Carl F. Wisløff on Assurance
Carl F. Wisløff (1908-2004) was a Norwegian Lutheran theologian and preacher. I recently acquired a copy of his short systematic theology, I Know in Whom I Believe: Studies in Bible Doctrine (I ordered it from here). Here is what Wisløff writes about assurance of salvation: “In Romans 4:16, it is said of Abraham: “For this […]
Has My Evangelistic Message Changed?
One of the dangers of writing articles and books for over thirty years is that people notice if you contradict yourself. I plead guilty. I have not always been as clear as I wish I had been. Here is an email with a genuine concern about what I believe: I am fairly new to GES […]
Yesterday’s Faith
Rev. Amos Binney was a Methodist preacher who wrote a short systematic theology called Binney’s Theological Compend (published in 1840) explaining “Biblical Methodism” (see here). The “improved” version edited by Daniel Steele is very readable and succinct. I think it is a model for how a short systematic theology should be done, and I plan […]
Three Ways to Evaluate an Argument
Gordon H. Clark once said, “Unless one knows the definition, he does not know what he is talking about” (see here). I recently wrote a blog where I said that while GES believed that Jesus is God in a fully Trinitarian sense, we deny that you need to believe that to be born-again (to grow, […]
Saving Faith Is Not Like Sitting in a Chair
A Pastor friend told me he ran across a 1993 article I wrote regarding the chair illustration. He shared it with a Bible study group and they found my suggestion helpful. The following is a revised and condensed version of that article. Many theologians, including some Free Grace proponents, say that saving faith has three […]
God Did It (Galatians 1:1-5)
Legalists from Israel were corrupting the Galatian churches, teaching them they needed to be circumcised and to keep different laws to be saved. Paul hit back. Hard. Paul’s greeting to the Galatian churches (1:1-5) strongly emphasized that God is the main actor in salvation. God sends the preacher (v 1a). God raised Jesus from the […]
The Lord Jesus Did Not Violate His Own Command Not to Call Another Person a Fool — Matthew 5:22 Versus Matthew 23:17
Here’s another great inbox question: In Jesus’ denunciation of the Jewish leaders in Matthew 23:16-22 he calls them fools twice. The Greek word is moros. This same word was used in Matthew 5:22 where Jesus said that anyone who calls someone a fool (moros) is liable to fiery Gehenna. Is Jesus violating His own command? […]
John Wesley on How To Read the Bible
If you want to grow spiritually, you must read the Bible everyday. Or you should listen to the Bible being read. As the Psalmist said, Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of […]
Simple Principles of Giving (2 Corinthians 8-9)
What does the NT say about giving? I’m sure someone has told you that Christians should tithe. That is, you should give one-tenth of all you make to the church. That principle has the virtue of being easy to remember, but does it have the virtue of being true? The problem is, tithing is not […]
How Can a Layman Understand Repentance and Salvation?
Shawn had put a notice in our partner’s newsletter that I have started work on a book on repentance and salvation. Actually I’m only on Chapter 5 of 16. It will probably be six months or more before it is done, I think. Here is the email question: I am looking forward to your book […]