What Is the Role of Fearing God in the Christian Life?
The word fear occurs 470 times in the Bible–108 times in the NT and 362 times in the OT. Most of the time it refers to typical fear. We know that the fear of the Lord is “the beginning of wisdom” (Ps 111:10; Prov 9:10), is that which prolongs life (Prov 10:27), and is that […]
Don’t Take That Road (Proverbs 1:10-15)
In high school, I remember reading Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken.” It describes Frost’s coming to a fork in the road and having to decide which of the two forest paths he would travel. He chose the one that was less traveled, and it was a great adventure. I suppose the point of […]
Did the Holy Spirit Empower Old Testament Believers to Obey Him?
Ron asks a great question: Has not fruitfulness, in any and all ages, been caused and enabled by the Holy Spirit, even if He did not permanently indwell all believers before the church age? In any age, if Joe Believer (not big names like Noah, Moses, and Daniel) sought to walk with God, didn’t the […]
Dispensationalism: It Might Be More Important Than You Think
One of the characteristics of dispensationalism is that it makes a distinction between Israel and the Church. When you discuss such issues, it is common to hear people say that it is no big deal. We shouldn’t get bent out of shape over such things. There have been a lot of godly men and women […]
Was Paul Really Blameless Before He Came to Faith in Christ? Philippians 3:6
“[I was a Pharisee]; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless” (Phil 3:6). During a Zoom class on soteriology, the doctrine of salvation, a student asked me about Phil 3:6. Was Paul really blameless before God before he was born again? The word translated blameless is amemtos. It […]
Winning the Weak
In 1 Corinthians 9, the Apostle Paul states: …to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you (1 Cor 9:22-23). This well-known passage is […]
Logos Now Offers the Revised Edition of The Grace New Testament Commentary!
Bill Fiess, who teaches our very popular Logos course for the GES Seminary, informed me that Logos just released the revised edition of our commentary. The original version was in two volumes and had over 1,300 pages. The revised, one-volume edition is under 700 pages. Here is what Logos says about it: Overview Revised edition! […]
When Going Overboard Is a Good Thing
A few days ago, while we were in the car, my eight-year-old grandson said, “Poppy, I am going to ask you a question. But I don’t want you to go overboard.” I realized it was his opinion that I’d talk too much when I answered his question. I told him I would do my best […]
Do Deceased Believers Have Temporary Bodies Until the Rapture?
Diane asks a great question that is of interest to all of us: I should probably know the answer to this question, but as I thought about it, I realize that I’m not sure. Does the person who enters into God’s presence get a “temporary body?” I know they haven’t been raised from the grave yet, […]
When Theology Doesn’t Fit
As a past military chaplain, as well as a civilian who currently spends a great deal of time discussing theology with others, I run into one system of theology more than any other. Some call it Calvinism. Others refer to it as Lordship Salvation. Whatever name it goes by, one of its tenets is that […]