About Us

In 1893 a teenage girl named Helen Cadbury found new life in Jesus Christ and discovered the power of the Scriptures. Helen organized a group of girls who sewed pockets into their dresses so they could carry the Word of God with them. They were united with the simple pledge to read a portion of the scripture daily, carry it wherever they went, and use it to share their faith with others. They called their group The Pocket Testament League.

Since then, members of The Pocket Testament League have faithfully shared the Word of God in simple one-to-one encounters. The lives of friends, family, co-workers and total strangers have been changed for eternity through these humble acts of obedience.

 

Why go to Church?

If you're spiritually alive, you're going to love this!
If you're spiritually dead, you won't want to read it.
If you're spiritually curious, there is still hope!

Why Go To Church?

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."

This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

"I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!" When you are DOWN to nothing..... God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment! 
 
"When Satan is knocking at your door, simply say,

"Jesus, could you get that for me?"

Purchased and Set Free

Romans 3:24b

...by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

 

 

Thoughts for Today:

 

For Paul's readers the idea of redemption was clear because at the center of most Greek cities stood the "agora" -- "the place of redemption, a marketplace where buying and selling took place". The Greek word for the "act" of redemption (to buy or bought) is "agorazo", but that is not the word used here.

The second Greek word for redemption is "exagorazo" which is the "act of purchasing or redeeming never to return". In Biblical times a slave for example, could be purchased for a season of harvesting, then returned to the market and sold again. "Exagorazo" was the opposite of this practice -- it meant permanent possession. However, ''exagorazo" is not the word used here.

In our passage today is the third Greek word used for redemption: "apolutrosis", which means "liberation procured by the payment of a ransom", or practically: to purchase a slave with the intent of setting him free completely -- to never be a slave again.

For us redemption is all of these: agorazo -- because we have been purchased by the Lord (see 1 Corinthians 6:20, 7:23, 7:30; 2 Peter 2:1); exagorazo -- because we will never be sold again (see Galatians 3:13 and 4:5; Colossians 4:5); and it is specifically in our passage today apolutrosis -- because the Lord purchased us so we could be set free from sin (see Luke 21:29; Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 1:30).

 

 

Questions to Ponder:

 

The Bible tells us we have been purchased and set free.

Do you feel free or do you still live under the illusory power of sin?

In Romans 8:2, Paul will tell us because of Christ's death sin has no power over us ("...through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death...") we therefore have a choice.

Jesus has purchased you with his life and you have been set free --

the only question that remains --

will you accept (or acknowledge) your freedom?

Introduce the children to their Creator

Get The Word out Before it's too late

"Can a Christian lose salvation?"

 Answer: Before this question is answered, the term “Christian” must be defined. A “Christian” is not a person who has said a prayer, or walked down an aisle, or been raised in a Christian family. While each of these things can be a part of the Christian experience, they are not what “makes” a Christian. A Christian is a person who has, by faith, received and fully trusted in Jesus Christ as the only Savior.

John 3:16

   “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. 

Ephesians 2:8    

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 

 So, with this definition in mind, can a Christian lose salvation? Perhaps the best way to answer this crucially important question is to examine what the Bible says occurs at salvation, and to study what losing salvation would therefore entail. Here are a few examples:

A Christian is a new creation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). This verse speaks of a person becoming an entirely new creature as a result of being “in Christ.” For a Christian to lose salvation, the new creation would have to be canceled and reversed.

A Christian is redeemed. “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19). The word “redeemed” refers to a purchase being made, a price being paid. For a Christian to lose salvation, God Himself would have to revoke His purchase that He paid for with the precious blood of Christ.

A Christian is justified. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). To “justify” means to “declare righteous.” All those who receive Jesus as Savior are “declared righteous” by God. For a Christian to lose salvation, God would have to go back on His Word and “un-declare” what He had previously declared.

A Christian is promised eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Eternal life is a promise of eternity (forever) in heaven with God. God promises, “Believe and you will have eternal life.” For a Christian to lose salvation, eternal life would have to be taken away. If a Christian is promised to live forever, how then can God break this promise by taking away eternal life?

