December 11, 2002
I. Introduction:
A. Premise—There is nothing in the Bible that says “Once saved always saved.” Salvation is not a one time event. It is a continuous growth. It is a lifetime process.
B. What we are going to study tonight is a solemn reflection of where we are in our Christian journey. Is there anything in this world that stands before us in our journey to the Promised Land?
C. Seven biblical examples of people who were almost at the gate but never made it to the gate.
1. King Agrippa
a) Acts 26:27-29
b) Almost convinced but never convinced
c) Almost persuaded but never persuaded
d) Almost saved but never saved
e) Why?
1. Too much power
2. Too much worldly stuff
3. Afraid to give up something
f) Is there anything that stands before us in our journey to the Promised Land
1. Is the desire for power preventing us from following Jesus?
2. Is the affair of the world preventing us from faithfully serving God?
2. Felix
a) Acts 24:24-25
b) Wife was probably holding him back
c) Spirit was dealing with him
d) He Procrastinated
e) Is there anything that stands between us and the Promised Land?
1. Is an attitude of procrastination standing between us and the Promised Land?
2. Are there any in our lives, i.e., our wife, husband, children, etc., that stands between us and the Promised Land?
3. Rich young Ruler
a) Mk 10:17-22
b) Recognized Jesus as Master
c) Wanted to inherit eternal Life
d) Said that he had kept the commandments
e) Unfortunately, he failed to receive Christ offer of salvation. Why?
1. But he had great earthly possessions
2. And he couldn’t sacrifice them for an eternal home
f) Is there anything that stands before us in our journey to the Promised Land?
1. Is material possession a hindrance in our entrance to the Promised Land?
2. Is our unwillingness to give up some of our earthly possessions hindering us from reaching the Promised Land?
4. Judas
a) Matthew 27:3-5
b) Judas was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples
c) He followed Jesus wherever he went
d) He was the treasurer of the group
e) When he sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, he admitted “I Have sinned.”
f) Becomes guilty
g) Returns the Money
h) Then Committed suicide
i) Judas was almost saved, but not saved. Why?
1. Judas was following Jesus for the wrong reasons.
2. He was following Jesus for the title
3. He was there for the money
4. He was there for the position
k) Is there anything that stands between us and the Promised Land?
1. Are we following God for the wrong reason?
2. Are we following God for the title?
3. Are we following God for monetary benefits?
5. Prince’s Marriage
a) Matthew 22:1-14
b) He knew when and where the wedding would take place
c) He knew the direction to the wedding place
d) He probably had received an invitation to the wedding
e) He probably had friends that were also going to the wedding
f) He went to the wedding
g) He was thrown out from the wedding
h) Why?
1. He did not have the proper wedding garment
2. He did not have the attire that reflects the character of those who are saved.
3. He was almost saved, but not saved. Almost at the gate, but never at the gate.
i) Is there anything that stands in our way to the Promised Land?
1. Is our incorrect attitude toward character development hindering us from entering the Promised Land?
2. Is our negligence to put on the righteousness of Christ preventing us from entering the Promised Land?
j) We may have received the invitation to the wedding celebration. But if we don’t have the proper garment, we are just almost saved.
k) We may have been informed about the time and the place for the wedding. But if we don’t have the proper wedding attire, we are simply almost saved, but not saved.
6. Unrepentant Thief – Luke 23:32-43
a) He was one of the two thieves that were crucified with Christ
b) His remarks in verse 39 indicates that he probably have heard about Christ.
c) He probably had learned that Jesus is the Christ, meaning the Anointed.
d) He perhaps also heard that Jesus possesses power to heal the sick, to calm the storm, to multiply two fish and five loaves of bread, to cleanse the leper, to open the eyes of the blind, to give hearing to the deaf, to give strength to the crippled.
e) He probably had some knowledge about the teaching of Jesus.
f) Finally, he made an insulting remark, “Save Yourself and us.”
g) Yes, he wanted to be saved, but only on the physical level.
h) Physically, he was very close to Jesus. But spiritually, he was very far away.
i) He used the word Christ, meaning Anointed, but had a wrong idea about the real reason why Christ came into this world.
j) He had a wrong concept about salvation.
k) Is there anything that stands between us and the Promised Land?
1. Is our incorrect view about salvation stands between us and the Promised Land?
2. Is the cross that we carry stands between us and God?
3. Is the influence of the crowd to mock Jesus preventing us from truly finding true relationship with our Savior?
l) No matter what we know about Christ, if we don’t receive His offer of salvation as it is, we are simply almost saved.
m) No matter what miracles we have heard that Christ performed on behalf of other people, but if we don’t accept His offer of salvation as it truly is, we are simply almost saved.
7. Foolish Virgins
a) Matthew 25:1-13
b) Knew their Lord was coming
c) Decided to wait for the groom
d) They waited in the wee hour of the night
e) They had their lamps lighted and trimmed
f) They were in the right location waiting for the groom
g) They were in good company. The company of the five wise virgins
h) They had seen the Signs of the Times to remind them that their waiting was not in vain
i) Although they slept while they waited for the groom, they also heard the announcement that the groom had come.
j) The problem: They lacked the oil that represented the Holy Spirit
k) Went to buy oil but it was too late
l) Is there anything that stands between us and the Promised Land?
1. Is the delay of Christ’s Second Coming standing between us and the Promised Land?
2. Is our inability to make proper preparations for the wee hour of our pilgrimage stands between us and the Promised Land?
3. Is the lukewarm condition of the church stands in our way to the Promised Land?
m) The five foolish virgins waited for the groom. They heard the announcement that the groom had come. They were almost saved, but not saved. Almost at the gate, but not at the gate.
D. Why study about this subject?
1) Judgment begins at the house of God
a) 1 Peter 4:17, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”
2) Close of probation
a) Revelation 22:11, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.”
3) Time of trial is coming
a) Daniel 12:1, “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”
b) Matthew 24:9, “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.”
E. In view of the realities above, what must we do?
1) Hebrews 4:7, “Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”
2) 2 Corinthians 6:2, “For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
F. Zacchaeus, the tax collector
1) Luke 19:1-10
2) He was the chief tax collector
3) Probably have heard about Jesus
4) He wanted to see Jesus
5) Since he was short, he decided to climb the Sycamore tree
6) Received Christ’s invitation to dine with him.
7) He heard the muttering of the people
8) Right at that instant, he made a promise.
a) He promised to give half of his possession to the poor
b) Those that he cheated, he promised to pay them four times the amount he took from them.
9) Christ’s promise
a) Luke 19:9, “And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.”
10) Many things could have prevented Zacchaeus to receive salvation
a) His wealth
b) His work—tax collector
c) His reputation—a cheater
d) His stature—he was short
e) The muttering of the people
11) Nothing prevented him from receiving Christ’s offer of salvation.
G. The above examples tell us of people who were almost saved, but not saved. Is there anything that stands between me and the Promised Land?
