Immortality Is Not Eternal Life
Free Grace Theology impacts the issue of final punishment. The question is, what happens to unbelievers after the Great White Throne Judgment? One way that Free Grace makes a difference is relatively subtle. We emphasize that, according to Jesus’ promise, believers have eternal life as a present possession (John 3:16, 36; 5:24; 6:47). Believers do […]
Liberado para amar
Muchas veces los maestros procuran evitar el legalismo cuando enseñan sobre la justificación, pero lo promocionan (¿involuntariamente?) cuando viene a la santificación. Es decir, ellos presentan la vida cristiana como una serie de mandamientos para guardar. Tus esfuerzos para vivir la vida cristiana se convierten en un intento para cumplir con la misma lista de […]
Is Salvation a Gift or a Bargain? An Illustration from Steven Hein
I like Steven Hein’s analogy for two ways of presenting salvation. He compares it to the difference between receiving a diamond as a gift vs. purchasing it yourself for a bargain: What is the difference between receiving the largest, most valuable diamond in the world as a free gift—and getting it for a penny? If […]
Unlocked to Love
Many teachers avoid legalism in justification, only to endorse it (unintentionally?) in sanctification. That is, they present the Christian life as a series of commands for you to fulfill. Living the Christian life becomes an attempt to fulfill the same “to do” list that was completely inadequate to save you in the first place. These […]
Is Christendom Sick or Dead?
By Shawn Lazar In response to a blog about the need for missionaries to Christendom, a reader wrote: Shawn, I must admit I was quite taken aback by your words. You are just a year younger than I am, and from your books, blog posts and radio podcasts I’ve listened to that you share with […]
Veiled and Silent: A Call to Relook at the Functioning of Women Within the “Assemblies”
Veiled and Silent: A Call to Relook at the Functioning of Women Within the “Assemblies.” By Kent Young. Tallahassee, FL: N.P., 2015. 82 pp. Paper, $6.99. In this short book, Kent Young re-examines Paul’s two commands to women to keep silent and to wear head coverings. He also examines how Plymouth Brethren assemblies have interpreted […]
Sanctification Through Falling Deeper in Love: A Lesson from Anthony Norris Groves
How can you be holy? How can you live a “deeper” life with Christ? I am reading a biography of Anthony Norris Groves, written by G. H. Lang. So far, it is excellent. Groves was one of the pioneers of the faith missions movement—he went to the mission field without salary or support and depended […]
The Timing of the Lord’s Supper
You can discuss the timing of the Lord’s Supper in three different senses: frequency, intent, and Dispensation. First, you can discuss the timing of the Supper in terms of frequency. It would be nice if the Bible had direct teaching about how frequently you should celebrate it. But despite several passages devoted to discussing the […]
Preocupándose en el Mar Rojo Parte 6 (Éxodo 14:15-18)
Entonces Jehová dijo a Moisés: “¿Por qué clamas a mí? Di a los hijos de Israel que marchen. Y tú alza tu vara, y extiende su mano sobre el mar y divídelo, y entren los hijos de Israel por en medio del mar, en seco. Y he aquí, yo endureceré el corazón de los egipcios […]
Would You Give Up Your Church Buildings to Show Love?
We know that eternal life is a free gift—an extraordinary, extravagant gift—given simply on the condition of faith in Christ, totally apart from any works that we can do (Rom 6:23; Eph 2:8-9). But then what? What comes next? The short answer is: love. Freed from the burden of having to earn your salvation by […]