A Great Trait for All Christians (Acts 18:24)
In Acts 18:24 we are introduced to a man by the name of Apollos. We are told that he was an “eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures.” He lived in a Greek culture where eloquence was a much desired trait. Luke goes on to say that Apollos had been “instructed in the way of […]
The Benefits of the Cross: Actual or Potential?
I was talking to a friend about the different views of the atonement in Free Grace circles. We came around to the issue of potentiality versus actuality. What did the cross actually accomplish? What did it potentially accomplish? I came up with an illustration for the differences of opinion that exist in Evangelical circles. Imagine […]
The Role of Women in the Local Church
Recently a friend pointed me to a blog (see here) at patheos.com. The blog is entitled, “Why Arguments Against Women in Ministry Aren’t Biblical.” The June 2, 2015, blog was written by leading NT scholar Ben Witherington. In this blog, Witherington argues that there is a bigger role for women in the local church than […]
Salvation in Romans and Hebrews
A reader asks, “I heard Bob say that the word save never refers to eternal life or justification in Romans or Hebrews. However, the following texts seem very much to refer to spiritual salvation: Rom 5:9-10; 8:24; 10:1; Heb 7:25. What should we think about them?” Okay. Here is a brief explanation of each of […]
Does Romans 5:12-21 Teach Original Sin?
At the recent Charlotte Regional Conference, I spoke on Rom 5:12-21. I suggested that original sin as it is normally understood is not taught by this passage or by any other. After my session a man asked me to explain further. This is what I told him. Calvinists, Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and many others […]
The Good News About Evangelism
Have you ever felt guilty for not evangelizing? Has evangelism ever been presented to you as a command that is impossible to fulfill? Here’s an example of the kind of pressure I mean. This is a testimony from the wife of a graduate of a fundamentalist college: “My poor husband got only 3 to 4 […]
Imitate Love (3 John 11)
The Christian life ought to be characterized by freedom, not rules and regulations. Other religions will give you long to-do lists of prayers and practices and menus and pilgrimages, and you have to follow them to be a member in good standing. Christians basically have one command: to love. Augustine famously summarized it this way: […]
Moldy Bread and Serving the Lord (Mark 5:19-20)
Many years ago, Mohammed Ali was talking about the importance of education. He encouraged young people to stay in school and not lose heart. “After all,” he said, “if they can make penicillin out of moldy bread, they can make something out of you.” The point he was making is obvious. Sometimes we feel that […]
What about Verses Which Seem to Use Trust In Salvific Contexts?
In a recent blog entitled “Recording Radio Programs Has Been Fun and Challenging” (see here), I included a short discussion of something I had said on one of the shows about the difference between trusting and believing. That led to many comments. Two of the comments to that blog mentioned verses in which the word […]
Big Business, Little Service (Gal 5:14)
Religious superstition is a huge industry. Who knows how many billions of dollars are spent every year on amulets, statues, candles, medallions, icons, relics, special foods, holy water, special breathing techniques, anointed oil, prayer cloths, grave soaking, and pilgrimages? I’ve been watching Leah Remini’s documentary on Scientology, and I was shocked to find out how […]