It is estimated that today there are about 10,000 distinct religions in the world.[1] Every religion offers some kind of ways to take away our burden, guilt, shame, and to live a new, peaceful, better life. They provide their own ways to salvation. But among all these religions, in fact there are only two possible options before us: the works-salvation and the faith-salvation. The first is like climbing up a ladder. It is to attempt to build our own righteousness, by our good works and religious observances. According to this approach, if we have a good moral or spiritual record, we’re worthy of life with God and we’re accepted. We say, “If there is a God, he’ll certainly accept me. I’m a good person.” But this is doomed to failure, because in God’s sight even all our righteous deeds are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). The other way to salvation is totally opposite. It’s not to climb up, but it is given to us as a free gift through faith in Jesus Christ. This is the heart of the gospel and unique to Christianity. All other religions teach some form of self-salvation through good works of religion or righteousness. But Christianity proclaims a free forgiveness and a new life to everyone who believes. It proclaims the good news that God has mercy on underserving sinners, and that there is nothing left for us to do or even contribute, but to just receive what God offers by faith. That’s why it’s a good news!
In his book Pilgrim’s Progress John Bunyan powerfully and effectively describes these two paths ahead of us. Main Character Christian leaves his home to get rid of the burden on his back. On the way he meets one decent gentleman, named, Worldly Wiseman. The gentleman asks, “Where are you going in such a burdensome manner, my good fellow?” Christian answers, “I want to get rid of this burden. But I cannot do it myself. So I am going this narrow path to find out where I can get rid of it.” Worldly Wiseman says, “I know exactly how to get rid of that burden quickly. See that high hill? In yonder village of Morality there is a very learned man named Legality. He is very clever, very well thought of, and has skill to help men get rid of such burdens as yours. He has done a great deal of good in this way. Besides, he can help those whose minds are upset because of their troubles. If he is not at home, he has a find young son named Civility who is just as clever as the old gentleman himself… There are many empty houses, the rent is reasonable, and the food is good and cheap. The neighbors are all honest, respectable, and dependable, so your life there will be safe and happy.” So Christian is persuaded and turns out of the way to go to Mr. Legality’s house for help. But unlike Worldly Wiseman’s advice, as he reaches the high hill, he sees that an overhanging cliff threatens to topple over on the road and flashes of lightning comes forth from the hill. Christian realizes that it is impossible for him to proceed, and that his burden now seems much heavier than before.[2]
Israel vs. Gentiles
In his book Pilgrim’s Progress John Bunyan powerfully and effectively describes these two paths ahead of us. Main Character Christian leaves his home to get rid of the burden on his back. On the way he meets one decent gentleman, named, Worldly Wiseman. The gentleman asks, “Where are you going in such a burdensome manner, my good fellow?” Christian answers, “I want to get rid of this burden. But I cannot do it myself. So I am going this narrow path to find out where I can get rid of it.” Worldly Wiseman says, “I know exactly how to get rid of that burden quickly. See that high hill? In yonder village of Morality there is a very learned man named Legality. He is very clever, very well thought of, and has skill to help men get rid of such burdens as yours. He has done a great deal of good in this way. Besides, he can help those whose minds are upset because of their troubles. If he is not at home, he has a find young son named Civility who is just as clever as the old gentleman himself… There are many empty houses, the rent is reasonable, and the food is good and cheap. The neighbors are all honest, respectable, and dependable, so your life there will be safe and happy.” So Christian is persuaded and turns out of the way to go to Mr. Legality’s house for help. But unlike Worldly Wiseman’s advice, as he reaches the high hill, he sees that an overhanging cliff threatens to topple over on the road and flashes of lightning comes forth from the hill. Christian realizes that it is impossible for him to proceed, and that his burden now seems much heavier than before.[2]
Israel vs. Gentiles
John Bunyan’s illustration helps us understand the context of today’s passage. Paul tells us there are two kinds of righteousness: the righteousness that is based on the law and the righteousness that is based on faith. On the one hand, Gentiles, who were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were somehow made right with God by faith. Most of them were godless, self-centered, going their own way, lovers of money and pleasure, rather than lovers of God. But when they heard the gospel of salvation by faith, the Holy Spirit worked in them powerfully. They were cut to the heart, crying out, “What should I do?” They humbled themselves, repented, believed, and were saved. But on the other hand, the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. They did fast twice a week and give a tenth of their income. They tried hard to live a moral life. And they thought, “I try hard, so God owes me.” And they were offended by the gospel, saying, “You mean you could be a criminal and believe in Jesus and be saved? That’s too easy!” They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, rock of offense, that is, Christ (cf. 1 Cor 1:23). Why do people stumble over Christ and his gospel? Because the gospel undermines our self-righteousness. It tells us that we are so wicked that only the death of the Son of God could save us. It tells us that trying to be good and spiritual isn’t enough, thereby insists that no good person would be saved, but only those who come to God through Jesus. It is an insulting, intolerable offence to our pride. So instead of humbling ourselves, we stumble over the stumbling stone.
