How Do You Define the Word “Relationship”?
Do you know what the expression spill the tea means? Or what if I told you that something was a cap? Language is always evolving. Each new generation seems to come up with its own special slang and terminology for things. What one generation called groovy, another called cool. What was once a beau is […]
Do You Know If You Are Going to Persevere?
But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified (1 Cor 9:27). The fifth point of Calvinism is the perseverance of the saints. It says that all whom God has elected will persevere in faith and good works until death. At least […]
Teaching at a Baptist Seminary in Costa Rica
Recently, GES board member Bernie Hunsucker and I were able to conduct a Free Grace pastors’ conference in Costa Rica. Prior to our going, one of the pastors asked if I would teach at a Baptist seminary of which he was president. He explained that the students were heavily influenced by Calvinism. The president himself […]
Am I One of God’s Elect?
The Calvinist doctrine of unconditional election is meant to be a wonderful comfort to people. Back in 1978 I was on staff with Cru at NC State University. I remember hearing the Campus Director from the University of Carolina speak on the doctrine of election. I don’t recall having heard about it before then. He […]
Preaching in Costa Rica
In October, GES board member Bernie Hunsucker and I had the opportunity to conduct a two-day pastors’ conference in Costa Rica. I was also able to teach some classes at a Baptist seminary over another two-day period. In both cases, the goal was to introduce those in attendance to Free Grace Theology. Both at the […]
Am I Totally Depraved?
In response to the teachings of Arminius, Calvinism developed five points that are known by the acrostic TULIP. The T in TULIP stands for total depravity. That expression sounds as if it refers to someone like Hitler, Stalin, Mao, or Pol Pot. It sounds as if it refers to someone who is just about as […]
Who Was Right, Erasmus or the Reformers?
I am not a church historian, but I do like reading about what happened in church history. There is a man I’ve read about who has always fascinated me. Erasmus, a contemporary of Martin Luther, produced the first printed edition the Greek NT, Novum Instrumentum omne (1516), which allowed many people to study the NT […]
Are You Guilty of Having a Non-Profit Religion? (James 2:14)
James 2:14 begins with the three Greek words ti to ophelos. These three words are found only one other time in the NT. Guess where? James repeats them two verses later! These words are translated in four different, but related, ways in the leading English translations: What does it profit…? (NKJV, MEV, KJV, RSV, ASV). […]
How to Help People Evangelize Clearly
Most of us are familiar with the Gideons. They are responsible for handing out millions and millions of Bibles. The people involved in this organization are laymen who devote their own time and resources to print and distribute the Word of God. When they give out these Bibles, they often engage in evangelism. They are […]
What’s Wrong with Believing in Limited Atonement?
And He Himself is the propitiation [satisfaction of God’s justice] for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world (1 John 2:2). Calvinists believe that Christ died for the sins of only a small portion of humanity, called the elect. Since limited atonement sounds a bit negative, many Calvinists prefer […]