A Christian is guaranteed glorification. “And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” (Romans 8:30). As we learned in Romans 5:1, justification is declared at the moment of faith. According to Romans 8:30, glorification is guaranteed for all those whom God justifies. Glorification refers to a Christian receiving a perfect resurrection body in heaven. If a Christian can lose salvation, then Romans 8:30 is in error, because God could not guarantee glorification for all those whom He predestines, calls, and justifies.

Many more illustrations of what occurs at salvation could be shared. Even these few make it abundantly clear that a Christian cannot lose salvation. Most, if not all, of what the Bible says happens to us when we receive Jesus Christ as Savior would be invalidated if salvation could be lost. Salvation cannot be reversed. A Christian cannot be un-newly created. Redemption cannot be undone. Eternal life cannot be lost and still be considered eternal. If a Christian can lose salvation, God would have to go back on His Word and change His mind—two things that Scripture tells us God never does.

The most frequent objections to the belief that a Christian cannot lose salvation are 1) What about those who are Christians and continually live an immoral lifestyle? 2) What about those who are Christians but later reject the faith and deny Christ? The problem with these two objections is the phrase “who are Christians.” The Bible declares that a true Christian will not live a continually immoral lifestyle (1 John 3:6). The Bible declares that anyone who departs the faith is demonstrating that he never truly was a Christian (1 John 2:19). Therefore, neither objection is valid. Christians do not continually live immoral lifestyles, nor do they reject the faith and deny Christ. Such actions are proof that they were never redeemed.

No, a Christian cannot lose salvation. Nothing can separate a Christian from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39). Nothing can remove a Christian from God’s hand (John 10:28-29). God is both willing and able to guarantee and maintain the salvation He has given us. Jude 24-25, “To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”

 

Recommended Resources: Eternal Security by Charles Stanley and Logos Bible Software.

While he is not the author of every article on GotQuestions.org, for citation purposes, you may reference our CEO, S. Michael Houdmann.

5 Reasons Why Pocket-Sized Gospels Are Effective:

1. The Word of God is Alive!

No words of man can be as effective for evangelism as the Word of God. That's why the full book of John is included in each pocket-sized Gospel.

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."  - Hebrews 4:12

2. Pick-Up Appeal 

These aren't just ordinary, run-of-the-mill Gospels. Every pocket-sized Gospel has a colorful and innovative cover that is designed to attract the attention of the recipient. Are you ministering to a dog-lover? A skateboarder? A business person? A military man? A flower lover? We have the ideal pocket-sized Gospel cover for you! There are over 100 covers in a variety of languages to choose from. You are covered for all sharing situations!

3. A Clear Salvation Message

Each Gospel begins with a simple to understand plan of salvation in a section called "Finding the Answers to Life's Most Important Questions." This short section tackles the tough questions like "Why am I here?" and "Where did I come from" and most importantly "Where am I going?" The section ends with a simple prayer of salvation, instructions on how to utilize the Gospel and first steps for new believers. 

4. It's a Proven Method! 

Thousand upon thousands of stories are received each year. Stories of salvations, changed lives, God’s power! And it’s all because you have been bold in sharing these pocket-sized Gospels with others. 

“People just love reading them. Last Sunday, we had fifteen get saved.” - Rev. Boyce B. From Anderson, SC

“I was truly saved after a church gave me a Pocket Testament Gospel of John. My life has been transformed. I am now sharing Pocket Gospels!” - Theresa A. from Cromwell, CT

”The Lord blessed me with an opportunity to use Pocket Testaments to witness to my 15 year old niece. She texted me the next morning and told me that she had prayed the night before to receive Jesus as her Savior!!” - Debbie L. from Farmville,VA

5. They are Available for Everyone! (EVEN FREE!)

YOU (and every League member) are eligible to receive up to 30 FREE Gospels per month via the Sponsorship Program. The Sponsorship Program is made possible by donations from your fellow members. If you are able, we encourage you to make a small donation to cover the cost of printing and shipping the Gospels. More Christians will be equipped with pocket-sized Gospels and tools to share their faith because of your giving!

What are you waiting for? Choose your Gospels now!