How Can Faith Not Produce Good Works?

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I was recently asked, “I am a little confused as to the relationship between faith and works in the Free Grace understanding. My own understanding is that faith naturally has a corresponding action. It’s not that the action proves or adds anything to salvation, but that grace-born trust in Jesus could not fail to be
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Watching Until He Comes

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By Bill Fiess This morning I was really struck by the presence of a single Greek participle elthōn (= coming or when He comes) in connection with Jesus Christ’s imminent return: Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes [elthōn], will find so doing (Matt 24:46). Watch therefore, for you do not know
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Myths and Mistakes in New Testament Textual Criticism

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Myths and Mistakes in New Testament Textual Criticism. By Elijah Hixson and Peter J. Gurry, Editors. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2019. 372 pp. Paper, $40.00. While in seminary, I became very interested in NT textual criticism. Initially I held to the eclectic approach, which is basically a Critical Text (CT) approach. Later I became
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50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith

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50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith. By Gregg R. Allison. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2018. 426 pp. Paper, $29.99. This is a condensed book on systematic theology. Its purpose is to guide in teaching theology to others. Each chapter contains an outline to help in that goal. The audience in mind is the
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The Tony Evans Bible Commentary

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The Tony Evans Bible Commentary. By Tony Evans. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019. 1440 pp. Hardcover, $44.99. Dr. Tony Evans is founder and senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas. He is also the founder and president of The Urban Alternative, an evangelical outreach ministry. He is on radio and has
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Spiritual Gifts: What They Are & Why They Matter

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Spiritual Gifts: What They Are & Why They Matter. By Thomas R. Schreiner. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2018. 172 pp. Paper, $16.99. This book is very irenic in nature. Thomas Schreiner says that the issue of spiritual gifts is not a “first-order” doctrine (p. 2). Devout Christians can have different opinions. He was at
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Shepherd the Flock

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Shepherd the Flock. By Donald Norbie. Port Colborne, CO: Gospel Folio Press, 2010. 38 pp. Paper, $1.59. This booklet summarizes the NT teaching about the roles of elders in the local church. Norbie has four chapters, “The Motivation,” “The Qualifications,” “The Work,” and “The Discipline of the Elders.” For the most part, Norbie’s observations are
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The Assurance of Salvation: Biblical Hope for Our Struggles

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The Assurance of Salvation: Biblical Hope for Our Struggles. By Robert A. Peterson. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2019. 191 pp. Paper, $16.99. Robert Peterson was a Professor of Systematic Theology at Covenant Seminary for over twenty-five years. He has written or edited thirty books. There is much to like about this book. The tone is
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The Hospitality Commands

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The Hospitality Commands. By Alexander Strauch. Littleton, CO: Lewis and Roth Publishers, 1993. 64 pp. Paper, $6.99. What kinds of spiritual practices should Christians emphasize? In this short, but powerful, booklet, Alexander Strauch explores what the NT says about hospitality. Unlike popular spiritual disciplines that do not have clear Scriptural bases, Strauch shows that hospitality
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