Why Not Continue in Sin (2 Kings 1:1-2)?
Free Grace people are often asked why believers should not continue sinning more and more after they believe. After all, we teach that eternal salvation cannot be lost, so why–it is maintained–shouldn’t we sin all we want? There are a number of reasons why the believer shouldn’t live that way. One is that sin brings […]
Four Different Free Grace Understandings of the Saving Message
At the May 22-25 GES annual conference, I heard a great message from Bob Bryant. At one point, he referred to a July 2009 Grace in Focus article I had written, “Four Free Grace Views Related to Two Issues.” See here. I didn’t recognize it because he explained it so much better than I had. […]
Even if…
Introduction A friend recently asked me a question related to evangelism. How can we determine that someone has believed the saving message when we present the message of eternal life? In many cases when churches or missionaries give a gospel presentation, there is a desire to confirm that people were saved. Because of this desire, […]
Theology Permeates Everything
Sometimes we hear people say we shouldn’t worry about theological differences. Such differences aren’t important. But our theology impacts the way we see the world and the people in that world, even when we’re not aware of it. I was reminded of that recently while reading a Southern Baptist magazine. An article by a leader […]
Is It Enough to Believe That Jesus CAN Save Me?
Chris asks a great question: If I believe that Jesus has the power to give me everlasting life, is that the same as believing that He is the Giver of everlasting life (because I believe He has the power to give me everlasting life)? The Scripture says that all who believe Jesus is the Giver […]
Is Seventh-Day Adventism (SDA) a Cult?
A friend at the conference said he was surprised to see that Dallas Theological Seminary had published an article by an SDA pastor in the July-December 2021 issue of its journal. I checked, and an article on the warning passages in Hebrews is by an SDA pastor. BibSac has a footnote on page one of […]
Must Assurance of Salvation Be Based on Jesus’ Promise?
M. H. asks a great question: I recently viewed a couple of your blogs where you talked about how someone only needs to believe in Jesus to be saved, including eternal security. If someone believes that they cannot lose their salvation (will never perish, will never be condemned, etc.), is that considered true belief if […]
Will Few or Many Be Saved?
In Luke 13:23, the Lord is asked if few will be saved. In that context, the Lord is talking about salvation as it pertains to the Nation of Israel. But the question is often asked in a much broader sense. Will most people in the world be a part of the kingdom of God, or […]
Will King David Be Excluded from Ruling?
S. E. asks a good question: “I’m confused. I thought those who are saved but are homosexuals, murderers, or adulterers would not rule or reign [though they’d be in the kingdom]. If so, does that mean King David will be excluded from reigning with Christ? Thank you. I listen to you every day on the […]
Blessed Assurance, and the GES Conference
Many churchgoers (and all church-going Southern Baptists!) know the hymn “Blessed Assurance” by Fanny Crosby. As its title indicates, the hymn speaks of the believer’s wonderful certainty of spending eternity with the Lord in His coming kingdom. Assurance means we know we have eternal life. All would agree, however, that most people attending church today […]