Rescue the Perishing

RESCUE

THE

PERISHING

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PERSONAL WORK MADE EASY.

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That ye may KNOW how ye ought to

ANSWER every man —— Colossians 4:6.

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SUGGESTIVE NOTES AND HINTS

FOR BEGINNERS IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

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And take the helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,

which is the word of God. —— Ephesians 6:17.

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ARRANGED BY

“FRED” R. SEIBERT

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PUBLISHED BY

THE RODEHEAVER, HALL-MACK COMPANY

WINONA LAKE, INDIANA

Price, 40c

Copyright 1921, by “Fred” R. Seibert, U. S. A.

Entered at Stationers’ Hall, London, Eng.

PREFACE

This Book is the result of a life time of research and practical effort, and has been forged on the anvil of experience.

SUNSHINE AND SMILES

“FRED” R. SEIBERT

A SOUL WINNER ALL FOR JESUS

May my Motto be yours:

Nothing of myself: everything in Christ: without Him nothing with Him All Things.

Contents

[PERSONAL WORK MADE EASY.]

[Assurance.
HOW you may KNOW you are saved.]

You may know you are saved, because God says so in His Word.

THESE things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know (not hope, or guess) that ye have (not are going to have) eternal life.”

I John 5:13.

BUT as many as received Him (Christ) to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

John 1:12.

I KNOW whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

II Timothy 1:12.

VERILY, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word and believeth on Him that sent me HATH everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation (judgment) but is passed from death unto life.

John 5:24.

A great many people think it is presumption for them to say they know they are saved—that they can only “hope for the best, and will have to wait until the judgment before they know.” Paul did not say to the jailer: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and perhaps you will be saved, or you will have a good chance of being saved, or you may hope to be saved.” No, but “thou shalt be saved.”

Acts 16:31.

VERILY, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me HATH everlasting life.

John 6:47.

He that believeth on the Son hath (not perhaps will have) everlasting life.

John 3:36.

HE that hath the Son hath life.

I John 5:12.

The Holy Spirit can not give you any happy feelings until you rest fully upon God’s Word.

If you have received God’s gift (Jesus), you have God’s word for it that you have life. The life is in His Son. Believe this and you will know it. Confess Jesus as your Savior and you will have the witness of the Spirit.

THE Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.

Romans 8:16.

HE that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness (record) in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

I John 5:10,11,12.

“Put that in black and white," says the merchant when a good offer is made to him. God has put his offer in black and white—“These things are written.” Read: I John 5:13.

Do you say, I don’t feel it? Feeling is not the evidence, or proof for you to trust. Your feelings may change like the wind, but God’s word never changes. He says: “Heaven and earth shall pass away but My words shall not pass away.”

Matthew 24:35.

Which would you rather trust, God’s unchanging Word, or your everchanging feelings? When God says a thing, it is so.

If you want this evidence you must believe God’s word. If you do not, you are making God a liar, and this will prevent the Spirit from working in you.

He that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life.

I John 5:10-11.

Illustration: Luke 1:10

[Backslider.
God’s WARNING to the backslider]

NOW the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Hebrews 10:38.

FOR it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

II Peter 2:21.

THEREFORE to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

James 4:17.

TAKE heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

Hebrews 3:12.

I HAVE overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.

Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

Amos 4:11-12.

SO then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.

Revelation 3:16.

If you are cold and indifferent, and fallen into sin, you will never be truly happy, or have peace in your soul, until you confess your sins and return to the Lord, because God says,

THE backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways.

Proverbs 14:14.

God says though man’s ways are not His ways, (Isaiah 55:8) there is hope for the backslider—Think of the story of the Prodigal Son and how the Father welcomed his boy home!

BUT when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

Luke 15:20.

Read the next page

[Backslider.
How he MAY RETURN to the Lord.]

1st. Submit to God. He will forgive.

GO and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord, Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you.

Jeremiah 3:12-14.

I WILL heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.

Hosea 14:4.

2nd. Confess to God.

I ACKNOWLEDGED my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.

Psalms 32:5.

IF we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I John 1:9.

3rd. Turn to God.

THEREFORE turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.

Hosea 12:6.

IF thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.

Job 22:23.

AND He is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

I John 2:2

Some say they are backsliders, but are not, for they have never slid forward.

[Baptism.
COMMANDED by God PRACTICED by Christ and others.]

The Bible plainly teaches that every believer should confess Christ in baptism.

GO ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 28:19, R.V.

HE that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.

Mark 16:16, R.V.

AND Peter said up to them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins.

Acts 2:38, R.V.

AND there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem and were baptized of him, in the river of Jordan confessing their sins.

Mark 1:5.

JESUS was baptized.

THEN cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. . . . And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon him.

Matthew 3:13, 16.

PAUL was baptized.

AND immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales; and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

Acts 9:18.

The EUNUCH was baptized.

THE eunuch said, See, here is water: what doth hinder me to be baptized? . . . And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Acts 8:36, 38.

The JAILOR was baptized.

AND he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

Acts 16:33.

[Baptism.
It FOLLOWS salvation. Baptized, because SAVED]

There are two extremes taken by people in the matter of baptism, one is to reject it entirely, and the other is to magnify it beyond it’s proper significance, and make it necessary to salvation.

We are to be baptized, not to help save ourselves, but, because Christ has already saved us through our acceptance of His sacrifice on the cross. We go forward in baptism in obedience to God’s command, thus openly confessing Him before the world by this act. Our baptism will avail us nothing, unless our heart is right toward God.

Philip told the Eunuch that he could be baptized if he believed with all his heart.

AND Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest.

Acts 8:37.

A performance of ceremonies God hates, unless there is behind them, true repentance for sin.

