Do We Need to Confess Our Sins in Order to Be Forgiven?
I received an actual letter—handwritten—from Robert asking about confession and forgiveness: Some preachers teach that we as Christians must confess our sins in order to be forgiven of sins after we are born again, according to 1 John 1:9. As I understand it, all our sins were forgiven at the cross. We appropriated our salvation […]
Wayne Grudem Makes Works a Part of Saving Faith
I have a little test for you, designed to challenge your critical thinking skills. Are you ready? It’s a puzzler! Here it is— If I put a $20 bill into an empty wallet and then put that wallet into my empty pocket, how much money is in my pocket? $20, right? Whatever is in my […]
Is the Promise of Everlasting Life Optional in Evangelism?
About a decade ago, I was talking with a pastor who identified as a Free Grace proponent. He told me that a person need not believe in Jesus for everlasting life or anything at all. All one had to believe is that Jesus was sent from God. Three years ago, I read an article in […]
Did Moses See God the Father or the Lord Jesus at Mount Sinai?
Wendy read my Sept 13, 2021, blog in which I discussed Moses suggesting that it was better that God take him instead of the whole nation from His book. Wendy had two follow-up questions: Hi Bob, reading today’s article, I have two questions for you to teach me: Why did you say that Moses received […]
Is “Sola Fide” Inconceivable?
Telling people that salvation is by faith in Jesus apart from works won’t mean much if he or she doesn’t know what believing means. I asked a group dedicated to “Provisionalism”—which aims to defend traditionalist Baptist beliefs against Calvinism—what it means to believe. Not everyone in the group is a Provisionalist. But it is disconcerting […]
Is Renewing Your Mind as Easy as Riding a Bicycle?
“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom 12:2). Mind renewal is an essential component of spiritual growth. The principle is easy to understand, but is it easy to put into practice? Scientists talk about “neuroplasticity” to describe the brain’s amazing ability to alter its structure to adapt to changes within the body or […]
Can LGBT People Be Saved?
The subject line on the email read, “I am a LGBT. Can I be saved?” Talk about grabbing attention in the first few words. I was locked into what she had to say. Here is what she wrote: Hello. I am from _____ (a country in Asia). I confess that I am gay. My gay […]
Peter Boghossian on the Empty Philosophy of the University
Many of my friends are sending their kids off to college and university. For the most part, those students are leaving unprepared. I don’t mean they’re unprepared to continue studying subjects like business, biology, history, or physics. I mean, they’re unprepared for the worldview challenges to come. In general, churches do not intellectually prepare parishioners […]
What Evidence Is There That There Will Be Believers in Jesus Christ During the Tribulation?
Derek asks a very good question: I very much enjoy GES and all of the assurance I’ve found through your writings. I have a question. I’m reading through Revelation and J. Vernon McGee’s commentary. He, as well as others, talks about “Tribulation saints,” people who will turn to Christ during the tribulation. However, in 9:18 […]
C. S. Lewis on Fame with God
There is more to Christian living than escaping “hell” and being born again. As amazing as the free gift of everlasting life is, that is merely the first step. Jesus has much more in store for you. Such as? How about fame? Now, I’m not talking about worldly fame—the way movie stars, sports figures, and […]