They Cannot Leave the Lap of Delilah!
A sermon warning against the unsound convert who takes Christ by halves, and encouraging the sound convert who takes a whole Christ.
Joseph Alleine preaches about the difference between the unsound convert and the sound convert. The unsound convert only seeks salvation from Christ but not sanctification, dividing the offices and benefits of Christ. They desire salvation from suffering but not from sinning, wanting their souls saved while still holding onto their lusts. On the other hand, the sound convert accepts a whole Christ without exceptions, willing to have Christ's dominion and deliverance, surrendering fully to His conditions.
Text
(Joseph Alleine, "Alarm to the Unconverted!" 1671)
The unsound convert takes Christ by halves. He is all for the salvation of Christ -- but he is not for sanctification. He divides the offices and benefits of Christ. Hypocrites do not love the Lord Jesus in sincerity. They will not have Him as God offers, "to be a Prince and a Savior" (Acts 5:31).
They divide what God has joined, the King who rules -- and the Priest who saves.
They desire salvation from suffering -- but they do not desire to be saved from sinning.
They would have their souls saved -- but still would have their lusts.
They would be content to have some of their sins destroyed -- but they cannot leave the lap of Delilah, or divorce the beloved Herodias.
They cannot be cruel to the right eye or right hand.
The sound convert takes a whole Christ, and takes Him for all intents and purposes, without exceptions, without limitations, without reserve. He is willing to have Christ upon any terms. He is willing to have the dominion of Christ -- as well as deliverance by Christ. He says with Paul, "Lord, what will you have me to do?" Anything, Lord! He gives Christ the blank page -- to write down His own conditions.
Sermon Outline
- The Unsatisfactory Convert points: - Divides the offices and benefits of Christ
- The Hypocrite's Problem points: - Does not love the Lord Jesus in sincerity
- The Desire for Salvation points: - Wants salvation from suffering, but not from sinning
- The Sound Convert points: - Takes a whole Christ, with no exceptions or limitations
- The Willingness to Submit points: - Willing to have Christ upon any terms
Key Quotes
“They cannot leave the lap of Delilah, or divorce the beloved Herodias.” — Joseph Alleine
“He gives Christ the blank page -- to write down His own conditions.” — Joseph Alleine
Application Points
- We must be willing to take a whole Christ, with no exceptions or limitations.
- We must be willing to submit to God's will, even if it means giving up our own desires.
- We must love the Lord Jesus in sincerity, without hypocrisy.