Peter Barnes | Luke 11:24-26
SERMON NOTES
The Dangers of a Half-Conversion
1 Samuel 16:14-23; 18:1-16; Luke 11:14-26
– Luke 11:24-26; 2 Peter 2:20-22
1. We can experience some blessing from God without being converted.
– John 3:1-3; Nicodemus expected some improvement
2. In the long-term, the half-converted are worse off.
– 11:26; Stalin once studied for the Orthodox priesthood; Mike Carlton walked forward at the 1959 Billy Graham Crusade
3. Some examples of what Jesus means.
(a) Something other than the gospel may lead to some improvement in the person. Christian Science, the power of positive thinking, or yoga, – anything can be a placebo.
(b) A person may leave some sins behind but become self-righteous. Look at the Pharisee (Luke 18:11-12).
(c) The person may believe in something he thought was the gospel, find out he was duped, and then become far less inclined to believe the true gospel.
(d) A person may only want to solve some crisis in his/her life.