PAKINGGAN ANG PANAWAGAN
Kahapon sa simbahan, kinanta naming ang kantang “Trust and Obey.” Nagresulta iyan sa blog na ito. Ang magtiwala at sumunod ay kapareho ba ng manampalataya at sumunod? Nang manampalataya tayo sa Diyos, tayo ay nakumbinse na ang Kaniyang sinabi ay totoo. Nanampalataya si Josue at Caleb sa Diyos nang Kaniyang ipangakong ibibigay sa Israel ang […]
Qual è la differenza tra fidarsi di Dio e credere in Lui?
Ieri in chiesa abbiamo cantato la canzone “Trust and Obey” (Fidati e obbedisci, n.d.t.). Di qui l’idea per questo blog. Fidarsi ed obbedire sono la stessa cosa che credere ed obbedire? Quando crediamo in Dio, siamo persuasi o convinti che ciò che ha detto sia vero. Giosuè e Caleb credettero a Dio quando promise di […]
Is It Bad If the Message of God’s Grace Causes People to Doubt Their Salvation?
Over the years I’ve heard that some of my writings have caused some people who believe 1 Cor 15:3-4 to doubt their salvation. Before I get into the details, let’s first consider whether it is good or bad for someone to doubt their salvation. If a person is not convinced that he is saved once […]
Why Am I a 0-Point Calvinist?
By Bob Wilkin Recently, I recorded a seven-minute YouTube video with the same title. It is available to view on the Grace Evangelical Society YouTube channel. When I graduated from DTS in 1982, I called myself a Calvinist. I considered myself a three-pointer. I’ve come to realize that all five points are a unit. You […]
Are Eternal Rewards Secure? Part 2
By Bob Wilkin In Part 1, we saw that there are two types of rewards: instant winners and perseverance prizes. Instant winners are secure the moment they are earned. Perseverance prizes are only secure once one finishes the race (2 Tim 4:6-8). There are two related questions we will address in this article. Will we […]
Why Aren’t All Who Believe in Christ Overcomers?
By Bob Wilkin Many people who’ve watched my YouTube videos on assurance and eternal security have asked me to explain how we can be sure of our eternal security if we’re not sure we’ll be overcomers. They also wonder if 1 John 5:4-5 teaches that all believers are overcomers. An Overcomer Is Victorious The word […]
Six Signs You’re Saved, According to John MacArthur
In a 2018 message titled, “The Christian’s Assurance of Salvation” (available here), Dr. John MacArthur lists six signs that you are saved: You’ve been taught the Word of God by the Holy Spirit. You’ve been led by the Holy Spirit. You’ve been comforted by the Holy Spirit. You’ve been filled with the Holy Spirit. You’ve […]
Does Once Saved, Always Saved Destroy the Fear of God?
A group of pastors and Bible scholars put out a documentary film opposing Once Saved, Always Saved (OSAS). They suggest that the fear of the Lord includes being scared that He will send you to hell if you fall away (see here). Is that true? Should we be afraid that God will send us to […]
为什么保罗把基督徒的生活比作一场战斗？
所以，我奔跑，不像无目标的；我斗拳，不像打空气的。（《林前》 9：26，着重号后加）。 你要为信仰打那美好的仗……（《提前》6：12，斜体作者添加）。 那美好的仗我已经打过了，当跑的路我已经跑尽了，该信的道我已经守住了。从此以后，有公义的冠冕为我存留，就是按着公义审判的主到了那日要赐给我的；不但赐给我，也赐给凡爱慕祂显现的人。（《提后》4：7-8，斜体部分由作者标明）。 从公元前 776 年到公元 393 年，古代奥林匹克运动会每四年在希腊的奥林匹亚举行一次。哥林多也有自己的体育竞赛，称为哥林多地峡运动会。他们每两年在哥林多地峡举行一次。其中的运动项目有跑步、摔跤和拳击。保罗用奔跑和战斗的例子来鼓励他的读者要坚持信仰，以便在基督的审判台前得到基督的认可（《林前》 9：27；对比《提后》4：7-8）。 但保罗为什么要把基督徒的生活比作战斗呢？难道不是基督为我们过着基督徒的生活吗？ 成圣的教导有两个极端。一种是被动的方法： 放手，让上帝来做。不去尝试；只是依靠上帝。另一种是全靠我们自己： 我们通过奉献、委身和努力工作来过基督徒的生活。而真相介于两者之间。 努力是必须的。保罗把“勤劳的农夫”作为基督徒生活的榜样（《提后》2：6）。但这并不完全取决于我们自己。我们被圣灵赋予能力（《罗》15：16；《加》2：20；《彼后》1：3）。离开基督，我们什么也不能做（《约》15：5）。 转变不是通过奉献、委身和努力工作来实现的。它来自于透过神的话语来更新我们的心意（《罗》12：2；《林后》3：18）。然而，神的话语不会神奇地在我们心中扎根。我们必须渴慕它（《彼前》2：2）。我们必须去到教会并且专心听道（《来》10:23-25）。我们必须顺服上帝的教导（《约一》1：9）。当逼迫来临时，我们必须坚持住，不能退缩（《林前》15：58；《西》1：21-23；《彼前》5：9）。 我们与世界、肉体和魔鬼争战（《弗》2：2-3）。上帝与我们同在。祂赋予我们力量。但祂不会强迫我们顺服。我们有成功或失败的自由。 找到平衡点。如果你遵守祂的话语，你就会找到平衡（《约》8：32；《约一》2：24，28；3：6；《约二》9）。 如果我们以我们的主耶稣基督（希伯来书 12：2）和使徒保罗为榜样（《提后》4：6-8），我们就会打那美好的仗，直到被提或我们死亡。如果我们做到了，那么我们也将在基督的审判台前得到公义的冠冕i。 坚持关注恩典。 i凡信主耶稣得永生的人都有永恒的保障（《约》3：16）。但永恒的奖赏却是另一回事。冠冕、统治权、基督的赞美和认可都以我们在信仰中的忍耐为条件的（《提后》2：12；《启》2：26）。 ___ 鲍勃·威尔金(Bob Wilkin)(达拉斯神学院神学硕士，博士)恩典福音派协会(Grace Evangelical Society)创始人及执行主任，聚焦恩典电台(Grace in Focus Radio)联合主持人。他同妻子莎伦(Sharon)住在德州高地村（Highland Village, TX）。鲍勃最新的书有《在一百节经文中的“单凭信心”（暂译）》（Faith Alone in One Hundred Verses）和《回转来活：悔改的力量（暂译）》（Turn and Live: The Power of Repentance）。
How Often Does the Bible Refer to Good Work?
As I was proofing and editing Ken Yates’ new commentary on Mark’s Gospel, I came across the expression good work (Mark 14:6). When Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with costly oil, the Lord Jesus defended her saying, “She has done a good work for Me.” I knew that was a fairly rare expression. So, I went […]