Acts 26:28—“Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian”

But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian (Acts 26:25-28).

ARGUMENT:

This text is appealed to in support of the idea that the unregenerate can, in some sense, “desire” to be a Christian.

“What if a person wants to be a Christian, but God has not ‘elected’ him?”

(I)

Rev. Ronald Hanko

[Source: Covenant Reformed Fellowship News, vol. 4, no. 6]

This is a good question not only because some important doctrines of Scripture are at stake here, but also because the assurance and comfort of God’s people will be affected by the answer that is given.

The answer is really very simple. The is no one who sincerely wants to be a Christian who is not one of God’s elect people; and there is not one of God’s elect people who does not want to be a Christian, when God begins the work of grace in him. None of the ‘reprobate’—those whom God has not elected—ever truly want to be Christians.

There are those who think they want to be Christians, but when they count the cost (Luke 14:25-33) and find what it really means to believe in Christ, to follow Him and to suffer for His sake, then they are seen no more. There are also those who say, like Agrippa, ‘Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian’ (Acts 26:28), but it is always ‘almost’—never ‘almost and altogether.’

There is good reason, too, why the elect will want to be Christians. The reason lies in the fact that election does not only determine the eternal destiny of some, but it is the source also of repentance, faith, holiness, and all the other blessings of salvation (Eph. 1:4, 5, 11; 2:10). God, in other words, does not just decide who will be saved; He also predetermines that He will give them everything necessary for salvation as well. In that way, God ensures that all the elect will be saved.

The desire to be a Christian, therefore, is one of those blessings that God determines to give to His elect people. Jesus makes the connection between election and the desire to be a Christian in John 6:37: ‘All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.’

Desiring to be a Christian and to be identified with Christ is part of coming to Jesus and believing in Him. Those who do come to Him are those the Father gave Him—the elect—and every one of them does come to Him.

Thus, all those who truly want to be Christians prove themselves to be elect by desiring to be with Him and by actually coming to Him.  Nor will anyone ever truly want to be a Christian who is not one of God’s elect. Why not? That desire is a gift of grace according to election and is a part of saving faith in Jesus Christ.

That is the reason, too, why Scripture assures us that those who seek, find; and to those who knock, it shall be opened. They do not find ‘because’ they seek when others do not (and left to themselves they would never seek or knock). They are not answered because their knocking is of some ‘merit.’ Their seeking finds and their knocking is answered because the seeking and knocking are the fruits of election and of grace. God will not forsake His own work.

We are opposed to the idea, therefore, that the reprobate wicked can hunger and thirst, seek and desire the things of God. That would mean that there are those who seek apart from grace, and would mean, too that some seek who do not find.

What a comfort that it is not so! How sad it would be to have to say to someone, ‘Yes, you are seeking, but you may never find what you seek! You are knocking, but there is every chance that the door will remain shut! Not all who seek shall find!’ Instead, we are able to assure them from the Word that all whom the Father gave Jesus will come to Him and that those who come will not be cast out.

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(II)

More to come! (DV)