Assurance by Inner Witness? – Romans 8:16
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. According to the Westminster Confession of Faith, there are three pillars of assurance of salvation: the promises of God’s Word, the works which the Holy Spirit produces, and the inner witness of the Spirit to the believer. All three of these […]
Are Good Works Necessary for Assurance?
Editor’s Note: The following excerpt is taken, and edited, from one section of the article, “We Believe In: Assurance of Salvation,” in the Autumn 1990 issue of The Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society. See Resources With A Focus on Grace for ordering back issues. The reader of John’s Gospel will note how often it […]
Saving Faith Is Not Like Sitting in a Chair
Many theologians say that saving faith has three elements: understanding, acceptance, and trust. Unless all three elements are present, they say, a person does not have saving faith. This is sometimes illustrated by means of a chair. A person can understand that a chair claims to support a person who sits in it. The person […]
A Review of Charles Stanley’s Book: Eternal Security: Can You Be Sure?
This is an excerpt of a review from the Spring 1991 issue of the Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society (pp.69-71). No one who reads Eternal Security can doubt for a moment the writer’s deep conviction that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone. For example, Stanley writes: “Look at that verse [John 3:18] […]
The Litmus Test of True Believers? – 1 Corinthians 12:3
Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. Just Saying the Words? This verse has puzzled many because it seems contrary to experience. Experience tells us that unbelievers are capable of […]
Read Your Bible!
Many have heard the story of the man whose devotional reading consisted of cracking his Bible at random and reading the first verse his finger touched. One morning this was his verse for the day: “And Judas went out and hanged himself.” That can’t be it, he thought. So he tried again. “Go thou and […]
Is It Legalistic to Worship on Sunday?
Nine of the ten commandments are repeated in the NT. The one which isn’t is the fourth commandment which deals with remembering the Sabbath and keeping it holy. The Sabbath is the seventh day, Saturday. Believers today are not required to refrain from work on Saturday or to worship on Saturday. This is clear from […]
Who Are You?
On one occasion, described in John 1:19-27, John the Baptist was visited by an important official delegation from the religious leadership of Jerusalem. Speculation had mounted that this Elijah-like prophet might actually be the Messiah Himself (cf. Luke 3:15). If ever there was a golden opportunity for John to “blow his own horn,” this was […]
Do Demons Really Believe? – James 2:19
“You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe–and tremble!” The Question Over the years I have been asked about James 2:19 scores of times. I hold the view that faith is faith. Saving faith is not a special kind of faith. What makes saving faith saving is the object, […]
Letters to the Editor
Dear GES, Thanks so much for your newsletter. It’s a real boost to get and read it monthly. SD Easton, PA Dear GES, I enjoy reading the GES newsletter and journal immensely–more so than all the many other publications that I receive combined. For some time I’ve been troubled about a phrase which I believe […]