ient to prove their experience, both before and after the
death and resurrection of Christ. Some would contend that the disciples
could not have been regenerated in a true New Testament sense before
Pentecost, because the plan of salvation was not finished before
Christ's death on the cross. If this were true, there is sufficient in
the foregoing text (John 20:27-29) to prove that the eleven were
enjoying the regenerating grace; for they all had at least as much faith
as Thomas, that Jesus is the Christ; and when Thomas was invited to
prove to his own satisfaction that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead,
he at once acknowledged him "My Lord and my God." This was after the
atonement for sin was made, and the disciples believed in him and beyond
doubt were justified and born of God in the perfect New Testament sense.
This not only is true of the eleven, but equally so of all who believed
that he arose from the dead; for he said, "Blessed are they that have
not seen and yet have believed."

The language of the apostle to the Roman brethren (Chap. 10:9, 10) adds
to this testimony--"That 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."
The apostle John says (1 John 2:29), "If ye know that he is righteous,
ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him." He also
says, "Every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."--1 John
4:7.

=Their names were written in heaven.= "Notwithstanding in this rejoice
not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because
your names are written in heaven."--Luke 10:20. The critic will say that
this was said of the seventy and not of the twelve. Well, it was said of
the seventy, but how could it be less true of the twelve whom he had
previously chosen and sent out to preach the kingdom of God, to cast out
devils, and to heal the sick? It is likely that a number of those
seventy, if not all, were among the one hundred twenty at Pentecost. To
say the least concerning the spiritual standing of the twelve, they were
equal with the seventy.

=They were not of the world.= "If ye were of the world, the world would
love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you
out of the world, therefore the world hateth you."--John 15:19. "I have