Church of God, Carmichael, CA
H. M. Riggle, 1900
[Original Page Numbers]
Some may ask, "Was any one ever saved by two works of grace?" In this chapter we shall give some clear examples of those who have been thus saved.
Some hold and teach that they were not converted until Pentecost; and there are still others who teach that they were both justified and sanctified before that time. These are some of the positions men are driven to when they oppose two works of grace. Now, "to the law and to the testimony." Were the disciples regenerated or fully converted before Pentecost ? The Word clearly in the affirmative.
1st. Christ, in his personal ministry, possessed justifying power and forgave sins In Luke 7:37 50 we have an account of a woman who "was a sinner." She came to Jesus weeping; "and he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven." "Thy faith hath sayed thee: go in peace." He told the Pharisee at whose house he was dining, "her sins which are many, are forgiven." "And they that sat at meat with him, began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also ?"
Again, Matt. 9 :2 6. "Jesus, seeing their faith, said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee." Jesus spake these words, that they might "know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins."
Now, if Christ pardoned others, it follows conclusively that his disciples who forsook all and followed him, were pardoned. His invitation was to "all ye that labor and are heavy laden;" with the promise, "I will give you rest." The disciples had received this rest. When Jesus asked them whether they also would forsake him, "Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life."
2nd. They "believed on him." "And his disciples believed on him."—John 2:11. "And we believe and are [35] sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God." —John 6:69.
(1). What are the promises to men if they believe? "He that believeth . . . shall be saved."—Mark 16:16. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."—Acts 16:31. "Whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins."—Acts 10:43. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life."—John 3 :16.
(2) What effect is produced when men believe? "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God." —1 John 5:1. "He that believeth on the Son of God, hath the witness in himself.—1 John 5:10. "All that believe are justified."—Acts 13:39. "He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life."—John 3:36. "As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.—John 1:12, 13.
"In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established." The disciples were "born of God," had their "sins remitted," were "justified," had the "witness" of the Spirit, were the "sons of God"— all before Pentecost. So says the Word. "Let God be true, and every man a liar."
3rd. They were regenerated. "And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me in the regeneration," etc.—Matt. 19:28.
Regeneration.—New birth by the grace of God; that change by which the will and natural enmity of man to God and his law are subdued, and a principle of supreme love to God and his law, or holy affections, is implanted in the heart.—Webster.
4th. Their names were in heaven. "Rejoice not that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."—Luke 10 :20. The fact that their names were written in the "book of life" in heaven, is positive proof that their sins were forgiven [36] , and that they were living without sin; for God hath said, "Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book."—Ex. 32:33.
5th. They had the Spirit of God. "When they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: . . . for it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father, which speaketh in you."—Matt. 10:20. Possessing the divine Spirit, and God being their Father, positive evidence that they were born of God.
6th. Christ ordained them, and sent them forth to preach the Gospel. He gave them the following commission and authority: "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils." Strange that these were sinners! but nay. They were "sheep in the midst of wolves." Matt. 10 :1-6.
7th. They received his word. "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: shine they were, and thou gavest them me: and they have kept thy word."—John 17:6. "For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them."—Ver. 8. "Receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls."—James 1 :21.
8th. They were not of the world. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."—John 17:14. "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost."—Ver. 12.
9th. They were in Christ. "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches."—John 15:4, 5.
1. How do men get in Christ?
(1) They are created in Christ Jesus. Eph. 2:8 10. 2) They are reconciled in Christ. Eph. 2:14 16.
(3) They are baptized by the Spirit into Christ. 1 Cor. 12:12, 13.
(4) They are grafted into Christ. Rom. 11:24.
2. What is their experience?
(1) They are new creatures. 2 Cor. 5:17.
(2) They have no condemnation. Rom. 8:1.
(3) They live without committing sin. 1 John 3:6.
We have given sufficient proof to convince any reasonable mind that the disciples were fully converted before Pentecost. But what do false teachers bring forth against this extensive line of truth? [38]
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