The Altogether Christian (Standard Sermon #2)

“I am speaking of that which is the ground of all the rest — faith.”

“With these truths before us, let no one be self-deceived. It is crucial to keep in mind that the kind of faith which fails to produce repentance, love, and good works is not genuine living faith. Instead, it is dead and entirely deficient.” - John Wesley, “The Almost Christian” (Standard Sermon #2), language updated by Kenneth Kinghorn

One piece of Wesleyan theology central to what we Wesleyan Christians believe about saving faith and true salvation has also been one of the least preached beliefs of Wesleyan Christianity in contemporary times. Wesley outlines this central, soteriological belief in his sermon, “The Almost Christian.” Namely, it’s possible to be almost (but not quite) a Christian. It’s possible to think we’re saved, when we’re actually not quite yet walking in faith.

I find this to be one of the least preached Wesleyan beliefs simply because many long-time, almost Christians find the message offensive. Some people have devoted tremendous resources of time, talent, and treasure to the pursuit of religion — all while completely unaware of their distance from God. When a preacher comes and proclaims that they have long lived as an “almost” Christian, this can sound quite offensive.

In fact, Kinghorn (2002) described how Wesley’s first proclamation of this sermon drew a tremendous crowd of critics in anticipation of the offensive words Wesley might share regarding the Oxford elite (p. 48). Wesley did not disappoint.

Years after the first proclamation and publication of “The Almost Christian,” Wesley wrote a letter addressing clergy who lead their congregations in the “almost” rather than the “altogether” kind of way:

“They would have their parishioners moral men; that is, in plain terms, honest Heathens; but they would not have them pious men, men devoted to God, Bible Christians. If, therefore, the Methodist Preachers would stop here, would preach outward religion and no more, many Clergymen would not only encourage them therein, but likewise cordially join them.” - John Wesley, “An Answer to an Important Question,” in The Works of Rev. John Wesley, 14 vols., ed. Thomas Jackson

Almost vs. Altogether

At the core of the sermon, Wesley differentiates between “almost” and “altogether” Christians. We would think that the difference has to do with a person’s moral consistency — how faithful they followed God’s laws on a consistent basis. We would think that the “almost” Christian adopted the name of “Christian” without following God’s laws. We would think that the “altogether” Christian, in contrast, obeyed God’s laws.

But this is not how Wesley contrasts the “almost” and the “altogether” Christian.

In fact, Wesley describes the “almost” Christian in extremely pious and rule-following terms! The “almost” Christian of Wesley’s sermon is more faithful than 90% or more of the everyday Christians walking around us every day — including us reading this blog!

So how then can we be saved?! What, then, makes an “almost” Christian into an “altogether” Christian?!

The “altogether” Christian has genuine, saving faith in God. Their faith is not in their works. Their faith is not in their religious deeds. Instead, their faith is in Christ alone by God’s grace alone.

And yet, out of pure love for God, the “altogether” Christian excels in God-honoring works and holy deeds. But it’s only by faith through grace and not by works. Wesley writes, “These people regard themselves as completely insufficient without God.”

Which means that the “altogether” Christian has a deep, abiding, genuine love for God and neighbor. In the sermon, Wesley describes this love for God by saying, “This kind of love completely lays hold of the entire self. It claims every affection, fills the entire capacity of the soul, and engages the full range of its abilities.”

Do we have that kind of love for God and neighbor? If not, we might just be an “almost” Christian instead of an “altogether” Christian. Has God’s Spirit given witness to our Spirit that we are, in fact, children of God? If not, we might just be an “almost” Christian instead of an “altogether” Christian.

“On the basis of unwavering faith, whoever believes in the full sufficiency of Christ is an Altogether Christian. This faith, resulting from God’s power within us, cleanses our hearts from pride, anger, lusts, all unrighteousness, and ‘every defilement of body and spirit.’ God’s inner presence is stronger than death, filling our hearts with love for him and for all people…Those who have this faith that works by love are more than Almost Christians. They are Altogether Christians.” - John Wesley, “The Almost Christian” (Standard Sermon #2), language updated by Kenneth Kinghorn