A Nation Cannot Rise Above Its System of Government

July 18, 2018 by

The Evils of Socialism

If our government has produced wealth and capitalists, it is evidence of a good form of government. Any system of government that would keep all its subjects poor is as poor as its subjects. A nation cannot rise above the system of government under which its subjects live. The fact that the United States is the greatest nation in the world is evidence that we have the best system of government in the world. To apply the Socialist idea of free and equal distribution of wealth amongst the subjects of this government would involve our nation in poverty and place it at once in the power of other nations, and thus make our subjugation absolutely certain.

The above post is an excerpt from the book, The Evils of Socialism by W. F. Lemmons. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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Becoming a Disciple

June 28, 2018 by

The Way: What it Means to Be a Disciple of Jesus

“The Way” (Acts 9:2) was made up of those two were followers of Jesus – the one who is identified as “the way” (John 14:6). This is the essence of discipleship – being a follower of Jesus. The Greek word for disciple means “a learner, pupil” (Thayer). The apostles were commissioned by the Lord to “make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19).

How does one become a disciple? To answer this question, we can look at the instructions the Lord and His apostles gave to those who would be His followers. Looking to the New Testament, we can see that in order to become a disciple, an individual must:

  • Hear the gospel – “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation’” (Mark 16:15). The gospel must be preached because people must hear it in order to respond to it. Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Luke 8:8).
  • Believe that Jesus is the Christ – “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16). Not only is belief necessary for salvation, but Jesus specifically said that those who do not believe will be lost. He said elsewhere, “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24). Interestingly, the word “He” is not in the original Greek text but was added by the translators. Jesus’ statement meant that we must believe that He is the “I AM” – the name that God called Himself when speaking to Moses out of the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). In other words, it is not enough simply to believe in the existence of Jesus; we must believe that He is Deity (cf. Colossians 2:9).
  • Repent of sins – “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5). The belief that we are to have (previous point) must lead us to action. Repentance means to put away sin and begin serving the Lord. Jesus said elsewhere, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). When we make the decision to follow the Lord, we are making a commitment to serve Him daily.
  • Confess faith in Christ – “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation” (Romans 10:9-10). This is the verbal affirmation of our faith. We must do more than mentally acknowledge the Lordship of Christ. In addition to repentance, we must also be willing to make “the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12).
  • Be baptized into Christ – “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16). “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Many people will push back on this point and try to argue that baptism is not necessary in order to be saved or to become a disciple of Jesus. Yet Jesus said that baptism is just as necessary for salvation as belief (Mark 16:16) and is an essential step in the discipleship process (Matthew 28:19). Those who reject this and have “disbelieved” Jesus “shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16). Paul described baptism as the act in which we put on Christ: “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27).

When we become a disciple, we then belong to Christ. Peter explained this in his first epistle: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession…for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God…” (1 Peter 2:9-10). As “a people for His own possession,” we must be “zealous for good deeds” (Titus 2:14). In other words, we must continue to serve Him and do what is right throughout our lives.

The above post is an excerpt from the book, The Way: What it Means to Be a Disciple of Jesus by Andy Sochor. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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The Way That Is Narrow

June 26, 2018 by

The Way: What it Means to Be a Disciple of Jesus

Jesus contrasted two different “ways” that we could go – a broad way and a narrow way: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). These are the only two options, and they lead to two very different destinations. However, we do have the option. We get to choose which way we will take.

If we want to follow the way “that leads to life,” we must follow the “narrow” way (Matthew 7:14). But what did Jesus mean when He said, “The way is narrow”? First, He meant that there would be difficulties and obstacles along the way. The New King James Version uses the word difficult in this verse to describe “the way.” We will discuss this idea more in the fourth lesson.

Second, by saying that “the way is narrow,” Jesus was explaining the reason why there would be “few” who would follow “the way” (Matthew 7:14). Even though the way that leads to life is open to everyone, not all will choose to follow this path. Jesus told Nicodemus of the universal love of God and the salvation that was available as a result: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Paul told Titus, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men” (Titus 2:11). However, even though God “loved the world” (John 3:16) and has brought “salvation to all men” (Titus 2:11), Jesus made it clear that most people will not be saved. Why? The way is narrow and so they choose not to follow that way.

The above post is an excerpt from the book, The Way: What it Means to Be a Disciple of Jesus by Andy Sochor. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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Kings, Prophets, and Priests

May 24, 2018 by

The Gospel Restored

The most famous and distinguished officers among the nations, are Kings, Prophets, and Priests. These dignities are united in the person of the Messiah, who is set forth in Scripture as the greatest of Prophets, the King of Kings, and the High Priest of Mankind.

The great evils which have most of all characterized the nations of the earth, are 1st, Ignorance of the divine character. 2d. Sin, the consequence of ignorance. 3d. War, the effect of the combined evils of ignorance and sin.—The offices of Christ are instituted in reference to these evils, as a Prophet, he enlightens us in the divine character; as a Priest he takes away our sins; and as a King, he rules us in peace; he is therefore called “King of Peace,” “Prince of Peace,” and so forth.

The above post is an excerpt from the book, The Gospel Restored by Walter Scott. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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Their Eyes Were Opened

May 22, 2018 by

The Gospel Restored

It is said of our First Parents, after they had sinned, that their eyes were opened. Now, reader, if this was the fact with them, be assured that it is the fact with all who obey the gospel. There is a glorious magic in the word of God—the magic of unalterable truth; and the eyes of all who obey him are opened to matters which previously were wholly hid from their eyes. Adam possibly promised himself an easy forgiveness; the antediluvians lightly esteemed the word of God by his servant Noah who preached to them. Pharaoh haughtily exclaimed, “Who is this Jehovah, that I should let Israel go?” And Israel themselves tempted him in the desert and questioned his word; but Adam and the antediluvians and Pharaoh and Israel discovered to their own fatal dismay that, however lightly they had esteemed God’s word, there is no lightness with him. He means what he says. And if men obey the gospel their eyes are most assuredly opened to the propriety of the course which they have chosen to pursue; and if they do not obey it, their eyes will just as assuredly be opened finally to their own fatal mistake, the mistake of trifling with the word of so great a King as God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.—Has he commanded men every where to believe in the name of his Son our Lord, to reform, and be immersed? There is no question of it. The faith, the gospel as it began to be preached at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, was to be preached in all the world. All then, who hear of the faith preached at Jerusalem, are bound to obey it in the form given to it there, for in no other was it to be preached to the world. Now it may seem a light matter to deviate from the primitive annunciation of the gospel by those who were inspired to speak it correctly; but all who are guilty of such a deviation, will doubtless, one day, have their eyes opened to the danger of their own unfortunate procedure. Reader, return to the primitive faith, the primitive church order, and the primitive morals of Christianity, and you will soon perceive the infinite propriety of the course which you have adopted.

The above post is an excerpt from the book, The Gospel Restored by Walter Scott. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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