Voice from the Past: Born Again
This article was originally published in the GES newsletter in April of 1991. Have you ever heard or had a conversation something like the following? “Are you a Christian?” “Well of course I’m a Christian! Do you think I’m a heathen? I’m an American!” “Well, I mean do you believe…” “I believe in God.” “But […]
Piper’s Diminished Doctrine of Assurance
This article was section III of the author’s Spring 2010 Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society article entitled, “John Piper’s Diminished Doctrine of Justification and Assurance.” Piper Identifies Assurance as Major Spiritual Problem in His Church Piper has identified the issue of assurance as a major spiritual problem among his parishioners. He stated in his […]
The Impeccability of the Lord Jesus Christ Makes the Life to Come More Thrilling
Introduction The only class I was privileged to take from Dr. John Walvoord (now with the Lord) was a doctoral class called Advanced Christology. It was a small class with only about ten students. This article is an outgrowth of one of the things that we discussed in that class. It is something that really […]
A Modern Missionary Journey
by Ken White For the past 13 years my wife and I, along with our six children, have served as missionaries and church planters in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Since July we have been back in the United States, in Bakersfield, CA, and are trying to begin a Free Grace church, or rather a multiplying, […]
Warnings about False Faith Can Be Hazardous to Your Spiritual Health
Here is a short list of adjectives that pastors have actually used to describe faith in Jesus that will not save: non-genuine, professing, superficial, alleged, dead, demon, false, head, non-heartfelt, intellectual, temporary, spurious, implicit, historic, delusive, counterfeit, sign, miracle, easy, cheap, and non-confessing. What is the effect on the person in the pew when he […]
Four Questions about Assurance and Everlasting Life
Introduction I recently received a nice letter from a man whom we will call Bill who had read my book on assurance (Secure and Sure), as well as books I had recommended on assurance. While he himself is assured that he has everlasting life that can never be lost, he is not convinced by my […]
Abraham Was Sure That He Had Everlasting Life Romans 4:21-22
By René A. López Introduction When God justified Abraham (Gen 15:6), did he believe that he was eternally secure as a result of believing God? If so, was that belief in the security of his eternal destiny necessary for God to justify Him? Paul answers both of these questions in Rom 4:21-22. Abraham Was Assured […]
The Warning of Stumbling Blocks — Mark 9:42-48
By Barry Mershon, Jr.1 Introduction2 The following is from The Grace New Testament Commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 180-81). This passage has long confused many people. The Lord seems to be teaching works salvation here. It appears that to enter the kingdom (to enter into life) one must reform his life and turn from all his […]
Eternal Salvation by Obedience? Hebrews 5:9
i Introduction Hebrews 5:8-9 says, “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” What does the author of Hebrews mean? It sounds like he’s saying that eternal salvation is only available by […]
Must We Attain Some Level of Holiness To Enter the Kingdom? Hebrews 12:14 Reconsidered
Assumptions can interfere with one’s ability to understand the text of Heb 12:14. Most people read this verse as if it said: [You] pursue peace with all, and holiness, without which you will not see the Lord. In other words, most interpret this narrowly—merely instructing the readers how to live so that they themselves would […]