Initial, Progressive, and Final Justification?
A reader sent me a Roman Catholic article entitled, “Justification by Faith Formed in Love (Not by Faith Alone) in the Bible and Early Church Writings.” You can find the article here. It has become common in the last twenty-five years for Evangelicals to speak of “initial justification” and of “final justification.” In this article […]
John W. Robbins on Head Faith vs Heart Faith
One day I’ll have to write an article about John W. Robbins’ understanding of faith and saving faith. Robbins was a disciple of Gordon H. Clark. He ran the Trinity Foundation, which publishes Clark’s books, including Faith and Saving Faith. That book has been influential in Free Grace circles because it clearly shows why works […]
Is Faith Trust in a Person?
Sometimes people will say that saving faith is trust in a person. What does that mean, exactly? Here is John W. Robbins explaining when that expression makes sense, and when it does not: “Long before the neo-orthodox theologians thought of saying that faith is an encounter with a divine person rather than assent to a […]
Walking in the Spirit—What Does It Mean?
Preachers and Theologians Sometimes Make Up Stuff Preachers and theologians tend to be careful when explaining fundamental Biblical truths like the deity of Christ, substitutionary atonement, Jesus’ bodily resurrection on the third day, the Second Coming of Christ, and the inerrancy of Scripture. By careful, I mean that they will quote Scriptures to back up […]
Evangelism vs Pre-Evangelism
“How can you be so stupid???” We were talking about doing evangelism, when David and Anna [names changed] explained to me how David came to faith in Jesus. They started dating while David was an unbeliever (don’t do that, folks, cf. 2 Cor 6:14). As the relationship progressed, Anna confronted David about his lack of […]
Moths Destroy and Thieves Break in and Steal
In the Sermon on the Mount the Lord Jesus Christ said that we should not lay up treasure on earth. Why not? Because “moths and rust destroys” earthly treasure and because “thieves break in and steal” it. I’ve been a bit of a gold bug going back to the mid 80s, when I was in […]
Bob on the Bay
Bob was recently at Bayside Community Church in Tampa, FL. Here are links to the two messages he gave there. 10:00 AM His Promised Return is Certain http://bcctampa.sermon.net/main/main/20971995 11:00 AM What Manner of People Should We Be? http://bcctampa.sermon.net/main/main/20971964
Fruit Bearing: Together for Jesus
We aren’t a big ministry. Bob and I are the only full-time people. Bethany and Mark are both in the office, but part-time. Ken and Brad are offsite, and both part-time. But despite being small, I think we are productive. Six 48 page Grace in Focus issues a year. Two 100+ page Journal of the […]
Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) and Salvation by Works
Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) has done much good, teaching people the Bible. But I hope, like any other ministry, they are open to some constructive criticism. This past semester they went through the Gospel of John. I was disappointed to read how often the Notes changed the promise of life from a message of salvation […]
The Truth Shall Make You Free — John 8:32
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). How does the truth make us free? Jesus was speaking to new believers (cf. John 8:30-31). He told them that if—if, not when!—they continued (or abided) in His teaching they would be genuine disciples. And then the truth of His […]