Condition and Consequence: A Key to Correct Interpretation
Pay Attention to Both Cs While misinterpreting Scripture is always bad, the worst problems come when someone misunderstands what God says about what we must do to have everlasting life. If a person misunderstands what we might call the saving message, then he remains lost and is bound for eternal separation from God. The biblical […]
One Pastor’s Vacation Church Experience: Being Persecuted by a Sermon
by Dr. Mike Halsey Pastor, County Line Church Hampton, GA On a recent vacation I did something I’ve never voluntarily done before: I visited a church of a denomination which I have never been to before. After entering the beautiful building and going through a labyrinth of halls, I found the spacious, attractive, well-lit auditorium […]
Dr. Walter Kaiser on Genesis 15:6—Abraham Believed in Christ
At the 2005 Annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society in Valley Forge, PA, famed Old Testament scholar Dr. Walter Kaiser explained Gen 15:6. He said that it teaches that Abraham did not merely believe in God generally, but that he specifically believed God’s promise that the Messiah would come through his (Abraham’s) body (Message […]
A New View on Acts 13:48 “As Many as Were Prepared for Eternal Life Believed”
My Old View Nearly three years ago I wrote a Grace in Focus newsletter article (May-June 2004) on Acts 13:48 and the controversial phrase, “As many as were appointed to eternal life believed” (NKJV). Calvinists typically use this verse to prove unconditional election. In that article I questioned whether the verse was about election. I […]
Good Works, Assurance, and Perseverance: A Free Grace Perspective
by Nate Purtzer* I recently had a healthy discussion about the gospel with a pastor who respectfully disagreed with several Free Grace beliefs. Near the beginning of the conversation, he asked: “Do you seriously think that one can believe in Jesus Christ for eternal life and not have any change in his life?” The question […]
Are You a Gregory Christian? You Better Watch Out, Jesus is Coming Soon!
Many of our names come from Greek words that have Christian significance. For example, Christopher comes from two Greek words that mean Christ bearer or one who bears [the name of] Christ. Gregory comes from a Greek verb, gregoreo, that means to watch or to be watchful. The Lord Jesus introduced this concept of being […]
Nike Christians
No earthly banquet was ever so splendid. No roster of assembled guests was ever so impressive. The coheirs of King Jesus are the elite of human history. To be numbered among them is the highest honor—and greatest victory!—which any man or woman can achieve. But what is it that really makes an overcomer? What are […]
“Easy Believism” – A Misnomer
by Pastor Barry Black Misnomer: 1. Unsuitable name––a wrong or unsuitable name or term for something or somebody. 2. Calling something by a wrong name––a use of a wrong or unsuitable name or term to describe something or somebody. Generally when the suffix -ism is placed behind a word, it describes a movement, doctrine, or […]
Lordship Salvation for Dummies
There are lots of books for Dummies today. I’ve chosen to call this article Lordship Salvation for Dummies not because I question your intelligence, but because I want to lighten up the discussion of what could otherwise become a very heavy subject. While Lordship Salvation is complicated, its basic tenets are quite simple. Often when […]
Jesus Is the Propitiation for All, But Only the Mercy Seat for Believers: Romans 3:25 and 1 John 2:2
This article is adapted from the Summer and Winter 2002 editions of The Kerugma Message, which is sent free of charge to all who request it (PO Box 870579, Mesquite, TX, 75187). Propitiation and the Holy of Holies By His sacrifice on the cross the Lord Jesus Christ has become in His own Person the […]