YOUR new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.

Isaiah 1:14.

TWO men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee, stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are. . . . I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other.

Luke 18:10-14.

The Pharisee was thinking to justify himself before God by his prayers, gifts and keeping of holy days but the the publican with repentance, and the believing cry of the sinner, was saved.

Let us not neglect baptism; neither think because we have been baptized that we are safe. Trust Christ alone for salvation; then be baptized.

[Business.
I will be HINDERED in making money.]

What profit is there to YOU, even if you get money—pleasure—position or power— and in a few short years (at longest) you lose your soul?

If you cannot remain in your present business and be a Christian, you had better give it up.

FOR what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mark 8:36-37.

BUT seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:33.

LAY not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.

Matthew 6:19-20.

HE that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver.

Ecclesiastes 5:10.

HE that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

Proverbs 11:28.

THEN said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.

FOR whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Matthew 16:24-25.

AND Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or land, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

Mark 10:29-30.

[Christian Living.
Those TRYING to be Christians.]

We are not saved by trying, but by trusting in what Christ has done for us.

This means:

Repentance.

LET the wicked forsake his way (that’s your part), and the unrighteous man his thoughts (that’s your part): and let him return unto the Lord (that’s your part), and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon (God’s part.).

Isaiah 55:7

Faith.

FOR by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 2:8—9.

VERILY, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him (God) that sent Me (Christ), hath everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but hath passed out of death into life.

John 5:24. A.V. & R.V.

Receiving.

BUT as many as received Him (Christ), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.

John 1:12.

Committing.

COMMIT thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Psalms 37:5.

IF thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:9-10.

[Christian Living.
STRENGTH for holding out.]

BUT ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.

Acts 1:8.

BE strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Ephesians 6:10.

PUT on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Ephesians 6:11.

WHEREFORE take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Ephesians 6:13.

STAND therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.

Ephesians 6:14.

ABOVE all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:16—17.

WATCH ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

I Corinthians 16:13.

BE strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Joshua 1:9.

THE Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalms 27:1.

AND He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

II Corinthians 12:9.

I CAN do ALL THINGS through Christ which strenghteneth me.

Philippians 4:13.

[Christian Living.
How to GROW In grace.]

If you earnestly desire to grow in grace according to God's commands, covenant to do the following things daily; pray, study your Bible, confess Christ, try to lead souls to Christ, and seek the society of Christian people, and you will do so. Let us see what God says concerning these things, and their importance.

1st. Daily prayer.

PRAY without ceasing.

I Thessalonians 5:17.

WATCH ye therefore and pray always.

Luke 21:36.

MEN ought always to pray.

Luke 18:1.

I WILL therefore that men pray every where.

I Timothy 2:8.

CALL unto me and I will answer thee; and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Jeremiah 33:3.

2nd. Daily STUDY of God’s Word.

AND now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up.

Acts 20:32.

THESE were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Acts 17:11.

STUDY to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

II Timothy 2:15.

AS newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.

I Peter 2:2.

THY words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.

Jeremiah 15:16

Make this last verse your prayer.

OPEN thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

Psalms 119:18

3rd. Daily CONFESS Christ.

LET your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16.

YE are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen.

Isaiah 43:10.

SING unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.

Psalms 96:2.

WHOSOEVER therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 10:32—33.

4th. Daily SEEK OTHERS for Christ.

I HAVE chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit.

John 15:16.

HE that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do.

John 14:12.

AND daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Acts 5:42.

WE then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

II Corinthians 6:1.

5th. Daily seek CHRISTIAN SOCIETY.

BLESSED is the man that walketh not in the council of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Psalms 1:1.

HE that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Proverbs 13:20.

[Christian Living.
Results of Keeping CLOSE to CHRIST.]

  • Your own soul will be enriched.
  • Persons will be saved.
  • Christians will be built up.
  • Your church will become aggressive.
  • The word of God will be honored.
  • Jesus Christ will be glorified.
  • The Holy Ghost will not be grieved.
  • You will be ready for any work.
  • You will be devoted to Jesus Christ.
  • You will be successful because faithful.
  • New methods will be used.
  • Your influence will be more telling.
  • Your life will be less selfish.
  • Your expectations will be more heavenly.
  • Your joy will be more abiding.
  • Your hope will be brighter.
  • Your courage more undaunted.
  • Your service more acceptable to God.
  • In life you will be active; in death you will be ready; in heaven you will shine.

Some PROMISES to encourage us.

TAKE my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

FOR my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:29—30.

BUT if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

I John 1:7.

DRAW nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.

James 4:8.

CAST thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Psalms 55:22.

THOU wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Isaiah 26:3.

[Christian Living.
Results FOLLOWING repentance and faith.]

Through coming to Christ a man,

1st. Becomes a CHILD OF GOD.

BUT as many as received Him (Christ), to them gave he power to become the sons of God.

John 1:12.

2nd. Has Everlasting LIFE.

VERILY, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation (judgment); but is passed from death unto life.

John 5:24.

3rd. Receives the HOLY SPIRIT.

THEN Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:38.

4th. Has FELLOWSHIP with others.

THEN they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

AND they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 2:41—42.

5th. Has God’s PROMISES.

WHEREBY are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises.

II Peter 1:4.

6th. Is called to SERVICE.

FOR the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work.

Mark 13:34.

7th. Possesses HEAVEN.

IN my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

John 14:2

[Church, The-
Must I JOIN to be a Christian?]

Do not join the Church unless you are saved—If you are saved, you will want to join the church, and you can not live as useful a life out of the church as in it, and the church needs your help.

THEN they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Acts 2:41.

AND they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 2:42.

AND they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.

Acts 2:46.