Grace at Walmart
When grocery shopping, my wife and I would often cave to the kids’ demands that we buy them cheap little toys and goodies. “Can I have a dollar?” “Can you buy me this, please, please, please?” “Can I have two quarters for candy?” We realized it had become a problem when the kids started throwing […]
No One Seeks God (Romans 3:11)
There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. Here is a recent question I received: How to reconcile “no-one seeketh after God no not one” with free will to accept or reject God’s free gift? I think one is about the concept that man’s righteousness cannot make him justified, and the […]
“There’s No Right Interpretation!”
I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3b). Do you contend for the faith? We live in a skeptical and relativistic culture. For decades now, people have been taught that most* of what we believe is […]
The Effects of Reading the Bible Four Days a Week
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16). How important is it to read your Bible on a regular basis? In 2009, the Center for Biblical Engagement issued a report that concluded that people who read the Bible at […]
The Holy Spirit Guiding and Empowering Believers
In the January-February Grace in Focus Magazine, Marcia Hornok wrote an article entitled, “Spiritual GPS.” I received a nice letter wondering if Marcia was “negating the idea of guidance by the Holy Spirit.” The reader points out that she is not charismatic, but that she and her husband “have repeatedly experienced God’s leading and supernatural […]
Priestly Celibacy Nullifies the Word of God
The issue of priestly celibacy is being debated again in the Roman Catholic Church. For one, there is a shortage of priests. Reformers think that allowing for married priests would encourage more men to take the role. But that would go against a thousand years of Church tradition and law (by contrast, in the East, […]
Seeing Things Through the Eyes of the Lord (Mark 13:1-2)
Mark 13 contains the famous Olivet Discourse in the Gospel of Mark. It starts off with the disciples being very impressed with the temple in Jerusalem. They point out to the Lord how beautiful it was (Mark 13:1). Many have remarked that it was an architectural wonder of the ancient world. Josephus and others observed […]
Sin-Based Assurance?
“I used to have a struggle with sin, but not anymore,” the man said. We were talking about assurance. He was explaining that his past struggles with addictive substances had caused him to doubt his salvation. How could he be saved if he was getting drunk all the time? But since he had overcome drunkenness, […]
Are You Discipling Your Family? (Deuteronomy 6:5-9)
My kids are getting to the age where they can ask serious questions about the faith. Recently, we attended the funeral for Abby’s grandfather, Roy Whisler. It was a good funeral. Jesus was front and center. Roy’s nephew officiated, and Abby’s brother gave a eulogy. They both made it clear that Roy believed in Jesus. […]
SBC President Says Once Saved, Always Saved—IF
J.D. Greear is the Pastor of the Summit Church in Durham, NC, and is the 62nd President of the Southern Baptist Convention. A few days ago, on Jan 29, 2020, he wrote a blog entitled “Beware of Complacency of ‘Once Saved, Always Saved.’” You can read his blog by clicking here. (See here for a […]