Opportunity All Around — John 4:1-45
Are you aware of the evangelistic opportunities all around you? They may seem few and far between. But are they, really? In John 4, we read about Jesus’ famous conversation with the woman at the well. Jesus and the disciples arrived near the town of Sychar, in Samaria. It was unusual for a Jew like […]
William Gurnall, Cowardice, and Assurance
I’m preparing to teach a Sunday School series through Ephesians and Joshua. To that end, I’ve been reading The Christian in Complete Armour by Puritan William Gurnall (1616-1679). Spurgeon said of this book, “every line is full of wisdom; every sentence suggestive. The whole book has been preached over scores of times, and is, in […]
Self-Condemnation — John 3:17-18
Jesus did not come to condemn the world. That means He did not come to condemn you. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17). That’s good news. Jesus came to save you. Of course, you know what […]
Upland Bible Church and Geezer Olympics
Sharon and I flew into Las Vegas at noon on Saturday, October 14. On Saturday evening we had a fantastic supper at the home of our wonderful hosts, Tim and Daria Vanselow. We enjoyed great fellowship with them and Pastor Dick Olsen, his wife Debbie, and one of the Deacons, Al Bingham. Cracked crab and […]
Antinomianism and Preparationism
It turns out I’m a real antinomian. That’s a ten-dollar-word. Antinominian means being “against” (anti) “the law” (nomos). Now, there are different ways of being against the Law, so there are different definitions of antinomianism. Here’s one definition: “We speak of the real Antinomians, who assert that the Law is unnecessary to conversion” (Rosenius, A […]
Spiritual Cataracts
Do you know people who have had cataract surgery? Maybe you have. Likely we all will need it if we live long enough. Cataracts are physical impairments to our vision. The lens of the eye stops working correctly. The result is a decrease in vision, especially at night. The repair is simple: replace the lens. […]
The Four Phases of Salvation
People often confuse the one condition of being born again with the many conditions of being a disciple of Jesus. In Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth, C. I. Scofield explained it as the difference between “Salvation and Rewards” (chapter 9). In Grace, Salvation, and Discipleship, Charles Bing explains it as A Truth and B […]
Wrath and Righteousness
Did the cross bring an end to the wrath of God? How can God still be angry at sin? After the cross, aren’t we in the clear? Why would believers experience the wrath of God? There is a movement in Charismatic circles known as Hyper-Grace that has many similarities to Free Grace Theology. They believe […]
Withered Grass or Eternal Word: Bo Giertz on Preaching
Bo Giertz was a Swedish Lutheran theologian, bishop, and author of my favorite Christian novel, The Hammer of God. He was known as a someone who fought for orthodox Christian faith against a tide of liberalism in his country. In this quote, Giertz reflects upon the need for the pastor to preach the eternal Word […]
How God Deals With Sinners — John 13:1-30
Judas was one of the world’s worst sinners. He committed the world’s worst betrayal: he arranged for Jesus’s murder. If you want to know how God treats sinners, look at Judas. We catch a glimpse of it in John 13:1-30. God loves sinners. “He loved them to the end” (v 1). Even Judas. God loves […]