Almost Persuaded

 Scripture meditations

Acts 26:28  Then Agrippa said unto Paul, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian."

2 Corinthians 6:2b  ...behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

“Almost persuaded” now to believe;
“Almost persuaded” Christ to receive;
Seems now some soul to say,
“Go, Spirit, go Thy way,
Some more convenient day
On Thee I’ll call.”

“Almost persuaded,” come, come today;
“Almost persuaded,” turn not away;
Jesus invites you here,
Angels are lingering near
Prayers rise from hearts so dear;
O wanderer, come!

“Almost persuaded,” harvest is past!
“Almost persuaded,” doom comes at last!
“Almost” cannot avail;
“Almost” is but to fail!
Sad, sad, that bitter wail—
“Almost,” but lost!

words and music by Phillip P. Bliss 1871

Phillip Bliss attended a service led by a Rev. Brundage, who ended his sermon with these words, "He who is almost persuaded is almost saved, and to be almost saved is to be entirely lost.”  Bliss immediately set out to write the lyrics and tune to this hymn.  This is probably the second most popular composition by Bliss, during his short life.  For more about him, see under "It Is Well with My Soul."

Though this hymn is not found in the United Methodist Hymnal, nor in The Faith We Sing, it is included here for several reasons.  Firstly, it is easy to learn and sing. Secondly, it relates well to John Wesley's second sermon at Oxford, entitled "Almost Christian" which also uses Acts 26:28 as a theme.  Thirdly, Phillip Bliss also wrote the music for "It Is Well with My Soul" so it seemed that he was worthy of more mention here.  Fourthly, it is a great invitational.  Fifthly, many people know and love the song.  Sixthly, while we properly place great importance on knowing God's love as revealed through the Scriptures, we should not forget about God's wrath that is also taught in the Scriptures.  As John Wesley would repeatedly exclaim, "Flee from the wrath to come!"