the living God! (2 Cor. 6:16)

Don’t Be Alarmed and Stop Reading

On the next few pages we’ll be reading some snippets from Wesley’s sermon, "The Almost Christian." (I’VE MODERNIZED IT A BIT. SEE NOTE 13.) Wesley did a great job illustrating how far some people will go in their effort to look like a Christian while still being lost and without Christ in their soul. I hope you didn’t get nervous when I mentioned a sermon. Things aren’t about to get boring. On the contrary! I believe you’ll be amazed by the things Wesley shares. He’s about to demonstrate that being moral and religious — even sacrificial and sincere — are very slim grounds for proving one a Christian.

Mistaking Morality For True Christianity

Wesley got the idea for his sermon title, "The Almost Christian," from the story of King Agrippa. The story recounts how the apostle Paul was brought before the king to give an account of his life and beliefs. After hearing Paul describe his radical transformation from being a persecutor of Christians to a proclaimer of Christ, Agrippa responded: "You have ALMOST persuaded me to become a Christian!" (Acts 26:28 TKV)

Wesley realized from this story that many in his own day were stuck at the same stage as the king — that of almost becoming a Christian. Consequently, he delivered his sermon to help people distinguish between the "ALMOST Christian and those who are ABSOLUTELY or ALTOGETHER" such. His hope was that some in the former condition might discover their need and truly find Christ.

Living in the 1700’s, Wesley was preaching to a generation that had lost sight of the glorious gospel. In many respects, Christianity had been reduced to a system of ethics and morality.¹⁴ Wesley was concerned that people were mistaking morality for true Christianity. He pointed out that morality and ethics, no matter how comprehensive, are an inadequate basis for determining if a person is saved. (MORALITY OFTEN LACKS A VITAL INGREDIENT. SEE NOTE 15.) He noted that even NON-Christians often endorse and live by a clear code of ethics. He illustrated this in his sermon as follows.

They were taught that they should not be unjust. They should not take away their neighbor’s goods, either by robbery or theft. They should not oppress the poor, nor use extortion toward any. They should not cheat or overcharge either the poor or rich in whatever commerce they had with them. They should defraud no man of his right. And if possible, they should owe no man anything. (AZ/na)

Even in matters of personal speech, non-Christians were known to endorse considerably high standards.

The [average non-Christian]¹⁶ acknowledged that some regard was to be paid to truth, as well as to justice. Accordingly, they considered him an abomination who swore falsely, and who called God to witness to a lie. They also considered him an abomination who slandered his neighbor and falsely accused any man. And indeed, … willful liars of any sort were considered the disgrace of human kind, and the pests of society.

And regarding the importance of helping the needy, non-Christians proceeded in the following manner.

There was a sort of love and assistance which they expected from one another. They expected whatever assistance any one could give so long as it didn’t involve personal loss. And they extended this assistance not only to those little needs of humanity which are performed without any expense or labor, but even to the feeding of the hungry, if they had food to spare; the clothing of the naked with their own extra raiment; and, in general, the giving to anyone in need such things as they didn’t need themselves. To this extent, even in the lowest account of it, [generosity] existed among the non-Christians. [These are some of the things] implied in being ALMOST a Christian.

Lifeless Reformation Without Regeneration

Having completed his look at the moral non-Christian, Wesley turned his attention to professing believers — to those who consider themselves Christian and attempt to be pleasing to God. To use his own terminology, Wesley was about to discuss those who have a form of godliness prescribed in the gospel of Christ. Such people, he noted, "have the outside of a real Christian" and abstain from a great many things. Said Wesley:

The ALMOST Christian does nothing which the [Bible] forbids. He does not take the name of God in vain. [Ex. 20:7] He blesses, and curses not. [Rom. 12:14] He never says I swear, but merely says yea, yea, and nay, nay. [Matt. 5:37] He does not profane the day of the Lord, nor allow it to be profaned even by the stranger within his gates. [Ex. 20:10] He not only avoids all actual adultery, fornication, and uncleanness, but every word or look that … tends in that direction. [Matt. 5:28] He also avoids all idle words, abstaining from belittling, backbiting, gossiping, evil speaking, and from all foolish talking and jesting. [Eph. 5:4] … In short, he abstains from all conversation that is not good for the use of edifying, and which consequently grieves the Holy Spirit … [Eph. 4:29-30]

As described here by Wesley, the lifestyle of "the almost Christian" is remarkable, especially when viewed by today’s Christian standards. Yet even so, it offers no proof of salvation. Reformation of character, though laudable, is not the same thing as regeneration. (JUST LISTEN TO THE TESTIMONY OF JOHN BUNYAN ON THIS! SEE NOTE 17.) It is rebirth or regeneration by the Spirit of God which alone makes a genuine Christian. (Titus 3:5, Gal. 6:15) For this reason, we must be careful to distinguish between a reformed life and one that has been truly redeemed. It is possible to live in a religious or sanctified manner without having experienced the new birth, just as it is possible to have been born into a Christian home and behave like a Christian without actually having been born of the Spirit. (IF YOU WERE RAISED IN A CHRISTIAN HOME, YOU MIGHT WANT TO SEE NOTE 18.) In his sermon, Wesley went on to describe how the ALMOST Christian abstains from ungodly behavior.