People may have a religious and moral zeal for God with sincerity, but they can be still lost. In verses 2 and 3 Paul says, “They have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. They don’t know the righteousness that comes from God and do not submit to God’s righteousness; instead, they seek to establish their own.” In other words, they refuse to accept God’s way of salvation, but they cling to their own way of getting right with God. Paul knows what is talking about, because he himself was extremely zealous in his religion with a sincere heart before his conversion (Gal 1:14). He persecuted Christ’s Church, and killed the saints, but at that time he thought that he was serving God. But he was doing everything exactly backwards. Jesus said him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads” (Acts 26:14). Sincerity was not enough, because he was sincerely mistaken. Saul was zealous for God, but he was ignorant of God’s righteousness, God’s way of salvation. What he was doing in fact was to establish his own righteousness, his own way of salvation.
“Almost” vs. “Altogether”
People may have a religious and moral zeal for God with sincerity, but they can be still lost. In verses 2 and 3 Paul says, “They have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. They don’t know the righteousness that comes from God and do not submit to God’s righteousness; instead, they seek to establish their own.” In other words, they refuse to accept God’s way of salvation, but they cling to their own way of getting right with God. Paul knows what is talking about, because he himself was extremely zealous in his religion with a sincere heart before his conversion (Gal 1:14). He persecuted Christ’s Church, and killed the saints, but at that time he thought that he was serving God. But he was doing everything exactly backwards. Jesus said him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads” (Acts 26:14). Sincerity was not enough, because he was sincerely mistaken. Saul was zealous for God, but he was ignorant of God’s righteousness, God’s way of salvation. What he was doing in fact was to establish his own righteousness, his own way of salvation.
“Almost” vs. “Altogether”
This ignorance of the true way is not limited to Jewish people. They are widespread among religious people, including professing Christians. Religious and moral people who do lots of good works with good intentions can be lost. Pastors and church leaders who preach, teach, and serve with a sincere heart can be lost, if they are ignorant of the righteousness of God.
John Wesley, in his sermon The Almost Christian, brings the contrast between the “almost Christian” and the “altogether Christian.” The almost Christian has a form of godliness (cf. 2 Tim 3:5). He has the outside of a real Christian. He keeps the Sabbath. He does not use God’s name in vain. He observes religious ordinances. He avoids all actual adultery and sexual immorality. He tries hard to keep this rule: “Whatsoever you would not he should do unto you, that do not you to another.” He does no harm to others; instead, he does good to others. He tries to do everything with sincerity. You may ask, “Is it possible that any person who lives this way and nevertheless should be only ‘almost a Christian’? The answer is yes. Wesley says, “I did go thus far for many years, as many of this place can testify: using diligence to avoid all evil, redeeming the time, buying up every opportunity of doing all good to all men… doing all this in sincerity…. Yet my own conscience bears witness in the Holy Spirit that all this time I was but ‘almost a Christian.’”[3] The almost Christian, somehow his inner being has never broken down and surrendered to God fully. Somehow self and not God rules in the holy of holies. He has never experienced spiritual bankruptcy and cried out, “Woe to me! I am ruined, for I am a sinful man!” out of self-despair and self-helplessness. He has never had his life renewed, his heart touched, purified, empowered by God’s fire.[4] This man is almost a Christian.
Then, who is altogether a Christian? The first and foremost mark of the altogether Christian is “love.” He loves God with the whole heart, his spirit continually rejoices in God his Savior. His heart is ever crying out, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you!” He keeps the Sabbath because he loves the Lord. He tithes because he loves the Lord. He serves the body of Christ, the church, because he loves the Lord. And his love of God naturally overflows into the love of his neighbor. He loves everyone and forgives and prays for his enemies. He is patient and kind. He keeps no record of wrongs. He bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. How can it be? Because God’s love has been poured into his heart through the Holy Spirit. This man is altogether a Christian.
