Close to Being Saved

Imagine the sorrow of the “Almost Christian” on the day of judgment. He believed he was secure. He sang, served, and maybe even preached. He seemed so near to heaven, yet never entered in. He lived under the assumption that his good works or religious life were enough, only to hear the devastating words of Christ: “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:23)

There is no greater tragedy than coming to the very edge of salvation and missing it. Scripture warns us of this danger, urging us to test our hearts and ensure that our faith is genuine and rooted in Christ alone.

The Tragic Example of the Almost Christian

Matthew Mead, in The Almost Christian Discovered, writes, “How far it is possible a man may go in a profession of religion and yet, after all, fall short of salvation; how far he may run and yet not so run as to obtain.” This truth is sobering. Jesus himself said that “many” will believe they belong to Him, yet find themselves outside the kingdom (Matthew 7:21–23).

To guard against such deception, we must examine our hearts in light of Scripture. Let’s consider four false indicators of salvation things that can appear godly, but on their own, do not prove that someone truly knows Christ.

1. Obedience Without Faith – The Rich Young Ruler

The rich young ruler appeared outwardly righteous. When Jesus reminded him of the commandments, he confidently replied, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” (Mark 10:20)

Yet his heart was far from God. When asked to leave his wealth and follow Christ, he turned away, unwilling to let go of the world (Mark 10:21–22). Obedience to God’s commands, while vital, is no substitute for a heart surrendered to Christ. External behavior without true faith cannot save.

2. Serving Others – Judas

We might assume that those who bless others spiritually are surely saved. Judas Iscariot proves otherwise. He preached, ministered, and walked alongside Jesus Himself and yet was called “a devil” (John 6:70).

A person can be used by God to bless others while their own soul remains lost. As Mead observes, “A lame man may, with his crutch, point you to the right way and yet not be able to walk in it himself.”

3. Desiring Salvation – The Foolish Virgins

In the parable of the ten virgins, five are called wise and five foolish (Matthew 25:1–13). The foolish virgins had a genuine desire to meet the bridegroom they even carried lamps. But their lack of oil left them unprepared when he arrived.

Desiring salvation is not the same as possessing it. Many want heaven but not the cost of surrendering fully to Christ. They linger near the door of the kingdom, but never truly enter.

4. Enjoying Religious Activities – Israel

The people of Israel sought God daily, delighted in their rituals, and even fasted (Isaiah 58:2–3). Yet God saw through their religious performance to the hypocrisy beneath. They honored Him with their lips while their hearts were far from Him (Isaiah 29:13).

Religious excitement or joy in worship, though good, is no guarantee of salvation. Even emotional experiences can mask a heart that has never truly been born again.

Self-Examination: Am I His?

John Newton, author of Amazing Grace, once wrote,
“’Tis a point I long to know,
Oft it causes anxious thought;
Do I love the Lord, or no?
Am I His, or am I not?”

This is not a question to avoid. The apostle Paul exhorts us, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Throughout Scripture, we see countless examples of those who appeared close to God but were not truly His — Cain, Esau, Israel in the wilderness, the Pharisees, and even entire churches (Revelation 3:1–3). The danger of being “almost saved” is real.

True Salvation: A Complete Christ

So how can we know that we are truly saved? True salvation is not rooted in what we do, but in what Christ has done. Martin Luther wisely said:
“Faith must spring up and flow from the blood and wounds and death of Christ. If you see in these that God is so kindly disposed toward you that He even gives His own Son for you, then your heart in turn must grow sweet and disposed toward God.”

Salvation is found in turning fully to Christ trusting His finished work on the cross, resting in His grace, and following Him as Lord. True Christians declare with the apostle Paul, “The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Don’t Settle for Almost

An “Almost Christian” is still fully lost. There is no halfway into heaven. Do not settle for being close to Christ without belonging to Him. Do not mistake religion for redemption, or morality for saving grace.

The good news is this: Christ is a complete Savior for all who come to Him in faith. He does not “almost” forgive sin; He forgives it fully. He does not “almost” give eternal life; He gives it abundantly.

If you find yourself unsure of where you stand, cry out to Him. Examine your heart, but do so while fixing your eyes on Jesus the One who never turns away the sinner who comes in faith.

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