He abstains from wine wherein is excess. [Eph. 5:18] He also abstains from carousing and gluttony. [1 Pet. 4:3] He avoids, as much as he is able, all strife and contention, continually endeavoring to live peaceably with all men. [Rom. 12:18] And, if he is wronged, he does not take revenge, nor return evil for evil. [Rom. 12:17] He is not a reviler nor brawler. Nor does he scoff at the faults or infirmities of his neighbor. He does not willingly wrong, hurt, or grieve any man. But in all things he acts and speaks by that plain rule, Whatever you would not like done to you, do not do to another. 19

What amazing qualities, and yet Wesley claims that even these are not proof of salvation! How can he make such a claim? How can he suggest that an exemplary life is not a sure sign of salvation? (OR FOR THAT MATTER, WHAT ABOUT BEING USED BY THE LORD? ISN’T THAT A CLEAR SIGN OF SALVATION? SEE NOTE 20.) The answer is this: Not long before preaching this sermon, he lived in the manner just outlined above! He pursued righteousness and morality through relentless self-effort. He knew what it was like to live like a Christian while lacking the reality of Christ in his soul. Indeed, it was his own history that enabled him to develop such a meticulous description of "the ALMOST Christian." And his description didn’t end where we concluded above. He went on to list the activities a person may engage in as they strive to please God through suffering and service.

In doing good, [the ALMOST Christian] does not limit himself to cheap and easy matters of kindness. Rather, he labors and suffers for the profit of many, that by all means he may help some. In spite of toil or pain, whatever his hand finds to do, he does it with all his might. [Eccles. 9:10] And he does this for his friends and his enemies; for the evil as well as the good. … And he does good, not only for their bodies, but also for their souls. He reproves the wicked, instructs the ignorant, confirms the wavering, quickens the good, and comforts the afflicted. He labors to awaken those who [spiritually] sleep. And he leads those whom God hath already awakened to the Fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness, [Zech. 13:1] that they may wash therein and be clean. He also stirs up those who have been saved through faith, to adorn the gospel of Christ in all things.

Isn’t this remarkable? Wesley indicates that a person may engage in what seems like genuine EVANGELISM, EXHORTATION, and EDIFICATION even if he’s not yet a Christian! We need to remember what kind of person Wesley is describing here: not someone who’s ALREADY saved, but a person who is "ALMOST a Christian." If you’ve ever read portions of his personal journal, you’ll know that even prior to his spiritual rebirth, Wesley engaged in all of these activities and pursued them with utmost fervor!

Sincerity’s No Substitute For Salvation

As Wesley continued to deliver his sermon, he mentioned a variety of other activities that the ALMOST Christian engages in. He constantly frequents the house of God, partakes of the table of the Lord, sets aside time for daily devotions, and leads his family in prayer. And not only is he consistent in these matters, he conducts them with utmost sincerity. "By sincerity, said Wesley, I mean a real, inward principle of religion, from whence these outward actions flow." Some people, said Wesley, merely act Christian to avoid punishment [or] to avoid the loss of friends [and] reputation. But his sermon wasn’t meant for such people. Their hypocrisy was entirely too plain. He was hoping to reach that man or that woman who was earnest about pleasing the Lord. And thus he went on to explain:

Sincerity is necessarily implied in being ALMOST a Christian. It involves having a real intention to serve God, and a heart-felt desire to do His will. It is necessarily implied that a man has a sincere desire of pleasing God in all things; in all his conversation, in all his actions, in all he does or leaves undone. If any man [is] ALMOST a Christian, this intention of pleasing God runs through the whole tenor of his life. This is the motivating principle, both in his doing good, and in his abstaining from evil. It is also his motivating principle in using the ordinances of God [such as prayer, Scripture reading, and partaking of the Lord’s supper].

This is utterly amazing. Is it really possible for someone to be this sincere about pleasing God and still not be a genuine Christian? Wesley knew his listeners must be wondering this, so he went on to say:

At this point it will probably be asked, "Is it possible that any living person can go as far as this [in their behavior and motivations] and still only be ALMOST a Christian? … I answer, first, that it IS possible to go as far as this and yet [only] be ALMOST a Christian. [I have learned this] not only from the Word of God, but also from the sure testimony of [personal] experience. … Suffer me, then, to speak freely about myself … I am content to be abased, so ye may be exalted, and to be considered more vile for the glory of my Lord.

Wesley is about to get personal. He is about to share his own testimony to prove his alarming thesis. He was certain, beyond a shadow of doubt, that people can exhibit a broad spectrum of Christ-like behaviors and motives even prior to experiencing salvation. He knew this from personal experience!

I went this far [in my actions and motives] for many years, as many in this place can testify. I used diligence to avoid all evil, and to have a conscience void of