John Niemelä – Page 2 – Grace Evangelical Society

Dortian Calvinism Is Dead Wrong on Ephesians 2: A Review of Timothy R. Nichols’s Dead Man’s Faith

Posted in Book Reviews

John H. Niemelä President Message of Life Ministries Aurora, CO I. INTRODUCTION1 Dortian Calvinism is known by the acronym T-U-L-I-P. The first point is the T, which stands for total inability. The following sermon by Brian Anderson is typical of those who hold to this theological view. It deceives many into imagining that the unregenerate

George Meisinger Memorial

May 1, 2019 by John Niemelä in Grace in Focus Articles

By John H. Niemelä On March 12, 2019, Dr. George Meisinger, a longtime friend of grace, went into the presence of the Lord. He was born in Eugene, OR, on April 21, 1938. George graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1968 and for four decades pastored churches in Minnesota and California. All who knew him

The Gospel of John. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture

Posted in Book Reviews

The Gospel of John. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. By Francis Martin and William M. Wright IV. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2015. 366 pp. Paper, $24.99. The average Free Grace believer may see no reason for acquiring this book. However, knowing how Catholic priests are likely to explain John’s Gospel can be quite helpful.

Free at Last! Freedom in Jesus’ Footsteps (John 8:30-32)

September 1, 2018 by John Niemelä in Journal Articles

John H. Niemelä1 President Message of Life Ministries I. INTRODUCTION As Jesus taught, some retorted in John 8:33 with their own question: They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free?’”2 (NKJV) Knowing who asked this question is vital. Did

Believe to Live: Luther, Paul, and Habakkuk 2:4

March 1, 2018 by John Niemelä in Grace in Focus Articles

By John H. Niemelä The-just-by-faith shall live (Hab 2:4, Author’s Translation). A Controversy Paul’s use of Hab 2:4 in Rom 1:17 is controversial today. What did Paul mean? What did Habakkuk mean? Did Paul quote Habakkuk out of context? Traditionally, many Evangelicals have followed Martin Luther’s interpretation. Luther argued that Paul was right to quote

John’s Gospel: Evangelistic or Not?

March 1, 2017 by John Niemelä in Grace in Focus Articles

By John H. Niemelä1 Believe it or not, there are rumblings against the idea that John’s Gospel is evangelistic. What does John 20:30-31 say? Thus Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. But these signs have been written so you may believe that Jesus

Revelation 3:10 and the Rapture: A New Departure

March 1, 2017 by John Niemelä in Journal Articles

I. INTRODUCTION Revelation 3:10 in the New King James Version reads: “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” This article argues for a change in punctuation. Misplaced periods and

Character Studies in the Fourth Gospel: Narrative Approaches to Seventy Figures in John

Posted in Book Reviews

Character Studies in the Fourth Gospel: Narrative Approaches to Seventy Figures in John. Edited by Steven A. Hunt, D. Francois Tolmie, and Ruben Zimmermann. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2013. 724 pp. Hardcover, $219.00. Most JOTGES readers will experience sticker-shock at a $219.00 price tag. However, this book is a gold mine. You may (as I did)

So You May Come (Or Continue?) To Believe (John 20:31)

March 1, 2016 by John Niemelä in Journal Articles

I. INTRODUCTION John 15:16 should be seen as a multi-generational evangelismfocused Great Commission verse, anticipating the purpose statement. This verse aligns with the evangelistic purpose of the book as a whole (John 20:30-31). Jesus says, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go forth and bear a

“Father, Take This Cup”

March 1, 2016 by John Niemelä in Grace in Focus Articles

Many Christians find our Lord’s Gethsemane prayers perplexing, even downright troubling. Seemingly, Jesus tries to convince the Father into allowing Him to avoid crucifixion. How could that be? The Cross Was Unavoidable Jesus’ repeated predictions of the cross and resurrection—starting with John 2:19—prove that He knew that His death on the cross was unavoidable. Note