Both Wesley and Paul say that there is one more thing to be considered, that is, faith as the other side of the same coin. In verse 9 Paul says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (ESV). But this faith is much more than just acknowledgement of the facts. For even devils believe that Jesus was the Son of God. But that’s not true Christian faith. Wesley rightly said, “The right and true Christian faith is not only to believe that Holy Scripture and the articles of our faith are true, but also to have a sure trust and confidence to be saved from everlasting damnation by Christ… whereof does follow a loving heart to obey his commandments.”[5]
Are You on the Right Track?
John Wesley, in his sermon The Almost Christian, brings the contrast between the “almost Christian” and the “altogether Christian.” The almost Christian has a form of godliness (cf. 2 Tim 3:5). He has the outside of a real Christian. He keeps the Sabbath. He does not use God’s name in vain. He observes religious ordinances. He avoids all actual adultery and sexual immorality. He tries hard to keep this rule: “Whatsoever you would not he should do unto you, that do not you to another.” He does no harm to others; instead, he does good to others. He tries to do everything with sincerity. You may ask, “Is it possible that any person who lives this way and nevertheless should be only ‘almost a Christian’? The answer is yes. Wesley says, “I did go thus far for many years, as many of this place can testify: using diligence to avoid all evil, redeeming the time, buying up every opportunity of doing all good to all men… doing all this in sincerity…. Yet my own conscience bears witness in the Holy Spirit that all this time I was but ‘almost a Christian.’”[3] The almost Christian, somehow his inner being has never broken down and surrendered to God fully. Somehow self and not God rules in the holy of holies. He has never experienced spiritual bankruptcy and cried out, “Woe to me! I am ruined, for I am a sinful man!” out of self-despair and self-helplessness. He has never had his life renewed, his heart touched, purified, empowered by God’s fire.[4] This man is almost a Christian.
Then, who is altogether a Christian? The first and foremost mark of the altogether Christian is “love.” He loves God with the whole heart, his spirit continually rejoices in God his Savior. His heart is ever crying out, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you!” He keeps the Sabbath because he loves the Lord. He tithes because he loves the Lord. He serves the body of Christ, the church, because he loves the Lord. And his love of God naturally overflows into the love of his neighbor. He loves everyone and forgives and prays for his enemies. He is patient and kind. He keeps no record of wrongs. He bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. How can it be? Because God’s love has been poured into his heart through the Holy Spirit. This man is altogether a Christian.
Both Wesley and Paul say that there is one more thing to be considered, that is, faith as the other side of the same coin. In verse 9 Paul says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (ESV). But this faith is much more than just acknowledgement of the facts. For even devils believe that Jesus was the Son of God. But that’s not true Christian faith. Wesley rightly said, “The right and true Christian faith is not only to believe that Holy Scripture and the articles of our faith are true, but also to have a sure trust and confidence to be saved from everlasting damnation by Christ… whereof does follow a loving heart to obey his commandments.”[5]
Are You on the Right Track?
Are you on the right track of your pilgrim journey? Are you altogether a Christian? The question we must ask is not how much we try hard to live a good, moral life or to do good to others. The question we must ask first is this: how do I love Christ? Do I desire nothing but Christ? Do I rejoice in Christ? Is Christ my glory, my delight, my treasure, my King of kings and Lord of lords? And also, how do I believe in Christ? Do I really believe that Christ loved me and gave himself for me? Do I really believe that by the blood of Christ my sins are forgiven and I have peace with God through Christ? Do I really believe and have assurance that I am a child of God because of what Christ has done for me? My prayer is that all of us in this room may experience what it is to be not “almost” only, but “altogether” Christians!
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[1] “Religion,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion
[2] John Bunyan, Pictorial Pilgrim’s Progress (Moody Press: Chicago, 1960), 37-40.
[3] Albert C. Outler and Richard P. Heitzenrater, John Wesley’s Sermons: An Anthology (Abingdon Press: Nashville, TN: 1991) 62-64.
[4] E.M. Bounds, Power Through Prayer (Christian Classics Remix), 8, 12.
[5] Albert C. Outler, 66.
[1] “Religion,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion
[2] John Bunyan, Pictorial Pilgrim’s Progress (Moody Press: Chicago, 1960), 37-40.
[3] Albert C. Outler and Richard P. Heitzenrater, John Wesley’s Sermons: An Anthology (Abingdon Press: Nashville, TN: 1991) 62-64.
[4] E.M. Bounds, Power Through Prayer (Christian Classics Remix), 8, 12.
[5] Albert C. Outler, 66.
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